Extracts from St Michael's 150th Visitors' Book - Part 3

Matthew Stokes- Pupil 1984-1989
St Michael’s will always have a place in my heart- what a wonderful school. I remember celebrating the 125th anniversary very well so it’s lovely to be back here for the 150th. Great to see the spirit and community feel has continued with the current pupils and staff. So much has stayed the same- even the same hobby horse and water fountain! And yet the school still evolves to be a great school for Sandhurst. Many congratulations on your 150th- looking forward to the 175th- and 200th.....! (sadly the main thing to deteriorate is my handwriting –sorry Mrs Morton!)

Ann Morton
What an amazing experience! I spent Friday meeting and talking to former colleagues, pupils, today Saturday have been incredibly impressed by the quality of work on display around the hall. I have never seen such beautiful handwriting- it really enhances all the research and enthusiasm of the children themselves. Congratulations to staff, pupils and parents of St Michael’s school.

Denise Kaye
I enjoyed being shown around by Toby Dossett. My children all came to the school and enjoyed every minute of it. We have all good memories of St Michael’s. I was a dinner lady for two years and have worked in the school kitchen for nearly 12 years. I really enjoy my time with all the children. It was also nice to catch up with all the teachers who taught my children.

Rebecca Brown (nee Steele) 1972-1979
(now a music/primary school teacher for Bracknell Forest)
What a lovely celebration. Lovely informative displays and a delicious cream tea. I have very fond memories of my primary school days here with Mr Maskell as the headteacher. Some of my favourite memories are sewing afternoons with Mrs Morton, recorder playing with Mrs Cole, swimming in the open air swimming pool, playing hopscotch, playing rounders over on the school field and making project books.

Catherine Wilkins(nee Holmes) 1969-75
Fantastic to see how much hard work has gone into the Anniversary celebrations. The displays of work were very interesting and we were well looked after by Dominic who showed us around so helpfully, and by those who waited on us. I’ve had a lovely trip down Memory Lane, have enjoyed meeting many people from the past.

Karen Spence (nee Bird) 1964 - 1970

I am writing to say thank you for all the effort that went into St Michael's birthday open day. I was a pupil from 1964-1970 and my afternoon back at the school brought back many happy memories. Before going to the school I met up and had lunch with two old school friends who I hadn't seen for over 30 years which added to the occasion.

It was lovely to see that the school I remember so fondly is still a "great school" and that it retains a pride in its history. A particular highlight was seeing the films taken by Dr Holmes, I was the child holding the wasp nest, found when the old hall was being demolished before the swimming pool was built and the Queen of Hearts, in the fancy dress competition, my brother was hiding under the Mickey Mouse head.

I thought you might like to hear some of my very happy memories of the school.

When I first joined the school the two infant classrooms were where the staff room and offices are now. There were 4 junior classes, in the current reception classroom, library and Y2 classroom and in a terrapin on the outdoor classroom area. We used to have assembly in the current Reception classroom, there was a stage at one end and it seemed much bigger than it is now. I remember there being a chart on the wall that we had to get stars on by learning our times tables, we got a gold star for the X12. Later we had another terrapin and one of the infant classrooms was used as an art room. Just outside the entrance to your y2 classroom we used to be given a small bottle of milk to drink. In the winter it used to freeze and in the summer it was warm and horrible. I never enjoyed having to drink it.

I can remember many of my teachers' names and the subjects I used to enjoy them teaching me, I particularly remember Mrs Randall who was very strict but used to read Enid Blyton stories to us. Mr Wallace was a great science teacher and Mrs Morton taught me French.

St Michael's Netball Team 1970 - 71

Netball team 1970 - 71
(Named Version)

Staff & Parents Netball Team - 1985

Wow, 50 posts already!
All looking rather bedraggled! Either Year 6 gave them a tough match or it rained a lot!

1985 - Staff  & Parents Netball Team vs Year 6
(Named version)

Thanks to David Knott for supplying this photo memory.

Extracts from St Michael's 150th Visitors' Book - Part 2

M McGrory with Dr Phillip Lee MP

Dr Phillip Lee, MP 
I was very pleased and honoured to be invited to the opening of the new school’s garden. Both the children and the teachers at St Michael’s Primary School in Sandhurst were obviously very proud of their school. I was impressed by pupil’s outstanding achievements. The teaching environment supports and builds success for our future generations. I particularly appreciated the photograph of the children standing in the shape of ‘150’!
(Read his blog post about the visit.)

Marie Jeanne Giacomoni/ Gareth Wilson
What a fantastic celebration! Lovely facts and memories to read.
Great work and achievement from the children and teachers. Thank you so much! Well done

Pamela Taylor and family
We loved walking through the museum and listening to the brass band. The favourites in the museum was the film and the punishment book. The Goddard Boys entertained us a lot because they featured so much in the book. We’ll be back in the morning to see some more. We loved it! Thanks to everyone for all their time and effort

Slavinka and Grace Potts
What a wonderful day! We are very proud to be part of the celebrations

Tammy Summers and Finlay
What a beautiful display and wonderful atmosphere! Well done St Michaels!

Extracts from St Michael's 150th Visitors' Book - Part 1

Dale Birch, Mayor of Sandhurst
It has been a great honour to take part on this very special day. To receive a handwritten invitation was especially nice. I hope the Camellia I planted in the grounds lasts another 150years. Keep learning

Colin, Val, Chris, Steve Partridge
Wonderful day- happy memories
-Haven’t school changed in the last 25years?
A very happy and welcoming place still?
brings back some lovely memories

Ginny Priestman
Wow! What a fantastic exhibition- everyone has worked so hard.
I’ve had a lovely afternoon meeting old friends and colleagues and reliving some of St Michael’s “magic” moments. Happy Anniversary to you all!

Simon Cotterill ( and Lucy and Finnley too?)
The sense of pride in St Michael’s shone through in today’s celebration. There is something uniquely special about the place and the people who fill it with such joy. I have the fondest memories of my time here which have flooded back seeing the incredible museum and chatting to dear friends. Our tour guide Josie was a credit to the school . Thanks so much to all for the invite-it’s been such a special afternoon and a privilege to be here
Mr C and family too!

St Michael's 150th Celebrations - 9th of March 2012

We held our 150th school celebration this Friday, the 9th of March 2012. On the Friday morning we held a church service in St Michael and All Angels Church led by the Bishop of Buckingham the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson and attended by local dignitaries, ex-staff, current staff and children.

Dr Phillip Lee MP for Bracknell, formally opened the new school reflection garden area. This was followed by a short dedication and unveiling of the school's 150th sundial by the Bishop. The sundial was designed by the children who also built the 4 mosaics.

The Mayor of Sandhurst, Mr Dale Birch, then planted a camellia in the reflection garden.  This was followed by tea and cake for all allowing the dignitaries and ex-staff to mingle with the children in the school museum which depicted life since the school was formed, decade by decade.

In the afternoon, a cream tea was held for ex-staff and pupils to allow time to meet old acquaintances and reminisce. The day was rounded off by a hog roast and Edgbarrow Swing Band entertainment in the evening, attended by parents and children, followed by a firework display on the school sports field, watched by some 550 people.

St Michael's children making their way to the church for the 150th service.

Ex-St Michael's Headteachers, Mrs Antoinette Butler-Willis, Mr Geoff Boulain
and Miss Julia Evans, await the start of the 150th Church service.

Mr Simon Cotterill, Teacher 1998 - 2007

Mr Simon Cotterill

Writing about my memories of the wonderful place that is St. Michael's has quite fittingly taken the form of my preparations for all of those Lakeside evenings of years gone by... I've left it to the very last minute (let's just hope the technology holds out or that a fitness class don't turn up as they did on one instance of a terrible double booking!).  But just as all those years ago it would all come together on the night, I hope that as I sit here on the eve of your 150th birthday I find the words to do justice to just how incredibly privileged I feel to have been a part of such a special place.

In 1998 I stood fresh-faced in front of my very first class of year 6 children, proceeded to pronounce names wrong on the register (sorry Sam - I know you forgave me!), muddled my way through a literacy lesson and hurried to the staff room at break time to recover over a cup of tea, slice of cake (there were always so many cakes – Mrs Thair’s Welsh cakes were a favourite, I do miss them to this day) and plenty of laughter that would lead to friendships to last a lifetime.  That first year was a whirlwind: rugby tournaments ending in runners-up trophies (a familiar theme would emerge, but hey, it gave us something to fill the wonky trophy cabinet that Mr Boulain and myself put up to house the reminders of sporting glories); a lesson observation from Mrs Priestman that would leave us doubled up in laughter for reasons only apparent to us; stapling baubles to the hall ceiling in preparation for Christmas parties; SATS preparation loosely linked to Swallows and Amazons;  the legendary Lakeside; non-stop cricket on a Friday afternoon (was that in the curriculum?); sing-songs with the guitar; leavers services in that most beautiful of churches;  leavers parties that would always end in a victory for the teachers at rounders against the children (due to Mrs Suter’s win-at-all-costs back-stopping!), a good soaking during the waterfight (for the pupils) and drying off in the Duke’s Head afterwards (teachers only).  The list of memories goes on.

Mrs Ann Morton, 1960 - 1990

I was delighted to be invited to contribute my memories to the St. Michael's School 150 blog.

Mrs Ann Morton, 2012

I spent the greater part of my teaching career at St. Michael's School, and both my children were pupils there. My first involvement with the school was a part-time teaching post in the spring of 1960 when I taught 'upper infants' on a Friday afternoon. My daughter Karen was then about six months old and I pushed her there in her high pram (Silver Cross - now on display in the National Trust's Chastleton House, Gloucestershire!) and left her outside the staff room where the headmaster's wife, Mrs Maskell, the school secretary, kept an eye on her. After an interval of several years, during which my son Tim was born and I taught for a while at College Town School, I rejoined St.Michael's and taught alongside Mrs. Randle, widow of the former Headteacher, in the 'upper juniors'. After Mrs Randle retired I continued to teach in the upper school (years 5 & 6). David Knott was appointed headteacher in 1983 when Mr. Maskell retired and, at the same time, his deputy, Stan Burch, moved on and I was fortunate enough to be appointed as deputy head in his place. In 1990 I spent one term as acting-headteacher between David Knott's departure to College Town and the arrival of his replacement, Bill Davies, before I, too, moved on to become the headteacher of a small village school in North Oxfordshire.

Over the years memories blur but I have I have tried to pick out some of the happier moments from my time at St.Michael's, not in chronological order.

There was great excitement when the swimming pool was being built by an amazing team of parents. The old wooden dining hall was converted into changing rooms and it was busy after school, weekends and holidays with rotas of staff and parents to supervise. I particularly enjoyed summer lunchtimes in and by the pool, sunbathing and swimming, a staff privilege which set us up for the afternoons.

Part of the old dining hall was used to house an electric kiln which allowed the children to experience the whole story of pottery from the raw clay to finished glazed items. A special project with clay involved every child in the school modelling their own face on a tile which was glazed and fired. The complete collection of tiles was assembled into a mozaic lining the walls of the porch facing the terrapin.

More memories from David Knott, Headteacher 1983 - 1990

Mr David Knott, Headteacher 1983 - 1990

I had the privilege of being Headteacher at St Michael’s from August 1984 to July 1989.  I took over from Mr Stan Maskell who retired after some twenty six years in post, ably assisted by his wife, Mrs  Beryl Maskell who was the all-knowing secretary (and some would say, the power behind the throne)!

Being a relatively young head was I was somewhat apprehensive, especially as I was expected to maintain the unbeaten football record established by Mr Maskell!  In fact, a good proportion of my interview concerned the football team and how I would manage it!  Fear not, I bought some soccer boots, a whistle and a track-suit, I read a manual and I gave it a go!  Believe it or not we even won a few matches!  St Michael’s footballing fortunes changed for the better though, when we appointed a relatively young and enthusiastic teacher from Newcastle (Mr McLeod) who knew a lot more about football than I did.  I am sure that the long-serving staff and probably a number of the parents were apprehensive at having a new boy leading the school.  Computers? Science in the curriculum? residential outdoor education courses? a monthly newsletter? demolishing a rickety old (and very unsafe) stage?  Whatever next  .  .  .  ?

I have many fond memories of my time at St Michael’s.  It had a unique sense of community which quickly made me feel very welcome.  The children were a delight to work and it was a joy to come to school each morning.  The parents were most supportive.  Indeed, the PTA, although a force to be reckoned with, mobilised the school community and raised a huge amount of money.  They never said ‘No’ to a request.

150 Years of St Michael's Headteachers

Roll Call of St Michael's Headteachers

1862 - 1866 Mr Edwin Ashton

1866 - 1902 Mr John Gregory

1902 - 1936 Mr George Oldham

1937 - 1957 Mr Roland Randle

1957 - 1983 Mr Stanley Maskell

1983 - 1989 Mr David Knott

1990 - 1998 Mr Bill Davies

1999 - 2005 Mr Geoff Boulain*

2006 - 2006 Miss Julia Evans

2006 - 2011 Mrs Antoinette Flanagan (later Butler-Willis)

2011 - Present Day Miss Maire McGrory

* - Mr Boulain also had 2 periods as acting head in 1994-1995 and again in the latter half of 1998

Mrs Carol Cole 1974 - 1990

Mrs Cole - 1981

I started teaching at St Michael's in 1974 first as a part time music teacher and then as a full time infant teacher. I have many fond memories of the school, teachers,and most of all the students that I taught over the years and am looking forward to coming back on Friday to help celebrate 150 years with you!

One of the memories that stick in my mind was teaching the maypole. Stan Maskell the headteacher at the time walked into the staff room with a round dirty brown object and asked if anyone knew what it was-it'd been found in the loft. Eventually we worked out it was the top of a maypole and one of the other teachers- Doris Cox- said her 95 year old mum could remember dancing around the maypole at St Michael's in the 1880's!

I volunteered to teach maypole dancing and by that summer we were performing at the Queen's Silver Jubilee at Sandhurst Rec. We continued performing until 1990 when I retired.Perhaps there will be maypole dancing at the 150th celebration!

See you Friday,

Carol

Mr Rick Catton 1997 - 2001

Mr Rick Catton - 1997

I joined the school in January 1997. It was my second teaching job, and very different from my first school. I was appointed by Mr Davies. His comment about your Ofsted report made me smile, because it reminded me that he forgot to mention to me that the school would be receiving a visit from the inspectors in the second week of term after I joined. I’m pleased to report that after a frantic weekend of preparation, the inspection passed off well, and we were all able to return to normality.

When I first joined St Michael’s, I taught Year 3 in the classroom outside. I seem to recall that we often tried to have a story at the end of the day, or a sing with the guitar. Sometimes the end of the day might have been brought forward a little, so that we could get an extra chapter in, or learn another verse…

Over the next few years, I moved from Year 3, to Year 4, and finished up in Year 5.
On two occasions, that meant that the poor unfortunates in my class had to put up with me for two years – sorry about that! I do remember the tremendous generosity of one set of parents. Having taught their children for two years, I was presented on the last day of term with a small package from the whole class. They knew me well, and my love of all things four-wheeled, because inside was a voucher for a day’s racing at Thruxton. I still have the photographs of me emerging from a single-seater with an enormous grin plastered across my face.

I’ve enjoyed reading the posts from some very familiar faces, and it was odd to find myself on some of the staff photographs. I thought it was terribly rude of Mrs Priestman to suggest that Mr Cotterill and I were usually at the centre of any goings-on in the staffroom, although in all fairness, we did seem to do a lot of laughing during my time at the school, and I always felt part of a very special team during those years. Many’s the time Mr Cotterill, Mr Boulain and myself would meet in the staffroom on a Monday morning and bemoan the weekend performances of Derby County, Southampton FC and Ipswich Town!

There are so many memories of time at St Michael’s, a good many of them involving the kindness, generosity and warmth of everyone at the school. However, for me it was always the Christmases that were special. St Michael’s is so lucky to have such a wonderful church to attend, and I recall very clearly several of our Christmas concerts and carol services.

One year we decided to move the carol service from its traditional afternoon slot to an evening. Coming back to church for the service, and sharing a celebration of Christmas with the children, parents and staff was wonderful. On another occasion, the church floor was undergoing restoration, so we decided to hold the service in the dining hall. Having sent the children home at half past three, the staff worked madly to decorate the hall with greenery (supplied by one of the parents), gold and silver spray and hundreds of tea-lights. There has never been such a magical dining hall as there was on that December evening.

I could go on and on, but that’s probably enough for now. I’ll close by wishing the school, and its current staff and children every success. To those who are unfortunate enough to remember me, my deepest apologies for whatever I may have done. (How long did my face stay in the bin..?)

I shall always remember St Michael’s and my time there with great fondness, and like many other people, find that your school still has a special place in my heart. Enjoy your celebrations, and here’s to the next 150!

Mr Bill Davies 1990-1996

Dear St Michael's

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 150th YEAR

Mr Davies - 1996

Many thanks for your letter and kind invitation to attend the 150 year celebration tea on the 9th of March.

Sadly I am unable to attend the tea but send everyone at St Michael's my sincere good wishes on this special anniversary.

I remember my time as Headteacher there with great fondness. The children, parents governors and staff were very kind to me. Together, we developed and improved a school which I am proud to be associated with.

St Michael's was a super community to work with!

The office and teaching staff I during my time at the school were delightful professionals. They were all dedicated to meeting the needs of the children and providing families with the education service they deserved.

The PTA was a particular highlight of my headship organising superb themed summer fairs and Christmas Bazzars. Parents also gave up their time to refurbish the building during my headship. Together, staff parents and children all worked hard to raise funds to improve the school. It is evident that those improvements continue.

I have just read the last OfSTED inspection report for your school. It is very impressive. Congratulations to you all for sustaining the success of St Michael's.

Kindest regards to you all.

Bill Davies
Former Headteacher of St Michael's C of E Primary School 1990-1996
Now - Head of Leadership and Professional Learning at Babcock International

Mr Stuart McLeod 1984 - 1988

Miss Alice De Cort and the Pupils of Year 4

Dear Alice,

Thank you so much for inviting me to your 150th Anniversary Celebration on 9th March. Sadly I am unable to come as I have invited all of the parents of our school to visit us that afternoon to see our Rights Respecting work. I would have loved to be with you all because your school has a very special place in my heart.

I taught Years 5 and 6 at St Michael’s between 1984 and 1988. I changed my cupboard door in Year 6 into a Tardis and got a flashing blue light from Bracknell Police so we could make it look like a real Tardis. When we studied history we could go back in time with our own Tardis. It was also my job in those days to manage the swimming pool, something that was not too pleasant, particularly the boys’ changing room! On Tuesday evenings I stayed very late at school so I could lock up after the Brownies and on Sunday mornings I also came to school because the church used the hall for coffee after church. I had many many happy memories. Unfortunately, I cannot access your blogspot on the website because our filter in school doesn’t allow us to, mad isn’t it!

My happiest memory would be that of getting married in St Michael’s Church and half of the school came along too, that was great fun, although I didn’t feel too well that day because I had one or two lemonades the night before.

Mr McLeod & Mr Knott in the stocks - July 1986

We celebrated the school’s 125th Anniversary in 1987. We had a Victorian Day and I am sure there are still photos around of that day. I produced a booklet for the occasion. I wonder if there are any copies of them still around? It was really good fun because I got to meet lots of former pupils. One lady I met on a Sunday afternoon at school had just arrived on a visit from Switzerland. She had been evacuated from London in the Second World War. She told me how scared she felt when the air raids were taking place upstairs in the school house where she lived after school hours.

Mr David Knott, Headteacher 1983 - 1990

Dear  Katie (Year 5),

Thank you so much for your very kind invitation to attend the celebrations on the 9th March.

Unfortunately I am unable to attend as I live in Thailand which is about 9,600km away. I shall be thinking of you all as you celebrate the 150th anniversary of your  very fine school.

Mr Knott - 1987

As you may know I was the Headteacher of St Michael’s almost 30 years ago, from 1983 to 1990.
We had a similar celebration in 1987 when the school became 125 years old. We had a street party, all dressed up in Victorian clothing, put on an exhibition and a pageant and made a souvenir booklet for pupils, parents and staff to keep as a memento. We also buried a ‘time capsule’ behind the Y5 classroom. I do hope you have managed to locate it and explore its contents. A lot will have changed in the 25 years since it was buried.

I have had a good click around your blog and found it very interesting. There were a few names I recognise. I will try and fins some time next week to add something myself. I have found a couple of photos I can scan (they didn’t have digital cameras then!).

Mr Knott - 2012

I am now the Principal of the Primary School at Bangkok Patana School – the British School in Thailand. The school is very different to St Michael’s. The Primary School has 1,150 pupils (8 classes in each year group) and we have children from 62 countries around the world. Have a look a our web-site www.patana.ac.th and perhaps read some of our student blogs.

I have very happy memories of my 6 years at St Michael’s and remember it being a very happy and caring place. I was very proud to be it’s Headteacher.

Have a wonderful celebration on 9th March. I will be thinking of you!

Please let me know how the celebrations went and pass my best wishes on to anyone who was around when I was there.

Best wishes

David Knott

St Michael's Bike Shed.

Just another piece of memorabilia to help complete the school picture.  The bike shed nestled by the School's north boundary wall.  It would seem that it was also used as a storage shed.They were demolished on  February 14th 1976.

St Michael's Bike Shed - demolished in 1976.

The bike shed doubled as a storage area!

Evelyn Hulbert 1957 - 1964

St. Michaels C of E School - I attended this school from around 1957/8 until July 1964. I was there at the time of the 100th Anniversary in 1962.

I remember the school was very traditional and the buildings all had high windows. Somehow I still managed to gaze out of them, up at the sky, and daydream. I did fairly well in most subjects, so managed not to get into trouble too often, but I do remember some children being punished with the ruler across the hand, or even the cane. As far as I can remember, my greatest transgression was to write a declaration of love on the outside wall, and the punishment was merely to remove it using a scrubbing brush and pail of water!

I do remember being late for assembly fairly often, but luckily I was less likely to be told off for this than my two older brothers, Ralph and Stephen. We used to walk the mile or so to school from the other side of the village, going along some pleasant pathways and leafy hedgerows filled with a variety of flora and fauna. With the changing seasons there was always some new and fascinating sight that would absorb our attention, or maybe just a friendly cat wanting a fuss.
For me it was a lovely, gentle school, with nature walks on sunny days, when we would collect various nuts and seeds, leaves and bark, and other specimens to display on the nature table. At other times, we would be allocated a patch of Mr. Maskell’s garden to grow some vegetables from seed.

In each of the classrooms there was a ‘Tortoise’ stove, stoked up in the winter months with coke and coal. Damp clothes often adorned the large fire guards, and the free school milk, in one third of a pint glass bottles, would be brought close to the fire to thaw out, after the ice had made the silver foil tops rise above the cream, exposing it so that the birds could have a share if it was left out long enough. The smell of the warm milk is something I’ll never forget! I had to grab mine whilst still cold, and somehow managed to force the paper straw down far enough to sip the freezing liquid.

At lunch time we all washed with carbolic soap, then queued up for our dinner, cooked and served by Mrs. Cripps and her assistant, Mrs. Grainger. We had to eat at least a bit of everything, and the teachers would walk around amongst us to make quite sure we did! Most of the food was not bad, and we could ask for a ‘small’ cabbage or sago pudding for example.

The dinner hall was also used for school medicals which everyone dreaded. I don’t think there was any heating in there either.

At break times we would walk around, chat with other children, play skipping games or hopscotch, or maybe go on the apparatus.

Physical education was a regular feature of the school timetable and we might have ball games or athletic activities, gym, or country dancing. I loved our outings on the coach in summer to visit the Blue Pool in Camberley for an outdoor swimming lesson once a week.

In my final year at St. Michael’s, I was in Mrs. Randall’s class. She was pretty strict and it took a while for me not to be nervous of her, but eventually I became quite fond of her. I think she was an excellent teacher, able to bring out the best in her pupils. I’ll always remember her wonderfully expressive story reading. She encouraged us to close our eyes and rest our heads on our arms, so we could relax and really listen, getting transported to some other place.....

Now all these years have passed and I'm living in Portugal...but this opportunity to remember so much has been a blessing! All the Best to St. Michael's on the 150th Anniversary.

Evelyn Hulbert

Catherine Holmes 1969 - 1975

My auntie, Catherine Holmes, remembers going to St. Michaels. She started in 1969. There were two infant classes: year 1 and year 2. The year 1 teacher was called Mrs Quinault and the year 2 teacher was called Mrs Nash. The year 1 classroom was heated by a coal fired stove. It had railings around it, on which you could dry your paintings.

Here is also a photo of her -on the right- on her first day at school with her big sister, Juliet.

Catherine Holmes with elder sister, Juliet - 1969

Auntie Catherine (now Wilkins) still lives locally and sings in the church choir.

Grace Potts, Year 3

Mrs Lynne Gorst 1971-75

Mrs Lynne Thomson, who was at that time Mrs Gorst, taught Year 1 at the school from 1971 to 1975 and then returned part-time from about 1980 - 84.

Here are some of her photo memories.

St Michael's Staff - March 1974
(Named Version)

Mrs Gorst's Year 1 in the playground - 1972

Mrs Gorst with children at Marwell Zoo - Early 1970s

Mrs Nash with children at Marwell Zoo - Early 1970s

Mr Maskell with Mrs Gorst's Year 1 - Early 1970s

St Michael's as it looked in the early 1970s

Has anyone seen the Doctor?

Former St Michael's teacher, Mr Stuart McLeod supplied these photos as evidence of a Time Lord visit to  our school. (Alas, not St Michael's after all! - Ed) But in which year?

The Tardis visits St Michael's, ...

... hotly pursued by a dalek!

Update 04 March, from Mr McLeod:  Very sorry but the Tardis door is my present office and the Dalek is one the parents have made at my present school. I sent that to Alice and the Y4 pupils to show the Tardis still lives on as St Michael's was my first one.

St Michael's Netball Team 1981 - 82

St Michael's Netball Team 1981 - 82
(Named Version)

St Michael's Staff photo 1999

St Michael's Staff - 1999

Mrs Shirley Gaines 1988 - Present Day

Mrs Gaines -1999

I first became involved with St Michael's in June 1988 on our return from Holland. Sarah (my eldest daughter) started school in Year 1 with Mrs Carol Cole. When Hannah (youngest daughter) started school in January 1990, I returned to teaching and am still  supply teaching there after all these years!!

Both girls and I have very happy memories of St Michael's. The same caring and nurturing atmosphere is still there and the children leave well-rounded and polite.

Years later, it still pleases me that former St Michael's pupils always say "Hello" and chat about what they are doing now. Others will say, "Didn't you teach at St Michael's? I remember you reading Funny Bones stories!"

There are so many memories and stories - too many to mention after such a long involvement! One stands out though - I was teaching rounders in the playground with Year 4 (Joe Williams' year) when I walked backwards and fell into the pile of tyres and lay like a stranded beetle unable to get out! Meanwhile the class rolled around the playground laughing, unable to help!

I ran the Netball club for several years and they were very successful and managed to win games and trophies. When I taught Year 5 full-time, we won the Kwik Kricket tournament - that was absolutely brilliant!

I was lucky enough to go on many school trips. Cammie Evans once asked if I ever managed to do any teaching!

I went to Lakeside and Ufton Court - great fun but not much sleep!

I still come in to teach, still getting pleasure from being involved with the school - wonder when I'll stop!