Bexhill High says farewell to old site

However, rather than simply vacate the premises, principal Mike Conn invited all staff and students, past or present, to literally leave their mark on the building.

Last Friday, the corridors were filled with school photographs and nostalgic displays well received by the former pupils of yesteryear. By 5pm, the entire assembly hall, corridors and classrooms alike had been covered in names, dates and goodbye messages.

Mr Conn said: “It brought a sense of closure”.

For some people, decades had passed since they were last within those walls. Before becoming a comprehensive school in 1977, there was a boys’ school on one side and a separate girls’ one on the other.

People who studied there as far back as the 1940s paid a visit, even one from the original class when it first opened in 1944

The simple scribbles on the wall show how the school has touched children and adults spanning several generations.

One ex-student still found its loss difficult to comprehend: “They’re not really going to knock it down, are they?”

Another staff member said of the last day: “Friday evening was fantastic. It was quite emotional actually, and what was fascinating was the range of all ages; people from the 70s, 60s and even as far back as the 40s.

“When you’re talking to people you realise as much as you want to be in the new building, which will be fantastic, it will be leaving somewhere you enjoyed working, and still enjoy working, to go on to somewhere new.”

When Mr Conn was appointed in 1998 he was aware that the job in front of him was going to be “a challenge”.

He said: “The building was covered in ceramic floor with purple and orange walls; it looked like a part of the London Underground. We only had 30 computers, the old BBC models, but the staff were wonderful and I was eager to get in.”

Bexhill High has had many long-serving staff members who also left lasting impressions on the school and its pupils. Mr Conn hopes this continues in the future as he said his team of staff heading into the new building is one of the best he’s worked with.

During what he described as a journey, he recalled some of his highlights while working there, including the school achieving Technology College status in 2001, Penny Jones winning TA of the year and most importantly, despite problems and questions that were raised, the exam results that have improved year on year. This is an effort which he hopes to continue as all students relocate to Gunters Lane.

He told the Observer: “It wasn’t always smooth or easy, there were difficult times. But Bexhill High has always tried to overcome any issues and offer its students the best facilities for a good education.”

Now the time has come to close one chapter of the school’s history and allow a new one to begin.

As people congregated inside the building that has provided children with an education for more than half a century, it was realised that despite Down Road losing its face, its memory will remain within all those concerned.

ABOVE: Former pupils share a hug after signing the school walls