George Street, Hove

Happy school days
By Marion Baldwin/Upton

I went to St Andrew's school (I think that was its name) from 1949-1955 and well remember the beautiful old building. It had a huge hall which had a real coal fire roaring away in the winter time. We used to have to place the school milk beside it to 'defrost' this pushed up the bottle tops as it thawed, so we drunk warm milk, YUK.

Learning by example
The headmaster Mr Evans was very strict and I remember three lads being caned in front of the whole school, they had been caught stealing sweets from the local shop. This was an excellent lesson to all of the rest of the pupils.

School trip to London
We went on a school trip to London and we had a meal out at Lyon's Corner House, a 'first' for most of us. I don't recall where we went in London apart from St Paul's whispering gallery. We had nature lessons amongst the gravestones in the cemetery grounds next door. I also remember being a 'dinner monitor' and getting a mug of custard for my work. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me: my email address is macthomas@ntlworld.com

This page was added on 13/01/2008.

Comments about this page

I attended George Street School 1946-49. The headmaster was a Mr Whiting and my teacher was a Miss Evans. I only remember a few students, but I would be happy to hear from anyone who attended during the period mentioned: brightonsx@yahoo.com

By Peter C Wilson (16/01/2008)

A friend alerted me to this website. What a glorious trip down Memory Lane. I went to the George Street school from 1947 to 1952. I lived at 14 Shirley Street and later at 66 The Drive. Contributors here have had me remembering places like Coes, Driscolls, DiMarco's, The Coffee Importers, Curry's, Kents, Sainsbury's and all the others. I remember Mr. Whiting, Miss Evans, Mr. Gardner and Miss Bowyer from the school. I don't recognise any contributors names, but some were obviously a year ahead or behind me and age made such a difference then. You were big kids or little kids. I left Brighton and Hove (actually) in 1960 and have only visited occasionally since, but if anyone cares to contact me, please feel free.

By John McNaught (26/01/2008)

St Andrew's School is 150 years old this year, does anyone know the month the original school in Goerge Street opened?  We want to celebrate the opening. So far we have not been able to find any records.

By Jackie Tennant (20/05/2008)

Hi all expupils of St Andrews School. We are trying to find some old photos of St Andrews School (as far back as we can get). If anyone out there can help we would be very gratefull. You could email them to me at jackie.tennant@st-andrews.brighton-hove.sch.uk

By Jackie Tennant (04/07/2008)

I remember the Benfield Junior football team (1954) going south down George Street, Hove to about half way and turning right into an enclosed alleyway to a really ancient school with a football pitch! We won 10 - Nil, Sorry! Am I right? Was this St.Andrew's or George St. school?

By Tony Brooks (25/09/2008)

When I was a child we lived at number 38. My sister Frances Thomson was at St Andrews school from 1947. My name is Isabel and I went to Connaught Road Infants. I remember Gloria Bowers: her father owned the garage in George Street, and Barbara Damorin whose family lived above Sainsbury's. I remember John from Shirley Street.

By Isabel Steward (01/01/2009)

Isabel, are you sure Barbara Damorin didn't live in the flat above a similar shop called Bernards George St? I remember you, your sister and just about everyone else in the area. Shirley St, Livingstone Rd, Hove Park etc.

By Bruce Demaine-Stone (06/01/2009)

Bruce, I remember Barbara living above a grocers. I'm sure you are right, it was a very small shop. I can't place you though. Where did you live? We lived in Shirley Street, my comments were edited so it looked as if we lived in George Street. I have many fond memories of playing in Hove Park. Who do you remember?

By Isabel Steward (06/01/2009)

I have today been taking a trip down memory lane. In September 1939 as a five year old I, along with many others from my Kennington, SE London School were packed off as evacuees down to Hove. Today I wandered along Livingstone Road and stopped to glance at No 33. I lived there with a Mr and Mrs Royal/Royle for about a year. George Street was in my mind as to the school that I attended. I could not find one but did see a building that just might have been a school at one time. Top half of the building has a likeness and on the ground floor are two shops, Select and Vodaphone. At the time the war would not have meant anything to me but can understand now that it was not the best of locations to be evacuated and that is why I spent the next five years in Knaphill in Surrey.

By Doug Laidlow (13/09/2009)

I started at George Street School in 1959, I can't remember when it changed its name to St Andrews. The headmaster was Mr Gerald Holder Jones. There was a Ms Young, Ms Steel, Mr Newsome and a Miss Springate as I remember.

By Richard Payne (24/11/2009)

I went to George Street Infants in 1946 and lived at 33 Shirley Street - any neighbours still around? My name is Peter Perry I remember, Pat Foster, Francis Thompson, Linda Brown my sister was Marie Perry now Hilliard.

By Peter Perry (03/01/2010)

I remember you very well Peter along with all your family. My sister Frances went to school in George Street. I have mentioned you on the Shirley Street site. They were very happy times back then although we never had much. My childhood was spent playing on bomb sites! Livingstone Road baths was a treat once a week on Saturday.

By Isabel Steward (22/01/2010)

We moved to Hove from Brighton in 1948, when I joined class 7 with Miss Young. We learned words from tablets before reading our first book. In class 6 with Mrs Whiting, we made wool balls using cardboard milkbottle tops. I can't remember the lady teacher in class 5, but I always enjoyed her rendition of Bible stories. Class 4 was run by Miss Hayhow, who was about 100 years old, and she had the habit of swinging her jaw from side to side. I was not in her class, and I understand she helped the kids who didn't do well in class. We had Mr Leany in class 3. What a nice man, and he lived in Hassocks. After we had both left the school, he would stop and chat. While in his class, the Festival of Britain took place in 1951 at Battersea. Mr Gardner ran class 2, and for the life of me, I can't recall a thing he ever taught me. In class 1, Miss Bowyer ruled the roost, and for some reason where every other teacher had a whistle with a pea, she set a different tone with a straight whistle. I believe Miss Bowyer became Mrs Gardner. Mr Whiting was a nice man and respected headmaster. When he retired, we all contributed towards a white cased radio as a parting gift. I believe it was Mr Whiting who caned the three boys, and it included one or both of the Gray brothers, who were mischevious lads.

By RICHARD WHITE (24/02/2010)

At George Street School I remember pupils Johnathan Macnaught, Gloria Bowers, Barbara Denyer, Sylvia Dockings, also Sydney Bowers, Eve Wilson, and Francis Thompson. I remember teachers; Mr Evans, Miss Bowyer, Miss Haywood.

By Jean Bateman nee Johnson (12/09/2011)

I went to St Andrew's School from 1964 to 1970. My friends were Kirsten Schlesinger, Ashley Cox and Jean Arnold and many others. I still know Jean and we recently met up with Kirsten for lunch, and have heard news of Ashley's life. I loved my school days, especially the entertainments and plays we put on; the games we played of Batman and Robin - I was always Catgirl! A boy called Jo arrived from the USA to join our class he was fun and taught us all new games. I remember playing 'beads' with the girls, but also British Bulldog, and kiss-chase. We kept pet guinea pigs in our classrooms and got to take them home on weekends. The best times were at Xmas, when every class had a Xmas party; there were special trips and special activities. In my final year we went on a day trip to France to Bolougne. The most bizarre thing I remember was student teachers helping us to make a class wigwam during a project on American Indians, if you did good work you were allowed to drink your daily milk sitting with a friend inside the wigwam.

By Bonita Holland (24/01/2012)

I went to George St (St Andrews) at the same time as Richard White who I was friendly with and I well remember the teachers he refers to, particularly Mr Leany and Miss Bowyer both of whom I remember with affection. Mr Whiting was a great headmaster although I was not as fond of his succesor Mr Evans who I remember as taking great delight in afflicting country dancing on us all. I remember as we had no sports field we were taken to the graveyard next door to run etc amongst the tombstones and I remember appearing in a nativity play at the church. I was Herod. What I do remember with no affection whatsoever were the outside toilets. Great fun on a freezing snowy day and quite dangerous when the moisture on the floors froze. Other friends and fellow pupils I remember are Brenda Grubb, Brian Smeed, Anthony Bloom and Michael Coombes. I was saddened to hear that the school closed as I was a third generation pupil. Like Marion I also recall a trip to London and St Pauls. I remember the crypt and Nelson's and Wellington's tombs. I also recall a trip to Hastings and I was very fond after school of visiting Hove Museum. I also remember a pupil whose name I can't remember but whose father was a butcher having a terrible accident at their shop and losing fingers in the sausage machine. I lived at 37 Blatchington Road and looking at it on Google Earth (I have now lived in Australia for many years) I am amazed how little it has changed. If anybody would like to contact me my email is k.kent@internode.on.net or I have a facebook page.

By Keith Kent (18/03/2012)

I went to George Street school from 1959-1963 - very happy times. I was there when the Queen came to visit - we were so excited. Mr Jones was the head and I remember Mrs Potter and Mrs Steele. I also remember being scared of the grave yard at the back of the school.

By Michelle Hillman (26/12/2012)

I was at St. Andrews between 1960 and 1964, when I moved away to Portslade and Benfield School. Teachers I remember are Mrs Steele, Mr Newsome, (didn't like either) and Miss Belman (loved her!). My friends were; Richard Pane, David Spencer, Debora Brown, Elaine Card and the love of my life Susan Hallett. Susan lived above The King Alfred Swimming Baths where her Dad was manager. Oh memories leave me alone!

By Stephen Brand (27/01/2013)

I was at St. Andrews between 1965-1971 and had Mr Edwards as my form teacher. Mr Jones was Headmaster, and I do recall Miss Potter who handed out sheets of toilet paper on playground duty should you needed to use the toilets. Miss Mitchell taught country dancing, for boys and girls. Miss Newbury was my first teacher. Mr Jones would ignite the Christmas cake in the dining centre during the festivities. I wonder what happened to the rest of the brandy?

By Clive Brown (06/03/2013)

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