A HISTORY group in Timberscombe has met the descendants of three village teachers 111 years after their grandparents taught in the village school.

The third-generation relatives discovered the group when researching their family history.

In 2022, a photograph was uploaded to the St Petrock’s History Group website showing an image taken in June 1914 of the Timberscombe schoolchildren and their teachers.

Pictured were teachers Herbert and Gladys Shephard, along with Gladys’ youngest sister Winifred Churchill, who were then due to leave the village and take up appointments at another school near Oxford.

This photograph was seen by the granddaughter of Winifred Churchill when she was looking into her family history, who then contacted Jan Harrower, the granddaughter of Herbert and Gladys Shephard. The two cousins made contact with the history group’s Tom Sperling through the website and were able to supply more photographs of their grandparents from their time spent in Timberscombe and at the village school.

A spokesperson for St Petrock’s History Group said: “These were no ordinary teachers at Timberscombe School.

“Despite being in post between February 6, 1911 and June 26, 1914, a little over three years, they were clearly highly valued and this was demonstrated by the tributes made to them on leaving which were recorded in the local paper.”

According to the history group, on the last day of school a presentation was made to honour the parting of Herbert and Gladys — with which the couple were offered “tokens of gratitude and esteem”, including a twelve place-setting dining service and a silver Queen Anne cake basket.

This was followed by a gold brooch with pearls for Gladys and a gold tie pin for Herbert.

In an accompanying message, managers, children, parents and friends of the school expressed their “keen appreciation for all [that the couple had] done for the welfare of the school and parish. Over 80 residents signed the note, and had each ‘subscribed to the beautiful gifts’.”

Now, 111 years on, the grandchildren of the stalwart teaching couple, and their sister, have opted to return the dinner service to Timberscombe where it had first been presented to their grandparents, which they achieved as part of a visit to the village on Saturday, June 28.

The history group took the descendants for a walk around the village, including a visit to School House where Herbert and Gladys had lived with Gladys’ sister Winifred over a century ago, as well as a visit to St Petrock’s, a church with which their antecedents would have been very familiar.

The spokesperson for St Petrock’s History Group added: “Tom Sperling and Marion Jeffrey are thrilled to add these items to a burgeoning collection of photographs, documents and assorted other items which are accumulating.

“Plans are being discussed to mount a heritage exhibition in St Petrock’s Church next year where the dinner service will be one of the items on display as a welcome addition to our village history.”