HOVE GRAMMAR SCHOOL WEBSITE

If you wish to leave a message on this page please click the 'Sign Guest Book' button.

Use the "Contact Us" tab to the left to send an email to the organisers of the site.

 

 

  

 
 
Current Comments:
Post number:
391
17th of May 2012 11:03 AM by Brian Coomber website: http://brian.coomber@adur.gov.uk
The first Gallery picture, Boggle Hole. I am centre with the bobble hat. I still wear them, but a little more sophisticated. I do not remember Wiily Pope or Rex Heburn on the trip but Ken Garland took the picture.We visited York, Ken was a Yorkshireman and a photo of the group in the Mansion House appeared on the front page of the Yorkshire Post. I enjoyed History and eventually whilst a commuter to London from Shoreham I obtained an Honours Degree in History from the OU
Post number:
390
5th of May 2012 05:46 PM by David Langley
A substantial part of the modern problem is elfansafety. So many big society activities are hamstrung by pettifogging rules and regulations, and the fear of litigation.
As an example, I RAN THE SCHOOL SCOUT CAMP in 1955 at the age of 18, just. NO OTHER SCOUTER, JUST EXCELLENT 15 year old junior leaders. We went, with our kit, in the back of a removal van.
No harm done, a good time had by all. No checks on nasty sexual proclivities, criminal record, nothing.
In early teens the Chambers/Hawksworth/Langley clan more or less lived up the elm trees in Holmes Avenue all the summer half of the year.
Don't blame the teachers, blame the parents.
Post number:
389
5th of May 2012 11:50 AM by Geoff Stoner
I find the latest photographs in the Gallery as provided by Roger Clarke very poignant. If I remember rightly junior camps and such activities took place during school holidays. Would teachers these days give of their time so freely?
Post number:
388
29th of April 2012 02:35 PM by WEBMASTER
1961 Junior Camp photos added to Gallery - kindly provided by Roger Clark (Science master at HGSB/Blatch from 1960 to 1995).
Post number:
387
26th of April 2012 02:50 PM by David Watts
I remember you well Nigel, and Les Hamiltion too - or "Sir" as I used to call him when he taught me first year maths. The drawing of a "high pot in use" to demonstrate Pythagoras has never been forgotten.
Post number:
386
25th of April 2012 09:56 PM by Nigel hill
I was there 67-74 good times
Post number:
385
15th of April 2012 03:13 PM by David Langley
School Mags.

Please does anyone have access to 1948 to 1952/3, I just want a page or two scanned if possible.
Post number:
384
12th of April 2012 09:27 PM by David Morris
Message for Frank Langley

Thank you for your response to my enquiry. This will be the master who taught me Maths in my
O level year as I recognise his initials. I have looked at the 1946 photo of the prefects and recognise him sitting second left. Would the lad standing top left be yourself? I once bounced off him in a boys versus masters football match.

As regards his brother, the school has emailed me saying that one of the five old boys that are remembered on the school's war memorial is L H Steele. I have looked at the CWGC web site and find that he died in France and his parents were residing in Portslade.

Thank you for helping me .

David Morris
Post number:
383
11th of April 2012 06:59 AM by frank langley
Re David Morris's enquiry on post 373 about a teacher called Steele, it may be the D.E.Steele who left in 1946 for Bristol University. He is among the prefects in the School Photos last in the top line. He was on the maths and science side, but I know nothing more of him.
Post number:
382
8th of April 2012 01:03 PM by mike peacock
1954-1958/9. After reading about end of term reports, I came across my report book recently after an autumn cleanup; well I am down-under after all. It never mentioned at all that I was suspended in my last term for playing truant once too often (ironic really, being suspended for playing truant!) and was only allowed back to take my O’ levels.
Post number:
381
8th of April 2012 09:25 AM by David Hitchin
David Langley wrote, "Mr Lucas never had a nickname ...... much respected, dry old stick, taught GRAMMAR like what it ain't these days, innit."

Nicknames were probably time and generation dependent; in my time he was known as "Emma" from his enthusiasm about the Jane Austen novel of the same name.

Yes, he taught it good!
Post number:
380
7th of April 2012 10:10 PM by John Pike
Mr Hamilton,I will always remmber Mr Pope's catchphrase, "commas come in pairs"!
Post number:
379
7th of April 2012 09:55 AM by David Langley
Mr Lucas attempted to teach me English, his handwriting left something to be desired.
My father : "it says here 'very poor'!"

DeL : "it says very GOOD!"

I came second that year.

Mr Lucas never had a nickname ...... much respected, dry old stick, taught GRAMMAR like what it ain't these days, innit.
Post number:
378
6th of April 2012 05:14 PM by Bob Kennett
...... on the subject of reports one regular absentee had an end of term comment from one master reading "Who is this boy I have not met him"
and the same boy received a mark of eleven out of ten from the much loved Bill Lawrence.
for a good piece of work.
Both teachers would probably be reprimanded nowadays for "demoralising" and "excessive praise" respectively.
Post number:
377
5th of April 2012 09:06 PM by les hamilton
Willie Pope must hold the record for the shortest report. One term on a boy's English report he wrote"Much improved. Can he keep it up?" The next term's report was "No".
Post number:
376
5th of April 2012 05:48 PM by David Morris
Message for David Hitchen

Thank you for your kind words about my memory. I'm sorry to say that it was pure luck that I came across a Junior Science Society report in a 1954 school magazine that mentioned your talk. I was looking for some information for Dave Langley and got side tracked - in fact side tracked many times as I relived many memories of my time at Hove County. I also did a recent talk to the U3a on Genealogy.

One of our other contibutors, Richard Chinchen, spoke about "Evidence for the Existence of Flying Saucers" around the same time. Richard did query the christian name of Aslet as shown on a Scout Troop photograph. At that time many troop members were known by their nicknames and I couldn't recall his first name when submitting the photograph.
Post number:
375
4th of April 2012 10:28 PM by David Hitchin
David Morris has a good memory. Yes, I gave a talk to the Junior Science Society on fossils, and another one about drilling for oil. I have just finished a course of lectures on statistics for the local U3A, and given a a talk about clavichords, and also a session about local history. They followed a lecture for organ-builders on the use of the Fourier Transform.
My predilection for talking to any willing group of listeners has got worse with age.

I vaguely remember Mr Steele, who I don't think stayed at the school for very long.
Post number:
374
2nd of April 2012 10:08 PM by David Gregory
Postings on this site are a bit like buses and policemen. You wait weeks for one to come along with nothing happening and then three come along at the same time!
Post number:
373
2nd of April 2012 08:46 PM by David Morris
David Hitchin appears somewhat modest if he feels he should have disposed of his report book (Post 371). Was he the Hitchin that gave a talk about collecting and identifying fossils to the Junior Science Society in his early days at the School?

David Morris
Post number:
372
2nd of April 2012 07:51 PM by David Morris
Can anybody remember a Maths teacher called Steele? At the end of my fourth year I was struggling with the subject and fearing the worst. However at the beginning of my fifth Year, in 1955, Mr Steele joined us and taught the Lower Fifth and with his help I was fortunate to pass the O level. He was an old boy and I think this was his first post. I believe he moved on after a short period.

Was he the brother of one of the few old boys who was killed during World War 2 ? Has anybody a list of the names on the School's War Memorial?

David Morris 1952 - 1956
Post number:
371
2nd of April 2012 05:39 PM by david langley
Is there anybody there?
Post number:
370
11th of March 2012 06:18 PM by David Hitchin
I still have my report book, although a wiser man would have destroyed it long ago. My favourite comment was from Woods, about PE. I had managed to dodge gym for a whole term (lurking in the changing rooms, etc - you know how it was done) and he wrote, "Tries hard". Yes, and I succeeded.
Post number:
369
3rd of March 2012 10:57 PM by David Langley
I have mine, its contents both comfort and rebuke me.

A stream, B stream, C stream, been there, done that, got the T shirt. Detentions. Absences. Could do better. Clown of the class.

Praise from dear Messrs Lucas and Allen, big little men both, who influenced my life in a way of which I hope they would have been pleased. Scorn from Miz. Martin. Humour from Jumbo and Scruff. Studied lack of comment re. PE and sporting prowess, except Chess [of all things] and umpiring cricket.

At least they noticed I was there!
Post number:
368
3rd of March 2012 09:41 PM by David Morris
Could anybody tell me what happened to our report books when we left school for the last time? I never received mine but a classmate I spoke to recently has his.

David Morris
Post number:
367
2nd of March 2012 12:48 AM by rod norris
Dear Bob and Geoff,I'll be back in town in August and look forward to seeing you both, but rather than a coffee in George st., how about a Fosters in the Marlipins at Shoreham.Anybody care to join us?
Post number:
366
1st of March 2012 06:09 PM by Bob Kennett
Thanks for the heraldic info - birds with no feet eh! As I sat with Geoff Stoner in a cafe in George Street we noticed the Hove Crest interestingly displayed on the gable end of a shop roof on the west side opposite .The Old Boys Association badge is actually almost entirely the same as the Hove Town crest with the motto changed from "Floreat Hova" to "Nisi Spiritu Dei Nihil" and with the addition of a windmill at the top - come to think of it that makes it sound even more like the work of a committee.
Post number:
365
29th of February 2012 05:37 PM by David Gregory
Re old boys blazer badge and heraldic significance. The birds are almost certainly martlets and always depicted with short tufts of feathers instead of legs. This inability to land is often seen to symbolize the constant quest for knowledge, learning and adventure. This restlessness is the reason for the use of the martlet as the cadency mark of the fourth son: The first son inherited the estate, the second and third traditionally went into the church and the army and the fourth son received no part of the family wealth and had to earn his own, the martlet was also a symbol of hard work, perseverance, and a nomadic household. The old boys are in good company as the martlet is used in the arms of various university colleges including Oxford and Cambridge.
Post number:
364
28th of February 2012 08:20 PM by David Morris
Message for David Langley

Thanks again for your response. As I recall matters there was a problem with finding leaders for the camps of 1957 and 1958. 1957 was Jamboree year and I'm pretty certain that no Summer camp was held. At that time I seem to recall that Mrs March was having a terrible back trouble - she wore a back support for some time. There was also a hiccup with another Summer camp which was probably 1958 as there were no warranted Scoutmasters to take the whole fortnight at Ober Heath. That's where you and Brian Green stepped in along with each of your friends. I was there the whole fortnight as Quartermaster and organising camp activities including a long jump competition over the stream. The day out was to the Isle of Wight via Lymington.
Post number:
363
28th of February 2012 04:32 PM by David Langley
DM: mention of Brian Green ...... I had clean forgotten him! He it was who fell for Skip March's cry at camp lunch of "there's an intruder getting into the store tent!". Brian hurtled off in his bumbly good-natured way ......... "nobody here Skip!". "And while you are there bring the pickled onions!".

Not sure why we youngsters led the camp: I asked Nigel Butler [six months older and an ex-scout himself] to help me, but I think I was the only warranted scouter at the camp. It was the quality of the Seniors and Tags that made it possible.

Thank you for naming names. I will dig out a picture of Dennis Bentley to post ...... a stalwart of the troop until family emigrated lock stock and empties.

Would love to have a reminder of Brian: such a good-natured enthusiastic bloke
Post number:
362
28th of February 2012 03:23 PM by David Morris
Message for David Langley

Many thanks for your response - Yes we must catch up with the last 50 years.

For the time being I will try and name the troop at Ober Heath in 1958. I think you shared leader's duties with Brian Green as I have,somewhere, a picture of him with two of his pals. Do you recall George King at this camp?

As you say a splendid group of lads. In the back row are myself, Robin (Bob) Irvine, David (Del) Langley, Fred (Tags) Teague, Rob Harris, Dave Allen, Nick Garbutt, Graham Edwards, Dick Aslet, Derek (Ben) Fenn, and Tony? (Phil) Phillips.

The middle row contains Mike Ward, John Carter, David (Dibs) Garbutt, Pete Cox and John (Pip) Stimpson. At the front, are Mike, Pete, Alan Millard, (Min) Minall and Mike. No more room ! Dave M.
Post number:
361
28th of February 2012 01:53 PM by David Morris
Message for Geff Stoner

You are probably correct as to the time that Eddy departured to Hampshire. 50 years is a long time ago! At least we could both remember him after all this time.

David Morris
Post number:
360
28th of February 2012 11:51 AM by Geoff Stoner
Message for David Morris. Thanks for that. I thought it was Graham, but as I remembered he had left 55/6 I assumed that my eyes were failing even more than they are.
Post number:
359
28th of February 2012 09:20 AM by David Langley
David Morris, so pleased you have reacted! I will ask webmaster if he will put us in touch. A great deal of water under the bridge since Dunstable ....... for both of us!

It would be good to attach names to the photo: I can do some, but far from all.
In the photo I don't look old enough to be in charge of a bicycle, let alone a scout camp!
Post number:
358
27th of February 2012 08:45 PM by David Morris
Message for Geoff Stoner.

The lad between Garbutt and Fenn is Graham Edwards.( I believe intake of September 1953.) He left Hove to live in Hampshire, maybe Eastleigh, after 2 years. He came to the camp as he was still in contact with one of the Troop.

I hope to name all in the photo shortly.

Regards to David Langley (Del). I believe we last met at Dunstable in 1959 or 60 when I came over from Cambridge for a visit with Robin Irvine. I hope my memory after all these years is correct. That photo at Oberheath really surprised me.

David Morris
Post number:
357
27th of February 2012 06:06 PM by David Langley
Sorry, no: would that I could remember ALL the names, I would certainly add them.

A great bunch of lads: bright, tough, and fun.
Post number:
356
27th of February 2012 05:01 PM by Geoff Stoner
Question for David Langley re post 349 (or anybody else). Do you know the name of the boy between Nick Garbutt and Derek Fenn, back row, 'photo 64?
Post number:
355
25th of February 2012 10:11 AM by David Langley
Rod, Dennis B is in Canberra and is in touch with another Old Hovian also Canberra. I met them both on our most recent visit.
Post number:
354
24th of February 2012 11:39 PM by Rod Norris
It would be interesting to find out how many old boys are now residing in Oz. I've been here since '66 and have met only two others,those being Dave 'Zebo' Simm and John Watt,both being long time residents also.
Post number:
353
24th of February 2012 10:25 PM by David Langley
Congratulations on the superb series of school photos: my parents managed to lose mine when I was at an age when I was not interested,but I now have a means of remembering old friends and indeed enemies. Just think: between us we could probably put a name to almost every set of chops!
There was a legend [fostered by Tabby] that some brave souls had appeared more than once, having run from one end to the other round the back as the clockwork whirled. He said, somewhat unnecessarily, that he always thrashed the miscreants.
One face I have sought in vain, my dear good friend Dennis Bentley, now a long-time Australian, and retired senior civil servant. Can anyone help? Period approx. 1950-56.
Post number:
352
23rd of February 2012 02:30 PM by Ted Keeper
Shame about Terry and Mike - in my memory they have a bicycle connection, Terry, who would bring his into the class-room if he could and spent most of his spare time riding. Mike was collared by the local police and put up befor the magistrate for riding his bike on the pavement, fined ten shillings.
Terry was pretty good with the paint brush and colours and had a wonderfully vivid style.
So Jim joined the paras - he was daft enough for anything with a dare! Fond memories of hitch-hiking to the west country with him
Post number:
351
23rd of February 2012 09:36 AM by David Langley
I believe Race is on Friends Reunited. GMJ Stevenson was reputed to have been commissioned into Paras. I am still in touch with Butler, who was my best man. Chambers and Blanden RIP.
A look at the blown-up 1951 official photo brings the names flooding back! At least a third were ex-Portland Road Juniors.

I well remember the bull-sh1t from you and Jim S. when you got back from being hard men: tricounis and belays, pitons and the rest of it ........ caused an outbreak of shorts in the VIth as the Scout fraternity vied you two to be seen to be tough.

As for slang: a fist fight behind the Gym was always a BUNDLE .... the cry went up and boys flocked to see Lyddiard either a. beating the lights out of a bigger boy, or b. a bigger boy occasionally reversing the process. Not often enough.
Post number:
350
22nd of February 2012 10:10 PM by Ted Keeper
Seeing David at the Scout Camp reminded me that Jim Stevenson and I went up to Cumberland (as it used to be) to the Outward Bound Mountain School at Eskdale to take part in the new "Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme". We had a wonderful time climbing mountains that we never saw the like of in the South Downs and running round the Tarn in front of the school, a large pond really, and then throwing ourselves into it; all before breakfast. At Eastertime it was freeeezing, but unless your head was wet you had to go in again.
Then there were the annual Geography Camps.
Is anybody in touch with Jim Stevenson, Toby Charman, Jack McLean, John Race etc - I guess that we have all managed to grow old and not stayed in contact. By the time we left in '54 some of us had had been together ten years
Post number:
349
22nd of February 2012 05:19 PM by David Hitchin
Does anyone remember any of the 1958 school vocabulary, for example "Drobe" ( screwdriver), "Wonger" (anything that vibrates with a wonging sound, like a ruler or something in the physics lab, or "squorrels" (small bit fierce furry beasts which came from Uxbridge at the speed of light and flew up trouser legs to nibble the vitals)? I am sure that there were many other words understood only by the denizens of HCGSB.
Post number:
348
21st of February 2012 05:26 PM by David Langley
Three fotos posted today, taken at Oberheath on annual School Scout Troop Camp 1958.
>
> In the Group, the incredibly young Assistant Scout Master, one David Langley,
standing, third from left.
>
> Skipper March was, I think, a last-minute drop-out with illness, so the show
must go on, and I nominally took charge. The thugs in the back row were all
14-17 years or so, and more-or-less ran things, as young men could be relied on
to do in those days.
>
> The twosome are David Morris in tracksuit, Nigel Butler in very little.
Post number:
347
18th of February 2012 10:53 PM by peter mower
was at the Knoll school for boys 1968-1972 was suprised to see an old school mate leave a post on here , Leroy Corney now living in Australia. i'm still living & working in Hove.
Post number:
346
18th of February 2012 03:47 PM by Webmaster
SCHOOL PHOTOS ARE BEING ENLARGED FOR EASIER RECOGNITION
We are limited to 1024px X 978px so the photos have been uploaded in smaller sections.
A separate section has been started at the end of the School Photos page.
This operation takes time - thank you for your patience.
P.S. MORE SCHOOL PHOTOS NEEDED!
Post number:
345
17th of February 2012 03:17 PM by David Langley
There again the clock might have been celebratory of the end of the Keeper/ Langley generation, recently departed to pastures new?

I must have missed the formal Sex Education. Mine was provided by young ladies of HCGS[G] and Brighton & Hove High, on the Downs above West Blatchington.

Phoooooaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr!
Post number:
344
17th of February 2012 10:14 AM by ted keeper
Re David's comments on the clock.
Was the arrival of the clock not co-incidental with the school's "stick a tick to me" aspirations to show the world that it hade taught the kids so well that they no longer needed the assistance of Goofy and Mickey Mouse in order to read the time ?
Post number:
343
16th of February 2012 09:29 PM by Ted Keeper
I remember "sex education", about 2 40 minute sessions from Nobby Clark who delivered the whole lot with a rather large grin across his face while seated at the master's desk at the foot of the serried ranks of the music room to a delighted fourth form a9 could have been an even more delighted third form, though). Of course just having dissected a rabbit for Baldy it was all a bit too late for some of us.
Any gaps in our education were supplied by the train boys who seemed all to have good grasp of what we needed to know