Cottesmore Girls School

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Photographs
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Memories

Barbara Allcock (née Woodward)
I attended Cottesmore School from 1963-1968, and have many happy memories of the school, where I was in Florence House, and at one time a prefect, and also house captain.  

Mrs Abbott was our formidable head teacher. She married while I was there; previously she had been Miss Cooper.

The Maths teacher, I remember, was called Mr Davies. As he was Welsh he was known by us as Taffy Davies and he had slightly bucked teeth and was going bald on top but with grey tufts sticking out from the side of his head, a bit like Jimmy Edwards.  I think he gave up on me with my Maths, but strange to say my career was always full of stats and graphs, so something must have sunk in.

The French teacher was a very petite lady called Miss Coupe, who encouraged a group of us to have pen-pals in America, and we would read out our letters to her. I was writing to a Becky Yentes of Eddyville, Nebraska, who had a brother, Jeff, who was sent to fight in the Vietnam War. Miss Coupe died about two years after I left school, so I was told. One of her favourite sayings when she was a little rattled by the six of us who took French was – ‘how can I teach French, when you don't understand English, now listen to me!’  We all had our own French name, I was Babette. We used to sing French songs, and the French national anthem, but I still don't like croissants!

I remember Mr Pashaika, who taught Russian. I wonder where he came from, and I bet he could tell a few stories about his past. I always wondered if he had escaped from Russia during the Second World War.

I seem to recall a Mrs Brown who took us for lessons in Domestic Science. I remember being taught to clean shoes, and I made a yellow and white gingham apron in her class.

Who taught us cookery? I can remember the class with the ovens, sinks, and the wicker baskets we carried about. (I still clutter up work surfaces, and make rock hard cakes, so I blame it on the 1940s austerity cook book.)

Mrs Dorothy Sutton, the Art teacher, was an inspiration to me, and I won the Art prize two years running, and I still have the books I was given at School Speech Day. (Thanks Dorothy, the pot head I made in your class, my father used to put a nub end in its mouth, and for years it stood on the outside step).

Mr Fisher was our handsome geography teacher, who took us on a field trip to Borth, in Wales.  It never stopped raining, and the winds were gale force, and we traipsed across a boggy marsh, where he managed to lose his binoculars.  I was not interested in studying rock pools, or picking up seaweed to see what lurked beneath. We were at the age when the boys back at the Hostel were far more interesting, and after a trip to Aber (somewhere), when the staff went off to a pub, well we ... well that’s another story.  We stayed at a Youth Hostel and would raid the kitchen for food, and we were so hungry one afternoon that we opened a variety of tinned soups, mixed them all together and sat eating this ghastly coloured soup.  Such happy days!

Is the small chapel still there that was situated next to the school? I remember throwing hymn books to fellow classmates while in it and being given a detention.

Thinking of school dinners, I recall the metal jugs and beakers, and the sometimes gruesome food we were given.  I remember an outbreak of throwing rock hard donutty things about, and then sent with others to see Miss Cooper. One by one, we were called into her office, and reminded that she ran a school for young ladies.  She made a point of directing her glare and comments again at the next school assembly.  I always had the greatest respect for her, she had such a presence.

While we were at Cottesmore the Queen came to Raleigh, and we all stood outside looking for the car.  It was open topped and she seemed to have loads of makeup on, even then!

I can’t recall the names of the English teacher(s).  All I remember are the three books, Under Milk Wood, and Cider with Rosie, and A Midsummer Nights Dream we did for the GCE.

I can't recall the Science teacher’s name either, nor her assistant, but I do recall we dissected eyeballs and tadpoles, and remember the fish tank which overheated.  I can also recall the so-called lesson on the birds and the bees.  I left school with all sorts of baffling questions after we had been shown a diagram of a naked man and woman. We had a rough idea, but my friend, Vivien, thought for ages that babies came out of the belly button.  I wondered how it got there in the first place.  My Dad used to tell me I came on a Co-op lorry, and he also said if a lad asked me I was to say 'no".  How sweet and innocent we all were then, except we heard that one girl left school a bit early because...

Mrs Harrison was a lovely woman although I was useless at RE.  I do recall the stories about her bobbing up and down in the salty Red Sea, and her early adventures in the Middle East.   I think Gladys Aylward once visited the school at some point.  I feel certain she was the very tiny, grey haired lady that Mrs Harrison walked about the school with. I know that Mrs Harrison was a missionary somewhere once before she went into teaching. I once went to her house at Wollaton Road and she told us about her life.

Mrs Matthews, my music teacher, taught me to play/scrape the cello, and Hilary Robinson to play/twang the double bass, as she was tall enough to hold it up.  Some others played violins, violas, but I don't recall any brass or wind instruments, but there must have been some.  

I remember Miss Gregory, and the 'you've got five minutes to get changed', after we had trekked to the playing fields, to put on our navy blue knickers, Aertex tops, plimsolls, or hockey boots, depending whether you had been selected for tennis or hockey.  I had to bully off once with her, my ankles never forgot, neither did I.  Then the rush to get through the freezing cold showers and being herded through like a sheep dip, then the walk home afterwards to Charlbury Road, Wollaton.

There was a dancing teacher at Cottesmore although I don’t recall her name. We would practice country dancing, a bit of ballet, and, one time Vivien Giddens and I were made to waltz round the gym in our navy blue passion killers while the boys were waiting to come in. I played a prank on Vivien once, and replaced her size four plimsolls, with a size six. She only realized when we were getting ready for dancing, and went to complain, which fell on deaf ears. Vivien was told she had two plimsolls, told to put them on, and dance. Many years later, fifteen or so, we spoke about these strange plimsolls being in her locker, and then it dawned on her who the culprit was.  I started school with Vivien at Bentinck Infants, but lost touch with her in the mid 1980s.

After leaving school I married, but was later widowed with two small boys. I remarried and now lives in south east Spain, on a finca with five acres of olives and figs, and three dogs.

Susan Simpson nee Shepherd - Congleton, Cheshire
The teacher I remember most was Mr. Davies, our maths teacher. We used to have our maths lessons in the end classroom of the boys school which was distracting at times to say the least!  Many of us would rearrange our hair before going over there!

I didn't transfer to Cottesmore Girls School until my third year and my maths was dismal to put it mildly.  Mr. Davies spent time explaining things to me and by the end of the fourth year I was 'beginning to see the light' even beginning, dare I say it, to enjoy the lessons. I didn't pass the GCE as it was then, but did as a 'mature' student. I met Mr. Davies quite by chance about seven years after leaving school. I was amazed that he still remembered me by name. I can say that it was down to him that I regained some confidence in myself and will always be grateful to him for that.

You can find me included on the photograph of the 1963 outing to Edale.  I would be delighted to hear from anyone who remembers me from that era.

Marilyn Hickling (née Clifford) - Nottingham
I attended Cottesmore from 1963 to 1968.  I have many fond memories of my days there. I was a prefect and house captain of London house and remember being absolutely terrified of reading out loud in assembly. I now know why – it's because I was as blind as a bat and should have been wearing specs from the age of five [I work at an opticians now]. I remember Mrs Bradbury the English teacher – she always seemed so glamorous to me and she took us to the theatre, I think to see 'Far from the Madding Crowd'. Mrs Poole was the needlework teacher and I can recall going off to Jessops, as it was then, to buy material to make a dress and coat for my exam. Her classroom wasn't in the main block, but situated in outbuildings in the playground.  I took Russian as a language, mainly because the French class was full and can still dredge up a few little phrases and a song – but they have never come in handy as I have yet to meet a Russian! There was Mr Davies, the maths teacher – we never really got along and I had quite a few detentions from him, once for throwing a rubber at him. Ironically I have worked with figures for 90% of my working life, so he must have got through to me somehow!  As for Mr Fisher the geography teacher, I had such a crush on him – he was so handsome!   I met Miss Gregory, our PE teacher, many years after leaving school. She was now deputy head of my son’s school and she remembered me, which was quite a surprise.  There was Mrs Clements the dance teacher.  I always loved dancing and still do – but prefer to jig along to Motown sounds now.  I was once involved in a fashion show at the school. I wasn't picked for my looks but for the colour of my 'orange' hair as it was in those days. I wore an awful green trouser suit with a John Lennon type of hat.  Does anyone recall our school trip to Lucerne in Switzerland with the train journey through France?  It was the first time I had ever seen a duvet on a bed. The food was lovely and I remember in a field nearby were some cows with bells on. Some of the girls, I recall, attracted the attention of a few of the local boys. I think it cost £32 for two weeks which sounds like a bargain when compared to today’s prices.  I met my husband of thirty seven years while I was still at school. He was working then and would walk along the Boulevard with me on my way home.  We have two wonderful boys and five lovely grandchildren and still live in Nottingham.

I have already been in touch with Barbara Woodward, and have met Carol Wright and Sandra Hilton all within the past year.  I have also had a couple of emails from Ann Cragg and Carol Hextall through Friends Reunited and would love to hear from anyone else who remembers me.

Sandra Milano (née Plewinska) - there seems to be a problem with Sandra's email address - can she get in touch with us to reconfirm it?
I have fond memories of Cottesmore Girls School. Like others there are certain lessons and teachers that stick in the mind.

I remember the PE teacher, Miss Gregory, who lived just down the road from the school, on the Boulevard.  I liked her, even though I was useless at all games apart from basketball.  I was the one that was always left until last when captains picked their teams.  My excuse is that at only 5 ft I had more ground to cover so couldn't keep up! I remember Russian lessons and choosing Russian thinking my father, who was Polish but also spoke Russian, would be able to help me. It wasn't until after his death, on meeting his sister who came over from Canada, that I realised that the reason he spoke Russian was because of having been in a concentration camp in Siberia during the War. He had never mentioned this whilst alive. Memories were still raw and painful and he wasn't happy speaking Russian. Needless to say I cannot remember hardly any Russian from those five years of study.  

My favourite subjects were Maths and Art. If the situation had been different I would have continued my studies, eventually hopefully to become a Maths teacher. Years later I discovered that the aunt in Canada is a professional artist, so that probably explains the flair and love of art. I was also fascinated by RE. I loved the Bible and still have one that was presented to me in 1961 when I attended Bosworth Junior School in the Meadows. Religion is still a very important part of my life.

 I can recall Mr Fisher, the geography teacher.  He gave me my only ever detention for explaining to the girl next to me during the lesson something she hadn't understood. I still remember over 40 years later having to write 'I must listen to and obey instructions' for what seemed like forever! Having had no mother from an early age, and being the oldest of five, I didn't go on any field trips, in fact I can't really even remember them taking place!

 As I said my memories of school are all good. I also remember standing with all the other girls outside to wave to the Queen who had been visiting either Raleigh or the cigarette factory further along the boulevards? I remember Gladys Aylward visiting. At the time I supposed that she had been a past pupil at Cottesmore but now I know better. If I remember correctly the school also began to be mixed (boys and girls) about the year of my leaving and stopped being a bilateral school and became a comprehensive.

Girls that I particularly remember are Carol Wright, Carol Greenhalgh, Janet Bestwick and Rita Krzeminski, some of whom had been at Bosworth Junior School with me. It would be good to know what life has dealt them. Hopefully by keeping up-to-date with this web site I may find out!

 I have not had any contact at all with any of my former classmates, probably due to the fact that I left England to work in Italy less than a year after leaving school.  I did marry an Italian (we celebrated our 36th anniversary last December) and lived in Italy for a number of years, returning to Nottingham in 1984. I have two wonderful sons and three gorgeous grandchildren.

Those who were in school at the same time as me (early 1960s) would remember me as I was disabled, having had polio when I was a baby.
The four 'houses' were named after capital cities - Paris (green); London (red); Bruges (blue) and Florence (yellow). - We would have a house meeting every other Friday I think it was and the person with most merits for the two weeks would get a badge to wear on their tie until the next one.

Mrs Sutton was the art teacher - not science (unless she taught that as well). I think science was Mrs Stanton or something like that.  Mrs Abbot was our headmistress (she got married whilst I was at the school but I can't remember her other name).  Mr Fisher taught us geography and the other maths teacher was a welsh man (Mr Thomas) who had his classroom over in the boys school.  Mr Pasheika (or something like that) taught history and russian, and Mrs Cooper (clank!) taught french.  Like others I also remember Miss Gregory who taught games - I was always encouraged to join in even though I was disabled - and was never teased about it.

I do remember enjoying music too and our class (the whole class) were part of the audience contingent every night for the "Little Sweep" which was the school production one year - we were split into 4 groups who each had a bird call or something which was part of one of the songs.

Audrey M Scott (née Scattergood) - Colorado, USA
My maiden name was Audrey Margaret Scattergood.  I went to Cottesmore approximately 1944.  I left England for the U.S. in 1952. I used to live in Lenton Abbey.  Would be very interested in finding some of my old friends.  Marion Denham was probably my closest friend. I did catch up with her in 1976 when I visited England with my late husband and son.

I lost her address and would love to find her. It was a very interesting trip back home. My late husband was a Chief Justice in Boulder Colorado and so we got to visit the old Bailey and watch the British Justice system. I now am very involved selling real estate.

Dawn Glover (née Day)
I attended Cottesmore School in 1943/1944, when my surname was DAY.  I lived at 18 Johnson Road, opposite the school.
At the moment I am trying to find old friends:-
Valerie and Maureen Barrs, who lived in Wollaton and Jane Redgate, whose father owned the Redgate Brewery, who also lived in Wollaton.

Lynne Wright (née Palethorpe)
 I also have fond memories of Cottesmore Girls School, Lenton, 1965-1969. The R.E. teacher that Pat Saville was thinking of was Mrs Harrison, a sweet old lady.  Other names I can remember are Miss Gregory, Miss Jones and Mrs Matthews, the music teacher.  I seem to recall that Mrs Sutton was the science teacher, not forgetting Doug Scott, a teacher at Cottesmore who went on to be rather famous in another field of endeavour.  I cannot remember the name of my first Headmistress but one fact that has stuck was that she often used to bring her Labrador dog with her.  A later headmaster was Mr Heathcote, a double for Sergeant Bilko.

I would also like to get in touch with Lorraine Whittlam, Susan  Bowman  and Sandra  Curtis. In fact anyone that can remember me please get in touch.  Sharon Sisson, Jean and myself remain in contact and we have just celebrated our 50TH birthday together.

Barbara Fullerton (née Raynor)
I was really pleased to see myself among the picture of Cottesmore Girls 1957 (second row fifth from the left).

I don't know if it is the onset of old age but I can only remember a few of my fellow class mates – among them Jacqueline Ward, Mary Litchfield, Rosemary Dobson, Christine Pratt and Sylvia Higgins. I would love to know the whereabouts of any of the abovementioned plus Brian Nicholson (Nickabar) who attended Cottesmore Boys.

As for myself I am married with four children and thirteen grandchildren living in Canada where I work for an Oil and Gas company as an accountant.  This is quite an accomplishment when you recall we were taught Maths by Mr. Cook.  We did very little maths as we only had to bring up the subject of football and we could almost guarantee that a Maths-free session would follow.

Hope someone will contact me would love to know what happened to you all.

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