UKC

Sheffield's School Room Under Threat of Closure

© Tim Glasby / Red Chili
The infamous 'School Room' boards in Sheffield are currently under threat, as Sheffield City Council have asked all current users of the Heeley Bank School building to vacate by November '07.

The boards were originally built in 1993 by Gavin Ellis, Ben Tye and Andy Coish as conditions at Peak Limestone venues (at which they trained) were not always ideal.

Over the years some of the leading lights in British climbing have cut their teeth at the School Room (these include Jerry Moffatt, Ben Moon, and Malcolm Smith), testing themselves against the vast array of hard problems doumented over numerous years, spanning up to Font 8b, and hard 8b at that. You may have seen some of these problems as the boards have featured in a number of iconic climbing films such as 'One Summer' and 'The Real Thing.'

Currently users of the building are petitioninng the local council to try and secure the future of the building and the boards. If you would like to register your support please sign the petition located at the reception desk of 'The Climbing Works', Sheffield.

For a more thorough history lesson:
www.moonclimbing.com
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_School_Room

SOURCES: Moonclimbing.com

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17 Jul, 2007
Will all who those sign the petition get to train at the school room? You can bang on all day about "history" etc but the closure of this facility will actually effect virtually no-one - only the very small minority of climbers who are invited/allowed to use it. Its not as if sheffield lacks climbing walls, or as if it would be impossible to re-house the boards elsewhere.
17 Jul, 2007
there was a big thread about this the other day - this news item (logically for its audience) mentions the climbing aspect, but other community-use facilities in the building will also be affected... I'll see if I can find the thread.
17 Jul, 2007
18 Jul, 2007
Middle class punters & gear freaks don't do cameraderie these days. The school room is ace - can't pull on owt for toffee like - but it has a charm thats like no where else. I'll sign any petition for access (I better do as an access rep!) Where do I sign anyone? Si
18 Jul, 2007
Is the emphasis there on 'middle-class' or 'punters'?
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