Edward Thomas Evans (Head Master 1881 – 1888)

(Thanks to Jack Evans, our elder participant at the 2007 Jubilee for sharing this family history)

Birthday Celebrations

Mrs E. Evans 80 Years Old

Family Gathering

Long Residence in Stratford (circa 1924)

The 80 the anniversary of Mrs Elizabeth Evan’s Birthday was the occasion yesterday of a gathering of all the members of her family – six in number – and including a son whom she has not seen for 14 years.

Mrs Evans, whose home is in Portia Street, has lived in Stratford since 1884 and she has very vivid recollections of those days.

The members of the family present at the reunion gathering yesterday were
Mr Evan Evans Hawera
Mrs H. Pitt Stratford
Mr D P Evans New Plymouth
Mr R P Evans Nelson
Mr E D Evans Stratford
Mrs A R Masters Stratford

There were also present seven of Mrs Evans 26 grandchildren and a friend of 1884 days at Stratford, Mrs Gardiner. The day was spent quietly, Mrs Evans not being allowed too much strenuous exercise, although she thinks nothing of early rising and baking and her hearing and eyesight are unimpaired.

Mrs Evan, who married Mr Edward Thomas Evans in North Wales, came with him to Port Chalmers in the ship Cospatric in 1873. There were 44 passengers on the ship which had a cargo of gunpowder and racehourses, and then returned to England to bring out 500 immigrants. Unfortunately the Cospatric was burnt at sea and all the crew lost except the first mate and third mate who rowed 500 miles before being picked up.

In her 61 years of life in New Zealand, Mrs Evans has had many changes. For six months she lived at Dunedin while Mr Evans looked for a farm. Then came North to Egmont Village and farmed there until 1880. “There was nothing in farming in those days,” said Mrs Evans “and my husband, in common with many others lost all his money.”

That made things hard for the young couple but Mr Evans secured a post in Webster Brothers shipping office for nine months until the farm went bankrupt.

The school was worth only ($140) a year said Mrs Evans but there was no rent to pay and they managed all right. After 15 months there they went to Okato for about 2 years and then were transferred to Stratford in 1881.

Wild and Rough Settlement
Stratford of those days was a wild and rough settlement. The school house was at the present school site and it was impossible to get to Newton King’s at Broadway and Fenton Street intersection without being completely bogged. The school was large however, there were 100 children and three teachers, Messrs Johnson, Butler and King.

After seven years teaching at Stratford, Mr Evans died leaving Mrs Evans with a family of six, of which the oldest 18 and the youngest 2 years. Mrs Evans brought all up, living in a house on her property, which is now the Avon Bowling Clubs green and always had the best garden in Stratford.

Media Team Wrap Up

The S.P.S. Media Team met for the final time today to wrap up their work of the last few weeks. We had a little party and watched slideshows of the pictures and videos of the Jubilee weekend. It was great to have our students out and about amongst the Jubilee participants recording this historic weekend.
Kelvin Squire, Principal, acknowledged their contributions by presenting our Secondary Students with an S.P.S. school pen and expressing his thanks on behalf of the school. Our younger students had already received a 'Birthday Present' at school last week.

The Media Team's last official duties today were to reflect on the events of the Jubilee and write a few words for the Stratford Press. Here is what they had to say:

This year the year 7-8 students went down to the hall and role played like it was 125 years ago. We lined up and Miss Coffey called us into the hall one by one. Mr Williams dictated a poem and we had to write it exactly as he said. Our desks were all lined up in rows. We got yelled at by the teachers. We had a spelling test. We all had to try and take it seriously. A student had to get the ruler and pretended to strap with it. He broke the ruler. I’m really glad we don’t have the strap anymore and the teachers are lots nicer these days.
by Jessie Isaacs Y8

I thought the 125^th jubilee was a good idea because it rejoined old classmates and got previous students who used to go to this school to come back and see how the school has changed. Every one who came had fun and enjoyed themselves lots. In class we have been studying what it was like in 1882 by role playing and working like they used to back in the old days.
By Kimberly Madden Y8

The Jubilee was fun because I got to see people who came to this school over the last 70 years and see them catch up with their old mates. It was a success. The War Memorial Centre looked awesome and it looked like everyone was having a good time. I have learnt a lot about the history of our school over the past few weeks such as the school fire in the 1950s, and the big snow days in the 1970s & 1980s
By Hamish Walker Y9 (Stratford High)

I reckon that the jubilee was cool because lots of people came to our school and had photos, food and watched a little girl cut the Jubilee cake.
By Kieran George Y6

My thoughts on the jubilee are…It was great to see a lot of people take interest in their old primary school. Everyone had put a lot of hard work into it and it turned out to be a successful weekend.
By Courtney Cheer Y9 (Stratford High)

It was well set up by the organizers. It was good seeing people getting involved that haven’t been to the school for at least 40-50 years. It was cool watching people that haven’t seen each other for like 20 years or more meet each other again and trying to figure out the names of people. It was good for the school to be noticed and got out there.
By Sam Mako Y10 (Stratford High)

Stratford Primary School did a great job in organizing the event. Everyone that took part and attended it seemed to think it was a great success. The events were well thought out and were very popular in the community.
By Francie Clarkson Y10 (Stratford High)

It was great for the school to hold a massive event like the 125^th Jubilee. It was fun to see people that came to this school a long time ago. Some of the people have not seen each other for over 50 years. I have learnt a lot about Stratford Primary School during the 125^th Jubilee.
By Cameron Cox Y7

Share Your Jubilee Photos

Thanks to Darryl Hodson for sharing his Jubilee Weekend photos. You can find these on the Flickr website or view them here. You will need to have broadband and wait for a couple of minutes for photos to load. If you would like to share your photos you can send them to the school or put them on the Internet yourself with the tag spsjubilee07.

Welcome Home to S.P.S.

William Shakespeare once said, “For what is a city but for the people?” Likewise I ask, “For what is our school but for you people?” The bricks and mortar here have no meaning without you – you are Stratford Primary School – past and present - and I know that we all make our mark in varying ways while at school, (more often than not carved into the top of a desk!), and leave a little of ourselves behind when we go, but we all take so much more away with us at the end of our time here.
I see familiar faces out there – only some familiar to me though, but all familiar to someone in this hall, because we all have something in common. We are all a part of the history of Stratford Primary School.
This weekend realises 125 years of education for Stratford Primary School – thank you all for being here to share in this milestone for our school and for our town!
The Jubilee Committee has been working hard since 2004 to provide the forum for an exciting weekend of celebrations - I take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to all those “upright and loyal” old pupils and staff, and friends with varied connections to Stratford Primary School, for a special few days renewing friendships and sharing memories of a special time and place in our lives.
The next few days will no doubt be filled with chit-chat and memories, and laughter, and even tears.
Ex-pupils and staff will meet up again – how will the years have treated us all? Teachers will look the same to students, but students will be a little more difficult for teachers’ to recognise - what with a few inches added to their height (& waist!), a few whiskers or grey hairs, a bit of life experience, and a few decades or more added to their school age!
Dedicated Principals’, staff and school committee and board members, along with a supportive school community, have provided for many successes for Stratford Primary School over the years. We are very proud of all that our school has been in the past and all that it strives to be in the future.
It always has been such a great place to learn and a fun place to be – what a quality school!
May the spirit of friendship and goodwill be with you all over this Jubilee weekend – we trust that this will be a happy and memorable occasion for you all!
Viv Lett
JUBILEE CHAIRPERSON
Welcome Speech - Opening Ceremony




Presentation for the Stratford Primary School Jubilee, June 2007. Featuring 8mm film clips of the school in the 1930s taken by Lewis Mervyn Fairbrother, Deputy Headmaster, 1937 -1939. Thanks to Ralph Fairbrother for donating this DVD to Stratford Primary School.

The Great Fire of S.P.S.

Many thanks to Warwick Pettigrew for this film clip taken by his father Archie of the Great Fire of S.P.S. circa late 1950s.

Thank Yous

"A moment to pause, reflect on an amazing weekend of celebration but most of all, time to acknowledge all those people who gave of their time, skills and energy to make the Jubilee Celebrations possible.
Know that it has been all appreciated.
Thank you so much each and everyone of you.
Best Wishes
Dianne Suisted (Kirkby)"

"Many, many thanks for the Queen's Birthday Celebrations. Words cannot amply express the enjoyment of meeting old school friends again, after five, six decades in my case.
Tim Wingate"

"To The Chairperson, Your Committee and all the volunteers. A big Thank You for the weekend celebrations. Fromm Friday night til after the church service on Sunday, all was enjoyed. Lots to ponder over. Lots of laughter and happy memories. Couldn't even fault the weather! Glad to be there.
Thank you again,
Margaret Pengelly (nee Webb)
Past Pupil"

Miss Coles 1954 - 1956

A Jubilee is a wonderful time to renew friendships and it is with deep regret that I am unable to share such a time with my past pupils and friends due to a family wedding.
I shall be delighted if any of my past pupils should want to contact me.
Mrs Barbara Walter
(Please use the email on this site if you wish to make contact)

Virtual Time Capsule

Jubilee Weekend is over & what a great weekend with lots of laughter & reminiscing. This site will continue as a Virtual Time Capsule to celebrate the history of Stratford Primary School. Check back in as more video, audio & pictures are uploaded here and to our Photo Gallery. Please contribute either by emailing us with your memories, pictures or video or by clicking on any of the comments button that appears at the bottom of each article on this site.

Greetings From A Past Teacher

Wishing you all a great time celebrating and reminiscing. Wish I could be with you but family commitments have prevented it. I see by the Registration list that some of my Standard 3 pupils of 1973 & 1974 will be
attending:-
Greetings to you. The first two years of my teaching career were with you, and I have happy memories of many fun times - (hope you do too), especially the Hangi at my parents place and the game of softball in the neighbours paddock amongst the thistles and cow pats!!
You may wonder what happened to me... I am married to Alan Curtis and we have two sons, now aged 17 and 20. I am still teaching, and love it. I am Deputy Principal at St Joseph's School, Hawera and have always lived in south Taranaki. Throughout the years I have been able to keep up with news of some of you and your families through the local newspapers. I often wonder where my pupils went, in the world, and what careers they now have.
Greetings also to my colleagues from those years. Golly, how teaching has changed over the years. As a beginning teacher in 1973 there was no such thing as a Tutor Teacher, Year 1 Release, or CRT. We are fortunate to now have a system that supports all teachers in practical ways, especially those beginning their career.
Once again, have a great weekend.
Kind regards
Carol Hiles-Smith (now Carol Curtis)

What past teachers have said:

Les Taylor 1954-1980

“On my arrival at Stratford Primary School in 1954 I was greatly impressed by the magnificence of the buildings and their setting, but as I walked down the main corridor with the then newly appointed Headmaster, Mr Pattison, I remember him asking me if I had noticed anything unusual about the school. All the desks were the very old, heavy, double-lift type, battered and ink-stained and the teachers desks were of similar vintage and condition. They certainly looked out of place in those new rimu-panelled classrooms. As a new-comer to the staff, however, those beautiful new rooms were not for me. I was banished to one of a row of four pre-fabite classrooms set well behind and below the main school buildings. The floors of the prefabs were of pine and so were peppered with holes where the knots had fallen out. You can imagine the draughts that whistled up through them. And when it rained on those unlined roofs the din drowned out any attempts to talk.”

Quote Stratford Primary School Centennial book.

Marie Wall (nee Peik) Pupil to Teacher

Stratford Primary School in the 1930s.

“Many of the children at that time came from families hard hit by the slump. A few lived in tents, (through Stratford winters); a few more went from door to door asking for old clothes, and yet I remember only two “solo” families as they would now be called, and the suppers provided by parents for the annual Fancy Dress Ball.”

Quote Stratford Primary School Centennial book.

Did You Know?

• some of the trees from the Fenton Street SPS site were moved to the current site? This included a well-grown Kauri tree?
• in the early 1950’s the Education Board started planning for another primary school in Stratford?
• by the early 1950’s the roll had risen to 690 students?
• in 1953 pupils were supervised to build the concrete fish pond?
• in 1954 the school opened with a roll of 730 and a staff of 17!
• In 1951 four pre-fabricated classrooms were erected down the hill from Rooms 14 and 15?
• although the school buildings were newly built the children’s desk were very old, heavy, and battered, as were the teacher’s tables?
• the new locatable classrooms were tendered for in 1975, and arrived soon after.
• The school library opened in 1975?

Memories: Audrey Melville (Jones)

"... I was taken back many years when I read Ngaire Anderson (Vossler's) Memories with the mention of all the teachers' names. I remember Ngaire very well and the only teacher whose name I cannot recall - he was very short just the opposite to Lofty Morrison. He taught me in Standard Six - only five girls and over thirty boys - huge class for a little man. In the back of my mind the name Mr. Bone keeps appearing but whoever it was he knew how to use the strap - I know because I only ever got the strap twice and both for talking when he answered the door. Excellent teacher as all were really. Mrs Anderson taught me in Standard One - a very stern teacher but very fair. While with her we had quite a big earthquake and we were told to run out past the school building through the area where the swing was and down to the bottom of the grass area. This little girl unfortunately fell over and put her knees through her new black woollen stockings - not a very good reception when I got home.
My school days started in July 1926, our family lived at 82 Ariel Street then moved to Wellington in 1943. We were a family of four - I am the eldest, my sister Peggy who lived in the United States for just on sixty years and passed away two years ago. Rex now lives in Nelson and the youngest Monty now lives in the Brisbane area. My father (Percy Jones) was a Tailor in the town and my working days started in the Office of Manoys (4 years) and then I moved to G.A. Carter's Accountants Office (four years) before the family moved to Wellington, where we lived in Karori. I now live in Wellington.
Congratulations and best wishes for a wonderful weekend, will be thinking of you all, hope the weather is kind and Mt Taranaki stands out proud. I would love to hear from anyone who is interested and also any info available.
Sincerely Audrey Melville (nee) Jones"

Media Team Meets For The First Time

This is the Media Team for the SPS Jubilee. The people at the back are from Stratford High School and are ex Stratford Primary School pupils.

Today we looked at how to work the cameras and we had a look at the site for the jubilee. Mr Squire showed us on google earth where people have been looking at the web site from in the world.