War Camp School for Coventry Boys 1940.
This post is was made possible by online newspaper research carried out by Steve Lowe - the nephew of John Lowe, a former teacher and deputy head of Wyre Farm Camp School 1942 - 1957 and later head of Willenhall Wood Junior School from 1958. Thanks Steve.
I attempt here to present the cuttings along with some context and interpretation. Trev Teasdel
Ready for Football 1940
The first layer of cuttings pre-date the opening of the camp school by about a month and are from May 1940 and are taken from the Midland Daily Telegraph which was the forerunner of The Coventry Evening Telegraph as it became in November 1941. Other cuttings at this point come from The Coventry Herald and the Birmingham Mail.
The first set of cuttings from May 1940 were generated from a press release put out by the Coventry Education Committee, so much of the reportage was more or less the same and was intended to publicise the new evacuation camp and attract recruits.
Commentary
The school is described as -
"A war camp school that Coventry boys may attend - A Worcestershire experiment, offering a full boarding school education in ideal surroundings for a selected number of Coventry senior elementary school boys who normally attend school in the evacuable area of Coventry."
I take the "evacuable areas of Coventry" to mean the central area and areas with industrial plants serving the war effort.
The press cuttings report that -
"a deputation of members and officials from the Coventry Education Committee undertook an inspection of the Government evacuation camp" at Cleobury Mortimer and after initial doubts, found it favourable and stressed that parents should now do their part and consider sending their senior boys to the camp. Replies to the circulars had to be returned by the following Friday. Although this was pre-blitz, there was some urgency as there had already been some smaller bombing raids on Coventry.
They describe the camp as "elaborately finished and along the lines of a modern holiday camp". The cost to Coventry is no more than the cost of educating them in Coventry and the boarding costs were borne by the Government through the National Camps Corporation.
Construction Cost
Construction of Wyrefarm Camp School (along with the other camp schools) began prior to
the declaration of World War 2 - September 3 1940 at the cost of £25,000 (equivalent to £1,753,881.52 in 2024). This was also the average cost of the other camp schools too. This sum included construction - labour, design and materials and land purchase which, at least in the case of Bewerley Park Camp School, was around £2000. It seems that the camp had 12 acres of land, 8 of which was for playing fields. The buildings were made of cedar wood, asbestos line, with central heating and water sourced from the Birmingham pipe line and modern sanitations. The cost to the parents would normal billeting charges.
Capacity of the School The capacity of the school as reported in the press in general varies widely! In these early press cuttings they talk of 185 boarders, which may come close, given early on there were 40 plus in 4 and half dormitory blocks - the two classrooms in the Art room block were initially a house when they all had Coventry area names rather local ones like Mortimer etc. But in different press cuttings they quote 160 boys or other variants and quote the full capacity as between 200 - 250 and in National Camp Corporation material might suggest 350.I doubt very much the school had dormitory capacity beyond 185 and that's with an extra half block. Perhaps they were intending to build more blocks and certainly subsequent headmasters aspired to increasing the capacity but always with the request for more buildings! I suggest160 give or take at different times would be more realistic.
the declaration of World War 2 - September 3 1940 at the cost of £25,000 (equivalent to £1,753,881.52 in 2024). This was also the average cost of the other camp schools too. This sum included construction - labour, design and materials and land purchase which, at least in the case of Bewerley Park Camp School, was around £2000. It seems that the camp had 12 acres of land, 8 of which was for playing fields. The buildings were made of cedar wood, asbestos line, with central heating and water sourced from the Birmingham pipe line and modern sanitations. The cost to the parents would normal billeting charges.
Capacity of the School The capacity of the school as reported in the press in general varies widely! In these early press cuttings they talk of 185 boarders, which may come close, given early on there were 40 plus in 4 and half dormitory blocks - the two classrooms in the Art room block were initially a house when they all had Coventry area names rather local ones like Mortimer etc. But in different press cuttings they quote 160 boys or other variants and quote the full capacity as between 200 - 250 and in National Camp Corporation material might suggest 350.I doubt very much the school had dormitory capacity beyond 185 and that's with an extra half block. Perhaps they were intending to build more blocks and certainly subsequent headmasters aspired to increasing the capacity but always with the request for more buildings! I suggest160 give or take at different times would be more realistic.
Initial cuttings with transcripts for readability.
WAR CAMP SCHOOL FOR COVENTRY BOYS?
Coventry Boys May Attend - Worcester Experiment
From The Midland Daily Telegraph 7th May 1940 / Coventry Herald 11th May.
Full boarding school education in ideal surroundings, likely for a selected number of Coventry
senior elementary boys who normally attend school in the evacuable area of Coventry.
Recently a deputation of members and officials of Coventry Education Committee made a visit of inspection to the government evacuation camp at Cleobury Mortimer on the boarders of Shropshire and Worcestershire.
The Midland Daily Telegraph found that so favourable were the impressions that the sub committee which originally decided to take no action so far as the evacuation camp was concerned, is now likely to reverse its attitude.
Parents have their part to play, for the acceptance or otherwise of the government's offer of the camp rests with their response to the circular that has been issued asking they favour their senior boys being so evacuated.
Replies to the circular had to be made by Friday of this week. Most elaborately finished, the camp school is completely self contained and will accommodate 250 to 300 boys. The general plan is along holiday camp lines. Dormitories, class rooms, craft rooms and assembly rooms are spacious, airy and pleasingly decorated.
Cost to Coventry if the Government offer is accepted would be no more than that than the necessary teaching staff and educational equipment - costs that would have to be borne by the city in any event. Other charges in camp staff, food, bedding would be entered on the city's evacuation account with complete reimbursement from the Government.
senior elementary boys who normally attend school in the evacuable area of Coventry.
Recently a deputation of members and officials of Coventry Education Committee made a visit of inspection to the government evacuation camp at Cleobury Mortimer on the boarders of Shropshire and Worcestershire.
The Midland Daily Telegraph found that so favourable were the impressions that the sub committee which originally decided to take no action so far as the evacuation camp was concerned, is now likely to reverse its attitude.
Parents have their part to play, for the acceptance or otherwise of the government's offer of the camp rests with their response to the circular that has been issued asking they favour their senior boys being so evacuated.
Replies to the circular had to be made by Friday of this week. Most elaborately finished, the camp school is completely self contained and will accommodate 250 to 300 boys. The general plan is along holiday camp lines. Dormitories, class rooms, craft rooms and assembly rooms are spacious, airy and pleasingly decorated.
Cost to Coventry if the Government offer is accepted would be no more than that than the necessary teaching staff and educational equipment - costs that would have to be borne by the city in any event. Other charges in camp staff, food, bedding would be entered on the city's evacuation account with complete reimbursement from the Government.
NEW LIFE IN CAMP SCHOOL FOR 185 COVENTRY BOYS
Midland Daily Telegraph 23rd May 1940
Some 185 Coventry elementary school boys are to become Public schoolboys for the durationof the war. They are senior boys - 11 years of age and over, living in the evacuable areas of the city or at present in the reception areas.
Their parents accepted the opportunity of having them evacuated to a Government camp school at Cleobury Mortimer - about 50 miles from the city. If the Coventry Education Committee decided to exercise their option to evacuate children to it.
Yesterday afternoon the Education Committee decided to obtain use of the camp. When the Education Committee last met a decision by the primary and post primary schools sub-committee to reject the offer of the use of the camp was referred back largely on the appeal of M. A. Ewins, who suggested a more detailed consideration.
Camp Cost £25000
Since then representatives of the sub-committee have visited the camp and as a result of what they saw, the sub-committee recommended yesterday that the Education Committee should secure the use of it. Moving the recommendation, councillor H Rose said that the sub-committee felt that the opportunity is one which should be accepted. Thanks were due to Mr Ewins for pressing the matter. Councillor G. Briggs said that the camp had cost something like £25000. The accommodation was excellent in every respect. Actually it would provide the boys with a wonderful experience. In effect they would have the opportunity for a public school type of life and education. The camp had the advantage of being in the country and a reasonable distance from Coventry.
Modern Amenities
Councillor A T Randle said that 8 of the 12 acres comprising the site could be used for playing fields while facilities were available for school gardens. The accommodation was far removed from the Army hut type. Answering questions by councillor J C Lee Gordon and Alderman Wyles, the director of Education said the only additional cost to the committee compared with education of the boys in Coventry would be removal expenses of equipment, the provision of a full time nurse, and possibly some adjustment of the salary of the teacher in charge.
It was stated that the camp buildings were of cedar, asbestos lined, with central heating and electric lights, water from the Birmingham supply and modern sanitation. The cost to the parents would the normal billeting charges which varies with the financial position of the parents but no case exceeds 5 shillings ? a week.
TO BE CONTINUED - WORK IN PROGRESS
