Bermondsey Central School

I went to Bermondsey Central from 1957 to 1960, after which it merged with John Harvard and we boys became Paragon boys school in Searles Road. The girls merged with the old Paragon girls school and they became Trinity school and moved to a new school in Harper Road.  The old Pages Walk building was then taken over by Bacon.

I remember having to walk up to the old bombed out school at the end of Rolls Road where we did woodwork (Mr Turner) and metalwork (Mr Miller).

I also remember our Nigerian PE teacher Mr Koinange (Ko-Ko)

Other teachers I remember are Mr Smith (Jake) - headmaster,  Mr Lanham - Maths,  Miss Pugh - English & French,  Mr Lee (Chunky) - Geography

John James

I wnt to Bermondsey Central from 1947 to 1953 when it was still a mixed school and Miss Pugh was my French teacher and in 1951 I was still in an all girls class and Miss Pugh and a male teacher whose name I cannot remember, took some of us to Paris for a weeks holiday it cost my Dad £14, the purpose of the trip was to speak to the french in their own language needless to say we were all too busy enjoying ourselves to do that. I was good to learn that she was still there 10 years later. 

Millie

Thank's John for the teachers names, I have fond memories of woodwork & metalwork, I can still remember the smell of the metalwork class, "CoCo" used to tell me to get lost for an hour in Southwalk Park as I was no good at football.

Regards, Eddie Jennings

I remember all the teachers mentioned,what memories,the woodwork teacher mr turner had ten rules for using the saw and they where all saw slowly!! The nigerian P.E. teacher was a superb athlete,every thought he was haveing affair with Miss Smith the english teacher and also my form teacher.There was also Miss Fletcher a yorkshire lady R.I. and english I think she was very fiery but good.The other maths teacher a Mr Gubby for some strange reason was known as Joe soap,I was at Pages walk school from 1957, would be interested to hear from anyone else from that time. 

Fast freddie    Dave Young

Re the bombed out school in Rolls Road used for metal work lessons, was this Rolls Road School?  My grandad (father's side this time) went to Rolls Road School, and did well there.

I was at B.C. from 1946-51 and the staff members that I recall were Miss Fletcher, Mr. Gubby, Mrs. Barnes for great music and Mr. Miller.  I remember the woodwork and metal work classes and the soccer.  I joined the R.N. and did my apprenticeship in the electrical branch. I should be pleased to hear from Fred Sage, Bob Roper and Roy Alston. We all went into the services at the same time.
                                                                      Peter Holloway

Hello Millie,
                      I was at B.C. from 1946-51 and remember Miss Fletcher, Miss Pugh, Mrs.Hyatt, Mr.Agate, and Mr. Miller.  Most of all I recall the school choir under Mrs. Barns, and the lovely voice of Marie Cater singing "O Holy Night"at the Bermondsey Central Hall.  Later, I joined the Royal Navy and kept Miss Fletcher in cigarettes!
                                            All the best, 
                                                                   Peter Holloway

I was at Bermondsey Central one year behind you. Miss Pugh was my form teacher, what a wonderful teacher she was, although we don't always appreciate it at the time. Do you remember Mrs Johanson who took music for a while, she was really quite funny. I only had Mr Gubby for maths once and that was because our own teacher was sick, what a lovely man. I can even remember the problem he set us 'What is correct, the yolk of an egg is white or the yolk of an egg are white'. Of course, the yolk of an egg is yellow. But after more than 50 years I still remember it. Does that mean he was a good teacher??

Braemar

I went to Bermondsey Central School in 1935.   I was only there a year when we moved to Lewisham and I transfered to Greenwich Central School.   Can anyone beat that?   This, of course, makes me 88.   Feel more like 18.

The Nigerian PE teach Eddie spoke of was called Mr Koinange. He was a great help to me mastering the beams. x

Hi Peter
I remember Miss Fletcher well as one time when me and my friends were leaving Bermondsey Central Hall she asked us to walk her to the bus stop as she  did not want the boys to follow her. Mr Gubby was my form teacher in years 1952 and 1953, it was a mixed class but we still had separate playgrounds and my friend Pam and I were caught trying to climb the wall that divided the playgrounds to get our ball as the boys would not throw it back, so Mr Gubby gave us detention and we had to write 500 lines of
'we must not climb the wall between playgrounds'. most unfair we thought. Anyway another thought, do you or anyone else remember having ballroom dancing lessons in the hall at that time?
Millie