HELP!! No1: Photos and memories of the school pool needed.
Hildenborough CE Primary School Swimming Pool Project
The Swimming Pool is doooomed. This was announced by Mr Haisell at a general meeting with parents in May 1976. The reason for pessimism was that the building covering the pool was actually two wooden classrooms, joined at the hip, which had rotted away due to the effects of chlorine, condensation etc.
A brave parent, Peter Smith, stood up and proposed that the parents could erect a new brick built structure but the Headmaster poured scorn on this proposal. His scepticism was probably quite reasonable because the task would be formidable.
But it came to pass and 16 months later there was a grand ceremony to open and celebrate a shining new building which won plaudits from KCC for the quality of the workmanship, especially the bricklaying. They commented that the cost would have been of the order of £35,000 had commercial contractors been involved!
Either at the meeting or a little later, Andy Blundell, the deputy Head, stepped forward and said he would be prepared to support the parents in the project and Margaret Rusbridge with Malcolm Baker (Chairman of the PTA) agreed to raise the necessary funds. The fund target was £7,500.
The project was titled “Sprat” which is an acronym for Swimming Pool Restoration Attempt.
Fund Raising involved a multitude of events such as car washing, cardboard and paper collection, mile of pennies, cheese and wine parties and Smarties tubes filled with 20 x 5p pieces. There was a Sprat cook book with recipes supplied by parents which retailed at 40p a time and copies exist to this day. A regular Newsletter kept the school community advised of the progress made towards the target.
The Workforce comprised seasoned professionals and a large number of worker ants. The key players were Surveyor George Wynne, Clerk of Works Gordon Swain and the bricklayers Dave Chambers and Peter Koster. The approach of all four was truly professional and, from the workers perspective, exacting but the end justified the means.
The worker ants included Malcolm Baker, Sean Boulle, Vic Cleator, Derek Collins, Graeme Connell, Roy Cope, Pat Davies, Keith Elves, Derek Emery, Peter Moss, Will McQuillan, John Richardson and Dave Wallis. Peter and Keith did all the electrics and they and the rest of the squad did every other menial task at the behest of the professionals. We knew our place!
The job started in late summer and finished 53 weeks late. The site used to be the Headmaster’s garden in the middle of which was a large pond. Whilst the demolition of the old classrooms took about five minutes, the site clearance and footings took an age because of the previous use of the site. Those familiar with the pool may notice that on two sides the grass bank is quite steep. In dry weather these banks caused no problem at all, but on occasions, after heavy rain, the place was reminiscent of Passchendaele. As fast as we shovelled the clay it slipped down again and again and ……………
The worker ants mastered hod carrying, cement mixing, shovelling, painting and some of them did this on most weekends of the project but it was worth it.
The Grand Opening took place on a lovely sunny September evening and was led by Mr Haisell who paid generous tribute to the workforce.
What then? The pool was opened for business with the minimum of delay and Stocks Green School also came and had regular sessions for a time. In addition the facility was open to families who could book when it was not in use by the school at a very reasonable cost.
What now? It is a bit sad to report that a question mark again hangs over the future of the pool. Certain rectification needs to be made and there is some concern that the cost involved will be too much for the school to cope with. Problems seemed to be so much easier to cope with forty years ago! If only it would still be the case!
Does anyone have any bright ideas that would help?
Do you have any personal memories and/or photos of the pool construction?
Please e-mail Mellie on the contact page if you can help.
Pat Davies 6th January 2016
Hildenborough CE Primary School Swimming Pool Project
The Swimming Pool is doooomed. This was announced by Mr Haisell at a general meeting with parents in May 1976. The reason for pessimism was that the building covering the pool was actually two wooden classrooms, joined at the hip, which had rotted away due to the effects of chlorine, condensation etc.
A brave parent, Peter Smith, stood up and proposed that the parents could erect a new brick built structure but the Headmaster poured scorn on this proposal. His scepticism was probably quite reasonable because the task would be formidable.
But it came to pass and 16 months later there was a grand ceremony to open and celebrate a shining new building which won plaudits from KCC for the quality of the workmanship, especially the bricklaying. They commented that the cost would have been of the order of £35,000 had commercial contractors been involved!
Either at the meeting or a little later, Andy Blundell, the deputy Head, stepped forward and said he would be prepared to support the parents in the project and Margaret Rusbridge with Malcolm Baker (Chairman of the PTA) agreed to raise the necessary funds. The fund target was £7,500.
The project was titled “Sprat” which is an acronym for Swimming Pool Restoration Attempt.
Fund Raising involved a multitude of events such as car washing, cardboard and paper collection, mile of pennies, cheese and wine parties and Smarties tubes filled with 20 x 5p pieces. There was a Sprat cook book with recipes supplied by parents which retailed at 40p a time and copies exist to this day. A regular Newsletter kept the school community advised of the progress made towards the target.
The Workforce comprised seasoned professionals and a large number of worker ants. The key players were Surveyor George Wynne, Clerk of Works Gordon Swain and the bricklayers Dave Chambers and Peter Koster. The approach of all four was truly professional and, from the workers perspective, exacting but the end justified the means.
The worker ants included Malcolm Baker, Sean Boulle, Vic Cleator, Derek Collins, Graeme Connell, Roy Cope, Pat Davies, Keith Elves, Derek Emery, Peter Moss, Will McQuillan, John Richardson and Dave Wallis. Peter and Keith did all the electrics and they and the rest of the squad did every other menial task at the behest of the professionals. We knew our place!
The job started in late summer and finished 53 weeks late. The site used to be the Headmaster’s garden in the middle of which was a large pond. Whilst the demolition of the old classrooms took about five minutes, the site clearance and footings took an age because of the previous use of the site. Those familiar with the pool may notice that on two sides the grass bank is quite steep. In dry weather these banks caused no problem at all, but on occasions, after heavy rain, the place was reminiscent of Passchendaele. As fast as we shovelled the clay it slipped down again and again and ……………
The worker ants mastered hod carrying, cement mixing, shovelling, painting and some of them did this on most weekends of the project but it was worth it.
The Grand Opening took place on a lovely sunny September evening and was led by Mr Haisell who paid generous tribute to the workforce.
What then? The pool was opened for business with the minimum of delay and Stocks Green School also came and had regular sessions for a time. In addition the facility was open to families who could book when it was not in use by the school at a very reasonable cost.
What now? It is a bit sad to report that a question mark again hangs over the future of the pool. Certain rectification needs to be made and there is some concern that the cost involved will be too much for the school to cope with. Problems seemed to be so much easier to cope with forty years ago! If only it would still be the case!
Does anyone have any bright ideas that would help?
Do you have any personal memories and/or photos of the pool construction?
Please e-mail Mellie on the contact page if you can help.
Pat Davies 6th January 2016
HELP!! No2: A query has come through via the website from Glen Humble, as follows:-
Does anyone have any photos or memories of the Johnsen and Jorgensen glass factory that was in Stocks Green Rd during WWII up until the early 50's.
My grandfather Harry Humble worked there during this period and transferred with the company to South Wales when the factory in Hildenborough closed.
During his time in Hildenborough he was a member of the Home Guard and I'd also be interested if you have any information about their activities too.
Thanks and Best regards,
Glen
If you can help Glen in any way, please contact Mellie via the "Contact Us" page.
Does anyone have any photos or memories of the Johnsen and Jorgensen glass factory that was in Stocks Green Rd during WWII up until the early 50's.
My grandfather Harry Humble worked there during this period and transferred with the company to South Wales when the factory in Hildenborough closed.
During his time in Hildenborough he was a member of the Home Guard and I'd also be interested if you have any information about their activities too.
Thanks and Best regards,
Glen
If you can help Glen in any way, please contact Mellie via the "Contact Us" page.
HELP!! No3: Does anybody have any photos and/or memories of Princess Christian's Hospital/Farm?
A book is in the draft stages of being written, all about the history of the hospital, it's buildings, the people behind it, etc, etc, so this is a last-minute plea for any more info, but especially photographs, from it's inception in 1908 up to about 1995-ish. If you can help in any way, please contact Mellie via the "Contact Us" page.
A book is in the draft stages of being written, all about the history of the hospital, it's buildings, the people behind it, etc, etc, so this is a last-minute plea for any more info, but especially photographs, from it's inception in 1908 up to about 1995-ish. If you can help in any way, please contact Mellie via the "Contact Us" page.