NEIGHBOURS of Bede Academy in Blyth enjoyed an afternoon of nibbles and nostalgia as students served up a teatime treat.
More than 50 members of the local community attended the termly tea party where they were treated to a selection of sandwiches, vol-au-vents and cakes and a singalong with two of the academy’s choirs.
Bede Academy vice principal Steve Nelson, who welcomed the guests, said: “It has become a regular event for us to invite all of the local residents to the academy to enjoy a cup of tea with our students.
“It gives people living nearby a chance to see what goes on at Bede and to talk to our young people as they are served their sandwiches and tea.
“The students get to hear all sorts of stories from our guests, from the history of Blyth to what school was like in their day. It really helps to build up our students’ confidence as well as giving us a chance to give something back to the local community.”
Guests were entertained by music teacher Bartholomew Dobson on piano and head of music Helen Kerr, who conducted the Junior Academy Choir and the Cantata Choir singing numbers including the Chattanooga Choo Choo and tunes from Les Miserables.
Margaret Rutherford, 82, and her husband Jack, 81, of Newsham, whose granddaughter Hannah, 16, is a student at Bede Academy, said: “We have been to the academy a number of times for the afternoon tea and we always thoroughly enjoy it. The food is lovely and the students do a really good job serving it.
“I think it’s wonderful that they invite people in to see what it is like and to meet the students as it is an important part of the local community.”
Samantha Davidson 14, of Blyth, added: “I think everyone who has come in today has really enjoyed themselves.
“It’s a good idea to invite people living nearby into the academy so they can get to meet us and we can get to know them.”
