School

Today we say a fond farewell to Mrs. Keylock who, after twenty-eight years’ loyal service at Gawsworth Primary School, will be taking advantage of the County’s early retirement scheme. The decision to retire, however, was not taken lightly as Gawsworth village and school have figured prominently in her life and she will miss the contact with so many friends.

As a child Mrs. Keylock knew Gawsworth very well as she would often accompany her father when he came to the village on business. Her father was a representative for Adhead’s Brewery, Macclesfield and he would make regular calls to the “Rising Sun” and the “Harrington Arms”, or to his employer who, at that time, lived at the New Hall. She also has vivid memories of family picnics in Gawsworth and of happy times playing on the peat moss, pushing the cart along the rail track and talking to the horse. In her teenage years she would frequently cycle to Gawsworth from Macclesfield as she loved to visit the Church and sit in the churchyard because the environment was so attractive and tranquil. Therefore, it only seemed right that one day Mrs. Keylock should come to teach in the village.

Mrs. Keylock’s first year in teaching, however, was at Congleton Infant School but when she was offered a position at Gawsworth School, in 1955, she jumped at the chance. In those days the school was much smaller and was situated in the delightful building called ‘The White House’ at the Gawsworth crossroads. At that time Mrs. Maddison had just taken overras headmistress from Mr. Banks and a Miss Bagnall was the reception teacher. This meant that Mrs. Keylock had to teach the lower juniors to start with, but when Miss Bagnall left the following term, Irs. Keylock made the reception class her own.

Although the old school looks very picturesque, it had its drawbacks. Firstly the rooms were rather cramped, and secondly Mrs. Keylock and all the children had to suffer trips to draughty outside ‘loos’. Furthermore, there were no proper facilities, at first, for children who stayed at school for lunch, therefore a wooden building was erected (through public subscription) to cater for these children. This is now the present owner’s garage. The school was a Church of England school and the building was owned by Mr. Richards of Gawsworth Hall. Once a week the rector, Rev. E. Clarke, would teach the top class Scripture (religious knowledge). Then, once a year, on Day School Sunday, all the children and teachers were expected to attend church in the morning and afternoon. The governors of the school Mr. Richards and Mr. Allibone (the father of Betty Williams) would take a keen interest in the school, whilst Nurse Parsons (grandmother of James Frankham), would keep a watchful eye on the general health of the children.

In 1966, the present day County Primary School was built. Naturally Mrs. Keylock noticed a tremendous improvement in the facilities and she saw the school grow in size to almost two hundred children on roll. Nowadays she thinks that children enjoy coming to school more than they did formerly and since the formation of a playgroup in the village, the commencement of school is no longer the traumatic experience it used to be for some young children.

Because Mrs. Keylock has served for such a long time at our school she now finds that she has taught a considerable number of the parents of our present day pupils she says this is probably why she understands some of her little ones so well! Mrs. Keylock’s warmth and spontaneity have been the trade-mark of her teaching and these qualities have endeared her to many. She has been a cornerstone of Gawsworth School and parents have always felt secure in the knowledge that children starting school for the first time would be in very capable hands. We will all miss her lively personality and individuality and the school will seem very dull without her.

Good luck in your retirement Jane and now that you may have some spare time on your hands you will be able to clear out that attic, you have been promising to do for the last twenty years!