Powys school time capsule opened almost 25 years later

Powys County Times

12-05-2025

Opening a time capsule hidden away in 2000 has brought back special memories of time spent at a village primary school, which closed almost two decades ago.
Former pupils and staff at Sarn Church in England Primary School eagerly watched the contents of the grey plastic capsule being revealed by former headteacher John Perkins at The Sarn Inn pub on April 28.
Inside were photos, letters and a tape recording from pupils explaining what life was like at the turn of the millennium in the farming community of Sarn and what they'd like to be when they're grown up.
Brothers Sion and Ben Breeze were around five and nine years old when the capsule was hidden in the school attic.
"It was a great school here in Sarn and we do miss it," said Ben, who grew up to be the area's county councillor.
"It was such a small school and everyone was so connected.
"In my year, there was just six of us, which you don't hear these days. You formed a better bond with your teachers and had a better value of education in smaller classrooms.
"A big thank you to our teachers; they did a great job."
Nathan Rogers had also recently started school as a four-year-old when the capsule was created back in 2000.
"It's brought back great memories," the 29-year-old said. "I loved school. It was quite homely."
County councillor Ben Breeze (Kerry and Sarn ward) read out the letter he wrote as a nine-year-old pupil at Sarn Church of England Primary School.
Children of former Sarn Church of England Primary School pupils attended the opening of the time capsule. (Image: Anwen Parry) The capsule was "totally forgotten about" by the school's final headteacher John Perkins until he was reminded about it a few months ago.
"It was about time we dug it out," Mr Perkins explained.
After the disappointment of not finding the capsule in the attic of the school, which has since been run as OneSchool Global UK's Newtown Campus, Mr Perkins later received a message that the capsule had finally been found in a cupboard at the village hall.
"It's living history," said Mr Perkins, who was headteacher until the school closed in 2006 after 145 years.
"It was the best job in the world.
"I have very, very fond memories of the school. I had brilliant teachers; the children were well-behaved, and the parents were very supportive.
"It was a good farming community.
"Two of my colleagues who are here said they've missed it; nothing compares to Sarn.
"It was a church school and we were able to have assemblies and share stories from the Bible and sing hymns; a number of the children I've met, even in recent times, look back on that as very significant in their lives."
The primary school in Sarn, which is two miles from the border with Shropshire, was unique because it was the only Church of England school in Wales. In every act of parliament which mentioned church schools in England it always had "and Sarn in Wales".
Despite the capsule originally being left to be opened in 2049, the community agreed to unseal it and add more memories from 2025 before being 'buried' again.