You may be interested to know that the children’s charity founded by Dr Andrew Reed in that majestic building on Hollybush Hill in Snaresbrook more than 160 years ago is thriving still as the Royal Wanstead Children’s Foundation. With the active support of our Patron HRH The Princess Royal, we help to support literally hundreds of vulnerable children at boarding schools throughout the UK. Today, Royal Wanstead is supporting some 250 vulnerable children at more than 100 independent and State boarding schools. In the 37 years since the closure of the fine building across Eagle pond, we have helped transform the lives of almost 2,000 young people. As a former pupil myself of the old Royal Wanstread School, I would ask you please to support our work. Please donate whatever you can to help us ‘save’ more of the thousands of children who need all our help. Please visit our web site (www.royalwanstead.org.uk) or write to: Royal Wanstead Children’s Foundation, Sandy Lane, Cobham, Surrey KT11 2ES.
Thanks! Colin Morrison, Chairman, RWCF (a pupil at Royal Wanstead School, 1957-69)

This school was the making of me. I loved my time at this school, I made some good mates. It is a shame that I did not keep in touch with these great mates, wish I could get in touch with the guys.

hi i was a pupil in the 60′s the head teacher was mr porter rather a stout man if my memeries are correct my english teacher was mr lawson i can even remember meeting our school patron monty(desert rat gen)my two main friends were colin gander and a lass called leslie leggate seeing this site has brought back so many memeries ex pupils please get in touch many thanks gary

My grandmother was the nurse there for many years until it closed. I lived there with her for about a year in the late 60′s and went to the local primary school.

My grandmother and her sister were in the above orphanages in 1890 my granmother was 8 years old and her sister was 10 years old.
I was wondering if you still kept the records going that far back. The reason for asking is that their father died at sea, he was a merchant seaman, but I can find no record of his death. As it must have happened about the time the girls arrived at Snaresbrook is there any way you could let me know where he died. Their names were Minnie Middleton and Beatrice Middleton and their father John Middleton born 1859/60.
Regards,
Jean Hughes

How can any pupil forget SISTER BRISTER and her sanitorium.
I know it is very late but there is a GRAND REUNION on 12 JULY 2008 FOR EX PUPILS AND STAFF.

Hi Jamie Brister well well well I remember you when you were just a lovely little boy.Fresh over from the USA with your mum Betsie and John your Dad. My job when I was at RWS was to look after the needs of your grandmother Sister Brister, such as run meessages and fetch and carry.I hope you remember me.you may or may not remember that one of my jobs was to look after what your grandmum described as the little yank who of course was you.And as I came from Chelmsford it even extended to there as well as you and your mum and dad lived there. Email me if you can wuld love to hear from you. My wife and I live in Hove Sussex

By the way Jamie I was talking of when I was 14- 15. I left school at age 15 and we lost touch. Regards Gerry.

ho happy days Sister Brister what a woman she was i spent a week in the school hosp then whent awol

Hi
Can anyone tell me if this was the school that accepted short term children residents while the mother was in hospital? Our mother went to Whipps Cross for an operation and we were sent to a boarding school for about six weeks. I remember taking a party of children away from the group in the forest and when I finally got back I was thrashed with spiky chestnut husks by the a lady teacher.

Some time during the 1960s I was a young reporter in my early twenties working for the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian newspaper. I remember covering a visit by Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery (Monty of Alamein fame) to Royal Wanstead School. Now aged 76, I vaguely recall the weather was rather drab and being among a throng of people gathered to hear Monty speak beside the south bank of the lake. Whether Monty was wearing his Desert Rat beret, I can’t recall (I think not) but there was no mistaking his pinched face and clipped manner of speaking. Returning home (probably Walthamstow, although I later moved to Wanstead), my telephone rang. It was my mother calling from Braintree, Essex, exclaiming: “I’ve just seen YOU on television on the news covering Monty’s visit to Wanstead.” A brief moment of fame all due to the then patron of Royal Wanstead School!

I was at the school from 1958 to 1964 approx. I was 5 to 10years. I remember Mr Porter, Mr Lavender, Mr Cummings ,Mr Lawson, Sister Brister.
I remember the visit of Monty too.
I loved the food must have been the only one LOL
The Chapel looms large in my memory.
People I remember are David Greaves, Lynda Emmons/Goodchild, David Dyer, Ann Chandler and Christine Constantinople. Would love to jere from anyone who remembers me or was there then and can jog my memory.

My Grandfather, Gilbert Portass and his brother Theophilus were sent to the Infant Orphan Asylemat about 1910 when their father died in India. The boys were living in Roorki India. My Grandfather did not enjoy his time here and unfortunately his brother Theophilus died there from tetanus , he hurt his leg playing cricket and later died, painfully at school. WE have no other information about their time there, their mother Mable Portass left them at school until she returned from India and re-married. Is it possible to get any more information about their life at school?

I went to the RWS 1959 TO 1969 INFANTS to SENIORS.It taught
me independence and to think for myself.Ive never had a family of my own,so on many occacion the school organized a outing,ie mayor of redbridge..Its a great shame its now a court and not a school..Its also a shame I didnt learn anything due to the school bullies.[Fred masion-keith looker-robert[wendy]kerr.Long live the RWS…

I REMEMBER Mr mcCormick[muisc] Mr Bell[Art] MrLavender[headmaster] nurse chicken[mysaivior] Mr Knight[CCF] Miss Boals[passionate] Miss HOWARD[MY FIRST CRUSH] SHE HAD A 105E FORD ANGLIA.NURSE Martin at 5yrs old she made me bath with natilie&christine Grey crystal davies.I never forget the nightlight glowing in the dormitory and Nurse Martin asking if you were a sleep, if you said yes you got a clout around the head,Mr Corrigan[bed time stories about Agie dewdrop & trog].Life at RWS amazing Xcountry running around the forest.How many could serve that sentence again.10yrs. Ive
now been a trucker for over 30yrs army service for nearly 15yrs were has the time gone.

I REMEMBER COLIN GANDER, WE USE TO GET INTO MINOR SCRAPES TOGETHER, OUR REWARD WAS 6OF THE CANE ON THE BACK OF THE HAND OR THE GIANT SLIPPER ON THE B!!.MR PORTER WAS THE CANE ON THE BACK OF THE LEGS.

My name is Peter Smith.I was at RWS between about 1959 & 1961. The house name ‘Churchill’ rings a bell. Reading the guest book the name David Greaves also rings a bell.
I was great freinds with two brothers that came from Leatherhead (Surrey). The names Terry and David, maybe?
I went to the 2007 reunion but I didn’t know a soul! It was a good day.
Let me tell you a bit about myself: I am now 58 & I live in Portsmouth (Hampshire) where I work for the NHS. I have done a lot of different jobs, from merchant seaman and oil rigs, to building sites.

I remember wanstead school do i the worst 5 years of my life.I must have had the cane more times then any body else,always in detention,can not remember ever been aloud out on sat sun wed.would never be a fag to any of them,prefects monitors that was my problem,i would like to meet some of them bullies now,still i did have one nice day there when i left.

1962 (8 yrs old) to 1970 (16 yrs old). Memories! OMG!!
Mr Corrigan was my first teacher, and yes I remember the funny bedtime stories. The grey flannel uniform.The ‘new’ playground equipment and getting the cane from the obnoxious Mr Porter for playing on them too early.I remember Gary (I still have a photo of you!!)making a paper mache robot. I remember Ollie (where are you now?) and the bully Steven Johnson (who if I ever meet…!)
Smoking in the bog, making dens in the woods. Then –
Mr McCormick and being in the choir (I swear the little music teacher in Harry Potter was based on him!)Mr Bell the extremely strict art teacher, Nicking sodium from the lab to blow up the ducks, fishing in the lake. Cadets – drilling with .303 rifles, the assault course and visiting dignitaries..waiting for them to ‘kung-fu’ the cross beam on the platform after saluting.
Assemblies in the foyer with Mr Taylor standing on the stairs reading off the roll call.I was in Nelson House. Winning most weekend house points and getting to go home.
Fireworks night running round letting off bangers. The massive great bonfire that lit up the trees (sometimes quite literally!)Smoking behind the gym, escapades into the forest and walks to the ponds.
The dining hall all sitting round long tables saying grace before maids to serve food. Bread and dripping and cocoa for those that wanted before bedtime.
Oh and the dorms. Sleeping in bunk beds. Fagging for the Masters. Listening for the bats outside the windows and the occasional pupil’s escapades over the roof to the maid’s quarters!
Those were the days. And I think thanks to Mr Johnson that I hated 99% of them!! I left school not with any independence, but institutionalised. Withdrawn and completely unaware of the outside world. It took me years to normalise.For this reason I’ve wanted little to do with the RWS and I still refuse to attend any reunions or functions.
I’m now 55 years old, a surveyor working in South London and living in East Grinstead Sussex. I have 2 children although I’m now divorced.
…And for those considering it, please, please NEVER EVER send your children to boarding school!

Oh, and by the way, – Do you remember I was the one who’s mother visited nearly every week that had the funny blue invalid car, and she was in a wheelchair?
Well sadly she died the same year I left school.
Another reason I hated boarding school, as I never really got to know my mum apart from in holidays. Nuf sed!

In 1937-8 my Father,John Simms Roos,was eployed at Wanstead

1 year, around 57. My dad was with McDonald Douglas Aircraft from California setting up ICBM sites (9) for Britain’s defense against Russia. My mom agreed to let dad take me with him on the project if he would put me in “one of those good English boarding schools.” I can hear the laughter. I was 10. Cambridge Hall, I believe. The curriculum was years ahead of what I was used to in the California school system. Oh, I remember struggling with compositions, French, the periodic table in chemistry (there was a very interesting thin, accentric chemistry teacher with wire-rimmed spectacles and wiry hair), divinity, cross country through the forest, chapel. I recall more. Miss Rocket was in charge of uniforms and sewed. RWS is big in my memory. I spent many hours constructing a glider which I launched from one of the towers and it flew beautifully — right into the pond. Do you remember the huge public pool that was in the forest? There was a German measles epidemic and quite a few of us went into the infirmary for a week. There was a fellow practicing javelin throwing and, as a few friends and I were standing in front of the (back of) the building, I was knocked to the ground from misdirected toss, quite a long one actually. It hit me squarely on my left shoulder — better there than in my chest! This gave a serious fright to the poor bloke throwing! This could go on, but I’ll stop here and give you the chance of answering. Best wishes!

Hello fellow sufferers..hated RWS then still hate it now ..messed up my life ..still wondering what the hell l did to spend six or more years of my life in that hell hole..No offence to you but thats how l see it. Best days of your life!!! l think not..

I was at the royal wanstead from 1945 – 1949 (aged 7 – 11)
Does anyone who was there at that time remember Mr Edgcombe headmaster, or move on to Hyde Hall Sawbrigeworth?
Frances Pettitt now Dixon

I attended the Royal Wanstead School in the 60′s and then went to the Senior School which is now the Great Hyde Hall in Sawbridgeworth.
I remember my teachers name was Mr Porter, we had a Games Teacher who was Mr Munday and the Teacher above my class was Mr Fultcher. I cannot remember the rest of the teachers names.
I enjoyed my time here, the School was devided into three parts as I remember. There was a Nursery, Junior School and then the Senior Boys. One of my funniest times was when I was chased by a Swan.
If anyone can remember me, please do get in touch.

I attended Royal Wantstead with my sister Karen in 1967-1969. I can remember Mr Meredith who looked very much like Jimmy Edwards and used to take us to the local shops to buy sweets after school on a Saturday morning . I also remember Miss Butler who married the chaplain, Miss Caswell, Mr Porter and Mrs Brennan who was the dormitory matron. Pupils I remember are Crystal and Mervyn Davia, Linda and Carol Reditch, Jeremy Winston Richards, Nathan Goldbourne,Simbi Shornaberry, Angelia Biswas,and Penny Yates. My main ambition was to stand at the other side of the lake and look at the School knowing I would never have to return. After leaving I had nightmares that I had gone back. Looking back it probably wasn’t as bad as I thought but I can’t say I have many happy memories of my time there.

@Joe Woodhouse
Hi Joe,
Your name rings a bell my name is Mick Gill. Did you knock around with Osborne and Dobson by any chance??

@Jon Ray (Yank)
Hi Jon,
You may not remember me but I knew you fairly well.
I was at RWS from 1955 – 1960, initially in the junior school, then later (for 1 year) in the senior section.
I was known as “Charlie” and my brother ” Dennis” also attended.
Before my voice broke I was in the school choir, eventually finishing up as the Head Soprano (got to wear a special ribbon and badge til some jealous boy stole it from my unlocked locker).
Was Head Boy of the junior section and did a bit of boxing (once finished up in a grudge fight, in the ring, with some boy who took exception to me kissing my childhood sweetheart, Jaqualine Meeker), but my main forte was running – especially cross country (eventually ran for the British Royal Navy Team in Lossiemouth, Scotland in 1963).
I remember the “Javelin” incident very well, was only paces from you when it happened and I was also one of the boys who had an interest in building balsa wood gliders – watched the one and only flight of your machine.
I also had an interest in sailing on the lake and used to sit under the trees when cricket matches were on doing the scoring in the Official Score Book.
Do you remember making “Cats Whiskers Radios” concealed in a matchbox and listened to clandestinly after lights out in the dormatories?
I was there because my mother had died of cancer and my father had a mental breakdown – but left after he remarried and went to school at Fairmead, in Loughton.
That was great because most of the kids there were years behind me in knowledge and I never got bullied because of learning the Noble Art of Fisticuffs from RWS – keep them at a distance and use the nose as the main target, always worked.
Did 9 years in the Royal Navy working on Aircraft Carriers and various Naval Airbases – then crossed over to the Army. Finished up doing from 1962 – 1988 (Reserve 1988 – 1995) and achieved the rank of Company Sergeant Major.
Now retired and living in France with 3 kids and 4 grandbrats.
My email address is crcurtis_uk@yahoo.com if you remember me.*
Best regards : Have a Very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.

Hi my name is Robert Turbefield I was at Royal Wanstead boarding school with my sister marie about 1956-1958 if anyboby remembers us would you please contact me

Does anyone remember Shirley or Ruth Viles? Went to the school in 1943 to the early 50′s. I’m wondering if there is a reunion at all for past pupils? Please get in contact if you remember us.

Hi my name is peter Roberts,
my father was a manual arts teacher at the royal wanstead from 1947 to 1949.
We lived in the ground floor of a three storey home in the grounds.
The two storeys above us were occupied by the Phys Ed teacher surname Hart.
From memory the head at the time was Hattam.

I was at RWS from 1934 to 1938. It was then the ‘Royal Infant Orphanage’. The Head Master was Rev. S.H.Pitt. My housemaster was G.C.Geear – house of Nineveh (the others were Athens & Babylon). served through W!! from 1940 1947. R.AF and Essex regiment (Warley barracks).
Since leaving the school i became a bank manager overseas (Barclays) in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Appointed general manager of Lombard Bank in Singapore then in Auckland New Zealand. After retirement graduated at Auckland University (management) then lectured for 8 years at local Polytechic. My sister Pat was at The R.I.O also – name Patricia
Are there members from my era?

@Anthony Blackwell

@Colin Gander
hi colin i do indeed remember your mothers little blue invalid car and i also remember you was the best friend i had in the school.having a stammer at the time and getting stick of the said bullies you took me as me and even though we was so young,it meant as much to me now as it did then..im sorry to hear of your mum i to remember that paper machay robot i remember mr lawson english teacher his room was just past the tuck shop at the end of the corridor.my mother remembers you fondly as well. im also pleased to hear youve done ok and that youv,e got two children,as have i three grand children as well.a lot of water has gone under my bridge as i suspect yours.i did try to contact you but may have got another colin gander.because you are the only person from my past ive ever wanted to talk to again and i suppose because you not all my memerys are bad my home no 01900606679 i live in the lake districk now beautifull but recently devastated by flood i would love to get in touch.im not into genral reunions but you are diffrent if you ever come to the lakes would you fancy going sailing for a day heres to you colin good health kindest regards thanks for the friendship you afforded me gary cohan (my mother married after me leaving school

i tell you what else i remember that is being dragged out of bed being run round wanstead common and then being chucked in the bloody cold swimming pool!!also having to eat disgusting bread and dripping for supper every night and colin i share your feelings about sending children to boarding school, home is where they should be..although ive come to understand why my mum sent me there..i live in hope that the phone might ring one day and you will be on the other end take care

@Jill Evans
Jill your name rings a bell with me. I also was in the juniors, as you said the school was in three sections. I was there from 59-61. Do you remember two brothers called Terry and David? You have got my email now. hope to hear from you soon.
Peter

@Gerry Burland
Hi Gerry,

I’m afraid my memory is a little fuzzy back going back that far as I was about 8 at the time. I still vaguely remember a boy at RWS who seems to have had a lot of gymnastics or maybe even circus training–he could do tricks on bicycles and tumbling movements. I also remember when the school showed the movie “The Night of the Living Dead” (I think it was) and I had nightmares for a week after that.

I’m not in the UK any more–we left to go to Australia when I was 14 and I’ve moved around a lot since then.

best,

James

@Diana Barrett
I was married to David Grieves’s father for a short while. David now lives in Stonham Aspal, Suffolk.

Hello, i attenened the school in the late sixties just enquirying if any would know how to get our school records regarding proof of attendence??
Would be very much apprieciated.
Many thanks.

Hi Garry
Just read your e-mail. Have your tried the the Royal Wanstead Children’s Foundation offices based at Reed’s School in Cobham? Such records that are available will be held there. Search on their website for details.
Good luck

John Spinks RWS 1952-1955

Hi Colin, I think I can remember you, I too was taught by Mr Corrigan. Did you used to swing on the edge of a desk to try and suppress a lump on one of your wrists? @Colin Gander

Does anyone remeber a black guy called Michael Ademola he was the fastest person on 2 legs that I’ve ever seen

I remember having a bath with Crystal Davies & Sonia Naylor (not at the same time) I was about 7-8 at the time!!
@Anthony Blackwell

Hi Frances, does David have a brother call Paul who was at RWS at the same time, I think they came from originally Palmers Green ?@Frances Bates (Ex Grieves)

My name is Arthur Strivens,I was at RWS around ’61-64 in C dorm. I remeber Mr Cummins, Corrigan, Bell, Porter. My group of friends was Dirk Rayner,Maurice Archer &
Richard Little “Tiny”………Any one remember them ?

@Lindsay Rawlings
Hiya Lindsay,
Your name sounds very familiar, so much so, that I think we were in the same class (along with Mervin Davia, whom was friends with Paul Dix and Steve Davies -not the snooker player, I don’t think, anyway) in 1966/67 with Miss Hogg. If I am correct, I have a class photo of us (2a??) and the only names I am stumped with are the 4 girls (you?) that were in our class! If you like, I could scan you a copy upon receipt of your email address. If you could let me know if I am correct, or not, if the case may be, it would still be great to hear from you.

@Joe Woodhouse
Hiya Joe, I remember you, and your brother Pete, affectionately known as Jumbo. How is he too? We were all in the same House, St. George’s, or D Dorm, I was the same age, and same class as Pete, and I had a brother Alan a year above me, (same as you??) Mr. Meredith, (Jimmy Edwards look-a-like) was our Housemaster.

@James Brister

Hiya Jamie, I vaguely remember you (I was in class 2 -Miss Hogg- in 1966/67 when I was 8/9) but I also remember seeing that film (black & white) and, after about 15 mins of watching that film I was out the door and had nightmares (kept quiet though) for ever and a day after,-well, it certainly seemed like it. The new modern (colour) one is not a patch on that! Was that in the main theatre hall, or had Mr. Turner converted the other room (girls building) into a cinema then. I definitely remember your grandmother, she scared the hell out of me (all of us) too, and I remember her assistant, nurse Jenks!

@Lindsay Rawlings
Hello again, Lindsay,
As it seems that our replies are not being published, I thought I might as well forward you my email address (mtjdm453@hotmail.com) should you wish to contact me directly and so as I can then forward you a copy of the class 2 (B&W) photo I have of us from easter/summer 1967. Then, of course, just to keep in contact would be nice too!
I’ve had another good look, and head-scratch, of the afore mentioned photo, and I think I can now name all four of you girls, all sitting to the front and middle. Asa well as you, I think I would be right in saying the other girls are:- Ann(a) Chapman, Ann(a) Reading and Wendy ?????? (Aaarrgghh, it’s gone!)
Anyway, Mr Meredith was our housemaster (D Dorm / St. Georges). I, too, also remember Miss Butler and her marrying the chaplain. Miss (Lorna) Caswell had the big blond hair doo and her orange tan would put Kilroy-Silk, and others, to shame. Mr Porter was Junior school head and lived in a house in the woods, whilst Mr Day was the deputy. He left, but came back a few years later after all you girls had departed to Sawbridgeworth. Of the pupils you mention, I too remember Crystal and Mervyn Davia, Jeremy Winston Richards, Nathan Goldbourne, and, the very sweet Penny Yates. I had a fight (and beat) Nicholas Poulton, who was forever crying, and he got his big brother, Andy, two years older than me to beat me up. Penny was the one that comforted me afterwards and even at the tender age of 8 I had a crush on her. I’d love to know how, and where, she is now.
Anyway, let me know how you are, etc, and maybe, hopefully, hear from you soon.

Best wishes,
Regards
Mick
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@Diana Barrett
just to say I was a cook at the RWS from 1957 to 1958 so u liked the cooking !!! I as a 16 yr old cook I was mashing potatoes from 10.30=== 12.00 each day……. do I like mashed potatoes No I do not !! have happy memories of wanstead but didn’t know any of the children too many but I remember Ellie smith who looked after the the girls .

@frances pettitt

Hello Frances,
I cannot belive I found this site, I cannot fully express how many memories are flooding back.
I was sent to RWS around 1952 to 1958 along with my two sisters, Georgina & Angela.
I have to say that for the most part, my time at this school was horrible for me. Too many beatings from dormitory nurses such as Ann Webster. However, Mr Edgecombe was one of the people I remember well as being my saving grace. The time spent singing in the choir in the chapel when he conducted the rehearsals was my favorite memory of the school.

Also Sister Brister in the sanitorium was always so kind and decent to us when we fell ill and spent tine there. There were literally times that I was sad to get better and be sent back to school.

I am now reitred and live in Canada. I have a Son and Daughter who both recently made me a grandmother of two beautiful little boys.

Take care