SOUTH BRIGHTON SCHOOL

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27446, 4 September 1954, Page 2

SOUTH BRIGHTON SCHOOL

Growth With District Progress

MR AND MRS G. B. COUCH RECALL DEVELOPMENT

Some time in 1921 school classes were started in a private home in South Brighton. In 1925 the Canterbury Education Board provided a portable schoolroom known as “the tin shed.” The number of pupils was small. There were relatively few homes in the inner blocks, plenty of open sections, and not much building along the South Brighton waterfront. Now the school has about 350 pupils living in a thickly-populated belt from the boundary of New Brighton itself right down to the holiday homes on the spit along Rocking Horse road. Most of the development has occurred in the last 10 years. During that time Mr G. B. Couch has been headmaster of the South Brighton School, and as an active worker for the progress of the district he is pleased. At the end of this month he will leave to become headmaster of the Seddon School in Marlborough. Residents trace their drive of progress back to an agitation 12 or 13 years ago when the closing of the school was threatened. The community had such faith in its future that it persuaded the Education Board to keep the school open and erect permanent buildings. Three rooms were provided in 1941 with the “Canterbury plan” • veranda frontage. When Mr Couch arrived in 1945 it ceased being a side school to New Brighton and accepted pupils through all standards. The roll was still only 106. Three more rooms were added in 1950 and, as numbers still rose, a cloakroom and two Sunday School halls were used for teaching until two prefabricated classrooms were added. Now under construction for next year are four more classrooms, an administration block, library, and dental clinic.

The original Parents’ Association, which urged retention of the school, has pow been absorbed into a lively Parent-Teacher Association which cleared gorse, broom, and silver poplar from three acres of grounds to provide fine play areas. It also raised funds for a learners’ swimming pool, sound film projector, loud-speaker system, and other amenities and it is now concentrating on the library. When Mr and Mrs Couch arrived, sections in the middle of South Brighton were available at £BO. They now cost up to £350 at a conservative estimate. Water reticulation was provided two years ago, a direct bus service to the city began, and the shopping area has expanded. The South Brighton Progress League’s hall built five years ago in the domain is widely used by district organisations, including the kindergarten. Development of Amenities

Mr and Mrs Couch have contributed considerably to the development of the amenities which have attracted more residents. Mrs Couch, eight years ago, started the Friendship Circle (in collaboration with a minister, which each month holds a meeting for women at which newcomers are welcomed and community needs discussed. She was also first president of the Women’s Institute which last month fc competed successfully in the provincial drama festival. Both groups are strong. Formerly the Croquet Club was the only established sports organisation in the district. There are now popular bowling and table tennis clubs. An accomplished musician, Mr Couch was immediately appointed to the executive of the Canterbury School Music Festival Association when it was revived in 1945 and this year he is president. The school also holds its own festival and from those he trained Mr Couch, in 1948, formed the South Brighton Choral Society and conducts two concerts and choral singing every year. The society also takes part in the community choirs’ festival of the Civic Music Council. In the Methodist Church Mr Couch has served as choirmaster, treasurer, and local preacher, and his wife has been active in the church women’s organisations. “They have been wonderful workers for this district. We have been fortunate in having their leadership in this period of amazing development” is the opinion of all residents.