Appeal for Your Memories of High Borrans Residential Centre
To celebrate the launch of the Friends of High Borrans this Autumn, a book of memories, recollections and the history of this outstanding centre is being produced.
High Borrans has, over the last 45 years, been a residential centre to over 200,000 residents of North Tyneside, when they visited as school children, and is still North Tyneside Council's outdoor education centre, set amidst some of the Lake District's most spectacular scenery, 3 miles from Windermere.
The coffee table style book will be a celebration of the entire history of High Borrans, from the Iron Age Settlement right through to the Centre as it is today offering placements and residential breaks for schools as well as private bookings.
The book is the brainchild of Head of Communications, Heather Cole, and she is appealing to the public for stories, anecdotes, memories, poems and pictures from those who have been to High Borrans over the years.
Heather explained: ‘A visit to High Borrans has been such an important part of growing up, and such a memorable location for the hundreds of thousands of people from the area who have passed through the doors.’
‘We know anecdotally there are hundreds of fascinating stories, and so we want to compile something really outstanding, entertaining and reflective of the centre to celebrate the launch of the Friends of High Borrans. Whether you first met your sweetheart during a course here, bumped into the High Borrans ghost, or stayed here as a war evacuee, we would love to hear from you. Any memory is important and we want to showcase what a tremendous impact the centre has had on so many lives.’
‘If you know anyone who visited High Borrans ‘back in the day’ then please get in touch and share your recollections. We hope to have the book finished and published this Autumn, and available for everyone to see and share.’
Heather Cole can be contacted by email on heather.cole@northtyneside.gov.uk or call her on 015394 42816 if you have a contribution.
With the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks on the doorstep High Borrans offers a huge variety of activities and outdoor experiences, from canoeing on its own tarn or on the larger lakes to ghyll scrambling and caving. The centre can accommodate up to 55 people (with school groups this is 48students and 7 staff). The vast majority of schools in North Tyneside recognise the quality of the High Borrans experience and ensure their students/pupils get an opportunity to visit. When they are older, many students return to the Centre for private family and friends courses, corporate programmes and even hen parties.
The Friends of High Borrans is a new charity which raises funds to improve access to High Borrans for children who for whatever reason maybe unable to go under normal circumstances. High Borrans enriches the learning of children and young people, improves their personal and social development and environmental awareness.
Mark Carton
0191 5641444
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