School Story is a lavishly illustrated book, combining recent new images alongside archive material, and provides a fitting celebration for the School’s 75th anniversary. It includes a wonderful collection of intimate memories, anecdotes, stories and reminiscences from current and former pupils, parents, staff and friends of Cumnor House. There are contributions from former pupils and parents including the actor Simon Williams, the journalist Dominic Lawson, award-winning theatre director Sir Peter Hall and cookery writer Katie Stewart, alongside a mix of serious, funny, irreverent, as well as poignant memories.

A series of snapshots rather than a straightforward history, the book includes a fascinating range of both archive and recent pictorial material, alongside many moving, amusing, witty, serious and thoughtful anecdotes, reflections and personal insights from students, teachers and parents, past and present.

“Nowadays people suck their teeth at the idea of eight-year-olds being sent to boarding schools but to us baby-boomers Cumnor House wasn’t Colditz, say rather Butlins – it was the place you could get everything done: unharried by testy parents you could get on with your model plane, your hamster, your patch of garden, the Tarzan rope, marbles, your trombone, conkers, highland dancing, your part in The Tempest – perhaps there were lessons too”.

Simon Williams

The author Nick Milner-Gulland was himself a former pupil at Cumnor House and after reading classics at Cambridge he taught at Marlborough College, before taking over from his father Hal as Headmaster at Cumnor in 1969. Despite retiring in 2000 Nick continues to maintain a strong interest in the School’s development.

The RRP is £40 (plus p&p of £4.30 for UK and £7.80 for all overseas addresses, surface mail). Airmail rates also available. It will be possible to purchase the publication from Cumnor for the special price of £35 + p&p.

‘I hope you will help us celebrate our 75th anniversary by subscribing to this very special book which I am sure will bring to life your own personal memories of Cumnor House.’

Christian Heinrich, Headmaster

‘I have received a wonderful selection of contributions and archive material spanning the early Croydon years up to the present day. School Story will, I am sure, provide Cumnorians, both past and present, with a fascinating memento they will treasure for years to come.’

Nick Milner-Gulland, Author

HOW TO ORDER A COPY

Copies of the order form are available from the office. If you would like to collect your copy of the book from Cumnor House School and save on the post and packing, please indicate as appropriate on the order form.
The current publication selling price since the book launch is £35 + p&p.

Phone: Contact Cumnor House School on 01825 790 347
Online: Order a copy online direct from www.tmiltd.com. Simply click on School Story in the Forthcoming Titles section and follow the instructions. Books collected from the School can be ordered online. http://www.tmiltd.com//shop/home/pId/53 (Collect from the Bursar's office) This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

THEMES AND TOPICS

The themes and topics include a brief history of the School from its foundation in 1931 to the present day, and include accounts and memories of the whole range of activities carried out through the decades:

· Founding of Cumnor House and the Croydon years

· Wartime at Seale

· The move to Danehill and recent developments

· People (staff, parents, pupils, governors; co-education)

· Work, boarding, reports, rewards, appraisals and traditions; uniform

· Academic life

· Games and sport

· Art, music, drama and poetry

· The Play

· Extra-curricular activities (including scouting, hobbies and occupations)

· School trips and tours