Big 4-0 for Clipstone Brook Lower School

Cast your minds back to platform shoes, glam rock and long hair. The New Seekers were number one in the charts with quite aptly ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing’.

On January 6, 1972, the new head teacher Trixie Winifred Dacombe opened the school and wrote an entry into the school’s logbook. There were 125 children, six teachers, a caretaker and office staff.

Pictured left is the oldest photo, taken in 1973, which the school has in its collection. Also, below, is a copy of the first page of the log book entry.

This week staff, pupils and parents celebrated the 40th birthday in big style, also pictured below.

Everyone dressed in 1970s fashions much to the delight of the children, especially when they saw teacher Mr Rowe in his platform shoes!

A mosaic was made by the children, staff and parents with the help of a visiting artist prior to the event. This was hung at the front of the school ready for the celebrations.

The school hall was full of displays of old and new photographs and facts about the school history.

Even school lunch took a 1970s feel with a banquet style dinner of cheese and onion flan and toothpaste pie! (fear not – it was not tapioca!).

During the afternoon, invited guests attended a coffee afternoon with a celebration cake and school tours. Guests included both previous head teachers, Trixie Dacombe, later Martin, and Carol Hayward who met the current head, Angie Hardy, staff and the children.

A spokesman said: “At the end of the day the parents’ association provided a free 1970s disco and buffet for all the pupil’s families, which was thoroughly enjoyed. Parents particularly enjoyed the staff’s outfits and dancing.

“There were many fantastic comments made by parents on the Facebook account, including the ability of the staff’s dancing! The best quote from the day came from one of the pupils telling her mum it was ‘the best day ever’.”

In the near future the school plan to plant a time capsule on the school grounds which will include visitors’ messages, photos and memorabilia...

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