St Davids College High Wycombe

My name is Stephen Hyde, I too attended St Davids College in High Wycombe from 1959 to 1963/4, I cannot be sure as the school closed due to financial reasons, I have tried several times looking on line to find any mention of the school but without success. I lived in Beaconsfield and would catch either the 305 double decker bus or the 711 green liner to the high street High Wycombe then have to walk up Amersham Hill to the station which was opposite the school, I do remember the two old ladies (well they appeared old to me) who ran the school they were Miss Gouch (a rather large lady, reminded me of the granny in the giles cartoons) and Miss Ellis (small and very mousey) the school also used to have a small compliment of boarders who lived in what we knew as "The House" on Priory Road. My classroom used to over look the railway, as the school building was an old three story house, with bay windows and I was lucky enough that my desk was in one of these with a great view of the railway lines. I am sorry that our times at the school did not overlap, but these are a few of my memories from those years there. Do you remember the bright red uniforms?.

My name is Peter Lane, I also attended St David's College,first I went to Load water infants, then transferred to High Wycombe, I attended the school from 1958/or 9,until my parents emigrated to South Africa in 1963.Wonderful memories of sitting by the window watching the steam trains. I remember very well Miss Ellis and Miss Gouch, they would arrive in a very old Rolls Royce or Bentley, it had huge headlights, a beautiful car to see. I had two good friends at this time, one chap called Nigel Brocklebank and Carol Ford, his farther was the Nigerian ambassador at that time. I don't recall Mr Hyde, but we were most definitely there at about the same time, do you remember, that to obtain a new e exercise book you had to visit Miss Ellis in her little office nearly under the stairs, she would tear the corner of the old one then give you the new one. I also remember that naughty teacher who used to wack you with a ruller normally when I was on detention Saturday mornings. I have lived in Spain for 49 years, still do, and still work, same job. To anyone else who comes across this page, love to hear of your memories of Saint David's, and High Wycombe.

Thanks Stephen, When I started at St Davids it was situated on Priory Road next to a cul-de-sac I think it was called The Greenway. The school was owned by a kind old scholar named Hartnell his life was devoted to teaching, about a year after I started he had sell for health reasons, The school was bought by a fellow called Lester and we moved to the 3 story place you attended, not long after he sold to the Butch and the Mouse as we called them. I am afraid the standard of education declined rapidly neither of them were qualified to teach and they only employed very poor staff if they did fluke the occasional good teacher they would only last one term, not one person passed the 11+ in the ten years I was there. I hope it had improved by the time you were there. Yes I certainly remember the bright red uniforms the only thing I was any good at was sport
they presented me with the first sports award, it was a bright plain red hat with a huge gold tassel on top, imagine having to wear that on the 37 bus to Bolter End, were there any tassels around when you were there? Keep in contact wittawirra@gmail.com Brian Efford,

I’m Geoffrey Gill and was at St.David’s from 1958-1960 yes the headmistress’s were Miss Gooch (not Gouch) and Miss Ellis other teachers were Mr.Davies (Badger) Mr.Hatt,Mr.Monaghan, Mr Whelan, and female teachers Mrs Frear,Mrs Collins,Miss Lacey. A very strict school with Saturday morning detentions,had to get permission to go to a shop after school also forbidden to travel upstairs on a bus going home. The Meads and the Rye were used for Football and Rugger. The building became an estate agents after St.David’s left.

Also we were not allowed to run down Amersham Hill to the bus stop on the high street. I do just about remember Mr Davies (badger) as well as teaching history ( I think) he used to take us for volley ball in the GYM. I can still remember him standing with his back to the wall half way holding a piece of rope as the net while we tried to bat an old medicine ball back and forth.

Hi Brian, no I do not remember any tassels but I do remember having to go to Caleys outfitters in Windsor to buy the uniforms. Red caps with gold stripes, which you had to wear all the time when out of school, then later with gold rings as you progressed. I do remember as a nine year old it was all very daunting, and although I made some good friends (Martin Upton, John Shortland and Carol Sutherland) to name a few, I can recall the joy and relief when my father read out the letter saying the school was closing.

Peter Lane!!! the name rings a very distant bell, yes I do remember the study under the stairs and I think I remember the car, and deafinatly remember the Saturday morning detentions, dished out in hourly blocks, for any minor infringement, you had to go to the study for the detention book and they results were readout in assembly. One guy had clocked up some 30 odd hours (Henderson) I think his name was.

Can anyone remember the year that St.Davids finally closed. I left in July 1960 but remember the school assembling in the Gym around that time to be addressed by Miss Gooch that from September the school would be moving to a new site didn’t pay much attention as my family were moving to Wales. They at the time had Burleighfield House of course in Loudwater where some of the staff lived and a few boarders. It was as a previous pupil mentioned the closure was due to financial reasons.

Brian Efford Adelaide Australia,
Re the closing of St Davids College, On one of my many trips back to the UK I visited the High Wycombe library and asked if they had any information on St Davids surprisingly not one of the people I spoke to could remember any school by the railway station with bright red uniforms. I did however find an article in an old Bucks Free Press dated 20th September 1963, the article is headed ' WYCOMBE CO-ED SCHOOL TO BE CLOSED", if you cannot find this article I can email you a copy. Some differences when I attended St Davids was the sports field was at the top of Amersham Hill called Redford sports ground, the uniforms were purchased at Peace Balantine & Goodwin on Castle St and the gold rings on the boys hats were reserved for prefects.
I still have not heard from anyone in my class the names I remember are Arthur Andrews, John Bonniface, Peter Greenough, Victor Goodall, Timorthy Sarni, John Gillon, Nobby Stiles, Judy Steele, Pamela Pitts, Maureen Burt, Margaret Clark, Valerie Price. Does anyone know any of these people?

Hello again Brian just read your comments re the closing of St Davids, yes I to found difficulty in finding any information re the school until I came across this site, I would love to read the article about the closing of the school, as I said before all I can remember is my father reading out the letter announcing the closure. My email is CNSDD2005@Hotmail.co.uk many thanks, I had a second cousin who also attend the school his name was John Holder he was a prefect ring any bells??

I remember John Holder he sat at a desk behind me when I was in the Upper Third Class. Actually he is a friend on Facebook but I don’t hear much of him. Regarding the school closure thanks for the information of the year it closed.Whenever I visit High Wycombe by train always look up at the old school building by the station despite only being there for two years it holds a lot of memories not all good ones though.

My name is Philip Hitchcock, I was at St. David’s from 1954- 56. I well remember Miss Ellis took French & Miss Gooch, Mr Davis (badger) took Latin, map-reading, gym, Mr Maddigan took biology, and the year before Maddigan started we had an attractive young lady teaching biology. Also there was a fairly old fellow started in my last year, I remember he came from Goole. I remember him taking us down to the Rye for cricket, and once we were over the road by Pan Mill, he would say something to the effect “Go over to the pitch and set up, I will be with you in a few minutes.” Then he would nip back over the road to The Coach and Horses for a quick beer! In addition to the red uniforms, and caps with tassels ( thank God I did not have one of those) I remember that the basement room where we hung our outside coats and shoes would flood if it rained heavily. On several occasions lessens were interrupted and we had to go and retrieve our belongings before the water got too deep. While I was at the school Miss Ellis, Miss Gooch, Mr Davis, and several boarders vivid at Burleighfield House on the Loudwater Road. Once a year they held a social there for the pupils and their parents, there was dancing, musical chairs etc, quite excruciating. One of the classrooms I was in was one with a bay window over the railway line. At that time there were steam trains, and sometimes they would halt outside the window blowing out clouds of steam and smoke. The only names of pupils in my class that I can now remember are Robert Head, Pamela ? and some boy something Carmichael.
I would be very happy to hear from anyone remembering me. I currently live in Hertfordshire and Tenerife.