From 1964 to 1970
I went to St Andrew’s School when it was in George Street from 1964 to 1970. My friends were Kirsten Schlesinger, Ashley Cox and Jean Arnold. I loved my school days, especially the entertainments and plays we put on; the games we played of Batman and Robin – I was always Cat Girl. I remember that a boy called Joe arrived from the USA to join our class; he was fun and taught us all new games. I remember playing ‘beads’ with the girls, but also British Bulldog, and of course how could I forget kiss and chase.
Did you attend this school? Share your memories by posting below.
Milk in a wigwam
We kept pet guinea pigs in our classrooms and got to take them home on weekends. The best times were at Christmas, when every class had a special Christmas party. I remember too that there were special trips and special activities. In my final year we went on a day trip to France to Bolougne. The most bizarre thing I remember was student teachers helping us to make a class wigwam during a project on American Indians. If you did good work you were allowed to drink your daily milk sitting with a friend inside the wigwam. Funny the things you remember.
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My name is Alan Smith and I remember being a pupil there and I actually started the first football team, and I was also the lead in the choir. I remember Kirsten, Ashley and John.
P.S Also remember you Bonnie you had very blonde hair if I recollect, and also Gail who was a bit of a tomboy.
Hi Alan, I’m still in touch with Jean Arnold who was also in our class and has stayed local. I live in Guildford now. I met up with Kirsten when we were 50 she was living in Putney.
It was a lovely school and I have retained many detailed memories of my time there.
Hi, I was in your class too (Janet Buten). My mum was the school secretary for several years until she had my younger brother. I still live in Hove.
Hi Janet, sorry cant remember you (old age lol) but remember our music teacher who came from Canada if I recollect. I live in Southwick, near Shoreham.
Ah, Janet Buten, I remember you (slim with brown short hair) – also Pauline (McGonegal?), James Mitchell, Jackie Yates, April Easton, Vanda Glennard, Gordon Dinnage, Jonathan (Tullet?), Sandra Waldron, Tommy Roberts, Alan’s best friend Jimmy Pryor, Denise, Karen Tobin, Deborah (Hill?) – who invited all the class to her parties. Joe Belshire (from America) and Kim O’Dell, who I think was his cousin. I believe it was Joe’s father that got us the weather balloon - which Mr Jones got inflated and we let go from the school playground. I think it got to Sweden, but I’m not sure. Perhaps someone else can recollect how far it went. I think we had a Belinda in the class as well as a Lynn, also Amanda Bennett – quite tall and very pretty and Sarah, a pretty blonde girl, one of three sisters – her elder sister was called Louise. Was there an Alan Young as well as Alan Smith? That’s a few off the top of my head. Very fond memories of St Andrews. Standing and stomping on the wooden benches in the playground singing ‘bits and pieces’ at the tops of our voices. Getting the bus to the playing field each week for games – changing on the top deck on the way there – how weird was that? Falling over in the tarmac playground and getting grit in your knee and having iodine put on it by a teacher, which turned the skin yellow. The boys running their hands under cold water before getting the cane to numb them – how horrible! I liked Mr Jones but the cane was barbaric – and the worst memory is having to watch a boy being caned in front of the whole school. If my memory serves me correctly it was for something he’d done outside of school – and then it turned out he’d actually saved a boy from drowning. Children weren’t really listened to then. So as in each era – good and bad things. Funny what springs to mind and what eludes you. I have no recollection of a wig-wam – maybe that was in Year Two of the juniors when we had a lot of supply teachers due to Mr Newsome getting ill. I did wonder if Mrs Phaff, our teacher in the final year, was a First Nation Canadian, but that is a wild guess. I do remember she and her husband went to a garden party at Buckingham Palace. We were so lucky to have her in our final year.
Just one more thing – when I started the school in the infants, I had a ‘boyfriend’. A lovely boy in my sister Nicola’s class – James Jenkins. He was extremely kind to me – he would swing me around at playtime. I also remember at Easter a gift of a china chick and when I was off school ill – a Winnie the Pooh book. I was just 5 and he was about 10 or 11. It was all very sweet and innocent and I would love to to thank him for his kindness. He didn’t know that at this time family life was a bit tough so his thoughtfulness was particularly appreciated.
Thank you so much for all these additional memories and particularly the list of names which was wonderful to read. You’ll be interested to know that I moved back to Hove 12 weeks ago and am reconnecting with old school mates (a few of us have met up over the years). I had a yearning to come ‘home’ to retire and it feels wonderful to be back. Jean Arnold and I are in regular contact via FB.
Hi Bonny
If you do get together could you let me know please
Thanks
Alan
I went to this school between 1971-1973 in George Street near Pricerites and opposite Stuart Norris. It was a full road in those days. Classmates were James Gazzard, Susan Drury, Madeleine Harris, Mark Whitney. School teachers were Mrs Mitchell, Miss Golding, Miss Bacon and Miss Newbury. Mr Jones was the headmaster. I remember being dragged into country dancing by Mrs. Mitchell even though I had health problems. She was a tough teacher. Her son Andrew went there now he runs the Hove Bridge Club.
I was there from 1968 to 1973 and went on to Hove County. My sisters, Anne and Lyn were there before me and my brothers Huw and Mark after me. Mr Jones was an icon. At the time he seemed so old and senior but now I reckon he must have been quite young. The deputy head was Mr Chambers but his real surname was Jones. They changed his surname to avoid confusing us kids. Mr C was a passionate cyclist who rode to work every day. Sadly, he died very young from a heart attack. Mrs Mitchell was scary and yes, I remember country dancing. Mrs Newbury was my first teacher. I think I was there the same time as Mrs Mitchell’s son! Fond memories, mostly!!!!!!
What memories. I went to St Andrews in George Street from 1967-73 as did my brother and sister who were 2 and 4 years older than me respectively. My Grandmother also went there from about 1897. Teachers I remember are Miss Newbury, Mrs Mitchell, Miss Golding, Mr Chambers, Mr Brooks, Mr Edwards, Mrs Phaff, Miss Price, and of course Mr Jones the headmaster. I remember the outside toilets, doing exercise in the graveyard, church every Wednesday morning with the Rev Gooderham, climbing frames in the playground with no mats underneath, the PE shed, the dining room which doubled as a classroom on occasions, a rickety old bus with a rickety old driver taking us to wish park once a week for sports, getting changed on the bus, walking down to the King Alfred for swimming, Mrs Mitchell taking country dancing in the upstairs hall, the local policeman that came around once a year to warn us of the dangers of talking to strangers, getting a day off in 1969 for the moon landing, decorating the classrooms at Christmas. Many fond memories.
In the 1950s/60s Rev Gooderham was our vicar at St.Augustine’s in Stanford Avenue. I have vague memories of his daughter being Felicity…?
I’m not sure how to contact people but would love to arrange a St Andrew’s reunion once lockdown is over.
I attended St Andrew’s, I think from 68 to 72; If I recollect Mrs Mitchell was the music teacher and I recall going to Andrew’s birthday party. My best buddy was Matthew Crew and heartedly remember the tumbles of BB, Kiss Chase and Skipping ropes. Playing football on a make shift pitch on the new road ‘stolen’ from behind the school by developers. Anyone recall playing American Football with a Visiting teacher on the ‘new’ grass play area; former graveyard and hellishly bumpy.
I attended st Andrews from 62 to 72. I remember the open fire in the sewing room where I burned a hole in the tea towel I was carefully embroidering for a christmas present. I remember the school dining hall with sticky chocolate pudding and chocolate sauce that made me gag. And the delicious mince dish with a salty triangle of pastry on top. I was friends with ‘lil’ Joe from the USA (so called because his dad was also called Joe – he was in Vietnam at the time). Also knew his cousin Kim. And also being in awe of leslie manville in the class above who had a magnificent singing voice. I was in class with Mark Schlesinger, Celia Proud, Maria Humphries, Diane Parker, Brenda Crump and many others whose names I have long forgotten but whose faces I remember. I remember Mr Brooks smashing my pottery on the floor because it was not good enough for a girl who had passed her 11+. I also remember Mr Jones slapping the back of my legs for trying to shelter in the girl’s toilets in bad weather…so many memories but happy times…
My older sister Celia and myself attended each year prior to June 1951 when our family of 6 emigrated to British Columbia. We lived at 7 Clarendon Villas. I remember my first day being proudly shown the canes in the upstairs cabinet and dreading the day one might be used on me.
My memories are painfully clear of having taken my dad’s watch to school (an anniversary present from mom) taking the back off it in the cold outside toilet, and not being able to reassemble the pieces, scattered them in the schoolyard. Was caught. Was caned. Do you remember the movie theatre near the Hove station where cowboys played in black and white on Saturday mornings and crisps came with a twist of salt? Or when we all lined the streets when George VI visited the King Alfred? And collecting tickets from under the seat at the back of the buses? Would love to hear from old timers.
Now that lockdown is over- I’d love to arrange a reunion for our wonderful school. I recently found a biography which has really opened my eyes about our fascinating headteacher Mr Holder-Jones! A war hero no less.
Here’s my idea- I’ll simply pick a date and time at a public place and if you turn up please carry a piece of paper with the letter A on it.
Date: Tuesday 25th July
Time: 2.00pm
Venue: Hove Park Cafe
Transport options: free parking Goldstone Crescent, No 5a/5B bus or 46 big lemon bus, or Hovecraikway station and walk 7 minutes.
I recall my days at St.Andrews, started in 65 then moved and back again in 68-71. Someone mentioned a Belinda, I sat near to a girl called Belinda Dempster, often. Not sure if same? I recall Mr Edwards, Miss Newbury was my first teacher. Indeed I recall Miss Mitchell that taught country dancing. I too recall a day trip to France but it was Dieppe with Mr Edwards occupying himself at outdoor cafes while we caused havoc with these exploding mini bombs we’d found in a shop, harmless but loud!
Hi Clive,I remember you,I was in your class, William Groves.
Hi Clive,I remember you,I was in your class, William Groves,I was at St Andrews from 1966-72.
Hi Stephen,I remember you ,I was in the 1st Hove cubs and remember doing Bob-A-job with you.
Hi Robert,my cousin was in your class,Trevor Norkett.
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