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'A view from The Hill'

The following is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of the recently published book,
'In the Beginning, Richard Routh - January 1842 until December 1880'

"In the Spring of 1845, Samuel Beesley, a member of the Committee, was visiting the School and Routh accompanied him part of the way back to Banbury and during a pause in the conversation, Beesley suddenly said to Routh: 'Doesn't thou think it a good thing for thee to get married?' Routh answered: 'Well, I really haven't thought much about it. I don't know of anyone at all likely.' Beesley said: 'But why not ask *Rebecca Thompson?' Routh answered 'Oh, I'm sure Rebecca Thompson would not regard me with any favour.' And Beesley replied: 'Oh but thou doesn't know till thou tries - just think it over.' And so he did and they were married in July 1845. ..... They had been married for twenty three years when Rebecca died, comparitively young at the age of 59, in 1868. .....

"Routh was a kindly disciplinarian who ran the school for the first 38 years of its life. An old scholar from South Africa leaves us a last picture of Routh: 'Of vast bulk, suave manners and fatherly way, he was like a warm stove ina large room'."

* Note - Rebecca Thompson joined the school in 1842 as The Mistress (Senior Mistress) - a Quaker and a widow of 33.

click on the link below to download an order form.

A view from The Hill - A history of Sibford School 1842-2010 (order form)

Mike Finch and Eddie Goudge

Old school friends Mike Finch and Eddie Goudge were reunited on 26th September 2011 when Eddie and his wife Margaret visited the school from their home in South Africa. Eddie was amazed at the changes to the school.

Kate Mills - Channel swim at Sibford

Kate (daughter of old scholar Caroline Mills, granddaughter of Ann and Raymond Bond and a pupil at Sibford) has successfully completed her swim which was the equivalent length of the English Channel in the school's pool. 12 year old Kate swam the 22 miles in 4 sessions - she completed the first session on Saturday 18th June - at SOSA's Reunion.

Money raised will pay for starting blocks for the school pool and for a defibrillator which will be kept at school and can be used throughout the community and Sibford villages.

Any individuals who would like to support her can send cheques, payable to 'Sibford School Foundation' to Ali Bromhall, Community Development Officer, Sibford School, Sibford Ferris, Banbury OX15 5QL, marking your envelope 'Kate Mills sponsored swim'.