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Class VA c.1950

This photo was passed to me by my brother Ron, who is sitting 4th from left on the top row. He tells me that they are entrants for The Schools Certificate c1950. On the back of the photo are the signatures of most of the students. I have endeavoured to read them and they are as follows:

A W Pannett, A J Matthews, D Greenfields, M R Catterway, L E Holland, A Maguire, S Anderson, B Stapp, J S Wheeley, V E Andress, G F Clarke, R Taylor, R J Kemp, Hazel James, Mary Noakes, M Harrington, Laura Holland, J Swell, Shirley ?, ? Wood

Can anybody add more names?

Class VA c. 1950
From the private collection of Fred Hards

Comments about this page

  • Although not a pupil of Brighton Intermediate School, I did attend Fawcett School from September 1954 until April 1956 after the Intermediate School was renamed Fawcett Secondary Modern and Margaret Hardy School for Girls. What has awakened my interest is when the school was split and renamed?

    By John Wignall (02/11/2008)
  • Brighton Intermediate Girls School became Maragaret Hardy School 1945/6. I was a pupil at Intermediate from 1940-1945.

    By Rita Denman (nee Cooper) (11/11/2008)
  • Class V 1950: I can provide the names of the students in the Class photo:
    Top row – left to right: Tony Matthews, Horace Crudge, Peter Vinall, R.Hards, Maurice Cattaway, T.Maguire, Alan Wilson Middle row: Graham Clarke, Ted Bartup, Michael Harrington, Laurence Holland, A.Pannett, D.Greenfield, John Sweet, R.Kemp, Derek Wood
    Girls: Laura Holland, Marlene Plummer, Mary Noakes (now Clarke), Hazel James(now Cattaway), Shirley Sopp, Nina Hinton, Sylvia Anderson, Pat Hayes, Barbara Aicard

    By Mary Clarke (nee Noakes) (27/11/2008)
  • I attended BIS from 1936 to 1940. Very pleased to see thet the school has made its entry into this site.

    By Eric Feast (30/06/2009)
  • I am the niece of Horace Crudge who sadly passed away recently. I just wanted to mention that when I was a little girl, I was given an old school ruler. Etched upon it were the names Horace Crudge and Mary Noakes. The name has always stuck in my mind, finally I get to put a name to the face.

    By Sue Tompsett (17/09/2009)
  • When scanning a recent posting on this site I was sorry to learn of Horace Crudge’s death.It was my name on the ruler and I remember him well.We used to go to watch the Brighton Tigers” play ice hockey. My husband, Graham, also recalls the many happy times we had in the Fifth Form.It would be interesting if there are any more class members who might add their comments.

    By Mary Clarke (nee Noakes) (08/02/2010)
  • I was a pupil at BIS from 1941 to 1945 when Mr Cooper was headmaster. I also remember Mr Webb, French master, Mr Black, Mr Coxhead I think art.  I also remember having to use desks which had been charred when incendiary bombs burnt the top. I don’t remember when that was.

    By Terry Shorter (27/05/2010)
  • I am the youngest daughter of Marlene Plummer. I was searching for an old school friend of hers and came across this photo – my daughter had a little giggle at her nanny.

    By Kate Edwards (25/05/2011)
  • I went to Margaret Hardy County Secondary School in 1947 until 1952. My brother went to Fawcett School which were together with seperate entrances. I still have my old School Reports which are headed with Margaret Hardy CSS. I don’t remember them under any other name. In the 1950s photo the boys and girls are together. Was that for the photo only? Miss Fairhurst Scott was the Headmistress when I went to the school. The building was quite old and was very cold in the winter. The Assembly Hall was big and doubled as our gym. My grandmother was top student of the school (under another name) in 1900. Students in year five wore a navy skirt, white blouse with navy/green striped tie, navy coat and beret. The girls in photo are wearing ordinary clothes. Please explain.

    By Jennifer Goddard nee Norrell (15/04/2012)
  • Have just come across this fascinating web site. I was at Brighton Intermediate School during the war years. Faculty remembered were Headmaster Mr. Cooper and Messers. Hills, Schaerer, Coxhead, Webb, and Spathaky. In my class year were Dereck Askey, Norman Cooper, Pat Higgins, Peter Baynton (now living in Winnipeg, Canada), Gordon Lawson (deceased), Alfie Coates (deceased), also ?? Day, ?? Nelson and ?? Stevens. On Sunday, August 25, 1940, the school was fire-bombed and the top floor and roof severely damaged. Students were placed in different Brighton schools including the Technical College opposite The Level and the Art College in Grand Parade. Later some pupils were evacuated to Yorkshire; we were bussed daily to Doncaster High School, where the Headmaster — Mr. Felton — roamed the corridors with mortar board and black gown flowing behind him. (It seemed the strange Brighton accents of his new charges did not “sit well”!) Among Brighton teachers (pulled out of retirement) who accompanied us north were Mr. Blackman and Miss Davis among others. Coming back to Brighton was the end of my school days. I wonder if any of those guys I mention above are still around? Brighton Intermediate’s official punishment strap was all part of the experience (“Go to the Office, boy; get ‘The Book’ “), but I have many good memories of this excellent old school. By John Cecil (now in Oregon, USA).

    By John A. Cecil (23/04/2012)
  • Re the Class of 1950 on the Brighton Intermediate site. I was interested to read the comment regarding Marlene Plummer. I was a close friend and often stayed at her house in Fisher Street in Lewes and she stayed at my house and spent lunchtimes too.

    By Mary Clarke nee Noakes (20/03/2013)
  • Just browsing and found this site. I was at Intermediate School 1944-49. I recognise some of the names, sorry to see so many have passed away.

    By Betty Hagger (South) (06/07/2013)
  • My father Patrick Lumsden went to Brighton Intermediate from about 1939 -1945. Sadly he passed away in March this year but often talked fondly about those years. Always said the war and air raids interupted education for many children.

    By Belinda Lumsden (08/07/2013)
  • Re the Class of 1950 message for Mary Clarke nee Noakes. Hello Mary, I am Marlene Plummers’ daughter, you are her school friend we were trying to find. Mum would love to get in touch with you to catch up on the past 60 years!

    By Kate Edwards (02/01/2014)
  • I was scouring the internet for ancestral information relating to a school project when I came upon this site. I am the 11 year old grandson of Maurice and Hazel Cattaway. Having never really seen a picture of them in younger years, this was very helpful to find.

    By Finn Cattaway (15/02/2014)
  • Maurice Cattaway. Top Row 3rd From Right.

    By Finn Cattaway (17/02/2014)
  • I joined the school in September 1949, and it was then known as Fawcett Secondary Modern, with Margaret Hardy school in the adjacent building. Mr Carter was the head, with Mr Coxhead as the deputy. Mr Ross was also there, but he died during 1951 after a short illness.

    A tough school with the strap being administered and detention given if you stepped out of line. But we survived.

    By John Boxell (17/02/2014)
  • [Sincere apologies Mary, but we are no longer permitted to publish ‘where are they now?’ type queries due to data protection. I hope that you make contact with the youngest daughter of your friend. Comments Ed]

    By Mary Clarke (03/06/2014)
  • Re: Class of 1950. Glad to hear that Marlene Plummer is still out there. I know that several other classmates are around after all this time and we meet up occasionally and look back reliving happy memories.

    By Mary Clarke nee Noakes (07/06/2014)
  • I have only recently found this site and am very pleased to have done so. Nice to see Graham & Mary and also Maurice and Hazel in marital harmony. In the Form VA photo, the 5th and 6th from left are John Wheeler and Trevor Brown respectively. Missing are Russell Rogers, John Flowerday, John Funnell, Colin Sayers, Rita Rodgers and Brenda Stopp. Not clear why I am not in it. I do remember a few students did leave mid-course to take up offers of employment. What date was the photo taken?

    By Douglas Greenop (02/09/2014)
  • I was a pupil at Brighton Intermediate from 1944 to 1948. I joined the RAF in 1949 and have just moved back to Brighton. The only person I recognized in the photo was Alan Wilson who also joined the RAF. I remember that Mr Cooper was the headmaster. My form master was Mr Ross. Other teachers were Mr Summers, Bond, Coxhead. The only other pupil I can remember is Micheal Burgess who lived in Lewes and came to school by train every day. The top of the building was still a “no go” area following the incendiary bomb. I loved going to school in spite of the odd strap from Ross and the antics of Bond. There always seemed something to do. I played football for the school and boxed in the Dome. I would love to hear from Micheal Burgess, we were great friends but I lost touch when I moved away. After traveling the world is it nice to come back to a very much changed Brighton. My first stop will be the Pearly Gates on London Road.  

    By John Watts (03/09/2014)
  • Roy Wallace pupil 1944-48   Anyone remember me? Good to read John Watts’ letter.   I also boxed at the Dome against a boy from Seaford called POWNEY. Played football for the first team, but only as reserve. Also cricket.  As an old man, my memory of my boxing career is very vague, PLEASE can anybody help?  Does anybody remember Eddie Ball, our goalkeeper who became a good friend.  I think Pernell was our football captain, but would love to hear from anybody at school around that time.  A jog of memory perhaps, I was almost the only Jewish boy in the school for the first year. Also add  Mr. Lane to that list of teachers, and a lovely Welshman who was our music teacher. I would love to hear from anybody.  Happy Christmas.

    By Roy Wallace (24/12/2014)
  • Hello Editor, I am the daughter of Marlene Plummer and you will see I am trying to get in touch with Mary Noakes her old school friend, I have tried all sorts of ways but to no avail, are you allowed to send her my email address, any help would be appreciated as I live in France and coming over in February and would love to arrange a surprise visit for my mum to meet Mary again. Thanks very much.

    Hello Kate: sorry but we get so many requests for help in sharing emails we cannot do it anymore. Why don’t you look on Friends Reunited website – you might have luck there.

    By Kate Edwards (24/01/2015)
  • Hello Kate. I too have tried to make contact as would like to see Marlene again after all this time. I hope to move back to East Sussex soon but anything to make this link possible asap would be welcome. At this moment I live in Thornage North Norfolk. Excited that it might be accomplished. Thanks for trying.

    By Mary Clarke (nee Noakes) (30/01/2015)
  • Thats my older brother John Sweet . Does anybody remember him? 

    By Maureen Sweet (20/03/2016)
  • Maureen, Mary (nee Noakes) and I both remember John. He was gifted at maths and at drawing. He made a drawing of Mary with her dog Trig, pen and ink with a colour wash. We are in touch with other class members, Hazel and Maurice Cattaway and Marlene Plummer who will remember John as well.

    By Graham Clarke (15/08/2016)
  • Hallo Graham, I showed your posting to my brother John [Sweet], still going strong, and he wishes to be remembered to you.

    By Maureen Sweet (09/12/2016)
  • Dear Maureen, glad to hear that John is still out there, good wishes from us both. Graham and Mary.

    By Graham Clarke (11/12/2016)
  • Which part of the school was the intermediate part in York Place, as there is a school in Pelham Street and one behind nearer St Peters Place. I believe that part was opened or built in 1928.

    By Andrew (01/02/2020)
  • Browsing through old memories during lockdown,found above photo taken in 1950 showing my cousin Ray Pannett(passed away in 2017) and his friend John Sweet. Pleased to see his sister Maureen made contact here a few years back.
    Does he remember me,Maureen Pellicci I met him in 1953 while at Brighton Training College for teachers? Lived in Victoria,London, but now in Hove.

    By Maureen Stephens (26/04/2020)
  • How very interesting to hear these stories of so long ago. I was a pupil at Fawcett Boys, late 1950’s which was previously named the Brighton Intermediate School and – I believe – prior to that was York Place School for Boys which is where my father [born 1892] went as a schoolboy back in the early 1900’s. He had such terrible memories of his time there, he would never ever set foot in the place again; his tales of the corporal punishment meted out for the slightest infringement, used to make me cringe. In hindsight, I’m surprised he ever let me attend there. Mind you – some of the masters at Fawcett were a bit ‘strap happy’ too, though in some cases it was a power struggle with a few of the boys! Memories; the kids of today would never believe what we went through yet here we are – survivors. Be safe & well, friends! Nigel Buxton.

    By Nigel Buxton (15/04/2021)

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