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1959 - 1988

Widey Technical Secondary School, Plymouth, Devon, England

by Terry Williams (Widey 1960-1965) ID 193

with much appreciated additional help from Jim Maddison ID 130

 

 

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WIDEY REUNION

 Robin Bigmore Thu 20/03/2003 12:09 Brian Watmore

 

Hi Everyone

Further to my recent emails, letters, phone calls and a meeting at The Britannia Pub, Milehouse on Tuesday evening which was attended by Steve Brien, Phil Hill, Brian Watmore, Ivor Whitlock, Andy Tincler and myself we have agreed on Saturday 27 September 2003 for the proposed reunion at a venue in Plymouth (to be arranged, much dependant on numbers) with old school friends in the late summer. 

Any of you who are interested in attending the evening, please contact myself BigmoreR@aol.com or brian.watmore@btinternet.com

 

Regards

Robin Bigmore & Brian Watmore

 

 

A request for old boys from Junior Technical School 1936-1940

I would love to hear from any ex classmates that remembers me at the School during this period when G W  Turpitt was the headmaster and E R Harris was the chemistry master. 

During the war years I do remember bumping into Kenny Cliff who suggested I joined the old boys association,needless to say I never did! 

Trusting to hear from someone

Theodore V German aged 78

Received Mon 21/01/02 19:16

                                                              

Contents

 

Please be patient whilst waiting for these pages to load

the file sizes are large to allow ease of identification of persons

 

·        1959 School Photograph with ID numbers

(courtesy Ken Taylor  ID 82)

 

·        1959 School Photograph with ID numbers (Close up of above)

(courtesy Ken Taylor  ID 82)

 

·        ID Listings for the above photos

Shows where they are now and contact E mails

 

 

·        1962 School Photograph with ID numbers

 

·        1962 School Photograph with ID numbers (Close up of above)

Can anyone solve the mystery? why was ID 367 Andrew S Russell leaning on the door of the second floor stair well, rather being included with the rest of the pupils.  This has been kindly pointed out by Robert Banning ID 306

 

·        ID Listings for the above photos

Shows where they are now and contact E mails. 

 

 

A RTF file of some of the admissions for 1959-1970 can be downloaded here.  Can you please help and put some names to the faces

(courtesy Plymouth Local Studies Library)

 

When you’ve viewed the above if your seriously patient then download unnumbered full size School Photograph 1.83Mb

 

 

 

·        Sign and view my guestbook

           

·        Start made on Widey Technical School Western Morning News 25/1/1958

(courtesy Plymouth Local Studies Library)

 

·        Work progresses on New Technical School Newspaper cutting dated 28/10/1958

(courtesy Plymouth Local Studies Library)

 

·        1962 Christopher Morey a tragedy, Western Evening Herald 3/8/1962

(courtesy Plymouth Local Studies Library)

 

·        The Widey Observatory

The observatory was suddenly built when the minister for science came to officially open the school.  They insisted on mounting the telescope the wrong way despite protestations made by Lawrence.  At a later time he helped organise the dis-mounting and re-mounting and then started the school's astronomy

club. 

 

Early folk in 1962 included Chris Browning ID ? and Eric Dinham ID 116 shown here with Lawrence Harris ID 150

(Courtesy Plymouth Evening Herald 6/12/1998)

 

Inside Widey Observatory circa 1963 Western Evening Herald  photograph used to illustrate a Moon watch article. 

This was to lead to enquiries about a (currently non-existent) Plymouth Astronomical Society that Lawrence formed in 1965

Left to Right, Chris Browning and Lawrence Harris in the Widey Observatory

(courtesy Lawrence Harris ID 250)

 

·        A letter from Lawrence Harris brings Patrick Moore to Widey in 1963 (Courtesy Plymouth Evening Herald 2/6/2001)

 

·        Some of the pupils School Reports, more copies appreciated

 

Lawrence Harris ID 250

Terry Williams ID 193

 

·        1963 Metalwork Shop (Courtesy Brian Rowe Widey 1963/65)

Please help names again needed

 

 

·        1963 Tootle into Hornes, official outfitter to Widey Technical secondary School. 

Even earlier, Costers the School Cap Specialist.  Badges for the Junior Technical 2/11^1/2D  

 

         

 

·        Name change for school has deep significance, Western Evening Herald 19/10/1972

(courtesy Plymouth Local Studies Library)

 

·        1970’s Sports Photos (courtesy Brian Platts who left in 1976)

 

Can you add names to the faces?

 

 

 

 

 

·        Boys’ favourite Tojo puts down the chalk Newspaper cutting dated later than 1982

(courtesy Peter Marrow ID 287)

 

·        Photograph of classrooms and Headmasters Office taken after 1985

(courtesy Lawrence Harris ID 250)

 

·        Headmaster helps clear up at the end of an era “School’s out at Widey for the last time” Plymouth Extra 28/7/1988

(courtesy Plymouth Local Studies Library)

 

·        Final Grand Reunion Monday 25 April 1988

 

 

Listing 1 & 2 of all ex pupils who hoped to attend

 

 

Photographs taken on the day

(can you help with any more photos)

 

 

 

·        Widey’s Name lives on Evening Herald 9/10/1992

(courtesy Plymouth Local Studies Library)

 

·        Widey on the Web!  Colin R. Barrett, Widey 1966-1973

THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS WEBSITE

I'd been visiting my parents in 1988 at their home overlooking the school. I was about to take my kids out for a walk around the grounds (as we often did), and as I had my still camera with me it occurred to me to take a set of pictures; the place was already empty and due for demolition so it might have been the last chance for me to capture the scene before it was transformed forever. This I did, eventually rattling off a whole 24-exposure 35mm roll. I'm glad I did. The next time I saw the school it was literally a pile of rubble that was rapidly being cleared by the contractors. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera on that occasion.

The photographs contained in this site are seeing the light for the first time. They're probably the only pictures in existence which show the school in its final, sorry state prior to demolition. Enjoy!

 

·        WHY WIDEY? Some Plymouth history.  An article extracted from 1961 School Magazine

 

·        Articles extracted from the final School Magazine 1988 that were written by the schools former Headmasters

 

Junior Technical School the first phases

Headmaster G. W. TURPITT 1911 - 1947

 

            Widey Technical School

Headmaster E. R. HARRIS 1947 - 1964

            Headmaster K. J. SALTER 1964 - 1986

 

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WHY WIDEY?

 

How many of our boys, their attention caught by the battered iron gates and overgrown drive at the foot of Manadon Hill have paused to read the memorial plaque on the gate pillar?  If any have they will have realized that though our school is new its name comes from a house which has figured prominently in the history of Plymouth. 

The property of Widey, which was one of the principal estates in Egg Buckland parish was mentioned in the Domesday Survey, and the name in various forms--Wida, Wide, and Widhi--appears in medieval records. 

In 1590 Sir Francis Drake, busy with the construction of a leat to bring the waters of the River Meavy to Plymouth, arranged for the building of "two grist mills at Widey for the grinding of corn". 

But it was during the great Civil War that Widey came into prominence.  King Charles himself may have been there early in 1643, but it is certain that Prince Maurice made it his headquarters from the first, and for nearly two years "conveniently placed at Widey" he threatened the city. 

To Widey returned the discomfited Cavaliers to lick the wounds received in the Sabbath Day fight at Freedom Fields.  To Widey came illustrious visitors --Prince Rupert and then in the late summer of 1644 the King himself, perhaps hoping that his presence would stimulate the besiegers to show a little more energy and determination.  At any rate he stayed at Widey for five days (September 9th to 14th), and summoned the town to surrender.  Thus Widey became Widey Court.  We are told that each morning Charles rode from Widey

to Mannamead and was there received with a royal salute.  It is said that this tribute of gunfire led the scornful citizens to dub this part of Mutley "Vapouring Hill"--a name preserved in Vapron Road. 

Then came the illustrious Sir Richard Grenville, victor of Stamford (near Bude) to take over from Prince Maurice, but he could do no better, Plymouth remained unconquered and at the heart of England the King's power was broken. 

Widey Court had been put at the King's disposal by its owner, Yeoman Heale, a prosperous farmer and an ardent loyalist.  The Heale family also held the neighbouring property of Manadon which is now the home of the Royal Naval Engineering College, and where the old house has been carefully preserved.  During Cromwell's rule Widey passed from the Heales to the Morsheads, remaining in their possession until the early nineteenth century.  It underwent extensive alterations, being rebuilt late in the seventeenth century, altered in the eighteenth century, and enlarged in the nineteenth century.  From the Morsheads it passed to various hands, but remained in use as a dwelling until 1950.  By 1954 it was in a dreadful state of dilapidation and was

demolished in that year. 

            This, then, briefly, is the story of Widey.  If you want to know a little more about it I suggest a visit to the Devon and Cornwall Room (Local Studies) at the Central Library where you can consult the Transactions of the Devonshire Association for 1955.  There you will find a paper on Widey written by Mr. G. W. Copeland, to whom I am indebted for most of my information--an account which contains a useful plan of the house and three photographs showing something of its appearance and character in 1952. 

 

Extracted from 1961 School Magazine, Widey Technical Secondary School, Plymouth.

 

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Headmaster G. W. TURPITT 1911-1947

 

Until the cold war and the "H" bomb roused the nation to life's realities, Technical Training was the Cinderella of English Education.  Nevertheless, more than half a century ago, its importance was recognized by more discerning minds and in many industrial centres fine buildings with laboratories and workshops were erected and, indeed, buzzed with activity in the evenings.  Apprentices, young craftsmen and those interested in science filled the evening classes, but in daytimes, the buildings were almost empty.  Day classes were few and thinly attended. 

These empty laboratories and workshops must have worried Whitehall until the idea was conceived that the half-empty buildings might be used by boys leaving the elementary schools and needing a pre-apprenticeship training.  Thus were born the Junior Technical Schools, i.e. preparatory trade schools giving, in effect, a two-year course in practical science and technology, while not forgetting the scholar's general education. 

The scheme was, in time, put to Plymouth Education Authority but accepted most cautiously by some of its members and quite sceptically by many others.  The presence of a Royal Dockyard with its own school for apprentices placed Plymouth out of line with other industrial centres.  However, it was decided to open a new department at the Technical College and a graduate master experienced in teaching the elder scholars in elementary schools was appointed to start the scheme.  He was given a week off to visit local engineering and building firms to learn from employers just what they felt ought to be imparted to boys seeking apprenticeship with them.  An entrance examination was then held for boys not less than thirteen and a half years of age and a class of thirty was formed to which another class of twenty-five was shortly added. 

Thus was born the Plymouth Technical School for Boys, but it had then no name, no building -- no, not even one room to call its own -- and only one full-time member on the staff.  It was known as "Article 42 of the Technical School Code" and was accommodated in such rooms at the Technical College as were not, at any particular time, occupied by senior day classes.  It was staffed by such masters of the Technical College as were free, at any time, from other duties. 

Yet, by gaining the approval of the parents, it grew apace and a year later the Education Committee applied to have the new classes recognized as a Junior Technical School.  The Board of Education sent down its H.M.I.s and although they admitted a promising start had been made, they demanded, before granting the new status, a number of changes, among which were: (1) A headmaster to be appointed; (2) At least one other full-time qualified master to be added; (3) One  room to be reserved for assembly; (4) A playing-field to be made available.  By 1914 these conditions were met and from August 1st the school was recognized and named the Plymouth Junior Technical School. 

The new venture was hit hard by the restrictions and demands of the First World War but each year at least one additional full-time master was needed as the numbers increased.  Although half the week was devoted to practice in technical training, e.g. in carpentry, in most branches of metalwork, and in technical drawing, some scholars seemed capable of passing School Certificate

Examinations so optional classes in French were started, but only for boys willing to stay after school hours and to pay an extra fee. 

In 1918, the School Cadet Company, affiliated to the Devon (Fortress) Royal Engineers was formed and in that year the school was first recognized by the Board of Trade as affording a remission of one year of service required to qualify a candidate for examination for a Certificate of Competency as a Marine Engineer.  In 1921 the accommodation problem, which had grown acute, was temporarily solved by transferring the young school to Durnford Street, Stonehouse.  This was a building which had in turn been a Winter Villa, rack-rented tenements, a hotel and lastly, a War Hospital for Army Officers.  "Temporary" proved to be seventeen years! 

Although the building was ill suited for Technical School work, the boys and staff were happy to be in their own premises.  The billiard room became a carpenters' shop for half-classes and the basement kitchen the metalwork shop. The premises abounded in small rooms so a library, a refectory, a table tennis room, a prefects' room, a dark room, an armoury and a junk room were soon available. 

In 1923 the Old Boys' Association was formed with a creditable Rugby Team and a popular Annual Dinner and Dance. 

Local Education Authority began to realize the need for more suitable premises and by 1935 the City Architect had completed plans for new school premises at Stoke capable of accommodating 50 per cent more scholars. 

In 1938 the school was transferred to its new premises at Stoke, in the largest of the four blocks compromising what had been the Stoke Military Hospital.  The workshops were very well equipped by the standards of the day and the laboratories for physics, chemistry and mechanics were more than twice the size of those at Durnford Street. 

The Earl de la Warr, President of the Board of Education, supported by the Lord Mayor, Lord and Lady Astor, the Aldermen and Councillors of the City Corporation, opened the new school.  Alas, eight months after this auspicious opening order was given to evacuate the premises within twenty-four hours.  The Second World War had arrived! For a year the school was accommodated on a half-time basis with the Cobourg Street Secondary School and then was offered the use, as a temporary measure, of the First Board School built in Plymouth. For workshop practice the engineering, plumbing and carpentry shops of the Technical College were also made available. 

The school caravan had now made its fourth move and once again, as in 1921, "temporary" has meant over seventeen years! 

After the air raids of March 1941, nearly half the boys were evacuated Scholars received a kindly welcome and every help to continue their studies at the Torquay Technical College. By 1942 it was apparent that building trades would be needing many workers and the school, ever mindful of future opportunities, introduced a new building course.  Subjects needed by apprentices in the building trades had always received due attention in the school curriculum but the new building course added greater emphasis and introduced a bricklaying class which operated in the ruins of the Art Gallery. 

One side of school life, wherever the premises might be, has never flagged, viz. the Summer Camp.  In the First World War there was a strong harvest camp run by the school at Bere Alston.  Between the wars, there were the Cadet Camps, usually in company with other School Cadet Companies.  In the Second World War two harvest camps were held on the Flete estate. 

In competition with companies of Devon Grammar Schools, the School Cadets were winners of the Bowles Cup in 1931 and the prized Lucas Tooth Shield in 1935. 

Progress in almost every trade and profession depends on success in examinations and in this, from the very first, the Plymouth Technical School for Boys realised its two most serious handicaps as against other schools trying in this way to equip their boys for the future.  Firstly, the Board insisted that half the week must be devoted to practical trade subjects, and secondly, boys were not eligible for admission until two years after they could have entered grammar schools.  The impending change in curriculum whereby boys may start their technical training at eleven must prove as helpful to the school as new premises.  The outstanding examination successes gained by the school have been won by the untiring efforts, often out of school hours, by a staff devoted to the interests of their scholars. 

Technical Training, subject to due attention being paid to English Language and Literature, is a sure basis for a sound education, and the Plymouth Technical School for Boys can and undoubtedly will play a worthy part in making this new emphasis, forced upon us by the exigencies of the present time, a progressive forward step. 

 

G. W. Turpitt

 

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Headmaster E. R. HARRIS 1947 - 1964

 

By 1947 the Junior Technical School had become the Technical Secondary School, but unfortunately the only thing about the school that had been changed was the label.  This meant that the Staff and boys still had to struggle on in a totally inadequate building and a complete absence of nearby playing fields.  Laboratory facilities were almost non-existent and the staff room measured 15ft by 6ft!  Post-war shortages still affected such basic supplies as text books and raw materials for the workshops.  It speaks volumes for the masters that they faced up to and very largely overcame these severe handicaps. 

From the outset of this period a separate class was formed for those boys studying for the School Certificate so that they did not have to share the attention of a master who was in charge of another class at the same time.  In addition the time-table was re-organised on the basis of a seven period rather than a four period day.  Boys who wished to learn French still had to put in an extra two hours a week at school and pay for this privilege!

Towards the end of the summer holiday each year the parents of boys soon to join the school were invited to a meeting to enable them to learn something of the aims of the school and what would be expected of their sons.  The large numbers accepting these invitations were most encouraging and an indication of the high regard in which the school was held. 

At the beginning of each academic year a school service was held in a nearby place of worship and at several of these it was our privilege to have the help of an Old Boy either as organist or preacher.  Indeed a most welcome feature of this period was the close link between the school and many of its Old Boys.  This was exemplified by the very large attendances we enjoyed at the Old Boys' Annual Dinners which were always memorable occasions. 

Another innovation was that at intervals of two or three years a photograph of the whole school, masters and boys was taken. It was felt that this would encourage a corporate spirit and provide valuable records. 

It was not very long before the extreme physical difficulties under which the school operated began to be recognised officially.  There was talk of planning a new building for us but in due course the Minister of Education dashed our hopes of better things.  Happily our local committee backed by our school governors and H.M. Inspectors of Schools persisted in their attempts to obtain for us adequate new premises and in 1957 building started at Widey.  Even after this we were nearly prevented from entering the "promised land", because soon there was a rather serious fire at Sutton High School and a suggestion was made that the new premises could be used to re-house "them" while we remained at Armada Street.  Fortunately this idea was rejected and in September 1939 the school moved to fine new premises at Crownhill on a level de of about six acres. 

By this time the range of activities organised for the pupils had already been greatly increased - we had started foreign tours, formed a Chess Club, organised a P.I. Display Team and Model Aircraft Club, had encouraged boys to design Christmas Cards and introduced a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.  Prior to the move to Widey, therefore, the school was very much a "going concern" and ready for rapid growth.  The transfer naturally involved a great deal of extra work and planning on the part of the staff, particularly those in charge of laboratories, workshops and drawing office. 

The intention was that the new school should provide courses with a bias towards Mathematics Science and Technology for boys from 11 to 18 years of age and therefore be a "Technical High School".  In view, however, of the great successes achieved over the years by so many of our 13+ entries it was considered wise to continue recruiting one form at this older age.  It was felt to be essential to arrange from the start for an A-level Sixth Form, if this vital part of the scheme was ever to materialise and this was achieved. 

The new members of Staff very quickly began contributing to the school activities and it was soon evident that the happy friendly atmosphere so noticeable in the old building had fortunately been carried forward into the fine new premises.  The younger entrants seemed to adapt easily to the school traditions and its more mature atmosphere. 

The first five years of this new regime were made more themorable by (a) the great generosity of the Old Boys Association in deciding to celebrate the move to Widey by paying for the materials required for the construction of a fine swimming pool which has been a great asset (b) the acquisition of a splendid 10-inch reflecting telescope which was housed in its own little "observatory" and stimulated much interest in Astronomy (c) the holding of Annual Speech Days in the Central Hall (d) the formation of a Sailing Club using mostly boats built by the boys in the Woodwork Shop (e) the introduction of Basketball, Cross-Country Running and Weight Training to widen the scope of our athletic activities. 

In 1964 the school's Golden Jubilee was celebrated by a very well attended Dinner and Dance at the Continental Hotel. 

E. R. Harris

 

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Headmaster K. J. SALTER 1964 -1986

 

It was a pleasant spring day in 1964 when I first saw Widey.  The school looked clean and fresh in its then almost rural setting, with cows grazing in the field next door.  I felt that this would indeed be a very pleasant place in which to work and the following twenty-two years did nothing to change that first impression. 

The school had moved to Widey from Armada Street in 1959.  Now the first Sixth Formers were approaching their A levels and the first of the new C.S.E. examinations were due to be taken in 1965.  I saw my task as one of building upon the sound foundations which I had inherited and developing a curriculum suitable for the rapid technological changes taking place around us. 

The raising of the school .leaving age to 16 brought considerable accommodation problems in a building designed for 340 pupils.  At its peak Widey had about 440 on roll with nearly 40 in the Sixth Form.  The A level courses had been expanded to cover some 12 subjects in both the Arts and Sciences with a corresponding range for the G.C.E. O level and C.S.E. examinations.  The fact that we are able to meet this challenge was due to the real cooperation of staff and pupils.  Any space large enough to hold a few chairs was pressed into service as a "classroom".  The entrance hall storerooms, the stage, the A.T.C. hut, the Deputy Headmaster' s office and my study were all brought into use when the need arose.  It was ironic that the extra classrooms that we had been trying so long to obtain, were finally provided just before the school's numbers began to decline. 

Without a doubt the most significant event during my time as Headmaster was the amalgamation

of the Plymouth Schools into the Devon Authority in 1974.  This brought many changes affecting all facets of the administration but above all we were given our own board of Governors.  Together with the P.T.A. committees the Governors were outstanding in their help and support for the school, especially when the school was threatened with closure.  For years from the mid seventies this threat was successfully resisted.  However, the establishment of large neighboring comprehensive schools combined with the considerable decrease in the secondary school population finally made closure inevitable. 

Looking back one recalls so many names faces and personalities who have given much pleasure, pride and at times concern.  There were Saturday games when it was not unusual to field up to five teams in a morning, swimming galas at Mount Wise, Christmas revues, P.T.A. and Charity Fund raising and a host of other events and happenings successful, unsuccessful, amusing and sad all contributing to the ethos that was Widey. 

It is one of the pleasures of retirement when out and about, to meet so many old boys their parents and friends and hear of their achievements and successes in many and varied walks of life, not only locally, but all around the world.  Widey School may disappear but the generations of "old boys" remain as symbols of a respected, happy and successful institution. 

 

K. J. Salter

 

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19 October 2005