John Swan.

But they all walked away smiling broadly.

Twelve Dellwood Primary School students aged between 7 and 11 milled about outside the Cabinet building around 12.30 p.m.

Armed with a box filled with letters and a handwritten speech, they awaited the Premier's arrival for what was to be the latest show of support for keeping Dellwood a primary school in 1997.

But as news of Sir John's arrival percolated among them, excitement began to build.

They primmed up, stood tall and welcomed the Premier who strode confidently from the Cabinet Office.

Grade four student Aaron Edness, seven, read from a prepared statement written in pencil.

"On behalf of the students of Dellwood School we would like to present to you this box of letters that children at Dellwood have written,'' he read.

"Please read them and we hope you will let us keep our school at Dellwood.

Some of the reasons why we do not want to move to Northlands are: The field is too small for all the children to play on, the underground pass may not be safe, and the high railings around our school.'' After listening to the speech, Sir John thanked the students and said he would read all the letters.

"I will give your concerns very careful consideration and I will also provide the Minister of Education with your letters,'' he said. "We will always do what is in the best interest of all of Bermuda's children. Thank you so much for your letters.'' As primary three student Kaitlyn Samuels stepped forward to give Sir John the letters, the Premier bent down and kissed her.

Kaitlyn's mother, Mrs. Mary Samuels, chairs the restructuring committee that is opposed to Dellwood students moving to the Northlands site in 1997.

As Mrs. Samuels' daughter and other Dellwood students were presenting the Premier with protest letters, Dellwood PTA president Mrs. Amatullah Bashir was participating in the conference on violence and hoping to raise Dellwood parents' concerns from a prepared statement.

But the opportunity never presented itself, Mrs. Bashir said.

In the statement, Mrs. Bashir wrote: "The one thing this conference has made very clear is that children from abusive environments provide for the major source of the criminal population worldwide.

"Pembroke Parish represents 20 percent of the Island's population yet a disproportionate 80 percent of the Island's criminal element.

"There are even areas in Pembroke East where the Police will not respond to a 911 call.

"We have had one of our PTA members shot at as she drove by Curving Avenue.

And for weeks thereafter gun shots could be heard in our neighbourhood.

"The sad thing is that our children are living in these areas, and if left alone will go on to become our future criminals. I ask this conference what kind of a school environment do you think that these children from these areas need to counteract this negative element.''