Talk:Haberdashers' Hatcham College

Dubious

The entire section Student Problems seems dubious. It looks as if this article about a real college is being conflated with something from Harry Potter.

There is only one citation given, to the college itself; to no surprise it says nothing about a haunting. Google does seem to turn up some references; but how many of these are reliable I can't say.

I've removed a line bordering on nonsense but left the section intact for now; still I think it should be omitted entirely unless some sort of reliable sources can be produced. John Reid 18:11, 9 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

This myth is extremley widespread throughout the school with various teachers claiming its true. A girl apparantly hung herself in the bell tower with her blood covering the walls. Since it could not be scrubbed of the walls were painted red. The bell tower in question is located at the the lower school, jerningham road site and is clearly visible from outside the school. Access is limited as it is home to student welfare offices and i know for a fact that the walls are painted red.

15:37, 12 February 2006 86.138.98.63

Show your sources and I'll buy it -- a newspaper article, a coroner's report. Even a teevee interview. At this point it's an unsupported rumor and the next time I come by here I intend to remove the entire section. Sorry. John Reid 05:22, 18 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

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In fact it was a school myth, as is the case in most schools. The girl in question was supposedly Minnie M Skues, a pupil at the school in the late 19th century, whose name appears on the honours boards several times (at least 5 last time I looked). However, as in most cases of school myth, the story is, at best, apocryphal. It was certainly the story that was passed down to me when I was at the school. It was also told to my mother when she was there. Which would have been fine, had not Minnie M Skues visited the school one speech day when my mother was a pupil. So student problems, no. But school stories, definitely.

Lynne Morgan (HAHGS 1973-1980)

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I am actualy a stundent there right now, and i have been inside. Although the story may seem a little tall, when the students was new they pestered the teachers about this story about this. According to the teachers, it is true, and even the one of the welfare councilours said it was true.

Apperently she was driven to it by the teachers. I also do not think it is not strong enough to support weight, infact the disabled lift is on it and i have seen with my own eyes the people in wheelchairs use this.

The fact that it is haunted is out of the question, i have been there. No spooky mists, flickering lights or electircal appliances running by themselves. But i did see a note on the wall, dont remember it word for word, but i basicly said things about remembering the person. I can go again and get it written down (although i would get into trouble). And as for the above, it seems this minnie was around in the late 1800s, so it would seem unlikely the note was written by her...becasue it is in felt tip.

I dont really think it should be removed entierly, but change the title of the sub-section to School Myths or something along those lines. Very popular story.

Young Arin year 8 student

Minnie M Skues appears on the honours boards 7 or 8 times. She supposedly has qualifications in Zoology, German, French and something to do with Apothecaries and the honours boards claim she attended oth Newnham College and Cambridge University. Suspicious? No... Laura Blessitt, year 9 student.

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Not for the time Laura. You'll see a number of names appearing several times on the honours boards in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Oh how educational standards have fallen :0) The honours boards are an accurate record. Proof has to be provided before you get your name on them. It always has. And Newnham is one of the Cambridge Colleges, so she wouldn't have had to go far to do courses there. Check the dates again. It was quite common for people to do 2 subjects at once. Still is in fact.

Lynne Morgan

famous OAs

I've just added Harry Price, who I think is a an OA to be proud of.

However, I can find no mention on the net of - and have never heard of - either 'Vaughn Savage' or the Snakeheads leader (I'm assuming that some Schoolboy is indulging in shameless self-promotion!).

So next time I am taking them off the list. Ian richardson June 2006