Decades-Old School Exercise Book Returned to Former Student

An exercise book, 49 years old, discovered in a drawer at a Cornish school, has been given back to a former student. History teacher Alex Morgan found the book while tidying a classroom at Humphry Davy School in Penzance during the half-term break. The front cover indicated the book belonged to Sean Morris in 1975, and after the school posted images of it on social media, the former pupil was located. He was invited to return to his previous school, where he was reunited with the book. Deputy head teacher Kirstie Oliver stated: “We were all completely blown away by this book that had been hiding in the bottom of a drawer and hadn’t been found in 49 years.” The book, titled Roman Studies, contained neat handwriting and detailed sketches of an amphitheatre, Roman bathing systems, and cities. “I could tell this wasn’t just any exercise book,” Mr Morgan remarked. “It was filled with such dedication and detail that I felt it deserved to be returned.” When presented with the book, Mr Morris said he had “absolutely no recollection” of ever having drawn the illustrations. “I recognise the handwriting but I kind of wish I could still draw like that,” he commented. Staff noted that the story of Mr Morris’s exercise book had resonated not only with him and them but also with current and past students. “It’s like a glimpse into the past,” one student observed. “It reminds us that our time here matters and that maybe one day, someone will find our things and remember us too.” When asked what he would now do with the book, Mr Morris replied: “I was thinking of putting it in a drawer somewhere!”