The Old Roan Association
Roan and
The Old Roan Association
The Roan schools have a proud, centuries-long history - 2027 will see the 350th anniversary of their founding by John Roan in 1677 who left a legacy for the provision a school for the 'poor town-bred children of Greenwich'. ​​​​
Separate schools for both boys and girls were established at different times across Greenwich and (almost all?) Association members today attended the Boys School in Maze Hill and the Girls School at Devonshire Drive. The schools merged in 1980 and today's Academy, The John Roan School for both girls and boys, has a split site at the Maze Hill building and another in Westcombe Park Road.
Maze Hill
Devonshire Drive
The Old Roan Association has around 800 members at home and across the world and is open to all ex-pupils.
This website with its view/downloadable archive of Roan School/Old Roan Magazines and photographs can tell a rich, living history across the last century. In addition, see below for a pdf copy of a book written by former teacher and Old Roan President, Kenneth S Binnie, covering the Roan Schools' origins from 1643 to the then current 1956. 'The Story of The Roan Schools' is itself a shortened version of an earlier 1929 book 'The History of the Roan School and its Founder' written by J W Kirby. The section in Mr Binnie's book on the Roan School for Girls was written by Margaret Hough.​
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The Story of the Roan Schools - 1643 to 1956
by K S Binnie
Click the PDF to view/download/print
A recent book by Tom Davies - 'The John Roan School (Greenwich) - Building a School for the 21st Century' - has also now been updated. Adding modern insight, visual material and information about Roan's history, the book gives great detail about the various Roan buildings across the ages.
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The John Roan School (Greenwich) - Building a School for the 21st Century
by Tom Davies
To buy a copy of Tom Davies' book: Make a BACS transfer of £12.70 (£10 + P&P of £2.70) to the Roan School Foundation account - as a reference use OR plus your initials:
John Roan Foundation
Sort code : 08-92-99
Account no. 67319954​
Then email Jan Farmer (janfarmer27@gmail.com) confirming that you have paid and giving your full name and address including postcode. Jan will then send you a copy by post.