Emeritus Professor Geoffrey J Giles of the University of Florida’s Department of History writes:
Visiting from my home in Florida in the summer, I bought a copy of the excellent history of our town by Vincent May & Jan Marsh (Eds.), Bournemouth 1810-2010: From Smugglers to Surfers (Stanbridge/Wimborne: Dovecote Press, 2010). The photographs in the book are fresher and more remarkable than any other published history of the town. However, I did a double take at the photo of “Bournemouth School on East Way 1950s” on page 162. I’m sure this is wrong, and I’m hoping other Old Boys will confirm this. My recollection from my time at the school (1959-1965) is that there was nothing to the left of the caretaker’s house except a wrought-iron railing (I think!) leading directly to the Copse. But in this photo there are rather large new buildings. Am I right in thinking that this aerial photo in fact dates from much later?
Wikipedia dates the Sixth Form Block to 1966. Perhaps some Members can verify this?
My last year in Bournemouth School was 1965-66. I believe the block was completed in 1964/5/6, can’t be sure
I left in 1960 and the Copse was still intact then without any 6th Form Block
I left in 1964 with no recollection of the new block. I think the bike sheds and the iron railing in front of the copse marked the end of the school buildings. I can’t remember any discussion of a Sixth Form block at that time, but it is a long time ago and senility may be setting in!.
Ray Thompson
1957-64
The 6th form block was completed in time for my last year at the school, commencing September 1967. Next time I am in the school I will check the official opening date, which I believe was before I left in July ’68
Work started on the Sixth Form Block in 1966. It was completed and put to use in February 1968, with the official opening by Sir Edward Boyle on 11th May 1968. There are photographs of the site in the Centenary book, Bournemouth School 1901-2000.
I note that the Bournemouth Echo has compounded the error by publishing the bogus 1950s aerial photo of the school in its September 2014 article on “Schools of War”, cf. the scan elsewhere on this OBs’ site. Since aerial photography was in its heyday during and after the war, there must be a contemporary photograph of East Way. I remember obtaining aerial photos of our home in Kinson from the late 1940s or 1950s from some government agency in London decades ago. I believe the entire town was photographed in this way. And you would think that the Echo would know about this!