The COHS school building is part of the Oxford City conservation area and its frontage is considered to significantly enhance the general streetscape of George Street. The University is in charge of its conservation although the building belongs to the City.
Continue reading “The School Building”F W ‘Jock’ Sutton
David Manners and his wife have visited Jock Sutton and his wife Muriel in their nursing home in Oxford. David writes:
Continue reading “F W ‘Jock’ Sutton”Chairman School Governors
Closing remarks on the occasion of the inauguration of the plaque in memory of Lawrence of Arabia by Winston Churchill on 3 October 1936
My task this morning is an easy one. It is on behalf of the Governors of the School to accept charge of this memorial, which I do with a feeling that we of the old School can be proud to remember amongst the names of its scholars that of T.E. Lawrence. We are chiefly concerned at this moment with the address which Mr. Winston Churchill has delivered to us, and the honour he has done us in coming to perform the ceremony we have witnessed this morning.
Mr. Winston Churchill’s address should be an incentive and inspiration to the boys of this School, and also to those who, like myself, are approaching the sere and yellow leaf, to give all the service we possibly can to our fellow creatures, our city, and our country. We are deeply grateful to Mr. Churchill for his services this morning, and it is for this reason that I have the greatest pleasure in proposing that a very hearty vote of thanks be accorded to him, and I ask that you show your approval in the customary manner by acclamation.
J.E.Badham Esq MA
Response by the Headmaster on the occasion of the inauguration of the plaque in memory of Lawrence of Arabia by Winston Churchill, 3 October 1936
‘Mr President, Madam Mayor, Mr. Pro Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Winston Churchill, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is my proud and pleasant duty to accept on behalf of the School the plaque which Mr. Winston Churchill has just unveiled.
Continue reading “J.E.Badham Esq MA”The School Roll of Service 1914-18
The transcript below is of a talk was given by Professor Adrian Gregory, the guest speaker at the COSA Annual Luncheon of 2017. It is a comprehensive review of the participation of Old Boys and Staff in the First World War.
‘Since 2014 I have been director of a research network at the university dedicated to ‘Globalizing and Localizing’ the Great War which is based in the Oxford University History Faculty housed in the Old Boys School building on George Street.
At some point in 2015 I noticed properly for the first time that the School Roll of Service was still hanging on the wall by the main staircase in the building and I started thinking about its significance. In early 2017. I teamed up with the brilliant local historian Liz Woolley (who unfortunately can’t be here today- and who lives literally just down the road in Grandpont) to begin exploring and analysing the Roll.
Continue reading “The School Roll of Service 1914-18”Notable Old Boys
This list is, as far as we know, the most complete one in existence.
John Gibbons and Peter Williams are currently incomplete records however. If you have any details on these two – or someone is not on this list that you feel should be – please contact the Administrator.
Note that the mention House Patrons indicates an Old Boy after whom a School House has been named
Continue reading “Notable Old Boys”A school register for 1927-1965
During the life of a previous COSA website, data was collected with the view of reconstituting the school register to complete one from earlier times. This was being compiled by then Association Secretary Malcolm Williams but I’m not sure where the project has got to.
Continue reading “A school register for 1927-1965”1927-65 COSA Membership by entry date
1927-65 COSA Membership by name
The Lawrence Memorial Plaque
This post and its companions present a full record of everything you need to know about what happened on 3 October 1936, on the school stairs leading up to the hall. All the content comes from memorial booklets published at the time.
‘October the third 1936 was a great day in the history of the School. At 11.15 a.m. the Hall, suitably decorated, was filled with the boys and guests.
Continue reading “The Lawrence Memorial Plaque”