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Peter's Schools - 1 | Norfolk House Downham Market Norfolk United Kingdom |
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Peter's Schools - 1 | Norfolk House Downham Market Norfolk United Kingdom |
| St Nicholas School |
My first school was St. Nicholas Primary School, which was in Lynwood Grove, Orpington, in Kent. My sister, Jill, and I both went to St Nicholas School, and it was while Jill was at the School that the Sports Day photograph below was taken.
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As our father had died in September 1964, my brother, Robert, went to Darrick Wood School in Lovibonds Avenue, Orpington. St Nicholas School educated boys and girls from the ages of four to eight. From there, pupils would progress to a Preparatory School, and then to a Grammar School. St Nicholas School was run by the Headmistress, a kindly lady called Miss Harwood. Her staff taught the pupils a varied curriculum, placing as much emphasis on politeness and good manners as on a sound education. Discipline at the School was strict but never oppressive, with a caring and supportive atmosphere created by all the staff. |
| The school's building was the former Club House of the
original Orpington
Golf Club in Knoll Rise. For many years it was the only remnant of this Club,
which was swallowed up by housing developments in the early years of the
twentieth century [Note 1]. The School occupied the north-west quadrant of land at the junction of Mayfield Avenue where Lynwood Grove and Knoll Rise meet in Orpington. The school's site itself has now succumbed to further housing development, called Bancroft Gardens. |
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| Clare House Preparatory School |
I left St Nicholas School in July 1961 when I was 7 and continued my education at Clare House Preparatory School, 22 Oakwood Avenue in Beckenham, in Kent. [Help, please].
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The School was run by the Headmaster, Major A W E Hodges, who exercised a rigid but generally fair régime. This rigidity created a framework of security for the pupils, each knowing what was expected of him and understanding the consequences of failing to reach the required standard. The School engendered a healthy competitive atmosphere, with each pupil being a member of a school House. The Houses were named after English heroes and their members were identified by them wearing coloured badges: Clive (green), Wolfe (red), Raleigh (yellow) and Drake (blue). Each House competed against the others academically and in sport and Drill. Each day, the morning break was occupied by military Drill: four columns of boys - in their Houses - marching in step from end to end of the playground (the tarmac area to the right of and beyond the central brick building in the photograph), obeying the commands barked by the Headmaster. This developed one's understanding of teamwork and the stimulus of competition. Lunch time tended to be a rather formal affair, with each pupil remaining standing at his place until everyone was present. Then the Headmastwer would say the Latin grace "Benedictus benedicat" (May the Blessed One bless it [our food].) After the meal the Headmaster would say another Latin grace, "Benedicto benedicatur" (May it [our food] be blessed by the Blessed One). |
Some
of the
buildings of Clare House |
I am now sure that, since these graces are the shortened forms of those still said at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, they came to the School in 1896 with Mr George Philbrick, himself a Cambridge man from Clare College (hence the name, Clare House).
The majority of members of staff were helpful and understanding, and clearly had a genuine interest in the progress of the pupils in their charge. Some were less discerning and regularly resorted to physical measures to exert their authority, while some others were just rude and dismissive.
The education offered by the School was good, with many of its pupils being elected to scholarships to various public schools. A broad curriculum was offered, including Latin, since it was expected that many pupils would eventually be candidates for entry into the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge. All lessons were teacher-led with no practical work included. I think the senior pupils who did Science may have had some practical lessons in the Clare House Annexe (a house that adjoined the School grounds in Perth Road, Beckenham), but I was not a senior pupil during my time at Clare House.
There were lessons on Monday to Saturday, with morning sessions only on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
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Clare House always had regular
sporting fixtures against other local schools in football and cricket.
I seem to remember that pupils could go home after
lunch on a Wednesday afternoon if there was no sporting fixture on
that day. I took little interest in sport, so it was a good week
when there was no football or cricket to watch!
Left is a picture of me leading the field of the 440 yards race (today this would be the 400 metres) on the Clare House Sports Day in June 1963. Just let me say that I am at the front only because of the staggered start - I think I finished last or next to last and totally exhausted! |
My father, Martin, died in a road accident on 14th September 1964, so I had to leave Clare House at the end of the Spring Term in 1965, and I continued my education at the Royal Masonic Junior School for Boys.
At present, this is just a start - an overview of some of the aspects of life at St. Nicholas School and Clare House School: I will add more from time to time. If you would like to comment on what I have written so far, or add anything to it, please contact me.
| (1) | There is a
reference to the Orpington Golf Club at the
Internet Golf Club. This mentions the closure of the Orpington Golf Club in
Knoll Rise, but does not give a date for the event. [Return] to where you left the text on this page, or click your browser's back button. |
Page updated: 01 September 2003 19:32 |
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