EPW048316 ENGLAND (1935). The residential area surrounding Hampton Road, Ravenswood Road and Cotham Lawn Road, Cotham, 1935

This contributor taught at the school in the Spring Term 1966 as part of the Certificate in Education course at Bristol University. In those days, Cotham Grammar School was a single-sex, selective boys' school which had experienced declining rolls throughout the decade, to the extent that the total number was only about 600 pupils 50 years ago. The school had a commendable reputation for sport despite the restricted site in one of the city's inner suburbs. Games afternoons meant a trek out to Horfield! Prominent among the old boys were three Test cricketers, David Allen (1935-2014), Arthur Milton (1928-2007) and John Mortimore (1933-2014). The writer had the privilege of knowing both Milton and Mortimore during his cricketing exploits in Bristol.

Despite a chequered career over the next 25 years, the school retained its selective status until 2000 and girls were admitted for the first time in the 1970s. Cotham School is now a highly successful secondary school with a cooperative academic status and a catchment area which extends to Clifton, Kingsdown and south Redland.