Happiest Days of Your Life
Hello
Happiest Days of your Life 1950 , Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell Margaret Rutherford
I am trying to locate the school in question
So far indications are that it was Little Abbey Preparatory School, Langley Court, Liss near Petersfield. I've drawn a blank on further info. Can you help?
Thanks Simon Ellis
posted by Mike Day @ 4:24 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
I too believe that to be the case: http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=480000&Y=127500&width=500&height=300&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=GB&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=&zm=0&scale=50000&multimap.x=339&multimap.y=67
shows the location but I have not visited to confirm. I think Langley Court is now in multiple occupation. In the film, only exteriors were shot there. All interiors were in the studio. perhaps the station scenes were at the local railway station.
I was a pupil at Little Abbey School from 1969 to 72. I can remember the whole school being allowed to stay up late one evening because the film was being shown on television.
We were given such a rare treat because it had been filmed there, although known as Langley Court at the time of filming, and to which name it reverted in the late 70s when the school closed.
At the time of watching the exterior had changed very little since filming.
I'm a little confused about the interior filming. Certainly some shots meant nothing, but i can also clearly remember many interior shots being our familiar classrooms and dormitories. Certainly the main staricase to the assembly hall, if not filmed on location, was an identical replica to the original.
The building was aslo shown on BBC television in the early 70's when the school was featured in one of their programms. It was broadcast on a Sunday afternoon, BBC 2 because one of the pupils, a lad called Taylor, had won a university scholarship at the age of 12 - despite being profoundly deaf!
I have no doubt that hidden away I'll have numerous photo's of the place and will have a root around when time permits.
I have now visited the location...well almost...it is up a private road and difficult to find amongst a variety of private drives. I also investigated the location of the station where the school inspectors are collected by Alistair Sims and Richard Wattis. The nearby Langley rail station has been radically rebuilt and is unrecognisable now. the path and gate adjacent to the platform in the film could have been at Langley (there is a carpark/goods area ) but nothing to positively confirm so.
Ref: Little Abbey.
The school had a real life situation of pupils joining from another school when Southey Hall Prep School in Bookham closed and the two school amalgamated.
read about it here:
http://www.eastwick-jun.surrey.sch.uk/history/Southey1_jpg.htm
I remember my tenure at Little Abbey School during 1973-1974 clearly. The Headmaster Mr Cameron relocated the school to Langley Court from Newbury, Berkshire in 1965 and remained there until its enforced closure in November 1974.
Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliatt made the historic film of "The Happiest Days of Your Life" in 1949 and released it in 1950.
The location had changed little over the following 25 years. The 76 acres of grounds were unchanged and I can confirm that the interior shots were inside the house, although it was back to front.
I remember Andy McAvoy who remained until July 1974, before graduating to his Public School in the autumn.
The site was later redeveloped into several luxury homes, which are now known as Langley Court East and Langley Court West.
Hi - I was there from about 65-67: has the building itself survived? Remember open days, with Margaret Rutherford visiting. Still pulls the heart strings - don't know why. Strong memories of Mr Cameron, and a lot more too.
I was a pupil at Little Abbey School in the early 70's and left in the summer of 74 before it's decline. I remember Andy and I was friendly with John Westwood. My memories of my time there are horses, goats, making canoes, swimming in a dirty outside pool and rough blue trousers ! Happy days.
The original school was called Byculla and my sister Anne was a pupil there and appeared in the film - the gym scene jumping over a vaulting horse. A long time ago!
I was also at Byculla School in the 50's. I was there for about 9 years. I recently found the prospectus.
I am Sue Schols 9Nee McCall) and Nick name Mackie.
I was at Byculla between 1961 and 65. I remember that every year on the headmistress's birthday we were all hurded into the gym to watch the movie of "the happiest days of your life"
Also we all had to take turns in walkint the dog called Brandy who was the Head mistress's St Bernard!
I was happy there,and the environment was beautiful, although we did not appreciate it then.
I would love to hear from any other people who were there at the same time as me.
sue schols
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