A Dale primary school has its much-loved ball back thanks to the efforts the Friends of Cotherstone School.
The iron sphere proudly crowned the building until it was removed when the roof was replaced a couple of years ago.
But what was designed as a functional feature to help water drain safely soon became a symbol of the school.
“It was much more than that, it defined the school’s outline,” said Kelly Green, Chair of the Friends.
“It features in the school’s logo, which we believe was drawn by a pupil at the start of the 1990s, and lots of villagers noticed that it had been removed.”
After the missing finial was discussed during the school’s 60th anniversary celebrations earlier this year, Mrs Green decided to act.
And, after approaching Nigel Hodgson, Artistic Iron and Stone, of Middleton, to create a new ball the next step was to decorate it.
“An old pupil, Shawn Hodgson (no relation), who still lives in the village, said that when he was a child he used to look up and assume it was the world,” Mrs Green said.
“I’m sure many other children past and present will have done the same. So it seemed fitting to decorate it with a map of the world before it went back on the roof.”
And Nigel Hodgson, based in Middleton for 20 years, added: “It was great to be a part of such a unique and lasting project.”
The Friends are a charity, and all the money they raise is used to support the school.
Reinstating the ball on the school roof cost £400, with Richard Green and Shawn Hodgson fitting it for free.
Anybody who feels able to donate towards the cost of the new globe can email [email protected].
