Our time at Churcher’s

David Robbins (1996 – 2021) As I draft this article it is exactly 26 years to the day that I received a letter dated 1 April 1996. It was most definitely not an April Fool and offered me the post of Bursar & Clerk to The Governors at Churcher’s following several interviews and presentations during the preceding months. Linda had seen the job advertised in the Hampshire Chronicle and commented that it could be an ‘interesting’ opportunity. Whilst the financial model of the school is relatively straightforward it was the management of this function and all the other aspects of the business from HR, Estates, IT, Catering and Governance which has provided the many new and varied challenges over the last 25 years. The diverse challenges of a developing and growing school seemed to speed up the passage of time, with a succession of key facility projects being the markers of achievement and progression. As Bursar it was my responsibility to oversee the whole project cycle from inception to completion and occupation. The practical issues arising and challenges of mixing busy school sites with building activities would quickly be forgotten with the positivity of handover and use of a new facility by pupils and staff. Indeed, every time I swim at the Gallagher Pool it reminds me of the transformation from a lightly used leaking and dated 1930’s outdoor summer pool to the impressive new indoor facility, opened in 2011, that now serves the school and the community with intensive daily use. It was always important to consider that none of these landmark projects would have made progress to completion without the support, commitment and collaborative input from the respective school Heads, Governors, Bursary and Support Staff Teams tasked with making these projects happen. Schools are all about the people and the Churcher’s ‘Can Do’ approach has always shone through. From the Bursar’s Office on the first floor of Old College it was always a pleasure to be able to keep a watchful eye on the sporting activities of the school and naturally any fixtures involving Emily (08), Andrew (10) and Michael (12) were of particular interest! All three have moved on to progress their respective careers with the benefit of a strong Churcher’s education that has provided them with opportunities and a cohort of lifelong friends. As both parents and staff members Linda and I have been in the fortunate position to have been wholly involved in the school community over the last 25 years and our recent change of status to OCs, as staff retirees, is just the latest stage of our association with Churcher’s.

Linda Robbins (1999 – 2021) My first trip to the School was a visit on Open Day at the end of the summer term. The day was warm and bright and I was looking forward to ‘the tour’ however David disappeared quickly when we arrived – he was informed that the office had been broken into overnight and there were things he needed to see to!

When I look back on that summer’s day, I realise how much Churcher’s has changed over the past 25 years – Chemistry and Biology labs were in the building that is now the Art/ IT block, and the Sports Hall was just that – drama performances took place either in the A-Hall or in the Gym.

The Junior School, meanwhile, where Emily and Andrew were due to start in September was in Moreton House, in Petersfield. There were also boarders at the school and Mount House (the last boarding house in use) and the footbridge over Ramshill, which gave pupils safe access to the site, were still there. What was also very evident that day and is still a feature of Open Days was the buzz of energy and excitement – everyone was busy as pupils and staff showcased their work and their school with obvious pride. The sheer variety of what was on display, what the pupils and staff had achieved, left a lasting impression. Little did I realise that day that the impression Churcher’s College was to have on the Robbins family would be all encompassing – over the next 25 years Churcher’s College truly became a way of life! In April 1999 I was appointed part-time librarian to work with Senior Librarian, Piers Simpson, in the brand-new Library building. Piers and I spent many hours during the Easter Holiday unpacking and shelving the hundreds of books which had come from the old library. During the Autumn term 2006 I was approached with a view to taking on the role of Librarian at Churcher’s College Junior School which by then had relocated to Liphook. The redevelopment of the Middle School necessitated a relocation of the Library and a year spent in “The Bungalow”. Although this was a temporary fix, I was pleased when the new library became available, even though it meant a second consecutive summer holiday with time spent packing up and moving the library! My role at Churcher’s finally came to an end on my retirement with David last Summer. Our 25-year link to Churcher’s College is a mere fraction of the School’s 300-yearold association with Petersfield but I feel privileged to have played a small part in the history of Churcher’s.