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Welcome to the Barbourne Preparatory School, Worcester Website

LATEST NEWS

2012 Reunion date now fixed for Saturday 24 March 2012 at the Worcester Golf and Country Club, Boughton Park, Worcester

Further details and invitations to book a place have been emailed or posted to everyone on my database as of 19th January 2012. If you were on the 2010 contact list and have not received an email, please let me know.

If you are an ex-pupil who I have not contacted before, please email me so that I can add you to my database to receive further information.

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The first ever Reunion was organised by David Ranford and took place on Saturday evening 20 February 2010 at Worcester Golf and Country Club, Boughton Park, Bransford Road, Worcester. 42 ex-pupils plus Mrs Brady's daughter Judy Oliver attended.

This page contains:

1. Photos from the Reunion  including Worcester News Report  15 March 2010                

2. Memories from school days

3. 1950 school photo

3. Whole School photos with names - please fill in the missing ones and email me

 1950  1953  1956  1957  1958

4. List of pupils I'm trying to find - please help

5. 6 April 2010: School Photos from 2003

6. Photo of School in 2004 and now

News Report in the Worcester News on Monday 15 March 2010

Have a look at the article direct at the Worcester News Website. Click here - 

Below are a selection of photos taken by me.  Also by Tim Pettigrew on the night.

                                                                                           Unfortunately a few had to go early and missed these group photos

Judy Oliver - Mrs Brady's Daughter (Special Guest) giving her speech

                          Next 4 pictures - listening to Judy Oliver

↓ Tim Pettigrew Stevie Geoghegan ↓ (Creek)   Helen Garner ↓ (Rogers)        Jane Day (Richards)   ↓

         Rosemary Davison (Ratcliffe) ↓                              ↓ Kathy English (Brewer) 

   Barrie Redding     ↑                                                                  Martin Ward   ↑

     Barry Ashmore ↑                                       David Ranford   ↑

Sally Rees (Pugh)   ↑          Barry Ashmore  ↑                David Ranford  ↑

                                                                                            Tony Wadley    ↑ 

  Tim Pettigrew     ↑                    Ian Pattison    ↑                         Sally Rees (Pugh)     ↑   

                       Nigel Marks   ↑        Judy Halford  ↓                       Bill Tansell  ↑

              ↓  Jean Legge (Pattison)

    Neil Durrant      ↑                  Barry Ashmore      ↑              Valerie Brown (Keene) ↑

          Jack Randall       ↑                                                Martin Ward  ↑

                    Martin Wyatt ↓

  Nick Gilbert   ↑                        Nigel Marks       ↑                    Patricia Dyson  ↑

  Nigel Marks       ↑                       Patricia Dyson   ↑                Bill Tansell   ↑

  Katherine Harding (Pettigrew) ↑   Nick Gilbert   ↑    Lynda Martinson (McGee)  ↑

 Ian Pattison   ↑                                   ↓  Angela King (Gammon)     Sally Rees (Pugh)  ↑ 

Jane Day (Richards) ↑ Pat Salisbury (Creek) ↑ Ros Lindop (Monk) ↑ ↑Lynda Martinson ↑Helen Garner (Rogers)

                 Helen Garner (Rogers) ↓                ↓  Graham Creek

Stevie Geoghegan (Creek) ↑                     Pat Salisbury (Creek)   ↑            ↑ Lynda Martinson (McGee)

Nick Gilbert ↑               ↑ ???    Sally Rees (Pugh) ↑             ↑  Stevie Geoghegan (Creek)   

  Jeremy Johnson ↑ who provided the 1956, 1957 and 1958 photos 

Memories

I remember celebrating Oak Apple Day every year. Never heard of it since!

Half day on a Friday. Playing in the park after school. Outdoor art classes in the park.

Playing sport on Pitchcroft and walking past the waterworks which always smelt terrible.

Frozen milk put on the radiator in winter which became warm and horrible to drink.

The older GIRLS had a rota to wash up the teachers tea and coffee cups.

Mrs Hocking was the caretaker.

The vicar of St Georges came once a week during Lent to talk to us. Always amazed as he hitched up his cassock and rode off on his bike!

The blue League of Pity money boxes.

Green and white striped dresses in the summer with Panama hats.

Rushing home at lunchtime on the bus – no school lunches or mothers with cars in those days.

Father could never understand why stationery was extra on the “bill”.

More Memories by Martin Wyatt

·        First morning, before school started I fell over in the playground and cut my chin & nose!

·        The friendliness of Mrs Handley and Mrs Hiles.

·        The A,B,C etc around the reception class ceiling.  I don’t know why that should stick in my mind, but it was a pleasant one.

·        Both Lynda  and Bronwyn tying my shoe laces as I did not know how to!  I have since learned how to do this you will be pleased to know!

·        The swifts and swallows flying over the Waterworks.  I suspect that I did not know what the Waterworks really did.

·        Walking home with my mum (both parents died a few years ago) via the tuck shop and park.  Sailing boats in the stream, before they found that it contained harmful content and fenced/hedged it off!

·        Racing cars in the sand pit, something that was to lead to a fond hobby.

·        Someone being brought to school in a Bristol, which I drooled over even at that tender age, and still do!

·        Building a brick hidey hole with others at the end of the playground which became variously a fort, space ship or military command centre, until we were told to pull it down as it was not safe!!

·        Mrs B smacking the back of my legs with a 12inch rule! (A memory by many others including me! David Ranford.) I can’t remember or imagine why as I am sure that I was a model student!

·        Nature walks seem to come to mind as well, but in a pleasant way.

Other interesting connections by Martin Wyatt.

·        It took some time to link the name Dave Ranford, but he used to organise a radio controlled model car club that I went to in the early 80’s. (Yes – Worcester Model Car Club -  David R)

·        James Dawes and I were prefects at our next school, Glenhyn in Droitwich, but did not know each other at Barbourne

·        My late sister’s partner has known Angela King for many years

·        Stephanie Creek, as was, sang with her husband’s folk group at my 50^th do

·        Michael Mezzone and I were both apprentices at Heenans in the 60’s, but have not seen each other since.

·        Judith Smart is married to John Smart who was at Glenhyn as well and we have been friends as families for over 25 years due mainly to children and until Dave sent the listing round we did not know the Barbourne connection

·        Tim Pettigrew was at university with a very good friend of ours who lives in Guildford and who we met when I worked in Australia in the 80’s

Small world isn’t it.  Anyway, it will be great to meet up with you and the friends made at Barbourne.  My wife, Rachel has been quite involved with the AO old gals, although they were not too pleased about the merger and I know that they enjoy occasional meetings.       Martin Wyatt

And there is more:

The cricketer Rolly Jenkins used to live in a bungalow in Waterworks Road facing out into Gheluvelt Park above the laurels by Barbourne Brook.  Mrs Brady managed to hire him to take us for 'Sports' on Pitchcroft where if anyone did something 'silly'  they were 'Daft as a brush'!!

Amy Bright-Smith was a Nursery Nurse from 2003 to 2004 when the school closed. There were about 10 pupils over 5 years old at the time and around 6 Pre-school in the Nursery who she worked with.

School Photographs

If you can identify the names of pupils you knew that are missing, please go to my Home Page and email me with the details.

 1950 in Ombersley Road before the move to Waterworks Road

TRYING TO FIND THESE PUPILS.

Do you know where they are? Please contact me if you do.

School pupils in 2003

The Nursery in 2003

Whole School in 2003

The School in April 2004 on the date it closed

The School in February 2010 - now apartments