Aymestrey School - The Asterley Years 1948-1965

In 1947 Tief and Aunt Ness moved from the cottage to Little Aymestrey in Claphill Lane – now called October Cottage.  Living nearby in the cottage they had both played a significant role in helping homesick new boys settle in to life at Aymestrey School – this must have been more difficult now they were a bit further away.  However, both maintained considerable interest in the school until their deaths – Aunt Ness in 1957 and in Tief in 1962 at the age of 92.

Sport was an important part of school life.  Dan was ahead of his time as a rugby coach and Aymestrey more than held its own in rugger matches against much larger schools . In 1949 the rugger team had been unbeaten for 7 years running.  Cricket, soccer and swimming also featured, and in 1959 Pentathlon was started to ‘act as a spur to physical endeavour and achievement outside normal games’.

Music was very strong, thanks to Miss Rose Davies who taught piano, violin and viola, and singing, for more than 35 years, finally retiring in 1956.  During the late 1940s there were a couple of Orchestras.

In 1947 the first scout camp ‘away’ was in Wales – and involved a train journey from Henwick station.  Four years later the trip was done in Mr Batty’s furniture van, which was “more uncomfortable, but much more convenient and took less than half the time’.  The 1951 camp was in very hot weather, and in 1958 it was the wettest on record.

The Big Pool, also know as the Lake, was the scene of much activity - In March 1950 it was netted by the Severn Fishery Board with the assistance of the boys.  An estimated 25,000 fish were removed, to be released into the Avon, their place being taken by 50 tench and 100 crucian carp.  A couple of years earlier an outbreak of ‘fishing mania’ had seen over 200 fish caught over the summer term, and eels 'up to over 2 lbs' were caught in the little pool on night lines.  The Big Pool was netted again in 1955, and again several thousand fish removed, including two large eels.  Over the years various boats were used on the Lake, and in the late fifties a collapsible canoe was donated; and as it froze during the more severe winters skating was possible.

In 1953 the Inspectors from the Ministry of Education noted in their report:

The boys enter into the life of the School with zest, yet they are well-mannered and pleasant in conversation.  Their outstanding characteristic seems to be their sensible and self-disciplined behaviour at all times.  The religious life of the School is very real.  The delightful environment, teaching which is somewhat above the average, a wide variety of interest of all kinds, a Head Master devoted to the welfare of the boys and supported on all occasions by his wife, together combine to make this an unusual and significant School.

In 1959 the occasion of the 50 year anniversary was celebrated with a party and a new pavilion (this was relocated in 2001 to the Alfrick cricket ground and is still in use).

From time to time various plays were performed – in 1959 “Androcles and the Lion” was put on on the banks of the tennis court, with the Jungle as a backdrop.