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School photo from the 1930s

Taken circa 1930s

I recently came across the attached photo of my father in law who was a student at Varndean Grammar School in the 1930s. I believe the photo was taken in about 1937 or 1938. Jack Manning, (my father in law) is in the second row down on the right.

A famous ‘old boy’

Jack went to school with Sir Paul Scofield, whose ‘Time‘ obituary states ”At Varndean School for Boys, in Brighton, he played Juliet and Rosalind, but showed no interest in further education and left in his mid-teens”. It is possible therefore that he is also present in the photo, though I have no idea where.

Recognise yourself here

As most of the boys in the photo would be in their 80s by now, identification of individuals might be difficult. But if you do recognise yourself or anyone else, please leave a comment below.

Click on the photo to open a large version in a new window.

Varndean Grammar School
From the private collection of Don McBeth

Comments about this page

  • I have recently scanned a lot of my dad’s pictures, he was at Varndean in the mid to late 1930s. In a couple of them he identifies ‘Scofield’ as one of the boys, along with others of his friends, unfortunately he hasn’t put the christian names. Could this be the same Scofield? There is every possibility that my father knew your father in law, though I can’t see him in this school picture.

    By Leoni Alexander (01/12/2011)
  • I think Paul Schofield is ninth from the left in the fourth row from the top. He is wearing a light coloured jacket and a dark tie.

    By Kathy Nichols (24/05/2012)
  • I have a full copy of this photo if anyone is interested. It’s one of those long full school ones. My husband’s uncle Colin Curtis is in it somewhere but I haven’t been able to identify him. He was born in 1926 so would have been one of the younger ones.

    By Heather Morgan (01/07/2014)
  • I too have a full panoramic school photo with my own father as a 16 year old student in 1936. He has only just died aged 96 and I have school reports, first reference and a school cap (!) which has survived the years and several moves!

    By Sara J A Baker (30/04/2016)
  • My father Thomas Budgen was born in 1925, he went to Varndean  school, I would love to see the full photo if that’s possible.

    By Jan Hope (05/10/2016)
  • My uncle and my namesake, David Lawrence, is ninth from the left in the back row. I believe he became Head Boy before leaving Varndean to become a local architect.

    By David Lawrence (15/12/2016)
  • My father Edwin Frank Candlin left Varndean College in 1930. Would he have attended this school?

    By Margaret GIBBS (18/03/2019)
  • Would like to find a photo of Geoffrey Augustine Broughton Tower who attended this school around 1933- 1936 when he left to join airforce. Thanks

    By Samantha Evangelista (05/06/2019)
  • My father, Bert Hoare, is in the first row seated from the bottom and nine in from the right, wearing a lighter coloured jacket. I also attended Varndean from 1959 to 1965.

    By Martin Hoare (08/07/2019)
  • Heather, I would love a copy of the school photo! Let me know if you still have one and would be interested in sharing. I will happily pay for the photo and any shipping costs!! My husband attended Varndeen from 1936 til 1946.

    By Charlotte Howard (22/10/2019)
  • If anyone has pictures from 1936 to 1946 I would appreciate any copies. I will pay for any costs for the photos and shipping. My husband was William Derek Howard. Thank you!

    By Charlotte Howard (25/10/2019)
  • Does anyone have a copy of the 1930’s school photo at Varndean boys school? I would like to have one and would appreciate any information on how to obtain one. Thank you!

    By Charlotte Howard (20/05/2020)
  • I have a copy of the panoramic, whole-school photo of Varndean School for Boys, July 1936. My late uncle, Dennis Bennett, was a pupil aged just 12.

    I have no particular need of this photo, and wonder if any of the above contributors would like it?

    By Karen Holden (13/02/2021)
  • Margaret Gibbs. I doubt that your father would have attended Varndean Grammar school, as listed here as it was not built until 1931. I have checked the School records and see that your father attended York Place School which moved to the new buildings from the centre of Brighton. My records show that he started in 1921 and I therefore assume that he was born in 1920. The record shows that he went on to teach in Cardiff, and was then Principal of Oxford College of further education from 1961. It also records his work for the BBC and writing books on journalism. Paul.rawlinson11@btinternet.com

    By Paul Rawlinson (14/02/2021)
  • Paul Schofield was never knighted because he refused on several occasions. My father was at Varndean with him and they met each other regularly in Brighton in the latter years.

    By Martin Hoare (04/04/2021)
  • There is now a Facebook page for Old Varndeanians
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/534123754529308

    By Adrian Heft (27/09/2021)
  • I have just stumbled across this page. My father, Leslie Hopwood, attended Varndean school, having been born in June 1924 in Brighton and lived there until after WW2. I think I can see him at extreme top right in the picture.

    He was great friends with Ken Gardner who became my godfather.

    By Nick Hopwood (19/10/2023)

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