I am delighted to learn that this site exists and I hope to contribute some reminiscences in due course. A few months ago J.L.Smith, John Mair and I went to visit Jim Golland who is hale and still living in Pinner. It was a heat-warmingreunion. I am also much in touch with Paul and Valerie Oliver who now live near Oxford, Paul having been until recently a prpofessor at Brookes University in Oxford. He is in touch with several former masters of the school, including Jim KinCaid and Major Skillen whose reminiscences pour from him in fluent and fascinating torrents. Yours sincerely, Anthony Smith (1949-56)
I was at the school between 1970 and '77. I entered the school in form 1K and then proceded through the 'D' stream. In 1K my form prefect was Michael Portillo.
I have my own web page at http://www.markwigmore.co.uk if anyone is interested.
Greetings from Mark Wigmore's father - he pointed out your site to me today! I am a writer and have just ventured on to the Web at www.zaconline.com in an attempt to inject some slight touch of literacy to the lesser spotted herd of web-writers! The site is not yet up and running, though it is reachable - I have to do some layout tweaking yet. Best wishes. Paul Wigmore.
What a wonderful site! I've been editing The Old Gaytonian magazine since 1983 and retire this year with my 18th - the Millennium issue. Don't yet know if there will be a successor - I hope so. Recent copies coming shortly to Webmaster Jeff. He should get this year's by airmail in about a month - if he's responded promptly to my invitation to send a fiver i.e. £5 - to OGA Membership Secretary Bob Silsby at 15 Deane Croft Road, Eascote, Middlesex, HA5 1SS - Telephone 020-8868 7627. More another time. I've printed hundreds of stories of Old Gayts over the years. By the way, do I know Paul Wigmore? I'm Colin Dickins, e-mail colin@north-wood.demon.co.uk Tel. 01923 823109.
well I left here in 1969 aged 15 for a life in the midlands i liked the school not the teachers though.
i cannot remember my class but had some perculiar teachers
since then i have travelled the world and had many good experiencies I lived in stanmore and hated latin I remenber Mr avery (the Beak) and have many memories did me some more details of yorself beharps I remember you ?? I had a brother in the sixth form when I was in the 2nd
Regards
Peter Jobber
I was delighted to find your web site. I attended HCS between 1970 and 1977 (by which time it had become Gayton High). As a professional musician (opera singer, composer + music teacher) I was particularly pleased to see the copy of the school song - not that we ever sang it when I was there, but I do remember seeing the booklet in the small room we called the music cupboard (at the back of the music room). I'm afraid that those of us who were music monitors at the time, didn't think much of it. But the passing of time creates nostalgia. I also managed to identify many of the teachers in the 1971 photo.
Best wishes, Bryan Kesselman
30 Oct 2000 Congratulations on your initiative from an Old Codger. Glad to see that something has rubbed off. Pass on my address to anyone who contacts you, Jeff.
Jim Golland (Master 1954-75)
Well fancy that: I do hope this site expands; and that it begins to incorporate longer pieces...having been at that school during a period of real social change, I look back on my time there with a mixture of real gratitude (Geoff D'Arcy, JSG, the Kincaid/Oliver combination, delicately suggesting alternative viewpoints in things like the politically so-well named Afro American Music Society) and genuine horror (the CCF, the School Song, and a host of villains I'm still too nice to mention (at this point anyway).
Peter Fowler - the Soul Candidate in some mock General Election. I lost, of course.
(1956/63)
I think it's a great idea and I shall send the URL to everybody I can think of - I was there from 1955 to 1963 - exciting times both inside and out - like most people I have mixed memories - so much reactionary negativity and insensitivity from those in authority and so much vitality from those without any. I cut my political teeth there - two memories straight off - the cuba debate in 1962 and being expelled for wearing a cnd badge. Others will follow although I think these snippets should be short and sweet - what I really want to know is what happend to the legendary figures of the early sixties - col powell, mick teulon, dave price, dave lockyer, joss mathews, noddy triggs and above all the man who was culturally ahead of his time and the rest of us - george oakenfold. I'd love to hear and can be contacted at geoffwoolf@hotmail.com
Thanks to Jim Golland I have found your fascinating site.
I was at HCS from 1951-1958.
My older brother Anthony (Tony) B Andrews - now a Reverend, with a parish in Kensington (the Portobello Market bit)preceded me from 1945-50.
I was one of AR Simpson's boys (and aHarry Mees got me through some S level history) Jim Golland coaxed me on to the stage - with AD and JL Smith - though he never taught me. Our paths have since crossed through the Pinner Local History Society. I am the President of the Dorset Family History Society.
One day I will give you my full CV, but briefly, after Oxford Univ I qualified as a solicitor and spent many years on development projects in Poole - the fastest growing place in the country which was not a new town or an overspill area in the 1960 - 1980 period. I also had the fun of everything from feasibility to building and Chairing the Trust which runs the largest arts centre in the UK, theatre, concert hall and wotkshops. I became Town Clerk and Chief Executive of Poole in Dorset in 1973, retiring in 1993. I have since been busier than ever in my own consultancy (latterly involved in election advice in South Africa and Pakistan)as well as many voluntary organisation activities.
My contact with Old Gayts is limited - Brian Holley and Bryan Hampton, and a cousin of my wife's, Brian Parker.
Somewhere in the loft I have the School Mags from 1940's to 1960 - I must look them out and provide you with the printing block used on the front cover which will stir some memories!
My e-mail address is ikda@ikda.demon.co.uk and I would be pleased to hear from other Old Gayts.
IAN K D ANDREWS
Well, well well! Here's a blast from the past - that foreign country where they do things differently. I am so glad that I have found this website. I shall follow its development with interest.
I was at HCS from 1955 to 1962 and, like most of your contributors, have mixed memories of the school, its pupils and teachers.
I remember Peter Fowler well - and his 'Rough Boys' - and to this day, in unguarded moments, I can still hear his roof-raising rendition of 'Hit the Road, Jack' ringing in my ears. Hi, Pete! You certainly hit the nail on the head: it was a period of immense change and we were all in the battlefield - although not all of us were leading the charge!
I remember Jim Golland's lessons with affection. Although I was never one of his star pupils, he did get me through A-level English with a reasonable grade - much, I suspect, to the astonishment of both of us.
I have now more or less retired from my career as a professional musician and teacher and although I haven't quite reached the stage of spending all my days pruning the roses, I'm hopefully a long way off starting to push up the daisies!
I would be very happy to hear from any of my old cronies - especially Roger Bowen and David Triggs.
Michael (Alan) Cutter - 1955-62 michaelcutter@btinternet.com
Not sure how I ended up on this site. I had hoped some enterprising soul would put together a web site, so my surfing proved rather fortuitous tonight. I was at HCS from 1968 thru 1973, a stalwart sports member of Preston house, but with little academic interest. In 1978 I moved to Africa, and spent nearly 20 years there. Two years ago we (W&2K) moved to Sydney Australia, where I work as a Director of Cisco Systems. What do I recall? Well, during my tenure at HCS somebody was expelled for manufacturing explosives underneath the main building, and the current graffiti slogan was 'Hotpig' . "Go and wait underneath the clock" meant the death nell, and our 'double' latin period taught by Mr Cowan was murder for an 11 year old. Fond memories playing football on the inner quad with Russell Kent and Max Angliss, two mates I have not had the pleasure of seeing for about 10 years.
I look forward to hearing from Old Gaytonians - Rick Ferguson (rferguso@cisco.com)
Great Web Page !!
I am Keith Greatbatch (HCS 1971-1976) and am in the 1K and 1975 Rugby team photos. What a team that was - first team to ALL be awarded school colours if I remember correctly. I am now In Boston, USA as Global Package Development Manager for Gillette... Keep buying those Mach 3's !! I am in touch with a number of Old Gayts - Tim Davies, Neil Forbes, Neil Shedden, Chris Meyer (Brother in law since 1985)) I look forward to revisiting the site and seeing hearing how other Old Gayts are doing. Steve Banks, is that you, the other winger in the rugby photo ? Very best wishes Keith Greatbatch e-mail kcgreat@OTW.com
I live in Australia now. I caught up with Keith Greatbatch in Melbourne last week - great - we talked for hours, about being 40, wine, women & song...
Enjoyed your site! Mine is at: http://go.to/neils though the only HC photo is of 1K, and you have that on your site now :)
There's a Sex Pistols & Lowlands story there, at: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~neils/life/pistols.htm Lowlands used to be the sister school to HC
People who remember me can email: Neil Shedden neils@vicnet.net.au
The Guest Book's really taking off now, I see. (It's the bit I hit most frequently.) I've put the address in The Old Gaytonian magazine, coming out next week, and there should be a lot more hits coming. How about showing contributions in reverse order, most recent at the top, so that you get the latest news first rather than scroll down every time? Might mean a bit of work, but could be a lot more in a month's time! Colin Dickins. (I have done this in the current guestbook - Jeff Maynard (ed.))
I'd like to be added to your list of Old Gaytonians. I was at Harrow County 1953-56, all in the sixth form. I'm a physics professor at the University of Virginia, where I've been since 1968. You can look me up at http://www.phys.virginia.edu/People/personal.asp?UID=mf1i And, I'm Peter Fowler's brother.
Michael Fowler