Send off for two good old sports!

Nick Tydeman contacted us to say: “I believe the picture was taken in …..the canteen at Gamlingay School - now Gamlingay First School”. And he was able to name Ms W Armond (teacher), his parents - school governors Mrs M A Tydeman and Rev G S Tydeman, Mr Edwards from the Cambridgeshire Education Authority and Mr J T Robinson and Mrs D Robinson (joint head teachers).

Nick Bruce also got in touch as his parents are in the photo too and he was able to confirm that the occasion was the retirement party for Tom and Doris Robinson in 1969 who had been headmaster and headmistress together at the school since 1942.

Says Nick: “In those days the school took pupils from five until the leaving age of 15 and at one time separated boys and girls as they entered the school gates. Who would have known as they took over that they would have made such a small school so successful in sports and become the best known heads of all time?

“Under their guidance, the football, netball and athletics teams would almost dominate the county sports calendar for many years to come. The athletics team took part in the annual Papworth athletics meeting and would always achieve a high number of medals against much larger opposition.”

Mr and Mrs Robinson were at the school for just over 25 years, teaching two generations of families including Nick and his parents, both of whom excelled at sports (hie father was in the football team and his mother the athletics). They remained friends with the Robinsons until the couple died (Tom in the 1970s and Doris in the 80s).

The head teachers lived in the school house which was attached to the school and also had “a lovely beachside home in Skegness”.

In addition to building up the sports teams, Tom and Doris put in a “first class” school garden which had ornamental bridges and grew both flowers and vegetables.

Pupils enjoyed music, woodwork and sewing classes when just after WW2, the youngsters would make athletics shorts from old blackout material.

Nick continues: “After retiring, they moved to their newly-built house in Cinques Road called Dolphin House as it was on the site of the old Dolphin public house. But they didn’t sit back and relax as both became Cambridgeshire Councillors and served for many years.”

During their time at the school the couple kept an extensive photographic record which is now part of Nick’s private collection of some 2,500 images of old Gamlingay, all of which can be viewed by appointment.

Nick is always on the lookout for old images. Recently he uncovered a collection of over 100 negatives that included images of the removal of the railway line.

For more information please call Nick on 01767 651025.