An excellent photograph has arrived from Colin Wadey who has kindly permitted us to re-publish it here. This is Middle Road Secondary Boys School in 1946, around 10 years after the school was built. Colin has listed his classmates – with quite a few familiar Shoreham names in the roll.
LtoR Mr Jeavons (Head), M Hearsey, P Tillet, E Willboughby, R Sheeon, R Saint, Fermer, Barker, Abethall, Mr Osborne (Master)
Collins, Cherry, Ellis, Dean, Heaster, Aylen, Yarlot, Grimwood, Payne, Kilner, Bishop
Horner, Morris, Lees, Carden, Hobden, Gordon, Bridle, Nash, Wadey
Peter Tillett sent in this photograph from his time in 1946 of Teaching and Dinner Staff. His recollection of the names is below.
A typical schoolday, by Gerry White:
Mounting my Cycle I waved Mum goodbye, and went to Freehold Street where I met classmate Terry Wells, and together, we cycled to School via Hebe, Ravens roads, Mill Lane, Buckingham Road, through the Ham field alottments to Middle road. Pedalling past the parade of shops, and Teddy Burfoots Nursery on the left, and keeping Adelaide square, and Cooks orchards on the left, we soon arrived at Middle road Secondary Modern school for boys. Placing our bikes in the cylce sheds, we made our way to the playground.
On arrival Mr Edwards said to me “put on your cap boy ” I replied , ” yes Sir,” and placed my school cap on my head,and adjusted the peak. Just at that instant, the School bell rang, and all boys lined up in their various classes, in preparation to go to our class rooms. At the Science lab, class 1a my class of 36 pupils, was greeted by Mr Harry Parker, who would say “Sit up, shut up and try and look intelligent” As Mr Parker read the class register, each boy when his name was called answered “sir”, and boys who were absent, the boy in the next desk answered ” Not here Sir”.
Following Class registration, on Friday the whole school assembled in the Hall/ Gymnasium, for morning prayers, and reading notices. As each class filled into the Gym, we had to wear plimsoles, or socks only this prevented damage to the wooden floor. The serried ranks of boys lined up accross the hall, class 1a at the front, and class 4a at the year, there were on average 440 boys in the school and about 20 teachers. Standing to attention as Mr Jeavons the headmaster , came in and went to place his papers on the lectern, he said ” Good morning School” The reply was deafening, “Good morning Sir”. Mr Jeavons then nodded to Mr Hansford, the Music teacher, to turn the Radiogram on for the BBC Prayer for the day. Following the prayer Mr Jeavons then would say ” We will now sing to be a Pilgim” and again nodded to Mr Hansford to play the piano, to accompany the Hymn. Having read out the School notices, Mr Jeavons dismissed the School to classes.
Our first periods were French Lessons, with Monsieur Binns. Having seated in class, Mr Binns would say “Bonjour Mes Enfants” to which the class replied ” Bonjour Monsieur Binns”, the class then having written 20 new words of French to increase our Vocabulary, then conjugated the French Verbs,until Dinner when the School bell sounded . The smell of boiled cabbage and potato’s hung in the air as we paid our 7 pence to the Dinner Lady, and queued for dinner. At the table some boys scoffed the food as though there would be no tomorrow. Eating what I could, we left the Dining Hall, to the Playground where several boys played football with a tennis ball, others stood in groups, or played leap frog, or watched with interest as an older boy tuned his crystal set cats whisker radio.
After dinner again the bell rang, and Mr Davies, shouted out class 1a get changed for PE.at the Gymnasium, the boys lined up in their House teams, Ribbons were issued red for St George, blue for St Andrews , my team, yellow for St Davids, and finally green for St Patricks. Teams lined up for Physical Excercise, and team games. After PE there was no showers, to remove sweat, and our cllass made its way to Mr Liddells class, for last period of Maths. At 4 pm the bell again rang for the end of lessons for the day. leaving class quietly we made our way to the Bike shed to collect our cycles for the homeward journey.
Gerry White