70+ Years of Learning
1951
Betty Stickney started Country Cousins in 1951 in Surrey. She had relatives in France and Italy, who wanted linguistic stays.
Therefore, the ‘Cousins’ were coming to the Country.
1964
John Gale was the Headmaster of Ilfracombe College in North Devon. Betty Stickney asked John and Pat Gale to become their agents in North Devon since the linguistic stays in host families were becoming more and more popular.
1970
Betty, knowing that John Gale was a Headmaster, asked him to arrange language courses in Ilfracombe, using the local college.
Ownership & Vision
1972
Betty Stickney retires and sells the business to John and Pat Gale since English courses with host families in Ilfracombe proved to be very popular.
John and Pat Gale now use the Ilfracombe College during the summer for lessons with students staying with local host families.
Channel School and Second Generation
1980
John and Pat Gale sell the business to John and Tricia Swan (Tricia is Pat’s daughter). That same year, Channel School is purchased, an old nurses residence that they turn into an English school.
1981
Jose Brinkmann, aged 9, attends the first ‘Young Learners’ course in Ilfracombe at Channel School. He likes it so much that he returns every summer for two months until he is 17.
1982
Discovering Devon and Tennis programmes are introduced.
1985
Country Cousins becomes accredited by the British Council.
1988
The Adventure Sports programme is introduced. It is still the most popular sports programme to this day.
1995
Jose starts at York University and works for Country Cousins during the summers.
1997
Riding programme is introduced.
A Dream Come True and Third Generation
2006
Jose Brinkmann and Maribel Cabrera, who were in London working for Ford and American Express, buy the business from John and Tricia Swan.
Jose liked the school so much that he bought it! His dream came true.
2008
Surfing programme is introduced. This is now the second most popular sports programme.
2010
Street Dance programme is introduced.
2011
The PALs scheme is created which proves incredibly successful with the local teenagers.
The three generations get-together to celebrate the 60th anniversary.
2012
Beach Volleyball programme is introduced following the success of that sport in the London Olympic Games that year.
2014
Country Cousins wins the Global ELTons award by the British Council in Local Innovation for the PALs scheme.
2015
Channel School of English becomes a Trinity College Examining Centre.
2016
The Ball Sports programme is introduced (including football, table tennis, tennis and beach volleyball).
2017
The Sea Water Sports programme is introduced.
2020
Country Cousins becomes proudly accredited by Green Standard Schools and Quality English.
