Horton Stephens by Karen Daly 12 February 2016Hello, could anyone tell me more about the school uniform shop Horton Stephens and where they were located? Thank you. Karen.15 replies Re: Horton Stephens by Roy Grant 14 February 2016In 1950 they were 42 Western Road Brighton and 58 Church Road Hove Re: Horton Stephens by Roy Grant 14 February 2016You also asked for other info and comments. Here are mineI was at Varndean and my parents felt Horton Stevens overpriced. Although Potters of London Road were more competitive and could occasionally produce pirate versions, Horton Stevens seemed to have a mafia like a stranglehold on the school uniform market.School badges and caps had to come from there and I recall Butch (the head at Varndean) being very aware of the subtle variations in shade and texture. It was not beneath him to publicly shame boys whose parents had gone to Potters or elsewhere for economic reasons.The following extract from a Varndean circular in 1952 (archived by Keith Campbell) has a hidden agenda so does not truly reflect the draconian pressures we were under in those days. I therefore I admit to getting some amusement from reading it now.It stated ” Dear Sir/Madam, Clothing and Uniform We are always trying to impress boys with the duty to safeguard their clothing and to make it last. At the same time, the items of school uniform, which are compulsory, are kept to the smallest, possible, number so as to put parents to as small expense as can be managed. But two things are now important (1) If you are buying new clothing for your boy – or he is buying his own -, you are asked to remember the School rule:- “Clothes must be in good taste in the sense of being quiet and restrained in colour and pattern; be, as far as possible, grey in colour as this best sets off the black and red of school colours; and avoid striking and noisy patterns. Black shoes and boots go best with school colours”. Your cooperation in this will be a great help.(2) The School Welfare Fund is maintained by Old Varndeanians to help those who cannot afford uniform or games equipment. Enquiries – marked “private and confidential” – should be made to me direct.”**** By the time my own children went to the same school, uniforms were no longer in the hands of Horton Stevens. Caps were gone and we obtained monogrammed sweaters and girls blouses direct from the manufacturer. Once a week my wife and I volunteered to run an after school shop selling the garments at 10% on cost and putting that small percentage back into school funds.I hope this gives you some background info. Re: Horton Stephens by Roy Grant 14 February 2016Things keep coming back to me. I recall that prior to a new term when you were obliged to upgrade those items that were no longer serviceable, it was difficult to buy just what you wanted in Horton Stevens. Instead, the toffee nosed assistant virtually instructed you what to you had to spend your money on. It was as though the Varndean head had infested the shop with his own little clones.I wonder if others had the same experience? Re: Horton Stephens by Karen Daly 14 February 2016Thank you for sharing Roy. This is very helpful. Re: Horton Stephens by David Blackford 15 February 2016A bit irrelevant I guess but I passed the 11+ in 1944 but my parents couldn’t afford to send me to Varndean, possibly because of the Uniform cost?. I went to the Intermediate/Fawcett instead and my uniform was bought at Potters – Well remember – Just outside the school with boys shop one side, girls the other. Another irrelevance – I gained my school certificate at the Fawcett – many of my pals who went to Varndean did not Re: Horton Stephens by Geoffrey Mead 15 February 2016Being an old boy of B&H Grammar I am sure our uniforms were bought at Cobleys. Re: Horton Stephens by Roy Grant 15 February 2016I always felt threatened in H & S. I am sure there was one occasion when I was told if I did not buy what they instructed me to buy, they would send a report back to the head and if necessary come and identify me. Keith Campbell has even contemplated whether the then Varndean head had a financial interest in H & S. Re: Horton Stephens by Brian Dungate 18 February 2016Yes, Cobleys in Church Road, Hove , though you could go to Horne Bros. at the corner odf West Street and North Street, too. A practised eye could tell which of the two yo had shopped at. Re: Horton Stephens by Geoffrey Mead 23 February 2016Such a memory Brian! Yes, the blazer and cap badges were brighter and more garish at one or the other, I think Hornes were the brighter and Cobleys more subdued. Re: Horton Stephens by Karen Scanlon 25 February 2016would you happen to remember if Horton Stephens offered caps to be embroidered with initials or dates put on them? Like sports caps for example. Re: Horton Stephens by Neville Bolding 14 July 2018My parents bought my Varndean cap, tie and blazer from Horton Stephens in 1956. It was not only my school uniform but my ‘Sunday Best’ as well. I still have the cap with sewn-on cloth badge and wore it and my home-knitted Varndean scarf to a Patcham Christ The King Youth Club reunion (at 68 yrs old!). Re: Horton Stephens by Ivor Boofty 21 April 2021 11:51 PMI was just “surfing” these pages until this Item, I no longer remember the address, but, there was a Horton Stephens Printers in Brighton/Hove in the 60/70s. I was an Upholsterer in those days and did some work for them. They lived of the Goldstone Road somewhere. Re: Horton Stephens by Harry ( Bluey) Atkins 1 June 2022 2:16 PMI passed for Varndean in 1951, and I had a grant for a complete uniform, blazer, cap shirt and socks. Re: Horton Stephens by Michael Greenow 15 June 2022 3:16 PMWhen I went to Varndean in 1950 my parents had to buy the uniform at Horton and Stephens whose shop was on the corner of North Street and West Street. Re: Horton Stephens by Graham (sam) Sharp 31 August 2022 6:18 PMI went to Varndean 1952. My parents bought my uniform at Horton Stevens Western road. It was expensive. Still have the badge off the jacket, and the cap. 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