Chigwell, West Hatch School c.1960

Photo ref: C88100

I was one of the first pupils to go to the school the year it was opened and have very fond memories of all pupils and staff that were there. There used to be a small cafe down the road from which we were banned but obviously unless you were caught it was a great place to go. Also the No. 10 Bus used to run to the school from Chigwell Station where I used to come from - such happy memories Janet Elliott (nee Dibble)

I visited a camping site when I was a child, this was back in the early 1970s, I think this is the place with the outdoor pool, I think it was about 1973, I never forgot my 2 weeks there. I remember there was a hut with a juke box in and I used to play 'School's Out' by Alice Cooper which was a hit at the time. In the hut was a TV and table tennis table. I would like to know if it is still there for me to take my grandchildren to. Ian Lambert.

I lived my early years in the grounds of Great West Hatch Hospital (my father was the gardener there), next door to the school site. I can remember the school being substantially finished by the time I was 11 (1957), though my parents persuaded me (against my better judgement) not to go there for my secondary schooling. I have older memories of the land as part of Furze's farm, and helping stack sheaves of wheat at harvest time.