| Description | Recollections of 7 former pupils of Aldrington C of E School, Hove, interviewed by Mary Davies, a pupil in 1979.
School log book from 1889-1919;
Aldrington Church of England School, Hove - was 90 years old.
Mary was eager to find out about the early day of their school, so she began to research all the printed papers from 1888.
No luck from the printed papers, so she moved on to School log Books.
The first log book began when the school was opened and continued until after the first world war; contained information about staff, pupils and life in school.
Events:
First fire drill recorded in 1915, perhaps necessary due to WWI.
School closed in October and November 1918 because of the influenza epidemic.
Royal Wedding in 1894
Jubilee Week in 1897
1898, the school closed for a diphtheria outbreak lasting 9 weeks.
Miss Winifred Mainstone;
DOB: 8th November 1898
She commenced school in November 1902.
Lived in Mainstone Road.
Her little sister died to diphteria at the age of 6.
At 13, started teaching at an infants' school and received 1/6d per week. Left at 15.
Ash Wednesday and Ascension Day always meant a trip to St. Philip's Church
In November and December of 1899 an epidemic of diphteria broke out.
Miss Lelliot, a pupil from 1899 -1907;
Admitted to Aldrington School in May 1899.
Resided at the nurseries at Church Road, which is not demolished, Amesbury crescent and Park Avenue now standing on the site.
Left Alderington in July 1907 to study to become a teacher.
Mr Gale, a pupil from 1910 - 1915;
Left school at 15, he entered the employ of London and Brighton South Coast Railway as a junior clerk, serving the Company for 45 years. retired at 60. Now 71, he believes he was reasonably happy at school.
Mr Goble, a pupil c1916;
At Aldrington School in 1916, but at the age of 9 he took scholarship exams and passed, for what was then know as East Hove High Grade School.
Fees at East Hove School was sixpence a week, but the year he went the fees had stopped.
Mrs Clegg, a pupil c1924;
started at Aldrington School in 1924, lived in Linton Road.
Went to St. Philip's church on Ash wednesday and Ascension day. Learned the creed and the catechism.
Left school at 14 and worked in the office of Maynard's sweet factory, until she married a regular soldier at St.Leonard's church in 1940.
Her Sunday School was Sadler's Hall in Stoneham Road.
her sister was the May Qeen of Hove in the 1920s.
Mrs Cotton, a pupil from 1928 - 1943;
Muriel Cotton, attended Aldrington School from 1928-1943.
In those days, children had to move to Ellen Street or Portland Road for their last year of Junior Education before going to the Secondary or Grammer School.
Kept mice, and let them run all over her. Through one arm, down the other.
During the war they had to fo to the shelter whenever the siren went.
Mrs Page, a pupil from 1938 - 1943;
Mrs. Enid Page attended Adrington School from 1938-1943.
National Savings Day once a week when they all had to bring a penny a week and were given a stamp to put on a car. Then when it was all full, they'd exchange it for a sixpenny stamp and when they had enough of those, they'd get a certificate. ]
Outbreak of WW2, whilst on her way to Portland Road School with her mother.
Alderington School got hit during the war too. The bullet holes made deep marks in the side of the school.
postscript by Mary Davies written 1983.
Standout points to Mary:
WW2 made much more difference to the local population - scattered them and changed their outlook.
Mrs Clegg, Mrs. Page and Mrs. Cotton all married well above their original levels.
No mention of the sea, which is round the corner from the church they all mention. In the early days perhaps Hove and Brighton were not so popular as tourist centres.
Mary moved away from Hove in 1878 and now has no connection with the school.
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