Arbury Artefacts

Arbury Artefacts - Part 5

This edition of 'Arbury Artefacts' is a bit different as we're focusing on one small plot in the Arbury landscape - the Park Meadow at Manor Farm. This, of course, later became the site of the Manor School/Community College and is now the site of North Cambridge Academy. Join us as we flip from Manor Farm to Manor School for some fascinating findings from the old days, and a tie with knots in.

First off is the cover of a 1983 Manor Banner, newsletter of the Manor Community College on Arbury Road.

The school was preparing for its annual play, and 1983's was Dracula Spectacular. Geography teacher Ken Harker wrote a very witty piece to publicise the preparations. The play itself was spiced with local references. A thunderous knocking at the front door of Dracula's Castle brought forth Dracula's resigned comment: 'Not Janet Jones with more leaflets?'

Ms Jones was then the Cambridgeshire County Councillor for the Arbury electoral ward.

Sticking with Manor, but Manor Farm this time, let's learn about some '80s cricket. 1880s, that is. In 1889, at their general meeting, the Chesterton Cricket Club gave thanks to Mr Thomas Wright, tenant farmer, for the free use of the Manor's Park meadow as a cricket ground. The Park, of course, later became the site of the Manor School and the North Cambridge Academy.

Back to the Manor of the 1980s, and the County Council's attempt to close the school was thwarted by a determined campaign to save the community college by the Arbury community and other supporters.

'... the people of Arbury will make this their campaign and fight to save their school,' said Councillor Janet Jones, chair of the Manor governors.

Vice chair of the governors, Councillor Peter Cowell said: 'Manor is a central focus in Arbury and its possible loss would do immeasurable damage to people of all ages in the community.'

The school was saved at the end of the year.

In 1984, the Manor celebrated its silver jubilee. Here is the badge issued to commemorate the occasion.

To end on, here's Andy's old Manor School tie, a survivor of the 1970s days of rough and tumble schooling. Why does the tie have two knots in it? we wondered. 'I dunno, I don't remember...' said Andy.

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What Did The Romans Ever Do for Arbury? Jim Smith

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