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School play c1955

This group was photographed in the performance of Dick Whittington, a school play in about 1955.

From left to right

Alan Gardiner

Anne Moore

Patricia Land

David Hills or Waldron?

Does anyone remember the play. Where you in the cast? Let us know by posting a comment below.

School play c1955
From the private collection of Patricia Haddon

Comments about this page

  • Hi Patricia, Glad you managed to get the photo published but I thought you said you had a couple of photos to send in. Would like to see the other one. The “King” was David Hills and he played the Police Sgt when we performed the Pirates of Penzanze at the Nevill one year. Guess he had a ‘thing’ about playing leading parts. Would you have any photos of the Nativity plays we used to do at West Blatch? I’ve got a panoramic photo of the Nevill but there isn’t any mention of that school on the index page for schools in Brighton and Hove. We went to the Knoll for the 1st year of Senior school and started at the Nevill in 2nd year. There must have been a name change before the school was amalgamated with the Grammer school. Did that happen when the ‘Eleven Plus’ ended? I remember Mrs or Miss Page asking for anyone who wanted to be in the choir to sing a couple of verses of a scottish song called ” Ye banks and brae o’ Bonney Doon” and when I had finished she said to “There’s no need to show off” that ended any thoughts I had of wanting to be in the choir. (That was at West Blatch of course)

    By Stanley Brand (03/09/2010)
  • Hi Stan. Yes I do have another photo from West Blatch. It shows children from our year in the play The Pied Piper of Hamelin (1956). But unfortunately because it is quite small it didn’t show all the children clearly enough, so couldn’t be published which is a shame because there were quite a few class mates you would remember. I haven’t any nativity photos. Yes you’re right, Nevill school is now called Blatchington Mill School and the former grammer school is now Hove Park School. Thanks for identifying David Hills.

    By Patricia Haddon formerly Land (03/09/2010)
  • Hi Guys, wow looking at those photos sure took me back in time. I was at West Blatchington from 1957 – 1962 then went on to Nevill Secondary Modern when in June 1964 my familly emigrated to Australia. I also lived in Hangelton Road (287). Is there anybody out there who was there during that time?

    By James (Jimmy) Roncoli (14/03/2012)
  • I was at West Blatchington between around 1957 and 1961, and at the next door infants school for a couple of years before that. I remember Miss Phillips (Headmistress), Miss Whiteman and Miss Green (teachers) and I think there was a Mr Davies there too. The big bonus for me were the massive playing fields which, during the summer term, were opened for playtime. We had some great games of football there.

    By Michael Wade (17/03/2012)
  • Hi Michael, looks like you and I were around at about the same time, I well remember the teachers you have mentioned. My teacher in my last year was a Canadian exchange, cannot recall his name but we were the misfits, the bright boys were in Mr Davies class, loved giving them heaps.

    By James Roncoli (19/03/2012)
  • Hi All. My brother Johnnie and sister Jill and myself all went to West Blatchington. I am the oldest so I was there in the late 50s and I vaguely remember the Dick Whittington play, but I wasn’t in it. I remember Mr Davies, Miss Whiteman and Miss Phillips the headmistress. I went onto Nevill Secondary School in the early 60s then my family emigrated to Australia in 1965, much to my disgust (me being 17). But having said that, it was the best decision my dad made and we have had a great life over here!

    By Brenda Tucker (02/11/2013)
  • Hi Brenda, sounds like you were around about the same time, can you remember details of your last year at West Blatchington! I would like to catch up with you, here is my email address;- jamesronc@adam.com.au. Drop me a line.

    By James Roncoli (18/02/2014)
  • Great memories. I remember being a king in a play and my mum making my costume and the crown had wine gums stuck on as jewels. And a fancy dress competition when I went as a very modern item of the time a TV complete with ariel. I have picture somewhere i will post it if i can find it,

    By John Hewitt (12/10/2016)
  • I was at the school 1970-1974. We did the Dick Whittington play too. Also Pied Piper of Hamlin and the Sultan of Zanzibar (I don’t recall the plot of that one). And numerous Nativity plays.

    By Tim Wareham (14/05/2021)

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