St Michaels School Burghclere, Newbury RG20 9JW

"Looks lovely"

"Combines a great secular education with high moral standards and equips children with a true understanding of the Catholic faith. Impressed"

"Great school! Would recommend"

"The best catholic school in the U.K."

"I knew this school when it first opened I was the 19th pupal to go there. I left in the summer of 1981 aged 16 years. I first went to the school when I was 12 years, 1977. The name of the school in 1977 was Burhgclere Grance. Mr George Gibbs was the owner and the head to the school back then, with Mr Jim Hindmarsh as the head master. Not forgetting Mr Neil Webster, and some others but alas it has been more than 33 years and in the mists of time most names kind of get lost. I did after leaving the school go back for sports days and to see Mr Gibbs on occasion. I had a lot of respect for Mr Gibbs, he was a person I grow to realise was a person that really cared for the boys that were at his school. I once head him say "my boys have butter on there bread" to some one who had just delivered a big box of margarine; he took one look at it and could not believe what his eyes were seeing. It was at the time really very funny to see, but of course one did not say anything because it was a matter to behold. There is nothing wrong with a bit of butter, and I still say that. Ah Anger, you can't get a better bit of butter on your bread. Fresh, still warm bread with a little bit of butter; these nowt like it. I see from the photo that the main house is still much the same apart from some of the steps up to the windows are missing, one is left on the side of the house that I can see on this photo. Looking at the school from the air I can see that a lot has changed with the amount of buildings that are in the school grounds. When I left the school there was the main house with the new extension on the side ( I was playing on the first floor when it was being built, when I should not have been, Mr Gibbs came up to the 1st floor to inspect it with the builder, I started to move backwards and fell down to the ground floor knocking down a wall while falling. Or course I was court in a heap on the floor with most of that wall around me. That wall was the then sports equipment room. I had to re-build the wall too. I believe if you look you may see some of my finger marks in the beds of the bricks in the cermet, unless of course the walls in there have now been plastered. Just thought I'd shear that with you,) The L- shaped school house and the two porter cabin school buildings. Of course the swimming pool, in the front garden facing the right hand side of the main house from the front door that is. What is the main house now used for, I wonder? I really loved this school and miss that way of life. Childhood at this school was really very happy. I take my hat off to you Mr Gibbs. You have always had my vote. The school I'm aware was sold on in the 1990's and I'm told that Mr George Gibbs and Mrs Pat Gibbs have supported the school? Will I get some answers?? Would be nice. Maybe some reviews will be posted so I can read some for my self?? I'll write more another time."