Fire watching at Newhaven

Julie Coleman (nee Thompson) was born in Newhaven in July 1921.

Julie began her teacher training in 1939, moving to Streatham to take up her place at the teacher training college under the auspices of the University of London. Because of the war, the college closed to students in September 1940 and instead, Julie did her teaching practice in Woking, Surrey with one of her aunts, who was a teacher. After Christmas the whole college was evacuated to Cardiff.

After passing with honours, Julie returned to Newhaven to teach at Newhaven Infants’ School in South Road, on the site where Seahaven Swimming Pool now stands. It was here that Julie and another teacher did fire watching twice a week.

Julie spent all her working life teaching in Newhaven and was a familiar face to those who went to school here between the 1940s and late 1970s.

Placement:

Seahaven Swimming Pool (Wave Leisure), Chapel Street, Newhaven.

Acknowledgements

This recording was made by Jenny Flood in 2006. Sadly, Julie Coleman died in 2011.

The recording was produced by Mike Flood.

Code Ref: CCTHG