Brighton and Hove Grammar School
School photograph 1954
By Peter Guy
Brighton Hove and Sussex Grammar School 1954
From the private collection of Peter Guy
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Joined the school in 1951
I started at the Grammar School in September 1951 and left in the summer of 1956. The school photos were taken every 4/5 years and this one was the only one in my time there. They were all positioned in the corridor behind the hall and they went back into the 1920’s & 1930’s. I found them very interesting, particularly seeing how long some of the teachers had lasted there. The ones who had been there the longest, I remember, were Messrs. Dickinson, Rover & Cave.
Names of teachers
I can identify all but one of the teachers in this picture and they are as follows, Left to Right.
Doc Harris, Harris(2), Pascoe, Pratt, unknown lady & man(probably office personnel), Wilkins, Shrewsbury, Anderson, Bruce, Rutherford, Jack Smithies, Bone, Randall, Cave, Harry Brogden (head), Milton, Pewtress, Williamson, Toll, Rider, Dickinson, Albert E.Chapman, Woolven, ???, Maclean, P.R.James(Dim Jim), (Killer) Reeve, and Bagg.
Three teachers missing are Berry, Rover & S.R.James.
Memories of the teachers
The CCF had Colonel Randall as the Co, Captain Bruce, Captain Wilkins & Lieutenant Maclean. Albert E.Chapman famously conducted The Messiah at the Dome each year. Jack Smithes & Mr.Bagg were both bell ringers at St.Nicholas Church where, I was a choirboy. Killer Reeve; he used to wear shoes with big thick crepe soles, known as ‘brothel creepers.’ He had a great skill of entering the back of the room with nobody knowing, and he would suddenly hit the table at the back with a piece of wood and make us all jump out of our skin. He was also an expert in throwing the board rubber. A brilliant shot and we were all cowering in our seats when he was around.
Pupils who became well known
Richard Langridge. He was the son of James Langridge, and like him played cricket for Sussex. He is in the back row. He was a member of the team, led by Ted Dexter, who won the first ever Gillette Cup in 1964. Howard Blake; well known composer who wrote ‘Walking in the Air’ which was sung by Aled Jones, he is in row 6 number 13 from right hand end (grey jacket). Michael Thornton; regularly writes articles in the Daily Mail, most recently about the life and times of child star Shirley Temple. John Mason; sang in St. Nicholas’ Church choir and went on to join the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, he is in back row number 11 from right hand end. Tony Millard; he was the announcer at the Goldstone Ground before becoming a football reporter for Sky Sports, he died last year. Adrian Thorne; the player who famously scored five goals for Brighton in the 6-0 win over Watford in 1958, which won promotion for Brighton for the first time in their history. He is in the back row number 21 from right hand end. I am almost directly in front of him in row 5, number 22 from right hand end (grey jacket).
Do you remember?
Do you recognise yourself or anyone else in this photograph? Which teachers do you remember? If you can share your memories with us, please leave a comment below.
This page was added on 06/04/2014.