Bushey Heath memories
Here are memories of Bushey Heath and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Bushey Heath or a Bushey Heath photo.
Memories of Holly Grove House Little Bushey Lane
I lived in Holly Grove House for 16 years till 1960 when we sold the house to a developer. A E Mathews used to come to parties at our house, he built four tubs house oppersite where he lived but could not afford to live there. The pub was once the coachman's house for Holly grove that was why it was attached. The house on the left of the photo belonged to Lilly Lemon who looked after me as a young boy. Happy days all round. I also knew the Rogers of the nursery garden at the other side of the Elstree rd at the top of the lane, and still am friends with his grandson.
Way Back in 1901
My great aunt Kathleen Elizabeth Bellis, attended Rosary Priory (Caldecote Towers) way back in 1901. I don't suppose anyone else knows someone there at that time, or indeed has any photos? I would love to know.
IUHS-1982
It was one of the greatest years ever. The area is beautiful and the school grounds are spectacular. I've located many former classmates...mostly everyone except for Jerrilynn Rhoades. Jerri, if you see this please contact me. Many of us are on Facebook.
Rosary Priory
I was at Rosary Priory 1964-1970, with Sister Teresina, Sr Perpetua, Sr Bernadette, Sr Dupazzi and Sr Alphonsus. Happy days! Friends I remember include: Deirdre Bos, Carolyn Coleman, Lorraine Vacquier, Anne Mills, Diane Cleur. Memories of dancing, at school and on Friday evenings Hemel Hempstead, the coaches, elocution lessons, singing Beatles songs, giggles in the chapel, tennis, the smell of floors polished by young nuns, indoor shoes, Roger Moore collecting his daughter while we all hang out the window gauping, the new science block, the boaters and the stripey blazers. Another world.
Graduated 1979
I have fond memories of this place. I went there from 1978-1981. I graduated from IUHS in 1979 and spent one year at IUE before going to IU in San Diego. I had the best time here. I boarded for that entire time and with some great friends had some amazing memories. Saw some of my favorite concerts while at this school. I am very sad that it did not survive. I was there for the filming of some great films, such as ‘The Meaning of Life’ and ‘The Wall’. I will be going back to England this December and will make sure to go by and take a look at the old site.
Having my Plaits Pulled by The Nuns
When I was at Rosary Priory my name was Veronica Smith. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me, such as Penny Grad, Susan, Pat. We are now all getting older and it would be great to hear from anyone. I now live in New Zealand with my husband, and we are now retired from the hospitality business, We have children and grandchildren still in the U.K. and we visit often.
Old Days
My name is Anne Baker and I started school in 1953 and I left when I was 16 years old. Is the school still open? I enjoyed during art lessons in the tower. The school clothes always looked smart and we wore gloves. I used to live near Bushey Park.
Rosary Priory
Hi. I was in the same year as Mary Martin/ Empson. My name was Maria Wareham. I remember the girls you mentioned plus Lynne Westcott, Denise Marsh, Maria Pia Montanaro, Bernadette Parkes, Christine Mc Inally(?), Eliza, and a few more. I remember the big show we put on, set on a desert island and the costumes we had to get made from a specifc sewing pattern bought fro the big department store in Watford. My mum has just sent me a photo of our class and I'm sure you are in the back row Mary. Did you have fair hair? Maria
Pupils of Rosary Priory 1972
Hi, I used to attend Rosary Priory Junior School and then the Seniors until I left at 16. My single name was Mary Empson and I would like to know how any of the pupils are now that were in my year ie. Lesley Burrell, Heather Russell, Lucy Jennings, Karen Probrate, Janet Francis. If anyone feeels like emailing me I would love to hear how they are.
School in The Fifties
I attended Rosary Priory in the fifties - I started there in September 1952 and left in December 1958 when we moved to Woking. My name was Jennifer Stirling. I remember the strict nuns and the uniform with the blue & white 'Juliet' caps and the white gloves very well; also the navy blue knickers that we had to wear for P.E. (P.T. it was called then|); and I can confirm that Rosary Priory is still standing! I revisited there late in 2006 together with my friend Sandy who was also at the school, and we even met one of the nuns who taught me back in the Junior School all those years ago. There was a reunion at a nearby hotel back in 2003 where I saw many of the 'girls' from all those years ago ... goodness - how time flies, yet it seems like only yesterday that I was a pupil there!
Rosary Priory School 1950's
My name was Jennifer Barnett and I attended Rosary Priory in the 1950s. One of my memories is of the nuns teaching us the 'facts of life' which consisted of being told to always wear dresses with sleeves and never to sit in the back row of the pictures .... no reasons were given. I also remember having to wear white gloves to school, having a nun at the gate to make sure we were all correctly attired. I remember a school excursion to Rome and wonder what happened to the other girls in my class. I now live in Australia and feel it is very sad to hear this building is no more - or is it?
Caldecott Towers And Sr Alphonsus Sr Magella
In the late 1970s and early 1980s I attended Rosary Priory High School and looking at this picture reminds me what a magical building it was. I can remember sitting in the classrooms looking out over the grounds waiting for the lunchtime bell to go. I can remember a few run-ins with the nuns for relatively minor offences! which make me laugh now. At the time I didn't! I'd love to go back and visit RP. I wonder if it's still standing. Brings back such happy and fond memories of Hatch End and Pinner Fair. Good times.
Little Bushey Lane
One set of grandparents lived at the top of Little Bushey Lane, on Elstree Road. The other lived near the bottom of Little Bushey Lane. Whenever I would visit, on school holidays, I had to share my time between them, so I spent many a day walking up and down the lane, passing by the Kings Head in the mid-50s. A.E. Matthews lived on the lane, also, and his eccentricities over his protest of the lamp-post in front of his house were the subject of many a conversation by the adults in my family. I loved the lane, especially in the summer when the trees would over-hang the road and in the fall, when the footpaths would be filled with fallen leaves. Some beautiful memories of my times in Bushey Heath!
Happy Times at Immanuel College!
My first memories of Rosary Priory date from the 1950s when I was a teenager living in nearby Hatch End and I recall some of the rather nice local girls attending the Catholic School there.
However, the decades passed, and in the 1990's I found myself working there! I had by that time graduated as a Careers Officer for Hertfordshire County Council and visited Rosary Priory each week in its new guise as Immanuel College - a Jewish High School. The girls (and boys!) there were very bright and ambitious and I really enjoyed my work with them.
Sometimes I would be teaching or interviewing in one of the upstairs rooms - the view from the tower is wonderful on a clear day!
Memories of Hertfordshire
"The American University"
The school was converted for use as the campus for The United States International University in Europe. I was fortunate to be working as a Careers Advisor in nearby Watford whilst it was operating as a university and so I had wonderful opportunities to go inside. I can recall the Dean showing me around and encouraging me to play the organ in the chapel! The old school housed a university library and student bedrooms for young people from all around the world to "live-in". Sadly neither the school nor the university survived. We can still see the old school in all its glory as the location for so many old films produced at the nearby Elstree Studios. Nowadays the site is empty and awaiting the decision of the council planners for a massive housing development. This is so sad as the location lends itself so well to its original purpose of education.
School Souvenir Video And Dvd
A souvenir video called "The Bushey Years" has been produced using film and photographs taken during the years the school was at Bushey and much much more. For full details and an order form please call 01603 435084 or e-mail to prhibbett@aol.com cost £14 inc p&p
Peter Ibbett Archivest of The Old Masonians Association
Bushey Pond is Still There in 2006
This 1953 view of the pond is instantly recognisable as so little has changed in the 21st century! I lived just down the hill in Oxhey Village between 1981 and 2006 and would regularly walk up to Bushey by this pond. In earlier years I would walk with my young son David and feed bread to the ducks. At one time there was a small duckhouse in the pond and it was so lovely to see families of ducklings. The parish church is behind the pond and there is a narrow path through the steeply sloping churchyard that eventually leads you to Attenborough Fields and a pleasant stroll through the meadows back to Oxhey Village. I have done that so many times with my family and really enjoyed these walks - particularly on a summer evening.
International University High School
I graduated from the International University High School in 1983. It would be great to hear from anyone else who was there at that time.
Miss It!
I graduated in 1986 from the High School - maiden name of King - and I am so sad to never be able to go back and visit - such amazing memories!
When friends' reunions come up I wish I had one too.
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