I attended Xaverian College for a year from September 1950 to the Summer of 1951. I emigrated to the States in 1956. I have only just now discovered that the school is no longer...what a shame. I enjoyed my brief time and I would like someone to help me recall the names of the brothers there.

I was at Xavarian College Brighton from 1959 to 1963. The notable Brothers to me being Bro Michael (Maths), Bro Lawrence (Geography) and Bro Beade (can't remember the subject but I recall he carried a cricket stump as an attitude correcter!). Like Ted, I now live in the USA. The picture on this site brings back loads of memories. Does anyone remember the air raid shelters by the sports field?

Seeing such a nice place and knowing that the place is now lost. I have a watercolour of it presented to Thomas Attree.

I attended Xaverian in the early 1960s and duly remember Brother Michael et al. I remember my form master Mr Guyver who to us boys was the model of good dress, manners etc. I remember throwing caps in the park pond and getting really dirty at lunchtime playing football and bulldog on the 'ranch'.  In April we were expected to swim in the sea and on occasion to get ourselves from school to the King Alfred baths in Hove for swimming. We were also trusted to walk up to the race course for cross country running. I travelled to school each day by steam train from Steyning and would often walk from Brighton station to and from school to save my bus fare. I have some very happy memories in some respects - like serving staff lunch once a week in the staffroom which was basically in the cellars or at least it felt like it. As a reward I got to eat my lunch in the kitchens.

I too attended this wonderful school in the early 60s with Mr Guyver as my friend and teacher and M. Smith as the feared tyrant of discipline! Looking back now with much affection for those long lost days which never seemed to have an end I'd love to meet all those 'kids' again and also the brothers who did give so generously of themselves to train us all to become men of faith and wisdom. Love to have another reunion of those present between 1963 and 1968 - anyone brave enough to get this together?? Any suggestions?

I remember being taken to the air raid shelter in the grounds of Xaverian College in about 1941; I had been sent from London to live with my grandmother in Queen's Park Road. I think we may have spent only one night there, as a man in clerical garb came around and sprayed insecticide in our direction. Gran said if that's what our side thinks of us we'll take our chances with the Germans.

I was a pupil in Bro Benedict's class (1953-54) and Bro Raymond's class (1954-55). A classmate in the last-named was John Sallis - son of Arthur Sallis - who had the wonderful war surplus electronics shops near Brighton Station. I loved my time at XC. I left when my parents moved house and then went to a Jesuit school which I hated. The X brothers were kind and gentle to me - the Jesuits were monsters and I have turned against religion because of them. Here is a partial list of classmates from XC that I remember: Webb, Gold, Chapchal, McGuinness, Hooper.

I've just come across this site while trying to find out why I couldn't find the College on the modern map of Brighton(!). I was a pupil there from 1949 to the Christmas 1951. It's all a bit fuzzy now, but during that time I was in two classes; a reception class in a separate building up the hill from the main school, Brother Brendan, was it - or maybe it was the Brother Benedict that John Rooney mentions? And then the first class in the main building, next to the gym. I'm afraid I can't even make a stab at remembering the brother's name there. I think Brother Aloysius was still the Head. I can remember the air raid shelter; the roof was used by the older (than me) boys for playing football with a tennis ball. The only names that come back to me from that time are Crighton-Smith, Steele (whose father owned a butcher's shop) and a Jewish boy - Espazel (phonetically), who lived in or near Fishersgate.

I've just spent a delightful weekend at the Goodwood Park Hotel near Chichester. On the walls of their corridors they have prints of old country houses. Amongst them is one of 'The Park, Brighton'. It is of Attree Villa with the small gazebo and the Pepperpot in the background. I think it is painted from a great height above the hill.

I was at the College from 1946 to 1954. I remember the names of some fellow pupils: Storrow, Keichler, Woolgar, Bridge, Warwick, Oram, Collins (sporty), Chilcott (clever), Gurucharri (big), Steele, Forte, Bonetti. Lots of memories, some unhappy, some very happy. The College was a delight especially the landscaped grounds. The Brothers had a traditional kitchen garden, and also kept bees, hens and goats so were fairly self sufficient. High point of the week was art on Friday afternoons when we might sit on the banks sketching the scenery. Bro Gerald ran Art and also tended the hens. Bro Beade (mentioned above) did History. Remember Bro Felix? An incredible character! There was an Old Boys Association, which I regret I never joined, but I bet someone out there has an awful lot of archive material. My younger brother Philip followed my footsteps about five years later, I'll tell him about this site.

I was at Xaverian College from 1936 to 1943 and have very fond memories of my time there and of all the Brothers - two of whom came to my wedding - Brother Bede and Bro Adrian. At 11am one spring morning in 1942 a German plane machined us in the playground (I was in Lower Five). We all fell on the ground and I fell on top of the head, Brother Aloysius! No problems except one boy got his ear nicked. Very much like to hear from any contemporary ex-Xaverian.

Sunday evening and quite by accident I have discovered this Xaverian College site. Quite moving. I was at the college in the 50s and have fond memories even if they are rather cloudy. I do remember most particularly Bro Vincent, our French teacher. Thanks to him I leant French and have lived and worked in France for many years. The only fellow student whose name I remember clearly is one Ken West. Salutations Ken if you are out there somewhere. I would be delighted to converse with anyone who was at college with me.

I believe my father attended this school around 1946. Unfortunately he is now not well enough to tell me any of his childhood tales. I know he went on a trip to Rome with the school. I would love to hear from anyone who knew him- Derek White

I just found this site and noticed one of my old classmates, Danny Cassidy. I was at the Xaverian College from 1963-66 and then moved with the brothers to the De La Salle College. Like Danny, I remember Mr Guyver, Mr Smith (a QPR fan from memory!), Bros Patrick, Michael, Wilfred and some other somewhat eccentric teachers. I would be interested to hear of news from any former classmates. I now live in Australia.

I was at the XC from September 1949 to Easter 1952, leaving when I was in Lower IV. I started at the same time as Anthony Duckworth (17/1/08), but I was in the class next to the gym/ music room. However, I'm sure a couple of the names he mentions, Adrian Bonetti and Forte (ice cream), were in my class. Some of the names of classmates I recall are Roger Payne, Robin Russell, John Steele, Ramon Brookes, Alan Doo, Chris Saunders (he had brothers at school), George Barker, Kenneth Myerscough, Jeremy Heath, as well as Burholt (also had brothers), Chilcott, Matthews, Joyce (a red head also from Littlehampton). I was taught English by Br. Raymond, physics by Br. Campion (I heard he left the order and later married), history by Br. Aiden (the resident bee keeper), maths by Mr Farley, geography by Mr Sawyer, music by Mr Maedle (of the corpulent build and snuff stained waistcoat), but I cannot remember either my French or Latin teacher. I also recall Bros. Felix, Plunkett, Cajetan and Vincent. I consider my years at XC the best years of my schooling. Previously I had been at boarding school in London, (some parents have strange ideas), and after XC at the mercy of the De La Salle Brothers in Sydney, Australia who were dreadful teachers and evil disciplinarians. I remember XC with great affection. I returned to Brighton and wandered over the site three years ago. It seemed very sad to see the redevelopment. My wife and I have moved to France to live in Angers. It is directly west of Paris and in easy reach of cross channel ferries, and planes to the South Coast. If anybody hears of any reunion of Old Boys from the 49-52 era, I would love to know about it, and would certainly attend.
p.belfanti@internode.on.net
From Angers, France

Regarding the comment made by Wayne Collyer(25/11/2007). I have a copy of that print you may have seen. I have scanned it in, and have sent it off to this site, and it will hopefully appear on these pages real soon. Just trying to get a date of when the plate may have been created. I will comment on the picture when it appears.

I attended the Xaverian College from 1950 to 1962. That school was more like a social club than an educational establishment. The Xaverian Brothers (I think) were more interested in turning out good citizens - exam results were balanced with this tennet. I was very happy there and made friends who are still friends 45 years later. I can remember some of the Brothers: Raymond (nick-name Mo), Cajetan (Charlie), Nathaniel (Nat), and some who didn't have nicknames, such as Finn Bar, Anselm, Benedict. When I first joined there was "old" Benedict who was a wonderful chap - a real character, later there was "young" Benedict who was from America and taught Maths. He was very strict. Then there were some great (and awful) lay teachers. Geoff Lintott was a truly good artist (I have an original pen and ink by him) and he could bring Shakespeare and Chaucer to life in his English Literature classes. "Taffy" Davis was a good geography teacher. Lambert was a good guy but (I believe) took his own life later on. Esdale was hopeless. He knew his history inside-out but could not keep any kind of control.
As I said, I made some fine friends: Vladik Cirin, Danny Chapchal and I occasionally meet up for lunch. In October 2008 we will be having a lunch in London and Michel Olszewski & Doug d'Enno will be there too.
I can remember many others and wonder what happened to them: Dennis Hooper, David Sharp (was running a Post Office in Sussex in the '80s), Vic Sheppard, Jeff Taylor and others. I occasionally look at "Friends United" to see what is happening there and many familiar names are to be seen. I had thought about trying to get a reunion organised but we are all so far away. My best pal - Nigel Behrens - lives in Brisbane..! I work and live in Buckinghamshire and have little reason to go back to Brighton.  It would be great to know how well people have fared in life. I have done reasonably well. I run my own firm and operate within the TV broadcast industry. I know others who have done much better than I and I hope therefore that the Xaverian Brother's teaching methods and their humanity helped us all to have good lives and to reach whatever success we were seeking.
I will watch this site for any inputs and if there is interest, I will forward the details of that London lunch in October.

Hello Mike Purnell
We were in the same class 59/60.I remember you well. I retired some 8 years ago and now live in S.W.France. I am still in contact with Jeff Taylor who lives in Marbella and also Bob Rogers. It was sad that the old Xavarian College no longer exists as has my previous Mayfield College that has now been converted into houses and flats.

I was in the school in the early 50s, with Br Anselem as headmaster, classmates John Steele, Ray Brookes, Bonetti, Phil Dickens etc and still have a school photo. Some I can put names too. I played football and cricket and used to tour other schools in the area on a Wednesday afternoon and to go to school Saturday morning. What a great school and a great start in life.
Would love to get a reunion.

I was at XaverianCollege from 1961 - 1965 starting in Brian Guyver's class, then Brother Mark, and Brother Michael with Brother Lawrence as head, then Brother Elwin. I remember the school trips to Lourdes, and Innsbruck - I think I still have the photographs somewhere and you boy Carter! Weren't you smoking on the Lourdes trip (same as me - we bought pipes and Gauloises) but I didn't drink the beer. Also there was the 5 a side in the courtyard, and I remember breaking a window with a stray shot - in front of the whole school - legitimate play but Brother Mark wasn't please and gave me the bill he he.