To Clare Lidlington: I really hope that someone will send you a reply (which years ?) Those crimes that you recount makes me wonder where is PETER PHILIP, of my era ?
I have found your site very interesting as i have wanted to find out more about my dads (Bruce Lidington)high school. i had been told a few memories including a (little) prank on a maths teacher nicknamed Chalky White , wrapping a teachers car in toilet paper while the mayor visited the school.Last but not least getting suspended for smoking and betting on school grounds my nan kept the letter.If any one has any memories of Bruce Lidington pls reply to sheila.lidingtonNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@tiscali.co.uk
I happened to stumble across the site and have spent a wonderful couple of hours browsing through the various articles so many thanks to those who obviously spend a great deal of time maintaining it.
I spent every spare hour playing sport at school, failed dismally academically (thankfully not irreparably), but thoroughly enjoyed every minute and would do it all again tomorrow if I had the chance. Very little hope of that happening, alas, but rekindling old friendships would go a long way so if anyone would like to contact me I should be delighted to hear from them.
Tarun Badiani
P.S. The photographs are absolutely shocking.
For Brian Hester
Brian - have you put your prefect's cap on again and put me in detention? A simple greeting from myself to you was rejected by your anti-spam software.
If you don't wish to hear from me (or others) a one-line message to that effect suffices.
Roy.
I enjoyed Alex Bateman's leering department, but I was delighted by the small flight of stars opposite the clock.
The photograph of "cock house" 1948-9 surprised me in that so many of the senior boys are shown wearing grey flannel suits rather than blazers and the staff, of whom I recognize Whiffy King, George Thorne, Sammy Watson and Bill Duke, are all gownless. I always understood that "keeping up standards" was one of Simpson's mantras. This photo belies this. Why were all the flags out?
This is getting a bit elitist, where did the fun go?
Last Saturday I had a visit from Tom Lake who left HCS in 1963. We had a good natter about families and careers and all-in-all it was a delightful visit. This evening I received two e-mails from Old Gayts and I am delighted to hear of their respective careers and successes. I am amazed at the successes of old boys and the far flung places at which they now 'reign' If anybody cares to contact me, I shall be delighted to receive news of them.
We now have a batch of unidentified Gayton High School photographs on the website. If you were at Gayton High, please take a look and see if you can help:- www.jeffreymaynard.com/harrow_county/unidentifiedgayton.htm
Harvey Shield, drummer of the Harrow County groups The Madisons and Episode Six, remembered for "Drum Break" in several early 1960s Xmas Entertainments, is singing with his A Capella Doo Wop group, The Mighty Echos (www.mightyechoes.com), at Danny's Skylight Room, 346 W.46th St., New York, Saturday Night, January 3rd at 7 pm. Reservations 212-929-2242
HCS blazers: One poor (literally) chap in about 1948, wore an army battledress more-or-less dyed green. Dr ARS was not amused.
1996 eh!
Let's try '66
Leonard Lyle was the school outfitters by 1996...barathea was so much nicer than the wooly stuff. (Probably explains why I am to be seen in jeans and T shirt nowadays!)
seasonal good wishes etc...
This is a great page Jeffrey - we even receive it in Tasmania. Keep up the good work !!! Robbie. ( D.I. Roberts 1935-42)
Alan Bunting explains complexities of blazer purchases that I did not realise existed! When I started school in 1940, I was taken to Mann, Lightbody and (I believe) Wheatley which was a bespoke tailor at the site where Alan describes Wheatleys as being. I was measured up and fitted for my first blazer but the second one came from Bakers. In between I got by with a sports coat which was allowed towards the end of the war when times were 'tight'. To add to the snob appeal of Mann, Lightbody and W., they had a distinctive badge design, not the rounded shield we all know, but a rather ornate scalloped affair. The different design of shield appeared on the caps as well. I wonder if Alan Bateman has an example? I recall vaguely that M. L. and W. went out of business but it sounds as if the Wheatley element continued. The only other Lightbody I have met was a heavy-set mining engineer employed as Master Shaft Sinker at a gold mine in South Africa. He claimed to be related to the tailor in Harrow but I must not digress!
I've recently perused the HCS website's wonderful Guest Book for the first time for several months. Three recent entries prompt recollections/comments. 1. It's nice to learn from his son that my chemistry master in the early 50s, Mr Butler, is still with us. Of course, I never knew his name was Charles. I recall his tall, upright bearing - a ramrod straight back - and his measured but unhurried gait. Also he never got agitated, which might well have played a part in his longevity. 2. While 'War & Peace' was being read by the Guest Book contributor who served nepotistic (there must be such a word) time as a porter at Stanmore Village station, some of us were busy placing pennies on the rails a mile down the track at the Vernon Drive/Wemborough Road foot crossing, to be squashed flat (the pennies, not us!) by tank locos with LMS numbers like 20 and 43. 3. Where did parents go to purchase their sons' HCS blazers in the late 40s & early 50s? I recall a clear class distinction. If you came from a well-heeled family, your folks lashed out on a prestigious blazer from Charles Baker, the relatively upmarket outfitters, whose emporium was I think just next to Harrow Tech in Station Road. Their garments were purpose made for HCS boys, the give-away being the school badge directly embroidered on to the breast pocket. Financially middle-of-the-road parents (mine was one such) patronised Wheatley's, 30 yards further up Station Road, next to the National Provincial Bank (facing College Road), where they sold you a perfectly adequate green blazer and a separate badge which your mother had to sew on. If funds were really tight, you went to the boy's clothing department in Soper's and bought a blazer in roughly the right shade of green and again Mum had to sew on the badge - which probably had to come from Wheatley's.
To Jon Butler: I remember your father well from my days in IIId in 1948. A placid man who could teach. I went from 30th place in the second term to 3rd in the third term, but your Dad reported that I didn't use my brains (What did we say about the rest of the form ?) Give him my regards.
I'd like to send my seasonal greetings and all my deep, genuine thanks to the old boys of Harrow County who have sent such kind, moving messages to me. Although I'm still not in the best of health, I've begun working my way, slowly, through all the messages and references, starting with those who actually wrote to me (with addresses on top. Hint)They are a source of great pride and pleasure to me. Many, many thanks. Gerry Lafferty.
Tony Youdale: we were in the same cross country team circa 1951/2. Remember? Nice to know you,re still around but I'd better watch my spelling! Stuart Johnston Sydney
Alex You spelt leering wrong. I am interested that there is a leering department!!
Alex You spelt leering wrong. I am interested that there is a leering department!!
The last line of that last message should say that the office is NOW learning development, not NOT learning Development!!
Replying to the disturbed junior prefect. The room in question was indeed originally the kitchen which had a dumb waiter from the lobby larder to the foot of the spiral stairs. After the food was cooked it was taken down to the landing below in another dumb waiter. Sometime after the war it became a class room, and by the 1960s was the prefects common room.
When I went to the School in 1980, it had become the office of one of the year heads, and later the reprographic department. The room is now home to the school archives.
As you walk through the room, there is at the further end now a fire exit leading into what is now the male staff toilet, which in turn leads into the staff room (not used much now as the site is so large each department has their own office).
As for the rooms below, if you stand with your back to the clock, and look at the small flight of stars in front of you, there were originally a pair of swing doors there, and the rooms formed the dining room. Later the swing doors were removed, the two sides walled off with the left one made into the male staff toilet, the right an office (in my day the secretaries office, Mrs Chase et al.) The right office is not learing development.
At some risk, judging by some of the comments about the teaching staff, I can offer the information that my father, Charles Butler, who taught chemistry (in the 50's?) is still very fit and well, enjoying retirement, now nearing 90.
Note: He sent me to Watford Grammar!
In response to Robert Paige, no apologies are needed in a mixup between the two Harrow schools. Harrow School produced one dunce, Winston S. Churchill. Harrow County School has produced thousands, most of whom seem to be successful and content with life; like me.
Re unidentified photo no:23.
This is my form 3L 1973/74. Names as follows, reading L-R in each case:
Back: Graham Carpenter,Mark Lewis, Bruce Reynolds,Jon Holme,Nick Sloane, Nick Jurascheck
3rd;Karim ??, Martin Bazen,Ian Tomalin,Steven ??, Jon Mortimer,Bob Mainprize, Michael Cowen, Phil Cotterill, Neil Clarke.
2nd: Paul Decker, Mark Decker, Michael Grinsted, Jon Florsheim, Chris Hurst, David Harman, Asif Saifuddin, ???,
Front: Richard Clarke, David Solley, Peter Gowling, Mr G Lloyd-Jones, Michael Zeitlin, Steven Catton, Victor Bassett (or Matthews??)
Absent: Jon Adams
Hope this is helpful. I can offer some other archive material e.g. staff cricket team, Rugby Tour to Narbonne 1976, but I don't have a scanner, so will need a postal address tto send them to.
Best wishes,
Gsreth Lloyd-Jones (Staff 71-78)
Unidentified Athletics 1 - Mr. Crinson with a team, mid to late 1960s?
Possible identification:
Back row second from left - possibly Alan Barnett (became prefect, had younger brother)
Front row second from right - Philip Saktreger (deceased).
Colin Dickens. Have tried to contact you at the two e-mail addresses I have for you without success. My new(ish) e-mail address is: drtpalmerNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com
Unidentified Photo #1: Back Row,2nd from right is Roy Moodie 2nd Cricket XI 1949:Back Row right is me(with tie).
I continue to read some of the messages posted here with amazement.It's as if a school other than that I attended from 1944-51 is being described.None of my teachers ever deliberately struck a student,indeed I am sure they would never dream of doing so,and the only case of corporal punishment that I can recall was one given by the headmaster to one of my 5th form class-mates for bringing a pornographic poem to school entitled 'The New Typist'.And I remember that because of its uniqueness.Perhaps things changed for the worse after I left!
Alex
Whilst not really being able to help with all of the old pictures, I'd just like to comment on the one that's taken in front of the cricket changing rooms.
I'm surprised you're asking which year (ha ha). Just take a look at the guy standing at the very front of the steps, check the flares!!! I seem to remember flares being the height of 'fashion' in the mid 70's. I don't recognise any of the faces so, I'll safely assume the pic was taken in either '76 or '77.
See wot you mean about the speling. They must have stopped teeching it after 1942
I believe you sent me an e-mail concerning my Aunt, Margaret Swindale, who taught at Harrow County Boys School around 1941 or 1942. I am afraid the e-mail has disappeared into the æther but my aunt informs me she doesn't recognise the photgraph you referenced. However she has one or two interesting anecdotes of her teaching practice.
Women staff were definitely not welcomed at the boy's school and she was forbidden entry to the staff common room. Instead she was allowed to drink her tea (on her own) in a 'broomcupboard' alonside her bike!
Today's papers are showing the lowly place that Gayton High now occupies in the lowerarchy of education in Harrow. Whilst Grammar Schools, which would not have been able to compete with HCS come top. What a sad comment on the loss of a great school, despite its problems with a few staff who were to quick with the slipper etc.
Dr Laurence Lando 1957 - 1964
The disturbed junior prefect is not far off the mark. There was definitely a large piece of board on the right hand side looking from the entrance which, when removed, provided a panoramic view of the staff room toilet area!
From the description of the room at the top of the circular staircase I believe you are talking about what used to be the kitchen. There was a dumb waiter in one corner that with a bit of care you could ride down to the basement but it was a cardinal sin if you were caught at it.
I've just had a weird flashback. You will remember the prefects common room up the circular staircase. At the far end of the room was a small room or walk in cupboard, which it is rumoured once gave privacy to a certain member of staff and a senior prefect. Before you reach the far end there was a threadbare settee on the right, against the wall, facing the windows. Beside it, on occasions, was a black and white television with a coat hanger aerial. But behind it. What was behind it? My flashback suggests that there was large piece of board that when removed revealed an opening into.. well, shall we say, a staff area. Is any of this true or is it a distorted and somewhat disturbing false memory?
My apologies to all concerned at Harrow. It seems I was mistaken and Mr. Edmund S. Ions was a HEATON Old Boy. :-)
Can nothing be done about the poor quality of the spelling in this guest book?
Generations of English masters must be turning in their graves.
Does Clifford Walters have access to priviledged information? what does he know about the elevation of Jeff our webmaster? I do not refer to the organ fund. Will HCBS be celebrating Lord Maynard of Gayton/Sheepcote?
as a computer illiterate,this experience has been totally fascinating.i will return.j
The Harrow-Stanmore railway! My father was Station Master of Harrow/Wealdstone and Stanmore from 1953 (after the crash) till his retirement in 1964. As a sixth former, I got a summer job (the joys of nepotism) as the porter/everything else on Stanmore Station; and, so busy and hectic was the job in 1963 that I managed to read both 'War and Peace' and 'The Lord of the Rings' in the eight week block before starting university.
Incidentally, working on the Harrow & Wealdstone station at that time was a foreman called Foskett. He taught me all I needed to know about class consciousness and cynicism: one morning, standing with him on No 2 platform, he stood next to me, flag in hand, berating the bowler hatted gents running down the stairs to catch the train to Broad Street or Euston. At the time I simply found his attitude astonishing - he loathed them. Then, right on cue, one particularly finely suited man ran up to Foskett and asked 'how do I get to Dalston?'.
'By train', Foskett replied, winking at me, 'by train, sir', and walked off hurriedly.
What on earth would Foskett have made of the imperative to tell his customers to 'have a nice day?'
One or two points.
I note the presence of a Mr Foxwell on the site. In the history of the Harrow-Stanmore Railway there is a picture of a Mrs Foxwell attending the last day of operations on the line in 1964. Any relation?
Re the first rugby pic of Bob Tyler and a young team, I believe the first rugger bugger on the back row is a Mr Lacey, possibly ex Stanburn. Far right of row two seems to be Alan Kon (ex Brum University).
Will try to identify some more - but it's good to see that Colin Dickins has started this task. Leave some for the rest of us, Colin!
Michael.
Dear Maynard May I say that you have formed a really superb website for the school - there is so much that I have only been able to look at a fraction of your material. Two points occur to me. You have photographs titled Kenton House 1944-45 and 1945-46. What I notice is how many people are missing (including myself in both years) Where were all the others ? I can think of a dozen or more boys in my Form who are not there, though there are some boys who are present in each picture. I distinctly remember being in a couple of pictures taken in this traditional location, thoug my memeory tells me that they were Form pictures only, and not House pictures - perhaps the House pictures were for Good Boys only ?
regarding the History of the Scout Troop (indeed one might mention this point in respect of the general history of the School) there is the barest skeleton of what the Troop did for the War Effort including special camps such as, on one occasion to cut timber for pit props , in Devon, and another in Suffolk, to get the wheat harvest in. Indeed, in one term, I should guess it was in 1944, one form, Lower Five, I think, was 'let off' all school work, in order to cycle to Harrow Weald every morning to get the potato harvest in !! Lower Five, in which I appeared, was a form then in existance for boys who were not clever enough to go into the Fifth Form to take the School Cerificate, but who were too embarassingly large to stay in the Fourth Form !!
I look forward to going through further pages in the course of time,
Yours sincerely,
Clifford Walters 1940-1945
Most of my time at school(40-47)was under the relatively benign administration of Randall Williams but my feelings are much the same as David Foxwell's. If there were any criticism to be levelled I would place it in the field of career guidance. With a few exceptions, the staff were fundamentally academics who were comitted to teaching. Most of them did a good job, or at least tried to. In retrospect I believe their acquaintance with the "big world out there" was not great. Most of us were left as a consequence to choose careers on our own. Could this have been a good thing?
Mr. Paige, I was interested to read your exchange with Phil Chesterman. It may well be that from your reference to a Harrow School old boy that you are asking your question on the wrong website. Let me explain. Harrow School is the famous public school located on top of Harrow on the Hill. Public school is really a misnomer because in fact, it is a very expensive private school. Perhaps the most famous old boy was Winston Churchill. Our school was Harrow County School which was located at the bottom of the hill! This was a true public or state school. Needless to say with them at the top of the hill and us at the bottom, there was a constant rivalry. I don't know if Harrow School has their own website where you may be able to trace this gentleman. By the way, I am not so far away from you here in Atlanta. I'll take this opportunity to endorse David Foxwell's comments. David, your exepriences of the school and sentiments expressed are very similar to mine. I remember you very well and I think your nickname was inevitably " Foxy" Best regards to all
Re: Sherlock Holmes in Dallas etc
Ion's publisher is: Congdon & Weed
I'm sure they'll have contact info
Re: Guest Book entry of Mr. Phil Chesteman. Thank you for your question on the guest book. This is not a spoof, although I am certain it must assuredly lead one to believe that it is . :-) I am a resident of Irving, Texas, USA and a member of the Dallas (Texas, USA) Historical Society. Believe it or not, there really is a book by the name of "Sherlock Holmes in Dallas" by Edmund Aubrey, which in turn is the pen name of Mr. Edmund S. Ions. Sometime ago I read a reference to a "Professor Edmund Ions" that he was a "Harrow School Old Boy" .But, for the life of me, I can't find it again ! :-) I hope this might explain a few details and any other questions will be gladly answered. I do find a lot of the entries on the Guest Book to be highly interesting if mystifying, but I suppose if you were to visit the Dallas Historical Message Board you might find them to be equally so. :-) Thank you again for your reply and any information on Mr.Ions/Aubrey will be appreciated.
Re: Robert Paige (of doubtful date)
Sir: If you could identify yourself, someone could help. The title sounds like a "House Concert" spoof. Knowing you better might help us to explain what a spoof is. Are you an Old Gayt or whatever ?
Unidentified photos:- 1. (From left) Bernard Lord, Dave Maddox, x, x, Derek or Roy Norman, x,x Of the girls I can identify the one in the middle as Shirley Jones (sister of Ian who went from Longfield to UCS). She was at HCS Girls, so presumably a netball match against our sportsmen - if there are seven in a team. Probably 1952. 2. Peter Mettler, ?Tony Cresswell, Ron Simpson, ?Michael Dean, x, ?Tom Stanley, x. Probably 1952. 3. Recognise, but can't recall names. ?1948 intake 4. Is that Mike Harrison back left? 5. 1949 or 1950 intake 9. Surely Mike Harrison back row 3rd from right. 15. Several familiar. ?1950 intake. David Drinkwater middle row 3rd from left. Last two on right of front row are surely Clive Pigram and David Westcott. Is it David Dee on Crinson's left? 16. Back 2nd left is Tony (sorry, can't remember surname at the moment; used to play hooker). Is 7th from left Howard Collins? ?1951/2 intake. 29. I recognise almost everyone. Nearly all 1947 intake. Contemporaries circulated. Will supply full list when they come back to me. 30. Mike Harrison on Crinson's left.
new photos 7/12/2003 advance 6th modern 1959:-
back row...barry norton--willets,ray sewell front row...chris grubb.mr. goff and unknown
Unidentified photographs-can you help:- Senior cross-country 1959 Back row-3rd. from left.....Tony Bush Front row..from left...Ray Sewell,Waddington,Mr. Crinson,Dave Golby and Chris Grubb
Re Jeff Maynard's unidentified photos; in No.21 I recognise Gareth Smith, Dennis Orme and Ian Barnfather, if that helps
Att:Mr Foxwell Your comments were very well recieved . I had some wonderful moments at Harrow County and some truly wonderful guidance. My comments were simply speaking a grudge to one particular teacher.They were childish. I must focus on the good in all life brings , and all life has given. Thank you for your wisdom.
We are trying to identify some photographs that are in the school archives without labels. They date from about 1950 to 1980. Have a look at this link and see if you can help: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/harrow_county/unidentified.htm
I am trying to locate a British Author, Mr. Edmund S.Ions,author of "Sherlock Holmes in Dallas", written under the pen name of "Edmund Aubrey." Somewhere :-) I remember seeing his name mentioned in connection with Harrow Grammar School. Any replies and information will be appreciated.
Robert Paige Irving, Texas , USA Member of Dallas Historical Society
I was at HCS from 1957 - 1964ish
I cannot relate to many of the critical comments about harshness, cruelty and indifference perpetrated by masters at the school. Perhaps I went to a different school to some of the commentors. Certainly there were good and bad teachers as there were more able or less able students. I meandered indifferently through various lower streams quietly enjoying myself. I do not recall any teachers abandoning me as I was not oxbridge material. All tried to nurture me to the best of their ability and more to the point to the best of my ability.
I am comfortable with my achievements at school and since leaving school with my achievements in life. I also believe that it is of no use to look back with regret or forwards with anticipation but to live in the here and now.
Went to Canada in 1977. Great seeing some of the old faces. Hello to any who can remember. If I met the old French teacher- Mr Morrell?? I would give him the "brush" for all those times, and surely Mr X the cane. My buttocks bled you bastard
David Palmer, where are you? We exchanged e-mails a year or two ago and I sent a note of it to Brian Evans, another of our contemporaries who has just emerged from OG oblivion. I copied it to you, only to find that you no longer exist! Not at the address I have, anyway. Tell us your new e-mail address.
I FIND THIS WEBSITE VERY INTESTING AND GIVES ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HARROW COUNTY SCHOOL FOR BOYS. AS I AM A FORMER STUDENT OF GAYTON HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1994 TO 1996. I COULD NOT FIND MY NAME IN THE FORMER STUDENTS REGISTER. IF YOU HAVE ON INFORMATION ABOUT ME IN YOUR FILES COULD YOU PLEASE REPLY TO MY E MAIL.
I forgot "Beaky" and George, his organ and the opening of the new hall: the school song really raised the roof. Even "Square" congratulated us.
Congratulations on the website. I was there from 1947 to 1953. Remembering "Square", "Swanny", Wiffy", and the second form huts. But most of all "the fifth rate tin-pot band". .
You got the price of the dress the second time around Roy. Four pound would have been very steep. I recall when about the same time my father told my grandfather he was earning £500 a year, the old boy remarked that was nearly £10 a week and that he never expected to see a child of his earn that kind of money! The school in those days charged a fee of four guineas each term but there were reductions according to some kind of means test.
Oops! Sorry that last one, "three and eleven three" was of course three shillings and eleven-pence three-farthings - just short of four shillings, not four pounds as I said. Colin will say that I've been at the Jacobs Creek again.
I believe though that we export stuff like that to unsuspecting people north of here. Roy.
Certainly this site induces nostalgia. I remember my mother dragging my reluctant self into Sopers in Station Road Harrow during the 1940's and complaining that the dress that she wished to buy was priced at "three and eleven three" - in other words, three pounds and eleven pence three farthings
"Why not four pounds" she would say, "just who do they think they are fooling?"
Today of course in Brisbane, times have changed. "While I am out at bridge" my wife says, "Woolworths has rock-melons at $2. Slip in and buy one, as you have nothing else to do."
During this period of "nothing else to do" I slide furtively into Woolworths to find rock-melons priced at $2.99. Women are picking them up and sniffing them. Thinking to myself that it takes all sorts, I grab a melon and take it home.
Later, as my wife distributes succulent freshly cut slices of melon to her friends, she remarks "Not as good as I would have wished, but my husband picked it up somewhere for two dollars".
From my hiding place, I pretend not to hear and pound away at my computer keyboard.
Like several others, I have been plagued with this spam-scam from various countries, mostly in West Africa. I got rid of the menace by instructing my message box to reject any message that contains the name of any West African country, It seems to work well. There are people in this world who apparently get jollies from playing along with the scammers and the publishing the correspondence which on occasion, at least to a warped old mind like mine, gets quite amusing. For an example, see http:/www.nigerian419fraud.freeserve.co.uk.
Irony, is that the word ? I have lived and worked in West Africa in recent years and still make frequent business trips to Nigeria. Despite sending hundreds of emails, headed letters, handing out many business cards etc., I only received about one 'greedy fool bait' note a month. I made my first post on this site on Sunday and West African SPAM (not the famous and nutritious Ghanaian luncheon meat) has been hitting me at the rate of five a day ever since. Guys, you need to take a look at this or at the very least put a health warning on the 'Add Your Comments' page.
Min Vincent - Many thanks, got your email. Great note. I will reply, but I'm curious...What exactly will be my share of the $376 million you have in this dormant account ?
Ken - Excellent. Thanks for my mention in dispatches. I will make contact also.
Still looking for signs of Loyd Sale, Nigel Stein, Graham Pattiloe et al.
I am thinking of starting up a 1966 intake bad boys ginger group. A sort of HOT PIG ("that phrase") revivalist thing..... I know you guys are out there.
Cheers Zen
Educational elitism has been a long time gripe of mine. I was one of those, who in 1953 left school for employment. The ground work at the school did help in gaining my HNC and Hon.BSc. Biochem. both gained in part time study while working. I went on to publish 60 papers and in my senior years taught new PhD's how to do research. I was, however, never allowed to join their ranks because of the lack of a PhD. I am reminded of one tecnician I worked with who was considered the "clever" one in his family as he went to university. His two brothers, one a plumber and the other an electrician, commanded twice his salary.
There has been considerable discussion and comment on this website about the alleged academic elitism of the school during the period of Dr. A.R. Simpson’s stewardship. Many have said that he (and by his direction, most of the staff also) were only interested in those pupils who displayed high academic prowess, the remainder being regarded as virtually worthless. Others have defended the regime, suggesting that this was a myth perpetuated by those who preferred to blame the school rather than their own laziness, for their lack of achievement.
Having just discovered a copy of “Gaytonian” which I felt sure was somewhere in the house, but has eluded me until now, I believe I have found the evidence to show beyond any doubt that the charge of elitism is completely valid. The following is a verbatim quotation from the issue of December, 1959 (Volume 34 – No. 15), page 6:-
“Analysis of the intended careers of the 119 boys who left the school in July reveals that thirty-six went up to Universities and Colleges, four to other Educational Establishments and seventy-nine ‘sought employment’. These are figures to stimulate thought in the most junior members of the school. They represent effort, achievement and failure.”
Wow! Can you believe your eyes when you read this? I cannot find a way (and I have tried) to put any other interpretation on this bold statement, than the clear implication that those boys who left school and went straight into employment, were regarded as being failures. To start earning one’s living rather than spending several more years in higher education at the taxpayer’s expense, was obviously not regarded as laudable.
I must declare my personal interest in this, as I was one of those 79 leavers in July, 1959 who both sought and obtained employment, and was fortunate enough to be continuously employed for the next forty years. Neither did my education cease upon leaving school; like many others I continued with part-time technical studies for a further nine years which eventually earned me a professional qualification. And then, thirty years after leaving school, I undertook another period of intensive study to facilitate a complete change of career, again culminating in a new professional qualification. But as far as the school was concerned, I was just another failure!
Incidentally, if two-thirds of that year group left the school as “failures”, does this not reflect upon the performance of the school itself? Sounds like an own goal to me.
Why not go back to the TWISTED PAIR. Des Smith 1937-1942
Unwanted emails, Darryl? Too late; once those Nigerians have got you they don't let go! I've given up on the email address I originally put on this site as I was getting 100 spams a day! It's either this site of friends reunited that's been hacked, possibly both. If anyone wants to contact me (why?), look me up on friends reunited as I've put a new address there which I can afford to get spammed and it's easily changed if it does. But - Jeff - so many people have moaned about spams as a result of posting here, isn't there something you can do about it?
Could you please take me off the guest book; I'm getting a flood of unwanted mails
Message for Richard Amy...... Re judo photo... It's around 1967. I joined 1P in Sept 66. I also have the photo from the Harrow Observer as I am the 'thrower' - chosen as I was the smallest in the class. The boy to your left (ie on the other side of the gap) is Loyd Sale, who came from Bridge Primary with me and was also in 1P. He left and left at the end of that academic year on a scholarship to Harrow public school. I believe the boy on the front row, far right, had the surname of Turnbull, but I have drunk a lot of Polish vodka since then so.... Anyway, I would welcome hearing from anyone of the class of 66, but especially Loyd. Zen.pawskiNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@conocophillips.com
In my time (1953/8) it was on-her-lulu pennies. There's inflation for you.
FARTHINGS ! How many of us have a collection of HONOLULU farthings ? Possibly enough to hold a convention ? Perhaps the State of Hawaii could sponsor us for a free trip and booze to advertize its attributes ?
Look in your collections, guys and gals !
As an English born Old Gaytonian resident in Australia for the past 23 years I am inspired to deliver the following message to all my English friends! Wait for it!!!
GO THE POMS!!!!
and I've got the shirt to prove it!! Stuart Johnston 3rd under 16 rugby team 1951 you can't get any lower !
The show Taboo has now opened on Broadway in New York - it had previously had a run in London. One of the characters portrayed is Philip Sallon, who becomes the first old Gaytonian to become a character on stage. Philip, it will be remembered, played a very convincing Mrs. Noah in the school production of Noah in 1966. For a photograph of Philip click here: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/harrow_county/Form3C1965.htm
The counter was broken briefly about two years ago. The number of hits while the counter was not visible were added in, so that it is correct.
I think that one reason for a slight decline in hits is that Jim Golland died in May 2002. He is no longer looking at the site and sending me corrections!
Oh, yes, the broken counter. This was a deliberate attempt at disruption by the Greeks from the Black Sea (the Pontic Greeks, Modern Greece's answer to the Irish, with jokes to match). I must confess I have not made any libations recently, which might account for some divine wrath. Quite which god has decided to put me through my own last nine months (redundancy, change of address from St Albans to Buxton, new career in lecturing) I don't know. Hermes is perhaps the god to contact as he specialised in lucky finds and I might get a job at the end of the course. Good to hear from Dave Hantman as well as Paul.
Michael.
Nice to see another Michael Schwartz contribution especially in an area well outside of his enormous talents.Surely though Michael you as a classicist could have philosophised as to why this peculiarly strange phenomenon occurred. Were the gods against us or was it in the period when the counter was broken?
Nitrogen Tri-iodide. Ammonia plus Iodine Crystals, yes lads we were still doing it in the sixth form in the early 70's. Add Ammonium Hydroxide to Iodine Crystals wait for it to evaporate and it goes bang on contact.....and thats why I failed chemistry A level!!!
Dave Hantman
I believe the chemical that we used to liven up the chalk was ammonium iodide but I forget how it was made. The formula must have been passed from father to son for generations.
Gaytonians - this is the time of year when the School Mathematics Project (new maths) justifies itself. I calculate the rate of hits per day on Jeff's site.
Well, I can tell you I am a little disappointed (cynical aah from the site surfers). After two years when the daily averages were 112 and 146 the figure for 2002-2003 was a mere 75.5. I don't know who the 0.5 was - Simpson trying to contact us from beyond the grave, maybe?
Anyway I would like to thank the five maths teachers who made my calculation possible: Farmer Giles, Greebo (oh, glorious Greebo) Jack Kaprou, Chris O'Donoghue and "Go more slowly" Pearce.
No need for Mr Maynard to resign.
Michael.
Colin. I am curious. What dried - the kitchen floor or the cat? Peter
Yes, I remember the fun with farthings. I actually have a box of them acquired by my bank clerk father when they ceased to be legal currency ?in the 1950's). Useful as counters or chips for pontoon etc. There was a brief period when I used to dissolve mercury in conc. nitric and sulphuric acids and dip farthings in them. They became shiny silver coins resembling sixpences - as did ha'pennies, resembling shillings. It rubbed off after a few days. The game came to an abrupt conclusion when someone started presenting them at the tuck shop as sxpences and shillings.
Another chemical sport was to dissolve iodine crystals into the same acids (I think, or was it HCl instead of sulphuric?), washing the sediment and packing it into hollowed-out chalk. When dry, it became an extremely sensitive high explosive and lobbed across the classroom would explode sharply on impact, leaving nothing but traces of chalk and a transient purple stain on light surfaces. Some accidentally spilt on the floor during manufacture at home caused enormous distress to the family cat when it dried!
I recall another incident when George Thorn was irritated by farthings. GT supervised the lunches in room 14 where he also collected everyone's sixpence, that being the price of the meal. A boy was delegated at each meal to collect the sixpences from each table and take the proceeds to GT. When George discovered someone had paid in farthings the heavens opened. Subdued smirks all around greeted the response from the guilty boy that farthings were legal tender for up to sixpence. I hope the culprit spent a subsequent successful career as a lawyer and that he was never in one of George's classes! I admired his guts.
The George Thorne 'Organ Fund'. Even in 1955 one farthing was a ludicrously small denomination of currency - 0.1p in today's terms. In music lessons it had become the habit of 'Sir' to regularly request that money be rolled into the middle of the room by the students for the Organ Fund. I personally did not subscribe to this. I just happened to have a farthing in my pocket on one such occasion and with some contempt rolled said coin. It was with some delight I awaited 'Square' to announce the total for the collection the following month. £x, four and seven pence three farthings. So perhaps another pupil was only half as contemptuous as myself!
Really, Nige, a greyhound called "Pavilion Fund"? I presume every time it nears the finish, someone moves the winning post! Good to hear you're still pursuing your pet interests...
Well, well ,well it is a pleasure to see that nige morely has clocked into the site. Hope you remember me and rick fenge, tim bush, chris elvin etc.
get in touch. if you need my email address pse contact Jeff maynard.
best wishes Graham Leach 1959-67
Thanks Colin, Yes I think it was a House contribution but I didn't remember the author. However I'v suddenly remembered the final line which was repeated. It was 'Get your receipt'. So we only have one line to go Any offers? To review pooled memories to date we now have: 'Organs are cheap today, Cheaper than yesterday, Small ones are half a crown. Large ones four thousand pounds, Make your donation, Without consternation, Dahdy-da di dah dah., Get your receipt, Get your receipt'. I'll try to restrict myself to one hit on the send button this time!! Stuart Johnston
I have just been directed to the web site and in particular the photograph of Lower Sixth Arts 1971. I am the question mark, back row, far left and I believe second row from front, far left is Andrew Smith. Excellent site by the way! Made me realise just how shot my memory was!
Yes, Stuart, I remember it - but only as far as you do, except that the next line is, "Without consternation . . . " (And I think it was £4000.) Was Chris Levinson the author, and was it Preston House's concert contribution?
Recent comments about George Thorn and the organ fund prompt memories of a ditty sung at one of the reviews held at that time. It went something like: 'Organs are cheap today, Cheaper than yesterday, Small ones are half a crown, Large ones five thousand pounds. Make your donation...........
To the tune 'La donna mobile' Can anyone complete it?
My first contribution to the site which I very much enjoy from far flung Australia - congatulations to all concerned. Stuart Johnston (left 1952)
Recent comments about George Thorn and the organ fund prompt memories of a ditty sung at one of the reviews held at that time. It went something like: 'Organs are cheap today, Cheaper than yesterday, Small ones are half a crown, Large ones five thousand pounds. Make your donation...........
To the tune 'La donna mobile' Can anyone complete it?
My first contribution to the site which I very much enjoy from far flung Australia - congatulations to all concerned. Stuart Johnston (left 1952)
Recent comments about George Thorn and the organ fund prompt memories of a ditty sung at one of the reviews held at that time. It went something like: 'Organs are cheap today, Cheaper than yesterday, Small ones are half a crown, Large ones five thousand pounds. Make your donation...........
To the tune 'La donna mobile' Can anyone complete it?
My first contribution to the site which I very much enjoy from far flung Australia - congatulations to all concerned. Stuart Johnston (left 1952)
Well it's a shame your website isn't up to the standard of this one then. I suggest including items of interest or change your name...'our' Jeff will be getting a bad name for dreary content otherwise. Best wishes from your friendly high tea technologist - my! is that the time...must dash, having lunch at the palais...
Just to avoid confusion, the whimsical note below was posted by Jeff Maynard, the co-founder of Netstore, PLC, a distinguished IT technologist. Not to be confused with Jeff Maynard, Old Gaytonian and distinguished IT technologist!
Hey...
I see we have a problem. I.e. The SAME NAME.
I think you'll change yours if you know what's good for you.
If you need to pay any money for the legal progression of this action, I would be more than happy to contribute 50% of the cost.
Thank you,
The REAL Jeff Maynard
amazing how many people remember the card games still play bridge on the internet,play casinos and had a spell as a part time bookmaker now boring expert witness in pharmaceuticals got drunk with paul nurse in soho,still smiling still nice guy john hughes[johnny]of our era,any news? also john whittington? it was the best of times,it was the worst of times cheers to you all across the decades ps anyone want a share in a fast greyhound called pavilion fund?
It was quite a thrill to hear the chorus of the old school song which I clearly remember 'singing' with much gusto when led by Rev. Williams and Dr. Thorne (the originators) at morning assemblies. Thanks for these memories and the for the many others contained on the web site.
I have not been keeping up with the site for a while and am interested to see that the issues of teacher behaviour and how people experienced HCS are still appearing. Perhaps not surprisingly there seem to be two main "camps", one, those who hated the place and the other, those who did not. Perhaps there is a third lot who don't recognise any of it. I have spent most of my life since leaving HCS concious of being a failure for not having gone on to take A levels and then University. However I recently watched the last episode of a programme called "That'll Teach 'Em" (or something like that)in which an examiner who had marked both O level and GCSE exam scripts offered the statistic that in the 1950's and '60's five O levels was the national average. I cannot explain the chemistry but something changed for me from knowing that and I feel better for it. Pathetic, possibly but there it is. Perhaps in my new more mellow view of the world of HCS I realise that whilst some masters were, shall we say, more human than others, some of the treatment handed out to those masters who did not command instant respect (fear)was awful and shameful. I am ashamed of some of mine anyway. I think if there is one indictment of the school which remains at least for the time I was there, it is that it really was only interested in those who could demonstrate excellence. A failing boy was not noticed or if he was nothing was done to throw him a lifeline. My wife, who is a teacher, says that whatever may be the shortcomings of the present day system (a 60 hour week for a teacher!) there is at least a recognition that some pupils need a different approach than others. As for the issue of parental violence (the "slap on the leg" to disclipline a naughty child) I have never subscribed to it. Perhaps I have been lucky, my children never invited physical punishment and I never offered it or threatened it. They behaved well. I have no clever theory about it. I know I feel sick when I see parents hitting their children or shouting at them to make them behave better. I loved reading the contribution from whoever it was backed down Simpson over the matter of the lack of hot weather uniform. I have said before here that I wish I had had the maturity then to understand that it was us gave them their power. What was lacking (and it is probably worse today) was mutual respect. Somebody has suggested that the real purpose of school is to keep kids off the street (and the labour market) for as long as possible while pretending to educate them. But that is another story.
Pete Fowler, yes, that is Oswald Mosely in the 1922 Speech Day photograph. I've now identified him in the caption. He was M.P. for Harrow, and his wife, Cynthia Mosely, presented the prizes at Sports Day the same year.
See: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/speechday1922.htm
1922 Speech Day
Is that Oswald Mosley in the centre of the picture taken at the 1922 Speech Day?
Quote from article in Gaytonian, December 1953, by George Thorn:
"THE SCHOOL ORGAN
It has been a great joy to us to see that work has at last been begun on the School Organ. For some seventeen years the erection of this Organ has been a dream."
(No, I'm not making this up)
Well none of you will know who I am, but I came across this site whilst looking for info about our family. My late husbands name appeared and from there it led to this site. If any of you remember Gary Tennyson-Smith you will probably already know that he died many years ago from cancer. I would be interested though, if you have any school anecdotes involving Gary. He made some mention of setting fire to the gym! does anybody remember that? Or was there some artistic license attached to his story?
Referring to the Rugby Club's Treasured Songs, does anyone remember the "Lobster Song" (Nothing to do with Lobb !) ? It was the Old Gayts' signature from the fifties and sixties.
Anyone wanting the words can email me privately.
Referring to Colin Dickin's message about Nigerian spam and Lobb. To all of you in a one-language country, think of us in Canada where we get this stuff in "English" AND "French" (Maybe I should never have replied to the gentleman in Togo with an invitation to manger de la merde).
In the early fifties the hit(?)parade came up with "RAG-MOP":
I say, R A, R A G, R A G G, RAGGMOPP, RAGMOP.
This became, "I say, L O, L O B, L O B B, LOBBCLOT, LOBBCLOT.
In all due respect, that had I have been at the siege of Ladysmith, Mr Lobb would have been the ideal RSM.
Colin, we meet up too often.
hiya i wud like to say wat a lovley wb site..im a marine cadets and im often at cultybraggen training camp..im going up there again on 31st octobr.its really fun..but because it was a p.o.w it sorter scares me but the pictures are great..from adele of hartlepool
Meurig Devonald's contribution brings to mind a master of the same surname who taught at the School in the 1950's. He was a Welshman of lively temperament whose proudest new possesion, a mature small car, was once hoisted onto the (old) School Hall stage one lunchtime in about 1950 or 1951 and draped in streamers - probably toilet paper, but I can't remember. Huge entertainment to all but him; he looked choleric when he saw it. Even Joe Brister came to have a look, stroking his lips to hide a smile. I think a quiet word was had with the putative ringleader to restore it to its place in the car park and there was no official retribution. Any relation, Meurig?
1961-1968 would to make contact with Trevor Salmon I was best man at his wedding!! Am now DDS DMD LDS.RCS FRSMed Working in Ireland,I knew Bruce Liddington as My one of My Best friends at HCS ,apreciate contact with any comtemporearies from that time I was in the year above Clive Anderson and 2 years before Michael Portillo?!!!
I don't know that this website is the sole source of all the spam I get, but with a decent virus checker and firewall I don't seem to gat anything too problematic. Deleting the spam takes only a moment and there is the occasional deleight such as the one I got from a lady in Nigeria called Purity Abed. Now there's a thought to conjure with!
Regarding all the remembered ATC and CCF songs, one not yet mentioned is The Quartermaster's Stores, where one made up a couplet based on the name of a master, officer or NCO. One I remember was "There was Lobb, Lobb," (referring to Derek Lobb; I leave the second line to others' memories or imagination). The refrain ran, "My eyes are dim, I cannnot see./I have not brought my specs with me." (No, I don't know, either.)
These songs, and many others, were also enshrined in the Rugby Club's golden treasury. The famous Jack Herman had them all written down in his "hymn book", and great was the sense of bereavement when he lost it (on a trip to France, I think).
I would never have have suspected this page to be the source of the e-mail I get from the several worthies in Nigeria looking for my help. I get a steady flow, not as great as formerly Dave, but from Benin, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana as well as Nigeria and South Africa. They all have the same plot. I worked in many of these countries and thought my name got on the list from someone who collected business cards. All you have to do to stop the messages is programme your messages so that anything with a reference to these countries is eliminated automatically.
Interesting thought Dave, I really hadn't considered that but now you come to mention it there were a few suspicious characters around the school....
SteveG
No, Steve,
These are actually from ex HCSB con-men, only pretending to be Nigerian scam operators.
DaviD J
Thanks to those who have picked up on my recollections of various rhymes we enjoyed in the Corps. I have only been putting comments on this site for about 2 weeks and since then have been targetted about 14 times by Nigerian con men looking for money. In case anyyone else gets these fraudulent messages the advice I have received from the police is do not reply to them. It could be very dangerous. You can forward the offending messages to abuseNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@isp (where isp is the isp of the perpetrator). That should get the originator's email address shut down. Also current police advice in my area is to copy the offending email to the local police headquarters.
One or two of the more poeticaly inclined amongst us at school might have been able to recite the odd stanza from Eskimo Nell but I was not to hear the full ballad until I attended the institution of advanced learning of my choice. On certain festive evenings an officer of the students' union with the title "pornographer, was required to recite the whole poem (written in the style favoured by Robert Service)from memory on pain of being dowsed with beer. I heard later that the poem was composed by Noel Coward in response to a competition set by the chairman of the Cambridge university debating club. Does anyone out there know the circumstances?
Steve,
I seem to recall we had a box in the Signals Hut with the words of all the main songs written on it.
Own up...who's got it!
Other songs spring to mind.
The Engineer's Song. An engineer told me before he died......
Old King Cole..He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his fiddlers three. Now every fiddler had a fine fiddle and a very fine fiddle had he....There's none so fair as can compare with the boys of HQ Company.
The Wild West Show....Including of course the tribe of 4 foot pigmies living in 6 foot elephant grass.
PS Not a song but equally literary...Eskimo Nell
When men grow old and their b**** grow called they can tell you a tale or two.
Regards
Perhaps it's my age playing tricks but wasn't "Friggin in the rigging" a 'hit' for the Sex Pistols?
"Frigging in the rigging" was going strong in 1945 with the Air Training Corp. The others I can not vouch. Our favorite was "Roll me over in the clover" but from the lack of references to it, the song must have died a natural death.
Frigging in the rigging?? That's The Good Ship Venus, the one you sing after Four & Twenty Virgins!
I remember Nige Morley, I lost my pocket money to him most weeks at cards and double-or-quits. You still at it, Nige?
Totally addicted to this nostalgia! I was in Form V(4) in 1962 to 1963 at about age 16. My Form Master was Mr B.E.(Baby Face) Williams. I have lost my form photo and nobody seems to have put up a copy on the web site. Does anyone have a copy? If so please help!
On a further point to the song mentioned by Steve Grimes, Frank Kirkham reminded me that it was the 'Old Mans daughter' we were fighting for, not the Colonels!!
Others sung (if I remember correctly) were 'Three German Officers (crossed the line)', 'The hair on her dickie dido', 'The first time I met her', 'Airborne Warrior', and if we could get hold of the words, 'Frigging in the Rigging'.
I'm sure some of those were certainly of my era only!!
Steve, I shall be in touch. Currently I am editing the Old Gayts magazine.
Thank you Alex Bateman it is good to know that the tradition survived, even if the words changed slightly. I'm sure we were "men" not "lads"!
Regarding the new article about Mr Bachelor, consulting the staff list for 1967 on this site shows the following entry:
History: Head of Department: Mr. H. J. Mees Mr. G. W. D'Arcy Mr. R. J. Batchelor
So it appears he taught History not Latin as the article suggests?...PV
Regarding the photo of Steve Grimes with the wartime 18 set, and the note about the song below. That was still being sung in the CCF in the early 1980s, except somewhere along the line we had stopped being the 'Harrow men' and become the 'Harrow lads'!!
In response to John Jeffers' musings about the Spoons, I don't have mine, but do remember them and how appallingly and expectorantly they reflected on us. I seem to recall that the B12 Emporium began as a little sideline selling curly wurlies raising but ended up dealing cars.
A belated response to Steve Mulliner's message about people legging it from one end of the 1971 panaramic photograph to the other end,so appearing twice.At least one boy managed it (Not me sir!)I know his identity,although it is not clear on the picture.The original photogragh was hung up outside the back of the new hall and was defaced within minutes of being put there. P.s. Has anybody still got their Benge spoon?
A belated response to Steve Mulliner's message about people legging it from one end to the other end,so appearing twice.At least one boy managed it (Not me sir!)I know his identity,although it is not clear on the picture.The original photogragh was hung up outside the back of the new hall and was defaced within minutes of being put there. P.s. Has anybody still got their Benge spoon?
Someone mentioned the cricketer Dean Bibb recently. My brother was friends with him and his family lived a few doors down from us in Warden Avenue in the seventies. He in fact went to Roxeth Manor School and transfered to Harrow County for his sixth form. He was part of a successful Roxeth Manor cricket squad and played for a local club. My brother lost contact with his later in the seventies and his family moved from Warden Avenue but I know he did get married.
Just found the site. I was at HCS from 58 to 64 - never a superstar! Lost touch many moons ago and now live away from Harrow. After spending hours browsing I have been stirred into action. Someone posted a question about the "Egg Noise". As I remember it this was a sort of "hherr-hummm" with a throaty beginning. Someone else referred to the "coffee clubs" in the Signals Hut(and other hut based communities. Ah Yes! I remember them (and the Armoury) with affection. You could lock yourself away for hours, especially during games, which was an excellent way of skiving from Swannee Amos and avoiding slap round the legs with his stick for not running fast enough down Watford Road! (You had to use your initiative in those days). However I wonder if some of my former Masters are still wondering why I was so often absent from their lessons! (Oh dear - better get under the clock right now!). I was never a particularly compliant scholar but I have read a great deal of what I feel to be unfair comments regarding the late Col. Bigham. Yes he was a hard man that is not in doubt. However, I believe he did his job in the way he felt right in the climate at the time and that some of the judgements posted on this site are unfair. I understand that not everyone will agree with me on this but I would like to go on record that I had considerable respect for Col. Bigham whilst I was at school, he was always fair to me and was a good teacher. I believe he should be given the credit for the considerable effort he put into building up the CCF. Finally, I have read a lot of comments about "woodpeckers" but everyone seems to have forgotton about the "eyetalianate raincoats" (italianate) comment that came out of the same assembly. I have also seen some pictures of an old banger called "IT!" in the photos section and I think I was one of the "others" referred to in that article. What a dreadful creature I was and not one of "Square's" ideal scholars!However, I'm still around and its not been such a bad life after all.
No. It isn't "our" Peter Mansfield.
He is about 10 years older and...
Professor Mansfield, 70, left school at 15 to become a printer. He only entered academic life after studying part-time to complete his "A" levels before going to university.
Is that our Peter Mansfield awarded the Nobel Price for Medicine today?
This is for Bill Peter.......
Hi, Bill, I think I just about remember you - at least I remember your name. I'm pretty certain you were in the year below me, but you lot caught up with me (and most of my mates) because we got kept down a year in the Vth.
Anyway, you'll be pleased to know that after a very lengthy interval (30 years+), I amnow in semi-regular drinking contact with Rob Thomasson, John Clayton, John Allen, Jim Harris, John Sewell, Pete Robinson and Trev Moore. Nigel Morley's name has certainly been mentioned on several occasions, but I have to confess I personally can remember little more than the name.
I expect to be speaking to one of more of the above in the near future, and will certaibnly mention that you have 'surfaced', so to speak.....
Regards, Mick Boggis ('58-'64)
I was most interested in Alex Bateman's brief biogs of post-Avery headteachers. I was particularly intrigued by the 'missing years' between 1982-1994 for which no-one is listed.
As I have made clear on more than one occasion on this site, I loathed HCS in general and Simpson in particular and still do with a strength of feeling that, in middle age, surprises me after all these years. But at least Simpson and his staff aspired to achievement and excellence even if the methods used were, in my view, inappropriate (I'm trying to be very measured here).
In the early 1990s, my youngest son's football team occasionally used the then gym for training. Waiting for him one evening, I wandered around the school for the first time in decades. One can tell a lot from the a school's corridors and my overwhelming thought was 'Who runs this place nowadays'.
Come on Alex, name!
so a great tip down memory lane...
although i was never invited to a reunion.. it was great to see the pics of the old place..
get in touch
1982-1986
involved in drama, lightenning for the old gaytions plays
simon
As I have just spent quite some time browsing, it seemed a bit churlish to logoff without leaving a comment on what has been a lot of work, although I haven't really much to say. It was all a long time ago (57-65), and I can't get too worked up about any of it now. Puberty is always pretty fraught, I imagine.
New photos:
67/68 Rugby 3rd XV: Master is D. Thorne 68/69 Rugby 1st XV: Master on right is Bob Tyler
Very sorry to hear the sad news of the death of Jennifer May. My recollections of her were as Jennifer Dempster, my teacher at Pinner Park School. According to my father she was the best teacher I ever had! Both mine and my father George’s condolences to Trevor.
nice to see some old friends are still knocking about
Hi, I am still trying to find anybody who knows what has happened to Gillan Stewart. He left Gayton in about1987 and moved to Australia. would love to get in touch with him
Forgive me if I use this medium to reach some people for whom I have no other means of contact.I have a message for friends and acquaintances of Trevor May - old Gayt extraordinaire, and school historian.
Trevor's wife, Jennifer, died last Sunday following a fall from a horse some two weeks previously. Jennifer herself attended Harrow County Girls' School, and was an active member of the Old Gaytonians Dramatic Club for many years . The funeral will be held in Devon on Monday 22nd.
If anyone wishes to contact Trevor, please post your messages on this website, and I'll pass them on to Trevor.
Alternatively if you include your e-mail address, I'll contact you directly with his details.
Thank You
Hallo Gaytonians!
A few months have passed since my last contribution and, as I might be accused of skiving, I have twisted my parents around my little finger in order to avoid being crucified - a fate which awaited any boy who did not bring his rugby gear to Mr Edwards' lessons. Much has happened. The company I worked for in Sutton, Surrey, went into liquidation in the spring. It had been a wonderful three years, not least in 2002 when I went on business to Cannes, Monte Carlo, Singapore and Hong Kong. And, through a prize won via work, to Sydney, Shanghai, Beijing and Inner Mongolia. I could have spent lots of time churning out applications and CVs for publishing jobs but with the feeling that I would never have obtained a post as enjoyable as editor of Asian Communications. I thought long and hard and the image of a further education lecturer entered my mind. In fact, the image became more and more implanted in my grey cells to the extent that I applied for the Postgraduate Certificate of Education at FE level at Derby University. It is from the library at Derby that I write to you in the induction week for this course. It has meant a move, and we sold our house in St Albans. We are presently exchanging and completing for a beautiful Victorian terrace in Buxton (Bath of the North). My teaching practice will be centred around the colleges there. What is more, Hazel decided that she wanted to be near her mother in Manchester. And so, the pieces of the jigsaw have fallen slowly into place (a bit too slowly but that's life). Who knows, I may be lecturing your children and grandchildren (or maybe even your good selves as adult learners!). Kindest regards Michael.
I was at the School from 1932 until 1939, my brother,M.V.Needham also, he was 18 months my senior. We both consider that it was the best of schools and a great privilege to have attended there. So many memories!
Good to see the web site. I was one of the transitionary year that started at 2 and left after 5. The last year of HCS but we didn't sit the 11+ it was some other test. Good to see some memory joggers from the past, particularly the inspirational Harry Mees. Does anyone remember his colleage in history, the radical Angela Doublait? Are those classrooms down to the right of the main stairs still as dingy?
Remember being in awe of Mr Avery, the head in the last year of HCS (Harry Hull took over after that) as he sat at the front of the 140 bus reading The Times.
I was a member of the Sound staff and particularly enjoyed Chrisents and the spectacular Dr Faustus where the set descended into the hall (Andy Kelso directed as I recall) I got a lot of stick for managing to sound 13 dongs at midnight!
Paul
In answer to your questions, I actually had most of those teachers myself, and several are still at the school.
Audrey McNamara, who taught English, went back to Ireland and as far as I know is still teaching over there. Di Watson, who taught Geography in my day, married to become Mrs Marchant, and is now Watson again. She still teaches at the school, and is partner to Steve Campbell (PE and former pupil) and they have a daughter together. Chris Temple left, but seems to have disappeared. I did have an address for him, but it seems he had already moved on. A great teacher. Miss Critchley - the name rings a bell, and I think I am right in saying she and Andy Flemming married about 1981, a year after I joined the School. He taught me German, and I know he left theabout then.
Terry Andrews is one of the legends of my time, known for his dated suits and long hair, his short stature and love of watford FC. In double maths on a Monday morning, if they had won, someone would always ask, "what about the game on Saturday sir..." kowing that the next half hour would be football talk not maths. If they lost, it was just as amusing as the reply would be a quick, "get on with your work!" always said with a smile. Then there were the wrestling bouts with him and Garth Ratcliffe, the opposite at about 6ft 2in, the sight of Mr Andrews in a headlock being led around the room will always stay with me! Mr Andrews is teaching at (I think) Watford Grammar or another school in that area.
Mr Freel was another character, very Russell Harty, especially in the way he said 'shut up'. Consequently he earned the tag Mr Feel. But a very nice bloke. He left about 1983-84 but I have no idea where he is now.
Some others you might recall are Mike Wilkin who taught maths. he only left about 18 months ago after some 28 years or so, but was hit by tragedy last year when his 16 year old son passed away in his sleep. Sue Pullen (Art), a favourite of many in became sue Hather, and is now still teaching at the school as sue Cavanagh, having married her Art Dept Colleague John.
Mike Eagle is still there as head of the tech dept. Mike Dolinski left to become a probation officer about 1982, Oliver Mannion (English) is an actor) although I have not yet seen him on TV), Morrie Venn I think is still alive and well and very busy, but sadly he has not replied to my last few letters.
There is a Gaytonian staff Association for those staff who caught HCS or the early GHS days run by Norman Tyrwhitt and his wife.
Those still at the School always like to see former pupils so do come in. And the archives are always open!
Alex
It's over 18 months since Nick Sloan offered a bottle of chablis to the first person to discover the whereabouts of Andy Hayes (HCS 1970-76). Surely someone must have found him by now. Come on Nick or Chris Berge... what have you found out?
Regards,
Steve Banks (also 70-76) Melbourne, Australia
Alex,
In the line of duty, do you have much (or any) contact with former staff from the 'latter' days? There seems to be a lot of news of teachers from the (real) by-gone days but what about a bit later on? My mind goes back to the likes of Mrs McNamara, Miss Watson (Marchant), Mr Temple, Miss Critchley, Mr Flemming, Mr Freel, Mr Andrews etc. It must be nice knowing how ones former teachers are doing now (Mrs McNamara will be in her late 40's!!) but I don't think I've ever read a piece in the guestbook from or about those teachers mentioned above or anyone else who taught me for that matter. It'll probably shock my English teacher that I seem to have a talent for writing children's poetry/stories. After coming 2nd in a recent writing competition (6000 entries) I hope that one day I'll get accepted for publication.
If there are any lines of enquiry that you have in regards to those 'teachers of my time' then I would be grateful if you could pass the details on.
Keep up the good work and I WILL get down one day for a visit.
Regards
Paul H
My first experience of smoking at HCS was in my first year (1947) in the huts by Sheepcote Road. We used to roll the brown autumn leaves in blotting paper. They were unbelievably foul. The thick, smoky atmosphere welcoming masters coming in to give lesson caused many a diatribe against the old heating stoves. Later, when compelled to go cross country running, a few of us would go down the path beside Ducker (Harrow School swimming pool), which was supposed to be the return route after running round Northwick Park colf course, and smoke Woodbines or Black Cat cigarettes. The latter were not much better than the bltting paer things. We would tag on at the end of the returning runners - which led to another misfortune: We were so engrossed in smoking and kicking a tennis ball around we suddenly realised the runners had all gone. Hastily trailing the last visible runner, we discovered that we had, in fact, tagged onto the end of the leading pack while the also-rans were nowhere in sight. Quite difficult getting out of special attention for the team. Fortunately, Charlie Crinson accepted that there was something odd about our performance (probably thought we'd cut the course but wouldn't own up) and didn't press us too hard. Charlie, incidentally, keen athlete though he was, was also a heavy smoker and a major contributor to the enormous fug in the masters' common room.
I can vouch for the staff smoking quite openly during the forties, but not in class. From the odour that poured from the staff room I would think a kipper would have felt quite at home there.
Jeff: We smoked in the bog; from whence, perchance the latter got its name ? (1946-51)
I attended Harrow County from 1966 to 1968. I don't often get back to the Harrow area however I am gladdened to see that the school is still prospering .... but what happened to the cricket pitch?
I just acquired an interesting Harrow County cigarette card. It was issued as one of a set of 50 cards depicting school emblems in 1929, for Black Cat cigarettes. The front shows a picture of a Harrow County school cap, with the crown, three scimitars and oak tree badge. It is labelled "Harrow". The back says "County School for Boys, Gayton Road, Harrow, Middlesex. A secondary School administered by the Local Education Authority, inspected and recognised as efficient by the Board of Education."
As many of the other schools depicted in the set are public schools, and the card says just "Harrow" on the front, we may have been confused with Harrow School!
This set me wondering - back in 1929 were schoolboys allowed to smoke? Had the school yet banned smoking? Did Carreras (manufacturers of Black Cat) produce the series to attract schoolboy smokers? Does anyone know when HCS banned smoking?
In 1929 did huge clouds of smoke pour out when the staff common room door opened? And did the boys smoke behind the Pavillion even then?
First signs of senility. I wrote saying that I could not reach Patty Lafferty and now see that I entered my own e-mail address incorrectly. This is the correct version.
I read Patty Lafferty's comments. I was very sorry to hear of Gerry's illness and tried to contact her by writing to the e-mail address given in the current guest book but my letter was returned to me saying that the address was not valid. Perhaps Patty, if you should see this, you could send me a note!
Having got back from holiday I spent an enjoyable short period reading guestbook comments. Condolences to the Groombridge family and best wishes to the Laffertys. Cricketing comments brought back 2 memories in particular. Firstly, being hauled over the coals by Mr. wright (?) maths because the whole class was late for a lesson in the T block. The problem was our access as some HCBS no 1 batsman was facing the first over in an inter school match circa 1974 or 5.After 5 balls we were 30 for no loss and after the first over 30 for 1. Dave Bright's only comment was to lambast the poor guy for getting out so lamely. Who was he? Secondly, I believe there was someone called Dean Bibb who liked to smash school batting records. I remember some carnage where a large group of us watched after hours just for the sheer enjoyment. What happened to him if I got the name right?
Yet again we lose one of those devoted individuals who probably served in WWII, and went on to WWIII, teaching at Harrow County. Can it be the same C. Groombridge whose initials appear in my Pupil's Report Book in 1948 ? Taught Physics and also, I believe, refereed rugby at about the Old Gayts Extra "A" level ? (He should have refused to referee us; I know I should have been sent off)
I will be out of touch for 3 weeks or so. Thanks to the British Pensioners Association of Western Canada, who informed us about Friends Reunited, then onto this wonderful site, which is a class unto itself, we will meet up with Colin Dickins after a gap of 43+ years. Even more remarkable will be meeting Geoff Speller and Tony Andrews after about 51 years. Geoff is going to wear a Virtus Non Stemma sign around his neck at Manchester Airport in case us aged creatures can't spot each other.
i have only recently discovered the internet - and therefore the hcs site. i was at hcs from 1960 to 1967. so far i have seen info on john clayton, rob thomasson, nigel morley and malcolm (lew ) lewendon. if they see this, please contact me. thanks.
Hello Philip Harratt!
Glad you're still playing. Regretfully, after 40 years my lip has gone and I sold my horn last year. Still working on bits of piano accompaniment though.
Having taken the plunge yesterday to post an entry on the site after a long absence I must also send my best wishes to Gerry Lafferty, although I hardly knew him. He was new to the school during my last year and I seem to remember him taking me for a token (probably only one period a week) General Studies lesson, or some other catch-all name. Much has been written on these pages about the fierce regime at HCS. Those days were not the happiest of my life and I became quite barbaric myself in order to survive. I remember one topic being discussed by Mr Laffery which sowed the seed of thought in my head that there was another, better way. It was evident that he was not in total agreement with the establishment and that seed stayed with me, only germinating some years later, but I'm so grateful that it was planted.
My best wishes also to Don McEwen, and my apologies for mis-spelling his name yesterday.
Hello, Roger Bowen! You came at Arthur Haley's request to our house in Kynance Gardens in 1969 to help to prepare me for my audition to be a Junior Exhibitioner at the Academy. I'm still playing the horn!
Greetings and best wishes to you, Mr Lafferty. I still say "That's my boy" to my own.
And I recall Mr Groombridge with affection. Can he really have let us roll blobs of mercury around on the bench?
Thirty-five years now since I started at HCS -Form 1W in Room A7, Form Master Eric Goulden, Form Prefect Laidlaw.
Sorry to hear about Tufty Groombridge. I think I am correct in saying that he had the thankless job of sorting out the GCE entries every year?
"All London GCE candidates, report to the front of the 'all after assembly".
PV
I, too was very sad to learn of the death of Cecil Groombridge. He taught me in the sixth form (most of my earlier teaching came from Don McEwan) and he was always a true gentleman. One particular kindness for which I still remember him was in the A level practical exam. We all had to perform two experiments in the time allowed. The lab was set out with sufficient potentiometers for half the candidates and various other pieces of apparatus for the other half. Whilst working on my potentiometer experiment I noticed a resonance tube and set of tuning forks in the corner of the room but nobody using it. Half way through the exam, first experiment completed, written up and graph plotted, we all played musical chairs. "That one's for you, Bowen," was the gentle instruction from a smiling Mr Groombridge. He had never before made any reference to my musical ability but he knew that the sound experiment was right up my street and had taken the trouble to arrange for me to tackle it. It was good to see the smile still there in the recent photograph supplied by Don McEwan, another much-admired physics master.
Sorry to learn of the death of Mr Cecil Groombridge. He taught me Physics in 4A, 1957/58. Under his teaching I 'made considerable improvement', so says his comment in my Report Book. Mr Don McEwan then took me on to A Levels. Thanks to both of them.
MR. CECIL GROOMBRIDGE I have heard from Mr. Don McEwen that Mr. Groombridge died on Friday, 29th August, 2003, at his residential home in Kingsbury. The funeral takes place on Thursday, September 4th, 1.45pm at the Hendon Crematorium, Holders Hill Road, Mill Hill, London NW7 1NB, and there will be an informal service at 4.00 pm at Hazelwood house, 58-60 Beaufort Avenue, Kenton, Middlesex. Flowers or a donation (for RSPB) can be sent to William Putnam, Funeral director, 185 Streatfield Road, Kenton, harrow, Middlesex, HA3 9DA (Cheques made out to 'RSPB')
Ah ! These cricket duels ! From a country (Canada) where cricket got a mite of attention by beating Bangladesh and to be honest I have not kept up to date with the antics from green uniforms to roughing up umpires over the 47+ years away.
As for OZ bowlers, I remember Ray Lindwall who could desecrate the knackers of a moth if he was in the mood, but who remembers JACK IVERSON the spinner ?
Very interesting. Cannot believe how many people have kept all this stuff
What a pity that Col Dickens saw fit not to post on the website, the article that I sent to him on Shane Warne, that most eloquent of Oz cricketers.
Shame again that the writer, Peter Wear, has (since writing the piece), not had his services retained by the Brisbane Courier Mail. What is wrong with people?
One cannot but feel sorrow for the master of spin, when his every gesture is so misinterpreted. In my day it would have been said that "He was only playing leapfrog" - or was it cutter? Sammy Watson, my guru extraordinaire, would I know, agree with me, were he still alive.
Roy
I was at Harrow county 1959-1966. I am the skinny looking thing at the top right in the 1964 chess team photograph! I have a hard time putting names to the others though. I shall do my best to recall other names in the photos. You have done a great job on this site.
It's good that such a pedantic argument should draw forth such stalwarts fom my era. Brian, I was right when I corrected myself - the ablative would have been correct had I not followed it by a comparative clause. 'Such as I (am). AND Steve (Hilsden) has misspelt 'grammer' - sic .
I must confess that I spelt 'administrator' wrongly in my original post. Modern education, eh?
Pass me an anorak, someone!
Typical ex-Latin and Greek scholars to be arguing (sorry debating) about case structure and grammer. As another pupil from the same era I too would like to extend my best wishes to Gerry Lafferty. May he soon recover all his faculties. He was one of teh best in my opinion - always made lessons interesting and certinly encouraged me in wider reading.
Pete - you were right first time. By, with and from take the ablative case so me is O.K. by me!
Is this a subtle plan to give our Mr L an incentive to get well very soon just to offer you additional coaching?
....and you're right about the spam! I never knew I had so many rellys in Nigeria.
Hi Patty
I've just read your post on the Gayts' website, and would like to add to the (undoubted) torrent of good wishes for Jock/Gerry. It is the mark of a good teacher, and a good man, that he is remembered with so much affection by squibs such as me. (Sorry - I. He was my English teacher, after all.)
Tell him that he MUST get better soon.
Best wishes.
PeteR Barker
I attempted to send this direct to you, but the mail administrater bounced it. Is your e-mail correct?
Peter Barker's query about 'the old git' has certainly started a saga. He's home from hospital, now, but is very frail and subject to constant chest infections. Apparently, at some time, he has had a mild stroke and his speech is not very good at the moment. HE IS VERY FRUSTRATED. He wants to thank everyone for their cards, letters, e-mails and flowers. He wants to know why stout is out. He says when his speech is better he'll write to everybody. No comment. ButI can tell you that he's very touched by what you have all said. And he sends the following cryptic comments. T.M.B'S and O.W.Y.J'S. And so you have all proved to be, he says. Patty Lafferty.
Someone (falsely, it appears) told me that Deryck Peperell had gone to that great OGA heaven. Deryck and I were neverclose, due to a bit of an age gap, but he always encouraged me to get involved with the OGA even if only to play rugby. I tried cricket, and no further comment is forthcoming.
He & I were neighbours; we were at 16 Windermere Avenue in South Kenton and Deryck was at "about" number 22. Quite a street, even if it was called an avenue. The avenue's trees suffered from the drunks from the "Windermere", particularly at the bend where he and I lived. We had one JIM SLATER across the street at number 7. Yes, the man from Slater/Walker. This summer we hope to visit Dorothy Brown (née Laing) who lived at number 14, who now resides in Málaga, and still keep in touch with Ray Penjicky who lives in the old Slater house.
We even believe that the world famous milkman joke originated on Windermere Avenue (my mother of course, was the odd lady), courtesy of United Dairies, and a speechless horse called Windsor. But, back to Deryck; I am proud to say that I learned to drive at Sudbury, in the 1924 Morris grasscutter with Pep screaming at me that it had cost the Association £10-6s-10½d to get it fixed,and I was going to ruin it.
Colin Dickins; can he receive email ?
Douglas Richard Clissold WELLS does get one mention - in the 1912-19 class lists just published:
http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/harrow_county/Entry1912-19.htm
Just browsing, as my late father Douglas Richard Clissold WELLS was a pupil c.1913-1918.
Great site, no mention or photo of Dad, but will try another time.
Yes Colin -I remember Brian but not Noel...one of the tennis club dudes too was he not? Used to pose with yourself, David Thompson, Frank Cuthbertson (famous for his late night entertaining - introduced me to TUC biscuits etc) and the other tennis regulars. Anyone with shares in Gordons Gin did well in that era, under the tutelage of one PJR Herman.
I also remember the Tennis Club for introducing technology to Saturday nights...MASTERMIND!
If you were at Harrow County/Gayton High 1973-78, have a look at these two photographs and see if you can identify the faces:
http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/Unknown1.htm
http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/Unknown2.htm
Brian Giles, Martin? Must be; you describe him exactly, but he's older even than me. He had an elder brother, Tony, who turned out once or twice I seem to remember but was really a member at Bushey, where he lived. They were our first fixture of the season in the fifties, often rained off. A local resident was Frank Chester, retired county and test umpire, who used to stand for them sometimes. He once gave me out - so I had something in common with Don Bradman!
You don't mention the Hampton brothers, Brian and Noel; were they before your time?
1974 to 78. Still at kodak, just.
Ted Robinson was the name I looked for earlier...the other one I only played against:¬)
Good old Deryck!
It was he who introduced me to Old Gaytonians Cricket...I was a cultured demure (still am) person of some fourteen years standing. The plan was for me to play at Gayton Road etc on a Saturday morning and turn out for the Second eleven or so at Sudbury in the pm.
My memory drifts back to a pint being one shilling and tenpence - lemonade (of course) being even better value! John Bartholomew, Ollie Burrows, Graeme Clingbine, Tony DeVletter, Jack King, Derek King, Brian...Brian Giles? (dark glasses a bit rotund) Mike Herbert, various hippies, Matt Busby (who once scored 50 including 49 singles)Arnie Hyde sometimes, Noel Fletcher (with Stan Ebbetts, Leslie Ebbets, and and a really nice guy called? Jack Robertson?(help me out here John!) Peter Nichols - usually covered in far too much hair (and women!)
But Pep. He of the tie around the waist - too mean for a belt...'What are you having dear boy?'he would enquire. Regardless of the reply, a half of bitter arrived in due course.
It was a handy trick to drink light and bitter, or 'buy one, get 50% free - such was the generosity of Paul Latham the barman at Sudbury. He was a model for Star Trek clothing when not racing in to bowl for the 2nds - one of many who worked and worked to sustain the qualities of Old Gaytonian at Sudbury.
It was also an advantage to be proficient at darts as the rule was that loser buys the beer.
I became very good at darts, in the company of Graham Cutts, Paul Latham, Eric Ross and Bob Pinfield - of the Pinfield clan. It was often down to BOb and Leslie to drive me back to Eastcote, stand me at the front door, ring the bell and make a quick getaway in their Austin 1100...my Mum never seemed to mind, and my kit was always ready to roll the next day.
Now I'm rambling and can think of so many stupidities - like policemen wearing hearts and poems underpants - supposedly to support his undercover operation - and Teddy Latham, who spent so much time trying to get his bat into orbit that he eventually took up flying!
Ah! those are the days...
"...mike foxtrot to juliet whiskey - are you receiving? over..."
John West will be delighted to know that Deryck Peperell is still around. If he wants to drop him a line the address is Icknield House, Askett, Nr. PRINCES RISBOROUGH, Bucks. His wife, the lovely Audrey, died some years ago and he admits to being lonely. Doesn't appear much these days - getting a bit frailer and not much to draw him to Sudbury - although he has been to the 300 Club Wine and Cheese most years until recently. A splendid character, very much the face of the OGCC to other clubs in earlier years. His donkey drops were better than they looked and he could on ocasion slog a good few runs in the tail.
Others of John's era still around include Ian Park (I see him at Northwood Squash Club, aka Dragons, and can ressure John that he hasn't changed, still the dulcet tones and graciousness to opponents), Howard Collins (who farmed Sudbury so effectively - among the best pitches in Middlesex - and now appears to play golf with the OGGS; also a squash player) and Mike Udall, recently retired from his headship.
I note my fellow site visitor's concern at the paucity of entries in recent days, so I thought I might try and generate a bit of activity with a request to see if anyone can tell whether the legendary Old Gaytonian's cricketer Derek Peperell is still alive? I can still recall my first introduction to him when I started playing adult cricket as a young 14 year old schoolboy. He always wore his garish old boys cap and the school tie served as a cheap means of holding his trousers up. Pep always bowled off a short run up, usually not extending beyond one pace, and somehow seemed to winkle out the most obdurate of batsmen. He certainly offered me hope, seeing this gentle trundle encouraged me to believe that if he could take wickets, anyone could! There were some wonderful characters in that team in the late fifties, most of whose names elude me at the early onset of senility. Still, I enjoyed over 20 years of cricket and can even recall a young colt called John Woodage, who was one of a very promising bunch that Nick "The Quack" Taylor and others got together. Woodage progressed to a successful career in the senior XI and became sports master at Hatch End High about ten years ago. He arrived to discover to his horror that my youngest son, then 15, was sports captain and reminding him of many exploits he thought were long forgotten! Woodage was extremely shrewd and never upset my son! I'm sure the Harrow Observer could conjure up some early photographs of "The Old Gaytonians" cricket elevens from the era when they were a tour de force in local cricket. Who can forget that evening in 1975 when we finally lifted the Mayor of Harrow's 20 over KO Cup? Certainly not Ted Latham, who after celebrating their success all evening, then tried to race the Harrow Police area car down Harrow View. I can still recall my surprise at seeing him walking out of the charge room in the early hours of the morning, having been bailed for his indiscretion, as I arrived to oversee other matters as the night duty CID officer! Great days!
Could we have an update on the condition of the 'delightful old git' please.
Hi There,
I am just visiting your site for the first time, and it is very nice :).... I am doing some work on my family tree and I am looking for information on a person who name was John William Tuckett, and I was wondering if he was ever a student there. If someone can get back to me that would be great. Have a great day
Michelle
Hi, I'm trying to find Gillan Stewart. He would have left school in about 1987. Moved to Australia. Pls help leelee123NOSPAMREMOVETHIS@xtra.co.nz
Visits to the site seem to have reduced markedly in recent months - I haope that interest in thh old place is not wanimg. Regarding Pete Arnold's "High Flight" enquiry, I remeber the film well, as it preceeded my entry to the RAF College by about 3 years or so, so I saw it as "trade training". One source of info might be the Librarian at the RAF College Cranwell. The hangar with the historic aircraft was, I think, at Fulbeck, just down the road, which in my days where we went to practise circuits and landings. Alternative site Barkston Heath, a few miles in the opposite direction.
British Film Library may have a copy of the film
Regards to all Ian
Ian Gawn
Spitfire Research. I am currently researching a Spitfire aircraft that appeared in the film 'High Flight' with Ray Milland, Kenneth Haigh and Anthony Newley. It centred on activity at RAF Cranwell. In the far corners of my brain I seem to recall that boys a couple of years older than myself, say 16 in 1956/7, were seconded to act as extras in this film. They may logically have been RAF CCF but I feel that they were 4th Harrow Scouts/Air Scouts. Drawing even deeper into the brain box, the name Ken Childerhouse might figure in here somewhere. Can anybody please help?
No entries for 9 days. Most unusual! Just checking. (Jeff, great to see you, Denis and Geoff last night. Where did the time go?)
It is with regret that I inform you of the death of old Gaytonian Maurice Lewendon (my father). He passed away peacefully yesterday, 4th August, aged 96. He appears in the pictures of the 1923 Athletics and Football teams.
best regards......Malcolm Lewendon
I would like to add my tribute to the Tony Rhoades obituaries.Having helped in the re-founding of the Athletics Club, I left Harrow in 1955 but Tony always invited me to OG re-unions of all sorts; he remained my OG link for over 50 years. In Denis Orme's AC photos, c1955, 3rd man, front row, is (late)Eric Milner (also across table fr Tony in clubhouse).In Sports Day relays: RFC could pick AC dual members first; AC had to rely on specialists.
You and I were at school for the same years Philip. I remembered Alex vaguely so got in touch with him in Vancouver. To my surprise I learned he and his wife were coming east for a holiday and would be staying close to us. We had a very pleasant lunch together. Our wives were very tolerant of all the yarning! I remember "Sam" Weller very well. He was a great cricket umpire. I heard somewhere that Derek (we called himd "Deg") Rees died some time ago. His younger brother Tony was in our form but nobody now knows where he is. I was told he once turned up at Sudbury where he was greeted royally but nobody thought to ask for his address! Are you out there somewhere Tony???
I saw a note from Alex Copeland of 29th June which I have been meaning to comment on. Three of the names mentioned are familiar to me Derek Rees - I think without the final 'e', Sam Weller and Gilbert Cunningham, for some reason we always called him, 'Slug'. I know not why. Although I was at HCS from 1940 to 1947, I think the latter was in my class. Alex Copeland I don't remember.
In response to Peter Barker's request for news of that delightful"old git" Gerry Lafferty....His wife Patty tells me he is in need of some cheering up.Two months ago he was pronounced dead after a lung collapsed but gained a new nickname,"Lazarus"when he proved a bit too tough for the reaper...five weeks ago he fell and broke his hip and is still stuck in hospital while it heals.He is in need of cheering ( he may be confined to bed but his sense of humour is unimpaired ) so any cards,bouquets,crates of stout etc should be sent to: Gerry Lafferty No 3 Room Kingfisher Ward, Seaton Hospital, Seaton, Devon EX12 2UU
Does anyone know where Mr. "Boggy" Marsh, who taught geography and history in the 1960s is today, or know his e-mail address? I think he lives in Uxbridge. Mr. Marsh's real name was Michael (M. E. Marsh). He was educated at Dover Grammar School and the University of London. After leaving Harrow County in 1967 he became Deputy Headmaster at Dr. Challenor's School, Amersham, and retired as Senior Deputy Headmaster in 1997.
brillant website,so proud of my old school,was it because or in spite of our masters,probally both. have got in touch with boys[thats how i remember them of course]have not seen or spoken of for years. i thank those who were kind to me at school like yogi sadly deceased,paul who failed o level french 6 times!but got the ultimate prize.roy [two of them, jon and many of the others whose names illude me now. sorry to those i was nasty to,especially john cobb what was the name of the master thati put a loose bunsen burner on his chair to sit on ,did he jump up....what japes...the best of times and the worst of times bless you all nigel morley what hapened to the pavilion fund?
brillant website,so proud of my old school,was it because or in spite of our masters,probally both. have got in touch with boys[thats how i remember them of course]have not seen or spoken of for years. i thank those who were kind to me at school like yogi sadly deceased,paul who failed o level french 6 times!but got the ultimate prize.roy [two of them, jon and many of the others whose names illude me now. sorry to those i was nasty to,especially john cobb what was the name of the master thati put a loose bunsen burner on his chair to sit on ,did he jump up....what japes...the best of times and the worst of times bless you all nigel morley what hapened to the pavilion fund?
I was in form V2 1959. Im interested to know whatever happened to all my classmates. If you have any information please contact me.
Ran into Greg Whittick last Saturday. Much yarning went on!
Church-watchers may like to know that I was installed as a Prebendary of Hereford Cathedral on 29 June.
Does anyone have an update on Jock Lafferty's condition, please? I was rather fond of the old git.
Hello! I am hoping you can pass this on to people who may be able to help. I am assisting Canadian Senator William Rompkey in searching for the British Voluntary Service(V.S.O.) 18 year old teachers who served in the Coastal communities of Labrador, Canada from 1960 - 70.
A Get - Together Is already arranged from Friday 1 - Sunday 3 August 2003 at Pateley Bridge about 15 miles from Harrogate, Yorkshire, England but Gus Allen ( Gus Stafford - Allen) who would now be about 54 is still "lost." Gus taught in Hopedale, Labrador from 1966 – 67. Should you have any information whatsoever about his current whereabouts would you kindly let me know as soon as possible? Or, if you wouldn't mind forwarding or circulating his picture to any other people from your Address Book whom you think may be able to help that would be an important contribution.
Please let me know if you would like to join our search. A Lifetime Honourary Award could be yours. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. All the best Llewelyn Pritchard M.A.and EX-SCOUT CONTACT: llewelynpritchardNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com Telephone: 44(0)1454 610050
OR: llewelynNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@pritchard-bristol.freeserve.co.uk
GUS ALLEN - PHOTOGRAPHIC ID TO FOLLOW
Bit of a surprise this morning when I opend my mail folder at work to be confronted by the front cover of People Management magazine bearing a photo of Bob Garratt looking more spry than I feel. Mind you, I had just spent the morning at my youngest (nearly 15) son's speech day. He had even engineered sitting next to the girl known in our house as NMGF (or "not my girl friend"). However, all will be well tomorow as we fly out fopr a wek's holiday in Greece (at least we a taking a male mate of Will's and not "NMGF")
Good to Nick de Lange's name on the web site.
Cheers to all
Ian Gawn PS I have taken a great deal of trouble over syntax and spelling - I would hate to disturb Jim Golland's peaceful rest.
Alex Caprara, who taught art at Harrow County 1961-64, is tutoring, with his wife, a creative design ans stitched textile workshop at the Fiberart Gallery in St. Ives from 23rd-25th July. Details at http://www.fiberartgallery.com/workshops/june2003workshop.html
Jeff--Paul Barkas is indeed in the photo I submitted of the rugby team. I cannot confirm the news and am most saddened to hear it--he was a lovely bloke. I hadn't heard from him in years but he remains in my mind a young lad full of humor and promise. Incidentally, if true, this would not be the first untimely death of one of the Under-14 team. Gareth Bartlett (apparently) died a few years ago. I'm sure all my old team-mates would join with me in passing on our condolences to Paul's family. Look after yourselves, lads.
Paul Barkas
Unfortunately the person who posted the previous message did not leave a name or e-mail address. Paul Barkas is (we think) in this photograph: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/harrow_county/U14XVRugby1967.htm Can anyone verify this, or confirm the previous sad news?
Jeff Maynard
To all the 1965 intake: Paul Barkas sadly passed away on 7th June aged 49. He was a much loved and very charming individual. May he be remembered for ever.
Jeff—I checked on VH1’s extraordinarily annoying website
http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/vh1_goes_inside/68018/episode.jhtml
and—between pop-ups and assorted flashing eye-candy—found the only upcoming “VH1 Goes Inside” listed is one tomorrow about TV Farewells, and one on July 20, called “Dance Scenes that Rocked the Movies.”
That’s at 11/10c, Mr. New Yorker, note here in God’s country we live on Central Time!
If you can direct me to the correct documentation for young Farrow's claim, I promise I will write "The Ploughman homewards plods his weary way" 100 times.
Jeff - er - thank god I'm not in the US (:-)
Regards, Mike
For those in the United States, Old Gaytonian Don Farrow has his first show on VH1 (cable) on Saturday July 12 at 8pm and 11pm: VH1 GOES INSIDE Awesome Movie Songs. Despite the not so awesome title it's a fun show with the inside story on why certain songs ended up in certain movies. It has quite a good roster of films: O, Brother Where Art Thou, Boogie Nights, My Best Friend's Wedding, etc.
Don Farrow
You are right about harry Webb never wearing a gown. I certainly do not recall seeing him in one, any more than Amos did. In the recess of my mind is a recollection that he had a technical qualification from the City and Guilds Institute. In 1947, he organised the first trip to the continent after the war but did not go. The trip was led by Cyril Smith who was a great leader who turned many a blind eye. I was on the trip. We stayed at Brunnen on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland - ten days away for 17 pounds! We were joined by a group from Harrow Weald. After seven years of hard times we could not believe the quality of life, especially the food. We spent much of our pocket money on chocolate liqueurs that for most of us were a new experience.
I attended the school from 1941 to 1948.Went through the 'A' stream.Played for the Rugby 1st team. With a few other Old Gayts(Derek Reese,Gilbert Cunningham,Ian Johnson, Brian Lewis, Sam Weller) contiued educ. at Exeter(at that time Univ.Coll.Of the S.W. of England) and achieved a London Univ. external degree in Economics. Played rugby for a year or so at Sudbury. Worked at Kodak for a couple of years before emigrating to Canada. Now retired in Vancouver. Greetings to all ex-members of Harrow County,would be delighted to hear from any of the same era.
I agree with with Phil Chesterman - I do not think think that Harry Webb ever wore a gown. I have also been on the receiving end of the famous "slap on the face" from Harry. The fact that I was trying to use a very sharp chisel in the direction of an artery when he hit me probably saved my life - and I still remember the shock to this day !
Cheers, Mike
PS could I put in a plea for people to check their speling wen they sbmit there contributions ? Jim Golland would be turning in his grave !
I agree with with Phil Chesterman - I do not think think that Harry Webb ever wore a gown. I have also been on the receiving end of the famous "slap on the face" from Harry. The fact that I was trying to use a very sharp chisel in the direction of an artery when he hit me probably saved my life - and I still remember the shock to this day !
Cheers, Mike
PS could I put in a plea for people to check their speling wen they sbmit there contributions ? Jim Golland would be turning in his grave !
I agree with with Phil Chesterman - I do not think think that Harry Webb ever wore a gown. I have also been on the receiving end of the famous "slap on the face" from Harry. The fact that I was trying to use a very sharp chisel in the direction of an artery when he hit me probably saved my life - and I still remember the shock to this day !
Cheers, Mike
PS could I put in a plea for people to check their speling wen they sbmit there contributions ? Jim Golland would be turning in his grave !
went to gayton in the 80s my form tutor was mr camp bell cant remeber form number just wondered if you had any photos
Interested to see recently that Tony Youdale was in the 2nd Rayners Lane Scouts as I was - a little later! However I gave` up Scouts at 14 in preference to CCF, but I am certainly back as one of BP's boys as Group Scout Leader locally in the Midlands. Perhaps he could contact me via email as his address was spammed!
Time, perhaps, for my two cents worth. De Lange is right, there was not much violence amoungst the boys as we were united against the Institution(masters and prefects). I do not remember any masters as being good teachers and some were quite violent. Perhaps this was a product of the times. Those who would have made, or were, good teachers were sent to the armed forces(another violent institution). The ones we had were either not able to be called up or were products of the said armed forces. Good teachers can hold the interest of the students, ours, in the most part, could only do that by fear. Protest had to be subtle or you could be in big trouble. My ways were to avoid the Institutions prefered icons. I was considered a "fair" athlete and in the second and third form sports afternoon "trials" was considered a good prospect for rugby as a full back. When I found rugby was the prefered sport I immediatly took up cross country(which worked out well for me). I took up rugby when I came to Canada and was instrumental in forming the "Deep River Blues" a team I played for into my late twenties. In the summer I avoided cricket for the same reason and did swimming and athletics(outside of school I was a bowler and played for teams including my work team). I also was in the Second Rayners Lane Scouts and did not join any of the school regimens(which disallowed any chance of being a prefect). With all of this I was able to slip quietly through the system without much notoriety or abuse directed at me. I appreciate this site very much as it enables me to relive some of the times I had with other students. I believe they should be able to recount their feelings as it reprisents how they now feel and helps to build a true picture of the school at their time of attendance.
Bernie Marchant & Ken Waller said they wore their gowns to keep their suits clean of chalk dust. Ken Waller on the other hand upgraded his to a superior material i believe on the basis that if he was going to wear one he might as well wear one that was comfortable(??) On an aside Ken never taught me but in year 3 (1974) was my form master. Has he survived the years and is he in good health? Any news? I remember "The Government Inspector" which he translated from Russian and then produced via Convergence. A brilliant talent
Oh, dear. I meant, of course, only that the punishment was deserved. In fact, while I abhor violence, it is really a matter of degree. I have to say that I never experienced or witnessed severe beatings or brutality in my time at HCS, although there were at times nasty and unwarranted digs which I viewed as spiteful, as well as unjust. (Think Twink, among others.)
I suppose it comes down to whether you think punishment of any kind is acceptable or necessary. My view is that it sometimes is, although I can never remember Beaky Fooks punishing anyone except by mild reproof – which worked for him; that was part of his marvellous talent. We all write from personal experience and preference and I found the humiliation and psychological affront of protracted disfavour much more oppressive and harmful than a quick clip, over and done with. As for lines and detentions, these silly “remedies” were wasteful of time and materials and utterly irrelevant by the time they were carried out.
As I mentioned, physical punishment was the norm in my era. Now that it is called “violence by adults against children” (Nicholas de Lange) it sounds awful – but it usually wasn’t, and I don’t believe it is now. Who as a parent has not felt the need to rein in a hysterical child with a quick slap on the bottom – or is shouting at the top of your voice the answer?
And, no, I don’t remember much violence among boys either.
Phil Chesterman’s recollection of Harry Webb is interesting. Mine is that he did wear a gown most of the time and although, I cannot recall for sure that he mentioned a degree in recounting his provenance, that was one of the reasons I was in no doubt he had a degree. Perhaps it was just a Simpsonism – I do recall that he was as keen on masters wearing their gowns as on boys wearing their caps. Even Sammy Watson had to come round.
Colin Dickin's article of June 24, 2003 has brought up a question that has bothered me for years. What gave the teacher the right to wear a gown ? Harry Webb never wore one, and he told me once that he never got a degree, and that was the reason. Is this a fact ?
Memories of Harry Webb are many; he had a slow fuse but when he let go "watch out" !
One fine day about July 28, 1950, Harry, along with Cyril Smith and Killer King, set out to escort a bunch of unruly brats from HCS, along with a few girls, to make up numbers (?), on a 10-12 day trip to Clarens, Switzerland. Harry's day started badly when the Metropolitan Line from Northwood Hills acted-up, and he got to Victoria station just in time to board the train.
We all arrived safely at St-Lazare, crossed Paris to the Gâre de Lyon and had an hour or so to spare before we had a meal and took off for Switzerland.
First of all a bunch of us decided to explore the Métro system, another bunch went to look at the river, and we got back a bit late. Something had gone awry with the meal, and Harry was in the middle of all this and had turned all shades of red. He took it out on someone (French) in English, and I guess he followed the principle that f you shout loudly enough they'll understand.
As for the rest of the trip, he was a gem, and never said a word about the 15 year olds slurping back a few beers.
Perhaps Colin Dickins would care to explain what he means about violence being 'deserved'. Then we could have a serious debate about a subject lots of us seem to feel strongly about.
Let me suggest that violence by adults against children in their care cannot be 'deserved'. There are plenty of other ways of punishing really unacceptable behaviour.
Let's try putting the question the other way round: are there circumstances in which violence by the boys against masters would be 'deserved'?
While I've got the floor, though, let me add that in my day the violence was often arbitrary and unjust.
One last thing: despite the poor example set by masters, I don't remember much violence among boys. Or am I wrong?
Harry Webb must have mellowed in the interval between my departure and John West’s arrival. He had a little quirk of slapping one’s face very suddenly (but not very forcefully) and saying, “The quickness of the hand deceives the eye! Eh, boy?” The later was delivered with a twinkle in the eye and a look of mild reproach for whatever had precipitated this “assault” and no malice or distaste. Harry loved being a teacher and he liked his pupils without reservation; he wanted you to learn. This was his method of bringing up short an inattentive or lazy pupil. It was occasionally, it worked, and it was not resented.
I’m tired of rebutting the vituperative claims of “institutionalised violence” and sadism which appear all too often in this guestbook, but let me say it again: I encountered not infrequent minor violence which was pretty much the norm in my time (1947-53) but it was usually deserved and rarely hurt. I remember one poor individual, a history teacher called Dixon, who was mercilessly taunted and bullied by his pupils and would eventually lay about him with a heavy ruler. We all knew what would happen and we still did it. He didn’t last long (nor should he) but he was a rare exception. I often wonder whether he survived and rose above that awful period of his life.
There was, of course, the odd sadistic moment – rare, and utterly reprehensible - often psychological rather than physical. But most teachers did their best with what talents and methods they had – and most succeeded. Most who kept best order never used any physical contact at all. Good for them. Lucky them to have the personality and skills. I cannot find it in me to carry resentment of the failings of any of the staff into adulthood and I marvel at the enduring hatred of people like Brian Glicker (22.5.03). He is big enough and old enough to be running a law firm yet still nurses this primaeval bitterness. He must surely have got something from HCS to be where he is. As for his attack on Bernie Marchant, can he not now, in maturity, recognise that Bernie was an extraordinarily shy, unselfconfident man who was more terrified than any pupil he taught? He was (and is) greatly gifted academically and intellectually and I’m sure many pupils benefitted greatly from his teaching, for all his lack of confidence and interpersonal skills. I’m glad I don’t work for Brian.
To revert to Harry Webb (in what has become more of an article than a guestbook contribution – Sorry!), he left school at the age of 14 and became a builder’s labourer. Somehow he got an education in evening classes and eventually a degree. I suppose he was originally employed as a woodwork/metalwork teacher but in the war and post-war years there were no spare materials for the purpose and he taught technical drawing and maths. Later he returned to his vocational subject. He acquired a “decent” accent, a passion for rugby and was a keen philatelist. He could be touchy, particularly if he thought someone was having a go at him for his modest roots, but he was a warm, loyal man who never failed to delight in the position he found himself in by good fortune and exceptional effort.
Turnbull. You failed to mention that he would deliver said blow with the knuckles on an unsuspecting pupil from behind. Now there is a word for that sort of behavior. It was with great delight that I and a fellow O.G. victim chanced upon him in very embarrassing circumstaces in 1961 - Oh the pure joy. As to the upturned U with dots, I thought 'Spargo' was wondeful - a decorated fighter pilot from the First World War, with a tale to tell. It is one of my abiding memories of HCS that on a special call for all staff and pupils to wear military or scout uniform, Spargo turned up in his full Royal Flying Corps outfit and, as I recall, out-ranked a certain cadet Major.
At the risk of being regarded as boring, by raising the rather jaded subject of violence inflicted upon schoolboys, I confess to being mildly surprised that the name of "Cheese" Turnbull hadn't been mentioned. If you invoked his displeasure he had evolved a charming habit of clenching his hand into a fist then rapping you smartly over the skull with his knuckles. This was extremely painful but I suppose this was acceptable conduct between 1955 - 1960. I wonder how many potential litigants would be seeking substantial remuneration for the "brain damage" inflicted for what were invariably very minor misdemeanours, if these assaults had occurred 40 years later? My memory of the masters of that era seems to suggest that you could divide them into three separate groups. The likes of Jim Golland, Messrs. Saunders, McEwan, Crinson, Skillen, Webb and others held your attention by earning your respect. This was earned by the fact that you were treated equally, by someone who knew his job. These were men who would go out of their way to help you if you were struggling. Yet it's true to say that this was probably coloured by the individual schoolboy's preference of subject. If you wanted to improve your french, for example, the fact that Hugh Skillen regularly brought in copies of his excellent bi-lingual Butterfly / Papillon magazine was always going to endear him to the pupil far more than the one to whom metalwork was something worse than sticking red hot needles in your eye. Secondly, were the figures of fun and I'm not going to name any names - although the oft drawn inverted letter "U" with a series of dots at the base which appeared everywhere on anything one could draw upon might evoke some memories. Sadly these characters were never likely to teach you anything unless you were really, really enthusiastic about their subject. Thirdly, came the group who could only rule by fear and, I presume, these are the gentlemen who have come in for the scorn poured on them by past students in this guest book in recent weeks.
TONY RHOADES
First of all many thanks on behalf of Mum and all of the Rhoades family for the many kind expressions of sympathy we received on Dad’s death. We have been quite overwhelmed by the number of letters we received and by the time and trouble that so many people have taken to write or get in touch. It is a great comfort to know that so many of you miss him, as we do, and it confirms how very privileged we were to have him as a husband and father. The turnout for the funeral was wonderful, we were very touched and he would have been very proud. My brother Alan’s eulogy will shortly be posted to this site for those of you who were unable to attend.
We have, of course, got many great anecdotes about him, some of which we are going to include in the next issue of the Gaytonian, but while talking to friends at the funeral I heard several new stories and it struck me that it would be good to gather a few more contributions from some of you far-flung Gayts to add to our collection. If you do have any recollections please can you e-mail them to me caroleanne.thompsonNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@virgin.net. I am assured that, failing all else, I will at least receive some interesting offers from Nigeria, and so my efforts will not be wasted!
Carole
I was delighted to discover this website. I was at Harrow County from 1940 - 1945, and was very interested to read the reminisencies of former pupils from that time. I'd love to hear from former classmates!
Yesterday I was given by Matthew de Lange (Thanks Matthew), the minute book of the Oxford Old Gaytonians Society, to go in the archives. Although not actual Old Gaytonians Associations sub sections, the University sub sections do form another part of our history.
Aside from the OUOGS, there were similar at Cambridge, Bristol, Exeter, Leicester and Nottingham Universities.
Aside from the minutes, the OU book contains several letters, menu's, and the like. Does anyone else out there have any material from it or any of the other University Societies that they would consider donating to the archives, or loaning so it might be copied?
I can be contacted on 020 8863 1235 or via Jeff Maynard.
I was at Gayton the same time as David Wilson (1980-84) and like many, you made of it what you did. I was never a 'bad boy' but still ended up being caned several times, the first (by a teacher still there)three strokes for thowing a paper dart!
I know of a mate who was literally beaten by another sadistic teacher, which later involved the parents etc. The said teacher hit another boy in the same way later on, and funnily enough both were Jewish. Whether that was coincidence or not I don't know, but he certainly had it in for those two in particular.
Being School liason for the OGs and also running the School and OG archives (based at the School) I can see almost daily how the kids behave now. While some are happy and polite, others are the total opposite, but is that the School, or just 'kids today'? Not long ago, I heard a story about Swanny Amos, popular to many, when he struck a pupil full in the mouth laying him out flat. In those days (pre-war) the pupil would have been considered very much a young adult, and probably capable of handling it. Maybe an extreme, but it goes to show how times change. A dose of the old days might make some of the current students act very differently.
I am pleased that Nicholas De Lange believes that the environment of the modern school is healthier than it was in our day. I have grown weary of defending the state school system, and of challenging the perception that standards have fallen and that everything was all so much better in the old days. I have been a senior teacher for 25 years in the East End of London and in the infamous Borough of Brent, and I have had to deal with some appalling instances of vandalism, bullying and disruptive behaviour over the years, but never worse than some of the behaviour which I saw (and occasionally participated in) during my years at H.C.S. I do feel that the majority of those who taught me (even the good ones) would have been ill-equipped to teach successfully in the type of schools in which I have worked, but I am equally sure that the majority of my comprehensive school colleagues would be able to teach effectively in any selective school. My final point concerns comments which the Prime Minister made recentl. He waxed lyrical about his own "golden years" at Fettes, and obviously considered the modern generation of state school teachers to be a pretty rum lot. The fagging system was still in operation in Fettes at that time, and corporal punishment was administered liberally and enthusiastically by both masters and prefects. Tony himself is reported to have caned younger boys on occasions. Blair thinks that this was all jolly good and character forming and he believes that comprehensive school teachers should seek to be more like the sort of people who taught him. Too much of our education policy is being shaped by the whims of people who have no personal experience of the state system as either pupils or parents (Tony's kids went to selective voluntary -aided schools). How do O.Gs (particularly those who survived the Simpson era) feel about Tony's comments?
I am pleased that Nicholas De Lange believes that the environment of the modern school is healthier than it was in our day. I have grown weary of defending the state school system, and of challenging the perception that standards have fallen and that everything was all so much better in the old days. I have been a senior teacher for 25 years in the East End of London and in the infamous Borough of Brent, and I have had to deal with some appalling instances of vandalism, bullying and disruptive behaviour over the years, but never worse than some of the behaviour which I saw (and occasionally participated in) during my years at H.C.S. I do feel that the majority of those who taught me (even the good ones) would have been ill-equipped to teach successfully in the type of schools in which I have worked, but I am equally sure that the majority of my comprehensive school colleagues would be able to teach effectively in any selective school. My final point concerns comments which the Prime Minister made recentl. He waxed lyrical about his own "golden years" at Fettes, and obviously considered the modern generation of state school teachers to be a pretty rum lot. The fagging system was still in operation in Fettes at that time, and corporal punishment was administered liberally and enthusiastically by both masters and prefects. Tony himself is reported to have caned younger boys on occasions. Blair thinks that this was all jolly good and character forming and he believes that comprehensive school teachers should seek to be more like the sort of people who taught him. Too much of our education policy is being shaped by the whims of people who have no personal experience of the state system as either pupils or parents (Tony's kids went to selective voluntary -aided schools). How do O.Gs (particularly those who survived the Simpson era) feel about Tony's comments?
From the Scottish Executive website:
Peter Collings, Principal Finance Officer
Peter Collings was born in London in February 1951. He was educated at Harrow County School, and Cambridge and Sheffield Universities (MA (Cantab), M.Sc. PhD, MBA, FCCA).
He joined the civil service in 1975 as a statistician with the Forestry Commission, moving to The Scottish Office in 1977.
He has worked in most departments of the Scottish Office, holding a variety of policy and finance posts, including Sea Fisheries Policy and Director of Finance for the NHS Management Executive.
Dr Collings was promoted to Principal Finance Officer and Head of Finance in 1998. He is a keen dinghy sailor and is married with two children, both of whom have been selected to represent Scotland at rowing.
David Wilson may have a completely different experience to others. I note he was at school in the 1980's. The place was changing all the time. I have been told the late Simpson years differed from the Avery ones but still we had some issues which i) we often thought were peculiar to ourselves and ii) the culture of the school did not lend itself to expressing complaints and opinions on certain aspects.
I find my self agreeing with Nicholas de Lange even though I note he had left before I even joined. I knew Matthew de Lange, who I presume was his brother. The outpouring here is theraputic and provides for closure where closure is needed. I certainly do not believe my maturity needs examination at all. The benefit of getting older is that you see things with a more experienced perspective and without wishing to repeat myself some teachers were minded to oppression and cruelty and some boys could not handle that at all well. Lets understand that its not the boys job to make allowances of adult teachers but the adult teachers job to behave like civilised people. So if after 30-40 years some feel sufficiently motivated to have an outpouring of unfinished business at the expense of someone who is either elderley or dead well - thats life and forms part of natural justice. PC attitudes are not relevent here (or elsewhere I might suggest!) Read Peter Vincents entry. He agrees somewhat.
Its not all bad though, there were good inspirational teachers and they have been metioned many times. Their good often outweighed the others bad. My point already made before was that at the time the opportunity for complining was limited to say the least.
So keep on talking, accept the mixed experiences, realise that several generations passed through the portals of HCS, and get on with what ever life we have all made, because of, or despite that school.
RICHARD BUNT HCS 1966 - 1973
I'm glad that David Wilson had such a jolly time at GHS, and in a way I'm glad he finds its incredible that so many of us have had a hard time coming to terms with the deeply scarring experience of being at HCS in earlier years. I don't remember that we talked about the pain at the time. There were pressures, and perhaps we assumed the treatment we received was normal (it was undoubtedly more common at the time), but I'm sure we needed the passage of the years and also the opportunity to compare what we went through with the healthier school envirnments that exist today. Hence the outpourings in this web site, which I have personally found it quite therapeutic to read. I guess for a long time I thought I was the only one who suffered. I do remember the first time I read Nicholas Nickleby I thought Dotheboys Hall had some redeeming features. Or am I inventing that?
Nicholas de Lange 1955-62
GHS - '80 - '83
I find it incredible that our website is being used as a forum to constantly critisise, debase & generally assasinate the characters of some teachers - who in all probability were just trying to do their job - in what they probably thought of as difficult circumstances.
Yes - I accept that some will have not have been as good teachers as others, yes - there will have been ones whose idea of discipline took things too far - & yes - there will have been those of our friends & some of us who suffered (often with no redress) at their hands.......BUT....
Are we not now all adults?
Do we not have the capability to see things through different eyes than the 11/12 to 16/18 year old ones we had then? If we do not have that ability, then I suggest that our levels of maturity and discernment are sadly lacking.
This website is a fantastic opportunity to share & remember events that shaped our lives from our schooldays - lets not let it degenerate.
We should all remember that none of us are perfect & nor was the system that educated us - so lets try to avoid this constant barrage directed at certain ex-members of staff.
For the record I had a great time whilst NOSPAMREMOVETHIS@ Gayton and I thoroughly enjoyed my schooling. Whilst I'm not naive enough to assume that everyone had the same experience as me it does make me annoyed to think that all people can do is remember the bad times.
Come on guys - what about the good ones ??!!
Harry Levine's comments prompt me to support and expand on what Richard Bunt said earlier on... I was one of the school's dropouts and left with a single O level (but got a First under my own steam so presumably I had the potential). For three years, life was a misery of underachievement and D streaming. Then an announcement in assembly asking for volunteers to be stage lighting apprentices changed the rest of my school life completely... Not only did it give me serious responsibility, priveleges, and self-confidence - it also allowed me to see apparently ferocious school masters working informally out of school hours late in the evening, overnight, weekends, even in the holidays. Harry Mees, Norman Tyrwhitt, and Jim Maddisson helped to supervise these goings on - but at the same time allowed us to run things for ourselves. I was also brought into contact with Clive Anderson, Jock Lafferty, Jim Golland, Arthur Haley, Dave Burt, Viv Edwards, Chris O'Donoghue (and others I have probably forgotten) working backstage or on for one production or another in a much less formal situation than 99% of boys would ever have seen. Normally first names were used - on the unstated understanding that different rules applied when in the classroom! During 1966-1972 when I was present, the brutality of the earlier years had significantly reduced to almost zero - and the occasional slap around the ear from one or other Physics master was normally deserved! Roy Avery obviously had a different idea on how to run a school from his predecessor, although it seems the brutality returned in later years - so Richard and I were probably lucky to be in our particular timewarp while Roy was the custodian. So what is the point of this long speech? Basically to say that without exception, the schoolmasters who had to come onto OUR stage had to let their hair down and get on with us and generally muck in if they wanted their production to be a success. There was also an element of respect from our side to see some of the unsung jobs which were taken on which were just as important as our contribution, but which were even further from the limelight. So I salute these teachers, some of which are no longer with us, to say thanks - you made my life tolerable! PV
PS. Phill English - get in touch if you visit again!
...Gayton Rode into town - and the rest is history...
MY MAIDEN NAME IS GAYTON AND I HAVE BEEN DOING GENEOLOGY FOR MANY YEARS. MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, EDWARD GAYTON CAME TO USA AROUND 1850. HE MARRIED MARY MCCAULEY IN PENNSYLVANIA. I WAS ALWAYS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT HE WAS IRISH CATHOLIC. THE US CENSUS RECORDS SAY THAT HE CAME FROM IRELAND. HOW CAN I GET ANY INFO ON THIS NAME. IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT NAME TO TRACE. IS IT POSSIBLE HE CAME FROM ENGLAND? HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS NAME. THANK YOU, REGARDS MADRIANNE ISAIA
Laury
The Golden Age was surely some 5 years prior to the inauguration of the bloody place.When I left I thought that,perhaps it was just me.Now I have seen innumerable postings I realise that there were many many of us for whom the years at HCGS were truly the wilderness years.The barbarous swines who dominated the place could not have spotted potential if it had landed on their fat heads in a ten ton truck.I completely exonerate only messrs Golland and Mees.The rest were either sadistic brutes or time serving wasters. Oops I seem to have got carried away with my angst.
Laury
The Golden Age was surely some 5 years prior to the inauguration of the bloody place.When I left I thought that,perhaps it was just me.Now I have seen innumerable postings I realise that there were many many of us for whom the years at HCGS were truly the wilderness years.The barbarous swines who dominated the place could not have spotted potential if it had landed on their fat heads in a ten ton truck.I completely exonerate only messrs Golland and Mees.The rest were either sadistic brutes or time serving wasters. Oops I seem to have got carried away with my angst.
Gentlemen
What was the 'golden age' of our school?
1956-64
HCS 1966-1970
Good website. Don't know if anyone remembers me. I passed through HCS rather inconspicuously and without much glory, sad to say. Drifted through 2,3 and 4C's and finally left during fifth form, on the polite request of Mr Avery (whose canings I fondly remember:-). Somehow the school never brought the best out of me, but I like to think I've done a little better since those less than joyful days. Spent a period in the Merchant Navy, rising to the dizzy heights of Second Mate, then entered a period of training as a Hindu monk and priest, spending time in India. I've since opened a temple and written a few books, and in fact glean my livelihood now largely by writing, which would probably come as a shock to my old English teacher, the famous JAGO.
Anyway, I do wonder sometimes what happened to my old classmates and other friends from HCS - Glenn Karpel, Dudszinsky, Nick Bush, and Zenon Pawski, my partner in crime, as well as the many others whose names are lost in the fog that seemed to descend on me when I attended HCS.
best wishes to all
Ken.
hi guys
hope you are all making loads of money.
good luck
raj miss hathers class 1984-88
hi guys
hope you are all making loads of money.
good luck
raj miss hathers class 1984-88
hi guys
hope you are all making loads of money.
good luck
raj miss hathers class 1984-88
Just attended Michael Portillo's and Carolyn Eadey's "100th" birthday party at the Chelsea Physik Garden. Good turnout of some of the more anarchical Old Gayts, Geoffrey Perkins, Clive Anderson, Charles Portillo etc; and a determined attempt was made to get Michael and Dianne Abbott smashed as they are appearing on TV at 1130 this evening. Watch this space!
Here comes 06 June again. I recall the day vividly in 1944 when those of us judged able to behave acceptably with minimum supervision were allowed after lunch to sit in what was then the New Chemistry lab to listen to Winston Churchill announce the success of the D-Day landings. It was a turning point in the lives of all of us.
I have just read Matthew de Lange's message. Although I know the name I do not know Matthew but wish him well in his endeavours to successfully raise funds for his chosen charity. I myself have just returned from the Inca Trail Trek raising personally some £8000 for the National Ayutistic Society with a 1/4m target. I have a son with Aspergers Syndrome, a from of high functioning autism which some boys at HCS must have had in our time but would not have been recognised as such. The trek itself was a lifetime experience and the achievement of a schoolboy goal. Don Wilkie et al had somehow or other instilled in me a fascination of Incan history and standing at Macchu Picchu at 7am in the morning on 9th May brought it all back. Therefore if anyone has any similar memories or desires do support Matthew in his venture and join him in his trek. You will not regret it and good luck Matthew
Those of you who remember me might recall that by the 6th form I was suffering from a form of rheumatoid arthritis. Now read on.....
ThInca£100,000 - Trek for Arthritis Research I have organised a trek this October to raise money for arthritis research. Our target is to raise £100,000. Arthritis is a terrible and debilitating disease which affects over 10% of the population and strikes young and old alike. I developed arthritis in my teens and by my early 20s the prognosis was extremely bleak. However, I have been incredibly lucky and the illness has been in remission for many years. It is in gratitude for this that I am marking my 50th year by organising this trek to Machu Picchu. It is a tough walk - mainly because of the altitude (12-13000 feet ) - and I and the rest of the party will be dedicating a large amount of time between now and October to getting fit. I do hope you will feel able to support me and give a donation to ARC (arthritis research campaign - registered charity no. 207711)). To make it easier , you can donate online at a secure site; www.justgiving.com/MdeL. It's really quick and simple. And as a UK taxpayer the charity will automatically be able to reclaim basic rate tax, adding hugely to your gift. Alternatively you can send me a cheque (payable to Arthritis Research Campaign). If you would like to go one better and actually join the trek, please let me know. It's certainly not too late. Please let me know if you have any queries or experience any difficulty with the website. Many, many thanks and best wishes
Matthew de Lange CONTACT DETAILS; Pro tem (I'm leaving at the end of June); PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 1 Embankment Place London WC2N 6RH
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7804 1260 ; Home 020 8858 6206 Mobile: +44 (0) 77 11 599 488 Email: matthew.de.langeNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@uk.pwcglobal.com; Home matthew_delangeNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks to this website I have recently met up with my old HCS friend and contemporary Bob Campbell. We joined HCS in 2D in September 1948. We're both now 65. I'd hadn't seen him since he came to my wedding 42 years ago. Was in his neck of the woods - Knutsford, Cheshire - on business and arranged to drop in on Bob and his charming New Zealander wife Frances. He rummaged in an upstairs cupboard and found a panoramic photograph, circa 1952, of the entire 4th Harrow Scout group assembled on the school field, with the two of us (both in the Pioneers air scout troop) readily identifiable, as well as many other familiar faces who Bob proved better able than me to put names to. Sitting in the middle, unsmiling, is Dr Simpson (needless to say in civvies), alongside a uniformed gent who I think must be the Chief Scout of the time - Lord Rowallan? On another tack, I have an Old Gaytonian uncle, Stan Clark, now 87, who was at HCS from 1927 to 1932. He has lent me a hardback 172-page volume about the school, dating from the year he left, entitled 'Book of Commemoration 1911-1932'.
It's interesting how the entries in this guest book suddenly focus in on one master. Currently, there is a lot of comment about Gerry Lafferty, whom I too remember with much gratitude and affection. I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the stories he used to tell about that great time in his life before he became a schoolmaster when he was a rep for Guinness. There was the one about one of his customers who had received in error a consignment of 'Irish' strength Guinness instead of the weaker 'English' strength product and he had to persuade him to give it up without admitting that there were indeed two strengths of Guinness. And how he would attend Guinness courses and at 4.00pm the course leader would say "Gentlemen, I think it's Guinness time!" All the best Jerry.
I thought Amos was alright too. He was so different to the nice lady teachers we had a primary school he came on rather strong. He had a rough job, firstly he had to go out in all weathers to get us marching into schoolin good order while his mates stayed in th staff room to have a last cigarette, secondly he had to supervise a never ending stream of small boys changing in and out of gym clothes and swimming costumes. He had to push us along or there would have been no time for the class! He was amazingly fit. He would climb up and down a rope without using his feet yet he must have been well into his fifties.
Pete Barker - your memory is failing. Gimpy was another teacher - a Mr Ellenden if I recall. Pearce was Digger on account of his Aussie origins. His method of counting was one, two, many, yonks. Married Miss Ferguson and moved away.
Can I just say that I liked Swanny Amos. I know he was hard (with a capital H) but for some boys, eg me, this was the only way to get us to achieve anything in PT lessons. Some of us would never attempt anything we did not think we could do until Swanny insisted we try it; and then we found we could.
I seem to remember Robin Leach. In fact I am fairly certain that I once nicked his cycle clips during break in the quad. Pity I don't have them now, they might have been worth something!
Also the house concerts were still going during my time (1950-1956) and in the same general form as described by Brian Hester. I was never involved but I believe there was an certain amount of script vetting!
GHS - '80-'83
Brian,
I my first year at Gayton we had a competition called the 'House Drama 'competition. I'm not sure if it was a direct replacement for the House concerts you referred to - but I remember a lot of work going into rehersals etc.
The competition was staged in the Drama Block that was situated next to the (by then disused)Swimming pool. The Head of Drama - Andy Kelso, gave us a lot of encouragement to write out own scripts & produce the plays ourselves - to us (as first years in a high school) that was a big deal.
Maybe Alex Bateman knows what the history of these are?
Incidently our entry (Form 1c - 1980) won that year's competition with an entry called(if memory serves me corrctly) - "The girl they all died for" - a Gangster type play involves warring factions chasing after a girl.....I seem to remember it was written by Jonathan Wise. My abiding memory of the play is having to walk into a bar & play 'The entertainer' on the piano....& then I think I got shot..Oh well......
I think I still have the have the trophy from that year up in my attic somewhere............
Delighted to see John Cooley popping up from the war years. The concerts I recall were "House Concerts". They were a lot of fun and allowed to boys to give vent to a lot of inhibitions that were kept down for the rest of the year. They were a sort of Scouts' Gangshow in a way. I helped write the last one for Weldon House at end of the Autumn Term of 1946 which was of course the end of "Square's" first term. His arrival was something of a bombshell after the lax year under Crowle-Ellis. We wrote a half hour skit called "Mutiny on the County" in which the captain, dressed in Long John Silver attire and speaking with a Scottish accent would hop around the stage on his good leg uttering such expressions as "a clear case for keel hauling". It brought the house down but a few weeks into the next term Dr. S. (yet to receive his nickname) announced that some of the acts "were not up to standard" and such concerts were not to be continued. I don't believe they ever were instituted again which was a great shame. I recall seeing the V-2 rocket blow up in the air while I was walking down St. Anne's Road during the lunch break and being very impressed at the delay in sound. Yes, I recall the two girls who acted as models for the Harrow Tech art classes. We were all too shy to try starting up a conversation. As I recall they were sisters who always wore their hair in long tresses much as many girls do today. It was unusual to do so at that time.
Delighted to see John Cooley popping up from the war years. The concerts I recall were "House Concerts". They were a lot of fun and allowed to boys to give vent to a lot of inhibitions that were kept down for the rest of the year. They were a sort of Scouts' Gangshow in a way. I helped write the last one for Weldon House at end of the Autumn Term of 1946 which was of course the end of "Square's" first term. His arrival was something of a bombshell after the lax year under Crowle-Ellis. We wrote a half hour skit called "Mutiny on the County" in which the captain, dressed in Long John Silver attire and speaking with a Scottish accent would hop around the stage on his good leg uttering such expressions as "a clear case for keel hauling". It brought the house down but a few weeks into the next term Dr. S. (yet to receive his nickname) announced that some of the acts "were not up to standard" and such concerts were not to be continued. I don't believe they ever we instituted again which was a great shame. I recall seeing the V-2 rocket blow up in the air while I was walking down St. Anne's Road during the lunch break and being very impressed at the delay in sound. Yes, I recall the two girls who acted as models for the Harrow Tech art classes. We were all too shy to try starting up a conversation. As I recall they were sisters who always wore their hair in long tresses much as many girls do today. It was unusual to do so at that time.
The 15' graffito DID get removed eventually at the instruction of 'Gimpy' Pierce. I remember to this day they way he phrased it. I quote: ' I'd like to draw your attention to what's on the wall. Now, we can all see what's on the wall if we undress...' Given that he had previously been arrested for (and subsequently acquitted of) indecent behaviour in apublic lavatory, I think he could have chosen his words more carefully! Anyway, we spent about half an hour scrubbing this enormous phallus off the wall of B13. Ah happy days!
By the 70s, matters uniform had clearly got laxer. I can’t recall anyone being forced to get long hair cut, shave off sidies, change out of white socks (in loafer and staypress ensemble, of course). I think only boys up to Third Year were supposed to wear a cap, but that didn’t really happen for anyone, did it?
I think the School was a curious amalgam of liberal and old-fashioned harsh at this stage. There was a 15-foot long graffito in B15 circa 1974 that would take your breath away; yet it never got removed. In keeping with this atmosphere of please yourself, one could skive Games at will. The other side of the coin was that there were still forbidding, gown-wearing upholders of the old order, one or two of whom have been mentioned. I don’t, though, recall a single sadistic teacher on the roll after 1970. Maybe 71.
I'd like to see more news of the war years, as mentioned above. Like the days when we had to use the Harrow Art college for Technical Drawing classes. Great fun, peeping through the half-open doors to see the nude ladies posing !!! Also the odd lesson in the half-finished buildings across the quadrangle, and seeing the re-entry of a V2 rocket overhead , which landed on the railway embankment at South Ruislip, where we cycled later to retrieve pieces as souvenirs> Regards, John Cooley
What a great story from John Clark!It is interest to know that "the great man" was unable to handle confrontation.
excellant web site. I Would Love to hear from any pupil who was in form 4B in 1980 with me.
I am prompted by the current (and recurring) discussions surrounding the subject of corporal punishment to add my own little anecdote, which perhaps sheds some additional light on the unfathomable and much-disputed character of Dr. A.R. Simpson. Those of my generation will recall that we used to have sustained periods of really hot weather during the summertime. In common with others, I used to have a severe adverse reaction to the heat and it seemed inhumane that we were forced to wear full uniform regardless of the temperature. Those heavy woollen blazers were totally unsuitable apparel at such times and I developed a great resentment towards the inflexibility of the uniform rules. On my way home from school one extremely hot afternoon I felt so desperately uncomfortable that I committed the cardinal sin of removing my cap and blazer; possibly the tie as well, I cannot recall for certain. Inevitably, I suppose, I was spotted by an unsympathetic teacher or prefect and reported for this offence. I was absolutely incensed about the stupidity (as I saw it) of this rule requiring full uniform. So when I was hauled up before "The Square" on the following morning, I felt so rebellious that I had the temerity to try to debate with him about what I saw as an unnecessary and unreasonable dogma. I argued passionately that it was not the wearing of identifiable clothing that I objected to; only that the type of clothing should be adjusted to suit the weather conditions. I suggested that a shirt bearing the school badge and colours could be produced. I was actually trying to be constructive with this suggestion, but of course he was not prepared to discuss the matter and simply gave the time-honoured command to "bend over" (for the cane). At this point, rebelliousness was spontaneously raised to a new level and I refused, repeatedly, to obey this command. Believe me, I was not a courageous boy, but I felt so strongly that I had done nothing wrong, I was determined that he would not be allowed to punish me, and I told him so in no uncertain terms! Instead, I continued to put my point of view, though I sensed it was falling on stony ground. In exasperation, he then ordered me to "hold out your hand". The logic of this apparent change of heart can only be surmised; I suppose he thought that I would compromise and be willing to accept a marginally less painful beating site and thus we could both 'save face' to some degree. However, he had obviously misjudged my resolve and I still refused to comply. I seem to recall that he made a forlorn attempt to grab my hand and hold it up for the infliction, but I soon snatched it away again. The wonderful thing was that in the face of my stubborn refusal to offer up a hand, he simply didn't know what to do! After two or three refusals, he just stared at me in a state of utter confusion and disbelief for a few moments, then turned sharply away and shouted something like, "Get out of my sight". Which I did pretty quickly, as you can imagine. I spent the rest of the day marvelling at my escape, almost unable to believe what had taken place. As far as I can recall, I don't think Dr. Simpson and I ever came face to face again during the rest of my time at the school. The really sad thing about this tale is that my pleas never produced the slightest softening of the uniform policy at the school, at least, not while I was there. Unless anyone out there can enlighten us to the contrary....................... John Clark. (1954-1959)
Interesting to note that after over 3 years this guest book is still reverberating with the unfinished business from the school days of an geeneration or two who in the main felt the school, or at least some of the inhabitants of same, was a harsh and unfriendly place for a young boy to grow up in. I had the opportunity to discuss over lunch today with my family the way 1st year boys were forced to the Rugby pitches on dark November evenings in the first year at school. They could not believe that we were herded along the Watford Road by cruel und unfeeling 6th formers who used to whip us with sticks if we walked rather then ran along the road. They could not believe how we were made to roll in the mud to get our new kit dirty,and that we were expected to all together go into those pavillion showers whilst overseen, shall I say, by a certain PE teacher. Today the parents would be up in arms and the teacher/s concerned would be suspended pending further investigation. I would hazard a guess that society has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous.Certainly today no one can do anything without inviting censure but then & and I mean 1966 the school "knew best" and even a complaint to ones parents was unlikely to go any further.God knows what life was like under my headmasters predecessor. The result of this cruelty was that as a free thinking coward (!) I did the only thing I could to alleviate the misery. I decided that by Dec 1966 not to go to games ever again. One way or another I opted out of the system (something which in 1960's HCS was quite easy if I recall) and did not attend games again save for swimming in summer term when the class sizes were suddenly larger! Sometimes I just walked out at 2.30 or went to the library but never went to games. PE suffered the same fate at the end of the 2nd year. My report bears testament to this as one report states "due to one excuse or another we have not seen him sufficiently to establish any idea of his performance" Quite an achievemnt I thought!
My point was however, and I digressed a little with the games thing, the unfinished business seems to be very widely spread. Some people I have spoken to have no wish to attend re-unions as their whole school experience was one of misery. I am not only talking of those who fell by the wayside but those who went to University and were in HCS terms a success as well. The fact that we have this forum, and the people who understand to read it must mean there is a need or demand for it.
As to mentioning actual peoples names here I feel torn. On the one hand those who know me know who I was writing about above. We were not able to complain at the time as a direct complaint of any strength would have led to more violence. A complaint to a parent would not have gone much further, and a complaint to a liberal teacher would have carried little weight. So all us tortured souls are left with is writing here to a mainly sympathetic audience with the risk that some of the perpetrators are still able to access this and may be upset. My comments there are that we may have been upset in our early lives and no one helped us. HCS & Jeff you must some how steer a course which works for the majority but at least lets understand the bigger picture.
There is more I keep on meaning to say but after finding myself on the school stage and getting involved there my whole outlook of the school changed.On the stage I found genuine friends and a sence of comeraderie which is still with me today. At that point the bullying, the misery and so on vanished and I felt part of a team with the self respect that had been squeezed out of me restored. My thanks therefore go to all the boys who were part of the drama thing and the teachers who made it possible in the way they gave us responsibility. Harry Mees, Jim Maddsion, Nick Twyritt, et al were inspirational in many ways.For me they represented an island of hope in the sea of despair that was HCS. For that I thank them.......Richard Bunt 1966-1973
Another message saying that Simpson was a brute. I just cannot recognise him described in this way. I was at school from '47 until '54 and remember him as being stern and perhaps not very tactful at times, but I do not recall anyone being beaten either by Simpson or by anyone else.
I was personally shown great kindness by him on one occasion and when I left he wrote a most charming letter to my father;I was no star pupil although I got sound exam results. My memories are of a school which would not exist in the same style today but which gave us an excellent education for which I am grateful.
In my previous message I overlooked an observation concerning "Gerry" Cast, who taught chemistry to the sixth form, among other duties. His favorite necktie was blood red and speckled with a motif of little crossed hammers and sickles. It is our misfortune that there was nobody there to record Simpson's reaction!
As I read through the reports of violence at school I must admit to feeling shocked. It was all half a century away and our outlook has undoubtedly changed. What was tolerated then would certainly not be now!! Much of the violence is attributable to the arrival of Simpson and the crew he recruited. I remember him clearly justifying his behaviour at assembly with his "it was a clear case for corporal punishment", and "I have always found boys respond well the short sharp shock of the cane". The writing was on the wall for the days ahead. My first five years at school were under Randall Williams. I dont recall ever seeing him smile. He had a presence that would subdue any of us yet if he used the cane at all, I did not learn of it. Certainly no masters were allowed to cane their pupils. With his leaving in 1945, a big change took place. There was clearly some sort of revolution in the staff room the full nature of which will never be known at this distant time. The immediate effect was on the sixth form. 'Easy' Evans (himself an old boy) who took the lead place in teaching maths at that level left after one term under Simpson. 'Eggy' Webb who taught biology, Blythman (physics) and 'Jerry'Cast (chemistry) who collectively formed the backbone of instruction at sixth form science level, all of had other jobs by the end of Simpson's first year. The combined efforts of these four produced enviable academic results yet Simpson seems to have preferred to build again from scratch after chasing all the mid-career, non-violent staff out of the place. Simpson achieved a lot in the academic field but I feel he would have done better and sooner, and left happier memories, had he built on what he inherited.
Website Policy For those that may wonder, this guest book is monitored. In general, entries are not censored except for the few stray pornographic entries from schoolchildren (or maybe they are from disgruntled Old Boys!).
I do want to discourage people from "slagging off" former schoolmasters or just calling them names. True tales, teachers' foibles and "I did not learn anything from X" etc. are acceptable. "X was a f-----g sh-t" is not acceptable (even if he was!).
Please also remember that the teacher whom you hated when you were 16 is now a retired man in his 70s, 80s or 90s whose children and grandchildren probably look at this website.
Over the last two years the only entries concerning teachers that I have removed are (a) accusations, possibly true but unproven that a certain teacher was a paedophile and played in the showers with the first formers etc. (b) stories about unjust punishments from a former teacher with accompanied name calling. The teacher, now elderly, is very seriously ill, but sees the website; some compassion is called for.
Jeff Maynard (HCS 1962-69)
Well it shows that my age has obviously dimmed my memory - humble apologies for my slur on your academic prowess Brian. It's nice to know at least on of my contemporaries remembers me fondly!! I think my memory was clouded becuase I was the only pupil from Stanburn - who all went into 1K, except Iain Cobb - to progress to 2A. I was joined afterwards in 3A by Huw Dorkins (up from 2C)- who I believe is a successful surgeon now. Brian perhaps you saw more of Bernie than me in those days- did you do Greek or German in form 2?
I suggest it would help if we all identify our period at The School in our communications. Mine?...1950 to 1955. Great to have made contact with Peter("Jabber")Justice. R.J.Clarke's "Register" was the link;I recommend we all use it. However I am still to sucessfully touch base with Donald("Tosca")Ridley and Keith Boost.If you read this fellas please email me. I believe the form X 1954 picture that I sent in was actually 4C.Between Peter and I further names are to be added. Best wishes to all,Michael
I seem to have stirred up a hornets nest with my remarks about the denigration of individual teachers over the internet. My email prompted three replies in 24 hours, which seems to have re-invigorated the website at any rate. If there is a consensus among O.G.s that this is acceptable practice, then so be it, but I think it is a great pity. Similar sites e.g Friends Re-united, discourage this sort of thing. I am able to reply to Brian's question about the views of present day teachers, being one of the few who are left. I once taught at an all-boys school similar in many ways to H.C.S but with a predominantly working- class intake. The headmaster told me at my interview that he kept the boys on order by "thrashing the arse off them". On one memorable occasion he lined up the whole of the 5th year and caned them one after the other. I cannot even remember why. During the late 70s several of the younger staff including myself became involved in STOPP (Society of Teachers Opposed to Physical Punishment). Paul Phillips is correct. Teachers who held these views were regarded as dangerous eccentrics by the majority of our colleagues, but more importantly by parents, the press and by Local Authorities. I was victimised because of these activities, denied promotion and forced to leave. For the record, Harrow was one of the last bastions of corporal punishment in England and Wales and permitted the cane to be used in its PRIMARY schools well into the 1980s. I have held senior posts in state secondary schools for over 20 years, and the "brutality" of H.C.S in my time does not compare to the culture of violence that prevailed in some of the London comprehensives in which I have worked. My stepbrother's experience as both pupil and teacher at a leading independent boarding school confirms my view that in relative terms H.C.S. was not(in my time) the iniquitous institution that some have suggested. As for "pedophpiles" (sic) I never encountered one at H.C.S or any other school.
For what it is worth I also agree that this is an appropriate forum for eulogising or taking verbal revenge on those adults who were so formative in guiding us in our earlier years. There are many positive tributes to former teachers in these pages, let us not forget. The real problem is that for every positive there is a negative and since we all have different recollections we will have different experiences about different teachers. The first teacher I feared was ironically Jock Lafferty who would scream and bawl at us first years for disturbing his lessons whilst we went to our lockers situated outside of A1. I soon learned his bark was worse than his bite. As to other teachers I believe they were in my time (1971-76) 99% fair. Can we all hand on heart admit we have not had a bad day at the office or taken frustrations out on others! Teachers (and I am not one)are only human. Many of the comments made about discipline seem to revolve around the 50s and 60s and I suppose I and my contemporaries were lucky to be around in the "humane" Avery days. However, discipline was there but only noticed when it was "deserved". Whether beatings with a stick were the answer is a different matter but society seemed for right or wrong to accept such in those days. What would a teacher today assuming any are left think?
It is undoubtedly true that many of the teachers were bullies and, in some cases, psychopathically inclined to inflict pain and humiliation on boys. The whole institution was corrupt to the core. Not only were there teachers abusing boys but, however the selection of prefects was arranged, there was obviously no attempt to screen out people who would use that privilege to inmitate their example.
However, there were some exceptions amongst them, just as there were amongst the teachers. (Get well soon, Mr. Lafferty!) It was great to see the message from Jim Broadribb whom I remember as a prefect and a really civilised person. In such an environment it really was an honourable achievement not to go along with the endemic brutality. One thing that we all must have learnt from our experience from HCS was not to be surprised at how readily people sign up for extreme and authoritarian political organisations.
I recall that we were all rather puzzled by Jim's age towards the end of his time at HCS. Now I see that he actually attended for nine years! (Five years was three too many for me.) Could this be a record? How did you manage to remain sane in such a sewer for so long?
Best wishes to you all.
I have to agree with Brian.
This IS an appropriate forum. Some of the masters were, at best, thugs and, at worst, pedophiles.
I saw boys knocked semi-conscious by some who are hero worshipped on this site. I saw some who obviously "got off" on the ritual of corporal punishment.
I saw behaviours that today would incur instant dismissal and criminal prosecution.
And, sadly, I'd put Bernie in those categories. I saw him "punish" an unfortunate by rubbing a board eraser across his teeth. He once hurled a board eraser at me while I was going downstairs and pitched me down half a flight of stairs.
May not be a popular statement but Bigham, Amos, Thorn et al in my opinion should never have been allowed remotely near young boys.
I am sorry that you do not believe that this is an "appropriate forum" to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of individual teachers. I believe that this forum is not only "appropriate" but is the only one available for such a discussion. My recollection of Mr. Marchant is as an intimidating tyrant. True he was not in the same league as the Edwards, the P.E. teacher (and I use the word teacher only because no other word is available) who believed that he had the right to stop you on the way to the rugby field, order you to take off your shoe, and proceed to order you to bend over and receive punishment across the backside, but Marchant was far more intimidating to me. He was the one supervising "sock inspection" when we had to lift our trouser bottoms to make sure that our socks were black or grey. My memories may be tarnished, they may be dimmed, but I really hated my time there. Looking back it still seems that the sole aim of HCGS was to turn out drones, albeit middle class drones. Maybe the school had a contract with the government to produce the whole next generation of civil servants. Of course there were bright spots, most of them provided bt the students and, strangely, Colonel Bigham. Steve Hilsden, who I remember fondly, suggested that my feelings were based on streaming; actually it was the other way round. I started off (after 1K) in 2B then 3B. Demotion to C followed because I hated the place so much I missed 68 days in one term (coming in only for exams.) I do, however, love this web-site and enjoy the comments and the new items.
I do not wish to enter into a debate about the personal strengths or flaws of individual teachers. I believe however, that this website is not an appropriate forum in which to air one's jaundiced recollections of people who are still very much alive and in the case of Bernard Marchant, enjoying a well-earned retirement. After many years of dedicated service to the state school system it must be very hurtful to be so openly abused.
Does anyone remember Robin Leach from Harrow County on the mid-1950s? Better still, does anyone have anything signed by Robin Leach? A copy of a duplicated magazine from the 1950s, for example? Robin's signature on a teddy bear is for sale on e-bay at an amazing price... see http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2929833742&category=36541
We have had the spam problem and discussion before. In fact the whole Internet is plagued with spam. It is possible that the spammers harvest the addresses from sites such as this one. It is also quite possible that the e-mail addresses on your mail server have been harvested. Personally, I assume that I will get spammed anyway, and I would rather not lose the contacts and communication, so I include my e-mail address. I block a large part of my spam with a programme called MailWasher.
I,ve noticed a diminution in the numbers of people posting their comments in recent months. Now I know why. Within 24 hrs of my recent contribution appearing, I have started receiving spam in a previously 'clean' address. I think you have a problem, Jeff, and I would recommend that future conributors withold their addresses as a matter of course. This a great shame, since I have managed to re-establish contact with several old class mates through this page. BLOODY VIKINGS!
(I have edited your e-mail address below, so that it cannot be "harvested" from this website! Jeff)
Sorry to learn about Jock Lafferty's ill health. I credit him with both my Eng Lang. and Eng Lit 'O'levels. Having been used to vigourous and 'intellectual' debate in English lessons, Jock's style was unusual. Despite much wailing and knashing of teeth, he correctly identified we knew nothing , and set about dictating a set of notes. When I read them , revising, I realised what a great set they were........brilliant.Get well soon Jock.
I too find Brian Glicker's comments at odds with the Bernie Marchant I knew. I cannot remember whether Brian was in the A or B stream - but judging on his comments it may well have been neither - and those in teh A and B stream benefitted from Bernie's teaching more. My memories are along the lines of my contemporaries Pete Barker & Brian Parker - but we were probably more favoured than soem. Others would have only experienced Bernie as a year head and a disciplinarian - and you need to take a more rounded view.
I am puzzled by Brian Glicker's comment regarding Bernie Marchant. Like him, I regarded Jock Lafferty ( and I CAN bear to use his nickname) as an excellent teacher. He managed to inspire without being patronising or dictatorial, teaching and maintaining discipline with little apparent effort. I silently thank him every time I read, see, or perform a play of Shakespeare. Bernie was similarly inspirational in his teaching. I felt that he was handicapped by his innate shyness, and this may have seemed to others that he belonged to another era. But if you were afforded the opportunity to see beneath the persona that he projected, he, too was a very good man. I agree with Brian Parker, with whom I shared both classes and a good friendship - Bernie and Jock stood out from the crowd as being both deserving and giving of respect. I had the pleasure of expressing my gratitude to Jock in person at the 2001 'Convergence' reunion. I was sorry that Bernie did not make an appearance. These two men, amongst others in the staff were doing their best for us, and I for one, feel that they did very well indeed.
Mister Lafferty (I could never call him by his first name) was the only bright thing that I remember from six horrendous years from 1969-1975. He was a kind, generous and inspiring teacher and I wish him the best. As for comparing him and Bernie Merchant, one of the most supercilious, egotistical .... I have ever met is a disgrace. Bernie was the worst that HCGS had to offer, delighting in the discomfort and servility of small boys. God I hated it there. Some of my classmates were nice and thankfully the rest are cast out from my memory. I am now managing director of a law firm in Los Angeles. If any of my old classmates would like to e-mail me I will respond . . . unless you were among the cast-offs spoken of above.
http://abc.abcnews.go.com/primetime/imacelebrity/bios/robin_leach.html
So which Harrow County Pupil would you put in the British edition?
Well, Brian, a School Council did come into being, but by then I was seriously studying for 'A' levels, and I was not involved. I believe that it was more active after I left school. Just the fact that Jim Golland published my letter, even if he edited out the more controversial suggestion, demonstrated the changing times.
What I did not know as a mere 18 year-old, but have learned more recently, was that apparently the staff themselves were only just discovering some demoncratic freedom. I believe that it was as a result of a staff discussion in the Common Room that the practice of making "bright" boys skip the fifth form was abolished in 1971.
Perhaps someone else would like to write about the School Council?
That was an interesting letter you wrote back in 1968 Jeff. What response did you get?
I attended Gayton from sept 86 to Nov 89 when I moved to Cornwall. I was in form C, and my formt tutor was Chris Sutton. Seeing the staff photo from 86, when I would have been in 1c, brought back some memories, and made me laugh. Remember Mr Bodels'(music) hair?! Classic!
Dr. Michael Foxley (Harrow County 1961- ) was elected in the local elections in Scotland on May 1st as a Liberal Democratic member of the Highlands Council for Lochaber: Ardnamurchan & Morvern. See http://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/biographies/foxleym.htm
Spotted on Long Island, New York Public Television, Channel 21 tonight - Passport to Antarctica, a documentary produced by Old Gaytonian Geoff Haynes-Stiles.
Tony Rhoades:
Tony, Hugh Skillen taught us the laws of the game in the second form. Swanny Amos turned off a lot of guys in the third form; thankfully, Harry Mees, Harry Webb, Bomford, and a few others kept us going, even the Doctor, until we became Old Gayts and played the game of rugby for the fun, and, the desire to win.
You were the inspiration that made us do it.
I would like too to send my best wishes to Gerry Lafferty & Hughie Skillen. Gerry taught me English from first form to fifth form - and I failed O Level Lit twice - but he was a great teacher with a great wit. Can I help it I was useless at literary appreciation? A lot of the authors I have enjoyed came as a result of Pool Readers in Form 1. And Gerry on satire showed me there was more to life than Monty Python. Many fond memories of his lessons - one in particular when reading Julius Caesar aloud in class, one boy read Et Tu Brute then die Caesar - in a very loud voice.!! Hughie Skillen was my French master throughout the school and even taught my father. I think he had more success with me - I even remember some and try and speak schoolboy French when I cross the Channel.
I would like to add my best wishes for Gerry Lafferty to those previously expressed - a fine teacher and generous personality.
Fascinating to find the site and it brought back so many memories of my time at the school (1955 to 1964)when I was Head Senior Prefect and captain of Athletics and Cross Country. I was also involved with the films about the school that Hugh Skillen made having assisted with the production and also showed them at a number of locations.
I am looking for examples of uniform and insignia from the RAF and Royal Navy CCF sections, as I have virtually nothing from either in the archive. I am particularly looking for examples of the white on navy 'Harrow County School shoulder titles that were worn.
If anyone has any such items they would think of letting me have for the archives, can they contact me at the above address or at the School (Harrow High School, Gayton Road, Harrow)
Thanks
Sorry to hear of the death of Tony Rhoades. He had the great knack (which I wish I had and do not)of remembering every face and name, and making every OG, of whatever vintage and of every level of involvement, feel significant and "wanted". The Association will be much the pooer without him, and my condolences go to his family.
Thanks, Tony
Ian Gawn
Tony Rhoades funeral arrangements
The funeral will be held on Thursday 1st May 2003 at 1pm. It will start with a church service at St Andrew's Church, Malvern Avenue, South Harrow, followed by a burial at Pinner New Cemetary (2:30pm'ish'),then the 'wake' will be held at the Barn Hotel in Ruislip.
Dad loved flowers so flowers are welcome in abundance, but if anyone would prefer to make a donation then Mum has requested this is made to St Andrew's Church. Mum is also clear that everybody is welcome to all aspects of the event, there will be bo restrictions; but also in line with people's own preferences we have ensured that if people would rather not attend at the cemetary that they may go directly to the Barn Hotel.
Maps for the cemetary and the Barn will be available at the church, If anyone has any problems in finding the church then please don't hesitate to contact a member of the family or the funeral directors.
Alison (no 3 daughter!)
Sydney is still going strong and in good health at 99 yrs. He still looks back with fond memories to his school days and I will send you some jottings soon. He recognised names and places downloaded from your website - it gave him great pleasure to talk through old times. He now lives in Wales in Llangors with inherited relatives. He enjoys chair rides to the lake and sitting in his garden. Thanks for all your valuable work (Dave Hope who looks after him.
If anyone can put me in touch with Coralie Green, i would be most grateful
I went over to see Hugh Skillen about two weeks ago. Despite suffering his seventh heart attack (in fact possibly his eighth according to his wife) he seemed in very good spirits.
Today I had a phonne call from Beryl Chase to say that sadly he has returned to hospital after a downturn in his health. He is currently in the Bupa hospital on Harrow Hill.
Would like to add my best wishes,to those already expressed,to Gerry Lafferty. I regard him along with Bernard Marchant to be the finest teacher I had at HCBS. He taught us to think "out of the box" and was always entertaining in his approach. Hope you're well again soon.
Brian Parker
To Phill English - the email address you put on the guestbook doesn't appear to work. Please get in touch at the email address above (omit the "remove"). Regards - Peter "Min" Vincent
nice to see that the old stage staff are still around
Tripped over this site and found it fascinating. I was a former pupil in the late 50's early 60's, and I found so much to entertain that I've spent a couple of hours browsing. I'll be back....
Very saddened to hear of Tony's passing. A good friend who made me feel very welcome after I joined the OGA in October 1999.
He had a seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of OGA matters and Old Gayts, normally with a humourous story attached.
It is a big loss and he will be very sadly missed.
Alex Bateman
I'm deeply saddened to have to report the death of Tony Rhoades at six o'clock this evening. One of the great and most loyal Old Gaytonians, Tony was an outstanding Chairman of the OGA and held many offices in the Association, the Sportsground and the Rugby and Athletic clubs. He would have been very glad not to have gone before the Reunion Dinner, exactly a fortnight ago, which was such an outstanding occasion and of which he was the lead organiser. He was 73 years old. Only yesterday he was at the funeral of another Old Gayt, Sandy Webster, who died aged 68. More in the proper place at the proper time.
Ben reading back through the guest book as an alternative to working on this Good Friday afternoon: it is quite frustrating watching all the boats on Lymington River and I am stuck in here working.
Sorry to hear Gerry Rafferty is not well- best wishes for a speedy recovery
I also came across Dick West's enquiry about Ian Henley - I last saw him at RAF College Cranwell in 82-83. He was a Squadron Leader and squadron commander on initial officer training: I had just arrived as a flight lieutenat instructor (having been back in the RAF for two years as a re-entrant). I had promised Ian that if he left before me I would produce at his dining out an enlarged copy of the photo in the 50th Anniversary book (the only memento I have of HCS apart from my (dreadful) school reports) of Ian playing Cleopatra in the School play. As it happened he was posted elswhere within the College and I was promoted 18 months later and posted to darkest Norfolk, so I never did get the opportunity.
Well, back to work, unless I can think of an excuse to get out in a RIB (power boat with a rubber tube round it, but quite good fun)
Regards to all
Ian
Thanks for keeping us updated about Gerry Lafferty. He was one of the VERY few teachers I had at HCSB that I had any time for, and who had any time for me! Apart from anything else, he introduced me to Private Eye magazine, then about six isues in - that in itself deserves thanks for opening up an alternative viewpoint on the world, and a viewpoint which was rather different to that held by messrs simpson and bigham etc. Good luck and good health to you, Gerry, with thanks!
was at school 1976-1979 anyone remember me? give me a call. I'm in New Zealand living here now for past 12 years. Married with three girls - Chelsea, Courtney & Sinead. Wife - Margaret (Kiwi) Doing security work own business. Was embalming and funeral directing. Dead end job.
Just had an email from Gerry Lafferty's wife Patty.
Gerry has not been very well for a while, but took a downturn when a lung collapsed. He was actually pronounced clinically dead, but recovered, and has since brightened up considerably.
He wishes to be remembered to all and sends his best wishes to everyone.
Having a little time to waste before my Easter break set me thinking on how I was deprived of my one moment of glory in five years of total under achievement. I recalled the end of term 'wide games' -which were one of the bonuses of being in the 4th Harrow ( in fact, just about the only bonus! ) and my legendary spell as a patrol leader in the Pathfinders ( who were always a class apart from the Merry Men and The Pioneers and The Foresters - names that sounded like the fifties throw-backs from the Two I's coffee bar! ). My sole achievement I can recall was to win a 'wide game'. This honour was inevitably recognised by an invitation to climb onto the stage at a morning assembly and wring the clammy hand of A. R. Simpson. To my eternal chagrin I had decided that there was little point in continuing my schooling towards the conclusion of that summer term and a young reprobate called Knott did the dreadful deed in my place. God knows what we won, if it was a bottle of scotch or cash he obviously had me over. If it was the usual, boring, book doubtless he lobbed it onto the Metropolitan Line on his way home that evening. Nevertheless, I often look back at the moment when the plaudits of the gathered mass might have been directed at me for a few moments! P.S. It's been great to renew one or two acquaintances via this medium and a pleasure to report that I have made contact with Geoff Lambert since I mentioned the hope that I might hear from him - so the system definitely works. More power to your elbow.
I feel I must pay tribute to "Sam" Manning who showed kindness to a "new boy" to Harrow County many years ago. I joined the school in 1966, in the last term of the third year. Joe "you know the phrase" Avery, consigned me to 3D as "we don't have streaming here so the letters have no relevance" Before I arrived at school, on my first day, I was approached by a schoolboy bedecked with yellow ribbons, who threatened me with a prefects detention for not wearing my cap correctly. Very strange!! I entered the school by the main doors, only to be sent to sit "under the clock" for another apparent infringement. Quite content to spend my school carreer sitting doing nothing and watching the world of green and black blazers go by, my reveries were interrupted, after about 20 minutes, by Mr Woods who was to be my form master. I was escorted to a nearby classroom placed in the front row and given some forms to fill in. From behind me I heard "Are you a new boy, your writings fucking awful" (it still is) It was "Sam" Manning. " Don't worry, we'll show you around" And so he did. Along with "Jimmo" Reeves and Tennyson-Smith, I was given a guided tour and paraded before various masters, who were informed by Sam that it was their duty to teach me. I was then introduced to the finer points of school etiquette, such has how to extract sandwiches from a brief case stacked in a pile at the end of the corridor, using only ones toes and keeping hands in pockets until the sandwiches had left the briefcase, when they could be placed in the aforementioned pocket for future refreshment. I learn't that the inner quad was inhabited by younger pupils who were always willing to donate funds to older boys if asked in the correct way. That spoons were not for eating your pudding, but for throwing as far as you could into the games field and that school in general was not to be taken seriously. Good advice. I believe Sam was sent to another institution for some minor infringement after being grassed up by one of the teachers. He returned to visit his old comrades and said that the place he had attended was almost as bad as being in the cadets. I believe the guilty teacher had to run and hide for fear of retribution. Thankyou for welcoming me to the school and best wishes.
Well, It was very interesting to see Steven (Anthony?) Manning get a mention. I recall him winning the Christmas raffle and he wasn't the schools' favourite pupil. And was he really smoking a joint on the way to detention? He disappeared suddenly, didnt realise he was expelled. There you go. Hi! Its Ye Min
I have several photographs at home that I will e-mailing to Jeffrey.
What prompted the visit to the site was a lovely letter from Frank Kirkham, one of my contempories at school.
In case you read this Frank, I will be e-mailing you soon.
i think yhe old people should have short hair!!!
What a great website - good job, Jeff! I've only just found it, having been recently contacted by Frank Kirkham. I'll re-visit soon, to explore more of the content, and perhaps to submit some material that I have. Graham Murrell (1961-1969)
Things have been too quiet of late ! Q. Who originated "George Thorn knows my father, father knows George Thorn " ? A parody on Lloyd George no doubt, but who was the cad who thought this up ?
As they seem to say in OZ, good onya mite. Colin Dickins you have hit the nail on its head. A little comprehension of the wonders of this world can tell the somewhat unwashed that: 1) Wanna hear the song ? Go to the main website. 2) Don't wanna hear it ? Set up the Guest Book as a "favorite" or bookmark, and thus avoid it. Simple ! Playing what is a real treasure, if you don't listen to it too often, is a pleasure and reminds me that despite his bottom-fondling, George was harmless, but the pupils later on describe him as a sadist. Perhaps someone post-1951 can put a handle on his latter-day behaviour ?
I always understood that "That bloody song" was composed by George Thorn and the words by Randall Williams. There was no mention of the existence of a school song when I joined the school in 1940. Somebody dug it up about five years later and sheets with the words were handed around. The song must have fallen into disuse a while back. Thorn gave the impression that he was not too pleased to see the song revived but he duly thumped it out when required to do so. For the last couple of years that I was at school, the song was very popular.
Re the music, who wrote the words and music, and when? Just wondering if i'm likely to get a claim for unauthorised exploitation of copyright ? If not, maybe I can get one of the bands here to sample it in a drum and base stylee....we could have a hit on our hands.... STUART
I've actually got used to "that bloody song", as Robert Bogin caalls it, but I have got my sound down to a decent level. Robert's circumstances are not clear from his entry, but depending on what they are he should (a) buy his own bloody computer, (b) buy his daughter her own computer, or (c) kick the boyfriend out.
Do we have to have that bloody song every time we return to the Home page? My daughter tends to leave the computer volume turned up and I'm getting very strange looks from her boyfriend.
For Keith Pratt: Not sure if I remember you, though the name seems familiar; you were a couple of years behind me. Just to let you know that Peter Mettler died of cancer about three years ago. Was there another Mettler? Incidentally, Spadger's surname was spelt Heys.
well well well, it's very nice to see my old school developing a site for old freinds to see how they've got on. I took part in the this school from the years of 1955-1960. I hope this site grows much bigger and more people from Gayton high leave a comment.
Jonathon Smiths
Hi! I was Harrow County between September 1949 and July 1956. I am in contact with John Covell. He was there at the same time. We are both retired dentists. our house was Wealdon. Remeber "Big Bum" "Bingham", "Square" "Queer" (George Thorn), Spadger Hayes. I saw a photograph of Harry Mees, nickname"Hairy Knees", History master. Any one know where the "Mettlers" are? Gayton Road was a very good school and was sorry to see that it lost its grammar school status and its sixth form. I can remeber many pupils doing well and "Square" proud of its record. Square, I remember always tried to get one over the "school on the hill" Great days. The battles "Square had to make boys wear those awful "pimple caps" and stop us from wearing flourescent socks! Good luck to Harry Mees. He was Scout master to the Forrester Troop for a number of years.
Hi! I was Harrow County between September 1949 and July 1956. I am in contact with John Covell. He was there at the same time. We are both retired dentists. our house was Wealdon. Remeber "Big Bum" "Bingham", "Square" "Queer" (George Thorn), Spadger Hayes. I saw a photograph of Harry Mees, nickname"Hairy Knees", History master. Any one know where the "Mettlers" are? Gayton Road was a very good school and was sorry to see that it lost its grammar school status and its sixth form. I can remeber many pupils doing well and "Square" proud of its record. Square, I remember always tried to get one over the "school on the hill" Great days. The battles "Square had to make boys wear those awful "pimple caps" and stop us from wearing flourescent socks! Good luck to Harry Mees. He was Scout master to the Forrester Troop for a number of years.
Reviewing this site brought more than one tear to my eye. There were great times and some great teachers( primarily in the English dept.) but it was like trying to learn in a war zone. Avoiding water bombs from above, paper pellets from the side and god knows what in the toilets was a full-time problem. How did the school produce so many successes in that environment? Due to a family move, I didn't go into the 6th Form after my (mediocre) O Levels. It seemed like the end of the world at the time but how I benefited from going to a decent sixth-form college where we were taught with enthusiuasm and treated like young adults. I like to think we responded in kind. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me. Jerry Green 1969-1974
Still enjoying regular visits to the HCS website, but have had very little to comment on since you are all so much younger than I and speak of that which I wot not of.
However .... while I can't argue as to who coined the nickname "Swanny" which was well established in my day, surely it was because of his unusually long neck? We always thought so.
And is the "George Thorne", indicted in these columns as both chastiser and fondler of buns, the George Thorn (without the 'e') who was Senior Chemistry Master in the 30's and earlier? I recall no sadism. In fact, I survived five and a half years without once getting the cane, which (I understand) was customarily applied only to the palm of the hand. The concept of textbook in the seat of the pants was familiar only to readers of the Gem and the Magnet. A couple of weeks ago, we went to a concert given by the pupils at the school my grandchildren attend. Performing were: Junior, Middle and Senior School string orchestras, a String All-Stars, a full orchestra, and a 17-piece Big Band, as well as small jazz combos and so on. The intonation of all groups, except perhaps for the "littlies", was far superior to what I recollect of our own School Orchestra playing such popular repertoire as Edward German's "Nell Gwynne" dances and "Praeludium" by Jarnevelt.
However, Yarra Valley Grammar boasts 30 full-time music staff. We had one music teacher whose "day job" was teaching chemistry.
The afore-mentioned George Thorn.
Having seen in 2001 (September 11 incidentally) the very impressive new complex devoted to Performing Arts, I am curious as to how matters have improved in your part of the world.
Cheers
Monty.
Form 1a(1955), 2b(1956) with wolfe, oakenfold, damary etc. Great photos on you site. Now in Vancouver area , Canada since 1965. Went to Mill Hill on the Middx. scheme & Univ. Newcastle (Math.)then Simon Fraser here. Would be great to hear from old classmates. Doug.
Usual (home) e-mail is ianNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@slatecot.freeserve.co.uk Have not been on the site for a while - too busy with work and son's sports fixtures. (Also getting bad marks for his homework - I nearly joined in the correspondence on the topic in The times).
Cultybraggen I remember well - I went back there in about 1978 when I was in the TA running 150 ten-tonners round Scotland at weekends, before I returned to the RAF as a regular.
Congratulations to Paul Oliver on his awards - he never did teach me to paint - but I do love jazz!
My Dad who was at HCS, I guess 1922-26-ish, claims to have given Alec Amos the nickname "Swanny" - something to do with an instruction to a class using the vaulting horse to "Bend the neck, tuck the head in, Boy". Bill Duke also taught Dad and Killer King was a pupil with him.
Regards to all the new faces - well names really -from 55-62 that are appearing - I will write more when I am back from holiday in Lanzarotte, which is why, sadly, I will not be at the Reunion Dinner. Have a great time. And congratulations to Bob Garratt on the book launch.
Cheers to all
Ian Gawn
(Change in the e-mail address is because I am waiting for the Yacht Club's monthly General Committee Meeting, and I need a break from word processing!
Stumbled in the site while putting links into mine! My God, it takes me back. To those that remember me - THANK YOU!
I am now in USA (sunny California), you can see what I'm up to at ...
Drop me a line if you remember me.
To Laury Landau
Nice to get back-up from a classmate. Kids today do not know their born blah, blah, blah.....etc. Seriously though surely, Simpson, Bigham and Amos,to name but a few, were disturbed psychotics. Mind you I can think of a few boys who were also in that category!
Thanks all you guys.Until I read all your comments I never realised how unhappy I must have been at HCS(1944-51).What a bummer!
Good to see so many familiar faces. Thanks for the efforts of those running the site.
To Dr Ian Waters (March 20, 2003) Would you by any chance be none other than I.P. Waters (Physics) ? If so, I did not try to blow up the lab in 1951. It was just a loud bang.
Harry Levine was spot on, as said before, a lot of the masters were quite capable of violence quite uncallled for, it was institutionalised thuggery. In hind sight they were bullies in gowns. Did it do us any good? None. The A-streamers were applauded, the rest were barely tolerated.
Dr Laurence Lando
At HCS 1957-1962, very formative years for me - if only I had known it at the time! Thanks Jeff for bringing back so many memories, most of them happy.
I was delighted to find the Harrow County website, and would be very pleased to be in contact with old friends and masters.
Thanks,
Ian Waters.
Mre info on address and tel no.
In response to Peter (Buddy) Brown's question about the demise of Bigham, all I can tell you is that I picked up this bit of information from an earlier contributor to this who had noted the fact but gave no details. I find it hard to imagine Thorne being allowed to cane boys and cannot underaaatand what Simpson was thinking about. (where were the parents?) Randall Williams did not allow staff to cane boys but Thorne's other propensities you refer to were always tolerated. He was a strange sort. None of the other staff seemed to have much to do with him.
nice to see a few old faces, any pics of 1g around 1976/77
1954 - 1960 I have been visiting this site for a couple of months now, so felt it time to submit my thoughts and memories. It seems very sad that most memories of our time at HCGS are unhappy ones. Being one of those who started in 1B, then sank to the "D" stream for the rest of my stay, I can empathise with the forgotten "no-hopers". School for me was something I had to endure, especially sport. Why, in winter, we had to run round the old golf course in knee-deep snow was always a mystery to me. I recall being caned quite a lot for almost any reason the teacher could come up with, especially Bigham (who we knew as "Schwock" because of the sound his cane made on the downward swing). One lived in absolute fear of the man. Another was George (Thorne) who liked to fondle your buns before beating the s**t out of them. Being taught French by Eggy, a man with a speech impediment, was different! I remember his standard reply with regards any boy wanting to go for a pee. One should have brought a note from a parent or guardian explaining that "Johnny or Tommy" had a medical problem, otherwise you had to wait for the end of the lesson. Of course, we asked to go whether we needed to or not, just to hear his spiel. I also remember a South African teacher who we called "Skitch", due to his saying he would do a skitch on the blackboard. He would also use the phrase "Epplications in dayly loife" which we soon picked up on. I believe he ended up in a home, poor sod. If the summer camp to Scotland mentioned previously was the only one taken there, then I was on it. I remember the terrible conditions, and the mountaineering. In a submission from Brian Hester on 12/09/01, he mentions "the painful manner of his (Bigham's) death". Details, please!
Regards to any who remember me.
My usual trick - missing out my identity and e-address.
Good to see that Clive Anderson chap on Question Time last night. He referred to his state-school education (but didn't name HCS). Your humble servant was in the audience but didn't get a point in - my wife did instead!
Regards to all
Michael.
" You cheeky sod - officer!"...late fifties was probably my batting average and yours bowling in the good old days John!...but I do feel old. I watched my son Rob score his first try for the Club on Saturday - quick lucozade - then off training somewhere else. I was still drinking a pint from a dribble - proof beaker waiting for him to pass by the bar and cheers his effort...plus ca change.. ( French, officer...ok chief super etc )Speak soon
Good to see communication from Nick de Lange who, if the Harrow Observer is to be believed, I seem to recall became a rabbi a couple of years ago. I thought I'd mention a recent social event where my guest was an extremely youthful Bert Weedon, a guitarist of some note during the early sixties and during my formative school years. At that time his son, Geoff, was in the year below me and having downloaded ( I think that's the technical expression! ) a copy of his school photo his mum and dad were delighted to see their offspring in his early days. So your photographs made someone happy! For the TV addicts amongst you, you may have caught a glance of Geoff recently when his father featured on 'This is Your Life'. On a sad note, Roland Grace ( 1955 - 196? ) died recently from a brain tumour. I am also in occasional contact with Ian Caunt - who now lives in Canada. Would be interested to make contact with one or two names from the past - Trevor Lailey, Geoff Lambert ( who used to live in Roe Green, Kingsbury and where I can still recall seeing my first TV advertisement!), Chris Maslen and whatever happened to Guy Wannop who was the sporting all rounder of our era? With the demise of the Old Gayts cricket club I have also lost contact with Pete Ward who I last met at Sudbury quite a few years ago when he was producing wild life programmes for the BBC. I noticed that Jerry Dicker popped up recently, too so it's good to see that one or two of us from the late fifties are keeping up with the website. And speaking of late fifties, nice to hear from Martin Flack ( although I thought he was older than that! )
The picture of the School Swimming Pool recently posted sent shivers down my spine. I was already a good swimmer when I arrived at HCS but the swimming lessons that first summer (1962) nearly put me off swimming for life. I remember wondering if I'd ever get the feeling back after being frozen to the core. You had to get to the next lesson as quickly as possible and sit steaming by a radiator if you were lucky.
I also remember well the "knothole patrol" during the Girls' swimming gala (guilty as charged). And what about the Potassium Permanganate incident??
Minor correction to the names in the photo of Form 2A, 1962. In the front row it's Jeremy "George" Thorn, not Jerome Thorne as shown.
Bumped into Alex Bateman today,after 19 years! Told me about the website. Thought I'd go visit, check out the photos, (we looked so small then!)
Great site. Be good to meet up with some old peops!
Regards to all those from Form 1E, 1980!
Derek Lewinson (Form 1E 1980) w: www.kcguk.com e: djlewinsonNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@yahoo.co.uk
Swanny Amos may have been the Greatest in the 1930s and '40s. By the late '50s he was definitely past his BBD. I remember him as irrational and unpredictable, supercilious and definitely sadistic (though probably not more than many of his colleagues).
The episode that sticks in my memory (and my gullet) is the day I finally managed to swim a length of the pool (and so won the right to get rid of the L-plate sewn on the seat of my trunks). I was naturally proud of my achievement. His response was to cane me on the aforementioned seat -- for swimming in the deep end unsupervised.
I think he had lost any liking he may once have had for kids or for teaching.
Would like to catch up with Russell Hill, who left HCS 1952. If anyone knows where he is now, I would be grateful if you could contact me.
Best wishes, Derek
I was a pupil of Gayton High School - September 1983 - July 1987 and, was delighted to discover that such a website existed!
I have begun to read with interest the contents of the site which gives a great insight into the history of the school.
I shall continue to this and, very much look forward to reading further articles as they are added.
Keith.
So it was 1937-1942. Anyone can make a mistake -as the Hedgehog said when it fell off the Scrubbing Brush!
HCS 1937-1943. Don't know who taught HARRY LEVINE to spell but what about i before e except after c . How many lllll's in Pavilion? Won't hear a word said about Swanny either. I and a lot of others think he was the GREATEST.
About three years ago I found a book in a bookshop specialising in remaindered books which was a history of the school.Despite my loathing of the place and most of its staff I bought the book..........for the protection of innocent people who may have otherwise been encouraged to believe it was NOT a hothouse of fascistic sadism.My very first day convinced that this was not a place for young people,when the completely bonkers Square made us parade in the small hall to show us how to wear our caps!!!!What does it say of a place that the most vivid memory is of the way V(1) made the life of Mr A Heal a complete misery,reducing him to a nervous wreck before Xmas!!!I probably deserved most of the canings and slipperings I recieved,but NOT being hit by Bodiam with a piece of scrap metal or by that sadistic sod Amos with the pulley cord from the climbing ropes,nor yet the flipper in the swimming pool changing rooms,after removing my trunks but before resuming my underpants!!!!Also who had the pavillion fund money????My bet is Bigham!!!
What a fantastic website! Rugby 2nd XV 50-51 - Back row - 2nd from left is David Marnes. Does anyone know where he is now? Would love to contact him and Michael (Kit) Carson - same era.
I was interested to read Colin's history of Alan Coxon's career - another old boy with a constructive and satisfying contribution to society. Alan joined the school with the 1941 intake so will be 73 this year, and apparently wearing well. My best wishes to him should be in touch.
Alan Coxon got a cricket blue at Oxford. Picked as a bowler, he hit a match-winning 60-something (I think) in the Varsity Match. He went on to play cricket for Ealing and on one memorable occasion turned up at Sudbury when a game was rained off to pick up a game with the OGCC 2nd or 3rd XI. His fierce returnes from the field beat the keeper on several occasions conceding unwelcome 4 overthrows! He also become captain of the OGRFC and was a very combative full back. As a sporting success at Oxbridge he was a natural for a job at Guinness, where he became head brewer (production director) after a spell running the Nigerian operation. He arrived in Nigeria just as the Biaffran War broke out and was blamed by some OG's for the outbreak of the war. When the unloveable Ernest Saunders (the only man known to have recovered from Altzheimer's disease) came to Guinness Alan was the last director to leave the old board. He subsequently built breweries for various brewers all over the world (including the Far East and South America) and finally retired at the age of about 70. Still fit and well living in Devon.
John Brake lives in Warwick and was for many years Fixture Secretary of the OGRFC. He's still in touch and a few years ago organised a largre representation of his School year at the OGA Annual Dinner. (This year's Dinner will be at Sudbury on Friday 4th April. Contact John Berge (john.bergeNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@btinternet.com) for tickets.)
Returning to this site on a periodic visit, I can identify in the photograph Athletics 1947 Alan Coxon who went on to do something in cricket in the 2nd row from top fourth from the left.
Also in Arthur Hilton's reminences the IID entry, I remember Brian Ballard, John Brake, (Roy Norton) Page who was killed in a motor bike accident just after leaving school and (Peter) Zammett.
An amazing thing found in Friends Unlimited, under "Teachers Memories" is a short message from Claire Connelly referring to her dad, none other than G.K. Connelly, my Form Master 1948/49 and 1950/51, who has been referred to several times in the Guest Book.
The message, dated 6 February 2003, states that he is "Still alive and kicking, and living in Harrow".
Esmond's description of the Cultybraggan camp triggers memories of the ATC we attended in 1944. It was held at the Royal Naval Station near Padstow in Cornwall. Padstow was farther west than many of us had ever travelled. We arrived by train late in the day and were duly dumped at our Nissen hut billets. To our surprise we were to sleep in hammocks in true shipboards tyle. Our officers were accommodated "elsewhere" under conditions never described to us! The camp was a lot of fun. We learned to strip and rebuild Sten guns and I fired a shot gun for the first time while shooting clay pidgeons. We also had "experience" flights. Mine was memorable for being the first one I completed without being sick. From the sound of it, the ATC was more fun than the CCF, at least at camps.
C.C.F. Summer Camp, Cultybraggan, 1958.
Esmond, Thanks very much indeed for your wonderfully amusing counterblast to the official account of the experience, as culled from the austere pages of the Parents' Union Newsletter. I actually supplied that as well as the photograph, and must admit I had some difficulty myself in reconciling the glowing description therein with my own recollections. Trouble was though, my memory had blocked out all the unpleasant details of sleeping, eating and other bodily functions, so it was all very vague and hazy. As soon as I read your comments it all came back and I agree it was just as you described. Particular resonances were the disgusting matresses and pillows, the unpalatable food, the surly regular soldiers (who were probably there as some kind of punishment), and of course, those hilariously awful latrines!
Mention of the food reminded me of the tea, which was barely drinkable; the most foul-tasting brew I have ever experienced. Some of the more worldly wise older cadets smirkingly said that the taste was due to addition of bromine, but we never really knew whether to believe this or not. As for the bedding, the only reason we got any sleep at all was because we were totally exhausted at the end of the day.
How I wish now that I had taken more shots of the camp, but the rest of the roll of film was 'squandered' on the famous sights in Edinburgh and the Forth rail bridge and suchlike. I suppose at that impressionable and innocent age and being on a first visit to Scotland, these sights would have seemed much more interesting than the camp. After all, one Nissen hut is much the same as the next one! And I might have been made unwelcome had I dared to take the camera into the latrine block. An interior shot of one of the huts would have been great, but the camera was a "Box Brownie" (remember them?) so pictures were only feasible in good daylight.
I share your amazement that the camp still existed when you visited the area last summer. One would have expected it either to lay in ruins and abandoned, or to have been completely removed in the interests of environmental restoration. Anyway, it has given us something in common to reminisce over and I hope we will have stirred the memories of some more contributors. John Clark.
Paul Oliver has finally been in touch and we are agreeing dates when I can interview him for this site. Good news in the meantime as Paul has been awarded two gongs. One is an MBE for services to architectural education. The Blues was also cited but did not appear on the official list!. The other is a Lifetime Award from the International Association for the Study of Traditional Environment which is based at Berkley, California).
I do remember a Morris at HCS about 1950/51. A large character with horn-rimmed glasses, who joined the school later in life. Definitly Jewish, and I believe he had lived in the US before coming to Harrow County.
One incident involving Mr Morris was about the time that Dr ARS had reluctantly allowed the House Concerts to reconvene after several years, due to the repeated use of staff nicknames and a lot of doubles-entendres. (Imagine the good Doctor having to ask Joe Brister who Spadger is !)
Anyway as part of an entre-acte in the Northwick production, Morris got into some kind of spoof with Irving Yass, who was seated in the audience. That's about all I can remember, but I hope it helps.
Thanks Esmund for your Cultybraggan memories! I had quite forgotten the flying Cornflakes! As for those (in)conveniencies - well wasn't therea story about sailing paper boats down the sewer upon which we sat and then setting them alight! I also remember Maurice Venn showing off on the rangewith his Bren on Automatic and firing the whole magazine through The Bullseye or was it a figure of a man's head? No wonder I took up Scouting later in life! The 4th Harrow did not know what they missed!
Memories of Cultybraggen Camp, July 1958.
The sight of that Nissen hut in the recent posting on Cultybraggen camp by John Clark, aroused all kinds of memories of that week in Scotland. The article reprinted from the Parents’ Union newsletter (what was that anyway?), was fascinating, but was hardly a true reflection of the experience, which would have horrified most parents. It certainly horrified me!
I was one of those, aged 13, “enjoying the first year of membership” in the CCF, for whom the camp was, indeed, a “most difficult and trying task”! The idea that “every social amenity was available in the camp” is simply laughable – it was a POW camp, utterly unchanged from the time that the last prisoners had left a few years earlier. There may well have been “television rooms, indoor games rooms, (and a) reading room”, but that is not what I remember.
I remember leaving the HCS grounds on that Sunday afternoon, throwing my kitbag, with everything I possessed, into the 3 ton truck with 150 others, all identical. It was the first time that I had been away from home without family. We marched through Harrow to Harrow and Wealdstone Station, to the interest of the local population. It was a special train, on which we spent the next 10 hours, with 8 cadets to a compartment. In each compartment 2 of us occupied the overhead luggage racks to attempt sleep, and to give the remainder more room. In the dead of night we arrived at Crewe, where the train stopped next to another train headed south and also packed with cadets presumably returning home. The windows of the two trains were at once lowered and multiple food fights broke out from one end of the trains to the other. This was before the days of soccer hooligans, but the effect must have been the same.
We arrived in a cold, grey dawn and marched to camp. We were assigned to huts exactly like the one in John Clark’s picture. (Can you imagine a camp with huts like that having “every social amenity”). The beds were equipped with a straw-filled mattress and a straw-filled pillow. The material covering these choice articles of bedding were stained and holed, and, naturally, the straw poked through – a terrific pillow. Heaven knows what wildlife they harboured. There were two rough blankets, no sheets or pillow cases. The huts were heated by a wood stove, and it was cold during the night, even in July.
The mess “tent” was a marquee open on four sides, through which wind and rain howled. Breakfast was the most memorable meal – one didn’t know whether to eat the bacon and eggs before they got cold and congealed into a solid mess of fat, or eat the cornflakes before they blew off the plate. Meals were served by regular soldiers who didn’t want to be there either; they weren’t exactly friendly, but their colourful language was instructional and largely new to me.
Despite all this, the latrines were the most appalling aspect of the camp. These consisted of a large diameter pipe with holes cut periodically in it. There were no seats as such, and no doors on the compartments. You just walked along the length of the pipe, saying good morning to your friends squatting over a hole, until you found an unoccupied hole. Every now and then the pipe flushed, and it was said that if you were sitting at the time, with a good seal, you would be sucked in – but that may just be apocryphal.
We never knew what conditions the officers lived in, or whether they really knew about ours.
I remember firing rifles for the first time on the range, but most of all I remember more senior cadets discharging blank rounds in the camp, by holding them and sharply striking the percussion cap against a rock. It was incredible that no-one was seriously injured. Needless to say, this didn’t appear in the Parents’ Union newsletter. The day trip to Edinburgh was good, but I slept for the entire journey in both directions – the coach seats were the most comfortable place that I’d been for the entire week.
The Adventure Scheme was remarkable for its rigour. I remember reaching a peak and finding a field strewn with dead sheep – swollen and purple. My thought at the time was that if the bloody sheep can’t survive here, what hope do I have of ever returning alive.
“… a first-class camp…” No. “… one to remember…” Yes.
As it happens, last summer I was in that part of Scotland on holiday, and I decided to try and find the site of Cultybraggen Camp. To my astonishment (and horror), I found that it is still there! It is still a cadet training camp! When I spoke to the regular on guard duty at the gate, he told me that it has not changed in the last 45 years. Certainly the huts that I could see looked the same. The soldier had long hair and seemed a lot more relaxed than the regulars of my memory, so I don’t know if I can really believe that nothing has changed. While I was talking to him I heard rifle fire in the distance and it all came flooding back to me.
I have often wondered whether that week in 1958 had any long-term effect on me, other than to provide some good stories. Probably it did – but the parents’ newsletter didn’t even come close to conveying the experience.
I can't help with relatives of P.J. Morris but I do seem to recall the accident occurred in Germany. I think they parked a radio vehicle under power lines which the antenna touched. When he stepped out of the vehicle he grounded it and was electrocuted.
I don’t know if they were the same Morrises, but there was certainly a younger brother Brian (about 1948 or 1949 vintage) who subsequently played rugby for the OGRFC. He was a suicidally brave wing forward who would dive head first onto a scrum half’s relieving kick. Always wore a scrum cap; very pale and asthenic looking; rarely stayed for a drink after the game.
No idea what the elder brother’s first name was. The one I remember was Derek Edwards’s vintage (1945 or 1946). He was the physical opposite of his brother, intense, thickset, swarthy, bespectacled. He decided in about the 4th year he wanted to study medicine and took on an unlikely intense course to catch up with biology for an ‘O’ level at least. With Bigham as head of biology he can hardly have stood a chance – not least because when he was dissecting a frog some humorist (Derek?) put a couple of ova between its legs. As reported to me, he rushed up to Bigham and said, “Sir! Sir! My frog’s got balls!”
I never got round to asking Brian what happened to his brother. If he died on National Service it would certainly have been in the 1950’s. Perhaps that was why Brian stopped playing rugby. Like so many, you gradually realized you hadn’t seen him for some time having just assumed he had been playing for a different side.
I am looking for relatives, and if possible a photo of peter john Morris, who died in the 50's whilst serving in the Army.
he had a brother Brian Morris (not certain if he was HCS too) and younger twin sisters.
Anyone help?
Alex
To Nick Sloan. Regarding the trophies won (once again), yes, proof positive you were awarded the bowling Cup, given by OGCC for Bowling in 1973.
However, the base I found has your name as joint winner with an 'M A Lewis' in 1974-75. Ring any bells?
Alex
Hello JR - I thought it was the postman who only does things twice...rings a bell anyway...Sure as eggs are oeufs, Dennis will be doing a oui oui ( or two.)
Martin
You well know Dennis always blows the whistle twice when reffing the 4ths. So he will push the button twice too
Dennis - you really must stop repeating yourself! It probably slipped your mind but the clubhouse for the Reunion Dinner is the very same clubhouse that will be rocking with some of the music popular during your years at school ( no Acker Bilk though ) - this Saturday! Let music be the food of thought and bop on down Dennis! ( You kept the hair style - did you keep the clothes? ) All this because West London RFC are hosting the French rugby teams from Plessis-Meudon in Paris. This affair has lasted forty eight years so far. Have you been a rugby tourist? Or host to a wayward French guest who thinks that the toilet must be in one of the wardrobes? Entente with intent is happening at Sudbury.
ANNUAL REUNION DINNER
I was told about this web site and the guest book some time ago but only recently managedto gain access to a computer to actually see it and have now spent 2-3 pleasant hours browsing through the last years contributions. It was pleasing to see several contributions from those of my vintage (1953-60) and others from those I remembered from the 4th Harrow, all bringing back memories of earlier days.
The reason for this contribution is because I not only read favourable comments on last years Annual Re-union Dinner but was sorry to see others saying that they had not been aware of it. So in an attempt to rectify that, I would advise that the Annual Re-union Dinner is to be held at the clubhouse, South Vale, Sudbury Hill again this year. It is being held on Friday the 4th April doors open about 6.45 for a 7.45 sit down (or thereabouts!).
This will be the usual 3 course dinner with the current Headteacher of the School as the guest of honour and She will as usual be accompanied by senior pupils of the present school. If you haven't been before (which means you will have missed what is generally an excellent evening) or haven't been for several years, give Tony Rhoades (tel 020 8868 7562 ) a ring to let him know your interest and to get full details and a booking form - regular diners should be sent one automatically.
On a more personal note as Sept this year will be 50 years since those of us that joined HCS in 1953 were parading in their new green blazers,how about as many of us as possible getting together at the reunion dinner in April. If you agree with the suggestion then contact Tony and let any others that you are still in contact with know and lets see if we can get a good representation at the dinner from the 'class of 53'
Denis Barker Chmn OGA
ANNUAL REUNION DINNER
I was told about this web site and the guest book some time ago but only recently managedto gain access to a computer to actually see it and have now spent 2-3 pleasant hours browsing through the last years contributions. It was pleasing to see several contributions from those of my vintage (1953-60) and others from those I remembered from the 4th Harrow, all bringing back memories of earlier days.
The reason for this contribution is because I not only read favourable comments on last years Annual Re-union Dinner but was sorry to see others saying that they had not been aware of it. So in an attempt to rectify that, I would advise that the Annual Re-union Dinner is to be held at the clubhouse, South Vale, Sudbury Hill again this year. It is being held on Friday the 4th April doors open about 6.45 for a 7.45 sit down (or thereabouts!).
This will be the usual 3 course dinner with the current Headteacher of the School as the guest of honour and She will as usual be accompanied by senior pupils of the present school. If you haven't been before (which means you will have missed what is generally an excellent evening) or haven't been for several years, give Tony Rhoades (tel 020 8868 7562 ) a ring to let him know your interest and to get full details and a booking form - regular diners should be sent one automatically.
On a more personal note as Sept this year will be 50 years since those of us that joined HCS in 1953 were parading in their new green blazers,how about as many of us as possible getting together at the reunion dinner in April. If you agree with the suggestion then contact Tony and let any others that you are still in contact with know and lets see if we can get a good representation at the dinner from the 'class of 53'
Denis Barker Chmn OGA
Zsa Zsa Lashmar - nearly! Congratulations John. Make sure her guide dog has plenty of water throughout the afternoon. Don't worry about this betrothal - you're getting too old to do a runner - walking pace only from now on! In the interests of child support, you could do worse than coming to Sudbury on this auspicious day. The England v France international will be on 'big screen' followed by THE rock 'n roll band 'The Blue Diamonds'. Of course, this is entertainment for all you Old Gayts out there so come on down - it's French Weekend!
Dearest school mates, Lashmar is doing it once again for the fifth time, 11am 15th Feb.Slough registry office The Centre Farnham Road. Any old bar billiard club members or any scrum halfs would be very welcome. No presents please, just send donations to the child support agency, I am in arrears after the last 4 marriages. Bad jokes are OK though, Mitty is broadminded.
John Lashmar 1970
Yes I know that last should have read 'colours'. I blame it on the keyboard, and not my failure at getting colours at English!
Confirmed, colours for Chess (with 'Ch C' and the year) worn on the pocket.
Stuart, you forgot the monocle. A colurs winner if ever there was one!
AB
Chess ! CHESS ?! Hours of chin scratching and lip pursing and then not much happening as a result ? I'd never of guessed you'd excelled in that CD ? Now if colours were awarded for smoking nauseating cigarillos or parking your Great White Whale in the most annoying place on South Vale so no other bugger can get by, then you'd be in....
PS Martin - nice Muriel !?
Alex - what do you mean by puttting an astonished exclamation point alongside "Chess" in your note about colours? Not only was it the only game at which I represented the School (from the foundation of the Chess Club until I left), in my day they didn't give bloody colours for it. I think I must have missed out.
Hello Stu - There is understandable confusion aboutNick Sloan's 'cup'. It's because he bowled like an 'oar!...at least that's what I thought I heard.
Seeing Stuart's comments about the blue colours tie reminds me of the plain green tie with school crest on it awarded for merit. This allowed us non sportsmen to achieve something as a reward for services to the school community. Mine was for work on the school archives which was largely a way of managing to keep inside during cold & wet lunch breaks or when banned from form rooms because of low flying waterbombs hitting unsuspecting members of the public on Gayton Road
Nick, I recall your bowling action from the late 70's and early 80's. I would suggest that the confusion comes with the round arm action, hence Alexs' suggestion that the base fits the Sculling Cup would seem apt....
NB When I was at school we were awarded "Half Colours" for various sports which entitled a strip bearing the name of the sport to be displayed below the badge. Those that of us who went on to get "Full Colours" received and were entitled to wear a navy blue tie bearing the School Crest. I still have mine, awarded for cricket. As a result of wearing to a few OGA Dinners, the navy blue is supplemented in places with steak and kidney gravy and Rioja. If you hold it close to your ear I swear you can here Cardew Robinson jokes in the distance....
STUART
Alex, only trophy i won was most inproved bowler from the Old Gayts and the HCGS Bowling Cup mid 70's.
Colours RFC and CC thats it.
To any ex cadets.
I am trying to find examples of CCF insignia for the archive and am missing a few. I'd welcome any donations, but in particular am trying to find a '3rd/4th County of London yeomanry' (Sharpshooters) cap badge, and also the black thistle on pinkish grey worn when the Army section was attached to the London Scottish.
In addition I am trying to find a few examples of the School shoulder titles worn from 1948 onwards.
If anyone can help, can they drop me a line?
Alex Bateman
In reply to Nick sloan's question about colours. Pre-war those who gained colours were able to wear a pale blue central panel on the front of the cap, with braid on the edges, of different colours denoting which sports, if more than one, was awarded. In the archive I have the cap of Trevor Poltock, who was killed in the RAF in 1940, and it boasts red and green braid denoting athletics and rugby. I have also recently been promised another which has blue braid each side of the panel for swimming.
I have been trying to find examples of those yellow on green colours tapes for the archive as so far I have none (in the Gayton days they were similar but white on black). However, as a result I was recently sent two colours badges. Again pre and just post war, if awarded colours, you were allowed to wear a badge in gold wire. Some were the badge on its own, others with the 'colour' underneath in gold wire. (one of those sent was 'RFC 1936-37'). the badge took the fiorm of a complete pocket to be sewn on in place of the original.
On the question of the number worn, the other badge, kindly donated by Geoff Norman has FOUR colours on all written in gold wire, RFC, CC, LTC and AC) with dates, with a possible fifth (Swimming Club) missed out. Pre war, and just after, those who were lucky enough to be awarded three colours, were also allowed to wear a pale blue blazer, with green trim around the collar and cuffs. I have one of these too, awarded to bill bowley for swimming athletics and rugby.
On a last point, I have a number of photos of verious sports teams with Charlie crinson, and a varying amount of colours titles are worn including what looks like Chess! I'll see if there are any more. If there is anyone out there reading this who has any colours tapes 9either HCS or Gayton) that they would consider donation to the School archive, i'd like to hear from you. It's a gap that needs to be filled!
Incidentally Nick, I have today been cleaning and repacking the old School trophies. Most have no base, which is a pain when the names are ingraved on it and not the trophy. However, a box recently turned up with several bases, one now confirmed as the original Old Gayts Cup. One other, containing names has yours from the early 70s. can you recall what you got it for? it seems to fit the 'Boat club Cup' for sculling (see trophies on this site)
Alex Bateman
Thanks Brian, I looked at the photos but I guess the point I'm making is that it was nice for peers to recognise the achievements of friends in certain skills, the 'strip' colours of latter years at least attributed a sport to a person allbeit in a rather obvious manner. A lot of kids earned huge respect and came to school for sport when not doing so well at exams.
Liked the swimmers with towels inside their jackets!!!
n
Nick, if you look at the photos of the swim teams for 1948 and 9 you will see that there is no inscription under the colours badge. Beneath the 1949 photograph there is some text which lists the members of the swim team who were awarded colours.
Harrow County Cross Country Team wins again. Well, that's virtually true. A team of Harrow Athletic Club athletes (formerly Old Gaytonians A.C.) won the Middlesex Veterans (i.e. over 40) Cross Country Championships at Ruislip Woods on Saturday (1st Feb). The team consisted entirely of ex Harrow County athletes Chris Finill (2nd place), Mark Cursons (6th), Mike Baron (8th) and Mike Lepps (16th). Pictures of the team are on: http://www.harrowac.freeserve.co.uk/news.htm
Brian thanks for you comments on colours, how did people identify for which sport you had earned them?
With us you had eg 'RFC 1973' or 'CC 1975' in yellow on a green tab/strip like Chimpey's, to be sewn under the school badge which did not change in colour.
kindest
During the forties, colours were awarded for swimming and rowing. The colours badge would replace the usual yellow one on the breast pocket of the the blazer but the big deal was to get a colours blazer of light blue - not a very practical colour.
Here's a challenge.
Looking at 'chimpy' Greatbatch's (proudly earned and displayed) colours and award certificate from Dave Bright (see web site) I wondered how many Gayts could boast a full set of colours. In my time at the school my second row partner Jez Newell could boast AFC, RFC and CC, as I think could Steve Rigby and Dave Thomas and the 'whippet' Steve Burke(their blazers were more yellow than green) but has anyone been able to add Tennis to the three primary sports and were colours awarded for swimming, plane spotting and war gaming?
Were colours awarded for anything else?
Just curious.
nick
This is my first visit to the web site. I learned of it through contacts made via friendsreunited. It looks to be very comprehensive. I started at H.C.S. in 1943 in form 2c, in the third hut beside the sports field. Remember well the end of periods being signalled by a loud hand bell. I still have a copy of the "Gaytonian"from about 1947. It was a very happy place to be despite the "Doodlebugs"! I could go on for a lot more, but I expect the same ground has been covered by many others. However I would like to hear from anyone who has up to date news of Arthur Hilton, with whom I made contact in May last year, but after a very interesting reply, I've heard no more, despite sending several e-mails since. Best regards to all Old Gaytonians, John Cooley
I found your excellent site by chance. I was a pupil at Harrow County School from 1936 until 1940 (when my family moved to Luton in Bedfordshire where I finished my education at Luton Grammar School). Whilst at the school I was in the 'b' stream. My memory is not so good but I remember Billy Duke (Maths), Beaky Fooks (English) Dr 'Sorbo' Hartland (French), 'Easy' Evans, 'Whiffy' King, a Mr Jones with a tatty gown, a Mr Thorne (science & Music) and a Mt Crawley who completely changed my concept of History (I moved from bottem to top in this subject in one term). Randall Williams was headmaster. I rememberwhen in 1938 when it looked like war we dug trenches on the periphery of the cricket field, abandoned when 'Munich' came and never re-started when war actually broke out. I remember too we had lessons in Harrow School classrooms. sad to say I cannit remember many if the names in my class exceot Blades (Jack), Cunningham, Gillespie, 'Katie' Garland , Lewis, Williams (David) and Wallworth (Peter?). Mos tof these I cannot put faces to. I also belonged to the Scouts and remember an older boy Parkin (Cyril or Cecil) and another boy 'Guillaume' Williams. My 'best' mate was Geoffrey Bispham . I lost contact with all these people
In reference to the piece in the Independant, this was supplied by our very own Russell 'Scoop' Newmark. Amongst his other journo duties, he drops titbits to the papers for the 'gossip' columns. Russell has managed to get several mentions recently of either the School, Old Gayts, and even (by name) the Old Gaytonian Magazine.
The latter concerned a story from fred Bilson, which I put in the OG, concerning one Paul McCartney. Russell dropped it to the Daily Express, and it has now appeared on Macca's official web site! Keep 'em rolling Russell!
Good to see the OGA Chairman, Denis Barker mastering the internet (at least trying to!). Look forward to seeing yur name here again denis!
And Steve macLure! good to see you still alive and well me ole mucker! By the way, a few months ago i had a scout around above the stage and when no one was looking, shinned up the old sound tower. What names did I find at the top? 'S MacLure' and 'P Mailes'! I don't remember mailes being stage crew!
by the way, richard brierly has just got in touch, a few stories to tell!
Alex
Coming on to the site has spawned so many memories of my time at Gayton circa 1979-1984, especially the form photo's! seems a life time ago but still locked in the archives up top. Good to see Alex Bateman is still alive and well !! Regards Stephen MacLure
A friend and fellow-Old Gayt (all right, Bill Burchell) who is in the small minority of people who read the Indescribablyboring (as Private Eye calls the Independant newspaper) sent me the following from today's issue, culled from the Pandora column, which is edited by one Sholto Byrnes:-
"Sir Nigel Sheinwald, just appointed to succeed Sir David Manning as Tony Blair's policy advisor, is said to be adept at putting his point of view across and not shy of promoting himself. His experience in these arts goes back a long way. In December 1970 he took part in a production at Harrow County School for Boys. Sheinwald's responsibilty was for 'publicity', a burden shared by two others - those equally shrinking violets, Clive Anderson and Michael Portillo".
As those that know me will know I am not computer literate but am just browsing on a computer in the library. Looking at the OGA website and the first item I saw in the guest book was Jerry Dicker's note. It was great to see the names that I recognised from the old Pathfinder days. Keep the comments coming I may even access the guest book again. Especially as now that i have retired I have more time
Prompted to visit site again by note from Jeff Maynard. Thanks Jeff for 1962 Xmas Ents foto, and thanks to Mick Boggis for submitting it.
For your history of rock groups at HCS, Lightnings rhythm guitarists included Geoff Creamer and at a later date one Dick Crofts (not HCS) who played a mean claw-hammer style a la Chet Atkins.
Also glad to see words from Royston Ellis (I'll check your website). I was in your pathfinder patrol of the Panthers, and met you in Guernsey once.
Dick Worsfold - pathfinders again. I was terrified of you, especially in British Bulldog, but you made us all laugh.
John West - still as voluble as ever
Nicholas de Lange - you taught me (by example) to look things up when I didn't know them. Belated thanks for an attitude which has become part of me.
Pete Fowler & Paul Romney - still contributing, I see. Nice to hear from you.
Like the site jefferson, though you could do with including more recent students dawg.
where are the dawgs from 88-92 and the photographs.
(1992 photos are on the website. 1988-91 are missing. If anyone has them, please e-mail some scans! ed.)
re Marc Harris I note Davids comments enquring whether it is Marc Harris of the 1980 intake. I maybe wrong but assuming a) he left 21 years ago that would assume he was part of the 1978 intake b) Marc 80 Harris was in DEF half of the school and therefore David 80 Wilson was in ABC, hence i do not think we would have shared lessons, which is why i can speak German and am useless when the French visit Le Old Gaytonions. I therefore suspect it is Marc "Stinky" Harris, but maybe wrong. Flacky may be familiar with this young Old Gayt Cricketing Colt and could comment ? The fact his eMail address indicates some sort of bank is out of character with the earringed and died black mop top i recall. If it is Stinky then that would be "triffic"....
That's funny, Brian. I went to inspect the new page and the background was pitch black.
I like the new background colour on the home page. It is so much closer to the "real greenfly green" than the previous hue and the text stands out so much better. Yet another improvement!
Further to Mick Boggis's complaint about the audio link to the ARS speech not working, I have emailed him a .wav file which does play. If anyone else with a strong constitution would like it, let me know. It is around 1.2mb so will take a fair time to download if you are not on broadband.
Hi,
Reading all the stories brings back old and fond memories of my time at GHS 80-84. I so vividly remember getting lost on my first day and thinking how was I ever going to know where every classroom was, not forgetting the trek over to the Drama room on cold winter days. Much of my time is now a blur being some 20+ years ago, but it still feels at times only like yesterday. I only wish I could remember all my class mates and wonder where they are now.
Duncan Charters
Marc,
Are you the same Marc Harris that did Music 'O' level with David Edgington & myself in 1983? If I remember rightly we didn't do much work for a few months because the teacher was off sick & no supply teacher was provided - I think we were just forgotten about....I seem to remember a game we invented that involved throwing a large rubber around the Music room ...well it passed the time !!!
What an excellent surprise! 21years ago and the memories come flooding back. Difficult to explain to others, including my wife, the great memories that for me are forever associated with Gayton. A great school, and I think we were lucky to still have teachers who did not need to attend training.
Definitely some of my best days. Good luck with the website and thanks for making this Old Gaytonian's day!!
Marc
Virus hoax - jdbgmgr.exe - do not remove.
If Jeff will allow the use of this board for something that is not strictly Harrow County, except that we communicate here by our computers, I have just had yet another warning that I may have been passed a virus. As I'm only one in the senders' address lists, many people will have been wasting their time removing a harmless file.
I'd rather be warned than left in ignorance until trouble erupts but this one is a hoax that has been doing the rounds for some time and this was about the fourth warning I've had.
Below is a copy of a message I sent to the latest HC chap who passed it to
me. *********************
*************************************************************************************
Dear X,
thinking further (now my brain hurts!) about the 'virus' as discussed last night, it is a few months since I last had this hoax and I had a feeling there was something more than just copying the file back in. There is. It has to be properly re-installed for it to work.
Now the good news. It is almost certain that you don't need it at all. I had it mixed up with another file which sometimes controls the opening of web pages. This one is used by Java programmers and unless you are such, you will never use it.
For information, and to find out where to go for vital info., try this:
Go to the Symantec AVcentre at http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/download.html
Click on 'Search' (menu list top left).
Enter jdbgmgr.exe and click 'Search'.
Select the first of the alternatives you are offered.
This will bring up the page for this particular problem. You'll see that it also links to the relevant Microsoft article.
Its also worth wandering around the site (enter 'bugbear', a genuine worm , for instance) to find out how to use it, against the day when you need help in a panic!
Happy computing,
Rod Clarke.
**************************************************************************
Non-Norton antivirus users may be unable to gain access to this site (I'm not certain but doubt it) but McAffee and others probably have similar setups.
Hope this saves some heartache for others who receive this particular warning BUT DON'T ASSUME ALL WARNINGS ARE HOAXES - CHECK WITH YOUR ANTIVIRUS SOURCE AS ABOVE.
Hi M. Glad to hear your poetic tones once more. The ironic and greenstain club, circa Paris 1978 if my memory serves correctly. Whats Tony up to? Pass on my regards and contact numbers if you would. Tempted to visit sudbury next month and play catch-up as you suggested below, would I remember any of the french? Growing old in a sober fashion these days, cancelled my membership of the Pernod club!
Lashmar J.
Hello John - a fellow member of the greenstain and ironic club of those heady days where drinking was unreasonably interrupted by either rugby or sleep. Funnily enough I have been with Tony Usher, one of your contemporaries this afternoon...Memory Lane has been widened and is now at least a dual carriageway. It will soon be an offence to be 'seen' on this site as 'taking Jeff' is highly addictive. M
Been meaning to do this for sometime and find some old friends as I have been living abroad for most of my life since HCS. Ive got some stuff to contribute also. Fantastic to browse your site after all the years, even found my name on 1969 prefects list, about the only thing I achieved at school, (or since). It would be great to hear from any old buddies that are still breathing. Thanks alot Jeff. I am still intouch and good friends with David Munns, (now just moved to New York as CEO of EMI Group), I have all his contact details. My eldest son Charlie 13 years has just won a scholarship to the other school on the hill, so I will be back in the area from time to time to watch him play rugby, (currently living in Munich), thanks again jeff and greatings to any old 30 club members (still got my old tie) John 1968/71
Missing & Corrected Names from Form 2C 1981 photo
3rd Row, Alan Finn, Alastair Fraser,
Front Row....Bacon, Deepak Sood, Jonathan Wiseman, Franklin Steinberg
GHS '80 - '83
Some useless trivia....
Having just had a rake through my memory, prompted by noticing a familiar face in one of the latest photos to be posted up and looking on Friendsreunited I've now realised that for a few years in the late eighties & early ninties there were four of us old Gaytonians working in the same branch of Barclays Bank - but without realising our connection !
Where are you now Andy Smith, Danny Haigh, & Sailesh Solanki ?
A John Pearson was in Advanced Sixth Science A in 1962 with Mr Neal and Scholarship Sixth Science Transitus (as it was laughingly known) in 1963 with Mr Thorne. We think he may living in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada these days. Does anybody have contact with him ?
I have just stumbled across the critique by Dr Kincaid of the 1956 schol play - in which I made my acting debut, as "Squirrel". I have never quite fathomed the need to get bedecked in a figure hugging, felt costume which was stiflingly uncomfortable, hugely embarrassing and just to prance around the stage saying nothing! Indeed this was one of those excruciatingly painful occasions that ends up recorded for posterity on one's parents faithful Brownie camera ( no digital stuff in those days! ). Worse still, of course, those are always the photo's that are hauled out when you bring this flash new bird home for the first time, just to impress your parents. Fortunately for me I don't think that any pictorial record still exists! I have a clear recollection of my classmate Ian Henley earning most of the plaudits for his outstanding contribution as Titania. You have to realise that it was just my luck to miss the era when females were actually allowed to enter the school and participate in extra curricular drama which was regulated by the school! Back to Ian Henley - Did he ever tread the boards, as he seemed destined to do at such a tender age? I wonder. I also recall Dave Drinkwater who was my patrol leader in the Pathfinders but having witnessed him participate in the regular game of British Bulldog - a scouting excuse for beating up everyone smaller than you - I find the expression "Grace of movement" extremely difficult to associate with said Dave Drinkwater!! In conclusion, having read the theatre critic's detailed account I must say that I am totally gutted that my role as an innocent by-stander, insignificant though it may have seemed to all but my dear mother, has been totally ignored by a man supposed to recognise true talent. Mind you I did grab a little glory in the scouts gang show the following year - but that's another story.
Nice to see 'scuffer' West on the site- boy could England do with his 'variable' bowling now.
Flacky, I don't drink, do drugs or associate with members of the Who and have less friends than you. Sex is out of the question as I am happily married!. Farrow's email no.?
n
Good to read Bob Campbell's contribution. (I was 1947-53, Bob, but I'm sure I remember you - fair hair, bullet head?) David Parkinson so enjoyed the sales campaign for HP he switched to PR and ran his own successful company for good many years. Had a rather nice office behind Harrods for a time, then in Covent Garden. Retired now; I have his e-mail address if you'd like it. Connolly was clearly wrong not to let you take O Level English (but I love his distinction between average and typical); you write well. I also had great difficulty writing neatly and fast - and also writing what I meant to. The mind ran ahead of the pen. To minimise deletions and alterations I aquired a facility with words and construction to convert what I had written into something which obviated them. Also, I acquired economy and conciseness of style so as to save on writing. Seems to have worked to my advantage over the years.
It was good to read Alan Bunting's comments. I remember a Parkinson in 2D who had immaculate copperplate handwriting - held up as an example to us all. I was cursed with an inability to write either quickly or neatly and I found it a major handicap all through my academic career. My tendency to give up on the writing and just try to look intelligent when I had fallen back a paragraph or to in the dictation always had me branded as lazy and good for nothing I think. However the aforementioned Parkinson went on to do well as a Handley Page Apprentice (along with Dave Sherriff)and was part of their Sales team for the Herald I believe which eventually lost out to the Fokker Friendship, and HP started making garage doors and central heating radiators. I met him playing rugger for Harrow against OGRFC in the early 60's I think. After working at EMI when it was an engineering company, I went into the RAF and then to college and have just retired from the ICE and IStructE in disgust since the Board of Moderators no longer require A level maths for civil engineering degrees. I am also cutting down on the work and trying to get my golf handicap down to something half respectable. I have worked in the Chemical industry since 1968 when I joined Burmah Oil at ellesmere Port, and seen its decline over the years. I remember reading your column as motoring correspondent of the Construction News - commenting on the quality of gear shift in Euclid dump trucks or something like that. I was sorry to hear about Neil Cripps - I have often wondered what happened to him. I did not know that Connolly's name was Jim when he taught us we regarded him with some caution although I cannot remember him being tyrannical. He would not allow me to sit O level english Literature since I did not need it and he thought that I would fail. I would have liked to try and prove him wrong although he was probably right. My enduring memory of him is his statement "many people confuse average and typical - they say the average man when they mean the typical man. The typical man has two legs but the average man has 1.9 and a bit". There was absolute silence in the room except for the squeak of his knee as it swung over the edge of the table that he was perched on.
I was at Gayton High School from 1977 to 1981 in Form 1C,2C,3C,4C Mr Mahon's form. Have great memories. Still supporting Arsenal and great friends with Clive Tocher Form 4B. Would be good to hear from anyone that remebers me.
Fred Sewell’s recent mail about tuck shop capers almost persuaded me to end my customary lurking mode and participate. However, when I read “Tony Young, President of the TUC”, wow! Tony, if you read this it would be great to catch up with you and reminisce about the Post Office, Stanmore and Willesden Tech. Another post of Fred’s mentioned Chris (?) Wade. I hope he won’t mind me recalling this story as it turns out good in the end. I have a vivid memory of Harry Mees giving Wade a good kick up the backside at half time in an under 15 rugby match. He had played an awful first half at full-back. Harry made him a forward for the second half and an amazing transformation occurred. He played a blinder, became established as a star forward and eventually played for Middlesex.
Me? Married twice, three children, two grandchildren. Now live in Bristol. Still working, IT contractor. Lived in S. Africa in the seventies where I often met up with Tony Edler. I’ve lost touch now, anybody in contact with him?
Great to see my old cricketing friends Martin Flack & Nick Sloan contributing to your guest book. Ian Gawn has been in touch with me since I first stumbled upon the web-site. Perhaps he, and a few others, will recall the era of "Spargo" Rawnsley ( so called because of 'the sprinkling' of hair at the rear of his head ) and whose physics lessons in the lecture room afforded many the opportunity of a quick cigarette in the little ante-room that one could lower oneself into in the back row. I seem to recall his housebarge being set adrift from it's moorings at Rickmansworth one weekend and messrs. Triggs, Regan and a few others spending several hours under the clock as a result. Whether they were guilty or not seemed to be immaterial to the judge and jury. I also recall the gradual disappearance of much of the canteen cutlery over a period of weeks and the sudden re-appearance of much of it tied to the front bumper of Dr Simpson's car when he parked it at the school for the funeral of a former head. The film title "The Usual Suspects" comes to mind! One of your contributors comments about the reluctance of anyone to step forward when Dr Simpson called for the guilty party to confess. On this occasion we were all seated in the main hall and given pieces of paper to write down the names of those responsible. I think George Thorn is still looking for someone called M. Mouse. I do, however, recall an occasion when Dr. Simpson was particularly alert to spot someone wearing a yellow waistcoat laughing at something he had said. His insistence that the boy wearing the yellow waistcoat should come down from the balcony brought forward 50 or more school boys all wearing various shades of yellow cardigans, pullovers etc. Tear your hair out, square!
For Trevor Redshaw, I lived just down the road (Grafton Rd. Harrow) from you in the late 1930's. We both attended Vaughan Road School and when, after being evacuated in Hampshire until 1943, I met you again at Harrow County, you didn't know me, I was disappointed!
May the Lord have mercy on your soul - but on the other hand it may have been the thick Hampshire that I had acquired. This also prompted disdain on the part of Twink Bradley, aloofness on the part of most others and a curious interest on the part of Dicky Dyer! Cheers, Roy.
Trawling through the rich repository of both remembered and long forgotten names and anecdotes, I see mentions have been made of some of the following in the mid-50's, but a good story is always worth repeating from the perspective of another observer of the time:
Devonald the mad chemistry master: yes I remember the explosion he created, also his wicked habit of applying a length of bunsen tubing to the backside of any boy who displeased him. He used to hurl the rubber as well with brutal and terrifying accuracy. I was terrified of him. The story about his car being manhandled onto the school stage gave me some chuckles. I remember it well, sitting there bedecked with toilet paper. It was an ancient Austin Seven or Morris Eight I think. Undoubtedly more than one master had trouble keeping a straight face.
Poor "Eggie" Eagers who tried to teach us French. We used to mimic his somewhat unusual speech patterns mercilessly and he must have heard us. What of Dr Bradley ("Twink")? He was Irish I believe and on more than one occasion likened teaching us English to "casting pearls before swine". Twink always wore his black gown and would sweep everywhere through school at a furious pace like some reincarnation of Dracula. Occasionally he would climb on a classroom windowsill to deal with the complicated window closures, for all the world looking like one of those early attempts at man-powered flight.
Mr Attridge our German master, sent the whole class into uncontrollable disorder with mirth when he announced that today's subject would be "Mein Fahrt". And poor Mr Pritchett's efforts at Latin: my report in Form 2 stated (in red ink): "Has made little or no progress this term". My father had been a stellar Latin scholar in his day at St Paul's, so not unnaturally I got taken to task for this failure.
But our exchange visit to France in 1956 was a marvellous time. Maj. Skillen I think it was arranged this and a group of us travelled by train, in my case to Grenoble,each to spend two weeks with a different French family. It wasn't I who had the idea, although I certainly joined in, of filling up balloons with water from the train toilet and hurling them out of the windows at people waiting on station platforms as the express passed through.
"Swanny" Amos' enthusiasm for PT passed me by and I was forever getting my mother to write me excuse notes. I hated all sports, they all seemed to be carried out in freezing weather with a lot of shouting and running around which I found very unpleasant and totally pointless!
But enduring thanks to "Skully" Yelland, who made Shakespeare (formerly so dry and unappealing) both understandable and enjoyable by bringing it to life so well. Our trip to see Belinda Lee and the Regent's Park Theatre perform "As You Like It" in the open air on a glorious summer evening was memorable and I have no doubt both contributed to my excellent English GCE's.
Who was it who threw the thunderflash in the swimming pool? Who took the hands from the school clock and put them amongst the cutlery in the canteen? Who hung a pair of young ladies' intimate undergarments on the lightning conductor?. "Will the perpetrators of this atrocity have the courage of their convictions to come forward?" (I quote from Square's thundering tones at Assembly -- I can'r remember any perps owning up!)
Why was the custard always lumpy? Although I recall the bangers weren't at all bad.
I was an ardent supporter of the Afro-American Music Society and always relished when "Square" Simpson read out the programme for the week's meeting at assembly. It must have cost his puritanical heart dear to get his strangled Scots accent around "Jarz (sic) Music". Mr Oliver earned my undying loyalty when he linked the development of the blues to the burgeoning genre of rock n roll, and of course he was right.
Once I was singled out by RSM (or?CSM) R.L.Joseph on CCF parade for that fearsome offence "dirty flesh!", screamed out in his best parade ground bellow. This of course got me put on "jankers" (defaulter's parade) and I think I had to sweep out the Armoury or something. I got my own back when I saw his photo posted on the Notice Board and surreptitiously wrote on it "Muscle From The Neck Up". I never did get found out. Sar-Major if you ever read this my most humble apologies --
I was however very proud when taking my Certificate A exam to be singled out by the visiting inspecting officer for "giving the smartest salute he had ever seen from a cadet".
Like my peers at the time I was caught up in the rock n roll revolution, and we used to write our version of the week's Top 10 on the board. It always featured Elvis presley, Little Richard and Fats Domino. I remember being blown away when we all heard Heartbreak Hotel for the first time and we somehow knew the world would never be quite the same again. Alan Freed's Rock n Roll Party relayed scratchily on Radio Luxembourg was a must every week to find out all these wonderful new records which you just couldn't get in UK. The Goon Show was another craze of the time. My personal revolution as a result of all this adolescent muscle-flexing got me pulled up by Jim Golland for "a disgustingly greasy hairstyle" (I was very proud of what I believed was a good "Tony Curtis"), wearing black suede "brothel creepers" and the orange fluorescent socks which were all the rage at the time. "Golly" however was a reasonable man (so he told me!) and was therefore going to give me a warning on this occasion.
To my discredit I started a fist fight with Holley, a prefect I always hated (Heaven knows why). That was my own personal "go and wait under the Clock" experience.
Now in retrospect I believe "Susie" Whiteside had some deep personal problems. His rage and almost delight at thrashing miscreants with a plimsoll (me included) and causing real pain were unsavourily beyond the schoolmasterly norm of the day. Imagine that happening in this day and age!
The wind currents in the Quad were unique and were capable of keeping our paper darts aloft for minutes at a time. My design was universally adopted after it proved the most effective aerodynamically, one of its examples having turned up in Lowlands Road!
That terrible train crash at Harrow & Wealdstone will always remain with me. I was crossing the bridge in a 114 bus that morning when it happened. The noise was unbelievable and everything halted, everyone stunned. In the afternoon coming home rescue efforts were still going on and there was a row of bodies shrouded in white along the platform. I had nightmares for some time after.
Naturally all us young bucks considered ourselves the answer to every maiden's prayer and our exploratory forays into the newly discovered wide world opening before us were furtively shared and discussed endlessly. Naturally facts took second place to fantasy and embroidered tales of alleged progress with, and even more dubious triumphs over, the young ladies who currently held attractions for us. I was very competitive in this area and for 1957's school concert, I invited to attend with me a pair of identical twins, Sheila and Jean, who lived nearby. For a good week or two thereafter I was able to bask in the glow of the acknowledged Lothario of Form V, having entered the Hall with a very pretty twin on each arm!
Finally if Peter Tribe ever reads this, as you know we shared common interest in aeromodelling well after we both left HCS. It may interest you to know that the mark made by the pencil you stabbed me with violently during that Physics lesson only disappeared a couple of years ago!
The benefits of a Greek education!
On the file showing prefects' graffiti there is a rather feint graffito near that of Messrs Finill and Crabb. It says Michael Cordy in Greek letters. This was a chap who went round Greece being told that for someone with a Greek mother he spoke lousy Greek...
Hi Jeff:
3 more photo names for you:
Form V (2) 1957: 5th from left middle row: DAVID OGILVIE
Ford 1D 1952: 3rd from left front row: NIGEL WILLIAMS 2nd from right middle row: ME! 3rd from right front row: BEVIS (cant remember his first name).
LOved the Imosition Slip. I had a good few of these served on me and those cursed words jumped out of the memory bank once again! Doubtless that was their designated purpose!
Cheers Graham (Manila, Philippines)
Hi Jeff:
3 more photo names for you:
Form V(2) 1957: Fifth from left in 2nd row:
Nick - the same to you. NB. there is nothing cheaper than Sky TV! Also, (I'm sure you will know already) that the French Weekend is only a few weeks away. Our friends of 48 years, Plessis - Meudon will be visiting the Old Boys territory of Sudbury Hill. To play rugby, drink rugby ( no thinking allowed on tour ) and bathe in the ambiance and bonhomie nurtured through the years by a succession of Harrow County boys showing their Skill in/en French for the delectation of our visitors. This would be the perfect opportunity for a co - reunion and grand showing of photos etc.
Anyone interested? I'll be there with the usual suspects in the interests of fraternité. What about...well, what about you Nick? You always say you have loads of mates, ready for action, and I know you drink enough for six but ...Action starts on Friday evening with a 'banquet' in Harrow ( that word always fools them ) and two games at Sudbury, and the international match, and the live band and entertainments, and the big lunch, and the depart for Paris - well plastered. By now, it is Sunday afternoon by the way...a minor detail. Anyone who would like to accomodate a frenchman might like to get in touch - discretion guaranteed ( until the team sheet gets published ). 14/15/16 February. Don't be a stranger.
All the very best to all readers and can I reassure Mr. Greatbatch that my kids are still laughing over the old photos after I hauled them out of the loft this xmas.
Cheaper than Sky TV!
Disappointed to find the audio element of the link on Colin Dickin's recent gestbook submission failed to reveal The Good Doctor's oh-so dulcet tones. I got quite excited for a minute at the thought of those strangulated Caledonian vowel sounds after nearly 40 years. Funny, that, when I wa at HCS, his was probably the last voice I wanted to hear, as the cane would probably dislodge clouds of chalk dust from the seat of my trousers shortly thereafter.
Is there any chance of this auditory gem appearing on the main site in reliable form, Jeff? Or perhaps Colin could send it to me privately, if he reads this.
Happy New Year to all alumni.
Mick Boggis Hobble-de-hoy (and proud of it), 1958-64
Martin I'd like to quote that great philoshopher and bard, Top Cat "I'd challenge you to a battle of wits Officer Dibble - but I see you're only half prepared !"
(best done in the Top Cat accent) HNY STUART
Does Jeff know who the 100,000 hit was? Is there a prize - say a gift voucher from Benjy Bunting's discount store?
Fair words Peter. I am pleased to see that maths is not being flagged as a worthy subject at HCS :-) Thanks Jeff.
Brian, it's 100,000 not 10,000; and I think that's 100,000 thanks we owe Jeff. We ought to invent some kind of Gaytonian e-award for a guy who I(and I suspect most of us) never knew, I've never seen, and yet has been responsible for the bringing together of a community that had, for so many of us, long died.
Also, as those of us involved in Webby things know, he's certainly put the time in.
Many, many thanks, Jeff; and keep that school flag flying here.
I see that the 'hit counter' has passed the 10,000 mark. Congratulations Jeff!
Paul, thanks for your support! Half- witticisms have been my forte - nay twenty - since starting at Arrow/Counter. Being a half - wit gives one a head start of course.
Good to see Alan Bunting's piece. Brought back more amusing memories. (I was just a year ahead of him.) Devonald bought himself a clapped out pre-war car in about 1950 and used to drive proudly to school in it. One lunch time, a group of VIth formers manhandled it onto the stage in the School Hall, (later the old School hall, now the Library) and decked it with streamers. Gleeful crowds assembled and various teachers came to have a discreet look at it. I remember Joe Brister standing at the door with an inscrutable half-smile on his face, stroking his chin. Devonald went wild. A quiet (untypically) word was had with the putative ringleaders and the car was restored to the front car park soon after with no retribution recorded. Hudson ("'Oodsun") was guyed in one of the coarser house concerts hawking and spitting into a bin at the corner of the stage. I never had him, but presunably that's how he was percieved to behave in his lab.
Heaton's appointment was all the more remarkable because, not long before, he had hurled a board rubber at a boy called Dare and the metal ring in the end cut his head open. Much blood, I believe, and Dare's father was notable for coming to the School on one occasion and beating up boys alleged to have bullied his son. Perhpas he was bought off on this occasion, or perhaps he was promised that Heaton would be fired and this led to his departure.
Nei Cripps, big, ugly, enormously affable, joined the OGRFC and was a decent second or front row forward in, mostly, the Ex A XV. He cried off ill one week and it was a long tiem before we heard that the had a serious kindey disease. He never played again and it was only years later we made contact when he took to attending the OGA Reunion Dinners. He watched his food and drink intake with enormous care and no fuss, still the same utterly amiable, humorous man he had always been. His condition was hereditary and he broke off his engagement since he would not have allowed himself to pass on the genes. As a single man, he was always too far down the priority list to qualify for a transplant and endured years of renal dialysis. He was also essentially unemployable in those less tolerant years and essayed various minor business ventures, including wine importing. Eventually, he got a job as an usher at Willesden County Court, enough to pay the rent on a small flat or bed-sit. One day he failed to arrive at work and it was several days before the Court found out that he had collapsed and died on his way home one evening. He had no close family (the genes saw to that), only a distant cousin and I only heard some months after his death when, after failing to make contact with him for some time, I eventually dug the story out of a colleague at the Court. I was Editor of the Old Gaytonian magazine at the time and was glad to be able to tell the story there. I suppose it was in the mid- to late eighties.
Disconnected 'reminiscellany' (to coin a word), from a low-profile C-stream pupil who left with just four modest O-levels: 1. We called the CCF 'Bigham's Barmy Army'. 2. A master I have not seen mentioned in the guest book is Hudson. He went into hospital for a hernia operation, which led to his subsequent nickname, 'Rup'. 3. Nor have I seen mentioned Devonald, a gangling and wild Welshman who taught Chemistry. On one occasion, in the OCL (above the hall), he said we would attempt synthesis of water - from its hydrogen and oxygen constituents. Devonald warned that it was a potentailly hazardous procedure. And so it proved. At the crucial moment, we were told to get down behind the benches while he threw the switch. There was a loud explosion and a cloud of smoke, peering through which we discerned an even more dishevelled than usual Devonald. I recall he was also prone, quite vigorously and uninhibitedly, to pick his nose, rake out his ear and scratch his bum - not necessarily in that order - before putting the same fingers to his mouth as his considered his next move. 4. On February 6 1952 the whole school unexpectedly had to break off classes to assemble in the hall. As we made our way, a whisper circulated: 'King's dead'. We wondered whether it was Whiffy who had succumbed to advancing years, or Killer who had perhaps fallen victim to an act of reprisal. In the event, both remained relatively hale and hearty; it was George the Sixth who had expired. 5. On October 8 the same year, at morning assembly, we were informed by ARS that a bad railway accident had occurred (and here I remember his exact words) 'down Wealdstone way'. And he pronounced 'Wealdstone' the way many BBC announcers still do, making it sound more like 'Willesden'. I suspect ARS regarded Wealdstone as one of the seamier parts of the district and as such not often spoken of in Simpson's circle. 6. On Nov 24 2002 in the guest book, Alan Thompson enquires about an HCS master called 'Connelly' with a false leg. I can tell him that 'Jim' Connolly is fighting fit, living at Fernleigh Court, Lower Road, Harrow. He drives a Proton car sold to him by my brother Roger from Bunting's Garage in Bonnersfield Lane. 7. Harry Mees taught me history in the 1950/52 period. I remember him with affection, though he could be fierce when, for example, calling the class to order with his trademark cry of 'Right ho 3C, cut the cackle!. 8. Phil Carden who I see died recently at 84 was I think the Mr Carden well known for his philanthropy to patients at Northwick Park Hospital, where out of the goodness of his heart he regularly visited those with few family or friends to lift their spirits. I encountered him frequently during my father's last illness in NPH in 1994 but didn't know he was an Old Gayt. 9. No one appears to have mentioned in the guest book Heaton, a big man, both tall and broad, who taught geography and who, to everyone's astonishment, was suddenly plucked from HCS in about 1951 to become head of Belmont (Fisher Road) secondary modern. I am told by an ex-Belmont childhood friend that with his tough, no-nonsense approach to education, that he thrived there and was greatly liked and respected, even by the potentially disruptive. I think Venn took over as the no 1 geography master. 10. I should like to correct Walter Vandome (guest book, Nov 25 2002) who refers to 'Bud Heathfield'. Nickname and spelling are wrong. He was 'Spud' Heafield, and was my form master for my final year at HCS, in 5D. 11. I am cursed with a (selectively) photographic memory, which enables me to recall a big chunk of the class register of 2D when I started at HCS in September 1948. Alphabetically, it ran as follows: Annan, Barnett, Bleaney, Bunting, Campbell, Clements, Cripps, Easey, Fice, Fleet, Galbraith, Greenwood, Hayllar, Hibberdine...(there the memory gives out but others included Leonhardt, Maynard, Shaw and Stuart. Through this website I have just established contact with John Fleet, but of the others I have no knowledge. I'd particularly like to contact Bob Campbell who was with me in the 4th Harrow Pioneers air scout troop and who I last saw when he came to my wedding in 1961. I last heard of him working for BP at Knutsford, Cheshire over 30 years ago.
Happy and a healthy new year to all. Reading Martin Flack's last comment reminded me of what the late Geoff D'arcy's response might have been - "Enough of these half-witticisms laddie" Martin - as long as you are prepared to bear your surname keep them going-puts a smile on my face anyway.