South Yorkshire Times May 10, 1947

School Exchange Plan
Springs From Rome Meeting Of Mexborough G.S. Old Boys

A chance meeting in Italy between two old boys of Mexborough Grammar School, one now a teacher at Kimberworth Secondary Modern School. Rotherham, and the other a teacher at Beaumont Secondary Modern School, St Alban’s, resulted in the formulation of plans which will mean ten adventurous days for 15 Rotherham boys

The two masters are Mr. Charles Cooper, of 514, Wortley Road, Rotherham and Mr. C. G. Walton, of St. Alban’s and formerly of Bolton-on-Dearne. When they met in Rome Mr. Walton was in the R.A.F. and Mr. Cooper had been serving with the Army

Before the war they had discussed plans for exchange visits of groups of the pupils from two schools where they taught. The advent of war put a stop to the scheme.      Their meeting in Italy reawakened their interest and they talked over the plans again.

As a result to-day (Friday) fifteen boys from the Kimberworth School will leave for St. Alban’s to be guests of fifteen boys of the Baumon  School. The scheme has met with the complete approval not only of the two headmasters and the local Education committees but also of the Ministry of Education. If this trial venture is a success it may lead to considerable popularisation of the scheme in years to come.

Return Visit

The St. Alban’s boys will pay a return visit to Rotherham between June 6th and 15th. All the boys are already corresponding. Both Mr. Cooper and Mr. Walton stress that the visits will be by no means holidays. They proposed the scheme with the object of broadening the experience and outlook of the boys in regard to their fellow students in other parts of the country.

The Rotherham boys will see some of the historic landmarks of London and the Midlands. The St. Alban’s boys will see, perhaps for the first time in their lives, black-faced miners and will visit local steel works, brass works and pits.

The masters hope that through the visits the boys will “learn to appreciate hospitality, good fellowship and the making of new friends,” and that “together they will foster unselfishness and learn the value of self-reliance promoted by travel and experience.”

Each boy will have a booklet describing fully what he is to see. The morning after each tour or works visit he will be required to answer questions or write essays. The Rotherham boys will see Whipsnade, Vauxhall Motors