Sussex Express 26 March 1948

57 years at same school

Cuckfield presentation.

As a token of our appreciation of his services, the governors, staff and pupils of Cuckfield voluntary primary school presented Mr Arthur T Rapley who has been at the school for 57 years, as a scholar and master, with a wristlet watch on Thursday last at the school. The presentation was made by the vicar of Cuckfield, the Reverend are. F. C. Kempe, who spoke in praise of Mr Rapley who had to resign after having a leg amputated. 

Mr Schwartz, headmaster, estimated that 1000 children had benefited from Mr Rapley’s instruction.

Others paying tribute to Mr Rapley’s services were Mrs Stevens, senior teacher, Miss Eve, senior manager, and Gene Selby, on behalf of the pupils.

Mr Rapley who lives at Sidbury, Ockenden Lane, Cuckfield, took a prominent part in organising school football in East Sussex, being the first honorary secretary of the school football league. He coached his scholars in football and cricket, and also conducted the school choir at Lewes musical festivals. He has taken particular interest in the school gardening class, who gained the Challenge Cup for a school collection of vegetables five years in succession at Haywards Heath flower show.

He was Honorary Secretary of Cuckfield Men's Club and also of the village cricket and football clubs.

During the recent war he was a member of the Royal Observer Corps.