A GRANDDAD has given items inherited from a family relative to the Barry school where they originated from.

Clive Baker, 82, of Yew Tree Court, Barry, visited pupils and staff in Holton Road Primary School on Tuesday, January 21, to talk about his relative, former pupil George William Denning, and return an atlas and paintings into the school’s safekeeping.

The first-prize atlas was awarded to George, by the Barry Local Education Authority, for “regular and punctual attendance” at Holton Road Boys school for the year ending July 31, 1911.

Mr Baker also gifted four pieces of art that George had produced, before he left school aged 14.

George, lived in Jewel Street, Barry, but left school to work as an apprentice engineer in Barry Dock.

But when the First World War began, he joined Northern Ireland regiment, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and was posted in Gallipoli, Turkey, where he was injured in action and sent back to a UK for several months to recover.

Private George William Denning then returned to The Somme, in France, where he died in battle, aged 19, on January 27. 1917.

Deputy head teacher, Kate Griffith, speaking to the children, said: “We have been given this atlas which is 109 years old.

“This is so special – it’s a beautiful thing to have.

“Mr Baker has reached a point in his life where he was concerned who he was going to hand them (atlas and art) on to.

“They have been given to him and he decided he couldn’t think of anyone who could give them the care and respect that they deserve.

“He decided it would be lovely for his possessions to come back to us so he contacted us.”

George W. Denning’s death was reported in the Barry newspaper in 1917.

She added: “Mr Baker has been able to give us more background to the newspaper clipping and given us a link to this school.

“I think to have these things is absolutely fantastic.

“We are just so lucky.”

Mr Baker, who also attended Holton School, said his mother had given him the items.

“I knew sooner or later I was going to have to give them to somebody,” he said.

“It was important they go somewhere where they would go somewhere where they would be valued.

“I hope the children will start looking into their family pasts and come in with stories about the past.”