I was sent to Burstow Nautical School in the summer of 1947. I was ten years old. The school is located near Horley, Surrey in the small town of Burstow. The school was built in the late 1800’s. The ivy covered walls and clock tower are more reminiscent of a church school than a Navy Training school.

I don’t know when the school was founded but I recall that the first headmaster was Mr. Lord. Shortly before I went to Burstow a new headmaster took over the helm by the name of Mr. Watson. He had a daughter who lived with him at school but went to local school nearby.

The school was located on about 20 acres near what is now the Gatwick International Airport. In fact the M3 motorway dissects the school grounds almost exactly in half. The building and grounds are now occupied by an aircraft parts manufacturing company. At least it was up to 5 years ago. Extensive remodeling has changed the school buildings such that it would be hard to recognize it today.

When I attended in 1947 the school comprised of some 60 boarders ranging in age from about 8 up to age 16. There were also some day boys perhaps numbering from 10 to 20 who went home each day. The school teachers were few and changed constantly from term to term. At that time there were 4 teacher’s full time plus Mr. Watson and a headmistress of sorts by the name of Miss Angus. I am not sure what role she played relative to Mr. Watson and family.

We also had an ex Navy midshipman by the name of Mr. Chester. He had attended Burstow as a boy and came back to teach Navigation skills.

The school functioned pretty much on Navy discipline and rules. The school uniform was Sea Cadet uniform except for our civvies which comprised a dark blue blazer and grey shorts. The emblem on the blazer was a gold Eagle with a rolled scroll in its talons. The navy uniform had a white navy cap with a cap band that had the words TS Duguay Trouin. This cap band name came from a French man-of-war captured at the battle of Trafalgar. It was subsequently used as a training ship up until 1949 when it taken out into the English Channel and sunk.

On the 3rd of November 1805, Admiral Strachan, with Caesar 80, Hero 74, Courageux 74, Namur 74, and four frigates defeated and captured the force of four French ships which had escaped at Trafalgar under Dumanoir: Formidable 80, Duguay-Trouin 74, Mont Blanc 74, and Scipion 74. All four are taken into the Royal Navy, with Formidable renamed Brave, Duguay-Trouin renamed Implacable, and the other two keeping their names.

Shortly after I left Burstow the school was closed permanently because of poor academic accomplishments and complaints of poor conditions and bad discipline. I suspect all three apply. Life at Burstow was more one of survival than of learning and accomplishments.

I am sure that under better direction and management Burstow might have been a rewarding experience but alas it was not to be. My memories are tinged with a bad taste due to the poor training and strict disciplinary actions that I experienced.

A typical day at Burstow started with Revalie at 6 am followed y wash stations. Breakfast was at 7 am in the mess hall and parade at 8.30 am. Classes followed a brief flag raising parade and inspection.

Classes ran from 9 am til noon. After lunch more classes or sports followed until about 4pm. After classes were out there was about 1 hour of free time before tea at 5 pm. At 6 pm we went back to class for prep or homework.

This lasted until 7 pm when we went to cleaning stations. Cleaning stations included cleaning the classrooms and preparing for the next day. After a snack at 7.30 pm we went to our cabins and lights out was typically 8pm depending on age group.

Classes at Burstow covered everything from math, English, history, geography, to navigation, divinity and art. The curriculum was inclusive except for the sciences which was limited to botany.

Most teachers covered one or more subjects. Foreign languages were limited to a study of Latin and French. Since the classes covered a 6 hour day 5 days per week we spent 30 hours per week in class plus 5 hours doing homework and about 4 hours in sports or outside activities which might include boat rigging and or band practice. I was involved in the band as a bugler. The band had a small membership and was limited to bugles and drums. The band played at all parades and sometimes on Sunday on visits to local churches and or sports events.