Centenary celebrations at Cobholm school

By Stephen pullinger
Friday, February 10, 2012
6:30 AM

The school might have changed beyond recognition but as soon as they crossed the threshold memories came flooding back.

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It was the first time classmates David Harman, 88, and Dennis Aldridge, 89, had set foot in the building since they had said goodbye to their last class teacher - Tom Bowles - at what was then Cobholm Boys’ School in the mid 1930s.

The old school friends had been reunited for the first time in 75 years last year and were keen to meet up again on Wednesday to join the Yarmouth school’s centenary celebrations.

Retired steam engine driver Mr Harman, of Beccles Road, Gorleston, who proudly recalls “graduating top of the school”, brought along all his old school reports and other records for the occasion.

Retired engineer Mr Aldridge, who now lives in Trendall Road, Norwich, said: “We can still recognise bits of the school like the corridor.

“We share all kinds of other memories too; we believe there are only three or four others still alive from our class who joined the school in 1930.”

Past pupils came from all parts of the county to view a display of old photographs and people’s written memories in the hall of the Mill Road school.

Another of them, Frank Chandler, 76, of Morley Road North, Sheringham, was at the school in 1947 and vividly remembers his teacher Miss Goffin.

Living in Isaacs Road, Cobholm, at the time he said: “One of my memories is going to see a circus that used to come to a field behind the school.”

Present-day pupils at what became a primary school two years ago after a £2m-plus revamp, were joined in the playground by Yarmouth Mayor Barry Coleman and his wife Mary, the mayoress, for a ceremonial balloon release.

Every pupil had a balloon with their name on and they were released after a noisy countdown, soaring off to the west.

Mrs Coleman, who had memories of working at Cobholm as a supply teacher, praised the fantastic community atmosphere.

Headteacher Julie Risby said: “We hope people who find the balloons wherever they turn up will get in touch.”

She said there had been an amazing response from an appeal for people’s memories of the school with more than 50 people ringing up and a lot more coming in.

A week of celebrations has included special dance workshops with classes learning dances through the decades; a commemorative mosaic has been made by key stage two children and centenary mugs will be given to every child,

Later in the term, a time capsule with information about the present-day school and the centenary celebrations will be buried in the grounds for a future generation of pupils to discover in 50 years time.