IT'S A MYSTERY!: The morning started grey and cloudy, but a coachload of people set off in good spirits for St Gabriel's Church annual mystery trip.

As usual, everyone was trying to guess where they were going to end up. We all thought we were going to the seaside. But it was to be . . . Exeter.

The sun eventually came out and everyone enjoyed themselves, with many of us finishing the day going to the cathedral for evensong. Well done, Mark Woodhouse, for arranging another good day out.

July also saw the end of the school year and Pontnewydd School finished the year with a production of the Wizard of Oz.

As usual, the performance was wonderful. It would not be fair to pick any of the cast for a special accolade. Let's just say for youngsters the enthusiasm and vitality was catching and at the end everyone was on their feet applauding.

All the school was involved, caretaker, teachers, pupils, parents, and the atmosphere was great. The head teacher, Mrs Wadsworth, can be proud of her school.

Another school, Fairwater Junior and Infants School, had a momentous end to their year.

Mrs Roberts, the junior school's headteacher, left to go to pastures new and the last assembly was especially for her.

Fairwater Infants also lost the services of their deputy headteacher, Mrs Grace, after thirty years of teaching, 23 of them in Fairwater Infant School, who thought it was time to take a well deserved rest.

Not to be called retirement (she's too young), she will be missed by pupils, fellow teachers and parents.

Thus ends the era of Fairwater Infants and Junior School, as they will start the new school year in September as a primary school. It will then be Blenheim Road Community Primary.

by M Williams