Royal Commercial Travellers Schools (Pinner) - STEWARD medal (excellent condition)

Postage is extra.

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For sale is a beautifully crafted STEWARD medal issued on behalf of the ROYAL COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS SCHOOLS (RCTS). This medal shows the Staff of Mercury which forms the central part of the school’s crest and from which, past pupils are known as Old Mercurians.

The RCTS were first established by John Robert Cuffley in 1845 for children of orphaned and “necessitous” Commercial Travellers (travelling salespersons). The schools could accommodate up to 365 boarding pupils aged from 5 to 18 years and provided education to both O-level and A-level standards. Funding of the RCTS was mainly through voluntary contributions as they received no State grants. RCTS Festivals were one form of fund-raising for the schools and if someone donated above a certain amount, they were titled a Steward and awarded a medal such as this one.

The large school at Pinner (Middlesex in North West London) was opened in 1855 at at cost of around £20,000 and could accommodate up to 300 pupils. In 1918, the schools were given the 'Royal' prefix by King George V and named as the Royal Commercial Travellers Schools. In 1965, the school at Pinner was renamed as the Royal Pinner School. Due to lack of funds, the school closed in 1967.

The main school building close to Pinner LT station was demolished in 1978 and replaced by a supermarket (Sainsbury). Some outbuildings have survived and these are owned by the London Borough of Harrow.

http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/PinnerTravellers/?LMCL=SO7d5D (A good site with an outline history and many photos of the RCTS at Pinner).

https://www.royalcommercialtravellersschools.org.uk/services (A historical timeline of the RCTS).

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DESCRIPTION:
Size: about 1 5/16" width (33mm). Overall length including both sections is about 3 7/32" (82mm).
Material(s): brass metal with 1 vitreous enamel & woven cloth ribbon.
Finish: gilt.
Fitting: suspension ring, ribbon & a long pin.
Imprint: SPENCER LONDON
Approximate age: 1920's to 1950's.

CONDITION:
Excellent condition. No damage. Pin in working order.
Please see photograph(s), these form part of the description.

POSTAGE:
* Postal costs are extra, additional to the Asking Price.
* I always get a proof-of-posting certificate.
* I combine postal costs for multiple items when these are paid for and posted the same time.

RETURNS:
* Return accepted if the item(s) is returned in same condition it left me, then the full Agreed Asking Price will be refunded. Postal costs are not refundable.
* Buyer pays the return postal costs - unless agreed otherwise.

B.31