Banstead Village

That picture looks to be taken from the heath looking North East roughly. It looks like Kingswood Church can be seen on the left.

I would assume 1964/65 the school was demolished in preparation for making the A217 dual carriageway, but it might have been due for closure anyway. I'm not exactly sure of the year when the road widening took place - 1960s or 1970s. The M25 was being constructed as far as Reigate Hill in 1975, but I can't remember if the A217 had been made dual carriageway from Kingswood by that time.

I would really welcome any memories of the old Tadworth county primary. What a privilege to have a heath to run on at break times. I have only ever found one picture of the flint and stone, (brick) school.

There were flat steps up to the school and Rhododendrons made a tunnel to walk up. The first Headmaster was called Mr. Thomas and he was such a lovely man. I was very upset to start a new term and find he had had a heart attack and died. I think I was only 7 or 8 but it really affected me, along with the aforementioned accident where the two little girls died. I remember their names to this day but won't mention them here.

I also remember a dead rat under my desk, The caretaker, Mr. Killock, killing an adder by hitting over the head whilst keeping it still with a fork stick. I took it home after three days in a tin.

I also recall having turns with him in ringing the school bell, which was a proper bell like you have in a church, with a long colourful rope. I loved that school and its rural nature.
Added by Diana Garner ( Hatton) on 27 June 2024

Colin Sutherland reported that there was a bad accident, probably early 1960s, when a car ploughed into a number of children crossing the A217 which was much narrower then. The army was brought in to build a bridge over the road as a direct result.

There was also a long tarmac path laid to allow schoolchildren to get to the school without muddying their shoes.

I remember Tadworth County Primary on the A217 - well the building anyway.
I also remember the terrible accident there when 2 children were killed crossing the road. A policemen used to arrive daily on his Triumph motorbike and stay there to hold up the traffic when needed to let children cross A217 to school. (times have changed!) However one morning he signalled the traffic to stop, but one old driver apparently put his foot on the accelerator instead of the brake. The policeman managed to just jump clear, but 2 children tragically were killed. After that a bridge was built for the children. Both the school and the bridge have now gone when the road was made dual carriageway.
There was also another tragic accident in the same spot. I was coming home from school on the 406 - an Epsom race day I recall - and was sitting upstairs in the back seat of the bus when it stopped with an enormous jolt. My bag had been on the floor next to me, but I eventually found it right at the front. When we got off the bus we found that a car (Austin A90 Atlantic) travelling South from Kingswood Church had driven into the front corner of the driver's cab. The bus driver had climbed out of his emergency window and over the bonnet and was OK. Apparently the car driver was overtaking another vehicle when the steering failed. He and his wife were both killed, but their baby on the back seat in a carrycot survived. Eerily a radio still seemed to working. The next bus arrived soon so I could continue my journey, but still a haunting experience.”

I can’t quite remember the dates, but the first accident might have been 1956/57 and the next one possibly 1960, but in Derby Week (Derby Day was a Wednesday and the Oaks on Friday). Unfortunately I have nothing in my memory to link years when these occurred.

I remember Tadworth school well. I attended from 1952-1957.
I too remember the tragic accident when three girls were run down. Only one tragically died. I know this as she lived in my road. The bridge was then put in place.

Yes happy memories (mostly).
I was there from 53 - 58.
My mum was assistant cook.

I went there from Jan 1961- Jul 1961. I remember being friends with children who lived in the post-WW2 prefabricated houses that were close by. My husband also went there from Sept 1961. He lived in Tadworth itself and did the long walk every day across the heath with all the other pupils from Tadworth.

Even though the school had moved by the time I went to secondary school in Reigate in 1966, the bridge was still there and I used it to cross the road safely after I got off the 406 bus on my way home from school. I have very fond memories of Tadworth primary and summer days on the heath at lunch time.

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