NOFRAMES VERSION - 6 Oct 2002

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Welcome

We hope you will enjoy reading about our Association, its activities, and former members of the Schools. We are always pleased to hear from former pupils and Staff - please email the or . If you are not already a Member, we hope that you will consider joining us.

Please let us know if you feel there are ways we can improve or extend our website. Your feedback is always appreciated.

Dedication

Our Background

By the end of the War, four masters and two Old Boys had given their lives - their names are recorded on a Roll of Honour at the School. A further 50 names of those who served; records do not show how many of these made the ultimate sacrifice. Meetings began again in 1920; the Cricket Club was founded in 1922 followed by the Football Club two years later - many members going on to play for local teams over the coming years.

A major change took place in 1936: the boys went to their new premises in Lascelles Road now called Slough Grammar School, whilst the girls remained in William Street, renamed Slough High School, until their new school in Twinches Lane was ready in September 1939. The site of the old school in William Street became, after many changes, the Slough Campus for the Thames Valley University. In the autumn of 1936, the Old Paludians Association also split into two separate Sections such was the feeling at the time against co-education with
"joint functions serving no purpose"

Another War came and went. Once again, Old Paludians were fighting in all Services throughout Europe, Africa and Asia - many never to return, their names, too, proudly recorded at the School. Some were mentioned in Dispatches and others were decorated for Gallantry. The Old Girls held regular Annual Meetings together with many social events from 1940 onwards, all held at their School by special invitation of the Headmistress, Miss J. M. Crawford. They were also active in hockey, tennis, drama and music. The Old Boys resumed in 1946, largely sports-orientated and with the formation of the Hockey Club in 1948. Many fund-raising activities over 5 years culminated in the opening of a Club House at Taplow in June 1958. Much of the building work was done by the Old Boys themselves. As a result of this new undertaking, the Old Boys or Sports Section reformed themselves as the Old Paludians Ltd. The Old Girls continued as the Old Paludians Association.

In 1962, a Thanksgiving Service was attended by both Old Boys and Old Girls to mark the Golden Anniversary of the founding of the School and, in 1979, the Girls celebrated the 40th Anniversary of their School premises. Both Sections continued along their separate ways until 1982 when the sale of the Twinches Lane site forced the merger of the Slough High School and Slough Grammar School on the Lascelles Road site. The combined School, renamed Upton Grammar School, was once again co-educational. The School reverted to the Slough Grammar School name in 1993.

There was a wind of change in 1988 when Mrs Margaret Lenton was appointed Headteacher and the following March came the first Joint Reunion (for both Old Boys and Old Girls) for 50 years. Mrs Lenton became President and the Old Paludians Association was renamed Old Paludians Association (Grammar School) as gradually more and more Old Boys were joining us. The Association was then independent of the Sports Section / Old Paludians Ltd, which nowadays plays under the name Taplow United Football Club.

The Present

Thanks to the generosity of members, each year the Old Paludians gives 2 prizes for Speech Day awarded for Music and Drama, as well as donating a special gift to the School after consultation with Mrs Lenton. Recent gifts include books to mark the Millennium, silver Head Boy & Head Girl badges, colours for sports achievements and a lump sum to start the Piano Fund reflecting interest in Music and the Arts and books for the Library. At Mrs Lenton's request, our gift to mark the School's 90th Anniversary in 2002, as well as HM The Queens's Golden Jubilee, was a Commemorative Clock for the Hall, together with further books and other items for the Library. A book entitled "Recollections of SLOUGH SECONDARY SCHOOL and THE OLD PALUDIANS as remembered by Peter Bennett and others" has been produced. Written by Peter Bennett (SSS, 1930-1936) it was published in March 2000 in time for the 2000 Reunion to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the Old Paludians. (These notes are based on Peter Bennett's text for which acknowledgement is duly given. To purchase this book for £5.50 plus appropriate postage and packing, please see the details given on our Membership, Books & Other Sales webpage).

The Future

Membership of the Old Paludians Association is open to all ages, although it is often only some years after leaving School that memories of schooldays are re-kindled. Career and family life are uppermost - a chance meeting with a former school friend can start a chain of thought 'whatever happened to … ?' More than likely the Old Paludians will know the answer. Life Membership for former pupils is just £5 - we look forward to having you join us. Former Staff are offered Complimentary Life Membership.

In her final contribution to the Slough High School Magazine, Miss J M Crawford, Headmistress 1936-1962, wrote

"So many have contributed through the years to the success of our Schools and we trust that the present generations will prove themselves to be worthy successors."

Other information

Annual Reunions are held on a Saturday each March. There is a lunch for those wishing to spend longer with their friends and after a short formal business meeting in the afternoon, there is tea. One highlight of the day is always a display of archive material, photographs, programmes of sporting events, drama productions, newspaper items, etc - everyone can spot themselves on at least one photo.

For any further information on membership or news of former school friends, please contact the of the Old Paludians.