ANOTHER GRAMMAR SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY
Having recently marked the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Beaminster & Netherbury Grammar School, the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Old Boys’ and Old Girls’ Association will be celebrated at the biennial reunion on Saturday 27th July. An article published in the 1923 edition of the school magazine shows the Association’s inauguration with founding members recorded in separate lists for girls and boys.
After a feature on the school in Looking Back pages of the Bridport News Joan Dear got in touch with the OBOGA Secretary, Lesley Rundle and sent a picture of her mother Kathleen Sprackling who was the first OBOGA Girls’ Secretary. Lesley then visited Diana Toms (née Bugler) a former pupil and teacher, and obtained a picture of her father Ernest Bugler, the first Boys’ Secretary.
Lesley also met-up recently with Alec Wallbridge who at 97 is thought to be the oldest surviving member of the school. She said “He has a very good memory of his time there in 1926 when pupils walked miles to school or came on horses which were stabled in Beaminster during the day.” There may have been something about the school to promote longevity as former Treasurer Warren Riglar recently celebrated his 90th birthday and is still on the OBOGA Committee.
Even 50 years after the school closed former pupils continue to turn up at the biennial reunions; around a hundred are expected this year on 27th July at Beaminster School where the activities start at 2 p.m. For further information and registration contact Lesley Rundle, 01308 863787.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
OBOGA Secretary – Lesley Rundle 01308 863787, lesley@lprnet.co.uk
