Afternoon Tea and College Tour
Sawyers Hall College hosted an Afternoon Tea and Tour on Thursday 12th May for former members of staff and students. Year 9 students conducted guided tours for groups of guests, showing them the newer additions to the College as well as Block 4, the original school building, in front of which many of the guests posed for photographs.
After the tour, the guests were taken to the Diner, where Mr Reeves' team of Year 11 and 12 hospitality and catering students had prepared a delicious afternoon tea. College memorabilia was displayed, including a letter from Winston Churchill's wife, Clementine, written to the school. Guests shared their memories with current students and members of staff and one gentleman was delighted to discover a photograph of himself in the front row of a school football team.
Approximately 35 people attended the tour and tea and all were very complimentary about the school and the students - the event was even described as 'exemplary'.
“Just a few lines to say how much my mother and I enjoyed the 75th Anniversary Tour of Sawyers Hall College last week. We were pleased to receive a warm welcome and were guided very ably and knowledgeably by a young man named Harry and a young lady called Marusa. We were so impressed to see how the students were being encouraged, not just in the academic subjects, but in hands-on skills such as bricklaying and carpentry, and the enthusiasm with which they applied themselves. There have been a lot of changes to the school in terms of new buildings but it's good to see that some of the original building still remains. After the tour we were treated to tea in the Diner, which we understand students are responsible for running, and from what we could see, they did most successfully, and we were extremely impressed with the presentation, professionalism and attentiveness in the way it was served. It made for a very pleasant and enjoyable afternoon, and the school should be very proud.” Anne Robinson
“Thanks for a lovely afternoon yesterday – I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was very impressed with your students who were very polite and courteous, especially Jermaine Franklyn.” David Sparks
“I just wanted to pass on a big thank you. I thought the event was fantastic and that your students were a credit to you – especially those who served the refreshments. It had been 71 years since I had been at the school and I enjoyed seeing it all again very much.” Doreen Shaddick
“Please accept my thanks and convey these to your staff and the students for the excellent afternoon spent at your College for the reunion on 12/05/11, it was for me a step back (and forward) in time as I was conducted around the old school and more recent college additions, a lot of memories came back mostly these were good ones. Looking at the photo albums was also very enjoyable including recalling the teachers who struggled to direct me along the academic path when my single interest was sport, and also the photo where I found myself (Class 1B 1954 - 5) as usual I was looking anywhere except at the photographer. I met a number of other previous pupils and we shared our collective experiences unfortunately there was no one there who was in my class or year. When I attended the school it was a Secondary Modern (and not Co Ed so no distractions?) during my time there it served me well eventually providing good basic skills and some common sense, after I left I became an apprentice plumber, passed all my C & G etc exams and continued construction education for 6 years, progressed into management and staying in the construction industry until I semi retired 3 years ago - during my early working life I also became a part time teacher at Southend College of Technology and Mid Essex Technical College, in workshop practice, plumbing craft technology and building science It was nice to see you have a bricklaying and carpentry training workshops for those students who like me find their preferred career path is not at university but with the development of much needed practical skills supported by specific work related training, academic studies and field experience - very rewarding The students who prepared and served the afternoon food and drink should also be congratulated for their culinary skills and attentiveness bringing the afternoon to a pleasant conclusion. Thank you all once again!” David A Clark
The Brentwood Gazette has also published a very positive article
about the event and we are very proud of how well all of the students,
both catering and tour guides, represented us on the day. A big thank you
also goes to everyone who came to the Reunion, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves
and we hope you did too! To find the Gazette article, click here
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