Words supplied by Chivenor Primary School
History leaped off the pages of dusty logbooks, as two former students returned to Chivenor Primary School, marking a nostalgic start to the school’s heritage project. The alumni, who first entered the school over fifty years ago, provided a living link to a vanishing era for today’s local youngsters.
Current head boys and girls bombarded the past pupils with questions, eager to compare childhoods across the decades.
While football was popular then and remains a firm favourite today, the visitors explained to the pupils that they also used to play “marleys” – a traditional game of marbles. When asked about the teachers, the men fondly described Miss Palmer and Mr. Fletcher as “kind and fun”.
However, they noted that Mr Fletcher also had the job of disciplining the pupils, recalling classmates receiving “the slipper” for misbehaviour. This contrasted to the nicer memory of a birthday biscuit during assemblies.
The highlight of the day was when the gentlemen looked through the school archives, delighted to find their names in the official register. They also read the school logbook, which chronicled milestones including the time they were filmed for a television segment regarding energy conservation.
They also spoke warmly of school trips to the farm, laughing as they remembered constructing a giant papier-mâché cow.
Chivenor Primary School was originally opened in 1965 before an official opening in 1967. If you attended in the 60’s 70’s or 80’s please contact the school to share your stories and take part in their heritage project: [email protected]
For more on Chivenor Primary School visit www.chivenor-gst.org
Chivenor Primary School is part of Griffin Schools Trust, for more information visit www.griffinschoolstrust.org
Chivenor Primary School is part of the Erdington Local BACK TO SCHOOL programme, working together to celebrate school life from staffroom to classroom.
If your school would like to know more about going BACK TO SCHOOL with Erdington Local, please email: [email protected]
