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Class of 1958 photograph

Remember every face

When I look at this photo I remember every single face – but unfortunately I cannot remember all the names. Some that do spring to mind are Jennifer Lowery, Edith Elleker, John Proffitt, Jennifer Bishop, Maria Slaughter and Suzanne Line. Coldean School, from when it first opened until I left to go to senior school, was home from home. Everyday I used to walk to school with my best friend Maria Slaughter who lived in Wolseley Road as I did.

Favourite teachers

Teachers I remember are Mrs Larkey who lived in Park Road and kept a pet rabbit; Miss Williamson who was so brilliant with handicrafts; Miss Rose; Mr Burrows who loved his music, and my absolute favourite Mr Bowyer, who is in the photograph. Years after I left school I came into contact with his widow and that was rather unreal.

Dividing the playground

I remember the junior playground and the dividing line to keep the 1st and 2nd years separate from the older children. This was because a 1st year girl had been knocked over accidentaly by a 4th year boy, and I think she suffered a broken jaw. I also remember picking and eating beech nuts from the tree in Beatty Avenue.

Do you remember?

Did you attend Coldean School? Can you remember some of the teachers? If you can share your memories with us, please leave a comment below.

Click on the photograph to open a large view in a new window

Class photograph 1958
From the private collection of By Linda Buckley nee Bassett

Comments about this page

  • I attended Coldean School, I think my first year there was 1953 and my first teacher was Miss Laker, she got married and I think her new name was Mrs Rushinski? My next teacher was Miss Le Warne. My last teacher was Mr Bowyer.
    I remember in Mr Bowyer’s class we were the big kids and when it was raining we could not go out for play time so we were sent in pairs to the other classes to look after the kids while the teachers went on break. I went to Mrs Brooke’s class with Ian Burchell.

    By Andy Gillett (21/04/2014)
  • I was at Coldean School from 1952 until 1958. My family lived in Hawkhurst Road. My sisters Janet and Gillian also went to Coldean. This photo brings back lots of memories – of Mr Bowyer and our head teacher Mr Burrows.  In the picture is my lifelong friend Dave Thomson, who sadly passed away two years ago at the age of 66. Also pictured is Wayne McKenna, who is now a university vice chancellor in Sydney. Both Dave and Wayne and many others in the photo remained fellow pupils at senior school when we moved to the newly opened Westlain Grammar.  I now live back in Sussex, after 30 years in London, and every time I drive down Coldean Lane, or on the A27, I think about my great childhood on this estate.  

    By Peter Robinson (08/11/2015)
  • I’m in photo class of1958, front row third from right.

    By Denise Connelly (Rogers) (26/09/2016)
  • I went to Coldean School from opening day and left the following year for Varndean after the 11 plus. We lived at 44 Wolseley Road and knew the Bassett family. Their father gave me a ride on the back of his BSA Bantam. I also remember Mrs Bassett whistling away while she did the housework. I think Maureen Connolly was the girl who passed the 11 plus, also from Wolseley Road. It was a great place to grow up, with the Stanmer Woods and fields etc. I have some old photos with the Bassett’s son outside No 44 and some other kids. I now live in Australia but was back in 2004 for a visit and drove round Coldean and visited the school.

    By Roger Elliott (01/11/2016)
  • I went to Coldean School at the same time as Linda. I also went to Westlain Grammar School and remember Linda taking me on my first day. We became good friends and I still have photos taken in London where we went together. I lived in Hawkhurst Road. Would love to get in touch with Linda or anyone that remembers me.

    By Eleanor Fox (nee Damara) (14/12/2016)
  • My family lived at 38 Wolseley Road, and I remember the families mentioned above, next door at 40 lived the Hewison family, one son Alan, then 42 was Brian Cleverly, then the Durrant family next door to them the Bassets. I recall Mr Basset had a motorbike and sidecar, and also that my sister Hella used to be friends with Linda Bassett, and he taught them great tricks on the yoyo. 

    Also I think the Bassetts were one of the first families to get a tele and I watched champion the wonder horse for the first time at their house. 

    I was friends with Jan Robinson, and remember her dad was a musician, they had a piano in her house, and he taught me how to play the first few bars of “forgotten dreams”. 

    I can recall so many of the people from my life there, it would take me forever to mention everyone. 

    By Monica Hulme Nee Welch (21/02/2017)
  • I too was in this photograph. Fourth from the left from Mr Burrows. I lived in Rushlake Road. I went to Stanmer County Secondary school then worked at the Lewes Road site of the College of Technology in the Pharmacy Department for 6 years. I then went to train for the ministry at New College London and served two churches. New Malden Evangelical Church for 26 years and Staplehurst Free Church for 13 years until I retired. I still live in Staplehurst Kent and attend that church.

    By Clive Jones (13/07/2020)
  • Clive, did you live at 94 Rushlake Road? If you did our family lived opposite at number 79!

    By Richard Szypulski (18/07/2020)
  • Yes Richard I did live at 94 Rushlake Road.

    By Clive Jones (29/10/2020)
  • I am sitting next to Mr Bowyer.
    I too went to Westlain Grammar School.
    Mr Bowyer was a stern teacher but had a heart in the right place I think.
    He could hit a boy at twenty paces with his well aimed wooden board rubber.
    He arranged extra coaching in maths that got me through the dreaded 11 plus.
    I moved to London at the age of 19 to find work in television and then movies and live there still.
    You can see something of my work on
    http://www.mikesouthon.biz.
    would love to hear from others in the picture.

    By Mike Southon (09/01/2021)
  • I lived in Wolsey road with my brother Alec, we were Butteriss. Kathleen.

    By Kathleen Davis (22/02/2021)
  • I can remember a lot of the people mentioned from that time in Coldean. I lived at 66 Wolseley Rd, and at that time there were the Bassets, Carters, Connelys, and Scotts. We used to play ball games (hot rice and cold rice) on the green between the Bassets and us.
    It was a fantastic time and place to grow up, and it makes you feel sorry for the youngsters now.
    I went to Coldean school from 1952 or 3 and then on to Stanmer Secondary Modern.
    Would be nice if anybody remembers me, Clive Mason.

    By Clive Roland Mason (07/03/2021)
  • Yes I remember Clive and lots of others. Gosh how time has gone by. Wonderful times. I am George Connolly and lived at 68 Wolseley road Coldean. My family are spread all over the world now. I remember Maria Slaughter my next door neighbour and especially Linda who was about 2yrs older than me.

    By George Connolly (03/11/2021)
  • Maureen Connolly, my sister now lives in Australia, but loved Coldean School and all its memories. I am her younger brother George who also attended Coldean school and had Linda Slaughter as a lovely neighbour.

    By George Connolly (03/11/2021)
  • MAUREEN CONNELLY WENT ON TO MARRY MY BROTHER JOHN PARSLOE ,IN 1964 BOTH FROM COLDEAN . NOW IN LATE 70″s still with us. 4CHILDREN and many grand children- and great. COLDEAN NOW LIVES IN OZ.!!

    By shirley ROSITA ROLPH (23/11/2021)
  • I remember Peter Parsloe at school who I believe was sadly lost far too young. His nickname was “Snip” as in a play on Parsnip. I also worked with Peter Gregson for a while back in the early 1970’s after leaving School.

    By Rob Tasker (24/11/2021)
  • Yes Clive I remember you you were a year older than me, you had a sister Philliss who was much older than us.

    By Margaret Mayhead (24/01/2022)
  • WHAT LOVELY MEMORIES,YOUNG ONES LOST. MY FAMILY LOST 3 YOUNG BROTHERS; NO 1 DEREK PARSLOE AGE 12,DROWNED IN 1964,PETER BYRN PARSLOE ,KILLED BY DRINK DRIVER ,AGE 21, IN 1976. MARK WILLIAM PARSLOE ,FROM CANCER.POOR MUM-SHE WENT ON,TILL 2016 -NOW AT PEACE WITH HER BOYS.

    By SHIRLEY PARSLOE (27/01/2022)
  • Shirley, Your dad and mine were good friends! I believe they both had an allotment on Coldean Lane. Mr. Disano was also a friend!

    By Richard J, Szypulski (07/02/2022)

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