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Morning assembly

This photograph was given to me in 1989 by Mr Donald Smith who was the deputy headmaster at the school when I left in 1959.

I am not in shot so I assume it was taken after 1959. The photograph was taken from behind E.J.Deller who was the then Head; it was taken in the canteen and may have been ‘morning assembly’.

Do you recognise yourself or anyone else? Do you have memories of the school. If you can share your memories, please leave a comment below.

Click on the photograph to open a large version in a new window. Click again on the image to further enlarge.

Knoll School
From the private collection of Michael Clark

Comments about this page

  • Assembly was in the “canteen” week day mornings except Thursdays when the girls let us use the gym. Although I left school on 24th July 1959, when I was in 4G, all my form stayed on to do ‘O’ levels. I can name nearly all the boys sitting in the “kitchen” where the meals were re-heated. If you use the link to “Knoll School for Boys quiz team circa 1959” you will find lots of references to Barrie Tutte a school mate of mine. He is the first one in from the left in the “kitchen”, then unknown, Maurice Lloyd, unknown, Chris Cole and the rest to follow later. Beneath Maurice Lloyd is Dennis Talbot (ex Head Boy). Recently Chris Cole, Dennis Talbot and myself met up for the first time in over fiftytwo years for a tour I had arranged of the Knoll Business Centre as it is now. What memories were shared and although it rained, it became a very special day for all three of us. I must post the photos on the web site. Are you local Michael? There is a meeting of the Knollites Group coming up on Monday 25th June 2012 (1400 – 1600) at St Richards Hall, Egmont Road, Hove. £3 gets you a cupper, biscuits and a chat from a guest speaker. Most important is meeting up with old school colleagues and sharing memories. I hope you can make it and bring any more photos you think we would like to see. If you want any further information my email address is mrhookham@yahoo.co.uk.

    By Mike Hookham (18/06/2012)
  • Hello Michael Clark: I remember the morning assemblies well. I am not in the picture but to my surprise who do I see but Richard Boal who left with me for Canada in March 1966. Your name also rings a bell in my memory. There was a Clark family living on Ingram Crescent, any connection? mpusey@sympatico.ca

    By Mike Pusey (22/06/2012)
  • Hi Michael, I have set up a Facebook Knoll Boys page and if its OK with you I would like to add this photo to the many that are already there from the 50s 60s and 70s. https://www.facebook.com/Knoll.Boys

    By Derek Mann (24/06/2012)
  • Hi Derek, yes please feel free to use/copy the photo- I’ll check that Facebook page out. I have some photocopies of pages from the school magazine and will fish them out sometime and add to either this page or Facebook.

    By Michael Clark (08/07/2012)
  • Hi Michael. On the Air Training Corp Squadron 2278 etc website. In the first photo, are you kneeling, second from the right, next to Mike Pusey? I have recently made contact with Mike and he wasn’t sure. Settle a bet! Regards, Mike Hookham

    By Mike Hookham (09/07/2012)
  • Hi Michael. On the adjacent ATC Squadron website, are you pictured in the first photograph, second row and second from the right (the guy is on one knee) next to Mike Pusey? I have had input from Mike Pusey, Chris Cole and Dennis Talbot regarding the “Morning Assembly”. They agree it may turn out that it isn’t a morning assembly at all but was held suddenly one afternoon before the boys broke for their ATC / Boys Brigade etc meetings after school. The result is classified, so to receive the result contact me via my website mrhookham@yahoo.co.uk. Regards to you all, Mike Hookham

    By Mike Hookham (10/07/2012)
  • Hi Mike. Yes thats me kneeling, second right next to Mike Pusey. I’m going to email Mike because he used to live near me in Ingram Crescent and I have some photos that I took just before the demolition started. I’ll email re “Morning Assembly” I’m sure this was taken after I had left “The Knoll”. I left in the summer of 1959 having managed to get a trainee position as a television engineer with a local television rental company, Family Television. Because I wasn’t 15 until the September I had to stand down on paid leave until after that date, (to young for NI cover) this allowed me to go to RAF Duxford for the annual camp, great time.

    By Michael Clark (16/07/2012)
  • Hi Michael. Thanks for settling that bet. You mention that Mr Donald Smith (Metalwork?) and also Deputy Head in 1959, gave you the photo in 1989. What were the circumstances then, as it was thirty years later, and did he know of any reason for the “Assembly”? I have had suggestions from Chris Cole and Dennis Talbot. I understand you may have been a year behind us. You also say that you lived near Mike Pusey in Ingram Crescent (what number) and have photos before the demolition. I lived in 19 Ingram Square until my Dad died in 1962. You should put those photos up on the website. Finally, in the RAF Duxford picture, is that Ken Feek to your right with David (Sid) Ellis behind him? No bets involved this time. Regards, Mike Hookham

    By Mike Hookham (20/07/2012)
  • I am Peter O’Shea I lived at 133 Ingram Crescent with my 2 sisters Patricia and Pauline. Michael Pusey I think lived at 145.

    By Peter O'Shea (21/07/2012)
  • Well it’s nice to hear about old Ingram Crescent. The Lloyd’s lived at 131, at 135 was the Withams?

    By Peter OShea (22/07/2012)
  • Hello Mr Peter O’Shea. You are correct – I did live at 145 Ingram Crescent for a number of years before moving to 125 Godwin Road near the Knoll School. You mentioned the Withams, if you look closely at the Morning Assembly photograph you will find Dennis Witham, Frank Furlong, my brother Peter Pusey and Malcolm Rainbow who will be visiting me this month in Canada, he lived at number 127 around the corner from you. If you look at the 1st picture of the ATC photograph you will find Michael Clark also from Ingram Crescent. Could you send me your email address so that we can keep in contact? Mike Pusey email: mpusey@sympatico.ca

    By Mike Pusey (23/07/2012)
  • Hi Peter O’Shea. Thank you for Mike Pusey’s number of 145 Ingram Crescent and I think you are right. Did you go to the Knoll Boys and when (maybe your sisters went to the Knoll Girls)? What happened to you and your family when Ingram Crescent was demolished?

    By Mike Hookham (23/07/2012)
  • I believe there may have been a photographic club at the school, so this photo may have been taken by a member of that club.

    By Michael Clark. (09/08/2012)
  • Hello, I lived in Ingram Crecent from 1949 until 1957 at no 169. If you have any photos of any of the houses before demolition I would appreciate you sending them to me. Thanks

    By Annette Smickler O'Malley (18/08/2012)
  • For those who were at the Knoll from about 1960-65 (not sure of the exact years), this is a message for anyone who remembers Mike Embden who died of cancer on Tuesday, August 21st. Mike went from the Knoll to Brighton Art School. He was a very talented artist and became a very fine painter, mainly of landscapes. A very good friend. Condolences to his family.

    By Rod Allison (25/08/2012)
  • First of all please allow me to offer commiserations on Michael’s recent demise. I too attended The Knoll and I’m almost certain that Michael was in the same class/year as me. Perhaps we even attended the same Primary School, ‘Portland Road.’ It was from reading his obituary in The Times, that his name struck a bell. My main ambition as a 15/16 year old was to leave Hove as soon as possible, this I managed to achieve by joining the Royal Marines at the age of 16, and then going on to follow whatever star that was navigating me. But strangely all my memories prior to that seem to have disappeared, either to my subconsciousness or maybe because they never bore any meaning to my day to day existence. But now I’m back in the UK with plenty of time to reflect and reading Michael’s obituary they’re gradually coming into focus. It’s unlikely, but maybe someone may remember me…

    By Graham Fisher (02/09/2012)
  • Just found this site courtesy of Rob Denny and Facebook. I remember Michael and his brother Paul well; both talented artists. Great to see names from the past- both ‘Knoll Academy’ and Ingram Crescent. I lived at 121 and of course remember the O’Shea’s, Pusey’s, Lloyds, both sets of Williams, Micky Rainbow and many many more. Distance of course lends enchantment but what the hell. Graham Fisher; how could you be forgotten….maybe a re-union? I find names like Rob Denny, Derek ‘boo-boo’ Gough, George Bailey Peter Harrison all on Facebook. Sorry to hear about Michael.

    By David Pitman (15/09/2012)
  • That is me diagonally down left of the boy wearing the white BB sash. Gosh, I do look worried!

    By Tony Robinson (21/10/2012)
  • It was so nice to read all the comments from people of Ingram Crescent. I lived at 98 and remember Michael Clark, Malcom Rainbow and many others. I also remember when Peter O’Shea fell out of the bedroom window breaking both wrists, we also fell out over his bike (my fault). I’ve already emailed Mike Pusey so it would be nice to hear from you all.

    By David Steer (10/11/2012)
  • David Steer, right by the lamp post if I remember. Question for all of Ingram Crescent: should there be a reunion? I  saw Teddy Jackson the other day. 

    Dear David,
    Sorry but we have had to edit your post. We are no longer allowing the posting of requests to find third parties, as sharing information like this breaches their privacy. We recommend you try Friends Reunited website if you want to track old friends or neighbours.
    Comments Editor

    By David Pitman (19/11/2012)
  • Our next meeting of the Knollites Social Group is on Monday 25th February 2013 (2.00pm to 4.00pm) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont road, Hove. It is also our AGM so we expect quite a gathering. £3 entry also provides you with tea/coffee plus biscuits and a talk by Bob Cairns on local history. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (05/02/2013)
  • Our next meeting of the Knollites Social Group is on Monday 25th March 2013 (2.00pm to 4.00pm) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP. It is still only £3 entry and provides the usual refreshments. Our guest speaker is Chris Dimmer who is a Crime Prevention Officer and he will be accompanied by two Community Police Support Officers. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (12/03/2013)
  • The next Knollites Group social meeting is on Monday 20th May 2013 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Entry is still £3 and provides you with refreshments. Our guest speaker is Clive Hamblin who will talk us through “100 years an Hour”, from 1900 to 2000 using newspaper items, poems and songs.

    By Mike Hookham (09/05/2013)
  • The next Knollites Group social meeting is on Monday 29th July 2013 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Entry is still £3 and provides you with refreshments. Our guest speaker is the very popular Ian Gledhill who will talk about “Art and Illusion”, the story of stage scenery from Sophocles to Spiderman. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (14/07/2013)
  • Our next Knollites Group (formally “Old Knollians”) social meeting is on Monday 23rd September 2013 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Entry is £3 and provides you with refreshment. Our guest speaker is Peter Hill, a retired proprietor Community Pharmacist, who will give a light hearted account of his life called “Pills, Potions and Patience” which includes a display of pharmaceutical memorabilia. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (07/09/2013)
  • Our next Knollites Group social meeting is on Monday 25th November 2013. Same place, same time and same price. (See above) Our Guest Speaker is Ian Gledhill who will talk about the seasonal subject of “The Magic of Pantomime”. See you there. Details of the Reunion and Christmas Party, on Monday 9th December 2013, will follow later.

    By Mike Hookham (09/11/2013)
  • The Knoll Boys and Girls School Reunion and Christmas Party is on Monday 9th December 2013 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Wives, husbands or partners are most welcome too. At £3.00 per person this includes a glass of wine and a mince pie on arrival and a Buffet with either tea or coffee. We have semi-professional singers to entertain us including a medley of songs from famous shows, carols of course and John Beever to round it all off. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (26/11/2013)
  • And that’s me next to Tony Robinson directly in front of the boy with the White BB sash. My brother Peter is behind the same boy but to his left as you view the picture.

    Why do we all look as if we are having a collective nervous breakdown? 

    By Alan Jones (07/02/2014)
  • Monday February 24th 2014 is a date for your diary as we are not only having our Knollites Group Social Meeting but also our 5th AGM. You are most welcome. The time 2.00pm to 4.00pm, the same place and still the same price (for venue and price - see above). Bob Cairns is our speaker on Local History. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (12/02/2014)
  • Hi Alan Jones and anybody else, I may be able to shed some light as to the cause of the meeting. Contact me on mrhookham@yahoo.co.uk

    By Mike Hookham (14/02/2014)
  • Our next Knollites Group Social Meeting is on Monday 24th March. Come along and meet us at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Bring photos, lots of memorabilia including any copies of The Weathervane magazines you may have, plus £3.50 and this will also not only provide you with refreshments but a talk from our guest speaker Ian Gledhill about the History of Brighton Trams. See you there.  

    By Mike Hookham (11/03/2014)
  • See you at the next Knollites Group Social Meeting on Monday 19th May. Same time, same place and the same price of £3.50 (for more details - see above). Our guest speaker is Mike Barker from the Air Ambulance Service and hear about their life-saving work.

    By Mike Hookham (06/05/2014)
  • Our next Knollites Group Social Meeting is on Monday 28th July. Come along to St Richards Community Centre from 2.00pm to 4.00pm and meet up with old friends and make new ones. £3.50 entry also provides you with refreshments and Peter Hill is our Guest Speaker who will enlighten us about our Sussex Windmills. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (16/07/2014)
  • It is with great sadness that I add to this page the news that Peter O`Shea, age 70 years, who lived for a number of years at 133 Ingram Crescent and attended the Knoll School from 1955 to 1959 has passed away on 14th August 2014 in the Philippines. RIP mate.

    By Michael Clark (15/08/2014)
  • I did not know Peter O’Shea personally, but I do know Michael Clark and Mike Pusey, who did, and have sent them my condolences. We are all mates in the School Photograph of 1959 – forever.

    By Mike Hookham (08/09/2014)
  • There will be a memorial service in rememberence of Peter O’Shea at St  Richards, Slindon’ West Sussex,at 12noon on Friday 10 October 2014. Peter died on 14 August 2014 in the Phillipines.

    By Michael Clark (12/09/2014)
  • Our next Knollites Group Social Meeting is on Monday November 24th at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £3.50 entry provides you with refreshments and also a talk from our Guest Speaker Fran Evans about Trading Standards and she will follow this up with a quiz. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (09/11/2014)
  • The Old Knoll Boys and Girls School Christmas Party and Reunion is on Monday 8th December 2014 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 6pm. Wives, Husbands and Partners are most welcome too. £5 entry per person provides you with a class of wine, food and entertainment will be provided by semi-professional singers with finally John Beever to round things off. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (27/11/2014)
  • Our next Knollites Group Social Meeting and 6th AGM is on Monday 23rd February at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm to 4pm. £3.50 entry also provides refreshments. The meeting will be followed with a talk on “Local History” by Bob Cairns. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (03/02/2015)
  • See you at our next Knollites Group Social Meeting on Monday 23rd March. Same place, same time and still the same price of £3.50 (for more details – see my entries above). Our Guest Speaker is Christine Simpson from AGE UK followed by my quiz.

    By Mike Hookham (10/03/2015)
  • Our Guest Speaker, at the next Knollites Group Social Meeting on Monday 18th May, is David Porter to talk about his life above a Railway Tunnel (Clayton). See you at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm to 4pm. £3.50 entry also provides refreshments.

    By Mike Hookham (06/05/2015)
  • Our first social meeting as Old Knollonians (ex – The Knollites Group) is on Monday 27th July at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. Entry is still only £3.50. Our Guest Speaker is Ian Gledhill who will explore the age of Edwardian musical comedy. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (13/07/2015)
  • See you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 21st September, same place, time and price (see above). Our Guest Speaker is Peter Hill who will take us from “Peggy’s Cove to Niagara Falls”. Don’t get wet.

    By Mike Hookham (10/09/2015)
  • The next Old Knollonians Social Meeting is on Monday 23rd November and still the same place, time and price. Our Guest Speaker is Alexandra Loske who will tell us about George IV and his Giraffe. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (12/11/2015)
  • Old Knollonians invite all Knoll School for Boys and Girls and their wives, husbands or partners to our Christmas Party and Reunion to be held on Monday December 7th at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 6pm. £5 entry per person will provide you with food, a glass of wine or a soft drink and entertainment. Come along and meet old chums or meet new ones. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (26/11/2015)
  • Dear Reg,
    Sorry but we have had to delete your post. We are no longer allowing the posting of requests to find third parties, as sharing information like this breaches their privacy. We recommend you try Friends Reunited website if you want to track old friends or neighbours.
    Comments Editor

    By Reg Dadswell (06/12/2015)
  • See you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting to be held on Monday February 8th at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm.£3.50 entry provides refreshment and a talk from our Guest Speaker Bob Cairns who asks “Did you know your Grandparents?”.

    By Mike Hookham (26/01/2016)
  • Our next Old Knollonian’s Social Meeting and AGM is on Monday 14th March at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £3.50 entry also provides refreshments. The meeting will be followed with a talk from a member of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (23/02/2016)
  • We look forward to seeing you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 23rd May. Same place, time and price of £3.50 (See entries above). At our last Social Meeting our Committee of now ten welcomed three new attendees. Very popular Ian Gledhill is returning to tell us “The Gilbert and Sullivan Story”. Hope to see you there.

    By Mike Hookham (12/05/2016)
  • See you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 14th November at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP. Same time and same price. Alison Edwards is our Guest Speaker to talk about “Money Matters” which could not have come at a better time just before our Christmas “spending spree”. Hope to see you there.

    By Mike Hookham (07/11/2016)
  • Our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting and AGM is on Monday 13th February. Still the same place, time and price of £3.50 (see the entries above). Bob Cairns is returning to talk to us about Family History Stories. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (07/02/2017)
  • I would like to welcome you to our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting to be held this Monday 27th March. Same time and place but the price has changed, only by 50p, to £4.00. Share your memories with a cuppa and a cake, and afterwards Chris Horlock will talk us through the “Lost Theatres of Brighton”. Hope to see you there.

    By Mike Hookham (21/03/2017)
  • Another Old Knollonians Social Meeting is lined up for Monday 22nd May. Still the same place, time and price as our last meeting. Ian Gledhill is returning to talk to us about “Golden Vienna”. Hope to see you.

    By Mike Hookham (16/05/2017)
  • Come along to our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting to be held this coming Monday 24th July and it is still at the same place, time and price. This time our Guest Speaker is Paul Green who is returning to talk to us about “Sussex Murders”. I hope it’s not mine.

    By Mike Hookham (18/07/2017)
  • The next Old Knollonians Social Meeting, which is also our AGM, is to be held on Monday 12th February at St. Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £4 entry includes refreshments and Bob Cairns is returning as our guest speaker with more of his family history stories. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (03/02/2018)
  • Our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting is on Monday 23rd July 2018 at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £4 entry includes refreshments and Chris Horlock returns as our Guest Speaker to talk about “Brighton in the 1950’s”. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (12/07/2018)
  • Come along to our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting this coming Monday 10th September 2018 at St. Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove, BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £4 entry includes refreshments and Phil Green returns as our Guest Speaker to follow up on his talk last year about “The Argus”.  

    By Mike Hookham (04/09/2018)
  • See you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 12th November 2018. Same place, time and price (see above). Peter Hill, our guest speaker, is returning but this time to talk about “A Weekend in Krakow”.

    By Mike Hookham (07/11/2018)
  • We “Old Knollonians” are growing stronger and our next Social Meeting is on Monday 23rd March 2020 at
    St. Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove
    BN3 7FP, from 2.00pm until 4.00pm.
    £4 entry welcomes you to a friendly atmosphere with refreshments and a talk relating to” Fraud and Scam Prevention” followed with some “Winter Energy Advice” Ron , you are invited as my Guest.

    By Mike Hookham (04/03/2020)
  • Hi Mike,
    Have just found the site and messages and photos bring back mostly good memories. My late father Ray Harvey was a maths teacher and I attended for some years. Also member of ATC reaching the high rank of corporal. once things get back to near normality I would like to attend one of the reunion days.

    By Paul Harvey (29/11/2020)
  • Hi Paul – your Dad taught me maths at Knoll and later at night school in 1977 (failed O level at School) I started a Knoll Boys FB page back in 2012 and have recently changed it to a Group. There are a few photos of your Dad on a trip to Germany with School in the 60s on it. Heres the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/713052839643456

    By Derek Mann (08/02/2021)
  • I seem to remember that the photo was used in a textbook as an example of ‘A school assembly’. I think by brother Setephen’s son pointed it out to him.

    By Tony Robinson (23/10/2021)

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