Miscellaneous.

Here are all the various bits & pieces that don't belong anywhere else.

1 - The 1961 Price List from Genge & Co. Ltd., the School Outfitters.
Photo courtesy of Dave Knapman

2 - More of the 1961 Price List from Genge & Co. Ltd., the School Outfitters.
Note that the VIth form were allowed a darker shade of grey ("GAC 550 VI").
Photo courtesy of Dave Knapman.

3 - Here is the School Prize List for 1961 (well, I had to include this, didn't I?).
Original photocopy courtesy of Mike Hansford.

I recently (January 2017) received an email from one Mr Derek Ayto, attaching the images below. He is the son of Arthur Ayto referred to in the newspaper cutting shown, which speaks for itself.

      

4 - left: The newspaper cutting, and 5 - right: the stained glass window in St George's Church, Fordington, to the memory of Peter Robin Tomes, who was killed when his Percival Provost T1 trainer aircraft crashed into a field near Welby, Lincolnshire, on May 31st, 1960, whilst flying from RAF Barkston Heath in Lincolnshire.
The bottom of the centre panel reads: "In memory of Flight Cadet Peter Robin Tomes RIP 1939-1960 A former Pupil of Hardye's School"

Photos and information courtesy of Derek Ayto.

5 - From Andrew Moore, who writes:
"Genuine as worn, Hardye's school cap with Treves House white button (we replaced the white cloth ones with plastic as the cloth ones used to go rusty,boarders had to walk to school!). House prefect braid and now very tatty school prefects tassel. The caps became non obligatory in the VIth form but most of us continued to wear them with pride. The peak was bent with a "Main school bend" which was not allowed while in junior school at Wollaston!"

From Colin Turner five photos of School insignia:

Left: 6 - The School Blazer Badge, 1963; right: 7 - Treves House School Cap, 1968.

8 - Treves House school ties, 1963.

Left: 9 - Prefect's or Sub-prefect's tie, 1968; right: 10 - Head Boy's & Senior Prefect's tie, 1969.

11 - From Alex Stringer, who writes:
"I've attached a small curio in the form of a letter to parents from AN Hamilton in the spring of 1971, the year before I started. I came across this by accident while trying to track somebody down on Facebook. I can't be sure who posted it originally and the resolution is barely sufficient to read, but it's a good reminder of the 'cultural revolution' that was then going on in the school and which persisted throughout my time there, with the Old Guard clearly feeling somewhat embattled!"

Below is a number of items which appeared in the Western Gazette over the years. These items were kindly provided by Richard Smith.

13.11.1935 - Speech Day. WF Hodges Deputy Chair of Governors reported school had 274 pupils - R W Hill Headmaster commented the school had a large increase in numbers in the past year - now full to capacity.

11.12.1936 - Speech Day. WF Hodges now Chair of Governors reported school now had 290 pupils and was very pleased but the school was badly overcrowded and needed fresh accomodation.

5.2.1937 - Meeting of Dorset Education Committee - Report from Grammar School Governors said it urgently needed new laboratories, library, dining hall for 150 boys, plus cloakroom and lavatory accomodation. Governors asked for generous financial help with the costs involved. Resolved a new science block in year 1938/39.
Also agreed for provision of one new Assistant Master to be appointed for Summer term 1937, with provisional agreement to another for Sept. 1937.
Also discussion of a new site of 10 acres of land to move school to west of Queens Avenue - but Dorchester Town Council had objected - resolved to appeal to the Minister if the DTC refused again.

4.2.1938 - Meeting of Dorset Educ. Committee - Grammar School Governors had approved £18,000 for extenstions and alterations, including furniture and fittings - Resolution made to ask DCC for 50% grant and a loan of 50% to be repaid over 20 years - Resolution passed and recommended to DCC to agree the help requested.

27.1.1939 At Old Boys' Dinner - Mr Hill Headmaster urged the Governors not to make the school bigger than 340 pupils - Governors unanamosily agreed. It was also noted there may be an embargo on any new building extenstions if public money involved.

9.7.1943 At Dorset Educ. Committee - Noted that the school now had about 365 pupils, and an expected number of 395 in Sept. 1943, which was 30 above what the accomodation could hold. The Board of Education had offered to provide a standard hut, suitable for two classrooms - it was agreed to apply to the Board to supply the hut offered, and to make a Grant for the costs involved.

29.12 1944 - Mr J H Moore (Mayor) and Mrs Moore thanked the Headmaster for the work of some 40 boys who acted as temporary postmen in the pre Christmas period. Mr RW Hill Headmaster responded by saying that he had been heartened by the response to the initial appeal.

2.11.1945 - Meeting of Dorset Educ. Committee - Noted the Grammar School Governors had applied to the Ministry to buy Wollaston House for use initially as classrooms. The DEC agreed, in principle, to provide a grant not exceeding 75% of the costs, on the understanding that it would be repaid if the School made, and had accepted, an application to become an Independant School.

Also of interest is a web page compiled by Michael Russel, giving the history of the Dorchester Free School from 1567 to 1736.
It can be seen at: https://www.opcdorset.org/fordingtondorset/Files2/Dorchesterfreeschool.html , or by clicking here.



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