The confusion surrounding the location of the accident that caused the death of former West Heath headmistress Miss Phyllis Elliott, has finally been cleared up thanks to memories provided by former pupils.

Previously, stories circulated that she drowned in January 1967 while staying at Claydon House in Buckinghamshire. She was connected to the family which owned the estate and this enabled West Heath to relocate there during the second world war.

Others believed the accident occurred close to the East Sussex cottage she had retired to – see previous story which contains an obituary and a copy of Miss Elliott’s death certificate by CLICKING HERE.

After the story appeared on the website last month several old girls sent in details about the death of Miss Elliott, who was known by pupils as ‘P’.

Kay King’s mother, Jean Smith-Wright (Seth-Smith and Erskine-Hill), lived close to Miss Elliott in Ewhurst Green, East Sussex and the family saw her fairly frequently.

Kay says: “I was always under the impression that the accident happened in the swimming pool at the back of Miss Elliott’s property. She owned a barn, which had converted Oast houses around it, so it may have been a communal pool. It was on a slightly raised area with a view down over the Rother Valley and Bodiam Castle.

“It was thought that she heard the hounds from the local hunt and went out to investigate. She wasn’t very steady on her feet. Therefore, she could have tripped and either hit her head or drowned from the shock of the cold water.

“On the day she died my sister Rosie Gwatkin (nee Seth-Smith) and I were called to Miss Rudge’s office. Ruth was very shaken and told us about Miss Elliott’s accident before she announced the news to the school at prayers.

Caroline Martin remembers the news being announced at school. She said: “When we were informed by Ruth Rudge that Miss Elliott was dead, we were told that she had gone outside to watch the local hunt go by. She had then accidentally stepped backwards and fallen into the swimming pool. That is all the info we got. Why Miss Elliott, who could presumably swim, had drowned was never discussed.”

Delphie Stockwell (nee Balfour) who was at West Heath from 1961-67, said Miss Elliott was still involved in the school for a while after her retirement in 1965 as she used to return to teach some classes.

She remembers Miss Elliott’s untimely death very clearly because of a strange premonition. Delphie explains: “One night I had a vivid dream about P.

“I was down in the school kitchen where we could go to fill up our ‘hotties’ from a large water boiler. In Oak we could also fill up our biscuit tin.

“In my dream, I was helping myself to biscuits when P came silently into the kitchen to find me at the biscuit tin. With a terrifying grin she said to me ‘What are you doing darling?’ with an emphasis on the word ARE.”

“I’m not at all given to premonition but the next morning when Ruth asked Oak to gather together I just knew what she was going to say. Ruth was very distressed and told us that the previous day P had gone out for a walk early in the morning. She had slipped and fallen into a pool and drowned.

“I was 16 at the time and remember all this quite clearly. Before Ruth went to P’s funeral she told us she loved Faure’s Requiem. We clubbed together and bought her an LP recording of it.”

Thanks to everyone who helped fill in the gaps surrounding Miss Elliott’s demise, and if anyone has any further memories, please send them in to us.