School Photo 1959

This photograph of all the pupils of The Knoll School was taken in 1959.

Clearly it wasn’t possible to show it complete because of its size, so I have uploaded it in four sections. Each thumbnail opens in a new window.

The photo was kindly supplied by a former pupil Robin Harwood who now lives in Australia.

Comments about this page

  • Obviously the boys school. Mile Oak Secondary Modern, girls netball team played the Knoll girls on several occasions, the place was off Hangleton Road on the left, really cold in winter.

    By Bonny Cother (10/02/2010)
  • Nice to see an unblemished copy (my own copy was mischievously defaced at the time) it would be even better if a higher resolution image could be accessed on enlargement, thus enabling identifications, at the moment it is just too soft.

    By Ian Beck (12/02/2010)
  • Ian’s critical eye has not entirely dampened my enthusiasm for this tapestry of the massed ranks of the Knoll Academy for Young Gentlemen (thanks, James). Certainly, though, I had difficulty actually identifying many of those faces from the past. However, some were easy. Ironically, the first boy I identified was Ian himself -it must have been cold sitting cross-legged on the playground, and in late autumn in short trousers (ouch!), because surely this photo was taken about November if it was from 1959. The teachers are easy -got nearly every one of them -but does anyone know who that man with the Dracula haircut and sardonic look is. I can’t place him. Bill Griffin looks marvelous -like one of those philosophers from the 1930s. And there’s Ma Collings -ooooh. I haven’t seen this photo in over 40 years I guess -it is one of those things I had completely forgotten about (so it must be when we were in 2G). And yet there I am; at least there I seem to be (how could I have forgotten?) -maybe someone could vouch for it. I found Alan and Colin Taylor and, I think, William Warwick and Gordon Hepworth, Michael Wood (I think), Barry Tutte (I think he’s the one whose face appears to be half hidden by a tuft of hair from the boy in front), Wigley (not sure about his first name -William?), Hubert Osgood (I think), John Caldicott (definitely), and several others (Richard Montier, I think). But I can’t see James for sure and I’m not sure if Geoff Stimpson is there, because the one I think he might be seems to be standing in the wrong row. Howard -can’t see you -stand up, boy! Maybe someone out there has an undefiled copy bearing a full list of names. Looking forward to further comments.

    By Rod Allison (12/02/2010)
  • Dont forget the AIR RAID PRECAUTION FILM filmed at the Knoll school at the beginning of WW2

    By Roy Grant (22/02/2010)
  • Just found this page. I was at the Knoll from 1967 to 1972 so different era but same teachers! Bill Griffin taught french in the “new” language lab. My only memory of it was a magazine called Ca Va and playing Alright now by Free hence CSE grade 5 which my mum thought was good! I often quote ” the Knoll Academy for Young Gentleman” to my grown up kids. Didn’t know it came from Ben Gooders. We had a student teacher Jed Carwin who had a booming voice but no control. He said that normally phosphorous should be cut in water but as a small piece he wouldn’t. Well of course a small explosion and loads of 15 year olds undoing the doors to the corridors and climbing out of windows. We ran into Gooders who said “you are meant to be the cream of the 4th year” and marched us back. Basil Whymark was our form teacher in 1st year and before you could sit down in the morning, he used to create a mathematical question which he threw at each boy and the next boy then had to add, subtract multiply, square root etc. If you got it wrong you got whacked on the hand with his music baton. Harvey was maths and he hated us cos of long hair in those days and we were not the brightest maths pupils. He became our form master in 4th year and we dreaded it but he was great to us and he was the one who got me the O Level. Sherwood well you got whacked with the slipper if last out of changing rooms which on reflection meant he whacked someone every PE lesson! He kicked me in the deep end at King Alfred swimming pool and I still can’t swim. Lumsden for woodwork and Townsend for metalwork that consisted of countersinking holes in metal. Cooke for art who famously in our 1st year 1967 in 1st term said” listen to this lads” and played Sergeant Pepper album. Brilliant. Deputy head was Mutton. Dad Davies when retired worked for Inland Revenue doing the filing when I joined along with John Steer and Gary Pearson from same class. He was so proud of us and we played a friendly cricket match and he played and we had a great time. Remember the road runs and cross country around back of Greenleas. Road runs up Hangleton Rd to Grenadier along Nevill Ave to dog stadium and back along Old Shoreham Rd. Best time when we beat Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar at both football and cricket in same year. Boy, were they unhappy.

    By John Webster (06/03/2010)
  • Rod wrote “But I can’t see James”…. Back row directly above Bill Griffin and Mr. Coop, standing next to Bernard Court 🙂

    By James Gaitley (07/04/2010)
  • The “Dracula” man, if I have it correct, is Mr Chapple our form master 3G. He had the last classroom on the west corridor just by the music room.

    By Michael Clark (11/03/2011)
  • Just found this page AND also my diary for 1959 and what information is hidden. I was at the Knoll from 1955 until 24 July 1959, as the diary says. The photo was taken on 30 April 1959 and, using my mate Barrie Tutte (I have just found out he died quite young in Saudi Arabia) as a fixed point, I have tried to name some of the guys, from memory. From his right starting with me, then Maurice Lloyd, Ken Feek, Chris Cole, unknown, Paul Ashenden, unknown, Richard Skipper, unknown, ? Tredgett, David (Sid) Ellis. Please accept my apologies if you are an “unknown” and please send me an email to correct it. If we all band together we should be able to name everybody including the teachers – a big challenge. I mentioned I left the Knoll on 24 July 1959 and, after saying farewell to teachers and mates, I walked home with Barrie Tutte as he lived on my way and, unfortunately, never saw him again. That email is : mrhookham@yahoo.co.uk

    By Mike Hookham (05/06/2011)
  • On Monday 7 November 2011. You are all very welcome to the next meeting of The Knollites Group held at St. Richards’s Hall, Egmont Road, Hove (1400 -1600). £2 will welcome you with tea and biscuits and a talk about Magnus Volk. Please bring any photos with you of the the time and of you and your famlies. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (28/10/2011)
  • Having just read some more entries I appologise to Mr Preime as I named him John when it was Victor. I guess time playes tricks with the memory. 

    By Peter Wyles (15/02/2012)
  • My god, this is turning the clock back, I recognise myself in the second photo second from right, second row at front. Also Jack Liddell the PE teacher, Basil Whymark (music), John Prieme (can’t remember what he taught but nice bloke anyway) and of course Eric Dellar. I remember well Derek Lawrence (Maths teacher) and John Gooders (metalwork and deputy head). I met John Gooders many years later and we had a long chat about the “old days” It would be nice if somehow we could get a full size copy of this photo, any suggestions anybody? 

    By Peter Wyles (15/02/2012)
  • FAO Peter Wyles and All. I have an original of the school photograph which is on loan to me from my school mate Chris Cole. Are you local? I will bring it for you and anybody else to see if you can make it (Knollites Group Meeting – details below) and for us all also the photos of the “play” with Chris Cole, Jeremy Kemp and ? Morgan et al, plus Basil Waymarks’ Recorder Group 1959. Also the Rock Group “The Devils” (eat your heart out Michael Hall). See all you Guys and Girls at the next meeting on Monday 26th March of The Knollites Group at St Richards Hall, Egmont Road, Hove (14.00 – 16.00). £3 will get you a cup of tea or coffee and a talk of local interest plus you can exchange hundreds of memories. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (07/03/2012)
  • Just to let you know that you are all welcome to the next meeting of the the Knollites Group to be held on Monday 25th June 2012 (1400 – 1600) at St Richards Hall, Egmont Road, Hove. £3 entry will also get you a cupper and biscuits plus a chat from a guest speaker. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (18/06/2012)
  • The next Knollites Group Social Meeting will be held on Monday 3rd September 2012 (1400 – 1600) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove. £3 entry will still get you a cupper or coffee, biscuits and a talk from Trevor Povey on “Old Hove”. Who knows, you might turn up in one of his “ancient colour slides”. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (24/08/2012)
  • I’ve just come across the photos above and recognise so many faces. I also remember Brian and his brother Ron. I worked with Brian at Jenners a few years later where he lost the tops of his fingers on a machine. If you read this Brian, it would be nice to hear from you. Dave Steer

    By David Steer (30/10/2012)
  • Yes, it’s me again. Our next Knollites Group Social Meeting is on Monday 12th November 2012 (1400 – 1600) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove and £3 will still get you in. Enjoy your tea or coffee while listening to our popular guest speaker Ian Gledhill whose subject is the ‘History of the Seaside’. Saucy postcards, ‘What the Butler Saw’ and cake and biscuits too! Come and dip your toe. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (01/11/2012)
  • Doesn’t time fly! It is the Knollites Group Christmas Party on Monday 10th December (1400-1700) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove. You are most welcome to come along with your spouse or partner and relax after all that tree decorating. £3 per head gives a first drink, a mince pie and a buffet. Music entertainment is provided by Bill Nye. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (28/11/2012)
  • Hello Dave Steer, I remember you at Jenners with your dad and brother in law Arthur Hall. My email address is brian.birch2@ntlworld.com if you would like to make contact.

    By Brian Birch (10/12/2012)
  • Ive set up a facebook Page for Knoll Boys Scholl with a fair few photos and growing following – its on: https://www.facebook.com/settings/?tab=applications#!/Knoll.Boys The albums 1950s 1960s 1970s are on: https://www.facebook.com/settings/?tab=applications#!/Knoll.Boys/photos_albums

    By Derek Mann (31/12/2012)
  • Our next gathering of the Knollites Social Group is on Monday 25th February 2013 (2.00pm to 4.00pm) at St Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove. It is also our AGM so we are expecting quite a crowd. £3 entry will provide you with tea/coffee plus biscuits and a talk from Bob Cairns on local history. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (04/02/2013)
  • The next meeting 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 which 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 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 am thrilled to see Mr Chapple, our Art master who encouraged me to build a Punch and Judy theatre, Mr Smith who taught Metalwork and Basil Waymark our great Music teacher. How previous these men were. Thank you for this page, I would love to see more.

    By Frank Wilson (19/05/2013)
  • 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)
  • Our next Knollites Group (formally “Old Knollians) social meeting is on Monday 23rd September 2013 at St Richard’s Community Centre, 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)
  • The next Knollites Group social meeting is on Monday 25th November 2013. Same place, same time and same price. (See above) 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 of course and John Beever to round it all off. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (26/11/2013)
  • Just another thank you to Mike Hookham for sharing his photo album with me for the Knoll Boys Facebook page. I have been posting the photos over the last couple of months and will continue to do so. There are also lot of photos from 60s and 70s on the page. They consist of photos of various sporting events: football, cricket, boxing, fencing, gym, cross country and some photos at summer camp. Spans 1951 to 1961. So if any of you older Knollites feel adventurous, check out the Knoll Boys Facebook page here:
    Page  https://www.facebook.com/Knoll.Boys
    Albums  https://www.facebook.com/Knoll.Boys/photos_albums

    By Derek Mann (08/02/2014)
  • 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 of 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 Richards Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Bring photos, lots of memorabilia including any copies of The Weathervane magazines 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, about the History of Brighton Trams. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (12/03/2014)
  • See you at the next Knollites Group Social Meeting on Monday 19th May. Same time, same place and the same price of £3.50 (for more details - see above). Our guest speaker is Mike Barker from the Air Ambulance Service and hear about their life-saving work.

    By Mike Hookham (06/05/2014)
  • 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)
  • See you at the next Knollites Group Social Meeting on Monday 22nd September. Meet with up to thirty ex- Knoll School Boys and Girls to exchange memories and photos (I am in the one above – are you?). Same time, same place and the same price of £3.50 (for more details – see above). Our Guest Speaker is Ian Gledhill and the subject is “Halfway to the Stars”.

    By Mike Hookham (08/09/2014)
  • 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)
  • 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 with be provided by sem-professional singers with John Beever to round things off. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (27/11/2014)
  • I remember being in that photo, though I can’t find myself in that throng now.
    I remember many of the teachers in that photo – Dellar, Griffin, Liddel

    By Gordon Hepworth (02/01/2015)
  • Rod Allison, what a memory – and eye – you have. Yes, I would have been next to William Warwick, as we were ‘best friends’, but I can’t find us.
    Which of the four photos, which row, are we in, please? (I’m on gordon@oldchinaservice.com)

    By Gordon Hepworth (02/01/2015)
  • Does anyone remember Malcolm Early, or what became of him?

    By Gordon Hepworth (03/01/2015)
  • Hi all,  does anyone know whether your Richard Montier is the one I used to know?  Pretty unusual name I think. My Richard is distinctive because of his height, circa 6’5″.  I knew him around 1964-66.  We went to school together at Clark’s College in Bromley, Kent.

    By Diane Lucas (04/01/2015)
  • Hi Diane. I do recall Richard Montier from Knoll school. We were 13 or 14 at the time, and he wasn’t particularly tall then. I remember we used to tease him for saying “kutchup” instead of ‘ketchup” and other kiwi pronunciations, so I’m assuming he was originally from New Zealand.

    By Gordon Hepworth (22/01/2015)
  • 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)
  • Hi Gordon, thank you for the information. I appreciate it very much but I don’t think it is my Richard Montier. Maybe one day I might find him and we could have a good chat over some great times. Thanks again Gordon, Diane.

    By Diane Lucas (14/02/2015)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 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 and 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 unil 4pm. £3.50 entry also provides refreshments. The meeting will be followed by a talk from a member of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (23/02/2016)
  • We look forward to seeing you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 23rd May. Same place, time and price (See previous entries). 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. 

    By Mike Hookham (12/05/2016)
  • Hope to 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 who will talk about “Money Matters” which is just in time before our big Christmas “spending spree”. See you there.

    By Mike Hookham (07/11/2016)
  • 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. See you there.

    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 take us through the “Lost Theatres of Brighton”. Be there or be square.

    By Mike Hookham (20/03/2017)
  • Another Old Knollonians Social Meeting is lined up for Monday 22nd May. Still the same place, time and price as our last meeting. Ian Gledhill is returning to talk to us about “Golden Vienna”. Hope to see you.

    By Mike Hookham (16/05/2017)
  • Come along to our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting this coming Monday 24th July which is still held at St Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, HOVE BN3 7FP from 2.00pm until 4.00pm. The £4 entry also provides 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)
  • 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 his talk from last year about “The Argus”.

    By Mike Hookham (04/09/2018)
  • See you at our next Old Knollonians Social Meeting on Monday 12th November 2018. Same place, time and price (see above). Peter Hill, our guest speaker, is returning but this time to talk about “A Weekend in Krakow”.

    By Mike Hookham (07/11/2018)
  • The Old Knollonians are still going strong and our next Social Meeting is at St. Richard’s Community Centre, Egmont Road, Hove BN3 7FP on Monday 23rd March 2020 from 2.00pm until 4.00pm.
    It would be great if you could come along and meet other boys and girls who attended the Knoll School to share memories.
    £4 attendance fee per person is to cover our costs.
    Hope to see you there.

    By Mike Hookham (05/03/2020)

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