Brize Norton JHS History
Opened: 1951
Closed: 1963
Brize Norton Junior High was located in the Cotswolds region of Oxfordshire, England. The 1957 combined yearbook, Vapor Trails, described the school as the little gray, Brize Norton style schoolhouse. The school consisted of two wooden huts painted gray that were large enough to house seventh, eighth and ninth graders of the Brize Norton Dependents School. The school opened in 1951 and was the second American school to originate in the United Kingdom. The junior high school section had an enrollment of sixty-seven boy and girls.
The curriculum included history, English, French, art and physical education. Mr. Leonard Synder was the principal of both the elementary and junior high school in 1957 and had been principal for five years. The junior high school faculty included five teachers. There were plans to build a new, modern schoolhouse, cafeteria, library, gym and sick bay.
One notable field trip was the trip to Abingdon to see Queen Elizabeth open the restored County Hall of Abingdon. The 1957 yearbook described the experience:
Upon arrival, we found that the dismal morning was brightened by the colorful British flag, pictures of the lovely Queen, flowers, and the general feeling of joyful excitement. While waiting for the royal visitor, the onlookers were entertained by some Morris Dancing. The group of dancers consisted of men and boys dressed in white trousers, and shirts, black hats trimmed with flowers, and shoes jingling with bells. At last, the Queen arrived, riding in a Rolls Royce, bedecked with flags. She wore a purple dress and tan coat, looking as beautiful as any story book Queen. The delighted look on the students’ faces told the exciting story for the day, “I’ve seen the Queen!”.
The school was closed in 1963.
Information from the 1957 Vapor Trails combined yearbook