An Interview with Robin Ellwood, former pupil at Dorothea Pickering’s Vineyard School
Robin was interviewed by Joe Botha, a work experience student from Abingdon School, in Dorothea’s Room, underneath a sign that used to hang at the entrance to the school
Robin remembers playing in the sandpit, aged 4
Robin recalls the taking of a school photograph, in what is now the main garden of St Ethelwold’s House
Reverend Robin Ellwood is a former ordained minister within the Catholic church, who served congregations in Sandhurst, England and on the island of Jersey following a career working with NatWest and at the Didcot A power station.
Robin’s relationship to St Ethelwold’s is linked to the educational history of the site. He is a former student of the Vineyard Kindergarten & Preparatory school from 1963 to 1966.
He was taught by Dorothea Pickering. During that time, the school relocated from 25-27 Park Road Abingdon to 30 East St Helen’s Street which subsequently became known as St Ethelwold’s House in the 1980s.
Robin Ellwood recalls fondly his days spent at 30 East St Helen Street, during which time the site was the home of the Vineyard School.
In particular, he remembers Miss Pickering and her cats along with time spent in the Sanctuary and the transition from Park Road.
Overall, Robin remarked that he looks back on his time here affectionately with positive memories.
Three Words: “Cats, Mattresses, ‘Miss Pickering’.”
“I remember it being a happy place.”
“I don’t have any bad memories from here, at all”
Robin Ellwood in the garden at St Ethelwold's
A 35mm slide showing the Vineyard School when it was located at 25-27 Park Road, Abingdon
Kit bags hanging on hooks in the corridor of what is now St Ethelwold’s House
And what the corridor looks like today, viewed from the front door
Boys and girls wait for their lunch c.1965 in what is now the Hearth at St Ethelwold’s House
A 35mm slide showing what the Oratory (now the Sanctuary) was like during the 1960’s
The Vineyard School emblem
The children play in the sandpit during a break c.1965.
One of the classrooms c.1965. This room is now called the Garden Room at St Ethelwold’s House
School photographs from 1965 and 1966. Does anyone have the originals?
Robin tells us about The Oratory as it was called in the 1960’s where the Catholic pupils would go for prayers
A newspaper article explaining the reasons behind the Vineyard school’s closure in 1966
Robin in his Vineyard School Uniform