I was born in London but all my forebears came from Scotland, something of which I am fiercely proud. My family moved to Felpham and I went to Northcliffe Preparatory School. Following my 11+ I arrived at Chi High at 10½ in 1C. I had already studied individual subjects, including Latin and French, for three years and advanced to 2A …
Martyn Ives Vesey 1959-1965
From Colin Snook: On Friday 21st April I attended the funeral of Old Cicestrian Martyn Ives Vesey at The Church of St James, Birdham who sadly died on 30th March 2017 aged 72. Martin McGranaghan was also present. During the service conducted by The Reverend Jonathan Swindells, Anthems were sung by the ‘Sansara Consort’ directed by Ben Cunningham, Choir Leader …
More memories of a Chichester evacuee – Donald Bishop
Henry Thornton School (HTS) was evacuated to Bognor Regis in September 1939. It was a blunder as there was no grammar school in that town. By 1 November 1939 HTS was settled in Chichester High School for Boys (CHSB). Boys-only the two schools may have been, but there were differences. The Head Masters were a contrast. The host Head, Dr …
Geoff Wills (1943-1952) on Cricket, his life at School and after
English Schools Cricket Association (ESCA) 1951-1952 I was both honoured and elated to be selected for the ESCA senior XI in the years 1951 and 1952, especially as in the latter year I was appointed captain. I understand that ESCA was formed in 1948 and in those days only two matches were played each season – one each against the …
Kenneth William Woodfield 1941-1947
From Mrs Elisabeth Woodfield April 2, 2017 I am writing to let you know that my husband died on 1st December 2016, aged 86, so that you can amend your records. Ken always very much enjoyed receiving the Old Cicestrians newsletter, though we have not been able to travel to Chichester for some years. As your records may show, Ken …
Random thoughts and recollections – Barry Capon 1947-1955
School caps They had to be worn at the time of entering the school gates. If not worn then there were consequences – detention or lines I think. If in later years you were elevated to being a prefect you wore a yellow hooped cap and if you were school captain or deputy school captain the cap had a yellow or …
Martin Fagg English Master b.1929 d.1993
Martin Fagg, schoolmaster, writer, competition setter: born Bromley, Kent 15 May 1929; died Wareham, Dorset 16 August 1993. ‘His mind was wry, ironic, styptic, sceptic, brittle: / He knew about a lot of things – but only a very little.’ So Martin Fagg wrote about himself. The first line was probably true, the second half true. He was indeed widely …
More memories of a Chichester evacuee by Monty Clarkson Old Thorntonian (1935 -1942)
I believe the following were evacuated with the school: Messrs Evans, John, Jeremy, Gribble, Lambert, Haill, Bacon, Cossins, Collins, Collings, Cooper, Dix, Cundall, Read, Summerton, Wigley and Bramble. Mr Morgan was seriously injured in a car accident near Oxford when driving back from holiday in Wales to rejoin the school for the evacuation. He never came back to teach but …
From Heather Sullivan – Gateway Engagement Officer Weald and Downland Museum
Dear Sirs, Would some of your families enjoy spending some time ‘living’ life as it was in the past in our historic houses as part of our Family Volunteering Challenge? We are hoping that you would be kind enough to let your families know about our exciting Family Volunteering Challenge that we are launching here at the Museum. This would …
More Memories of a Chichester Evacuee
I have one very clear memory of my Henry Thornton (HTS) days at Chichester. From other reminiscences I have seen, relations between the two schools were implied to be cordial, but this was not my experience. We were the “Black Beetles” and they were the “Greenfly”, and disputes and insults were common. School lunch breaks etc. were scheduled so that …