Puzzles

History

How to add colour to family history

by Laura Manning

Jim Williams, an internationally published author of 13 novels, including ‘Farewell to Russia’, ‘The Hitler Diaries’ and his latest, ‘American Values’, gave an entertaining and thoughtprovoking presentation to the Blackmore Vale Group of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society.

Jim was explaining how to leave a record of our lives for our grandchildren and future family historians. He pointed out that our awareness of history rarely extends beyond our grandparents. A bland record of births, marriages and deaths is not good enough – we are talking about real people who loved and lived.

We research our family history and may discover the dry facts that our ancestors were servants and grocers – how much more engaging if they had written down stories from their lives! Everyone who explores their family history knows the thrill of discovering a photo or a newspaper article which adds another dimension to an ancestor, something which makes them more ‘real’. Jim says we must do better for future historians.

To sit down and attempt to write an autobiography is such a huge undertaking that, understandably, most people never even start. However, Jim had some great ideas for writing short ‘essays’ about a particular event or a photo which captures something of what it was like to live through at the time.

Life is not like a novel. It does not have a plot – it is just full of ‘stuff that happens’. A collection of photos – maybe weddings or family cars – could be used as a starting point for an essay – stories which engage the reader and make them smile provide a link between generations.

The essence of essays is that they are self-contained. An autobiography built up out of essays is always, in one sense, complete no matter how many essays you write – and you can add to it at your own pace without having to explain all the preceding parts.

He also suggested compiling a list of ‘family words’ – it was a relief to hear from everyone at the meeting that every family seems to have its own set of nonsense words! We need to write these down and explain when they would be used and, maybe, how they originated – they give an insight into the character of the family members and bring them to life.

Above all, Jim gave sage words of advice about remembering for whom we are writing our autobiography – the readers will be our family and friends.

To find out more about Jim Williams and his books, go to Amazon, Good Reads or https:// jimwilliamsbooks.com

The next talk at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, is ‘Mad Earl Henry and Other Despicable Relations,’ by Sue Burne, an experienced family historian, lucky enough to have had a few famous and infamous ancestors in her own family tree, as she reveals in an entertaining talk.

Everyone is invited on Wednesday, 20 July, at 7.30pm. For more information email blackmorevalegroup@gmail. com or phone 01258 472942.

Author Jim Williams has had 13 novels published, some shown below. Man and boy: Jim Williams with his father.

Education

Gryphon scores ‘Outstanding’ rating

Staff, pupils and parents are celebrating after The Gryphon School in Sherborne was rated ‘Outstanding’ following an inspection. The school received the rating in its Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist School (SIAMS) inspection.

The report said the school has a ‘broad, inspiring and strongly creative curriculum which allows all learners to explore their personal spirituality’ and that ‘a deeply embedded and transformative Christian vision holistically infuses the life of the school’.

The Gryphon describes itself as a 10:10 community referring to the deeply held vision of living ‘life in all its fullness’. The inspector found that ‘the caring ethos has outstanding impact on the flourishing of pupils and adults…the senior leadership team provide inspirational and caring leadership exemplifying the vision’.

The provision of SEND support was also highlighted as a successful area, and the school’s innovative nurture groups help ensure rapid progress in areas such as reading. The teaching of RE is ‘exceptionally well planned… and the quality and range of theological thinking is impressive’.

The SIAMS report praised the variety of ways students can get involved in community projects, including creative fundraising to help people in Ukraine, developing a spiritual garden and working to reduce waste across the school site. The report says ‘pupils have a real passion and desire to do more as advocates of change’.

Headteacher Nicki Edwards said: “Our SIAMS report is a wonderful recognition of the hard work put in by all of our staff to ensure that all of our students get the opportunity to experience life in all of its fullness. Our team really goes the extra mile to ensure that every student has not only excellent teaching but a myriad of opportunities to take part in sports, the arts, outdoor adventures and other enrichment activities.”

The Gryphon School is a member of the Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust, and SAST chief executive Colin Sinclair said: “We are exceptionally proud of Nicki and her staff at The Gryphon for achieving this Outstanding result.

“We are working closely with the Diocese of Salisbury on its ‘Church Schools Flourishing’ programme, and Nicki is part of the team that will ensure all the schools within our trust benefit from their experience and expertise in this area, which supports the holistic development of our students.”

The Gryphon School in Sherborne was rated ‘Outstanding’ following a SIAMS inspection.

County responds on special school

The portfolio holder for Children, Education, Skills & Early Help at Dorset Council has spoken of the ‘challenges’ of starting a new special school.

The council bought the former St Mary’s School near Shaftesbury for £10 million last year and turned it into a hub for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Coombe House School, as it is now known, opened with the promise of ‘relationship-based, high-quality education’ for young people with special needs.

But the school has had to close on several occasions and staff and parents have complained it is underresourced and under-staffed.

Parents say they recently received a letter from Ian Comfort, chairman of Coombe House, in which he said the school ‘does not presently have all of the right provision in place to meet your child’s needs’.

Cllr Andrew Parry, portfolio holder for Children, Education, Skills & Early Help, said: “During the past few weeks, we have worked with a dynamic and changing situation at Coombe House School. The school closed for a period of a week and since that time most children on roll have been in school for some set days each week, but none full time, and some have not been considered by the school to be ready or able to return.

“We have reviewed the Education, Health and Care Plans for a small number of children, to consider if Coombe House can meet their needs at this time. As a result, their families have been written to suggesting we look at a suitable education offer elsewhere. All these families have a single point of contact at Dorset Council, and I am confident they are being kept informed as to why we feel we need to make these changes.

“Starting a new special school often has its challenges as children and staff come together. As a result of discussions with the Board an external interim head was appointed by the chair of the board.

“Dorset Council has been providing day-to-day support to the staff, children and the Board. That work continues and involves other members of our special school system. A key part of that has been secured with the agreement of Sean Kretz, the Head Teacher of Westfield School, to step into Coombe House full time in the short term and support the teaching staff prepare for September.

“Children and young people are at the heart of our decision making and we must make sure the school can offer the firstclass education that we know we can provide them by supporting the Board, the staff and our families. There is not an overnight solution to this, it will take a bit more time than we had envisaged but we are confident that it is going in the right direction.”