Celebrating Our School’s Rich History

Today, on School Archives Day, we celebrate the remarkable history of DCPS and DCS, reflecting on moments from 25, 50, 75, 100, and even 125 years ago.

DCPS Highlights

25 years ago (2001) – Michaelmas Term spelt change as demand for day places exceeded that of Boarding. As a result, a new day house, Deacon was set up named after the School's first President, John Deacon. There is a clock presented to the School by him hanging in the main school reception. It was located on the ground and basement floors of Wilton. At the same time, after just over 75 years as a boy’s boarding house, Fortfield became a girl’s house.

2001 'Fortfield boys by the side door 1931'

50 years ago (1976) – This marked a change in Head with the arrival of Tim Thornton in June of that year. Under his headship there was significant reshuffling of accommodation within the school. So much so, that in the 1978 Youngest Decanian editorial it mentioned '...Even old timers at the school took a little while to get accustomed to the new use of many of the buildings this term...'.

One of the first things Tim initiated on arrival was the Covered Play Area. It took two years to raise enough money with Graham Wiltshire, the Gloucestershire County Cricket Coach performing the opening ceremony in September 1978. 

 

75 years ago (1951) – March 1951 marked a visit to Cheltenham by the then Princess Elizabeth, who planted a tree on the new Hester's Way Estate, visited Cheltenham College and inspected a DCS CCF guard of honour in Shelburne Road.

The photo below shows her arrival with DCPS Headmaster, Eadward Langhorne and his wife, Rosemary, immediately to her left.

 

DCS Highlights

25 years ago (2001) – This was the year the new premises for Shelburne House were constructed with the girls moving in the following year. Previously housed in what is now Turner Hall, the new building was welcomed for '...the corridors on every floor are very light as the floors have glass panels in them to allow the sunshine from the skylight to filter through.' Fabulous views of the surrounding hills were lauded in the Decanian as was the marvellous view of the 'first XV rugby pitch, most important!'

 

50 years ago (1976) – The 1970s marked a period of gymnastic display which were performed at both Commemoration and the Midsummer Fair. These were orchestrated and supported by Ben Chapman the gym master and swimming coach. Ben had previously served in the armed forces during WW2 and the Korean War where he earned a DSO before joining Dean Close in 1960. Below is a picture of the 1976 Pyramid showing Ben doing a quick dash round his creation to check everything is okay!

 

75 years ago (1951) – As mentioned for DCPS Princess Elizabeths visit to Cheltenham in March 1951 was a moment to remember. The photo shows her with Headmaster Anthony Gilkes in the background. The Head of School also presented Her Royal Highness with a copy of Hassan by James Elroy Flecker.

Photo credit: Cheltenham Newspaper Company Ltd

 

100 years ago (1926) – Although the Houses were introduced in 1924 with the arrival of the new Headmaster, Percy Bolton, it was in 1926 that they acquired the names you may recognise today.  Originally called Warr's, Neill's and Ellam's after the Master's in charge, they were changed to Gate, Tower and Brook two years later. This made quite a change to the school with Hedley Warr remarking 'The coming of the Houses brought an upsurge of new life, enthusiasm and loyalty that had to be experienced to be believed.'

 

125 years ago (1901) – Below is a photo of the 1^st XI Cricket from that year. The Decanian magazine describes the season as '...pleasant if not altogether successful. We have played 12 matches, of which 5 have been won, 3 lost - the one against All Saints' School, Bloxham, by 1 run after an exciting finish - and 4 drawn, the School having scored a total of 1549 runs against our opponents'.

Of the team of 11, two of the boys died due to the First World War. H.G. Frean, (the very back) was a Captain in the RAMC and known to have been working in a hospital in Alexandria, Egypt in 1916. He contracted TB and despite recovering and serving again in Salonika and Caucasus, died just after the war in Bournemouth.

Archibald Bland, the young lad sat in the front row far right, emigrated to Australia, joining the Australian Engineers during the War. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of the Somme.

 

These milestones showcase the enduring spirit, tradition, and evolution of our schools over more than a century.