Dates in parentheses indicate when the contributor left Chandos
Miss Pike receives several mentions in Sheila Brook’s book, 'Child of the Thirties’.
She was a lovely person – Pat Lloyd
Every Friday afternoon, at close of school, Miss Pike, the Head Mistress, would give a speech from the stage. Then the houses, Brockley, Cannons, Stanmore and Whitchurch, the one that had the most house marks, would have the colour of their houses draped on the shield. House marks were given to the girls that earned them for good work and behaviour. Lastly, we would sing the Chandos School song. At the end, the words "Chandos School" were sung twice. The last time it would be sung softly, like an echo for all the girls that had left the school, namely the old scholars. - Sheila Bush ('46-'50) (The words of the school song can be accessed from the 'Documents’ page.)
Miss Pike was a wonderful teacher who set very high standards - Irene Grimley
Very nice but strict – Pat LLoyd
I believe that Miss Hyde and, I think it was her brother, put the words and music to the school song - Kathleen Goshawk ('45)
Miss Pearce plaited her hair and then wound the plaits so that they sat over her ears (Cyberman-style) - Linda Beavan ('64)
Her perfect hair was attributed to a wig as rumour had it she had lost her hair in a fire. She also seemed only to have a banana for lunch. She was very proud and would take no criticism of "her girls". - June Gaines ('65)
- 1948 school magazine
Miss Oyston transferred to Blackwell Secondary School in 1950 as Senior Mistress. The following reminiscences are from the Blackwell pages of Friends Reunited:
Miss "Edie" Oyston - Assistant Head. Amiable, cud-chewing, pillow-chested Grande Dame. Always wore an ironic smile at the cavortings of the student body. Retreated each evening to a bijouette flat off Baker Street. - Barry Lynch (born in ’48)
My first day at school - a very small, shy, introvert - I was dressed in absolute school uniform from head to toe - or so my mother thought. She had put a bright yellow ribbon in my dead straight shiny black hair. As I sat amongst the other newcomers cross-legged on the floor, she came to the very edge of the stage bent over and bellowed "You girl - the one with the yellow ribbon in her hair. Take it out now and don’t wear it again". I could have died and wished the floor to open up and drag me down to the depth of the dungeons below. Fortunately I had an older sister at the school at the same time and she explained to Miss Oysten about the mistake our mother had made. It didn’t make much differance to me mind you, I still hated her from that moment on. - Wendy Rowe
I heard that she used to suck/chew her tongue. She was supposed to have a hole in it - not sure if that was true or not?
It’s funny, because looking back, I found her to be OK. - Yvonne Larkins
… a strong disciplinarian but a fairly accomplished teacher - Tony Houlahan
Mrs Oysten (sic) I always quite liked because she assumed we could learn as much as she knew and taught us accordingly. She had a special trick of putting a pile of papers on a desk and then pressing down on it and turning it so it formed a beautiful spiral shape - Roger Walker
Always wore a navy suite. I hated her lessons as I am left-handed and she could not work out how I was doing my sewing and kept sending me back to do it her way, but I must have learnt a lot from her as I made all my daughters’ clothes up to high school and my boys clothes up to first school and I still make my own clothes. – Mary Regan (’57)
- 1948 School Magazine (Canons House)
Ran the Science Club with Miss Gooch (see 'Sheila Bush’s Archive photos) with whom she shared a house. - Geraldine Charles (’70)
One could guess from her accent that she was originally a Yorkshire lass. - Colin Poyton
Trained at Brighton Teacher Training College. - Roger Morgan
Transferred from Belmont School to Chandos in 1939 to teach 2nd year girls. - Rosemary Facey
She became Head teacher of the Girls’ School in '67 and then deputy head (with H.G. "Warren" Jones) of the combined Park High (Mr Bellion was Head).
She expected her staff to set an example - the wearing of make-up especially nail-varnish, the wearing of boots and fraternising (with male staff) were all actively discouraged. But her dictats were sometimes felt too oppressive and ignored by her staff. If a girl came to school with a wayward fringe she would be sent to Miss Grimley to have a 'Kirby grip’ fitted… likewise, if a girl had a trace of nail varnish, she was sent to Miss Grimley for its removal. - Gill Bailey ('63) (Miss Pointing, a teacher at Blackwell, assumed similar powers.)
A cheerful soul, with a lot to put up with. - Marilyn Gough ('64)
I was in 4 Art and 5 Art possibly going on to Harrow Art College. But I decided to go into hairdressing instead. At 4 ft 10 inches tall, Miss Grimley said "You will never make a hairdresser - you are too short - you will have to stand on an orange box". I proved her wrong. - Sharon x ('65-'71)
The rumour was that Miss Grimley had broken her nose as a result of falling off the stage - Linda Beavan ('65)
She used to play the piano at assembly and when she got off her seat when she finished you could always see her big bloomers. We used to giggle like anything. - Brenda Cooley
In about '67 a form of girls even penned a song about the physical appearance of her nose.
Irene retired in 1973 aged 60 - but attended Old Girl Association Meetings until about 2007. She maintained her mental accuity until her death in 2012, aged 99.
Involved with running the school library in 1958 - School librarian and school library review, Volume 9.
Jean attended Old Girls Association meetings. She remained unmarried and died August 2010 aged 90.
Sorry to hear Miss Gooch has left us, a very nice person. I met her last at the 60th, Chandos School Reunion in 1999. - Rosemary Facey
Miss Grosstephen who, among other things, taught a sewing class. This I hated, and would consistently 'forget' to bring my work. To this day, I cannot look at a flannelette nightgown without thinking of those dreadful 'run and fell seams’ we had to sew. However, I was punished repeatedly for not presenting my work, this punishment was to prove one of the greatest joys of my life. Instead of writing 'lines’ 200 times, such as "I must remember to bring my work to class" etc., Miss Grosstephen made me, and other delinquents, learn psalms, poems and such like. This was not easy, and we hated it, but to this day I can still recite 'The Daffodils’, other famous poems, bits of Hiawatha, several lovely psalms, and many passages from Shakespeare. What incredible foresight this woman had.
I would love her to have known how much her 'punishments’ have meant to me for so many years. We cannot always see where our actions have taken us, nor the benefits they may have given to others. If she is still alive I would love her to know this. - Rosemary Facey née Howard
left summer 1947 - 1948 school magazine
- 1948 school magazine
One night, fumbling for the light switch outside the hall, she inadvertently activated the fire bell … the ARP arrived in force and were not amused. - J.A.
One of those lucky souls who had met their calling. - Marilyn Gough
Mrs Adcock (formerly Miss Noyes) was the Art Teacher. The Art room was at the top of the New Block (girls side). Mrs Adcock certainly wore bright colours. I must have been stimulated creatively by writing essays but also Mrs Adcock’s encouragement to develop my strength in Art has helped (originally she felt I was destined for Harrow School of Art, but my father had other ideas). - Geraldine Charles
Mrs Adcock was a brilliant art teacher. – Linda Farrell
Mrs Adcock is believed to have passed away in June 2014. - Geraldine Charles
Miss Tyrie was so nice that you always felt like doing your best work to please her. History classes were taken by Miss Tyrie in the tower. One day my Mum came to Chandos. Chance for the 'Mum’ to meet Miss Tyrie and to see how our work was progressing. I took one look at my English exercise book. (We used pens and ink then - I had a job keeping the blots of ink at bay.) First page always looked neat but the rest left something to be desired. I turned around to the girl that sat behind me, Ellen Jones - her writing was always so neat, no blots and chicken scratches like I had. So I asked her if she would lend me her book when my Mum came. She did. Mum looked at it and was so pleased, (but only for a second). She said, "This isn’t your work. Show me your book". Well when she saw my book, she went straight up to Miss Tyrie and told her how disgusted she was with the work I was doing.
I felt so awful that Miss Tyrie got told off like that. So after that I put some effort in. Miss Tyrie was so pleased, that I got a house mark for Brockley. - Sheila Bush ('46-'50)
When Janet retired, Joan and Ted Adcock hosted her farewell party. Janet's cake had a candle for each year she had been at the school. Miss Grimley, of course, delivered the farewell speech and, for every candle/year insisted on relating a new anecdote concerning Jean. The speech ended-up quite long. - Al Barclay.
Passed away in 1985, she was good though. - Marilyn Gough
After Gym we had showers. I was NOT going to take part in THAT. You see we all had to get undressed in front of each other and take the showers. So Miss Whitehead sent me to see Miss Pike.
I had to go with two other girls. One was called Mary Thomas. I stood facing Miss Pike and told her quite plainly that even if I did lose a mark for Brockley house, I was not going to take those showers. Miss Whitehead said "We are all the same. What is the matter with you?" "Well", I said, "if we are all the same, why don’t YOU take showers along with us too". I was so angry I didn't know what else to do. So Miss Pike just looked at me and said "It’s alright. Just take a rub down with a towel". Huh. (never did that either).
I wasn’t really brave; a lot of other girls felt this way too and looked so upset about the whole thing.. I wasn’t alone you see. - Sheila Bush
Mrs Ward was a good sport. We turned her desk around one April Fools Day but put back her items in the order she kept them on top. When she went to fiddle with the drawers as usual whilst talking to us, the surprise dawned and we all had a good laugh. - June Wendy Gaines ('65)
Miss Chambers would stand at a classroom window if Albert was passing, and shout messages to him. - Jane Gates (Sturman)
I recall PE lessons with Miss Flemming. Unfortunately I was not very good at PE. - Audrey Blair
he took us on the school cruise on the Nevasa … he was a lovely teacher and made my days at Chandos very happy. – Gwendoline Barnes
Biology was one of my best subjects. I always came first or second in the end of year exam which meant I sat at the back of the lab (the lower you came the closer to the front you sat!). It was in his class that I first began to learn about Evolution - a subject that set me on the route to obtaining degrees in Biological Sciences and later in Modern Taxonomy. - Geraldine Charles
Mrs L M Harding (his wife) acted as technician. - Geraldine Charles ('70)
She wore her hair back in a sausage shape bun and I remember her large handbags and high-heel shoes. - Cristine Clayfield
Miss Jones married a Mr Jones. I was intrigued by this as she would then become Mrs Jones. - Marianne Wilson (Elliston)
Always used to wear blue or purple clothes! Never any other colour! She was always to be found in the "new building". – Jeanette Piddock
Jeanette may be confusing Mrs Jones with Mrs Adcock. Mrs Jones had a classroom on the ground floor, main building, next to swing doors to the boys school. She was also Deputy Head and was never based in the new building while I was there (1965-1970)… and she dressed smartly. Mrs Jones was normally the Form Teacher for the Fifth year academic class (5AG ?) except when I moved into fifth form (5 Academic) when Miss Tyrie was Form Teacher. She must have become Deputy Head when Miss Grimley became Head ('67). She had a rather odd sort columnar hair style.
After the bell sounded for lesson changes she seemed to mysteriously appear in the vicinity of what was known as "Room 1 Door" (the exit to the playground which was visible from outside the Geography Room) to check that no one was sneaking in that way. A loud boom of "Er.. those Girls.. !" would send anyone attempting to come in that way scuttling back into the playground to enter via cloakrooms (the correct way in). - Geraldine Charles
He was a good teacher and the most memorable occassion was when he arranged for The Johnson's (an Irish folk group who were in the charts at the time) to entertain us. It was a fantastic concert and Mr. MacCavoy joined in and played the tin whistle. – Christine Clayfield
We usually had Miss Tyrie for history but when she was ill for a period of time we had Mr McEvoy. - Geraldine Charles
She was French teacher when I joined and was also my Form Teacher (Form 1AG). She retired at the end of school year (1965/66). - Geraldine Charles
- Geraldine Charles
Took me up to London one weekend in his own time to buy my guitar from a friend of his who owned a music shop and would give a discount. He was a very good teacher and all of us in the guitar group really enjoyed our lessons with him and learned a lot. I still have my guitar to this day. - Lynn Buckland-Stubbs
I always thought she was quite an attractive teacher compared to the rest. - Brenda Cooley
When Mr Kimber lost his temper he would go bright red. The redness would creep along the parting of his hair. He gave me an 'E' in French. - Sharon ('66-'71)