TABLEY Old Boys returned to Tabley House to reminisce about their school days at their fourth reunion and to mark 35 years since the school closed.

Many have fond memories of their time at Tabley and of Lieutenant Colonel John Leicester Warren, the last family owner of Tabley and their Headmaster at the School.

Former head boy Peter Rosenfeld (1977 to 1981), who manages the 90-strong Old Boys Club through a Facebook page said: “It is always so emotional to return to our former ‘home’ and be made welcome by the marvellous staff of the Tabley House Collection.

Knutsford Guardian:

The school dining room

“To admire the familiar view across the fields to the lake and examine the artefacts of this magnificent Palladian mansion evokes powerful memories of times gone by.

“How lucky were we? If only we had known at the time! The bond and comradeship between the boys who were schooled within these historic rooms remains as strong as ever.”

John Leicester Warren set up the boarding school in 1948 as a way of making the large house and estate pay its way.

Accommodating up to 50 boys aged 13 to 18, the school had an agricultural focus and included a number of day places for boys in the area, often farmers’ sons.

Knutsford Guardian:

The dining room today

A typical school routine consisted of lessons in the morning and early evening, and games in the afternoon.

Whilst lessons were held in the two wings of the house, the Dining Room retained its original purpose and the Portico Room was used as a common room.

The Gallery was shown off during parents’ days, but otherwise, like the Drawing Room, was retained as the headmaster’s private space, out of bounds to the boys unless summoned.

‘We enjoy having the Old Boys return and tell us about their school days; it’s always a delight to see them,’ said Gill Dent Tabley House Collection Manager.

“It can sometimes be quite poignant to see them rediscover their name on a school cup they won, or proudly point to their names listed on plaques in our tea room.”

Although the school closed in 1984 after pupil numbers dwindled, Tabley school and the Old Boys remain an important part of the story of this great house and estate.

Knutsford Guardian:

Tabley House

Today there is a permanent display about the school for visitors to see, including a cabinet full of their various school cups.

Tabley also has a special visitors book for sole use by the Old Boys, in which they may leave their contact details should other visiting Old Boys wish to get in touch.

All visitors are able to see the State Rooms and Collection at Tabley House from April to the end of October, Thursday through to Sunday plus Bank Holidays, from 1pm until 5pm.