A new video released by Amber Valley Borough Council captures the moment former students walked the corridors of their old school for the first time in decades.
The emotional reunion saw former pupils of Heanor Grammar School step back inside their old classrooms, now beautifully restored as The Grammar following an extensive restoration project by the borough council.
For many, it was the first time they had been back since leaving school. The familiar sights and sounds of the corridors stirred powerful memories, as laughter, stories and a few tears filled the halls once again.
Standing in one of the corridors by the main hall, where the original parquet flooring has been carefully preserved, Elaine Glenwright grew emotional seeing the familiar corridors for the first time in decades.
“I just can’t get over it – I’m just blown away.”
As the group moved through the building, they were eager to identify old classrooms and notice the small details they remembered so well — the shape of the steps on the staircase, the light streaming through the tall windows, and the many original touches throughout.
Climbing the original staircases, Cheryl Smith paused to admire the original handrail and take it all in.
“It makes me think about all the pupils that have come and held this – my dad, my great-aunt… they would have all run their hands down here.”
The former pupils brought along treasured memorabilia from their time at the school, including old photographs, exercise books and scarves, with each item sparking new stories and laughter.
David Woodward showed one of his old schoolbooks from 1964/65 as he stepped into one of the restored classrooms.
“I can remember doing my English Literature O-Level in this room,” he said, recalling how he was once sent to wait outside the headmaster’s office for misbehaving, watching the red light above the door until it finally turned green an hour and a half later.
Andy Mason, who attended in the 1970s, said the experience brought back a flood of emotions.
“It’s incredible – absolutely incredible. It’s brilliant, I feel like I’ve come home again. It’s very special.”
The group spent nearly two hours walking through the restored corridors, enjoying the craftsmanship and piecing together the building’s past.
Their laughter echoed again when Anthony Lloyd pointed out his old French classroom.
“This was the room I took my French lessons in,” he said. “We had the periodic test and I figured out that this sliding door would expose a shelf, so I could prop my textbook up, open and shut it with my foot… and still fail O-Level!”
Standing in the main hall, local historian and former pupil Robert Mee – author of Follow the Master: A History of Heanor Grammar School 1893–1976 – admired how the restoration had honoured the original design.
“It’s so atmospheric of what it used to be like,” he said. “The original architect, George Widdows, was all about light, and this room, the hall, really shows that more than anywhere else.”
The Grammar has been restored by Amber Valley Borough Council, bringing the former school back to life while preserving its rich heritage and architectural detail, after falling into a state of disrepair during a period of private ownership.
Every effort was made to retain original features such as the original parquet flooring, staircases and large windows, allowing the building’s unique character and the memories it holds to shine through once again.
Work began in 2023, after Amber Valley Borough Council secured funding through the Future High Streets Fund to purchase and restore the site. The project was completed in August 2025, marking the end of an ambitious two-year scheme to save and repurpose one of Heanor’s most recognisable landmarks.
The building will now provide space for community and business use, ensuring it remains at the heart of Heanor for generations to come.
Contact the team directly on 01773 474157 or email communications@ambervalley.gov.uk
