Templars School History Page Tile Hill Coventry

"Templars School Reunion"

The Story of "Templars and Whoberley Schools" ...

Templars School Tile Hill Coventry

THE STORY OF A SCHOOL Templars Primary First Printed 1996

THE SEVENTIES The Seventies began with a heavy snowfall reaching blizzard conditions at times, making it difficult to get to School on some days. This Lasted throughout February and March. There were few outings throughout this decade and not very imaginative ones either. The most popular destinations were Coombe Abbey, Burford, the West Midlands Safari Park, Bagington Airport, the Lunt Fort and the Royal Show. The Infants held an annual Christmas Concert, one performance of which was for Old Age Pensioners, who were served tea and mince pies afterwards. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress usually attended. A Flower Festival was held in the Hall in June 1971. Some children from the juniors played their violins to entertain the visitors. Harvest Festival was a yearly event. Baskets of food were taken to Homes for Blind children. There were visits to the Infant School by Theatre Companies. The Robert Cooper Theatre Company put on ‘Pinochio’ in October1972. The Fire Brigade brought an Engine to show to the children. The Infants took part in a Music Festival at Mount Nod in May 1974. And there were visits to Jardine Library for a talk on books and how to use the Library. In October,’ 1974, there was a Halloween Party for the youngest children and in June 1978, they entered a Float in Coventry Carnival Parade. It won second prize and was called ‘Templars‘ Knights’. In April 1979, the children took part in an aˆ?Easter Bonnet Parade’ and in November celebrated Bonfire Night with a ‘Guy Burning’. Two clubs started during these years. The Infants had their ‘Tuft Club’ and the juniors, ‘Panda Club’. They met regularly and the Panda Club even held a Pet Show on the lawn at the front of the School. There seems to have been more co-operation between the Infants and Juniors in these years. The Violin Group appears to have played quite often for the Infants and the Junior B.A.G.A. team performed for them. In 1976, those children who were to transfer to the Junior School in September were invited to watch the Junior School Concert. One disturbing feature of these years is the constant references made to break-ins in both Schools with damage to stock and buildings. When the Infant School returned after the holidays in 1976, it was found that one intruder had made himself at home. He had slept and made his meals in the Staffroom. The only outside events that were recorded in the Log Books were the change to Decimal Currency on 19th February, 1971 and the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee on the 7th of June, 1977. There were changes for both Schools to cope with during these years. Mr Walker, the Caretaker, who had replaced Mr. Morrison, died during the summer holidays in 1970. In February 1971, only seven new children were accepted into School because of a shortage of staff. In 1974, the Medway Huts were demolished and the Caretaker’s Huts were converted to a classroom with a play area and general Library attached. Mrs. Flockhart, the Traffic Warden on Tile Hill Lane, was seriously injured whilst crossing children into School. She was taken to hospital in a critical condition. Two months later she was still in hospital. Mr Manning retired in 1972 and Mr. Holdcroft became Headmaster of the Junior School. Miss Bown retired as Headmistress of the Infant School on the 15th of July 1977, and a Concert was held for her on the 7th. I remember this as both my children were in the Infants at the time. I can remember a very bewildered Traffic Policeman on duty in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, who watched in amazement as we circled him, singing, ‘There’ll always be an England’ and’ Soldiers of the Queen’. My excuse was that we were learning the words. Mrs Greaves replaced Mrs. Bown as Headmistress. In 1978 both Schools prepared for an influx of children when the new estate at Tanyard Farm was completed. More Staff were employed and new classes formed. Two rooms in the Junior School were loaned to the Infants, the present Staffroom and the Parents’ Room. This was when my teaching career at Templars’ began. My first impressions of the School and one that remains with me, was the Music. When I arrived at School in the morning, I would stand outside the Hall and listen to the Orchestra with Mrs. Grewcock or the Brass Band with Mr. Richards. What do I remember of those first years? One thing I do remember well was how nice it was to have such a small class and how pleasant the children were. My last School had been a very difficult one with very large classes. One funny incident that happened, I do remember. It was Christmas and we had a sudden flock of paper robins descending on the School. They were everywhere. They appeared sitting on Mary’s shoulder on a Christmas Display, in the Register, on your back if you stood still long enough, on the corridors, even in the Staff toilets. The culprit was found! Kim Harmer (Nee Thomas) gives us a flavour of the times. "My memories of Templars’ begin when I was in my first year at School. I remember we had little coloured satchels hooked on the back of our chairs, which, when we had finished our work, we would pack our work in. Whichever chair had our satchel on, that was where we had to sit all the time." "When we had finished our work and put our work away we had a little bottle of milk with a straw. If you were good in class and finished your milk, if there was a spare bottle, the teacher would choose someone to have that last one. Then it was time for first play. I remember in the playground, standing outside by the Nursery, peeping in to those little white windows, wondering who or what was in there. It was not a Nursery in those days. Also playing Hopscotch." "We spent my last year at Templars, half the year in our classroom and the other half in a classroom upstairs. PE time was fine. Instead of individual races we had four coloured and named teams. Red -Raven, Green - Chamberlain and the other two were Yellow and Blue and it was the same for Sport’s Day. I remember Sport’s Day very well. All Chamberlain (green) teams were gathered together out of each class and would sit down one end of the side lines. It wasn’t class against class, it was the four coloured teams against each other. It was very exciting when you were running your race and your coloured team was cheering you on. One race I can remember was the Obstacle Race. I had to crawl along the ground, knocking a ball with my nose, then walk along an upside down bench, run to some bean bags and throw five into a hoop which was four or five feet away then egg and spoon to the end. I had to go three or four times to get all my bean bags in and to my astonishment, I still won easily crossing the line and passing the tape I remember, was a very good feelings" "In the playground I remember playing lots of Hide and Seek, but best of all . lots of Kiss Chase. Back to the classrooms. One thing has changed, we were all called Year One Junior, Year Two etc. The desks are the same, lift ups." "There was no School Uniform, which was good, but as now, my son comes to. School, I think the uniform makes them look very smart and saves on normal wear." Kim Harmer (Nee Thomas) On the 31st of July 1979, Mr Holcroft retired. He had been with the School for seven years. Mr. Hall became Acting Head and Mrs. Davies the Deputy Head. December brought Christmas Concerts, ‘The Tinderbox’ and ‘Carols of Many Nationsa’ and a new Headmaster, Mr. Greeve.

[click here] ... continued Chapter Seven

Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the old pupils and staff who have helped in the production of this history.
Thank you to Mrs. Clay who has put this History together.

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