NEWHAVEN COUNTY SECONDARY SCHOOL

Newhaven Secondary Modern, I remember it well. I started there in 1963. As I remember woodwork was still at the old school down the hill, a decent walk. So according to the above, the woodwork room didn't happen. Metalwork was, so maybe a slight change of plans. By 1965 when I left for Aus I don't believe any classes were held at the old school.

My father S.J.Hopkins taught woodwork at Newhaven Secondary School from 1931 until he retired from school teaching and devoted himself entirely to Further Education in the same building in about 1968. Then woodwork was transferred to the new building. In 1931 Mr Larwill was the main teacher of craft and he supervised my father until he qualified in 1933 as a fully qualified secondary school teacher. Mr Larwill went on the be the Craft teacher at the new Boy's Grammar School in Lewes. My father was trained as a five year apprentice by LMS Railway Workshops at Wolverton, Bucks as a carpenter on the railway carriages - everyone of the craft apprentices was allowed to build a bit of King George and Queen Mary's Railway Carriage for the LMS, which is now on show in Derby Railway Museum. He did the veneer work on the left hand side by the door to their toilets! The teaching of Woodwork continued in the old workshops in the Newhaven Evening School and many of the old boys from the school were the teachers of adults as they came for evening classes.

Mr Hopkins was a great teacher. I was not great at other subjects, but he inspired me in school & night school. This has stuck with & helped me all my life (I left school in 1962 & am now retired)

I left this school in July 1959, having stayed on a year to take my GCE's & RSA's in 5a Com. I have the distinction of being the only pupil to pass the O level in English Language in that first batch, thanks to Mr. Fabery. I also took O levels in English Literature (pass) and Religious Knowledge (fail) with Mr. Fabery, and Needlework with Mrs. Scott (pass). As well as several Typewriting, Pitman's Shorthand and Business Studies RSA exams with Miss Cavadini. All excellent teachers.