Old boy News and Alumni

 Extracts from news letters regarding Newells Old boys and a Class list from the last term at Endsleigh Summer 1946 

Old Boy News

Many thanks to Peter Ede for supplying the source documents and to Steve Horner for forwarding them to me.

Here are the Class lists for the last term at Seafield Park ,Endsleigh – Summer 1946. The next term , Autumn 1946, the school had moved to Newells , Lower Beeding and changed the name to Newells.   

VI : C.D.Allen, C.S.Argles, A.W.W.Baldwin, B.D.Bert, A.M.Birt, J.N.G.Brittan, C.B.R.Featherstonehaugh, G.A.Hovil, B.D.White, A.R.Whyte.

V : I.R.D.Browne, I.L.V.Joste, B.W.Melnourne, J.M.Mulford, E.J.Parker-Williams, D.H.G.Selwood, M.B.Small, J.H.R.Terry, M.J.Tonkin, J.D.Truman.

IV : R.A.Brickwood, P.J.Featherstonehaugh, A.W.Fitzroy, C.S.Harper, J.G.H.Hogben, E.R.L.Jones, J.E.D.Lilly, P.E.J.McKinstry, I.D.C. Pearson,B.L.F.Seal, B.J.Ward.

III : F.F.Wilson, R.J.Atkinson, G.W.Carleton, D.B.Haydon, J.W.Noble, J.C.Nevill, W.Winterton, E.A.Terry, H.R.D.Crinks, G.W.Davies. 

II : C.J.T.Wright, W.D.Curry, C.R.Lilly, A.C.Bliss, I.A.Reid, E.G.C.Westmorland, R.S.Shier, A.R.Dench, A.G.Bescoby, M.J.Fowler.

I :  J.Barnby, R.Howson, M.Mizzen, N.Osborn, C.Parkinson, J.Pertwee, T.A.E.Potts, D.Ridley, T.Rowell. A.Simpson, J.Varcoe. 

Them following article from the Daily Telegraph (Provided by R.Oag) reports the murdering of Major James Richford ( born 1954 Died !988) who was a pupil at Newells  in the early 1960’s and was at the school at the time of the fire and its transfer to Handcross park .

Alumni: Updated : Tuesday 1st April 2025

From Tom Kendal 6th March 2024. Thank you to all who contributed to the old web site with photos and memories of Newells in the blog section, also those who registered their details in the members section. These facilities are not available on this the new web site. Should you wish to make a contribution to the site in the form of information , photos or any memories of Newells, please forward them to me at : [email protected] and I will include them in the website . I am adding all the blogs from the old site to this Alumni section. Over the years that I have had the Newells website running I am delighted to say that I have had contact with several Old Newellians and I am particularly pleased that I was able to have contact with the Headmaster of Handcross park which resulted in a successful reunion at Handcross park on 23rd May 2012. I have also had contact with the present owner of Newells and others who now live on the estate, including the owners of the woods ( Newells rough). (See Introduction regarding visiting Newells rough). A special thank you to Chris Mathews for his piece on Alexander Parker and the tragic fire. Michael French has commented on the swimming pool at the far end of the Sports pitch. I recall it was a converted Fire service water tank with very abrasive concrete walls ! Before this Mr Lang had acquired a canvas water tank from the military, where it was called an ‘S’ tank and was used to temporarily store fresh water. It was really not much bigger than a small pond and was situated next to the sand pit. The freedom we had playing in the woods, climbing trees , building tree houses , sploshing about in the stream and building dams, creating roads in the terrace banks for Dinky toys all bring back very happy memories. I will conclude by saying that I originally created the Newells website in order that people who attended Seafield park and Newells, would have a forum where they could refresh their memories of those two schools. I am delighted to hear from those who attended Handcross park , should I start adding their photos and memories to this site I would soon run out of Space. These ex-pupils have their own excellent website at http://handcrossparkschool.co.uk

1.A.F.Duncan wrote on the 14th September 2010. Born of British parents in Buenos Aires, Argentina I was sent to Seafield Park from 1936 to 1939. I remember fire escape practices on a canvas Shute from a dormitory on the second floor facing the field; playing with boats on a small concrete pond perhaps 6 to 8 feet wide. playing on a swing which seemed at least twelve foot high, but above all going down to the beach for a swim in full school uniform and having to get help to remove the stud from my stiff collar. The memory of being called in to see the headmaster who would select the appropriate stick from a cupboard behind the door and then bending over the arm of a leather chair to receive six of the best is   perhaps the most vivid memory. My brother and I were taken out of school and sent to St Georges college in Argentina just before the war broke out.

2. A.F.Duncan wrote on the 16th September 2010 I left the school at the age of 9,m I am now 81. I am afraid that time has taken its toll and I am unable to remember the name of even a single one of my school mates . Maybe this will be seen by one or more of them and we will get more information on ex Seafield park students who were there before the move.The photo of Seafield Park is interesting (Fareham). The building, I seem to remember, seemed much larger but without any further details other than the fact that the pond I seem to remember playing in was at the left hand front of the building, and a tree at the edge of the forest with a swing in was to the left behind the person who took the photograph. The building faced the sea and there was a path leading down to the sea. I suppose the stiff starched collars were the order of the day at most schools and were difficult to handle for a six year old. Another memory that comes to mind was that we slept with the windows open in winter and any glass of water left on the night table would be frozen in the morning.The headmaster at Seafield park in my time was Mr Webb. His name I remember. A.F.Duncan

3. Michael Cenicola Farah wrote on the 22nd April 2018. Viking 1968-1973. Newells and Desmoor. Great information and thanks for the memories. The Major was tough but Col Wreford was my nemesis. I believe I got extra attention as I was American, it didn’t help that my Mom was a 70’s version of Kim Kardashian in a school where everything was prim and proper. I think the Colonel fought in the Boer war ! I live in Florida and possibly going to London this Summer.Is it possible to get a school tour with my family. I believe that my years at the school shaped my life. Everything seemed to be bigger than life. Best friends Moore, Chater,Miller,and Alexander Hunn, Walker who I named my second son after.He moved to Bermuda in 1974,. Memories : The water tower,cemetary in the woods,abandoned glass building in the woods,large craters in the woods,giant ant mounds,my first crush – Ann Poad who the boys made fun of but I got dizzy when she was near me. The Vikings dominance on Sports day. Harrods, Brighton Pier,school entrance,Bell ringing to wake up the dormitories. Cold pool,the cane, the slipper,the colonels’, hand , crop, stick and me getting angry that he only threatened the girls. Corporal punishment was a badge of courage, fun, loneliness and wishing new kids would stop crying and go to sleep, My Mom embarrassing me in front of the staff when she visited. Gardening, my love for geography, history and scripture. Getting my British humour that my kids love and my wife doesn’t understand. Greatest accomplishment : Being the only American to last more than 4 years. M.Farah

4. John Glanfield wrote on 16th May 2020. My father, John Glanfield, taught music at Newells during the 1950’sI think he divided his time between Newells and Tyttenhanger in Seaford. Later he moved on to Sharrow, a prep school near Handcross and Summerfield court, Lindfield. I accompanied him to Newells several times when I was around nine or ten and the place made quite an impression on me . I thought it all rather wonderful. I recall an entrance hall with fearsome animal trophies including what I later reasoned must have been the head of a pike, but which struck me at the time as being like something out of the old testament. I remember also gloomy passages that swelled of over cooked cabbage. I met a Mr Dauncey who enthusiastically seized my ear and expounded on its fancied resemblance to that of Mozart. My last visit must have been in the Summer term – I think it was Sports day 1960. I had just started at the Grammar school at Haywards heath and was very unhappy there. Newells seemed to offer a brighter prospect. I remember a jolly Matron and escaping the proceedings to play the new Bird electronic organ in the chapel. Lou(Christopher) Glanfield

5. David Harewood wrote on 18th October 2012

I have visited the website a few times now because in the first twenty or so years of my life I grew up in the old theatre building after it had been converted into what became known as Woodland cottage. I am very grateful to you for providing a glimpse into the past of where I spent a very happy childhood, walking dogs past the old swimming pool and wondering who built the tree houses. My mother only recently told me that when they moved in in 1974(My parents were the first occupants after it had been converted and I was born a year later)there were still some old theatre light fixtures in the beams in the loft. I spent many long days playing in the woods and loved the wildlife and was devastated when the storm of 1987 blew down so many trees, although I did sleep through it. Daniel Harewood

6. Steve Horner wrote on 13th September 2023 You have done a great job here lets hope this site remains in perpetuity. I see that you have added some details for Peter Hope-Lang and Todd Gamon. Most interesting , I have often wondered if PHL was related to Archbishop Cosmo Lang, however your brief details suggest that this is not the case, but shows an Indian connection his Grandmother Adine Louisa Lang was born in India and may explain how the magnificent tiger skin hanging on the main stairway came into the family.

At the last reunion herld at Handcross Park mention was made of Nikki Gamon who taught me how to ride and look after horses, it was suggested that she was of Greek origin, perhaps her dark complexion was the foundation for this rumour. In fact careful research indicates she was born on 10th June 1920 in Ecclehsall, Yorks. Her father was also a teacher. She was a very decent woman, perhaps her maiden name Nicholas gave rise to her nickname Nikki. I have also found out that the name Todd arises from an old English name for a fox, did he have ginger hair in his youth? I remember as fierce balding man. My research aslo found out more about PGD Gamon, born 1912. He attended Shrewsbury school 1926 – 1930 and Keble college Oxford 1931 – 1934. I always found him to be an angry man, if you received a ‘Stripe’ from him it was an inevitable beating, but he did teach me to shoot with a small bore rifle. My work also found he gained an emergency commission in April 1941 into the Royal Armoured Corps 22 Division perhaps on the basis of OCTU. I do recall he had served in Egypt from some address label. noticed on an ancient steamer trunk . It is also worth mentioning two other members of Staff, Geoffrey Avery who taught Maths, he served as a navigator in heavy bombers . I well remember on one day on a freezing Rugby pitch complaining of the cold and asking him how he kept warm. He told me that in the cold upper atmosphere on a bombing run he would wrap newspapers round his body as additional insulation. He was a good Maths teacher( Remember decimal tables) but he did have a gold propelling pencil and he would use it to tap hard if you failed to pay attention. I think his initials were GNA and his wife was a very Motherly lady whom taught the junior class. Last but not least, Charley Williams the school handy man who carried the trunks and tuck boxes at the end of term. You have found a photo of him pushing a barrow. A kindly man who had served in the parachute regiment; again at the at reunion there was a suggestion that he had been batman to PHL, although seems improbable given PHL was in the artillery. Perhaps on a cold winters night you with your military experience you may find more details of these men. Well done – lets keep the information flowing. Steve Horner., 1953-1957. Radley College, Chartered accountant, worked overseas in Peru, Iran and Nigeria. Latterly worked for my own company leasing spare aircraft engines all around the world, having visited over 70 countries world wide in pursuit of Sales leads .Now retired living on a small farm in East Devon and trying to down size to a small village near Henley on Thames.

7. Tom McMeeken wrote on 25th July 2010: I am Tom McMeeken, a former pupil of newels school. I was very pleased to find the website and will be glad to contribute memories and one or two photos. I am one of the many students of British descent who came to the school from Brazil. I live in Belmont, just outside Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Working in the bank of America, am married with 3 adult children. Tim McMeeken

8. David Mansfield wrote on 4th July 2020: My father, Colin Mansfield, was a teacher at Newells in 1947. On your website he is mentioned in relation the the Boy Scout/Cub troop. He enjoyed photography and used to take pictures of the pupils on Sports day and on scouting activities. My father had fond memories of teaching at Newells, he particularly liked teaching Classics, Maths and Geography. I think he was at Newells for only a couple of years after being de-mobbed from combined operations in the Adriatic and the invasion of Italy. After Newells he went to the Middlesex hospital Medical school and became a GP. My father died in 2002. On occasions in my childhood we used to visit former colleagues of his at Horsham, called Todd and Nikki. Todd was a teacher with him at Newells and Nikki ran a stables (surname Gamon) I recall they were involved in rescuing pupils from the fire that destroyed the school in 1968. David Mansfield

9. Andrew Miller wrote on 10th July 2020 Spring 1969 was my penultimate year at Newells and Desmoor and I still remember most of the boys quite well. I was in Saxons( Miller Major) and can see that I must have been a particularly good pupilas, along with my friend Chris Mathews, the |Head of House and Greenwood, who was on of the school Boffins,I was only one of three Saxons to notch up a zero score for minuses for the term. My brother was Miller minor. Also on the Saxons list are Nader Salour who I note has left a previous Blog message. Khalifa Jamshid, hanger and John Ramsden probably the naughtiest boy in the school – In the mould of Just William – always in trouble but never with malice, he was just mischievous) all of whom have contributed comments to you site . There is another boy in Saxons( I can see his name but won’t embarrass him by identifying which one he is) who I recall had taken a shine toour pretty Norwegian nurse (Uni) and one evening while we were preparing for bed, had pushed her onto as bed and given her a big kiss. So after that it almost became a game which Capt Lang had to stamp out for the poor girl’s sake although she took it in good part and it was all very innocent horseplay. He was singularly unimpressed by this. It is fascinating to look at all those with a negative number for behavior. I can recall each one instantly and clearly . I have looked at both lists and the names for bad behavior repeat almost to a boy. Amazing. I am sure John Ramsden will recall the evening that he was beaten with split end dormitory cane six times for messing about out of bed and was then caught again the same night and was given a further fourteen strokes . Seeing all these makes me want to write another set mof memories- you will already find the longest one on the blog page was from me years ago. I will try to pin myself to doing this. I shall open up my Newells box file and see what else might be of interest. All the best Andrew Miller (April 1965 -July 1969)

10. David Selwood wrote on the 10th of May 2020. VE Day at Seafield Park- Endsleigh. That afternoon the headmaster Mr Ernest Webb better known to us boys as Ernie, assembled us all in the hall and we listened to Mr Churchill’s speech telling us war in Europe was over . Amid whoops of joy he declared we would have a holiday and a treat. The next day two coaches arrived and we were all embarked with some of the organizing staff, including Betty web the headmaster’s daughter and Miss Stevensen, one of the teachers and a favourite of the boys. We were driven out to Dartmoor to where a fast running stream and a grassy valley provided an ideal picnic area. We were allowed to run around and play, to spend time damming the stream and climbing up a nearby Tor. Some promising boxes were opened and I can remember we enjoyed a great picnic although the only part of it I can now recall is chocolate spread sandwiches, a great treat in 1945. I shouls be glad to hear from anyone who shares this memory or who was with me at Seafield and Newells during 12944 – 1948. David Selwood. From Webmaster : Anyone wishing to contact David please forward your E mail address to me and I’ll pass it on to David. To avoid any confusion this expedition was also organised a year later for VJ day ( Victory over Japan). This was the last Summer term at Seafield park before the school moved to Newells, Lower Beeding in the Winter of 1946 under the new headmaster Captain Peter Hope-Lang. The school changed it’s name to Newells school at the same time. T.Kendal

11. T.Kendal wrote on 1st May 2018. Here are two excerpts of letters written after the fire which indicate that the plan was to rebuild and reopen Newells at Lower Beeding. January 1968: Due to a fire at Newells at the commencement of spring term the school has been evacuated for a time to Handcross park, 5 miles away , whilst repairs are being carried out. April 1968:Many people are interested in what is happening at Newells, we had originally to have rebuilt the centre portion which had been so badly damaged, this would have been considered a repair and would not have required planning permission so that the work could be carried out with little delay. Unfortunately the outer wall of this section was found by engineers to have deteriorated to such an extent that it would have to be demolished and then rebuilt, this meant that planning permission would have to be obtained with the ensuing delays. The plans have now been produced for this section, which has also redesigned the lay out of the dormitories which have been concentrated on the first floor and extending through the old classroom block and the sick wing, giving access to the whole of the first floor. There will be Staff rooms on this floor and then on the second floor one large dormitory and our Private quarters. In order to take advantage of the setting at Newells and the wonderful view, large Oriel windows will be incorporated in the new building to give it plenty of light and air. The drawing of the plans , the submission to the Planning committee and the obtaining of tenders for the building is likely to take until September, when it is planned the building shall take place. It is hoped to be a nine month project so we can move back in in the Summer holidays of next year. Restarting in September 1969. ( Since a visit I made to the Newells estate in June 1918 I was informed that the school was very under insured, so without the necessary finances it would have been impossible to rebuild . T.Kendal

12.John Harrison wrote on 22nd August 2013 : I’ve just been looking at Ad Perpetuum Memoriam regarding the tragic death of Alan Parker.My name is John Harrison and i thought you would be interested to learn that I have a very clear memory of that dreadful night in January 1968. At that time I was eight – living with my parents and grand parents in a very grand house called Cisswood ( Virtually opposite Newells). I was woken up by my parents who told me they were going to see if they could help in any way by offering our home as a sanctuary for all the boys and staff. Of course, I had to stay in bed – but I distinctly remember blue lights flashing around the bedroom ( I thought this rather exciting). In the event, it would seem that alternative accommodation had been found and my parent’s help wasn’t required. The final outcome had a dramatic effect on my childhood, I had grown up at Cisswood, even at the tender age of seven, I had formed a strong attachment to Newells. However, my Mother was horrified that the ashes from the blaze had blown across our grounds and ( because of the tragic death) refused to continue to live at Cisswood. It was subsequently sold in April 1968. Since then it has become a somewhat tawdry Hotel/Spa. To this day I resolutely refuse to set foot in it, so tarnished has my memory become. I have never forgotten that tragic night and I’m sure that those who were close to poor Alex will have even more poignant memories than my own. John S Harrison

13.David Rosemont wrote on August 18th 2012 I was at Newells from 1953 to 1958. Munro-Wilson, Osborne and I all left to go to the same house at Lancing. After Lancing I went to the Architectural Association in London and had a career as an architect mainly with my own firm. We undertook many hundreds of projects throughout the UK and a few abroad. We received a number of design awards. Between times i was in the Royal Naval Reserve, a school governor twice and on the boards of a large number of public bodies including the elected chairmanship for ten years of a large urban regeneration quango in London. I received a civic award for services to a London borough. I was quite heavily involved in politics locally, regionally and almost nationally ! Divorced once, a widower once and now happily married for the third time and living in the Monts D’Areee in Brittany. I have two sons over thirty from my first marriage and a daughter aged only three from my third. I am now pretty fully retired but on two local French committees, Newells seems a very long time ago. The last old boy I saw was Brod Munro-Wilson where other than at Ascot. If any old boys are ever in Brittany you can find me easily enough on the Internet using Google. My best memories of Newells were the woods and the theatre where I seem to remember a play called ‘Theseus and the Minotaur’ was even performed. I have also dined out on the tale of the occasion on which twenty of us were beaten because none of us owned up to leaving three broad beans. How times have changed. I do wonder what happened to the flag from Lucknow and the glass case with all those canes in. Maybe they went in the fire, which was a very sad event. My memories of Newells are faint but Lancing made a huge impression and I think inspired my career. I am getting to grips with the French educational system which is Oh! so different. David Rosemont

14.Roy Goddard wrote on November 14th 2012. I saw the post and the picture of the fallen Beech. It wasn’t a storm that blew it down, just old age. The night it happened was quite still, we heard this almighty thud. Next morning taking the dogs for a walk we realised what had happened. At the time the tree was in full leaf and unbalanced, the trunk was rotten and the sheer weight on one side caused it to topple. It was estimated to be over 400 years old by several tree surgeons after my son posted pictures on the internet. Sadly in our garden we have lost a very large Cedar of Lebanon and a big pine to lightning strikes. One of the other very old trees was also struck by lightning but has survived even though a big branch was blown out at the top and the trunk split. I have had tree surgeons brace it up with ratchet straps used to hold down loads on lorries. Many of the old oaks, beeches and cherries that you remember in the woods below the property ( Newells rough classified as ancient woodland) were blown down in the ’97 and ’81 storms, although replanted with small hard woods by the forestry commission after as major clear up, they were not managed and rhododendrons and birch took over and it is like a jungle down there now. The upside is the wildlife that now live there. Over the years, but not recently, I have had several ‘Old boys’ with their siblings visit to view the site, but there is very little left to see that remains of the school and it’s grounds. The site, after the fire, was acquired by an architect who broke it up and sold parts of the estate to finance the building of what is now my home – Newells. He bulldozed the old building and removed rubble, filling in the vaults and cellars from the old building in the process. The swimming pool in the field above the property had holes punched in the bottom at the time and has been left for nature to take over I would welcome any information as to the location of the two wells that i was informed existed in the olden days, near the house. Roy Goddard

15.Nader Sadour wrote on 28th January 2013. I was at the school from 1968 to 1972. I have read the Blogs with great interest. I am amazed by your vivid and accurate memories. Reading your comments has brought back many of my memories too. I only have good memories of the school. The photos were a great surprise , actually saw myself in some of them – Thank you to the people that posted them. I know I have some photos somewhere, I will dig them up and post them on to you. When I arrived at the school I was nine, came from Iran and couldn’t speak any English. Everything was very strange to me. I remember when I got there the other boys were not interested in who I was or where I was born, they really wanted to know which football team I supported, hence my lifelong addiction to Manchester United.I would love to hear from anyone who was there at the same time as I was. Nadour Sadour

16. Chris Matthews wrote on July 10th,2020. I have just received an email from Robert Carter, who was at Newels the same time as myself. It was great to read his thoughts. I do urge you all to take some time and reflect here on your personal experiences at the school. Thomas K is to be commended for starting this valuable site and our heartfelt thanks to him for maintaining it. So please contribute as many would love to hear and maybe remember ‘forgotten gems’. I look forward to reading new submissions. Chris Matthews

17. Peter McSweeney wrote on February 22nd 2021. I wonder what happened to a Claire Stewart and Fiona Carselton who must have attended Handcross park in the early 70’s. Peter McSweeney

18. Liam McKeown wrote on the 15th November 2017. I was at Newells, Newells and Desmoor and Handcross Park in the 1960’s. I was in the fire at Newells which I remember vividly. I can remember crawling along the wooden floor under the smoke, going through the fire doors and descending the outside iron fire escape ladders. Watching suitcases and trunks being thrown out of the dormitory windows by firemen, some of which opened in mid flight. The roll call in the car park, when one boy’s name was repeatedly called out with no response. I think his name was Parker and he had reputedly gone back into the building to retrieve his watch, from what I recall. Spending the night in, what what I think was the school cinema/theatre and the matron belting me with a torch for being too boisterous. The torch broke and we ended up struggling for light. Wearing ill fitting clothes issued to us by the WI, the following morning as we were all in our pajamas. When I was collected to go back home I was disappointed to learn that my father had enrolled me in the local comprehensive, at or near, Lee-on-Solent. My father was a serving officer in the Royal Navy. My lasting memories of Handcross park was the first moon landing (69)which we watched on a Black and white Tv on a high wooden stand. Liam McKeown

19. Tony Potts wrote on July 22nd 2016. Jeremy Varcoe and I (Both Seafield Park and Newells) met up at Endsleigh on Monday 4th July 2016.Had a great day wandering down memory lane. We were well received by the staff and as ex-pupils of Seafield park and were given 20% rebate on an excellent lunch. On Sunday 10th September 2017we both met up again but this time we were joined by Nigel Osborn (Endsleigh and Newells) who had travelled all the way from Australia. This time the staff gave us a guided tour and we were able to recognise the dormitories and classrooms etc., We had an excellent lunch ( No rebate this time). I have added some photos both of Endsleigh and us from both occasions in the relevant sections. Tony Potts

20. Edward Trewhella wrote on13th May 2012. Hi all, What a trip down memory lane this has been. 62 was my number. The only contact I have had with Newells/Handcross since leaving in 1969 has been with Chris Mathews. All the names came tripping out Miller, Overbury, Bentham,Ramsden,Utting,Oag, Whetstone, Lynes, Peters,Bishop, Goreham,Lydall and how could anyone ever forget the famous Matron list every night at Supper: Adams, Aveline…. everyone pretty much always saying yes, until if you said no you were whisked off for syrup of figs – Took me a while to figure that one out. Andrew i think you came out on leave with me with my Aunt and Uncle to Ashdown Golf club and yes we built camps as well as dams in the woods. The day i was allowed to ring the bell to get everybody in, I distinctly remember I couldn’t get it to Dong – Too complicated just to pull the rope. Queuing up twice a week just to have ones underwear inspected was fairly gross looking back on it but I have to say that unlike the school I went to, Wellington,I was very happy at Newells and subsequently at Handcross. One sadness with the fire was that many boys never came back and Handcross park was the poorer for it. Yes, I do remember Mrs Vellacott’s map of Britain cut in the turf and Mr Dancy’s imperfect endings”ais,ais,ait,lons, lez, Aient, Boy Pye (Hugh) I remember took it from me with hits on the head from a pencil case. The other French teacher at Handcross was Mr Lazo who taught Rugby as well, came from Desmoor as did Combes who was a real inspiration. We all seemed to become very fond of Mr Reford as we got older and I will never forget his muse of the ‘God dam’ word specifically on the Rugby field in the sence of ” Run Trewhella, you’re like a Goddam old women”. Wouldn’t be PC these days. Unfortunately I cannot make the reunion but would love to go to a future one. Tim Kilpatrick I think was the boy in charge the night I arrived in September 1964 having been driven all day from Falmouth by my Mother in her Morris 1000 and he looked like a grown up in the dining hall – I was amazed as I seemed so young and small.Thanks again for putting all this stuff on the site which has been really great. Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba rang I recall vividly but always thought it came from the song Barbara Anne which was around at the time…? Also Charley the grounds man on the night of the fire was reputed to have saved the Tuck cupboard and matron in that order…. Other really odd memories like why did I collect the triangular Dairy Lea cheese labels that we had every night, I had hundreds of them which I then buried in purpose built holes in the woods. So many memories come back now I have opened the Pandora’s box, thought I’d lost them forever. Best wishes to all and do get in touch if you read this and remember anything….Edward Trewhella.

21. Ralph Tuckwell wrote on January 2nd 2013: Just found this site and it brings back a number of memories.I started at Handcross in 1968, and the fire was something of a legend. I realise now that many who were there at the time would probably not want to talk about it. In my memory, the story was that it was started by a cigarette that fell down the back of a table ? Some of the people that have commented must have been at Handcross when I was there. They say that old age brings memories back, but I have to admit that I don’t remember any of the names. There again, what would a 7 year old take in when they were placed in a boarding school in a foreign country. Handcross, or as it was known then Newells & Desmoor, was obviously rebuilding itself when I joined, but it seemed like a settled place. The classroom block must have been very new, and I see from Google maps that it has long since gone, while the kitchen garden (One of our favorite haunts for midnight walks)is now built up. I’m not sure that the annex is still there, the dormitories for the older boys and the chapel. With windows on most sides it was easy to climb out in the middle of the night (Or probably 7am on Sunday morning) and hope that ‘Drofer’ wouldn’t catch you. Most of the teachers seem to be Newells – Mr Lazo with his incredible knowledge of words, Mrs Vellacott with her map of the world cut in turf. Mr Robertson ( Beefy chunks for some reason)who only had half a thumb(and used to pop someone’s bubble blown in illegal bubble gum). Mr Bean and his music, Colonel Reford ( Drofer) and Captain Peter Hope-Lang who tragically passed away soon after I started. Mr McNeill (?) the former Desmoor headmaster took over the rest of the time i was there. Life was fairly simple and straightforward then – No mobile phones, computers, games or even much TV. Free time was spent outside (Wednesday afternoons, Saturday afternoons and much of Sunday) in the woods with no supervision. I still have the scar on my wrist from the deep glass cut sustained in the woods from a broken bottle, and the times we fell off trees or piled into deep undergrowth with no fear of the consequences; or we raced around the woods on bikes. I must dig out some photos and see if I can upload them ….and it would be great to hear from anyone else who remembers Handcross in the early 70’s. Ralph Tuckwell

22. Chris Matthews wrote on May 16th 2012. My earliest memories of Newells was going to Harrods to purchase my uniform which included a bespoke suit and a tuck box (which I still have ),and being somewhat bewildered for the first couple of terms, as my parents were far way posted to Kuwait and i was somewhat homesick. The boys already mentioned in previous blogs open the flood gates of memory, mostly good. Many of them went to Hurstpierpoint and I formed particular close friendships which included Andrew Miller, Steve Cearns, and Roger Utting. I was close to Stephen Palmer and Edward Trewella but there were many more and it seemed like an extended family, toiling to adjust to this foreign life. I enjoyed sport and was quite good at some, but hated cross country running! On occasions we had to go runs, always in the freezing cold and in plimsolls, vest and shorts. I always thought what a senseless pursuit, but then again running around for a football or Rugby ball, which I enjoyed, could be viewed the same. Here I joined the shooting club and we were taken to a small hut nestling in the woods. There we would be greeted by a paraffin stove to heat the hut and we would dutifully take the three shutters down to reveal the firing positions. I recall that the guns had names. I can only think of Savage which was a heavy bolt action .22 air rifle. Being left handed there were a few that had martini action, which I favoured, as it was easier to load. I continued to shoot at Hurst and went to Bisley on a number of occasions and also fired .303’s on outdoor ranges. I remember well Sports day, especially the tug-of-war competitions between the houses. The housemasters would wear silly masks and encouraged you to heave and hold. one day a week we would do forestry duties where we would line up outside Charlies shed and be handed a broom made of birch and go off, similar to the seven dwarfs, and sweep paths in the forest. Occasionally the older boys were give machetes to cut bracken etc. Can’t recall, any injuries and was way before H & S was invented. On returning to Charlie we would wipe old engine oil on the blades. ( I can still smell the oil).Charlie was a thick set man, similar to Odd Job in the James Bond movie. He had been in the Artillery during the war (Perhaps that’s where he met Captain Lang). He would let boys swing from his extended arms as he was very strong, but very gentle. The woods for us were a real treasure trove of enjoyment. I can never ever recall being allowed to go to the Centre wood as it was rumoured that there was an adders den there. Sundays, after it had been announced which woods we could go to , we would build large dams using broken bottles as the gates. At the end of the day, which seemed to go on forever, we would release the water and chase it down as it enveloped everything. If we weren’t doing that we would be fighting with makeshift swords and spears made from green bracken,. Everybody wanted to be in the Spartans but there were a few tribes that fought, although not historically accurate. As mentioned by others, the freedom we were allowed at times was a great joy. Swimming was interesting in the round pool. Captain Lang would post the temperature on a small blackboard outside and you would assemble naked inside. What was that all about !New boys had to jump off the diving board and swim across and back before being allowed to enter. I learnt to ride, Mrs Gamon, a small weather beaten woman took charge. Her horse was called Trigger, which was huge to us. One of the boys ( Bennet?)lent his pony, a chestnut , which was a joy to ride. There was a tall grey Hecate, that Overbury usually rode and a bad tempered Welsh pony called Buttons which I rode. When I was experienced enough we would go for treks, part woods part roads. Every time we would canter Buttons would buck and i would sail over his head. The third time this happened Mrs Gamon became quite cross, no concern if I was injured, just the fact that I had stopped the trek. At morning break we would gather the ponies from the field, ride them bareback to the stables and groom them. Mrs Gamon would then judge the results by sliding a white glove over the pony. The Chestnut usually won, Buttons always had faults. There was a Shetland pony, not sure why, anyway when I held my hand out with a nut on it, it went straight for my finger and only by whacking it on the nose did it release its vice like grip. When we moved to Handcross she would collect us in a Citroen DS, marvelous. Others have touched on the two nurses and matron. Nurse Marion I think was the most attractive one there in the evening when it was bath night we longed to be sent upstairs to be rubbed down with a loofah by her. When I moved to Hurst (Steve Cearns, Andrew miller and possibly some others) visited Matron who lived in Hurst. She had an old thatched cottage with no electricity, just oil lamps i seem to recall. Although not very academic I did win top of form two in December 1966, and received a book on the French revolution, which I have to this day. Once in a while we would assemble for stationary cupboard that was in the basement down a flight of stairs off the passage leading from the hall to the stairs and dining room. There we could get ink nibs , rulers ( I still have my wooden one) and Capt Lang would total the amount to go in your account. At the beginning of each term I would look forward to seeing which films were to be shown. Every two weeks there would be a classic wartime film that Capt Lang would run from the little projection room in the theatre. On occasions we would have visiting acts, one i recall was a puppet show of Alladin.. We would also do school plays. There was one i was in , something to do with the Orinoco river, with a minor part where i forgot my lines. I looked at the boy who was doing the prompting and all he did was hold up a copy of the beano. I recall playing Snooker on the full size table on the landing in the evening and adjacent to the Lang’s quarters. I recall being enthralled with Mrs Lang’s glass statue from France which would change colour with barometer changes. I recall the whole school being allowed to watch Winston Churchill’s funeral. The large Black and White Tv was placed outside to be viewed by us from inside. More about Handcross park later. Chris Matthews

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