Down Memory Lane

My great grand-daughter is now into her second year at “big school”.  She will be six in a few weeks' time.  The other day, she came home after an art lesson, and told her mother excitedly that they had learned all about Van Gogh – about his self-mutilation, his friendship with Cézanne, the way his moods influenced his choice of colours, and so on – and they had all been invited to choose one of his paintings to copy.  This is at a normal Church of England Primary School, not some sort of private establishment for precocious or abnormally gifted children.  Crickey!  I doubt whether I had even heard of Van Gogh until I was in my Forties!

This is the fourth article documenting the early years of Borden Grammar School, written by former Headmaster, Bryan Short.

Mr Bond's School

This article continues Bryan Short's history of the School. See Part 1 and Part 2 for the earlier articles.

The Receivership

In August 1880 the Master of the Rolls heard a case in the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice brought by the Attorney General.   The defendants were Edward Leigh Pemberton and the other Governors of Borden School.  Officers of the Charity Commission had been prompted by the Headmaster, who wanted to know the future of the School.  The Attorney General brought the action to establish what the School's future should be.

Comment received from Philip Drury, re "Reminiscences of a pupil of the 1940s". To see full article and comment, click here 

We recently received the following email from Reg Hunn, a pupil at Borden from 1944 - 1950, triggered by the obituary of Frank Nicholls,providing an insight into life at the school and beyond 60 years ago.

In an idle moment today whilst at a loose end , and for an inexplicable reason, I decided to look up the school on the web.

On studying the site I noted with sadness the passing of Frank Nicholls a while back.

This article continues Bryan Short's history of the School.

Grave Irregularities

Mr. Bond proceeded with his work at the School.  Staff were recruited.  Advertisements placed in newspapers throughout the County brought in pupils, and the School roll rose.  Clause 51 of the Scheme required the Head Master to provide the Governors with a written report on the School's progress.  Mr Bond produced his first report, covering the year October 1878 to October 1879. 

This article has been reproduced from 2009 in advance of publishing further chapters of the history of the school.

Founding a School in the 1870s

The founding of Barrows Boys School (as it was first called) began, continued and ended in controversy, culminating in the resignation of the entire Governing Body in 1880.