Brandon Schools

Brandon's Board School, Market Hill (Cont.)

Further extracts from the School Log Book:-

1900     Outbreak of war in South Africa - male teachers volunteer for service
1900     Truancy to visit a fair - children caned, miss playtime

1903     H.M.I. visit - fair in town - most children absent
1906     H.M. notices a growth of insubordination and disobedience - further caning
1909     Due to lack of furniture, 2 teachers share one room
1911     Empire Day - Raising of Union Jack
             Drill display with staves
             Address by an important person
1912     Sept. 10 Military manoeuvres - large scale absences
             Sept. 16 School closed for children to gain an insight into Military Training
1912     Infant School opened
1914     School M.O. visited and took samples of discharge from noses
1921     Girls and Boys School combined [controversially by Mr Coe HM]
1923     Mother came in because son was being kept in. Ranted and raved.
1927     Caretaker fell down a well and died
1927     Domestic science started
1930     Teacher refuses to teach R.I.
1930     More specialisation in subjects
1931     Maypole Dancing
1932     Fame for the school football team. Semi Final of the Suffolk Schools Cup.
             Beat Feoffment by 14-0
1932     Football Team reach Final, but lost to Bury St. James 5-1
1935     Classrooms very hot 90ºLesson taken outside
1938     Evacuees arrive from London
1940     Classroom roof pierced by enemy machine gun bullets. No one hurt
1941     Bombs dropped - poor attendance
1941     Gas masks checked
1942     Diptheria immunisation
1942     Request for boy to be medically examined. He is holding little childrens heads
             under the water tap
1943     Nursery closed.
1943     Headmistress had to unblock drains - children filling them up with flint.
1943     Headmistress told to resign by a parent, as she would not allow parent
             into classroom
1943     Much trouble from evacuated children
1944     Headmistress has a great deal of discipline problems
1946     Headmistress resigns at suggestion of the managers
1947     School is given a wireless
1947     Christmas concert abandoned because of noise from parents and very young
             children
1950     Nursery reopened
1950     School telephone installed
1952     Flushing toilets
1953     Electricity installed
1953     First school secretary appointed
1955     Boy from this school gained highest marks throughout West Suffolk in the
             Grammar Selection Exam
1956     Inspection of cycles by police. Cycling Proficiency Scheme introduced.
1958     Because of heavy snowfalls, staff spend the night at school
1960     T.V. introduced
1963     School badge adopted
             - a red squirrel
1966     Gas heating installed
             - after open fires
1967     School trip to Belgium
             - 44 children and 8 adults
1973     Reorganisation. Infants joined Juniors
             to become Brandon Forest C.P. for
             children aged 5-9
1973     Intercom-telephone installed
1974     Swimming pool opened
1977     Opening of adventure playground
1978     Centenary year.

These extracts from the School Log Book have been taken from a leaflet produced by Forest School and handed out to pupils to mark the School's centenary in 1978. Kindly lent by Mrs Ashley.

One of the most popular Headmasters of Brandon Board School was Mr. Walter Percy Coe. Here is a transcription of his obituary from a local newspaper:-

Mr. W. P. COE'S DEATH
Work For School and Brandon Activities

It is with regret that we record the death of Mr. Walter Percy Coe, headmaster at Brandon Council Schools, who was also known as an expert violinist. Mr. Coe had been headmaster at Brandon for fourteen years.

He was first taken ill last September, and after treatment in the Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, he returned home in November in much better health. Soon after he had a relapse and was removed to the Royal Masonic Hospital, Ravenscourt Park, London, for further treatment. He died there on the night of Thursday week.

A member of a well known Swaffham family, Mr. Coe was trained as a teacher at St. Mark's, London, 1898-1900. He was afterwards a teacher at Bedford and headmaster at Northwold School. On August 21st, 1921, he was appointed to succeed Mr. Appleby as headmaster at Brandon Council Schools. During his fourteen years there he made many advantageous changes in educational facilities for the children. He also altered the upper portion of the school to a senior school run on eleven plus lines.

For Sports purposes Mr. Coe introduced the "house" system, the houses being named after the patron saints. A few years ago Mr. L. D. Wigan of Brandon Park, presented the school with a large and handsome shield as an inter-house trophy. This is competed for annually by the children. Football, cricket and other sports have also been introduced by Mr. Coe in order to foster a love of games. For two years the young footballers have been fortunate in getting into the final of the West Suffolk Schools Championship.

INTEREST N MUSIC AND DRAMA

Thanks to the enterprise of Mr. Coe and his wife, the children have been infused with a great interest for music and drama. Every year since 1921 up to last year (when Mr. Coe was ill) the scholars have given an operetta, and by this means have raised several hundreds of pounds for the school. Mr. Coe also established a woodwork centre with about a dozen benches. He brought into being a School Saving Association. Possessing the certificate of the Royal Horticultural Society, he imparted his enthusiasm to the boys. With regard to the older scholars, Mr. Coe specialised in gardening, woodwork, mathematics, and English literature.

Soon after coming to Brandon, Mr. Coe formed a choral society, of which he was conductor. In 1923 "Merrie England" was presented, with Mr. Robert Naylor, the famous tenor, taking the leading part.

As a violinist Mr. Coe was always in great demand at concerts and entertainments. He was a member of the Norwich Philharmonic Society, and he played in the orchestras of the Bury St. Edmunds and Thetford Operatic Societies. He was also of great assistance to the Brighter Brandon Revues a few years ago, and was a teacher of violin playing at Thetford Grammar School.

Mr. Coe was connected with many organisations in the town. He was secretary to the Children's Festivities Committee for many years, and a member of the Ouse Side Bowling Club, of which he was champion on more than one occasion. He also served on the committee of the Brandon Conservative Club, and was a Past Master of the "Ceres" Lodge of Freemasons. Mr. Coe was a member of Brandon British Legion. He formed a branch of the West Suffolk Free Library and a school library.

THE FUNERAL

There was a large and representative gathering at the funeral on Tuesday. The cortege was headed by brethren of the "Ceres" (Swaffham) and "Thet" (Thetford) lodges of Free- masons. The choral service at St. Peter's Church was conducted by the Rev. S. Rogerson (Hepworth), assisted by the Rev. N. C. Smith. The organist the Rev. T. H. Cronchey, of South Pickenham played "O rest in the Lord," Beethoven's Funeral March and Chopin's Funeral March. Two hymns were sung, "Jesu, Lover of my soul" and "Abide with me." The Rev. Smith read the lesson, and the Rev. Rogerson read the committal sentences at the graveside. The Masonic funeral oration was read by Bro. L. J. Isbern and the last rites observed. The breastplate of the coffin was embossed with the Masonic emblem. Mr. Coe's age was 55 years.

The family mourners were Mrs. Coe (widow), Mr. Cyril Coe, Mr. Lawrence Coe (sons), Mr. A. J . Drakes (son-in-law), Mr. H. W. Coe (Swaffham), Mr. E. A. Coe (Kelling), Mr. F. C. Coe (Frinton), Miss A. M. Coe (Welwyn), Miss E. M. Coe (Kew Gardens), Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hoyle (Wolverhampton), Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Hoyle (Coventry), Mr. L. Hoyle (Wanstead).

SCHOLARS PRESENT

The staff of the School were represented by Mr. F. C. Astle (acting headmaster), Miss S. Purser (infants' head teacher), Mr. H. W. Jack- son and Mrs. A. A. Brearley, and the following senior scholars were present: Barbara Dorling, Patricia Edgington, Edmund Caban and Harold Glaister. Brandon School managers were repre- sented by Mr. Harry Lingwood, Mr. F. Holmes, Mrs. Oscar Lingwood and Mr. J. T. Capron. Mrs. W. Clark represented here husband, the chairman. The West Suffolk Education Com- mittee representatives were Mr. F. R. Hughes (secretary), Mr. Creek (Horticultural Inspector), and Mr. Rumbelow. The school's caretaker, Mr. Joe Ashley, also attended.

The "Ceres" Lodge of Freemasons was repre- sented by: Past Masters C. S. King (W.M.), H. R. Heyhoe, R. S. Purdie, R. Deer, H. W. Coe and R. J. Lawrence, with R. E. Wilson (S.W.), A. R. Richards (J.W.), Rev. T. H. Cronchey, and the following brethren: Bros. W. B. Rix, W. E. Green, G. Brearley, H. P. Stone, C. Brewster and T. Smith and the "Thet" Lodge by Bros. R. J. Woodrow, A. E. Osborne, A. C. Rivett, F. J. Mount, G. Whitta, L. J. Isbern and F. W. Gentle. The Ouse Side Bowling Club was represented by Mr. C. Carter, Mr. F. W. Rids- dale and Mr. H. Berry. Brandon British Legion: Mr. A. J. Gascoyne and Mr. L. A. Whalebelly. Conservative Club: Mr. A. W. Parry and Gen. de Lotbiniere, Mr. W. J. Murrell and Mr. J. S. Cooper.

PUBLIC TRIBUTE

Those present in church were Mrs. de Lot- biniere, Mr. C. J. Capper, Mr. O. Lingwood, Mr. B. A. Lingwood, Rev. Tyrrell H. Green, Mr. H. Edwards, Mr. I. Tilney, Mr. C. Lingwood, Mrs. F. W. Gentle, Miss Eileen Gentle, Mrs. D. P. Lingwood, Mrs. G. Clark, Mrs. G. Whitta, Mr. T. Teed, Mrs. C. H. Harvey, Mrs T. A. Green, Mrs. Mills, Mrs. A. Stapley, Mrs Foyster, Mrs H. Berry, Mrs. Young, Mrs. W. Woodrow, Miss E. Coveney, Miss M. Payne, Mr. Heather -ington, Mrs. S. Rogerson, Mr. F. Neep, Miss E. Toombs, Miss Quinn, Miss Scott, Miss Catch- pole, Mr. P. L. Burgess, Mrs. W. Challiss, Mrs. F. Tash, Mrs. Dorling, Mrs. Wheat, Mrs. H. Dorling, Miss Hewson, Mrs. Currie, Mrs. J. Caban, Mrs. J. Miles, Mrs. W. Norton, Mr. Talbot, Mr. G. Lambert, Mrs. A. Armiger, Mrs. W. Pettitt, Mr. C. Green, Mrs. W. Bullock, Mrs. Windward, Mrs. J. Newton, Mr. H. Snare, Mrs. E. Whistler, Miss M. Green, Mr. H Cox, Mrs. W. Wells, Mrs J. Wells, Mrs. G. Snare, Mrs. E. Norton, Mrs. Mercer, Mrs Tarbet, Mrs Dunger, Mrs. W. Arnold, Miss Q. Arnold, Mrs. H. Kent, Mrs. B. Mutum, Mrs. E. Wharf, Mrs. W. Carter

After more than 300 years of continuous education on one site Brandon's school on the Market Hill finally closed its doors to pupils at the end of the Summer Term 2002. An attractive new Forest School has been built (attached to the infants school portion of the old school) allowing all children to be taught within one building once more.

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Page 3 - The new Forest School