The following is an extract from the story of Shoreham Grammar School, an independent boys school in West Sussex as remembered by R. V. Dixie.

Naturally much occurs over a period of nine years at school, from the age of seven to sixteen (1927-1936), and yet at this interval of time, it is only some general impressions, one or two leading or amusing events, that remain. Even the canings are largely forgotten.

I arrived towards the end of Mr. Gregory-Taylor's headmastership and to a young boy of seven who had spent most of his earlier life abroad, he was a very austere and remote, but much respected, figure.

Prefects seemed to hold more authority then than they did in later years. They could, for instance, give their own punishments and I remember that a common form of chastisement was 'sockings'.

Dependent upon their view of the seriousness of the offence they could hit you with an open palm on the cheek from two to six times. To me it was a more fearsome punishment than any caning.

Miss Wells was the Head Matron. One of the other Matrons was Miss Campion. Later Miss Watts came to Shoreham as Matron and also Miss Browne (later to be more generally known as Mrs. Bruder). Many boys have to thank them for their kind attention when they were in sickbay.

Even at this length of time one can remember being aware of the great loss the school felt, particularly the older boys and staff who knew him longer, at the death of Mr. Gregory-Taylor.

It was a private school with Mr. Gregory-Taylor having the main or sole financial interest. Many people must have wondered about the future of the school at his decease.

The first noticeable difference to a pupil was that we had a new Headmaster - Peter Podd - who was the master in charge of sixth form. He immediately introduced many changes and improvements and one became aware that many of these changes were overdue. Mr Gregory-Taylor was an old man who had reached the stage where he could not contemplate change.

Houses - Rodney, Raleigh, Grenville and Nelson - were formed, and athletic sports were introduced into the sporting calendar together with a Sports Day, which was held in the Summer Term.

Peter Podd's tenure as headmaster was only an interregnum until the school found purchasers of the lease to operate the school. The purchasers were Mr. Kirkman and Mr. Phillips and they became the new joint headmasters in July 1931. Mr. Phillips was purely nominal, all administration was carried out by Mr. Kirkman.

Mr. Phillips, who taught English, was of a very retiring disposition. I always recall him walking along head down, hands clasped behind his back, deep in thought. He became known as 'Prospero' by those of us reading 'The Tempest' at the time. He left the school at the outbreak of World War II.

I recall Mr. McConagley ('Conk') the 5th form master. One of his legs was stiff and was said to be composed of cork. One boy on moving up to his form, passed messages round the form, placing them on the end of a compass and sticking it in his leg, tried to emulate them but stuck the compass in the wrong leg.

There was Mr Jones, known as 'Buzz', whose temper was sometimes a little uncertain. On one occasion, when standing over the front desks, he foamed at the mouth over somebody's poor French translation. The two pupils sitting in the front desk suffered a shower and held up a sheet of blotting paper over their heads. Fortunately it proved effective in cooling Jones down.

My life at school, despite its trials, was very enjoyable. I represented the school in every sport (except swimming) and whatever was current I enjoyed the most - football in the football season, cricket in the summer.

We had a very good Colts team in 1933-34 under the direction of Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Kilburn, for both of whom I have the fondest memories. Gibbs I recall purchased out of his own pocket white cricketing caps for those who were 'capped' for the Colts.

The team won every game. In fact between 1934 and 1936 the school had a very good sporting record and took on tougher opposition.

Our opponents included Lancing, Hurstpierpoint, Ardingly, Brighton Grammar, Varndean and the 1st team even played a few adult teams - with the assistance of Mr. Kilburn - football, and Mr. Hull - cricket.

Except for Fridays after lunch and before school, we were not allowed out of the school grounds without permission. Further exceptions were to go to Oxen on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and to go for a walk in crocodile under supervision of the master on duty on Sunday.

On my last night at school before leaving, it was decided to have a 'feast' after lights out in Centre (Senior Dormitory). The feast was to consist of fish and chips and Guy was detailed or volunteered to bunk down town, purchase and bring back the food.

After a decent interval after lights went out he duly went down the fire escape and over the school walls. There was much excitement in anticipation in the dormitory but time began to pass and we wondered what had happened to Guy.

Then the lights were switched on and Mr. Kirkman stood at the doors. Not a sound was heard and everyone feigned to be asleep. There was no response to Kirkman's enquiry 'Is anyone awake?'

George Steel, the Head Prefect, was out of his bed at the time, talking. He ducked below a bed when the lights went on and pulled himself up to the springs when Mr. Kirkman looked under the beds.

After Mr. Kirkman's departure, there was much speculation as to the reason for his visit. Some twenty minutes later, Mr. Kirkman came and switched on the lights again. 'Who's awake, waiting for fish and chips?' No answer. 'I know who you are. We have caught Guy with his list'. He then started to read out from the list - Blower 3d, Whitcomb 5d, Dixie 4d, Green 2d, etc.

Slowly we climbed out of bed. The whole dormitory was ushered down to the 5th form below and had to eat cold and tacky chips, an appropriate punishment. Then the Headmaster announced that before leaving in the morning we all had to report to Matron and have a dose of castor oil and pay a sum equal to our purchase into the poor box.

We were lucky the only castor oil the matron had was of the tasteless variety and not many of us had any money left at the end of term. Most had been spent on our purchase for the feast!