Raymond Guy and myself began our school lives together at St. Peter's School in the mid 1950s. Although we were born in 1949, our start at school was delayed for a year as there had been a baby boom just after the Second World War (something to do with all those men coming home after so long away!). The sudden surge in the birth rate meant that the school system couldn't cope so some of us were held back a year. Anyway, I still remember my first day at school. I didn't know anyone else. I was an only child but it seemed that all the others had either at least one friend or a brother or sister, in the same class as us or another. Raymond was in a similar situation to me however. He lived with his mother and sister on the coast road in Hove (just to the west of Boundary Road) and I lived at No. 9 St. Leonard's Avenue, Hove. After the first day or so of our mothers taking us to school, we'd walk to St. Peter's School and home again together, and after shcool we used to play together. Later in life we both went to Benfield School together, and later still to Portslade County School for Boys. When it came to sports, Raymond was always the fastest boy in our year over 100, 200 and 400 yards. I was usually second or third fastest. Now and again I would almost manage to beat him, but never quite. How I hated him for that, although he was never big-headed. I seriously do not recall him being big-headed about anything. He was just a very nice bloke. After leaving school however, we unfortunately lost touch with each other. I saw Raymond a couple of times when he worked in a mens' outfitters about halfway down George Street in Hove (that would have been around 1969 or 1970). Then much later, on a Friday lunchtime, I bumped into him in the NatWest Bank in Western Road, Brighton. It would probably have been sometime in 1977 or 78. Raymond was over the moon. He was withdrawing spending money to go on a belated honeymoon with his wife (and the in-laws by all accounts!). Apparently they'd been married a couple of years, but hadn't been able to afford a honeymoon straight away after the wedding. This was to be it, and he was over the moon. Good for him. Two weeks later however, his name made unfortunate front-page news on the Evening Argus. All UK airports were fogged-in and their return flight was diverted to Belgium (I think). Sadly, the hotel where he, his wife and in-laws were put up caught fire that night. Raymond's in-laws waited in vain outside for their daughter and Raymond to emerge from the fire. RIP Raymond. It was an honour to know you.

The little girl to the left of Malcom Hills is my sister Anne Scott. As I did, she went on to Benfield and Portslade Girls School. She has lived in Yorkshire since 1980 and is a grandmother.

Does anyone have a photo of the 1956 new intake? That was when I first went to the school.