Herne Bay Public School

[tilly25]

I am looking for information regarding the above school, apparently they held the Oxford shorthand competition in 1916 which was recorded in the Herne Bay Press on 9/12/1916.
Any information regarding the school and how to find register of old pupils would be appreciated

[mckha489]

I could be wrong, but the way I interpret that article is that it was a contest open to all boys at public schools. Not that a school was named  Herne Bay public School.

The winners “belonging to the New College contingent of Herne Bay College”

[tilly25]

What does “ new College Contingent of Herne Bay College mean.
I had hoped this would solve the mystery as to where my father went to school. His brother went to Eastbourne College but have never found his school, as lead to believe he was schooled abroad as was fluent French speaker

[mckha489]

What years would he have been at college?

Advertisement for 1906

Herne Bay New College. Professional, commercial and Engineering sides. 
Excellent science laboratories and workshops. Cadet Corps and Rifle Range, gymnasium and swimming. Separate bedrooms
Pretty and extensive grounds for cricket and football.

So I am a bit confused by the notes with the two pcs here.


https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herne_Bay_College,_Herne_Bay_Kent.jpg

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eddington_College.jpg

[mckha489]

In 1915 Herne Bay college and Herne Bay New College combined and operated from the New college buildings.
Then at the end of 1917 they moved up to Oxford  to premises “occupied by a Ladies college near the Parks”. (I suppose the ladies had to go home and knit socks).

This from The Oxford Chronicle Nov 23 1917.
There is a bit more history in the article.

Looks as though they were back at the Eddington grounds as Herne Bay College by January 1919.

[tilly25]

My father Harry Behn born 1901 Nestor Cheshire, took his stepfathers surname of Shawcross following an acrimonious divorce of his parents. So he would have been 15 when the shorthand competition took place, I have never been able to find what happened during his early years, not recorded on 1911 census. So finding this information about Herne Bay I thought I may have cracked the enigma

[mckha489]

The Harry Shawcross who won the shorthand medal was “of Liverpool”

[tilly25]

That’s correct, his father was a sugar merchant working in Liverpool of German origin  2 generations ago

[mckha489]

He would have still been Behn in 1911 wouldn’t he? If the divorce wasn’t until 1912.

I can see his father in 1911. Where was his mother?