For a city of its size, York is not over-endowed with famous sons and daughters in the field of entertainment.

Dame Judi Dench is our most notable celebrity, Frankie Howerd follows close and Mark Addy, of Full Monty renown, also springs to mind.

After that we have a bit of a cultural desert. So the frantic aspirations to set up two 'Fame' style schools in York have to be applauded.

Local companies are being asked to support an attempt to raise £100,000 to set up the music, drama and dance centres at Oaklands and Manor Church of England Schools.

That money has to be pledged by the end of the month to attract £400,000 in Government funding to make the dream a reality.

The idea is to convert classrooms to drama and music rooms, with new high-tech music equipment and extra teachers. Time was when schools were places to learn the three Rs, when learning was a chore and there was little to stimulate or nurture a youngster's ambitions.

Thankfully, things have moved on. The exciting plans for the Fame schools are the latest in a long line of initiatives to boost learning and facilities in York's schools, including

Huntington School's rise to technical college status and Joseph Rowntree School's elevation to science college.

Now more than ever, the opportunities for interesting learning and the chances of an exciting future are in place for our children. Music, drama and dance should be no exception.

Actress Lorraine Chase, in York for a touring production at the Grand Opera House, took time out yesterday to visit Oaklands School to support the Fame schools plan. She appealed to local businesses to give their wholehearted backing to the scheme.

Lorraine, who spoke to pupils studying dance and drama, is a fine example to the youngsters. She found fame and fortune after starring in a TV commercial. But as a child she was shy and withdrawn.

Even with specialist music and drama schools, York could not expect to turn out a production line of actresses like Judi Dench.

But such training would instil in youngsters a confidence and self-esteem which would help carry them through whichever career they chose.

A specialist drama school will never create talented people. But it would help bring out and nurture latent talents that could otherwise lay dormant in so many children.

see NEWS 'York's kids from fame'

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.