Selsdon Secondary School

A Memory of Selsdon.

We lived in Selsdon from 1948 to 1953 when we emmigrated to Canada. My name was Sally Easton then, we lived at 41 Byron Road my sister and I both walked to the school and I loved it there and was most unhappy about moving to Canada. I went to Brownies and the library on Purley Road. I do remember walking home through the woods behind the school and picking armfulls of bluebells in the spring. Some people I remember from school are Barbara Singleton, Alice Kent, Sylvia Williamson, Jennifer Jacks, Cyril Fisher, Robert Augier and good looking Peter Latham. We had dinners at school and that smell of boiled cabbage haunts me yet. My Mum worked part time at the Selsdon Park Hotel for the lady who was asking about it, it always seemed such a grand place only for rich people. Lots of good memories of Selsdon, Canada was a cold country and wasn't the best move for my Mum and Dad but my sister and I have married and settled here.

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Added 18 October 2012

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Oh gosh I remember that awful cabbage smell. Seemed it never left that canteen no matter what else they cooked there. Happy memories were Spring when us girls used to go up on the hill and do handstands and make daisy chains.

By Deborah Whitteridge on Wed Jul 8th 2015, at 8:43 pm

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I remember that corrugated Iron canteen building well. Still cannot stomach Rice Pudding or that terrible (frogspawn) Tapioca to this day. Went to Selsdon Primary in 1945 then secondary till 1954 when I went to Redhill Tech. Remember Cyril Bridle, Mike Reynolds, Janet Archer, Robin and Hillary Yarnton, also a German girl called Barbara Platt that came after the war maybe 1951 ish, Barbara Chater, Kay Hewitt, David Curtis, I live in Canada since 1966 (Calgary) Still in contact with Penny Wallace and several others scattered all over the globe. I was in the St Johns Church choir from about 7 to 12. Internet is such a blessing. Would love to hear from others in that era.
Blessings
Ray Thorpe
Calgary Canada

By ray on Thu Jul 14th 2016, at 12:10 am

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Ray - I was at Selsdon Primary & Secondary just before you moved on, from 1952 to 1960. I've had bad dreams about that dreadful Iron canteen and for a short while my class in Junior school was actually situated in one end of the building. I don't know if anyone else remembers the black iron railings surrounding the buildings and playground, but I was always going home with sticky black "waxy" paint on my white blouse from playing on them! How nice that you are still in contact with some of your schoolmates. One of mine contacted me from Italy. This is such a nice website which I, like a lot of people , happened to stumble across. I was born in Selsdon so I hope you can find time to read my "Memories" under the heading "Selsdon Village".

By Christine Jacks on Thu Jul 21st 2016, at 4:07 pm

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Hello Ray, I remember you well. You lived in the row of houses on the raised bank opposite Tudor Library and Monty's the bakers. Colin Witham also lived in that row of houses and after leaving Selsdon School, he worked as a mechanic in Bailey's Garage.
You may remember that Colin has a very nice Italian racing bicycle, that I bought of him, and if I remember correctly I later (1956/7) sold it to you. You may also remember that when you left Redhill Tech, I lent you some money to buy a suit for a job interview.
You will also remember Mickey Conrathe, with whom I shared an interest in girls and motor bikes.
Mickey in later years emigrated, to Australia if I remember correctly.
Des Donohoe - originally from Abbey Rd, Selsdon.

By des.donohoe on Fri Nov 16th 2018, at 5:27 pm

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Ray, This is Nigel Hails. Do you remember me? I now live in Spain. Please contact me.
Nigel

By Nigel's Hails on Sat Jun 1st 2019, at 2:02 pm

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