these Open Championship Clubs choose to relief grind - Pitchcare

Schools & Colleges
Joe Cooper’s life at Milton Abbey School has evolved
into much more than being a groundsman, and it’s a
position he treasures. It’s not hard to see why, when
you can work in beautiful surroundings in the
peaceful Dorset countryside
Report by Laurence Gale MSc
Joe Cooper and Brian Pitman
FARMER JOE -
happy as a
pig in ...
Milton Abbey School occupies
one of the most picturesque
sites in Dorset, if not England.
As the school’s name suggests,
the grounds are dominated by
an impressive abbey, and the later added
gothic style house.
It is fortunate, for pupils and visitors
alike, that the abbey escaped the fate of
many monasteries during the time of
their dissolution in 1536. It is perhaps
even more fortunate that Capability
Brown was later commissioned to sculpt
the land, as it is a truly stunning setting.
The Headmaster is Gareth Doodes, the
school’s seventh since its foundation in
the 1950s, who took up the post in
August 2010. He is currently overseeing
new building works for when the school
96 PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2012
becomes fully co-educational later this
year.
Milton Abbey is a ‘small’ school in
terms of the number of pupils - just
under 300 - but has a big heart and big
ambitions, all concentrated around the
Abbey. Manned by a full time Anglican
Chaplain, the school meets three times a
week for chapel. There is a daily
Eucharist, Compline on Wednesdays, and
evening pray regularly through the week.
The Abbey choir sing on major school
occasions.
Whilst history records that the original
church was founded in the 10th century
by King Athelstan of Wessex, that three
Monarchs have visited the site, and that
various Lords, Ladies and Barons have
occupied the house, this lowly serf is here
to meet up with the school’s Head
Groundsman, Philip (Joe) Cooper.
Joe has been at the school ‘man and
boy’. During his twenty-two years service,
he has been instrumental in developing
the sports grounds to the excellent
condition they are in today.
He has a team of five to assist him.
Brian Pitman is the Deputy Head
Groundsman. Lee Mitchell, Chris Prior,
Chris Oram (gardener) and Nigel
Everetts make up the rest of the team.
The grounds accommodate one senior
football and rugby pitch, two grass
hockey pitches, one lacrosse pitch and
one floodlit, all weather pitch for multisports.
In the summer, the school
provides three cricket squares and a 400
metre grass athletics track for summer