Comments on: Mary Datchelor School latest

By: Jacqui S-J

Jacqui S-J — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:13:17 +0000

My mother, Gladys Bilbe, was a Mary Datchelor pupil in the early 1920s. She was forever grateful for the education she received there. As a bright child, one of 5, she would never have received the same standard of education at her local school in Rotherhithe. She used to recall the journey to school — in the milkman’s horsedrawn cart through the country lanes and over the bridges of Rotherhithe!

By: Rosemary balister

Rosemary balister — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:25:45 +0000

I was a pupil from1945-53. I know I received an excellent education. If people in the areaant a good school they should save the old building. I remember the pretty little garden in the middle. The school was democratic not elitist. I became a teacher and feel there is a place for Grammar schools. They are after all historic. Luxury flats can be built without having to destroy an established educational institution,

By: eusebiovic

eusebiovic — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:23:57 +0000

Stella

It’s not going to happen

Currently, the school is being converted into luxury apartments and townhouses are being built in what was the playground

But perhaps a school bearing the Datchelor name and with the same values could be built here again one day…

By: Stella La Réservée (SA)

Stella La Réservée (SA) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:38:19 +0000

Just read a bit of the comments about my old school — Mary Datchelor. Hope it will be resurected to do the job that Mary Datchelor intended it for — education! Mine was brilliant and have the school to thank for an awful lot — least of all the benefits of a good all round education. Come on Camberwell, let the old girl live again!

By: eusebiovic

eusebiovic — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:18:01 +0000

Hello Ali,

Nice to hear from you

Such a shame that Mary Datchelor and Wilson Boys moved out in the 70’s and 80’s

My family were not privilaged enough to send me to a good school but I would have cruised into Grammar School (living in nearby Kennington at the time) — I was fully bi-lingual and literate in Spanish,Portuguese and English by the age of 11

As a result state school compromised my level of adequate education — It may not have been fair for the majority that a small minority were “cherry picked” into Grammar Schools but at least some kids were fortunate to get a better start in life.

Now we can be thankful that ALL the less-affluent kids have a democratic right to a sub-standard education and not just a chosen few…

What was it Oscar Wilde said?

“Democracy is perpetuated by the people,for the people, to the detriment of the people”

Quite

By: Alison

Alison — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:15:40 +0000

If anyone reading this is a Datchelor Old Girl please read the following good news. At the EGM of 5 July 2008 a vote of 337 members overturned the decision to close the Old Girls Club. Please email me if you want to know more ali@savemarydatchelor.org.uk

People of Camberwell, we hear your cry regarding lack of schools. At our EGM it was put forward by quite a few of us, that some educational establishment needs to be re-established to ensure the will of Mary Datchelor doesn’t die. The main ethos of the school was to bring quality education to those who perhaps couldn’t have otherwise afforded it. I appreciate we’ve had the education act since then, but I can’t help observing from the posts written here that perhaps it still isn’t offered on an equal basis. Best wishes to you all. Ali

By: Pam Kidd

Pam Kidd — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:06:55 +0000

Hello. I graduated from Datchelor’s in 1964. Does anyone remember me? Dorothy?Linda? Brenda? Elizabeth?

By: Tony Lynes

Tony Lynes — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:35:20 +0000

I’ve been reading evidence to the House of Commons Public Administration Committee on the subject of Lobbying. It includes an extract from an article in the Evening Standard of 30 July 2007, quoting a letter written by a director of a PR company called PPS:

“We have created a large number of letters for projects as diverse as power stations, quarries and supermarkets. A campaign of this kind is labour intensive, but does yield very helpful results.
“PPS has conducted a campaign of this kind for St George as part of their programme to secure planning permission for Imperial Wharf. A steady stream of positive letters, garnered by PPS, has helped to right the balance in St George’s favour, and helped shape the perceptions of public opinion that are held by councillors, [council] officers and the media.”

This led me to wonder whether similar tactics might have been used in support of planning applications by St George for the Mary Datchelor site. Would anybody know?

Tony Lynes (tony.lynes@googlemail.com)

By: Alison

Alison — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:26:45 +0000

Special Message to Carole, Lesley Taylor, Sharon Baldock and Christine. If you are not already aware, please visit datchelor.com Sounds like the building is suffering the same way that the club is. Protest at the attitude of the retiring officers and insist on an EGM to overturn the decision to close the Old Girls Club.

People of Camberwell. I spent seven years at the school in the lovely haven of Camberwell. Thanks for the views, when the lessons got too much staring out of the window was great!

If you feel that the building should be returned to some kind of educational institute; push for it. Recently a school was opened (in an old school building) following a grant given to a group of parents. Mmm thats got me thinking!!

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:28:22 +0000

I was a pupil at Datchelor in the late 60’s / early 70’s and went on to study Chemistry at uni. I still think there is a place for single sex education, especially in the sciences. Any chance or interest in re-opening as a sixth form college specialising in maths & sciences do you think?