Graham Road School For Boys.
A Memory of Bexleyheath.
I spent most of my younger life in Bexleyheath, we lived in Oaklands Road. I went to Upton Road Primary School, I remember that the Head Teacher was Miss Hughes. From there I went on to Bexleyheath Secondary Modern School for Boys, in Graham Road. I remember Mr Piper, Mr Bottomley, Mr Klien (History), Mr Cullem (English), Mr Morgan (French), Mr Locke (Sports), Mr Glover and Mr Jones (Metalwork), Mr Thorpe (Pottery) and the Headmaster was Mr Penny. The Deputy Head was Mr Austin. We also had the school divided into four Houses; Blendon (Red), Brampton (Blue), Danson (Yellow) and Upton (Green). This was between 1950 and 1953. I was a Wolf Cub at 2nd Bexleyheath Scouts in Bean Road, I was a Scout in the 4th, BexleyHeath Scouts also. I sometimes used to go to the Snooker Hall above Burtons, some Saturdays to the Drill Hall Dances (if my Dad let me out). I sometimes used to go to the Silver Lounge for a Knickerbocker Glory, I remember the Cascarini family that owned the Silver Lounge as they were at school with me. I saw on an earlier post on here that somebody upon remembering Danson Park, mentioned the Motor Boat - Miss Lingaid. Well, I also remember that appearing, it was named after the place where Bexleyheath sent a gymnastic team to in Norway in 1949. The Danson Park Lido was where we all learned to swim. The Graham Road School used to take us there for lessons. I left Bexleyheath in 1955 to go to Sea, and have never been back. I have lived in Yorkshire for the last 45 years. I am now 74 years old, 75 next Christmas Day.
Archie Paice.
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Comments & Feedback
Roger Durban January 31st 2015
Paul Beresford
My website page on Bexleyheath is: http://dansonpark.com/?page_id=3188
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.
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.
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 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.
Roy Davies