Alice in Wonderland

The Harris family connection

Planting trees to celebrate 50 years of Harris’ at Stanmore School - 1983

Adults (from the right): Mary Beck, Alec Beck, Roger Harris, Anne Grace (neé Harris), Jean Harris (neé Gregory) with the children and teachers at Stanmore School

Thank you for organising the Stanmore School 90th Anniversary celebration and tea party on 19th July. I came along with my Dad (Peter aged 87), my brother (Andrew aged 57), my Aunt (Anne aged 79) and my Uncle (Roger aged 76) and we all thoroughly enjoyed seeing the school, looking at the fascinating displays and catching up with past and present staff and pupils.

I seem to remember you mentioning the possibility of putting together some sort of commemorative booklet and inviting us al to provide photos and anecdotes for it. So here you go…

We are the Harris family. My grandmother, Gertrude (born in 1899) married William Harris. They lived in Stuart Crescent, Stanmore and had 8 children:

• (Edith) Mary - Born 1923 - Started at Stanmore School when it was built

• Harold - Born 1925 - Started at Stanmore School in 1930/31

• Len - Born 1927 - Started at Stanmore School in 1933

• Peter - Born 1932 - Started at Stanmore School in 1937

• Bryan - Born in 1934 - Started at Stanmore School in 1940

• Anne - Born 1940 - Started at Stanmore School in 1945

• Roger and Trevor (twins) - Board 1943 - Started at Stanmore School in 1948

Mary married Alec Beck, they moved to Cromwell Road and had two boys:

• Alan Beck - Born 1947 - Started at Stanmore School in 1952

• Malcolm Beck - Born 1950 - Started at Stanmore School in 1955

Peter married Jean Gregory, who also grew up in Stuart Crescent and they had 3 children:

• Jean Harris nee Gregory - Born 1931 - Started at Stanmore School in 1937

• Stephen Gregory (Jean’s brother) - Born 1948 - Started at Stanmore School in 1953

Peter and Jean’s children:

• Sally - Born 1961 - Started at Stanmore School in 1966

• Andrew - Born 1962 - Started at Stanmore School in 1967

• Gillian (me) - Born 1971 - Started at Stanmore School 1976

I left Stanmore School in 1983 and during a family gather in the summer of that year we got chatting about Stanmore generally and about the school. We worked out that there had been a member of our family at the school for at least 50 years, from Mary starting when it was built, through until I left in 1987. Although there are a few gaps where nobody in the family was a pupil, Gertrude and Mary were lunchtime staff for a number of years once their youngest children had started school. My mum Jean also did two stints as a dinner lady, one once Andrew had started school and she ent back again once I’d started school.

I’m sure our family is not unique. I went to Stanmore School with a few children who were from similar large, Stanmore families. For whatever reason, we decided to mark our association with the school by planting some trees at the school in the autumn of 1983. At the tim, they were where the playground met the field not he junior side of the school. When we visited the school for the anniversary we found what we think are those same trees. I have enclosed copies of the photos taken in 1983 (50 years of Harris’ at the school) and on 19th July this year [2019] at the 90th Anniversary.

Gill Gilbert (nee Harris)

Revisiting the tree on 90th Anniversary of the school

From left to right: Roger (76), Anne (79), Gill (47), Peter (87)

Revisiting the tree on 90th Anniversary of the school

From left to right: Andrew (57), Roger (76), Anne (79), Peter (87)

The Queen's Jubilee - 1977

Queen’s Jubilee 1977

Queen’s Jubilee Tree Planting 1977

Stanmore Staff - 1986/87

Stanmore Staff - 1978

Netball in the 1970s

Stanmore Netball Team 1973 - won Goals Cup

Back row (left to right): Janet Woolf, Nicola Morgan, Kay Hobbs, Katheryn March, Maureen Thompson, Christine Lewendon
Front row: Marie Riopel, Susan Busby, Helen Vigus

Stanmore won the Large Schools Section at the Netball Rally in 1974

Back row (left to right): Teresa Brown, Lindy Stening, Susan Harfield, Susan Cameron
Front row: Esther Gibson, Susan Christie, Susan Byrne, Linda Hibberd

Stanmore Netball Team 1977 - won Large Schools Section

Back row (left to right): Amanda Reed, Carol Patience, Janet Downham, Kerrie Orchard, Gillian Digweed
Front row: Sheila Ware, Karen Coates, Kim Payne, Vanessa Trott

Stanmore Junior School Choir c1957

Were you in the school choir in 1957? Do you recognise anyone in the photo below?

1. David Waldren

2. Renny Waygood

3. Ruth Hopwood

4. Ann Shortland

5. ?

6. Janet(?) Nelson

7. Susan Goodall

8. Shirley Cox

9. Nigel Sacree

10. John Miller

11. David Harder

12. Colin Pickett

13. John Bishop

14. Mr R E King (Headmaster)

15. Kill Miles

16. Helen Starr

17. Caroline or Carolyn Haynes

18. Valerie Heanes

19. Jane Lahey or Leahy

20. ?

21. Rosemary Horness

22. Peter Clark

23. Malcolm Pearson

24. David Stuart

25. Howard Jerram or Jerome

26. John Mariner

27. Roberta (Bobby) Dunbar

28. Caroline Lugg

29. Diane Jarvis

30. Margaret Hennin

31. ?

32. Teresa Cozens

33. ? Macklin

34. ?

35. Jennifer Pendreigh

36. Linda Edwards?

37. Janet Malt

38. Ann Richards

Miss Glover

Mrs Glover taught at the school for many years. She graduated with First Class Honours in English in 1928. When she died, her family donated a number of items from her life to the school archives.

Plans for indoor toilets for the school

The governors worked for many years to build toilets inside the school and demolish the old outdoor toilets. These plans also show the intent to demolish the temporary classrooms and build new classrooms across the quad area.

OS Map of Stanmore, Winchester - September 1964

Memories of Stanmore - Helen Dade

I attended Stanmore School between 1984 and 1991 following on from my older brother and sister. Those were some of the best years of my childhood and I have some fond memories. I now live in Wales but would have happily sent my daughter to the school had I have stayed in Winchester. She went to my partner's old school which was over 100 years old and was unfortunately closed due to the council preferring newer schools. I am so pleased that Stanmore hasn't seen the same fate.

My Nan lived opposite Stanmore school in Drummond close and of course Mrs Cole saw me across the road safely each day. The teachers I remember are Mrs Lewis, Mrs Clarke, Mrs Baxter, Mrs Fox, Miss Charnley, Mr Smith, Miss Hurley and Miss Swift. I remember Mr Gunner reading us stories in assembly from his big book and I used to love playing in the maze in the infant playground. It is fabulous to see memories from the past on your history pages and I was so excited to see Mrs Clarke's old photos where I recognised alot of familiar faces!

Memories of Stanmore - Mandy Dodd (nee Holder) - 1967

I am a ex-pupil of Stanmore primary I spent many wonderful years through my younger years. My two girls came to Stanmore and so has my granddaughter. My name when I went there was Mandy Holder, my three sisters and brother also came to Stanmore, so did my late father who also was Father Christmas one year.

I started working in the school in about 1989 as a catering assistant working in the old kitchen, working ten hours a week as a catering assistant. I am now working at Stanmore as the unit manager of the kitchen for hc3s. I have only had three years out of Stanmore, I came back and was then a unit supervisor, then promoted to a unit manager. I also cook for St Faiths primary from Stanmore. The school has changed over the years.

I enjoyed my time as a pupil there, now I am enjoying my time cooking healthy meals for the children.

I love working with the staff at the school.

Celebrating with the Saxons

Memories of Stanmore - Andrew Norman

I attended the school from 1948 to 1951. I lived at 4 King’s Avenue.

My mother Jean nee Waldin and her three brothers Peter, David, and Howard Waldin had also attended the school and David Waldin subsequently taught there.

Many pupils will remember ‘The Blind Man’s Shop’ at Number 38 Stanmore Lane. He was my grandfather Thomas Waldin, from whom pupils bought sweets on their way home from school. I have written a book about him, ‘A Brummie Boy Goes to War’, telling of how he came to wounded in the First World War, and how St Dunstan’s offered him rehabilitation. When he and his family first came to Winchester from London, they lived at Riflemen’s Cottages, Stanmore Lane.

A playground to be proud of

Stanmore Junior School - Christmas Concert - December 1960

Were you performing in this Christmas Concert?

How did you get on in your English test?

We believe this English test was from the 1960s.

Stanmore Junior School - Prize Giving - April 1962

This programme is for the prize giving held on 12 April 1962.

Stanmore Junior School - Annual Prize Giving - April 1963

This programme from the 9 April 1963 marked the annual prize giving ceremony and the retirement of Miss E M Read.

Stanmore Junior School - Christmas 1965

Photos from the 1960s