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Class photograph c1947

I Remember some faces

This is a photo of a class group taken at Queens Park Infants school probably around 1947. I am not absolutely sure about this as photo not dated. I am at the very back of class far right between two boys, I remember some of the faces; Donald Japes, Peter Burton, Wendy Trollope.

Was it Miss Divall?

I think the teacher’s name was Miss Divall but I am not sure. The headmistress was Miss Goldring and her breath always smelled of garlic (though I did not know that was the smell at the time). Funny the things you remember.

See someone you recognise?

I now live in the beautiful golf village of Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA, but I still have very happy memories of Brighton. If you can identify yourself, or anyone else in this photo, please leave a message below.

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

Class photograph c1947
From the private collection of Gwen Healy

Comments about this page

  • The wooden boxes were still in use in 1961 when I was there, they were used to keep the pupils’ paper and pencils in. Each box had the pupils’ name taped on it. Miss Goldring was still headmistress in the 60s, but I don’t remember her smelling of garlic, thankfully.

    By Michael Brittain (25/06/2011)
  • Whose Who in this picture taken around 1947. I am in the very back row at the right, with a boy on each side of me. I see Wendy Trollop and her half brother Peter Burton, in the centre of the picture to the left, Ann Goldring, front, glasses, bow in hair arms crossed, and Paul Japes, front rght . See how many others you can name.

    By Gwen Healy (nee Barnes) (13/10/2012)
  • Ms Divall was one of my teachers at QP. Didn’t she have a gammy leg? Wore a huge surgical boot? Lovely woman.

    By Gill Wales (17/11/2012)
  • I went to QP Infants in around 1968. I remember Miss Dival but she was a lot older then and she did have thick what locked like surgical stockings and squeaky leather boots. I remember her wearing prim skirt suits and in my minds eye she looks like a Ena Sharples with her hair in a net and always looking at me with suspicion.In fact having just looked at a picture of Ena Sharples she is a ringer for Miss Dival who sadly appears not to have married. I am not 100 percent sure but I think she may have died whilst I was at the school. I remember the sand pit in the southern left hand side of the playground. It never got the sun so was always wet all year round. I remember sports day when they hung ropes from the shed and we had to try to climb them. I also remember the little beds metal and canvas we had to sleep on in the nursery class and vague memories of the interior of class 5 and 6 or 4 and 5 and the main hall. I had Jane Hallet, Ady Inka (Taylor), and Jimmy Mitchel and Joy Dochaty in my class. Happy memories really!

    By Caroline Burnard (nee Fensom) (17/02/2021)

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