Moulsecoomb - Bevendean History Project
Development of the Moulsecoomb estate
MOULSECOMBE’S NEW SCHOOL
MAYORAL OPENING
MAYORAL OPENING
When Moulsecombe’s first Council School, the “Junior
Mixed,” was opened by Lord Burnham everyone who saw it praised
the building is ideal and the site and the outlook as incomparable.
Except for some “bungaloids” at the top of them wooded
green hills in the foreground, the outlook is still ideal; and on the
site an exactly similar school has been built for the infants –
but the infants!
Mr Gilbert Simpson’s admirable plans for the first school have been repeated in detail. There is the same articulated shape with central hall; the same open classrooms in single-storey terrace formation, communicating we keep each other by veranda; the same charming exterior of roughcast with warm red Keymer tiled roof. All this has cost but £13,100.
The little ones have not only a level tarmac playground, but the “use” of the adjoining playing field of five acres. It is worthwhile being an infant. – And being a “junior mixed” can’t be too bad, either.
Since the schools reopened last month the new infant school has been finding its educational feet, with the most capable of headmistresses in charge in Miss E. A. Tidy. On Tuesday the Mayor of Brighton (Alderman H. J. Galliers) attended in state to “open” the building with civic ceremony. He was accompanied by the Mayoress, the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs Charles Kingston), many members of the Council and still more members of the Education Committee, including the Chairman (Councillor Herbert Hone) and the Chairman of the Managers (Alderman B. A. Southall), whose pass Mayoralty of Brighton is commemorated by Southall Avenue, Moulsecoomb. The secretary to the committee (Mr F. Herbert Toyne, B. A. was also there.
The scene in the school hall was quite an imposing one, and it was made very human and delightful when the infants were brought in to lend their sweetness to the singing of hymns, “O God our help in ages past” and “Now thank we all are God.”
Mr Gilbert Simpson’s admirable plans for the first school have been repeated in detail. There is the same articulated shape with central hall; the same open classrooms in single-storey terrace formation, communicating we keep each other by veranda; the same charming exterior of roughcast with warm red Keymer tiled roof. All this has cost but £13,100.
The little ones have not only a level tarmac playground, but the “use” of the adjoining playing field of five acres. It is worthwhile being an infant. – And being a “junior mixed” can’t be too bad, either.
Since the schools reopened last month the new infant school has been finding its educational feet, with the most capable of headmistresses in charge in Miss E. A. Tidy. On Tuesday the Mayor of Brighton (Alderman H. J. Galliers) attended in state to “open” the building with civic ceremony. He was accompanied by the Mayoress, the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs Charles Kingston), many members of the Council and still more members of the Education Committee, including the Chairman (Councillor Herbert Hone) and the Chairman of the Managers (Alderman B. A. Southall), whose pass Mayoralty of Brighton is commemorated by Southall Avenue, Moulsecoomb. The secretary to the committee (Mr F. Herbert Toyne, B. A. was also there.
The scene in the school hall was quite an imposing one, and it was made very human and delightful when the infants were brought in to lend their sweetness to the singing of hymns, “O God our help in ages past” and “Now thank we all are God.”
BRIGHTON’S EDUCATIONAL “ALIVENESS”
Councillor Hone, good recently read some high praise of
Brighton’s “aliveness” in education, felt that indeed
the Education Committee may claim that Brighton is alive to all the
latest developments and to the building of the very best schools
possible. Moulsecoomb, he said, has now to schools as near to the ideal
open-air school as it is possible to achieve in this country.
The school was formally “delivered” by Mr H. D. Long, Chairman of the Sites and Works Sub-Committee, to Councillor M. W. Huggett, Chairman of the Elementary Schools Sub-Committee. Each made happy speeches. Mr Long acknowledged the committee’s debt to Councillor Hone for his enthusiastic and persistent leadership of their important work; and Councillor Huggett tendered to Miss Tidy and her staff – and the children as well – the very best wishes for the success of the new school.
The Mayor, in declaring the school open, after it received a prayer of dedication blessing by the vicar of Brighton (Canon A. C. W. Rose, M.A.), paid high tribute to the Housing Committee, and especially its ardent Chairman, Alderman Carden, for evolving Moulsecoomb as a means of tackling the housing shortage. He complimented the Education Committee on producing such an up-to-date and beautiful school, and hope that its tiny scholars would in due time take their place as good citizens of “the Brighton that is to be.”
Thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress – who was given a beautiful by bouquet with curtsey, by the little Joyce Cobb – were warmly expressed by Alderman Southall and the vicar of St Andrews, Moulsecoomb (the Rev. W. H. Carpenter, B.A.).
Mr Carpenter, who is Manager of the schools, was eloquent in his praise of Mr A. E. Kitchen, Miss Tidy, and the teachers, and of the improvements that had come about in education, particularly in the playing of organise games. He also spoke of the devoted service rendered to Moulsecoomb by Councillor Manton.
Councillor Hone afterwards entertained the company to tea.
Before the ceremony began it was delightful to observe Alderman Kingston cheerily addressing a class of time is through the fully open windows. “Ask your mother is to put you to bed early,” he beamed. “You must be in bed quite by 7 o’clock. If you go to bed nice and early, you will have ever such bright eyes in the morning – but if you stay up late you will have dark, heavy eyes – eyes like black men’s.”
“Yes, sir,” pipe the little ones en masse.
The school was formally “delivered” by Mr H. D. Long, Chairman of the Sites and Works Sub-Committee, to Councillor M. W. Huggett, Chairman of the Elementary Schools Sub-Committee. Each made happy speeches. Mr Long acknowledged the committee’s debt to Councillor Hone for his enthusiastic and persistent leadership of their important work; and Councillor Huggett tendered to Miss Tidy and her staff – and the children as well – the very best wishes for the success of the new school.
The Mayor, in declaring the school open, after it received a prayer of dedication blessing by the vicar of Brighton (Canon A. C. W. Rose, M.A.), paid high tribute to the Housing Committee, and especially its ardent Chairman, Alderman Carden, for evolving Moulsecoomb as a means of tackling the housing shortage. He complimented the Education Committee on producing such an up-to-date and beautiful school, and hope that its tiny scholars would in due time take their place as good citizens of “the Brighton that is to be.”
Thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress – who was given a beautiful by bouquet with curtsey, by the little Joyce Cobb – were warmly expressed by Alderman Southall and the vicar of St Andrews, Moulsecoomb (the Rev. W. H. Carpenter, B.A.).
Mr Carpenter, who is Manager of the schools, was eloquent in his praise of Mr A. E. Kitchen, Miss Tidy, and the teachers, and of the improvements that had come about in education, particularly in the playing of organise games. He also spoke of the devoted service rendered to Moulsecoomb by Councillor Manton.
Councillor Hone afterwards entertained the company to tea.
Before the ceremony began it was delightful to observe Alderman Kingston cheerily addressing a class of time is through the fully open windows. “Ask your mother is to put you to bed early,” he beamed. “You must be in bed quite by 7 o’clock. If you go to bed nice and early, you will have ever such bright eyes in the morning – but if you stay up late you will have dark, heavy eyes – eyes like black men’s.”
“Yes, sir,” pipe the little ones en masse.
Note: The school was officially opened on Tuesday 22 October 1929.
From the Brighton & Hove Herald 26 October 1929
