Jacqueline Warner

Reunions and reminiscences: Jacqueline Warner nee Higginson (BHS 1956-1964) 

In September, Jackie Warner hosted a reunion for eight former classmates who left Blackheath High in 1963/4. All now in their late 70s and with a few toting walking sticks, OGs flocked from far afield to meet at Jackie’s local yacht club in Eastbourne. They were blessed with a wonderful sunny day for lunch and a walk to Jackie's house for tea and a celebratory cake. They had a wonderful day and it seemed to all as though 60 years had flown by in the blink of an eye! Pat Oakes, the driving force behind keeping the group in touch, had a knee replacement shortly after the reunion, following an international career in athletics, competing until very recently worldwide. Good wishes to Pat for a speedy recovery. 

Jackie kindly sent us a photo of the reunion: 

[from left to right] Susan(Dibnah) Jerrard, Patricia (Pearson) Oakes, Eileen (Glenister) Kidd, Helen (Stevens) Bonorchis, Marilyn (Allister) Ballisat, Wendy (Flack) Browning, Isobel (Ross) Birse, Jacqueline (Higginson) Warner  

In conversation with Karen, Blackheath’s Alumnae Manager, Jackie reminisced about the Blackheath High School uniform in the 1950s. “When I started at BHS aged 10 in Upper 3(1) in 1956, we wore black tunics, black tie and white shirt. Notice the unusual black and gold ribbon cockade (pictured), an embellishment attached to the side of the regulation black velour hat, as we did not have a badge. 

“The summer uniform was a panama hat, again with cockade, and a choice of blue, yellow, pink, or grey striped summer dresses. Grey still had to be worn for formal occasions. After a few years, it was all updated - Sixth Form wore grey striped shirts, grey pleated skirts; and the main school uniform was blue striped shirts and navy skirts, similar to what you have now. 

"My favourite memory of school was the Christmas lantern ceremony. In darkness we walked from the music room in our navy hooded winter raincoats carrying lanterns, processing down the X shaped staircase, the music getting louder as we reached the stairs. My worst memory is playing lacrosse on the Heath in bitter winds, in the days before track suits, just navy shorts and long fawn-coloured socks. Chillllyyy!!!” 

Header image: June 1957: 4th row from front, Marilyn is fourth from right and myself fifth from right”