Seeking memories for 70th anniversary
Maidenhead: Exhibition planned for Courthouse landmark
Courthouse Junior School is celebrating its 70th birthday this year and is looking for former students to help it celebrate its life.
Its staff are working alongside Alwyn Infant School to search for memories of both schools – with Alwyn hitting its 30th birthday at its current location.
The schools are looking to put together an exhibition, perhaps a booklet, encapsulating memories and photos.
It is collecting photos and artefacts from past pupils over the years, with a view to set up a museum in each school, with an open afternoon for former students and families.
The celebration is hoped to record the schools’ history and what Courthouse was like in the 50s, 60s, 70, 80s.
“It’s just a chance to celebrate the milestones,” said Nick Hart, executive headteacher of Courthouse Junior School and Alwyn Infant School.
“We’ve always had an archive of press cuttings but there must be loads more interesting things out there.”
One artefact uncovered already is a tea cosy made by a student at Courthouse from its first years of opening.
“She’s donating it because she wants it to be part of the school,” said Mr Hart.
“It’s early days but people have shown an interest, making enquiries. We’ll just see what comes up.”
The schools are also looking for notable ex-students to come forward with their stories.
“It’s really hard to find them – we rely on them coming forward themselves, or someone who knows them,” said Mr Hart.
One example of a notable former student is Andy King, the Welsh international footballer who won the Premier League with Leicester City.
Courthouse Junior was built in 1953. The central building is ‘much the same’ although other bits have been added, like the community hall, says Pinkneys Green ward councillor Clive Baskerville.
He is a school governor and also attended both schools in the 1960s.
Many of the elements have stayed intact over all these years – the murals in the main hall were there in the 50s. Classrooms and small details around the school remain unchanged.
Cllr Baskerville went to Alwyn when it was on its previous location Fielding Road – then went onto Courthouse, as most Alwyn children did.
Alwyn’s move was a blessing, as it was ‘a trek’ between the two schools, especially with a small child in tow, he said.
One of the most notable features of Courthouse in its early days was its pool, still there today.
“Generations of Maidonians have benefited from that pool,” he said.
“It was considered quite a treat to have a one in those days, especially one that was slightly heated.”
Alwyn moved next to Courthouse in the 1990s. The schools are interested in the infant school’s history at its current site.
In September 2021, the two schools joined together under the same leadership team.
To help gather memories for the celebration, the school has set up a form for people to fill out who may have something to contribute. It can be found at tinyurl.com/ywkjdfme
Alternatively, people can email their memories and photos to alwyncourthousepta@yahoo.co.uk