Hello Janet. Thanks for sharing this lovely picture with us. I can certainly name a few of the teachers! Mr Haggard is seated in the middle Mr Hemsley and Mrs Rice are to his right, Mr Betts is standing on the far right and is the tall lady standing in the middle to the right of the chap with the glasses Mrs Betts? Taking a guess at a few more is Mrs Nowvaski and Mr Hardacre sitting to the left of Mr Haggard? Also, again just a guess, is Miss Retchless the lady standing second from the left? Look forward to someone naming all fifteen smiling faces! Thanks again for the memory.

Hi Chris, I can help with a few more names: Miss Hughes, Mr Bentham, Miss Backhouse, Mr Scales and Miss Stanger. Let's hope someone can fill in the others for us.

Hello Janet. A senior moment on my part, one of many these day. Of course the name was Mr Oldacre not Mr Hardacre. Thanks for more names. I am not going to be tempted to name any more.

My goodness Janet - a marvellous photo. Assuming I'm right and (Major) Haggard was head as of 1953, this would give this a more precise date. Of course the head, Miss Stanger and Mrs Novwaski were there during the 60s and 70s. We used to walk Miss Stanger's lovely dog during the lunch-hour during our last year there. Any more of these?

Mrs Betts was my teacher. I remember her marrying Mr Betts sometime during the time I was a pupil there. She was a smashing teacher, I remember we use to play Lotto on a Friday afternoon in her class. I was Cinderella one year in the school play and the following Christmas, I played Sleeping Beauty. There was this boy who was prince charming called Michael who had an awful forever runny nose who had to kiss me awake - ug! One of the other little girls' mother loaned me her daughter's beautiful pink, long dress for my ball gown. I felt so good in it and have never forgotten her kindness. I liked that school very much.

Hi Janet I was in Miss Stanger's class in 1958 and had my picture taken with her lemon tree which appeared in the Brighton Argus.

Hello Janet. I recently met up with Roger Hemsley. He informed me he was not into all things internet. However he gave me some old Woodingdean School photos from his father's collection, showing teachers, class photos and sports teams. Roger is happy to share them with others. There are ten in all, taken in the early 1950s. Perhaps you have the same in your collection, as they seem be taken in the same era as your published photo? It would be great if I could somehow send you copies as an addition to your collection. Kind Regards.

Hi Tony. Yes I am. I have been married to Jim for 42 years.

Hi Janet, nice to know you are both ok. I used to be married to Sue and we lived in the flat below you in Portslade, many moons ago, Wondered if you remembered me. Best wishes to you both.

I lived in Woodingdean from 57 to the Mid 70s and went to Woodingdean from 59. My teacher was Mrs Peglar out in the cottages, I was always the quiet shy one, and was always classified as could do better. I remember most of them and don't forget Stan Mounce, caretaker, his milk monitor money paid for Saturday morning pictures at the Gaiety or Astoria. Great times

Great website. I lived close to the Fleets in Cowley Drive during the late fifties until the late seventies, and went to Woodingdean, Rudyard Kipling and Longhill. Does anyone remember the Entiknap family?

I remember most of the teachers in the photo, especially Mrs Rice (previously Miss Barnes). She was incredibly glamourous to us and wore a pointy bra and sticky out skirt + used to flirt outrageously with poor Mr Betts! She took the 'top' class I think. I was there from 1951 to '58 - then went to Varndean. My name then was Mary Barnett and I lived in Seaview Road.

Hi Mary/Mandy. Miss Barns, as she was know then, was also my teacher for two years running 1952/54 at Woodingdean CPC; and I too remember her as a very glamorous lady. All the boys in the class including myself had a secret crush on the lovely Miss Barns :) I can recall my mother talking to my father about her and saying in a very envious voice "Of course she's far too glamorous to be a school teacher" However that said; she was a very bright, popular and caring teacher. Mrs Rice, as she became, also taught my wife Lesley (nee Feltham) in the mid 1950s - she also has fond memories of that time. I wonder if anyone remembers Miss Barns/Rice Christian name, or how long she taught at Woodingdean CPS; when she retired and did she attend the 50 year reunion in 1999? Sadly an event I missed :( It would be nice to think she's still around, although by now probably in her early eighties? She was one of those people that influences your life, therefore not easy to forget. I can still picture her in my mind and still think about her even after all these years :) Miss Barns is also mentioned in the Woodingdean childhood memories and schoolday pages. Regards Chris Wrapson

Hello Christopher, I've just remembered Miss Barnes christian name, it was Joan, but I don't know what happened to her in terms of any later career moves. Would be interesting to find out. This is a marvellous site for those of us who moved away from the Brighton area many years ago but still have good memories of their school days in Woodingdean (apart from the time Major H smacked my legs)!

Bottom row second from right is Norma Tamkin (my mum's niece).

Was interested to read your memories of Woodingdean Primary. All three of my children attended this school in the mid 80s and early 90s and my daughter from about 2004. I was a teacher myself and worked in other local schools. A friend of mine worked at Woodingdean in about 1973/4 just before Major Haggard retired he was quite a character! Some of you may be interested in our Then and Now exhibition to be held at The Church of the Holy Cross in Woodingdean on 5th and 6th March. if so have a look at www.woodingdeanholycross.co.cc.

I was at Woodingdean from 62 to 68, Primary to Junior. Let's be honest, it was a rubbish school.

Would you mind if we took a copy of your picture to show at our Then And Now Exhibition in Woodingdean on 5th and 6th March 2011?

Editor's note: I will contact the owner of the photograph and ask permission for you to use it in your exhibition. I will mail you if and when I get a response. Non of the material on the site can be used without the permission of the writer/owner of images. Thank you

Hi David, I have a collection of ten or more photos taken in the 1950s - just like the ones above. I`m sure there will be others. All will be on display at the Woodingdean Exhibition 5th / 6th March. Also check out Peter Mercer of (Huns Mere Pit) fame- you will find him in the these pages. Regards

Hi Christopher I look forward to seeing the pictures at "Then And Now" in Woodingdean. I know we have been in contact with Peter Mercer. All my children went to Woodingdean Primary but a bit more recently.

Hi Kaz - only just found this site and read your comment about the guy Mick with the runny nose, his name was Mick Gander (nickname 'Goose'). He lived next door to the Spar shop in Bexhill Road. I only knew him because he kept pigeons as I did and I never ever saw him without a candle hanging from his nose.