#England #Football #Kent #POW #Sandwich #School #WWI #WWII
In my possession now is a framed photograph, edged in lovely black tape, that I inherited from family and I believe is the earliest image we have of my grandfather. In this black and white image you can just make out buildings in the background behind a wall which is possibly marking the edge of a courtyard area.
The focus of the photo is the football team with five pupils standing being flanked either end by an adult. Then five pupils are seated on chairs and a final one is seated crossed legged on the ground in centre holding the ball which has the years written on it.
All the boys are in football kit and have their arms crossed apart from the one at front. The left adult has his hands behind his back but the other one has his hand on the shoulder of the boy next to him which makes me wonder if he was reluctant to pose for the picture.
Amazingly it has been fully attributed with the details on the rear which is how I know it shows the Sandwich Primary School Football Team 1929-30. The photograph is imprinted in the bottom right corner with words Scholastic Souvenir Co. Ltd., Blackpool.
Apparently this company is still going which I was not expecting to find. 1 The image must actually be one of the early images they produced as the business was only incorporated on 21 December 1928. 2
I have written to the company regarding copyright and so not producing the actual photograph at this time as do not want to fall foul of any restrictions but shown below is the back of the frame.
It is unfortunate that the first name of the Sports Master is not provided but perhaps his identity can be found by looking in newspapers or finding a school staff list at a later date or that someone reading this knows it.
Will work through in real time researching and writing up what I can find about the group. Thirteen people shown in the image of whom two I do know more about already. Several other surnames are familiar ones for the location.
The names are as follows –
- Mr WILLIAMS, Sportsmaster
- James PITTOCK
- Percy CLAPSON
- Jack PHILLIPS
- Chris COLLINS
- Fred STOCKLEY
- Mr “Archie” HAYSON, Headmaster
- Alfie BRETT
- Doug HIBBERT
- Fred RATTAN
- Ted BLAKE
- Wilf WEST
- Len DANIELS
Not sure on the history of Sandwich Primary School but on Facebook 4 found a quote which implied that it may have been where Sandwich Infant School now resides on School Road, Sandwich, Kent, England and in the same building.
‘Sandwich Junior School was opened on this site in 1967. The school was originally designated as a through Primary School, but in 1977 two separate schools were created with the Infant pupils returning to the original Victorian building in School Road. However, both the Infants and Junior Schools continue to maintain a very close link.’
From the About page for I went to Sandwich Junior School!!, Public Group, Facebook
However, according to their history 5 this does not appear to be the case so will require more investigation to untangle the various iterations and schools in the locale. For now will focus on finding out a bit more about the individuals shown in the photograph.
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