These photos bring back memories. I can recognise most of the Masters: Goofy the Head, Ben Chappel, McKinley-Arts, Gars who taught plumbing and metalwork. I think I can recognise myself although I did leave school that year before the summer holidays. I think the pictures must have been taken over at the Level, but when I am not sure. When I first joined the school, I seem to remember it was called the Brighton Secondary School for Building and Engineering and entry was won on a scholarship based on an IQ test. Pupils were not restricted to Brighton, but as far away as Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Hove and Portslade. The education was first class and turned out many brilliant scholars that went on to become bankers, script writers, architects and engineers. Unfortunately, the school closed down and a centre of excellence was lost for ever.Thank you Brian for bringing back the memories.

I believe this photo was taken in the autumn of 1957 the term that I started at the Secondary Tech. I am kneeling in front row, Ben Chappel is directly behind me. At that time you had to pass the 11plus to attend. I have to admit I was not a good student and was viewed by the staff as a troublemaker. However I absorbed much of what was taught and it has served me in well in my engineering career. I went on to an apprenticeship and for the last 40 years jobs that have taken me all over the world. Currently have my own company North of Chicago. Would like to hear from any body else in the photo.
rogersturt@sbcglobal.net

Hi Ron.You say that you can recognise all of the Masters but I cannot any more so perhaps you or somebody else could help me fill in the gaps.The centre of the middle picture has Downing(the head). To the left is Chappel (Tech Drawing)/ unknown/ Behar(French)/ Weedall (PE)/ Walsh(English) the all ? To the right Pope (History) then 4 ?/ Parfitt( Plumbing) and McKinley (Art). I do remember some more names - Harding (Economics), Huddart (Social Studies), Hargreaves(Brickwork), Bullock (Science), Leal or Webber(Maths), Barrett or Williams (Geography), Taylor (Woodwork) Coldwell and Mitchell. Unfortunately I am afraid I cannot put a face to these names at present. I would have left the school to go on to Brighton Technical College about 1957/58

Hello Brian. Unfortunately, I said I recognised MOST of the masters, however I think to the right of Pope is Mitchell (Painting & Decorating) then Joe Huddart, and I think Colwell. At some time in our school life the pupils were divided into two streams, either Building or Engineering, so the distribution of teachers were probably different. The head taught Economics and RE. Coldwell taught Physics and wrote on the blackboard in perfect Italics with chistle shaped chalk. Holy Joe Huddart taught Geography, he was also a JP and used to disappear on a Wednesday afternoon to sit in the Magistrates Court. Be'har taught French but also British Constitution; don't ask how a Frenchman could lecture on this subject. I never did get the hang of French, but I did eventually take British Constitution & Constitutional Law at 'A' levels after I left school. I do not remember a Leal, Barrett or Williams. Maybe somebody else can elaborate or fill in the rest of the gaps.

Many thanks Ron. You have filled in most of the gaps for me. Maybe in time somebody may be able to complete the rest.

I was at the school from 1951 until 1954 having joined at age 13 and entering form 3X. Mr Mckiinley was my form master. You are lucky to have a photo as none were taken in my day. I can remember most iof the masters. Next to Mr Walsh (English) is Alec Hargreaves (brickwork and football), M Behar (French war hero) who I think that  went on to Brighton College, Mr Taylor(Woodwork), Mr Ben Chappel (dep. head and Technical Drawing), Mr Downing (headmaster, Divinity and Economics), Mr Ernie Bullock "Boffin" (Science). There are four I don't recognise, except one could be Mr Joe Huddart (Geography, but he qualified as a barrister and left whilst I was there), Mr Parfit (Plumbing), Alec McKinley (Art and Design) who I believe died quite young. Most importantly and not in the photo was Mrs Bangs the catering manageress. I still live in Brighton and would like to hear from anyone who remembers me. apierce298@aol.com

Hi Brian, I think the master on the right hand side(as we look at the photo) 3rd row down, was Nobby Hobden, a maths teacher. I'll have another look to see if I can recognise any others. Regards J.D.

I was at the school 1951-1955 . My memories are still vivid and I even remember the class register. If anyone from this list (or anyone) wishes to make contact, my email address is brightonsx@hotmail.com - I would enjoy swapping some 'war stories'. My class was Joe Huddart's and I spent more time in the corridor than in the classroom. Surnames of my class were: Baker, Ball, Brown, Burt, Figg, Finch, Flahey, Forgham, Gates, Harber, Huzinger, Ilott, Peel, Pendry, Rennie, Ridhalgh, Sayers, Shaw, Smith, Walker, White, Wilson and Woodard. I was in the House of Wren and we always seemed to come in last place. I made a vigil back to Hanover Terrace a couple of years ago and was sad that the school had been demolished. I am also having a problem identifying the masters? The top photo, 3rd row, extreme right does look like Nobby Hobden.  Apart from the Headmaster (Downing) in the other photos, I can't be sure. Other Masters not mentioned were 'Spud' Taylor (Woodwork) and Sinnock (Biology). I had a photo of the
school football team with Hargreaves and Hobden but am unable to find it since I left the USA to retire in Thailand. I tried to contact Max Huzinger on my last visit to the UK as he had a real estate business in Brighton. Unfortunately I was told he was in ill health and we didn't make contact. Hope to hear from any other students that I may have known either here or at brightonsx@hotmail.com. Best wishes Peter Tug Wilson

Congratulations to Brian and thank you for the memories. I was a pupil at the school from 1957 to 1962 and a member of Wren House. Two classes per year with a maximum of 30 pupils per class and five years means there was a total number of pupils of 300. A small but perfectly formed school that has made it's mark over the years. I did not appreciate the value of the education at the time, however, I went on to have a good career as an architect and now live in Bedford. Another classmate Robin Spike also qualified as an architect and he has a practice in Lewes. I can confirm the school photograph was taken in my first year perhaps during the autumn term.

In addition to what others have said, I can add to the identification of the members of staff in the 1957 photograph. My suggestion is as follows:
Top photograph: middle row, from the RH end:  Hobden - maths and careers, Pope - history.
Centre photograph: middle row from LH end: Edge of Hobden, McGregor - PE, Walsh - English, Hargreaves - brickwork and PE, Behar - French, Taylor - woodwork, Chapple - DHM and technical drawing, Downing - HM, Bullock-science, unknown, Steele - maths, Colwell - science and RE, Price- English and geography, Parfitt - metalwork.
Bottom photograph:middle row from LH end: McKinley - art.

Thanks John. Looks good to me. Would the one you did not name, next to Bullock, be Mitchell - Painting and Decorating?

Hello Brian, I think you are right.  I only have a vague memory of Mr Mitchell and cannot recall where he was based, did he share the brickwork shop? I think Hargreaves and Mitchell left at the end of my 2nd or 3rd year which would be the summer of 1959 or 1960 and the brickwork shop was then converted into the art room and the former art room was used for French classes. Mr Behar left around this time and Lowrey Pierce joined as French master. Before this change the art room was originally on the upper floor at the very end of the corridor and sat over the old brickwork shop.

Hi John. About 1952-1957 Mr Mitchell taught Painting and Decorating in the workshop bottom corridor next to the Woodwork Shop, I think, where Mr Taylor taught. We all had plywood panels about 5ft x 3ft which we were forever rubbing down to prepare for the next project and I must say I didn't much care for it and still don't!

I left the School in 1955 so some of the teachers in the photos are unknown to me. However the "unknown" teacher does not really resemble Mitchell. I did my utmost to avoid the "Painting Class" and still have a dislike of it. I think the Unknown teacher looks a lot like Weedall (PE).

I was at this marvellous school from 1951-1955 and also have very good memories of my years there. In fact I owe my future profession to Mr Alec McKinley, as I became an artist and scientific illustrator. I also painfully remember Peter "Tug" Wilson who during Assembly each morning would infilade the gathered masses and dead leg a chosen few, leaving them writhing in pathetic heaps on the floor while Downing dismissed everyone to their respective classes. I have many other good and amusing memories, plus I think some pics, and will endeavour to write them down when my infernal tax returns are done.

In the third photo the last five on the right, next to back row left to right, are Barry Skinner, Michael Bullivant, Anthony Pope, Terry Burke and Roger Bateman (me). There are so many others as well some of whose names I can recall - is it possible to get hold of a good definition copy of this photo?

I went to the Building School in 1953 from Ditchling Road Primary School, although I had no mechanical or other aptitudes whatsoever. I battled through until I left in January 1956 to migrate to Australia .I remember Mr Dowling somewhat affectionately, lovely old chap, a true Englishman. Mr Behar I did not know was a war hero; he seemed such a gentle man. I still have the little songbook he gave us with his signature in it, that and my school blazer emblem, school tie and good memories are mostly all that I have left to remind me of Brighton. Glad to hear a lot of you fellows did well, it was a good school, a bit of a social and educational experiment for its time. Never could take to the Australian Education System, I left school at 14 and spent the next 40 years on NSW Railways. Now retired and wish I could get up the courage to board an aeroplane and fly back for a visit. Too chicken! All the best, chaps, David Taylor PO Box 697 Dapto NSW 2530 Australia.

Who remembers the French assemblies - there was a blue book that we used. The rock climbing ventures - I remember High Rocks and Groombridge - Mr Pope broke his ankle one time

I remember the French assemblies on Wednesdays. I used to give the readings on a fairly regular basis. There was great competition between myself and another pupil whose name escapes me. One hymn I still sometimes sing is Il est Ne le Divine Enfant. HAPPY DAYS!!!

I am enjoying catching up with this site. With reference to the French assemblies, I was surprised to find my copy of Celebrons L'Eternel complete with Mr Bear's signature inside during a recent clear out. Wow, it brought back memories!