SECTION CONTENTS

• Children's Centre
• Community Centre
• Governors
• LSPA
• KPSSA
• Royal Kingston

Latchmere Road School

Latchmere and Latchmerians have a real sense of history, of past and place, of community, of shared experiences, childhood and of belonging to something special. A sense underpinned by the schools link to many different generations within the same family. Latchmere Road School opened in 1936 and in that time it has served the parents, grandparents and great grandparents of many of the children who are here today. This sense of continuity runs like thread through the school creating a sense of identity that spans 70 years, a sense reinforced by the strong links we still have with many of our past pupils. We not only count old Latchmerians amongst our parent body but among our staff, governors and the volunteers who support the school.

Perhaps our most prominent link with our past is the Latchmerians 39-45 Club which is made of ex-pupils who attended Latchmere Road School during the Second World War. The group have very active links with school, maintaining a garden, fund raising and coming into school to give talks. The group also has a very full social calendar that unites old childhood friends.

Empire Day

Latchmere Road Schools
A History

1936 to 1952

At the beginning of the last century the land to the north of Kingston that we now think of as the Tudor Estate and Latchmere was part of the Earl of Dysart lands. The land was made up of open fields and orchards bordered by the Richmond Road to the West and Richmond Park to the North and East.

During the first thirty years of the last century Kingston spread northwards with the development of The Richmond Park Estate (now known as the Tudor Estate) and housing along the Richmond Road. As more families moved into the area the need for a school to serve the community grew. During the early years of the 1930’s the idea of _building a school in the north of the borough was discussed and put off several times until in 1935 it was finally decided to go ahead with _building a new school. Work started later in the year and in August 1936 Latchmere Road School opened its doors to pupils for the first time, in the shape of the _building that we now think of as the junior school. The school was built to hold four hundred pupils. On the first day of school 443 pupils turned up to start in the new school!

The school held its official opening in the October 1936, with the Mayor of Kingston cutting the ribbon. One year later the numbers in the school had grown so much that the school had to be extended. In 1937 and so the section of the _building that we now think of as the infant school was born, Latchmere Road School became known as The Latchmere Road Schools by 1938.

The following year saw Britain, Europe and the World torn apart by Hitler’s invasion of Poland and the announcement of War. War was declared on Sunday September the 3rd 1939 the new school year was due to start the next day, the school now only 3 years old was closed for fear of gas attacks and bombing! Many of the school’s pupils were evacuated out of London, those that remained where taught in small classes in their own homes by the female teachers from the school, with fire, gas drills and the Blackout forming part of the new fabric of their school lives. The three men who had started teaching at the new school were conscripted to serve in the Army, amazingly they all returned!

The first year of the war was known as ‘the phony’ war, after the initial worries of gas attacks and air raids it seemed as though everyone’s fears has been unfounded, many of the pupils who had been evacuated drifted home and the school once again opened.

Then in the Summer of 1940 Hitler turned his attention to UK and the Battle of Britain began. Launching raids on the South Coast and Kent in an effort to destroy the RAF Hitler, began the Blitz. When his efforts to destroy the airforce seemed to fail Hitler turned his wrath on the civilian population. In the cities of London, Coventry and Liverpool the nightmare began with air raids. Lying on the flight path to central London, Kingston, with its war factories and estates was a target. The Hawker Hurricane Factory, the Leyland Tank factory, the barracks of the East Surrey Regiment (now the Keep) and dozens of small engineering factories made the area around Kingston, important to the allies war effort and a prime target for the Luftwaffe.

During the Blitz Latchmere Road School kept its doors open and lessons carried on. Even the eleven plus! Although the bombing raids took place mostly at night the school opened its doors at ten in the morning and ran until noon, when everyone went home for lunch. School started again at two and the day was over at four. Stopping only if the air raid sirens sounded. Sometimes lessons carried on in the shelters!

In the Autumn of 1940 as suddenly as they had begun the raids were over, the Battle of Britain was finished and the country had just survived. Hitler turned his attention east to Russia. Bombing raids continued but only spasmodically. Amazingly all the pupils survived despite the school being target twice.

During the middle years of the war life at Latchmere Road Schools carried on as normally as possible. Although the children did count collecting shrapnel and bomb fragments as a hobby and there was no sport played in the school as Latchmere Rec and Dinton Field were dug up to grow food.

In 1944 a new horror arrived as Hitler launched his Doodlebugs – V1 flying bombs aimed at London. This caused a second evacuation of London’s children and the pupils of Latchmere. One Doodlebug landed 40 yards in front of the school in Latchmere rec. resulting in extensive damage to the front of the school and causing it to be closed for sometime. While the school was being repaired teachers used to take their classes to spare rooms in other local schools to be taught. Lessons carried on in St Paul’s, St John’s and even Tiffin Girls School.

On January 22nd 1945 Miss Aldridge one of the school’s teachers was slightly injured in her home when the only V2 Rocket to fall on Kingston landed on the crossroads of Kings Road and Park Road causing huge amounts of damage and some fatalities. A plaque can still be seen on the site where the bomb fell even today!

On May the 8th 1945 Victory in Europe was declared the war was over. The school celebrated with a three-day holiday! All the pupils and all the teachers had survived! Latchmere, Kingston and the country began to re_build and repair the damage caused by the blitz. But after such troubled times it would be years before life returned to normal.

A year after the war ended in the summer of 1946 Kingston celebrated the first anniversary Victory in Europe with a parade in Kingston with Scouts, Guides and the Red Cross all taking part. Kingston Borough held a special sports day at the Kingstonian Football Club’s ground. Two of the marshals on the day were the Headteachers of the Latchmere Infant and Junior Schools, Miss Standbridge and Mr Pearson.

In 1948 the Olympics came to London, Richmond Park Camp was used as one of the Athletes Villages. Many of the local youngsters volunteered to help and of course although everyone was interested in the sport, it was the thought of a decent meal that real excited everyone. Although the had war ended, rationing continued for another few years and in fact bread which had not been rationed during the war was added to the list of scarce foods. Families still had to carry their ration books and ‘mend and make do’ until 1952.

Dear Mrs Al-Jawad

Latchmere School's 70th year celebration

My grandfather, John Hewitt, was the first school caretaker when the school opened in 1936. My grandparents and my Dad, Bill Hewitt, and his sister moved into the school during the summer of 1936 ready for its opening in the Autumn. My dad was 9 years old at the time and was therefore the first child to enter the school.

They lived in the flat above the school. My dad wrote his life story in 1998, entitled ‘William's World' and he marks the occasion as follows:

‘ So off to our new home at Latchmere Road School in the somewhat posher part of Kingston , close to the Kingstonian football ground, Richmond Park and Ham Common. Our new home was a modern three-bedroomed flat in the centre of the _building, above the school offices, even the cat liked it, and soon became accustomed to the new surroundings.

Dad's duties were practically anything you could think of, cleaning,security, stoking the boilers, ordering coal for the same, and expected to be on call 24hours a day. Mum was also employed as a cleaner and worked one hour before and two hours after school, so tea was always late'

Dad also recalls what happened in the Summer of 1939.

‘ Kingston barracks was immediately behind Latchmere Road School , home of the East Surrey regiment, and some activity was seen there by us in the middle of 1939. later about August on a weekend, some soldiers rang the school doorbell and announced that they were commandeering the school playing field across the road to set up a searchlight post for anti- aircraft purposes. Dad indignantly told them they could not do that they, and did!'

‘ Apparently they had tried to set up the searchlight in the barracks grounds, but not surprisingly, the barrack CO did not welcome this as it would light up the place inviting air attacks, so they took over the playing field. Now I was very interested in this turn of events, and by the Sunday afternoon I had got very interested in this turn of events, and by the Sunday afternoon I had got very friendly with the soldiers, sharing their cocoa and corn beef sandwiches, on authority that my mum was supplying the fresh water and other things. I watched them pitch their tents, set up the searchlight, and later helped to _build the sheds for canteen and NCO's accommodation, and they also dug slit trenches.'

He also notes the first air raid siren after war was officially declared on Sunday 3 rd September 1939.

‘ At the sound of the siren Mum, Dad, my sister and I all made for the boiler house, which was the only basement room in the school _building. No air raid shelters had been built at the school at this time so this was our only ‘protected' place and we just sat down there on a bench waiting for Dad to give some sort of lead as to what we should do next, him being a veteran of World War One! Poor Dad hadn't got a clue either so we sat about half and hour when the All Clear sounded, and returned to the flat, to find that it was the same as we left it, and not blown to bits.'

By the summer of 1940 dad writes:

‘ My searchlight friends were now firmly established in the playing field across the road and I made myself useful running errands for them, very often being allowed to ‘ keep the change', and also plenty of cocoa and sandwiches to keep my constant hunger at bay!'

My grandfather was caretaker at Latchmere until mid 1940, but dad left Latchmere at 11 years old to go to Richmond Road Senior School .

He recollects:

‘ After my 11 th birthday I gladly left latchmere School, I was never really comfortable there, as my misdemeanors often quickly came to the ears of my Father by some nosey parker, and I realized the meaning of the saying ‘ Don't do things too close to home'!'

Dad contacted Brian Walden, the Secretary of the Latchmerians 39-45 Club in 2003.In his letter he talks more about my grandfather, John Hewitt. He says:

‘My father loved the job, particularly the stokehold or cellar, where he had a pair of the latest automatically fed coal fired boilers in the borough. He established this as his workshop, as he was quite an accomplished woodworker and hobbyist, and in the first year designed and produced, with Mr Pearson ( the first Headteacher), the school ‘L' badge made in plywood which was hung centre stage in the main hall.'

‘I can remember going each Saturday morning to the guildhall in Kingston to collect Mum and Dad's weekly wages, £1.17s.5d for Mum and £4.10s.0d for Dad, not a bad wage since I believe the flat was rent free.'

‘My other memory of 1937 was, as it was coronation year the school had a float in the town procession depicting John Cabot and his discovery of Newfoundland , and I still have the photographs.'

I was able to take my Dad back to your school in 2004 and your caretaker, Paul, took Dad and myself into his old flat and his old bedroom and Grandad's beloved boiler room. It made Dad so happy and I was thrilled for him.

Dad passed away in February this year, and it goes without saying that I miss him very much, he was a huge part of my life.

I am looking forward to attending your 70 th year celebrations in October, as my Dad and Grandad's representative. I will be bringing along my granddaughter, Jasmin, who is 9, the same age as Dad was when he first stepped inside your school.

I hope to meet you then.

Yours sincerely,
Susan Hill (Mrs)

1980 to 2005

25 Years at Latchmere

Many Latchmerians will recognise Mrs Taylor she has been working at Latchmere as a Dinner Lady / SMSA for 25 Years now!

When Mrs Taylor left school, she worked for five years as a hairdresser. She married and had 5 children. Now she has 13 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

She first came to work at Latchmere as a dinner lady 25 years ago. She says that the playground was very different then: not even the tree in the middle of the playground was there. However the main activity for boys was playing football, so not much has changed as far as that is concerned.

Her long service has been recognised by the Council. She has been invited to a special tea, given a present and a few days extra holiday!

We really value the work she does with the children at lunchtime and hope that she stays with us for another 25 years.

If you can add to the history of Latchmere over the last six decades let us know and we will include you account here.

Latchmerians Newsletter

Owen Walter
56 St Albans Road,
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT2 5HH

Latchmerians 1939 / 1945 Club

November 2005 Newsletter

Dear Member,

This is the last newsletter of 2005, not that there has been that many this year. However I hope to rectify that in 2006,so with your help, and particularly your contributions it can become a regular feature. Not only will this enable any member to have a platform for any comments, but will also serve to keep the membership in contact. If you have aany interesting and printable contributions to make, you can send them, telephone me, or send them by email to Ken, whose address is: kenpike@yahoo.com. Contributions from members and non members will be very welcome.

2005 has been a very sad year, we lost Betty Calvert our Treasurer, and Brian Walden our Secretary, both long serving and hard working members of the committee and they will be sorely missed. The funerals were well attended by the membership, Betty’s at St Peters in London Road in May, and Brian’s memorial service at St Andrews on Ham Common followed by the cremation at Mortlake and later at Pembroke Lodge, Richmond park, in November. Both Head Teachers of Latchmere Schools sent donations to Brian’s charity, “Warren Park” which is a school for handicapped children..

On the 11th November we held, what was probably our last Dinner and Dance at the Hotel Antoinette which was well attended by 93 members and their guests. Margaret once again carried out the duties of M.C. in fine form. Dinner was called, and she introduced our President, who requested that we all stand for a few moments in
of Betty and Brian. After an excellent dinner, speeches were made by Ken Pike and Owen Walter. Bouquets were presented by:- Eileen Hesketh to Joyce and Arthur James who celebrated their Golden Wedding this year. To Evelyn Walter by Ken Pike for all the support and understanding she had provided during Owens lengthy service to the Club. To Brenda Walden by Joan Keenan in appreciation of the Raffles she had organized with particular reference to this one. The raffle on this occasion, due to the generosity of everyone present made the sum of £215, and the profit was donated to Kingston Hospital Can Appeal .

Dancing was to our usual band “ Harmonic Zone”, I don’t think we have ever had so many dancing for so long, you certainly still have plenty of energy. Arthur in particular was apparently trying with some success I might add, to dance with two girls at the same time.

We keep in touch with two of our members who now live abroad, Peter Turner who used to live in Windsor Road and now resides in South Africa and Christine Pratt (nee Edwards) who used to live in Aragon Road and now lives in Australia. Tina as she is known married Bobby Pratt who was the lead trumpeter with the Ted heath Band.

For the schools 70th Anniversary next year the previous committee purchased a set of 1936 coins which will be presented to the school next year. We will also need some volunteers to help make our little garden plot in the Junior playground presentable for the installation of a garden seat, a gift to the school which was again agreed by the old committee.

The following are extracts from recent school newsletters. ‘ A flapjack ( rolled oats) is offered to pupils around 10am ( we received 1/3rd pint of milk). We believe that the pupils energy and concentration levels dip around this time so a healthy energy boost is required to maximize their learning capabilities and keep them alert until lunchtime. This would have come in very handy in the shelters!!!!!
The school now has 28 after school clubs, and two new classrooms have been extended into the Junior playground.
The school Breakfast Club now has 40 members. I wonder if any of our members remember going to the very first one?? It was for the children of mothers who were on war work, and school could last from 7am to 7pm. Play Leaders were paid the princely sum of 2/- per hour. The Latchmere Play Centre commenced on 28th May 1942 with 8 Breakfasts and 19 Teas. Those were the days!!!!!!

There is still time (until Christmas) to send me a story of life while you were at school, I do need a few more contributions of actual life, and of the Teachers.

Next year is an important time for us , and with a new committee in place we can hopefully look forward to a few more years yet.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Owen Walters.

Remember Me?

Send us your names, the dates you were at Latchmere, a brief pen portrait and contact e-mail (you must be over 18) and we will post your details here.

Holly Allender
I attended Latchmere Junior School from about 1994 until 1997.

Josephine Allender
attended from 1994 until 1998

Rebecca Allender
attended from 1994 until 1998 holly.allender@doyrms.com

Rob Moss
I attended Latchmere between 1967 to 1971 when my family left the area. I would be very interested to hear from any other Latchmerians from around that time! suerob@ntlworld.com

Edna Day
I attended Latchmere from 1937 to 1943, starting at the school the year after it opened! I now work in the school office a couple of days a week! You can contact me through the school office. ltj@rbksch.org

Katen Amin
Currently living in sunny Florida! katenoo7@gmail.com

Ian M Muten
"Whatever happened to David Collins?"

I was at Latchmere Road School during 1960-64 (moved school aged 9). Female teachers’ names I recall include Haynes or Haines, Eldrich, Madden, and Jordan. Can’t remember who was the characterful one who rode to school on a motorbike and played a fiddle for the children to dance to – was that Miss Jordan? Retired to Eastbourne or Brighton, I believe.

I’d love to see photos of the school from around this period, if anyone has any or knows where to find them, especially classroom interiors. Also like to hear from anyone who may have been a classmate.

Jonathan Reynolds
jreynolds@gwct.org.uk