Graham Road School For Boys.

I too went to the above school (1962-1968) and remember most of the teachers mentioned by A. Paice. Mr Lester was head teacher, assisted by Mr Scott. It was after about a year there that they had speakers put into the class rooms, so that the head teacher could ask someone to his office. One day he asked all teachers and staff to come at the next recess, and after the break our class was told by a tearful Mr Bottomley that Mr Locke had died the previous evening. These 2 men were great buddies. Other teachers I can remember were Mr Brown (sport and history, Mr Dale( not sure) and Mr Sale(chemistry) They were good times there. I joined the school brass band and choir. There was a debating society. I remember also the allotment where pupils were encouraged to grow vegetables, which were sold to staff and pupils alike.I remember buying a celery for 2d. Aaah happy days.

Mr Paice's comments have brought back many memories from my time at Graham Road from 1949 - 1951 after which I passed my 11+ plus a special exam to go to Gravesend Technical school with one and a half days a week at Gravesend School of Art - another story. I recall virtually all the above mentioned teachers and especially Mr 'Pip' Piper who was a friend of my parents, which was a bit embarassing for me at the time, and Mr Morgan who gave me a pretty good grounding of French. A number of us went on a school trip to Paris with him and stayed in the Ecole Normale d'Autueil in the rue Molitor, where one of our class became delirious after smoking a packet of Gauloises and crawled out onto a wide ledge high up and outside our dormitory, fortunately without falling. All I can remember apart from that is that a group of us got separated from the teachers on the crowded Metro but managed on our own to get back to the rue Molitor and Mr Morgan was not happy! Unfortunately I have no photos of that trip as the strap broke on my parents old folding Kodak camera and I watched in horror as it plunged into the wake of the ferry as we left Newhaven - in many ways that ruined an otherwise rewarding holiday for me. Just before I left the school part of the school was burnt down (nothing to do with me!), and I remember that no cups were presented on sports day because they had all melted. One of my fondest memories was of one Christmas when the whole school marched down to Christ Church and after the service we came out into a world transformed with white and heavy falling snow: a magic image. Now, 65 years later I still remember Mr. Morgan's French class and the French I had to dredge from memory after 28 years when I first met my Breton wife in London for the first time as she had very little English. It worked and we have both retired to Brittany where we have a great quality of life and many friends both French and English.
Roger Durban January 31st 2015

I also went to Graham Road school from around 1956 till 1960 when I left at 15 and 10 months old. I recall we did a school trip to Guernsey . However I can't remember anything about it such as, how we got there and back, where we stayed etc. All I remember is the gun emplacements and "The battle of the flowers" can anyone jog my memory

Paul Beresford

My website page on Bexleyheath is: http://dansonpark.com/?page_id=3188

I was at graham road from 1960 after leaving bexley infants at Bourne Rd

What memories reading these notes bring back to myself, like you fellow gentlemen I also attended the school leaving in or around 1959. Looking at the list of teachers brings back many found memories.
I left bexleyheath in 1969 and traveled to Africa were I spent many years returning to the UK and settling in North London. I have never been back to Bexleyheath but intend to do so this summer, can anyone tell me if there is an old boys network for the school.
David Newstead.

Started in 1957 and left in 1962, very fond memories of my time their. Went on several "exotic" school trips to Paris, Switzerland and Italy.

Many memories here. Hi, I was at Graham Rd School between 1954-1958 and remember all the teachers mentioned. It would be great to be able to be in contact from guys who were at school with me, Kenny Johnson, nicknamed "tiddy" finishing in class 4a(2). Guys I remember are Adrian Kay, Kieth Single, Billy Howson a lad who's dad owned the butchers shop in the Broadway op the clock tower.
If any one knows me and wants to get in contact that would be great, time has moved on and none of us are getting any younger.

Jim Dale was one of the metlework teachers. There was also Mr Lagnardo-French teacher in one of the wooden classrooms, who used to give one of the most painfall slipperings that you hoped to be caned instead. There was a geography teacher that liked to show films in his lessons and did an interchange with American or Canadian teachers (I think was Mr Hoy?). I remember the old school building on the field that was used for a sports changing room, freezing cold in winter. Many other fond memories of a great time during my growing up. But I find it strange that I can remember nearly all of our first class register of 1961 in alphabetical order - why?

Some interesting memories here as I also was at the school from 1959- 1962.
I remember many of the teachers names, that have been mentioned here.
One particularly interesting point here, is that Arthur Paice who wrote such an interesting post, is actually my cousin who I haven’t seen for years as he moved to Yorkshire from Bexleyheath many years ago. I have now messaged him hoping that if he is still around, he will get in touch with me. It was strange that I read his post with interest without realising who had written it until I got to the end. It’s a pity that I never found this before now.

I also attended Bexleyheath Secondary Modern School for Boys/Bexleyheath School from 1965-1971. It was interesting to read the posts about teachers and life at the school in those days from other contributors. Mr Lester was Head and Mr Scott his deputy. Teachers I remember are Dennis Sale (chemistry) Mr Caldwell (history) Mr Williams and Mr Collet (english) Mr Lagnado (french) Mr Guthrie (woodwork) Mr Bennett (metalwork) Mr Thorpe (pottery) Mr Menzies (religious education) Mr Beaven (geography) Charlie Revell (football). The pavilion where we changed for sports was awfully cold in winter. The sports day in the main field and the swimming gala in the outside swimming pool in Danson Park were memorable as well as the school trips to Paris, Germany (Koblenz and Berlin) and Italy (Venice and Rimini). Biggest memory was meeting my future wife (Dawn White) when the boys and girls schools amalgamated in 1968. Happy memories.

I went to to Gravel Hill primary school, when it was 1st built. Then moved on to Bexleyheath secondary school for boys in 1960 where I think Mr Prior was form master. I remember him being a good shot at throwing the chalk duster! Mr Menzies was good with the slipper and Mr Sale would drag you to the front of the class by the side burns😱
I started in form 1A2 and for some reason was promoted to form 1A1 under Mr Jones. My favourite subjects were metalwork, technical drawing under another Mr Jones who was an inspiration to me and was one of the few teachers who encouraged me. I later became a Civil Engineer which I can trace back to his motivation.
Mr Lester sent a letter to my mother complaining about my “outlandish hair” I still have the letter😂 My mum, bless her, sent a letter back saying, she though my education was more important than my hair style.
Needless to say from that day I was a target for the slipper and the cane. We learnt it was a good idea to wear a pair of jeans under our trousers 😂Mr Bottomley was a prolific canner and on one occasion caned the whole class because three of us had not done our homework; sorry guys.
I intended to leave school at 15 but stayed on when I wasn’t given one of the best leaving reports. Stayed on and started to work hard and achieved some good 0 Level results.
I live in Yorkshire now but recently visited Bexlyheath but was disappointed not to find any trace of the school.
Good memories and would love to hear from any classmates who were at the school at the time.

I attended Graham Road School for Boys between 1944 & 1948 and in the early days was one of Mr.Prescotts boys & qualify by being one of the many who stood outside his study after lunch awaiting my turn for 6 of the best because I broke the current rules about not playing snowballs in the playground during the lunch break.( It was all the fault of Brian Baptist )
Roy Davies