I went to Reigat St.Marys Prep school from about 1959 to 1964. This photograph is taken after the school was extended about a couple of years after it moved there from The Friends Meeting House where I started. Another addition was The School dinner Hut in the grounds to the right of this picture -prior to this we all had to troop in forms to various restaurants and cafes in the town for lunch( The Tudor Bell, The Dinner Gong and I think The Bell)The Headmaster at the time was a very severe and frightening man-the Rev Hobson. The House was wonderful inside with original panelling/window shutters and a cellar with stone wine shelves where we changed for Games and PE.

I was at Reigate St. Mary's as a Choral Scholar from 1967 until 1971. I remember the Rev. Hobson well - he was a magistrate as well as a priest, which always struck me as rather odd. I was constantly in trouble, and I well remember him saying to another pupil, "Will you and Hills be in the same year when you go to Emanuel?" "Yes, sir, we're about the same age." "Yes, but look at the difference!" Lovely.

Yes both on right were on offer at St Mary's Prep School, the feeder school for Reigate Grammar School. And the headmaster was the Reverend Hobson a frightening man who loved to use cane for slightest misdemeanour. What a great advert for The church he was. The maths teacher used the ruler across palm of hand and the PT master had a" lambs tail" as he called it, that was a thick piece of rope with a knot. Really made ones eyes water in gym shorts! However didn't require counselling! 1950s

Re my comments above I think. The PT teacher was Mr Robertson, regarding Rev Hobson, he was without doubt nothing short of a bully and when I was nearly 12, I had enough, I was weekly boarding in Kingswood, so in mid-week, I went to school with my small suitcase and at end of that day returned to my parents in Hindhead which in those days was two trains and bus ride away, I had scarlet fever but teachers took little notice. I never returned to the school and that was a memorable moment. I seem to remember one fellow pupil, Chisholm, who broke his arm sliding on ice in playground.

Some interestinf comments

Sorry, I messed up on my previous attempt at a comment. I attended Reigate St Mary's from approx 1963-1966. Regarding Reverend Hobson, his method of teaching was teaching through intimidation. He taught latin by shouting at you and generally trying to put the fear of god into you. Things were very different in those days. I doubt whether that style of teaching would be tolerated in 2019.

I was at the school in the 1970s. I'm not sure if anyone found Rev Hobson or his wife easy to deal but the "progressive headmaster" I had in my state school could be just as difficult with anyone who did not comply with his ideas. I'm not sure how good the education actually was but I still credit my interest in science and Maths to Mr Davis. PE was in the church hall, play time was outdoors in all weathers, Latin was torture and we were better at football than singing ! My main gripe has always been it was stuck in the 50s...grey flannel suits, ancient text books and woe betide anyone who's parents through they should go to a Grammar School at 11 rather than a minor public school at 13.