THE tiny village school whose closure last year caused a storm of protest is to be put up for sale as its desks and chairs embark on the first leg of their journey to the other side of the world.

The Surplus Education Supplies Foundation and Fife Council have joined forces in a project at the former Dunshalt Primary School that this week earned the thanks of Grenada's High Commissioner.

David Hanschell, founder of the Surplus Educational Supplies Foundation, paid a poignant visit to Dunshalt Primary School last week where he discovered what he described as an 'Aladdin's Cave' of resources.

They are to be shipped to the tiny Caribbean island of Carriacou, off the coast of Grenada, where they will be used by children whose own schools were wrecked by hurricanes.

The school building itself is expected to go on the market within the next few weeks, signalling the end of an era for the village.

Last Thursday, Fife Council staff began supervising a team of people who are completing community service orders in the job of moving furniture from Dunshalt to an industrial unit in Glenrothes.

Senior project officer for community service Archie Melville said it was an opportunity for team members to help a local good cause.

Council estates surveyor Gillian Bobby said the furniture would be stored in the council facility at Glenrothes for a couple of months until Mr Hanschell could organise their shipment overseas.

The High Commissioner for Grenada Joseph Charter
rang the Fife Herald to say how much his country appreciated the donation of furniture, which would be well used by the people of Carriacou.

"I wish to express our most sincere thanks and appreciation for all the hard work done by David Hanschell and members of the community on behalf of the children and people of Grenada," he said.

Last year, angry parents of Dunshalt Primary School's seven pupils spearheaded a campaign against its closure.

But Mr Hanschell hopes that they will take comfort in the fact that some good has come out of the situation.

He said: "I felt quite moved when I visited the little school, knowing how hard local people had fought to save it.

"But I would like to assure them that all the desks, chairs and other equipment will be very much appreciated by the children in Grenada, who were left with nothing after Hurricanes Ivan and Emily hit the island."