| New History of St Edward's
School |
|
MAY 2010
Dear OSE,
Word may
have reached you that I have been commissioned by the
Warden and Governors to write a new History of St
Edward’s School with an eye to our approaching 150th
anniversary This is a big task with approaching 500
boxes of archives to work through. Happily the archives
are much more accessible than in the past because of the
enormous amount of work devoted to them by the current
Archivist, Chris Nathan (OSE). While a new History will
obviously cover some of the same ground as is dealt with
in Desmond Hill’s 1963 Centenary History it will
naturally suggest different perspectives on the first
century as well as adding fifty years of additional
narrative.
My hope is to relate the School’s
development to wider educational trends and changes in
society and also to try to catch a flavour of what it
was like to be a pupil at the School. In this context
the School’s expanding numbers and the arrival of
co-education, first at VI Form level and then throughout
the School, should offer the possibility of all sorts of
reminiscences. So I am sending this out to ask if you
would be prepared to offer recollections of your time at
St Edward’s. Obviously the more extensive these are, the
better but even just a few brief reminiscences would be
gratefully received. Often it is the most commonplace
recollections which, in the contest of a wider history,
become like gold dust. Brickbats as well as bouquets
when it comes to judgements will be welcome and should I
decide actually to quote from your submission in the
book I would seek your permission before I did so.
Otherwise I might simply draw on recollections by
second-hand allusion. Anything submitted will be placed
in the Archives but would only be accessible to anyone,
other than the Archivist, with permission.
I have
deliberately chosen not to straightjacket any responses
with a questionnaire or box ticking exercise nor even to
suggest areas I would like to see recalled. I am sure
that it is best to leave it open for anyone to respond
as they wish and at whatever length they choose. I
cannot though overstress the potential value of any
responses.
So may I appeal to you to get in
touch with a contribution ? I cannot overstress the
importance I attach to your responses in shaping the
book and for those who do respond may I offer my
grateful thanks ?
There are two ways of getting
in touch with me .
1. Write directly to me at the
School. Address the envelope to me at the OSE Office and
write in the corner of the envelope, “History”.
2. E mail me directly at
malcolm@oxley9978.fsnet.co.uk
With
good wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Malcolm
Oxley
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