Page 13 - link magazine

New portrait of Bishop Oliver Tomkins presented to the school which carries his name
A copy of the picture of the late Bishop of Bristol, recently found in the National Portrait Gallery collection, was given to Oliver Tomkins Primary
School in Toothill in late April to mark the completion of a new building that links together the former infant and juniors.
The school in Beaumaris Road was est in the bishop. The book is full of
opened by Bishop Oliver Tomkins in photographs which will help us pass
January 1980. He had taken a keen on his story.”
interest in the inclusion of a Church The school is installing a display
of England school in the early 1970s case to bring together the many
masterplan for Swindon’s western different artefacts they have about
expansion, before he retired in 1975. the bishop.
The school operated as separate Party to say farewell
infant and junior sections until it
federated under a single governing to Miss French
body and headteacher in 2011. Oliver Tomkins Primary School is
Headteacher Rhian Cockwell said: holding a gathering of former pu-
“We had been planning a ceremony to pils to say farewell to long serving
open the new link building when I was teacher Janet French.
contacted by members of the bishop’s She is retiring after 37 years in
family to say they would like to give teaching, 32 years at Oliver Tomkins.
us a copy of the picture and a book Joel and Evie Howarth hold the portrait with Stephen Tomkins and Ruth Paine, She plans to spend more time look-
illustrated with photographs of their centre, with from left Janet French and headteacher Rhian Cockwell and school ing after her disabled father and
father’s life, which includes pictures governor Clive Deverill, right helping at Christ Church in Old Town.
of the school opening” lery had commissioned a photograph the story of their father’s life: a pith “I’m now teaching children of
Ruth Paine said she had taken over of my father, at about the same time helmet to illustrate his childhood in parents I taught in the early days of
her father’s correspondence with as his four children were compiling a China, an air raid protection helmet the school,” said Janet. “It would be
the school after he passed away in book on his life. to show what he did during the war lovely to meet them before I leave
1992. “My father and mother always “The school has had a portrait of and a bishop’s mitre to explain his and also people who don’t have so
received such wonderful illustrated my father in his formal Bishop’s robes work as a clergyman. much contact with us nowadays.”
Christmas cards and we’ve continued since it opened, but we rather like the Mrs Cockwell said: “We put a lot of The party takes place at the school
to maintain the relationship.” simplicity and informality of the black emphasis on the history of our school; on Tuesday 23 July, 2.30pm.
Stephen Tomkins said: “We only and white picture we’ve presented.” it’s unusual to have this close link to To help with arrangements, call
recently discovered via a Google On their visit Stephen and Ruth the person who the school is named the school on 01793 870471 if you
search that the National Portrait Gal- took an assembly using hats to tell after. Our children have a keen inter- plan to attend.

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