NEWSLETTER NUMBER 56 MARCH 2020
YEOMAN’S BRIDGE SCHOOL 1950 - 1986
THE HISTORY OF ASH, ASH VALE, ASH GREEN AND TONGHAM
The Museum is Open 3rd Sunday each month 2 - 4.30pm and Entry is Free
ALSO Extra Openings this year 1st Sunday each month from April - September 2 - 4.30pm
ALSO Village Walks with Alan on Sunday Afternoons - see inside for details
ASH MUSEUM
Ash Museum, Cemetery Chapel, Ash Cemetery, Ash Church Road, Ash, Surrey GU12 6LX
email: [email protected] www.ashmuseum.org.uk www.facebook.com/ashmuseum
Yeoman’s Bridge County Secondary School in about 1975. The foundation stone can be seen to the right
of the main door. The stone high up above the window shows the coat of arms Surrey County Council
used 1934-1974. This is now Ash Manor School, and both stones are still there. (71/4/8)
THE TEMPORARY SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Yeoman’s Bridge Temporary County Secondary School opened 10 January 1950 and this photo was taken
shortly afterwards. Staff standing left to right, Mr EJ Brewer (Headmaster 1950-1966), Miss WI Winter,
Miss I Hawgood (Secretary), Mrs ED Slaney, Mrs I Lawrence, Mrs CP Sylvanus, Mr Harry E Ince, Miss E
Davies (Acting Deputy Head), Mr SC Cooper and Mr RG Pooley.
Miss E Davies, Miss Winfred Winter, Mrs ED Slaney, Mr RG Pooley and Mr SC Cooper were seconded
from Badshot Lea County Primary Mixed School. Mr H Ince was seconded from Godalming Church of
England Primary School. Mrs I Lawrence was a supply teacher.
The older children moved from the existing local schools, and the headmaster of Ash Walsh School
recorded in his log book: “School reopened after the Christmas holiday. 48 children have been
transferred to Yeoman’s Bridge new Temporary Modern Secondary School. 24 boys. 24 girls.”
The school houses were Clive (Red), Gordon (Yellow), Rhodes (Green) and Wolfe (Blue). The school
motto was “Truth and Right”.
The temporary classrooms remained in use and were demolished in 1987. (815/2, 926/45-46)
THE PERMANENT SCHOOL BUILDING
The Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, General Sir Robert Haining KCB DSO JP, laid the foundation stone of the
permanent Yeoman’s Bridge County Secondary School building on Saturday 30 September 1950.
Above, Mr Brewer the headmaster is speaking, and the choir can be seen behind him with Miss Winter
sitting at the piano. They were sheltering inside a marquee and it was raining hard outside.
Below, Sir Robert Haining is in the middle of the picture with Mr Berg of the builders on his right and Mr
Brewer behind them. Reverend Insley can also be seen behind.
Three years later Sir Robert Haining was invited back for the official opening of “Yeoman’s Bridge County
Secondary Mixed School” on 29 September 1953. They assembled in the school hall at 3.15pm.
We have programmes for both events in the museum collection (373/4 and 1216/19). Mr EJ Henry was
chairman of the parish council at both events, and all the teachers are listed for 1953. In 1950 the school
was described as in Tongham Road, and attendees were advised to catch the 20, 20c or 35 bus and alight
at the Greyhound Inn. In 1953 the road name had been changed to Manor Road.
(463/4, 463/2, 158/130)
YEOMAN’S BRIDGE SCHOOL SONG AND HYMN
The School Hymn (above) is the song which most
former pupils remember. This is from a leaflet for
speech day and prize giving in 1955. The School
Song (right) is from the same leaflet. (920/2)
In 1954 a recording was made of the School Song
and we have a vinyl record in the museum
collection. The whole school was singing and Miss
Winifred Winter, the music teacher, was playing
the piano. (920/1)
Most former pupils can’t remember the song in
the recording.
In this picture
Miss Winter is
playing the
piano at the
laying of the
foundation
stone in 1950.
(463/5)
MUSEUM NEWS AND EVENTS
Yeoman’s Bridge School
There will be a small display about Yeoman's Bridge
School in the Cemetery Chapel throughout 2020. It
will include the vinyl record of the School Song and a
copy of "Westward Ho!" given as a school prize in
1954. Original copies of the leaflets printed for the
laying of the foundation stone of the permanent
buildings in 1950 and the official opening of the
permanent buildings in 1953 will be on display.
Extra Openings in 2020
The Museum will open on the 1st Sunday of each
month from April to September 2020 from 2 - 4.30pm.
This is in addition to our usual opening times.
Village Walks with Alan in 2020
Guided walks on Sunday afternoons to view historic
buildings and points of interest. Starting at 2.30pm.
Take about 1 hour. Distance 1.5 miles.
5 April: Ash Street (meet at Ash Museum)
3 May: Ash Green (meet at Ash Museum)
7 June: Guildford Road (meet at Ash Museum)
5 July: Ash Hill / Wharf (meet at Ash Centre)
2 August: Tongham (meet at shops, The Street)
6 September: Ash Vale (meet at Ash Vale station)
Please note that there are steps at the canal to
negotiate on this walk.
Free – Donations to museum funds welcome.
No need to book – just come along!
Call Alan on 01252 315967
Mr Brewer was a teacher at Heathcote School
from 1934 - 1940, and returned as headmaster 8
January 1945. He was appointed headmaster of
Yeoman’s Bridge School in 1950 and retired at the
end of 1966.
Mr JWG Scard was headmaster 1967-1976; and
Mr Angus Selkirk was headmaster 1976-1983.
Yeoman’s Bridge School and Robert Haining
School in Mytchett both closed at the end of the
school year in 1986 due to falling numbers of
places needed, and Ash Manor School opened on
the site of Yeoman’s Bridge School in September.
The last Yeoman’s Bridge School Annual
Certificate Evening took place on 17 November
1986. Mr Alan Jones, the last headmaster, gave
his report; and Mr Robin Keys, the previous
headmaster, came back to present the certificates.
(874/3)
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Saturday 11 July 2020 Ash Parish Fete
Friday 20 November 2020 our museum AGM will
take place at the Ash Centre.
Saturday 28 November 2020 we will be at the
Xmas Fantasia
YEOMAN’S BRIDGE CLOSES
Tongham Football Club, winners of the Surrey Intermediate League First Division 1938-1939.
Back row: AV Sayers (Linesman and Vice-Chairman), R Munt (RH), RD Elkins (RB), JH Vince
(Goalkeeper), WH Osmond (LB), B Burningham (CH), AR Sayers (Hon Sec and Treasurer).
Front row: FM King (Chairman), EE Upperton (OR), LG Vince (IR and Vice-Captain), F Parks (CF),
BC Wattridge (IR), HJ Crocher (OL and Captain), GW Levy (LH). They are probably on the
recreation ground in Poyle Road. The ground was requisitioned by the army during World War
Two, handed back to the owner afterwards, and then given to Tongham Parish Council. (910/35)
TONGHAM FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE 1930S Tongham Football
Club 1934-1935.
Back row: Vic Sayers,
Edgar Connell,
R Blunden, E Smith,
I Digby,
Harold Crawte,
R Sayers, Fred King.
Front row: Les Vince,
D Bailey,
Roy Wattridge,
Reg Curtis, H Rimm.
Cross legged on
ground: J Beckett,
Tich. (910/34)
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