Coordinates: 51°13′32″N 0°17′21″E / 51.22556°N 0.28917°E / 51.22556; 0.28917

Thomas Delarue School

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Thomas Delarue
Address
Map
Starvecrow Hill

Tonbridge
,
Kent
,
TN11 9NP

United Kingdom
Information
TypeSpecial Secondary Boarding School
MottoThere is no failure other than ceasing to try
Opened1955
Closed1989
Local authorityKent County Council
SpecialistChildren with cerebral palsy
Age11 to 16
Enrollment87 (1966)

Thomas Delarue was a co-educational special secondary boarding school in Tonbridge, Kent, England that was established in 1955 and closed in 1989. It was run by The Spastics Society and catered for pupils with cerebral palsy.

History

Thomas Delarue School was established by The National Spastics Society in Tonbridge, Kent in 1955. It initially occupied Dene Park House, a converted mansion house and World War 2 battle school in Hadlow parish (TQ 597 504).[1][2] The school was a boarding school.[3] The first headmaster was a Mr Davies,[4] In 1959, The De La Rue Company donated 1,000 guineas to the school instead of sending out Christmas cards.[5]

A purpose-built school located on Starvecrow Hill (TQ 599 498) was opened on 19 September 1963.[1] On 9 June 1964, The Duke of Edinburgh visited the school to perform the official opening ceremony.[6] Mr Davies retired in July 1964.[7] In 1966, the school had 87 pupils. The next head teacher retired at the end of the Spring Term, 1967.[3] His name was Mr Tudor.

In 1979, a film was made about the school by members of Sevenoaks School. It was made to show the work of the Sevenoaks Voluntary Service and to give an insight into working with people with disabilities.[8] Thomas Delarue School closed in 1989.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "TDS The School". TDS. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Public Appointments". The Times. No. 54181. London. 19 June 1958. col B, p. 2.
  3. ^ a b "Public Appointments". The Times. No. 56723. London. 30 August 1966. col E, p. 2.
  4. ^ "1950's and 1960's". TDS. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  5. ^ "1,000 gns for Spastic School". The Times. No. 54616. London. 12 November 1959. col F, p. 7.
  6. ^ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 56034. London. 10 June 1964. col B, p. 14.
  7. ^ "Public Appointments". The Times. No. 55738. London. 27 June 1963. col C, p. 3.
  8. ^ "Newspaper Cutting circa 1979 (local rag)". TDS. Retrieved 25 July 2011.

External links

51°13′32″N 0°17′21″E / 51.22556°N 0.28917°E / 51.22556; 0.28917