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Nativity Play 1954

This photo is of a Nativity Play and was taken in 1954, at St. Mary’s Church, Surrenden Road.

I was in the choir and had to sing a solo. I was so nervous that when I opened my mouth to sing, I croaked and hardly a sound came out. What a show up.

Some of the pupils in the photo are Irene Costello, Sylvia Leonard, Teresa Perrin, Gloria Hunt, Cherie Farmiloe, Christine Archbold, Mary Holloway, Pat Taylor, Margaret Sykes, Shirley Tarleton, Bernadette Storrow, Maureen Cliff, Anthony Daly, Barry Aitkenhead, Richard Tarrant, Douglas Hodson, Frank Parker, David Cheverton, Michael Eade, Ian Farmiloe and Philip Wright.

If anyone remembers any other of the pupils, please do leave a comment along with the name.

St Joseph’s School Nativity Play 1954

Comments about this page

  • I used to teach at the new St Joseph’s in Davey Drive, but before leaving wrote the history of the old school from the 1880s to 1957. It’s called ‘Where We Once Were”. It was never published, just done as a record, so if you contact them they may be able to show you their copy to bring back memories.

    By Roy Grant (18/07/2009)
  • OK, the little girl next to Mary (Mary Holloway) and the angel, is me.

    By Angela Storrow (01/03/2011)
  • Hi, I have just come across this site and have enjoyed looking at the photographs.  I went to St. Joseph’s, Milton Road and was in the first year group to go to the new school in Davey Drive.   I didn’t see myself in any of the photographs but spotted my brother Patrick Scrase.  So long ago!  I will tell Patrick to have a look.  Oh and by the way I presume Angela Storrow is the sister of Bernadette who was in my class.

    By Teresa Scrase (16/12/2013)
  • I didn’t go to St. Joseph’s school but I remember Patrick Scrase from my senior days at Fitzherbert in Woodingdean. We were in the same classes ending up being taught by Mr. (Lidd) Liddell in class V. I am afraid we gave the old boy a bit of a hard time. He didn’t deserve us rowdy lot at all. He had a hard time in the war. But anyway Teresa if you can give your brother my regards and thank him for some hilarious times in school I would be grateful. I was unfortunate enough to be sitting in front of him at some point and could hear him speaking all sorts of things which made my sides ache. The teacher could not see him but saw my face laughing so I sometimes got it in the neck for my troubles. His favourite trick when he had the giggles was to hide behind his desk lid pretending to get something out from his desk. He also got me into smoking which we did in the corner of the handball court in the playground. We got caught one day by John Crowley a hard Irish teacher who happened to be looking over the wall at us all having a fag. Happy days.

    Best wishes

     

     

    By Mick Peirson (18/12/2013)
  • Fascinating reading about Patrick at school.  I’ve told him about the site so perhaps he will have a look.  There are so many different places to add comments that I think replies could be missed, unless I’m not expert enough.  I know Mr. Crowley was thought hard and I was terrified of going into his class but once there I liked him.  I seem to remember he was an admirer of Shakespeare and also the trick was to get him talking about his memories or experiences.  I was two years behind Patrick so don’t remember you I’m afraid.  I will mention your name to him.  Good to chat.  

    By Teresa Scrase-Davey (19/12/2013)
  • I also was a bit worried about going into John Crowley’s class Teresa but I found him a very hard but totally fair man and sometimes funny. He tried to get Shakespeare into my head but it never got there. I remember his poetry though. I often think about him even to this day. I remember sometimes when we kids were in the class before him at the start of the day we would be noisy and mucking around in general. Then all of a sudden the class would go quiet and there was Mr. Crowley just peeping through the glass door panels to see who was being naughty. Usually a threatening look was enough to calm you down, but his favourite weapon in class was his yard stick which he whacked you on the palm of the hand if you needed it. If you moved your hand at the last moment then you would get two for your troubles. My grandkids love the stories of my schooldays.

    By Mick Peirson (20/12/2013)
  • I remember the stick very well, all the teachers used them for the slightest thing on both girls and boys.  Sometimes Mr. Crowley gave you the choice of the cane or detention. Whichever you chose he often gave you the other. Even so I liked him as a teacher. It wasn’t just the senior school teachers that used the cane it was the junior school teachers too. 

    By Teresa Scrase-Davey (20/12/2013)
  • Dear Teresa,

    I am the Head at St Joseph’s in Hollingdean and this year we celebrate our 60th Jubilee. We launch our celebrations with a visit from the mayor and special guests on the 20th January from 1-4pm. If you would like to come along, please contact the school office (01273556607) email: office@st-josephs.brighton-hove.sch.uk

    If you are still in contact with other former pupils, please invite them on my behalf.

    By Fran Morrison (06/01/2016)
  • I, Mary Richardson then, have found myself in this Photo. Looking from the front, I am the Angel to the left of Mary.

    By Mary Heth Richardson (10/10/2021)

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