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Staff photo from 1967

The photo here shows the senior school staff in about summer 1967, outside the front of the school. Seated are Maurice Standring, Maurice Saunders (Headmaster) – holding the cricket mascot (“The Admiral”), and EHP Mallinson. Standing behind are Rodney Fox (temporary staff), Pat Cale and Mr Walker. As you can see, pipes were much in evidence!

Staff in 1967
From the private collection of Martin Nimmo

Comments about this page

  • Please could you let me have your email – I gather you have done something for the tsunami appeal. I am helping a local NGO in the south of Sri Lanka to develop school links in the UK. Look forward to hearing from you.

    By Nicola Swainson (15/03/2005)
  • I was at St. Christopher’s from 1947, when Gilbert Beale was headmaster and Maurice Saunders was Principal, until 1956, when I was honoured to be ‘head-boy’. I have very fond memories of those years, particularly of Maurice Standring and Pat ‘Curly’ Cale. Gilbert Beale’s stories of Greek mythology, I still treasure. I have a school photo from 1956, and various football and cricket team photos for 1954/5/6, if any one is interested.

    By Michael Keat (01/01/2007)
  • An update on the photo: The man at the back on the left is not Mr Walker but Captain Telford who had a wooden leg (or two?) and mainly taught Scripture. There were other masters employed at the time, including Peter Ezra, but someone had to be on duty when the photo was taken!

    By Martin Nimmo (22/02/2007)
  • Rodney Fox went on, after University, to become eventually Headmaster of St Edmunds College, Ware, and is now a governor of St Christopher’s.

    By Martin Nimmo (22/02/2007)
  • The master at the back with the pipe is Mr Walker. Mr Telford is not in the photograph. He was very disabled and got about on crutches. He’d lost a leg as result of a bomb attack in WW2. He lived in Patcham and drove a specially adapted car. He was a member of Brighton Chess Club and he taught Scripture. He came to replace Mr Walker, and was at the school when Nimmo was teaching there!

    By Bernard Dutton-Briant (28/02/2007)
  • Bernard is convicted out of his own mouth! I was employed at St Christophers in 1967, the year the photo was taken. Mr Walker had gone, and had been replaced as Latin teacher by E H P Mallinson. The person at the back can only have been Captain Telford.

    By Martin Nimmo (02/03/2007)
  • What a crew! The old buster at the back on the right is certainly Mr Walker. I  recognised him immediately and before seeing the comments below. Martin Nimmo is partially correct. I was there for the Classics changeover. Walker taught Latin up to about 1960 (we’d got up to nouns of the 3rd declension) when EHP (you may call me Colonel) Mallinson was inflicted on us (nouns of the 4th declension – what a surprise). But the dreaded Walker (“Morning Herbert, Morning Alfred”) was still kept on part-time to teach Scripture.

    By Frank Cowell (27/03/2007)
  • What a crew indeed! I have slightly more recent memories [Anson: 1977 – 1983] though we are still talking 25-30 years ago! I have extremely fond memories of Maurice Saunders – a true gentleman of the old school (they don’t make them like him anymore) and of his charming wife and of his son – Roger Saunders – who was headmaster during my time there. I also remember Mr. Powell, Austin Camp and certainly Peter Ezra. I had immense respect for all the teachers at this marvellous school even though some of them scared the living daylights out of one – Peter are you still out there? (No offence meant but you were a rather frightening individual). Anyway, it was all good stuff looking back. Now “work, read or play chess or you’ll be in detention….!”   I only ever got the cane once (“3 of the best” from Roger himself) throughout my 7 years and even that was for owning up for something I didn’t do! (I’ll know better next time).
    To Sir With Love,  Dominic

    By Dominic Beale (20/04/2007)
  • Had Nimmo taken the photograph in 1967, I would have been in my first term at Brighton College, and Nimmo himself would have been up at Oxford. Mr Walker died some 3 years earlier whilst I was in Transition. Colonel Mallinson had long since retired, and been replaced by Mr Ezra, and Mr Telford. Mr Telford was a much younger man, having seen active service in WW2! He had a goatee beard, and didn’t wear a tie presumably because of his disability.

    By Bernard Dutton-Briant (30/12/2007)
  • Oh dear! This gets more complicated by the hour! I was at Oxford in 1967, having filled in for Col Mallinson in 1966 (January to July), but Col Mallinson returned to work in September 1967. Peter Ezra was employed at St Christopher’s over the whole period and beyond. I used to visit St Christopher’s during university vacations, which were considerably more generous than school holidays! And, the “clincher”, this photo is in the middle of a film which has pictures clearly dating to 1967 both sides. Sorry! At least St Christopher’s was marginally quieter with Bernard packed off to Brighton College!

    By Martin Nimmo (08/01/2008)
  • In the last entry, it should read that Col Mallinson returned to work in September 1966 rather than 1967. The photo was taken in June/July 1967, witness “The Admiral” in his cricketing gear!

    By Martin Nimmo (21/01/2008)
  • I was delighted to see the photo of a young Pat Cale – I had the pleasure of knowing him (and his parents who lived in Jesmond Close) through the Preston Nomads Cricket Club and I played with him for many seasons. After Pat left the school he became the Sussex County Cricket Club’s Second Team coach for a good number of years.

    By Garry Peltzer Dunn (11/11/2008)
  • I am reading my mother’s diary written in 1940 and she mentions a Captain Dutton Briant doing a round of the ARP services and helped my mother during an air raid in London Rd, Brighton. Are you any relation or do you know anything about him? On the off-chance. Thanks

    By Carole Burgess (12/01/2010)
  • I was at St Christopher’s at this time ..I dont recall for how long. I remember Mr Sanders Snr (and pipe) as headmaster -terrified of him! I was only 5 (?). Boxing, handwriting lessons! Also a very kind female teacher.. Mrs Mullett?

    By N Whiting (27/03/2010)
  • I remember all but one teacher (temp).’Sandy’ was Head, was very keen on boxing. Used to yell at the parents on Sports Day – a very strict Headmaster. Mr Walker was a wonderful man who taught ‘scripture’. Yes, that is definitely Mr Walker! He contributed greatly to my lifelong love of all things spiritual. ‘Curley’ Cale, much loved by all the boys. He lived 100 yards from my family in New Church Road. Colonel Malinson scared the bejeezus out of me. I remember Marylyn Saunders as secretary. Am I right? I was friends with Mr Saunders’ son, Roger. Oh, yes, Mr Sandring had amazing accuracy with the board rubber, but he never knew it was me who put thumb tacks on his chair. He smoked his pipe constantly in class. Anyone out there who might remember those days?

    By Christian (Richard) McCulloch (24/09/2015)
  • I well remember Pat Cale, Maurice Saunders, Maurice Standring, Mrs Willis, Mrs Skermann, Major Forrest, Mr Powell, Miss Judd, Mrs Heath, Mrs Thorpe, Payne’s Poppets, Mrs Harris-Rees, Vicky Saunders, Mary-Lou Greenaway (nee Saunders) and their mother, and Peter Ezra. “Sandy” the Headmaster was every bit as strict as mentioned above, amusing my father, Alan, who was a “friend” of the school, by barking across Glebe Villas playing field one Saturday close to Sports Day “Ai, you on the bike!”. Of course I was the recipient! Although I joined in 1963 as a sickly type 1 diabetic, I do remember Mr Walker (top right), Mr Telford and Colonel Mallinson, even though none of them taught me. There was a gap student who looked like the guitarist John Williams, who soaked up Sandy’s style – I still have an English exercise book in which this man, who I believe was also called Mr Walker, put a line through my efforts with the comment “This is utter piffle”. It amuses me that I published a book called “Fifty Years of Malfunction” last year, in which St Christopher’s features significantly. I remember the Dutton-Briants, and Richard McCulloch. I was sad to read of Martin Nimmo’s demise. He was more like a friend than a teacher.

    By Grant Vicat (26/09/2016)
  • I was a pupil there between 1977 and 1982. Here is a rundown of the teachers I remember:

    Mr Powell, nice old boy who taught maths.

    Mr Carter was the cool one, great English teacher who could sing and play guitar – the housewives choice.

    Mrs Heath, a firm but fair lady with a lovely selium terrier. Always made classes interesting.

    Mr Cater – history teacher who tried to send me out of the room for talking. I did something I’d never done before or since – I just ignored it and was amazed I got away with it.

    Austin Camp – THE definitive Latin teacher, very passionate about his subject and even took a party of boys to Rome, all organised and paid for by himself, maximum respect for that. He had the wit of Edmund Blackadder and the temper of Basil Fawlty, but never in a vindictive way.

    Maurice Saunders – “Old Sir” – fond memories of him, especially him smoking his pipe in class. We loved it when he lit up and the clouds of tobacco wafted in our direction.

    Roger Saunders – “Young Sir”. We were always elated if we got the cane from Old Sir, as his swipes were not hard at all, unlike Young Sir whose cane strokes could be felt for days on end. 

    Editor’s note
    Your comment has been edited as some of the material was inappropriate and could have caused distress to relatives of those mentioned.

    By Paul (31/12/2017)
  • Paul, your summary of the teachers is perfect and evokes fond memories. I was particularly enamoured by your description of Mr Camp. Seeing Mr Cale, Mr Saunders and Mr Powell in the 1967 photo brings back so many memories.  I also had the pleasure of seeing Mr Saunders the younger and the inspirational Mr Scott, three years ago at  a drinks reception back at school.  I can truly say that St Christopher’s instilled us with positive values  and character.

    By Simon Ruscoe-Price (13/03/2018)
  • I attended St Christophers from September 1951 to June 1955. I lived in Fishersgate at the time and my school fees were met by my Grandfather. I remember Mr Beale and Mr Saunders very well. There was also Mrs Cleverly and Mrs Heath and of course a very young Mr Cale. I struggled academically but always had a go at rugby and boxing; two sports close to Mr Saunder’s heart. I recall when Mr Saunders challenged a large boy to rugby tackle him Mr Saunders suffered a broken leg! I enjoyed our annual sports day but never came away with one of those attractive miniature silver cups mounted on black ebony. The crocodile walks for exercise and the walk to the Holland Road gym were memorable and I also recall Snooky (Mr Saunders daughter and her younger sister). I believe I was the first boy to receive the cane for three work minuses. I would have received the cane from Mr Saunders a couple of times and I felt the terror of arriving at school minus a cap or a tie.
    However, St Christophers reinforced a number of personal qualities: politeness, manners and a respect for adults. I made a number of friends particularly Louis Simmonds. I believe my four years at St Christophers formed the foundation of my character and personality to develop a successful fifty year Air Force career with the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force. The Air Force education system supported me through O and A levels right through to an Undergraduate and Masters degree. In addition I spent a year at Staff College and attended many specialist courses – so my three work minuses and that awful call to the headmasters study announced at the Friday assembly must have provided an impetus I only appreciated many years after. I have no regrets for my time at St Christophers and I wish the current team every success.

    By Phillip Gunnell (04/09/2019)
  • I was at St. Christopher’s School from 1953 to 1957. If you have any photos I would love to see them. I have lost some of mine. I played Rugby and Cricket and remember playing against Normansal and beating them.

    By Christopher Eriksson (23/12/2019)
  • I was there from about 1957 to 1963, going on to Brighton College. I recognise all the senior teachers in the photos. My mother refused to let me do boxing on a Monday afternoon, so we had to do more maths.
    I remember the disgusting school lunches. I have never been able to eat rice or semolina puddings since.
    I was told I was the only boy who was never beaten by Mr Saunders, which I find hard to believe.

    By Adrian Kernot (22/05/2020)
  • I was at St Christophers in the late 60s and early 70s. I remember still some of the teachers there:
    Miss Judd in Form 1, Mrs Rowlands in Form 2 or 3, Mrs Heath (who used to read to us on Friday afternoons), Mr Cale (history and sport), and of course Mr Saunders, the headmaster. We were always encouraged to try our hardest at whatever we were doing, work or sport. I had similar memories to those of other contributors. Which were good to read. I’ll say a word too about Mrs Saunders, who used to welcome us boys to their house near the school, if ever we went there at the invitation of Mr Saunders to watch rugby matches on their TV. I remember they had pet ferrets there, which were fascinating to us boys. Vicky Saunders worked in the office. Whenever we were up in front of Mr Saunders, for a telling off or a caning (I had a few), she always gave us a sympathetic look. Mostly happy days!

    By Guy Dickins (07/12/2020)
  • So glad that those sadists Saunders and Ezra are now pushing up daisies. Unless you were a sycophantic conformist, the approach to make you toe the line was to beat you both physically and emotionally. I know that many men in their 60’s like me still carry the scars of abuse.

    By Altiora Peto (27/03/2024)

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