Web Page 1116

27^th January 2013

Top Picture: Boundary Oak Gatehouse

Bottom Picture: Convent of the Cross School

The Other Schools.

Whilst most of us went to the normal state schools in the Portsmouth area there were still a few private schools running in Portsmouth in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Here are just three.

Boundary Oak

Boundary Oak School was founded about 1918 by Miss Napier when it was originally sited in Waterlooville. It soon moved to Portsdown Lodge in Widley, the interesting thing about this house was that the Commissioner for Powder of Portsmouth, Sir Francis Austen, who was Jane Austen’s brother, had previously owned this house. Portsdown Lodge lay on the Parish Boundary of Portsmouth and around its perimeter there was a line of oak trees. One of these fine old trees was a staging post for the annual Portsmouth “beating of the bounds” ceremony, and it is from this tree that the school took its name. Originally there was a flagpole outside the school building and it was customary the have a flag flying every day. Each time a boy passed the flagpole he had to raise his cap and the Headmaster’s study was conveniently placed to ensure this happened. The school thrived in the 1930’s with Mr Miller, who owned the school for over 20 years, as Headmaster. After his death in the mid 1950s the school was in the care of the Vicar of Christ Church for a short time before being sold to David Foster. He revitalised the school and decided to look for a larger site. The old site was sold for residential development and there is evidence of the school in the present street names, Oak Tree Close, The Dell and Boundary Crescent. The school moved to Roche Court in 1961. Roche Court dates back to 1280 and evidence of its age can be seen in the very thick walls to a number of rooms including the Headmaster’s Study. Just 3 families had owned the site from 1280 to 1936, when it was split up. The land was sold to the Southwick Estate and the house was used for ‘refugees’. During the war a battalion of Canadians were billeted in the house and moved out, on D-Day plus one, to go over to France. After the war it was then used as a vehicle repair station  and a victualling supply base until 1960.

The historic Manor buildings were refurbished to accommodate boys rather than stores. The old vehicle repair station was converted into the lower gym, and pantomimes were regularly performed there. The Deputy Headmaster’s flat was originally the School Hall; assemblies and hymn practices were held in there as was the solemn reading of the ‘Quarterly Orders’. In 1961 David Foster, the then Headmaster, changed the school to an Educational Trust and a Governing Body was formed. David Foster resigned through ill-health in 1967 and Howard Limon became Headmaster. Roger Bliss took over as Headmaster in 1985 and over the next 18 years the number of pupils at the school rose with the development of the Junior Department buildings. The Nursery was opened in 1987, and in 1992 the school became co-educational with the first girls in the Reception class.

Daley’s School

Daley's school was in Kingston Crescent, North End Portsmouth. Sadly now it doesn't exist anymore.
It was a private school originally for girls aged 5-16yrs, but there was an intake of small boys too! It was owned and run by the Daley Family who were a prominent Roman Catholic family and very well known in Portsmouth but children didn't have to be RC to attend the school. I believe it may have become a sort of convent school for a while before it closed. The back gate of the school was in Garfield Road and in the area was Chapmans the laundry, a junior school at the end of the road and Maynards sweet shop. There were no playing fields so sports such as netball and tennis were undertaken in Southsea. Miss Kathlene Daley was tall and strong and a strict disciplinarian.

The Convent of the Cross School

The Convent of the Cross School in Purbrook is now the site of Oaklands Catholic comprehensive school.  In 1902 a small group of sisters arrived in Southsea from Boscombe, to found an independent Catholic school for girls and small boys. It was established in Grove Road, and named Covent of the Cross after the school the sisters had left in Boscombe. During the Second World War the women and children of The Convent of the Cross were evacuated to Gloucestershire. Meanwhile the buildings at Grove Road were used as a field hospital and were damaged by enemy action. When the war came to an end it would have been difficult to re-establish the convent. Oaklands was the home of General Napier a famous soldier who fought against Napoleon in the Peninsular War.

In 1946 Oaklands was purchased by the sisters but it was in no fit condition for a school. For a while some of the sisters travelled to Southsea to teach the few students who were there. In 1947 when the school opened Stakes Hill Road was a lane with ditches on either side. The area and the school grew rapidly and in 1959 the junior department became a separate school under the name Holy Cross. In 1966 The Convent of the Cross amalgamated with another Portsmouth school, Daley’s, and became Oaklands Convent School.

Since then the school has continued to grow purpose built blocks were built to house the Sixth Form and Year 11. John Major spent several hours touring the school. In 1997 Oaklands celebrated its 25th year as a comprehensive school.

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Bobby Rydell has appeared in his first Golden Boys concert since his major heart and lung transplant. The other two golden boys on the bill were Franky Avalon and Fabian.

On this day 26^th January 1960-1965

On 26/01/1960 the number one single was Why - Anthony Newley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was not listed and the box office smash was North by Northwest. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

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 On 26/01/1963 the number one single was Dance On - The Shadows and the number one album was Out of the Shadows - Shadows. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

 On 26/01/1964 the number one single was Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Steptoe & Son (BBC) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 26/01/1965 the number one single was Yeh Yeh - Georgie Fame and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.