That Hell Hole Of Stanhope School

A Memory of Stanhope.

Hi, I'm Kenny Melvin, nickname by the school 'nimble Nat'. I was in there from 1962 until 1967 in the house called Horsley. I remember my first day I got there, one lad would look after you for a few weeks till you got settled in, he told me if I came across the headmaster, then called a Mr Bowles, look him in the eye and open your mouth when talking to him. I was unlucky to meet him on the stairs by I looked him in the eyes, and opened my mouth and got away with it, not like the lad next to me. You had to have your wits about you in there. Yes, there were the walks, God, you would all go into the assembly hall on a morning before, you would start school, sing a few songs around a big piano played my a Mr Wheeler the woodwork teacher. Then you would get someone who would put his hand up and say 'Can we walk to the elephant trees' which were miles away. It kept you fit I suppose, but if you did not keep up you were beaten. I hope to hear from some of the lads in Horsley House around the time I was in, a Robert Hat and his brother, a Raymond Simpson, a George Forman, Allen Woods, Jimmy Bywaters and any of the lads whose names I have forgotten, they will remember me, we used to have a long-distance run every year, I won it for the years I was there - bighead LOL! I was looking around the school last night, a nice couple came out to talk to me who now live in the old headmaster's house. It was really nice to talk to you.
Take care too, you nice couple, and all the lads who were in there, take care too.