schoolactivities

Country dancing was a very developed activity in the school a from its very early days. This photograph was taken in the early 1950s. The girl on the extreme right is Valerie Frankton opposite her is Carol Harrison who supplied the photograph. Also in the photograph is Marjorie Sugrue and Wendy Maycock. But no boys! Apparently it was the girls wearing the skirts who stood in for the absent boys!

The above photograph appeared in the Coventry Evening Telegraph in May 2008. In response I was contacted by Ann Nye who told me: "My brother Ray Skelcher is second on the left front row. He was only at Copthorne for a few months as we had just returned from Canada where we lived for three years. When we came back he had missed the 11 plus exam so he then sat it at a later date and was sent to another School. The date was 1955 not in 53 as you thought . I myself went to Copthorne 1961-1965 and had many happy times there." The teacher in the middle is Miss M. I. Jones one of the school's original members of staff.

Brian Clarke, who was one of the school's first pupils, has identified this photograph as being taken in Coundon Road. The pupils were queuing to get a train at Coundon Road Station to travel to Portsmoth to see the Victory. The school log records the date of the trip as being the 12th June 1952 and that 85 pupils went on the trip - given the numbers that had probably left the school at Easter and Christmas that was probably more than half the school's roll at that time. It is possible, however, this was another trip as Carol Chapman (formerly Harrison) has also told me the pupils were queuing to get a train at Coundon Road Station but can't recall were the trip was to - and If I have understood Carol correctly she was not a pupil in June 1952 but only from September onwards. Carol was a member of the school's country dancing team so it is possible the group was about to travel to Nuneaton to take part in the town's Arts Festival. The school log records that the school took part in this festival on at least two occasions: 29th May 1954 when the 1st and 2nd year girls won 1st prize for Scottish Dancing and the 27th May 1955 when the school won a drama first prize “1066 and All That”. Coundon Road Railway station apparently closed in 1965. The teacher at the head of the line of pupils is Mrs. Pittaway and Miss Knowles can be seen further back. Ray Huxley has identified himself as the poser - it was probably his tie he was wanting to show off - "I'll never forget that tie. My uncle, who was in the Merchant navy, brought it from America, and it was made of silk, and had flying saucers on it."

[STOP PRESS - David Betts who attended Copthorne from August 1953 to Christmas 1956 has suggested another possible destination:- Liverpool He remembers the trip included a visit to the new cathedral and a boat trip on the Mersey.]

School Trips Abroad.

1958 - the following three photographs were supplied by Shirley Smith (née Judd) who says of the trip:

In Belgium we stayed in a hotel in Blankenberge, then visited and the canals and the Begginage in Bruges. We then continued to Brussels visiting The Palace of Justice and the World Exhibition and the Atonium also in Brussels. In France we stayed at the Hotel Barrault in Paris .We walked along the banks of the River Seine and made visits to Eiffel Tower ,Palace of Versailles ,Botanical Gardens Paris. In Holland we toured a windmill in Middleberg.

Shirley says of this photograph: I am in the middle of the photo by the gap kneeling down. I recognise Peter Williams , Chris Pemberton, Stuart Lawernce, Barbara Coward at the end of the front row right Then some of the staff - Mr Hall Miss Knight etc. The older portly man on the right was an official palace guide. When he wanted us to move on to the next site he put his brolly in the air and shouted "My party follow me." There is a man at the back towards the left white jumper and scarf and glasses whom I think was Mr Hall's son .

The larger image below I received some years after Shirley sent her my copy. It was sent to me by Bob Blenkinsop who also provided me with a second image in which several people are identified.

This is believed to be a photograph taken on the school's first trip abroad - probably the 1955 trip to Belgium and Holland - the boys were actually outnumbered by the girls on that trip. The photo was provided by Ray Huxley who took up a paper round for 15 shillings a week to pay for the trip.

1962

On the bus on a school trip to Switzerland - the girl looking at the camera has been identified as being Carole Rose. Below the trips trip's itinerary - click on image to obtain a larger version.

1963

Taken on a school trip to Holland probably in 1963 - the tall boy is Peter Wileman the head boy that year.

1956 Panto

The 1956 School Pantomime. So much information has come in regarding this photograph I thought it best to create a separate page on which to present it all: The 1956 School Panto. There is also a similar page for the school's 1959 production of the Mikado.

Snowdon 1963

This was taken on an ascent of Snowden made by a number of pupils on the 9th May 1963 - Mr. C Evans can just be seen on the extreme left of the photograph.

Charity Walk 1963

In 1963 seven members of the school's fifth form walked from Oxford to Coventry to raise funds for Oxfam - they are seen here presenting a cheque to the city's mayor. Mr. Jenkins the then deputy head is on the extreme left. The pupils left to right are: Tony Grey, ??, Wyn Evans, Malcolm Johnson, Les Ryder, Rodney Franklin, ??.

If you have any information or photographs of Copthorne School you think should go on this website please email buttlekeswick@hotmail.com or write to the address given on the Contact Page

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