TWENTY seven hand-painted panels from a school war memorial have been restored after 25 years in storage thanks to the generosity of a local trader.

The panels remember the names of boys from St George’s School in Sun Lane, Harpenden, who were killed in World War One, and now line the school’s historic Horne passage – named after the late radio comedian Kenneth Horne who was a former pupil at the school.

Colin Moxley, the owner of Thorns in Harpenden High Street, decided to help the school a couple of years ago with the restoration of the panels because of his interest in World War One and his admiration for the school’s pupils.

Deputy head Paddy Storrie said: “Thanks to him the restoration was finished in the summer and then framed by the Old Georgians Association. They now line the corridor and are seen by over 1,000 youngsters every day.”

The panels were back in place for Remembrance Day.

Head Norman Hoare added: “Mr Moxley’s financial support was a marvellous way to show support for the lads who never came home and for the lads and ladies who see that generation honoured in the same corridors they used whilst pupils at St George’s.”

n A Senior Prefects Week of Fun (SPWOF) at St George’s School raised �4,200 for three charities when all the pennies and coins were counted last week.

SPWOF involves Year 13s, aided and abetted by staff, putting on five days of lunchtime extravaganzas based on TV shows and musicals as well as tuck shop sales, bucket collections and a non-uniform day.

Harpenden Mencap, the Teenage Cancer Trust and the St George’s link school in Ghana will each receive a share before Christmas.

School captain Sarah Ingram commented: “It was an incredible week.

“Every ticket for the shows sold out fast and there was great disappointment when the Assembly Hall was full.”