I was at Knebworth School from about 1964 to 1970. My older brother Gareth was there from 1962. Remember Mrs O’Connell from early years, lovely lady. I think her son was Ewan. Remember Mrs Oaten? Adored her on a school trip to Guernsey! What an Adventure. Mr Oakley, pick,lick,roll,flick. Ugh. Mr Kennet was a sports car driving exciting person. He rewrote classics for kids – the books had pink and green striped covers? He did great pantomimes every year. I remember being in the 3 Musketeers. Mr Ovens was the head and was a lovely uncle type person then I think Mr Parkinson came the last year or two I was there and he was very strict and different. Mrs Desborough was a witch. Her 2 spaniels sat in front of the class in their bed? She used to rap our knuckles with a wooden ruler if we did anything like talk out of turn. The swimming pool was a wonder. It was funded by parent money raising? Ridiculous that every school doesn’t have one all these years on. I found this site because I was looking for my old friends aged 5/6/7, Stephen/Steven and Carl/Karl ? who lived at the children’s home next to the school. They used to come to my birthday parties and we were mates but who knows where they are now. I remember Annie Hardbattle, Janine Atherton, Tina ? Lorraine Welch whose dad was a policeman in the village but her mum died and they moved away. Caroline Taunt? Other names, Stuart Hanchett, Hamish and Fiona Cameron, Hedda ? All so long ago but a lovely start to life. Would love to hear from anyone who sees this. Unlikely I think.
Memories of Knebworth school from 1964 to 1970
Susan James
This page was added on 06/03/2022.
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Fascinating memories. I was at Knebworth primary school from 1965, age 9, to 1966. It should have been 1967 but the head, Mr Ovens, made the terrible decision to send me on a year early to secondary school, Nobel in Stevenage as it turned out. I was young for the school year anyway (a July baby) so it left me nearly two years younger than most of my year. Looking back it ruined my life.
But yes, I remember Mrs Desborough (fat), Mr Oakley (dried-up old stick) and Mt Kennet (sad death). My deskmate (we already had number ones and number twos in those days) was a certain girl, whose name I had better not repeat, who conveyed to me a contempt for male humanity which lives with me to this day.
And yes the famous swimming-pool was bl**dy cold. 56F or such, one time.
Andy Gradwell – I moved from Manchester to Old Knebworth in ‘64 which was just after Old Knebworth school closed. I was at New Knebworth school for 3 years before going up to Shephalbury school in Stevenage. I was in John Oakley’s & Mrs Harris’s classes not sure who the other teacher was. I do remember Elaine Czogala (now Turner comment below). The 1st Christmas pantomime I was in I was a native dressed in a grass skirt & we all had to dance & sing. After that John Kennet noticed my northern accent & gave me the roles of “Appy Arry Ardcastle from Uddersfield” a soldier & “Ferdinand de Casserole” a cook. One of the pantos was The Three Musketeers but I cannot remember what the others were called. In my last year John Kennet was approached to write a short version of the story Babes In The Wood to be performed in the film Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush, some of us were lucky enough to perform in it (I was cut from the final release!). I also went on holidays to Cuffly Camp & Guernsey.
Names I remember: Len Fisher (from Old Knebworth & we are still mates), Peter Birmingham, Paul Tucker- Peak, Hugh Wliiams, Micheal Stratford, Patrick Miles, Steven Gill (now a renowned Professor in brain surgery I think), Jeremy ?, Paul Harding, ? Jeromson, Andrew Newbold, Terry Wilden, Richard Cooper, Elaine Czogala, Belinda Tudbury, Heather Wilson, Caroline Shepherd, Hedda Barret, Gillian White, Janet Primet, Phillipa Roades.
I do have some photos from those days & I would to love reminisce further if anyone is interested.
I went to Knebworth school, my dad had the greengrocers, Jan’s fruiterers florists, 129 London Rd, loved the Christmas pantos,. My name was Elaine Czogala, in my class were Susan Hurrel,Caroline Shepherd, Susan Orchard (her dad was the Solicitor). Jackie can’t remember her surname, but Mr Kennet was her uncle, Hugh Williams, and Peter. We emergrated to Australia in 1967. However I now live in Boscastle Cornwall.
There was a Carl Morris living in the childrens’ home and a Stephen Khan. I know this because I lived in the children’s home and attended Knebworth Primary School. I left the school in 1965 and was older than Carl and Stephen. I am happy to share my knowledge – just ask