Ravenswood School dates between 1948 -1952

Hi Felicity.
My second attempt to try and place a reply - apologies for taking so long.
It seems that this Website gets second best to Facebook which is a shame - some, indeed many of the postings here are over a year old and I personally find Facebook offputting. I have tried to Freshen Up this site with a few postings and replies recently.
My eldest brother joined the school in 1947 (Peter) and our middle brother (Christopher) probably a couple of years later and I in 1953. Major Hunter was remembered by my elder brothers. Christopher remembers not only the Rifle Range being built but fired .22 rifles there on a few occasions under the watcful eye of Maj? Capt? Leafley. they were taught all the correct stances etc and he remembers the best shot were those from farming famillies. He remembers a lad called BATTEN whose parents ran an Ironmongery Business in Tiverton to be one of the best shots of his time.
Similarly both remember the commissioning of the Swimming Pool - comment by one: "what a miserable, cold and windy location for a pool!!" I've dived in it to collect saucers (melamine??) in a competition.
With regards to recollections of the time, up until Major Hunter left for Health Reasons (as stated in the Ravenswood Chronicle, December 1952) try to contact Mark Granger (as I hope to) with regards to early copies of the Ravenswood Chronicle. There may be copies from the late 1940s and early 1950s that he may scan and copy for you that cover the time Major Hunter and Mr Schuster were at school . The 1952 issue only has that one mention of Major Hunter under the Heading Easter Term 1952 stating, after a mention of the death of King George VI, that he had to retire suddenly.
My middle brother wonders whether Maj Hunter had a metal plate in his scull (war wound? ) certainly someone of the teaching staff did. There was another contender that this might apply to and that was possibly a teacher by the name of Ellinson - Daly or similar. He went around with the different coloured Biros (they were fround upon as a writtng instrument - we had to use dip pens) but they were Cutting Edge back then.
My brother reckons he had a crush on Catherine - I cannot comment!
I only came across this posting by accident and I haven't heard from Mark for over a year now - hopefully you ticked the box at the bottom and you get notice of this posting.
Regards
Richard Holladay - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hi Felicity,
I was at Ravenswood from 1946 to 1951. The first headmaster I had wa Mr sparks, then briefly Mr Ricardo who came with Mr Schuster. Mr Ricardo only had a brief time as headmaster as he died about a year or so after taking up the position and Mr Schuster took over.
I remember your father quite well. He organised the rifle range but I am not sure about the swimming pool. I can remember working away on Thursdays (Fatigue day) on both with a shovel making teh embankmend for the rifle range and digging out the pool.
I remember that your father had a quite large and prominent wedding ring. If we gave him any cheek he would creep up behind us in class and give us a punch in the head with the wedding ring - I may still have the dents to this day!!!! He often used to give talks about his war experience especially the battle of El Alemain.
I remember both Roderick and Catherine Please give my regards to them.
I live in Australia now but would love to go back to Stoodleigh for a reunion - it would be well worth the trip I will have to try to put pressure on people to get one organised - if you ca help in this I would love to meet you there and possibly Roderick and Catherine.
Best regards
Jerry Visick

Hi Richard,
Thank you for your email. I can relate to the difficulty of replying !! I have been trying to reply to your email since I received it. So many apologies. I forwarded your email to Roderick and Catherine.
I also agree with you on the Facebook issue, I still appreciate privacy, but I do not know how much you get of that on these machines.
I was very interested to learn more about my father at Ravenswood as although I was born at this time I did not know what was going on as I hope you can appreciate. it is always fascinating to hear somebody else's side.
Roderick remembers a Charles Batten, but is not sure whether he was from Ravenswood or his next school Bradfield. I had not known about the metal plate in my fathers head either but my brother has confirmed it was him.
Also confirmation on the placing of the swimming pool should have been where the shooting range was, but I believe neither are still visible now. Is this true. I would be very interested in seeing the articles in the Ravenswood Chronicle, so perhaps you could advise me on how to see them.
Thanks again for your information.
Kind regards
Felicity (Hunter)

Hi Jerry Visick,
I have just written you a reply and I think I lost it. So I apologise if this is a repeat.
Thank you very much for your email, and many apologies for my father finding your head with his wedding ring I think Roderick also had the same treatment, although he cannot remember why!!

I have forwarded your email to both Roderick and Catherine and I am sure they would be interested in going back to Stoodleigh as would I as I cannot honestly say having been born in 1950 I have any true memory of the village or the school except from my mothers photographs. I believe neither the rifle range or swimming pool are still visible. Am I correct?
I find it very interesting to hear stories of my father and Ravenswood from other people, so please if you can think of anything else please let me know.
Many thanks again
Best regards
Felicity (Hunter)

www.dropbox.com/s/w6qud10brnpbom7/Ravenswood%20Pool.docx

Hi Felicity - thanks for your post - click on the link and you'll (hopefully) see a google earth image in Word. Just below the coppery coloured tree you'll see the square shape of the swimming pool - I think an overgrown pond - it doesn't look like the image on this website (i take it you,ve seen it) - the pool is almost central in the image and if you draw an imaginary horizontal line from the Dovecott you cannot help but see it - go to real Google earth & you can zoom in more. ASo yes, it's still there in 2010
Regards
Richard
i FORGHOT TO MENTION i AM NOW IN CONTACT WITH mARK gRANGER AND HOPE HE WILL COME BACK TO ME AS TO WHETHER ANy cHRONICLES FROM YOUR FATHERS TIME STILL EXIST AND IF HE CAN COPY THEM TO ME - SORRY ABOUT THE CAPITALS - have just looked at my post!!

HI Felicity,(again!)
I,m sure you will have looked at the School Gallery and the Sports Photographs on this site - you'll see the hut by the swimmimg pool in one of the Old Boys & Girls Photos.
I have an all school photo of 1951 (not yet on the site - I have contacted the webmaster to add it (and others)) - your father and Mr Schuster are sat together, immediately in front, seated, is a small girl - presumably your elder sister ? I have no 1950 photo. the 1949 photo doesn't show her either.
My email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want a high resolution image.
Regards,
Richard Holladay