Ashtree School 50th Anniversary Celebrations

By Jacqui Hudson

Ashtree School celebrated it’s 50th birthday during the week of 18th July 2011, with various activities. These included a 1960s inspired sports day, a Summer Fayre, staff and children dressing in retro clothing, a street party and a tree planting ceremony attended by Stevenage Mayor, Carol Latif.

The school chose to plant a young ash tree close to a spot on the front entrance to the school where a tree had recently been felled by bad weather. The planting of the tree was undertaken by the Mayor, the Head Teacher Ms. Kirwan and other staff and members of the school council.

 The school also enjoyed an open afternoon where ex pupils and other visitors were given tours around the school and shown archive photos. The school is planning to bury a time capsule for future generations to discover.

This page was added on 05/09/2011.

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  • I remember you Jennifer Verdon. I think you were in the other class in our year group as I started at Camps Hill and then transferred to Ashtree when it opened. My teacher was David Holmes, I think for the whole time at Junior School.

    John Bissell 2020

    By John BISSELL (24/09/2020)
  • I attended Ashtree infant & junior school from 1970- 1977.
    I have the same fond memories of school as those expressed by others.
    Would love to touch base with others from around my time .

    By Rob Glenday (16/01/2019)
  • Gwen Comley was my aunt – head teacher of the infant school until somewhere around 1980 as I recall, until she was taken ill. I worked in the school for a few weeks after my O levels, I remember Mr Speight at the Junior school too.

    By Chris Comleu (14/01/2019)
  • When the Infants school opened the first school secretary was Mrs Blake who remained at the school with Miss Comley for about 18 years. Mr Williamson was one of the teachers on the Junior side and his daughter Patricia was in the first entry and the group which went into the first top year before moving on to secondary school. Others in that group included Mark Atkinson, Linda ??, Ian Budge, John Faherty, Janice ??

    By John Blake (08/12/2018)
  • My children also went to Ashtree pre school and infants and juniors. Nicholas and Hayley Saunders. (They are 47 and 45 now)1975 I think they went. Yes mr.Spdight was their junior school head but he was also my dep head at peartree school when I went to school probably around 1958..

    By Kathy (17/05/2018)
  • I went to Ashtree when it first opened, after having to go on a bus to Campshill. Yes, 1961 would have been right. I remember the name Miss Comley….but I think she may have been with the infants section. Mr. Speight was the Headmaster of the Junior school. I left the school in 1966 when my family moved to California. I have such fond memories of the school and all my teachers. Miss Belden, infants, Miss Wilcox, 1st year, Mr. Danson, 2nd year, and Mr. Thomas for 3rd and part of 4th year. Mrs. Holiday was the cook! Wonderful lunches! ( Or dinners, as they were called back then!!) I have posted the panoramic photo, taken in 1965. Remember the “The Tuck Shop” Loved the potatoe puffs and the jammy dodgers!!!

    By Jennifer Verdon (03/03/2012)
  • Ashtee School opened in September 1961 on its Chertsey Road site. The first Head was Gwen Comley (spelling?) who stayed there until some time after 1969. The first Deputy Head was Kathleen Parker, who left in July 1969. Other staff there during that era were Mary Beldon and Jo Banks.

    By Robin Parker (20/09/2011)