My grandparents lived in Newick Road. We used to visit every sunday back in the 1960s.  Even then, when I played out I knew I had to look after myself. My dad was one of thirteen children, all brought up at number 86 Newick Road, in a three bedroomed house.

Does anyone remember the Aurora Borealus (Northern Lights) round about 1934/5? They lit up the sky and from our Chailey Road doorstep it looked as though the Wild Park was on fire. Very scary!

I lived in Stonecross Road, then moved to the Crescent, then moved to Hillside till I married my husband, Phil, 26 years ago. I always think of Moulsecoomb as my home. My best time of all was when I lived at 42 The Crescent. My dad was George Coomber. They knocked our house down to build Jubilee Court. I wish I could see it again. If anyone has a photo, please get in touch. You may have been one of the motor bike boys who were always at our house?

Is the Danish Bacon Co still in Moulsecombe? I used to work there as receptionist and really enjoyed it. I think I was about 17-18 years old so it will have been about 1958! I lived in Moulsecombe too but can't remember the road, it was near Natal Road. I remember a Mr. Crook in Sales and a Thelma Wheatley, and her husband George.

I lived in Hillside from 1953 till 1963. Then when I got married, we lived in Chailey Rd for 20 years. I get very angry when I hear people knocking it as a bad area. I had some very good times there. I live in Newhaven now but I still miss moulsecoomb and the good times I had and all the good mates I had.

I used to live in Staplefield Drive, from 1966 to 1987. I loved it. I used to play bulldog with my mates Sarah and Nicola Carey, and my best friend was Carol Howe. Those were fun days, bring back those days. Moulescoomb is and was a good place to live. My mum still lives there. I'm 41 now.

I went to Moulsecoomb School from 1962 until 1966. It was then a mixed secondary school but with separate playgrounds for the boy and girls on each side of the assembly hall. The memory of these four years are not particularly good ones as the school was filled with monsterous creations that plagued our existence everyday, and I am not talking about the other kids, no indeed not, the teachers were the plague! Does anyone remember Mr (Mad) Tonks who took Religion and was prone to throwing his bible at your head if you did not know the right anwser? Or Mr Rex who took Maths, who made you stand in front of the blackboard and you had to write up a division and if a figure was wrong you felt his bamboo cane until you got it right! Wonderful methods of teaching. That is not to say that we were angels, indeed not, the truth is that most of us were a badly behaved bunch who did not have much time for school. Much more alluring in summer was the promenade and all its atrractions -much better than going to school! Does anyone remember the name of the then headmaster? Sadly I cannot remember many of the names of those in my class or in neighbouring classes, but I do remember an Edgar, and Roger Hellier, used to live in Mafeking Road, and a Wagner from Whitehawk. Perhaps I will remember other names then I can write an addendum to this. Moulsecoomb never had a good reputation and my experience there only proves the rule.

Alan i left Moulsecoomb back in 1958 I was in the infamous 4b, our teacher was Mr. Cox who was not aloud to give you the strap because he had broken a boy's wrist with one. Mr. Tonks was known as Teddy Boy Tonks because he wore Teddy-boy gear at school. Mr. Percy Pesket took science, Mr. Virgo took metalwork.
Mr. Pue a little welsh man, and probably the most popular teacher in the school, took woodwork. Mr. Elphick was the head master a very fair man who always listened to you before he gave you the strap. Its strange when you hear today of so much bullying going on in different schools because although Moulsecoomb was rough and ready I can't remember any bullying going on and if you wanted to learn I think our teachers were as good as any and the education was pretty good. If the art teacher, whose name was Mr. McClusky, should read this I still want the picture of a commando, that I did back please.

We moved to Birdham Road 6 years ago and were initially wary as we were told it was not a nice place and our house had been empty for a long time. Having lived all over Brighton I can honestly say that Moulsecoomb is where I feel most at home - I have never lived anywhere for this long a time! We have great neighbours and people are friendly once they know you are not trouble! The scenery around here is beautiful and I am very interested in the history, especially Moulsecoomb Place and Hodshrove Woods where the farm was. Any tips on further reading about these places would be gratefully received.

Liz - I remember Hodshrove farmhouse. In the late 1940's it was part of Moulsecoomb Junior School and housed four classes: two up and two down. When it was pulled down in about 1949/50, several people caught infantile paralysis, today's equivalent of polio. One of the teachers died, I think her name was Mrs Bannister. It was said there were 15 coats of wallpaper and the disease was blamed on that, but not sure how true that was. To get to school we had to go up a very rutty tree-lined lane past the farmhouse. I still have a bad scar from a fall in that lane.

Does anyone remember the grocers name of Quibell (hope I spelt that right!)?  They were in Coombe Road I think.  I remember Mr Quibell used to come round the houses for orders and to deliver.  A very nice man with all the charm of the old fashioned service that seems to have gone!

Alan - I also attended Moulsecoomb Boys from 1962 to around 1965.  With my trusty old school report (memory is not so clear without aids) I can add the following:  The headmaster at this time (a police background?) was Mr J. H Evans B.Sc. - he took no prisoners!!  I have a trendy Nuclear Disarmament activist (Francis Tonks) teaching English.  The book throwing (bible) which I attended featured a young priest (David ....(pns in his toes?)) from Mousecoomb Way R.C church resulting in severe slapping FROM a student.  Mr Cox was attending to history, whilst a trendy young fellow named John Sagar taught Maths and Science (he left to attend the 1964 Olympics and a new life).  A particular inquisitor of mine was dear Mr Johnson who taught X stream English and was a truly mean and sadistic soul.  Other joyous characters which come to mind are a particularly neurotic aging French mistress (suspected to have batted for the other side), the heavily bearded, trendy Art teacher (a strapping young fellow who drove an Alvis coupe), the little Welsh Woodwork teacher who seemed to get a lot of sawdust in the petrol tank of his moped, the diminutive Music master with the fastest cane in the west and a rather old hack (Mr Bear?) who may have been deputy head because he used to have the racing results brought to him during class (very tastefully) by the school maintainance man!  Boxing (I boxed) was our school forte together with having sundry ex scholars and/or family members of current inmates congregate outside the school after lessons to engage (sort out) various staff members for whatever disrespect was discerned - police often attended.  Yes my memories are a bit wild west but those were the times - it was to some degree a jungle and the staff were, on balance, no more disfunctional than the students - this was after all Moulsecoomb and all we knew.  Quick footnote to Liz: I lived two doors down from the Hodshrove Woods and in the 50's they were a glorious place for little boys - searching for (and scoffing) beech nuts and generally running amok - a special place in a (then) harsh world.

Hello to you all. I attended Moulsecoomb school from 1961 till 1971. I remember Mr Evans the headmaster clearly.The only teacher I had a problem with was Mrs Cow who had a habit of putting a hanky up her nose. My RE teacher was Mr Drakeford or Daddy Drakeford as we all called him. I lived in Moulsecoomb Way and we then moved to Bolney Road. My brother Chris still lives in Ringmer Road.

I lived in Birdham Road at number 108 and my dad died there, he hanged himself. I'm looking for history on that house if anyone knows anything please let me know.  Apart from that I loved it I made many friends.

To Paul Hubbard - hi Paul. I remember some of your forebears. Wally attended my class at school. His brother was riding his sports bike home from work along the main road and Wally shouted out a hello to him. He was busy waving and shouting back when the bus ahead stopped at the bus stop and he crashed into the back of it. A hospital job. Wally was a very good footballer as well as a generally good sportsman. He was part of the very good Moulsecoomb Rovers football team which did so well in the 40s - 50s. Run initially by one of the teachers at Moulsecoomb Seniors, a Mr. Williams who left to become a lieutenant in the R.N.

To Tanisha. Hi Tanisha, if you will say the period you stayed at l08 and when any others connected with you also were there, I may be able to help. The Hayes' and Romaines lived at 146 and 144 respectively durng the pre and postwar period and I have a connection with at least one Romaine.

Re: Alan 22/2/2008 - the art teacher's car was not an Alvis, but a very fast Allard, still going, along with our fave Mr Tiller.

My family lived in Hillside at no 34 and I lived there from 1958 till 1977 when I joined the Armed Forces. What a great area and a great upbringing; fantastic school and friends, lots of football on the green, just a great time.

Hi Bob. Don't know what must have happened but in the 1930s Mr. Cox was the 4a teacher. The Woodwork teacher was a Mr. Abbercrombie who would always want to join in any of the current interests of the boys such as alleys (marbles). He would fire the alley from his thumb crooked back against the forefinger and was fairly accurate with it. A smoker, he would enter the playground just before the whistle was blown for play ending and dump a three quarter length cigarette, still burning, on the ground next to the nearby drain on a daily basis. Come WWII and a number of the teachers disappeared to the services which probably resulted in Mr. Cox at least being changed to a different teaching level on the arrival of a possibly better trained teacher. He also had a habit of throwing a small piece of chalk with great accuracy at any pupil who was not paying attention. One day he threw a piece at one, Dennis Hammond. (Are you still with us Dennis?) Wearing glasses, he looked up just as the chalk was thrown and it broke a lens; phew, Consternation. A very worried looking Mr. Cox hurriedly left the class with Dennis and later we noted Dennis' mother at the school. Dennis kept quiet about it so I can only presume Mr. Cox paid handsomely for his accuracy!

Ron Spicer, sorry to take so long replying, busy times I'm afraid. My Uncle Wally sadly passed on a couple of years back. My Dad is Lenny Hubbard, one of the roofers, who also played in the good Moulsecoomb Rovers teams. Dad is reasonably fit and well. Defeating everybody put before him, nowadays at bowls; he lives with my mum Lyn in Woodingdean, where he plays his bowls.
Many of the family have sadly passed on, but my dad still sees Dennis quite often. I now live in Spain with another dynasty of Hubbards growing up, but I fondly remember my Sunday afternoons at my Nan and Granddad's in Newick Road.

What a trip down memory lane. I lived at 18 Chailey Road 1959 - 69. I went to sea in 1966 and never really returned but I still regarded where my parents lived as home until I came to New Zealand in 1969. I'm the son of Frank & Gertrude Groves; I lived with my Nan (Lydia) my two sisters (Linda & Greta) and my brother (Paul). My best mate was John Linter at No 7. There were a lot of teenagers about my age in the 60s Linda Wright at No 1, Cliff & Heather Wilson at No 5, Patricia & Brenda Young at No 9, Patricia was my dream girl and when she became Patricia Swann I finally took the hint. Diane & Patricia Rogers lived at No 16, Susan & Terry Streeter at No 20, Linda & Sharon Rowley at No 22, Valerie Aspinal at No 24 (I remember that I got a smack and sent to bed for giving Valerie a bit of cheek, she was a little bit older than me), Christopher & Susan Mantell at No 30. There are a lot of other names locked inside my head so if anybody can remember Chailey Road from the 1960s drop me a line dave.groves@kiwirail.co.nz. I saw Ivor Williams name on this site, that's another name that I recall. Moulsecoomb wasn't for the faint hearted but I loved it there. It seemed that everyone had a family member that worked at Allen West, and that Allen West hooter, how can anyone forget that hooter.

Hi everyone, I went to Moulsecoomb from 68 to 1970. Firstly, I must say like you all I remember Mr Tiller, and I agree what a fantastic teacher and person he was. I was in classes 1c up to 3c. Mr Evans was the head, and the only thing that reminds me of him, when we were all lining for dinner, making a bit if noise, he got out the strap from his pocket. It must have been as long as his leg. Mrs Mascall was my Geography teacher. I can't remember most of them by name, but can remember how they were. They all had their ways. The tech teacher who also did the school boxing, would bash you with a boxing glove, or throw a box of wooden shapes at you. The maths and English teacher would have all the boys line up in front of the black board before class, and would check your hands and shoes and cane you if they were dirty. The woodwork teacher would tap you with a lump of wood, the gym teacher would not let you wear underpants under your shorts, so when you got a whack with the plimsole it left a mark for days. I could go on but don't want to bore anyone. They were hard days but it gave me respect and I had some great mates. If anyone knows the following, Kevin Ide, Gary Villers, Mark Ward, or if you were in my class please get in touch: andrew_r_kedziora@tiscali.co.uk

Hi, yes I used to live in Chailey Rd, I think it was number 24. Our nextdoor neighbours were the Pollards and I went out with Chris Pollard when I was 16. I lived in Moulsecoomb 1971 till I left in 1976. I remember Mr Bear, he had a blue bubble car and he was a good teacher. He was my form teacher for 4 years I think. Anybody remember Mr Hommer the history teacher? He had a real passion for his subject. I also remember Mr Evens the head and Mrs Cow (the old cow we girls used to call her) and Mrs Holsworthy the cookery teacher, a little old grey haired lady but what a slave driver. If you forgot your cookery stuff, the little old one had a temper and you ended up cleaning the pantry floors. Well, I did once and only once. Next time when I could not afford to do the cookery, I had a day off and walked to the beach. Oh happy days. My best friend was a Delia Keating. Does anyone know her whereabouts?

Now here is a quite different slant on Moulsecoomb Boys' School from that expressed by several of contributors. I taught English at the school from Easter 1961 until the end of the summer term in 1963. What struck me most forcibly at the time was the apparent lack of expectation about the pupils' future among some staff which had certainly communicated itself to many of the boys. I recall a teacher announcing quite seriously in assembly that all they needed to do was to look clean and tidy and then learn to read enough to do their pools and check the figures in their pay packets. If they could master those modest skills, they would be all right, he said.  ortunately many staff did not hold with that outrageously narrow viewpoint. What I can say is that in my time book borrowing from the dismal little library increased and that the introduction of Pitman's English examinations - remember, no one took any external examinations until then - did much to boost the boys' attitude to the subject. In the term I left two fourth-year boys - Morton and Russell - were entered for GCE O level in English and both passed - a first, I should say, for the school. Other pupils went in for the now defunct UEI examinations and gained some success. It was about this time that two or three girls from the girls' school joined the English classes. Whilst all was not perfect - far from it - I cannot accept that the school was dormant in this period. And yes, we did use the cane; and yes, we were often too handy with our hands. I suppose that the last traces of Victorian England were apparent in the way we went about our tasks. Yet I recall good relationships with many boys - if only I could recall all of their names. I certainly remember with some clarity several of those I taught. I hope that some of those sixty year olds will look back on their days at the school as a not totally negative experience. I send my good wishes to those I remember only as faces and those whose names are with me still: Fred Rudwick, Terry Prior, Tim Henry, Wilkins(went into the army), Gearing (brother worked on Brighton Belle), Vardy (who expressed the class's sympathies to me after a family bereavement), the Bishop boys (I think they had something to do with dogs), John Floodgate, David Speck ('Do you know what my name means in German, sir?' he asked. As a matter of fact I did.), Fitch and the swimmer John Ottaway. And there are other names which will no doubt emerge as soon as I post this. I wish all well.

Hi, I lived at 10 Ringmer Road. I was born in 1965 and I lived at Ringmer Road until the mid 1970s then we moved to 32, Moulsecoomb Way until I was 9 years old. I have a lot of good and bad memories at Ringmer. There was eight kids in my family; my Dad's name was Fredrick Wright and my Mum's name was Pamela Wright. I remember the long hot summers you could walk for miles through the woods and fields - we used to pick all the raspberries and gooseberries and my Mum would make pies with them. I went to Moulsecoomb School, the only teacher I can remember was Mrs Zolic  - she was my form teacher. 10 Ringmer Road was a lovely house but it had a dark side to it; things happened there that you could not explain. My Mum's best friend was Mrs Robinson, I think she lived in Newick Road, her husband's name was Ken. Mrs Robinson was a lovely lady and I will always remember her. If anybody remembers us please get in touch: wozavw@blueyonder.co.uk

Hi. I lived at 16, Hillside with my family till I joined the Navy in 1969. I went to Moulsecoomb junior and infant schools from 1956. I loved Moulsecoomb; my Mother only moved from there 4 years ago. I now live in Farnborough. If anyone remembers me from school (I'm sorry but a lot of names escape me but I'm sure they will ring a bell if I hear them again) and they would like to get in touch, then I would love to hear from you after all these years at ronjan@talktalk.net

To Rachel Oladipo (comment above dated 16/08/2006):  I would heavily bet that the teacher ("Mrs H") who called you a monkey was in fact a Miss - Miss Horton. My experience at her hands is well remarked upon in my memories elsewhere herein. I'm not so sure such teachers would be employed nowadays.

Hi, I'm Brenda Young, mentioned by David Groves. My family all lived at No. 9 Chailey Rd for quite a few years. It was rough but, we loved it there. The adventure playground. Stanmer Park. I used to go to Moulsecoombe Secondary High. I remember Ms Cow and some of the other teachers' names are familiar. I remember Mr. Stockbridge as the English teacher, loved acting, left teaching to go back into it too. My best friend then was Elizabeth Chessell. I live in Canada now. I've loved stumbling over this and it's made me feel very homesick. Lovely website, full of wonderful memories. Moulsecombe was a great place to grow up in! There was 6 of us, and between us and the neighbours' kids we'd drive our neighbours nuts but, they liked us all anyways! LOL

Hello, I just found out about this site from my sister Brenda, she said it brought back so many memories for her, and it has for me too. I have many fond memories of David Groves, and it was lovely to read the comments he made about me. I also have brilliant memories of my friends Margaret Stevens, Christine Parr, and her brother Collin Parr. Along the road lived Brian Long. Across the road lived Linda Rowley with her sister Sharon and Steven Rowley. I also remember the Mantells, Ivor Williams, and our lovely neighbours who's names have slipped my mind, but who put up with us scrumpimg from their apple tree so often, and us trying to make out we were innocent. Linda Wright lived in Chailey Road too, along with Susan who's daughter was sadly murdered in Wild Park. I went to Stanmer Park|high School, and my best friends were Wendy Archer, Christine White, Margaret Stevens, Carol Brown, Gail and a few more whose last names i have forgotten. I t would be lovely to have an on site get together to tell our life stories, and to see how we all fared. Would love to hear from you Pat Young.

With reference to the comment by Rachael Oladipo (16.08.2006) being one of the first black children in Moulsecoomb - hello Rachael. Probably the first one was named Michael and lived with a family named, I think, Marchant, round about 60 Newick Road. As a child in the 1930s I can remember being unthinkingly told to feel his hair. It felt strong and curly and I wished that I could have such wonderful head-cover! However , Michael was not at all pleased and demonstrated his dislike immediately. He grew into a very handsome lad. Almost certainly North Moulsecoomb's first black inhabitant and certainly within my memory the first one to attend North Moulsecoomb's schools. Hello Michael; are you still with us?

Jeremy - my grandparents lived at 34 Hillside until they died a few years ago. They were there many years, I can't remember when they moved in but they must have been the next tennants after you now! My grandfather did quite a lot with the garden, splitting it into 3 levels - one for the patio, one as a garden and the last as an allotment for growing vegetables. It's been sold now, onto a student landlord who, from what I've heard, has gutted the place.

Andrew Wright, hello. Helen and Ken were my Auntie and Uncle AND YES MY AUNT WAS A LOVELY LADY. THANKYOU

Hello Ron. I think it highly unlikely that Mrs or Miss Horton as you prefer to call her, would have still been teaching in 1986 or even in the 1970s she was getting on when she was my teacher in 1951. You obviously have a hang up about the lady as has been demonstrated in previous correspondence but my opinion and others that I know is by far in opposition. Strict yes, stood no nonsense I will agree but in the year I was there she taught a class of 54 children, most of us without home back up and from that number 48 of us passed scholarships. No mean feat I think. The intake of Brighton Grammar schools 30 x 4 classes girls and the same for boys therefore 240 places per year seems to be a high percentage of the allocation of the town.The teachers of today throw up their hands in horror at classes in excess of 30 my own daughter being one of them. By the way, you haven't answered my question about the railway.

Hi Joan. Enlighten me further please! The railway. Regarding Miss Horton: I probably did have a hang-up about her, considering the way she dealt with me. (Did you read it all?) For my mother to visit the school over her treatment of me and to be brazenly told that she didn't like me is something no child, later growing up and still remembering, would ever forget! Teachers with such an attitude nowadays would not remain in teaching. It is possible that she matured out of her worst ways coincidentally with the change in circumstances of the children as conditions in living standards and understanding improved.

Hello again Ron. The question re railways was in response to your comment about one of my pieces "the railway behind the houses" included in Moulsecoomb housing estates. Re Mrs Horton, you ask if I read all, can't find any refs in your pieces, I got the gist from replies you made to some of my comments. I can however sympathise very much at you being maligned by a teacher. It happened to me at Varndean. I was ridiculed on my first day by the English mistress Mrs Allen for asking what an essay was, we called it composition at Moulsecoomb. My first piece of homework I ever did and proudly handed in was marked with a large 'F' in red, it meant failure and she showed it to the whole class who sniggered. I was always in trouble in that woman's class and she told me my 'sort' from council estates had the wrong background for English. Perhaps as you suggest Mrs Horton had mellowed by the time she taught me. She wasn't a smiley person and the boys were terrified when she gave them the tawse, but she was a good teacher.

I was in Mrs. Horton's class 1955-56. In the third year at Moulsecoomb I was in Mr. Quinn's class, he was lovely and I remember being terrified that I would be in Mrs Horton's class. She would arrive every morning in her car with Miss King and I would take their dog for a walk before class (a great honour). I remember she was very strict and still remember the day that she slapped me around the head and said 'You thought girl you didn't think at all!' Obviously I must have upset her for some reason! I would still say she was a very good teacher- in those days you respected a teacher who was strict, not so sure it would work today!

Hi Johnnie Johnson. Thank you Sir. Your "different slant" on the school was something of a revelation to me as at the time you were the bane of my young life, I wish to thank you and all similar minded staff of the school for your installation of a love of prose, literature and knowledge which enabled many your pupils to achieve fulfilling careers and contribute much more than "checking the pools and their wages''. PS The cause of my particular hardship with you was not the subject content, but my deplorable handwriting, a trait which never left me - thank goodness for the keyboard.

Hi all, I thought I may chip in as my family have a very important link to Moulsecoomb. My family owned and ran Hodshrove Farm, which was then sold to the council and became known as "The Bates Estate", which is now Moulsecoomb. My family moved down here in the early to mid 1800's from Derbyshire. It is thought that the head of the family, Joseph Bates, moved down here to take on an estate management job for a wealthy Brighton resident up by Preston Park. It is thought that maybe the circumstances changed and they pitched up on the land, where Moulsecoomb is today, and ringed a fence around it. Effectively squatting. However, the law at the time stated that however much land you can fence in one night was legally deemed as your own. Thus the birth of Hodshrove Farm and nuseries. I have put alot of time into researcing my family's lineage, as has my Grandfather. He has told me stories that were passed down to him about the farm and life there but I seek to know if anyone outside of my family has a story or memory to tell? I am buying a copy of Moulsecoomb Days by Ruby Dunn as I know she mention my family's farm and some memories of it. If there is anyone here that can and is willing to help I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks, Mark.

How about Peter Stockbridge as a teacher? He instilled in me a love of drama. Sadly he died a couple of years ago, but I did bump into him a few times in London. And Mr Rex the Maths teacher! Evans, the headmaster, went to school with the Attenboroughs and he wanted me to go and see Richard when they were filming 'Oh What a Lovely War' at the racecourse because I had a love of acting. I was too lazy to go! How silly. I was at the school from 1965-1968.

I lived in Ringmer Road from 1958 till 1970. I went to Moulscoomb School and loved it. I had lots of friends and would love Alan Gibbens to catch up on old friends please e mail me for a chat.

Linda Wright was my best friend. Susan Streeter, Hellen Saunders, Glenis Jennkins, Nobby Novis, Syliva Ward, Maureen Borrer, all the Swallows boys, I loved you- all great times back in the late 50s till 1970s. I had a ball. Get in touch if you remerber me.  shirleygrace@live.co.uk

Lawrence, thank you for the info about 34, Hillside. I lived in Hillside until '77 when I joined the army. I remember the Baileys (John and Kev), Lenny and Tina Heath, Chris and Kim Rolf and many others. Now I live in Cornwall but remember Moulsecoomb with fondness.

Great site for me to hear about the school (I attended Moulsecoomb Senior from1963), lots of stories.

I went to Moulsecoombe Girls School from 1954-1958. Is there anyone still around from those years who might remember me? If so I would love to hear from you. I left Brighton in 1964 and moved to the Manchester area. Girls in my class were Sheila Harwood, Janet Boutle, Pat Stevens, Carol Jordan, Barbara Polkinghorne, Jacky Francis to name a few. The teachers I remember were Miss Neat [cookery], Miss Mitchel [Maths-Geography], Miss Richardson [art-needlework] etc. Also if Lawrence Howel is still in the Brighon area, or any family or friends have any information about him I would be pleased to hear.

My husband lived at 72 Hillside, Kevin Godfrey. He has always spoken highly of Moulsecoomb and the people in it. We have been up there a few times, his trip down memory lane, showing me where "hundreds" of you used to gather on the green and have a head count by the 'rozzers'. His family lived there from the 1940s through to the 1970s (I think I am right on these dates).

I used to live at 80 Birdham Road. I remember Teddy Boy Tonks. I was expelled for 2 years then returned for 1 year. Mr Elphick was the headmaster.

I have just discovered this page. I lived originally in Birdham Road (I was born in Bevendean Crescent), then we moved to Appledore Road. I went to Moulsecoomb Juniors (1943 - 1947) and senior school (1947 - 1950). (see school photo as printed from the Argus). I missed the infants as my sister and I were evacuated in 1940 to 1943. I enjoyed my life in Moulsecoomb, and am still in touch with many of the friends I made there. Reading all the comments has been a real trip down memory lane. If anyone remembers me or my sister, please get in touch.

Shirley Jennings, my brother is Barry Novis, Nobby he lives in Australia now. He is an artist, he moved there about 26 yrs ago. He has a website if you just type his name in he comes up under artist. l also went to Moulscoomb and remember Miss Cow and Moffat PE teacher. l have good memories and friends - Janice Foster, Carol Heath, Lizzie Hargie bless her. l live in Basildon, Essex so it was great reading what everyone wrote.

I was at Moulsecoomb School from 1963 - 67. I couldn't wait to leave at 15 and find a job. I hated school. My biggest fear was the Maths Teacher, Mr. Rex, who absolutely terrified me. Before a Maths period, I would be physically sick. Having said that, Mr. Rex was an excellent Maths Teacher and knew his subject like the back of his hand.

I have just been reading this fascinating page, its so interesting to listen to all these stories. Just came across the paragraph by Susan Dougherty, I'm trying to trace together my partner's family history! The name Lizzie Hargie is very interesting to me, am I of the understanding this lady had many brothers and sisters, naming a few: Laura, Hettie, Francis, Alan Stewart and Andrew Hargie? If this is correct, it would be really great to know. Or if anyone reading this knows of these people from back then, it would be great to hear. Thank you. Keep doing what your doing - it's lovely to hear all your stories.

Joan, I just happened on this page. Miss Bannister was still teaching at the school when I attended there 1961-64 although she was very disabled and walked with the aid of sticks.

Thank you SE for letting me know about Miss Bannister. Sorry to hear of her disability but preferable to what I originally thought.

Hi to all scoomers, I have been reading this site with great fondness. I lived in Newick Road from when I was 10 in 1963 till 1973 when I moved into the centre of Brighton. I went to Moulsecoomb school and loved it. Mr. Gallagher knocked me out with a ball in the junior's. I then went on to the senior's, I remember Mr Rex, Cox, Widdup, Drakeford, Catchpole, Evans, Tiller, Virgo, Miss Cowe, Merryfield, Mitchell, all good fun. Some of the pupils were, my best mate Dennis Williams, Tim Salvage, John Paice, Bill Massey, Trevor Evans, Cliff Marlowe, Colin D Tugwell and Colin Tugwell, girls were,:Carol Langridge, Angela Sawyer, Mary Dunkerton, Angela Everest, Liz Chessell plus many more. The people I remember from Newick Road were Mrs Tucker at 22, Whealdon 24, Cobbett, Robinson (I used to work with Kev at Redifon), Lyons, Squibb?, Martin, Pitt, Spicer, friends with both Robert and Alan, other people around the area were Cooper in Chailey Road, Brian Moore in Ringmer Road, Kennards. I had many a good time climbing trees in the woods, scrumping and garden hopping, playing soccer in Woolards also playing soccer for the school with John Paice, Trev Evans, Minnie Marlowe, Bill Massey. Lots more memories- just need a bit of a jolt. Happy times.

Hi Geoff, You have just jolted my memories. Not used the name 'Minnie' since school days. I can remember the caning from Drakeford, fond days playing football for the school, the cross country runs around the wild park. Was telling my family that it was great to get just a track suit top and a football for Christmas and not a lot more, not like today. Met another football member several years ago, Steven Measor, another footaller i still see is Ross Paulton. I often wonder what has happen to all my old mate from the 60s. Mums still in the same house over 58 years and i am always in the area. I have lived in Patcham for many years. Have a great Christmas to you and your family.

Hi, I lived in Birdham Rd then moved to Moulsecoomb way in the 1960s. I have a big family and we all went to Moulsecoomb schools. I know a lot of the teachers you are talking about, most of all I remembered Mr Tiller, art teacher, and Mr Nicks my English teacher. They were fantastic. Moulsecoomb was a great place to live, my Mum still lives there now in Coldean. My best mates were Tina.... 

Continues from my last page! My best friends were Tina Cooper, Dotty Glynn, Pauline Heath, Sue Hessell and many more. I'm proud to say I lived in Moulsecoomb, and sad to say a lot of my mates have now passed. Kathy Wallace, now Taylor .

I am doing this for my sister Angela Wallace, she went to Moulsecoombe infants junior and senior schools. She would like to hear from her mates Megan Adams, Ruby Marchant, and others that remember the Wallace family. Regards Angie and Kathy Wallace.

I went to Moulsecoomb Seniors from 1968 to 1973, reading some of the comments has brought the memories flooding back. The teachers I remember were Miss Cowl (music); Mr Nicks (English); Mr Merritt(maths); Mr Rex (maths); Mr Homer (history); Mr Guthrie (English); Mr Bear (English?); Mr Stockbridge (drama); Mr Drakeford (music); Miss Merryfield (French); Mr Catchpole (geography); Miss Dixon (cookery); Mr Welch (metalwork); Mr Gregory (woodwork); Mr Peskett (science); Miss Barden (science); Miss Dawson (art); Mr Tiller (art); Mr Hargreaves (tech drawing); Miss Neat (not sure but I remember she taught my sister a few years earlier and my mum in the early 40's); Mr Leckie (English); Mr Widdup (PE); Mr Evans  (Headmaster) and his secretary Miss Nixon. I always remember it as a good school and I believe I had a good education right through from the infants to the seniors. The teachers could be a bit scary as the cane was still in force then and some of us got it on a regular basis. We must have been taught a good level of respect as I remember when I was aged 26 walking up Duke Street and seeing Mr Catchpole and I still called him 'Sir'!

For Mark Bates:  Hello Mark, sorry to take such a very long time to respond to your input on the Hodshrove Farm piece. When the Moulsecoomb Way Bates Orchard, as it was known by many of us at the time, was sold off, it became the responsibility of the local Moulsecoomb School Attendance Officer, a certain Captain Crow, whose attire most of the time consisted of a khaki topping with 'plus fours', and there's no doubt he couldn't forget his one time experience in the army! His florid complexion and loud commanding voice were something to be easily remembered. He was one of the few in those days who could afford a car. With several other boys, I was daringly searching through the orchard for the best apples when we saw his car on the road above us and he'd obviously seen us. Noting the way his car was facing, we ran the opposite way through the orchard towards the railway arch in the Falmer direction. He gave chase, reversing the vehicle at speed. I take pride in having said to the others, "As we run, head away towards the railway line then when we're out of his sight, double back to Moulsecoomb Way".  As soon as we were out of his sight I heard the car stop then the sound of it appearing to be turning to travel faster and yes, it rapidly traveled away from us towards Falmer and we then ran out into Moulsecoomb Way, down the road to the main road. A quick discussion, and with our minds prepared to produce the innocent air required if we were questioned, we then walked casually home minus any evidence which had been discarded when we were in flight! The triumphs of scrumping. With hearts pounding and muscles fully tensed from the nervous energy supplied from the experience, it is probably doubtful we would have managed to uphold the promise of pretended innocence we had quickly arranged at the time if we had indeed been tackled. About a year later, the Brighton Corporation gave the contents of the orchard away to the local council house dwellers, each family being allowed to take as many trees as it wished; and to think, we almost certainly would have been prosecuted if old Cap Crow had caught us!