Menu Alumni and History History and Archives November 11th 2021 Today the School held its annual service of remembrance for the fallen of the two World Wars and all conflicts since involving our British and Commonwealth Armed Forces. The whole school community, from the youngest in our Nursery all through to our Form 5s, came together in an act of remembrance lead by our Headmaster, Graham Spawforth. Did you know that during World War II, Ditcham Park house was requisitioned as a peaceful place for rest and recovery by Royal Navy personnel? We still have pictures of this time hanging on the walls of our Small Hall adjacent to the Headmaster’s Study. We were delighted therefore to receive this wonderful account from a former wartime resident, and felt today was the appropriate day to share with you all. Denise Allen, Bursar Please Click Here for the full script *********************************************************************************************** The Cowper-Coles family owned the Ditcham estate in its heyday for about 200+ years until the mid-1860s. At that time the House was a hunting lodge and in the classical style of architecture. Laurence Trent Cave bought the Estate in 1887 and commissioned the well-known architect Sir Reginald Blomfield to build the House as we see it today. In 1940 the House was requisitioned by the Royal Navy as a convalescent home for wounded sailors and a train service was established to bring the sailors from Portsmouth to a station at Woodcroft Halt. After the Second World War the school was bought by a Catholic Educational Foundation and became a Preparatory School for Boys. In 1976 the school buildings and 16 acres of land were bought by the School’s Founder, Mrs Patricia (Paddy) Holmes. She felt that educational changes introduced in the 1970s were having a detrimental effect on the education of children in the Portsmouth area and determined to establish an Independent School where she could create a curriculum which could meet the needs of local children. The School opened on 14th September 1976 with 97 pupils on roll. The School has now established itself as an educational gem situated in the uplifting and inspirational surroundings of the South Downs National Park. Today the School admits boys and girls from 2 ½ to 16 and numbers have risen to 380+. The Ditcham Archive The School’s “Ditcham Connect” group is currently working to establish and maintain “The Ditcham Archive”. Fortunately, given its relatively recent foundation, we are able to benefit from the memories of our Founder and several of her original staff and this is helping us enormously with our efforts – however, your memories and memorabilia are of equal value to the School and we invite you to get involved and contribute too! There are many ways in which you can get involved, to help us fill the gaps from years gone by – particularly between 1976 and 2016 The Ditcham Gazette – do you have copies of the DG you might loan or donate to the School Archive? The DPS Year Book – do you have copies of the DPS yearbook you might loan or donate to the School Archive? Do you have copies of DPS newsletters, your academic records, and reports, school trip photographs etc that you’d be willing to loan or donate to the School Archive? Do you have your old school uniform or blazer that you would be happy to donate or loan to the School Archive? Share your memories – perhaps your first day of School with all those stand out details that were special to you? If you think you can help in any way please contact the Bursar, Denise Allen, in the first instance at archive@ditchampark.com or telephone 01730 825659 and ask for Denise. Life at Ditcham Park Daisy Future Mechanical Engineer Zac Future DJ and Producer Freddie Future Secret Agent Year 1 Jake Future Performer Contact Details & Useful Links Headmaster’s Welcome Life at Ditcham Park Admissions Upcoming Events Ditcham Park News Hub Letters Home Contact Us Visit Us DITCHAM PARK SCHOOL Ditcham, Nr Petersfield, Hants GU31 5RN Headmaster - Graham Spawforth Email Us (+44) 01730 825659 Get Directions Website Privacy Policy Website Designed by