Kingsley School 1960 1963

A Memory of Horley.

My parents returned to UK to put my brother and I into separate boarding schools. I went to Kingsley, Horley from 1960-63. My name was then Alison Kirby. I remember Miss Willetts as my form mistress and she taught Nature Study. I was in Mackenzie House (green shield). The dormitories were named after famous poets I think (can anyone correct me if I'm wrong please?) I do recall the fire escape hatches - not so much cat flap size but large enough for girls to go through. As a dare you had to try to get thro them from one end of the first floor - under beds - to the other. The seniors would get really annoyed at being disturbed by us if there were two of us doing it at the same time.
Someone mentioned Matron Rebecca Tredgett (she had really bad feet and would clump along the uncarpeted corridor). I remember being caught making a noise by RT after lights out and marched along to a small room at the far end of the corridor and made to stand on the carpet for what seemed like hours on end (and you had to make sure you weren't lying down when she returned or you'd be made to stand for longer still!)

Does anyone else recall Miss Hammond ("Hammy") our Deputy Matron who was much softer and kinder than Matron?

Do you remember in the Summer Term marching in crocodile to the Wagon Wheel Outdoor Swimming Pool? The water was so cold. The changing "rooms" were tiny & doors had open tops and bottoms so the wind whistled in as you changed.

I went back in 2000 and could only find a café on A23 that had photos of swimming pool. I'd gone in as it was called Wagon Wheel Café. A red brick housing estate had sprung up where the old school had been.


Added 27 January 2020

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Comments & Feedback

I was a boarder at Kingsley 1958-1962. Judy Impleton as I was! My house was Anderson - I was never very happy there - but made some very good friends. I remember Miss Hammond - we used to call her Hammy the Hoover as she always used to hum as she walked. I remember Mr Nicolson who taught scripture and his wife who was Teddy's sister! Mrs Cronin who taught Latin and French - I was terrified of her! Miss Stradling maths - she gave up on me but she made amazing fudge!
Yes the dorms were named after poets. I remember Rosetti, but I can't remember any of the others.
Hello Judy - How good to read your note. I had forgotten the names of other teachers - Miss Willett was my form mistress. The projects we did were always interesting. My parents held on to the folders and my granddaughter has been fascinated to see what subjects we covered at age 9/10. I recall a coach trip up London to the British Museum once. Miss Willett also taught us Nature Study. You recalled Miss Stradling who made fudge but do you also remember Miss Knight who took us for gym in the old Tythe Barn - I remember that she too made a delicious treacle toffee.
I was lucky enough to do ballet with Miss Sharp. I was always enthusiastic but not much good - not sylph like - (unlike Mary Jane Griffiths who was & was good at class).Mandy Berthelson (as was) brought pointe ballet shoes back to school one term for us all to see.
I like you made some good friends but always pestered my parents to let me live at home once they'd settled back in the UK.
Can anyone else recall the names of the other dormitories? I shared with Clare Jefferies, Miranda Mary (Piddy) Morris, Fiona Brown, Mandy Berthelson.
The Houses were Mackenzie, Turner, and I can't remember the names of the others.
It's fun to recall these times 50 years on - surprising how much you do remember.
These comments evoke so many memories.
I was a day girl 1961-1967 but stayed to tea and Prep with the Boarders. I too did ballet with Miss Sharp - she could balance a cup and saucer on her knee doing a plie in second.
Miss Willett used to sing instructions and I remember visiting the Bluebell Railway and Weirwood Reservoir. I still have my science books from her lessons, and a hand-drawn map with a bird survey.
The houses were Mackenzie - green, Phillips - purple, Anderson - blue and Turner - yellow
My brother also attended the school for a short while before moving to Burys Court.
Amanda and Mark Dyson
Gosh how weird to read all those names again! I was at Kingsley in the early sixties too and remember all those teachers and I do remember Judy Impleton, along with Ruth Gamble, Jennifer Kevern, Rosemary Mickelson, Doreen Fergusson, Banke Plumtre and the Bowen Davies twins Carol and Gillian - I wonder what happened to them all!! Walking to the church in a crocodile on a Sunday, sneaking out on a Saturday to see Cliff Richard in Expresso Bongo in the local cinema - I was so scared we would be caught I couldn't enjoy the film!! I was a boarder and hated it but got used to it in the end! I was in Mackenzie House and have pictures of us at Sports Day. I was Caroline Maxwell in those days long gone!

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