St Margaret’s was a small school situated in Queensbury Mews. Referring to it as being small is no understatement; there were six classrooms, two for the infants/reception and four for the juniors.
Under Mr Mason the Headmaster there were six teachers who somehow managed to get the best out of the worst pupils. Mr Mason was very strict but very fair and understanding. He possessed that magic to be able to teach from the top right down to infant level. All of the teachers were very respected in the 1950s era.
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I attended St. Margaret’s from 1956 to 1959. Mr.Mason retired during this time to be replaced by Mr. Bruce Avis. I remember Mrs. Gregory whom I hated, a Mr. Grace who was a lovely teacher and Miss Prescott. The school was Victorian with big draughty rooms heated by coal fires. The playground was tiny with only room for one class at a time to play. The desks were Victorian with ink wells and places where the writing slates were kept.
I was there from 1956 to 1962, when it closed. My last year there was in Mr Grace’s class- his daughter, Wendy, was also in the same class. Like you, I hated Mrs Gregory who once told my mother: ” I can’t make Linda cry”, when I had lost my coat in the cloakroom. I remember Miss Holland in reception year. Standard of education there was excellent and many passed their 11+.
I went to St. Margaret’s round about 1949/1950 but was only there for perhaps a couple of years so I can’t remember any of the names of the other pupils. I lived in Norfolk buildings, at the rear of the Norfolk hotel, an area now much gentrified I am told, not having been there for quite a while. I am attaching an old school photo I dug out of the cupboard after discovering this site only recently. My scanner has packed up so I had to take a digital photo of it and resize it so please pardon both the quality and the tattiness of the photo.
I was at St. Margaret’s from 1960-63. I remember Mrs. Gregory but, at the age of 8, I hopefully can be forgiven for having the hots for Miss Prescott (Jackie Prescott). I also remember a lovely teacher there who was always so kind to everyone – Pamela Hollins. Any recollections anyone?
My husband and his twin brother went to this school. He was quite surprised when he saw this photo and found himself and brother. His name is Roy and his brother is Alex.
Hi Jenny, just saw your comment on this page. Your husband Roy is standing right next to me! I well remember both of them at St Margaret’s, shows what a small world this is and after such a long gap. If you feel like getting in touch my email address is JOHN.WIGNALL@HOTMAIL.CO.UK All of the best.
I attended St Margaret’s between 1942 and 1948. I was Head boy in my last year and was in Mr Cullin’s top class for two years. Mr Mason was very strict, but very caring when you got to know him, he used the tawse (strap) on the naughty boys. The education was good for a small school & there was a high % success rate in the 11+ exams.
I went to St. Margaret’s from 1950 (although it must have been after the above photo as I can’t see myself) until 1956 when I went on to Fawcett. I do have an old school photo, but no idea how to upload it.
Editor’s note: Hi Rod – I have made a video that shows you step by step how to upload material to the site. You can see it here. If you have any problems, just mail me: jennifer@mybrightonandhove.org.uk
I didn’t like the headmaster, Mr Avis, he made us pratice Salad Days for a show, so much that I got a sore throat, so I mimed it. I didn’t like Mrs Standing much or Mrs Gregory who was always going on about her wonderful son, Kim. Mr Grace was very nice.
My brother and myself attended St Margaret’s from ’54 to ’56 when my father exiled the family unit to Canada of all places. My heart and soul was and is always in Brighton. I loved my parents dearly but I’ll never forgive them for the Canadian move. FYI brother’s name Keith Robin Beresford Leech, mine Ian Melvin Beresford Leech… clearly he got the better moniker.
I was at St Margaret’s from 1952-1957 and have three class photos, much like John Wignall’s, above. I remember Miss Prescott, teacher for the first class, I think, where we had to take naps in the afternoon and sit on the floor around the radio for ‘Listen with Mother’. In the second class, Mrs Standing, who seemed fierce but was not, made us recite our multiplication tables by rote, endlessly, but I still remember them. The only other teacher I really recall was Mr Venning who took the top class and gave us mental arithmetic and spelling lessons and very rudimentary science lessons involving a boiling kettle on his desk. The ‘playground’ was as I recall a dark damp basement with smelly lavatories for boys along one side. The boys loved to hold contests to see who could pee over the wall! PE lessons involved tossing bean bags about but we also were taken to Regency Square for field and track events. And did we walk to the old North Road Swimming baths for swimming lessons or am I confusing that with Varndean? (I was one of the lucky ones who St Margaret’s successfully got through 11+).
One of my best friends was Hetty Heimann and I was delighted to see Linda Heimann’s name on this site. I assume that’s Hetty’s younger sister? I’d love to hear from you.
A message for Ian Leech
Dear Ian,
This is your cousin Graham saying Hello. We are doing the family history thing which one does when you get to a certain age and looking on the internet found your connection with St Margaret’s School. We have done some work on the Geni.com site and also contacted Terry and Jo-Anne Smith (your other cousins) who are about to add further info to the family history. Should you be interested in joining in, we would be delighted to hear from you, we would be really pleased to invite you into the Geni.com site and connect up the family history. We hope that you and yours are well, we send greetings and we would very much like to hear from you.
Best wishes – jane.graham@btinternet.com (Graham is Win and Bert Leech’s son and Terry is Stan and Edna Smith’s son).
I have noted some negative comments about Miss Gregory. All I can remember is her dedication and professionalism. I was lucky enough to be taught maths by her brother Ronald Wilson in my senior school, who also gave his all.
Hi, my name when I attended St Margaret’s from 1955-62 was Susan Ferguson and I remember many of the names of contributors to this page. I was never in Mrs Gregory’s class but became very fond of her as I got older. I actually went out with her son, Kim, around 1965/66 when we were all members of the New Venture Theatre Club in Bedford Place. I remember Mr Grace, Miss Hollins, Mrs Standing, Miss Prescott (yuk), Mr Mason and the bully headmaster, Bruce Avis. I have lived in Australia for almost 40 years and would love to hear from anyone who attended St Margaret’s during the time I was there.
I have read Michael Sayers comment about Mrs Gregory,there is a side of her that you did not see,Mrs Gregory took delight in belittling the not so brainy children and seem to have time only for the more intelligent children.
Editor’s note: John your post has been edited because it contained opinions that could cause distress. Sorry and I hope you understand.
John, can I infer from your comment that you thought I was one of the brainy ones? He he.
Rod, Please get in touch I would like to know how everything is with you and your family: michaelsayers@hotmail.com
Hello!! My name when I attended Saint Margaret’s was Rosemary Canfield. I attended between 1949 – 1954 and I am in the middle of the photo with Mr. Mason and Mrs Standing. Kim Gregory came to my birthday party when I was eight, I think. I have a photo of some, that attended from school. I remember Mrs Standing falling through the revolving blackboard and showing her knickers and we got into trouble for laughing. My Grandparents had a Pub in Brighton a Cousin of my Grandfather was The Mayor of Brighton three years running his name was John Cordy Burrows, there is a statue of him overlooking The Old Steine. My father was a Shoemaker and had a shop in Brunswick Street East Hove, just off of The Western Road. My mum ran a B/B in Upper Market Street. An uncle had ‘Pullinger’s Shoe Shop’ I think in North Street Brighton it still has the same name. My family emigrated to Australia in 1954 and we were placed in old army ‘Nissen Huts’ In the bush at a place called East Hills Migrant Hostel New South Wales. What a shock for my parents. We sailed on the P/0 Strathaird from Tilbury Docks in London. Thankyou so much for this mybrightonandhove.org site. Regards Rosemary Todd🌹
My name is Gary Lester and went to St Margarets after my father brought me from Wapping in London to live with his brother and his wife in Brighton in 1948. I remember the school very well in Queensbury Mews the three classrooms on the ground floor and three on the first floor. I remember some teachers names Miss Standing, Miss Gregory, her son Kim who also went to this school, Miss Purchase, Mr Gardener, Mr Venning and the headmaster Mr Mason. I went to Hove Grammar school from there in 1952. I remember we used Dyke Road Hove park near Brighton and Hove Grammar school once a week to play rounders and North Road Brighton swimming pool. Running races were on the lower promenade east of the West Pier
Names of pupils at the school with me
Kenneth Vaughan and his sister Helen/Trevor Taylor/Raymond Eggleton/Dennis Davis/Alan Levene/Ronald Rosen/Raymond Feltoe/Diane Harris/Janet Page/Susan Relph/Doreen Scott/Pauline Levy/John Frucht/Sabina and Theadora Vasiliades/Pamela Hill/Brenda Baars/
I sent yesterday details of when I was at St Margaret’s and I have remembered some more names of other pupils who were there with me.
Keith Sefton/Diane Jacobs/June Lindsay/Jason Prop.
I would like anyone who was at the school and may remember me to contact me.
I would have done this years ago but due to my age I do not have a computer or a mobile phone however please use the e-mail address and landline given
My mother, Grace Hall, attended St Margarets briefly in 1933, are there any records or photos relating to this time?
I think it was the school I went to, must have been in the late 40’s early 50s, I can not remember anything about the school whatsoever, apart from the walk to the school, from Marlborough Street.
My Mother Kitty Lewis (now 95) attended St Margaret’s in the 1930’s after moving from London. She remembers Mr Mason very well, and when she won a scholarship to Brighton & Hove High School he bought her a bag of oranges! She also remembers a Miss Pace and a Miss Picket.
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