Phil Carradice Speaks about Old Pennar School

Phil Carradice, another talented child of Pennar Junior School and well known author, radio broadcaster and historian, thinks this about the plans for Old Pennar School

"I am appalled to learn that there are plans to demolish the old Pennar School - where I was a pupil for all of my Primary School years. The building has stood there for well over a hundred years and is a symbol of the "education for all" attitude that imbued late Victorian thinking.

Before Forster's Education Act of 1870 any education for ordinary people had to be paid for by the families. Education wasn't compulsory. Pennar School was one of many institutions that brought education to everyone and, as such, it is an historic building that needs to be preserved, not demolished to build yet more houses.

My own memories of the place are vivid. Cold winter mornings with ice on the insides of the windows; bottles of milk, frozen to begin with but bubbling after being stuck, to de-frost, around the one heater in the room; assemblies in the hall over the road; the teachers - Mrs Rees in particular. I could go on but won't."

Read more about Phil's thoughts on the heritage of Wales here:

Phil Carradice's Blog on BBC Radio Wales