Chippenham, On The Island c.1955

Photo ref: C294008

Final year at school and spent most of may and June at the pool while waiting for our results. Cycled from Christian malford to get there.

I fondly recall my days as a late 1950's pupil at the Grammar School on its hill. A bus service was used to ferry pupils like me from the more distant parts of the county. We had a mixed attendance and the headmaster was still Sidney Farrar. I recall a number of the teachers well... namely Frank Harrison (English/rugby master); Mr Hinds (maths - not surprisingly nicknamed "Alfie" from a certain ...see more

I was in the first intake of the newly built Chippenham Grammar School. When we arrived for our first day there were no chairs, as war had just been declared and all transport had been commandeered for the movement of troops. So we spent our day perched uncomfortably on the desks and were then told to go home until further notice. I remember spending time sheltering from air raids in the cellar ...see more

Chippenham Grammar School in wartime, way up on the Malmesbury Road, was a great place to be, despite inevitable privations. Textbooks were in short supply, exercise books were rationed, and some of the teachers were away in the armed forces, but it was a happy place, with 400 pupils and a splendid Head, Sidney Farrar, supported by an excellent staff, some of whom were university teachers on loan. ...see more