Whitehill Party

Sixty years ago, the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools were not combined, and the only contact that pupils had with each other was through formal

dances held during the Christmas season. Here is a picture from one of those dances, taken 61 years ago, attended by members of the 1961 Sixth Forms, who lived in the Berkhamsted area.

Those of that generation will remember those parties, held at various venues in Berkhamsted and, quite often, at the church hall at Potten End. This one was hosted by the Hawkings family and took place at Whitehill, the home of Harry and Phyllis Pollock.

Forty-four friends attended that party, and now, after all these years, and with the help of Andrew Chinneck, Chris Coulter, Yvonne Rush and others, I have been able to identify 30. It would be fun to put a name to all the faces. Sadly, some are no longer with us.

If you were one of the faces, or if you can recognise any more (or if I have any of them wrong), I would enjoy hearing from you.

Perhaps you could add a note of where you live and what you are doing after all these years, and I will make up a summary. Perhaps you have a story or a memory. We were good friends in those days, and these were special and formative times in our lives.

Do these parties, or anything resembling them, still take place?

Tim Hawkings, 331 Willow Ridge Place SE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2J 1N2.

Email: timhawkings@shaw.ca

Tim Hawkings (Sw ’61)

See page 80 for a partial list of names. Please contact me if you know any others!