Thursday 29 January 2015

Eton Wick School in the post-war years

Eton Wick School in the post-war years

The school diary records that the air raid shelters were removed in 1946 and school life was back to normal by 1947. As the school is of Church of England denomination an inspection by the Oxford Diocesan brought forth the following comment—

“The service was carefully and reverently conducted, but some of the older boys were inclined to loll and I should have liked to see a more alert attitude on the part of the bigger ones who should be an example to the rest. The singing was tuneful, but the general effect would be better if the boys did not stand anyhow and sing into their boots!”

January 29th. 1947 was a very cold winter and with fuel rationing still in force the classrooms remained very cold recording a temperature of 38f (3c) at the start of morning class and rising only to 41f (5c) by 4pm close of school. The daily temperature continued to fall, reaching a classroom temperature of 28f (-2c) on January 30th. The combination of heavy frost and snow made for difficult conditions and the school attendance dropped to 28 pupils on January 29th.

The thaw in the weather set in during the third week of March leading to severe flooding in Windsor, Eton and Eton Wick and forcing the village school to close from March 17th – 24th. In the following month, whilst the school was on Easter holiday, one pupil died from tetanus: it was thought to have been an infection from the flooded land.


Photo of the school - probably taken in 1950s

Three new classrooms were added in 1953 followed in 1959 by another building extension. Further building and amenities followed between 1962 and 1974 with more new classrooms and provision for science and cooking.

Whilst the building work was taking place during mid 1960’s, some children were taught in the Village Hall where school meals were also partaken.



In 1965 class 7 pupils were taught in one of the ground floor rooms in the Village Hall, because of a shortage of accommodation in the school. The children are seen here on the climbing frame at the back of the Hall.

The use of the Village Hall for schooling ceased at the beginning of the summer term in 1966. Work continued on the completion of the Assembly Hall and Old building was converted to kitchen and dining hall.

In 1962 the school’s Parent Teacher Association donated a heated swimming pool for learners.

From 1882 onwards, the Head Teacher of the village school had always been a woman until the appointment of Mr V.C. Moss in 1955, which brought change to the school staffing. The longest serving teacher in the school’s history was Miss Florence Stearn, who was also the Headmistress, and who spent 32 years at the school (1903—1935). Ida M. Rooke, who was headmistress for 14 years (1941—1955), was followed by Mr V.C. Moss, the school’s first headmaster who held the post for 21 years. Headmaster Ian Hampshire was appointed on January 1st 1977, and was later followed by a new Headteacher, Mrs Robinson. The current Headteacher is Mrs M. Houston.

For at least 20 years after the Second World War, the children of Eton Wick school walked to the Village Hall every day at dinnertime. Well-balanced dinners were delivered every day by Buckinghamshire County Council.


The photo shows Mrs Michener, school meals supervisor, with the delivery driver.

Many incidents go to make up school life, a summary of which can be gleaned from the book published to mark the School Centenary Year 1888—1988. There was some success in sport: at football under the tuition of sports master, Mr R.C .Nash, being League Champions in 1967; and in swimming, where the school won the Dolphin Swimming Trophy in 1969.


Celebrating Swimming success: Mr Nash, Sports Master, with (left to right) Shirley Ann Morrell, Debbie Neil, Linda Devonshire and Amanda Denham.


In 1967 Mr Moss lead a 4th year class trip to The Netherlands. Mrs Smith, the Class teacher also went on the trip and Mrs Pam Kreamer was a helper. 
The photograph has been shared by Sally Dodd.


On several special occasions the Opening ceremonies were performed by personalities from the world of entertainment and sport. The new swimming pool was opened by Billy Wood, British Boys Diving Champion in 1962. Valerie Singleton from the BBC’s Blue Peter programme was a guest at the Middle School party in 1972, and there was a visit by the American Space Apollo Astronaut, Ed Mitchell, in 1977.

In 1993 the addition of a Foundation Unit allowed children to start school at three years old. The age for leaving the junior school for a more senior school was changed from eleven to nine years, with pupils generally going on to Windsor Middle School.



School Centenary Dinner, January 23rd 1988.
From left to right: Mr Vernon C. Moss, Headmaster,
Mr W. Cooley, Chairman of School Governors and Mrs Cooley

If you attended Eton Wick School, please use the comment box below to add your memories and any photographs of your school days.

7 comments:

  1. I attended Eton Wick school from 1956 till 1967 and have many memories I would love to share. My email is chriscowland@shaw.ca if you would like to contact me.
    Regards,
    Chris Cowland

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  2. I attended Eton Wick school from age 4 in 1956 until age 10, when I went to Slough Grammar. I clearly remember Dick and Stephen Denham and many others, and would be pleased to exchange memories.

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  3. I attended Elton Wick School from 1957 for a short while. We lived in Boveney and I walked across the fields to school with the Batiste children from Boveney Lock.

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  4. I attended from 1963 to 1969 and it is great to be reminded of events and people some of whom I remember. I often wonder where everyone is now. I was on the Holland trip shown in the picture and am pictured front row kneeling, furthest to the right.

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  5. I am Charles Alexander George. I went to Eton Wick School between 1977 and 1984. Mr Hampshire was a good bloke. I later went on to Westgate School in Slough. I am currently an office cleaner in Oxfordshire.

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  6. Bev Price née Ross5 February 2023 at 11:37

    My sisters and I all attended Eton Wick School. I was there between 1963 and 1969. The same year group as the swimmers in the previous photograph, I remember you all :)
    Mr Moss was headmaster at the time. Our Mum was as a lunchtime supervisor for some of my time at the school, along with her friends Joan Jeffs and Sheila Dell.

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  7. Just found this webpage. I attend approximately 63 to summer 70.
    I live across the road from Linda Devonshire. Remember the cooley twin sisters Barbara and Susan. Peter Barron who Parents had a shop in the middle of the village. Dennis Harrington. Jennifer lipcume.
    Also dinners at the village hall.
    Bond family who owned the green groceries in the village too.

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