Guestbook

Hello Swimbridge School!
I'm loving New Zealand and my new school but I miss Swimbridge School and especially all my friends,I hope you don't forget me.
I'll see you all again later on this year,
Georgia xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hello. I attended Swimbridge School from 1963 to 1969 under Ted and Joyce Holmes - my parents! My mother worked alongside Garry before taking early retirement.

I have many fond memories of the school, but in particular when it was closed for several weeks during the Great Freeze of 1963.

One summer, we looked after a couple of donkeys while they had a break from the beach. We used to take children up into the fields behind the school, and give them rides in the lunchtime break.

The top part of the playground used to be our own garden, and I spent many happy hours on my swing. We also kept chickens and a fierce cockerel called Macbeth at the end of the garden.

I revisited the school in October 2006 when Garry showed my mum and my sister, Stephanie, around the school house (our old home) and the school. It really hasn't changed much and still has that happy atmosphere. Well done to you Garry.

Hi sir,
Having a good time still? I'm having a fab time at park! It is so cool! I've only got lost 5 times! I do miss some of my old friends there but Ihave made loads of new ones!

Was playing around in Google, and typed in Swimbridge. My connection with the school is tenuous at best, but in 1940 I was evacuated to Swimbridge, and lived with an old couple named Chown, on Station Hill. Since it was felt that we Londoners had missed school due to the bombing, we went to summer school in what is now Swimbridge Primary School. I remember that even then the teaching was excellent.

I remember with great fondness the kindness of the people of village, and how I got a telling off because, at 6 years of age, I went up the hill to the railway line and picked primroses for Mrs Chown. I learnt to tickle trout in the stream, taught by a gypsy boy my own age. I ate hedgehog with him, and on Sundays, went to church and chapel in the evening.
My memories are all good, of eating Devonshire Cream on homemade bread and jam, of roaming the hills surrounding the village, and help stook corn as it was being cut in the summer. I even got to learn how to milk a cow, and used have great delight when the man milking the cows would squirt the three cats watching the process. They, of course, knew what was coming and so licked themselves clean.

Forgive this old man's ramblings. I see by Google Earth that Swimbridge has changed, but not by all that much.

I am living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the moment, and still have a photo taken in a studio in Barnstaple. It shows an unbelievably gawky boy, with skinny legs and huge grin..

Cheers,

Derek Pennington

Hi everybody. I'm having a great time at Park but iI'm missing the maths at swimbridge. The maths at Park is sooooooooooo! easy. I hope everything at swimbridge is okay. Mr Reed Samuel and I still owe you lots of 25 pences.

Maths is really easy here at Secondary School -having no problems at all

I love Swimbridge School. It is so fun. I wish I'd started in Year R. I love it that much!!!!!!!!!

Hi! I love Swimbridge School - especially maths.

Hi everybody! I'm at Park School now as some of you will know. I do miss swimbridge school but i come to the after school club to pick up keys so still see some of you. I'm enjoying park school and made some friends. Will speak again soon!

Hi everyone
I use to run the Cool Kids Club, GOOD LUCK today to Denise and the other members of staff in the club. I am now living in Portsmouth I will be down to see you all soon, take care
Rach

When George moves up to your class give him lots of maths. I love swimbridge school!!!

Well, See's your still here then Sir.
Just about to start GCSE's in about a week and a half now, not long at all :).
Taking about 14 in total, you'll be pleased to here I'm doing the highest maths and statistics GCSE's I can, seems your teaching did pay off well!
Hope everythings going good, and I'll make sure the new year 7's from Swimbridge "accidently" go the wrong way to some classrooms :).

Myles.

Hello everyone we are starting your school next wednesday and can't wait to see and meet everyone! see you all soon! Chloe 9yrs & Sam 7yrs :o)

hi mr reed
Do you remember me?? I remember you !
How are you doing? I am great I love it in canada. I love the school, house, friendsand my new life.
I will be starting middle school soon
I have learned lots of new stuff here including french. I am still not very good at maths though!!

I will write in again soon!!!

Jade

I love swimbridge

I love Swimbridge and I don't ever want to leave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Mr Reed. It's Amy and Rachel. We wanted to send you a message saying we can see you still work at Swimbridge!
We have moved on with our lives and we now live in France. Having a wicked time. BYE

I actually think Swimbridge is a great school! I especially like the maths lessons! The one on 22.5.07! I could do Mr.Reeds maths all day!

Hi Everyone. Remember me? Ileft Swimbridge School in 1992 and now my 2 boys (Joseph and Charlie) attend the school. Mr Reed was head teacher then and still is. It is so lovely sending my children to a friendly, caring village school. I vividly remember my happy school days there and I know that my children will also share great happy memories of the school. So keep up the good work everybody !
Just one catch.. Mr Reed you are not allowed to leave until all of my 3 children have been through the school!! Otherwise it wouldn't be fair!
Thanks again for my great memories and education and for giving my children the same.
Regards to all. Fliss x

Hi Mr Reed.
I really like Swimbrdge school because you tell great stories in assembly and because you are the best headteacer in the world .

Hey sir. I haven't seen you in ages. I have just finished 3 solid hours of homework (last minute) got a very important test tomorrow. doing great.(especially geograapy) - mum is proud.
Ellie has missed you too but is too lazy to say so. Millie has changed a great deal. I have many new friends and many old friends see you soon.
Kit (they changed my name, not my idea)

What a lovely website - it seems like a fantastic school and a credit to all the staff and children. Well done to you all!

Hi sir,
I'm starting to like maths now!

Hey
I've just realised that Swimbridge is a good school because it's small and friendly and thanks for good lessons especially geography :)

Dear Mr Reed
Hello its Isobel here. Do you remember me? because I remember you. I miss your Geography lessons even if I wasn't good at it. Mr Berry's are just as good though he is really really funny his jokes are really good but I'm not saying that yours are not!
At the moment we are studying the rainforest and it is quite interesting.
Is `brung` a word because in my tutor lesson we were having an argument on whether it was a word that existed or not.
I hope evryone is well at Swimbridge School from IsobelXXX

Hi sir.
I can't wait till the school party and Christmas its gonna be so cool! Thanks for all the teaching apart from maths!

Thank you for fun lessons sir. Please give everyone maths for a whole day but not me...

Hey Mr Reed!
Mum just got me to look at your website, and Ithought iIwould leave you a cool message from a cool person!
I'm in year nine now at Park, I'm doing ok! I've managed to keep myself in top sets for everything, and me and my friends manage to get away without too much homework! x

Hi Mr Reed. These school years have been great! Thank you lots.

I like it at Swimbridge loads. I leave next year (sob sob).loving R.E love and sitting next to Georgie. Thanks for a great 6 years!!
Better go see ya..
Bryony

Hi everyone ,especially my friends and teachers.
I'm having a good time at Park school.I wish i was back because when I was at swimbridge school i thought Iwas having loads of homework but now iIrealise I didn't.
I get homework everyday now but one. The good thing is that it is quite easy because I covered everything at swimbridge. Also the maths club really helped me with my decimals.
I hope everything is alright at Swimbridge miss you all.
From Scott

Hello from Canberra Australia! My brother and I attended Swimbridge school in 1964. I have fond memories of the area and am delighted to find this site.
Kiren

Dear Mr Reed Please can Billy have some more maths because he enjoys it so much in school.

Dear Mr Reed. We like school and have liked it because everyone, teachers and pupils, are really kind and friendly. Millie will miss primary school and Lauren can't wait to come back after the summer hols.

Hi Sir
I am bored bored bored. I sort of miss Swimbridge. Can't think of anything to do. Seeing as I don't have a school AT THE MOMENT I don't have any home work to do.
Caitlin
p.s. hi

Hi Mr Reed,
Just too say hi. I was just thinking about the good old days in swimbrige e.g light quest, Geography and Maths. I hope that all is good with you all at the school.
luv Dicky

Hello Sir
All my family said hello. I miss you very much sir
Abbie

Mum says: Hi Mr Reed and thank you for all your effort and help you gave Abbie at swimbridge. We shall miss you all abbie especialy!
Anita Tattersall.

Hi Mr Reed
I have had a great , great, great, great, great, great time here. I am upset I have to go now because I have only been here a short while. I have made loads of great friends like Izzy and all the other wacky children but they are all wonderful still.
I will miss this school and all its great lessons and people
bye
Millie xxx

Dear Mr Reed. How are you today? Can we all no homework please ? p.s can we have extra maypole dancing instead. from Abbie and Izzy

Dear Mr Reed and Swimbridge pupils,
Congratulations on an excellent web site! I am really pleased to see so much geography within! I look forward to meeting new students soon at SMCC, and welcoming them into the geography department. It was also interesting to read the comments of past pupils who have signed the guestbook.
Keep up the good work everyone!

Dear Mr Reed,
I like going to school. Swimbridge school is the best school I have been to and have been to three. My sister Aimee is going to South Molton college in September, but would rather stay at Swimbridge.
See you on Monday!
Scott

Dear Mr Reed,
You have made my primary school life brill. I have made lots of new friends and met lots of new people. I'e also learnt a lot which would normally be boring. Thankyou. This is the best school. Thankyou for giving me such a fun time all year round and also having just been to Paignton on the residential; that was brilliant.

i just want to sayTHANKYOU!

Heya every one!!
How is devon these days?
Missing all of the people i miss!
I really like the new format of this website - it looks really modern but at first i didn't recognise it!
have you seen that other message saying that the india picture helped us with our - well that is actually one that i put on their when doing my H/W!
Hope i see you soon as in summer i will be coming back to devon to speak to some friends!
Gemma

Hello Mr Reed i am just emailing to see how you all are at swimbridge school! I am in year nine now not long to go until year ten we have already started our G.C.S.E courses in our main subjects already! South Molton is a really good school and i am doing pretty well here! although i do wish i was back at primary school it is so much easier! hehe any way better go hope you are all well byeee xxxxxxxx

Hello Mr Reed, Really enjoying the Swimbridge School website. The school has certainly grown since i left in 1991. Looking back i can now see how lucky we were to have attended a lovely village school like Swimbridge.
I am in my 7th year in the Royal Navy currently serving on HMS BULWARK.

Hello Mr Reed, Hope you are well, really enjoying the the Swimbridge school website, the school has certainly grown since I left in 1991. Looking back now I can see how lucky we were to attend such a nice village school.

I am in my 7th year in the Royal Navy, currently serving on HMS BULWARK.

hi sir its nastasia shute you know ''the girl who moued to france'' well thats me i just wanted to let you know i'm doing great i start my gcse's in a week on the practice ones i have gotton a- and b+ witch is good i supose hopefully i will pass to get into a professional music school to continue my singing career hopefully i will come back to england in july would it be ok if i came to see you with a couple of your old students from 2002
nastasia
xxx

Hiya everyone,
i just looked @ the site and - WOW it is SO cool - it really helped me with some of my homework and seeing the picture of the school reminded me of some good old times! hope you are all ok! From Gemma Rose Hayter an ex-pupil!

Am upside down and counting sheep. May I have some more homework please.

Love
James
PS Dad said he had difficulty doing this lot on the plane. xx

Both my girls Miranda and April attend swimbridge school. I have never known my children to leap out of bed in the morning in excitement to go to school! I love the weekly newsletters, discos, plays just as much as my children. Continue the great work ( Even if i am concerned that Mr Reed does not know who the lead singer of the Jam.. yes we heard you on Lantern FM!) Remember happy children means happy parents... regards to all, jacqueline.

Swimbridge was my first school and remembered fondly. I am married and now a grandma .I have lived here in New Zealand for over 40 years. My life style similar to that of my childhood. I have many memories of sports days across the road in the field beside the Vicarage, of walking up the main road in file on hot summer afternoons,of walking down to St James with a basket of eggs at Harvest Festival.I used to live at Smalldon Farm, such a long time ago! One of my school friends still lives in Swimbridge and we still keep in contact. I remember too german bomber planes flying down the valley heading for the coast. So thank you Swimbridge School, you taught me how to read and write; may all your pupils enjoy that privilege too.

Hello,
hope everyone is ok i was just looking at the sight and it brought back memorys(good ones of course!)I'ts much more usefull now you can find thing very easilly on here!
I visited devon about 2 weeks ago - WOW! - i couldn't belive my eyes i didn't recognise it - it's changed SO much since i went there.
Please say Hi! to everyone for me.
Gemma Hayter
p.s. i miss you very much everyone!!!

hi sir its matt scrace and mike partington we are still in contact and best mates and we are in year 8 and half way through. we miss da skool it was so so cool and we wish we cud cum bak! sup myles!!

Dear mr.reed
thanks very much for all the teching it was wonderful

Hi its Jolen Heritage i used to go to this school but i left in year 5 and moved to cornwall i also created that dinosaur song i hear they still sing it in asembly im in year 9 now good luck everyone

Hello Mr Reed,
Remember me? I left to move to Somerset in 1995, and am now finishing my history and sociology degree at Portsmouth university and am hopefully going on to do my teacher training later this year or next. I came back to visit Swimbridge last year and was impressed that on the new work that has been done. Maybe when I'm teacher training in Exeter I will get a chance to pop in and visit the school after all these years. The teacher's at Swimbridge inspired me to go on and become a teacher, so keep up the fantastic level of teaching! Take Care. xxx

Hello There!

Elliot Smith here! Just surfing the South molton community college website and happened 2 find a link to swimbridge primary! Well, what can i say! Firstly, i thought i would never say it but looking back on these memories i really do miss primary school!!! I look at these pictures and realise i havent seen a lot of my fellow students in years! And i also realise that i see some of my fellow students everyday and have been for the past 5 years! (Jamie Spencer for example!)

I am now working in Next in barnstaple part time alongside Victoria (now known as Vicki!) and we are both attending college. I am studying A Levels in Psychology, Photography, Computing and Graphic Design and Vicki is studying a BTech National Diploma in Sports Development and Fitness! Bradley has had a few jobs over the years now but is no longer working with the other Mr Read! (John) He is now working at a chicken farm near Sotuh Molton and i can definetley see him sticking to that job past his upcoming 19th Birthday!

It is so weird looking at these comments to see what former pupils are doing now! For examples, the Johnsons...i knew they werent living in Devon anymore but AUSTRAILIA!!!! And Jed Ash seems to be doing well in his GCSEs. Him and i never used to get on well but i do see him quite often now and all is forgiven!!!

Speaking of GCSEs, Vicki and I both completed 10 GCSE Subjects with Vicki obtaining 10 A*-C Grades and myself obtaining 8 A*-C grades and yes she was really pleased with herself and couldnt stop boasting about her "Beating" me!!! Bradley's GCSEs wernt the best but he is happy with what he is doing now and so are we!

My Dad is still a landlord and odd job man and my mum is now the kitchen manager at Park School.

Oh, almost forgot to mention, i saw Mrs Ferris in Next the other week and was very suprised to hear that she is no longer working at Swimbridge! But i still managed to wish her good luck in her new career, even if she didnt start it recently!

Well, may i finally congratulate you on your achievements...No 1 in the South West - Excellent! You've definitley deserved the high achievemnts that you've been working so hard for! May i wish you all the best in the near and far future.

See Ya!

Elliot

P.S. It would be nice of you to get in touch...my email address is supplied!

Swimbridge school has made me very happy and i have made lots of freinds over the years

hi for those who remember us we was looking through the internet for this website, which we found. We are having fun in cornwall and Luke's old primary school's football team got through to the national finals and came second, in which luke scored 6 goals and was watched by a derby county football scout.
Jeni has been in a few panto's since moving down here and as luke's understudy, makes no change there, where last year we both had main part's and this year luke got a main part in the comody duo and jeni is the main bellydancer. the panto happens in Probus every year. Hope you are all well, hope to maybe hear from you soon

Jeni and Luke Bradford

P.S Luke is now playing the tuba and is undergoing practice for his grade 2. Jeni is still going with her flute but as stopped taking grades at Grade 3 and is now doing medals and has jusst taken her Gold Medal, where she hopes she has passed.

Yo sir wazzup? Just wanna say hi and howz things, thanx for everything,. I'm doing my gcse modules at the moment and looking forward toleaving school!!! See ya around. Happy Swimbrifge memories. Ross

Hello sir !!!!!!! n all of swimbridge ! park is wel gd much biga more ppl and also less homework and and maths!!! Don't miss those days of maths sir !! but hey hope everyfhings going well !! oh and you wont be pleased to hear I'm now in 3rd set 4 maths out of 6 sets when i was in set 1 in yr 7 :)

Hello Mr Reed, iI hope everything at swimbridge is alright. I really miss the school and easy work. I am in year nine at park school now. It was strange seeing all the year sevens who had just moved up in september.
Hope everything is well Oliver.

Hello! I'm a primary school teacher in a Romanian middle school located in the city of Târgu-Mures, central Transylvania. We also have a schools.ik.com website and we'd be delighted to exchange opinions about school stuff. Please visit us at www.ggcosbuc.ik.org and leave a comment in our Forum page.
You can also place a pin on the Guest Map and join our site ring in order to build a large community of schools.ik.org websites and send visitors to each other. Thank you!

Hi sir. It's Ryan Webber just here to say nice site like the old powerpoints. I saw me in one of them he he. Well I'm enjoying Park School. Nearly in yr 9 anyway good luck for the next term.

hey I saw you in the cinema did you enjoy the film?
P.S like the site keep it up

Hello Swimbridge, I went to the same college as Mr Reed, many years ago. What a great website you have! I enjoyed your Powerpoint presentations very much. Here is a link to the school that I teach at http://www.stjohns-primary.surrey.sch.uk/ It is in Caterham, Surrey. I wonder if you can find out where it is and what Caterham is famous for?

Hi sir! It's Matt Scrace, how are you doing? Hope everything's cool at the school. I'm doing well at my school and have nearly completed my school year.

see ya !!!

Matt. P.S say hi to everyone for me

Hello Mr.Reed
I have been looking at your website and it brings back lots of memories, some happy, some not so happy! It would be nice to have some photographs of the school as I am now living in Australia and it would be nice to show people here what a beautiful place it is. I finished year 11 at South Molton and went on to complete a Hairdressing Traineeship at Farnborough Tech. I am now taking my NVQ in Child Care and I am really enjoying life here in Australia with my mum, dad, Sister (nicola) who is now 15 and just as noisy. I hope to return to Swimbridge for a visit one day and will take the time to call in and say hello!
All the best Michelle

Hi Mr Reed it's Jed Ash. I have just looked at your website pretty impressive. I am just starting my gcse work now. and i have had a couple od A's in my gcse module exams. I am doing really well. cogratulations on your awards really good. please could you say hi to the Mrs Ferris for me. thanks. Jed Ash

Dear Mr Reed,
We looked at the features section of your website and it really helped us with our Indian work.Thank you.

Hello Swimbridge! I left the school in late 1979 just before the fire. I have happy memories of Mr. and Mrs. Holmes and Ms. Vanderclip and the students. Looking at insects with a magnifying glass and keeping slugs in an old aquarium were certainly highlights. And then there was lunch? I am to this day still not so keen on liver but treacle pudding remains a favorite. Good to hear that Mr Reed and the community is keeping the place so vibrant. I would love to send my own children there but Paris to Swimbridge is too far.

Good to have seen and read some information about your good school God bless you all. I will write back soon. Kibuuka Mixed Primary school in Uganda.

I am researching my family tree and know that my family lived there pre 1900 at least. I was wondering if there was any way of finding out if they attended your school if it was around then??

Mr Reed - Hope you are well and still enjoying life at Swimbridge. I saw your website today and was really impressed. The school has come on so much in the last 20 years, culminating with the excellent results last year. Life does seem good there - everything from visiting Tibetans to healthy break time snacks! Congratulations. I left Swimbridge almost exactly 20 years ago and have reached the jolly age of 31.

I am now living in Kent with my wife and daughter - Natasha is 3 months old. I am currently working at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in Whitehall.

All the very best, Russell