HOR 040211 Steyning Grammar School Jail Break. Enna O'Connor and Gareth Last. photo by derek martin ENGSNL00120110402150351HOR 040211 Steyning Grammar School Jail Break. Enna O'Connor and Gareth Last. photo by derek martin ENGSNL00120110402150351
HOR 040211 Steyning Grammar School Jail Break. Enna O'Connor and Gareth Last. photo by derek martin ENGSNL00120110402150351

Looking back to the Steyning Grammar School jailbreak in 2011

This week we look back to February 2011 when Steyning Grammar School held their jailbreak.

At the time, our reporter wrote:

A MOTLEY crew of convicts, animals, film characters and other colourful costumes gathered at The Carfax in Horsham on Friday as students made their annual great escape ‘Jailbreak’ from Steyning Grammar School.

In all 210 Year 13 students were ‘released’ foraday of fundraising, with the money raised going to The NSPCC.

Thisannualfundraisingevent started with a hearty breakfast kindly donated by a local catering company called 3663.

The £1 charge for breakfast went straight into the NSPCC Appeal.

Students were then locked in the ‘jails’, after which they broke out and were cheered on by fellow students in Years 10, 11 and 12.

The convicts made off in a collection of brightly decorated vehicles including a hearse, tractors and trailers, lorry with crane, horse trailer, a double decker bus, a Land Rover, an open top bus and a boat.

They went on the run to Brighton, Worthing, Lancing, Portslade, Hove, Shoreham, Southwick, County Mall at Crawley, Brighton, Churchill Square at Brighton, Storrington, Pulborough, Henfield, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Swan Walk at Horsham, Goring and finally Horsham Carfax. They also stopped to collect at Holmbush at Shoreham, Tooveys Auction House, Market Place Shopping Centre, and The Orchards Shopping Centre.

Students also visited the primary schools St Andrew’s, Jolesfield and Upper Beeding, where they received a tremendous reception from the children who were more than eager to part with their pocket money for the the NSPCC cause. All students carried the NSPCC collecting boxes and were finally ‘recap- tured’ at the Bandstand in Horsham.

The Sixth Form Samba Band played as the students were rounded up by their ‘jailers’.

Marilyn Walker, from the NSPCC, was at the school on the students’ return to supervise the count. The total raised so far stands at £5,806.57, to be officially confirmed by the NSPCC.

She said: “We are amazed at the enthusiasm and organisation from the students. This is a massive amount of money to raise in such a short time”.

The school and students thanked Horsham District Council for again allowing them to host the event and for their assistance with arrangements for parking of the vehicles and C&L Coaches for donating the use of a bus.

They thanked the public for their generosity and sponsors including: Metro SMT Ltd, Steyning Bookshop, Cherry Tree House, The Dolls House, The Old Bakery Tea Rooms, Country House, Telegraph Media Group Ltd, Ingrams Hardham and Gloucester Salesrooms The school is also grateful to the police school liaison officer and her colleagues who marshalled the start of the Jailbreak.