The Opening of the Timberscombe School Swimming Pool, 16 May 1989
Title
The Opening of the Timberscombe School Swimming Pool, 16 May 1989
Subject
Description
Friday, the 16th of May 1989, at the Timberscombe School was an incredibly full day at the end of an eventful week. As Mrs. Enyde Webb, the school's Head Teacher from 1985 to 1994, wrote in her Log Book at the end of the previous week, "10th May 1989--We begin a week of festivities ....."(1).
On that same day a school photographer took group photographs of Timberscombe children in 1714 costume. This was to prepare for the following Tuesday morning, the13th of May, when the Rev. Edward Jeffrey Miller, the vicar at St. Petrock's Church offered a Service of Thanksgiving honouring the 275th Anniversary of the founding of Timberscombe School, when Richard Elsworth, who on 11 July 1714--less than a month before he died at the age of twenty-two-- had signed his will in which he made many bequests, including an endowment for the eventual Timberscombe School (2). Following the service was an open day at the school with the staff and children wearing their Stuart costumes.
On Wednesday morning, a talk on Richard Elsworth was given to the children by Churchwarden James Henderson. Perhaps more fun, this was followed by a walk of the children around the village, again in 1714 costume and carrying floral hoops, ending the day with Maypole dancing and stalls serving cream teas and ice cream (3). On Thursday the general public was welcomed to the school for an exhibition of old village photographs.
On Friday morning, an Infant Cluster Dance Workshop was held but later that day was certainly the topper, or as Mrs. Webb wrote in the Log Book, "An afternoon + evening for all to remember. Princess Margaret opens new houses--all school attends. In evening we all celebrate the wonderful new pool built by some wonderful Dads"(4).
Indeed HRH Princess Margaret was in Timberscombe that busy afternoon to unveil a commemorative plaque celebrating the opening of lower cost houses at Vicarage Court, as seen in photographs at SP-XXX, taken by a variety of professional photographers. The three photographs at the top of this entry are of the "wonderful new pool" opening, taken by Joyce Smith of Ford Cottage, Timberscombe, who was Caretaker at Timberscombe School and the Village Hall for over 30 years. Joyce retired from Timberscombe School on the 6th of July 2001 and continued photographing around Timberscombe up to the present day.
As part of her entry in the Log Book, Enyde Webb wrote that the pool was "opened by HTV personality, Miss Sherrie Eugene", who is visible in all three photographs. She was a regular television presenter and sign language interpreter (which she learned to communicate with her deaf sister) on The West Tonight and HTV News from 1982 to 2001 (5).
In the top photograph, the gentleman to the right of Miss Eugene, with a bag hanging over his shoulder and holding some sort of object, is likely her sound or video engineer. There are at least four other men in the photograph who could be some of the "wonderful Dads" that Mrs. Webb mentioned and indeed dads were instrumental in the creation of this new swimming pool.
Apparently there had been some sort of lesser pool already on the site. On the 21st of April 1988, the PTA held a Fashion Show in Wootton Courtenay that raised £200 toward "the new pool" (6). On the 10th of May, at a meeting of the School Governors, Enyde Webb reported that £1000 had been raised, including a £300 grant, for the "new swimming pool "(7) and £70 was raked in at a Car Boot Sale on 11 June, also "towards new pool" (8), This was followed by a "Pool Meeting for Volunteer Dads" on the 13th. A fortnight later Mrs. Webb wrote triumphantly what appears to be "Swimming Gala--the last one in the old plastic pool!!!!" (9). On the 8th of August 1988, she recorded"Fathers empty pool and begin foundations of new pool" (10).
Things moved quickly. At the Board of Governors meeting of 22 September 1988, it was reported that planning permission for the swimming pool was granted which was lucky as the "pool was largely erected and was ready for fibre glass lining and the building of the pump house". A pump unit had "been obtained for very little cost" from Old Cleeve School. One of the Governors, S. J. (Paddy) Parnell spoke about how to best heat the pool and gave tribute to Mr. Dyer for giving so much time and energy and Mr. Lang for "donating half the proceeds of his half marathon run this year" (11). All three gentlemen were "Dads", with children recently or currently at Timberscombe School (12).
Mrs. Webb was especially enthusiastic about an art show held at the school on the 10th of October 1988. Entitled "Grand Art Exhibition ala Tate Gallery", with a catalogue , price list, wine and buffet and a Grand Drawing, the attendance exceeded all expectations and all works of art sold-- all 'generous donations to our new pool" (13).
In 2021, Joyce Smith identified two of the fathers in the centre photograph. Wearing a blue shirt and leaning into the left edge of the photograph is Paddy Parnell. Living at Stag Cottage in Wootton Courtenay, he was the father of Hannah, who was admitted in 1986 and Chloe, 1988 and soon to enroll, Toby in 1991 (14). Seated on the right edge of the photograph is Toby Crockford of Beasley Farm Cottage, the father of Tracey and Paul, admitted respectively in 1984 and 1986 (15). Joyce also pointed out Stephen Rodney Fowler in the dark shirt just behind Sherrie Eugene, the son of Victor (Vic) Cuthbert and Lena (nee Jackson) Fowler of No. 1 Bemberry Bank. Born in 1955, Stephen had been a student at Timberscombe, admitted in 1964 on the same day as his siblings, Avril and Patricia (16). Stephen passed away in 2006 and was buried at St. Petrock's with his father (17). Joyce Smith also identified the woman in white, seated next to Mr. Crockford as Pam Webber.
The woman leaning over, just to the left of Pam Webber is Enyde Webb. A closer look at the Head Teacher suggest she might be damp and indeed in the Log Book she wrote "----and guess who was nudged into the pool fully clothed! The children were either gleeful or horrified at the wet headmistress emerging from the pool!!!". The pool opening was followed by a barbecue and being 1989, a dance under a disco ball (18).
On the third photograph, Joyce Smith captured a laugh between Sherrie Eugene and Kenneth Grabham. Mr. Grabham was born in Timberscombe in 1920 and worked as blacksmith at Cowbridge Mill, joining his father, Sam Grabham in 1938. At the time of this photograph, Ken Grabham was still smithing as he did not retire until 1993 but also stayed busy as School Manager, Churchwarden and on the Board of Governors of Timberscombe School. In 1989 he was Parish Council Chairman. Mr. Grabham married Mavis Doreen Bishop in 1949 (19) and was the father of Robert William, born in 1953 and Sarah Anne, born in 1956. Both had attended Timberscombe School (20). Kenneth Grabham was also known to be a bit of a flirt, especially around an attractive woman. Perhaps Mr. Grabham is behind a wall because he knew that Sherrie Eugene was a former national judo champion (21).
The pool was a success. Naturally there were setbacks, such as damage caused by vandals in January 1991 (22). A more constant worry seem to be insurance concerns, such as the 19th of September 2001, when the Nigel Hockin, Chairman of the Board of Governors, had to assure the insurers that despite there being water in the pool over the winter months it would not be used for swimming (23). More problematic were repairs such as the back wall of the pool needing to be replaced in 2001, requiring a search for a "match fund" (24). In March 2007, discussions were made to heat the pool (25) which does not seem to have occurred. On a busy day, the 14th of September 2007, the current Head Teacher, Marcus Capel, took a break in the afternoon to swim and reported it was "very cold!" (26).
The pool also became available to people not necessarily involved with the school . One could pay a fee, receive a key and even rent it for an hour or so. This was very popular, especially for families with children but also raised further insurance difficulties. A combination of this and more repair work being needed caused the closing of the school around the time Mr. Capel left as Head Teacher after a serious riding accident, c. 2018. Since that time, the swimming pool has been in the process of converting to a sunken garden.
(On the 19th of July 2022, at a meeting of the St. Petrock's History Group, Gabrielle and Jim Horrobin revealed that they had inherited the plastic pool that Enyde Webb had been so eager to replace. It had been purchased from the school by Peter and Elizabeth Conrad who lived at Furze View, a bungalow on the former rectory grounds of St. Petrock's, built originally in 1963 as a Vicarage. Gabrielle and Jim bought Furze View in 1995 and "for a few extra bucks" also kept the pool to entertain visiting grandchildren, keeping it until Gabrielle got tired of scrubbing "green stuff" out of it at the end of each summer.)
On that same day a school photographer took group photographs of Timberscombe children in 1714 costume. This was to prepare for the following Tuesday morning, the13th of May, when the Rev. Edward Jeffrey Miller, the vicar at St. Petrock's Church offered a Service of Thanksgiving honouring the 275th Anniversary of the founding of Timberscombe School, when Richard Elsworth, who on 11 July 1714--less than a month before he died at the age of twenty-two-- had signed his will in which he made many bequests, including an endowment for the eventual Timberscombe School (2). Following the service was an open day at the school with the staff and children wearing their Stuart costumes.
On Wednesday morning, a talk on Richard Elsworth was given to the children by Churchwarden James Henderson. Perhaps more fun, this was followed by a walk of the children around the village, again in 1714 costume and carrying floral hoops, ending the day with Maypole dancing and stalls serving cream teas and ice cream (3). On Thursday the general public was welcomed to the school for an exhibition of old village photographs.
On Friday morning, an Infant Cluster Dance Workshop was held but later that day was certainly the topper, or as Mrs. Webb wrote in the Log Book, "An afternoon + evening for all to remember. Princess Margaret opens new houses--all school attends. In evening we all celebrate the wonderful new pool built by some wonderful Dads"(4).
Indeed HRH Princess Margaret was in Timberscombe that busy afternoon to unveil a commemorative plaque celebrating the opening of lower cost houses at Vicarage Court, as seen in photographs at SP-XXX, taken by a variety of professional photographers. The three photographs at the top of this entry are of the "wonderful new pool" opening, taken by Joyce Smith of Ford Cottage, Timberscombe, who was Caretaker at Timberscombe School and the Village Hall for over 30 years. Joyce retired from Timberscombe School on the 6th of July 2001 and continued photographing around Timberscombe up to the present day.
As part of her entry in the Log Book, Enyde Webb wrote that the pool was "opened by HTV personality, Miss Sherrie Eugene", who is visible in all three photographs. She was a regular television presenter and sign language interpreter (which she learned to communicate with her deaf sister) on The West Tonight and HTV News from 1982 to 2001 (5).
In the top photograph, the gentleman to the right of Miss Eugene, with a bag hanging over his shoulder and holding some sort of object, is likely her sound or video engineer. There are at least four other men in the photograph who could be some of the "wonderful Dads" that Mrs. Webb mentioned and indeed dads were instrumental in the creation of this new swimming pool.
Apparently there had been some sort of lesser pool already on the site. On the 21st of April 1988, the PTA held a Fashion Show in Wootton Courtenay that raised £200 toward "the new pool" (6). On the 10th of May, at a meeting of the School Governors, Enyde Webb reported that £1000 had been raised, including a £300 grant, for the "new swimming pool "(7) and £70 was raked in at a Car Boot Sale on 11 June, also "towards new pool" (8), This was followed by a "Pool Meeting for Volunteer Dads" on the 13th. A fortnight later Mrs. Webb wrote triumphantly what appears to be "Swimming Gala--the last one in the old plastic pool!!!!" (9). On the 8th of August 1988, she recorded"Fathers empty pool and begin foundations of new pool" (10).
Things moved quickly. At the Board of Governors meeting of 22 September 1988, it was reported that planning permission for the swimming pool was granted which was lucky as the "pool was largely erected and was ready for fibre glass lining and the building of the pump house". A pump unit had "been obtained for very little cost" from Old Cleeve School. One of the Governors, S. J. (Paddy) Parnell spoke about how to best heat the pool and gave tribute to Mr. Dyer for giving so much time and energy and Mr. Lang for "donating half the proceeds of his half marathon run this year" (11). All three gentlemen were "Dads", with children recently or currently at Timberscombe School (12).
Mrs. Webb was especially enthusiastic about an art show held at the school on the 10th of October 1988. Entitled "Grand Art Exhibition ala Tate Gallery", with a catalogue , price list, wine and buffet and a Grand Drawing, the attendance exceeded all expectations and all works of art sold-- all 'generous donations to our new pool" (13).
In 2021, Joyce Smith identified two of the fathers in the centre photograph. Wearing a blue shirt and leaning into the left edge of the photograph is Paddy Parnell. Living at Stag Cottage in Wootton Courtenay, he was the father of Hannah, who was admitted in 1986 and Chloe, 1988 and soon to enroll, Toby in 1991 (14). Seated on the right edge of the photograph is Toby Crockford of Beasley Farm Cottage, the father of Tracey and Paul, admitted respectively in 1984 and 1986 (15). Joyce also pointed out Stephen Rodney Fowler in the dark shirt just behind Sherrie Eugene, the son of Victor (Vic) Cuthbert and Lena (nee Jackson) Fowler of No. 1 Bemberry Bank. Born in 1955, Stephen had been a student at Timberscombe, admitted in 1964 on the same day as his siblings, Avril and Patricia (16). Stephen passed away in 2006 and was buried at St. Petrock's with his father (17). Joyce Smith also identified the woman in white, seated next to Mr. Crockford as Pam Webber.
The woman leaning over, just to the left of Pam Webber is Enyde Webb. A closer look at the Head Teacher suggest she might be damp and indeed in the Log Book she wrote "----and guess who was nudged into the pool fully clothed! The children were either gleeful or horrified at the wet headmistress emerging from the pool!!!". The pool opening was followed by a barbecue and being 1989, a dance under a disco ball (18).
On the third photograph, Joyce Smith captured a laugh between Sherrie Eugene and Kenneth Grabham. Mr. Grabham was born in Timberscombe in 1920 and worked as blacksmith at Cowbridge Mill, joining his father, Sam Grabham in 1938. At the time of this photograph, Ken Grabham was still smithing as he did not retire until 1993 but also stayed busy as School Manager, Churchwarden and on the Board of Governors of Timberscombe School. In 1989 he was Parish Council Chairman. Mr. Grabham married Mavis Doreen Bishop in 1949 (19) and was the father of Robert William, born in 1953 and Sarah Anne, born in 1956. Both had attended Timberscombe School (20). Kenneth Grabham was also known to be a bit of a flirt, especially around an attractive woman. Perhaps Mr. Grabham is behind a wall because he knew that Sherrie Eugene was a former national judo champion (21).
The pool was a success. Naturally there were setbacks, such as damage caused by vandals in January 1991 (22). A more constant worry seem to be insurance concerns, such as the 19th of September 2001, when the Nigel Hockin, Chairman of the Board of Governors, had to assure the insurers that despite there being water in the pool over the winter months it would not be used for swimming (23). More problematic were repairs such as the back wall of the pool needing to be replaced in 2001, requiring a search for a "match fund" (24). In March 2007, discussions were made to heat the pool (25) which does not seem to have occurred. On a busy day, the 14th of September 2007, the current Head Teacher, Marcus Capel, took a break in the afternoon to swim and reported it was "very cold!" (26).
The pool also became available to people not necessarily involved with the school . One could pay a fee, receive a key and even rent it for an hour or so. This was very popular, especially for families with children but also raised further insurance difficulties. A combination of this and more repair work being needed caused the closing of the school around the time Mr. Capel left as Head Teacher after a serious riding accident, c. 2018. Since that time, the swimming pool has been in the process of converting to a sunken garden.
(On the 19th of July 2022, at a meeting of the St. Petrock's History Group, Gabrielle and Jim Horrobin revealed that they had inherited the plastic pool that Enyde Webb had been so eager to replace. It had been purchased from the school by Peter and Elizabeth Conrad who lived at Furze View, a bungalow on the former rectory grounds of St. Petrock's, built originally in 1963 as a Vicarage. Gabrielle and Jim bought Furze View in 1995 and "for a few extra bucks" also kept the pool to entertain visiting grandchildren, keeping it until Gabrielle got tired of scrubbing "green stuff" out of it at the end of each summer.)
Creator
Joyce Smith /
Joyce Smith /
Joyce Smith
Joyce Smith /
Joyce Smith
Source
Date
16 May 1989
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
The Opening of the Timberscombe School / 16 May 1989 /
centre of Timberscombe village
centre of Timberscombe village
Acquisition Date
2020
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
PLACES: Schoolhouses / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2022
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
16.5 X 11
10.5 X 19
17.5 X 12.5
10.5 X 19
17.5 X 12.5
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, 26 April 1965-15 September 1989, page 298 (2) program for ELLSWORTH (as spelled) SCHOOL, 1714-1989 (3) unidentified and undated newspaper clipping with photograph of the Timberscombe School children walking through the village in 1714 costume on Wednesday,14 May 1989, donated by Marion Fewlass in 2021 (4) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 299 (5) en. wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of
_ITV_journalists_and_newsreaders (6) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 271 (7) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 4 June 1974-14 June 1995. page 155 (8) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 273 (9) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 274 (10) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 275 (11) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 4 June 1974-14 June 1995, page 155 (12) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1935 to 2012, Dyer children, Nos. 1110, 1118, 1148, 1218 and1324/ Lang children, Nos. 1261 and1288 (13) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, pages 279 and 278 (14) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, Nos. 1240, 1265 and 1299 (15) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, Nos. 1219 and 1237 (16) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, Nos. 1002, 1003 and 1004 (17) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (18) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 299 (19) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2007 (20) Timberscombe School ADMISSION BOOK, Nos. 915 and 966 (21) en. wikipedia.org/wiki/ List_of_ITV_journalists_and_newsreaders (22) Timberscombe School MINUTE Book, 4 June 1974-14 June 1995, page 178 (23) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 14 June 1995-29 March 2007, page 68 (24) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 14 June 1995-29 March 2007, page 63 (25) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 14 June 1995-29 March 2007 , meeting on 29 March 2007 (26) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 3 September 2007-5 November 2007, page 4
_ITV_journalists_and_newsreaders (6) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 271 (7) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 4 June 1974-14 June 1995. page 155 (8) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 273 (9) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 274 (10) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 275 (11) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 4 June 1974-14 June 1995, page 155 (12) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1935 to 2012, Dyer children, Nos. 1110, 1118, 1148, 1218 and1324/ Lang children, Nos. 1261 and1288 (13) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, pages 279 and 278 (14) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, Nos. 1240, 1265 and 1299 (15) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, Nos. 1219 and 1237 (16) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, Nos. 1002, 1003 and 1004 (17) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (18) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, page 299 (19) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2007 (20) Timberscombe School ADMISSION BOOK, Nos. 915 and 966 (21) en. wikipedia.org/wiki/ List_of_ITV_journalists_and_newsreaders (22) Timberscombe School MINUTE Book, 4 June 1974-14 June 1995, page 178 (23) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 14 June 1995-29 March 2007, page 68 (24) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 14 June 1995-29 March 2007, page 63 (25) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 14 June 1995-29 March 2007 , meeting on 29 March 2007 (26) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 3 September 2007-5 November 2007, page 4
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2022
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-268
Technique
Copies
Citation
Joyce Smith /
Joyce Smith /
Joyce Smith, “The Opening of the Timberscombe School Swimming Pool, 16 May 1989,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed April 19, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3586.
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