Farnborough Road Schools' 75th birthday celebrations

FARNBOROUGH Road Schools are set to celebrate 75 years with a 1930s street party.
Children will turn back time on June 12, arriving at the playground in smart pinafores and knee length shorts to remember the early days of their school.

Some LookBack readers might remember those uniforms first hand, Frank Warner a governor of the junior school certainly does.
Mr Warner was a pupil at the school the first day it opened its doors on June 6, 1934 and will return for the anniversary celebrations as guest of honour.
Back in 1934 Farnborough was opened by Alderman Sir Percy Jackson, who was presented a key to the school doors by the architect Mr Barnish who was also responsible for the Southport War Memorial.

A party of dignitaries welcomed by mixed school headmaster Mr Bracewell and infant school headmistress Miss Rogers and shown around what was then a state of the art building housing 650 pupils on a 4.45acre site.
Mr Bracewell's reign as headmaster saw loom weaving flourish at the school, with records noting: "Such a high standard was reached that a number of articles woven by the children were put on display at an exhibition in London in 1935 and the following year six girls attended the flower show to demonstrate hand loom weaving."

Former pupils might remember returning from Easter holidays in 1941 to find the main building and extension left in ruins after being hit by two bombs.
Despite the damage, the school continued through the war years to teach its pupils, even welcoming evacuees and raising funds for the war effort.
With the end of the war came a new headmaster after Mr Bracewell retired due to ill health.
Mr Loveridge took over, leading the school for 18 years, during which time the school house system was introduced. Former pupils from the time will remember being Yellow St John's, Green Farboroughs, Blue Hibberds or Red Bracewells as they competed for the Scott Cup.

The retirement of Farnborough veteran Miss Cunningham in 1973 saw one of the school's longest serving stalwarts leave. Miss Cunningham had pupils for 33 years and will be remembered by as the deputy headmistress.
Since the 1970s the school has seen many changes from the introduction of a cash canteen in the 80s to annual trips to Seahouses and the Isle Of Wight.