Winston Churchill in Hove

Winston Churchill C. 1884
Taken from "Life and Time of Winston Churchill" Odhams Press
Winston Churchill, Royal Pavilion Brighton, 3rd October 1947
Planet News
29-30 Brunswick Road Hove, 2005
Photo by Peter Groves

Winston Spencer Churchill, probably the most well known person in English history, once went to school in Brighton. This is what Churchill himself tells us in his book “My Early Life” first published in 1930. However, although close to the truth, Churchill actually went to school in neighbouring Hove.

Born in November 1874
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born on the last day of November 1874, at Blenheim Palace, the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Marlborough. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was the third son of the Duke of Marlborough and M.P. for Woodstock in Oxfordshire. His American mother, Jeannette Jerome, had married Randolph in April of that year. Winston had been born two months prematurely seven months after the marriage.

A childhood in boarding schools
Winston spent much of his childhood at boarding schools and initially he went to St George’s private school in Ascot. His rebellious nature clashed with the strict disciplinary regime at St. George’s where he spent an unhappy time. Flogging with the birch was a part of the curriculum, and Winston got his fair share! It was probably for this reason, together with his parents’ concern that he was a frail child, that a change of school was decided.

His preparatory school in Brunswick Road
The preparatory school chosen by his parents was in Hove, at numbers 29 – 30 Brunswick Road, on the corner of Lansdowne Road. The reason for this choice was that the family doctor, Robson Roose, practised in the town. His recommendation was that the “fresh sea air” would be good for the delicate young Winston. The school was run in a very different manner by two sisters, Kate and Charlotte Thomson. Winston was shown kindness and sympathy, lacking at the earlier school. He was taught there between 1883 and 1885, although some records show it as between 1884 and 1887.

On the outskirts of the town
At this time Lansdowne Road was the northern boundary of the Brunswick area. Churchill’s school was virtually on the outskirts of town, with open land to the north. St Ann’s Wells Gardens, yet to be opened as a public park, was called the Wick or Chalybeate. This was a wooded area with a medicinal spring, owned by Sir Julian Goldsmid. Did Churchill play here or even drink the spring water?

Winston’s favourable memories of Hove
Winston’s memories of the school in Hove were more favourable than the earlier school, “I was allowed to learn things which interested me: French, history, and lots of poetry by heart, and above all riding and swimming.” Did he go horse riding on open land close by, and swim from the beaches of Hove, just down from the school?

The naughtiest small boy in the world!
Miss Eva Moore, the actress, was dancing mistress at the school. She thought he was the naughtiest small boy in the world! The school often went to the church service held at the Chapel Royal in North Street. Winston had acquired “low church principles” from his nurse Mrs Everest. His behaviour during service was not as one would expect of a well brought up young man. No punishment was inflicted on young Winston, however the Thomson sisters were able to show him the error of his ways, by other means, which had a more positive effect!

Survived childhood pneumonia
It was just as well that the school in Hove, close to Doctor Roose, was chosen. Shortly after settling in at the school Winston caught pneumonia. For five days he clung to life, many others not so fortunate would have died from the ailment. The faithful Doctor Roose barely left his side. Winston came close to death but with the caring doctor’s attention he eventually pulled through!

Aged 13, Winston moved from the Hove school, not to Eton as expected, but to Harrow-on-the-Hill.

Given the freedom of the borough in 1947
Although Winston probably had no deeper affiliation with Brighton than many other towns across the country, he did visit Brighton a number of times during his long career. During the war he came down to inspect the defences. No one knew of his visit but he was quickly spotted and a large enthusiastic crowed soon gathered. Following the War he visited the town in October 1947 for the Conservative Party Conference which was then held at the Dome. The day before he addressed the Party at the Dome he was at the Royal Pavilion, where he received the Freedom of the Borough of Brighton. In the 1950s his health was deteriorating and he visited the town for the last time in 1952 for a visit to Brighton Races.

Winston Churchill died on 24th January 1965. However his name lives on in Brighton as Churchill Square, the town’s main shopping centre, which is named after him.

Comments about this page

  • The school was called Brunswick School. It later moved to Oathall Road in Haywards Heath and was evacuated to Cornwall for the duration of World War II. When I attended the school in 1944 it was run by Messrs Goldman and Leeds-Harrison. I would be interested to know how long it survived.

    By David B. Porter (28/08/2006)
  • In answer to Mr. Porter’s query, Brunswick School is still extant and proud of its connection with WSC. The school moved from Haywards Heath to a large country house, Dutton-Homestall, in Ashurst Wood, West Sussex in 1958. It was joined by Stoke House, formerly at Seaford, in 1963. It is now called Stoke Brunswick. More information will be found at http://www.stokebrunswick.co.uk

    By Richard Sawyer, school bursar (02/12/2007)
  • I would be interested to hear David Porter’s memories of his time at Brunswick and of my father Michael Leeds-Harrison

    By Susi Jefford (27/05/2008)
  • Well, Susi, sort of remember you – your brother went to school with me (Brunswick, ’56-’61) and I remember your father and Mr. Goldman very well (the latter used to call me “Smiler”). Did you perhaps go to Trevelyan up the road (as did my sister)? I do not remember your mother’s name or Mrs. Goldman’s (Lucy? Lucille?), but I do remember your Pa’s big AC saloon -very impressive – and “MG” used to drive a black Jaguar SS, didn’t he? The things little boys remember. Neither do I remember well the Goldmans son’s name? Barry! That’s it. Your brother’s name was Peter, maybe?  Your father used to make the explosive tennis balls that were a feature of Guy Fawke’s night and I think it was his doing to rig up the aerial line along which a rocket was fired to ignite the bonfire?  Wonderful days…your Pa and MG were the kindest of people (for the most part).

    By Christopher Godfrey (16/07/2008)
  • Of course I remember you and your sister Angela. Is she still acting? I would have answered your comments earlier but only discovered it by doing a Google search on my name!  What are doing these days?  Peter, my brother, was older than you I think? He is semi retired.

    By Susi Jefford (10/11/2008)
  • Well, well, well. After all these years I have finally caught up with some of the ‘inmates’ of Brunswick. I remember both Susi and Peter L-H very well. When I first arrived at the school (as a master!) I lived at Heath House and every morning their mother (Mickey – and Mrs. Goldman was Clarice) used to bring up the hot water to my room and S & P would slide down my raised knees on top of the bedclothes! I found this website simply because my grandson is going to St. Edmunds Hindhead next term and one of the school that they play against is Stoke Brunswick! There are still 3 of us old beaks who keep in touch: me, Peter Tame and Nigel Gray. John Marjoriebanks now lives in Yorkshire and is blind and sadly Tony Poole died last year. It could well be that David Porter might know Peter Tame, who joined the school in Cornwall when it was evacuated down there during the war. By the way I now live in Liss, Hants, having moved from Padstow, so we would be very pleased to meet up with any of you if you are in the area. Barry Goldman was Commodore on the Illustrious (I think!) and is now in charge of something to do with the Port of London. I noticed that a Christopher Godfrey has written in, you must be the same person who sang the solo at the school carol service to ‘Once in Royal’ as you also did in my village church at Upper Beeding. Did you not go out to Africa?

    By Eric Streete (17/03/2009)
  • My Mum, Doris Sagar, went there in about 1930. Don’t suppose there’s anyone alive who remembers her?

    By Susan Morris (23/03/2009)
  • The names ring very vague bells. I moved to Dutton Homestall as a pupil. I was first at Stoke House (Head master Mr Piper) then was moved to a small school in Sussex, I think – cannot really remember. Then went to Dutton Homestall at which Brunswick and my small school joined forces.
    I am just reawakening my interst, after receiving the Good and Bad news letter from the school about its future.

    By Richard Brown (01/05/2009)
  • I’m doing some research about someone called Peter Neave who was at this school around 1923; he later joined the forces and became a POW in Germany. Does anyone recognise the name or know where I could dig up more information?

    By Colleen Adams (09/08/2009)
  • Susi, I am slow in getting back to this website; but I was so impressed that you would have remembered my sister Angela and myself (yes, she did go onto the stage; but that did not last…she has lived for many years in Israel where she does great work as an activist). Now to have seen that my dear Mr. Streete is still around is just the most delightful news! Of course this is one-and-the-same Godfrey! Wanted me to go on to a choir school in fact, did you not? Well, nothing became of that idea and I now have a sad story to tell you: every Christmas you faithfully made tapes of our Christmas services, our break-up suppers and my solo at Upper Beeding (of course I remember!) and you then sent them to my parents in Mombasa. Years later, when my Pa was in the UK on leave, he left a bag of those recordings lying around at our guardians’ place in Henfield; a young Italian staying at our guardian’s remarked on all the tape and my Pa, not realising or forgetting what was on them, simply gave them away! Oy, vey! I loved singing for you, you know, and you were always inspirational. You might be happy to know I have enjoyed a lifelong love affair with classical music. I remember Mr. Thame equally fondly: he married Anne, someone who was our matron and they came with us to East Grinstead, where he started a Scout troop. I remember Mr. Gray; but less well. The other person whom I remember vividly was Mr. Poole who met us at Victoria station on my very first day at Brunswick — oh, and how could one forget David Ticehurst? You put us up against one another in an extract from The Christmas Oratorio, did you not? Everyone loved him. My own daughters are now grown and we are all in the United States (one married) after years in South Africa, which I continue to miss (wonderful birdlife, apart from anything else). I flew for many years in SA but am now living and working in Gloucester, MA. I’m not a grandparent yet. How marvellous to see your name in print again: I always wondered…warm wishes to you! You, too, Susi Jefford.

    By Christopher Godfrey (23/02/2010)
  • Colleen, there a Neave at Brunswick in ’56/’57 before we removed to East Grinstead — one might guess he’d be the son…? I cannot remember his first name or the face to go with the name.

    By Christopher Godfrey (24/02/2010)
  • It was really wonderful to hear from you Christopher again and to find that it was the same person! What a memory you have too! Thank you for your kind comments and I do remember most of them! Sadly David Ticehurst passed away in 1999 and Tony Poole in 2007. However, Peter Tame and his wife (matron!) are both well are are now living in Wimborne, Dorset. We still keep in touch and meet up fairly regularly just to discuss ‘the good old days’. Our son lives in California, but unfortunately he is west and you are east otherwise we could have met up. Do you ever visit the UK? As you probably are aware, Brunswick is now no more, closing down for lack of pupils last summer. Regarding a Neave at Brunswick, his son, I think was the one who joined the school in 1954 as an eight year old and his initials were J.S.B. Neave. He was still in the school in 1958 in VIa (top form) so probably moved to Dutton. This I have obtained from the Brunswick Chronicle of 1955! Yes I still have one or two here! Other than that, that is all I can say. Just hope it helps.

    By Eric Streete (03/03/2010)
  • Mr. Streete — Eric: I am godfrey.christopher@gmail.com if you should feel like continuing this (I hope so!) Best wishes, CG

    By Christopher Godfrey (27/03/2010)
  • I would like to hear from any pupil or master that attended Brunswick, Haywards Heath 1952-1955- (share some memories).

    By John Fletcher Robson (09/05/2010)
  • Colleen, I also recall a Neave (I think he was known as Simon) at Brunswick in the mid/late 1950s and have a couple of school photos of that time, in which he is present and identifiable. Wasn’t Peter Neave at Colditz for a time? I bought a house many years ago from the widow of the last Escape Officer at Colditz. I remember asking her if there were any tunnels under the house that I should be aware of – which was received with a scowl. Please let me know if you want to borrow the photos. Kind regards.

    By Michael Crow (10/05/2010)
  • Michael Crow! I remember you so well — M.R.S.Crow! Contemporaries of ours were Peter Harrison (not Leeds Harrison — this one always had wildlife or fossils in his desk); John Baber; Heslop; Hawes; Chris Fell (of course!); D.M.T.B. Hancock from Ditchling…and I also remember Neave. Oh, the Cripps boys (three of them?) Did you come to Ashurstwood with us or not? I cannot remember…

    By Christopher Godfrey (10/06/2010)
  • I can hardly believe that I have stumbled onto this Brunswickian correspondence, and wonder if there is anyone out there who might remember me. I first went to the school in 1955 and left (for Stowe, Oxford and a life abroad) in 1960. I have since been living mostly in Asia (I am now in Manila), but retain very clear memories of the Goldmans, Leeds Harrisons, and many others from those far-off days. I would be happy to hear from anyone who would like to get in touch.

    By Robbie Salamon (14/08/2010)
  • Robbie Salamon – As soon as I read that surname a face flashed before me, but I must be mistaken because I attended Brunswick 1952 -1955 and this person was there before 1955. Did you have an older brother at Brunswick? I have been trying to get a photo of the old school which doesn’t exist any more, but no luck.

    By John Robson (25/08/2010)
  • Hello John, you must have attended Brunswick alongside my brother Mike who was a pupil there from 1950 to 1955. (Being five years the younger, I just missed him by a term.) Sad to say, Mike died in 2005 after an adventurous and successful life cut all too short by prostate cancer. I may have some old photos of the school taken during its Haywards Heath era (it moved during my time to Dutton Homestall); I’ll check when I am next in London (possibly next month). If I find anything, I’ll let you know via this message board.

    By Robbie Salamon (26/08/2010)
  • Robbie Salamon: I most certainly remember you! Very blonde and, yes, a year ahead of me. When we were allowed to watch TV in the little library on Saturdays there was a rush to sit in front because then one had the pleasure of having one’s scalp tickled! You were also a thumb-sucker in them, thar days! (Funny, the things one remembers!) You should also remember Michael Crow (above): he was same age as me and went to East Grinstead – I suspect that you did ? With us at Haywards Heath was also Harry Hayes, whose dad was a musician in London. And Mark Hancock from Ditchling; Harrison, who always had botanical and zoological “stuff” in his desk! Vincent Emms sat next to me in the front rows (choir) — he’d have been your age, I reckon? John Raber lived in Germany: his Pa was a major in the Corps of Engineers. Chris Fell was my best friend for many years. Harry Hawes. Philip Heslop. My parents left UK to go live in Kenya and the whole family later ended up in South Africa, where my daughters were born. We are now in USA – I am in Massachusetts. I am afraid we have purloined this site – it was suppoed to have been a thread about Haywards Heath (my sister went to Trevelyan up the road, opposite St. Wilfred’s church, where I usually got to sing solos). Warm wishes!

    By Christopher Godfrey (26/08/2010)
  • Hello again Robbie. So sorry to hear about Mike. I used to admire his skills on the sports grounds and was envious of his naturally wavy hair. I would be grateful for any Haywards Heath Brunswick memorabilia that you could email to johnfrobson@hotmail.com  Cheers.

    By John Robson (29/08/2010)
  • Hello John and Christopher, thanks for your notes — and reminders of times long past. Some names bring back memories of what was, I think, a happy school despite the spartan diet and the rule of the dreaded basting spoon. I was very sorry to hear that Brunswick no longer exists, and sometimes wonder what happened to such esoteric items as the chapel’s Roll of Honour of former pupils who were killed in the two world wars, and whose names were read out at each Armistice Day memorial service…? Cheers. (FYI, my email address is rhsalamon@yahoo.co.uk).

    By Robbie Salamon (31/08/2010)
  • I was at a nearby prep school called Ashfold at Handcross from 1946 to 1951 and we used to play against Brunswick. I remember a charismatic boy at Brunswick called ‘Candy’ Kitchin – good sportsman. Ashfold moved from Sussex to Dorton in Buckinghamshire in the 1960s.

    By Jeremy Wheeler (18/03/2011)
  • Does anyone know if the school archive still exists. I am particularly interested in Brunswick School in the early 1890s? Charles Messenger (cmessen982@aol.com)

    By Charles Messenger (31/03/2011)
  • In response to John Robson’s request for a photograph of the school, I have one from 1955 and would be happy to scan and send a copy to him. There are so many people here that I recall!

    By Kent Steele (03/08/2011)
  • I remember Steele very well, too; but never knew you as Kent. Please will you be good enough to send me also the photo you have of “our” Brunswick? godfrey dot christopher at gmail dot com. Many thanks! I wonder how soon they tore the place down after we left? I suspect that you, Kent, did not go to East Grinstead? Cannot remember you there, but I may be wrong?

    By Christopher Godfrey (04/01/2012)
  • I was at Brunswick, Haywards Heath for one term before moving to Dutton Homestall for 3 terms. I then moved to another prep school – Hawthorns in Redhill which in turn moved to Bletchingly. The only name I can remember now is Rogers (we never used first names then!).

    By Rob Scott (30/01/2012)
  • Michael Crow – if you still check this message board, I’d be very interested in that photograph! My email address is cadams255@yahoo.com Thanks!

    By Colleen Adams (08/03/2012)
  • I have just found my late father’s 1951 Form VIa Brunswick report card from the Haywards Heath era. Makes for interesting reading! He passed away ten years ago, and I am very keen to follow up any information I can find about his youth, out of curiosity and respect. If anyone here even vaguely remembers Donald (D.G.L.) Pattenden – I would love to know. It is great to read so many memories and… similarly obscure… ways of finding this site.

    By Mark Pattenden (10/03/2012)
  • I was very interested to find this website as I was a pupil at Brunswick Haywards Heath from 1952-1956. Several names mentioned from this era have jogged my memory and I would be interested to hear from any fellow pupils from the same time.

    By Peter Claudet (05/11/2012)
  • I have just come across this website for the first time, having unsuccessfully tried to make contact with Brunswick contemporaries via Friends Reunited. I was at Brunswick, Haywards Heath from 1945 – 1949, having spent half a term at Michaelstow House in 1944 (Evacuated from the Doodle Bugs). My two elder brothers Chris and Peter both also went to Brunswick and were both evacuated from Haywards Heath to Michaelstow in 1939 / 40. All three of us went on to Tonbridge (Michael Leeds-Harrison’s alma mater – Mervyn Goldman went to Haileybury which also received many boys from Brunswick at that time). The only correspondent to this column whom I remember was DB Porter – David Porter, who not only went to Brunswick, but also lived close to me at home – we were called the Chipstead Chumps by MG! Along with Mike Spence (who later became a Formula 1 racing driver and who was sadly killed at Minneapoilis many years ago) and his brother John. It would be good to hear from any of my contemporaries at Brunswick, who read this. If you prefer to contact me direct my email is brian.robertswray@tiscali.co.uk . Incidentally a year or so ago I went to Michaelstow House in Cornwall (by then a sort of holiday village, and just about to close down). The place was unmistakable and it was a fascinating visit. The owners told me they had had several visits from Brunswick Old Boys who had fond memories of their time at Michaelstow during World War 2.

    By Brian Roberts-Wray (28/12/2012)
  • Crickey, is this what you do in your first year of retirement – search the web for this and that. Yup, remember my time at Brunswick, probably from 1957 and the move to Dutton Holmestall a year or so later. The Goldmans I remember well, also Leeds Harrison and that black car of his. Memories are of inkwells, running down to the swimming pool with only a towel before breakfast, throwing it down and doing a naked length (very politically incorrect nowadays!) in freezing greenish water, the lots (is that what they were called) and did they only have half doors. Masters I recall include the Tames, also the Rev Ticehurst who took me and my brother down to Hove for day exeats as our parents lived overseas. It was so long ago – oh yes there was drill on the playground if you accumulated ‘minus’ points and the gym was turned into an indoor firing range as and when required, which I thought a little alarming. Was there not a dreaded rep contest at the end of each term? It was so long ago as I surf the web from Australia….

    By Graham Fuller (31/03/2013)
  • I must be getting very, very forgetful in my ‘young’ age! I had completely forgotten about this web site until just now (obviously). I note that Mark Patterden has written about his late father who was at the school in 1951. Yes Mark, I remember him. I taught him English (although I don’t know whether it was any good!) in 1951. I joined Brunswick for two terms in 1951 teaching 6a English and Geography, having taken over from Tony Poole and before returning as music director in 1953. I have in my possession a copy of the Brunswick Chronicle No. 28 June 1951 in which it shows your father as no. 2 in the list following Tarrant (the vicar of Haywards Heath son) and below such boys as Moore, Bull, Peskett and Warren, who was head boy, etc. He is also mentioned as having played in the soccer team of Autumn 1950.

    By Eric Streete (01/07/2013)
  • Wow – I have been looking for information about Brunswick Prep School for 50 years and have at last found some news regarding the school. I was a pupil there from 1952 to 1955.  My parents lived in Spain.  I remember a friend named Leslie Byrne as I used to spend half-term with him and his grandparents in Bromley. I also remember a guy named Brendan Higgins. I remember Mr Golding, the Head and his wife who used to read to us in their drawing room. I also remember Matron, Ivy Ritty, and being given codliver oil on a sugar lump. If anyone remembers me, please get in touch. Thank you so much. ComsMan@hotmail.co.uk  I now live in Leicester.

    By Andrew B Goodier (02/07/2016)
  • Nostalgia overtook me again and I have taken another look at these Brunswick recollections. My last visit must have been 6 years ago. I was a boarder from 1955 to 1959. I remember Leslie Byrne, he was an exact contemporary, as was Peter Leeds Harrison. Higgins was 2 or 3 years older. It was Byrne not Salamon who used to tickle ones scalp. Graham Fuller’s memories are very evocative. I had a drink with Robbie Salamon as a result of this site and we had tea with Peter Tame and Matron in Wimborne. It was wonderful to meet them after 50 years. I have also met Smee who was at Dutton Homestall, Gordon Shelford’s stepson. And I have kept up with Jeremy Snow all these years. He went on to Ardingly. simon_neave@hotmail.com 

    By Simon Neave (22/08/2016)
  • I wonder if anyone would remember me at all? I was known as St Clair Hone and I attended Brunswick from September 1956 to 1958. My father was seconded to London as the Foreign Affairs attaché at The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland House on 429 The Strand, London. In 1958 he was asked to return to Rhodesia so I departed from Brunswick. However his return was delayed and I spent a further year at a school called The Mall in Twickenham. I happened to be looking through names of schools in England and came across Brunswick where you touched on a number of very familiar names like Mr Goldsmith, our Head Master, Mr Leeds Harrison, our Deputy. Peter Thame (who attended the same University as my father, Rhodes in Grahamstown South Africa) and Mr Poole who taught Latin to us children… I am sure with a little bit of prodding I could remember a few more names. Do you recall some of the pupils who were our contemporaries? Christopher Deans whom I think was the eldest, then Michael I think and then Deans Minimus!!! Salaman is another, cannot recall his christian name. Mr Streete, who taught English, Our school mate Leslie Byrne who opened the bowling for Brunswick. Gosh the list goes on. I would very much like to hear from our contemporaries – my email address is – honemail@zol.co.zw

    With kind regards

    St Clair (now known as Sinks Hone)

    By St Clair Hone (22/11/2016)
  • I was at Brunswick from 1952 -1957.  I remember all the hardships well but of course all the good times as well.  To add to the nostalgia, anyone remember having a teaspoon of malt from Matron after lunch every day?  Cod liver oil used to repeat all day.  I have an old school photo in my possession 1957 – the year the shooting eight won three shooting shields under Peter Tame our maths teacher. The picture is too long to scan in one go, so I may need to do two scans and try and stitch it together.  Where are my grandchildren when I need them! Contact me on manley.family7@gmail.com

    By Gerald Manley (04/02/2017)
  • Slowly, slowly…they’re all crawling out of the woodwork!  I wish Michael Crow would write again…Manley, now.  I wish I could see a photo from those times.  Oh, yes: the green water in the swimming pool!  I don’t recollect cod liver oil particularly; but certainly the daily teaspoon of malt.  And always the putting course around the lawns.  Wasn’t there a train room?  And I had forgotten that Peter Tame was a product of Rhodes: I wonder why (Sinks?)?  Carefree days, indeed…

    By Christopher Godfrey (09/02/2017)
  • Hi, I am researching my family and on the 1841 census an ancestor appears to have been at a school for young ladies in Brunswick Place. There is a ‘governess’ aged 45, two teachers aged 20, fourteen pupils, all girls, aged from 10 to 17 and two servants (they must have been kept busy).  I wonder if anyone has any information about this.

    By Jacquie Butler (19/02/2017)
  • My name is Gavin Peck and I came across this site whilst speculatively searching for Goldman. I am one of four boys who all attended Brunswick – Quentin in Cornwall during the war, Christopher (aka Rab) c 1945 – 1949, myself 1949 – 1957 and Julian 1957 – 1962/3. It is fascinating to read the comments and see so many familiar names. Hope this won’t be too boring. Leslie Byrne was a good friend and a very good sportsman. He and I had a pretty successful partnership in the 1st XI football and 1st VX rugger teams. Peter Thame was master i/c small bore shooting. I recall that we entered various competitions and did pretty well, with Martin Newman being especially good. One competition was 50 yards so, as the gym was too short, Peter filled an old tea chest with sand and placed it with the targets in the hedge bordering the neighbouring girls’ school. Not something one could do nowadays. I guess Peter told the girls when we would be shooting as there were no catastrophes. Leeds Harrison  was a very tall deputy head master with a taste for fast cars – AC?, Lagondaand  setting the bonfire alight using a rocket running along a wire from a tree into the middle of the stack. Who taught maths? Goldman with his one eye taught Latin which I greatly enjoyed. Eric Streete taught music. Which reminds me of a music master, whose name I cannot recall, who claimed to have been in the Royal Marines during the war and held us all in thrall with his tales of daring do. It transpired they were all nonsense. He didn’t last long and left rather precipitately for reasons which were not explained. Of the Udens she was the cook and he the general handyman. The Dean brothers arrived shortly before I left. One was about six when he arrived with his brother. We nicknamed him Chicko as he was so small. I remember, at the ripe old age of 13, looking at him and thinking to myself, golly I must have been the same size when I first arrived in 1949. Mr Poole who was master i/c football and rugger and taught Geography and Maths, I think. Some names of other boys whom I remember: Claudet, Paton, Baber, Fell, Michael Salamon (sorry to hear he died of cancer), the Summers brothers, Mowbray, the Darch brother who lived in Rio (I think), Tarrant, Peskett, Higgins, Hone. I remember playing rugger, football and cricket against Belmont, Ardingly Junior and Ashfold. I can’t remember the others. It was great to play away at Belmont – their after game teas were to die for, especially their meringues. I remember Graham Fuller’s comment about running down to the swimming pool to swim naked in some pretty dirty water and the inkwell and bend pen nibbs. Gerald Manley’s comment reminds me about the daily dose of malt- yuck. That’s it for the moment.

    By Gavin Peck (09/03/2017)
  • I wonder if anyone remembers Denys and Michael Long who were evacuated to Cornwall with Brunswick during WWII? Denys, the older boy, was my father and he has sadly died but I would love to hear any memories of him.

    By Victoria Taberman-Pichler (13/07/2017)
  • Greetings to the the Ole Brunswickians, especially to Gavin Peck, Chris Godfrey et al…Talking of Peter Tame – yes went to Rhodes Uni in Grahamstown, South Africa and later married one of the matrons, whose name escapes me for a moment. Chris Godfrey would probably remember? The Deans Brothers came from Tanganyika – there was Deans major, minor and minimus. Gosh Gavin, you have triggered many memories. If you do happen to find a way to scan that school photograph I would be very interested to receive it. My email address is honemail@zol.co.zw. I have been very remiss not to have replied to Peter Claudet. Did Mr Poole not teach Latin in the classroom at the bottom of the stairs and next to the coal heating room? I would very much like to hear from all of you. Warm regards, Sinks Hone

    By Sinks Hone (31/07/2017)
  • It is encouraging that ‘Old Brunswickians’ are still finding this site and adding their memories. I have kept all my Chronicles from the early ’50s which I find invaluable for reference. Gavin Peck – thank you for remembering me, we were both born in 1943, but you must have joined at the age of six, whereas I didn’t join until nine. You were always a class year ahead of me and possibly one of the youngest in your class. This didn’t stop you from being top in the early part with several stars and prizes listed as well. A quick extract from a 1954 chronicle headed ‘Characters of the XV’ – G.Peck (wing threequarter) Small, anxious and half starved, he is never daunted and with his intelligent grasp of the game he is Brunswick’s hope for years to come. The music master you mentioned was Roy Gregory. He once conducted us in a choir one Christmas at Haywards Heath Church, I have a photo of it. Other teachers I haven’t seen mentioned on this site yet are Mr Marjoribanks and Miss Dawson, who I believe later married. I have an undying affection and gratitude for Miss Dawson who swam out and saved me from drowning in Shoreham Harbour. One of the masters had a -man canoe and some of us were taken there for the day, what we had done to deserve this treat I can’t remember. When I was paired up with Newman for our turn we managed to row out too far and turn it over. We had no life jackets and as I couldn’t swim I clung onto the upturned canoe until rescued. Sinks Hone – always pleased to hear from you when you get a chance. If anyone wants to contact me my email address is pjclaudet@yahoo.com.

    By Peter Claudet (10/10/2017)
  • Hi, a while back after I sent a posting I mentioned that I had a school picture from 1957.  I have now managed to scan it, and would offer you the chance to put it on your site.  Unfortunately I have lost your email address.  I can sent the picture in a JPEG format if that is OK.  Regards and happy New Year.  Gerald

    Hello Gerald, please follow this link for details on how to upload your photo: http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page.aspx?id=10588

    Many thanks, web editor.

    By Gerald Manley (01/01/2018)
  • The article says that Churchill’s last visit to the town was in 1952. Not true. My aunt worked at Hockleys Hotel at the bottom of Preston Street and she came home from a Sunday morning shift c. 1963 announcing that Churchill was going to the Dudley Hotel at the bottom of Lansdowne Place that afternoon. I had a small Kodak Colorsnap camera at the time and grabbed it to take a photo when – horror! – no film in the camera. In those days nothing was open on a Sunday, so no chance of buying a film from anywhere. He was due to arrive at 3.00 and I got to the hotel at around 2.45 from where we lived in Brunswick Place. True enough, at 3 on the dot a car drew up in front of the Dudley and the front door opened, a man got out, opened the rear door and out stepped the very frail Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill. I was the only other person on that pavement, no more than ten feet away. I raised my empty camera and pretended to take a photo, saying ‘hello Sir Winston’… (I was a cheeky 13 year old!). He raised his stick free hand and waved at me, before slowly and I guess with some difficulty climbing the stairs to the hotel. I wish I could download the image from my memory to share with you… I wonder if anyone who worked at the Dudley is still around to corroborate my story?

    By Tony Hagon (24/01/2018)
  • Greetings Gerald Manley.If you have the scanned school photograph, would you kindly email it to me at honemail@zol.co.zw 

    Thank you Warm regards – Sinks Hone

    By SinksHone (27/03/2018)
  • Gerald Manley….who could ever forget the term you arrived at Brunswick.My highlight of the day was at meal times.You would stand up and address our Principal Mr Goldman in that wonderful English voice of yours,saying the food was not to your liking.You continued your protest for quite awhile.I always wanted to applause you,but made do with a grin on my face.Wonderful memories. J.F.R.

    By John Robson (05/06/2019)
  • I just received this from John Deans and am certain he will be pleased for me to put it up here:

    Hi everyone, just would like to connect with any of the old boys of this era. My brother and I joined in Hayward’s Heath and moved to Dutton Homestall. It would be nice to know how lives evolved as I think we are now mainly in our 70s. I do hope you are in good health Eric. We met on the closure event. Kind regards to everyone, to those still living.

    By Christopher Godfrey (11/06/2019)
  • Hi John Robson, I wonder if you have got the right boy! Prior to coming to Brunswick I lived a lot of my life in Montreal,Canada. I had a rather part Canadian accent which I lost at Brunswick. I don’t remember having the courage to stand up and complain about the food. Probably because I was used to a diet of plenty in Canada, and found the rather austere school dinners not to my taste. Especially the liver which was so hard it nearly broke your teeth!

    By Gerald Manley (27/07/2019)
  • Hiya, So pleased to have come across this. I see so few of my contemporaries but see lots of names I am familiar with.

    I am the youngest of the 4 Peck Boys to go the Brunswick: Quentin, Rab and Gavin.

    jhapeck@gmail.com (1956 to 1962)

    By Julian Peck (27/11/2019)
  • Reading Gavin Peck’s comment: “Leslie Byrne was a good friend and a very good sportsman.” I remember Byrne for 2 particular and sports events:-

    a) was at Haywards Heath – Football – when he got a lucky flick from a heel to score a close-up goal and his comment was “That’s how to do it.”

    b) At Dutton Homestall when I think we won the “Throwing the Cricket Ball” Competition.

    By Julian Peck (28/11/2019)
  • I have greatly enjoyed dipping into these comments every few years.
    This year Robbie Salamon I had lunch with Barrie Goldman- Head Mervyn Goldman’s second son, a school contemporary, 1955 to 1959)
    He is obviously well informed about the school & staff.

    He had a good career in the Royal Navy, ending up as a
    Commodore, the rank below Admiral.
    He attributed it to his navigation skills- perhaps a tribute to early maths teaching at Brunswick!
    He amused us by saying that most people think a Commodore is chairman of the local yacht club.

    By Simon Neave. (06/06/2020)
  • I could be wrong but I’m thinking that Churchill Square shopping centre is not named after him, but named so due to the fact its literally built right on top of the only then underground church in the country.
    https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/13945810.the-secret-story-of-brightons-underground-church/

    By Chris G (03/07/2020)
  • Has this project been reopened? I am testing it out first to see if anyone replies. The only latest info. That I have is, sadly Peter Tame died earlier this month. I was able to attend his funeral, which was held in Wimborne Minster last week and it was so sad that due to the rule ‘only 30 allowed in the Minster’ that was all that were in attendance! When I thought it out I was the oldest there having known him for over 40 years! I now live in an apartment, owned by me with uninterrupted views across to the South Downs – it couldn’t be better! The address is: Blenheim Court, Apartment 15, Farnham Road, LISS, Hants. GU33 6JA and the phone number:
    01730 894987.

    By Eric streete (26/10/2020)
  • I remember P.G.Tame. He taught Maths and ran the shooting club. I have the school photograph from 1957. You are sat next to Mr Tame. I have scanned it in three parts if you would like me to email them to you. Have you still got all that hair, looks very modern now! email address is manley.family7@gmail.com Regards to all Gerald Manley.

    By Gerald Manley (19/11/2020)
  • Just replied to Gerald’s post, enquiring about getting a copy of that photo taken in 1957. Checking my treasure trove of pics I find I have a couple of school photos taken about 1963, also of Mr Thame officiating at the summer sports day, showing me winning the long jump. It was a great day for the Fuller family as my parents were on home leave from overseas to witness my brother winning the junior victor ludorum with me coming second in the senior ludorum, losing out to Turner. My mother carried the trophies out of the gym hall in her upturned hat. g_fuller@bigpond.net.au for those interested.

    By Graham (18/12/2020)
  • Great to hear from Julian Peck who must have read my most recent post. Exchanged some words and a few pictures. Really stirred the memory pots.

    By Fuller Graham (11/01/2021)
  • I am one of four Peck brothers, all of whom went to Brunswick School between 1939 and 1962. I was at Brunswick in Haywards Heath between 1945 and 1949. I wonder how many of those of that era are still with us today? It must have been a daunting experience for the school and its teachers to return to Haywards Heath from Michaelstow after the Army had requisitioned and then occupied the house and grounds for four years. Upon reflection, wasn’t Brunswick School extraordinarily well set up to be a very good Prep School. The main, impressive, ivy covered house was a very solid and suitable building. There was the beautiful little chapel next to the squash court, we had a tennis court, a tarmac covered play ground, a cricket pavilion which over looked the excellent cricket ground, we had a swimming pool – a bit murky at times – we had a gym, a great deal of grassed space on which we could all play and we had a sports field down the road on which to play Football and Rugby. Immediately after the end of the War, how many other Prep Schools in this country were so well equipped to look after 60 boarding school boys who slept in single beds in six dormitories. We were still in the thick of food rationing so how we were all fed remains a mystery. I recall Gerald Simmons, David Lewis-Bowen and Candy Hitchin. Some things that have stuck in my memory: being christened and confirmed in 1949 by Bishop Crotty at St.Wilfred’s Church in HH, being taken to Twickenham to watch England play Scotland, when someone in the kitchen accidentally put salt in the custard, diving in the murky waters of the pool to recover enamel plates from the bottom, when the ink in the inkwells froze in the classroom at the far end of the gym – we were told to just get on with it and use pencils instead – we were taken to Brighton to watch Sussex play in a 1st class game of cricket, the choir singing Christmas carols in the hall and up the main staircase, the treat of Mr Goldman reading to us on Sunday evenings in his office – King Solomon’s mines terrified us – of course, the obligatory spoonful of malt, the instant dismissal of a master due to “inappropriate behaviour”, being punched on my nose, which then bled profusely, during a compulsory but unwelcome boxing completion. I have always been immensely grateful to MG, to L-H and to all at Brunswick School for the quality of their teaching and for the superb start they gave me for my life that followed. Rab Peck.

    By Rab (C.E.) Peck (12/01/2021)
  • I should have said, my three brothers, Quentin, Gavin and Julian started their times at Brunswick School in 1939, 1949 and 1957. Rab Peck.

    By Rab Peck (12/01/2021)
  • Gerald Manley: “Especially the liver which was so hard it nearly broke your teeth!” I remember nothing of Brunswick School meals – with the exception of that Liver – Haywards Heath – full of tubes!! Put me off liver for several years.

    By Julian Peck (13/01/2021)
  • Having touched base with Julian Peck, and obtaining a school picture (in three parts and creased from being in a trunk for many years), my son has refurbished it and turned it into one, long photo. It was taken in the summer of ‘57. It’s not brilliant quality but is something I have been chasing for years. If anybody wants a copy just email me at g_fuller@bigpond.net.au

    By Graham (14/01/2021)
  • I have tried to set up a FaceBook Page for Brunswick.

    Any comments or advice would be helpful: jhapeck@gmail.com

    Please Share.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/241749237349953

    By Julian Peck (15/01/2021)
  • Seems to have sprung to life this message board so I thought perhaps a few more memories might be welcome. Do any of you remember some of the “Crazes” that were popular at Brunswick. Marbles in the playground, making parachutes with your hanky. Then the springs that went downstairs. Towing dinky toys on string and racing them in the playground. Then the submarines which came with the Sunday breakfast cornflakes and you put a tiny bit of baking soda in the base and then it went up and down in the sinks in the locker room.

    How about the drill that we had to do once a week. 5 minutes for each item of clothing, 10 minutes for talking in class. If you accumulated 60 minutes it was the basting spoon, and that hurt. I remember doing drill when I had to carry a heavy cast iron bench around the upper cricket field with another boy. We swopped ends half way round, and we both had bruised calves and shins. Happy days. The chart for the weeks drill was kept in a window alcove between the library and dining room so you could easily see your weekly total and look forward to Wednesday afternoon when you would be required to do your time.

    Any one fancy a quiz? 1. How about naming the teachers left to right. 2. What was your locker number. 3. What were the shields awarded for in the picture.

    Regards to you all Gerald Manley

    By Gerald Manley (16/01/2021)
  • By Julian Peck (19/01/2021)
  • G’day to all you surviving old Brunswickian stalwarts….just trying to sort out some early-life family timelines. Can anyone tell me when the first term, after the move to Dutton Holmestall in 1958, occurred. Would help me pencil-in flight dates, from Malaya, needed to arrive in time for school at the new location. Cheers, Graham Fuller.

    By Fuller Graham (03/02/2021)
  • Gerald Manley, Julian Peck and Graham Fuller, here are what I recall of the staff names, with two or three exceptions, reading left to right: Messrs. Bell, Gray and Poole; then an un-named assistant matron, and then Ann whose surname I forget — the future Mrs. Tame; then M.G and Mrs. Goldman; L-H and Mrs. L-H; then that must be the art mistress whose classroom was at far end of the gym; Miss Abel-Smith and her dog Cara (they came from Herne Bay); Eric Streete and Peter Tame outflanked by someone whom I only vaguely recognize and cannot name…

    In the photo I am gradually recognizing faces and can put names to plenty; but some remain mysteriously anonymous, alas! Thanks for having forwarded it on to me, Graham in Oz!

    In the accompanying article to which one of you gave a link re Dutton Homestall, there is mention of Brunswick; but not the other establishment with which we amalgamated — whence came Mr. Shelford: what school was that, I wonder? This was some years before Stoke ever came into the picture. Remember the glorious sandstone “cliffs” on the left side, halfway down the driveway that we used to climb up and down? And back in Haywards Heath, the little “garden plots” we used to cultivate near the tennis court? And the putting course: we never had at Ashurstwood, did we?

    By Christopher Godfrey (18/02/2021)
  • How nice to hear from you Christopher or, more correctly, Godfrey! First up, are you in the pic now uploaded onto the Facebook site? My, some years have passed since those halcyon days, have they not. Remember your ‘Once in Royal David City’ role at Dutton Holmestall. Also remember a choir master tiptoeing down the aisle at the Sunday church service in the Great Hall and being ordered to STOP singing! Do you have suitable pics for the FB website. Some more dialogue would flow from them I suspect. Catch you over ‘there’ hopefully. 👍

    By Graham Fuller (18/02/2021)
  • Of course! We did use the Great Hall at DH for Sunday services, didn’t we? With the Rev. David Ticehurst officiating (I think Eric Street said that he is long dead now) — nice man, David Ticehurst, wasn’t he? I think everyone loved him? And remember those masters who joined us at DH? Commander MacFarland, ex-RNVR; Mr. Williams, the redhead; Monsieur Noel, who had flown Hurricanes for the Free French; Mr. Moodie and Mr. Nash and Mr. Janes who had beautiful, tiny hand-writing? This latter married the pretty German assistant matron! We also had a Mr. Taylor for history and was the art master a Mr. Chin or a Mr. Batty?
    David Ticehurst and I sang a piece out of the Bach Christmas Oratorio, one year, in St. Wilfred’s, when still in Haywards Heath — probably our last winter there.
    The size of the school must have increased somewhat on our move to DH: so many masters, in addition to Mr. Shelford and Mrs. Smee! Did MG not come to East Grinstead at all, then? L-H, definitely not…

    By Christopher Godfrey (18/02/2021)
  • Just a reminder to Old Brunswickians or Leavers or Stoke of our FaceBook Page.
    Great comments and photos of both HH and DH. Please join us.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/241749237349953/?multi_permalinks=387411902783685&notif_id=1631438256740383&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif

    By Julian Peck (12/09/2021)
  • This facebook page that Graham Fuller and Julian Peck have started is really worthwhile and a fun read: lots of photos and names galore! Memories of a lifetime ago…

    By Christopher Godfrey (17/09/2021)
  • School photo: Lent 1957. If you would like one in Adobe, please let me know.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2978034179112316&set=gm.396344788557063

    By Julian Peck (26/09/2021)
  • David B. Porter (28/08/2006): Did you go to Brunswick with either of my brothers: Quentin or Rab?

    By Julian Peck (03/07/2022)
  • Churchill began boarding at seven at St. George’s School in Berkshire, then transferred to Brunswick School in Hove, and finally graduated from the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst on his third attempt.

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