HOVE GRAMMAR SCHOOL WEBSITE

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Current Comments:
Post number:
320
25th of January 2012 10:37 PM by David Langley
Mr Keeper sir! Greetings!

Lets see. The only moustache in the VIth, how we envied it. Woodcraft Folk as opposed to Scouts. Bit of an outdoor type. Very dark hair ..........

The third musketeer was probably fair haired David Smith, one of two D Smiths in our year, t'other became School captain and was a brilliant high jumper, just had to throw a leg over the bar. I never did better than 3' 6", poor even for a dwarf.

Yes I had a burst duodenal ulcer at 15 and missed yonks of school which may not have helped, so I flunked some A levels first time and re-took them working for the Met. Office. In which I prospered exceedingly [and became increasingly modest] ending up as Chief Met. Officer British Forces Germany.

Fit, busy, and wishing you well Ted.
Post number:
319
25th of January 2012 04:11 PM by Ted Keeper
Discovered this site when I was "doodling", recovering from 'flu - and I knew that I was in the right place when I saw David Langley's contributions - why, he even asked if anybody could remember me. I remember him well, Dave Priestley, he and (and AN Other) used to walk together down Holmes Ave after school until it was time for him to drop out opposite Bishop Hannington church. I came across aforementioned D Priestley in Caithness one day in the '60s and took him home with me to WIck where wife and I were living for a while when I was at the BBC transmitter at Thrumster. David L was quite ill, I remember, when he was about 15 and was off school for ages so I am glad to see that he has survived the years and is now probably pushing 76 like the rest of us.
Post number:
318
25th of January 2012 09:54 AM by Webmaster
GUEST BOOK REGISTRY ADDED
Any errors please notify webmaster using "Contact Us" tab.
Post number:
317
24th of January 2012 10:39 AM by Webmaster
THE NAVIGATION BUTTONS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO THE SIDE TO ALLOW MORE PAGE OPTIONS ON DISPLAY AT THE SAME TIME .THIS ALSO FREES UP SPACE FOR A NEW BANNER.
SUGGESTIONS FOR A NEW BANNER DESIGN OR EVEN FINISHED DESIGNS ARE WELCOME!
Post number:
316
19th of January 2012 01:21 PM by Chris Bloor
We are organising a reunion in May for those of us who were in the 6th form in 1968, so if anyone out there remembers sitting in a classroom with Chris Bloor, Bob Brecher,Ian Crosthwaite, Mike Freeman, Dave Hood Barney Lerner,Richard Lindfield,Richard Lindsay, Rich Langton,Frank Milton,Richard Plenty, Mike Sandford, or Rod Waters, please get in touch.
Chris Bloor
Post number:
315
18th of January 2012 10:24 PM by David Langley
Old Grapefruit was indeed a decent bloke, if pompous and easily caricatured [sounds like me?]. As for champers with fish and chips ......... it was a Grammar School, did you learn nothing?! Either oysters with the fizz, or a mug of tea with the fish, surely?
Post number:
314
18th of January 2012 05:08 PM by David Hitchin
I remember a celebratory meal outside The Grenadier, with fish and chips out of newspapers, and a bottle of champagne which Mine Host informed us was a "Graaand Crew".

I also remember illegal straying out of the grounds at lunchtime through streets which were thought were master-free. It was only when G Gardner and I were employed by Mr Greatwood for Saturday morning gardening (at 10/- each) we realised that we had been lingering outside his house. One Saturday, we were told to take a wheel-barrow load of garden rubbish to a point with a "No rubbish tipping here" sign. He was a gentleman with a sense of humour, and respected by most as a good sport.
Post number:
313
16th of January 2012 09:17 AM by Ron Riches
The comments regarding Hove pubs highlighted an hitherto unnoticed advantage to being a "Train Boy". All of the pubs in Haywards Heath were first class in their differing ways. I used to frequent the Sussex Hotel, where now stands a block of flats, and where I developed a taste for Tamplins bitter and I recall once in the early fifties, saying to the landlord, one Alan Lambert, "the day that you tell me that a pint of bitter will cost me a shilling will be the last day that you see me in this bar". I would have loved to have seen his face if he had seen me recently hand over six pounds for two pints of "Bombadier" in the bar of my grandson's football club.
Post number:
312
15th of January 2012 05:03 PM by David Gregory
Re Grenadier Pub. Sounds as if it is much improved since I was a regular in 50/51. Anyway it was several classes above the Maytree in Old Shoreham Road. Only ever used the Stadium on my way to see the Albion once a fortnight.
Post number:
311
15th of January 2012 02:37 PM by David Langley
The Grenadier and the Stadium [bottom of Holmes Ave] pubs were uniquely horrible, judged against a lifetime of having a swifty all over the world. And they stunk [stank? stinkled?] of stale beer and worse. No wonder it was not seemly for ladies to frequent such pubs ..... it was neither seemly or wise for blokes!
A recent revisit to the Grenadier for Sunday lunch was in the league of 1/10 ..... one mark for providing a table and chair and giving correct change. Is all.
Post number:
310
14th of January 2012 12:19 PM by David Gregory
David L. Wot no "Any more fares Pleeeze". Ah. The old 5 and 5B route finishing at the Grenadier for a swift half. Your post also raises the possibility of how many lads, like me, on leaving school were determined to follow one profession and ended up in one completely different. And thoroughly enjoying it.
Post number:
309
14th of January 2012 09:58 AM by Ron Riches
AN APOLOGY:- Re my post 305. I wrongly referred to Arthur Newell instead of Archie of that ilk and. believe that I had in mind yet another Haywards Heath fast bowler of the same vintage, one Arthur Turner. I don't think that he attended HCGS but suspect that the poor fellow went to Brighton Grammar School. I I'm wrong then I must apologize for casting such a slur upon him.
Post number:
308
13th of January 2012 04:39 PM by David Langley
Interesting topic "what did you do between HCGSB and your career" for those of us dimwits who avoided immediate Uni.

How about "Bus Conductor" Brighton Hove and District Omnibus Co.
Specialist in routes 5 and 5B. Never ever behaved well enough for the weekly good-boy bonus. Expert in allowing all pretty and well-endowed young ladies ride free.

Somebody had to do it.

Hold very tightly now.
Room for a few standing
Plenty of room on top
Pass right down the car please.

At the Patcham end, there was no WC, so crews used the ancient privilege of making water on to the offside rear wheel before moving off. Even if we didn't need a pee.
Post number:
307
12th of January 2012 10:33 PM by Gary Gardner
I was a pupil from 1953 - 1959.
Post number:
306
12th of January 2012 02:18 PM by David Gregory
Sorry Ron - wrong Estate Agent. When I left HCGSB in 1949 my ambition was to become a surveyor. I spent two years before being called up making tea, licking stamps, holding the end of a tape measure to get room sizes and grappling with the mysterious finances of trying to balance the stamp book daily. Compensations were looking over the wall at the county ground and watching the cricket (until the boss turned up), fetching the afternoon cakes for tea and getting first choice, one and half hour lunch break walking along the promenade in the summer and ogling the girls sunbathing on holiday. How did I end up in Precision Engineering in the Midlands for forty one and a half years?.
Post number:
305
12th of January 2012 09:12 AM by Ron Riches
I can certainly remember the name Pat Erricker David but sadly that is all. There was always a slight self-imposed segregation between the Burgess Hill train boys and we Haywards Heathens and only very rarely was a compartment shared, the exception being with selected pupils from HCGS for Girls. I'm intrigued to read that you worked for a Hove estate agent and wonder if it could have been the business of Arthur Bartlett-Wales, a governor of the school for whom my brother worked between leaving the school in 1942 and joining the army in 1945.
Post number:
304
11th of January 2012 04:24 PM by David Gregory
Perhaps Ron Riches extensive knowledge of train boys will remember Pat Erricker 1943 - 1947, from Burgess Hill, who was a year ahead of him. After leaving HCGSB I worked with Pat for a year at a Hove Estate Agents before he left to work in the Bank of England in 1949. I remained friends with him and he was best man at my wedding in 1956. Unfortunately I lost track of him soon after although I had the idea that he went to live in America with his wife anf children. Would appreciate hearing any info from you Ron, but only on a "no win no fee basis"
Post number:
303
10th of January 2012 04:10 PM by Geoff Stoner
I await with interest the appearance of my own name amongst these obits.
Post number:
302
10th of January 2012 09:28 AM by Ron Riches
I remember the three old train boys who passed away last year very well. Stewart Went was a prominent member of Haywards Heath Cricket Club and bowled erratically at a colossal speed. He took such a long run-up that he could almost gain momentum by pushing off from the sight-screen. Arhur Newell was also a quick bowler who excelled with the ball for the school and Haywards Heath. He expended far less energy in attaining a formidable speed than did dear old Stewart and I believe that Sussex sought his services without success. Peter Hyslop was a prefect during my third year and I worked with his younger brother for a number of years. Perhaps it is a tribute to the wartime school dinners that they each reached well into their eighties.
Post number:
301
9th of January 2012 10:52 PM by Frank Langley
Ron Riches may remember these train boys who I have just learned died last year - Stewart Went, Ian Hislop and Archie Newell, who became a professor, possibly in IT.
Post number:
300
7th of January 2012 08:05 PM by rod norris
Happy New year from down under.I just wanted the first posting for 2012 !!
Post number:
299
31st of December 2011 11:24 AM by Webmaster
PLEASE NOTE:
IF YOU WISH TO LEAVE AN ENTRY ON THIS PAGE YOU MUST USE THE "SIGN GUEST BOOK" BUTTON .
THE "CONTACT US" ROUTE ONLY SENDS AN EMAIL FROM THIS SITE TO THE WEBMASTER - AND THE MESSAGE WILL NOT APPEAR HERE.
Post number:
298
29th of December 2011 10:08 AM by Ron Riches
I hope that all contributors to this excellent site and indeed all HCGS Old Boys had as enjoyable Christmas as did I and that all can look forward to a happy and peacefull 2012.
Post number:
297
24th of December 2011 12:37 PM by David Gregory
Love the waving son of Father Christmas. But why only five waves and then total immobility?. Is it to do with Health and Safety?. Do we need to put another shilling in the meter? Is it because he gets knackered after five attempts. Or does this mean, perish the thought, he won't have the strength to come down my chimney tonight?. Merry Christmas to everybody.
Post number:
296
24th of December 2011 09:54 AM by David Langley
please sir me sir ...... I have done the contact thing.
Post number:
295
23rd of December 2011 08:45 PM by Bob Kennett
Differing caps , badges,uniforms in different eras - who would have thought it? Sounds like we need a new page with good pictures / illustrations of said changes through the ages. Dig out those old caps/ badges and take a photo ( or even send to us so that we can photograph) ,then email us via the Contact Us tab above so we can communicate. Surely someone out there kept their old uniform items.
Post number:
294
23rd of December 2011 12:43 PM by David Langley
Absolutely ......... I started with the plain cap, small badge at front, in 1948.

Never got the prefect status or cap, for which I blame my subsequent misanthropy, carping and all-round bitterness, in which, I am reliably told, I am the victor ludorum.

Nevertheless, Happy Christmas to all!

[bah! humbug!]
Post number:
293
23rd of December 2011 09:58 AM by Ron Riches
For the duration of the war and the following period of austerity, only a plain blue cap was available which, to comply with the utility regulations was devoid of stripes and the small pleats at either side of the peak designed to allow the cap to come farther down the back of the head. I inherited my brother's cap issued in 1938 which included the stripes and pleats and which lead to a stand-up row with Tabby before I was allowed to wear it.. Sadly, it blew off in Clayton tunnel after I failed to remove it before sticking my head out of the window.
Post number:
292
23rd of December 2011 09:34 AM by David Langley
Nice Santa, but in my day the cap was indeed mid blue but had double white stripes horizontally except prefects who, with bigger heads, had the stripes fore and aft, so vertical seen from front and back.

As I recall.

Scout troop similarly: school cap badge on a blue neckerchief edged in silver braid.

Troop Colour: blue, edged blue/ silver, bearing windmill badge and Nil nisi motto.

Trek cart: grey, picked out blue spokes etc.

As I recall!
Post number:
291
19th of December 2011 10:09 AM by david langley
The shelters were there until about my 3rd Form, which would be 1952, perhaps even a year longer.
Still in frequent use for a variety of forbidden purposes of course.
Post number:
290
19th of December 2011 09:24 AM by ron riches
John Samuals' wonderful writings certainly revived some poignant wartime memories. It was 1944 before I arrived at HCGS and it was all over bar the shouting but the air-raid shelters remained and for one Graham Mitchell and myself they provided a comfortable haven in which to enjoy a lunchtime fag oblivious to the tell-tale blue haze that some keen eyed fellows noted coming from the conning tower like emergency exits.
Post number:
289
16th of December 2011 05:14 PM by David Langley
York 2nd XI was dreadful in my day c. 1950 and they sometimes stuck me in goal as an abject and objectionable immovable object of obloquy ......... I am sure that I helped a few into the net, but we always forget the best bits so I cannot make legitimate claim to your record. My shorts were seemingly designed to hoover up mud every time I dived or tackled ..... I do remember that.
Character forming stuff.
I did manage to come in very near last in every X country run, though, just in front of the fatties.
Come the cricket season: I was a competent umpire and occasional off-spinner/ obstinate late order survivor.
Post number:
288
16th of December 2011 11:11 AM by David Hitchin
Gentlemen, May I use these august pages to claim the record as the school's least competent footballer ever. During my whole career in the second eleven (there wasn't a third) I only scored one goal. I know that there are others who might claim that they never scored even one goal, but mine was scored when I was looking the other way and the ball bounced off the back of my boot into our own goal. That makes my score -1, which is even less than zero.
Post number:
287
13th of December 2011 11:47 AM by David Gregory
Congratulations to John Samuals for the episodes of Frontline Schoolboy. Well written,memory evoking and much appreciated. Takes me right back to my wartime schooldays. Off now to the village shop to buy some gobstoppers.
Post number:
286
13th of December 2011 03:51 AM by Frank Langley

Re John Samuel's Take 4, I reported at Padgate exactly a year after John, and then, like him, to Compton Bassett. Unlike him I stayed on as a wireless operator and had an interesting time at postings in Plymouth Air Sea Rescue base, and then Amman, Jordan and Lake Habbaniya in Iraq with an armoured car squadron. Are there any other HGSBs of our vintage with National Service tales to tell? Thanks, John, for your reminiscences.
Post number:
285
12th of December 2011 06:51 PM by Webmaster
TAKE FOUR OF JOHN SAMUEL'S "FRONTLINE SCHOOLBOY" IS NOW ONLINE
V1 and V2 bombing..... cricket against the Australians ... peace at last!......
Post number:
284
8th of December 2011 04:14 AM by Frank Langley
Enjoyed John Samuels latest Takes. The strafing of Wish Park reminds me of the day a Heinkel strafed the playground of the primary school I was at in Portslade. It was on a hill and we saw it coming at us from the sea. We had scuttled into a brick air raid shelter but came out afterwards to collect the hot bullets.
The refugee French teacher who taught French at HGSB was M.Gignoux, and, as I remember, he resembled Hercule Poirot.
Post number:
283
7th of December 2011 10:23 AM by Bob Kennett
FRONTLINE SCHOOLBOY - TAKE 3 - NOW ONLINE :
Continuation of John Samuel's fascinating glimpse into life in the WW2 years
Night bombing, incendiaries and evacuation plans.......
Post number:
282
30th of November 2011 04:01 PM by Geoff Stoner
John Samuel's 'Frontline Schoolboy' is a great addition to the website. Any more reminiscences/anecdotes out there?
Post number:
281
28th of November 2011 05:34 PM by Bob Kennett
NOW ON THE WEBSITE :
THE SECOND EPISODE OF JOHN SAMUEL'S "FRONTLINE SCHOOLBOY"
From phoney war to shooting -The Battle of Britain - "three Heinkell lll bombers screamed at rooftop height as we played schoolboy cricket......"
Post number:
280
18th of November 2011 08:21 PM by WEBMASTER
GRAHAM SMITH kindly sent a photo of a group of singers from the Hove Harmonizers
Barbershop Chorus (See latest photo in the GALLERY) identifying Derek Barton in the front right and PC George Beer conducting. Does anyone know any of the others?
Post number:
279
16th of November 2011 11:17 PM by Frank Langley
John Samuel's Take One is most interesting. Looking forward to the next one...
Post number:
278
13th of November 2011 08:55 PM by Bob Kennett
JUST ADDED :
TAKE ONE of FRONTLINE SCHOOLBOY by John Samuel
- in response to our request for more information about the war years John has produced his "TAKES" on his life and experiences as a HGSB schoolboy - full of insight and portraying a life in and around the school under the threat of war and during the hostilities this account is well worth a visit.
Post number:
277
13th of November 2011 07:41 PM by Bob Kennett
Hi there Alan (Brundle- post 271) - sure I remember you (and your undoubted skills with complex control systems) .Are you still living over the channel ? Rumour has it that the Euro. wine lake has been drained and they are seeking a redhead carrying an Amprobe and a short length of flexi conduit reputedly used as a syphon pipe.
P.S. you can reach me direct via the "Contact Us" link above - include your email address so that I can reply if you like - I would remind all of our Guest Book signees that any personal information given on this front page can be read by any visitor to the site but such info passed on on via the Contact Us link above is kept strictly confidential and will only be passed on to another old boy with the signees expressed agreement.
Post number:
276
11th of November 2011 10:42 AM by Daviard Langley
Breslin!

To which/whom I would add some more famous/infamous of my era, say 1948 to 1955:

Liddiard, Swaddling, Quick, Pontremoli, Creamer [and Malcolm X, whose surname escapes me]. More canes were expended on the shorts-clad posteriors of the above than supply could keep up with.

A lot of the infringements were associated with lurking in the air raid shelters or behind the tennis courts.

There was never a suggestion of drugs: fags and pipes were commonplace, my first corncob cost 6d, and the tobacco rather more. I threw up my lunch in good company, most of us did that day. Drink was Entre deux Mers [it was a Grammar School after all] or dry cider, preferably both. My father remarked that I had been rather quiet for a couple of days.
Post number:
275
10th of November 2011 10:33 AM by Rod Norris
Come on you guys,It was Breslin!! Another wayward train boy.
Post number:
274
10th of November 2011 08:54 AM by David Hitchin
23rd of October 2011 11:56 AM by Geoff Stoner
Who was it that dived off the top board of the King Alfred during School swimming sports (1959/60 ish) and was promptly disqualified (somewhat unfairly I thought) for forming a perfect cupid figure and spouting water from his mouth?

It was Gifford.
Post number:
273
10th of November 2011 08:52 AM by David Hitchin
Bob Kennett wrote:
"David Hitchin and myself must hold the record for two canings in one day in 1956.
Why ? exactly is lost in the mists of time.(or is it ?)"

It was on April 1st.
Not the April 1st when the school piano at assembly sounded like a harpsichord, because DH had put two chair legs, a board rubber and a milk bottle on the strings; it was another year.

(Continued in next message)
Post number:
272
10th of November 2011 08:51 AM by David Hitchin
Someone had written something in the dust on a filthy master's car (it was the car which was filthy). The whole school was called into the hall by grim-faced masters, and we were told that whoever had done this had caused serious damage by scratching the paint. Did it happen to Tabby's knife-edged Mayflower? We were told that we would all stay there until someone owned up - and no one did. Eventually we were all told to return to our classrooms. As we went up the stairs everyone started walking very heavily in step - thump, thump, thump. We were told to halt, and everyone on the stairs at the time was caned. I can't remember which other offence was committed that day.