Latest news with #Gorleston
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Gorleston primary school still assessing extent of fire damage
A primary school that had to be evacuated after fire broke out on the last day of the summer term is still assessing the extent of the from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service were called to Ormiston Cliff Park Primary Academy in Orde Avenue, Gorleston, at about 13:16 BST on 18 a letter to parents, principal Louise Watkins said pastoral support would be offered to pupils and staff upon the school's return. A fire service spokesperson said: "Our fire investigation has determined accidental cause and that the fire started in the roof." The school, part of Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT), was evacuated with all children accounted for while the fire was brought under control. Over the weekend, parents were able to collect children's belongings and the school said any uncollected items, including bikes and scooters, would be stored securely until the start of the new school year in September. Former pupil Myleene Klass, now an ambassador for the school, shared WOra post of support to her Instagram with a picture of smoke billowing out of the building. She said: "To Cliff Park teachers and pupils, I'm glad you're all safe."I'm told teachers did a phenomenal job of getting you out. I'm sorry your last day of term looked like this, I'm relieved you're all ok. Sending my love." In her letter to parents, Mrs Watkins said the school was still in the early stages of "understanding the impact of Friday's fire".It said: "Despite the challenges we must now navigate, I am confident that the unity and spirit shown will help us return stronger than ever. "None of us could have anticipated the final day of term unfolding as it did. Despite it being managed to the best of our ability, it was of course a very worrying experience for all involved."While our firm ambition and intention is to re-open our provision fully as planned in September... given the extent of the fire, the work required is complex and will take time."It said some less essential parts of the building would need ongoing work from September but that the school would make sure disruption was "minimised". OAT said: "Our aim remains to welcome all pupils back to school as planned in September, ready to learn in a safe and supportive environment."We will continue to keep parents and carers updated over the summer and are doing everything we can to ensure a smooth return." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
18-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Gorleston primary school evacuated after fire breaks out
A primary school was evacuated following a fire. Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to Ormiston Cliff Park Primary Academy, in Orde Avenue, Gorleston, at 13:16 BST to reports of a blaze. The service said the fire was brought under control with the use of an aerial ladder platform, and all children had been accounted Seaman, head of operations at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We will remain on scene and do whatever is required to support the school and the local community to a full recovery following this incident." Trevor Fuller, who had been driving on the A47 near Hopton, said he saw "thick black billowing smoke" in the area. "As I got up the road, it was billowing out of the school," he said. "I could see at least six fire engines in attendance... There were also probably six or eight police roads are gridlocked and I expect there's a lot of worried parents that have all raced over." Police said a road closure was in place on Kennedy Avenue while the incident was being dealt with. Ormiston Cliff Park Primary Academy thanked people for their cooperation and understanding in an online post. It said: "Following the fire at the academy earlier this afternoon, we can confirm that everyone is safe and that all children have now been collected." Crews from Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, Acle, Carrow, and Wymondham attended the fire service said the cause of the fire was unknown, but an investigation had started. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
18-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Huge fire breaks out at primary school as thick smoke billows into the sky
A HUGE fire has broken out at a primary school as firefighters continue to battle the blaze. Emergency services were called to Cliff Park Primary Academy in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, at 1.20pm. Thick plumes of black smoke can still be seen billowing from the building, on Orde Road. Pupils were led outside and have been spotted sitting at the end of the school field. Norfolk Constabulary confirmed all children are safe and accounted for. 2 2
BBC News
08-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Defibrillator phone box in Gorleston covered by advertising
An old phone box in the process of being refurbished by a charity before being fitted with a defibrillator has been covered with posters advertising a pastry bake and coffee 2 Heart Norfolk volunteers had spent hours clearing glue and posters from the former BT telephone box on Gorleston High Street, Norfolk, where they planned to install the charity's 400th Biggs, the charity's founder, said the advertisement for Greggs was put up soon after the box had been cleaned. A spokesperson for Greggs, said: "We would never intentionally place advertising on emergency equipment and have been in touch with our media partner to ensure this doesn't happen again." Founded by Ms Biggs, Heart 2 Heart Norfolk aims to install easily accessible defibrillators across Norfolk, and disused phone boxes are "ideal" places for them. After buying the box in Gorleston, she said volunteers had worked until 22:00 BST one evening, spending about eight hours cleaning six layers of glue from the glass panels."When I adopt them they belong to me, and there was a sign in there saying 'This no longer belongs to BT, this belongs to Heart 2 Heart Norfolk', but obviously they took no notice of that.," Ms Biggs said."It was like someone must have been watching him... and then obviously put another poster over all the glass he had cleaned." There is a sign on the phone box saying it is owned by the charity and another sign inside, outlining that it is no longer in service or owned by BT. "We just couldn't actually believe it. It was the speed of it," Ms Biggs posters covering two walls of the box were not installed by Greggs but by a third the incident was raised by Breakfast on BBC Radio Norfolk, Greggs has been in contact with Ms Biggs and has offered £250 compensation."Greggs themselves are absolutely horrified because it is a third party who actually goes and puts them up," she said."They can't believe that they did it. They were so sorry." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Talking, crying and laughing at Gorleston bereavement cafe
A moment is seared into Thomasina Scott-Greenard's after the sudden death of her 19-year-old son Oliver, she walked into her local supermarket only for it to be "like the parting of the Red Sea - people turned their backs on me because they didn't know what to say".Five years earlier, Oliver's father and Mrs Scott-Greenard's husband, Simon, had also died, at the age of describes losing them as "cataclysmic", but says the depths of her grief also led her to understand how important it was to talk openly about almost 14 years after her son's death and with time to volunteer, Mrs Scott-Greenard, 57, has launched a weekly bereavement cafe in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk. Reflecting on both her shopping trip following the loss of her son in November 2011 and the ethos that has been the springboard for the cafe, she says: "I think it's better to say something than nothing."Unfortunately, part of our Britishness is that we don't like to talk about death. "But we should talk about it because we're all going to die; we're all going to know somebody that dies. "It's up to us to support each other, so we don't mourn their loss alone. No-one should be alone." The cafe at Gorleston's Pavilion Theatre is run as a discussion group, rather than providing professional grief support or on topics such as what to do with a loved one's ashes and administration is offered, but the cafe is also a sanctuary to share experiences and memories, talk, laugh and Scott-Greenard, who lives in nearby Ormesby and has since remarried, says the fact she had two other children, Elliott and Isobel, and a busy job helped her cope at the time, but she has always been aware how some people were isolated in their grandmother-of-two says she also coped by throwing herself into volunteering for different causes after her husband died days after being diagnosed with renal cancer, and then the unexpected death of her son from an epileptic seizure while away with a determination to get people to talk about a subject that is often shied away from, she started running a weekly bereavement cafe in Martham for the county library service last then suggested launching another independent cafe at the theatre, where he works. "I call it my 'Dead People Club' because... a lot of people don't understand what the word bereavement means," says Mrs Scott-Greenard."But if you break it down, everybody here has got a dead person that we like to talk about. "We don't want to forget - and we can share what we've been through together." The cafe is open to anyone grieving for a loved one, regardless of when they died. Sue and Paul Davis lost their son Steve on 2 March and have been keen to talk to others as they try to make sense of their emotions. He was 32 when he suddenly collapsed at their home following a series of epileptic mother had desperately tried to save him before the paramedics arrived."You can't ever describe the depths of it - it's just devastating," says Mrs Davis."People understand because they've all suffered a bereavement of some kind."Thomasina, because she lost her own son, I find she can understand how I'm feeling."I think although family help, they don't fully understand what it feels like to lose your own child."You can talk about anything - you can be yourself." Other people in the group have taken pleasure in companionship and building new friendships after losing their partners. Gloria Briggs, 77, had been married from the age of 17 for 52 years when her husband died of a short illness. "We did everything together and everything was about our family," she says."You'll never get over it - you can't - but you live with it a bit better."She says the cafe has made her "get out and meet other people", and see she was not the only one to have lost a has given her a common bond with Carol, 68, whose mother and husband died weeks apart in going to grief counselling, Carol felt she needed more support, so visited the cafe after spotting a social media post."I fit in here very well - we've all been through similar," said Carol, who did not want to disclose her surname."When you're bereaved, yes, you've got family and friends - they try and be sympathetic - but I think I put a lot on other people."I think they got a bit fed up with listening to it, whereas here, you can cry."After spending last year wearing black clothes, she says the cafe's family atmosphere has been restorative."I look forward to putting my make up on, doing my hair, wearing something pretty," said Carol. "I thought, 'No, I'm gonna be a bit brighter now and be back to who I am.'" The free bereavement cafe is held on Wednesdays between 10:00 and 11:30 at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre. Norfolk County Council also runs a series of free bereavement cafes, at locations including Martham. If you - or someone you know - has been affected by grief, child bereavement or end of life care, you can find information and support at BBC Action Line. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
