Blewbury Church of England Endowed School, the local primary school for Upton children, is celebrating the three hundredth anniversary of its foundation this year.
The school started teaching on Lady Day 1707, and moved into the specially built Charity School House (opposite St Michael’s Church) in 1709. Its history is told in Peter Northeast’s book, “The Story of Blewbury Charity School”, which is in the process of being updated.
A range of events is being held in the school and village to mark the occasion. These start with a celebratory Lady Day service in St Michael’s, Blewbury (Sunday 25 March). Lady Day 1707 is the date on which the original Charity School opened. The whole school and communities of Blewbury and Upton and beyond are welcome. Coffee and cake will be available in the school afterwards for those of you who may wish to visit familiar haunts.
This event will be followed by a parade around the village followed by a giant picnic and BBQ, starting around 3 pm and continuing into the early evening of Friday 22 June, to which all present and past pupils and staff of Blewbury School are invited. More details in later bulletins.
As part of the Blewbury Festival this year, the school will be used as an exhibition centre on the weekend of 30th June / 1st July. It will be open during the afternoon on both days and we hope to display some old photographs and memorabilia alongside current children’s work. Any contributions would be most welcome and will be returned after the exhibition.
We would welcome contact details for past pupils of whom you may know. The school contact details are (Mrs M Mills (headteacher) Blewbury School, Westbrook St, Blewbury, OX11 9QB, office.3248@blewbury.oxon.sch.uk, 01235 850411).