St Joseph's Convent School

A Memory of Burgess Hill.

I note that a couple of people have mentioned St Joseph's Convent School. Having attended that school from 1960 to 1966, I can confirm that the location was opposite Hoadley's and the building did indeed curve alongside the pavement. I believe it had originally been a coaching inn, which would make sense because the lavatories were housed in old converted stables on the right as you entered through the main gate/door. Rather a chilly experience in the winter months. Within the main building, there was a beautiful marble hall with sweeping staircase that led off on both sides to upper landings. However, we children had to use an alternative staircase as the nuns did not want the marble stairs to be worn by constant traffic up and down. It is a great shame they demolished this building! The grounds were massive, part of which of course had been tarmaced for a playground for the children, and beyond the playground was a vinyard. Yes, the nuns did make their own wine.

I have fond memories of growing up, over a six year period, in Burgess Hill. St John's Park was a favourite as was the swimming pool nearby. Although I don't look back with glee about the freezing cold water endured during school' swimming lessons there.

I lived in Potters Lane and safely road my bike around the area. Free time was quite often spent with friends at the Dell off Potter's Lane. I expect some of you remember this field; I know it was there a few years ago, but with all the massive development I fear it might now be lost. There was another park, the name fails me, that was fairly nearby and fronted the London Road. There was a fish pond there and time was spent there with my brother collecting frog spawn in jars to be put in a make shift pond in our garden. We found it great fun to watch the tadpoles grow into frogs.

I remember all the shops, a favourite being C. A. Taylors where, alongside the tabacco, etc., they sold a wide variety of sweets and chocolates. I remember Curry's too. My father and mother bought me an RSW16 bicycle from there for my Christmas present in 1965. This was the bike with the wide Mitchelin tyres and tartan carry bag on the back, marvellous for transporting heavy books. I cycled back and forth to school every day. I also remember the Chocolate Box sweet shop by St John's Park, often frequented for ice cream on a Sunday. About the only place open on a Sunday back then.

I remember Woods the butchers and hated having to go there with my mother. My mother, a friendly soul, knew just about everyone in town, shopkeepers and otherwise, so a shopping trip, on the way home from school, took far too long! I was very bored in the butcher's and can remember entertaining myself, in order to pass the time, by making patterns with my feet in the sawdust which was strewn all over the floor.

I remember Hoadleys. My mother used to buy ham in their food area, I was always fascinated by the slicing machine they used.

I also remember Tower House, but I don't think it was a hotel when we lived in Burgess Hill. Architecturally it was lovely and I was horrified when I learnt it had been demolished.

I can remember one particularly bitter winter, being 1963, with lots snow and ice on the ground. My brother and I actually built an igloo in the garden which was there until the big melt.

I remember the cinema, or flea pit as children called it then, in Burgess Hill. I saw Gold Finger and Zulu there amongst other films, the names of which obviously did not stick in my mind.

I can remember being in Nativity Plays, alongside my classmates, at The Park Centre. On one ocassion I played the Angel Gabriel, I kept blushing terribly whilst trying to pull up my hand held scroll upwards in order to hide my face. I never thought that I would ever be able to do any sort of public speaking. However, during the latter part of my life I have chaired meetings in front of hundreds of people. Shyness can be overcome. It all started at the Park Centre.

I remember the Potters Arms Pub which had off license sales to one side of the building. My father and mother had smoked during the 1960s and quite often the family undertook an evening walk so that my parents could buy their ciggies. We were usually accompanied by our cat, but my father used to have to carry her home up Potters Lane because she was tired out after her jaunt to the off license at the pub.

I recall walking with my father to school in the mornings. My father used to take the train from Burgess Hill station up to London Victoria. I can distinctly remember that, having said good bye at the station entrance, as I continued on my way to school I would peer through a gap on the left hand side of the station. You could see the platforms from there and my father and I would once again wave good bye to each other before his train arrived. I would then leg it up the hill to school in order to commandeer one of two swings in the convent playground. You had to get there early!

A Burgess Hill' character I can remember was a lady who had been an actress. She was literally dolled up to the nines in very old fashioned clothes. Her lips were bright red with lipstick and her cheeks were adorned with much blusher, probably the lipstick in fact, and the children nicknamed her 'Cherry Ripe'. I can also remember my parents pointing out Valentine Dial, another actor known then as 'The Man In Black', he lived in Burgess Hill.

As Christmas is only around the corner, the last memory to share will be my memory of the multi coloured Christmas Lights hung up along Keymer Parade. This brings back a very warm feeling.

I hope this has brought back a few memories for others. I am in possession of a photo of St Joseph's Convent taken in the early 1970's before it was demolished, which I will now try to add to this site.

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