DOWN MEMORY LANE Life at the girls' school '“ how we admired our wonderful headteacher

Lorraine Pollock, of St James Square, Chichester , writes: I attended the girls’ school between 1966 and 1970, for the most part under the leadership of the wonderful Miss Tattersill, the strict but fair headmistress. She would sweep down corridors in a majestic way, girls stepping smartly out of her path and we always stood up upon her entry into a classroom.

My first year form teacher was the kindly Miss Stewart, who also taught English. I remember her explaining the spelling of a word which I still think of to this day every time I write it down.

Our class 1S ‘lived’ in one of the three huts and when the weather was inclement we were drawn around the heater in the corner to keep warm.

We had a coach trip to Battle Abbey with the sixth form, which as I remember consisted of about six girls including head girl Penny Shepherd.

In the summer we were allowed on to the field, where an invisible not-to-be-crossed line between girls and neighbouring boys was patrolled by one of the dinner ladies, Mrs Mellor, wife of our teacher and mother of pupil Caroline. When older, the youth wing was the place to go at lunchtime for games and Friday discos.

Second year form teacher was Miss Barkas, who had a beautiful singing voice and performed in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience at the Assembly Rooms which I attended with class friend Jean.

There are so many memories, enough to fill a book – a chalk-covered board rubber flying through the air, courtesy of Mr Dubben, to stop a girl from talking; sharing our classroom with the dining area when in the fourth year and finding peas under the tables; being a prefect in the fourth and fifth year (I still have my badge); the mini-skirt rule of no shorter than six inches above the knee, then rolling your skirt up even higher as you left the room after being measured.

Some teachers I remember are Miss Gadd, Miss Davis (art and craft), Mr Ingram, Mrs Croucher and Mrs Broadbridge.

On the last day of school a group of us had photos taken while in the cobbled court. I wonder if anyone still has them?