Raans School, Amersham

Raans opened in the 1950s as a mixed school. With the opening of Brudenell School on Stanley Hill in the 1960s, it became a boys school. Raans closed in the 1980s with the boys being transferred to Brudenell which was renamed The Amersham School.

Dave James (now based in Australia) writes "I have dug out an old (admittedly a bit blurred & battered - it might even encourage others to send in their (much better) pictures of the same) photo of Raans' School. This was taken only a few months after the school was opened for use. The picture was snapped by my sister from the entrance path in from Grove/Roundwood Roads, and the girls' playground area is in the right foreground (as I remember it in those days - I also recall that there was a cycle shed just to the right of where my sister took this picture from). I think I also remember, although I can't wholly be sure, that the side-block sticking out from the main building in the centre of the photo might have been the Art Classroom upstairs and Craft Room downstairs. I know that Mr. Penny ran the Art Classroom, and Mrs. Woollet (the Deputy Head) ran the craft room.

(Picture Courtesy of Dave James)

Dave James also provided a picture across the old school playing field

(Picture Courtesy of Dave James)

Houses have been built on the site of the school, but the playing fields remained after the school closed. In 2009 a planning application was submitted to build a new church and housing on the fields.

Kathleen Hills (Nee Holland) has kindly sent some of her pictures from 1963

Raans School
(Picture Courtesy of Kathleen Hills)

A view of (probably) classroom 5J, (home of Enlgish teacher Denys Jones) which is overhanging the back entrance hall of the school.

(Picture Courtesy of Kathleen Hills)

A view of the huts outside the school's back entrance, where Geography and Maths were taught and the girls went for Shorthand and Typing.

(Picture Courtesy of Kathleen Hills)

A view across the playground beside the wing of the school which housed the Art room on the top floor. Kathleen Hills spent a lot of time in the Art room as she was one of only two girls who took Art for GCE in her fifth year. The other girl was Anthea Laverty.

Kathleen also partly remembers the school song written by Mrs. Dubray.

Kathleen believes it went -

We, of Raans, proclaim the love of life which we inherit
However hard the trials of youth they cannot break out spirit
Like the seasons rain and sun, they prove the growing mind
And harbour there, in after years, respect for human kind.

Happy in Endeavour
Loyal in Success
We of Raans Remember you forever
In tha-a-a-ankfulness

Terry Sherman has some memories of Raans "I was at the school from 1966-70. The headmaster was Mr Lawrence. When a teacher was off sick, he would step in and take the class, always interesting. The deputy head was a Mr Harper. History Mr Briskman (Batman). PE was taken by Mr Evans (called mo because his haircut looked like it had been done with a lawnmower). In my last year my form teacher was Mr Hodgkinson (Brassneck). A Welshman Mr Jeffries was the art teacher. We used to flick paint onto the paper and he thought it was great, but I always thought modern art was for people who couldn’t paint (myself included). The name of my music teacher escapes my but he had the wild haired look of Beethoven and used to whack us with his hand instead of a cane (like being hit by a double decker bus).

I don’t think many of my classmates are still around. I’m sure Richard Doyle is still around, although I have not seen him for a few years. I remember a friend of mine in the 2^nd year Chris Goulding but he left at the end of that year to go to another school. Some years after leaving school I met Mr Lawrence at work when my company was organising a sponsored walk. He was always a true gentleman."

Terry added " Yes, the music teacher was Mr Higgs. My English teacher was Robert Caldwell, nicknamed Mini, No idea why. Also in my first year Chemistry was taken by Mr Simpson from New Zealand."

If anyone remembers the song or has other memories of Raans, please email the web master

You might like to visit the Amersham Forum here where former Amersham pupils have posted messages asking for information and contacts

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