Memories of the 1950s

East Sussex records show Knoll School for Boys opened in 1931/1932. The girls school opened a few years later. The school was in two halves the boys to the west and the girls to the east; they were divided by the assembly hall and head teacher’s offices. The classrooms were built around a quadrangle. The main games field was a good walk away in Hangleton. In 1980 the school was replaced by a business centre.

Remembering our teachers
I was at the Knoll School from 1955 to 1959 and am amazed that nothing has been written about the it. Miss Shields was our headmistress; she could make you shake in your shoes with one of her looks. Miss Barnard (Maths) and Miss Metcalf I remember as being good teachers and very encouraging. Miss Dickenson (Dicky Doughnut) took us for art and Miss Wolfenden for Sport and Science (I think).

Punished if we forgot our berets
We had to walk all the way back to school after games on our sports field in Hangleton. We had to do lines if we forgot to wear our berets. We had great times in the kitchens during Domestic Science and produced some very tasty goods. We were also very popular with the boys after school, they used to hang around the school gates waiting for us.

Our annual athletics
We had annual athletics at the Greyhound Stadium and we were very competitive against other local schools, Mile Oak in particular. I once ran the 100 yards for Sussex but was disqualified for running out of my lane.

Comments about this page

  • We had four ‘houses’ in the girls school. Nightingale (blue) Bronte (red) Fry (yellow) and Currie (green). Competition was strong between the houses. We had a garden at school and were encouraged to to take an interest in our products, this made a welcome change from class. We had a good netball team and I enjoyed travelling to other schools on a Saturday morning for a game. The boys in the above article only waited for us at the school gate so they could eat our cooking!

    By Marion Upton (04/02/2008)
  • Hello Marion, I was so interested to read your news, I remember you from the school, and I think I was in your class. My teacher was Mrs. Upton, I remember Miss Shields. I am trying to get in touch with other school friends, Diane Houghton, Linda Friend, Elizabeth Stone?  I remember the school well, I used to live in Hangleton Road, I am now in Cornwall. I hope to hear from you, your old friend Janet.

    By Jan Dove (nee Cattermull) (04/02/2008)
  • Hi Jan thanks I would love to get in contact with you and swop memories so my email address is macthomas@ntlworld.com

    By Marion Upton (05/02/2008)
  • I went to the new Knoll School for Girls from 1968 to 1972. Miss Sheilds was still headmistress and still very strict. We had to wear our berets on swimming trips to The King Alfred swimming pool (not while we were swimming!). The school was very clean and new, the science labs were very well equipped but after Miss Wolfenden retired we didn’t have science lessons for some time, although I do remember dissecting a bull’s eye at some stage! The domestic science teacher was Miss Cooper, we had to make cheese and potato pie in our first lesson and were taught how to iron and fold a tea towel!

    By Gill Bradshaw (Bowdidge) (22/02/2008)
  • I was at the school from 1970-1975, my name was Oliva Braybon and I remember Miss Shields very well. She certainly did not like the boys hanging about outside the school, in fact my big sister Rosemary got into trouble for talking to her own brother! I remember Miss Wilson who took RE she was my favourite. I now live in Australia and am Mum to four and Nana to six, soon to be seven. Some good memories of the Knoll.

    By Olivia Mitchell (08/05/2008)
  • Hi Knoll School, I attended Mile Oak Girl’s School during the late 50s and can remember playing netball in the winter time, against your team, at the Hangleton courts, gosh it got so cold. I can also remember Sport’s Day at the greyhound stadium. We had good times didn’t we?

    By Bonny Cother/ Veronica Bentley (15/05/2008)
  • Knoll Girls School, now that brings back memories. I recall some of your names girls. I moved away to London in 1978 and now live in Hertfordshire. Does anyone remember me?

    By Sophie Fox (Khawaja) (25/06/2008)
  • I was at the Knoll Hole as we used to call it from 1968 to 1971. I remember Miss Shields, Miss Wilson and Miss Wolfenden. My class mates were Phillipa Smee, Linda Gray, Beverley Green, Chris Smith, Gilliand Gander, Jayne Cranfield – who became head girl and three whose surnames I forget: Frances, Heather and Corrinne.  Miss Cooper used to take us for Cookery, I spent most of the time standing outside the door as she used to insist that my name was pronounced Joan (it’s not, it’s Joanne) and I used to ignore her when she spoke to me. I’ve never been able to cook, it’s all her fault! I loved my athletics though and those of you of remember me will remember that Gillian Gander and I used to battle it out on the running track each year at school sports. I think we had it good in those days.

    By Jo Williams (nee Legg) (06/09/2008)
  • I used to go to the boy’s Grammar and was one of the boys who used to wait outside the school gates in Hangleton Way to meet girls and walk them home – it certainly wasn’t for your cooking, we had other things on our minds at that age. I can remember the school being built. My eldest brother, much older than me, worked on it wile he was at Uni. Everytime we went past he was amazed it was still standing.

    By Neil Underhill (19/10/2008)
  • My dad Kenneth Burtenshaw went to the Knoll School. He is now in his early seventies so must have been there in the 1940’s. Does anyone recognise the name?

    By Sandra Allen (27/10/2008)
  • Burtenshaw does ring bells, not Kenneth though.  I went to the Knoll in 1962/66.  I knew a few Burtenshaws, did you go to the same school?

    By Janet Dove (nee Cattermull) (12/11/2008)
  • Hi Sandra, I went to the Knoll School in the 1940s and I do remember the Burtenshaws; didn’t they live in Godwin Road?

    By Malcolm Citrone (25/11/2008)
  • Sharing the same campus in the sixties, the Knoll School for Boys was a mirror image of the Girl’s school. Halls and canteen were shared. The organisation for the ‘two’ never to meet must have been made with military precision! We were even denied their presence when producing Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas which required ‘ladies’. ‘Three Little Maids from School’ would have been more authentic!

    By Steve Robinson (02/12/2008)
  • I can remember in the 60s the two schools sharing the same site and how cramped it was. Later on the girls got the better deal with a new school off Hangleton Road (near the sports ground). We didn’t have much time to socialise as Mr Turner and Miss Shields policed their respective charges and I can only remember one occasion when we had an end of school dance with the girls.

    By Paul Maddock (13/12/2008)
  • Does anyone remember the boys school in the late 50s? Mr Parkinson, Daddy Davies etc and Mr Sparks the headmaster. Then Mr Dellar? I can remember one teacher even once checked how clean our shoes were!

    By Chris (07/01/2009)
  • I went to a meeting today 26.1.09 and hopefully we will be arranging a reunion in the near future. The next meeting is Monday 27th April 2-4pm at St Richards Hall please feel free to come along .

    By Pauline James (nee Small) (26/01/2009)
  • Hi anyone out there who went to the girls’ school between 1955 -1959. Some names in my classes 1A – 4A were Jacqueline Mclennan (now living in Australia), June Nash (now living in California), Beryl Watts, Jean Mullis, (whom I met recently in Worthing), Valerie Clarke, Marion Randall, Patricia Eggleton, Gillian Smales, Margaret Anne Shorten, Elizabeth Henderson, Annita Griffiths, Sandra Dooley and Rita Jestico, to name but a few. I have the whole list but I won’t go on now. Be good to hear from anyone out there. I well remember writing lines for not wearing my beret home from the games field and the icy stare of Miss Shields from the hall platform. Poor Miss Dickinson’s twitch and the times I was given a shoelace to tie back my hair considered too long in Miss Wolfendon’s class. The mannish attire of Miss Taylor (the geography teacher). Having to shop for Mrs Upton on the way back from lunch. Those were the days, eh?

    By Jean Martin (nee Smith) (04/03/2009)
  • I went to the Knoll School for Boys from 1959 -65; first under E.J. Dellar; later with J.M.Turner. There were a number of memorable characters among the staff: Mr. Chapple for English, Weymark for music, (tiny but fierce), Hicks and Gooders for science, the formidable B.H. Liddell for maths (“I can make any boy cry inside five minutes”… he could) W.J.M ‘Daddy’ Davies (“When I was in Canada…”) I remember one lunchtime in the North Hall when we were playing table-tennis and Mrs Chapple walked some girls through to the dining hall and got really mad when someone dropped a ball after she told us to “Stand still”. Many other memories… I live in N. California now. Cheers marinmax@usa.net

    By Howard Dillon (12/03/2009)
  • I first went to the Knoll as an infant during WW2 when the headmistress of that part was a Miss Lelliot. I then went down to Portland Road for my Junior schooling then back up  again to the Seniors. Mr Sparks was the headmaster. Working along the corridor there was a lady teacher who took 1R, then Mrs Pugh who went over to the girls side after a short spell of us lot. Then came Jack Booth who was a great footballer and later became a J.P. in Hove. Further along came Jack Liddell, Basil Weymark, Mr Parkinson, Mr ‘Daddy Davis, Mr Clapp, Mr Smith who took metalwork , Mr Vic Bratley who took woodwork, and in the two classes at the north side of the infants playground were Mr Chappel who took art, and a tall thin chap who took history but whose name escapes me at the moment. I left at Easter time in 1951 and started work as an apprentice coach builder for Southdown Motors in Victoria Road, Portslade, where I stayed for four years. While I was at the school boxing was very popular and among the best were Jackie Adderson, Keith West and Mickey Turner. I can remember going up to the Albert Hall to see Mickey fight in the National Schoolboy Championships. For those who went to the school and have since moved away it still looks much the same viewed from the Old Shoreham Road. It is now used as an industrial estate and the green in front is now half the size as a lot of it was taken over by the widening of the Old Shoreham Road. All bar one of the shops on the other side of the road have gone and the Maytree pub has been replaced by houses.When Jack Liddell retired he ran a book shop in Shoreham High Street until he died a year or two ago but the shop is still there and is run by his wife. On the wall behind the shop door is a photo of Mr Sparks the old Head.

    By David Smart (14/03/2009)
  • I went to the Knoll School for Boys from 1966-70; under Mr. Turner, Basyl Waymark was our music teacher, Mr. Gooders for science, Mr Hopkins for Art (who I hated – he had a bad attitude), Mr. Sherbourne our PE teacher and class teacher, was worse than any Sergeant in the Army; the last three in class got the size 12 slipper and the last three out, he used to shout “bend down and touch your toes boy” I’m sure he was a bit crazy in the head! If he suspected we were wearing underpants under our shorts during PE he would make us climb the wall bars in the Gym so he could look up our shorts, then he would explode if he caught someone out and make the poor kid take his shorts off in front of everyone, plus make the kid take his underpants off and then put his shorts back on! Yep that guy was pretty sick.  Well I am glad that school is no longer there, what with all the corporal punishment that went on, nowadays people like that would get locked up.  I live in Germany now.

    By Paul G Rickard (09/04/2009)
  • Although I did not attend Knoll School I lived in Hangleton Road, near the junction with Martin Road, from 1963-1975 and many of my friends were pupils at Knoll School for Boys. Julian(Jim) Chown, “Ollie” Badman, Melvin Adams, another Melvin who’s last name escapes me for now and Phil Hawke(s?). The latter was infamous amongst us at the time for riding his 3 speed bike uo “snakey hill” without having to get off and walk! We spent man many hours hanging around in the general area of Stapley Road, the little park just off Stapley Road, The Grenadier, and dirt track riding(or BMX’ing as they call it now) our bikes around the area just to the east of the Greyhound Stadium before they built the Alliance BS offices. West Hove golf course, pre Sainsburys and the link road, was a favourite haunt and the site of many “adventures.” I rember playing cricket against Knoll for Xaverian College on the site of what was to become the girls school. I was interested to see mention by David Smart of Vic Bratley as the woodwork teacher at Knoll in the early 1950s – he must have subsequently moved to Cottesmore RC Secondary and taught with my father. I have many happy Hangleton memories and hopefully many more that I am waiting to be reminded of.

    By John Harrison (25/04/2009)
  • From 1956-1962 I attended The Knoll Boys along with a group of boys from West Blatchington Jnr. The Nevill School was due to open the following year qnd we were supposed to go there, a group of Mums got together to stop us being moved and upset our education. The Knoll Boys at the time had a good name as Mr Dellar was doing good work. Little did they know at the time. Jack Liddle later went to the Grammar School and taught Maths, he obviously didn’t take his slipper which he called Charlie with him but left it for his replacement.
    When I stayed on in the 5th form, us Prefects were able to mix with the girls in the lower Gym and use it as a common room. I worked in the Tuckshop under Mr Lumsden the woodwork master. When he left his replacement Mick Welch was a sailor with whom I spent many times racing against.

    By Richard Hazelgrove (26/04/2009)
  • I went to another meeting today re. school reunion and was disappointed not to see anyone there from my age group.
    The next meeting will be held on Monday July 27th 2pm-4pm at St Richards Hall on the Knoll Estate. It would be lovely to see more faces from the past. You are all very welcome to come along, it really would be lovely to meet up again.

    By Pauline James nee Small (27/04/2009)
  • I attended the Knoll School for Boys in the mid to late 50s. I think it was Barry Gooders who very tongue in cheek referred to it as the “Knoll Academy for Young Gentlemen”. I remember all of the above teachers including Jack Liddell who taught us maths and PE classes which ended in the ‘showers’, being howled at by Liddell “One basin, one boy” where we had to strip naked and splash freezing cold water from the wash basins onto ourselves. Others worthy of mention were Mr Hicks who taught us chemistry. He would make any misbehaved boy kneel on the raised demonstration bench and wedge a cane into a Bunsen-burner tripod, then tension the cane against our backsides. The cane was drawn back and released ensuring that each stroke hit exactly the same place. There were many good times too including the weekly jaunt to the King Alfred swimming baths. Someone mentioned ‘Dad’ Davis who taught us history and geography and I can recall we were all quietly working when it began to snow. No one batted an eyelid and carried on writing when Dad Davis in his nasal drone announced “No, don’t get excited, when I was in Canada….”, there of course followed a five minute monologue about six foot snow drifts and being cut off for weeks. I have been living in Spain for more than thirty years now and think back to Mr Griffiths teaching us French and how perhaps Spanish may have been more suitable. I have many fond memories of some of my classmates including Ian Beck, Neville (toothpaste) Colgate, Geoff Stimpson, Taylor A and C and many others. Now that I have found this site, I’ll check in from time to time to see if any other ‘Old Boys’ have posted in.

    By James Gaitley (16/05/2009)
  • Remarkable how accurate James’ memories are, they chime in exactly with my own. “One basin, one boy”, oh dreaded phrase, shouted out in that sing song voice of Jack Liddel’s. I think it was Mr Griffin rather than Mr Griffiths who taught us French and Spanish (chaotically enough two groups in the same room at the same time). He was enlightened enough to give us Tin Tin books in French as class readers, thus opening my eyes to the genius of Herge, an enthusiasm that has never waned. James was perhaps, alongside G Stimpson, the most punished boy in the school, being rebellious and cheeky. Quite right too, given the perverse regime we suffered under. Then, like the coming of spring after a difficult winter, our new head arrived, the marvellous Mr Turner for whom no praise is high enough.

    By Ian Beck (17/05/2009)
  • I attended the Knoll School from 1952 till 1956, I remember it as dreadful!  How we were supposed to learn anything was beyond me.  I remember my days at the school with such regret, and am glad that my children didn’t have to go through what I did and were educated in Canada where they teach with kindness and caring. I still have marks on my fingers 50 years later where I was caned for things like not understanding or losing my place in a book.

    By Alan Frost (03/06/2009)
  • I was checking out the Knoll and was pleased to see some people still have fond memories of it! I only had 1 year there before moving to Easthill Drive which was on the other side of the golf course. I did live at that bottom of Stapley Road for 10 years as a child and spent many good “play times” on the golf course and the graveyards along old Shoreham Road. I have 3 brothers: Stephen who attended the Knoll Boys, and Danny and Darren. We were probably known as the scruffy kids around! I think I was at the school in 1971 – 1972 and I did know a Pauline, Deborah, Wendy Brand and a Stella but my memory is bad now! I’ll check back on this page.

    By Lisa Raven (nee King) (14/07/2009)
  • Lisa, fond memories yes, but of our classmates who made our existence there so tolerable. We were subjected to so much violence and tacit abuse from the teaching staff that I’m sure our future careers were driven by our own suspicion of authority and figureheads. (Probably why from the age of 20 I worked for myself until this present day) Stapley Road – we were your neighbours in Wilfrid Road!

    By James Gaitley (18/07/2009)
  • It does bring back memories – especially a message from John Harrison. I  lived in Hangleton Road and I think John lived just up the road from me. In fact I think I went out with you. I now live in Cornwall, and have two grown up daughters.  It would be great to hear from you; did you have a brother? I remember Jim Chown. Good old days.

    By Jan Dove (Cattermull) (24/07/2009)
  • Replying to David Smart’s letter, I was also at the Knoll Infants & Senior Schools starting there just before World War Two began. Does anyone remember Citroni’s ice cream van outside the gate in Bellingham Crescent? I also went to Portland Road Juniors, I remember one teacher named Mr. Quested and I believe the head was Mr. Mayes. At the Knoll Seniors, the teacher who took 1R was Miss Tottenham; Mr. Booth became a teacher and eventually became head of Mile Oak Infants School and taught my daughter there. Jack Liddell took us cross country as well as P.T in the hall. He did indeed run Bookworms in Shoreham High Street but I didn’t realise it was him until after his death. Basil Waymark was keen on poetry and also ball games in the playground. His mother took the “Sons of Temperance” lesson in the main hall one evening a week; he also played the organ at the Dome Mission in Brighton. Mr. Parkinson tried to teach us music; especially the piano and we also had to listen to the B.B.C schools programmes on classical music. Mr. Smith I found rather grumpy, he drove a three wheeled Morgan to school. Mr Clapp, was the science teacher, he had a marvellous bell system which was operated by a different boy each day from 3C. He rode a bike to school from St. Leonards Gardens every day. I imagine he passed on many years since. One shop across the road was Dirty Dicks the grocer (Mr. Richardson) my mother was registered there during the war. I lived in Stapley Road, opposite Martin Road until 1958 and left the Knoll in late 1949 to work at Mansfields Garage in Kingsway.

    By Alan J. Knight (28/07/2009)
  • Just an amendment to my previous memories of the Knoll Boys School, in replying to David Smart’s tall thin history teacher. His name was Mr. Tobutt and I seem to recall he took us for geography as well. Remembering the shops opposite, when I was there was Mr. Willis with the Green Hut, a tobaconist and grocer, John Swalve the barber,who had a speech impediment, Mrs. Humphreys Draper Shop and the afore mentioned Fred Richardson who also ran the post office. Round the corner in Margery Road. was Sadler the fish & chip shop. The first house past the school (west side) was Mr. Balcombe the school caretaker. I was in form 3c when I left in 1949, Also in my class were identical twin brothers David & Joseph Gent, Roy Fowler, Jim Ford, John peet, Basil Lewis, and a host of others I can’t quite put a name to.

    By Alan J.Knight (28/07/2009)
  • I cannot believe this, I have often wondered what happened to all the wonderful girls I was with at the Knoll, and what happened to the teachers. I was Tracy Becker and attended from 1971-1976. Some of the names I remember are Evanda Austin, Jenny Frost, Linda Kattell, Barbara Gould, Jackie Morrison, Sarah Ales, Jane Howison, Sally Ensor, Linda Mitchell, Nicole Kelly. Susan Woodgate, Jill Scroggins,and Heather James. Teachers were Miss Cooper for RE. Miss Johnstone for English, Mrs Randall for Maths, Miss Wilkinson for Geography, Mrs Upton for History, Miss Costantinopal ( or something) for Home Economics, Miss Wilson and Miss Shields. I cannot believe what I am remembering.

    By Tracy Lee (30/07/2009)
  • It’s at this time of the year (September) I remember going back to school after what seemed then, the long summer holidays. The parquet flooring of the Knoll school classrooms and school halls would have been sanded and treated with a horrible smelling polish, the blackboards would have been repainted and pristine workbooks with the Knoll school logo would be issued. For some reason I still think of the beginning of September as the ‘New Year’.

    By James Gaitley (06/09/2009)
  • Yes Jean – Classs 1A-3A Gillian Wall (nee Smale) 1955-1958. I remember many of the girls you mention. I can add Christine Ellender and Elizabeth Cree (my special swimming friends) and Patricia Eggleton, another very good friend who lived in Olive Road. Does anyone remember puffing up that hill on their bicycles from Portland Road? Margaret Ann was another good friend and I met her once after school age. Unfortunately, Miss Shields and my mother crossed swords during my third year. I had gone to school wearing a pair of pale yellow socks, which you will probably remember was banned. My mother was horrified that I would have been sent home for anything quite so petty (she had given me the socks to wear despite my protests). As a result, my parents found me an alternative school in Brighton where I thrived. Thank you Miss Shields. I remember all the teachers you mention and also Miss Daniels, the music teacher whom I liked very much. There was also Miss Hamilton (of needlework fame in the prefab). I have good memories of Miss Taylor’s geography trip to London. I was thrilled to go on the tour of the docks, The Mall, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. Another girl I always remember is Marion Beddingfield who always sat next to Norma ? These days, I am lucky enough to live in beautiful British Columbia. Who would have thought it? All those names in the geography books (I particularly liked Medicine Hat when I was young) – and here I am, having been to many from coast to coast. Lovely to see so many familiar names and relive a little bit of the past. Thanks.

    By Gillian Wall (nee Smale) (12/09/2009)
  • Hi Gillian. So pleased to see your reply. How lucky are you living in British Columbia! My husband and I visited British Columbia two years ago after retiring. We thought it was a wonderful place. We went to Banff, Jasper, Lac le Jeune and then on to Vernon – visiting an elderly aunt of mine whose hospitality was second to none. We ended our tour in Vancouver. You were lucky to escape the Knoll School, I tried too but Miss Shields blocked my application. I hated it there in my first year as I had left all my school pals from my junior school in Portslade behind. However, I made many new friends and enjoyed the latter years a little more. Hope we may hear from more girls in future.

    By Jean Martin (nee Smith) (16/10/2009)
  • Would anyone happen to know a Peter Bernard Tester who left Knoll school in 1945?

    By Gary Tester (07/11/2009)
  • I went to the Knoll School for Boys from 1967-72 and remember Mr Turner and Mr Sherbourne and his size 12+ slipper. We also had him for PE and RE. He would also throw that slipper at you if you were not paying attention. I remember the “bend down and touch your toes, boy” bit very well. Mr Hopkins the art teacher had a very bad car accident and I never saw him again - we had some art scholar for our final year (not a teacher). The deputy head’s name eludes me at the moment – he was the one I did not like – got the cane from him several times but once I pulled my hand away and he missed, then I refused to put my hand out again so I had to stand in the corridor for over an hour (time to think about it). Oh one can’t forget Daddy Davies the History teacher who himself was a piece of living History (pensionable). I also live in Germany - where do you live Paul G Rickard?

    By Franklin Philp (11/11/2009)
  • I am afraid I was one of those boys who went to Hove Grammar School but I married Jennie Emery who was a pupil at Knoll Girls’ School, between 1959 and 1962. She used to compete at athletics for Sussex, especially the 150 yards as it was in those days. I am sure she would be only too happy to make contact with some of her old friends. I am afraid I’m not sure of many of the their names but I remember Doreen Eggleton – could this be Patricia’s sister? Three of her brothers - Andy, Phillip and Simon, all went to the Boys School, and her younger sister Nicky to the Girls School. I think Phillip had one of the leading roles in the Gilbert & Sullivan productions. Look forward to hearing from anyone who remembers Jennie. We now live in Devon but hope to visit Hove in the new year.

    By David Cohen (16/11/2009)
  • I arrived at the Knoll School for Boys in 1959 half-way through the second year –an institution out of the Bash Street Kids, except it wasn’t funny –at least not to begin with. I was scared stiff. I was bullied right from the start. I remember seeing boys beating each other up in the arched corridors that separated the classrooms from the playground, with maybe a teacher looking on, unable and unwilling to do anything. There was a huge bloke in 4E or some such class who was incredibly scary –Pritchard, wasn’t it –and he had a gang of similar-sized youths who did as much wrong as they could. I never fell into their clutches. I saw him and his “team” hoist a small boy to the ceiling of the lavatories and let him fall. In those first weeks, I dreaded break-time –more dreadful than arithmetic, which I began in the bottom row. I was even told that some teachers had been beaten up by pupils in the past. But he of the cruel mustachios, black cape, green ink and heavy tobacco fumes managed to keep himself on top of the situation, scorning those “pansy” teachers who found it impossible to maintain control. So you see, Jim, one could easily come to the conclusion that as the boys were very rough, so the staff also had to be rough. I’m not going to take that route, but I do think we need to qualify our judgements about that whole tremendous experience. As the stick ruled in the classroom (and while ever-present, it was less important in some classrooms than in others), what could the authorities expect but that when their backs were turned (and even when they were not!) it would rule among their brutalized flocks. Violence, which accompanied the institution’s authoritarianism, became a lingua franca –always against those perceived as weak –and it recognized no distinctions of status. Thus, for instance, the most harmless teachers were picked on by our own class leaders, who deliberately goaded them into violence –against us! What were we trying to prove? –that this is a system that has to reproduce its practitioners among those who should have been our friends? You will remember the names of the teachers I am thinking of –one of them died while we were there. Were we trying to prove that only the violent deserve respect? How perverse we were, then! Thus, far worse than the attacks on things (poor dumb property), some of them highly amusing (the school caps, for instance), which I shall not go into here (they spread out of the school and into the wider society) –was the bullying that went on. Unfortunately, too many of us were too afraid and vain to go along with it. This is not to say that we didn’t share amusing –indeed hilarious –times together, as a class. Never to be forgotten, are Big Jim’s remarks –for me, the most memorable one, for all its inanity, was to Mr. Rees in Geography: “Does wool come from a wool tree, then, Sir?” And our class language which you invented, Jim –the sound of it I for one have not forgotten with “Ni” for “No” and so on. Thank you for all that. And all of this was going on as dramatic events unfolded at an international level –the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), the Kennedy assassination (1963) and the movement against nuclear proliferation –at the time, I for one was terribly unaware of these matters. Reference: the excellent Italian novel (ostensibly written for children) “Cuore” (“Heart”) by Edmundo de Amicis, made into a superb Japanese cartoon. I hope this book now been translated into English.

    By Rod Allison (06/12/2009)
  • Rod, your memory is crystal clear. It was Ross Pritchard and his cohorts that tried to rule the roost. I remember Barry Gooders confronting him once and putting him firmly in his place. I don’t know where that classroom banter originated from but I also recall for some daft reason at an appointed time during the silence in class there would be a mass muttering of ‘ATC’ which was of course the Air Training Corps which some of us attended after school hours. No surprise that Mr. Rees would refer to anything Welsh including sheep, but more so the Rhondda Valley and coal mines. I suppose some of our antics did deserve some sort of retribution from the teachers….. I was thumped by ‘Smiffy’ the metalwork teacher for clamping a hardened steel centre punch in a vice and ruining a die by threading it. I’m not sure if anyone was actually caught, but the practice of scuffing a Swan Vesta match underfoot which caused a terrible smell of burnt rubber and dirty parquet flooring. I could go on, like Rod and Ian, my memories are just as if it were yesterday.

    By James Gaitley (10/12/2009)
  • James: It was really nice to hear from you after what must be more than 45 years. ¡Dios Mio! It’s also very nice to read the contributions by others from our time at the Knoll. Howard, several times people I’ve talked to from the Knoll in years since have wondered with me what happened to you. No-one seemed to know. I tried writing to you on the email address you supplied but it didn’t work. Of course I remember the ATC thing –but also the word that usually went with it: JOIN! I expect you remember that too! Join, join: the ATC! Hahahaha! Fond memories also of Tiny Tim and his little friends and those nasty book-wreckers in 4G. Not to be forgotten is the scene out of “Dead Poets Society” when we all pleaded guilty to those goings-on. One event that still leaves me in awe was the visit by a troupe of players (and one or two of us suspected at the time that the young Judi Dench of Z-cars was among them; did we ever find out?) who came to demonstrate their work in the gym.
    Before I go on, I should say something about the geography of the Knoll. As we know it was a divided school – to the left was the boys’ side, to the right the girls. In the middle, and on the top of the knoll upon which the whole edifice was built, was the main entrance. We rarely went through there. Inside this entrance was a vestibule, to the left of which was the headmaster’s office and to the right the headmistress’s office. Boys, to my knowledge, never strayed beyond the left-hand (western) side of the school, and as far as I know girls didn’t stray beyond the right-hand (eastern) side. However, in the middle (between the two sides) were the gym, the hall and another smaller hall. The gym faced the main entrance (the smell of school polish mixed with greens would have been stunning around there). Each of these rooms could be entered from the boys’ side or the girls’ side – but never at the same time! Writing this reminds me of that tower in “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco – to go beyond a certain point was not just forbidden, but unheard of. Well, there may well be some interesting counter-experiences that would make a nice story. Anyway, I think that was one of the problems with that school – the sexual divide, a remnant of the 19th century I guess. Mr. Turner attempted to bridge this divide while we were at the Knoll by organizing a dance to be attended by boys and girls from each of the Knolls. I don’t think it was very successful, but perhaps he kept at it after we left and perhaps some integration was achieved. He would have had to oppose the sexist attitudes and comments on the boys’ side, of course – like the “violence inherent in the system” (thank you Monty Python), this sexism was part and parcel of the authoritarian régime he had inherited.
    Anyway, getting back to the positive stuff, these actors and actresses who came to show us the tricks of their profession were out of that world. The thing I remember most about what they did was as follows. They asked us if anyone had a school text-book – history, geography, a novel, anything really. A boy produced one – Alan Brown?  “Open it at any page” he was told. “No, not a blank page – one with lots of writing on it”. Then they explained that one of them would have to read the page for one or two minutes, and answer questions on it, but while he or she was reading it, the others would make as much noise as possible all around the actor or actress reading the book. That’s what they did, while the reading actor or actress steadfastly read on. When the time was up, the actor or actress would answer questions on the page she or he had just read with absolute precision (line numbers were given even as I recall). I think at least two of them did this to show that all actors have to know how to concentrate. I thought and still think this was spell-binding, and I thank Mr. Turner (who I think was responsible for bringing the troupe in) for that. I’ll have more to say about him another time. Best wishes to all.

    By Rod Allison (13/12/2009)
  • My Goodness, Rod Allison; hard to know where to start… maybe there is a serial novel in here somewhere… Well, after throwing me out with the classic line: ‘The school’s not big enough for both of us and I’m not going… ‘ J.K. Turner later got in touch with me where I was working in Bowles Fine Furniture on the edge of the Lanes in Brighton & got me to apply for Drama College. I went to Rose Bruford College of Speech & Drama in Sidcup Kent & later got thrown out of there also for being stroppy & not doing enough written work… That did bring me close to my father who told me to my astonishment that he knew it was a personality clash & not because I had been stealing or missing classes or anything like that & that he would support me whatever I did… I then worked in theatre in London for twelve years until Mrs Thatcher ended funding for theatre saying ‘We can no longer afford the frivolity of spending on the arts.” At that point I went to Canada ” When I was in Canada…” & then on to California where I still am; just north of San Francisco on the coast in a little beach town called Bolinas & still doing theatre. I go out for commercials & voice-overs when I can; was on ‘Nash Bridges’ for five seasons as a uniform SF cop ( ‘Get me five guys with mustaches’ one director said so not using my Shakespearian background…) but mostly do live theatre in the Bay Area; Berkeley, Oakland, Marin & San Francisco. I do think about the Knoll & wonder if we could have stood up against the prevailing attitudes but I guess I just did not have the personal resources to do so at the time. It was hard when even my father would say of E.J. Dellar: ‘This man has your best interests at heart; you must do what he says…” and we know what happened to him. I guess I started thinking for myself when Dad came out with the same words when Turner took over. Question Authority as the bumper sticker has it. Good to hear from others from that dark time. Cheers, Howard Dillon; marinmax @usa.net or on Facebook as Howard Dillon.

    By Howard Dillon (16/12/2009)
  • Although I didn’t go to the Knoll School (went to Hove Grammar for Girls), I lived nearby in Bellingham Crescent and remember Jennie Emery and James Gaitley. Am interested to hear if Jennie’s husband, David Cohen, went to Portland Road Junior School and left the same year as I did – 1961.

    By Marian Short (nee Collyer) (12/01/2010)
  • This is amazing. To find people who went to the Knoll. I was in the girls school from 1966 to 1969 when I then moved to Lancing. My sister Jackie was three years ahead of me at the same school. I remember Miss Shields really well, she was terrifying. My sister and I are Jackie and Dawn Godfrey. I went to school with Julie Fish, Francis Gibbons, Susan Woodard and her friend Vivien. I’m hopless at names and can’t remember anyone else although I do remember a girl called Barbara Bates. Does anyone remember Jackie and I, we are both living in Southern Spain now. I’d love to hear from anyone that remembers us.

    By Dawn Williams (16/01/2010)
  • On following this thread I suddenly came across the set of wonderfully opaque comments from my old friend Rod Allison, the legendary Fonno. A delight to read what he had to say in reponse to Howard and James, oh the siren voices of the past. Rod do get in touch with me again at the old email address, I have various bits of news. I will try and post a couple of pictures from the Knoll era too in the next few days.

    By Ian Beck (19/01/2010)
  • Ian, I’m not sure I ever had an email address for you, but I still have your home address (unless you’ve moved) -so I shall write. I have pristine copies of the programmes for two school plays which I was thinking of putting up some time. Best wishes.

    By Rod Allison (22/01/2010)
  • I don’t know about school plays, but I do remember what might be considered as a review when I put in a performance as an Irish washerwoman. This was an evening event hosted in the ‘middle hall’, probably 3 or 4g?

    By James Gaitley (24/01/2010)
  • JAMES: As the sponsors of this site will be aware, our individual memories are highly selective. You seem not to remember the school plays and I don’t immediately recall the review you refer to, although it does ring a small bell in my mind, and I can sort of imagine you in your part – which was surely very amusing. Maybe I didn’t see it. Do you remember who organized it? What was on the programme? What time of the year it was put on – near exams? Tell me more. I was thinking of another example of something everyone in our class would surely remember, and realized that I only recall a tiny fragment of it: the French trip. Indeed, even that small bit I recall seems more like a half-forgotten dream than a real thing. It was this: having arrived (by boat) on a miserable day somewhere along the northern coastline of France (Boulogne?), a few of us (maybe six) decided to go for a walk in some farmland near the sea. I (being a bird-watcher) had the idea of seeing some species not seen in Britain. Those I accompanied seemed to have taken this route basically because they were short of cash. My poor memory here is of Ian Beck and Alan Brown, and probably Hubert Osgood, and a couple of others marching out on to French soil. In the event, I saw no birds worth recording, and it was very dull and drizzly, with no trees, just muddy fields. On top of this, some French youths started shouting at us nastily from a distant farmstead and began throwing stones or clods of earth at us. We may have thrown a few back, but being strangers in a foreign land I think we chose the better part of valour and retreated. Nothing else do I recall of that rather fateful journey – in which we learned no French – and little else. Perhaps others do remember. Surely Mr Griffin, who, as described aptly elsewhere on this site by Tony Robinson as the one with the Marcel Wave, was there. My memories of his presence are extremely vague, although now I come to think of it I do recall him standing in the stern of the ship breathing in the good sea air – definitely in English, rather than in French. Perhaps you or Ian or someone else who remembers can awaken me from my trance!

    By Rod Allison (01/02/2010)
  • Rod, that review was probably a parents evening and I can remember my role as a walk on unrehearsed ad-lib. I seem to remember Barry Gooders was involved in the organisation. I wasn’t on that French ‘le trip’ but from your description it would be par for the course for Bill Griffin to let the class muddle through on it’s own. I always associate Bill Griffin with school secretary Mrs. ‘Ma’ Collins. Whenever the very busty ‘Ma’ Collins passed by our French class, Griffin would rush out and engage her in conversation with a fixed smarmy smile. Whatever lessons we attended and she passed by, the usual suspects would mutter aloud ‘It’s Ma’. Oh the memories! 2G when the Biology lab was our form room, the smell of formaldehyde. Who remembers the vivisection of the rabbit when the poor creature had not been anaesthetised properly and came round during the the vivisection? More ether/chloroform was very hastily splashed around which caused poor old Alan Johnson to faint.

    By James Gaitley (01/02/2010)
  • I thought as my last contribution was back in March of last year I had better do a bit of catching up. I still go the the Knollites group at St Richards Church and Community Centre in Egmont Road. They had their AGM on Monday of this week when 28 members turned up (out of a full membership of about 70 something I think). Their next meeting is 2 – 4pm Monday the 10th of May at St Richards and they are planning a reunion at the same place with a provisional date of 17th of September 2010. For those who still live locally, I’m sure it be be advertised in the Knoll Scrole or the Hangleton Harbinger. At a recent meeting of the 50+ Group at St Richards I met up with Ron Kerley and Maurice Phillips who were in my class for years it seemed and as we all three had birthdays in March we somehow seemed to stick together. There was a book on show there that started in about 1950ish with loads of photographes of boxing and football teams from the Knoll Boys. On the same stall was a photo of Ron, me and Peter Hiscox sitting on the beach down by the Deep Sea Anglers club by the lagoon. We looked about 16/17 and so slim and brown – happy days. Best wishes David Smart – circa 48/51.

    By David Smart (03/02/2010)
  • Hi Marion, I have just found this site and what memories it brought back of the teachers, and Miss Shields in particular. Your name is very familiar though I can’t put a face to it, but I feel we were probably there at the same time - 1956 – 59. I now live in Canada, but do get back to Brighton every couple of years or so. Thanks for the memories, – by the way I was in Fry House. Jackie Harris nee Terris

    By Jackie Terris (23/03/2010)
  • Hi Guys (and Gals)! I just found this site. I too was sentenced to 4 years at ‘The Knoll’, 1951-1955. Looking back it was hell - as were most of my school years.  I hated school from the first day at Portland Road to the last day in 1955. Those teachers that I remember were Booth, Liddel, Waymark, Parkinson, Bristow, Fred Clapp who died in 1954, Smith, Chappel, Miss Tottenham and of course Sparks the ‘Head’. When Booth left in ’54 he was replaced by Limbrick who was a decent sort but only lasted a year. I think he decided the Knoll was not much of a school for him to invest his teaching talents. Others in my classes that I remember – Fensom, Hawkins, Clench, Wren, Daniels, Pook. It’s been a long time since I left and stepped out into the world. The last time I saw the Knoll was 1991, I live in Toronto now (since 1964), married, two daughters. I met a lady a few years ago (here in Canada) who went to the girls’ school, Rosemary Swift. That’s her married name. Her husband (Noel) worked at Southdown in Portslade. Does anyone have memories of these people?

    By Brian Booker (13/04/2010)
  • Hi Brian, good read. You may remember Gordon, Jean, Billy, Les and Richard Elms - 43 Bellingham Crs, formerly 38, Stapley Road. All Knoll academics. Happy days. Jan: Yes we are in contact with Linda, Mary’s sister, also Mr Tester, Vince, Malcolm and Paddy Tulley. Next door St Richards: the family Holmes, Stewart’s, Bates, Hudson, Wrens, Butler, Burtenshaw’s, Shirkeys, Kealeys and Hughes.

    By Ricardo Elms (18/04/2010)
  • I was never at this school, but I am looking for Jackie Harris from Brighton who lived in Allesley Park, Coventry. Was married to Mike. I am from Gibraltar but lived a few doors away from Jackie who drove me to hospital when I was in labour with my daughter!

    By Vicky Brown (24/06/2010)
  • I envy kids these days. My school days were definitely not the happiest days of my life. I attended Knoll Infants school where I learned to read and write. After being sent to the long gone Victorian pile known as Ellen Street Junior Mixed and getting permanently inky fingers it was back to the big boys school ‘Knoll Secondary Modern’. All I can say in defence of the teaching staff at ‘The Knoll’ is that they probably adopted the standards of the day. It should be remembered that children were at that time sorted into those worth an education who went to grammar school and those who needed to learn enough to become bookkeepers and tradesmen who were sent to a secondary school. I remember the Knoll head Mr. Sparks as a decent man and some of the teachers with affection and gratitude. When I got the cane from ‘Old Sparky’ he used to say ‘you come from a good family what made you do that, what would your parents say?’ – I expect he said the same thing to every boy.
    I learned the freedom of painting in Mr Chapel’s class. Fred Clapp, who was reputedly gassed in WW1 and drank Oxo, and taught Geometry. Patient Basil Waymark taught Music, I never learned to play anything, who would on those emasculated ‘spitty’ recorders, ugh what a horrible sound. Mr Bristow who ran the ATC taught Science. We had a jet engine at the back of one classroom and a wingless but one of the last model Spitfires outside. The teachers who left me with enduring memories were Mr Smith who taught Metalwork, I spent a lifetime in Engineering, and Mr Parkinson who taught Singing and Musical Appreciation. We thought old ‘Parky’s’ Christian name was Cecil but we never knew for certain, you didn’t muck about in his class. Mr Illingworth’s Woodwork lessons have also been put to a lifetime’s use.
    In my last year the class teacher was Mr Davies. Career advice was very weak, most kids expected to do what their Dad did. Mr Liddel was also at one time my class teacher as well as being the Sports teacher. All I can remember was getting the slipper, chalking the playground and cold showering in the cloakroom, perhaps he should have stayed in the army instead of bullying kids. I once saw a kid get all his front teeth knocked out during a cricket game supervised by Mr Liddel at the school field, no face guards in those days. That experience taught me more than any sport teacher. I was a good distance runner and would have enjoyed running more, and I would have been good, if there had been any appropriate coaching. The school houses were Scott, Wingate, Mallory and Lawrence. Girls were off limits, probably wise at the time and even then some got ‘in the family way’ after school. I think a mixed school helps enormously in making socially comfortable adults.

    By Mike (27/07/2010)
  • Great memories of the 60s. There is a reunion at St Richard’s Church Hall on 17th September 2010. Hope to see you there.

    By Linda Ridge (01/08/2010)
  • Hi everyone. I lived at 17 Martin Road and went to the Knoll Infant School at Stapley Road, Portland Road School and the Knoll School for Girls until 1965. I remember being milk monitor and lifting the heavy crates every morning. Yes indeed it was a very strict school, but some of us girls would break the rules wearing our skirts very short above the knees and not wearing our hair up. Such happy days - or was it ..

    By Sheila Dockerill / Steadman (01/08/2010)
  • Hi there, I went to the Knoll from 1959 to 1963. It surprised me that we all have such different memories – mine were all good, as I treated it as a social club with a bit of work thrown in! Class mates inc. Linda Ridge (rang me yesterday and we are going to the 17/09) - we used to call her Jelly because she used to laugh so much she wobbled!, Jennifer Emery – I spent a lot of time with her – she had a train set running around her front room (called a lounge these days!) – I was very impressed with that – she hated it. Gillian Tanner – now lives in Tasmania where I visited her and we have always kept in contact & have met quite a few times, incidently she is over visiting for her Mum’s 90th in Nov. Linda Hamilton, she emigrated to Aussie, now lives in Sydney, have visited her and she is over in Greece this Sept, so I’m hoping to catch up with her there. Marilyn Fischer, loved her, made me laugh till I cried. Penny Bastedo, sister is Alexandra the actress, they lived below Church Road – my Mum liked me going around with her, they were considered posh! Linda Bodle, Penny Wilkinson- think she trained as a nurse, Sally Day who became my best friend when Linda emigrated – she still is – went to her son’s wedding last year and she came to my 40th wedding anniv. She was my bridesmaid (my Mum still introduces her as that). My sister 4 years older than me was Patsy Eggleton and she lives in Mile Oak. I live in Southwick, so we see a lot of each other. Another girl was Shirley Graffham, I played netball for years after leaving school, so did she and Jayne Cherriman - I think she played netball as well. Miss Hake was my Geography teacher, she live in Portland Rd – we used to knock on her door and run away. Miss Hamilton, needlework, Miss Metcalf arithmetic, Miss Wilson, my favourite, always wore lovely cashmere cardigans – think I got my love of clothes from her, she taught R I, and the dreaded Miss Wolfenden for P E. Miss Chappel (her husband worked at the boys) she always called me ‘a nasty little girl’, so I made an impression on one teacher! We used to have awards every year and I always got a book for attendance, never missed a days school. I spent a lot of time standing outside Miss Shields office and Steve Hyde used to be standing outside the Headmasters, ironically he ended up marrying my sister. Anyway, all in all I had a great time with happy memories.

    By Doreen Fiore nee Eggleton (03/08/2010)
  • I was at the Knoll Academy 1941 to 1945. Anyone know the Citrone family? I lived in Godwin Rd, then Old Shoreham Rd.

    By malcolm citrone (04/08/2010)
  • Malcolm Citrone, Did you know a Peter Tester who left Knoll School in 1945?

    By Gary Tester (06/08/2010)
  • I wrote last week about my memories of the Knoll hole, as we affectionately called it. I was there from 1959 to 63 but when I told my sister Patsy about this site she asked me to find out if anyone knew of Gillian Smale who live in Norman Road. She had a brother, Anthony and a sister Christine. sSe was at the Knoll from 1954 to 1959. She would love to contact her.

    By doreen fiore nee eggleton (10/08/2010)
  • Yes I do remember Peter Tester at the Knoll School around about the 40s.

    By Malcolm Citrone (13/08/2010)
  • Hi Doreen. Yes I remember Gillian Smale and your sister Patsy Eggleton. They were in my class and if you scroll up there are contributions from Gillian and myself above. Patsy was a member of the “Hedgehoppers” together with your Mum, when I joined some years ago. Wendy Cook (nee Nicholls) was another member and a former Knoll School pupil in a year above us. Please pass on my regards to Pat Jean Martin (nee Smith).

    By Jean Martin (13/08/2010)
  • Would it be possible to talk to you by phone or email about Peter Tester? My email address is testergary@googlemail.com.

    By Gary Tester (21/08/2010)
  • To Malcom Citrone: I remember the name, Citrone. Was there a Colin Cintrone? Rings a bell.

    By Brian Booker (29/08/2010)
  • To Malcom Citrone. If you are able to email me, my email address has no full stop at the end of com Gary Tester

    By Gary Tester (02/09/2010)
  • Does anyone remember Eileen or Christine Head? My mum went to the Knoll, left in 1955, but Eileen is four years younger, Christine six years younger, although I’m not sure if they went there. My mum’s name was Patricia Head and she started there when she was 13, having gone to Davigdor school before that. I’m desperately trying to trace family members before it’s too late, so any help much appreciated.

    By Debbie (11/09/2010)
  • Hi Brian Tes, there still is a Colin Citrone- he is my brother. He’s got his 70th birthday at the end of Sept 2010.

    By Malcolm Citrone (11/09/2010)
  • To Marion Upton How exciting! One of my friends, Patsy Eggleton has surfaced through your website. I would love to get in touch with her. Is there any way I can do this without publishing my email address to all? Thanks to her sister, Doreen who was the one who wrote for the webpage. Gillian Wall (nee Smale)

    By Gillian Wall (14/09/2010)
  • I am not sure if Colin is the person that I’m thinking of. Would you please ask him if he knows of me – Brian Booker, perhaps from the 60s? Also the name Wally Wale may mean something! I was at the Knoll from 1951 – 1955. That puts us in the same age group; I have just celebrated my 70th! Brian B

    By Brian B (15/09/2010)
  • Hi Malcolm Citrone, would you be able to give me any information about Peter Tester?.

    By Gary Tester (16/09/2010)
  • Hi Gary, sorry but I can’t give you any info on Peter. The name rings a bell, that’s about it.

    By Malcolm Citrone (20/09/2010)
  • I was around the school from 58 to 61. Although my memory not at its best. I do remember some of the staff:- Dellar (Teacher, leave those kids alone), Martin, Lumsden, Wymark, Liddell. I used to hang around with Robin Geiger, Fred Appleyard (who sadly passed away in 1988) and John Umney. The head kid in my class was Ron Davies who went into boxing. My parents had a newsagent shop at the bottom of Boundary Road. I used to walk to school with my two friends Pat Little and Margaret Maclennan. I am a USA citizen now working for Boeing Everett.

    By Mike Purvis (03/10/2010)
  • Brian b. Colin and Malcolm are my brothers. Colin worked with Wally Wale as a electrician.

    By David Citrone (10/10/2010)
  • Gillian Wall (nee Smale) – are you the same Gillian Smale who worked at the Ministry of Pensions in Church Road Hove in the early 60s? If you are – Hi! I worked with you there. I remember we had some fun times. You had beehive blonde hair back then! I have a couple of photos of you then! You left to go to work in Wiesbaden, Germany. Do you remember the Gondola and Cordoba coffee bars and the Persian students? I can still remember some of the people who worked there – Mr Dartnell and Mr & Mrs Yarrow, Mr Hunt, Pauline Hammond who sadly died aged only 18, Valerie Robins and Mr Cockman. I was also at the Knoll Girls school from 1957 to 1962. I remember the names Doreen Eggleton and Marion Upton and all the teachers. We were terrified of Miss Wolfenden. I remember being summoned to her room because she saw me eating an ice-cream after school while still wearing my uniform. Miss Wilson was very inspiring, she took us for English, so was Mrs Upton for History. Mrs Bowden took us for Domestic Science. There was also a Miss Hamilton. I’m still in touch with Janet Murrell, Rosemary Bailey and Brenda Stocks. I’ve also seen fairly recently Anne Corbett and Janet Markham. Does anyone remember us?
    How can anyone forget the freezing water in the small swimming baths at the King Alfred! I think we were the lucky generation – everything seemed possible back then. We have had the opportunity to be able to go and do things and see places that our parents could only dream about.

    By Patricia Haddon (nee Land) (06/11/2010)
  • Great to hear from other old Knollians. I was there from 1963 to 67, and remember well Mr Turner, Smith, Lidell, Chapple, Griffin, Waymark, Harvey and others. Was a bit rebellious but settled down and enjoyed roles as Sir Timothy Bellboys in John Whiting’s Penny for a Song, and then Richard 3rd and Henry 1Vth under Charles McNeil. Does anyony remember Santiago Cervantes whose Dad was caretaker. Santiago played a hilarious character called Humpage. I was also Scrooge in A Christmas Carol with Martin Mandlebone playing Tiny Tim. Oh, what days!

    By Anthony Williams (12/11/2010)
  • Did not realise this site existed. I attended Knoll Girls from 1971-1976 and also remember Miss Shields & Miss Wilson sadly any other names are gone, but do still have some great photos from last school sports day.

    Editor’s note: Thanks for posting Denise. If you contact me I can show you how you can contribute your photos to the site. jennifer@mybrightonandhove.org.uk

    By Denise Burnett (nee Lewis) (29/12/2010)
  • I am trying to locate my school mates from 1966 to 1971. My first year teacher was Mr Davies, second not quite sure but third abd fourth was Mr Rowlands. My best friend was Neil Smith then there was Steve Murdoch, Robert Taylor,Terence Warren, Nick Arrowsmith and Gary Novis. If anyone knows any of these persons were abouts or anybody I have left out that may know me, would love to get in contact. Anton was the name I was given at school but my real name is Enzo.

    By Anton Cotugno (31/01/2011)
  • Hi Anton, You may not remember me but I remember you – we once had a fight (don’t remember what it was about and I don’t think it was serious) in the east playground and both of us were sent to the deputy head (Mr Mutton I think) where we both refused the cane and had to stand outside his office for a long time. I think you were a smallish person with dark hair. I do remember Warren (the clown), Arrowsmith (the smart one ginger hair I think) Murdoch and Neil Smith but not the other two. I went around with Dave Whittington, Tony Burtonshaw, Trevor Banks (he died after hitting a lamppost coming down snaky hill) Adrian Abbey and Geoffrey Stone (Mr Gab). I don’t live in the UK any more and have no contact with any I went to school with. So take care Enzo (2nd post) By Franklin Philp

    By Franklin Philp (26/02/2011)
  • I attended Knoll School from 1965 to 1969. I also remember Miss Shields and also Miss Ratner. the music teacher. Does anyone remember me or my sisters?

    By Valerie Bruce (Pennifold) (22/03/2011)
  • I remember you Valerie, I was there at the same time. How’s life treating you? Dawn Williams (nee Godfrey)

    By Dawn Williams (06/06/2011)
  • I attended the ‘Knoll Hole’ too, from 1955 to 24 July 1959. I arrived at the time of Mr Sparkes and also got the cane from him. When Dellar took over when Sparkes retired he transformed the school, introducing the school uniform and a GCE stream. Does anyone remember Mr Harper (Geography) who had a motor scooter, or the driveway up to the school where teachers parked their cars either side long gone now with the widening of the Old Shoreham Road. I joined the ATC too with Ken Feek, Maurice Lloyd, Paul Ashenden, David (Sid) Ellis, Paul Mustoe and a few others whose names I cannot recall. In my last year, 4G, our form master was Mr Hicks who was quite a large man with soft soled shoes and would appear suddenly and quietly at the time I was doing something wrong. A group of us ran the ‘Mouse Club’ which had a few small cages in a corner of the classroom breeding and selling these creatures for massive profits – I don’t think. Hicks tried very hard to disband the club accusing us of stinking out the classroom. I recently found a diary from 1959, that’s how I know I left school on the 24 July. After saying goodbye to teachers and mates, I walked home with Barrie Tutte as he lived on my way. I have just recently found out that he died quite young in Saudi Arabia so that was the last time I saw him. Contact me: mrhookham@yahoo.co uk – I would great to hear from anyone.

    By Mike Hookham (08/06/2011)
  • I too was at the Knoll from ’51-’55, I remember the teachers clearly and most of the people who have written an article in this site. Say what you will about the Knoll, we are still here and none the worse for those four years. I am in touch with David Morgan and he is still in touch with many from our class. We mourn the loss of some but at our age it happens. Brian Booker I remember, also John Whale and Colin Citrone. Jack Wren and Albie both no longer with us. I would be pleased to hear from Cyril Clench, Peter Wiles, Dinga Harding, and Frank Taylor?

    By Terry Perchard (19/07/2011)
  • I remember a Steve Burtenshaw in 1955, is he one of your relatives?

    By Terry Perchard (19/07/2011)
  • Having attended the 3 schools for the area from 1945 to 55 I think I can add a fair bit to that period. Knoll infants 1945, Head Mistress was Miss Lelliot and my teacher was Miss Matt, I can only remember 5 fellow infants, Roger Barrett, George Sturmey, Susan Underwood, Valerie Dunley and June Barden. Portland Road is a bit clearer, Mr.Worthing was Headmaster and Mr. Quested, Mr. Taylor (say no more) Mr Duffield, can’t remember the other one. Some of the pupils, Frank Wilson, Tony Ansell, Mickey Reid, Rod Lowery, Angus Mckay. The Knoll Secondary School gets better, Headmaster, Mr Sparks, teachers Mr.Liddell, Mr Bristow, Mr Booth, Mr Parkinson, Mr.Clapp, Mr Chappel, Mr. Waymark, Mr. Smith, Mr Illingsworth, Mr Davies and Mr, Lymbrick. Class of 1955 was as far as Myself and Dave Morgan can remeber was Dave Morgan, Terry Perchard, Terry Fensom, Brian Booker, Cyril Clench, Peter Wiles, Peter Ward, Fred Parsons, Gary Sumner, Mick Collins, John Gale, Len Oxley, Mike Smith,Terry Perchard, Barry Goacher, Mike Harding, Brian Harding, Ron Kelley, Brian Laycock, Tony King, Reg Dadswell, Jack Wren and John Biniface. Sorry if anyone has been left out but thats not bad for 56 years ago. On the down side, from girls and boys of all years we have lost, my sister Mavis Perchard, Doreen Morgan, Dave’s Sister, Ann Walsh, Jack Wren, Albie Wren, Allan Tulley. On the lighter side we know that Pauline Small is still with us as is Rita Jestico (on friends reunited) Micheal Lloyd (on friends reunited) Maria Clarke and Angela Jolley (both on friends reunited). I hope that fills a hole or two and puts a few more names in circulation. Both Dave Morgan and myself would like to hear from anyone who was around at the time (Dave Lynn, Joe Wade and the others in that crowd).

    By Terry Perchard (23/07/2011)
  • I have just received by e mail, a picture from a local paper from way back of the old Hangletonians football team along with some of the team many years later. If you would like to give me an email address I would be happy to forward them.

    By Terry Perchard (26/07/2011)
  • I read with great interest Terry Perchard’s contribution. Is it possible to pass on my email address to him. I would like to hear from him.

    You need to include your e mail address in your comment, Brian.

    editor

    By Brian Booker (18/08/2011)
  • Hi all, I was at “The Knoll Academy” from 59-63. I went to Portland Road before. I was best mates with Alf Perry, my Cousin Ronnie Davies, and Mick Colbourne. We all lived on the Knoll estate. I remember eventually Deller got caught up with and got 4 years holiday at her majesty’s pleasure! My teachers from my hazy memory were Cooper, Mr Liddle – he used to take pride in whacking me with the largest slipper known to man! Waymark – boshed me on the head with his massive ring, I’m sure he would of been put away for a few years if he done it now days, I probably deserved it though! I was never the educational type and was in the bottom class for most things and often got a cane! I had four brothers who went there before me, Micheal 67, Robert 69, David 71, Ray 73 and my sister Jackie 75 (all ages are approx but I’ve lost count after all these years!) By the time I entered the great establishment Jack Liddle had had enough of us Cardens and I was never allowed in the boxing ring, or the school football team! If anyone remembers me feel free to contact me chriscarden@hotmail.co.uk or I’m on facebook.

    By Chris Carden (30/08/2011)
  • It just struck me I forgot to mention the Jupps who I was great friends with, Kenny and Vic. Vic has recently sadly passed away. Also Dave and John Coomber, Neville Crowe, Dave Holmes (my cousin) who is also no longer with us.

    By Chris Carden (30/08/2011)
  • I went to the Knoll and left in 62. I only went there for the football. Found a couple of the old Weathervane mags – lots names from the past.

    By John Gilmour (11/10/2011)
  • On Monday 7 November 2011. You are all very welcome to the next all Girls and Guys meeting of The Knollites Group held at St. Richard’s Church Hall, Egmont Road, Hove (1400 -1600). £2 will welcome you tea, biscuits and talk about Magnus Volk. Please bring your memories and all those photos and even from families of our schoolmates have now gone. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (28/10/2011)
  • Great to hear from other old Knollians. I was there from 1963 to 67, and remember well Mr Turner, Smith, Lidell, Chapple, Griffin, Waymark, Harvey and others. Was a bit rebellious but settled down and enjoyed roles as Sir Timothy Bellboys in John Whiting’s ‘Penny for a Song’, and then Richard III and Henry 1V under Charles McNeil. Does anyone remember Santiago Cervantes whose dad was caretaker? Santiago played a hilarious character called Humpage. I was also Scrooge in ‘A Christmas Carol’ with Martin Mandlebone playing Tiny Tim. Oh, what days!
    Anthony Williams (13/11/2010) – Is that the same Anthony Williams from class 4G? If so please contact cys@probus-sigma.eu.

    By Chris Smith (13/12/2011)
  • I wasn’t a Knoll School pupil, but I have one good memory of it. Early in 1960 the Knoll hosted a chess tournament for primary schools from Brighton and Hove; I believe six schools took part, might have been more. My school, Downs CP, sent a team of six players and we won the contest outright. The prizes were a splendid chess set and board for the winning school and five shillings for each player. I’d taught myself to play chess from a library book a few months earlier with the help of a chess set that I made myself from cardboard, and had improved sufficiently to make the team. I played board 5 of 6 and scored one defeat and one win. We scored 9 and a half out of 12 (nine wins, one stalemate) which was enough to lift the trophy.

    By Len Liechti (13/12/2011)
  • I noticed a couple of posts on this page from Gillian Wall nee Smale from a few years back. Apparently she lives now in British Columbia. I was a friend of hers in the early 60s and lost contact but would enjoy getting back in touch with her again. If she sees this or anyone else who visits this page is in touch with her, I would appreciate an email at vivienne@ibrowse.net.  I now live in California and, although I visit family in England, haven’t been back to Brighton in quite a few years. I did reconnect with another good friend of mine on this web site, her name is Sally-Ann Schertle nee Richardson. We all used to go to the Starlight Rooms on Montpelier Road during our teen years, it was great fun.

    By Vivienne Infante (nee Earl) (10/02/2012)
  • Come on you Guys and Girls. You are all welcome to the next meeting of the Knollites Group held on Monday 26th March 2012 (14.00 -16.00) at St Richards Hall, Egmont Road, Hove. £3 will get you a cup of tea or coffee plus a chat on local history and a chance to exchange hundreds of memories and photos. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (07/03/2012)
  • Enjoyed reading the stories would like to add my memories and get in contact with old school mates, how do I do it?

    Editor’s note: Pleased to hear you would like to contribute Jennifer. Please click here to find out how to upload your own page to the site.

    By Jennifer Penfold nee Upward (24/04/2012)
  • I have just moved back to Hove and went to the Knoll from 1958 to 1965, how the names have bought back so many memories. I have really enjoyed what people are up to and will keep my eye on the web page now. Perhaps someone might remember me, I went off to train as a nurse at Worthing hospital. I’m glad I am back in the area again. Thank you for all the memories

    By Lynne Millson (31/05/2012)
  • I was at Knoll Girls from 1971 – 1976. Carolyn Schopp was Head Girl the year I left and I was a prefect. It was an interesting school-there are so many stories. Thanks

    By Eileen Pennifold (10/06/2012)
  • You are all most welcome to the next meeting of the Knollites Group to be held next Monday 25th June 2012 (14.00 – 16.00) at St Richards Hall, Egmont Road, Hove. £3 entry will get you a cupper, biscuits and a talk from a guest speaker plus you may meet up with school colleagues to share memories with. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (19/06/2012)
  • I’ve set up a facebook ‘Knoll Boys’ site, being an inmate myself from 1972 to 1976. It’s got photos from 50s, 60s and 70s and any more information, photos etc would be welcome. You can contact me or post them to the facebook site which is at: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/Knoll.Boys

    By Derek Mann (24/06/2012)
  • Hi Rod Allison, I have read your comments, back on 23/01/2010, regarding having pristine copies of the programmes of two school plays and wondered if “Experiment with Fear” may be included. I have just posted on the Knoll School web site two photos from the play and asking for memories and comments. Regards to all

    By Mike Hookham (06/07/2012)
  • Trying to contact Malcolm Citrone in response to his question “does anyone remember the Cirtone family?”

    By Jane Crollie (21/08/2012)
  • If my memory serves me right, some members of Knoll School visited Belgium (Dinant) in 1955 on a school trip. I attended Haywards Heath Sec. school at that time and also visited Belgium (Dinant) and Knoll School came after us. Anyone from Knoll School have memories of this visit? David.

    By David Wickham (21/08/2012)
  • Yes. The next Knollites Group Social Meeting will be held on Monday 3rd September 2012 (1400-1600) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove. Our guest speaker is Trevor Povey who will give an illustrated talk on “Old Hove”. £3 entry will also supply you with tea/coffee and biscuits. Hope you will meet up with old Knoll School friends. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (24/08/2012)
  • Jane Crollie, I am Malcolm’s younger brother. Sadly he died in 2010.

    By David Citrone (03/10/2012)
  • Our next Knollites Group Social Meeting is on Monday 12th November 2012 (1400 – 1600) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove. £3 entry provides you with tea/coffee plus biscuits and a talk from one of our popular speakers Ian Gledhill. His subject is the “History of the Seaside” with a look at Bathing Machines and “What the Butler Saw”. The forecast is low tide so bring your bucket and spade together with your photos and memories. No sand thankyou. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (02/11/2012)
  • Hi all, I went to Knoll School for Girls 1961 to 65 and was in Miss Wilson’s class and Miss Wolfenden’s. I believe I was in A1, Mrs Chapple’s too. I have met up with Marilyn Winters and a couple of other people through Friends Reunited a few years back but would love to hear from any one who remembers me.

    By Jenny Tagoe/Court (07/11/2012)
  • Hello Girlies, I attended the Knoll School for Girls from 1965 to 1969, my form teachers were Mrs Mason, Mrs Roedick then Miss Talbot, for the 3rd & 4th year. My sister Jenny and I would love to hear from all who remember the two of us. Also if you lived in Ingram Square, Ingram Crescent or Portland Road and used to play with us on The Green we would love to share our memories with all of you.

    By Valerie Atterbury/Court (15/11/2012)
  • The Knoll Secondary Modern School for Girls. Fantastic memories, left 1971. Do you remember me or my sisters?

    By Francine Ryan nee Noakes (20/11/2012)
  • The Knollites Group Christmas Party is to be held on Monday 10th December (1400-1700) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove. You and your spouse or partner are most welcome to come along and relax from wrapping up all those presents. £3 per head gives a first drink, a mince pie and a buffet. Bill Nye is providing the music entertainment. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (28/11/2012)
  • Hi Francine Ryan nee Noakes. I remember your family from Ingram Crescent as you lived opposite us. We lived at 153- my mother Jean (died 2011), my father Nobby (died 1994), brothers Larry and Andrew. My mother continued to live within the Ingram Crescent complex until her death. I do remember your parents Pat and Len, in fact your father was very helpful to me when I was learning to drive in the early 1960s. I also remember your sisters- are you one of the twins? I have some photos of old Ingram Crescent that I will try and publish on this site at sometime.

    By Michael Clark (04/12/2012)
  • Hi to all that went to the Knoll. I also am one of you but I was there in 1957-1961. I don’t recognise any names. I also lived in Ingram Crescent, now living in Bulgaria. Memories.

    By Sylvia Leach nee Avey (23/01/2013)
  • Does anyone remember the Queens coronation party on the green in Ingram Square. My friend Margaret Albiston was the queen that day. Does anyone have any photos? Mine I lost when I moved.

    By Sylvia Leach nee Avey (24/01/2013)
  • I remember the Coronation Party, my mother and Mrs Fensom helped organised it. I still have my Coronation mug from the party and I’m sure I have some photos of the day. I will have to hunt them out. Unfortunately I left it early and ended up in hospital having my appendix out. Jill Keeble from Ingram Crescent done a dance to “When the Red Red Robin goes Bob Bob Bobbing along” on the stage in the corner. Mr & Mrs Friend gave out ice creams from there house at the top of the green. Good times.

    By David Steer (24/01/2013)
  • I attended The Knoll School from 1939 to 1942 but can’t remember many names. Mr Sparks was Headmaster, and Mr Clapp was Science Master and Head ARP Warden. Always played football in the play ground before classes started – shoes were always well worn after a few weeks which got us a lot of ticking off by our parents. I remember taking part in some photographs of gas mask drills and the run to the shelters I believe on the north side of the school. When is the next gathering of ex Knollies?

    By David Pronger (03/02/2013)
  • The next gathering of ex Knollies is on Monday 25th February (1400-1600) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove. It is our AGM so we hope to have quite a number attending. £3 entry also provides you with tea or coffee and biscuits. Our guest speaker is Bob Cairns. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (04/02/2013)
  • Hi David Pronger. You may be interested to know that at least six members of the Knollites Group Committee are possibly within your age range as well as quite a few of our members and we all have lots of memories to exchange. Our age range is quite a span from 68 years (me) to about 90 years. It’s amazing as I remember Mr Sparkes too as I received the cane from him in 1959, my first year – his last. See you at our next meeting on 25th February.

    By Mike Hookham (06/02/2013)
  • The next gathering of the Knollites Social Group is on Monday 25th March 2013 (2.00pm to 4.00pm) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP. It is still only £3 entry and provides the usual refreshments. Our guest speaker is Chris Dimmer who is a Crime Prevention Officer and he will be accompanied by two Community Police Support Officers. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (12/03/2013)
  • The next Knollites Group social meeting is on Monday 20th May 2013 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Entry is still £3 and provides you with refreshment. Our guest speaker is Clive Hamblin who will talk through “100 Years an Hour” from 1900 to 2000 using newspaper items, poems and songs.

    By Mike Hookham (09/05/2013)
  • I was known as Hilary Saunders and I would love to hear from anybody who attended Knoll Girls School, Hangleton Road, Hove, Sussex – the class of 79.

    By Mrs Hilary Stoneham (03/06/2013)
  • The next Knollites Group social meeting is on Monday 29th July 2013 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Entry is £3 and provides you with refreshments. Our guest speaker is the very popular Ian Gledhill who will talk about “Art and Illusion”, the story of stage scenery from Sophocles to Spiderman. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (14/07/2013)
  • Hello Doreen (Eggy) I remember all the names you mentioned, do you remember me? I was then Joan Osborne. We bumped into each other at a Ladies Night in Brighton a few years ago. I agree with you about the dreaded Miss Wolfenden who used to make me tie my hair back in science lessons and gave me a 100 lines because I walked home from games after school without wearing my beret.

    By Joan Fowler nee Osborne (31/07/2013)
  • Doreen (Eggy) Blast from the past, all the names bring back the memories. When I did my pre-nursing class Miss Wolfenden was our teacher and was different to us to the rest, I do go to the meetings now I am back and have met quite a few people from the years I was there (1959 to 1965) when I left I went on to do my Nurses training at Worthing Hospital, and continued to be a qualified nurse for 42 years until I retired. Do you remember Miss Wilson?, it’s her birthday on Friday and she will be 90. How time flies, hope to hear from you.

    By Lynne Millson (08/08/2013)
  • Hello, I was at the knoll hole from 1959-1963. Miss Wilson was my favourite teacher, how nice to know she is still going strong. I moved to Bognor Regis in 1968. As for Miss Wolfenden, she scared me to death.

    By Marguerite Roberts nee Webster (09/08/2013)
  • Just a reminder that there is also a Facebook page for Knoll Boys I started up about 2.5 years ago that has photo albums from 40s 50s 60s and 70s as well as a video from the late 60s. Be pleased to see any other contributions and welcome new information and enquiries. https://www.facebook.com/Knoll.Boys

    By Derek Mann (25/08/2013)
  • Our next Knollites Group (formally “Old Knollians”) social meeting is on Monday 23rd September 2013 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Entry is £3 and provides you with refreshment. Our guest speaker is Peter Hill, a retired proprietor Community Pharmacist, who will give a light hearted account of his life called “Pills, Potions and Patience” which includes a display of pharmaceutical memorabilia. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (07/09/2013)
  • Yes I remember Knoll Girls’ School. Still in contact with Pauline Gravett and Maureen Medhurst after all these years. Anybody else remember me? Not that hard to forget!

    By Linda Franz (Potter) (22/09/2013)
  • Hi, I was at the Knoll from 1959 – 1963 and remember Doreen Eggleton and Marguerite Webster and Linda Ridge from the posts. I’m living in Toronto but come back on a regular basis to visit my mum. I go by the old Knoll and think about those days.

    By Caryl Obrecht (nee Dunne) (24/10/2013)
  • Linda Franz (Potter), would you have a brother called Phillip? If you do it would be good to get in touch with him again.

    By Philip Robinson (27/10/2013)
  • The next Knollites Group social meeting is on Monday 25th November 2013 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Entry is £3 and provides you with refreshment. Our Guest Speaker is Ian Gledhill who will talk about the seasonal subject of “The Magic of Pantomime” See you there. Details of the Reunion and Christmas Party, on Monday 9th December 2013, will follow later.

    By Mike Hookham (09/11/2013)
  • The Knoll Boys and Girls School Reunion and Christmas Party is on Monday 9th December 2013 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Wives, husbands or partners are most welcome too. At £3.00 per person this includes a glass of wine and a mince pie on arrival and a Buffet with either tea or coffee. We have semi-professional singers to entertain us including a medley of songs from famous shows, carols or course and John Beever to round it all off. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (26/11/2013)
  • I attended Knoll Girls 1952-1955. All the teachers mentioned, Miss Wolfendon, Metcalfe, Hamilton, Dickinson, and of course Miss Shields. I was captain of the netball team. I have to say, I only have happy memories of those school days.

    By Sandra de Smidt (Jewell) (11/12/2013)
  • Hello everyone , what a fantastic site! I was enrolled at the Knoll School for young gentlemen, Sept 1962 and discharged July 1967. Howard Dillon, you won’t remember me, but I do remember you, was a boy called Osgood the head boy in your time? Interesting reading about the discipline handed out by the teachers, it was still bad in my day but not as bad as in previous years, also most of the bullying of pupils by pupils had stopped. Mr Turner had recently become the head and seemed to get most of that sorted. What did happen to the previous Head? Ben Gooders was the best teacher I had, our French trips were to Dieppe, funnily enough accompanied by Mr Griffin and Mrs Collins (hey ho). Myself and other soldiers from that 62/67/68 secondment: Bernie Peters, Kevin Fossey, Gill Strickland, David Barnett, Grahame Ridge and Dean Mcsweeney, met up recently in my pub, The Stanley Arms in Portslade, for a pre-Xmas drink. Great fun talking a load of nonsense for a few hours. We hope to meet up again God willing in the summer, everyone would be more than welcome. Does anybody remember Lorraine Ford, who lived at 57 Godwin Road, and Linda Hammond who lived in Hangleton? I recall they were great friends, haven’t seen them in 40 years, just wondered what happened to them.

    By Steve Bennett (09/01/2014)
  • Monday February 24th 2014 is a date for your diary as we are not only having our Knollites Group Social Meeting but also our 5th AGM. You are most welcome. The time is from 2.00pm to 4.00pm, the same place and still the same price (see above for details of the venue and the price). Bob Cairns is our speaker on Local History. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (12/02/2014)
  • Our next Knollites Group Social Meeting is on Monday 24th March. Come along and meet us at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Bring photos and lots of memorabilia including any copies of The Weathervane magazine you may have, plus £3.50 and this will also not only provide you with refreshments but a talk from our Guest Speaker, Ian Gledhill, on the History of Brighton Trams. See you there. 

    By Mike Hookham (11/03/2014)
  • Have you any copies of The Weathervane magazines? Paul Hammond has loaned me issues 1 and 3 which make such fantastic reading. If you have issue 2, or any other issues, I would like to borrow them to copy into a Knoll School for Boys Archive that we hope to set up soon. Thank you.

    mrhookham@yahoo.co.uk

    By Mike Hookham (17/04/2014)
  • Hi, my name was Tina Francis and attended the Knoll Girls from 1971-76. Does anyone remember me? I was friends with Debbie Knowles and Gillian Sharp.

    By Tina Aiello (04/05/2014)
  • See you at the next Knollites Group Social Meeting on Monday May 19th at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. £3.50 entry will also provide you with refreshments and our guest speaker, Mike Barker from the Air Ambulance Service, will talk about their life-saving work.

    By Mike Hookham (06/05/2014)
  • Yes Tina, I remember you – I am Susan Whittington, I live in Fiji now.

    By Susan Joy Harris nee Whittington)) (11/05/2014)
  • Steve Bennett: Hubert Osgood was in my ‘G’ stream form all through my years at the ‘Knoll academy for Young Gentlemen’*. Re.57 Godwin Road…. her name was Anita Ford who I knew quite well, she married a good friend who became the ‘Roadie’ to a band that I was a part of that started with Knoll School members. Some few years ago she recognised me, when I was in a chemist shop in a parade of shops near to the Grenadier pub. When I’m in the UK I have often visited the Stanley Arms just for the decent real ale they serve. As very young teenagers in the early ’60s we used to play as a four piece instrumental group at the ‘Battle of Trafalgar’ which was on the corner of Church Street and North street Portslade, very near to the Stanley Arms, and we got paid ten shillings each….Wow! Did you have brothers at the Knoll? I can remember other Bennetts when I was there whose Christian names escape me for the moment. James.

    * Barry Gooder’s description.

    By One of the 'G Stream Terrible five' 1957 -1962 (07/06/2014)
  • Hi Steve Bennett. I’m in regular contact with Dave Barnett who still lives in the area and attended your reunion at the pub. He sent me a photo and I must admit everyone has aged very well. Living in Yorkshire it’s quite a journey down to Hove but I sometimes get down during the Summer to breathe some sea air again. There is a wonderful picture on this site of the Ashburnham trip we took which bought back a lot of good memories.The Knoll was a great school.

     

    By Steve Robinson (19/06/2014)
  • Our next Knollites Group Social Meeting is on Monday 28th July. Come along to St Richards Community Centre from 2.00pm to 4.00pm and meet up with old friends and make new ones. £3.50 entry also provides you with refreshments and Peter Hill is our Guest Speaker who will enlighten us about our Sussex Windmills. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (16/07/2014)
  • It is a great pity that out of all the thousands of boys and girls who attended the old Knoll School in the 50s on life there at that time only a handful have written an article or made an attempt to contact old classmates. Had they done so they would have found out that both Roy Lewis and Micheal Lloyd  have both passed away in the last year. We are all getting older and would still like to hear from old classmates and go over old times.

    By Terry Perchard (03/09/2014)
  • Terry, I was sorry to hear of the passing of Roy Lewis and Michael Lloyd. You are most welcome to come along to our next Knollites Group Social on Monday 22nd September and meet with up to thirty ex Knoll School Boys and Girls and go over old times. We gather at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. £3.50 entry also provides refreshments and a talk from our Guest Speaker Ian Gledhill. The subject is “Halfway to the Stars”. Bring your mates.

    By Mike Hookham (08/09/2014)
  • There will be a memorial service in remembrance of Peter O’Shea at 12 noon on Friday 10 October 2014 at St Richards, Church Hill, Slindon, West Sussex. Peter attended the Knoll School from 1955 to 1959 and died on 14 August 2014 in the Phillipines.

    By Michael Clark (12/09/2014)
  • I would like very much to get to one of your meets but living in Spain makes it difficult as I seldom come back. Just for information – as well as me in Spain, Dave Morgan lives in Cyprus, Reg Dadswell lives in Australia, Brian Booker lives in Canada and Ron Kelly still lives in the UK. As far as I am concerned i would welcome emails from anyone who would like to learn more of The Knoll in 1951/55.  benperky@yahoo.co.uk

    By Terry Perchard (16/09/2014)
  • Hi Terry, not sure if you are aware but I started a Knoll Boys Facebook page about 3 years ago and with the help of others such as Mike Hookham I have managed to put together a fairly good photo collections from the 1940s right through to 1979 when the school closed. The Facebook page is here:

    https://www.facebook.com/Knoll.Boys?fref=nf    

    By Derek Mann (19/10/2014)
  • I went to the Knoll School for Boys from 1959-64, classes 1G to 5G; first year under Dellar (not a good ending for him); then with J.M.Turner (heart in the right place). I remember some of my teachers, mostly without fondness, and as alluded to by other posters they were generally a violent bunch, with the odd amusing character. There was Chapple for English; Basil Weymark for music;  Barry Gooders for science; Jack Liddell for PE; ‘Daddy’ Davies for history career guidance; Griffin for French; Deputy Head Smith for metalwork; Chris Broad and Harvey for Maths (board rubber throwing a speciality). Luckily I managed to overcome this bad start to my life, the pinnacle of my later educational achievements was going to Lancaster University where I was awarded an MBA in 1985/6. Following a good career in international telecommunications I have now been living in Taipei, Taiwan, for nearly nine years where I run my own consultancy company. The only name I recognise above is Doreen Eggleton, we went to Portland Road together. Howard Dillon rings a bell, but I’m not sure if we were classmates.

    By Derek Rhodes (08/11/2014)
  • Our next get together of the Knollites Group is on Monday November 24th at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £3.50 entry provides you with refreshments and a talk from our Guest Speaker Fran Evans about Trading Standards and she will follow this up with a quiz. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (09/11/2014)
  • I would like to say I was educated at the Knoll School for Boys or the Knoll hole as it was called but I wasn’t and I’ve no idea who was. Daddy Davis was the so called career adviser, his advise consisted of “well lad it’s shops offices or factories, possibly  the forces but certainly not the RAF as that would mean exams.” Of course having failed the 11 plus, exams were out. Like a previous  correspondent,  I recall the “showers” huddled up naked against  the wall in the cloakroom waiting for a basin to be free. Later in life I passed many exams and became a teacher myself and realised just how archaic  the educational  system was then. I left the Knoll able to play chess, not able to play the recorder and finding out that I could argue  the toss in the debating  lessons.

    By Ray Brouitt (25/11/2014)
  • Good to hear from you Ray and from your blog on the “Telegram Boy Messenger” page. I have a copy of The Weathervane school magazine No. 3 1959-60, page 17 under Valete, Easter 1960, that states a certain Brouitt R left to become a Junior Postman. I don’t remember you at school, but I certainly remember you as a Junior Postman and the Transformer problems you had. Last year I met up with Chris Cole and Dennis Talbot and we went back to the old school, which is now a business center, for a guided tour and laughed at the “shower” facilities we had then. You certainly did well in becoming a teacher. Give us a shout on http://www.mrhookham@yahoo.co.uk for a catch up.

    By Mike Hookham (27/11/2014)
  • To Ray and Others, please take note. The Old Knoll Boys and Girls School Christmas Party and Reunion is on Monday 8th December 2014 at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 6pm. Wives, Husbands and Partners are most welcome too. £5 entry per person will provide you with a glass of wine, food and entertainment provided by semi-professional singers with John Beever to round things off. This is not only about individual memories but it is also about all of our memories and for us to share. See you there to share.

    By Mike Hookham (27/11/2014)
  • Our next Knollites Group Social Meeting and 6th AGM is on Monday 23rd February at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm to 4pm. £3.50 entry also provides refreshments. The meeting will be followed with a talk on “Local History” by Bob Cairns. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (03/02/2015)
  • See you at our next Knollites Group Social Meeting on Monday 23rd March. Same place, same time and still the same price of £3.50 (for more details – see my entries above). Our Guest Speaker is Christine Simpson from AGE UK followed by my quiz.

    By Mike Hookham (10/03/2015)
  • Our Guest Speaker, at the next Knollites Group Social Meeting on Monday 18th May, is David Porter who will talk about his life above a Railway Tunnel (Clayton). See you at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm to 4pm. £3.50 entry also provides refreshments.

    By Mike Hookham (06/05/2015)
  • Hi, I went to Knoll girls from 1955-1959. I remember being scared of Miss Shields and Miss Wolfenden. I remember June Nash, Rita Jesico and Pauline Christmas. Does anyone remember me, Veronica Bennett?

    By Veronica Fenton (nee Bennett) (23/06/2015)
  • Dear Patricia

    Sorry but we have had to delete your post. We are no longer allowing the posting of requests to find third parties, as sharing information like this breaches their privacy. We recommend you try Friends Reunited website if you want to track old friends or neighbours.

    Comments Editor

    By Patricia Haddon (09/07/2015)
  • Our first social meeting as Old Knollonians (ex-The Knollites Group) is on Monday 27th July at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £3.50 is still the entry fee. Our guest speaker is Ian Gledhill who will explore the age of Edwardian musical comedy. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (13/07/2015)
  • Just found this site – it is brilliant. I went to the Knoll Hole as it was aptly named from 1995-59. Remember so many of the teachers named: Miss Shields was very scary especially if you were sent to stand outside her office! (which I was), Miss Wilson was my form tutor in my last year and taught English, which I loved. I thought she was a great teacher. Miss Wolfenden taught science and PE and was very strict, she wore a white coat when in class for science and we would flick ink on the back of it. I remember my first domestic science lesson, we were shown how to dust and sweep a room correctly and also to wash and iron a shirt properly, still do it that way today! My best friends then were Susan King, who lived 2 doors along Summerdale and Gillian Ayling in Northease Drive,. We had all gone to Hangleton school and were one of the first pupils there after it was built (it backed onto our garden). Rosemary Barnard and Rosemary Pollard were also there in my time – so many faces I remember but not the names (senior moments). They would put a prefect on the school gate and if you arrived after the bell had rung your name was passed on to your teacher and you would nearly always get detention! There was a sweet shop opposite on the other side of Old Shoreham Road and if we had any spare pocket money we would sneak out lunch times to get some sweets. If anyone remember me I would love to hear from you.

    By Susan (nee Hansford) Tanner (06/08/2015)
  • See you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 21st September, same place, time and price (see above). Our Guest Speaker is Peter Hill who will take us from “Peggy’s Cove to Niagara Falls”. Don’t get wet.

    By Mike Hookham (10/09/2015)
  • I attended the Knoll School from 1951 to 1955, does anyone remember me? I would like to hear from anyone who was in my class.

    By Alan Frost (06/10/2015)
  • The next Old Knollonians Social Meeting is on Monday 23rd November, same place, time and price. Our Guest Speaker is Alexandra Loske who will tell us about George IV and his Giraffe. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (12/11/2015)
  • Old Knollonians invite all Knoll School for Boys and Girls and their wives, husbands or partners to our Christmas Party and Reunion to be held on Monday December 7th at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 6pm. £5 entry per person will provide you with food, a glass of wine or a soft drink and entertainment. Come along and meet old friends or make new ones. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (26/11/2015)
  • See you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting to be held on Monday February 8th at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £3.50 entry provides refreshments and a talk from our Guest Speaker Bob Cairns who asks “Did you know your Grandparents?”.

    By Mike Hookham (26/01/2016)
  • Our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting and AGM is on Monday 14th March at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £3.50 entry also provides refreshments. The meeting will be followed with a talk from a member of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (25/02/2016)
  • Hi, I went Knoll Girl’s school in the1960s. I was one of group who went to the new school when it was built. I was Linda Albiston.

    By Linda Stanley (29/02/2016)
  • I noticed an article from Veronica Bennet, I remember her well. She lived in Steyning Avenue and her house overlooked ours in Henfield Way. Be happy for you to give her my email address. 

    By Terry Perchard (28/03/2016)
  • Alan Frost, which class were you in? I was at the Knoll at the same time, do you remember Micheal Lloyd and Roy Lewis? Who do you remember?

    By Terry Perchard (28/03/2016)
  • Hi Terry Perchard, thanks for your message. I was in a class with Adams, Antoniades, Archer, Beck, Bennett, Bennett. Boakes, Comber, Coombes, Davis, Dawes, Gordon, Graffham, Harvey, Henner, Holland, Johnson,Lipman, MacKellar, Maidment, Morris, Norris, Kernahan, Lanigan, Lucy, Pollard, Pook, Shepherd, Smith, Stoneham, Taylor, Turner, Walker, Wilson, Wright. The class I was in when I left the school was the class of Mr Limbrick. After leaving the Knoll I went to Preston Tech for a while.

    By Alan Frost (03/05/2016)
  • We look forward to seeing you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 23rd May. Same place, time and price (See entries above). At our last Social Meeting our Committee of now ten welcomed three new members. Very popular Ian Gledhill is returning to tell us “The Gilbert and Sullivan Story”. Come along and I hope to see you there. If you can’t attend because you are living all over the world tell your mates about us, who live locally, who can come. Thanks.

    By Mike Hookham (12/05/2016)
  • I was there from 1961 until 1965. I hated it from day one! I don’t know if anyone remembers me but I’d like to hear from anyone who does!!

    By Josephine Meissner (24/10/2016)
  • See you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 14th November at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP. Same time and price. Alison Edwards is our Guest Speaker to talk about “Money Matters” which is just in time before our big Christmas “spending spree”. Hope to see you there.

    By Mike Hookham (07/11/2016)
  • A rather late reply, but only just read all the comments. I was at Knoll Infants fro 1945-48 and Ellen Street 1948 -51. I recognise some of the names from Terry Perchard’s time. Roger Barrett lived in Applesham Avenue and I went to one of his birthday parties. I also remember Susan Underwood, particularly in her role as the angel in a nativity play. Somewhere I have  a photo of that occasion, in which I played ‘the poor boy without any shoes’! I also knew, from Ellen Street Juniors, John Gale and Len Oxley, who I was always competing against in the school sports 100 yards, usually with Len winning! Boys I recall from Rowan Avenue who attended Knoll Seniors in the 1950s were:- Mike Powell, Roger and Patrick Maher, John Pate, John Pattenden, Ivan Boniface and of course, David Smart.

    By David Lawrence (06/01/2017)
  • Our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting and AGM is on Monday 13th February. Still the same place, time and price of £3.50 (see the entries above). Bob Cairns is returning to talk to us about Family History Stories. We hope to see some more boys and girls from the Knoll School era at our meeting.

    By Mike Hookham (07/02/2017)
  • I would like to welcome you to our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting to be held on Monday 27th March. Same time and place but the price has changed, but by only 50p, to £4.00. Share your memories with a cuppa and a cake, and afterwards Chris Horlock will talk us through the “Lost Theatres of Brighton”. Be there or be square.

    By Mike Hookham (20/03/2017)
  • I was at the Knoll between 6468 at the old school then onto the new one in  Hangleton. I spent many an unhappy time standing in front of Miss Shields, never knowing which eye to look at. I got caught smoking in uniform and had to stand in the corridor every break time for a week. Swimming at the K.A. and in trouble again for talking to lads: Wilson, Upton, and the infamous Wolfenden. Mrs Rodick  was my favourite as I loved art but apart from that my best day was when I left and tore up the “beret’. I remember Linda Oakley, Gilliam Mcarthey ,Christine Glaskin, Susan Hayward, Rita Studd, Susan Barnes plus one one two that I’d rather forget, one in particular who had an affair with my now ex-husband.

    By Maz Jukes (09/04/2017)
  • I would love to hear from anyone who remembers starting the first day at the new school - old school friends Sally Hammer, Carol Hammer, and anyone else who remembers their first day at the new school?

    By Linda Albiston (06/05/2017)
  • Another Old Knollonians Social Meeting is lined up for Monday 22nd May at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. Come along and share your memories with us. £4 entry includes refreshments and Ian Gledhill is returning to talk to us about “Golden Vienna”. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (17/05/2017)
  • I started school at the Knoll School in 1941 in WWII.  On my first morning there one little boy was crying, worried about where his mother was. I still remember the clop clop of his new shoes on the hard floor as the teacher led him to the window to show him where his mother would appear from to take him home.  I also remember air raid practice when we all had to hurry across the playground and down some steps to sit huddled in the shelter.  One day we had to show our gasmask drill to a group of visitors.  I think they may have been filming it.  I wasn’t there very long because we were bombed out.

    By Valerie Simpson (08/07/2017)
  • Hello Valerie.  I also started at the Knoll Infants School in 1941. I started just after the Easter holidays. I guess the system operating then and, I think may still operate in some schools today, is that new pupils start in the term after their 5th birthday? We may have been in the same class, although if you started in September 1941 it is just possible you might have been in the class behind mine. I regret that my memory is not good enough after all these years to remember any Valeries in my class.

    I remember the air raid practices, crossing the playground and sitting in the shelter – or trenches, as we called them then.  Do you remember the slates we used to write and draw on using chalk? 

    I remember my Mum saying that soon after starting school, I caught whooping cough and didn’t return to school again until after the Whitsun holiday.  It was good to read something from someone of my era. I was beginning to think they must have all faded away or not found this site yet.     

    By David Robertson (10/07/2017)
  • Hey everyone, it’s again so interesting reading all your posts. I noticed Sheila Dockerill (Steadman) had posted, I was in the same class as you Sheila, and lived in Hangleton Road, John Harrison, you live just up the road from me, I also noticed you had just had a 50th anniversary, sorry I missed it, didn’t hear about it. I’m also trying to get hold of Wyn Burgess, I went to school with Elizabeth Stone, please contact me. Anyone else remember me, Linda Friend, Ann Ellis,Jennifer Martin, Maria Brooker, Diane Houghton, all lived around Godwin Road, Egmont Road? my e-mail is jrdis@hotmail.co.uk

    By Janet Dove (Cattermull) (13/07/2017)
  • Hi guys, I came up to the Knoll boys from the old Hove Manor school above Connaught Road infants when it closed in approx 1967? So started in the 3rd year and memories include the new language laboratory that was the domain of Bill Griffin the french teacher, great guy, very old school. A class trip to Dieppe and another to Calais one of which was on Bastille day and fireworks were available, bangers mainly purchased and you could imagine what we got up to, culminating in them being thrown out of the train window on the way back and one exploding in the carriage and various supects booked for detention for the coming weeks and hauled before Jake Turner (HM). Road running circuit around the area surrounding the school, Ian Clabby springs to mind as the out and out no.1 for that and messrs Gibbs and Golby and the like bringing up the rear, all closely scrutinised by Sherbourne and Taylor. Friends included Ted Messer (lost touch with), Alan Ingram, Dave Richards (goalie extraoradinaire), Ian Collier who went on in later years to star as the lead singer in Darts (daddy cool, come back my love etc). The Tuck Shop (Burtons crisps etc). Wood and Hunnisett musical impressarios now no doubt? Stayed on until the 5th year in 5G to take Gce examinations etc. Teachers included Jack Langstone, Jack Mutton, Mr Elloy (melon), Austin, Pickard RE? McNeil etc etc. Great times and a lot of good memories between 67 and 70. 

    By David Sanders (15/07/2017)
  • Come along to our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting this coming Monday 24th July at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, HOVE BN3 7FP from 2.00pm until 4.00pm. The £4 entry includes refreshments and a talk from our Guest Speaker Paul Green who is returning but this time to tell us about “Sussex Murders”. I hope it is not about mine.  

    By Mike Hookham (19/07/2017)
  • Come along to our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 24th July at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm until 4.00pm. £4 entry provides you with refreshments and a talk from our Guest Speaker Paul Green on “Sussex Murders”. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (21/07/2017)
  • I recognise a few names as I scroll through. I was at Knoll Girls from 1971 and would love to see some photos and hear from some class mates.

    By Denise Smith (Nee Perchard) (17/11/2017)
  • The next Old Knollonians Social Meeting, which is also our AGM, is to be held on Monday 12th February at St. Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £4 entry includes refreshments and Bob Cairns is returning as our guest speaker with more of his family history stories. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (03/02/2018)
  • Our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting is on Monday 23rd July 2018 at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £4 entry includes refreshments and Chris Horlock returns as our Guest speaker to talk about “Brighton in the 1950’s”. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (12/07/2018)
  • Come along to our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting this coming Monday 10th September 2018 at St. Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2pm until 4pm. £4 entry includes refreshments and Phil Green, our Guest Speaker, returns to follow up on his talk from last year about “The Argus”.

    By Mike Hookham (04/09/2018)
  • Hi everybody my name is Lyn (nee Hall) I went to Knoll Infants, Portland Road and Knoll Seniors and moved on to Knoll Girls when it was built in 65 i beieve. I remember loads of names through the years Valerie Penifold, Julie Fish, Nicky James, Angela Clarke, Laura Bliss Susan Raphael, Vivien Berlin, Christine Clark, Carol Friend, Susan Kensit, Pat Harwood, Big Yank, Little Yank, Martin Welsh, Tony Crane, Lynne Bowles, Francis Gibbons and so many more. Of course we mustn’t forget Hangleton youth club which again has so many happy memories, would love to live those days again.

    By Lyn Read (nee Hall) (20/03/2019)
  • Hi, just an update as I haven’t posted for a few years. We have moved back to the UK now and wondered if you still had a class reunion; my slot would be 1957 to 1960?

    By Mike Purvis (07/09/2019)
  • Hi Mike,
    Our next “Old Knollonians” Social Meeting is at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, HOVE BN3 7FP on Monday 4th November from 2pm until 4pm.
    My slot was 1955 to 1959 and I have a copy of the School Photo taken on 30th April 1959. I hope you are in it ’cause I am. See you on Monday 4th November.

    By Mike Hookham (11/10/2019)
  • I wonder if any of the Knoll alumni remember Barrie Tutte? a good musician and singer from what I can gather. He was a close family friend of my parents having spent time at Dartington College with my Father. Barrie died when I was a young girl, I was heart broken. My Father died this summer aged 72 and he was the only connection we had to Barrie who I believe would have been approximately the same age. I understand that Barrie was adopted or fostered at the time that he attended Knoll. I have found one or two references to him on this forum but would be grateful for any information so that I can build a clearer picture of him, whatever that picture might be.

    By Trudi Browett (19/10/2019)
  • Hi Trudi,
    So sorry to hear that your Father died this summer.
    I knew Barrie Tutte when he attended the Knoll School as did my school mates Chris Cole and Dennis Talbot.
    Barrie would have been around 75 years old today.
    Dennis, who was a year below us, used to play recorders with Barrie and Chris under the guidance of Basil Waymark.
    Chris lived just a few doors down from Barrie in Hallyburton Road, Hove although Barrie did live previously in Egmont Road.
    Chris and I have photos to send to you, if you would like, together with further details.
    Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
    My email address is:- mrhookham@yahoo.co.uk

    By Michael Hookham (23/12/2019)
  • I went to The Knoll 1959-63. My reports say if only he would buckle down and study, but good at swimming. I went to the British National Championships for a few years. I emgrated to Australia, became territory manger for South Australia for Bridgstone, then moved with job to become Bridgestone New Zealand top man for Truck/Bus and Earthmover products. So The Knoll taught me well. I now live on the Isle of Wight.

    By Ron Reeves (29/02/2020)
  • Hi Ron, it would be great if we could meet up with you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 23rd March at St. Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove, BN3 7FP which is behind the old Knoll School (Knoll Business Centre).
    We meet from 2.00pm until 4.00pm with a £4 attendee fee.
    However, you will be our guest and I hope we can find you in the School Photo taken in April 1959 perhaps.
    Kind regards, Mike.

    By Mike Hookham (03/03/2020)
  • Sorry, Won’t be able to with the corona virus on at present, but if you email me, avroniow@gmail.com I can send you a good picture of Jack Liddell. Ron.

    By Ron Reeves (17/03/2020)
  • Hi Trudi Browett,
    Following on from my last reply to you on 23/12/2019, please could you email me on,
    http://www.mrhookham@yahoo.co.uk
    regarding Barrie Tutte as I may have some interesting news for you.
    Hope you are keeping safe and well.

    By Mike Hookham (24/08/2020)
  • Love the page! a few names floating around here. Memories are coming back like being dressed up as a pineapple tree. Also in those days the B and W minstrels. Friends 71- 76. Being one of the first fifth formers. Carol-Lynne Eames, Annette Nye, Carol Butt, Janice Lassiter, Susan Kirkup, Helen Taverner, and so many more. How life has changed for us all especially this year with COVID, stay well all Diane Peters (nee Diane Stillwell) x

    By Diane Peters (17/12/2020)
  • Just found this site. I attended the Knowll for Girls between 1971-1975 .I was known as Rachel Roberts.

    My memories of Miss Shields are not that impressive ( in fact I think she was quite cruel) She did not understand us at all. My recollection from some of the teachers were that we were bright in our individual ways and she lacked insight to encourage this. However, I used that to my advantage became a Professional Opera Singer and then qualified in Law. Some of the names I do remember. We did have fun standing outside her door !!!! Would be delighted to her from anyone who also remembers me.

    By RACHEL Austin ( nee Roberts) (20/01/2021)
  • Hi Mike
    Any get together soon? regards,
    Richard Elms.

    By Richard Elms (13/02/2021)
  • Hi, I was at the girl’s school from 1964-68. The first year was at the old school shared with the boys, then we moved to the new school. It was a great school, the domestic science rooms were really well equipped and the sports curriculum was great, we had tennis, badminton and other Olympic sports. Miss Shields as most say, was scary, but I had a very nice letter from her informing me I was to become a prefect. I only got rid of it recently, due to my return to England after spending 50 years in Brazil. I also remember Miss Wilson and Miss Roderick. I stayed for the 5th year, my parents made me stay, much to my anger, but I have to say it was the best thing. Looking back on those years and the jobs that I have had, and finally becoming a teacher in my 50’s I think we were offered a really good education, besides all the regular subjects, we had cooking, sewing, typing and a wide range of sports. Great memories. Unfortunately I lost touch with my friends.

    By Julie Marie Brown (23/03/2021)
  • Hi: I attended The Knowll School for Boys between 1956 and 1959. At the time Mr Dellar was the headmaster. Can anyone tell me what indiscretions this awful man was accused of? And was he ever prosecuted or the scandal published in the local newspaper?

    By Bill Knightsbridge (12/04/2021)
  • Hi my name is Kim (Tyrrell) I was at Knoll girls in 1974. I lived in Hangleton road. I remember Miss Shields and Miss Wilson very well.
    I used to love going to Hangleton Youth Club..
    Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me..
    My email address is dominiqueetkimgallucci@sfr.fr

    By Kim GALLUCCI ( Tyrrell ) (24/06/2021)
  • Hi all, is this site Knoll school for girls/ boys still active?

    By Michael Purvis (22/02/2022)
  • Hello, I do not know if I even qualify for this page, because I left this school in 1950, after being in the Knoll infant- and Ellington street schools during the war years. I have now lived in Germany for a long time, but have never forgotten such people, as our woodwork teacher Mr Bradley, (I hope the spelling is right), who took part in the 1936 Olympic games. Now I notice, there would seem to be a generation problem in both countries. The eye-witness accounts of people who experienced WW2,, in both countries, are just not being believed by those who were not alive at that time. How should we now try to explain what war is, to the children of today, when the events of the past are presented in a manner which ignores what ordinary citizens lived through at that time?

    By Kenneth Ingle (07/03/2022)
  • Hello Everybody,
    Sorry to barge in again, but one thing we did learn, under the leadership of Mr. Sparks, in the Knoll school, is that if we are wrong, or have made a mistake, we should be ready to admit it!
    In my last posting, I wrote “Ellington Street” this should of course been Ellen street, where I went to, in what in those days was called a Junior school, later primary. Sorry if this has caused any confusion. The Knoll Senior School, also was latter called Secondary-Modern, but the building was the same. I have also noticed, that most of those using this page, are at least 20 years younger than I am, so I hope this will be of no disadvantage. Good luck to you all and all the best.

    By Kenneth Ingle (08/03/2022)
  • Hello again,
    Having now lived more than sixty years overseas, I had hoped to find some contact to old “Knollnians/Knollites” now in the age group 85/86, who would have gone to school with me.
    But, after finding the contents of an email, which I recently had sent to the “Argus” on an Albainian websebsite “https://albania.kivazen.com/” it is very understanable,why these pages do not allow us to pass on our own, or anyone else’s contact details. This makes online contact of course almost impossible, but is done for our own safety. Nevertheless, an exchange of experiences via this page would still be very welcome. Cheers for now, Ken.

    By Kenneth Ingle (13/03/2022)
  • Looking at some of the older Knoll school posts, it would seem that people of my school days stopped writing on these pages about 12 years ago. According to the post by Alan J. Knight (28/07/2009), he attended the school during the time I was there. The same teachers are mentioned – headmaster Mr. Sparks, Jack Booth, Jack Liddell, Basil Weymark, Mr Parkinson, Mr ‘Daddy Davis, Mr Clapp, ( who still suffered from a gas attack in WW1) Mr Smith who took metalwork , Mr Vic Bratley who took woodwork and had been a runner in the 1936 Olympics, and Mr Chappel who took art and had papermache heads all around the classroom.
    Alan might well have known my father, who also worked for Southdown Motors after leaving Hanningtons in Hove..
    His question.. -Does anyone remember Citroni’s ice cream van outside the gate in Bellingham Crescent? – I would have to answer with no, but my late brother Norman married Janet, one of Mr. Citroni’s daughters.
    It is a pity I had not read Alan’s posts a few years back, we would have then been able to share and confirm each other’s experiences. I wonder if this is now too late?

    By Kenneth Ingle (31/03/2022)
  • Strange Kenneth but a Mr Vic Bratley taught woodwork at Cottesmore early to mid 1960’s, he was taken very ill about 1965/66 and then we had Woody Harrison who was ex Hove Manor take us for woodwork until I left in 1970…….it surely must be the same Mr Bratley, I never knew about him being an athlete in the past?

    By Peter Groves (31/03/2022)
  • Sorry Peter,
    I cannot say if this was the same person, these pages have only been known to me since a few weeks ago. If he did move, it would have been after I went to work in London.
    Our teacher had a black and white film of the race, which he once showed us. Perhaps somebody, possibly relatives, still have this.

    By Kenneth Ingle (01/04/2022)
  • Wow, I remember all the teachers mentioned above in the years to 1963. I had a great time there and had a maths teacher Derek Lawrence giving me home teaching for Maths in the evenings which I enjoyed. Basil Waymark was a good music teacher but had to watch out for a clip round the ear from time to time. I do wonder though what happened to Eric Dellar who was sacked for sexual activities with boys at his home and the headmasters study. Mr Turner who took over from him was great and as far as I remember was well liked by everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed woodwork classes and what I learned in that class tought me to love carpentry to this day. Although I am now nearly 76 my memories will always be with me as a fun 4 years at the knoll.

    By Peter wyles (20/10/2022)
  • Not sure about your comments Kenneth, I have only just discovered this site and have never replied before today.

    By Peter wyles (20/10/2022)
  • For any of the ladies who replied to/knew Jean Martin (nèe Smith) further up on this page:
    Sorry to say that my Auntie Jean passed away on 21 Nov 2021, after a fairly lengthy battle with cancer.

    By Alan Phillips (21/10/2022)
  • Hello Peter,
    With regard to your mention of Basil Waymark from (20/10/2022), I do remember a young teacher with this name. He had just received the qualification “Bachelor of Art”.
    However, I must also admit, that in the 71 years since leaving the Knoll Senior (secondary modern) School, my memory does not always bring forth all the details, which I would like to share.
    As you appear to be about 10 years younger than I am, some teachers are bound to have changed by the time you were a pupil there, but seeing you write about watching out for a clip round the ear, this is almost certain to be the same man. I seem to remember him chasing a boy around the playground because the lad had been disobedient.
    In addition to teaching music, he also sometimes made us do physical exercises on the play-ground and could be quite rough when playing Handball.
    All the best,
    Ken.

    By Kenneth Ingle (21/10/2022)
  • My father attended the Knoll between 1943- 1946 i.e. between the ages of 11-14 and has mentioned a few names of the male and female teachers, Parkinson, Sparks, a female teacher called Arrowsmith all of these people I managed to find on the 1939 register. his memory is not what it was 15 years ago, he told me some amusing stories, some tragic ones and some involving a male teacher, which would have got him sacked as a teacher now and possibly in prison. the education didn’t seem to be of a very high standards , but all the young teachers were away at the war.

    The tragic story involved a boy, who my dad said came from a poor home, was always inadequately dressed and often seemed to be ill, my father sat next to him not by choice. the boy was sent home one day after feeling ill and was literally found dead outside the school gates. the school didn’t have anything suitable to carry him indoors on, so the wood or metal work teacher used something. this sounded fantastic, so I checked and found the boy’s name told my dad the name concerned, and he confirmed. There were two female Arrowsmith teachers on the 1939 register, one died very young in 1940 aged 42, their father was a retired headmaster.

    It’s a pity that sites like these can’t be used to bring very old men together at the end of their lives. many of the knoll pupils attended St Richards both for religious services and social activities according to dad, the vicar or social worker attached to the St Richards, had a name with a sexual connotation, is this an old man’s memory fading over the years or is there anybody else on here old enough to remember the name or man?

    By Philip wood (04/11/2022)
  • Hello Phillip,
    The chance of older people contacting each other on these pages is certainly small. I went to the Knoll senior school at about the time your father left and have failed to find any pupils who were there at the same time as me. The reasons are however seemly clear. Most people of my age, have either passed on, or are unable to use a computer, which was something unknown in our school days. Nevertheless, I do think the school teachers in the forties and early fifties did a grand job considering all the problems of those years.
    I would be most interested if you do manage to find somebody in their nineties who can answer your questions!
    all the best.
    Ken.

    By Kenneth Ingle (06/11/2022)
  • Hello, Ken Ingle and Philip Wood. I have a few bits of information relating mainly to your recent posts which may interest you. Ken, from earlier correspondence between us, on a different page on this site, you and I worked out that we were probably in the same year – maybe the same class at the Knoll Infants School. You thought that the name of the headmistress then was more likely to be Miss Elliot rather than Miss Lelliot which was my recollection. If you look at David Smart’s 14/03/2009 post on this page, you will see the “decider”. David Smart and I were almost the same age, do you remember him at the Infant’s School? He and I were in the same class there. To Philip. Re your last para. (4/11/22). I went – once, aged 6 or 7 – to Sunday School at Saint Richards. During the service a collection plate came round, and I had no money to put in it. I was so embarrassed that I never went back there again. However, I do remember the name of the vicar. I must stress that neither then, nor in subsequent years, did I ever know of any sexual connotations relating to his name. Unfortunately, he had an extremely, polished and cultured accent. This sounded well out of place on the then, Knoll council estate. His nickname locally, was “Soapy”.Also to Philip, there was, maybe still is, an organisation called Old Knollites or Knollians(?) and its meetings were often mentioned on this site by Mike Hookham. Here was one way this site has helped to bring some oldish and not so oldish people together. I have other things I could add to this, but I have probably gone on too long already.

    By David Robertson (09/11/2022)
  • Hello David, I have just read your post from 09/11/2022. and you are probably right about us being in the same class at the Knoll School. Your reference to David Smart certainly seems to ring a bell and I am sure now we must have been there together. Perhaps the dates of our “National Service” 1954-56 would help to reduce any possible errors, despite having lived and worked at Sainsbury´s first ever shop in Drury Lane, London, before being called up, after Demob. I was told to report to the Territorial Army at Brighton barracks. We were old enough to risk our lives for our country, but not considered to be adults until we were 21 years of age, so it was the address of my parents which counted.
    Cheers,
    Ken.

    By Kenneth Ingle (12/11/2022)
  • Thank you, David, for your post re vicar or curate of St Richards, he might just have been the social worker or youth leader attached to the school, my dad is just 90. The names of his classmates that he remembers were Eric Grayer, who’s been dead I believe for 20 years. I went to school with his daughter in the 70s and lived in the flat below Eric in the early 80s. a Joseph or Joey Denton who lived on the knoll , he may not have gone to the school, a David Hughes who lived 4 doors from my dad on Stapley road again I believe he might have gone to the grammar school, an Eddie or Edwin Sturmey, who according to my dad was the class comedian, he was the object of something close to sexual assault by one of the teachers if my dad’s memory isn’t at fault. He talks about a John or Johnny Boone, who lived in Stapley road, I don’t know whether he went to the Knoll.

    The poor boy who was found dead outside the school gates was a Llewelyn Stanley Brooker, known as Stanley, he lived in ingram crescent, he died in the summer of 45 aged about 13, his father was also a Llewellyn Brooker as was the grandfather, his father was a milkman as was my father’s dad
    I imagine at the co-op dairy.
    My father has told me of his exploits some of which were just about repeatable, some not, some cruel schoolboy pranks. this was of course during the war, when many fathers were away and hard-pressed mums were working, some of the mums weren’t very well behaved either. but that’s a different story.

    There was a family called
    Sole, one of the daughter’s initials were R, you can imagine what she was called, poor woman died relatively young over 50 years ago. her parents long dead and her siblings who were older than my father also passed. getting back to the vicar, curate whatever he was posh according to dad, and the children would shout abuse at him as he cycled up the road.

    By Philip J Wood (13/11/2022)
  • What a wonderful page. I went to the Knoll for 4 years and left in 1967 to work at The Alliance Building Society.
    I haven’t looked at this site for a 8 and hadn’t realised there is a page for The Knoll. I’ve been looking at a Facebook group and was trying to search for Judy Middleton’ fascinating history of the school. I failed to bookmark it yesterday.

    I will add some more names of fellow pupils and other teachers- some of which the Facebook posts have been very helpful with. For now I’ll just put some of my teachers.

    Form teachers for 1A to 4A were, Mrs Chappel 1A, Mrs Randall 2A and Mrs Wilson 3A and 4A.

    My maiden name was Clifford and I’ve married 3 times so it can be confusing.

    I’ll try and add my email but not sure they’re published anymore.
    helenmcd20@hotmail.com

    By HELEN SHIPLEY (17/06/2023)
  • I have only just found this knoll site.
    How I remember all the old teachers and miss shields the head mistress.
    I was there from 1957-61.
    Does anyone remember me would love to chat to old friends.
    Anita Scammell nee Baldy.

    By Anita scammell (29/08/2023)
  • Thank you Marion for starting off this page.
    I was at the knoll from1959-1960.
    I remember well all the teachers and miss Shields the head mistress.
    I was very friendly with Pauline Carter until she passed away 2 years ago.
    Pamela Atkinson who also passed away about 20 years ago.
    Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me especially Barbara Samuels.

    By Anita Scammell nee Baldy (30/08/2023)
  • Re Phillip Woods post (13-11-22) ‘John’ Boone was in fact Joe Boone – although he might have been Christened Joseph. I remember him very well, teaching his younger brother to play football on the green in Isabel Crescent.

    By Geoffrey Stoner (01/09/2023)

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