In 2008, Crookhill and Emmaville Schools celebrated their centenaries. In 2009 it was Greenside's turn, and Head Teacher Dawn Foster, Curiculum Manager Andrea Ingram, the teachers and teaching assistants made some great plans. From the beginning of January, the pupils began to learn about some of Greenside's rich (and often forgotten) history. On Friday, February 13, to give them a real taste of the past, they dressed up like pupils 100 years ago. For the occasion, the school was open to members of the public and it was a great success. After half-term. the theme for the history project was Greenside's coal-mining history; then after Easter there was an emphasis on experiences of two world wars.

The Local History Group, whose Chair, Audrey Pyle, taught for many years at the school offered prizes for the best scrapbooks from the pupils, and there were some great entries which earned some new books for the school.

The School had to expand and move to new premises from a site in front of the present Social Club because the opening of Greenside Pit in 1905 brought a huge influx of new workers and their families into the village. Thus the history of school and pit go hand in hand, so it is no surprise that Jack Graham, Chairman of the Governors and of Banner Tales Should suggest replacing the picture of the Miners' Convalescent Home with a picture of Greenside School on the back of the new Greenside Miners' Banner.

The new banner replaces one that was used up to the closure of the pit in 1966, and was discovered hidden away in the Social Club a few years back, a little the worse for wear. This one was repaired, but the ambition of Banner Tales (a Greenside community group set up to celebrate the area's mining history) to have a brand new one was realised in 2008.

The Local History Group let the school have all its display materials on loan for the duration of the centenary project, Meranwhile Banner Tales organized the provision of a teaching pack on coal- mining so that the present and future generations of school-children will not forget Greenside's past.

It was with great regret that we learnt of the death of Ann (Nancy) Phazey who served the Community Association for many years. It is not long since the death of Colin Perkins, so Greenside has lost two of its most loyal workers in the community. They will be difficult to replace, and are greatly missed.

Colin Graham has taken over as vice- chair. He has already made himself indispensable in his work for the Centre.

It was hardly a beautiful building - in fact it was downright ugly. However, it was one of the few remaining signs of Greenside Pit - the baths, and now it has disappeared to make space for more housing,

The baths building at Emma Pit survives and is use by the Scouts. Again, it is not a beautiful building but it is part of our heritage.

The traffic blackspot at the junction of Woodside Lane and Lead Road has been improved with a lights-controlled pedestrian crossing. However, this sometimes causes confusion to motorists, who think the lights control the junction and turn into Lead Road without stopping!

The traffic speed indicator on the Spen Road is useful, though the one on the Lead Road in the opposite direction is badly sited because cars coming up Woodside Lane (most of the traffic) can hardly reach 30 mph by the time they reach it.

The most dangerous places for pedestrians continue to be the Folly end of the Lead Road (speeding), and the multiple junction by the War Memorial, where you need eyes in the back of your head! For motorists the main problem is still turning right from Woodside Lane into Lead Road, where parked cars outside the Spar completely block your view of traffic coming up from Folly

Hookergate School is definitely closing and only some pupils remain to finish off their exam courses. Greenside has been rejected as a site for a replacement Ryton School, which the Council hope to build near the Rugby Club

Email: Greenside Community