Down Girls 1946

PAT Watson (nee Russell), of The Fairway, says “This photo was taken in 1946 at the Down County Secondary Modern School for Girls - which would make us 13 years old.
“Back row, left to right: Phyllis Wilson, Sheila Hicks, - - , Pat Russell, Beryl King, Pauline Clark, Joan Martin, Jill Wallis, Marion Sweeney.
Second row: Joan Hall, Joyce Pearse, Ann Waite, Kathleen Kennedy, Peggy Burns, Avril Spiers, Gracie Pitfield, Wendy Robinson, Stella Catt.
Third row: Jill Carley, Shirley Burgess, Joan Groves, Barbara Bishop, teacher Miss Cummins, Edna Thornton, Nancy Law, Sylvia Ambrose, Ann Markham.
Bottom row: Beryl Green, Georgina Carley, Pam Harmer, Iris Gasson, Barbara Toghill, Doris Smith, Evelyn Garland, Pamela Martin.”

“WHAT a lovely surprise!” That was the reaction of Jill Blackford (nee Wallis) of Crowborough when her sister-in-law in Bexhill sent her our Nostalgia Spot picture.
Jill says: “It was the Down County Secondary School for Girls. I think it would be about 1943 because I went there when I was 11 when it first opened.
“I am the top row on the right hand side- next to half a girl in the picture!
“It was a complete surprise seeing the picture. But it brought back so many memories.
I was up half the night trying to remember all the names and thinking about it.
“It really brought back the years to me. I have been away from Bexhill for 54 years but still keep in touch.
“Some of the girls are gone now, of course. We would all be about 75 now..”