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Mouseman eBay sale old boy fury
MOUSEMAN: Outside Read School Drax is former pupil is Jude Thurlow, who is angry that the Mouseman furnture has been sold. (BUY THIS PHOTO L6291TS) Picture: Tony Saxton
A FORMER Drax Grammar pupil is still in shock after learning precious school furniture had been sold on eBay.
John Van der Vord made the upsetting discovery during a recent old boys’ reunion at what is now the Read School. Famous ‘Mouseman’ furniture, created by Robert Thompson in Kilburn and formerly housed in the school’s memorial library, had been sold on the Internet auction website.
John, from Wallingford, said he was almost moved to tears to see the furniture gone, adding: “When I went to the Old Draxonians reunion the final place we visited was the memorial library, which housed the furniture.
“We were shocked it was no longer there. We were told it was put on eBay – surely not?”
His comments were echoed by former classmate, Coun Jude Thurlow, of Millgate in Selby, who said: “I know it’s nostalgic, but it’s so surprising a school steeped in tradition wouldn’t preserve such items.”
In a letter to the Selby Times, headteacher John Sweetman said the furniture was deteriorating, and it was decided to move it into storage before it was sold.
He added: “Recommendations following the school’s inspection in 2008 suggested the library needed to be updated to meet the needs of its current learners.
“The furniture had served its time and was deteriorating, and so a decision was taken to move it into storage to allow a modernisation programme to begin.
“Modernisation has allowed the creation of a spacious working library environment, enhanced further with information technology and film projection facilities.
“Governors of the school gave much consideration to where to house the furniture. Unfortunately, no suitable place could be found and so, in 2010, the search for a suitable buyer was started.
“The furniture has now been sold and the proceeds will be used for the benefit of the pupils in the school today.”
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Weather for Selby
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 17 C
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