Schooldays In Tooting

A Memory of Tooting.

In 1957 I commenced, aged 10, at Franciscan Boys Primary School, in Mr Norman Leslie Caunt's Class 4, and a short while later moved up a year into his Class 2. I have a photograph of Class 2 taken in 1958, with many of the boys' surnames listed separately, although the majority of their first names are now sadly forgotten by me due to the passing of the many intervening years.

In September 1958 I progressed to Hillbrook Secondary School (annexe) in Smallwood Road, and the following September entered the main Hillbrook Secondary School in Hillbrook Road. The new Hillcroft Secondary Modern School in Beechcroft Road first opened its doors in September 1960 where I then remained until the end of my education in January 1964. Whilst at Hillcroft I was in Mr Veal's Tutor Group Shaftesbury 4 (S4), and I also have a second school photograph taken during this period of time.

From 1957 until early 1960 I lived in Franciscan Road, Tooting, adjoining Totterdown Street, but then moved with my father to Streatham where I lived until I finally left school in 1964. Whilst living in Streatham I usually walked to school in the mornings all the way along the Tooting Bec Road, and then took the 49 bus home again after school in the late afternoons.

Whilst at secondary school I well remember going on a school trip to Newlands Adventure Centre at Stair, near Keswick in the Lake District. That would have been in either 1959 or 1960, although I cannot recall which year precisely. Then in July 1961 I went on a school trip to Annecy in the French Alps, and both of these visits have marvellous memories for me.

Although I never really excelled at school I do, nevertheless, regard my schooldays as being very formative and mostly positive and enjoyable.