High Trees School

1
HIGH TREES
SCHOOL
The History of a School
near Horley, Surrey from
1922 to 1984
By
Brian Buss & Richard Cooper
© Horley Local History Society
2002
2
HIGH
TREES
SCHOOL
The History of a School near Horley from 1922 to
1984
CONTENTS
MAP OF THE AREA
3
1
INTRODUCTION
4
2
THE FOUNDING OF HIGH TREES SCHOOL
5
3
THE EARLY YEARS AT NEWHOUSE LANE
9
4
A TERRIBLE DISASTER
13
5
THE AFTERMATH OF THE FIRE
15
6
THE TEMPORARY SCHOOL AT DUXHURST
22
7
LIFE AT HIGH TREES FROM 1930 TO 1939
26
8
WORLD WAR TWO AND EVACUATION
31
9
THE RETURN TO HORSE HILL
33
10
TOWARDS ITS ZENITH
36
11
THE CLOSURE OF HIGH TREES SCHOOL
42
REFERENCES
46
3
4
1
INTRODUCTION
For over half a century in the locality of Horley in Surrey, the name "High Trees" was
immediately associated with a private school that stood at the top of Horse Hill, alongside
the old main road between Sidlow Bridge and Hookwood. Sadly it was forced to close its
doors in 1984 when many young children could no longer enjoy the lovely old house set in
spacious grounds, or the friendships which early schooldays so often engender.
Today, many in the district, and probably in several other parts of the country as well as in
various regions throughout the world, were once pupils at the School and have treasured
memories of the time they spent there. It was founded in 1922 by a very determined lady
who rented a large house close to Salfords village, situated between Redhill and Horley. The
house sat high on a hill with a southern aspect in delightful country surroundings for some 6
years when a most tragic fire broke out and 5 young children were lost, despite the heroic
efforts of staff to save them. Temporary accommodation had to be found quickly until
eventually the school settled locally at Horse Hill some 4 miles away. After forced evacuation
to Devon when the site was requisitioned during World War II, the pupils returned and the
school grew under new leadership into a large and well respected centre of education where
in excess of 200 pupils were in attendance for many years. It soon became an integral part
of the community in Horley, participating in all local events and organisations.
Recently, the Horley Local History Society was presented with many of the School's records
and other detailed information. These, along with the considerable number of existing
photographs of the School taken throughout its life, collectively offered a unique opportunity
to compile a brief history of High Trees throughout its 62 years of existence.
What follows does not claim to be an exhaustive record of the School's life as there must be
many past pupils and staff who could provide additional memories of events and more
descriptive detail of the items covered here. However, because High Trees was part of the
history of Horley, the Society considered it important to record the part played by the School,
in a manner that, perhaps later, others may wish to refer to or expand on.
Special thanks must be given to Mrs Pat Spokes and Mrs Christine Cooper for all their help
in providing many of the records, for recalling first-hand, details from their many years of
service to the School and for their invaluable comments during the preparation of the text.
Also to Judith Marshall who, with the help of others, stored the School diaries for many years
after the School had closed. The authors also gained much pleasure in receiving approval of
the text from Mr John Norsworthy, the principal of High Trees for the final 30 years of its life.
This made it all so worthwhile.
5
2
THE FOUNDING OF HIGH TREES SCHOOL
The Staff
Miss Edith Marie Tucker was previously a matron at a children's hospital in Leasowe,
Liverpool, when in 1922 at the age of 46 years, she moved to the village of Salfords, situated
between Redhill and Horley in the County of Surrey. The purpose of the move was to set up
a new school to be known as "High Trees" where she became its Principal.
The reason why she came is not known. Whether she alone had the desire, initiative and
resources to set up such a school, or if she answered an advertisement, is not recorded.
There does not appear to be any evidence that a number of interested people had formed
say, a Board to finance, run and manage a new school, but at that time rules and regulations
to do so were very lax compared with today's requirements. It is therefore likely to have been
a purely speculative venture by Miss Tucker.
The School occupied a three-storied house in Newhouse Lane then called "Chatel Guyon"
that was built in 1901 for Mr Auguste Robert Reynard. The owner in 1922 was his wife, Mrs
Susannah Reynard who presumably was seeking a tenant to rent the property. It stood high
on a ridge looking south, along a driveway to the west of the Lane, where it does today. It
was a handsome three-storied house, with tall brick chimneys set in extensive grounds with
a nearby cottage, stables and greenhouse, surrounded by open fields.
"Chatel Guyon",
Newhouse Lane,
Salfords, renamed
"High Trees"
by Miss Tucker in
1922.
"The Cottage is on
the right.
About a year after Miss Tucker arrived, she was joined by Miss Ethel May Young, who was
then 35 years old and was a BA (Hons) in history from Liverpool University. She had taught
at the local Reigate County School for Girls since 1918. Previously, up to December 1914,
she had taught history at a Secondary School for girls in Halifax and after that, for two years
at Rotherham High school. Ms C Greenwood, the Head mistress of the school in Halifax
which had some 240 girls,. is reported to have said of Miss Young, " In all her work she
has been highly successful. She is fluent of language and has an enviable power of
attracting and keeping the attention of the girls. Her lessons are always carefully
prepared and are most interesting. The solid groundwork of history is thoroughly safe
in her hands. She is an excellent hockey player and has entered heartily into the
social life of the school. She has been most generous of time and effort for the
pleasure and profit of the girls".
As there is a gap of some two years between Miss Young leaving Rotherham and
commencing teaching at Reigate, perhaps she and Miss Tucker, might have been engaged
in some form of war-work during World War I and that is where they met?. Miss Young lived
at High Trees, but continued to teach at Reigate until 1926 and made the journey each day
by motorcycle, a means of transport that must have surprised many people at the time.
Records show that she did not purchase the motorcycle until 1923, presumably the year she
arrived, in order to journey back and forth to Reigate. Perhaps motorcycling was something
she acquired during WWI? When she left the County School she became responsible for the
educational standard at High Trees. The two ladies obviously became very attached to one
another throughout the rest of their working lives which they devoted to the School. Miss
Young was always known to Miss Tucker by her initials as EMY and Miss Tucker as EMT.
6
Miss Edith Marie Tucker,
the founder of High
Trees,
followed by Miss Ethel
May Young.
They soon acquired the assistance of others. One trained nurse was engaged and several
others known as governesses. Some were said to be very young indeed, being only 16
years of age, but as many must have been searching for jobs in the post-war years,
applicants may not have been difficult to find, or costly to pay. It is said they all looked the
part in voluminous white starched caps and uniform overalls, black stockings and shoes.
They worked extremely long and arduous hours for about 5/- (25p) per week with food and
board included and a half day off. All this as it was said, "for the privilege of having a
training which included direct contact with nursery school children". Most were taken
on for a year and were given a certificate of a kind, when they left.
The School's Purpose
The school was first described as a "Children's Convalescent Home", or "For Children in
Need of Country Air" and the latter was thought to be its main purpose when it first opened
with about five children, three of whom it is said were the nephews of Miss Tucker. A Miss
Mumford, who was one of the early pupils in the 1920s, referred to it many years later as a
"Nursery School" as she and her twin were 2½ years of age and her brother only 4, when
they arrived. They were placed at the School not to convalesce, but because their father had
returned from WWI so badly wounded he could no longer support his family. It was therefore
necessary for his wife to work and High Trees was selected to look after and educate their
three children.
For this and similar reasons, like parents having to work and live abroad in India and other
places, appears to be why High Trees was set up to meet a very real need during the 1920s
and 1930s. Presumably, it was Miss Tucker who either foresaw this need, or knew she could
meet it.
How was it Financed?
From correspondence in 1926 between Miss Tucker and Mrs Reynard's son, it appears that
the former rented the house, cottage, grounds, etc from Mrs Reynard for £130 per annum,
plus £7-10s for a nearby field. Whilst a charge was made for boarding children whose
parents were overseas, etc, perhaps local authorities paid for children who were boarded
primarily to convalesce. These were thought to be the main sources of income. However, a
certain amount of capital would have been required to equip the School initially, even if the
house was let furnished. Perhaps Miss Tucker had money, or inherited sufficient capital to
float such a venture, or was there a silent benefactor? Records do not suggest there was
one and in any case, the amount of equipment expected by parents and the local authorities
at that time was minimal and salaries were very low. Also, Miss Tucker was judged by many
who knew her to have been a shrewd business person.
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In the first two years many young children came and went over short periods, not it is
believed due to any inadequacy of the School. Perhaps the period of convalescence was
complete or parents were again able to bring them up themselves. Often, visiting parents
stopped for a day or two, but of course were charged for accommodation. Records show
that most, if not all who stayed had to pay.
Although Miss Tucker did a great deal herself like painting bedsteads, lockers, etc,
presumably to save money, she was not averse to attending house content sales in the
area. For example in May 1923 she spent £8 18s at a house called "Hillbrow" and in August
of the same year £10 at one in Burstow and another at Blindley Heath. Does this indicate
that she was not short of funds as they were considerable outlays at that time, and were the
purchases all for the School?
Life at "High
Trees" in the mid
1920s
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9
3
THE EARLY YEARS AT NEWHOUSE LANE
Accommodation
For the six years that High Trees School was at Newhouse Lane, it took boarders of both
sexes. The dormitories were in the large house, and the cottage alongside was used to
accommodate the staff. From the diaries kept by Miss Tucker, it appears that she made
frequent visits to large houses in the district and on 8 June 1926 she made an offer for
"Dunley Hill" near Ranmore Common, Dorking. She and other members of High Trees
visited it on several occasions, but no further mention was made about its purchase. In
October of that year, preparations were under way to occupy "Brownslade" on the opposite
side of Newhouse Lane. It became part of the school on 24 November 1926 for use as
dormitories and classrooms. Presumably, this met the immediate needs, although Miss
Tucker was still viewing large houses after this date. It is thought that Brownslade was also
rented.
On the 9 July 1926, a diary entry reads: "Took 'The Chalet' Selsey" that presumably meant
it was then purchased as initially it was rented for the purpose of using it for the August
School holidays from 1923 onwards. It was also to serve another very useful purpose in
contributing in no small measure, to the School's income. At this time, School terms were not
defined, children came and went as their parents, or perhaps the authorities wished. Other
paying boarders were also taken in to stay at Selsey. This move to the seaside each
summer allowed High Trees to be regularly cleaned and maintained while virtually empty,
yet income continued, but from another property.
As the numbers staying at Selsey grew each year, Miss Tucker decided to buy a bungalow
with a large area of land alongside. It was named "Gyft", but she soon changed it to
"Ramparts" as she said "it was no gift". Perhaps this suggests that it was a costly
purchase, and the question must be asked again, where did the capital come from, as the
diaries do not indicate that a mortgage or bank loan was secured. Later, another bungalow
was erected alongside, called "Ramparts II". This still allowed sufficient room for several bell
tents and a small marquee to be pitched and Miss Tucker had a disused railway carriage
placed on site and converted for her and Miss Young's use. There was no electricity and
meals were cooked using stacking steamers heated over primus stoves. Tilley and Aladdin
lamps provided lighting. It was said that it was a good job no health inspector ever called to
view the sewage system, which suggests that it was extremely primitive!
The holiday bungalow
at Selsey, originally
called "Gyft",
renamed by Miss
Tucker
as the "Ramparts".
Perhaps its shape
di
The School entered the new age of communications when on 4 December 1926, Miss
Tucker signed the necessary papers to have the telephone installed at High Trees. She also
liked to keep abreast of all the latest domestic devices, furniture, etc, as she and sometimes
with Miss Young, regularly attended the Ideal Home Exhibition each year. While such events
handled all that was new, she also continued to spend much time at house content sales as
previously mentioned.
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Staffing
One feature of the early years of the School was the high turnover of staff. Perhaps the
standard required of them by Miss Tucker was too high, or she was somewhat difficult to
work for. Cryptic entries appeared in the diaries about notice being given to this or that
person and some inferred that either she could not tolerate them, or they left as a result of
some disagreement. She made an inordinate number of visits to local towns, as well as to
places like Croydon and London, to interview prospective members of staff. While she may
have been a martinet with her staff, she loved the young children in her care and she also
loved her many animals.
While many of the younger members of staff lived in, several married ladies appeared to
work part time, presumbably to cook and clean. Again while some names stayed over
several years others were dismissed quite quickly.
As already mentioned, Miss Tucker and Miss Young had become very close friends as the
concern for Emy (Miss E M Young) comes through strongly in the diaries over the years, as
does the fact that Miss Young was frequently very depressed. During these early years,
Miss Tucker also suffered from ill health as she had to take to her bed on many occasions.
Whilst the School had a trained nurse, it did not have a resident Doctor. Whenever one was
required, the School always used the services of Dr Powell from Redhill, who became a very
close friend of High Trees throughout his life.
Other members of staff at the latter end of this period, included: Miss Parry and Miss Mim
both governesses, Miss Lampard, Miss Edeson, Miss Jordan, Mrs Sillum a lady
housekeeper and her husband a poultryman.
School Life In The Early Years
Life in the School during its first year is not recorded in any detail. However, from 1923
onwards, much can been gleaned from the diaries. Little is mentioned about the educational
side, but as Miss Tucker was not directly in charge of this, perhaps this is the reason why
she concentrated on recording who visited, started and left the School and what happened
outside teaching periods.
The children were exposed to most aspects of country life. Within the first year, Miss Tucker
was busy buying chickens and bantams. The diary entry for 10 January 1923, states,
"Chicken house came £7 13s 5d" and on 25th "Made bantam house". On the 3rd of the
next month, "Moved fowl house", and on the 8th, " Bantam cock and 8 leghorns arrived
£2 16s". She also kept and bred goats which obviously caused some form of trouble
because in September 1924 the Police called about them. The poultry and animals provided
eggs, milk, etc for the School, and were said to be a useful source of income.
During the summer months picnics were frequently taken on Outwood Common. They must
have walked there and back as Miss Tucker did not take her first driving lesson until 2 July
1925. A car was bought on 24 November 1923 and Miss Young took lessons in that year, so
perhaps she drove them. There were also frequent visits made into town which is thought to
have been Redhill or Horley. Sometimes Miss Tucker cycled in, but at other times she
pushed the children into Horley in a pram, some 1½ miles away. Once one of them fell out,
but there was no mention of any injury.
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Setting out for a
walk down
Newhouse Lane,
towards Horley.
One of the very young boarders recalled many years later, being wheeled out in an out-size
pram which seated eight children, four abreast, back to back. Dress was important for all
outings, especially in the winter months. Each child was placed on a table while leatherbuttoned leggings were put on. Each button was fastened with a button-hook, a task which
took at least ten minutes per child for a young governess to accomplish, assuming of course
the child was lying still. They were then sat in the huge pram, a rug placed over gaitered
knees, gloves or mittens pulled on to small hands and scarves wound round tiny necks.
Finally a variety of coloured head-gear completed their outfits. Off they would set with those
old enough to walk or trot alongside.
Other memories of past pupils are of the nursery itself with a large rocking horse complete
with bridle, red saddle, stirrups, with a mane and tail made of real horse hair. There was also
a doll's house. It was however a very orderly place where tidiness, cleanliness and
obedience were always fostered and expected.
Events such as dancing exhibitions, swimming and sports competitions, sales of work, open
days and prize giving, soon became regular dates in the School calendar. Often, well in
excess of a dozen children were taken to church on a Sunday, either to Salfords or
Outwood. There is no mention of how the local congregation reacted to this, or what form of
transport was used.
Holidays
During normal holidays, several of the children went home to join their parents or close
relations. However, during August, the School usually closed and those who remained went
with members of staff to Selsey, as mentioned above. In August 1926, Ms Tucker, Young,
Jordan and Mrs Sillum watched over 18 children enjoying themselves at "The Chalet", which
they occupied for a number of weeks.
Numbers At The School
The numbers started to increase as the educational curriculum was introduced by Miss
Young and a prospectus was circulated via an agency. In August 1924 there were 14
children, but by March 1927 the school had 40 children and 10 members of staff. Most of the
children were probably under the age of 6. They came from families of many different
backgrounds. Some parents lived and worked in India either as civil servants or in the armed
forces. One single parent worked for a major shipping line and spent much time at sea and
other children at the School were known to be in a similar situation.
As with members of staff, there was also a constant turnover of boarders, but as previously
mentioned, perhaps the reason for the latter was due to the arrangements of their parents,
rather than any reflection on the School. There were one or two cases of children running
away from High Trees, but often this was a natural reaction of children when far away from
their parents for the first time and most returned after a day or so.
12
During 1926 two young children arrived to stay for a month. Their names were Pat and John
Norsworthy. Little did they, or the staff know then what impact they would have on the life
and direction of the School in their adult careers. Little did they know either, that their stay
would be measured later in years rather than just a month.
Negotiations To Purchase
In June of 1926, Miss Tucker wrote to Mrs Reynard's son with a request to purchase the
house and cottage. Up to this point in time, Mrs Reynard had not considered selling the
property, but Miss Tucker was asked if she would make an offer. Correspondence took
place during the remainder of that year, concerning Miss Tucker's offer of £2000 and an
asking price of £3000. Eventually, Miss Tucker raised her offer to £2600 on condition that an
adjoining field was included. It appears that these negotiations were not concluded and
perhaps the occupation of Brownslade as already mentioned, was the outcome of this
situation.
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4
A TERRIBLE DISASTER
The Outbreak Of The Fire
On Saturday 17 March 1928, there were 37 children sleeping in High Trees house and 17
sleeping in Brownslade with five members of staff. Seven members of staff slept in the
Cottage. Both Miss Tucker and Miss Young slept on the top floor of High Trees, with a
dormitory alongside where 8 children were asleep. At 9.45pm, Miss Edeson a governess,
reported that all the children were alright except for one in the top floor dormitory, so Miss
Lampard was sent for to attend the child. At around 10.15pm the nurse reported that she
had seen to a sick child in another dormitory, who was thought to have been young Master
Deryk Mumford. Miss Tucker went to see the child before retiring for the night to find that he
had been sick again. After making certain the child was cleaned up and settled, she left the
room and was joined by Mrs Sillum on the stairs and a little while later Miss Mim and Miss
Young joined them. After Miss Mim had said goodnight and left, Mrs Sillum said that she
thought she could hear someone out of bed and went to investigate. When she opened the
door of the top floor domitory she shouted, "The room is on fire!"
Although the true cause of the fire is unknown, it is thought that an oil lamp used in the
Principal's room next door to the dormitory had smoked, flared and caused the fire.
The Rescue
Miss Tucker, followed closely by Miss Young, rushed to the doorway to be met by a room full
of thick black suffocating smoke. Thinking that it was just smoke, Miss Tucker tried to open a
window to let it out, but was forced back. She tried a second time and managed to open
another window by which time she was almost completely overcome by the smoke and had
to retire to the landing gasping for breath. Miss Young and Mrs Sillum, who was close
behind then made two or three attempts to enter the room. On one attempt, Miss Young got
to the head of the bed of 5 year old Derek Ridgeway and managed to pull him by his
pyjamas, to safety. Mr Sillum, who was taking a bath in Brownslade when he heard shouting
coming from High Trees, and Miss Mim had arrived on the scene. Both tried repeatedly to
enter the smoke-laden room where the heat from the adjoining Principal's room was
becoming intense, yet there was still no fire in the dormitory. Miss Young who had regained
her breath, re-entered the room yet again using her powerful hand torch, which in the
intense smoke was of no use whatsoever. She did find 8 year old Rosemary Vincent
standing by her bed and she quickly handed her to the rescuers on the staircase. Mr Sillum
then entered the room and reached a bed that was empty, it being that of Rosemary Vincent.
Not giving up, he groped his way to the next bed that he also thought was empty. At this
point he then received Jimmy Reed from Miss Young who was in the room searching yet
again, and he carried the 4 year old to safety.
Miss Mim then placed a jersey over her head and tried to penetrate the smoke-filled room,
along with Mrs Sillum, but on each attempt they were driven back. Miss Young had at this
stage become almost completely asphyxiated and all hopes of saving the other five children
sleeping in the room was receding fast.
After Miss Tucker's abortive attempt to enter the room when the fire was first spotted, and
knowing that others were right behind her, she rushed down stairs to shout out of the back
window to others in the Cottage, etc, that a fire had broken out. Following which she called
immediately for the Fire Brigade and the Doctor. Miss Lampard and Miss Parry who were in
the Cottage rushed with others, to help remove all the remaining children in the house
quickly and safely, some not knowing what it was all about. Miss Tucker returned to the top
of the stairs with further fire extinguishers where the attempts by staff were still underway to
save the others in the dormitory, but they failed. The stairs were by this time also filling with
smoke and the staff could do no more than retire for their own safety. The extinguishers
could not presumably be used as the seat of the fire was still not visible to the rescuers.
14
As no further attempt to save lives could be made, Mr Sillum went to the Night Nursery and
threw the children's bedding out of the window. Following this he removed items of furniture
from the dining room and then went to the cellar with police who had arrived, to collect food.
At this time, they were told that the roof was about to collapse, so they all had to retire.
The Outcome
By the time the Fire Brigades from both Horley and Reigate arrived, the top storey of the
house was well alight and there was no chance that a further rescue attempt could be made.
Some 1800 feet of hose was laid to the nearest hydrant in the Lane and with the aid of a
motorised pump, the crews fought the fire throughout the night, working until 8am Sunday
morning. The entire house was gutted and only the main walls and chimneys remained
standing.
Later that morning the remains of five small children were recovered from the ashes. They
were:
Surname
Christian
name
Age Yrs
French
Lowdon
Smith
Waters
Trevethan
Pamela
Desmond
Francis
Dickie
Graham
5
4
4
4
5
Home Address
21 Rosslyn Hill NW3
61 Warrington Crescent W9
70 Oakford Rd Tufnell Park
12 Collingham Place SW6
53 Egerton Crescent SW3 (Grandmother)
The Rest Of The Night
The three children rescued from the top floor dormitory and all who entered the smoke laden
room, were treated for acute signs of asphyxiation, particularly Miss Young who suffered bad
effects from her actions. Luckily they all recovered. The remaining children from the house
suffered no effects whatever, other than from a disturbed night's rest. They were taken to
either the Cottage or to Brownslade where they slept in beds where available, or on
mattresses on the floor.
One Small Memory
One small child recalls being carried down a ladder by a friendly fireman who said "Don't be
frightened, you'll be alright". When she was carried over the road to Brownslade where
they were put two in a bed, she remembered becoming most distressed because the
fireman had stood her down on the road so that he could race back to the fire. The road had
been recently tarred and she thought that she would get into serious trouble for allowing the
blanket that was wrapped around her to become soiled.
Whilst this tale sounds plausible, it is known that by the time the Fire Brigades had arrived,
most of the children that could be saved, were safely out of the house. Also, tarring is usually
carried out in the warmer months of the year and she most probably was stood down on a
wet patch of the driveway rather than carried across the road to Brownslade.
Whatever the memory may have been, it no doubt remained a frightening experience to live
through, especially for those three children in the top floor dormitory who were saved
through the brave efforts of the staff at High Trees.
The End Of High Trees?
It looked as if in the space of a few hours High Trees School was no more. In a physical
sense it was correct, but few who knew of the tenacity of Miss Tucker doubted that it would
remain so for very long.
15
5
THE AFTERMATH OF THE FIRE
Accommodation
Miss Tucker, Miss Young and all of the children who had previously slept in High Trees and
survived the fire, had only the clothes they stood up in next morning. Most of the children
had to stay in bed until some form of clothing was found. "St Georges", another house
almost opposite High Trees across the Lane was empty at the time and so was used as
temporary accommodation. So for a while, that house, the Cottage and Brownslade, literally
housed what was left of the School.
Miss Tucker being the vigorous administrator that she was, quickly found that she was able
to rent the Manor House at the Lady Henry Somerset Homes at Duxhurst, just over 2 miles
away to the west. Plans were put in hand and the move to Duxhurst Manor House, took
place on 2 April 1928.
In the intervening period, several of the children went to stay with parents or relatives, which
relieved Miss Tucker of some of her responsiblities during this trying time.
Parent's Reactions
The parents of the children who were saved, were of course most thankful for the heroism of
Miss Tucker and Miss Young as well as all their staff. However in scanning some of the
correspondence received immediately after the fire, it is interesting, as well as surprising, to
note what some considered to be of importance.
One parent who must have realised the extent of the damage from the newspaper reports,
wrote the following day after expressing his sympathy, "I take it, of course that you are
attending to Bunty's clothing". Later on he sent a further letter, "Living in an hotel I
naturally do not have a fire insurance policy and I therefore look to you to replace all
of Bunty's clothes". Perhaps the parent had very limited means and in the circumstances
this was important after the safety of the child was assured.
Several however were only too quick to offer to come and remove their children to relieve
Miss Tucker, or to make arrangements to do so if abroad.
One young child received almost royal treatment. Next day she was placed on a coach to
London wrapped in a blanket over the nightclothes in which she was taken from her bed.
She was met by her mother who worked in Selfridges store in Oxford Street. There she was
re-clothed from head to foot with the compliments of Gordon Selfridge who attended her in
person dressed in his usual grey top-hat and tails. Finally she was presented with a huge
teddy bear, that was said to be far larger than herself.
Outside Reaction
About 120 letters and cards offering sympathy and condolences were received by the
School after the fire. Not only did they come from different parts of this country, but also from
many lands overseas. Several were from schools who were personally moved because they
could readily relate to what High Trees must be feeling at the time.
Like most tragic events, there are often some surprising reactions from the most unexpected
quarters. Probably the first like this came the very next day from the Monotype Corporation
in Honeycrock Lane, Salfords, about a mile away. It was a letter which read:-
16
"Dear Miss Tucker.
First let me express, on behalf of my Board and myself, sincerest sympathy in your
bereavement and calamity, then beg that you will allow us to assist you in any way
possible. If it meets with your approval, we will be very glad to provide meals in our
Canteen for the children and assistants. we could serve dinner at 1 o'c and the room
would be at your disposal until 5.30. Breakfast could be served at any time between 8
and 9 o'c.
If this arrangement is of the least help to you, I earnestly hope that you will accept
this small assistance.
In the event of stormy weather we could probably provide all the vehicles necessary
to get them to and from the Canteen.
With sincere sympathy, Believe me,
Very truly yours
F H Pierpont
Manager"
It is said that this kind and immediate offer was readily accepted for a few days.
There were several others who offered help with donations and items like household linen as
well as temporary homes for children. Schools well away from the area sent children's
clothes when they heard of the news and the school's urgent needs. The Rev H T Lewis
from St Bartholomew's Church at Horley was quick to offer his sympathy. His wife, Nora
Hudson Lewis, Captain of the Horley District Girl Guides, promised to provide a party of
Rangers and Guides to help the school move, presumably to Duxhurst.
Memorial Service
On Sunday 25 March 1928, a Memorial Service for the five children who lost their lives in the
fire, was held at Outwood Parish Church. It is supposed that this church was selected rather
than the nearby church of Salfords, because the children frequently attended services there
and had many picnics on the nearby common. However it was a considerable distance to
walk from Newhouse Lane, even if the more direct route across the fields was taken, it was
still all of two miles.
Settlement of Insurance Claims
In the remarkably short space of some seven weeks after the fire, the Alliance Assurance Co
paid the claims made to cover damage to the structure and contents of the house. Morris,
Hewitt & Harris, solicitors of Redhill, wrote to Miss Tucker on 17 April 1928 informing her that
a cheque for £1700 had been received. She was asked to call at their offices to endorse it.
The letter also stated that Mrs Reynard had already endorsed the cheque. This confirms that
at the time of the fire the sale of High Trees to Miss Tucker had not taken place. The same
letter also referred to a proposal to settle the agreed charges made by a Mr H G Mayhew of
Chiddingfold, who it is thought was engaged to assess the fire damage. They were for 1% of
the amount recovered for the structure and 5% for the contents, totalling £42. This inferred
that Miss Tucker received part of £625 for the contents, possibly consisting of her and the
children's property, and the remainder went to Mrs Reynard for the structure and perhaps
those furnishings that were hers. It is also of interest to note that in 1928, Miss Tucker
placed on deposit £550, but this was on 14 April, three days before the date of the solicitor's
letter. Also, the diary shows that she did not endorse the Insurance Company's cheque until
21 April. So did she transfer some of her own capital in order to help maintain the School
over this difficult time?
17
Miss Tucker received a letter from Mr Mayhew dated 12 May 1928 stating that he had
received the extinguishing bill from the Horley Fire Brigade and questioning when a similar
bill from the Reigate Brigade may be expected. He also thought that the services of the
Horley Brigade should not be charged, since High Trees was in that Parish. It is not known
how this situation was resolved.
In retrospect, the insurance cover was grossly inadequate to allow the School to be set up
elsewhere with the type of facilities it required. Furthermore, the School's financial situation
following the fire probably never recovered from this tragic event and it could well have
contributed in some way to the position the School was to find itself in, over 50 years later.
Of course no one could have foreseen this at that time and all credit must be given to Miss
Tucker for the steadfastness and resolve with which she clung to the one thought; "The
School MUST carry on".
Recognition For Bravery
The story of Miss Young's bravery in rescuing three of the young children was carried in
many newspapers throughout the country. As one young member of the school put it, "She
had been acclaimed one of the bravest women in the country". On 17 July 1928,
certificates were issued to Miss Tucker, Miss Young and Miss Parry, by The Society for the
Protection of Life from Fire, at 26 New Bridge Street London EC, in testimony of prompt and
efficient aid rendered by them at a fire on 17 March 1928 at Horley, Surrey. These three
certificates are held today by the Surrey History Centre at Woking.
18
19
20
21
22
6
THE TEMPORARY SCHOOL AT DUXHURST
Duxhurst Colony
In 1894, Lady Henry Somerset founded an "Industrial Farm Colony" on a 180 acre farm
half way between Reigate and Horley, to the west of the A217. A model village was
constructed close to Duxhurst Manor House, consisting of 10 thatched roofed cottages
grouped around a large grassed area, with a school, dining hall, recreation hall, laundry,
hospital and church. The object was to accommodate some 30 inebriate women, some with
their children. They were introduced to outdoor work in the gardens and the farm and taught
various craft and domestic subjects.
In July 1915 it was taken over by the War Office as a Red Cross Hospital for nursing
wounded soldiers, although the orphanage part of the village remained under the care of
Lady Henry. Many of the children were thought to be illegitimate. After WWI only a few expatients remained to help run the estate and following the death of Lady Henry the finances
of the Colony deteriorated.
A Prayer Answered
Miss Tucker saw in the Manor House, an ideal place in which temporary accommodation
could be rented and this along with two smaller houses nearby; St Agnes and St
Christophers, were to be the new setting for High Trees School until 1930. A few nuns were
still occupying parts of the Manor House when the School arrived, but the owners were only
too pleased to let this accommodation. Perhaps someone was trying to make up for that
terrible night!
In its second year at Duxhurst, the school was expanding quite rapidly and two of the village
cottages were also used. By this time the school numbered about 48 children with some 810 babies. Day scholars are believed to have attended the School for the first time when the
new term started in January 1930.
Normality Restored
Miss Tucker quickly organised the School's affairs. A telephone was installed so that calls
could be made to Norwood Hill 67. Sports and prize days were arranged to take place at
Reigate County School and events like celebrating Mayday with maypole dancing, firework
nights, pageants for Empire Day when faces were blacked using cocoa, still took place.
All dressed up for
Empire Day at
Duxhurst
The School however did not forget what had happened. Flowers were laid at Outwood in
May 1928, on the anniversary of the birthday of Graham who was one who lost his life in the
fire. Later in the year, a stone was erected in the churchyard in memory of all five.
23
What Duxhurst Meant To The Children
It is fair to say that although the school was not all housed under one roof, it was in idyllic
surroundings for young children. Some remembered those two years very fondly. The
garden was said to be so large and magnificent. There was a huge lawn and massive
rhododendron bushes in clumps that you could chase your friends around and not find them.
There was a vast pond and beautifully kept hedges everywhere. Before breakfast on most
mornings the children walked four times round the large lawn that was said to equal one
mile. In the summer lessons were held in the garden sitting at green folding chairs and
desks that were always having to be moved to shadier spots.
Children enjoying
glorious summer
weather
on the lawn at
"Duxhurst Manor".
A uniform was introduced for the first time while at Duxhurst. Fawn jumper and brown skirt
for girls, brown corduroy short trousers, fawn shirt with a brown tie and fawn pull-over for
boys. In summer, the girls wore brown check dresses while the boys left off their ties and
pullovers. On Sundays, the girls wore white kilts and jumpers or cream check dresses in
summer. The boys obviously did not have an equivalent optional uniform. On Sundays, it is
believed the children attended the Colony Church close by in the Duxhurst Village, that has
long since gone. The girls' jumpers were thick with large collars and tight necks and many
had extreme difficulty pulling them over their heads. On returning from church in their winter
white kilts and white socks, several of the girls would want to play. As one said,
"Considering the fact that we lived up in the branches of trees or filled our days in the
playroom with paint pots, or played boisterous games, I can't image how this uniform
could have been the least bit serviceable". No mention was made of the poor
governesses who presumably had to kept these clothes clean.
During long hot summers, the girls often played in their vest, knickers, plimsolls and wore a
beige felt hat. However the boys sometimes wore overalls over their normal clothes and
during the hot weather they striped off to their shorts.
Many of the same countryside aspects of life were encouraged at Duxhurst as they were
when High Trees was at Salfords. Goats, cats, dogs and chickens were to be seen and
special living quarters for them were soon found, or acquired by Miss Tucker.
Health Problems
Living in the countryside as they did, the children were not expected to suffer from any major
ailments. However, where a number of children were in close proximity in schools,
contagious diseases that existed in the 1930s, spread quickly. In February 1930, an
outbreak of diphtheria occurred and several children were taken to the isolation hospital at
White Bushes, close to the present day site of the East Surrey Hospital at Earlswood, near
Redhill. This was followed in March of that year by an outbreak of whooping cough and in
May by measles. All who suffered are believed to have recovered from these dangerous
outbreaks despite there being no immunisation at that time.
It was during this time that a "Sick Room" book was instigated, probably at the suggestion of
Dr Powell, following the visit of the Health Inspector. Every person who attended the Sick
Room was recorded, as was their treatment.
24
Plans For Another Move
Probably the whole time while at Duxhurst, Miss Tucker was striving to find a more
permanent location for High Trees School. It is known that she viewed several houses
including one at South Nutfield, and another near the village of Mickleham, between Dorking
and Leatherhead, called "Juniper Hall". She even made an offer for a house called
"Clarence Lodge".
Within a few months of moving to Duxhurst, the diary mentions for the first time, a large
house on Horse Hill, not far away. The date was the 6 July 1928. It was built by Mr Bernard
W Parsons in 1901 for his invalid wife, supposedly as a holiday home. He was a master
butcher who then lived in "Wrays" in Crutchfield Lane. It is said that the new house was
never liked by his wife and remained under-utilised.
Miss Tucker presumably knew of, or attended the sale by auction on 12 June 1928, of the
freehold estate known as "Horse Hills". The majority of the 23 lots in which the estate was
divided were not sold that day including lot 1, the large house. A document dated 13 June
1928 listing the unsold lots, includes lot 1, £7500, presumably the reserved price of the
house. It is believed the house remained empty from that time until purchased by Miss
Tucker two years later.
The economic climate during that period was far from bouyant and Miss Tucker being the
type of woman that she was, probably bided her time hoping the house price would fall still
further. The next diary entry concerning this property was on 27 January 1930 when she
heard there was either a lowering of the price, or perhaps she made a lower bid that was
accepted.
A Move To A Permanent Home
Things happened swiftly after that date. Visits to the Bank Manager and to her Solicitor
followed in February and she announced on 15 April 1930 that she had "Bought it". The
property included the main house, a cottage and stables. Several alterations were made,
including the removal of the lift and conversion of the stable block into rooms. On-site
electrical generation was also installed, as well as a new cess-pit.
The cost of acquiring this property and carrying out all these alterations is known to have
required using all the insurance money from the fire, plus a short-term Bank Loan. Other
monies would have been received from boarders staying at Selsey for the three Augusts
while at Duxhurst. However, it still appears doubtful whether the total was sufficient to cover
all the outlay, unless of course, the price for it was extremely low, or the Bank Loan quite
large.
The School had moved out of Duxhurst to Horse Hill by the end of July 1930 when most
children and some staff went off to Selsey. The move appears to have been undertaken in
stages. The house known as "St Agnes" was vacated on 30 June that year, and the School
was re-established at the top of Horse Hill on the old road section between Sidlow and
Hookwood. In September 1930 it opened its doors there for the first time as a school.
One child recalled the move as follows: "Every child who had a bicycle or tricycle or
scooter or pram to push, got under way and the whole School took to the road. There
were very few cars in those days and just as well, as I remember we were three or
four abreast and certainly too excited to heed any appeals for caution." It is assumed
this party like others, went from Duxhurst Manor, over Crutchfield Lane and then along it into
the rear of the main house. In this way, they would have avoided most normal road traffic.
This truly magnificent house sits today as it did then, on the top of the hill, 280 feet above
sea level about a mile away from Duxhurst. It is close to where before 1813, a toll gate for
the turnpike road once stood, outside of an inn called the "Black Horse", whose modern-day
counter-part now stands at the bottom of Horse Hill in Hookwood. Part of the old inn can still
be seen on the opposite side of the road to High Trees, attached to the rear of a Georgian
style house. The road was in fact the first new road in Surrey since Roman times when it
was turnpiked in 1696 and ran between Crawley and Reigate, initially for the use of
packhorses, riders and foot travellers.
25
The house acquired by Miss Tucker was approached via a driveway and was larger than
any the School had resided in before. It sat in its own huge grounds with a delightful south
facing aspect. It had a stately appearance with a turreted feature at one corner. It also had
several smaller outbuildings and land with much potential for development.
"High Trees"
School and
grounds at the
top of Horse Hill.
26
7
LIFE AT HIGH TREES FROM 1930 TO 1939
A New And Better High Trees
There was never any question about retaining the name of the School and so the
property immediately became known as High Trees.
For most children who had been at the School in the years before, this move proved to
be memorable and impressive. While Duxhurst offered an air of openness and
freedom, the house and grounds at Horse Hill gave one a feeling of grandeur and
orderliness. To sit on the colossal front lawn (where the swimming pool was later) and
survey the grounds which swept down the hill, along with the magnificent view to the
south, made up for all that had happened in the past. This really was the "Right"
location for High Trees and long may it stay there, which for over half a century it did.
Its Love Of the Countryside Grows
As in its previous settings, the School continued to enjoy every aspect of the
countryside. At Horse Hill, this attitude could be expressed to the full. It had a market
garden that supplied most of its produce and in the summer the children helped with
hay making, besides going on numerous picnics to Norwood Hill and elsewhere. Not
only could the extensive gardens and grounds with many paths, bushes and tall trees
be used for all manner of games, exercise and fun, but also many more animals could
be kept.
Dogs, cats, chickens, etc, are believed to have made the move with the children. In
October of 1931, 4 nanny-goats and a billy arrived so that the line of goats could
continue and Miss Tucker could breed them as she had done before. Primrose, one of
the nannies, gave birth to two kids in March 1933, but unfortunately, between the two
parents they killed them both. Early in February 1933 a diary entry says that 8
Leghorns were killed. It didn't say whether this was on purpose, or what happened to
the dead chickens, as it was rather late for Christmas fayre.
The goats however served several purposes. They supplied the milk which the School
used, much to the consternation of the children who did not like its taste or smell,
which tainted everything it was used in or on. The goats were also used to pull a small
cart which the children rode in. The cart was painted yellow with black canework
woven to form a pattern on its sides and the goats had leather harnesses specially
made for the purpose. Rides were taken around the grounds, but often it was difficult
to tell who was the more concerned about it, the goats or the children?
All aboard the goatcart for a ride around
the garden with one of
the pet dogs.
Two well known dogs of that period were Jumbo, a long-haired old-fashioned Sheep
Dog and a small snappy little Sealyham called Tinker. No scraps were ever to be seen
laying around with these two and Jumbo's birthday on 14 December was always
marked in some manner. Rabbits, guinea-pigs and ducks were also to be seen and in
January 1933, some geese arrived.
27
Not only was the market garden and many of the animals kept to help balance the
finances of the School, but they also brought in badly needed outside income. At its
height, about eight gardeners were employed full-time.
Illnesses
The normal outbreaks of child ailments occurred such as Mumps, Whooping Cough
and Chicken-pox. Many of the children as well as members of Staff must have been
annoyed at so many being struck down with Mumps in August 1933 as they were on
holiday at Selsey. More serious illnesses were however experienced. In February
1931, Eric Shilleto was rushed off to Great Ormond Street Hospital and operated on
for Osteomyelitis. He died 7 days later. Also in March 1933, Kathleen Horton, a close
friend of Pat Norsworthy, had measles, followed by pneumonia and died 5 days later.
It must have been a severe shock for her parents who were in India at the time. Pat
herself, contracted septicaemia while at Selsey in 1930 which resulted in a three
months stay in Chichester Hospital.
Growth Of The School
As the School became well established during the 1930s, the number of boarders
increased quite rapidly. Word circulated among the growing number of parents
working abroad, or in the services overseas, about the School and what it could offer
throughout the year, rather than only during school term. Initially, nearby "Wray's
Cottage" and "Hookwood Lodge" were rented and used to handle the growing number
of children, but in 1936/7, "Junior House" was built to the north of the stable block
called "Wrays House", and this became the Nursery Section. More classrooms and a
gym were added later and the School was connected to mains electricity. All these
additions required a further bank loan.
"Junior/Little
House", used
initially
as the nusery.
When the School moved to Horse Hill, it numbered about 48 children and some 8/10
babies. By 1939 these increased to around 65 children, plus 10 babies.
Day scholars were attending the School by March 1931 and the number gradually
increased with time. One of the first was Jean Campbell, the daughter of Malcolm
Campbell later to be knighted after he became holder of the World's racing car speed
record in 1933 and 1935. They lived at nearby Povey Cross where today Malcolm
Gardens is named after him.
During this period, both Miss Tucker and Miss Young handled all the correspondence
and accounts in long-hand. One day, Sony Kelly, one of the boarders referred to
below, came back to school with a typewriter which in no way was allowed to be
placed in the boy's playroom. As one member of staff could type, it was held for safekeeping in the office and the School's letters appeared from then on neatly typed.
28
Treats
Treats came to the children in many different forms from the simple selection of
sweets each night from 'the' tin, to films and days out in London. The tin would contain
sweets of all shapes and sizes. Each child was allowed just two before retiring. It was
pure luck of the draw as to what size and type you picked, as you were not allowed to
choose.
Often, children were able to benefit from the profession and generosity of the parents
of their friends and colleagues at the School. For example, Sony Kelly was the son of
a Director of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse films. On occasions, a group of children was
selected to see a private viewing of the latest films at the Savoy Hotel in London. This
was far superior to watching the silent film show each week at School, when you had
to have been bathed and attired in your night clothes to see it. Friends of Jean
Campbell were also invited to the Mansion House in London as guests of her father.
Frequent invitations were extended to the children to have tea with the Campbells at
Povey Cross when Malcolm Campbell would take them for a ride in his pale blue car,
sometimes at great speed.
Miss Tucker had to select who would go on these trips several weeks before. Hair had
to be washed, nails had to be cut and if thought necesssary, a good dose of Gregory
Powder or Senna Tea was given. If there was the slightest trace of a cold emerging, a
salt gargle night and morning was specified and a block of camphor suspended
around the neck on a chord to lie against a child's chest. Everyone attending had to be
in tip-top condition so as not to let the School down.
Sundays were special days for some children who were lucky enough to have parents
or relations visit High Trees. There were often more than a dozen adults taking tea on
the lawn during the summer months. In the morning, before they arrived, many of the
children attended church. Exactly where and how they got there is not recorded.
Sundays for those children who never had visitors, must at times have been rather
sad, but knowing Miss Tucker she no doubt saw that they were otherwise engaged.
Lessons
By the 1930s the teaching curriculum had been designed to achieve a high standard.
Much of the credit for this must be given to the dedicated teachers of the day, some of
whom are still remembered. Mrs Laird who lived in Hookwood, along the Brighton
Road is one and Mrs Wren who served the School in the late 1930s and again for
many years after the war, is another. No doubt there are many others whose names
do not appear in any existing record, but pupils at the time will remember them.
Many of the lessons were held out in the open during the summer months, as they
were when at Duxhurst. No doubt good use was made of the extensive grounds, as
several classes could easily be taught outside without interfering with one another.
Lessons on the
lawn at "High
Trees".
29
Brownies And Cubs
Brownie and Cub packs were formed at High Trees in 1931. The first Cub meeting
was held on 18 May and enrolment in both packs took place on 22 July that year. The
Cub pack was distinguished by being the nearest place at which Lord Baden Powell
introduced the scheme of cubs to the Scout movement, ie, at Little Mynthurst Farm.
The grounds at High Trees offered such a magnificent venue to hold their meetings
and to carry out pursuits like tracking and camping. Outside packs were also known to
have been invited to camp at High Trees.
Enrolment of
Guides on the
tennis courts in
the 1930s while
the Scouts
looked on.
Holidays
As previously mentioned, several children could not join their parents during School
holidays and so they remained in the charge of the School's staff. During the long
summer break, those who remained were transported to Selsey to stay in the adjacent
bungalows close to the beach. For example, on 2 August 1933, a Southdown bus
transported 38 children and 8 adults to the coast, while a car with 2 adults and 5
children followed on. Needless to say, in those days there was no check on the
number of passengers carried in cars and of course, no seat belts. Others who did not
attend High Trees also joined the party at the coast to increase the School income.
Everyone appeared to have fond memories of those holidays. There were no rules like
those in force back at High Trees. Eleven and twelve year olds could wander off for
the day to investigate Bognor Regis or Pagham Harbour. As long as they reappeared
for meals that were taken in the marquee, all was well. There were endless periods of
swimming, playing beach games or helping others to catch fish that were later fried
and eaten. There were hilarious sing-songs in the evening, all quite spontaneous.
Always a mug of steaming hot cocoa before bedtime with a ginger nut biscuit or
perhaps one of the 'dead fly' variety. Miss Young would continue making rug wool
mats or attend to her growing stamp collection, gathered from the letters of parents
from around the world. All was fun, all was bliss, it was all a real holiday.
1939
By this year, the routine at High Trees was well established and ran smoothly over
each 12 month period. All the major days in the year were recognised and sometimes
practised beforehand, like Empire Day, sports day, open day, prize-giving day. All
were held annually as were the swimming competitions, bonfire night, etc.
30
Most of the children had little idea what was happening in Europe during the mid to
late 1930s. However in the years before 1939, two older German children were at
Selsey and as children are always influenced more by their peers, High Trees pupils
became frightened about what they heard was happening in Nazi Germany. Miss
Tucker and Miss Young had been taken aback by reports made by Deryk Mumford
who whilst on a sailing holiday in 1938 had put into two Polish ports. He heard how the
Polish Army was being briefed about a German invasion. On returning to High Trees,
Miss Tucker immediately ordered a quantity of stout brooms and brushes so that she
could show the Germans the high standard of cleanliness maintained, if ever they
were to set foot on English soil. Perhaps she also had a different purpose for the
broomsticks, if they were to arrive unexpectedly.
1938 was the last School holiday at Selsey and in the following months, gas
respirators, or gas-masks as they were usually called, were issued to all. Air Raid
Precaution (ARP) Wardens made regular visits to instruct the children on the use and
care of the masks. Every Thursday they had to be worn for 5 or 10 minutes to
familiarise everyone with the drill and to gain experience in wearing them. Their
obnoxious smell and the claustrophobic feeling when the head was encased in a
mask, remains familiar today to all who ever wore one.
The House Captains and Prefects were put in charge of the smaller children for the
various ARP drills that were instigated, which placed quite a burden and responsiblilty
on young shoulders. As August 1939 drew to a close it was obvious that war was
inevitable and at 11 o'clock on Sunday 3 September it was declared. High Trees then
had to decide how it was going to cope with schooling and looking after many children
and babies, when the country was at war.
31
8
WORLD WAR TWO AND EVACUATION
The First Year Of War
Until June of 1940, life at High Trees went along very much as before. Except for the
Black Out and the carrying of gas mask cases, particularly if any one left the grounds,
it would have been difficult to tell there was a war on. The Black Out was more of a
nuisance, for with a house as large as High Trees, it was quite a task to ensure that no
chink of light was showing. Also, as the house stood high on Horse Hill, the authorities
would have been particularly concerned if any light was showing after dark.
Regular gas mask drills were undertaken and no doubt local Air Raid Wardens
continued to visit the school to inspect the masks and inform the children as to there
use. All babies were issued with respirators large enough for the baby to be housed
completely within it. However, an attendant had to operate a bellows device to ensure
the baby was constantly supplied with filtered air. The respirator was very heavy and
cumbersome and it meant that every baby had to have a full-time attendant when the
mask was in use. This would, it is thought, have placed quite a strain on the School
staff. Luckily they never had to be used in earnest.
No purpose-built air raid shelters were known to have been constructed, though the
cellars could have been used for that purpose. The boys playroom was however
reinforced to act as a Warden's room.
The Battle Of Britain
Historians have maintained that this battle commenced on 10 July 1940 and ended on
30 October that year. Although the air raid sirens were heard at High Trees before that
period sounding the alert, very little enemy aircraft activity was seen in the area. A
shadow Royal Army Ordnance Corps Depot was built in Hookwood prior to the war,
almost within sight of the School and nearby Gatwick aerodrome, as it was then
called, that became an RAF airfield in August 1940.
Just before midnight on Sunday 28 July, a high explosive bomb was dropped at
Wolver's Farm about a mile to the north, but no damage was done. It is doubtful
whether any of the children heard this, unless of course they were all woken and
perhaps taken to the cellars. Then in the early evening of Thursday 15 August some
125 bombs were dropped between Salfords and South Park in Reigate and after the
air raid warning had sounded around 11 pm on Friday 24 August two salvoes of
bombs were dropped close to Gatwick airfield. From that time onwards, very many
alerts were sounded and much aerial activity took place high in the skies overhead.
While nothing is reported to have fallen on or around High Trees during the aerial
fighting, all in the School must have witnessed what was going on, as the weather
throughout the battle was exceptionally good. The sky was constantly full of aircraft
and condensation trails criss-crossing at high altitude as the air battles raged in clear
blue skies overhead.
Some of the children may have witnessed what was thought to be the only
premeditated daylight attack in the area. At around 11.30am on Saturday 21
September, the all-clear had just sounded when a German Ju 88 bomber came out of
an overcast sky and circled Horley. It lined up on the Royal Army Ordnance Depot
situated at the foot of Horse Hill and dropped 4 bombs. Its line of flight was no doubt
clearly visible from the School. Three of the bombs hit the Depot killing one soldier and
injuring 14 military personnel. The raid caused much damage and a large fire.
32
Evacuation
In October 1940, the RAF requisitioned the School premises for its use and Miss
Tucker and her staff put into action plans to move the School away from the area. She
had 4 days notice in which to pack everything up and leave. Even all the animals had
to be quickly disposed of. War had come to High Trees very swiftly, but not in the
manner expected.
The house was quickly cleared of furniture and taken to various rooms where it was to
be stored for the duration. Each room was either locked or padlocked. Much of the
crockery was placed in locked cupboards in the basement. Because of insufficient
room within the house to store everything, including that from the other smaller
buildings, much had to placed in the loft space over the stable and adjoining harness
room. Trunks, tea-chests, play-toys, bicycles, tricycles and boarder's property were
placed there and securely locked.
When the School left to go to Woolacombe in Devon in great haste, there was no time
to make and leave an inventory, something that Miss Tucker came to regret later on.
Woolacombe
Woolacombe was selected because Miss Tucker and Miss Young had previously
spent short holidays there together, but. it is not known how many children and babies
actually went with them. It must have been a tremendously chaotic time as no doubt
several of the staff at High Trees who resided locally decided not to go.
The School rented 3 Hotels in the town, "The Bentley" where infants were housed, the
boys went to "Chatsworth" and the girls to "The Rathleigh". where they spent the rest
of the war. "The Rathleigh" (now renamed) was owned by the Kelly family and was
sited at the end of the main shopping street next to the Methodist Church. Residents
of Woolacombe at the time recall seeing a crocodile line of children returning to "The
Rathleigh" for lunch after morning lessons presumably from "The Chatsworth Hotel" as
it is understood the infants were catered for in their own accommodation The numbers
at the School are believed to have fluctuated quite markedly and other boarders were
taken in while it resided in the town. Two pupils evacuated with the School were
known to be the children of Sir Donald Wolfit the actor and Jean Campbell mentioned
previously was also there.
Local teaching staff and carers were taken on, one was Mrs R Bidgood who joined the
teaching staff in January 1943, while several young school leavers from the district
became young nurses. Grace Sprague, Zoe Blamey and Iris Samson were three who
did. All later returned with the School to Horse Hill after the war, married and settled in
Surrey, to become Mrs Hollands, Mrs Woodman and Mrs Falkner respectively.
In January 1943, Miss Tucker had reason to visit High Trees at Horse Hill and to her
dismay she found items of School crockery in use by the RAF that had been locked
away when the School left in 1940. She was so angered at this that she insisted on
making a formal complaint that was signed and witnessed, but the outcome of this
action is not known.
In 1944 Miss Tucker suffered a heart attack and left for a while to be nursed by her
sisters in Wales.
It is known that Mrs Bidgood left the School while it was at Woolacombe in July 1945.
This could suggest the School moved back to Horley by the start of the new term in
September of that year if the RAF had by that time vacated the premises at Horse Hill.
33
9
THE RETURN TO HORSE HILL
A Time Of Change
Within what must have been a few months after the return of the School from
Woolacombe, Miss Tucker died and was buried in Horley cemetry. Her headstone
reads: "In Loving Memory of Edith Marie Tucker, December 14 1875 - 12 January
1946, Founder of High Trees School, Horley". Her heart attack and all the upset of
wartime conditions no doubt contributed to her demise. She was the guiding light of
the School and were it not for her insight, ability and tenacity in overcoming problems,
High Trees would not have existed though of course Miss Young was her right hand
and Deputy throughout her time at the School.
Miss Tucker and Miss Young initially had reciprocal wills to allow the surviving partner
to use the other half share of the School. However, while staying in Wales, Miss
Tucker changed her will in favour of her sisters, although Miss Young could retain the
School in full during her own lifetime. It is said that Miss Tucker took this action during
an air raid, but this was not known until after her death. Whilst the implications of her
decision were not obvious at the time, they were to add yet further to the financial
burden of the School and contribute in part to its eventual closure many years later.
Therefore Miss Young had then to led the School back to peace-time conditions at
Horse Hill with it is thought little help from Miss Tucker. This meant she then had to
manage the housekeeping, control the administration and maintain the educational
standards of High Trees. This she had to do single handed, as Miss Tucker's strong
leadership was no longer there. New staff had to be taken on and the buildings and
grounds had also to be restored after four years of neglect. While the military
authorities had paid a nominal rent for the period it occupied the buildings during the
war, it in no way covered the expenditure required to replace the classrooms that had
been dismantled, or the cost of redecorating, etc. Miss Young was never
acknowledged to be an excellent administrator or business woman and this was thrust
upon her when vast changes were taking place in post-war Britain. No longer could
cheap boarded labour be found and prices had risen enormously. Austere conditions,
food rationing and shortages also continued to prevail for several years which only
complicated still more, the task of running the School.
It was said that Miss Young found it extremely difficult to cope with all this and
probably one of the final straws was the tragic crash in 1952 of two of her former
pupils. They came over in an aircraft from the Royal Naval Air Station at Ford in
Sussex and it is believed demonstrated their flying ability over the School, during
which the plane hit some trees and crashed below High Trees, killing both young men.
It is said that she found pieces of them scattered in the grounds. Shortly after this she
died quite suddenly. She was buried in Sidlow Churchyard and her headstone reads:
"Ethel May Young, Born 31 July 1888, Died 2 November 1952, Founder Of High
Trees School, Horsehill. She Loved to Teach and Taught to Love."
Another feature of post-war changes had also become evident. The number of parents
who lived or worked abroad was small compared with pre-war days and the demand
for this type of schooling showed signs of waning. Many children started at a later age
and no longer was there a requirement for a Nursery Department. It was a time of
great change as the School found itself having to adjust to conditions it had not been
used to when it was last at Horse Hill.
34
A New Principal
Mr John M Norsworthy (JMN), who came to High Trees in 1926 for a month and then
became a boarder, later joined the teaching profession and in 1952 had recently
accepted a senior post at Greenford County School. The High Trees Solicitor and its
Doctor approached JMN and asked if he would take over the School. It is likely that
Miss Young had bequeathed her share of the School to JMN, but this has not been
confirmed. Hence this was one reason why the approach was made. However he was
already under contract to the Educational Authority at Greenford and so was not free
to do so.
The request obviously struck him deeply as he admitted later that he owed a childhood
indebtedness to High Trees and he finally agreed to become the
Headmaster/Principal. For two years he worked at both Greenford and Horse Hill and
by the end of that period he could see some prospects of High Trees flourishing, so he
resigned his post at Greenford and came to live at the School.
35
Mr John M
Norsworthy on the
steps
of High Trees
School
at Horse Hill.
He was only able to do so, once he had found sufficient funds to buy out the other
parties and take over the School completely. This necessitated taking out a mortgage
on Wrays House and exhausting all the capital resources at his command. So High
Trees was extremely lucky to find a new owner who matched the tenacity and ability of
its originator, Miss Tucker.
A Turning Point
For the previous 30 years, the School had been run and controlled by two very
dedicated ladies. They had moulded it along the lines they considered appropriate to
meet the needs of a certain type of family at the time. Now both its stalwart leaders
were no longer there, the environment in which the School now found itself had
changed dramatically and a new Principal was about to take control, whose only
previous background experience of how the School had been run, was from a pupil's
viewpoint many years before.
High Trees School was therefore at a turning point in its history. While that history
provided a sound base to work from, there had to be radical changes if it was to
survive. With the rapid increase in car and air travel, the need to board children during
the holiday periods declined markedly, which as earlier implied, was a necessary
source of income pre-war. However, the demand for places at day school started to
increase and children stayed on longer than before to take the Common Entrance
examination to a Grammar or County School. Also, the National educational standards
which all schools had to meet became far more stringent in the years after the war and
visits by School Inspectors more frequent.
Therefore, greater emphasis had to be placed on widening and increasing the
standard of the educational subjects taught. This called for more classrooms,
equipment and high calibre staff. These were but some of the problems that faced
JMN when he took up his post late in 1952.
36
10
TOWARDS ITS ZENITH
The Challenge
The challenge faced by JMN was tremendous. The School had the capacity to accept
more pupils, but maintenance and repairs were required in many areas following its
wartime use by the RAF. Shortages still existed in the supply of materials, etc, beside
which, qualified staff had to be found and engaged if the School was to be expanded.
As already mentioned, the National standard of education was also undergoing some
radical changes. If a private school like High Trees was to continue, it not only had to
recognise these, but it also had to set its curriculum and in-house teaching standards
at a level that would be acceptable to HM Education Inspectors, besides provide
adequate equipment and class rooms to achieve such standards. All had to be met
while the lack of capital remained an ever present problem.
Growth Of The School In Its Early Years After The War
JMN was ably assisted in overcoming many of these problem areas by Mr and Mrs
Gosney who joined the Staff in 1953 and later by Mrs Pat Spokes (JMN's sister) who
became the housekeeper, and her husband, the caretaker. By around 1960, the
School had about 80 boarders, some 60 day scholars and about 25 members of Staff.
Several of these remained with the School for many years, including Mrs Buzzoni,
Miss Down, Miss Maclean, Miss Rumsey, Miss Smith, Mrs Tucker and Mrs Walker, to
mention just a few. Several of the members of staff who joined the School at
Woolicombe decided to stay and moved to Horley and district, including Grace
Sprague who later married Alf Hollands. Many a young person will recall their first
impression of the School through the welcoming attention and love of Mrs Greenhill in
her Reception form. The domestic and maintenance staff from Horley and Woodhatch,
headed by Margaret and Fred Simmonds also provided a loyal and dedicated service
over many years as did Margaret Bagshaw the cook for some 22 yrs.
Discipline was immediately tightened up compared to that accepted in pre-war days. A
new uniform and badge was adopted for all and several aspects of the school were
dropped. The tradition of keeping animals was no longer part of School life, although it
did become a sanctuary for a number of cats and a venerable and highly original goat
named Seamus who lived at High Trees for some seventeen years.
A list of events or fixtures became available at the start of each term, namely, Lent,
Summer and Michaelmas, so that every pupil and parent was aware of the
programme. Many optional extras were available to pupils including dancing, piano
and violin tuition, riding, swimming, etc. The common entrance examination, referred
to as 11 plus, could be taken in order that a pupil could pass on to a school of their
choice. It was called 13 Plus for entry to Public Schools.
Pupils were also encouraged to particpate in the growing activities offered outside of
the classroom. Besides the normal sports like cricket, football, badminton and hockey,
the Cub and Brownie Packs and 3rd Horley Guide Company became part of the
relevant movements in Horley. Boys who were old enough for Scouts joined the 2nd
Horley Troop which usually met at Balcombe Road close to the gas works. Other
sports like archery, were taken up later with the help of Mr Greenhill. Great emphasis
was placed on integrating with local organisations, while they in turn frequently used
the facilities offered at High Trees, in particular its grounds.
37
Mixed hockey
practice
Well before 1960, the School was running smoothly and gaining a respected
reputation. JMN had already laid a firm basis from which the School could grow and
develop in a stable atmosphere, in a manner that both Miss Tucker and Miss Young
would have approved most strongly. Not all children came from parents who could
afford to send their offspring to a private school. One day JMN saw a London
Transport bus inspector walking up the driveway and wondered what on earth he
wanted, so he walked out and asked if he could help. The Inspector said that he had a
small grandson who he thought had no chance of ever receiving a good education. He
went on to say that he passed by the entrance of High Trees on numerous occasions
whilst on duty and he thought the School may be able to help him. It did, as JMN took
the boy in, but the way he had lived was soon revealed as for some time, the only
place he would sleep was under a table. The School on another occasion took in a 9
year old gipsy boy and other under-privileged children.
A Steady Growth
The number of pupils continued to grow steadily year on year with the number of
boarders roughly equalling the day-time scholars. By the beginning of the 1980s, the
total number had risen to around 230 with some 35 Staff and this was close to the
largest number the School aspired to.
In the main, the number of girl boarders tended to exceed the boys who lived in. The
girl's dormitories were on the top floor of the Main House and in the Cottage, while the
boy's dormitory was in the Main House only. A small number of girls were also in the
Junior House.
This growth called for the development of specialised classrooms, including a science
laboratory, an art studio, a gymnasium, a library, a common room, etc, so that all the
subjects necessary for Common Entrance examinations could be taught. Even the old
gas cleansing centre built by the military during the war, known as the Decontam, was
used for storage and later as a boys' changing room. More money had to be found to
equip these. At times, JMN found that he was paying his senior staff more than himself
in order to control costs and maintain these facilities.
Administrative Duties Of A Busy School
Several of the parents of boarders at High Trees worked overseas, but whereas prewar few children could join their parents for holidays because transportation was slow
and expensive, cheap post-war air travel reversed this situation. Therefore, the School
was expected to ensure that every child travelling abroad to holiday with parents was
safely placed on the relevant flight. This not only entailed transport to and from the
airport, but also all the necessary arrangements beforehand. These included, the
booking of flights, vaccinations, passport photographs, applying for passports, visas,
etc. Also several different airports were used. At first the one resident secretary did all
this, including driving the minibus, but others had to be taken on, all travelling daily to
the School from within the local area.
38
Because High Trees was located some two miles from Horley, transportation had to
be arranged for children to attend different churches, sports and other activities, such
as excursions to the theatre and outside visits by Cubs, Brownies and Guides. During
each term there were two or three visiting days for parents or friends, where prior
arrangements had to be made. Besides which, there was always the prospect of an
uncle or aunt wishing to take one of the boarders out for a day.
In addition to the normal ordering of food, cleaning materials, etc, other regular admin
duties included arranging for medical and dental inspections, fire practice, hair cutting,
educational form filling and staff engagements.
Mr Woods had frequently to be called in to tune the piano and the chimney sweep
requested to call. The diary also called for the "Rat Operator". Later this gentlemen's
company was called Disinfestation Ltd. On one or two occasions Rentokil called at
High Trees no doubt to treat an infested timber or two.
In 1965, the School was asked if the gymnasium could be used as a polling station for
the local election. It agreed to this and it was used many times for this purpose in the
years that followed.
Wherever possible the School looked to local traders in Horley to supply most of its
needs. It remained a good customer for as long as it could, or until several businesses
had to close. For example, Coutts the radio engineers, Elbornes the outfitters,
Bunkells the fishmonger, Stapleys the grocer and Batchelor the furniture shop, to
name but a few.
Summer Holidays
Until the early 1960s, not all boarders could take a holiday with parents or relations, so
the School arranged summer holidays as it did before the war. It could no longer
return to the Ramparts at Selsey as that coastline had been used for naval gunnery
practice and both bungalows had been destroyed. The School received, a meagre
£200 in compensation, so another of its capital assets no longer existed.
39
After the war the School made at least seven away trips for these holidays. They
included visits to St Osyths in Suffolk, to Jaywick near Clacton, to Herne Bay, to
Selsey and one to Westcliffe in Kent. Following a decrease in the demand for these
holidays due to the growth in cheap overseas airfares, it was decided to close High
Trees during the summer vacation. It did however offer the use of the School and
grounds during this period to various charitable groups such as the handicapped who
were overseen by the Red Cross.
The grounds of the School were frequently used for camping by various Cub Packs
and Scout Troops from elsewhere. In September 1981, the Horley District Scout
Jamboree was held there.
Sports
As already mentioned, sports occupied much of the pupils' time at the School and it
was all taken very seriously. Inter-House cricket, football, hockey and badminton
matches were played, as well as inter-Cub Pack football. Even the parents and staff
were given the opportunity to play. A high jump competition was held every year, as
were swimming races at the Reigate pool.
Horse riding was another sport encouraged and it is believed that some of the senior
riders were on occasions, allowed to join in a meet of the local Fox-Hunt. Awards and
cups were given for many of these sporting events.
Other Activities
Several other activities were organised throughout the year. For example a shopping
spree took place at the start of December so that some of the children could purchase
their Christmas presents. In early January a trip was organised to attend a pantomine
or a children's theatre in London. In May or June, they sometimes participated in the
Horley Carnival, which was always great fun, as for many years the weather was
extremely kind for this event. While only a few children could and did particpate in the
above activities, almost all could indulge in the delight of the swimming pool during the
summer months. This was erected in the grounds and proved to be a great asset to
children and staff alike.
The taking of the annual School photo was another regular activity. A difficulty was the
increasing length of the end result as the number of pupils grew year by year.
Young ladies
relaxing
In 1958, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II came to open Gatwick Airport and
arrangements were made to take a group of children from the School to see this
historic event. Concern was expressed that being small they would not be able to see
all that took place, but despite the School's pleas it was too late to change where they
were to sit. When they arrived at Gatwick there appeared to be some confusion over
the seating plan and they all finished up right in front of every one with a perfect view
of the Queen and the event.
40
In 1968, several pupils took part in the Brighton to Horley walk organised by Oxfam. It
is not known however, how much money they raised.
Sometimes visits were made to places of interest. In 1972 a group was taken to the
Ford Motor plant, while the following year one visit was to see the Folk Dance Festival
and another to see HMS Victory. In 1974 a party went abroad to ski while some of the
boys went to view the RAF Museum at Hendon.
The Great Flood of 1968
During the weekend of 15/16 September 1968, the country experienced many inches
of rain, the like of which most living in the area had never witnessed before. The River
Mole close to the bottom of Horse Hill broke its banks and the population of Horley
and nearby awoke on the Sunday morning to find themselves in a most serious
situation. The School had been spring-cleaned and was prepared for the new term the
following week when the local authorities urgently requested it take in those who were
stranded, or had been forced to evacuate their homes.
The Horley Advertiser for Friday 20 September 1968 included in its widespread
coverage of the floods a feature under 'Disaster centres' which read:"Stranded drivers forced to spend the night in the town talked the following day
of the kindness of a man who found beds for them on Sunday night. He stood in
the pouring rain dressed only in a pair of shorts directing them to High Trees
School in Horsehill Road where more than 300 found temporary
accommodation."
Following the call for help, the seven staff on site rallied immediately and by nightfall
the 300 people had been taken in. Classrooms, dormitories, etc, were used for their
overnight stay. People slept wherever they could find room, while others played cards
in the dining room all night long. The School's food store was soon depleted and the
Army brought in supplies of bread and milk.
Horley Guides were holding their annual camping competition in the School grounds
that weekend and although by Sunday morning they were somewhat wet, they had no
idea how grave the situation was becoming by the minute at a lower level in the
surrounding countryside. The husband of a Ranger-Guider from Smallfield arrived and
informed them. Frantic phone calls enabled many of the girls to be swiftly whisked
home by parents. However by the time the Guiders and helpers had staked everything
down and left by car, they found they could not get through because of the flooding
stream below Horse Hill. They returned to leave their cars at High Trees and
walked/waded home. The Smallfield couple eventually made it all the way home, only
to find their house completely flooded!
By 9.30am next morning most who had taken refuge in the School had left and the
staff had then to clear up the mess in readiness for the arrival of the children. Many of
those who sheltered there that day showed their appreciation as letters continued to
pour in from all over the country for days to come. The position of the School high up
on the hill and the willingness of the staff to play their part when the call went out,
helped once again to cement the name of High Trees firmly in the minds of local
people, some to this day.
JMN's Activities
As his time at High Trees lengthened, so JMN became more involved not only in the
activities of the School, but also in those associated with the locality. He was an active
Governor of Sidlow School, regularly attended Reigate Church Society Meetings as
well as others to do with the diocese and was involved with the Norwood Hill Drama
Society. His time out of school hours appeared to be always fully booked and he must
have been a most busy and active man.
41
By the number of times that his various cars visited either Fairman's or the Sidlow
garages, he either must have travelled a great number of miles, or he drove his cars
extremely hard, as they always appeared to be in for servicing.
He, like Miss Tucker, appeared to have a similar interest in house content sales,
because he is reported to have attended many. Perhaps this was a way of ensuring
that the furniture for the School was acquired at a reasonable price and that it could be
replaced quite readily.
By 1980, the School functioned each and every year in a smooth and similar manner.
Every one knew what was expected of them, including the older pupils. JMN was
responsible for this and he along with his staff, had established the School as a well
respected part of the local community, as most residents in Horley knew of its
whereabouts and where the children in their brown-coloured blazers came from.
However, changes were in the air and JMN had by 1982 served and run High Trees
School for 30 years, which is a very long time in anyone's career.
42
11
THE CLOSURE OF HIGH TREES SCHOOL
JMN's Letter
In July 1983, JMN wrote to all parents of pupils attending the School. In the letter he raised
many points and because they help to bring into focus the type of man that he was, the letter
is given below in its entirety.
"I write to let you know that at the end of the Summer Term of 1984 High Trees School
will be closing.
There are many reasons for my having to make this hard decision. For the main part,
they stem from the fact that I have now reached the age when I must retire, because
the very demanding and exhausting role I have to undertake cannot be maintained,
and I would not wish to continue beyond my capacity to meet it.
This reason, would of course, explain the necessity for my leaving the school, but not
for its closure. The reasons for this are as follows:
(1) Though I have sought to find a suitable successor by personal contact as by
other means, this has not proved successful, and such an outcome has been
confirmed as expected by professional advisers. On the one hand, the kind of
successor who would be a concerned educationalist would not be in a position to
finance the take-over and the future running of the school; on the other, any type of
business man or organisation would not see in the school any expectations of a
financial return for the outlay, even if emphasis were to remain on achievement
measured in terms other than those of profit.
(2) Since its inception, the school has run itself on so straight a financial course, with
little, often no, profit, that it has been impossible to build up any funds from which I,
or any of the staff simultaneously retiring, would be able to live in the future. It is thus
necessary to sell the property to raise such funds for providing for those who have
been serving it.
(3) To bring the school adequately into the next decade of educational advance, by
providing the resources and more complex plant required, would demand expenditure
far beyond that which the school is likely to command. It is necessary to take stock of
our present position and to try to read the future as it would apply to the school of
our age-range and style.
(4) The possibility of transferring the school to some sort of trust has been
discussed, but not seen as a workable possibility. Such schemes may well be set up
for schools of a secondary stage in an urban situation; they do not well apply to a
junior school in a rural area with no local community.
(5) The development of Gatwick Airport poses great problems, not merely in the
recruitment of domestic and similar staff, since it seems a matter of a short time
before the school site and amenities will be considerably altered or restricted.
For these, amongst other reasons I have come reluctantly to the conclusion that it is
better for our doors to be closed with honour than in shame. Against the recent
standard practice of the closing of schools with the giving of the minimum possible
notice, I have decided that an announcement a year in advance is the more
honourable way. I realise that many parents will have problems to solve, and I hope to
be able to offer advice for the placing of children elsewhere-but a year's notice should
prevent the worst panic action. Naturally, however, parents will at once wish to make
the best alternative arrangements for their children.
43
At the same time, I realise that my course of procedure will give to the school a year
of great uncertainty, particularly financially. With both children and staff having to
withdraw, there will be financial obligations that can be met only by heavy borrowing,
since it is my intention to maintain the school during its last year as closely as
possible to what it is now, particularly in staffing. This last year then, will be a difficult
one, and I hope the parents of those children who will be remaining with us during its
course will understand. Yet I do not wish it to appear anxious or unhappy for the
children who remain.
I am sure that you will understand the feeling I have in making this announcement in
the 62nd year of the school's life, and the 32nd of my headmastership here,
particularly as I have enjoyed such excellent support-and, may I say, even affectionfrom the present generation of parents as from those who were so before.
Yours sincerly
John M Norsworthy"
From the life of the School described in previous Chapters, perhaps the financial position
under JMN's item (2) in his letter, can be appreciated.
In 1928, the sixth year of the School's existence, it suffered a devastating fire, from which it
has been shown, the insurance cover was inadequate to meet the cost of a fresh start. Most
probably, the rent at Duxhurst was quite nominal, but within two years, Miss Tucker
purchased the large property at Horse Hill. No details of her personal financial position at
that time are available, or what she contributed herself towards the purchase, but with
knowledge of the payment made by the insurance company after the fire, it would barely
have been sufficient to secure a mortgage, or bank loan for a property of that size.
Also, the house, cottage and stabling had to be adapted and equipped for school use which
required a considerable outlay. By 1936, a bungalow had been purchased at Selsey and
another built alongside, the Junior House had been built at High Trees and various animals
purchased.
Income during this period was not only from school fees but also from accommodating other
children at the seaside bungalows, as well as from garden produce and the animals.
When the School was forced to evacuate itself to North Devon it had to rent accommodation
in four hotels and its expenses at the end of the war were known to have exceeded its
income. Despite a payment by the Military Authorities for the wartime use of High Trees and
the destruction of the seaside bungalows, the School's bank balance in 1945 was said to be
far from satisfactory. Another financial set-back was the deaths of Miss Tucker and Miss
Young when unexpected part-owners suddenly came on to the scene.
It is a great wonder how JMN kept the School afloat so long and enlarged it so well. Again
with hindsight and the rapidly changing educational future, there obviously was little if any
prospect of the School continuing and JMN's action at the time appears now to be correct
and commendable. Also, the possibility of this day arriving was probably in JMN's mind
several years before, as one of the options he was pursuing was to amalgamate with
another school. It is understood that discussions did take place with Kingsley School at Elm
Court in Horley Row, which obviously were not taken further.
44
The Parent's Reaction
Most parents received JMNs letter with great shock and disappointment and many wanted to
take immediate action to establish whether it was possible to consider ways in which the
School could continue. One of the parents, Mr R G L Sharman, an accountant, sent a letter
to parents on 29 July 1983 suggesting that he consider the present financial position of the
School and to explore alternative arrangements and structures to maintain and extend the
high standard and facilities offered at High Trees.
JMN agreed to this and Mr Sharman asked for the help of other parents who had the
necessary skills and resources to assist him in this task. If a scheme could be found to place
the School on a sound financial footing, then a meeting was to be called later in the year.
However, in another letter from Mr Sharman to all parents, dated 5 September 1983, he
reported with regret that it had not been possible to develop a suitable scheme to overcome
the closure of the School. He said that he had held numerous meetings with JMN, the
School's financial advisors, the Charities Commission, the Inland Revenue, Kenneth Baker,
the MP for Dorking, the local education authority and the finance department at County Hall,
Kingston.
Much work had been done to incorporate the School into a Charitable Trust and agreement
to do so was reached with all the necessary authorities. Unfortunately, there were
considerable outstanding liabilities and commitments relating to the School which would
have placed a financial burden upon the new administration of such a magnitude as to
render the Trust arrangements financially impractical. It was said that this liability was almost
£100,000 and the running costs alone in the coming year was estimated to be around
£400,000.
It Closed Down Smiling
The School published its annual collection of tales, poems, etc, in its "Leaves from the
Trees", while in July of each year it put on the annual play. In 1982 it was "On Galleon's
Lap" and in 1983 it was "Pepys Before the Scene". 1984 had of course to be something
special and was entitled "What Next?" It was a satirical play about a travel agency. JMN
wrote a forward to the programme. It read:"We all know that one certain feature of our lives is uncertainty. Empires rise and fall,
fashions change, people are unaccountably in, or out, of favour. Neither the time of
the beginning nor the end can be assuredly declared.
Therefore, no human institution can be vouchsafed everlasting existence. Nor can the
changes in direction that an institution may be forced to take be easily foreseen, even
by those involved in it.
If this applies to the more ancient forms of human enterprise, such as schools, it
applies equally to more recent phenomena, of which the Travel Agency is by no
means an insignificant example.
We have attempted to put before you a drama without any deep significance-for we
are determined to close smiling. But if a moral be demanded, we might offer the
parable of the house built upon sand-even the golden, sunbaked variety so frequently
exhibited in the brochures of Travel Agencies."
And so High Trees closed its doors on that note, after 62 years of existence.
45
It's Achievements
The achievement of any school is measured by the academic standards attained by it's
pupils, along with their accomplishments in later life. Unfortunately, no detail record of either
appears to have survived the closure of High Trees School and so it is not possible to
include any statistics, or to highlight some of the more notable achievements. Suffice it to
say that several past pupils who are known to the authors, passed their common entrance
examination and later gained a university degree to become a qualified professional in the
careers of their choice. If these are considered to be of average ability and typical of the
standard pupil taught by the School, then it did achieve what it intended.
One of its finest achievements speaks for itself, Mr John M Norsworthy.
Some Odd Closing Remarks
The final day of the School was on 7 July 1984 and it was open day with sports. On that very
day a group of German Scouts came to camp in the grounds. If Miss Tucker was still alive
would she have shown them how clean High Trees was kept, or use the broom handles for
another purpose?
The fire at Salfords has been described in some detail already, but long after the School left
Duxhurst, St Agnes one of the cottages taken over by the School burnt down at a time when
it was called St Albans. After JMN had announced the closure, Wray House burnt down and
he lost all his possessions!
Will The Name Live On?
After the School closed the property was sold. The contents were auctioned by T Bannister
& Co on 16 August 1984, but it is believed the buildings remained empty before they were
sold separately much later. It is not known whether the sales covered all the outstanding
liabilities or if payments were made to all the staff remaining at the time of the closure.
Wray House was later rebuilt, while the stables were converted and extended into private
dwellings. The main house was eventually bought and used as a nursing home, which
retained the name HIGH TREES.
Mr John Norsworthy went to Christchurch, Oxford before moving to take late retirement
where he died in 1998. The ex-pupils are now grown up and many are parents themselves.
Several who are known to the authors still speak of their fond memories and happy times
spent at the school at the top of the hill.
So, what was started and named by Miss Tucker back in 1922 as a school that looked after
the very young, retained its name throughout its life in three different nearby locations. Ironic
that the last property became a resting place for the elderly, as if the name High Trees had a
defined life of its own. Perhaps it has as in 2002 the owner submitted an application to part
demolish and change the use of the nursing home into residential appartments. If this does
eventually occur then hopefully the name will live on.
Whatever may be its future, it will be remembered fondly, not only by its past pupils, but also
by those living in and around Horley as the site of the School on the Hill. Long may its
name live on.
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