A new boy in 1931

Picture showing part of what was the Infants' School, now the Children & Young Peoples Trust.
Photo by Ron Spicer
Part of the Junior School as seen from the old school path area. Now the Learning Development Centre.
Photo by Ron Spicer
Rear view of the Junior School as seen from the grass banking covering two wartime bunkers.
Photo by Ron Spicer

Starting at the Infants’ School is still something I can remember from all those years ago (1931) and the sheer poshness of it all with immaculate teachers so well dressed and using words I’d never heard before was most impressive. Even the entrance up the seemingly long path to the building created an impression that didn’t want to go away.

Canvas beds?
First experiences of the inner workings were just as imposing on the mind but something that puzzled was the provision of canvas beds which we were told to go to sleep on. Sleep! I couldn’t understand it. I shouldn’t have been there. I’d been placed at school over a year before my true age allowed – the school didn’t know.

An everlasting smile
Father Christmas came to the school. It seemed all of us knew it was the headmaster from the junior school dressed for the purpose. He spoilt it anyway by coming through the hall window! I couldn’t understand the cotton wool balls being thrown about by the teachers and thought it all a bit silly! Miss Tidy, the headmistress was smiling all the time and I remember wondering how she managed to keep that smile going for so long when my mum and dad hardly ever smiled.

A snort from Dad
Before moving on to the junior school we were gathered together and informed that one of the teachers, (I can’t remember her name now but it was the one who wore ridiculously high heeled shoes like Id never seen before) was getting married and it was mentioned that perhaps our mums and dads would help towards a contribution for her. She always had very bright red lips, unlike anyone else I could think of, oh and fairly short skirts with high heels. Well, I didn’t know then what a contribution was but I know that when I told mum and dad, all I got was a sort of snort from dad. I can remember feeling uncomfortable later at not taking anything in, like a bag of sugar or something.

Mr Kitchen and the lion’s den
Mr. Kitchen, the headmaster, ruled with a rod of iron. Anyone sent to him on complaint got the strap. Dixie Dean, who lived a couple of doors from me, would constantly be invited to the lion’s den and be duly dealt with. At one time he came out being followed by Mr.Kitchen, being slapped around the backside with the strap as he hollered his protests. Happy days – or were they!

Comments about this page

  • Does anyone remember the two class rooms in the barn? I remember one day whilst I was trying to write on a chalk board, seeing a mouse walking quite slowly across the floor and out through the door. We all got told off for not concentrating on our work.

    By Bob Golby (20/08/2009)
  • Hi Bob. Your comment gives away your time of placement at the school! WWII brought about the taking into use of that barn. I’m not sure for how long its use remained though as I never returned to Brighton after my Fleet Air Arm service. Similarly, the mortuary barn came into use during the WWII period.

    By Ron Spicer (30/08/2009)
  • I went to this school from 1940 to about 1945. Miss Tidy was still headmistress and I seemed to spend a lot of time outside her office, mainly for making ink blots on my schoolwork. I also remember the barn, as kids we used to scare each other about there being dead bodies inside, not knowing that it had been used as a mortuary. This was after the war, about 1946 when I was 10. We’d try to peek through windows, then one of the boys would make a moaning noise and we girls, and some of the boys, would run away screaming. In 1959 I was going to the barn which was then for ante natal care a big change in use, from death to life you could say.

    By Brenda (29/09/2009)
  • Hi there. I am doing my family tree and I think my great aunt taught here from 1927 until 1960. Her name was Margaret May Singleton. I think she was known as May tho ? Anyone remember her? She never married so won’t be the teacher looking for a ‘contribution’.

    By HMcDonald (07/10/2009)
  • I was at Moulsecoomb Juniors from 1956 to 60. I’m pretty sure Miss Singleton was my teacher in the 3rd year. We were in the annexe at the top of the lane. I have fond memories of her, but don’t know why after all these years. I remember the barn as a Scout hut as well as an anti-natal clinic. Mr Williams was my 2nd year teacher, he ran the post office at the bottom of Elm Grove. Miss Nazeth was my 4th year teacher.

    By Steve Tugwell (10/10/2009)
  • I remember when the wall holding the earth for the air raid shelter fell down, another guy and I lifted a huge chunk off a girl’s leg, he went with her in the ambulance and got his name in the papers, I got nothing!

    By Steve Tugwell (14/10/2009)
  • Miss Singleton was a teacher in the Junior Mixed School from the 1930s onward. More liked one than some … ! She was, to me anyway, a little on the large side and kept her hair in a bun. Her ‘school uniform’ was a sort of apron/overall, coloured green whilst most of the teachers normally wore their usual clothes. Did she still persist in that attire in later years? From the comments above, she was at the school a very long time!

    By Anonymous (14/10/2009)
  • Yes – Miss Singleton. One of those teachers who put Miss Horton to shame with her child handling capability. I don’t recall anyone complaining about her. Idiosyncratic with that distinctive style of clothing maybe, but I can only remember the niceties of the lady. As well as the ‘uniform’ style, she always seemed to move slowly and spoke always in a cheerful fashion. How nice it is to remember the more acceptable face of Moulsecoomb School from those early years.

    By Ron Spicer (24/11/2009)
  • Hi Ron, do you have a relative called Theresa Spicer? She was in my class for most of my school days.

    By Steve Tugwell (05/12/2009)
  • Just a memory from the 40s. I was born at 19 Bevendean Crescent in 1939. My sisters Anne and Joan, and brother John and I all went to Moulsecoomb School. My list of teachers names begins with Miss Tidy, Miss Piercy, Mrs.Ward, Miss Holland, maybe your one with ‘red lips’, who got married, at St. Peters Church. There was Mr Hibbert, Mr Thomas, and Miss Paddison who lived in Widdecombe Way. Then there was Mr. Burroughs. Mr. Kitchen was head master, and my Mum was the welfare lady in his office, who took the dinner money, put plasters on our knees and many other things. It was a brilliant school with happy memories. Canvas camp beds included, I could never get to sleep in the afternoon. With four children in our family, we were always doing something. My sister Joan was school swimming champion through junior and senior schools. Moulsecoomb was known for its sport ability, country dancing and music. I once went to the Albert Hall to play my recorder in a get together of schools arranged by Sir Malcolm Sargent. How was that for the 40s? The senior teachers I had were Miss Sharman, Miss Mitchell the best Geography teacher in the world, Miss Moore who taught French, and Mrs Hemsley who taught art and needlework. She used to be Miss Suckling when she also taught my mother in the 1920s. Lots of memories. Anne, in the typing pool, Joan in the photographic dept. and me in the purchasing dept. all worked at Allen West. So lots of memories of Brighton. My brother John worked at Parker Pen. Sadly Joan died in 1987, and John passed away Sep.2009. Anne lives in Essex and I live in Ayrshire. Hope that someone reads this.

    By Valerie Woodward(de Fuszard) (01/01/2010)
  • Hi Valerie, I read your comments, so you’re not alone! I came along 9 years after you, but some of the names are familiar to me. I’m sorry to hear about John as his photos are a big asset to the Moulsecoomb Junior School page on friendsreunited.com

    By Steve Tugwell (02/01/2010)
  • Hi Steve, thanks for comment, John would have been pleased to know that you valued his input, I must look the website up. I don’t remember you – 11 years was a big difference in age, and I was probably at work by the time you finished primary school. Did you belong to the Tugwell family at Bevendean, maybe a sister Jennifer? Family butchers shop at Bevendean? Be nice to hear any news.

    By Valerie Woodward (de Fuszard) (03/01/2010)
  • Hi Valerie. No I don’t think I know you, as you say – 11 years is a long time! I wasn’t related to the butchers but did deliver papers from the paper shop next door. My sister is Ann, 4 years older, but probably still not close enough!

    By Steve Tugwell (19/01/2010)
  • I have a class photo of my dad, Philip Plaine, in 1937 taken in front of Moulsecoombe School. He is 83 and still alive. They lived in Chailey Road and there was Lucy his mum, Pearl and Gladys sisters, and Ron. I also went to Moulsecoomb School for 2 years in 1954-6 when we moevd to Coldean.

    By Jennie Chapman (nee Plaine) (20/01/2010)
  • Re. Theresa Spicer: Hi Steve, no I don’t remember having a relative of that name but I would guess she would be. I’m presuming you’re referring to Moulsecoomb School?

    By Ron Spicer (06/02/2010)
  • Hi Valerie (Woodward). It was nice to read your comment, above. I now know a little more from the time when I left the schools. Thank you, and to you Jennie (Chapman), fancy hearing of Phil Plaine, your dad, from you. He was a rascal with the girls! A lively lad, well liked and full of life in those days. Oops; hope nothing bad has slipped out there.

    By Ron Spicer (06/02/2010)
  • Hi Ron, Theresa was in my class at Moulsecoomb and Stanmer. She would have been born in 1948 or 49.

    By Steve Tugwell (09/02/2010)
  • Hi Steve. You wrote: Hi Ron, Theresa was in my class at Moulsecoomb and Stanmer. She would have been born in 1948 or 49. By Steve Tugwell (09/02/2010) I’ll check with the family to see if I can connect anything and will call back in the future.

    By Ron Spicer (10/02/2010)
  • I remember Miss Nazmeth, Miss Marchant (awful teacher) and Mr Williams (my favourite). But does anyone remember me?

    By Graham Dawson (16/02/2010)
  • I seem to remember the name, did you leave Moulsecoomb Juniors in 1960?

    By Steve Tugwell (20/02/2010)
  • It was lovely to read Valerie Woodward’s memories of Moulsecoomb Junior School and Senior School. I was in her sister Joan’s class and remember several of the teachers. I have many happy memories of going down into the shelters with Miss Patterson and singing the song “Mares eat oates and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy”. I too lived in Bevendean Crescent and also had a paper round covering the odd numbers in Bevendean Crescent and Medmerry Hill.

    By Celia Currie (05/03/2010)
  • Hello Celia, I too remember going into the shelters at Moulsecoomb School and we used to make woollen pom-poms using the cardboard milk bottle tops from our school milk. I was Anne Fuszard and your sister Christine was in my class. Happy memories of Bevendean and Moulsecoomb School.

    By Anne Skuse (06/03/2010)
  • Hi Celia, Good to hear from you after so many years, doesn`t it turn the clock back? I remember you so well, Anne and I often talk about the Harmers, Chapmans, Curries and many more who lived round the other end of Bevendean. Great days weren`t they when Moulsecoomb was the best school ever. I am still in touch with the twins, Jenny and Norah, do you remember the “pony days” such freedom for us all then. Do you have any photos of your class, maybe with Joan in them?

    By Valerie Woodward (09/03/2010)
  • Hi Steve Tugwell. I seem to remember your name, did you live in Higher Bevendean? I left the juniors in 1960. I went on to the Brighton Secondary Technical School.

    By Graham Dawson (11/03/2010)
  • Hi Graham. We were in the same class all through junior school. We all used to race Dinky toys across the playground. I lived in Staplefield Drive but live in Canada now.

    By Steve Tugwell (13/03/2010)
  • Hi Steve, I well remember racing the dinky cars. Can you name any other pupils for me to remember? The memory is a little vague after 50 odd years? I still live in Brighton after all this time. I seem to remember my first teacher at infants school was Miss Woods, does anyone else remember?

    By Graham Dawson (14/03/2010)
  • Hi Graham. Thanks for reminding me of our 1st year teacher, 2nd year was Mr Williams, 3rd Miss Marchant and 4th Miss Nazeth, if memory serves me right! A couple of other names are Colin Eldridge and Andrew Hammond also Denis Winchester who went to Brighton Tech with you. If you go to friendsreunited.com and find Moulsecoomb Junior School there is a photo of our class but I can’t remember too many names.

    By Steve Tugwell (16/03/2010)
  • Hi Steve, yes I remember the names very well. Particularly Denis Winchester and Andrew Hammond who conned me in to believing that he was related to Hammond’s Toy / Model shop along Lewes Road near the bottom of Elm Grove which he wasn’t! Haven’t found the school photo as yet, but I will keep looking.

    By Anonymous (18/03/2010)
  • hHi anyone, does anyone remember the Gunn fam? Terry Janet and Carole our parents Charlie and Dinah sadly both now deceased, emigrated to Australia in 1956. I went to the Moulsecoomb infant, junior and senior schools. we lived at 40 Moulsecoomb Way and then 46 Stonecross Road until we left. I would love to hear from anyone .

    By Janet van Santen nee Gunn (10/09/2010)
  • Hello Janet Gunn, yes I do remember you and your brother Terry. I was Joan Oram from Halland Road, you might remember my sister Rita and brother Johnny. It isn’t clear from your comment but do you now live in Australia?

    By Joan Cumbers (07/12/2010)
  • Hello Joan Cumbers, thank you so much for answering. Yes I do remember the name well, my best friend was Mary Small who also lived in Halland Rd. Do you know her? Is Rita my age? I was born in 1938. My sister Carole and I still live in Australia, my brother Terry never came with us as he was in the RAF and married a Spanish girl, (first wife) he later worked for BA and has been coming to Australia for over 35 years. Terry and Carole both went to Stanmer school when it opened. I stayed at Brighton girl’s school, Miss Carson I believe as headmistress. really looking forward to hearing from you.

    By Janet van Santen nee Gunn (08/01/2011)
  • Hello Janet. I do remember the name Small but can’t put a face to it, I’ll have to ask Rita, she still lives in Brighton and often sees people from Moulsecoomb, so her memory gets revived. I got married in 1959 and moved to London where I have lived ever since. I think you may be remembering Rita Harris from Ashurst Road rather than my sister who was born in 1942, me in 1940. I do remember you had a sister but couldn’t recall her name when previously writing. You looked alike, didn’t you?

    By Joan Cumbers (29/01/2011)
  • Hello Joan, so good to hear from you. I was in Moulsecoomb recently, my brother lives in Spain and was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. My sister and I visited him and did a trip to Brighton. We caught a bus outside the Pavilion and did a return trip passing Halland Rd etc. We arrived back in Aust. 19th Feb. We were away 5 weeks, we stayed with Tony Cooke my cousin, who lived in Ashurst Rd & knew the Harris family. Tony had a brother Bob and sister Joyce. You are the same age as Carole, which school did you attend? Yes Carole and I are alike. Does Rita know Audrey and Sheila Piercy (twins) also my good friends? I didn’t keep in touch though. It must be exciting living in London.

    By Janet van Santen nee Gunn (24/02/2011)
  • Hello again Janet sorry for the delayed reply, I’ve moved home from Harrow in Middlesex to Watford in Hertfordshire, not far about 5 miles. So sorry to hear of Terry’s illness but do tell him, as I’m sure you have, not to give up hope. I was diagnosed with cancer 2003, in 2006 it got worse the doctors thought I was a goner. I’m not, I’m still here and was given the all clear last week yippee! I certainlY do remember the Cookes. Joyce the beauty queen, Bob and Tony, who was nearer my age and their bull terrier dog. Last time I saw Tony was around 1961, he was working as a waiter on the Brighton Belle. I travelled on the train from Victoria to Brighton, my toddler daughter kept ringing the bell! I remember Carole but didn’t go to school with her, I went to Varndean. My Mum, no longer with us, always thought she was a smashing girl, she made her laugh, can’t recall why. I haven’t asked Rita about your twin friends, moving is hectic, where did they live?

    By Joan Cumbers (03/04/2011)
  • Hello Joan, congratulations on your good news, attitude is important, you sound very positive. Terry needs family around him, he has gone into care in Spain. Tony goes to see him often, they both worked with B A . sadly Bob was killed on the M1, 25yrs. ago. The twins, Audrey and Sheila Piercy lived opposite me in Stonecross Road. I don’t know their married names. I read your Halland Road blog recently, I had no idea that was you, very interesting. I wish you happiness in your new address. did you ask Rita about Mary Small? She lived in Halland Road on the higher side, about halfway down. She was a very good friend; the tyranny of distance means losing touch with friends. Thanks for your reply Joan. Regards Janet van Santen, nee Gunn

    By Janet van Santen (16/04/2011)
  • Would anyone be interested if I started a Moulsecoomb Face Book group? Chances are we could make contact with a lot more old friends, and we could post old photos, etc. Anyone interested should let me know by email: moulsecoombe@hotmail.co.uk

    Editor’s note: A Face Book group sounds good Kevin. But – please remember everyone that it is VERY easy to post photos here. Website visitor numbers are an average of 1,500 per day – so just think of the potential coverage. It would be a real shame if photos and comments were not shown here as well. There are other Brighton areas on the site that have many more photos – Moulsecoomb is behind on the photo memories stakes. So come on you Moulsecoombers – let’s see those photos. If you are not very computer savvy – then just email them to me and I will publish them for you. Now how about that for an offer you can’t refuse? Mail me: jennifer@mybrightonandhove.org.uk

    By Kevin Ahronson (17/04/2011)
  • OK, here’s one for the old Moulescoombers. I have a photo of my Grandfather Horace Robbins who was both a councillor and Alderman of Brighton (and lived at 145 Ringmer Road) unveiling a Memorial Birdbath at Moulsecoombe School at sometime before 1956. Trouble is, I don’t know which school (I doubt the birdbath is still there). But does anyone recall the birdbath and at which school? Anything which adds to the info I have about him would be useful as he died before I was born. Thanks

    By Geoff (26/04/2011)
  • My late husband’s family lived at 121 Birdham Road from 1938 to 1950. Mary Tonks and Michael went to Moulsecoombe infants and juniors. Michael would have started infants about 1947, Mary was already there. Mum was Margie, Dad was Ted. Wondered if anyone recalled them or, had any school photos of those times.

    By Jennifer Tonks (14/05/2011)
  • Re the comments made about Theresa Spicer. She is my wife and remembers Steve Tugwell at school. We have just celebrated our 40th anniversary. I have been building the family tree for several years. With over 8000 names I have many links, so could share info and would appreciate any details from others.

    By Dave Lear (31/08/2011)
  • Do you recall the free school milk? I was a “sixer” in the cubs, our leader’s pack name was ‘Bagheera’. My teacher, Mrs. Horton, asked us to put up our hands if we wanted ‘a second milk’ – I thrust my arm up and called out “Bagheera”. Mrs Horton grabbed me by my ear and made me stand in the corner for an hour! She never forgot that incident, as a year later, after I had succeeded in the 11+, she warned me … ” Remember you won’t get away with swearing at your teacher at Varndean!” Despite my protestations, she still did not believe me!

    By David Eldridge (28/12/2011)
  •  Jennie Chapman (nee Plaine) and I both went to Stanmer and I have lost touch with her and I live in Canada now – I have put my email below if anyone knows Jen’s address to forward this. Thanks jeannecw@nbnet.nb.ca

    By Jeanne Clarke-Walker (01/01/2012)
  • I started at Moulsecoomb infants in September 1961, I lived in Colbourne Avenue so it was only a short distance from home. I remember going into the hall and having a name tag made up. I was then taken to Miss Patterson’s class, she was a lovely lady who reminded me of my Nan and I can see from previous comments that she had been a teacher for a long time. The class was the one right next to Hodshrove lane at the end of the playground and it had a slide that was far too high for me to go on. Going forward to July 1973 I went up to the same class on the day I left school and the slide was still there and it was tiny! I remember the headmistress Mrs Anscombe who used to play a sort of military music on old 78’s on an old gramophone player that we couldn’t help marching into assembly to. Great memories.

    By Paul Clarkson (23/01/2012)
  • Following on from my previous comment, in 1964 I went up (or along) to the Junior school. I still lived in Colbourne Avenue so it was only a short walk away. I remember some of the teachers very well, Miss Tiley, Mrs Young, Miss Gould, Mr Holland and my 4th year form teacher Mr Gallier. When I was in the 4th year (67/68) we used to have daily Gould v Gallier football matches at breaktime on the playing field, it used to be fun and I well remember the balls in those days were leather and very heavy! I had school dinners in the 4th year because my parents moved a bit further away, I mostly found them OK but well remember the fearsome dinner ladies making pupils clear their plates before they were allowed to leave.

    By Paul Clarkson (02/02/2012)
  • I remember Mr Gallier- he was my teacher at Moulsecoomb Juniors, he used to love teaching the brighter kids to play chess.

    By Janice Barrett (16/02/2012)
  • Mr Gallier was my teacher in the 4th year of Moulsecoomb Juniors when I was 10/11 years old in 1967/68. He used to drive a yellow Ford Anglia. He prepared us well for the secondary schools we all went to, we had quite a few from our class go to Westlain & Varndean, we even had one girl go to Brighton & Hove High. I remember one day he came into the class absolutely fuming because the Government had just announced that in 4 years time our currency was to change from ‘Pounds, Shillings and Pence’ to ‘Decimal’, as a maths teacher he could see the problems ahead. We all sat in silence and as 10 year olds we couldn’t see what the fuss was about, I can now because I personally favour the old money. He was a very good teacher though and he used to get very involved with the football team and from what I remember they were a good side. I last heard in 2005 from another source on the net that he was living in Australia with family, at that time he was 85 which would make him 92 now.

    By Paul Clarkson (23/02/2012)
  • I have asked on other threads, but does anybody remember the Edwards family who lived up the Avenue until the late 60s? My name is Paul Edwards and my nan and grandad lived up near towards the shops in the Avenue. My dad’s name was Robert ‘Bob’ Edwards and he had two brothers, young Frank (now in his 70s) and John or Jack Edwards who died of a heart attack in December 1998. My father Bob died in 1987 of pneumonia (he had alzheimers). I think my Nan and Grandad were called Lillian and Ernie, and think they lived in 42 or 47, not sure now. My two uncles Frank and Jack were very active in the scouts and mountain climbing in the Brighton area. I think it might have been the Falmer scouts – not sure, long time ago now. My mum and dad and I lived in Mile Oak but used to go over and see my grandparents every week.They must have gone to the schools in the area. 

    By Paul Edwards (04/08/2012)
  • As we’re in the festive period, I wonder if anyone has any memories of their ‘Nativity Plays’ that they appeared in, here’s mine. In 1964 I was 7 years old and in Mrs Tileys class in the 1st year of the Juniors at Moulsecoomb. We didn’t like each other and she used to always tell me that I wasn’t as good as my older brother who had been a pupil of hers 3 years earlier (how many kids have had to suffer like that in the past when a teacher has used those awful words “You’re not as good as your Brother you know”) Anyway, Christmas came round and I really wanted to be in the Nativity play which was being held at a church hall on the other side of the Hodshrove football fields in Moulsecoomb Way. It was on the right as you went up Moulsecoomb Way before you got to Hodshrove Road (I think the Salvation Army may have used it during the war). It isn’t there now (it was falling down in ’64) As the time got near I was given a part and sold some tickets to my Mum and Nan as it was being played out in the afternoon. Much to my horror, after the tickets were sold I was given the part but I was given a length of copper pipe and a stick and told to stand out the back and hit it twelve times when I was prompted with one of the cast saying ‘It’s nearly midnight!’ So my Mum and Nan wouldn’t even see me!! I felt a bit stitched up to say the least and very embarrassed. I had to stand by a door at the back of the stage, it was December and the door wouldn’t shut so I was exposed to the wind cutting across the fields and chilling me to the bone! I got my own back as when the time came I couldn’t resist it as I hit the pipe thirteen times. Nothing was said but as a 7 year old I had a feeling of great victory over a teacher who although I remember as being a very good teacher left me feeling let down. Let down or not, it was damn cold by that door and I was in short trousers.

    By Paul Clarkson (24/12/2012)
  • I never met my father-in-law, R.V. Burrough, but he was headmaster of Moulsecombe Junior School. I wonder if any old boys or girls have any photos of him? Unfortunately, we lost our photos in a house fire in 2002. I am now a widow and would love to have some photos of Mr Burrough, to show my grandson.

    By Joy Burrough (01/06/2013)
  • Steve Tugwell – I don’t remember you but I was at Moulsecoomb Infants & Juniors from about 57-64. I so remember racing Dinky and Corgi racing cars across that playground and the grazed knuckles that went with it. I remember Mrs King as Headmistress. I assume that is Junior School? I remember a large teacher in the Infants. I’m sure her name was Hatchington or Hartington or similar. She had a bad leg and used a walking stick. She grabbed me once and threw me to & thro’. I stepped on her leg (accidentally) and got thrown around some more. It hurt and I even remember crying. Oh happy days!

    By Ivor Williams (19/07/2013)
  • Hi Ivor, I left for Stanmer in 1960 so our paths probably didn’t cross. Was this teacher in the Annex on Hodshrove Road? If so it may have been Miss Marchant. She once gave me a good shaking to make sure I kept a secret, it must have worked ‘cos I can’t remember what it was!

    By Steve Tugwell (20/07/2013)
  • Hi Steve, Sounds like you were a year or two in front of me. This teacher was in the main school. I’m pretty sure it was Infants. Her name will come back to haunt me no doubt. It wasn’t Miss Marchant, it was definitely a longer name. I remember the shaking more than I remember ‘the strap’ Miss King gave me in Juniors.

    By Ivor Williams (20/07/2013)
  • Ivor Williams – I think her name was Bannister. I can picture her even today, quite swollen legs, guessing she was in some discomfort.

    By Kevin Ahronson (26/07/2013)
  • Thanks Kevin, that was it – Miss Bannister. Large lady, light colour hair, glasses and had to walk with the aid of sticks. 55 years and still in my memory.

    By Ivor Williams (28/07/2013)
  • I remember Miss Bannister when I was in the Juniors, she was quite a fearsome lady when she walked towards you with those sticks. I used to think she was very old but she probably wasn’t, I think it just seemed that the teachers were much older as we were all tiny. I was in the primary schools from 61-67 and I also had the strap from Miss King for playing truant. I remember it with fondness though, all those open spaces and fields to play in at break-time.

    By Paul Clarkson (07/08/2013)
  • I remember Miss Bannister.  She was my teacher in class 1A of Moulsecoomb junior school. (Approx. 1960) She did have large legs and used sticks.  She was very strict. Miss King, the Head mistress was very scary. She walked around with a strap in her hand during assembly. She had a little lap dog and would take it for a walk and allow some pupils to go with her. Ivor Williams lived a few doors away from me in Ringmer Road. He’s a little older than me. Miss Gould once shook me in the cloak room and I fell against the coat hooks.  Imagine that nowadays!  Also, Mr Gallier was my 4th yr teacher in junior school, he loved football. Does anyone remember Mr Quin in the juniors?

    By Linda P (07/02/2015)
  • Yes, I remember Mr Quinn, I went to Moulsecoomb right from the infants in 1961 until I left the seniors in 1973. Funnily enough I only had Mr Quinn for one lesson when a teacher was ill and he had to take our class. I used to be terrified of him because he had quite a fearsome look about him. You can imagine how I felt the day I had to go to his classroom, it turned out he was a really nice man but at the age of 10 you don’t think about the old saying of ‘not judging a book by it’s cover’ do you? I remember he got us into a debate about whether we could get either a ton of feathers or a ton of bricks into the classroom. Then he got on to what was the number 1 record that week, it was ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ by Procol Harum. By the way, I do remember Miss King’s legendary strap because in 1966 when I was 9 my backside was the unfortunate recipient of it when I played truant. It worked because it hurt like hell, so I didn’t do that again!

    By Paul Clarkson (15/02/2015)
  • Hi Paul, I too found Mr. Quinn a bit scarey. After the incident with Mrs. Gould, I ran and hid, crying  in the toilet. Mr. Quinn must have heard me as he shouted at me to come out. I was terrified! He turned out to be really kind and understanding. I think he felt that Miss Gould was wrong. 

    By Linda P (15/02/2015)
  • When I started this page that some time ago I never dreamt it would continue as it has to the present days of 2015.   

    Thanks to all of you who have contributed with such interesting stories, and may it all keep going!

    By Ron Spicer (05/12/2015)
  • Hi Ron, if you started at the school in 1931 you must have been born around 1926, the same year as my Mum, Elizabeth Page. She went to that school as well. Do you remember her?

    By Andy Dean (06/02/2016)
  • Hello all you scoomers, I’m one myself. I went all through the school 1956 to 1966. I do remember most of the teachers mentioned: Miss Bannister, the lady on the chase who Anne always reminds me of her. I lived in Ringmer and Barcombe Roads. I love reading about our school – good days.

    By Moya Golds (03/07/2016)
  • Anyone remember my dad, Harold Corthorn? He was born in 1932 so would have attended Moulsecoomb school between about 1937 and 1946. I remember him talking about how nice the stew was made by the canteen and how they used to get seconds. He told us the cook’s name but I can’t remember it. He lives in Woodingdean now.

    By Cheryl (12/02/2017)
  • It’s now August 2018, and I’m in my 91st year, enjoying a look back at the past in these pages. To everyone who reads here, whether or not they also contribute, I offer the hope that long may the contents be regarded with appreciation and due regard for those times of quite some time ago.

    By Ron Spicer (30/08/2018)
  • My mum Joan Galyer nee Riches remembers Miss Singleton. It was 1930 and she was in infants having been born in 1923 at 22, Hillside. She said that Miss Singleton wore dresses that were fashionable in the 1920s. Shorter skirts with a fringe and that she was very slightly built not the large person described here.  Mum was very frightened of her.  She does remember Mr Vic Taylor and Mr Burrows and later Miss Picket and Miss Richardson and Miss Moore. Miss Young was in the junior school and lovely too. It’s been amazing to me how fantastic my mum’s memory is at 95!  She remembers the gym slips her teacher wore that were so nice compared to the skimpy ones the children all had. She also remembers nearly all her classmates names!  Hope it runs in the family.  Great site by the way, really enjoy reading all these comments.  Her husband was John Galyer, teacher in the junior school mentioned in some comments above. Sadly passed away at the age of 86, he loved teaching many of you. 

    By Jane Stewart (05/10/2018)
  • Hi Jane, sorry to hear that Mr Galyer has passed away. I remember him well as both a nice person and a good teacher.  His is one of the few teachers names that I remember from those times.

    By Allan Clarkson (08/10/2018)
  • Such an intersting page! My Mum and Aunt (Gilli and Ann Webster) both went to Mouslcoomb school in the 1940’s. I think they were living in either Burdham(?) Road or Appledor Road. My mum has a particular memory of the school being straffed by a lone German fighter sometime in 1943/44 – she remembers Mr Kitchen running through the school shouting at the children to get under the desks and when there was a lull, the entire school raced across the playgound to the shelters (now a grass bank) behind.

    By Andrew (28/08/2020)

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