29 April 2025
Caldecott started in 1911 as a nursery school in London, soon called a Community. Long before I was born. Former children even from my time and ex-staff still alive are no longer young. For instance, our website has memories from Dennis Wainwright written at age 100, born on 4 July 1920. Although since 1917 Caldecott was essentially a boarding school in the country for working class children, largely from London, there was the occasional day pupil, living locally. Dennis was the sole day boy at the school from 1926 to 1931 when Caldecott House was at Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire. He died on 31 March 2024 age 103, after a short illness, before which he still walked in the countryside.
Contrast 2025 with Caldecott's early years as recorded in our incomplete set of annual reports. One reports: "The first Reunion of old scholars was held on Saturday, June 30, 1923, when supper, speeches, and a dance combined to make a very happy function. The Reunion will henceforth be a regular annual event, and will form part of the School Anniversary and Sports festivities held on the last Saturday in June." That is confirmed by some later reports of reunions of old children and ex-staff in subsequent years. The first reunion held at Mersham-le-Hatch was in 1948.
Reunions from 1923 to 1936 need context for "old". In early years children were eligible for admission if below age 8, often a fair bit younger. Most working children did not stay at the school beyond age 12, although some did and gained scholarship awards to go elsewhere to grammar school etc. The 1923 report listed 11 "old" scholars. The oldest was a girl just 17 years of age, the other old scholars were ages 14 to 16.
In 1925 it was reported that some such youngsters would meet every other Sunday at a room in London - "one always with a cornet, upon which he plays perpetually, regardless of the inattention of the others. The party assembles about five, the long-suffering mother provides tea, and the break-up comes about eleven when she will suffer them no more."
Caldecott in 1923 had a total of 15 staff including the gardener who took over the farm duties during school holidays. General teachers were Miss Roma Easton (children three to six years), Miss M.C. Dennistoun (seven to ten years), Miss K.A. Aburrow (eleven to fifteen years - Mathematics, Geography, Games). Miss Leila Rendel taught English, History, Drawing, Needlework. Miss M.M. Campbell taught Latin, French, Games. Miss M.A. Hughes taught Farm and Handicrafts. In August 1938 there were 82 children (with more coming from Europe) and a total of 23 staff of all types.