THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE

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. Everyday stories about real people.

VICTORY PAGEANT

In September 2007, John Greves of Walton on Thames in Surrey sent me this 1946 photograph of the Findon school children celebrating with the Victory Pageant after the Second World War. He wrote ... "Dear Valerie ...... I'm sure many of your Surfers are in this tableaux - time to own up?

In close-up we were all looking pretty exhausted weren't we? - many hours being jostled round the dressing-up box and paraded all round the Village without anything to eat or drink".

click to enlarge

Oh yes, I nearly forgot, John is the Big Chief Redskin next to the pirate... I recognise him now, he hasn't altered a bit over the years.

9th September 2007

Empire Day

Yes I agree with John Greaves that the Findon School group photograph was taken in 1946, but I think the occasion was Empire Day.

In the attached slightly different photograph I was the Australian girl second in on the second row from the left. My brother Colin Mitchell is fifth from right in square helmet.

The photo was taken in the sports field at the back of the school.

Regards Jennifer Wakeford ,nee Mitchell.

JOHN REPLIES..."Nice to hear from Jennifer - glad someone else from '46 is still alive down there.

Yes I can imagine there is some confusion over the naming of the day - mum very definitely wrote "Victory Pageant" on the back of the photo.

From Google............24th May has been variously called Empire//British Commonwealth//Commonwealth//Victoria DAY - Political Correctness gone wild - Victory Europe VE Day of course 8th May 45.

So I guess it all depends who you ask. Regards John Greves".

In October 2011, John Greves wrote...."Dear Valerie.....Interesting article on St John the Baptist School .... still pretty Spartan in the Forties .... open fires .... no canteen .... bucket toilets etc.

Probably around 60 of us in those days ... 6 years in 3 classrooms with 3 teachers .... families rather smaller than Victorian times.

Old School House in use for recreational activities and health checks ... sadly demolished to allow vehicular access to a staff car park ...

Warped priorities ... small wonder parents drive kids to school .... furthest point in Findon Village is only half a mile ... a healthy walk.

Underused Village Hall car-park only yards from the back of the school ... anyone thought to use that ... ?

Continue if you would like to read about a Headmistress of the school in the 1940s Miss E. G. Alexander.

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THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.

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Do let me know of anything you hear about Findon - not too controversial. Please note that opinions expressed in the Findon Chronicles are not necessarily reflective of my own thoughts.... but sometimes they are!