Purley County Grammar School

A Memory of Old Coulsdon.

My father taught at what was then Purley County Grammar School for Boys, from about 1935 to 1948 (with a break for war service), when we emigrated to South Africa. Like another memorist, I remember the sweet shop on the parade, where I used to buy liquorice sticks which my mother hated, as they invariably made hands, mouth and shirt dirty. She, incidentally, was a daughter of another Purley County teacher, George Bachelor, and had herself attended the corresponding girls' school, which was being turned into a housing estate when I last saw it many years ago.
Also like another contributor, I attended St Annes prep school. We lived in Chaldon Way and if I walked down The Drive (where St Annes was) to the Brighton Rd directly, it was 1 1/2d bus fare home. If I walked the other but longer way to Coulsdon it was only 1d. It was amazing how many sweets those saved 1/2ds could buy!
I also remember watching cricket on the green, and once being pressed into service when one side was a man short. As I recall, my sole contribution was a successful lbw appeal from long leg.