Memories 

Karen Peckham

I was a pupil at Clarks College, Southampton, for the last year before the College closed in 1967/8. I remember us all crying when we heard the news that it was all finished. It was a small school in The Avenue – an old house next to La Sainte Union. Everyone I knew there enjoyed going to the College, the teachers were strict but made learning interesting. I remember Mr Winchester the headmaster chain-smoking in the geography lessons, Major Treadwell (general science and art) checking that your shoes were clean each morning in the playground before classes. He brought his own army boot polish and shoe brushes; Mrs. Draper, the maths teacher, who could be easily sidetracked from the subject of maths, Miss Tippets who taught poetry and English literature. Mr Hempstead who taught history, with whom I had a girlhood crush – and many more.

The uniform was very smart except that awful winter hat! I kept my college scarf for many years but unfortunately my daughter ‘borrowed’ it one evening many years ago, never to be seen again (the scarf – not my daughter!) I would dearly love to purchase one again. Is this possible? It was a proper college scarf that I was really proud to wear.

Karen Hawkins (formerly Peckham)

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