Past pupils show love for school

10:55am Tuesday 19th February 2008

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Langley Park School for Girls will celebrate its 90th anniversary next year. A book called Hats Off! is being put together to mark the occasion. Reporter VICKI FOSTER finds out more.

A GROUP of past students and staff are preparing a book on the history of Langley Park School for Girls, South Eden Park Road, Beckenham.

Since the school opened in 1919, it switched sites, had seven headteachers, six different summer uniforms and four different names.

The book, Hats Off!, features chapters on lessons, uniforms, school lunches, trips, plays and musical events.

It is being put together by the Adremian Association, which is made up of past pupils and staff.

The book was the brainchild of association secretary Jill Jones.

It contains contributions from former staff and students sent in over an 18-month period.

Ms Jones, who is also a past student, said: "People have different memories, which is what this book is about. It even has some famous people in it who went to the school."

Past pupils include former Big Brother housemate Kate Lawler, Alison Prince, the writer behind the Trumpton series of books for children, and Norma Izard, who played cricket for England and went on to manage the women's national team.

The book contains hundreds of black and white photographs, along with 16 colour pages.

Past pupils and staff can become subscribers with their names added to the back of the book.

In the school's life, there have been seven headteachers: Miss Fox, Miss Henshaw, Miss Chreseson, Mrs Molnar, Mrs Grimsey, Mrs Herzmark and present headmistress Miss Sage.

The school has also changed names four times. It has been known as Beckenham County School for Girls, Beckenham County Grammar School for Girls and Beckenham Grammar School for Girls, all in Lennard Road, Beckenham.

A move to Langley Park in 1959, brought about the most recent name change in 1968.

After many years of co-operating with the neighbouring Langley Park Boys School, there is now a mixed-sex sixth-form at the school.

Former pupil and teacher Pat Manning is helping to compile the book.

She said: "I loved the school. I went there for my friends, sport and maths and I taught there as a teacher for 30 years."

The 78-year-old said: "There are around 1,600 pupils now, with about 160 boys in Year 12 and Year 13."

Hats Off! will be on sale at the school from September 20.

It costs £15.95 and all profits will go to the school.