Visitors' Book

Memories and photographs: The last 30+ years (1967-today)

Mrs Jean James, who recently retired as a teacher from Badsey First School, has lent us most of the following photographs.

School Sports Day (c.1968)
School Sports Day (c 1968). Mrs Jean James at School Sports Day; one of the School Managers (and parent), Frank Goldstraw, may also be seen.  Note the old barns in the corner of the field, which were pulled down for new housing on School Lane.
Visit to see Concorde (c 1970)
Visit to see Concorde (c 1970). Mrs James’ class were doing a topic on flight, so she wrote to Filton (BAC) to ask if they could visit Concorde (only the prototype was then produced – 21 feet shorter than the actual plane). They were invited to Fairford and made them feel very welcome; they had Harriers land and take off just for the children.
Hockey Team (1972)
Hockey Team (1972). This photograph was loaned by Mrs Pat Westmacott (née Dore), whose sister, Veronica (now Mrs Parish and living in Australia), is pictured.

Standing at back: Mr Hugh Chaplin, Headmaster

Back row, left to right: Michelle Ford, Marilyn Bennet, Sally Bindoff (now Thomson), Angela Hughes (now Waters), Sharon Westmacott (now Trotman), ? Olander

Front row, left to right: Sandra Taylor, Nicola Cleaver (now Ford), Liz Goldstraw (now Hardwick), Sylvia Stewart, Veronica Dore (now Parish)
Retirement of Miss Norah Smith (1975)
Retirement of Miss Norah Smith (1975). Photograph of Miss Norah Smith, who retired as Deputy Head in 1975, after teaching at the school since 1938. This photo of Miss Smith outside The Wheatsheaf was taken by Esme Seaman.
School Playing Field (c. 1975)
School Playing Field (c 1975). This photo of the playing field, taken by Esme Seaman, shows the old barns which used to exist before the new housing development on School Lane.
Badsey First School Staff (c 1975)
Badsey First School Staff (c 1975). Back row left to right: Rosalie Pratt, David Dodridge, Mike Stout, Sylvia Cross, Jean James. Front row left to right: Joyce Watkin, Pat Gorin, Hugh Chaplin (Headmaster), Wendy Ryder, Yvonne Bowring.
Cycling Proficiency (c 1980)
Cycling Proficiency (c 1980). Until the 1990s, the older children at Badsey First School did Cycling Proficiency Training. Mrs Jean James, with PC Trevor Earle, can be seen running through the testing. Note the old toilet block on the right-hand side, before the extension was built in 1993.
Badsey First School (1982)
Badsey First School (1982). Class 1 – Do you recognise anyone?
Badsey First School (1983)
Badsey First School (1983). Class J (Mrs James’ class) – Do you recognise anyone?
Badsey First School Leavers (c 1987)
Badsey First School Leavers (c 1987). Pat Gorin, Trevor Clark (Headmaster), Jean James with Leavers. They include Philip Moore (back row, 4th from right), Musician of the Year later in his life.
Badsey First School Staff (c 1988)
Badsey First School Staff (c 1988). Back row left to right: Ruby Pickering (Secretary), Yvonne Bowring, David Dodridge, Marion MacGowan, Bet Benfield. Front row left to right: Pat Gorin, Esther Digby, Trevor Clark (Headmaster), Jean James, Joyce Watkin.
Badsey First School Staff (c 1990)
Badsey First School Staff (c 1990). Back row left to right: Bet Benfield, Joyce Watkin, Marion MacGowan, David Dodridge, Ruby Pickering (Secretary), Ruth Tyrell. Front row left to right: Pat Gorin, Kay Thomas (now Gibbons), Gerry Hughes (Headmaster), Fiona Gardener, Jean James.