Name

Role(s)

Report

1939

Pike

Head Mistress

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.

I would love to know the words we all sang at that time because I have forgotten most of them now.  I wonder if anyone still remembers them? - Sheila Bush ('46-'50)

Marjorie Hyde

Dep Head, Music

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)

B.M. Pearce

Miss Pearce was Head Mistress and retired in 1967 (approx). I remember she use to walk very quietly along the corridors clasping behind her a large bunch of keys. – Christine Clayfield

Miss Pearce plaited her hair and then wound the plaits so that they sat over her ears (Cyberman-style) - Linda Beavan ('64)

Mrs Courtney

- Scrapbook

Glauert

- Scrapbook

Lehrs

- Scrapbook

Lewonski

- Scrapbook

Orledge

- Scrapbook

Oyston/Oysen

Geography

- Scrapbook
Miss Oyston had apparently transferred to Blackwell Secondary School by the '50s - evidence of which is provided by the following description from Barry Lynch (born in '48) who, on the Yahoo 'BlackwellSecondarySchool' web-site, recalls: '… the cud-chewing Miss Oyston, an affable Grande Dame … '
… a strong disciplinarian but a fairly accomplished teacher - Tony Houlahan, Blackwell, FR
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 formed a beautiful spiral shape - Roger Walker, Blackwell, FR

Rossitter

- Scrapbook

Wright

- Scrapbook

1940s

There were 44 teachers on the roll (boys and girls schools) in 1940

Archer

Austin

- Doreen Griffin (‘50)

Beasley

Mrs Butler

Needlework

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)

Miss K A Cochrane

- Kathleen Goshawk ('45)

Garrish

- Scrapbook.  Ran the Science Club with Miss Gooch (see 'Sheila Bush' Archive photos).

Irene 'Renee' Grimley

Music, RI and Deputy Head

Trained at Brighton Teacher Training College. - Roger Morgan.

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)

A cheerful soul, with a lot to put up with. - Marilyn Gough ('64)

The rumour was that GMiss rimley had broken her nose as a result of falling off the stage - Linda Beavan

Miss JN Gooch

Geography

Ran the Science Club with Miss Garrish (see photos). Sheila Bush and Kathleen Goshawk ('45)

Miss E Grosstephan

-Kathleen Goshawk ('45) and Scrapbook

Miss Hands

- Scrapbook

Miss Humphries

- Scrapbook

Miss Jones

Miss King

Rumor had it that she married an American - Kathleen Goshawk ('45)

Miss D B Miles

- Kathleen Goshawk ('45) and Scrapbook

J. Adcock née Noyes

Art

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 was a brilliant art teacher. – Linda Farrell

E.S.O. (possibly the 'Orledge' or 'Oyston' above)

- Scrapbook

Miss L Ridgeway

- Kathleen Goshawk ('45)

Stewart

Tyrie

History

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 I got a house mark for Brockley. - Sheila Bush ('46-'50)

Passed away in 1985, she was good though. - Marilyn Gough

Miss Whitehead

We had showers at Chandos after Gym.  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

Miss Williams

Miss Williams along with Miss Jones looked after the girls rounders team, after the rounders matches against other schools we had lemonade and cakes which was a luxury in them days. – Raymond Griffin (‘53)

1950s

Miss Barker

Sports

Mrs Crawley

I remember walking down to the gym which was in the boys' school and being told not to look right or left! and the WHITE LINE in the playground was a sin to put our toes over!! – Patricia Read

Miss Croker

Science

an excellent science teacher - June Bill ('54)

Mrs Downs (Miss Reid)

Sport

married at a church in Harrow in about '58 - Adrienne Doggett ('61)

Miss Johnson

Biology

- Carol Bosworth ('63)

Miss Jolley

- Gill Bailey ('63)

Mrs Pocock (Miss Jacobs)

Young and very nice; married about ‘53 - Dorothy Williams

Mrs Russell

Needlework

Belgian

E.M. Selby

Head

- Scrapbook

Mrs Skidmore

Geography

- Scrapbook

Mrs Stopper

A tall lady who wore glasses.  Based in the huts.  Some of us were not too nice to her... she had a hard job with some of us - June Faux ('56)

I.P. Thomas

(Art & Craft?)

- Scrapbook

Mrs Ward

Literature

Mrs Ward was short and very dumpy…  one day we all sat and watched her walking towards a black spot in the ice going into the new building and we were all willing her to slip - and she did. - Carol Bosworth ('63)

1960s

Miss Andrews

Music

Miss Bellamy

Miss Drinkall

PE

Fabulous and talented PE teacher – she was the best! – Anna Girdwood

Miss Fisher

English language

Miss Fleming

PE

Does anyone remember this cruise on the Nevasa to the Med. Miss Fleming P.E. teacher was on this one. - Patricia Braid

Mr Harding

Biology

What about the school cruises with Mr & Mrs Harding (Biology teacher) – Karen Ridley

he took us on the school cruise on the nevesa he was a lovely teacher and made my days at chandos very happy – Gwendoline Barnes

Hislop

History

Mrs Houston

Mrs Jones

Geography

A case of “say it, don’t spray it” – i.e. she spat her words an awful lot. - Mn

She wore her hair back in a sausage shape bun and I remember her large handbags and high heal shoes. - Cristine Clayfield

Always used to wear blue or purple clothes! Never any other colour! She was always to be found in the "new building". – Jeanette Piddock

Miss Kendall

- Scrapbook

Mrs M May

Needlework advisor

- Scrapbook

Mr McEvoy/Avoy

He was a new teacher to Chandos and we use to give him hell, and he use to get so angry that he use to throw the chalk at people.  We also use to take the mickey out of him because he never ironed his shirts. He was always with Miss Drinkall and caused a lot of playground chatter. – Diane Baker

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

Miss O’ Carroll

Maths

Mrs Parsons

Mathematics

I think she was a fill-in teacher or something.  We only got her in the final year of school and she was brilliant.  The other Maths teachers – do you know I cannot remember ANY of them, because they were SO appalling! – Marilyn Gough

Miss Piper

Gym

Mrs Sambrook

French and Maths

A closet Nazi if you ask me! – Marilyn Gough

Miss Sedgewick

Geography/English

Mrs Streddar

Needlework

Mrs Streader taught us needlework.  We had to make a gym slip (a thick navy wrap around skirt with our initials embroidered in the corner in red silk.  Then we had to make an apron and matching band for our head (white cotton with royal blue spots)for our domestic science lessons. – Christine Clayfield

Mrs Voss (Miss Cochran)

In the huts... a lovely lady and a good teacher who was always very supportive of her students - even if they had no talent at all - Linda Phillips

1970s

Mrs Brewer

Cookery

- Suzanne Barnett

C.A.B.

Art

- Scrapbook

B.C.

History

- Scrapbook

Mrs Cunningham

French

- Suzanne Barnett

S.K. Currie

- Scrapbook

Mrs Day

Choir

S.F.

Music

- Scrapbook

Mrs Holmes

Maths

A really great teacher, who made learning maths fun, she was good for a laugh, but very strict with it.  She had problems with her hips. – Carol Bond

Mrs Iggulden

English

Irish accent.  Produced school’s production of Macbeth.

A.K.

French

Mrs McGregor

Mrs Wingham (Miss Kendal)

Miss Kendal who later married and became Mrs Wingham (not sure of her married name) was worthy of a mention.  I liked her. – Linda Farrell.