Mary Hare School opens its doors to Prior's Court residents after Storm Eunice cuts them off from power

A West Berkshire-based specialist school opened its doors to another specialist facility during Storm Eunice on Friday in a selfless act of kindness and community.

Mary Hare School opened up one of its residential houses so that young people and staff from nearby Prior’s Court could spend the night after the storm cut them off from power.

The school for deaf children located in Newbury readily answered the call for help from the Hermitage-based care home for young people with complex autism.

Sarah Butcher, director of young people’s wellbeing at Prior’s Court, said: “Everyone at Prior’s Court is enormously grateful to our friends at Mary Hare for their support given to us in our time of need.

“So many of Mary Hare’s staff gave up their Friday night for us and 'thank you' is just not enough.

“Tough times bring out the best in people and this was never more in evidence than on Friday and Saturday in the face of one of the worst storms this country has seen in decades.”

Storm Eunice’s heavy winds took out both the main power connection and the back-up generator at Prior’s Court, leaving a large section of the site with no power, heat or light.

Thirteen Prior’s Court young people and more staff members were invited to spend the night at Mary Hare, with one young person dubbing it the “Mary Hare Hotel”.

Staff at Mary Hare even went so far as to put a 'Welcome to Prior’s Court' sign up outside the residential home, to welcome Prior’s Court residents and their dedicated staff members.

Mary Hare principal Peter Gale said: “We were very lucky not to lose power sitting out the storm on Friday and so were very pleased that we were able to offer support to pupils and staff from Prior’s Court.

“I was pleased that colleagues made them so welcome.”