A Day in the Life of Shrewsbury School 1963

A film which shows a typical day at Shrewsbury School almost exactly 60 years ago has come to light. Although the original film is in the archive a DVD copy was found by former Housemaster of School House (1983- 1995) Hugh Ramsbotham when he was clearing some cupboards at home.

The movie has now been digitised and is available for everyone to see. It features first lesson at 7.45 followed by breakfast which was then eaten in houses. Central dining didn’t start until 1969 when Kingsland Hall was built.

The film (8mm cine) was made by Robert Kenrick of Severn Hill (1961-66) who now lives in Australia.  It was shot on a camera owned by the school. It features master David Bevan teaching a German lesson and Rodney Hoare leading a physics class which features a young Robin Brooke-Smith, now the School archivist!

The recreational scenes roughly follow the school year. The ‘Doul Call’ is shot in School House, and breakfast and lunch, Top Schools and evening prayers (‘Dix’) in Severn Hill. The Headmaster in the CCF Inspection is J.M. Peterson. The film was first shown on a screen at Speech Day in 1963. In a very different time, it has been particularly well received on social media after it was posted by the Salopian Club.

Click on the button below to watch the film