Oakmeeds 1964

A Memory of Burgess Hill.

I was a student at Oakmeeds before it went comprehensive. In those days we had huge playing fields looked after by my mate's dad Mr Agate. The footpath ran straight through the school and the general public could walk through anytime. All the blocks were seperate so we got soaked then it rained between lessons, it didn't seem to matter then.
Assembly in the morning was always the whole school accompanied by Mr Fearny (Ferney?) on a brand new organ which was purchased instead of a swimming pool sadly. The head was a Mr Pickles from up north somewhere, I remember we took the mick as he always addressed students as "..aye mate..." His right hand man was Mr Robbins a very popular teacher who asked me in the 4th year (year10) if I was new! His favorite saying was to call students who misbehaved " half baked tuppeny halfpennys"- Oh those were the days.
Not to forget Mr Brown RE and tech drawing, Mr (Golly) Gover Geography, Mr (Garth) Haynes , science. Mr (Baccy) Wells woodwork, Mr Young metalwork ( a nice teacher). Mr Denman, English, Mr Marshall and Mr Pont, Art and Mr Venables, sport. Can't remember the others but we rarely had supply teachers ( my job now).
Most of us cycled or walked to school, a few were driven but not many in the 60's. In fact walking home was when you had time to chat and gossip and arrange dates if you were lucky.
My family moved before I could sit "O" levels but I have happy memories of Oakmeeds which had an enviroment of friendliness and safety, I dont often come across that now as a teacher, but kids now recognise predudice and equality which would have been a good thing in the 60's.