Duchess visits Eastlea

22nd January 2020

Duchess of Northumberland visits Eastlea Primary School

Pupils at Eastlea Primary in Cramlington were delighted to welcome Her Grace, the Duchess of Northumberland on Wednesday 22nd January when she visited their school to be the first to ‘raise’ a new school flag on their brand new flag pole. 

Having been prize winners at the annual Love Northumberland Awards in both 2018 and 2019, a small group of Eastlea pupils had had the privilege of meeting the Duchess at Alnwick Gardens.  When they were there for the ceremony in September, the children invited the Duchess to come and see them at their school in Cramlington and were delighted when she accepted their invitation!

Head Teacher Emma Beeston said, ‘We were over the moon when the Duchess agreed to come to Eastlea and have a look around our school.  We are very proud of everything that we do here and felt that it was fitting for the Duchess to be the first to unfurl our new school flag.  Our new flag helps people to know exactly where we are and now the Eastlea owl is proudly flying for all to see!

Mrs Holdsworth, who works in the school office and was herself the winner of the LOVE Northumberland Award for her extra voluntary work at the school, really wanted Eastlea to have a flag pole.  She sought support for this from local councillors Christine and Norman Dunbar.  They put funds towards allowing the school to purchase one and then staff set about contacting flag makers to find out what sort of design would be possible.  Four design proposals were made and in a mock election in November, governor Diana Blackburn, was Presiding Officer for the school’s very own ‘mock election’.  Pupils from across the school voted for the flag design they liked best and then this was ordered and produced ready for the spring term.

Vicki Stafford, KS2 Deputy Head, said, ‘The Year 5 and Year 6 children who helped run the election did a super job and it was great for them to then see the flag when it was finally unfurled today.  The Eastlea owl is a key image for our school and the school name really stands out.  They loved it!’