Boys / Infants Board School
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The Homend

[Ledbury Homend School]
 
1868 - The Boys Board School was built
 
The Board School for boys was erected on a site in the Homend, given by the late John MARTIN, Esq,. and was enlarged in 1894 it is a commodius structure of red brick.
 
It has a residence for the master, and their is accommodation for 235 boys, with an average attendance of about 200.
 
1885 - Headmaster Arrives
 
In the autumn George PAUL came to Ledbury, aged about 35, when he was appointed headmaster to the Ledbury Boys' National School on the death of the previous headmaster, William CALDWELL.
 
1885 had been a particularly difficult year for the school with a three week closure because of an outbreak of measles following a lengthy period of average attendance as low as 65.8 although about 120 boys were on the books.
 
Some continuity with the previous regime was maintained for about a year as William CALDWELL's son continued as a pupil teacher until leaving for further training in Exeter.
 
Over the course of his 32 year tenure as headmaster George PAUL improved academic standards and poor moral at the school through addressing problems with discipline, attendance, poor premises and low staffing levels.
 
In 1894 he oversaw the transition from the National School to the new Board School regime.
 
A Retrospect

1896

February 12 The Ledbury School Board decided to increase the teaching staff in the Boys’ School.

1897

January 28 The Masters, Mistresses, and Teachers of the Board Schools held another successful soiree in the Boys’ School.

May 31 Ledbury underwent the turmoil and excitement of the triennial School Board Election. There were nine candidates for seven seats, the following being elected: - J. BANNER (691), C. W. STEPHENS. (632), W. A. C. GABB (596), S. H. BICKHAM (508), C. E. M. GREEN, Rector (450), C. Y. POTTS, Congregational Minister (404), T. HODGES (237). The defeated candidates were Mr. J. PREECE (221), and Mr. M. A. WOOD (148), both of whom were old and tried members. June 2 The last Meeting of the Old School Board was held.

June 9 The first Meeting of the newly elected School Board was held. The Rev. C. E. M. GREEN was re-elected Chairman, and the Rev. C. Y POTTS was elected to the Vice-Chair. At the same meeting it was decided by a majority of one, that the Apostles’ Creed should no longer be taught in the Schools.

July 7 The School Board held their annual meeting, the examination reports being read. The Boys’ school was reported satisfactory; in the Girls’ school several of the standards required pulling up; the Infants’ school was fair.

1898

January 25 The Church Sunday School children had their Christmas Treat in the Boys‘ School.

January 26 The teachers of the Board Schools held their fifth Soirée the same evening at the Boys’ School.

March 2 At the School Board Meeting a long discussion took place on the Drummond Hay Endowment question, and it was resolved to ask the Charity Commissioners if the Board were competent to administer the Charity, seeing that the words “Church of England” were mentioned in the Charity.

August 22 The DAWES’ Testimonial prizes were distributed in the Boys‘ School.

1900

May 19 Six Candidates nominated for seven seats on the Ledbury School Board—Rev. Preb. MADDISON GREEN (Rector), Rev. C. Y. POTTS, Messrs. S. H. BICKHAM, C. W. STEPHENS, H. BRAY, and J. BOYD. Mr. G. BEST was subsequently elected by the Board, the Rector was re-elected Chairman, and Rev. C. Y. POTTS Vice-chairman.

June 15 Distribution of “Duckworth” prizes at Boys’ School.

In 1900, for the first time within the Chair's memory, 'the highest grant was received for every subject. A total payment of 22/3d per head was made which included 1/6d for drawing, singing by rote 1/-, elementary science and English 2s, geography 2s'.

1900 - Fife and Drum Band - Mafeking Boys
 
[Ledbury Board School]
( Elizabeth BRACE ( Paul ) Collection )
Back Row - all unknown - Middle Row - all unknown
Front Row - all unknown, except George William PAUL ( Headmaster ) ( Liz's Grandad )
Ground - unknown, unknown, Reginald PAUL ( Liz's dad )
 
A Retrospect

1901

February 4 The Ledbury Board Schools closed for three weeks in consequence of the epidemic of whooping cough and mumps.

June 5 The School Board decided to purchase dummy rifles for physical training in the Boys’ School.

August 21 Ledbury Board Schools “broke up” for five weeks holidays: extended to six weeks on account of the prolongation of hop-picking.

September 4 At the School Board Meeting Mr. STEPHENS reported on the great increase in the grant earned by the schools. At the same meeting Mr W DINGLEY resigned the post of School Attendance Officer which he had held since 1870, on account of his leaving Ledbury.

November 29 Presentation of “Duckworth” Prizes for regular attendance at the Boys’ School.

1902

March 5 Mr STEPHENS at the School Board Meeting reported on the increased grants earned by the schools.
September 19 Another Meeting at the Town Hall to Protest against the Education Bill.

November 19 The School Board resolved to close the schools for a fortnight on account of the outbreak of measles.
1903 - Medal For Regular Attendance ( James MANSELL )
 
[1903 medal][1903 medal]
( Joanne EDGE Collection )
 
1915 - The whole of the teaching staff of the Ledbury Boy's School with the exception of the Headmaster, joined the Army.
 
1917 - Mr PAUL Headmaster retired from the School
 
1920 - 1921 - Football Team
 
[sch9]
Back Row - Harry MORRIS, James SAYCE, W PEDLINGHAM, John PLUMTREE, Cecil WILLIAMS
Middle Row - Fred TOONE, George DAVIS, Frank GLADWIN, Ted JACKSON, S DINHAM
Front Row Kneeling - Percy DANCE ( res ), C SHAKESHEFF
 
1921 - The Ledbury The Magazine of The Ledbury Boys' School Introduced
 
1921 - June The Ledbury Magazine Issue No 5
 
[Ledbury Boys School magazine 1921]
 
Cover Page
President Mr H C HOOPER, Headmaster, Editor Mr C E BAKER, Hon Secretary Miss K UNDERWOOD
Committee Miss A A PAUL, Miss J PREECE, Mr T LYONS, Fred TOONE, John PLUMTREE, Arthur NEAL
 
Transcript of the editorial
 
It is very pleasing to be able to record that the new venture proved an overwhelming success. 104 copies of No 4 were printed, and on the third day after publication 90 had been sold.

Six days later the Mag. was out of print. I advise you to give the School Captain an order for the Mag. to be saved for you every term, while you remain at School. You will be sure of getting it then.

Appreciation of ' the ledbury' has reached me from a very large number of parents and grown up friends, in addition to old boys, and I trust that every scholar will make it his aim to keep the Mag up to its present standard. This can only be done by careful thought and hard work, but I know that you are not afraid of hard work.

You will find the present issue full of interest. Miss UNDERWOOD gives you three pages of ' Echoes ' which are most amusing and show that the juniors can do towards making the Magazine a success. The Second Form also shows up well. Every boy in the School should attempt something and send it in to me. Last term I had the greatest difficulty in selecting entries and stories, there were so many good ones. That is just what I want.

May I ask my grown up readers if they will kindly send me a list of the six books for boys they consider to be ' Books for all time '

23 pages - Names mentioned in magazine listed below
 
Arthur NEALE, Douglas HIGGINBOTHAM, Harry F HODGES, Gwennie HODGES, Harry BARNETT, James SAYCE, Frank GLADWIN, Arthur SHINN, Cecil WILLIAMS, Fred ROBERTS, George DAVIS, Claude BOUNDS, Horace BRUTON, Harold PARTRIDGE, Harry MORRIS, Henry W BARNETT, Roy BOLWELL, Richard COOMBE, Reginald POWELL, Kenneth BARNES, William SMITH, Sidney SMITH, Walter HODGES, Frederick NEWPORT, Thomas SMITH, Harold DAVIES, Archibald CHADD, James REYNOLDS, Albert KEELEY, William WALTERS, Frank GIBBONS, Albert VERNALL, Percy H MORRIS, Eric DAVIS, Archibald POWELL, John WORRAL, Arthur SKINNER, Ronald SHAKESHEFF, Cuthbert NAPPER, Bertie DANIELS, Ronald PARKER, Jack BAYLISS, Walter BURGESS, Harold SHORT, Fred TOONE, John PLUMTREE, Edwin HALE, Harold YAPP, John WETSON, Harold WEBBER, Norman MORRIS, Reginald CHADD, Ernest GIBBONS, George NEAL, Jack MORRIS, William BELCHER, Tom WILLIAMS, Roy BOLWELL, Harry WATKINS, Albert BROWN, Thomas BRANT, Leonard PREECE, William BRYDGES, Harold PLUMTREE, Edwin JACKSON, Eric WILLIAMS, Frank KENDRICK, Cecil PHILLIPS, George DANIELS, Frank SYMONDS, Fred MAPP, Willie DAVIES, Dick DAVIES, Ernest SMITH, Peter BOWES, Harold YAPP, Harry BAYNAM, Jim GLADWIN, Jim SHAKESHEFF, Bobbie DAWE, Joe JENKINS, Sidney WOOD, Denis PHILLIPS, Peter BOWES, H BRISLAND, ... PEDLINGHAM, P WHATLEY, Roland J DANCE, W C LOCKE, Sidney SMITH, Kenneth G MILLS.
( Chris PONTER Collection )
 
1929 - Christmas The Ledbury Magazine Issue No 22
 
60 pages - Names mentioned in magazine
Mr H C HOOPER Headmaster, Mr C E BAKER, Mrs k HODGES, Miss A A PAUL, Bernard DAWE, S BOWES, L FLETCHER, L MERRITT, Jack BARNETT, James WEBB, C A ADAMS, F N BOUNDS, J L PITT, Harry BARNETT, R J POWELL, A FOWLER, W HODGES, F KENDRICK, F G TOONE, E SMART, J WETSON, J SHAKESHEFF, W WESTON, R J PITT, H WORRALL, D PRICE, A WETSON, R PEART, Sidney DAVIS, Tom SMITH, Mr G B MOONEY, Walter BARNES, R BRIGHT, S FLETCHER, F BEVAN, J COOKE, A GARDINER, R PHELPS, more names to follow
( Roger BAKER Collection )
 
1940
 
[Boys School Class of 1940]
( Nigel ONIONS Collection )
Ben CHAPMAN, Joe CRADDOCK, George DAVIS, unknown Dick SHIRVINGTON, unknown, unknown
Doug EDWARDS, Cyril HAINES, Charlie BAKER, Claude HOOPER, Harry HARTLEY, Ron SYMONDS, Leslie W M ONIONS
Jim PROSSER, Unknown, John SCRIVENS
 
Date Unknown - Church Service
 
[Boys School]
( Jo ISAACS Collection )
Front Row - all unknown except 3rd from left Mr ISAACS
2nd Row - all unknown except for 2nd from right Tutti SMART
3rd Row - all unknown except 7th from left Leon MERRIT, on the end right Mr BEBBINGTON, 2nd in John CHESTER
4th Row and 5th Row - all unknown
 
Date Unknown - Sports Day at the Cricket Ground Ross Road
 
[Boys School Sports Day]
( Terry WILKINS Collection)
Terry WILKINS in the middle ( white shorts ), Teacher far right
 
Is the teacher John Suddes, a young John Suddes that is. I remember him with grey hair when he taught me
 
I think his nick name was Joe, as in Joe Soap, derived from Suddes (suds) then soap suds
 
1952 / 1953
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
( David and Sheila NEALE Collection )
Names to follow
 
1958 - Headmaster Mr G W E FARROW
 
1964
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
( D J NORTON Collection )
 
1971 / 1972 - Harvest Festival
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
( Sally STURGE Collection )
Back Row - unknown, Sharon LEDBURY, Gareth HILL, unknown, Amanda BERRY, Sally STURGE, Sharon MITCHELL, Anne HOLTHAM, unknown
Middle Row - Anna MORRIS, Andrew MILLS, unknown, Vanessa ROBINSON, unknown, unknown, Joanne BUMFREY, Sandra TAYLOR, Pat STURGE
Front Row - unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Tony PHILLIPS, John MOSS, Cheryl HOOPER
 
1979 - Class 1
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
( Michelle MILLICHAMP ( Morris ) Collection )
 
1981 - Class 2
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
( David and Sheila NEALE Collection )
 
Boys - School Gallery ( Alphabetical by Surname )
 
[Boys School]
Terry WILKINS
 
Infants - School Gallery ( Alphabetical by Surname )
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Laura JONES ( Cole )
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Bridget BACHE ( Davis )
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Joanne EDGE
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Joanne ISAACS
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Carole JONES
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Ismet and Franca MUSTAFIC
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Fiona PENWARNE
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Chris PONTER
Taken in the main hall at the Infants 1970 they used to drag those bird backgrounds and piece of grey carpet out of the cupboard every year for the school photo's
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Judy BAKER ( Rose )
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Linda SAUNDERS
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
Rhona HATHAWAY ( Vicarage )
 
Thanks to Laura JONES ( Cole ) for this lovely set of photos. They were taken when the School building was For Sale by Auction
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
 
[Ledbury Infants School]
 

Related Links
John MARTIN ( Donated Land )
George William PAUL ( Headmaster 1885 - 1917 )


Sources
1897 - 1980 A Retrospect Tilleys Almanacks - Herefordshire History
Photographs are credited to the owners where possible
Comments in italics are from the Old Ledbury Facebook Group
Cuttings from Old Ledbury Reporter Newspapers