Miss Clifford's class 1955/6

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• Dear Claudette. What a shock. I found this photograph in my mothers album…in better condition. I am the boy next to Penny Hoy not Alec? I left the school at 11 and went to a boarding school in Bushey, Herts. Best wishes

  By John Wright (16/08/2009)

• It’s certainly not me in the photograph. Although friends with some like Graham Trimble and Tony Seaman, mainly through family connections etc, I was in the other stream of the same year. I can’t for the life of me remember the form teacher’s name but I remember she was quite young at the time.

  By Alec Pelham (11/10/2009)

• Benfield Primary School, 1951 – 1956 Here are the names of the Girls snd Boys: Sheila Bartlett, Christopher McBrien, Janet Beal, Christopher Watts, Anne Challands, Christopher Welsh, Jane Chisholm, Anthony Dawes, Paula Dawes, David Hobden, Diane Doe, Gary Richardson, Gloria Dyson, Roger Stevens, Lorraine Finlayson, Paul Jones, Francis Fleet, Richard Burgess, Josephine Florey, Martyn Wills, Linda French, Anthony Clarke, Sandra Harmes, John Stevens, Carol Lintott, Stephen Giles, Shirley Masters, Euan Tomkinson, Marjorie Patching, Raymond Fairweather, Iris Rothwell, Peter Abbott, Vanessa Sherwood, Phillip Abbott, Simone Slender, John Todd, Margaret Wells. The staff from this era were, male: Whiting (Head Master), Ellesworthy (deputy), Holden, Gallagher, Needham, Prestly. Female were: Evans, York, Reidle, Belafante.

  By Chris McBrien (26/10/2009)

• Chris, yes my brother Richard Burgess was in your class, we used to live in Links Close, Portslade, then 23 Fairfield Gardens, Portslade. We left for Australia in 1955. I live in Seaford, Melbourne and Richard in Adelaide. Very good memories

  By Jan Purcell(nee janet burgess (24/04/2010)

• I am the Anthony Dawes mentioned in Chris Macbrien’s list of pupils. I live in Plymouth these days if anyone cares to e-mail me. I would be only to pleased to respond. Best Wishes to you all.

  By Anthony Dawes (14/08/2010)

• I also was a student at Benfield School. Josephine Florey was a good friend. Mr Needham rode a bike, had a BAD temper and a “gammy’ knee. I remember Grayham Dumas, Joyce Gates, Beverly Burton and Mrs Reidel.

  By Mary Heard (04/10/2010)

• Hi there Tony Dawes. You used to have a funny looking left thumb, slightly flattened. I’d forgotten your name Mary Heard, I think you sat near Magaret Wells. I remember Carol Lintott from Portslade Infants too. There was a small fire in her house one day and she was late for school. She lived just a few yards east of Selaby House.

  By Chris McBrien (25/04/2013)

• I’m certain I am in this photo somewhere, Geoffrey Wells. My good mates were David Mobsby, Graham Trimble, David Bone & Tony Seaman. Barbara Newman’s mum and dad had the chip shop in the Old Village and I remember how “heady” the scent was when she passed by my desk! I’m now retired and living in Stratford upon Avon. It would be great to hear from any other members of Miss Clifford’s class of ’55.

  By Geoff Wells (19/07/2013)

• Regarding my last comment dated 27/04/2013. That small house fire was not at Carol Lintott’s house but that of Georgina Pennifold. The year would have been 1950.

  By Christopher McBrien (28/07/2013)

• I am Paula Dawes (mentioned by Chris) in the photo. I live in Hove.

  By Paula Bravery (20/06/2014)

• I wasn’t in the photo, just mentioned.

  By Paula Bravery (21/06/2014)

• Paula – long time no hear. That photo was the school year below us although you must have joined them when you had to do that extra year at Benfield because you were so young! In that case you should know Gillian Wootton in the photo. Her family used to live opposite me at 20 Benfield Crescent. Her elder brother Michael and I used to build tree camps on the golf course. They were originally from Co. Durham. I’m in regular contact with David Hobden (excellent child artist) and a couple of others: John Todd and Steve Giles. The girls are very quiet, Vanessa Sherwood and Marjorie Patching being the two, plus your good self of course. Does ‘hubby’ still run the garage or are you both retired? I’m still working, probably do two more years. The big ‘Seven Zero’ comes up at the end of October. I’m sprayed all over The Net – just look for my name plus ‘Halton’. Have fun….. Chris.

  By Christopher McBrien (28/06/2014)

• Hi Chris. My husband is still working at the garage in Olive Road.

  By Paula Bravery (24/07/2014)

• Hi Claudette.  The photo above brings many great memories of all who were in our class at school - I too have the same one. Hope you remember me. I have lived in Gloucestershire for just over 40 years with my husband and children, they have all flown the nest now.  We have two lovely granddaughters. Regards to you, and anyone else who reads this who remembers me.

  By Jill Mundy (nee Washington) (20/01/2015)

• I think this is the 1956/7 school swimming team, far right on the front is Ronny Reeves. I am behind him.

  By Bev Doo (31/03/2015)