THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE - Miss E. G. Alexander

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — These Findon Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

MISS E. G. ALEXANDER

The Headmistress of the school in Findon c.1946 was Miss E. G. Alexander and I did not know much about this lady until Lawrie May in Antigua told me about her....

7th October 2004

Hello Valerie,

Letter from Antigua.

......When I was in England recently I was reminded of a story concerning Findon School and the Headmistress Frances Alexander. "Fanny" of course was a brute and used to beat children unmercifully, she would actually lift you off the ground by your ears. She was particularly cruel to the poorest children and those from the local orphanage at Myrtle Grove who had no parents to protest.

It was the day before sports day and Peter Turner, John McKracken and I were standing at the top of the Vicarage Field, Fanny was at the bottom. Fanny shouted for one of us boys to bring something down to her, and in what was supposed to be a whisper, Peter I think, said something on the lines of "Oh shut up you silly old ...."

To my horror I realised that the words had carried on the wind, Fanny looked up, stuck her tongue in her bottom lip ( a terrible sign) and came striding purposely up the field. I think it was the first time in my life I realised what a coward I was as all I could think of was not Peter's imminent thrashing but the warm comfort of knowing I was not going to be the recipient !

School days the best days of your life ? - I wouldn't go back for a million pounds !

All the best to my old Findon friends,

Lawrie May

Lawrence May, Antigua, West Indies.

I echo your last sentiments, Lawrie.

4th January 2005

Hello Valerie

Myrtlegrove

I hope you do not mind me asking questions but after years of wondering I am hoping you will satisfy my curiosity.

When I was 8 years of age in 1955 my father was taken ill with TB and was in hospital for 2 years so we had no money apart from my Mums wages I was sent away to a place called Myrtlegrove and I wondered if this was the same place you talk about on your web site.

I have never forgotten this dreadful place and hated it there although it was only for a short time and was supposed to be a holiday.

All I really remember is this great big grey forboding building with small paned windows and cold porridge with water on it in tin bowls.

I still have nightmares about it but think that is to do with the fact that I never really knew where I was or where the place was.

We lived in Woking at the time but were taken there from Kingston Town Hall by coach.
Thanks for your help in anticipation

Best regards

Sandra Hopkins

Yes, there was an institution at Myrtlegrove around this time. Perhaps Lawrie will tell us a bit more about it.....

5th January 2005

Myrtlegrove

What sad memories Sandra Hopkins rekindled in her letter about Myrtlegrove.

What a shock it must have been for her to be taken from home and placed in such a remote and forbidding place as Myrtlegrove without any explanation.

As a villager I never saw any of the Myrtlegrove children except at school where they kept themselves to themselves.

What a shame that none of the villagers, including my own family, never took any steps that would have made these childrens stay in Sussex a bit more tolerable.

I shudder to think what psychological damage was done to children particularly the more vulnerable, by the severe and often unjustified punishment meted out at the village school during the fifties.

I am in the Scottish Highlands at the moment, it was minus ten the other night, time I got back to the Caribbean !

All the best to all for the new year.

Lawrie May

Lawrence May, Scottish Highlands. (Antigua, West Indies).

More reminiscences.... this time from W. J. Dixon in Hayling Island, Hampshire...."Hi Valerie...A Walk Down Memory Lane.....I have only just found your web-site and what memories that has evoked.

My name is Jim Dixon and I lived in Lime Tree Avenue, Findon Valley and was born in 1942. I lived there with my brother John and parents Oliver and Connie and we were there until 1964 when we moved to Hayling Island, Hampshire, here I am still living.

I went to the Village School in about 1946/7. Miss Alexander was the Headmistress and the other teachers were Miss Phillamore and Miss Sheppard.

Names I can recall from those days Keith Langridge, Nigel Wiglesworth, David Ockendon, Valerie Dean, Josephine Anscombe, Nigel Oliver, Derek and Roger Bushrod, Edward Spooner. I have a photo of the School sports day in 1950, running a 3 legged race with Nigel Wiglesworth in which we came second. Miss Sheppard is standing on the side with whistle in hand.

My early memories are of Elson toilets, using slate and chalk for drawing in Miss P's class due to paper shortage after the war. Miss Alexander washing out the mouths of boys caught swearing,with a large bar of soap, and shaking naughty boys by their ears, which we called 'getting a good wigging'. Despite her rough treatment she was quite a kindly person underneath, and in fact I still have a book called' xploring England' by Charles S Bayne that she gave me because I showed an interest in Nature.

Nativity plays in the Village Hall just down the road I remember and also in winter in Miss A's class when we used to listen to the radio,s chool programme,s he would remove her false teeth before falling asleep, but always woke up as the programme finished. She used to sit right in front of the large open fire which I'm sure was what sent her to sleep.

Shops I can remember are Wintons Stores, the Blacksmith Forge, Ma Browns(greengrocer) I once bought an apple for a penny,t he cost a my bus fare to Findon Valley, and had to walk home as a result which was something I did quite often with Nigel Oliver who also lived in the Valley.

I also recall Nurse Day and P.C Griffen.

I left the School in the early 50's to go the The Vale Primary School which on reflection I have always thought was a mistake, from there I want to Tarring Secondary Modern and left there in 1960.

Thank you for a interesting and thought provoking web site.
Regards, Jim Dixon, Hayling Island, Hampshire."

A few days later, Jim emailed to me again.....

On the sports day photo from left to right are as follows:

Edward Spooner, Keith Langridge, Self, Nigel Wiglesworth, ?, Valerie Dean,? ?,? ?, Miss Sheppard, ?, Josephene Anscombe.

The single photo is me taken at Easter 1949.

Thinking about my start at school I think it was Sept.1946 as I came home from school and told my Mother that as I had started early I only had to go in the morning.

No one said anything until the School Inspector arrived home one day to find out why I only attended for a half day and when told I had to go all day just said 'alright then' and off I went.

The strange thing was that none of the teachers ever asked why I was not there in the afternoon.

My other recollection was collecting newts and tadpoles from the dew pond at Tolmare Farm.
Regards, Jim Dixon"

That cheeky little boy looks the sort to me that would come home from school and say he only had to attend in the mornings!

Susan Robinson also emailed with reminiscences of Miss Alexander....."I used to ride around the area. I would spend as much time as possible helping at Jeanette Harran's stables and sometimes had a 'free hack' in exchange. On other occasions my parents gave me 3s. 6d for half an hour ride or for special treats 7 shillings for one hour ride.

How times have changed! My Parents moved to the village sometime in 1951. My Father Richard (known as Jack) Drake was the village Policeman, we left in 1954 when my Father was transferred to Lancing.

I had the pleasure of being taught by the notorious Miss Alexander (known as Alleybags by some), my Father saw fit to ask Miss Alexander to give me private piano lessons, I believe I still have the marks on my back when I was hit for playing the wrong note. She should have been in the Olympics, she could stand at the blackboard with her back to class, board rubber in hand, turn and score a bulls-eye with miraculous accuracy - connecting with the pupil who had been talking."

In November 2010 I heard from Alan Munro....ex-Findonian... now in Jacksonvillage, Florida, USA....."Hi Valerie....Findon School.....I was one of the children who attended the Findon School from 1946-1950 and read with amusement the comments about the Headmistress Miss Alexander.

I remember her well...She was a "holy terror" indeed and I was wrapped over the knuckles many a time and had my mouth washed out with soap for saying something bad that I shouldn't have said! I am not sure that her heavy handed tactics really hurt us in later life though. I think she prepared us for the tough world out there when we left school.

I visited the school while in England with my daughter in 1997 and it was much the same as I remember it.

My school records were still there at the time and the current headmistress kindly copied them for me. Findon was like going back in time for me. It was as I remembered it and I hope the village never changes.. A delightful part of England. Alan Munro Jacksonville Fl. USA"

Alan added....."Hi Valerie....Thanks for getting back to me. I spent 4 years at the school from 1946 to 1950..I was six when I went there.

We lived however in Findon Valley above the "Linga Longa" on Kings Parade I think it was called then.The Linga Longa is still there! I commuted by bus with other students such as Roger Dean,John Parsons,Sheila Cunningham and Nigel Oliver.

In the school records I am best known for slamming an iron gate into Nigel Oliver who was sent to the doctor for stitches. I think I got suspended for a couple of days. We were playing and chasing each other at the time,it was an accident,not intentional!

I have vivid memories of those days including the school plays in the village hall near the Gunn Inn. They used to show regular films at the village hall.

I remember a banner over the butcher's shop in the square for "Anchors Aweigh,"with Frank Sinatra and Katherine Grayson. This would have been about 1946 since the movie was released in 1945. They were happy days for me,despite Miss Alexander and her strict ways.

Miss Shephard was my favorite teacher.....There was also a Miss Philamore.

We played a lot of "Conker" games in those days and kicked up dust storms in the school yard to the consternation of the staff!

Great times to be sure! Best,Alan"

FROM ALAN..."Hi Valerie.....I found one pic from my Findon school days. I was about 6 when this was taken which would have been 1946. Miss Alexander told my parents I was a little hooligan!

I think this pic confirms that!

.....thanks,Alan" CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGES

Alan says....."Another note on Miss Alexander. According to the Findon School records now in Chichester, she died in 1957.Quite a legend that's for sure!"

Continue if you would like to now read about The Crooks and the Nativity Play.

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