Bexley Technical High School For Girls 1963 1969

I was at bexley tech on town levy road. I remember mrs Simpson .. So stern, but what a great teacher!
Anyone remember the name of the record shop on the Broadway with listening booths? I'm Pauline driscoll nee Hill. Still friends with shirley page and Mary Stephens. ... Live in Canada now, but my 90 year old mum is still there !

Oh auto correct! Townley road ....
I was at hall place for year at age 13 and then to the main school. I did the commercial course with GCEs. Pauline

Hi Pauline. Good to read yr comments! Did you go there in sept 1963 as one of the first 11 yr Olds like I did? We were divided up alphabetically..I was Ells so was in P2. I went to hall place too as a 2nd yr in Q2...loved it down there! We had to serve our own lunches and were not allowed in the Minstrels Gallery! Changing room had freezing cold stone flagged floor! what did Mrs Simpson teach?name rings a bell.remember Mrs Taylor..Taught English....Mrs Richardson..French..scary...and miss Odell...geography.i did commercial + gce s too.left in 1969 and went as a clerk to the Met Police. Fancy you being in Canada! I moved to Devon in 1971 and still here.im still in touch with Ann Porter who lives in Welling.mmm remember record shop but not the name...will ask my older brother! All good wishes Marilyn

Started at the Tech in 1967 and was in P4, Q4, R4, 4GH, 5GH and 6S. Miss Fuller was Head and she was firm but fair. Remember having to clean her office/apartment as part of course. Mrs Taylor - English, Miss Blackwell - Sciences and Mr Lawson too. Both excellent teachers. Miss Abbot - French and Miss Lynch for Maths. Mrs Simpson taught me shorthand and typing in sixth form. Was the record shop called TW Records or am I just very confused in my old age? Also caught the 229 or 132 to school for 2d (tuppence) but used to walk home sometimes and buy an apple from the green grocers by the bus stop on the Broadway, to eat on the way, with my bus fare. Good memories.

Hi exmoorambling! Oooo I ve just shivered...had forgotten Miss Lynch...was terrified of her...I was so bad at Maths! Was Mrs Simpson blond,wore glasses,reddish round face?i did shorthand/typing in 4com and 5com and she didn't like me! I put it down to me being left handed..tricky for shorthand! Yes Miss Fuller was a good head..I liked her.neat grey suits,pale blouse with Peter Pan collar with little brooch on it?? Short grey hair swept back..bit fierce looking but was kind really.you must live in south west like me? I'm in Torquay. Must ask my bro bout record shop! Marilyn.

I was at Bexley Tech in the fifties. We were the first class to walk to Hall Place.
Went there after 2 years at a secondary modern school in Sidcup. Studied commercial and got 4 O levels, then left at 16 to work as a secretary at Barclays Bank in Victoria Street, London.
Great memories of the school, I'm now 71 and living in Seattle, US, emigrated to Seattle in 1963. Would love to reconnect with anyone from those years. Deborah Seymour

I was there in 1958/59 and went to Hall Place .
I really enjoyed my time with Miss Moore ( history ) being the headmistress .My sister Jean attended from the main school for the A level course
I also attended Sidcup secondary school until the age of 13 yrs.

Hi mcaunter in Torquay. I was at Bexley Tech from 63 -69 after being expelled from grammar school in Sidcup. I loved the Tech, I had Miss Pike for maths [arrgh], and I loved Miss Turnbull for English. I remember being goalkeeper in hockey for the 1st 11 when we would have fish paste sandwiches after playing other schools. At Hall Place I remember several of us trying to find the secret passages that led to the church in Bexley and someone putting their foot through the ceiling of the staff room.

Hi there I was at the Tech from 1959 to 1965. Form teacher was Miss Fowler, head Miss Fuller, maths Miss Pike, English Lit Miss Turnbull, I married her brother, Gordon, English language Miss Skews, the hated Miss Grainger. The list goes on, I'm curious to know when it became Townley Grammar

I hated Miss Pike she was alway picking on me cos I was so thick at Maths. Think I can remember Miss Turnbull as she was such an inspiring teacher. I loved Hall Place. Such an inspiring old building and lovely grounds. I am Amanda Hood and now live in Northumberland

So many names pop out at me. I was in TX then MTX but can't remember what form I started in for first two years at Hall Place. I remember my dad saying that he was Lady Limerick's doctor in the late 30's at the Hall. LynnHolland, Susan Pretty, Shirley Paige, Brenda, and others I can't recall. I was the horrible little shit who was the local GP's daughter. Anna Koby

I went to Bexley Tech. from 1955-1959 after spending 2 years at Blackfen Secondary. The first year I went to Wilmington, Form S, Mrs. Hodgson. Then we went to the main school. I was in form JXCO. Miss Odell was my form teacher and also taught geography and religion. Mrs. Holmes was our form teacher in CXO and SCXO and also taught English. We had Miss Rudd for shorthand and Mrs. Hazelwood (?) for typewriting. Mrs. Richards (Richardson) taught French. I think her name was Mrs. Swain for maths, which we had to drop, as we had 6 GCE subjects, and were not allowed to drop religion! On Fridays we went to Hall Place for history. I've forgotten the teacher's name. Miss Collins was headmistress. I was also a prefect but I don't remember a yellow tie. I think we had badges.

My name is Janet Voelcker (nee Moroney). I went to work in Duesseldorf, Germany, in 1960 as a shorthand-typist for English correspondence. I have been here ever since. I am still in touch with a school friend, Margaret Drew (nee Yates), who lives in Crayford. I am 75 this year.

Hello to all, these posts have brought back so many memories! I was at Hall Place (1963?) and had the time of my life. I spent a lot of time trying to explore all the areas that we weren't allowed in to, and I loved the spooky Minstrels Gallery. My first classroom was the little room at the end of the gallery and I seem to remember that we had a really sweet teacher who died, cancer I think. When we shifted back to the main school, I just couldn't adjust and ended up leaving at the earliest opportunity. I remember Miss Pike, and Miss Odell, and Mrs Richards. I caught the 132 bus to Erith every day, only after shortening my skirt by hoisting it up from the waistband, and adjusting the angle of the hideous beret! I emigrated to NZ when I was 21 and I've been here ever since though I've been back a couple of times, and visited Hall Place whenever I could. I've been an ESL teacher for the past 15 years - whoever thought that such a rebellious brat would turn out OK?!Does anyone remember Christine Austin, or Sharon Chapman? My name is Carol Chapman (no relation).

Hi. I too was at the tec from 1963- 1969; started at a Hall Place & have memories of sneaking upstairs into areas shut off from us girls. Reading some of these comments has reminded me of teachers I had forgotten- Miss Fuller, head; Miss Moore, History; Miss Greg? Music; Mrs Ashworth, Art; Miss Granger, games. I can’t remember which class I was in but Miss Moore was my form mistress & it was mainly sciences but I spent all my time in the art room with Mrs Ashworth. I was terrified of Miss Granger & hated ‘games’. I went onto Bath Academy of Art. I wish my memory was better because I can’t remember many names of fellow students - Christine Finch? Carol Wright?Anna Koby? Also Shirley, Pauline & Beryl. Does anybody remember me - Lyn Holland?

I remember you both, carol and Sharon_ a bit scary! I'm Ann Crossman and was in p1 in 1963. I too found it traumatic to leave Hall Place. Berets were hideous. Miss Pyke made me learn my tables but never checked. Loved the history teacher but can't recall her name. Still have school reports, not good! Recall the hairy fairy Miss Grainger and those showers. Had a crush on Miss Bracher (RE) but never taught by her .Best friend was Joan Davis and we still keep in touch regularly. Tina Alabaster became a librarian. Jennifer Bethel and Sally Anstis came to teacher training college with me but the former left on day 3. Do you remember poor pregnant Brenda Barry? I was quiet and struggled when Joan left to move to Ws Mare after o levels. Must visit Hall Place. Live in West Wickham now.

Hi...I too was in miss fowler's form,59-65! And beautiful hall place 59-60. I did not enjoy time with miss fowler's....such a relief to have lovely Mrs Taylor for the 6th form year. We had to cram our 2Alevels into one year as the building was too small to take us until13. And the we had to be farmed out to hall place for a year, but that was such a treat! Good memories of Miss Skews,, strict but great. Had memories of the arithmetic woman and the fowlbird!😗

Heather Vincent, btw. Still in touch with Shirley Speight and Marion Curtis.

Hi
The record shop was called Whomes. My sister Denise Jones, attended Bexley Tech from 1967 to 1972.

1958 to 1962 were the years I went to Bexley Technical school, as it was called then. Mrs Richards was our form teacher (super lady) and we had those form titles, JXCR, XCR, SCXR, denoting which course you were doing. That first year at Wilmington was wonderful. Rehearsing our Shakespeare play down in the wooded area, planting up little gardens, trotting off to Madam Osterburg's for sport and dance. Fabulous memories. All the little badges on my tie - school prefect, form captain, sports captain, haha, not so supple now. Many of the names have slipped my memory after all these years, but not the faces. Where are you now girls? Linda Puplet, Dawn Lang, Sheila Riley, Valerie ? and so on. Happy days.

Hey I remember Anna Koby and Lyn holland! Anna - I think my friend shirley Page was in your class. I was in the commercial SCX. I met shirley when we went to the tech at age 13 and were in “R” something class. Sue Turner was in my class and Brenda Haines Cathy Pike Brenda Lucas ... oh I’m on a roll now!

I was at Hall Place in class P3
My name was Penny Knipe, I remember exploring the upper floors and being amazed at the old bathroom. I loved Miss Turnbull she made learning interesting. I liked Miss Fuller, I seem to remember sitting outside her office quite often.
I now work at a drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand

My name is Nova Bradley (nee Russell). I was at Bexley Technical School from 1959 to 1964 having spent two years at a secondary modern school in Dartford. None of my fellow pupils at the school in Dartford came with me to Bexley as there was a brand new technical high school that had just opened and it was much flashier (at least its uniform was) but my mum wanted me to go to Bexley TS as my sister had gone there 10 years' previously. Having failed my 11 plus and been stuck in a secondary modern for 2 years with very limited education, Bexley High School was a rescue place for me which enabled me to do A levels and then, in one year, A level history and English. Having spent the 1st year (age 13 to 14) at a location in Bexley, we all moved to Hall Place and stayed there until 1963 with Miss Moore as our form teacher. I did O level history and religious education with her and she taught me so much about European and Russian history from the mid 1980s to the early 1900s and my thoughts constantly refer back to Miss Moore's wonderful education and what it taught me about life and politics and I constantly wonder now what her political position was. I doubt that Miss Moore is still with us but, if she were, I would love her to know how much she is remembered by me and, I am sure, by other pupils that she taught. Aside from loving the education from Miss Moore there was other stuff that I did NOT like. I hated the hockey lessons - cold and horribly muddy with no showers afterwards so that I can remember sitting in the biology class after our hockey lesson covered in mud and bright pink from the exercise. I also hated the berets but we had to wear them and I remember that I folded mine into a small V shaped wodge and pinned it to the back of my fluffed up bee-hived hair. Ugh!! I must have looked terrible but not much change now..

Slight amendment to my comment above. Bexley High School enabled me to do O levels and then, in one eyar, A level history and English. Nova

#jav42. Not sure if you may remember me - Bob Upchurch. There were not too many Moroney's around in those days and I presume that you are Patsy's younger sister. How are you? Many moons have passed since the 50's. Germany must be a fine place for you to have stayed there all this time. How are brothers Mike and Kevin?

#jav42. Not sure if you may remember me - Bob Upchurch. There were not too many Moroney's around in those days and I presume that you are Patsy's younger sister. How are you? Many moons have passed since the 50's. Germany must be a fine place for you to have stayed there all this time. How are brothers Mike and Kevin?

I was at Bexley Tech from 1968-74 when my family moved to Exmouth in Devon. I was in P4, Q4 and R4 and have some good memories of the outdoor theatre, the science lab with Miss Blackwell and the art room with Mr Crossley. Remember Miss Crossley's little MG? And Miss Whithard's bike?
I was an obnoxious kid but I had some kind friends and would love to hear what happened to Jackie Warren and Susan White. We had a friend Monica who moved to Frinton (I think). I live in the US now. My maiden name was Susan Wheeler. Would love to hear back from classmates!

I am Patsy’s younger sister. How can I get in touch with you?

Hallo Bob Upchurch. I am Patsy’s younger sister. How can I get in touch with you?

I was at Bexley Tech from 1961-1964. My maiden name was Paula Wright. I was in Miss Woodman’s class JCXW and later SCXW. Miss Woodman was a sweet lady and, to me at 15, looked as old as the hills but, no doubt, was a lot younger than I am now aged 72!! She used to travel from Caulsden every day to teach us. Amazing. I followed a commercial/GCE course for the 3 years I was at the school and ended up with good results. I had previously been at Northumberland Heath Secondary School for Girls until I was 15 and then transferred to the tech to do the commercial subjects, etc. Following a year with Miss Woodman I was transferred into Mrs Simpson’s shorthand and typing class which proved more interesting and led to success with above average exam results. Miss Fuller was the headmistress and I had one or two run-ins with her whilst at the school. Miss Grainger was the PE teacher and I regularly skipped playing hockey (hated it) and sat in the corridor to do shorthand homework. I never got caught! I attended several classes at Hall Place on Thursdays - double history, double maths and double geography, Mrs Strong (who disliked me because I was hopeless at history, once wrote on a report that ‘Paula would do very well at this subject if she only knew the facts! Even my parents hooted at this remark!) I had Miss Lynch for maths and Mrs Hodgson for geography. I also disliked these subjects, so I never looked forward to my day at Hall Place! I also remember Miss Turnbull who taught English. After leaving school, I worked as a Medical Secretary at Bart’s in London before going to Colchester to do nurse training and from there I emigrated to New Zealand in 1976. If anyone remembers me, please get in touch.

I should like to add to my comment of 29.10.2017 that I chose Bexley Tech. because my lovely sister, Patsy, went there in the 40‘s.

#exmoorrambling
The Miss Abbot you mention was she a former head girl and was her name Ann?

#upchurchbob. You can contact me at jav42@gmx.de. I assume that I was too young at the time to remember you but obviously you know my sister and brothers.

I was at Bexley Tech from 1957 to July 1961. I have fond memories of my first year at Wilmington and then at Townley Road. I was in JDSX, DSX and SDX. Our form mistress was Miss Fowler and I remember Mrs Holmes (English), Mrs Richards (French) and Miss Fowler (Domestic Science). I worked most of my working life in the Airline Industry. My husband and I emigrated to Calgary, Canada in 1974 but I still go home at least twice a year. My maiden name was Linda Hutchinson but I am now Linda Hughes. If anybody was in my class please contact me I would love to hear from you

I don't know. She married and became Mrs Loney but still spent a lot of time in France. She was a very good teacher

Did you ever catch Miss Fuller with her pipe?! I think that's why she kept the windows open in her really pleasant flat/office

Was that the one opposite Lion Road/the old library?

Hi, it’s Paula Baynes (née Wright) again. I remember many friends from 1961-1964. We were in Miss Woodman’s Class for 2 years and then several of us transferred into Mrs. Simpson’s class for the third year. Close friends we’re Sharon Bragg, Sandra Medhurst, Brenda Le Good and Gloria Larkby, plus others whose names I can’t recall. Sharon and I are still friends and in contact, but I’ve lost touch with the others. If anyone would like to contact me my email address is pmbaynes@gmail.com. I live in New Zealand. Cheers.

Carol Chapmn I think I remember - did you live in Brnnirst then? I was Carol Tomlins back then and started in P4 in the huts. I remember Sally Anstis, Marilyn Pugh, Miranda Sparks, and so many others. Hilarious times at Hall Place too. Still in touch with Helen Weeks. So many memories. Sadly I didn’t make the most of what was a very good school - I was a late developer but made up for it later in life!

This may seem a strange request, the current Townley Grammar school has been running a cricket club for girls since 2006. We are researching cricket at the school for any time prior to that. Can any one remember if you were introduced to cricket at the Technical college, my email address is
JOHNWILLIAMDANIELS@GMAIL.COM

My name is Sheila Rawlings (nee Davis). I was one of the last intake of pupils before the school reverted back to Bexley Council and became a library in 1965. Although the guide book mentions that the headmistress of Bexley Tech at that time was Miss Fuller, the girls at Hall Place were the responsibility of Miss Moore. As Miss Fuller was based at the main school in Townley Road – and therefore could not be in two places at once – Miss Moore acted as Deputy Headmistress at Hall Place. Miss Moore was a dedicated teacher who ruled Hall Place with a rod of iron. It was never wise to get on the wrong side of Miss Moore. However, she was also a brilliant history teacher, who taught from memory without having to refer to text books. I was both afraid of and awed by her in equal measure. I remember it was my turn to read the day’s lesson in assembly one day and I totally forgot. I only remembered when my name was called to come to the front to read it. Miss Moore gave me a very public dressing down in front of all the pupils. However, although I was embarrassed, I never forgot again.

Having the gardens of Hall Place at our disposal (apart from the grounds beyond the river) was a joy. In the summer, we often sat by the river for our French lessons with Mrs Richards. In the winter, we were allowed to go out in the snow at break times, where we quite often engaged in snowball fights – although coming back inside wet from the melted snow was mainly frowned upon.

Usually, the top floor of Hall Place (formally the servants quarters) was out of bounds to the girls due to to the floorboards being considered unsafe. However, on our last day at the school the ban was waved and we were allowed to go up there and explore. The Victorian bath (now displayed on the top floor landing) was squirrelled away in one of the rooms up there. It was a nice surprise to see it again when I recently visited.

However, some of the rooms in the Jacobean part of the building, where we used to have lessons (French in particular and my form room), are no longer accessible to the public. I also noticed that some extra walls have been erected that were not there back in 1964-65. The rooms at the front though are practically the same. The grand hall served as both the place where we had assembly in the morning, as well becoming a gym for indoor PE. The room leading off the hall on the ground level was our canteen. The girls had to take turns helping to serve the meals to the rest of the pupils, as the staff were a bit thin on the ground. The room above it (leading off the minstrel’s gallery, where the teachers sat during assembly) was our music room. On the other side of the hall, in the four large rooms of the Tudor wing, we had Maths, Needlework, History and I think English (my memory is a bit rusty on that last subject).

I was addicted to art and spent as much time as I could in the art department with Mrs Ashworth. It made up for all those awful games lessons with Miss Grainger, especially hockey (yuk).

When I eventually left the Tech in 1969, I gained a place at Medway College of Art and Design (now the University of Creative Arts) in Chatham. I then went on to enjoy a long career as a graphic designer. I’m now retired but I often look back on my days at the tech with fond memories. Happy days.

Bit late stumbling across all of this,,but to Carol Chapman above who mentioned one or too familiar names..Sally ANSTIS i bumped into Sally it must of been ten years + ago now in Bromley she was still teaching but also teaching Fitness Classes at one of the Gym`s there i think she had a small P/T business at that time?I was very suprized indeed when she mentioned she had married a man 14 years OLDER than her but they had separated She was then living in Westerham so not so far away from our old school and as i said still teaching

I went to Bexley Technical School between 1950-1955. I worked in the City of London as a Secretary to a Solicitor. My father had a Butcher’s Shop in Bexley village called J T Dennis. I married a Jerseyman and went to live in Jersey where I have been ever since. I have one son who, coincidentally became a Barrister in the Temple and then returned to Jersey and is now head of a law firm. I remember Miss Collins. She made quite an impression on her pupils. I had no idea the school was closed and became a grammar school. My maiden name was Feasey. Jean Cadin nee Feasey

Are you related to a Geoffrey Feasey and his brother Michael? Geoffrey was in my class at Days Lane school.

Are you related to Geoffrey Feasey and his brother Michael? Geoffrey was in my class at Days Lane School. My name is Janet Völcker (nee Moroney).

I have just picked up this site and so many memories came flooding back. I was at Bexley Tech from 1960 to 1963 having spent 3 years learning Shorthand and typing and taking 5 ‘0’ levels at the same time. I failed at French, I hated the little french teacher (whose name I can’t remember) and she hated me !! I excelled at typing with Mrs Simpson and was one of her favourite pupils, being allowed to use one of the electric typewriters. I think there were only 3 in the class. She was very stern but also very fair, she was my favourite teacher. I struggled a bit at shorthand but managed to scrape by.
My exams results enabled me to get a good and well paid job (in those days) in the city where in 1970 I met and married my husband and we moved to Windsor in Berkshire. We are still married !!!
At 76 my memory is a bit rusty as to teachers names but the games teacher stood out - she was weird - would stare at our naked bodies when we showered. We had a good laugh at her behind her back.
Girls I can remember in my class were Jean Pinkerton, Elizabeth Kennard, Maureen (or Mary) Martin, Sandra and Christine Keast. Christine lived in Dartford and she and I were good pals but times roll on and we lost touch.
I also remember spending 1 day a week at Hall Place where many of us would cycle race down the A2 to see who could get their first. What a scary thing to do ?!!!
Would love to hear from anyone who knew me - my name was Margaret Fincham - now Hargrave.