Memories Of Hersham House School

A Memory of Hersham.

I attended HH from mid 70's until '78 - I left after I had taken my 'O'levels there. I remember very clearly Mrs Hewlett, Mrs Earwaker (and her laugh!), Mrs. Poulter, Mrs Turnbull and her son Ffion who drove the school bus after Mr Vaness retired (he was always covered in dog hair due to having an alsation!). I also remember finding 'presents' under the desk occasionally, after one of Mrs. Hewlett's many cats had decided to pay a visit but couldn't find a litter tray!

I used to love the swimming at Oatlands Park Hotel and remember taking part in the annual long distance swim event where we just kept going until the last person had done as many lengths as they could! I managed to win in '78 just before we finished school there for the last time.
Mrs Hall was a lovely Scottish teacher who I studied dress and design with and I also had a very nice French teacher who took me for lessons in the piano room by myself as I was the only one taking my French 'O'level. My exam was nearly a disaster....my oral test was on a Saturday and as my parents were out, I needed a lift to get to school. Mrs Hewlett very kindly offered to pick me up, but her car played up so we ended up being late! We arrived at the school where the examiner was waiting. Mrs. H went off to make tea (to calm our nerves!) and the kindly examiner started chatting away to me in French about how my day was going etc. etc. I replied in French and waited for the exam to start. As it was, that was the exam - the examiner put me at my ease by not letting on I was already being examined!

TBH, the school wasn't the best academically but I had so much fun....my friends included Louise Coe, Lynne Barton and Kim Moran-Watson. Don't know where there are now sadly. I remember in the summer though, we sat in the garden by the mulberry tree and listened to the top 40 on the radio at lunchtimes. When we were in our last year, we were allowed to decorate the lean to next to the house and use it as our 'den' at breaktimes. Kim was a good artist and decorated the walls with a giant drawing of the Peanuts characters, Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

I wonder how many people have experiences like that....idyllic days...

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