Moulsecoomb - Bevendean History Project
Development of the Moulsecoomb estate
NEW SCHOOL FOR MOULSECOMBE
Yesterday’s Opening Ceremony
Moulsecombe’s
new senior school for boys and girls, capable of accommodating 640
children, was opened yesterday (Friday) by Sir L. Amherst Selby-Biggs,
K. C. B., Formerly Permanent Secretary to the Board of Education.Yesterday’s Opening Ceremony
The building, which cost £25,000, was designed by the architect to the Brighton education committee (Mr Gilbert M. Simpson, F.R.I.B.A.) and is similar to the Junior Mixed and Infants Schools on the same site.
The headmaster of the boys section is Mr C. W. Croucher, and the headmistress for the girls is Miss A. E. Carson, B.A.
Prior to the opening, Councillor H. Hone (Chairman of the Education Committee) on Alderman B. N. Southall, J.P. (Chairman of the School Managers) welcomed Sir Amherst Selby-Biggs and the Mayor and Mayoress of Brighton (Councillor and Mrs H. Wilfred Aldrich). The party made a thorough inspection of the buildings.
The Mayor presided at the opening ceremony, which was attended by Alderman and Mrs Galliers, Alderman Sir Herbert Carden, JP, and other representatives of the Town Council and Education Committee, together with the teachers, scholars, and many parents.
His Worship described the building as a magnificent school, built of the finest materials, up-to-date, and planned for the most effective use. “We are adding to our municipal armoury another weapon forged for the purpose of waging war on ignorance,” he said. Speaking of the benefits of education, he remarks that an ill-educated democracy is the greatest danger to any state.
Councillor who said that the problem of providing adequate educational facilities at Moulsecoomb had been before the education authority for some years. He went on to detail the steps that were taken to meet the demands of the growing district, and stated that the three schools, the Junior Mixed, Infants and the senior, had cost the municipality £54,000.
In declaring the new building open, Sir Amherst said that the school reflected great credit on the energy, enterprise, and foresight of the local education authority.
Commenting on the (richness) of the Borough, he pointed out that Brighton runs the business of education for a rate of about 1/4 ½ , where is it costs English county boroughs generally nearly 3/4, “you are generous in Brighton,” he continued, “will you spend 13/8 per child, as against the 12/5 of the average County Borough.”
After a reference to the schools reorganisation scheme, of which the building forms a part, the speaker said that the movement towards senior schools is intended to get better value for the money spent on education.
Sir Amherst was cordially thanked on the proposition of Alderman Southall, seconded by Councillor M. W. Huggett (Chairman of the Elementary Schools Sub-Committee).
Mr H. D. Long (Chairman of the Sites and Works Sub-Committee) express thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress. In seconding, the headmaster stated that with his Worship’s permission it was proposed to give the name Aldrich House to one of the houses of the boy school. It was fitting, he thought, that the name of so keen on educationalist should be perpetuated. The name of the Late Councillor C. Wilkinson, who was actively associated with educational matters, will also be commemorated in a similar way.
Note: The official opening took place on 17th October 1930.
From: Brighton & Hove Herald 18 October 1930
