They braved the lions' den and won

The group is positioned in the area of the one time clinic which is destined for future development.

Regarding the background, the left half shows the rear of the boys' toilets with the cubicle windows and the right half the upper large houses of Hillside turning into Meeching Road.

The lack of shadows or squinting eyes suggests a very suitable day has been chosen for this picture '“ maybe our local photographer J J Hill had been chosen to perform this honour.

Now there was a man of distinction: bowler hat, press-type camera strapped over his shoulder and a fine upstanding bicycle!

Pictures of wartime disasters between here and Beachy Head were frequently in the press and some of such importance that they reached the dailies.

Never mind the location, J J and his sturdy machine seemed to find their way to the scoops.

His first studio had been in Meeching Road, taking over from occupants of the same business, then with the closure of Corbetts famous store in the High Street, J J took over the lower half of the premises, better known now as Newhaven Pharmacy, and had a wooden studio erected in the back garden.

No doubt there are still many homes in Newhaven with studio photos on the sideboard taken by J J. They were of good quality.

Sadly, not so long ago, his beloved studio was demolished to make way for an extension to the pharmacy, which now has need for the whole of the building. Post war, there was even a hairdresser's salon upstairs!

Returning to the school photo, to the best of my memory of these good people, they are, back row, left to right: Sid Ray, Rogers, Pratt, 'Gaffy' Hodges, Akhurst, ??, Cox; front row left to right: 'Teddy' Marson, Bullbeck, Miss Mars? E J Coker (headmaster) Miss Curry, Hayward, Maguire.

The land to the left, right up to the top playground, was the school garden where boys could express their skills in this interest and even win a silver spade (this was a new one with a polished blade).

Mr Bullbeck, a resident of Meeching Road, was in charge of these groups.

Sid Ray, like others, was a student teacher at this time, saw service in the Navy in the last war, returned to his profession and was deputy head at Tideway School when he retired.

A most revered gentleman, who lived most of his life at Newhaven.

Not many could boast that his father (Clarence) was an apprentice on the famous Cutty Sark when she made her last return voyage to Australia for wool!

'Teddy' Marson, another popular teacher who served in the First World War, was encouraged to get on to that subject by pupils '“ more interesting than normal lessons!

The lady teachers I escaped. Miss Curry lived in the bungalow between Norman Road and Saxon Road, Messrs Hayward and Maguire, the latter survived gassing in the First World War, Mr Cox good with ghost stories, Mr Coker has been discussed and admired before.

I leave you to make a connection with the Shakespeare Hall in the recreation ground.

PETER BAILEY

Peter Bailey is curator of the Newhaven Local and Maritime Museum based in its own fascinating premises in the grounds of Paradise Park in Avis Road, Newhaven. Opening hours are Saturdays and Sundays, all year, 2-5pm or by arrangement, weekdays, from March 26, 2-4pm. Admission 1 (accompanied children free). Contact the curator on 01273 514760. Log on to the website at www.newhavenmuseum.co.uk