Harvey Road School
Harvey Road school badge 1950's
When the Metropolitan Railway had established a line to Watford Park in the mid 1920’s and a station at Croxley Green, land became available in the early 1930’s for the construction of a new housing estate close by and a potential site for another school.
The south side of Croxley Green was one of these new developments known then as The Nutfield Estate. This led to new families requiring school places for the infant and junior levels as well as senior places. The two original schools, Yorke Road and Watford Road boys’ were now heavily overcrowded. Education for Croxley Green children had been transferred to the responsibility of the Hertfordshire County Council (HCC). The housing development began to escalate so quickly that in 1938 plans for the Hertfordshire County Council’s site of approximately nine acres were hastened and a school was built with seven ‘temporary’ wooden huts for classrooms. It was at this time that Croxley Green was required to come into line with the County system of having mixed infant/junior/senior schools.
A senior school for older children was also urgently needed and land was purchased from the Durrants Estate for this purpose. Meanwhile, whilst it was under construction boys and girls of senior age, (11yrs and above) shared the wooden temporary huts of Harvey Road, the Old Boys school ( 3 classes) and the Guildhall (2 classes).
Eventually the children transferred to Durrants Secondary Modern School. The current school website can be found here www.harveyroad.herts.sch.uk
The south side of Croxley Green was one of these new developments known then as The Nutfield Estate. This led to new families requiring school places for the infant and junior levels as well as senior places. The two original schools, Yorke Road and Watford Road boys’ were now heavily overcrowded. Education for Croxley Green children had been transferred to the responsibility of the Hertfordshire County Council (HCC). The housing development began to escalate so quickly that in 1938 plans for the Hertfordshire County Council’s site of approximately nine acres were hastened and a school was built with seven ‘temporary’ wooden huts for classrooms. It was at this time that Croxley Green was required to come into line with the County system of having mixed infant/junior/senior schools.
A senior school for older children was also urgently needed and land was purchased from the Durrants Estate for this purpose. Meanwhile, whilst it was under construction boys and girls of senior age, (11yrs and above) shared the wooden temporary huts of Harvey Road, the Old Boys school ( 3 classes) and the Guildhall (2 classes).
Eventually the children transferred to Durrants Secondary Modern School. The current school website can be found here www.harveyroad.herts.sch.uk
© The original Harvey Road school building
Harvey Road Mrs Parrott Class teacher ( date unknown but prior to rebuilding)
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Mrs Parrott's Class (Date unknown) Back Row Left to Right Matthew Clark- David Gunn - Philip Brady - Russell Clancy - Matthew Welsh - Michael Wat t- Adam Hart -David Milner Second row from top Christina Butt - Vicki Clark Christina - Scott Nicola Bailey - Lyn Bignall - Natasha Windsor - Sarah Hickson - Melanie Gorman - Lucy Edwards - Samantha Hamblin - Emma Carlin - Samantha Hoad Third row from top Liam Moore - Cindy Porter - David Allen - Camilla Hussain -Mrs Parrott (class teacher) -Jason Drakeford - Justine Mc Nally - Phillip Burge - Russell Stratton- Ian Badcock Front row Helen Pickering - Steve Hanscomb - Mark Thompson - Katy Buckett - Sohail Shar - Lee Doland- Russell Empson - Jonny Ling - John Hubbard
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© Built in 1938, 4 extra classrooms added 1956 Demolished 1997
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The new school begins to take shape
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The school building is making progress
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The original school is visible on the left
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Almost completed landscaping etc awaited
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On the 17th April 1939 Harvey Road opened as a Junior Mixed School, just prior to the outbreak of World War II in the September of that year. Miss Cooper became Headmistress having been Headmistress of the Girls’ school in Yorke Road for a number of years.
Due to the higher number of pupils because of the children evacuated from the London schools, Harvey Road became part of a shift pattern which enabled the pupils to receive some form of continuous education within the seven classrooms they provided. By using the classrooms along with various halls available in the village, the children attended 9am-12.30pm one week and 1.30pm – 5pm the following week. It became a routine that as the severity of the war increased, children had to carry their gas masks at all times in case of threatening attacks. Air Raid shelters were also provided in the school grounds.(demolished in 1964)
In May 1943 the first school dinners were taken in the classrooms, 211 in total.
It wasn’t until 1948 that a school canteen and dining room were completed. Unfortunately, due to the aftermath of the war, equipment was not readily available to support the new facility and the numbers requiring a hot meal. Herts County Council overcame this by providing two sandwiches for lunch once a week for the children who stayed to dinner (lunch was then called dinner).
Miss Cooper retired in July 1952 and at this time was still living in the schoolhouse attached to the school in Yorke Road. She continued to live here until she became unwell and passed away in September 1963.
Mr Ernest Ford followed Miss Cooper as Headmaster and soon after in 1956: four additional classrooms and a library were added to the school buildings.. The school motto was decided “Qui s’excuse s’accuse” and the pupils were separated into four ‘Houses’ for the purpose of gaining a competitive spirit in much of the school curriculum including sports.
The ‘Houses’ were identified by the names of people and places associated with the village.
As Croxley Green is surrounded by lakes, rivers and a canal swimming lessons were becoming a high priority for young children and monies were achieved so that a sizeable outdoor pool could be built in the school grounds.
After a successful period of approximately 23yrs as Head Mr. Ford retired and was succeeded by Mr. Alan Nicholson who was in place during the school’s Golden Jubilee anniversary in 1988 when celebrations included a special reunion of past pupils.
The school was now showing signs of age as well as over crowding once more. A new modern brick school was completed in 1997 the same year Mr. Nicholson retired and Alison Gauntlett became Headmistress. Children had been able to witness the progress of the building construction, an exciting time with all the ‘plant’ working especially for the boys!
At this time the headship changed fairly rapidly as Jane Benn followed in 2002 and Mr N Rowland in 2005. The school’s 75th anniversary in 2014 became a milestone to plan once more a huge celebration.
Due to the higher number of pupils because of the children evacuated from the London schools, Harvey Road became part of a shift pattern which enabled the pupils to receive some form of continuous education within the seven classrooms they provided. By using the classrooms along with various halls available in the village, the children attended 9am-12.30pm one week and 1.30pm – 5pm the following week. It became a routine that as the severity of the war increased, children had to carry their gas masks at all times in case of threatening attacks. Air Raid shelters were also provided in the school grounds.(demolished in 1964)
In May 1943 the first school dinners were taken in the classrooms, 211 in total.
It wasn’t until 1948 that a school canteen and dining room were completed. Unfortunately, due to the aftermath of the war, equipment was not readily available to support the new facility and the numbers requiring a hot meal. Herts County Council overcame this by providing two sandwiches for lunch once a week for the children who stayed to dinner (lunch was then called dinner).
Miss Cooper retired in July 1952 and at this time was still living in the schoolhouse attached to the school in Yorke Road. She continued to live here until she became unwell and passed away in September 1963.
Mr Ernest Ford followed Miss Cooper as Headmaster and soon after in 1956: four additional classrooms and a library were added to the school buildings.. The school motto was decided “Qui s’excuse s’accuse” and the pupils were separated into four ‘Houses’ for the purpose of gaining a competitive spirit in much of the school curriculum including sports.
The ‘Houses’ were identified by the names of people and places associated with the village.
As Croxley Green is surrounded by lakes, rivers and a canal swimming lessons were becoming a high priority for young children and monies were achieved so that a sizeable outdoor pool could be built in the school grounds.
After a successful period of approximately 23yrs as Head Mr. Ford retired and was succeeded by Mr. Alan Nicholson who was in place during the school’s Golden Jubilee anniversary in 1988 when celebrations included a special reunion of past pupils.
The school was now showing signs of age as well as over crowding once more. A new modern brick school was completed in 1997 the same year Mr. Nicholson retired and Alison Gauntlett became Headmistress. Children had been able to witness the progress of the building construction, an exciting time with all the ‘plant’ working especially for the boys!
At this time the headship changed fairly rapidly as Jane Benn followed in 2002 and Mr N Rowland in 2005. The school’s 75th anniversary in 2014 became a milestone to plan once more a huge celebration.
Miss Giles class 1946
Front Row: Mary Newby / Janet Wilkinson / ?? / ?? / Rosemary Hedges / Alan Southam / Brian Wilson / Richard Paddick / Stephen Brody
2nd Row: ?? / Barbara Wilson / ?? / Anne Reeves / Miss Giles (teacher) / Doris Lacey / ?? / Sheila Thompkins / Olive Melton / Gladys Wells 3rd Row: ?? / ?? / ?? / ?? / Peter Samuels / ?? / ?? / Frank Standen / ?? Back Row: ?? / ?? / ?? / ?? / ?Hunt / ?? / David Morgan / Brian Thomas /?? / Eric Cameron |
Class 7 1947 Miss Glynis Fenton teacher
Back Row: ?? / David Wallwork / ?? / Christopher Smith / Anthony Smith / ?? / David Rhodes / Fred Noble / ?? / Ken Moore / Alan Humphrey
3rd Row: Alan Blanchard / Robin Holloway /Tony Fitt / Margaret King (names not clear for each child) 2nd Row: Vivienne Murray/ Sheila Flint / Janey Gozney / Avril Palmer/(names not clear for each child) Front Row: Marilyn Homer / Linda Rickman / (names not clear for each child) |
© 1947 Miss Nelson teacher
Front Row: Noreen Harmer / ? Williamson / Michael Curtis / Pat Hill / Janet Wilkinson /Mary Newby / ??
Middle Row: ?? / ?? /?? ?? / Eric Cameron / ?? /?? / ?? / Rosemary Hedges / Jennifer Gray / ?? Back Row: Miss Nelson (teacher) ?? / Iris Foreman / ?? / ?? / ?? /Christine ? / David Hunt / ?? / Clifford Element |
© School photograph 1948
Front row: Peter Samuels / John Robson / David Morgan / John Roffe / Alan Humphres / Ted Noble / Stephen Brody / Kenneth Moore / Frank Standen
2nd Row: Marjorie Reynold ?? / ?? Sheila Flint / ?? / ?? / Janet Gozney / Marilyn Homer / Lyndall Rickwood / Avril Palmer 3rd Row: Barbara Jones / Vivienne Murray / Margaret King / ?? / Valerie ? / Jennifer Gray / Rosemary Hedges / ?? / Noreen Harmer / Betty Wells / Marion Bushnell Back Row: Alan Humphries / Terry Jenner / Stephen Brody / Frank Standen / ?? / Gerald Newton / Alan Blanchard / David Rhodes / Robin Holloway / Nigel Robinson / Davis Walbrook |
Harvey Road School 1949-50
Back row
?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? Graham Harvey Eric Hazell ??
3rd from right Graham Harvey
3rd row ?? Sheila Richardson Pamela Carr Rosemary Ford ?? Joan Pullen ??
Nina Carter
2nd row ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? Mr. Veasey ?? Susan Howard ?? ?? ??
Front row ?? ?? ?? Stanley Smith Henry Noble John Haynes ?? ??
Please can you help with and of the missing names?
© Class 7 1951 Miss Green teacher
1952 Miss Green teacher Class 4
Back row: David Baker - John Fox - John King - Michael Barnes - Jefferey Davis - Jim Chamberlain – Barry Chester – Ian Weeden
2nd row: Peter Ryder - Michael Fowler - Roger Stowe - Colin Hooker - Shirley Priestly - Dawn Fairbairn - Glenda Phipps - Pam Byott - Camilla Lane - Christine Tubb -Richard Smith
Seated Row: ?? - Pamela Milton - Rosemary Chater - Anne Pattinson - Suzanne Kingman - Pamela Alchin- Miss Green - Suzanne Moore - Jane ? - Elaine Merritt - Janet Window
Kneeling: Christine Bott - Gillian Webber - Wendy Furr - Jean Snell - Madeline Hutchinson - Shirley Jeffries - Rosemary Galloway - Rita Owen - Pat Simpkins - Angela Lindsey
2nd row: Peter Ryder - Michael Fowler - Roger Stowe - Colin Hooker - Shirley Priestly - Dawn Fairbairn - Glenda Phipps - Pam Byott - Camilla Lane - Christine Tubb -Richard Smith
Seated Row: ?? - Pamela Milton - Rosemary Chater - Anne Pattinson - Suzanne Kingman - Pamela Alchin- Miss Green - Suzanne Moore - Jane ? - Elaine Merritt - Janet Window
Kneeling: Christine Bott - Gillian Webber - Wendy Furr - Jean Snell - Madeline Hutchinson - Shirley Jeffries - Rosemary Galloway - Rita Owen - Pat Simpkins - Angela Lindsey
Harvey Road School c1952 -bottom row left Sheila Walker- Christine Pullen (2nd left) Can you name the teacher and the other pupils
Can you help with naming the other pupils please?
Harvey Road School Choir c1952
Harvey Road School Choir c1952 (named thanks to Tony & Pat Wheeler)
Back Row from left to right - Geoffrey Self, Stephen Lakey, Peter Fur, Paul de Luca, Robert Rance, Humphrey Collis, Richard Phillips, Terry Rodger, Tony Hickson, Christopher Milton, David Brennan, Ian le Vacont, Tony Horton, David Smith, Martin Cartwright, David Pope, Henry Noble.
Second from Back Row from left to right - Fred Gomn, Wilfre Knight, Tony Wheeler, Anne Buckley, Nina Macarter, Cherry Kingsley, Gwethalyn Thomas, Pamela Galley, Stella Crawley, Pat Mansfield, Pamela Wesson, Gay Dann, Peter Shrubsole, Edward Page, Gavin Sutherland
Second Row from Front from left to right - Brenda Jack, Rita Allum, Margaret Goodyear, Shirley Pritchard, Jennifer Childs, Maureen Ulph, Mrs Fenton (leader/conductor), Mrs Ball (Pianist), Marion Fox, Joan Pullen, Pat Williams, Susan Howard, Yvonne Stacey, Mary Gittings.
Front Row from left to right - Janey Nichols, Carole Rye, Janet Wood, Barbara Lillington, Susan Viesy, Peter Golding, Sheila Smith, Margarent Simmons, Janet White, Patricia Dean, Valerie Cornwall, Pamela Blackburn.
Back Row from left to right - Geoffrey Self, Stephen Lakey, Peter Fur, Paul de Luca, Robert Rance, Humphrey Collis, Richard Phillips, Terry Rodger, Tony Hickson, Christopher Milton, David Brennan, Ian le Vacont, Tony Horton, David Smith, Martin Cartwright, David Pope, Henry Noble.
Second from Back Row from left to right - Fred Gomn, Wilfre Knight, Tony Wheeler, Anne Buckley, Nina Macarter, Cherry Kingsley, Gwethalyn Thomas, Pamela Galley, Stella Crawley, Pat Mansfield, Pamela Wesson, Gay Dann, Peter Shrubsole, Edward Page, Gavin Sutherland
Second Row from Front from left to right - Brenda Jack, Rita Allum, Margaret Goodyear, Shirley Pritchard, Jennifer Childs, Maureen Ulph, Mrs Fenton (leader/conductor), Mrs Ball (Pianist), Marion Fox, Joan Pullen, Pat Williams, Susan Howard, Yvonne Stacey, Mary Gittings.
Front Row from left to right - Janey Nichols, Carole Rye, Janet Wood, Barbara Lillington, Susan Viesy, Peter Golding, Sheila Smith, Margarent Simmons, Janet White, Patricia Dean, Valerie Cornwall, Pamela Blackburn.
1952 Miss Green teacher Class 4 (no names given)
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Mrs Fenton's choir c1956 I think. Mrs Fenton was a teacher at Harvey Road school, and also ran a choir at Croxley. She gave me a lifelong love of singing said Kris Saunders
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Garden Club
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Garden Club
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1952-3 Robin Hood -School play
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The school Nativity play (unknown date)
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The school pet rabbit
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c1955/6 The school had a pet rabbit called ‘Harvey’. Featured from left to right Keith Paddick, Peter Wilson, David Penny, Barry Hoband.Peter and Barry’s family would take it in turn to look after Harvey at the weekend.
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Harvey Road Football Team 1951
The School Football Team 1951 ((named thanks to Tony & Pat Wheeler)
This was Tony Wheeler's last year at Harvey Road and I was the team goalkeeper in. This picture was taken by the Watford Observer newspaper and was subsequently published. It reported that our team had won the local schools' championship - the first time Harvey Road School had won the trophy.
Back row from left to right - ? David or Tony Stretton (this name immediately came to mind when I saw the photo, but I am not 100% sure that it is correct. I know he was a good full back in the team, that he had gingerish colour hair and that his Dad came to all our matches and treated us to segments of oranges at half time - just like the "rown up" teams used to get! This was a real treat!) Tony Wheeler, Mr Routley (Teacher/Manager) and ??
Front row from left to right - David Brennan, John Adair Mick Hall (Captain), Wilfred Knight, David Smith
This was Tony Wheeler's last year at Harvey Road and I was the team goalkeeper in. This picture was taken by the Watford Observer newspaper and was subsequently published. It reported that our team had won the local schools' championship - the first time Harvey Road School had won the trophy.
Back row from left to right - ? David or Tony Stretton (this name immediately came to mind when I saw the photo, but I am not 100% sure that it is correct. I know he was a good full back in the team, that he had gingerish colour hair and that his Dad came to all our matches and treated us to segments of oranges at half time - just like the "rown up" teams used to get! This was a real treat!) Tony Wheeler, Mr Routley (Teacher/Manager) and ??
Front row from left to right - David Brennan, John Adair Mick Hall (Captain), Wilfred Knight, David Smith
School Football team 1958
School football team 1955c
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School Netball team 1956
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Miss Cooper centre front row 1948
Front row from the left: Mrs Fenton, Mr. Routly, Miss Cooper (Headmistress) Mr Fennick unknown Back row: Miss Hedges, unknown Mrs Watson unknown
Harvey Road teachers 1969
Front row left to right: Mr Nicholson, Mrs Phillips (secretary) Miss Hedges, Mr Ford (Headmaster) Miss Green, Mrs Warner
Back row: Mrs Litwinczuk, Mr Nickerson, Miss Creighton, Mrs McCall, Mr Jack Tandy (caretaker) Miss Batchelor, Mrs Leech, unknown, Miss Grover (school assistant) |
Lilian Cooper 1949
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(© loaned by Andrew Bell) 1966 School football game
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(© loaned by Andrew Bell) 1966 School football game
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(© loaned by Andrew Bell) The new school swimming pool
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(© loaned by Andrew Bell) The new school swimming pool
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(© loaned by Andrew Bell) The new school swimming pool
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(© loaned by Andrew Bell) The new school swimming pool
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(© loaned by Andrew Bell) The new school swimming pool
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(© loaned by Andrew Bell) The new school swimming pool
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(© loaned by Andrew Bell) The new school swimming pool
(© loaned by Penelope Jones) Newspaper cutting from the Watford Observer, 1970 following the success of the Harvey Road School football and netball teams that year.
From L to R: Frances Human, Mandy Holden, Celia Human, Leslie Partridge, Liz Jerome, Penny Crocker, Ruth Barnes;
Miss Green
Mr Nicholson
Back row: Paul Hodgson, Graham Baker, Peter Stirling, David Balderstone, Paul Craddock, Richard Walker
Front row: Kevin Pizans, Nigel Clapham, Roy Freeman, Howard Scott, Julian Thoroughgood, Ian Pitkin, Martyn Ives
Harvey Road teachers 1970's
Front row from left: Mrs Phillips (secretary) Mrs Warner Mr Nicholson Mr Ford (Headmaster) Miss Green Miss Hedges Miss Batchelor
Back row: Mrs Litwinczuk Miss Crieghton Mrs Leech unknown Mrs Grover unknown Miss Grover (school assistant)
Back row: Mrs Litwinczuk Miss Crieghton Mrs Leech unknown Mrs Grover unknown Miss Grover (school assistant)
(© David Hillas) Father Christmas makes a visit November 1978
(© David Loose) Class of 1985
Front Row: Vivienne Cross, Suzanne Kenworthy, Sarah Van-spall, Gary Philpot, Damon Badcock, Caroline Hoad, Louise Cattermole.
Second Row: Julie Williams, Amanda Colborne, Paula Henderson, Mrs Parrott, Stephanie Tucker, Marissa Freeman, Sarah Bull.
Third Row: David Loose, Scott Parker, George Mulcahy, Andrew Foulkes, Dean Vaughan, Jon Euden, Peter Young, Richard East, Daniel Kaye, Billy Porter, Jason Andrews.
Back Row: Ian Thompson, Geoffrey Goodwin, Stephen Hill, Craig Whittle, Alex Moss, David Marchant, Jason McGarvey, Alex Cloote, Amer Baig, Mr Nicholson
Second Row: Julie Williams, Amanda Colborne, Paula Henderson, Mrs Parrott, Stephanie Tucker, Marissa Freeman, Sarah Bull.
Third Row: David Loose, Scott Parker, George Mulcahy, Andrew Foulkes, Dean Vaughan, Jon Euden, Peter Young, Richard East, Daniel Kaye, Billy Porter, Jason Andrews.
Back Row: Ian Thompson, Geoffrey Goodwin, Stephen Hill, Craig Whittle, Alex Moss, David Marchant, Jason McGarvey, Alex Cloote, Amer Baig, Mr Nicholson
Harvey Road Class 1987 Alan Nicholson Head teacher
Harvey Road 1987 Class Head teacher Alan Nicholson & Class teacher Mrs Parrott
Back row Left to Right Alan Nicholson - Simon Classy - David Graham - Russell Decking - Robert Fredickson - Peter Watt - Anthony Hewston - Philip Moore - Martin Hanscomb - Neville Strattin - Simon McFall - Kevin Mullany Second row from top Michelle Slade - Russell Carpenter - Jens Mc Nally - Paul Culmer - Michael Curtis - Peter Burge - Nigel Brady - Brian Slinn - Ross Thompson Third row from top Caroline Burge - Marie Hubbard - Helen Toms- Emma Fabb -Tina Colborne - Mrs Peggy Parrott (class teacher) - Jill McNiven - Haley Merchant - Carol Young - Caroline Facer - Clare Davis Front row Ruth Edwards - Karen McMurray - Emma Hunt - Amanda Wilson - Amanda Pickering - Clare Henderson - Clare Endersey - Stephen Fletcher |
Harvey Road Football Team 1987
Harvey Road Football Team 1987 Back Row Mike Lovatt - Jens McNally - Michael Curtis - Phillip Moore - Simon McFall - Ian Cater -Terence Cloute
Middle Row David Vincent - Martin Hanscomb - Anthony Hewston - Nigel Brady -Simon Classey - Robin Vaughan Front Row |
Below is a slideshow of photographs from a late 70s Harvey Road School Summer Fete (Can you help with the years?)
The following are the Head Teachers that have been in position since the school opened.
Miss L. E. Cooper 1938 - 1952
Mr E. V. Ford 1952 - 1975
Mr A. Nicholson 1975 - 1997
Alison Gauntlett 1997 - 2002
Jane Benn 2002 - 2005
Mr Nick Rowlands 2005 - 2024
Miss Louisa Ingram 2024 - Present
Miss L. E. Cooper 1938 - 1952
Mr E. V. Ford 1952 - 1975
Mr A. Nicholson 1975 - 1997
Alison Gauntlett 1997 - 2002
Jane Benn 2002 - 2005
Mr Nick Rowlands 2005 - 2024
Miss Louisa Ingram 2024 - Present
