Hadley Bourne School

posted by Rosalie Southam on 08 Sept 2007 at 8:13 pm

When I lived in Bexhill I attended Hadley Bourne School, in which road it was I cannot remember as I was only 10 when I left to go to St. Peters. Can anyone tell me where this was and any other information you may have about this school.

Thank you.

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Hadley Bourne School

posted by Dorothy on 12 Sept 2007 at 8:22 am

Have lived in Bexhill for 70 years and never heard of this school.
Your mother must know name of road why not ask her or has she forgotten also

Hadley Bourne School

posted by Lyn Edwards on 29 Sept 2007 at 10:04 pm

Hi

I went to Hadley Bourne School from about 1949 to 1954. My name was Lynda Smith then,and my grandparents owned and ran the shoe repairers Merrit & Truan in Sackville Road Bexhill.

Sadly my Mother has since died but my Father Leslie Smith is still alive and in a Rest Home in Bexhill called St Vincent's. He is now 92!

I remember Mrs Hollingdale well of Hadley Bourne School.

I am now 60 years old. How old are you?

Hadley Bourne School

posted by Lyn Edwards on 29 Sept 2007 at 10:18 pm

Hi

It closed down many years ago. Can't remember name of road but it was on your right as you went from Sackville Rd (Iron Bridge End) to go up to Boots Chemists.

It was only a small house really with two small classrooms. One at the top for Infants and one downstairs for Seniors.

Lynda Smith as I was then.

--------------
Note from Webmaster
The road you are probably referring to is one of those off Parkhurst Road - Linden Road, Albany Road or Albert Road? See maps section of website here.

Hadley Bourne School+

posted by Dru Tramaseur on 06 Oct 2007 at 3:22 pm

Hi - I went to that school! I remember we were all ages in the same classroom - I think each row represented one year as the older children were at the back. I also remember "progressing" from upstairs to downstairs. Downstairs we had to study French and German, and reading out loud took up a lot of time!

The school was in Linden Road - the first parallel with Sackville Road going East. I remember I had to wait for the bus outside the De La Warr Pavilion. I was there from about 1953 to about 1959.

I think it could best be described as an 'old dame's school!!! Mrs Hollingdale appeared very old to me then - but perhaps she wasn't so old after all! (Probably younger than I am now!!)

My maiden name was Drusilla Gittins

Hadley Bourne

posted by Rosalie Southam on 07 Oct 2007 at 11:30 am

Hi - Thank you all for the messages, I went to Hadley Bourne from 1956 to 1959 (I think), and Mum can't quite remember when I left. I then went to St. Peters for a short while, before transferring to Downs Sec Mod for a very short time, and finally moving to the Midlands, where I am now.

For those of you who put how old you are, well I am 67 and still have relatives in Bexhill - Some of you might even know them. I would dearly like to contact them as Mum is now 92 and still asks about her relatives. My Mums maiden name was Errey and she is an Aunt to Dorothy who replied to my original message. I know that her sister Ada had 3 children, Maureen, Sylvia and Ivan and she would like to contact them.

Hope that someone can help here.
My thanks to you all.
Rosalie Southam nee Bryant.

Locating St Stephen's Church

posted by Dennis Bolton on 20 Nov 2007 at 4:57 pm

This church is located somewhere along (or up) a road called 'The Downs', which is a road off the A259 at Little
Common, Bexhill-on-Sea

I Remember Hadley Bourne

posted by ann welch on 07 Jan 2009 at 9:02 pm

I remember Drusilla and Lynda Smith well. Lynda moved up to Bromsgrove i think . We corresponded a few times. Hadley Bourne was a house in Linden Rd , near the De La Warr pavillion.It was run by Ivy Hollindale who resided there with her aunt, a Mrs Rodgers and her cat James. She was a woman of another century to us I think. She wore her hair in an Eton cut and her skirts were of heavy tweed . She usually wore rust or wine clothes and had long necklaces of amber beads that hung over her ample chest. Nowadays she might be mistaken for a Buddhist or a Rajneesh follower. She was in fact a Catholic convert something that fascinated me, particularly because she had a great admiration for Bertrand Russell , who was an agnostic. It was the time of the Aldermaston marches and he was quite old then when he was getting arrested for his sit down protests. She admired the courage of his convictions very much.

I was at Hadley Bourne from the age of five until sixteen . I'm 61 now. I went downstairs when they had stopped studying Latin and we did Spanish in it's place along with French and German none of which i speak although I know some rudiments.We did a lot of verse speaking and recorder playing .We read the Bible every morning, the synoptics, the Acts of the Apostles Genesis and I think the book of Ruth from the King James Bible each reading a verse out aloud. We read Shakespeare too this way, no one seemed to have trouble reading then. I think the boys left at eleven . i remember Michael Morris whose parents owned a shoe shop in Western Rd. Barry Henderson, Anthony Lovegrove and his younger brother Warwick, Michael Richford, Larry Makels who was jewish and whose parents had a hairdressing salon . Larry never had to do Scripture lessons because he was Jewish , he and Gillian Bannister a Jehovah's witness got to sit in the Music room instead during the lessons. At the back sat the seniors when i was there they were Bebe Fraser , who had very blonde hair and an unusually deep voice, Sylvia Pledger , Carol Seward who always seemed sweet natured , then there was Rosemary Rouse whose parents had a bookshop. I remember Ivana and Sonia Belohorska, Margaret Levett, Janet Burden, Geraldine Moye,Susan Paddon , her father was a Building Contractor, and she was a great fan of Lester Pigott the Jockey. in fact i think she had to write a composition about who she most admired for her GCE and she choose Lester Pigott . There was also Philippa Beryl Jane Vaughan Harbourne. Our uniform was grey and royal blue or navy. We belonged to Houses and mine was Hanover the colour of which was green. There was Waterloo [purple I think] and Trafalgar. We had longer holidays than the other schools and no homework but we had a longer schoolday . There was no sport although we occasional went to the park for a game of rounders .There was no science but we had botany. Sometimes the inspectors came around , one wrote something on the board in French that none of us understood, and our lack of skill in languages was noted. A few years later the same inspector came around, wrote the same thing on the board something about walking to Paris with no shoes . I put my hand up , and told him what it meant . He was rather surprised as was Ivy , but then I ruined it because i told him, a little snidely, that I had remembered from the last time he came. Ofstead would have closed us down of course these days, but Ivy always said her purpose in teaching us was so that we would be able to teach ourselves. She really did believe in lifelong learning. I think she probably had the greatest influence on me of anyone I knew. I used to have a school photo but lost it and I so often wonder what became of everybody.

Hadley Bourne School

posted by Rosalie Southam nee Bryant on 08 Jan 2009 at 4:50 pm

Hi Ann

At last someone else went to Hadley Bourne. I was there from about the age of 5 until I left when I was 10 then I went to St. Peters. We moved to Kidderminster when I was 12 which is only 6 miles from Bromsgrove and in fact I chair a group for the over 50's in Bromsgrove now. I wonderful if Lynda does in fact come to this meeting.

I am older than you I am now 68 but can remember the lessons and the inspector who came round. We always had a great time and I can also remember being told that they are educating us for life.

I too feel that they have a great influence on my life as I am still learing to this day.

Looking For Irene Nee Browning

posted by Ann Welch on 04 Feb 2009 at 9:55 pm

I am looking for my mother's cousin Irene, whose maiden name was Browning. She had been married to Pat Collins. and had two daughters . The younger daughter Catherine was once a dancer in the Young Generation , her sister was a court stenographer. Irene remarried and moved to Cooden Beach . I think she was a member of the Lions Club , although I wrote to the Lions I did not learn of her new name or whereabouts.Her father was William Browning of Glebe Farm Catsfield

Lynda Collins

posted by Sheila Varian on 15 Feb 2009 at 10:06 pm

I went to Bexhill Down School for Girls with Lynda Collins in the mid 60s. Last I heard she was still in Bexhill but that was quite a long time ago (probably in the 90s). I think she may have married a policeman.

Her Grandad used to be a driver for the Dry Cleaners in Devonshire Road and also had a small holding in Catsfield with chicken sheds.

Mrs Irene (Collins)remarried (probably in the 70s) and moved from Bexhill to St Leonards on Sea.

Hadley Bourne

posted by Susan Gale (nee Gray) on 15 Jan 2010 at 9:57 am

I attended Hadley Bourne school until I left at age 10 to move to Lewes and I believe it closed down shortly after that. There were only 8 of us left.

I can remember playing the recorder and taking part in the Music Festivals that were held each year in Hastings.

I also used to catch the bus opposite the De La Warr Pavilion as I lived in Barrack Road and used to go home some lunchtimes.

I can't remember everyone's names but there was a girl called Shirley and I can remember Suzanne Durrant whose father owned a pluming business in the next street.

I can remember that it came as a shock when we moved to Lewes and I went to a 'normal' school - completely different and somewhat frightening to Hadley Bourne, especially having to do sport!

I am now 60 years of age and left in 1959/60.

Hadley Bourne Memories

posted by Ann Welch on 07 Mar 2010 at 9:37 pm

Dear Susan, I stayed on till Hadley Bourne closed, there were only two or three of us by then, which reminds us of the poem we used to read' First there was one of us then there were two of us, then there was one bird more, wild white seagulls treading the ocean floor' can't understand why I don't remember you . I do remember a Susan but her surname slips my mind, something like Crawford I thought Could that be you? She has dark hair cut in a bob I remember. I remember Suzanne she lived on Barrack Road I think. I wonder what happened to everybody?

Susan - I Remember You

posted by Ann Welch on 07 Mar 2010 at 9:44 pm

Hi Susan , I see now your name was Gray, yes I think you were the thin girl with the dark hair no? The name now rings a bell but I thought you were older than ten. Yes it must have been strange going to a 'normal' school.

Hello Ann

posted by Catherine Ireland on 29 Dec 2011 at 3:46 pm

Dear Ann I can't believe I have come across your message. I have been trying to find info on my father Patrick Collins. Somehow I was led to this site. Mummy is well and still living in BexhillMy stepfather Charles Brookes Died 18 months ago. I know Mummy would love to hear from you. I will call her and get her to email you if you you could give me you email address. love Catherine nee Collins

Hello Sheila Varian

posted by Catherine Ireland on 29 Dec 2011 at 8:37 pm

Hello Sheila, Are you Sheila Davis that was Lynda's friend at school? when we lived in St Leonards Rd in Bexhill, I do hope so as I know Lynda would love to be in touch with you ..


Catherine nee Collins

Hadley Bourne School

posted by Mary Upton(nee Turner) on 23 Jun 2012 at 7:37 pm

Hello Ann
I have just read your memories of the school. I was there for 2 years and remember most of those people. Mrs Hollingdale was someone you could not forget and do you remember Miss Jean who was in an upstairs classroom?
It certainly brought back memories reading about everyone. I lived in Park Road then and remember the trips to the opposite Egerton Park from the school. Have you heard from any of the people you have mentioned?

Message To Mary Upton,nee Turner

posted by Ann Welch on 02 Jan 2013 at 12:01 am

Hello Mary,regarding your question about hearing from any of these people the answer is 'no'. I did find Gillian Bannister on Facebook though. I remember Miss Jean and some others come to mind, Michael Richford, Anthony and Warwick Lovegrove, I regret I don't remember you but maybe you were Upstairs when I was Downstairs. I remember playing rounders in the park. I do wonder what they are all doing now. I live in Kent and the island of Lesvos and am an artist.

Hadley Bourne

posted by Brian Sinclair on 24 Feb 2013 at 12:43 am

I was there. I remember Miss Jean. Then downstairs to Mrs Hollingdale. The coke fire, gas lights, Seniors at the back, Ivana Belghoska and her sister, Christine Frost, the Goldsmith Girls, Michael Morris, Grahame Wright. Hot milk in summer Euchh!!! Walk to Egertion Park occasionally. Smelly outdoor toilet.

Great grounding in English but not so good for maths and techie subjects .... for me any way, although when I escaped from Bexhill I eventualy wound up in engineering and BT. We were a special generation who adapted to the changes after the war.

Sheila Davies

posted by Sheila on 16 Apr 2013 at 5:01 pm

Yes, I used to go to school with Lynda. Be great to hear from her. sheilav123[AT]yahoo.co.uk

Hadley Bourne School

posted by brenda etheridge nee Preston on 01 Apr 2014 at 4:46 pm

I used to attend this school. It was in Linden Road. Some names I recall was a girl named Bebe and a boy who I played recorder with in a lot of music festivals. His name was Barry Henderson. Those are the only two I remember but wonder where they are now.

Hadley Bourne School-Lyn Edwards

posted by Brenda on 06 Apr 2014 at 8:29 pm

I think you may have been there when I was Lyn. I attended the infants till I was 7 then I went to Boarding school. I then went to St Barnabas, then to the Downs school then back to Hadley Bourne before returning to the downs school around 1953.!

Hadley Bourne School

posted by Brenda on 14 Apr 2014 at 1:55 pm

Oh wow Brian. Now there are some names I had forgotten. Imagine how I felt when Mrs Hollingdale came to have her hair done where I trained to be a hairdresser! She would come to have it cut,washed and set at the beginning of each half term. I don't believe it was dealt with in between but we are talking about a very Edwardian lady.

Hadley Bourne

posted by Eileen Lewis nee Avery on 14 Jun 2014 at 4:18 pm

I went to Hadley Bourne from the age of 5 to 11 (1955-1961) I was initially upstairs with Miss Oddy I think was her name when I went downstairs I remember being friends with Elizabeth Paddon who had an elder sister there called Susan, I also remember Carol Seward who was a very sweet natured girl who made us all covers for our bibles, I also remember the names Bebe Fraser, Larry Mackiels, Robert Cockburn, Gillian Bannister, Ann Welch. My brother Eric who was 10 years older than me also attended this school. I remember Mrs Hollingdale with great affection, her tweed skirts, amber beads and also when her son paid her a visit how she would disappear into the back room for ages. After taking the 11+ I then went to The Downs.

Hadley Bourne

posted by Ann Welch on 25 Feb 2015 at 12:21 pm

I remember the day when I think Brian Sinclair was pushed through the window by Barry Henderson . Do I remember that correctly ? I always think Brian had red hair and Barry was blonde.
Susan Paddon sat next to me, she was good at mental arithmetic which we had every Monday and I was useless at . Hated Monday mornings , however I was good at the arithmetic problems. Susan used to copy my answers for the other subjects though because I was quite good at History and General knowledge but Ivy never knew this so was very surprised when exam time came and Susan didn't do so well, as she assumed she was her best student. I think Ivy Hollindale was interested in the whole student as a true educator should be,not in just passing exams. One day we had an inspector come. He wrote on the board in French ' I walked to Paris without shoes' many years later he turned up again and did the same thing , this time I put my hand up , which surprised him and told him what it said, but I couldn't help being snide and telling him that he had written the same thing the last time he came years before. I'm sure we didn't get very good marks for French. Now I remember Brenda Preston , she sat in the back row with Sylvia Pledger and Bebe Frazer who was blonde and had a very low voice . Sonia and Ivana Belahorska lived on Sackville road I think . There was a girl who came later whose name was Phillippa Beryl Jane Vaughan Harbourne, we knew this because if you asked her name she would always give you the whole thing!
There was a girl called Janet Barden and Susan Cole and Susan Hill whose parents took me to see Cliff Richard , which seemed to create great excitement in all the young girls there and I'm still trying to understand why? I think I did see Michael Morris in his shoe shop one day when I was visiting the town. I remember Eileen with sadness because her brother Eric died very young whilst she was at school, and Carol Seward was known to be very sweet, and there was Risemary Rouse whose family owned the bookshop. Our education had lots of gaps but we were taught to educate ourselves I think and that we were very lucky to be exposed to someone early in life like Ivy who had a mind and a real vocation. I wish I could see her again to thank her as I think she had the biggest influence on my life.There was a school photograph but I lost it , if anyone has one I wonder if they could email it to me at ann.j.welch@gmail.com

Hadley Bourne School

posted by Brenda nee Preston on 22 Apr 2016 at 7:59 am

I also attended this school. I'd love to hear from others who did

Hadley Bourne, Harewood & Bexhill Grammar Schools

posted by Laurence (Larry) Maykels on 27 Apr 2020 at 8:36 am

In the late '50's, I started atHadley Bourne School being close to my dad's Hairdressing salon on Sackville Road. I remember the kindly Mrs Hollindale, great classsmates, the desks, scratchy pens and getting very inky !

I then went to Harewood School,and Bexhill Grammar School.

I also went to the De La Warr Pavilion to see Cliff and the Shadows in 1959/1960 ? and remember the screaming lasses !