Mr J.O. Shemwell was Headmaster of Cutthorpe School from 1921 until 1958, a total of 37 years. He took over the role from Mr James Lindsey, who had been at the school from its opening in 1884. A native of Barlow, Mr Shemwell was educated at Chesterfield Grammar School, then at Colleges in in Birmingham and London, and started his first teaching position in Sheffield in 1917 before being appointed Headmaster at Cutthorpe.
When Mr Shemwell began as Headmaster there were about 70 pupils at the school, and the number went up to 140 in 1930, when the children attended from the ages of five to fourteen. In later years the older children (age 11 and over) were sent to Secondary Schools in Chesterfield.
"Cutthorpe is fast becoming a village of old people. And the man who makes that claim is in a better position than most local people to know. He is 62-year-old Mr James Oscar Shemwell, Headmaster of a village school which once housed 140 pupils, now provides education for only 30 youngsters, and is faced with a very real threat of being closed down completely within the next few years." Mr Shemwell was worried about the lack of housing in the village for the young families and supported the idea that more council houses should be built. Luckily the school managed to survive and is still going strong today.
Upon his retirement Mr Shemwell was presented with a gold watch and cheque from the people of Cutthorpe. An article in the local paper, possibly the Derbyshire Times, describes the presentation ceremony:
"Former Scholars of Cutthorpe School, some who had seen their children and grandchildren attend the same school, attended a presentation supper in Cutthorpe Institute on Wednesday in honour of Mr J. O. Shemwell who retired as Headmaster of the school in July after 37 and a half years service. About 60 people attended the supper. Mr S. Botham, an old scholar of Cutthorpe School, who started his teaching career at the school and is now a teacher at Dronfield, presided. Representing the N.E. Derbyshire Education Executive, Mr E.B. Glover paid tribute to Mr Shemwell, as also did Mr J.K. Collis, Chairman of the School Managers."
An inscribed gold pocket watch and a cheque were presented to Mr Shemwell by Miss A.E. Buckley, and Miss Gwenneth Needham presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs Shemwell.
Mr Shemwell lived at Cutthorpe for 30 years. Later he lived at Barlow. His obituary was published in the local paper in 1967.