Dane Court in the village of Pyrford

I also went to Dane Court Boarding School (1958-1962). I think you are right that Mrs Pooley was from Denmark. Hugh Pooley was the Headmaster and on his retirement, his son, Robin Pooley became Headmaster. I do remember some of the teachers, Lt Col Orgill ( (Maths teacher) Major Adams (Art and Woodwork). Hugh Pooley’s grandson (Seton/Sean?? Pooley) was also there as a class mate. Have some good memories of my child hood from there - ranging from Hugh Pooley singing at the Christmas dinner carrying a Boars Head(!) to trying to climb Big Oak!

Went there too, in the last years.



Mr Pooley moved to Lymington.



I was the last to win and was given the Baden Poxwell Sunrise 🌅 trophy which by pure coincidence is with me in Denmark.

Dane Court was certainly a wonderful experience for a young boy from the United States.(1955-1959). We moved to West Byfleet because my Father liked it there. He rode the train to the London to work at the London Embassy.



I remember Mrs.Orgill, who taught English. She had me come to her home every school day, to teach me proper penmanship. I also remember Mr. Hill, another teacher. I don't remember the name of one teacher who taught music. He was instrumental in getting me to play the piano. And, every school day, I remember three playing fields for soccer, etc. Dane Court prompted us to find our own ways to be creative as far activities were concerned. I loved model trains and had a certain place to play.



Every school morning, we went to the Church near Dane Court. If you were younger than 12 years old, you had to wear "nickers." I also thought about Mr. Pooley then, who was Hugh Pooley's Father. His wife was Mrs.Pooley, who was from Denmark.



My parents thought that Dane Court was a very nice experience for me. That was because it was a very caring place with the owners, teachers, the Nurse, and others who were always there for us.

Hugh Pooley was the Headmaster at the time I went to Dane Court from 1955 to 1959. I never knew him as anything else, but Mr. Pooley.

I was at Dane Court from 1956-1960. The trophy (a brass(?) sunrise on a wooden base) I was awarded in 1959 was for the pupil who had tried the most but without having reached high achievement. It appears this might be the same as the Baden Powell trophy awarded to Joe Godfrey: I presume there was only one sunrise trophy. I have a photograph of myself holding it but it is very poor quality so I cannot read any inscriptions which I remember having been present on the brass plaque on the base. It is also extraordinary that Joe has it in Denmark, where my father (and Mrs Pooley) came from!

I attended Dane Court Day School 1958-1960 , living in Hockering Estate in nearby Woking as son of a visiting Canadian diplomat. Fond memories of the school , except for the cabbage and liver lunches. Favorite teacher was Miss Barrow who drove a yellow and black MG or Morgan with "Push Here" hands decorating the back side. I recall the senior and junior Mr. Pooley walking the halls and overseeing recess soccer games on the field behind the school. The "Dane Court run" was always a rainy day school ritual that I'll always remember . Was sad to hear that the old building was demolished in the early 1980's. It had an interesting history , including being commandeered to house a field survey mapping unit during WW 2 .

My sisters attended Oakfield Girls School located over the wall behind Dane Court.

I attended Dane Court in 1971-1972 while my father was working for an American defense contractor. (I am American. My father's company parked us in a very nice house on Hacketts Lane and sent us to good schools while they sent him off to Norway for 10 months.) My sisters also attended Oakfield.



I remember headmaster Pooley. I remember being introduced to field hockey and cricket. I remember nice and very competent teachers. I am saddened to learn that the school was demolished in the 1980s. I can find very little record of the buildings and photographs from the early 1970s.



I fell down the nostalgia rabbit hole this morning and was hoping to find more online regarding the history of Dane Court. It's almost as if it never was.

Paul Larson,

the years 1959 and 1960 are 'vacant' left blank where they should be ! no idea why.



The Trophy sheet brass, has the inscription Non Scholæ Sed Vitæ on the base of the sunrise.

On the main plate

The Trier's Trophy

Presented to Dene Court by Lord Baden-Powell

Fro the best allround effort During the School Year

Summer 1951





Joe Godfrey

I was at Dane Court1962 - 1967, many happy memories.



The music teacher was Mr Thurston. I had forgotten about Miss Barrow's car, I recall it was a Citroen2CV?

FYI

Mrs Pooley -Heather was English married to Robin -Hugh's sin.

Mrs Pooley married to his father was the daughter(?) of the author of a famous Danish book Peter's Jul - Peter's Christmas (1866) J Krone hence the younger Mr Pooley being Robin Krohn Pooley. Not really checked but JK wrote the book and his brother Pietro illustrated part of it, Mrs P might be PK's daughter.

That older Mr Pooley translated the English version, he renamed Dene Court Dane court when he set the Pyrford school up (being from the one nearer the coast).

The Book is available online and has been published in and off for over a century and a half - a long time childhood staple in DK ISBN 9788700849211