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From:

Walter Waller

Date:

7th February 2008

Contact:

None

Ok.Here we go.I went to John Evelyn School in 1951 and left in '54.The headmistress was Miss Pearce.She knew my older sister,Mildred who was 9 years older than me,which suggests that Miss Pearce was at the school during the War.Some of the teachers were,Mr Chesterton,Miss Hayes,Miss Evans,and I think,Mr Leslie.Some of my fellow pupils,several of whom I still see, were,Leslie Blake,John Gravatt,Sidney Lengthorn,David Pampling,Michael Holmes,Michael James,Jennifer Saunders,Iris McKenzie,Christine Tolchard.,What has amazed me,after all these years, is the fact that I remember so many names. The school was brilliant.We kept bees,extracted honey from the hives;there were tropical fish,we were taught about aquatic plants.It was a vibrant,happy place.I sat crossed legged on the parque flooring at one of those early assembles and was introduced to the music of Bach! There was an inter-school competition called "playground games",in which teams of us would run races,throw and catch tennis balls etc.and all for the glory of winning the trophy called Jim Crow.. As I said in my earlier message,I am getting some more info from friends and relatives and will pass it all on;but I thought I'd better get this off before I forget it all! Thanks for getting this site going.

From:

Shirley A. Bates

Date:

28th March 2009

Contact:

None

Hi Edward, your website makes very interesting reading, I have some info which may be of help. My grandfather Albert J.Bates attended John Evelyn approx. 1891 onwards, one teachers name was Mr. Lacey. My father Albert F.Bates attended the school approx 1925 onwards also his 2 sisters, Rose & Violet, the headmaster then was Mr. Lacey (obviously been promoted!)Another teacher he recalls was Miss Ryder. The school caretaker at the time was Mr. Hasler. We lived in a victorian 3 storey house right nest to the school gates in Rolt Street, no. 3. I attended the school from 1964 approx to 1968, my name was Shirley A. Bates, I was also Head Girl that year 67/68, my deputy was Carol Young. The headmistress at the time was Miss Loring. Teachers I remember were: Mrs Peri - Music Teacher, Miss Skillicorn - Music Teacher, Mrs. Broad, Mr. Yeats/Yates?, Mr. Weaver, Mrs. King? D. Russell, other names of teachers in my leavers autograph book are A.Smith, M. Newton, P.Rowell, V. Smith, other names unfortunately I can't read! The caretaker was Mr. Mooney. Apparently we had to move from our house in Rolt Street in 1968 as the school was about to expand. I have attached some photos, one is my fathers classroom in approx 1927, a few names he remembers are: Billy Maynard, Ronnie King, Jackie Spears, Freddie Harris, the rest are only surnames: Towers, Bull. Blanchard, Lawrence, Morrison, Mears, (well my father is now nearly 89 so thats not bad!) The other photo is from my school year 1968, some of the names are: Patricia Potter, myself, Janice Henry, Susan Fordyce, Lorraine Hallows, Elaine Linehan,Kevin Hawkins, Lee Jackson, David Lampty, Maurice Cheshire, Mark Mitchell, sorry can't remember the rest.

From:

Paul Wickenden

Date:

31st March 2009

Contact:

None

I attended John Evelyn from 1964 until 1968. I know Shirley Bates has posted some names on here, others that I remember are Steven Bayes, Pauline Bender, Paul Catchpole, Steven Ide,Susan Fordyce, Tina Manning, Paul Thorpe, Paul Marling & Stephen Littel (forgive me if spelt wrong). Teachers other than those Shirley has mentioned are Miss Stevens who married in school hols & become Mrs Connolly, Mr White (hand writing classes)& Mr Williams, poor bloke taught the class 3 pupils in their last year, my last teacher there was Mr Newman.

From:

David Lunn

Date:

1st April 2009

Contact:

Hello everybody. My name is David Lunn. I attended JE form about 1948 to 1952. The teachers I remember were the headmistress Miss Dell, who when sitting at a desk on a raised plinth at assembly time always showed her bloomers. The boys thought this was hilarious. There was a slick looking silver haired gentleman Mr. Chesterton, a Mr.Ingram and my teacher in the last year Mr. Parker, who seemed to relish in slapping boys on the thighs as punishment. Another man I remember was Mr. Kent he was the school caretaker. And lived in the house next to the school on Alverton Street. He had a side door on to the boys playground. After he left JE he moved to Creek Road Secondary School as did I. There was a kitchen on th second floor where they would prepare the school dinners. The lady in charge of that kitchen was Pat Lunn, my dad's cousin. My brother Raymond Lunn also attended JE he was 7 years older than me and I know nothing of his time there. Does anybody remember the sweet shop on Abinger Grove My brother and I both belonged to the 27th Deptford Boy Scout Group and had our cubs and scout meetings in the lower assembly hall every week. The scout master was Jim Neal.

From:

Barbara Fitzsimmons

Date:

5th April 2009

Contact:

None

I taught at John Evelyn between 1973 to 1979. Other teachers there at the time were Dick Cuthbertson, David Nash, Amelia Hazel, Peter Otto, Gill Branch, Thelma Cooper, Mr Sharma, Bob Newlands, Sally Kirkham and Bob Newlands. I will look to see if I can find any photographs. I used to have some of our floats at the Deptford festival.

From:

Eve Byron

Date:

20th June 2009

Contact:

None

My name is Eve Byron nee Claxton I attended John Evelyn from 1957 - 1960. The headmistress was named Miss Lorring. The deputy headmaster was Mr Chesterton. I was in class 2 and my teacher was Mr Thomas. The teacher in class 1 was called mr Ingram and he kept bees, and sold the honey, which was delicious. I was tea monitor and made the tea for the teachers at their break time, a role which I took very seriously. I may have some old photo's, they will be in my mums loft. I was sorry to hear that the school has been demolished.

From:

Robin Dalton

Date:

3rd July 2009

Contact:

None

just browsing the history of deptford & my old school "John Evelyn" in the 50,s.Some of the names came back to me, i.e. miss loring & all the other teachers, & a few pupils names.My Mum & Dad had the little grocers shop on the corner of Dorking rd. in opposition to Lilies on the other corner of Shere rd. All the kids used to come in for "penny" ice lollies or frozen jubblys

From:

Anne Tibbenham

Date:

18th August 2009

Contact:

After browsing this site yet again, I now realise just how much this "innocent" time of our lives spent at JE meant to so many people. I am amazed at the response to this site. In my previous message, I didnt get around to naming any of my classmates. However the message from ROBIN DALTON certainly stirred up the few brain cells that I have left.....I can recall so many names and in listing them here it may just inspire others to add messages and hopefully photos to this wonderful site. Well here goes..... Robin Dalton, yes I remember you, but I wonder how many of the following YOU remember......Jimmy Herbert, Colin Herbert (twins) Alan Bonner, Dennis Bonner (twins), Michael Jones, Ernest Whittington, Michael Jobbins, John Springate, Michael Parr, Ronald Cook, Robert Green, Barry Stacey, Terry Jones, Ann Binge, Kathleen Jago, Marie Barton, Sandra Longhurst, Carol Luck, Lillian Chorley, June Barclay (Berkeley) Valerie Money, Valerie Lawrence, Walter Morley, David Stead, Pat Lizmore, Peter Bird, George Hoare, Roger Hayward......So if any of you are out there and reading this, it would be great to see and read about your memories, which in turn may inspire many others to contribute to this great site. I just wish that there were more photos of JE - the ones on here are great, it's just a pity that there aren't any internal pics.....or are there? Incidentally, does anyone recall the "plimsole cupboard"?....these days it would come in for all sorts of critcism from the "nanny state" - the idea of it was that if you were very poor and couldnt afford a pair of plimsoles for PE or dancing then you could take a pair of old plimsoes from the cupboard (god knows who wore them before you) and hasten to add - it was a fight to the death to get the best pair, and consequently if you weren't quick enough then you finished up with two odd ones, two left ones or a pair that were either too big or too small or even none at all!! Aah...those were the days - what fun! Keep up the good work Ed, I come back here from time to time just to see the latest messages etc., so thanks again for putting this site together, and keeping JE's memory alive. Anne Tibbenham

From:

Sandra Richley

Date:

20th April 2011

Contact:

None

Please add my name to 1950s pupils. We used to spend lunch hours in Sayers Croft park. I won a local study prize for studying John Evelyn and his family tree. My teacher at the time was Miss Powell.
I lived in Wotton Road Deptford. This was from when I was born in 1950 until 1958. I went to both Grinling Gibbons school and John Evelyn School.Miss Loring was our headmistress and Mr Chesterton our Deputy. I remember going swimming every week and winning a local study school prize for studying Deptford history and John Evelyn. I remember the coronation street party which was in our road.I also remember shopping down Douglas street and playing in Sayers Court Park.

From:

Calvin Lee

Date:

25th April 2010

Contact:

I was a pupil in the 70s and have some great memories of the Teachers and Pupils.

From:

Jim Rice

Date:

29th April 2010

Contact:

What a great site. I went to JE from 1957-1960 it's amazing how some of the memories have come back. I remember my old teacher Mr Harrap who always seemed to smell of coffee and Tweed, probably from his check sport's jacket. I also used to get him his "Hacks" sweets from Walshes shop in Evelyn street. He also had a great big moustache. I also remember Mr Chesterton, deputy head and Miss Lorring, who I had to visit once in her office and I nearly wet myself, I think she gave me a sweet from her jar. I'm sure I was also in a nativity play as a Roman Guard and John Simmons was King Herod....I think. I did go in for a hand writing competition run by Brooke Bond tea, I tied with another boy and we both had a re-run...he won. I also remember when we and the U.S had some sort of crisis with the Russians, we all thought that the school would be blown in half. I certainly remember Lilly's and I think Daltons opposite the school gate. We used to collect bubble gum packs with flags of the world and jamboree bag's. I also remember Micheal Sawyer who was far brainer than me. I learnt to swim with the school at Laurie Grove Baths and we went there in the school "Divi Bus". With lots of "Blackjacks" after our splash about. What a dump that area is now, sad really still we had the Great and very safe Day's!

From:

Doris Cook (nee Dobbins)

Date:

1st September 2010

Contact:

None

Very excited to have found this page! I started John Evelyn School when I was 5 in 1936. The Junior Headmistress, Miss Dell, was very strict with grey hair and a big bun! The junior teachers I remember were Mr Ramsey, Mrs McClean and the music teacher Miss Wood (who wrapped me on the knuckles with a ruler!). Pupils: Doreen and Kenny Thomas, Jeanie and John Golding, Harry and Betty Gander, George Mitchell and or course my siblings Will, Peggy, Harry and Steve Dobbins. Steve and I were evacuated from school in September 1939 (from Waterloo Station) to Clovelly, North Devon (Mr Ramsey and Miss Wood came with us and stayed). I returned in 1943/4 aged 12. I remember the Wednesday afternoon (12 o/c and I was just going home for dinner)when our caretaker threw me to the ground at the top of the stone steps. A german bomber had got through the nets. I watched as he bombed the surrounding area and heard later that he had machine gunned children at a Catford school. I have very fond memories of school such as getting to play with the teacher's dolls house if we were good! I was also in charge of collecting the children's dinner money. I left John Evelyn when I was 14 and went to work in London.

From:

John Cooke

Date:

6th September 2010

Contact:

None

I went to John evelyn School in the early to mid 50's and always remember with pleasure. I was in both Mr. Ingrams and Miss Kendricks class.I was also in a few of the school plays and the nativity plays. I particularly remember a certain Una who was also in them, along with Susan Bryant. Other class members were Maxine debis, Kenneth Seal.Has anybody ever thought of some form of reunion for old pupils. I for one would be up for it.

From:

JOYCE CHRISTISON (nee Dale)

Date:

30th October 2010

Contact:

I was at John Evelyn from 1951 until late 1953, I was Joyce Dale in those days and lived in Abinger Grove . My first teacher was Miss Alworthy who married and became Mrs Gibb. I do remember the plimsoll cupboard, how unhygienic !! Miss Dell terrified me but I liked Mr Chesterton. Classmates I recall are Carol Langham, Jill Murray, Marion Jeffries, Victor ??, other names which come to mind are Robert Green, Royston Brandon, Reg Wilkins. Linda Jarvis. I loved the time I spent at the school and was devastated when our family moved up North to Yorkshire. Sadly I have no photographs but I do have many happy memories

From:

Rita Mitchell

Date:

13th February 2011

Contact:

None

Wow! I am sitting at home in New Zealand with a sister from the UK that I never knew existed until some years ago. It is coming up to a year since we made contact. We are both Googling and my sis Margaret Mitchell decided to Google the name of Miss Loring and she came to this wonderful site. We are having fun in remembering both our times at this school (I have to admit that her memory is better than mine). I must have started attending the school in September 1962. I feel really sad that the only pupils name I can recall is that of Susan Lengthorn as we both went to Grinling Gibbons prior to John Evelyn. I am so excited about this lovely site and it has encouraged me to keep going with my geneology research even more now. For some strange reason, I remember the name of Mr Mooney rather than the teachers!

From:

Colin Gray

Date:

13th March 2011

Contact:

Hi Ed, I lived in Deptford from 1940 to 1951. I lived in Corston Street with my Grandparents. I was at John Evelyn School from i think 5 years old until 11 years old. I then moved to Kent with my Mother but still returned to Deptford every weekend for about 3years. Anyway when i was there the Headmistress was Miss Dell and the deputy head was Mr Chesterton. I can remember one of my teachers, a Miss Leeson and being a bit of a teachers pet. I don't know if you are aware but if you go to 'movethat.com' and type in 'london deptford' there is a forum there that might be of help. Hope i have been of some help to you.

From:

Lynne Mason

Date:

24th April 2011

Contact:

I attended John Evelyn Junior school after leaving infant school Grinling Gibbons off Edward Street from about 1965 I cannot remember any of the teachers but I do remember Mr Mooney (caretaker). They were good old days. I lived in Shere Road which had Lily's corner shop Mr & Mrs used to run it and they had a minor bird that used to copy my Mum calling us. In my class was my friend Tina Summers who is still my friend now and I think Jimmy Beadle. When our house was demolised we moved to Brockley but then moved back to New Cross and went to Christopher Marlowe secondary school

From:

Maria Heasman

Date:

19th June 2011

Contact:

Hi, what a fantastic site. I have loved reading all the entries and looking at the photos. especially as I too was very saddened that JE no longer exists. I cannot remember the exact date my family moved from Clapham to Deptford, probably about 1971/1972, but I do know I left in 1975 to go to Addey & Stanhope Grammar School. I have amazingly fond memories of being taught the guitar by dear Mr Mooney. I remember playing with him on many occasions at St. Luke's church next door and St. Nicholas Church. I also seem to remember being chosen to play a duet with Mr Mooney on stage at ?Greenwich Theatre?? My mother unfortunately has no recollections so I am not sure if I have just dreamed it!! Please let me know if any of you remember that or me in fact. I remember Mr Otto once slapped me round the legs and left an imprint through my thick woolly tights!!! I remember Yvette Adams, Debbie Luxford, a girl named Linda who I think was friends with a girl whose name I have forgotten but feel sure her surname was Marshall? I remember this Linda and I pulling each other's hair whilst we were writing about on the floor during one of our drama sessions in the top hall. Other names seem to be fading at the moment. I was in Sally Kirkham's class, whom I adored and I seem to remember being her pet! Also Melinda Mistry? I am sure I remember that Melinda and I were invited to stay with Sally (as we were allowed to call her)at her house, which I think was Streatham way. How cool, of course, that would certainly not happen now. I always remember Mrs Broad, rocking on her feet and reprimanding those who ate with their mouths open and said they were like "cows chewing the cud" - how funny the things that stay in your memory. I remember Mr Nash and Mr Cuthbertson. I remember Ms Fitzsimmons panicking when one of those large pin boards fell on my head just as my mum was walking up the stairs! I also have very fond memories of our plays. I remember being in the play (I think it was a play) Fire, with the theme tune Fire by Arthur Brown. I actually think we did it at the old site of the Albany. If only we knew then how cool that was. My brother I think was at the infants to begin with and then came to Juniors. He was Frank, 2 years younger than me. We were also friends with the Nelson twins, Mandy and Tracey, and their brother David. They all lived in Rolt Street. I hope someone out there will remember me. :-)

From:

Carol Jeffs

Date:

1st October 2011

Contact:

None

My mother Louisa Florence Robinson left JE School in 1927 aged 14. She won a scholarship to a cookery school(?) but didnt go because she had to go to work to improve the finances of the family. She told me that there was a board in the hall with a list of scholarship winners and she was on it (does it still exist somewhere) She remembered having to stand on a stool facing the wall wearing a dunces hat as a punishment. She also used to sing me the school song "John Evelyn is the name of our school"...... etc (I wrote the rest of the words down and could send them if they are of interest). Sadly Mum died Nov 2009 aged 96 and I wish I had known about this site then and could have shown her the pictures on it.

From:

Carroll

Date:

4th October 2011

Contact:

None

I went to the school in 1959 until i left in 1963 my teachers name was Miss Homes and a Mr Ingram and i think the heads name was Mr Harrinton my 3 elder brothers also went to the school.

From:

Steve Bayes

Date:

4th October 2011

Contact:

None

I was born and lived in Deptford until about 1970. I attended Rachel MacMillan Nursery near Deptford Green, Grilling Gibbons Infant School Clyde Street, John Evelyn Junior School (left in 1968 I think)and Eltham Green Comprehensive. My brother John also went to John Evelyn but he's seven years older than me. In my last year I had a teacher called Miss King, who had red hair that was always pinned up and dark horn rimmed glasses. She must have been relatively young at the time and I remember her being very nice and popular with the kids. I also remember Mr Newland/Newman? Mr Mooney (caretaker) and Mrs Loring the Headmistress. Some of the kids I remember are: Kelys Herbert, Steven Anderson, Tony Ellis, Julie Rivett, Lorraine Batten. I really enjoyed looking at the site and it brought back a few memories. If I think of any stories or find any photos I'll send an update.

From:

Jane Blanchard

Date:

13th October 2011

Contact:

None

I attended John Evelyn in the early 1950's. I lived in Oareboro Road and used to walk through the arch to Childers St, to Etta St and then cut through to John Evelyn school. I remember the terraced houses opposite the school in Rolt street. There was a pub on the corner and a fishmonger used to sell wet fish outside, I think his name was Freddie Vernon because he lived in Oareboro Rd as well. My teacher was Mr.Ingrams and I can remember his 'Bees'. Mr.Chesterton was deputy head. I remember his brown brouge shoes 'clip clopping' in the hall. The dinner tables were set up in the hall at lunchtime and I had free dinners because we were quite a 'poor family' I always went up for seconds. I can remember the head girl who was also the dinner monitor coming round to tell us that the King had died (King George V1) died 1952. We also had our free milk every day of which I always had more. There was a classroom on the upper floor in the left hand corner which had desks raised on different levels and you felt like you were on stage. Mr.Forrester used to take our class and he had a jar of sweets of which we could help ourselves if we got a question right. He was a small chap with a moustache and quite funny. We used to get on a coach on occasions and go to Laurie Grove swimming baths. The Nit Nurse would come for her inspection and on one occasion she kept me behind, of course everyone knew why! but I now know that nits only occupy clean hair. Then of course there was the plimsole cupboard, of which I had to visit several times. Apart from that I have fond memories of my time there and I went on to further my career, got an office job in London, met a wonderful man and lived happily ever after.

From:

Peter Bradley

Date:

1st December 2011

Contact:

None

My Grandfather, Arthur Bradley, lived at 25 Shere Road. Arthur attended Duke Street School, Deptford from the age of 4 (1887)until he was 14 yrs old (1897). All his brothers & sisters went there. It cost 3d per week. Arthur used to get the cane. I sat my grandfather down in the late 1960's and recorded his life history, which I still have today. His brothers & sisters that also attended the school were: Charlotte Elizabeth 1875 - 1882, Alice 1875-1894, James Henry 1875-1885, Edith 1877-1887, Jessie 1879-1889, Alfred 1881-1891, Horace 1883-1893, Clara 1886-1896.

From:

Ken Wilton

Date:

27th December 2011

Contact:

I was there from 1962 to 1966. Ken Wilton, I was then much bigger and fatter than everyone else. In my classes there were Denise Peek, Rita Mitchell, Christine Dempsey, Linda Frampton, Susan Thorn, Nigel Allen, Wayne Allen, Stephen Georgiou, George Wignall, Maria Hoad, Neil Chinigadoo, Carol Baker, Peter Little, Peter Nightingale, Stanley Wearon, Paul Williams, Barry Barton, Pamela Nembard, Lynn Hilton, Pauline Wilson, Mark Collins... I remember my first teacher there Mrs Driscoll. Yes Miss or Mrs Loring was the headmistress and I remember Mr Newlands, and the caretaker whose side gate opened into the playground. We used to walk to school buying Beatles bubblegum cards and singing 'There'll always be an England', then all the lovely houses with their lovely gardens around there started getting demolished for the change that was to start taking place. Also in my classes there from 1962 to 1966 were Susan Lengthorn, Martin Montgomery, John Weatheral, Rita Mitchell, it was 'Billy' Barton, Barry Midmore, Reginald Cheeseman, Clifford Gault, Susan Lizmore....Miss Fowler was my teacher in class 8....and I also remember Paul Hayworth, Sandra Finnon, Paul Carpenter, Janet Carpenter. David Nichols and Malcolm Defoe (I still owe David some toy soldiers he left at my house), whose family lived and worked in the doctors at the back of the school.