Mike Harrison (who was in 3D) writes: In these
photographs lies a tragic story. On May 9th, 1961 I was playing cricket. I
wasn't good enough to be on the pitches at the school site and so I was with the
boys who had rather a long walk down a main road to where the school had other
playing fields. We had to take it turns to carry the equipment, bats pads
etc and the next week it was my turn. I didn't fancy that at all and asked Mr Amos (Swanee!) if I
could switch to Athletics which would have meant I remained at the school site and did not
have to carry the dreaded bags. He agreed asking me if I was serious or just trying
to get out of carrying the bags!! (perceptive or what!) About 6 boys carried the bags and
one called Graham MacFadyen took my place. Inevitably the boys with the bags lagged
behind and on this day as they walked down the main road a lorry ran out of control and
killed Graham.
"Another boy, Malcolm Pyne, was seriously injured. I remember the
funeral and then Graham's parents coming to the school to meet all his classmates. It really was traumatic for everyone involved. I am sure Graham and
Malcolm are in these pictures somewhere.")
David Holmes (who was in 3D) writes (November 2008): "I found the photo and read Mike Harrison's account of Graham MacFadyen's tragic death - being knocked down by a lorry whilst carrying a cricket bag. Mike said that he did athletics that day and missed the accident. I was carrying the bag with Graham ('Mac') who was a good friend of mine. Half way along Gayton Road on that fateful day we realised that we had left the ball behind, and I volunteered to go back for it. I think Malcolm Pyne took the handle of the bag from me. If I hadn't gone back for the ball, I would have been injured also, or worse. I still remember that day even now, and wonder about the tricks that fate can play.
Back Row (L-R): X, Chris Snell, Rapapport, Laurence Lando, Geoff or Jeff Lent, X, Keith Fielding, Graham McFadyen "Mac" (See note 1), Gold, Stubbs, John Denton, Sackville, Gamage, Bilgorri
Centre
Row X, John Reeves, Weston, Northedge, Mike (Min) Carr,
Front
Row Phillips, Pocock (See
note 3),
Note 1.
Graham McFadyen was killed whilst in 3C in an accident on
Note 2.
This boy, whose name I have long forgotten (writes Dick Thwaites), was at HCS for only a short
time. He was American (or perhaps
Canadian) and his father was in
Note 3. Pocock was a new arrival in the school (having come from Tonbridge) and this photo would have been on his second or third day. A few years later he joined the RAF but was tragically killed in a car accident whilst under training.