the railway servng the school in 1936

[BEANY]

When I started at CH in Sept 1936. the rail junction at the school station serviced both Guildford and Brighton as well as the Portsmouth line. The Brighton trains(via Steyning) often had the engine between two coaches. The fireman stayed with the engine but the driver was in the appropriate coach depending in which direction the train was going!. His controls were by rods and linkage beneath the coaches.We called this the "push me pull you ".
During the war we were often kept awake by the anti-aircraft guns mounted on flat trucks and pulled by steam locos along the Guildford line via Cranleigh
Before the school arrived from LONDON the junction was called STAMMERHAM after the local farm and where the trains were made up in the sidings to take the milk to London.Stammerham farm still exists but it is miles away now. The farmer of the time sold his land so that the school could be built.

[Foureyes]

The Horsham-CH-Guildford push-me-pull-you mention may have looked slightly ridiculous but it had its moment of infamy. This happened when, at some time between mid-1941 and mid-1944, it was strafed by a German fighter pilot who had nothing better to do than attack unprotected civilian targets. This attack caused the death of one boy who had just left CH and was on his way to meet his parents whom he had not seen for nine years.

It so happens that I am researching this incident for other reasons and will post any further info as I find it.

[michael scuffil]

I believe what CH bought when the move from London was decided on was in fact called "the Stammerham estate", and Stammerham is still the name of the house next to the duckpond -- used as staff accommodation in my day, and thought by many staff to be the best accommodation going. While I was there it was occupied by Mr and Mrs Newberry (I believe he died fairly recently aged well into his 90s)

[Great Plum]

Stammerham is still there and used by staff...

It is two houses (I don't know if it has always been) - the left hand side is vast, having at least 6 beds I think, two staircases and 4 reception rooms... it's a glorious building...

[CHAZ]

Yes it's that magnificent building by Doctor's Lake. In the 80s it was Patrick Cullen who resided on the left side..can't think who was on the other side.

Apart from HM house, I'd say the best house to have at CH.

[Foureyes]

Further info on the attack on the Railway.

It took place on 16th December 1942 and the "push-pull" train had just left Bramley and carried crew of three (driver, fireman, guard) and about 36 passengers. This totally defenceless target was machine-gunned and bombed by the brave enemy pilot, resulting in seven deaths and many wounded. One of those who died was an Old Blue who had left CH at the end of either Summer or Michaelmas Terms 1942 (not sure which). All I know about him is that his parents lived in Paraguay - if anyone can suggest a name I would be very grateful.

The death does not appear at all in The Blue, possibly, I suspect, because such news would have been very bad for morale at the school, not least because in those days just about everyone went to and from school by train.

David

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

In reply to "Beany" ( who is obviously an OOOB !) OOH !
I was at CH at the time you mention, and I have never heared the story, I imagine that it was "Suppressed" (We British didn't CENSOR things ! Ho Ho !)
I do remember being on Big Side one afternoon,with another chap, when a ME109 came out of the clouds and we were convinced that he had shot at us !
Years later, I realised he was on his way home and was proboably clearing his guns. If he had REALLY wanted to get us, I imagine that he would have done so. but of course, at the time, it made good conversation in the Day Room !
Apropos the chap from Paraguay --- Not in Ba B during those years, so it is one house that you can cross off the list.
Back to the Railway, has anyone done a Post on the subject of Hard Boiled Eggs thrown from the CH Special ?
Experienced Staff at each Station would retire under cover --- leaving the "New Boys" to experience the Fusillade !
Of course it was forbidden --- But always Hard boiled eggs on the last day of Term -------- ?

[AKAP]

Strange how memories come back.
Hard boiled eggs on the last day of term, although we didn't throw them form the train. Always hard hard hard boiled, with cracked shells and white or (pale yellow) rubbery bits protruding. Totally inedible and a waste of time cooking them.

[kerrensimmonds]

I have nothing pertinent to contribute to this thread but I find it interesting to read (from a Hertford perspective) Horsham OB reminiscences of WW2. My parents lived in Horsham - they married in the middle of the War. My mother had been a teacher at a private school in Horsham and my father a public servant in Local Government ('Sanitary Inspector' - at the time - as we in later life loved to tease him. In fact he retired donkeys years later as Borough Surveyor of a very respectable town in West Sussex)
I was born three years after the end of WW2 but my childhood and adolescence were dominated by tales of 'how fortunate I was to have missed the War'. Especially the tendency of German bombers, returning home from London, to jettison their remaining cargo over the countryside in West Sussex. And when it came to doodlebugs.. my mother used to tell chilling stories of driving along country lanes and hearing the drone of something the other side of a hedge and realising that if it was going in her direction, she had to stop and reverse p.d.q.
Subliminal influences are not explainable but I put it down to my mother's wartime fears (even before 'in utero') that more than 60 years later I still have a totally irrational and spine chilling fear of a) a glow of light on the night horizon (my mum used to say that from Horsham they could see London burning) and b) the drone of a lone aircraft engine at night.
I'm sorry that this is

But I wish everyone a very happy

[wurzel]

More off topic.

After returning to the UK from N.Africa following malaria my grandad drove transporters around sussex collecting downed planes. the family funny story was that somewhen during the war he was crossing newbridge between ch/5 oaks road and broadbridge heath when the stub of a wing ripped off the top 2 corses of bricks at the centre of the North parapet. Those courses remained missing until they rebuilt the bridge in the 80's.

Also my dad worked for the GPO in the early 70's and in those days the apprentices were "persuaded" to join the observer corps as each shift down the bunker was meant to have a telecoms person to man the frame. I have memories aged about 4 of climbing down the ladder into the little post on top of denn hill near the allotments, years later we did a ccf night orienteering exercise around the area.

vaguely on topic,

I do remember 1 st mathew's day we were all given chocolate mouses in our packed lunches and they were completely melted. Various people saved them and some very unfortunate commuters on dorking station got to wear them. That and people throwing bulbs out of the train windows as we went trough tunnels

[cstegerlewis]

Yes it's that magnificent building by Doctor's Lake. In the 80s it was Patrick Cullen who resided on the left side..can't think who was on the other side.

Apart from HM house, I'd say the best house to have at CH.

Malcolm McKelvey had it when you were there (with 2 grand pianos in the front room - I had a lesson there once when his son was ill so he didn't want to leave the house - I think it was actually a way to get me out of school as I was homesick as James seemed fine to me!)

I think DN-P had it for a bit after that....Pat Cullen was there until I left

[J.R.]

More off topic.

vaguely on topic,

I do remember 1 st mathew's day we were all given chocolate mouses in our packed lunches and they were completely melted. Various people saved them and some very unfortunate commuters on dorking station got to wear them. That and people throwing bulbs out of the train windows as we went trough tunnels

Dorking NORTH Station, to be correct. Dorking is blessed (?) with THREE railway stations !

It got a mention in the Dorking Avertiser, and was recently repeated in their 'Yesteryear' Section. I now wish I'd cut it out and kept it.

[Great Plum]

Yes it's that magnificent building by Doctor's Lake. In the 80s it was Patrick Cullen who resided on the left side..can't think who was on the other side.

Apart from HM house, I'd say the best house to have at CH.

Malcolm McKelvey had it when you were there (with 2 grand pianos in the front room - I had a lesson there once when his son was ill so he didn't want to leave the house - I think it was actually a way to get me out of school as I was homesick as James seemed fine to me!)

I think DN-P had it for a bit after that....Pat Cullen was there until I left

DNP must have moved back in there (the left wing) as he was there when I remember until his retirement in 1996... I think Mr Potter is in there now...