Staff and students welcomed ex-Browney pupil Tom Fox into school last week for a trip down memory lane.
Tom was a pupil at Browney during the second World War between 1940 and 1944 and came back to school to see how things have changed. However, it was not Tom's first visit, as being a local historian, he has previously spoken to our children about the history of Browney school.
Tom is currently working on two documents for school; a book of remembrance about our war memorial and those who lost their lives and a piece featuring Maurice Chevalier called 'A brush with Browney'.
Pupils enjoyed looking at Tom's draft documents and learning about how Maurice Chevalier had a chance meeting with a teacher from Browney school called Ronald Kennedy whilst they were both prisoners of war at a camp in Germany. Maurice then visited Durham after the war to meet with Ronald.
Tom said: "Browney Academy is a place where a warm welcome awaits. I am so pleased for those who are able to have the Browney experience and use it as a firm foundation to build a bank of happy memories."
Everyone thought it was fantastic to see Tom and his wife June again. The draft of Maurice Chevalier – a brush with Browney is great and very informative and we are eagerly awaiting the final drafts of both documents, which we intend to make into booklets for everyone in school and visitors alike to enjoy.