From The first teachers at Needwood School

The first teachers at Needwood were -- ?. Mr Thomas. Mr Priddle. ? Mr Leese. Mr Lucas. Mr Kay. Mr Green. BOTTOM ROW -- Miss kitchener. Miss Stancliffe.?. ?. Miss Bombroff. ?. ?

Now playing: dh4uok7's station

The Stafford knot, sometimes incorrectly referred to as the Staffordshire knot, is a distinctive three-looped knot that is the traditional symbol of the English county of Staffordshire and of its county town, Stafford. It is a particular representation of the simple overhand knot, the most basic knot of all.

The knot was the badge of the de Stafford family. The fanciful legend of its origin is that three convicted felons who had committed a crime together were due to be executed in Stafford gaol. There was argument over who should be hanged first but the hangman solved the problem by devising this knot and hanging the three simultaneously. However, the knot can be seen on a 4 ft (1.2 m) high carved Anglo-Saxon cross in a churchyard in Stoke-upon-Trent, and also on a 7th century Anglo-Saxon object from the Staffordshire hoard.[1] This strongly suggests it pre-dates the Norman and medieval period, being probably either a heraldic symbol of early Mercia or a Celtic Christian symbol brought to Staffordshire by missionary monks from Lindisfarne.

Autographs of some of Eileens friends

These are batches of photos from Eileen Talton more material is to follow along with a summery of how Eileen is remembered by friends. Please respect copyright

Reunion at the swan Lichfield 1982

A poem by Frank Priddle a Needwood school teacher And Also 5th Dorset battalion regiment. poem is Copyright 
5th BattilMates on watch (Memories of one night in autumn on the Dutch-German border)
As we dig
That rooting pig,
That grazing horse,
That bush of gorse,
That distant spire,
That strand of wire
Are pictured, fixed and memorised.
Come darkness fall,
That branch near wall,
Can cause surprises
As wind rise,
As forms change sizes
Men on watch are mesmerised
That orchard noise
Of course is horse.
That pig by wire
In line with Spire
Is rubbing flank
A noise like tank.
Alone for an hour,
Come wind and a shower
Mate on watch is terrorised.
“Wake up! Wake up!”
He shook my knee.
“Jerry crouching by the tree”
From my smokey blanket prison,
Quickly note-The wind has risen.
In the orchard apples falling,
In the wood an owl is calling,
That pig is rubbing on its post
I’m sure his jerry is a ghost.
“I’ll crawl along on hand and knee
And then I’ll stop by yon tree.”
Slowly forward in the mud
I then stood up beneath the mud
I left behind my nervous bud,
With eyes near ground I looked all around
I then stood up beneath the tree
That’s when the bastard fired at me.
As beneath that tree I’d crept at me!
That noisy horse for once had slept.
As from my knees I quietly rose
I almost touched him on his nose.
That noisy horse at once took fright
And galloped off into the night.
Lying frightened by his Bren
He pressed the trigger then when
He saw a jerry in the tree
Jumped down on to me

CLICK ON THIS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM0Z75KEd_

A Tribute

Needwood has lost a very good friend. Frank Priddle was amongst the first teachers to teach at the school.   I was never in his class but I do know that most of his ex-pupils did well in the world. Frank had wartime experience in the army also dealings with soldiers from other countries.  This stood him good stead to create a well organised school and a camaraderie which can still be noticed at reunions today I got to know Frank much better after I had left school.  We corresponded regularly for several years.  He was a very good letter writer and generous with news and facts relating to Needwood. His warmth and concern about ex-pupils was always very evident in his letters He and his wife Patricia entertained many ex pupils at home and also visited some.  Frank had good sense of humour was a good friend to other teachers whom he gave support and advice to.  I want to say Frank thank you for being a good friend and teacher.  

We all will miss you

Douglas Hardy

Country dancing was a speciality at Needwood under the tuition of Miss Bombroff.  On one or two ocassions we had a man come and instruct us and he played the accordian. whilst we poor urchins danced round the hall  with horns  much like in the video  taken in Needwood Forest

Needwood. Oh happy days. Lets go down to the woods



Yoxall Lodge, Newchurch
“We opened a week ago,” says Sue Featherstone, of Yoxall Lodge, “but the bluebells haven’t quite peaked yet. They’ll be at their best sometime this coming week.” Yoxall Lodge is a working farm, but each spring Featherstone opens up two of her woods and the surrounding parkland to bluebell lovers, and has laid out five walks. They close on May 17.
The longest is 2½ miles, the shortest just half a mile, but all take in Lodge Hill Wood, a relic of ancient Needwood Forest. The bluebells have had centuries to take hold here, and spread a thick blanket of blue beneath the mixed oak, ash and beech.

Halloween at Rangemore Hall.  Needwood

Darkened corridors and rooms

Hobgoblins and witches brooms

Screaming ghouls and teachers too

Cobwebs, moths and bats that flew

Milk was special that night

Really was a scary sight

Hints of red and green blood

In tureens food looked like mud

Toad in hole and burnt potatoes

Soup of frogs, herbs and old shoes

Weird music and scary staff.

That faint ghastly wicked laugh.

Outside the bleak wood strange things

Bones of the underworld kings

Magic mushrooms and strange views

Was it just food or strange brews?

The girls' just naughty witches

Or wicked dark princesses

Young girls tremble and giggle

As they run with their wiggle

Boys dressed as devils or elves

And some were just like themselves

The moon flits in and out clouds

As Dracula moves his shrouds

Howling wolves waken the dead

Its then we are all sent to bed

COPYRIGHT Douglas. Hardy

 

NEEDWOOD HERALDRY
It says at the bottom of the emblem "Basis virtutum constantia," Which means Constancy is the foundation of all virtue

http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=11058059  Click on this

Rangemore Hall remembered for its display of rhododendrons

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangemore_Hall#Rangemore_Hall   Click on this

http://www.burton-on-trent.org.uk/?cat=63 PHOTOS------------GOOD  Cick on this

  These pictures were taken when I was a guest of the previous owners

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1251700/Royal-bolthole-King-Edward-VII-kept-mistresses-sale-2-5m.html        LOTS OF GOOD PICTURES  Click on this

 The blazer badge was once worn so proudly by the Needwood school pupils  






(c) doowdeen

From Untitled

Needwood The place meant so much to many, in so many ways, to different people. A macrocosm of dreams, a plethora of hopes and a haven of memories. A magnificent hall, which was secluded by a large beautifully, landscaped park. And in the grounds were lakes and a host of different coloured rhododendrons and there were romantic gravel paths that led to many areas of the woodland and lakes.
The breeze carried the freshest of nature’s fragrance all around the grounds and the hall was draped in climbing danse du feu and blue wisteria. The small out buildings hid many secrets. Now there are just faint echoes of children playing long ago. As the song goes"Those were the days my friend"