David Paterson. 2011, Troubador Publishing, £12.95.

Histories of old established schools are often very interesting and this book is certainly no exception. The author taught history at King Edward's, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, for over thirty years and has only recently retired from there. He, therefore, knows his subject very well and he has researched diligently to produce a thorough history of the school. He takes us through over five centuries of the ever changing fortunes of the school. The title refers to local landowners, John Leeke and his son, also John, who both died in 1508. They left legacies, which eventually resulted in the foundation of King Edward VI School in Nuneaton in 1552, although the school may have started before then. Throughout the book, there are many instances of careful research by the author, dealing with, for example, charters and lists of governors and teachers. The frequent disputes between governors and teachers are highlighted as we move through the centuries. At many times, it looked as if the school would not survive. The 17^th Century, which was a turbulent time nationally, created upheaval at King Edwards. Typical was the outbreak of the ‘Trevis Affair' after 1660, which involved pupil revolt and use of guns, all well documented and described. Paterson goes on to consider the uneven development of the school in the 18^th and 19^th Centuries, with much analysis. Eventually, the school became a 20^th Century boys' grammar school, before evolving into its present format of a mixed Sixth Form college. Not only is this a well-researched book, it is also very entertaining, with a wealth of well- supported detail and illustration. For anyone interested in school histories, it would be a good purchase. As someone who taught history in Nuneaton in the 1970s and, on occasion, visited King Edward's, I was fascinated to read about the history of an institution with which I was familiar, but knew little of its past. This work is highly recommended.

[David Paterson is chairman of the Nuneaton Branch of the Historical Association and his reviewer is Chairman of the nearby Mid-Trent Branch]