RootsChat.Com

Prep School Life
The site covers the history of the house from the late 17th century until 1963. The last chapter, Prep School Life (1960) covers my time at 'Skippers Hill Manor Preparatory School' and describes the harsh and disciplined life of young boys sent away to a Sussex boarding school to be educated and moulded by strict and often cruel schoolteachers.
Teachers and boys
A number of former teachers are portrayed including Colonel Faro, John Raymond Ward, Mr Mander ('Skip'), Mr Magner, and Maureen Ward (née Magner) and mention is made of a number of boys who were educated at Skippers between 1960 and 1963.
Key findings
Some of the key findings made during the two-year period of research include the discovery of who the real founder was of the prep school in 1945 (biography), the history of Colonel Faro (biography), the history and anatomy of the school's gymnasium, biographies of the wealthy private owners of Skippers Hill Manor before it became a school, and the school's connection with 'Tavistock Hall' school, Heathfield, Sussex.
School's anniversary
The website was researched specially to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the school in October 2020 and invites former Skippers boys to share their school stories with me, especially those who were at the school between 1960 and 1963.
Sussex Archive
A copy of my findings has been lodged with the East Sussex Records Office, 'The Keep', Falmer, Nr. Brighton, East Sussex. The printed document can only be consulted in their Library, and will not be updated. That will be done on the website.
Contact
Please contact the website if you would like to share any photographs or memories of the school or of schoolboys, or if you remember the names of any of the schoolmasters or schoolmistresses who taught at Skippers between 1955 and 1963.

Moderator comment: Website address removed at OP's request

Researching 'Skippers'
I'm currently researching the ownership of Skippers Hill Manor, near Five Ashes, East Sussex, from build date to 1945. This research forms part of a 'monograph' I am writing about 'Skippers', which includes a concise history of the ownership of the building prior to it becoming a boys school in 1945.

Monograph
Most of the monograph contains a personal and detailed account of boarding-school life between 1960 and 1963.

Floor plan
I have also managed to draw a detailed floor plan of the buildings (ground floor) from memory. A copy of the monograph, with floor plan, will be sent to the school shortly, so that they can have a better idea of their roots.

Former pupils' recollections
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who attended the school during those years, or from anyone with photos of the school or of the masters, or anything about the ownership of 'Skippers' between 1893 and 1945, so prior to J.R. Ward turning it into a school. Any of your recollections of those times (1960-1963) would be most welcome.

School photograph
I have a digitised copy of the boys at 'Skippers' taken opposite the Refectory in 1962. Ca. 90 boys. None of the masters are in the photograph. If you were at school then and would like a copy of this B&W 'panoramic' photo, please let me know.

Former masters or teachers
If you have photographs of former teachers who were at the school between 1958 and 1965, please let me know, and especially so if you can identify the master concerned. Does anyone out there have a photo of J.R. Ward, or of the school building ca. 1958-1965? I'm particularly trying to find more details about Colonel Faro and his origins, who taught Latin, as well as the origins and background of Mr Mander ('Skip') who, as I recall, taught mathematics and ran these Sea Scouts there (1960-1963).

Archive | Alumni society
There is no archive that I know about for the dates in question, nor was there an alumni society set up for boys leaving the school in the 1960s. Consequently, it is virtually impossible to trace any of former pupils without resorting to advertising in 'The Times'.