Anthony 'Brian' Hingley

Anthony 'Brian' Hingley

He was born in the early 1930's, the only child of Horace and Fay, and lived in Cradley Heath in the Black Country west of Birmingham, UK.
He went to Quarry Bank grammar school in nearby Brierley Hill.
He was invalided out of his national service with pneumonia caught from the fellow in the neighbouring bunk.
In the early fifties he attended teacher training college in Bognor Regis where he met my mother; Audrey Haines.
In the mid fifties, both having qualified and found work as teachers, they married and went to live in a caravan at Hawley Manor near Dartford in Kent.
In 1956 they moved to Church Cottages in Swanley, soon to become 'Old Swanley' or 'Swanley Village' to differentiate it from Swanley Junction.
In the late fifties he taught at Royal Park School in Sidcup, Kent. Some of the pupils who were there at that time remember him, their comments are noted below.
In 1959 or 1960, in Dulwich, whilst on his way home from the school in Battersea where he was teaching, he was knocked off his motorcycle and killed by a hit-and-run driver.
Below are some pictures of him.

My father in his 20s

At the door of Clayton church with my mother
Mum, Dad, me and Great Grandma Hingley
Outside Royal Park school
In the garden alongside the playing fields at Royal Park school
With me, in the paddling pool, at Hawley Manor
With me, in the paddling pool, at Hawley Manor
With me at Northcroft in Cradley Heath
With Mum, at college
With me, children and staff at Royal Park school

Roll your mouse over the thumb-nail images to reveal the larger image in the center.

I remember very little about my father, those who I have met who knew him had nothing but good to say about him, but that is often the way when time clouds memories.

I know he was close to a girl in Cradley Heath who my Mother saw off when she decided that Brian was her man.

I do remember that he could lift me up and bump me on the ceiling. That, when I was scared during a thunderstorm, he carried me out into the weather to show me that there was nothing to fear. I've never been scared of a storm since.

I know that he loved rugby, going to see England play in the Five Nations (as it was then) at Twickenham.

Thanks go to Annabelle Harle for information about him.

Here are some of the comments sent me by pupils of Royal Park School:

From Mel Wenham
It took me a while to remember just who Hingley was, but it suddenly dawned on me that yes I do remember a schoolteacher from Royal Park infant school near Sidcup way back in the mid-fifties. As I recall, I think he had a ginger beard and was a very vibrant teacher who was a great organiser on school sports days each year. I believe he was a very good dancer and was always showing us nippers how to dance the Maypole dance with the female teachers.
From Janice Rush (née Munns)
Yes I do remember your father. I was never in his class and I left in 1957. I remember being a little scared of him but looking back I think that was because of the large beard and loud voice! I can remember him once calling me little butterfly.
From Richard Bridgstock
I have very fond memories of your Dad though I was not the best behaved child and often felt the sting of the slipper administered by him for my misdeeds. He was a very patient man who had a great sense of humour which often had us all in fits of laughter.
I was so sad to learn of his passing for those happy days were for me made happier by him.

If you know anything of him please contact me at simon@riverdale.org.uk

With much help I have created a family tree for my father's antecedents, it can be found Here.