Memories

I don't know if this is a memory exactly but I thought I'd contact you anyway. I am sending a recent photo – taken last month – of me and my friend, Ian Totterdell. We first attended St. Thomas Primary School in 1967 and have been life-long (55 years and counting!) friends ever since, despite now living on different continents. Ian still lives in Exeter; I live in Ottawa, Canada. David Long...

We have a friend who lives in St. Thomas, Elizabeth Reynolds, who passed on your request for memories of your school. Coincidentally she knows that I have a friend who lives in Vauxhall in London who attended your school as an evacuee during the Second World War from London. Her name is Florence (Flo) and I can ask her her maiden name. I only know her married name Mrs. Chery. Florence attended the school for a short time as an evacuee. She remembers the cookery class which she enjoyed. Two sisters, the Misses Hodge, taught Geography and Maths. One teacher told the class that 'There is a London girl here and her book is very neat'. Florence did not like sums. The geography teacher said 'all that is pink is ours'. Mrs. Wills, with whom Florence was billeted, knew the two teacher sisters. In the Devon Archives there is a handwritten account from Florence of her time as an evacuee and Flo was told it would be used for teaching purposes. I do hope this helps if it is not too late. Please do get in touch if you have any queries. I am lucky to have two such dear friends, one in St. Thomas and one in Vauxhall, who have close links. Regards, good luck with your project, Pam French...

My memory is going to the dentist to have a substantial amount of teeth out and having a very bloodied mouth, having to go back to school and making my own way home after. Tough life. Keith Davey...

I remember when Mr Brown hid my bag from me in Pixies Holt and I got really worried I'd forgotten it and I'd have to walk 2 miles to go back and get it! Good times :) (I went to St Thomas from 2014 to 2022) Reuben Tsouris...

Lovely memories of St. Thomas in the 60s. Favourite teacher Mr. Bennett who always had a kind manner inspired me to give my best and not only always asked "Any queries" after each teaching session, but spent the time to answer the queries. Fond memories of a great head teacher Mr. Whetter and loved the challenge of his word reading tests. Playground games 2 balls, French skipping, skipping, jacks, cat's cradle, hand rhymes and a game I can't put a name to where you put a ball in a stocking while standing back against a wall swinging the ball in various places to a chanting rhyme. Another favourite game 'Squash' in 'Squash Corner' is when one child volunteered to stand in the corner and lots of children pushed against the volunteer and squashed them (which would be deemed unsafe now!!!) Outside toilets, open upstairs balcony, free bottle of milk and in my opinion delicious school dinners. Such happy memories of a lovely school and now have the privilege to work there! Jenny Downing...

I first worked at St Thomas First School in 1989 as the school secretary and by the time I left in 2017 I was the senior administrator and the school was now St. Thomas Primary School. In the 28 years I worked there I had three headteachers, two of which Caroline Jones and David Pugh are both sadly no longer with us. They both used to say St. Thomas was a special school, although in the town it had the feel of a village school. There were many teaching staff I'm sure many past pupils remember from 1980/1990s Mr. Salter, Mrs Coombes, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Price, Mrs. Tye, Mrs. Bowie, Mrs. West, Mrs. Peel, Miss Tapper, Miss. Pollock, Mrs. Thorpe, Miss. Bartlett. The classroom assistants Mrs. Foord, Mrs. Hitchings, Mrs. Jordan, Mrs. Blackmore, Mrs Larkin. The ladies in the kitchen, Mrs. Black and Mrs. Galliford. The MTAs Mrs. Elliott, Mrs. Fellows, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Partridge,Mrs Dawe, Mrs Greenaway and who can forget the caretaker Mrs Bell. We always had an annual flower show and Easter Egg competition as well as the carnival float. In those days we had a spare classroom and that would be used to create the float with PTA members coming in daily to paint the boards for the floats and every year we won a prize. I'm sure many will remember Mr. Blackmore (Blackie) the Chair of Governors who was always Father Christmas at the end of term. Not to mention David Pugh's legendary Xmas nativity productions and his annual soaking in the stocks at the Summer Fayre. I also remember the sticker cards with a little clown on saying "Mr. Pugh says well done" and the que we would have every Friday morning when the children came to the office to collect them. I got to know many families over the...

This is a picture of a school outing at stepcote hill. Tina Mingo is in this picture whose children and now grandchildren attend the school! The teacher in the photo I sent at Stepcote hill was Mr Rocking Jones! I think this was around 1969. We had a history trip around the city and this was our last stop!   Chris Mingo and his brother Shane. Chris’s son & daughter currently attend the school in years 3 & 6 . Chris remembers this as a visit before joining reception class!  ...

I attended this school from 1941 to 1945. Miss Burridge was headmistress. Pupils met each morning for Assembly and prayers. Miss Alright taught us how to swim by us lying face down on our desks and she showed us the arm and leg movements when we were proficient we were given a bus ticket to go to the Paris Street pool, she also taught Art which I loved. Miss Kerslake aka (coat of many colours) because she wore very colourful clothing taught History. Two sisters Big Miss Hodge and Little Miss Hodge taught Maths, English, Sewing and Cookery. We made aprons and a small band for a cap for cookery, she taught us how to take a bed sheet, cut lengthwise and stitched the good edges together with a French seam, it was wartime and we had to “make do and mend” I remember Flapjacks and Rice Pudding carried home very carefully at the end of the day! We had a good netball team, I played Centre, and we played against St James, Bradley Rowe and Episcopal schools. There was a shield with our names on it. We didn’t have school uniforms, coupons were required for clothing and were too valuable to use on school colours. We had Ink monitors who mixed the powder with water and refilled the inkwells on each desk, also Blackboard monitors to clean the chalk from the board ready for the next lesson, some boards were on a Roller and could be rolled up or down in order to keep the lesson for the next class. Staff from the Trustee Savings Bank came every Monday to encourage us to start saving. Two of my sisters were at school with me, my Mother gave us 6pence each and it would be entered in a small book each...

I went to St Thomas School in 1968 when it was a primary and junior school. Our headteacher was a lovely man called Mr Whetter, and my first teacher was Mrs Coombes. I can remember blackboard and easels, milk times, playtimes and school assemblies in the big hall. Claire Heddon nee Passmore   ...

Hi , My name is Ray Hill, I'm 80 years old and I went to St Thomas Primary School in 1947 as a 5-year-old. I remember the two buildings that used to be on the right-hand side as you entered the school gate, one was in the far corner which was a canteen, and the one nearest the road was our classrooms. The main building was the senior school for girls. My granddaughter Molly Hill is now attending the school....

Sticker cards - Mr Pugh was our headmaster and I remember every student had a little card they would collect stickers in for good things - behaviour/successes in learning. Once we got 6 stickers we would take the card to the office and Mr Pugh would give us a special "Well done from Mr Pugh sticker". I remember being so excited every time I would get to collect this sticker...

Hi! I am Aaron Bonner formerly Simons, I went to St Thomas first school from I think around 1990-1993, I have attached 2 photos of myself and my classmates unsure of the year they were taken I can help with naming most people in them too and the teachers! Also attached are me and my sister around 1993 when I was in year 3.          ...

I was astounded to be reminded how old you are! I spent 13 happy years as a governor at St Thomas between September 1996 and July 2009 working with a bunch of great people and learning a lot along the way. Unfortunately, I am away on 8 July so won't be able to join your celebrations but hope that you have a wonderful time. Here's to the next 150!! With my very best wishes to you all, Wendy Rakestrow...

My mum Maureen Howell worked there in the 70s/80s. She was the school secretary - Jean Palk was the headmistress. The teachers she remembers Doreen Ford. , Joan Blackmore, Wilson Foster, the caretakers were Mr Hall & Mr Hackworthy, she remembers he had many children there over the years. Mum is 86 now, and has fond memories of the school and the children, she often had the poorly children in with her awaiting the parent's collection. I remember the Summer Fetes there as a child . I went to Cowick Street first school as that was our catchment area school. My mum remained in contact with Jean Palk meeting a few times a year for lunch and catch up until Jean passed away. Doreen Ford & Joan Blackmore are still in Exeter. Mum exchanges birthday and Christmas cards still after 40 years. Sarah Card...

We had a very active PTA during the 1980's and lots of parents and teachers enjoyed taking part in the carnivals along with the children. We often won first prize for our amazing carnival floats which we all helped to decorate the night before and spent hours making costumes etc. 1980 - Romans 1980 ? - Old Woman who lived in a shoe 1981 - Adam and the Ants 1982 - Bugsy Malone 1984 - Alice in Wonderland 1986 - Ugly Bug Ball 1987 - Cats 1987 - Dinner ladies dressed up for Red Nose Day. During the 1980's I was a dinner lady and then became a classroom assistant. Mrs Palk was head teacher when I joined followed by Caroline Jones. The teachers that I remember were Sheena Collins, a lovely, caring reception teacher who taught three of my children. Lorna Bowey, Sue Price, Jenny West, John Salter, Liz Woolley, Wilson Forster, Joyce Coombes. We enjoyed annual sports days in Barton Field and school fetes organised by the PTA. Lots of lovely memories and the school remains close to my heart. Kind regards Celia Hitchings [ngg src="galleries" ids="3" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_width="300" thumbnail_height="200" thumbnail_crop="0"]...

I wanted to make contact on behalf of my father, David Pugh who was the Headteacher before his retirement. Sadly, David passed away in December last year but he would have very much loved to have been part of something like this. David was the Headteacher at the time that the school underwent a change in age range and I can remember visiting the school site in holiday times to check on the progress of the building work and can remember testing out the lift. Ali Collins...

Memory 1 Maypole Dancing on the Cathedral green in front of the mayor of Exeter at the time Roy Hill. I think it was year 3 but maybe year 2. Memory 2 Helping to do the mosaic that is on the side of the wall. The names of the year group that took part were written underneath the bottom central part. I can't remember what year we were in but maybe year 2/3 Memory 3 Sticker cards - Mr Pugh was our headmaster and I remember every student had a little card they would collect stickers in for good things - behaviour/successes in learning. Once we got 6 stickers we would take the card to the office and Mr Pugh would give us a special "Well done from Mr Pugh sticker". I remember being so excited every time I would get to collect this sticker...

I have attached the photo of Chris Hutchings (younger one) - September 1991 - July 1994 and Dan Hutchings - Sept 1989 - July 1992, they went to St Thomas primary school from reception to year 2, that time it was only a 1st school and they finished primary years in a different school, to this email, they are uncle and Dad of Tommy (y5) & Ellie-Mae (Rec) Hutchings, just for fun :). Tommy and Ellie-Mae were excited about that photo and asked me to send it....

My family have a long association with St.Thomas School. My late mother Jean Welch (later Banfield) went to the school and recalls in the 2013 intergenerational project booklet her memories of the 1937 coronation tea party at the school. Mum returned to the school in 1966 as school secretary working with Mr Whetter and later Mrs Palk. My brother Kevin Banfield also went to St Thomas and he is shown on the far right of picture 3 in the gallery. I attended St Thomas as a junior pupil in 1965 and fondly remember wonderful teachers Mrs Strongman, Mrs Hill, Mr Bennett and Mr Hunt. Just like my mother, I too returned to St Thomas for work in 1991 until I retired in 2014. I was also on the school governing body for a number of years. I remember many of the wonderful staff and children I worked with and also the fun we had particularly around Mr Pugh’s great Christmas productions and walking up to the craft fair on the Cathedral Green in July for the children to show off their country dancing skills Angela Rogers 1968/69. I am seated on the floor far left in the hall in front of the stage. Angela Rogers (nee Banfield ) ...

So many happy memories! I started school 1980/81 my maiden name was Jury. Mrs Collins was my 1st teacher & I loved her & remember her cool car! I can remember the machine we used to teach us words. You ran a word card through the machine & it pronounced the word in a robotic voice! I remember rainy playtimes singing in the shelter next to the little girls loos. The what seemed to be big metal climbing frame in the playground. Mrs Pulk teaching us country dancing...

The school in the 1972 Exeter and District schools cup final at St James Park. (I've got a newspaper cutting of the team from the Express and Echo) John Westcott...

I worked at St Thomas First School for 9 years as an Early Years teacher. (1988 - 1997) We were so lucky to have the most wonderful lady, Mrs Jones, as our Head Teacher. Sadly no longer with us, Caroline really made it the happiest place for pupils and teachers. It had a wonderful family feel under her warm and caring leadership, and it was a joy to work there. I can still remember her perfume, which would linger where she was! There were lovely families and children, from generations, who went to St Thomas. Speaking to friends made when working there, we all say, that was the best time of our teaching lives, just so many warm and happy memories of Mrs Jones and the wonderful 'family' she created Gaye Tye...

I have so many fond memories of our 3 sons attending St Thomas First school. The moment which, looking back, changed my life, was a conversation with the then Headteacher: David Pugh in January 2002. My eldest son, Huw, had just spend his first term in Reception and my wife and I were so happy with his time I wrote a short note to David to thank the school staff for being so thoughtful and nurturing. He sidled up to me with his usual inimitable glint in his eye in the playground one cold afternoon and asked whether I'd considered being a Governor. I hadn't, but gave it a go, and enjoyed it so much I eventually changed careers, retrained as a teacher myself, and when the opportunity came up to actually work at St Thomas Primary I jumped at the chance. If I wrote down all my happy memories of the people I've been lucky to meet, work alongside and learn from over the last 20 years this website would crash! Suffice to say it's been an honour and a privilege to play a small part in the long history of such an amazing place: a small school with a BIG heart! Dan Jenkins...

My name is Pat Quinn. I am Emily Salters (Yr 3) Great Grandmother. I am 79 years old. When I went to St Thomas Primary back in 1948 my name was Pat Brooks. I lived at 39 Cecil Road. I was 5 years old. It was then called Union Street Infants. We were in an outbuilding on the left. We used to sleep in cots in the afternoon. I then went to Montgomery but returned to St Thomas Primary for high school when I was around 12. It was mixed with boys and girls. I remember my teachers. There was a Miss Lawson (Dance Teacher), Miss Jackman (PE Teacher) and two sisters called Miss Hodges. They taught us Maths & English. In PE we played games in the hall and the girls did Netball. I was in a tournament and we wore navy shorts. My parents couldn't afford school dinners so I used to go home for my lunch. On my lunchtimes, I did some shopping for two old ladies.   Pat and her great-granddaughter Emily  ...

I remember when School Road was closed off to traffic as it now is that I was happy not to have to cross any roads to get to school. It was only from Queens Road but it seemed like a big deal to little me. My mum (now sadly passed) was a school governor for a time but that was after I'd left the school. David Long...