Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 29 Dec 2006
Time: 07:48:18
Fair enough Colin. However, I wasn't thinking of his dealing with Mark's surname as much as how he would have regarded "Strictly Come Dancing"
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickins at blueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 29 Dec 2006
Time: 03:27:52
A bit hard, Chris. I remember many of Simpson's preferred pronunciations, like guitar and guitarist to rhyme with bitter and bitterest (all praise to Paul Oliver for instituting the "Aafro"-American Music Socety), but he took too much pride in achievement to let things like "ethnic" names stand in his way. He would certainly have delighted in Mark's selection for England and his match-winning innings in his first one day test. As I have mentioned before, George Cowan - not a Simpson-lover - once said quite vehemently to me, Simpson was not a racist, "He only wanted the best." (I also remember the anguish with which he had to pronounce Jelly Roll Morton, a name not amenable to linguistic pedantry or deliberate mispronunciation.)
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 28 Dec 2006
Time: 06:50:33
I realise their paths never crossed but I'm still trying to imagine ARS announcing Mark Ramprakash's victory at an Assembly.
Name: John Clark.
Email: available via Jeff or the Register
Years_at_school: 1954-1959
Date: 27 Dec 2006
Time: 16:41:54
Reply to Colin Dickins: I hadn't appreciated the relevance of Mark Ramprakash's dancing achievements to the ethos of the present school, so thanks for pointing it out. I'm pleased that in the end, a few Old Gayt's have confirmed that they were watching the programme and following Mark's success. With regard to your comment about the timeline, it has always been a complete mystery to me, as to the time registered when one makes an entry in the Guestbook. However, I can confirm that I submitted the one in question approximately 15 to 20 minutes after the result was announced, which would make it around 22.30 GMT. Maybe Jeff Maynard would care to enlighten us all about the time difference? I assure you I didn't have "insider information", which would be impossible anyway, as the programme was broadcast live!
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at hotmail.com
Years_at_school: '80 - '83
Date: 24 Dec 2006
Time: 14:36:36
Well done Mark. Alex it would be good to think that Mark got some of hs early dance training in the ill-fated Drama block of our era.... Alex did I read you correctly that you are bowing out of the archivist work for GHS...HCS?
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980-84
Date: 24 Dec 2006
Time: 13:53:06
My congrats to Mark Ramprakash too (1982 to 86). Not only gaining the show's first 40 out of 40 from the judges ever, but also showing us Gayton Gayts still have what it takes...!
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980-84
Date: 24 Dec 2006
Time: 13:53:05
My congrats to Mark Ramprakash too (1982 to 86). Not only gaining the show's first 40 out of 40 from the judges ever, but also showing us Gayton Gayts still have what it takes...!
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickins NOSPAM at blueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 23 Dec 2006
Time: 21:33:44
Yes, John. Brilliant performance by Mark Ramprakash. Doesn't he fit in well with the present School structure as a sports college with a dance training component. (Your time-line puzzles me. The result was announced on TV no earlier than 2200 this evening. Even allowing for the website clock being set to Eastern Standard time, you must have had an inside track!)
Name: John Clark
Email: available via Jeff or the Register
Years_at_school: 1954-1959
Date: 23 Dec 2006
Time: 14:53:12
Heartiest congratulations to Mark Ramprakash, who tonight was the WINNER of "Strictly Come Dancing". Didn't the lad do well? Mind you, he was fortunate indeed to have the dedicated, passionate, intelligent and beautiful Karen Hardy as his teacher and partner. Great entertainment.
Name: Bill Harrison
Email: bill.harrison at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1961 - 1968
Date: 21 Dec 2006
Time: 09:50:37
10 Downing St has recently announced that Nigel Sheinwald is to be the British ambassador to the US as from next autumn.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 1984
Date: 21 Dec 2006
Time: 03:02:20
A message to all Old Gaytonians who might read this, wishing them a very happy Christmas and New Year, or Happy Holiday whichever you prefer. May 2007 be a happy and prosperous one to all. For all those who sent me contributions to the OGA archives or for the OG magazine I especially appreciate it as both would struggle without them. I am not certain yet if I will be involved with either from now on, but please keep 'em coming as they say and I will pass everything on to whoever might pick up the baton. Regards to all Alex
Name: Margaret Billiet
Email: maggiebillietatsupanet.com
Years_at_school: 1985-1996
Date: 19 Dec 2006
Time: 14:14:08
Years at school should have said 1985 to 1996.
Name: Margaret BillietType
Email: maggiebillietatsupanet.com
Years_at_school: 1985-1986 School Secretary
Date: 19 Dec 2006
Time: 13:49:48
Heres wishing Mark Ramprakash the very best of good luck for Saturday.in the Strictly Come Dancing Final. I feel a few Old Gayts will be watching it!!!!
Name: John Clark
Email: available via Jeff or the Register
Years_at_school: 1954-1959
Date: 18 Dec 2006
Time: 17:24:47
Just in case anyone has not yet become aware of the fact, Mark Ramprakash, England cricketer, who attended the school when it was known as Gayton High School, has done magnificently well in "Strictly Come Dancing" (BBC 1) and will take part in the final next Saturday evening, competing against Rugby player, Matt Dawson. Both of these sportsmen started the series as non-dancers and have amazed viewers with the progress they have made. Since I first drew attention to this event (see my posting on 14th. November) just 3 of Mark's contemporaries at school have responded with their recollections of Mark and his cricketing prowess, but no-one as yet has confessed to actually WATCHING the programme! Well, next Saturday will be your last chance to see these two as you've never seen them before, so even if dancing isn't your thing, have a look just for once and support our "Old Boy". Prepare to be astounded at the standard of performance from both!
Name: Andrew Carruthers
Email: ajcarruthers at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1961-8
Date: 15 Dec 2006
Time: 10:59:54
Re Ken Waller I rang him and he sounded fine and indeed very lucky, he tells me he is writing his fourth novel and is on page 904!! IUt is intended for release on the internet. I did not ask the subject matter but rather sadly he tells me that he has had to stop playing the piano as his coordination (at the age of 73) is not so good. We should honour him with a dinner soon I think I am sure he would enjoy it and appreciate the thought.
Name: Barry Jolly
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957-64
Date: 10 Dec 2006
Time: 14:56:21
I have just picked up on the photo of 3C 1959 and the comment about Graham McFadyen. Graham and I had been at Pinner Park Primary together and I was not far behind when the light lorry mounted the footpath and killed him. Apparently, two of the three nuts holding the steering mechanism had failed and the driver simply did not have any control; no action was taken against the driver or the owner of the truck. It was I who ran back to school for help as this seemed to be the location of the nearest phone (no mobiles at that time, of course). Until then, we had played chess together every lunch-time (claiming our presence in the geography room was official to the point where everone believed it was). (I wasn't too hot at the game then, but later represented Lincolnshire in the county championships for a few years.) Together with Euan Hunter, we appeared on All Your Own with Huw Weldon on BBC television, the filming taking place in the back garden of our friend Adrian Bomback. It was all to do with Adrian's love of the Royal Navy, and he and I both joined - albeit at rather different dates - Adrian as a full career officer and I on a short service commission. (We both made Lieutenant Commander, incidentally.) To add to the coincidences, the day I last saw my mother alive - in rural Devon - I came across a small plate just a few yards away; it was in memory of Adrian who had been killed by a falling tree in the Great Storm of ?1997 when he went to the aid of an elderly neighbour. Like Steve Grimes and Laurence Lando, I remember Graham's death all too well.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: Bhesteratcogeco.ca
Years_at_school: 1940-47
Date: 09 Dec 2006
Time: 17:30:04
My thanks to Mike Walton for the excellent photograph of the way things were as I remember them. I believe the rationale behind naming the entry level classes as "form 2" was that in four years the pupils would be matriculating and thus qualified for entry to the sixth form. I believe Simpson changed all that but have never understood quite how he re-arranged the nomenclature.
Name: Carl Jackson
Email:
Years_at_school: 1970-1977
Date: 09 Dec 2006
Time: 15:38:03
Thanks for the update, Min. It's very good to hear that Ken is well and was not made homeless as has happened to others in his street who were less fortunate.
Name: Peter "Min" Vincent
Email: lxdatvinntec.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 09 Dec 2006
Time: 05:52:38
Carl - I received the following reply from KW: From: Ken Waller Sent: 09 December 2006 12:36 To: Min Subject: Re: HCS Students Want to Know you are OK Whitmore Gardens was at the centre of the tornado and I was in my house. Much serious damage all around but I am safe and sound. Sheer good luck. How good of you to ask! Ken Waller
Name: Peter "Min" Vincent
Email: lxdatvinntec.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 09 Dec 2006
Time: 00:58:12
Carl - I have fired off an email to the address I had for the 2001 reunion. It hasn't come straight back as unknown, so if I get a reply I will copy to the forum. Min
Name: Carl Jackson
Email:
Years_at_school: 1970-1977
Date: 08 Dec 2006
Time: 16:41:12
I should be grateful for any news about former HCS master Ken Waller whose street was devasted by the tornado in north-west London on Thursday morning. Carl Jackson
Name: Hello people! Nice site!
Email: Hello people! Nice site!
Years_at_school: Hello people! Nice site!
Date: 04 Dec 2006
Time: 12:48:27
Hello people! Nice site!
Name: Excellent site, added to favorites!!
Email: Excellent site, added to favorites!!
Years_at_school: Excellent site, added to favorites!!
Date: 03 Dec 2006
Time: 09:05:23
Excellent site, added to favorites!!
Name: Sue Channing (Elvin), sister of Chris
Email: suechanning at dsl.pipex.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 01 Dec 2006
Time: 16:06:27
Great website. Just want to thank you for helping (along with John Clayton) to keep alive memories of my amazing brother. If anyone would like to read or submit recollections of Chris, and hear some of his music, take a look at chriselvin.com. Thanks again-- Sue
Name: Malcolm McG
Email: MalcolmMcG at aol dot com
Years_at_school:
Date: 30 Nov 2006
Time: 19:01:59
I just saw the animated film "Happy Feet" about tap dancing Emperor penguins in the Antarctic. The head penguin was obviously played by a reincarnation of the late Alexander Simpson. Go and see the film and see what I mean. You might put the word around among other squarophobes.
Name: Nick Rawlins
Email: NrawlinsATlincsfm.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-1976
Date: 30 Nov 2006
Time: 08:58:24
Paul Seems that few of us from that era look at the site.But good to see three of us have bothered to comment. I think boys were either loved it or hated the school. I just tried to keep my head down!
Name: Paul Phillips
Email: paulatbrianpaul.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-76
Date: 29 Nov 2006
Time: 06:41:42
Hallo Nick Rawlins - a blast from the past and how strange that 3 of the last 4 entries are 71-76 vintage; not often seen. Looking at entries there were comments about various rooms. Is the old pit aka the staff room still in its strange place occupying 2.5 floors
Name: Trevor Baxter
Email: trevor_baxter at hotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1983 - 1987
Date: 28 Nov 2006
Time: 16:07:15
Just want to big up all the crew from 1983, Gary james, Darren Harobin, Charles Cumberbach, Ricky Williams, Delroy Williams Jason Trouble Allen, Giles Archiballed, Roger Persil oh my Gosh Michael Rose and all the other boys i've lift out. Charles Mist the hardest white boy I've ever known. Stuart Moore. Hope everybody is doing well. Best Regards Trevor Baxter
Name: Nick Rawlins
Email: nrawlinsATlincsfm.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-76
Date: 28 Nov 2006
Time: 07:37:33
Martin Townsend Thought I would email you to say Hello from another old 1N pupil from 1971, however couldn't get an email through. Would like to hear from you
Name: Martin Townsend
Email: martin townsend at express.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-1976
Date: 22 Nov 2006
Time: 10:44:36
I always enjoy reading the website - and trying to keep up with the exploits of my old classmates. Other Old Gaytonians might be interested to know that I have a book being published next April by Bantam entitled 'The Father I Had', which includes some of my memories of the old school - good and bad. In the meantime I would love to hear from any former classmates from1N and beyond - particularly the other members of our rock group, Nyte Flyte: Paul Hosgood, Dave Merton, Tim Davis, Colin Downs and Martin Bazen. Cheers MT
Name: IRVING BOXER
Email: irvingboxer at yahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1967-75
Date: 21 Nov 2006
Time: 09:46:44
Memories, memories, memories!! Getting lost on my first day; Greek or German; Last to Cross and Hot Pig; Gilbert & Sullivan and Romeo & Juliet: George Cowan's goal kicks!! Ken Waller's white shirts; Scouts & Cadets; chewed paper on the ceiling; Orchestral Concerts & Rememberance Day; Portillo!! Gayton Fair; Plastic holey footballs; Latin; The Prefects Common Room ( up those windy stairs) and scoring tries at rugby. I was 15 then now I'm 51 and have been an Osteopath all my life. Been married got three kids (18,21,24!!!) and I still sing. Nice to hear from you if you remember me.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 16 Nov 2006
Time: 14:58:59
I was at School with Dave Wilson, and Alastair Fraser. He of course went on to play for Middlesex but committed the sin of leaving at the end of the second year to become an 'Old Lyonian'! Along with Mark Ramprakash, Angus and Alastair Fraser, George Hart back in the 30s (correct me if I am wrong) was another Middlesex Old Gayt.
Name:
Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at
abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 16 Nov 2006
Time: 08:48:03
Barry, thanks a million for that: it's great when a rusted memory is brought back to shining life. You're spot on....I think the group called themselves something like The Falcons. But now we know that this was not an HCS singer... Es, Martin Scott was in our year - he was killed in a car crash, wasn't he? Can't remember if he was still in school at the time. I remember him singing the Billy Fury song, 'That's Love'.....the same event (it must have been one of those Christmas reviews) included Charlie Fine and a mate of his singing a really good version of 'Nobody's Child'....and probably had those excellent rock players like Mick Barker and Dave Price doing things. It is strange remembering that outpouring of rock'n'roll - who would ever have picked out Rog Glover as a star in the making when there were those like Price and Barker around? This is not to decry Rog at all, he's had a brilliant career; but it seems so arbitrary, somehow..... Which was a central message, I remember, of a Jim Golland English lesson we had in '61 - the swings and roundabouts of life, the unpredictability of things, the strangeness of seemingly random events. It's a great shame I can't tell him, 'Jim, you were right...' because, at the time, I couldn't connect at all to the theme.
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson AT hotmail.com
Years_at_school: '80 - '83
Date: 16 Nov 2006
Time: 03:22:30
As well as cheering on Mark Ramprakash lets not forget that he isn't the only recent England cricket star to come out of Gayton. I was in the fortunate position of being at GHS at the same time as Mark Ramprakash and Angus Fraser - who even at the age of 16 was a fearsome bowler to play against, even if he was only using a tennis ball! Angus' brother Alistair was also a very talented crickter - who, if memory serves me correctly, during a school game hit two consecutive sixes from the centre of the cricket square into the (by then unused) swimming pool - and invited us then to choose where the next ball was to go too - now that is confidence for you!
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin dot dickins at blueyonder dot co dot uk
Years_at_school: 1947-
Date: 15 Nov 2006
Time: 22:38:37
Good to see Barry Hortin's contribution. I think we played rugby together for the Old Gayts. I also played with others mentioned, particularly Dickie Peel. Dickie was a not very large fly half, a tidy player, and I have often wondered what happened to him. He used to tell an amusing story of being buried under a pile of bodies with a large prop forward bottom squashing his face. On the spur of the moment he bit it. As the whistle blew and bodies moved away, a terrible apprehension seized Dickie. As the prop forward stood up he said hurriedly, "I say, I'm terribly sorry; I don't know what came over me." The prop forward looked down at him in surprise and said, "Sorry for wot?"
Name: Barry Jolly
Email: bmsj at velnet dot co dot uk
Years_at_school: 1957-64
Date: 15 Nov 2006
Time: 14:42:36
I, too, am very sorry to hear about the passing of another of my, still quite young, generation, Mick Duvall. Not a close friend, but someone I remember as a nice guy. Very keen - as was Dave Collis (no idea where he is, though) - on the CCF and outward bound activities. As to La Bamba and the Inner Quad, my recollection, Pete, is that the occasion was a Gayton Fair finale musical competition. Everyone was rooting for The Lightnings, but they were blown away by a group called Michael Hayes and something. The latter brought their groupies with them who out applauded all the loyal Lightnings fans ... but they were very good. Graham Dimmock (The Lightings leader, of course) was very disappointed by it all when I spoke to him later.
Name: Howard Lamb
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 81-85
Date: 15 Nov 2006
Time: 04:39:17
To John Clark, I was at School the same time as Mark, the year above him in fact, and to see him achieving so much in his cricket was fantastic for him personally, the school and Besborough his local cricket club. However, dancing is just not 'my bag baby' (to quote Austin Power's) however I do hope he wins ! Good for the cricketer's and the school. Plus I live in Poland and do not get the channel to watch him !
Name: Barry Hortin
Email: barryhortin at waitrose.com
Years_at_school: 1950 - 1958
Date: 15 Nov 2006
Time: 01:45:49
You have an excellent website Comments on photos: 1956 Rugby staines 7-a-side winners 1956-57 back row Tony wyatt, Barry Hortin, Don Ridley [Capt], John O'Malley, Dickie Peel front row Ray Greenwood, Ray Tapper 1957 1st XV 57-58 back row Brian Higgs, Dick Wade,?,Dave Routh,? middle row ?,?,Ray Greenwood, John Lewin, Ray Tapper,? front row Tony Wyatt, Barry Hortin, Don Ridley [capt], Gordon Underwood, John O'Malley, John Maynard, Dickie Peel regards Barry
Name: Esmond Sanders
Email: esmond.sanders at ualberta.ca
Years_at_school: 1956-63
Date: 14 Nov 2006
Time: 19:15:37
Pete, The only other "singer" that I remember from our era was Martin Scott, who made a terrible hash of "Take good care of my baby" at one of the shows. I can't imagine that his rendition of "La Bamba" would have been that memorable - but it might been in his repertoire!
Name: John Clark
Email: jmclark.2 at virgin.net
Years_at_school: 1954-1959
Date: 14 Nov 2006
Time: 17:30:37
Since the current series of "Strictly Come Dancing" (BBC1, Sat. evenings) started a few weeks ago, I have been expecting to see some comments appearing in the guestbook about the great performances being given by Old Gaytonian and famous cricketer, Mark Ramprakash. Apart from Stuart Taffs' early mention (26 Sep 2006) of having heard a rumour that Mark would be appearing in the programme, there has not been a single word about it, so I thought I would break the silence. Surely it cannot be the case that all you other Old Boys feel that watching a light-entertainment TV show is beneath your status? It may be just a bit of fun on one level, but the amount of hard work and dedication which the celebrities put in to it, and the excellent dancing skills which most of them achieve, seems to me to be very commendable. Mark has been consistently amongst the top scorers each week so far, and I think that as he is "one of our own", we should be giving him some moral support. Darren Gough won it last year, so it would be quite a cricketing triumph if Mark could follow suit. Come on, all you sporting types; Rally to the cause!
Name: Richard Buckley
Email: rbuckleyatbuckleyassociates.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1959-65
Date: 13 Nov 2006
Time: 13:08:46
I don't think I ever spoke to Mr. Marchant during my time at HCS but I was most interested to read of the lunch being given for his 80th birthday. That means he could only have been 39 when I left. But I always thought he was one of the older members of staff and approaching retirement! It does make me wonder just how accurate our recollections of our time at HCS, well, mine anyway, really are.
Name: Pete Fowler
Email:
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 11 Nov 2006
Time: 12:10:05
That's terrible about Mick Duvall - thanks for letting us know, Tony, and do hope you're OK. I always thought Mick was one of the better HCS pop singers of that generation (I thought he was better than The Lightnings singer)...though there's this thing I've never properly remembered: the best vocal performance I ever saw at HCS was a guy singing La Bamba with a group playing on the steps of the Inner Quad. Does anyone know who that was?
Name: Mike Grogan
Email: grogapplatbellsouth.net
Years_at_school: 1959 - 64
Date: 08 Nov 2006
Time: 18:28:54
For Tony Bareham I was very sad to learn about the death of Mike (Mick) Duvall. I was an avid fan of the Madisons. Rather than take up too much in the guest book, I have sent you a personal e-mail and hope that I got your address correct. I was in touch with Dave Collis about a year ago and we were both asking the same question " Whatever became of Mick Duvall?" Sadly, we now know and I would appreciate you getting in touch. Hopefully, you will be able to contact Dave through Friends Reunited. Best regards, Mike PS I still thing you guys were better than the Lightnings even though a couple of you ended up joining them. Harvey Schildkraut's drum solos outclassed Laurie Geller's!
Name: Tony Bareham
Email: acbarham
at sky.com
Years_at_school: 58 to 63
Date: 08 Nov 2006
Time: 11:04:02
Does anyone know the whereabouts of Dave Collis who was at the school the same time as me. We played together in the Madisons. Sadly, I heard the other day of the untimely death of our singer and friend Mike Duvall, featured in one of the Christmas Entertainment photos on the website. I am still in touch with Roger Glover and Harvey Schildkraut the other band members, but have never been able to trace Dave. Can anybody oblige? Kindest regards to all, Tony
Name: nigel morley
Email: nigel.morley3 at
btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 60-67
Date: 05 Nov 2006
Time: 11:00:48
well, back on site again, my greyhounds are running well, last tip i gave you won.at 6 to 1 harry aka surelines tutor has won his last 3 races i am hoping to name next dogs ,pavilion fund,square and woodpecker shoes. i have another dog who will win next time out e mail me if you want to have a punt no strings just a chance to still be deviant,with hindsite forgive the so called sadists they just couldnt cope with not being as bright as us pupils! god bless you all nigel morley aka the gambler
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 03 Nov 2006
Time: 15:03:19
mmmm
Name: Dave Saxby
Email: drsaxby at yahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school: 79-83
Date: 03 Nov 2006
Time: 12:18:11
Wow!! some names from the past. Some I had forgotten. Mr Waller,(try as he might he did not get me to speak Latin or Russian!)Mr Andrews being beaten by Garth Ratcliffe!! My Dolinski, I enjoyed the Tech Drawing lessons. I remember Peter Cowburn leaving to work at the grammar school, and that he and Garth were good friends. I believe Garth joined the church, but it does seem logical that he went to teach at High Wycombe. I have many fond memories of our trips to Cornwall. Seeing Howard's name up there brought back many memories. If they serve me correctly, the reason you may not have got the results you hoped for, was probably because you spent so much time being an ace sportsman.Are you still active Howard? How is Mark (My contempory)So many memories flooding back. I shall make an effort to come back again to this site.
Name: John Parker
Email: parkerjsxx at aol dot com
Years_at_school: 1959 - 1966
Date: 30 Oct 2006
Time: 11:17:11
My wife and I went to see the History Boys on Saturday at the local cinema. While a did a short spell in S6Modern (just to up my grades to get to LSE)I was never part of the Oxbridge set. Was HCS anything like the History Boys - discuss. Your time starts now. John
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickins at blueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-
Date: 29 Oct 2006
Time: 12:42:55
I'm sorry to have to record the passing last week of Geoff Holmes at the age of 86. He had a notable career in public health, joining Harrow Council before the war, but will best be remembered for his distinguished war career. Readers of the OG magazine will know that he was in the paras and went in at Arnhem. During that disastrous campaign he was captured four times, being released once, escaping twice and finally staying to care for the badly wounded after the final defeat in the battle. In the 1990's he instituted commemorative drops of veterans at Arnhem, the oldest being over 80. He himself damaged his spine in a practice drop approaching the age of 80 and reluctantly missed his last drop at Arnhem. His prime purpose was to raise funds for the Parachute Regiment Association, but it kept alive the memory of the extraordinary courage and dedication both of his comrades and of the Dutch who helped them at enormous risk to themselves and their families. (He always said the Dutch were the braver.)
The funeral will be at Reading Crematorium at 1.30 p.m. next Wednesday, 1st November.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 27 Oct 2006
Time: 05:04:40
As an additional note to Chris R, the roll when the school opened was 75, rising only a little each year after that until the end of the teens. So a large majority of the school pupils served during WW1. As Min says, the list of the school war dead is on the site. The names noted in red have since been added to the memorial, and blessed and unveiled by the local parish vicar in November 1994. A new wooden panel was made, with the wood coming from the last of the long teak benches that used to be found in the science labs. In theory, all those named on it would have sat at the bench during their time at the school.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: greekmultilingual
at yahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 26 Oct 2006
Time: 09:59:59
Paul Danon - what the esteemed Professor Dr Hirshfield meant is that criminals do feel social exclusion. If they can not be made to feel included, then perhaps their children should receive a form of crime education based on social inclusion. If the children in their turn feel excluded, then what Alex wants to do is to avoid future tragedy and grief by cutting their balls off. Does that help at all? Not surprised to learn about the Harold Wilson Building - he is still to date the world's only famous Huddersfield Town supporter. You ask for food in the Harold Wilson Building. Five minutes later they deny that you ever placed an order. Shan't say what your politics were in the early 1970s, Paul. Michael.
Name: Peter "Min" Vincent
Email: teacheratvinntec.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 25 Oct 2006
Time: 14:18:22
Chris, Alex has put a list up at www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/wardead.htm, which I believe is pretty accurate. At my previous school I used it each November to remind my tutor group how lucky we have all been relatively speaking, especially when considering the list for 1914-1918 for a school which only opened in 1911. Min
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 24 Oct 2006
Time: 07:10:24
Does anybody know: How many OGs were killed in each of the World Wars - and in the armed forces since? School enrolment in 1914 & 1939?
Name: Kieran Healy
Email:
Years_at_school: 1968-
Date: 23 Oct 2006
Time: 21:00:57
(I received this e-mail from Kieran Healy - Jeff)
Sadly
we have lost one of our classmates and dear friend Richard Gagola today.
Like all of us this morning I was devastated to receive the horrible
news of Ryszard's untimely death. Our two families were at one time very close
the Gagola's lived in the Ridgeway and we lived around the corner on
Northumberland Road. We attended the same church, St. Luke’s in Pinner
and my Parents, Dawn and Denis became friendly with Ryszard's Parents
Dilys and John Gagola. The Polish and The Irish !
We were four boys and the Gagola's were three boys all of us in the same
age range so we all played together in the little park down the road and at each
others houses.
We all attended Longfield and then Ryszard and I went on to Harrow County.
Longfield was perhaps one of Ryszard's happiest times, he wrote so elegantly and
memorably of our time there and remembered details that I didn't know I had
forgotten.
I shall always remember Ryszard as the "perpetual student" as he was
still at University long after I had started working and my sense from his
emails was that he was still involved in Academia.
We were supposed to meet up in London on the 13th of August 2006 but it was in
the middle of the Heathrow bomb plot and I never called him because I was too
busy trying to get my family on flights back to America and Ireland.
I now regret that we didn't have that chance to meet after all these years.
Richard was a kind and gentle man, I will miss his little Longfield missives and
I mourn the loss of a man from our innocent past. RIP October 23rd 2006.
Kieran Healy, Los Angeles, California.
Name: Paul Danon
Email: paul
at danon.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1966-1973
Date: 23 Oct 2006
Time: 07:50:13
I was privileged to be at Dr Alex Hirschfield's inaugural lecture as criminology-professor at Huddersfield-university on Thursday (the 19th). VC in attendance. Gowns and hoods. Finger-buffet afterwards in (wait for it) the Harold Wilson Building (shudder).
The blurb on the uni's website read: "This Inaugural Lecture will focus on the importance of location in Applied Criminology and related social science disciplines. Neighbourhoods and land use play a crucial role in our understanding and explanation of crime patterns and in our policy responses to them. Their physical appearance can affect people’s perceptions of safety and send clear messages to offenders that they are unlikely to be challenged or apprehended. Neighbourhoods also provide a context for exploring relationships between crime and other topics such as community cohesion, social exclusion and health. In exploring these issues Professor Hirschfield will recount his own journey of discovery from his early days as a geographer and local authority policy planner to his present role as Professor of Criminology and Director of Huddersfield’s Applied Criminology Centre."
Actually, it was even more of a rip-roaring hoot than the abstract suggests! As ever, Alex brought in humour, yet he also made some interesting academic points which even thicko arts-graduates with lower seconds from Leeds could understand. Alex also directs Huddersfield's applied criminology centre (actually less threatening than its name suggests) and I was pleased to meet his young and vibrant team, who are big fans of his. A low-res mobile phone-pic is at:
http://geocities.com/pauldanon/fields.JPG
It shows Alex with his delightful womenfolk, i.e. Madeleine, daughter, interested in child-psychology, and Ruth who, in German-speaking countries, would be known as Frau Professor Hirschfield and probably be curtseyed-to. Alex's pedagogical posture here has the benign overtones of Father D'Arcy (God rest his soul) with perhaps a hint of Meesian no-nonsenseness and, maybe even, a soupcon of Averian gravitas.
It was good to be there, if I may say so, representing you all, Harrow County. A very real achievement.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian at rlymyc.org.uk
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 14 Oct 2006
Time: 02:50:59
The last line of the alternative school song was "If beaten, run away" Ian
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at hotmail.com
Years_at_school: '80-'83
Date: 13 Oct 2006
Time: 15:55:52
Ian, I was at Gayton from 1980 to 1983. I'm not totally sure about the librarian's name - I think it was Gawn. Of course it might be a different spelling - or the wrong name totally....Alex any help here?
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 13 Oct 2006
Time: 09:44:21
Alternative School Song There was a version which we thought terribly wiity at the time. Seems much less so now! Bits I remember "Shirk your work, be this our battle cry... Stand up, sit down, Dishonest, tell a lie"
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ianatrlymyc.org.uk
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 13 Oct 2006
Time: 08:09:43
So what's this about a Librarian called Mrs Gawn? When are we talking about? My Dad, who was an OG, although I cannot find him in the class lists (he was 11 in 1920) was one of 14, born in a house Greenhill Road behind what was then Sopers, now Debenhams. Chances are that, whenever it was, the Mrs Gawn mentioned is related, and I am trying to findout about Dad's family so any information gratefully received. Ian Gawn
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at hotmail.com
Years_at_school: '80 - '83
Date: 11 Oct 2006
Time: 12:19:24
Alex - sounds like I'm fortunate not to have a copy ! I seem to remember some fairly pithy careers advice, I think John Garwell was in charge of Careers then..? Did you see my question regarding the Library I posted a few days ago (3rd Oct)? Was it Mrs Gawn who was the librarian? Probably not the most exciting subject for the archives. Whilst 'on duty' we discovered that someone had obviously undertaken a cull of books in the library deemed to be unsuitable for the Boys...but forgotten to dispose of them. They were 'found' in (if memory serves me correctly) a small store room behind the partial partition wall. Some quite racy subject matter too!
Name: Peter Rapaport
Email: pbrapaport
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 11 Oct 2006
Time: 10:13:58
Oh my. I look at the OG comments on the site every 6 months or so, just to check out for any interesting updates and I guess to remind me of the happy and sad times of my early life. I have to say that Laurence Lando and I shared the same class for some of those years. I can't believe the nonsense banter going on regarding the state of the new school, comparing to the old, between him and others. There surely must be more interesting and maybe even worldly matters to be discussed between you all. I THINK THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE CURRENT AND SOMEWHAT HEATED DISCUSSIONS HAVE JUST BECOME ANGRY OLD MEN!! Best wishes to you all and let battle end now.
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 10 Oct 2006
Time: 08:07:58
Hi Dave I have number of prospectuses (or is that prospecti?) dating from 1914, but will check to see if I have one of those you mention. One thing I do have is one of those awful careers brochures we were given in the third year. Remember them?
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at Hotmail.com
Years_at_school: '80-'83
Date: 10 Oct 2006
Time: 05:55:05
Alex, Thanks - But I think I may still have a copy of the Dramathon programme embedded somewhere in one of my own archive boxes (which my wife continually implores me to bin !)which are full of old school books etc..... One thing I did discover recently was a prospectus for GHS which we were given prior to joining Gayton. It lists all the subjects taught at the school, its ethos, attitudes & (I think) a staff list. Do you have one of these ?
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: Via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 10 Oct 2006
Time: 03:11:46
News was received today from Ellements Funeral Directors, that Cyril Ellement, one of our oldest OGs passed away on Saturday. He was in his mid 90s. Aside from advertising, the name Ellement will be known to many older OGs. His funeral will be next Thursday October 19th at 2pm, at the Pinner Parish Church (St John the Baptist).
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: Via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 10 Oct 2006
Time: 03:08:25
Dave The song was not connected to the Dramathon, and as far as I can remember was not performed in it. I seem to remember singing (or rather learning) it in an early music lesson (which would date it to late 1980), but don't recall singing it after that. Did you want a copy of the Dramathon programme?
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at hotmail.com
Years_at_school: '80 - '83
Date: 09 Oct 2006
Time: 14:26:13
Alex, Sorry, but I don't remember there being a revised version of the school song. Was there a connection to the Dramathon? If so,do you have a copy of the Dramathon booklet that was issued at the time? I can't remember if the song featured in the event - but the words might have been printed in there.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: Via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 09 Oct 2006
Time: 02:38:22
Min, you must have typed your reply as I was typing mine, it wasn't there when I started to reply!! I hasten to reply that it was all I could remember of the revised song. If anyone from the early Gayton High era can remember the rest I'd appreciate hearing. As mentioned, the first line of the chorus went 'Tis Worth not Birth, this is the song we sing...'. I learnt it in one music lesson with Miss Slater and as far as I recall never sang it again! I don't remember the verse either, so if someone else can...
Name: Jeffrey Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard.com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 08 Oct 2006
Time: 21:06:33
Alan Kershaw is arranging a dinner in honour of Mr. Bernard Marchant, who was 80 years old earlier this year. This will take place in January 2007 in Cambridge. Please click here for details.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: Via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 08 Oct 2006
Time: 11:24:14
Hi Dave Now you mention it, that story rings a bell with me, but I think it was just a mix up, as one who certainly did was Andy Kelso, former Drama master. He is listed in 'Crockfords Clerical Directory', but unfortunately wants nothing to do with the school. I had heard this, and after finding him wrote a letter. I got no reply of any sort. You may recall (especially if involved at the time) that during the 1983 'Dramathon' he had a breakdown or collapse of some sort. The show saw him make (I think) eight costume changes as well as directing the thing. I remember (as stage crew) the story spread that after the previous night, he had collapsed and gone to hospital, but by about 3pm he was back, and carried on as if nothing had happened! Amongst the characters he played was Elvis Dulux', with Di Watson, Audrey McNamara and someone else as his 'Decorettes'! The reason I wrote to him was to try and find the revised words to the school song. I don't know if you remember Dave, but the chorus was not the usual, 'Tis Worth not Birth, be this our battle cry...', but 'Tis Worth not Birth, this is the song we sing...'to a more upbeat tune. That is all I can remember.
Name: Peter "Min" Vincent
Email: pvatvinntec.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 08 Oct 2006
Time: 11:21:02
David - are you sure you aren't confusing him with Andy Kelso who certainly did leave to join the church? See www.christchurchmatchborough.org.uk for current position. Alex help me out here, as this is your generation! Min
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at hotmail.com
Years_at_school: '80 - '83
Date: 08 Oct 2006
Time: 07:15:46
Alex, maybe my memory is playing tricks with me - but I thought that Garth Ratcliffe left Gayton to join the Church?
Name: Stephen Fogden
Email: foggyindoorsatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 08 Oct 2006
Time: 02:08:22
Thanks Alex. Peter Cowburn was my English lit. teacher in 1979.It was just an amazing sight to see three names like that on one school website. Thanks again for your help.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: Via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 06 Oct 2006
Time: 10:28:47
To Stephen Fogden Yes I am pretty certain that it is Garth Ratcliffe. P Cowburn is unknown to me so can't say. As for L Freeman, I am certain this isn't Lesley Freeman, she of large chest we all knew in the science lessons in the 80s. After leaving Gayton High she married Roger Annan (known in 4th Harrow circles I think) and I believe left teaching. Although still in the Harrow area.
Name: John Wells
Email: johnatteddyfoot.freeserve.co.uk
Years_at_school: Visitor to site
Date: 06 Oct 2006
Time: 00:28:54
Hi I am the son in law of Reg Gigney who was at the school in the early 30's. Think I have found a couple of pics of him on site which I hope to confirm at his 90th birthday next week. Also saw the note in the rugby programme but thats all I can find, think he was in the Scouts as well Can anyone add any further info or especially pictures Thank you
John Wells
Name: Stephen Fogden
Email: foggyindoorsatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1976-1980
Date: 05 Oct 2006
Time: 13:04:39
Hello. I was on the web the other day , noticed on R.G.S High Wycombe's site that a certain P. Cowburn, G. Ratcliffe and L. Freeman are all staff member's there! Can these be the same wonderful lunatic's that taught myself all those years ago? I feel they must be , does anyone have more info?
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: the usual
Years_at_school: 1947-53
Date: 05 Oct 2006
Time: 10:12:51
Oh, dear. A week away and I return to find the website has been buzzing. First of all, my warmest good wishes to Jeff on his new business venture. Second, Peter Fowler (26th September) asks what I (or someone with a name something like mine) discern as prickliness in him. Well, I had to scroll back to my piece of 2nd September to find the reference and then further back to read what he had said. All right, Peter, I withdraw "prickly"; would reference to "a touch of asperity" do? Thirdly, my contribution was intended to bring some temperance to a worthwhile but heated debate. It worked for a time, but I feel the temperature is rising again. Fourthly, applause for Paul Romney's thoughtful reflection on education, HCS, comprehensives et al. I have said much the same on a number of occasions in the past, in parts if not in the whole. There are many threads one might follow, but I shall limit myself to two. The first is to reflect that much of the ghastly stigma of "failing" the 11+ was generated by parents and, in particular, teachers at primary level. The system was really designed not only to optimise the national pool of intellect but also to meet the needs of different aptitudes. The "also" was all too readily forgotten and one sees today just the same mess in education where schools and teachers scramble to meet targets under the influence of misjudged political ideology and theoretical educationalists. (Thank God, by the way, there have been moves recently to ditch academic assessment on the basis of course work, a long-standing and mounting inducement to stressed teachers, parents and children to cheat.) Which leads me to the second thread: a contemporary of mine at HCS from the lesser end of South Harrow got a State Scholarship to Oxford, a good First and after some years co-founded a company which was at one time in the top 50 of the FTSE 100. He is still a good friend. I have other friends who "failed" the 11+ and who were good enough or fortunate enough to discover non-academic talents and become extremely successful. One, not an OG, from a "sink estate", was sentenced to 2 years for armed robbery at the age of 18. When he came out he got a job as a tradesman, started his own business and worked extremely hard and with great discipline (he didn't take a holiday for 17 years). He does have a brilliant mind (which the education system failed to discover, probably because of his social background) and 40 years on he is probably the wealthiest man I know. The point? With Paul, I have found - to paraphrase - that provenance and education are no guide to a man's outcome in the long run. The good can always rise to the top, and if the proportion who went to HCS is higher' perhaps that is because the selection system was not as reprehensible as 1960's idealogues and egalitarians might have chosen to believe.
Name: Barry Jolly
Email: bmsj at velnet dot co dot uk
Years_at_school: 1957-64
Date: 05 Oct 2006
Time: 10:06:19
Most interesting to read some of the debate about Dr ARS wishing he had been a professor rather than at "a rotten school like this". "Fats" Waller said much the same to our Greek class when he explained that he was not able to study Greek until the sixth form at his school, but, had he started earlier, he would have been a university lecturer rather than "teaching in this place". To be honest, I don't see either comment as being al that negative about the school they both served well (and I hold no brief for either - far from it), but rather an expression of frustrated academic ambition. By the way, greetings to Pete Fowler and Piers Spencer with whom I travelled to school on occasions in their last couple of years.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: paulromney03 at aim.com
Years_at_school: 1956-63
Date: 04 Oct 2006
Time: 08:04:18
Chris Rickwood's question is more difficult than it looks at first glance. HCS in the ARS era is inseparable from its historical context and could not exist today. It might be fairer to ask: Would you as a parent have preferred HCS to whatever else was available at the time? But how can those of us who knew only HCS answer that question? My son finished high school last year in Baltimore County, a suburban jurisdiction with a large middle-class population and several desirable school districts, one of which we live in. His school resembles HCS in being a municipal school as opposed to a private, fee-paying one; it differs in being comprehensive, not selective. He received an education which got him into, and has enabled him to thrive at, a university which is not only highly selective but also (a very different thing) stringent in its demands on its students. Although more inclined to science than to the humanities, he was in the top stream in all subjects and received a decent "liberal" education. He learned Calculus but also read Beowulf, Hamlet and Portrait of an Artist. The school also had excellent music and arts programmes. Given his brains, energy and self-confidence, he would probably have been a top dog at HCS and got into Oxbridge, had that been his wish. I'm inclined to think that his experience at Towson High School was better than mine at HCS, and that mine might have been better at Towson High too. But did he have a better experience at Towson High than he would have had at HCS? It's probably impossible to say. However, measuring his experience against mine, I would say that his had the edge in the following respects: (1) He was only turned off one subject by poor teaching; (2) he encountered neither thuggishness nor ARS-fascism; (3) there were girls. All in all, I doubt that he would have emerged from HCS better equipped in education and personality to handle the next phase of life, and I think I might have emerged from his school better equipped. Another point of comparison is provided by my primary-school classmates. I remember having dinned into me the importance of passing the Eleven-Plus and the abject fate of failure and indigence that awaited those who did not. But among the 25 to 30 of which I have current knowledge, I can't see much difference in outcomes. The richest one failed the 11-plus, became an electrical engineer, patented some profitable inventions, ended up co-owning factories in the UK, US and China, and sold out to the Yanks in his mid-50s. Another wealthy failure runs two highly profitable Jaguar dealerships. A third ended up as the personal assistant to the CEO of a major company. Others achieved different forms of professional or middle-class success. The minority who passed the 11-plus did not fare notably better than those who failed. I myself don't envy the careers of any of the "failures", but I doubt if they envy mine either. I've seen it said that, while public education in Britain may no longer reach the heights exemplified by HCS, the great majority of children are significantly better educated than 40 to 50 years ago. If HCS could exist today, I might still prefer to send a child to a successful mixed-sex comprehensive school.
Name: Mark Jackson
Email: mychipmunkatearthlink.net
Years_at_school: 1969-76
Date: 03 Oct 2006
Time: 20:46:23
In my humble opinion, I consider the biggest benefit of attending HCS resulted from being in the company of intelligent peers during one's formative years; I am not sure that I benefited greatly from the academic side of things, despite the best efforts of the teachers. And I am surprised to read how many pupils found the school to be a shockingly violent environment. Possibly it's a reflection on my home life at that time, but I never thought of the school in that way. The only shocking experience I can recall from my school days occurred when I once helped Mr. Neal prepare an Enquiry (Inquiry?) magazine display for a school science exhibition in London. Having the distinct air of a conservative academician about him, he greatly surprised me by suggesting that my future lay in the field of advertising. Subsequently I worked in ad agencies in London and New York for over 20 years. When it comes to guiding kids, I think teachers can often surprise us all with their (covert) insight.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ianashgroveatdsl.pipex.com
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 03 Oct 2006
Time: 07:31:40
Saddened to see the note of John Lever's death. I can empathise with Jeffrey Maynard, in his office looking down the river at all the boats, although I suspect the Lymington River is a tadge more photogenic. (Indeed I did get a photo taken from the Club on South Today's "weather picture" a few months back. I am feeling quite ancient at the prospect of my youngest son's 18th birthday tomorrow, having been made a grandfather by his older brother earlier this year. I look forward to meeting old friends at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the School Kind regards to all Ian Gawn
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at Hotmail.com
Years_at_school: '80-'83
Date: 03 Oct 2006
Time: 02:21:29
I was in the same year as Alex, and whilst I would personally never send any children of mine to a single sex school now I can't really agree with Howard totally about the quality of the education we received at GHS.( Although I accept his general point ) Maybe you were unfortunate in the teachers you had - but I have to say I had a couple of outstanding ones. Terry Andrews... a dynamo of a Maths teacher - inspirational & interesting - that fact that he supported Watford & used to get attacked regulaly by Garth Ratcliffe - was all part of the charm! Ken Waller - a real 'old school' master from the HCS days (complete with master's gown)- but one who patiently tried to inculcate the same love of languages that he obviously had to the boys in his classes. There were some areas that did need improvement - the biggest disappointment I had was in Geography. Having consistenly been a good performer in the class, to get to the exam & find that it appeared to bear little or no resemblance to anything we had been taught was particulaly galling! One area that I have never seen mention of on the guestbook or in the archives Alex is the Library? I seem to remember being part of a group having a lunchtime job in it - including the raising of fines for the late return of books.....I think the value of the fines were arbitrary & depended on who was manning the desk that day. I can't for the life of me remember what happened to the money that was raised.....(conveniently)
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnie(at)shaw.ca
Years_at_school: 46-51
Date: 02 Oct 2006
Time: 17:00:16
Jeff: For the first time I've found out that you have a "life" other than this site. Do you ever sleep? Best wishes for success with the new company.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 02 Oct 2006
Time: 09:08:08
Howard Lamb, bloody cheek! CCF was good in our day but as for the bad influence, I know you are getting me mixed up with Ian Dix. Your year and not so suave as me....
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 02 Oct 2006
Time: 09:07:49
Howard Lamb, bloody cheek! CCF was good in our day but as for the bad influence, I know you are getting me mixed up with Ian Dix. Your year and not to suave as me....
Name: Howard Lamb
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 02 Oct 2006
Time: 06:38:21
In response to Chris Rickwood's very good question, I would personally not send my children there having read the message boards over the last year or so. I attended Gayton High School, not HCGS, and in reflection, my parents admitted it was a mistake, as my 2 older brother's went there, one of which when it was Harrow County. From Harrow County my brother got a good education, but I must say, when I was at Gayton High School (and Alex Bateman was a terrible influence as a fellow pupil) The qualifications I and my other, old brother got, were poor. Although I am sure that we were partly to blame for that. However, we had a great time. The worst thing.........getting the cane from Mr Mahon. The best thing..............CCF, and being on exercise with them in Wiltshire.
Name: Howard Lamb
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 02 Oct 2006
Time: 04:12:03
Alex It would be great to hear from you and I have written to Jeff as requested Howard Lamb
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard.com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 01 Oct 2006
Time: 10:04:44
Just a brief note to apologise that I am way behind answering my e-mail and updating the website. After many years of commuting an hour to work every day I started a new company in July - Big Ben Technologies, Inc. - and rented offices just eight minutes from my house, on the waterfront in Freeport, New York. Looking out of my office window and seeing the boats seems to be a great improvement to my quality of life. I have been putting in long hours to get this going and I have also been out consulting for two clients at the same time. I will catch up, and those who have e-mailed contributions and photo identifications will find them on the website soon! Please be patient. And a Good and Healthy New Year to my Jewish friends. Jeff Maynard
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 01 Oct 2006
Time: 07:29:53
I think the interesting question that arises out of the current debate is "If Harrow County as we knew it in its heyday, still existed, assuming the same academic standards, a version of ARS with the attitudes and discipline and the same good, bad & ugly mixture of masters. Would you send a son of yours to that school?"
Name: Deepak Patel
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 01 Oct 2006
Time: 02:36:33
Maybe he's a governor at Harrow or Eton. They almost come up to the standard he remembers at HCS.
Name: John Walby
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1976 - 80
Date: 30 Sep 2006
Time: 11:46:53
Lando being a Governor? I doubt it considering he can't even get off his backside to put pen to paper or finger to phone. Besides he'd probably bring the place down again as there are not enough middle to upper class types such as he remembers. Laurence, why have people contacted you in support but not put their name on the site? C'mon, tell us all who they are! Can't be that many.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 30 Sep 2006
Time: 11:03:07
These days George Thorn's "patting of bums" and "cuddling" of small boys would have got him sacked (at best!) However, in fairness, I think it was just an idiosyncrasy rather than anything more sinister.
Name: Steve Grimes
Email:
Years_at_school: 58-64
Date: 29 Sep 2006
Time: 14:51:20
I attended George Thorn's music lessons in the "music room" in the "A" corridor. My aged brain has long forgotten the room number. George took my form for music lessons in my early years, before Arthur Hailey arrived. Is my memory playing tricks, but can anyone else recall George finishing each music lesson by going round the music room inspecting everyone's shoes? I seem to remember that if George thought you had not cleaned your shoes properly that day you got the slipper. Why he needed to do a shoe inspection in a music lesson I will never know, but it was a long time ago and it might all be in my imagination!
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 - 64
Date: 29 Sep 2006
Time: 13:48:04
Hello Tim, is it really you? Welcome to the site, not so dim as you were at school after all! About being a Governor? One school already has the benefit, I hope, of my input and as such I would not be able to accept the extra work involved. It was rather pleasant to receive messages of support from a small number of OGs, not as many as Alex I'm sure:-) One spin-off has been an increase in contributions, and that can't be so bad as the Laurence v Alex soap opera!
Name: Tim Hutton
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 55 - 61
Date: 29 Sep 2006
Time: 13:36:26
Having just waded through the recent Lando - Bateman exchanges (sadly much heat and little light) may I suggest that if Laurence Lando really does care about Harrow High, he should volunteer to be a Governor? His thirst for data would be satisfied, he would be in a position to submit his ideas to the acid test of modern school life, and the site could get back to contemplation of the past. For example, I am intrigued that while there seems to be plenty of 'Square' bashing, no-one seems to have mentioned being 'Thorned'? Not being eligible for the Godly bit of Assembly, I was spared what in my time I understood to have almost been a rite of passage in First Form music. Did I get that wrong, or has the Censor been at work?
Name: Piers Spencer
Email: spencerpiers at blueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1956-1963
Date: 29 Sep 2006
Time: 08:23:39
Are my eyes and ears deceiving me, but does any other OG of my vintage feel as I do, the resemblance between the current Home Secretary, Dr John Reid and our former beloved headmaster, Dr A.R.Simpson? Listening to Reid's rhetorical baloney at the Labour Party conference the other day reminded me strongly of Simpson's assemblies in the late 1950s.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 28 Sep 2006
Time: 20:17:57
The real rarity was the RTC (I think there was only one ever built) but it went past several times.
Name: David Jackson
Email: David at Jack-son.co.uk
Years_at_school: 59-64
Date: 28 Sep 2006
Time: 01:48:31
Those of a certain age might like to know about Amersham Bus Running Day, this Sunday 1st October, based in the New Town, by the multi storey car-park next to the station. It offers the chance to take rides around the Chiltern countryside on a whole host of old buses. For free, although there is a charge for the timetable. Previous years have offered rides on types GS, RLH, T, as well as the more common RT, RF, RM etc. Great fun. This also takes me back to a time at HSCB in the late fifties, early sixties when a large proportion of the lower forms were obsessed by buses and trains, and the little ABC guides full of fleet numbers. Not much chance of train spotting out of the Sheepcote Road windows during lessons, but excellent opportunities for bus observation. And if something really rare, like an RFW or a CDS Treelopper, went past, the cry would go up, and, depending on the master in charge, there would be a rush to the windows to "spot" it. Pleasant memories.
Name: Dave Buckley
Email:
Years_at_school: 53-61
Date: 27 Sep 2006
Time: 05:49:45
As has already been mentioned, the Archive is held in what was (in my day) the Prefect's Common Room, the room above the old entrance and accessed by a spiral staircase from near the clock. With regard to memories - one evening Rod Clarke and I spent about an hour on the staircase trying to record the sound of a body falling down it(!), for some play or other. Also, can anyone throw any light on what happened to the large collection of underground maps that were around the walls? I'm not talking about the very large maps, but the type that fitted into panels above the seats of (particularly) the old slam-door brown carriages. I shot a video of the 90th birthday celebrations and included a sequence shot in the room, followed by a clip showing the room in about 1960-1 from a film shot by the late Hugh Skillen - the maps had definately gone by then.
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at Hotmail.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 27 Sep 2006
Time: 00:14:42
Alex, My only memory of the archives room was when I ventured up there to sell Dave Bridges some golf balls. These had been collected from the rough at a local Golf course, and having discovered during a latin lesson that Dave B. played golf I offered to supply him with second hand golf balls. I can't remember how the subject of golf came up in a latin lesson - nevertheless we both did well out of the arrangement!
Name: Steve Grimes
Email:
Years_at_school: 1958 to 1964
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 15:53:40
I would be interested to hear if anyone has any news of Ken (KG) Cocks. I have not seen a great deal about him on the web site. Ken had the extreme misfortune to be my form master and maths tutor for a large part of my school career. My most lasting memory of Ken was the way he started his maths periods (usually in the "A" corridor) by insisting that we open up all the windows in the room no matter how cold it was outside. At that time the windows were of the large large sash variety and there was absolutely no escaping the icy blast from outside. I vividly recall being absoutely frozen during Ken's maths periods in the winter months. Any news would be appreciated.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: p_fowler at ntlworld.com
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 14:44:40
Two quick questions (haven't looked for a while): - Could Daniel Brown please identify himself? I think he's an intruder and am sure he was never at the school. - Colin Dickens: please point out where I have been 'prickly' in the points I have made to Laurence? I thought I had been terribly civil. On an unrelated but far more important matter: I am gutted about the John Lever news. He was so damned decent; and I treasure the emails I had from him, even though we never knew each other at school.
Name: Deepak (not Deepack Mr Lando) Patel
Email:
Years_at_school: 1977 - 82
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 13:45:57
Paul Thinking of Ian Wright's new fitness initative, I believe Alex was asked how many calories each child burned each day in PE, divided by the sport lessons per week. But the answer he gave was not accepted.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 13:36:35
Hi Dave As Jeff mentioned and you correctly wrote, the archives are now in what was Dave Bridges office in our day. It later became reprographics and then was left empty. But not before Chris Smallman used it as a bolthole where he could 'rest' in between lessons. Laurence, I only write in capitals because my keyboard does not have keys for sign language. However, rest assured I am writing out 100 times 'I will not waste any more time in class'.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard.com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 09:11:18
The Gaytonian Archives, which are viewed by appointment with Alex, are located in the room up the spiral staircase over the Clock. This was originally the kitchen (!) and later became the Prefects Common Room.
See this page: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/graffiti.htm for photographs of the graffiti on the flat roof.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1958 -64
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 08:25:04
Deepack seems to think I am blind, maybe he is deaf to the questions asked? However it is indeed good to see new input and I will enjoy the less offensive remarks that Deepack et al may make in the future. BTW, well done for Alex sending a concise message without the need to shout, ie use capitals! The spiral stairs to the Prefects Room were the interesting ascent to the 'holy of holys'. A previous message reminds me of the call to a 'fight'. I was involved in one or two of these (surprise, surprise), in the junior years when challenged about being 'four-eyed yid', needless to say the offensive remark was met with gusto rather than bravado. The result was that the remarks quickly stopped.
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at Hotmail.com
Years_at_school: '80-'83
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 07:59:23
...of course I meant the '...long room...' - enthusiastic typing getting the better of me !
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at Hotmail.com
Years_at_school: '80-'83
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 07:57:52
Alex, For those of use who havn't been back to the school for a while - can you remind us which room is now the archive room? It might help us to come up with anecdotes if we've a clearer idea of location of the room in question. i.e is it the long floor room in the eaves over the top of the clock?
Name: Stuart Taffs
Email: Stuart atworkstill
Years_at_school:
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 05:54:53
Congratulations in order for Old Gaytonian Mark Ramprakash, who has just been voted PCA Player of the Year, amassing 2,278 first class runs at an average of 103.54. All that, and if the rumour mill in local cricket is correct, is about to follow in the footsteps of Darren Gough and will be appearing in this years Celebrity Strictly Come Dancing ! Hopefully with a golden earring to celebrate a golden era....
Name: Paul Phillips
Email: paulatbrianpaul.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-76
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 05:07:08
Hear hear Deepak. Watching some footage of Jamie Oliver on school dinners I am somewhat surprised that Alex hasnt been asked to comment on the nutritional values of school dinners today compared to the golden days of non computerised Spam and lumpy potatoes
Name: Deepak Patel
Email:
Years_at_school: 1977 - 82
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 04:47:01
Good grief, what is 'Dr' Lando on? Its a shame that he is so blind to advice and help. Give up Alex, the good doctor is obviously one of those who is never pleased, and one gets the impression that it is all just to goad you. I know the work you have done the last few years, on reunions, the magazine, school liasion, organising the OG dinner, displays, committee work, the OG shop, the archives, Remembrance Day, and giving up your free time to give people like myself a fond tour of the school. All I can say (and I know I speak for many many others) is a big 'thank you'.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 04:39:44
Apologising to level headed Gayts for lowering the tone recently, I wonder if I can change it by asking for some memories of what is now the archive room. Over the years it has been the kitchen, form rooms, Prefects common room of course, Masters rooms and offices. I have been trying to compile a written archive of memories of the school and that would be a good start. I was told in the last few days that there have been many hilarious episodes up there (which I can imagine looking at the graffiti outside the window!). Come on, let me have them!
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 26 Sep 2006
Time: 04:29:41
Thanks to the many OGs who have emailed or phoned recently, and yes I agree! To Laurence Lando. I'm sorry you think I have attempted to block your questioning, I have mearly tried to send you to the person who has the answers. Sorry that was too much for you. I am more than pleased to answer any question you have about HCS if I am able to in my capacity as Archivist. However, looking through the last few months of guestbook, I can't find any. You ask 'What were the golden years of HCS?'. Almost any year of HCS was a golden one depending on your view, with new initiatives, results, staff, sports, etc. Its a question you can not define unless more specific.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard.com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 24 Sep 2006
Time: 19:56:44
Just for the record, the policy of this website, which was formulated after discussion with the late Jim Golland, a few years ago, is that there is no censorship of contributions except for: (a) writing unsubstantiated abuse about former members of staff (as opposed to writing about their "foibles", to use Jim's word) (b) anonymous or obscene comments (we had some instances which were traced to current pupils of the school!)
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard.com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 24 Sep 2006
Time: 19:33:47
I received this sad announcement from John Deakin:
Professor M John Lever was at the school from 1954 to 1962 – a contemporary of Bob Garrett, Peter Mansfield (and me). He died last Sunday. He was still working as Professor of Physiological Mechanics and Head of the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College, London. Sadly, he developed cancer earlier this year. His funeral is this week which I and Peter Mansfield will attend.
John came to the 1954 50 year reunion in 2004 and in fact we have been in touch quite a lot over the past few years – since we got together again after 40+ years through Friends Reunited.
John Deakin
Name: Steve Grimes
Email:
Years_at_school: 1958 to 1964
Date: 23 Sep 2006
Time: 14:20:47
To Paul Romney. You are absolutely right. No censorship and "a dignified silence is the best response".
Name: Paul Romney
Email: paulromney0 3atnetscape.net
Years_at_school: 1956-63
Date: 23 Sep 2006
Time: 13:58:17
Gosh! In the old days we'd have been forming a ring and chanting "Fight!" Alex is certainly living up to his name, by the sound of it: he seems to be in an awful bate. Don't let yourself be baited, Alex: a dignified silence is the best response. As to censorship, I would have no great objection if comments seemingly designed to do that were stopped at the pass, but it might be even better if they were just allowed to dangle there by one tattered corner till they go brown, curl up and drop off.
Name: Steve Grimes
Email:
Years_at_school: 1958-1964
Date: 23 Sep 2006
Time: 11:47:46
Well said Andrew Carruthers. You are absolutely spot on. To quote John Lennon "Give peace a chance" guys. You are at risk of killing off the message board.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 - 64
Date: 23 Sep 2006
Time: 10:33:25
Alex, sorry to learn that you have so much spare time to place a lengthy piece of nonsense. Bleating and banging your head will not reflect well on your attempt to block my questions. Which I consider pertinent to present day education. Perhaps you might like to address the points I have made about HCS and not the present school, but be a good chap and do try to be concise.
Name: Andrew Carruthers
Email:
Years_at_school: 1961-8
Date: 23 Sep 2006
Time: 09:12:14
Golly, have not visited this site for a while and what do I find but pistols at dawn? Sounds to me like some of the words of a well known song available on this web site are being taken a little too seriously. Chill out guys, life's too short for most of us now and the contention is becoming undignified. Colin makes a good point about rows and arguments. More to the point, you seem to be discouraging others from contributing!
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 23 Sep 2006
Time: 04:28:55
Laurence
Can you explain the entry you made in the guestbook regarding the censoring of
entries? Or are you reading something that the rest of us are not?
Or is it just you that can not grasp the messages that I have put in time and
time and time again regarding contacting Harrow High School direct?
Let me make it plain for you. You have asked questions which I attempted
to answer, but you ask more. I suggested that you take time to contact the
school yourself, and you called me 'unhelpful'. I have said this time and
time and time again. Laurence, for the type of questions you are asking
THE SCHOOL (the Head, Chair of Governors or Manager) or LOCAL EDUCATION
AUTHORITY are the only people who have the information to hand. Also, for
many reasons, INCLUDING LEGALLY, they are the only people to ask. I am not
a spokesman for Harrow High School.
And what is this 'it will be my task...' nonsense you are spouting? Have
you personally been asked by someone, 'Laurence, please find out this or that
for us'? If you personally want to know these things, ASK THE SCHOOL!
If you are on some sort of crusade to pull Harrow High School to bits because it
is not a school you remember or even attended, then find somewhere else to do
it. Other OGs have asked you to stop through this site, but you have not.
Are you actually aware that THE SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED ALMOST HALF A CENTURY AGO
CEASED TO BE IN 1975? If you wish to make it your task to ask questions so
be it, but if you want '...authoritative responses...' as you put it why are you
asking here? GO TO THE SCHOOL!!!!!!!! I mean, if you want to know about a
local government policy, do you ask the minister or the mail boy?
Harrow High School is a new school. It has no connection, day to day, with
Harrow County or Gayton High outside the bricks and motar that house it.
The staff work extremely hard, and I mean EXTREMELY hard to raise standards of
the school and pupils, and are doing so. But this goes hand in hand with
many difficulties that the pupils have, and that are impressed upon the school
from outside, something that is not unique to HHS.
Laurence, you have returned to see your old school buildings (not your old
school) once in 40 odd years, and as far as I recall have no connection with
modern day education. I don't see why you take such a deep interest in
Harrow High, when it is not your old school, and whatever answer you are given
you never seem to be satisfied. You say your objective is to '...see the
current school improve...', but I have not seen any congratulations from you to
the staff in this guestbook over two years of above average result that Harrow
High have obtained. Have you written to the school to applaud their
efforts? No, I thought not. If in your mind the school is still
failing have you offered support, or advice? No, I thought not. Have
you taken time out to write to or telephone or visit the school to see the day
to day workings of Harrow High? No, I thought not. Have you even
taken time to contact me outside this guestbook? We all know the answer to
that.
There are a number of Old Gaytonians who have offered support, advice and
experience to the current school, including the Old Gaytonians Association.
There are others who have asked to come in and see Harrow High at work.
Others still have seen the school at various functions and taken time to visit
with or write to those staff concerned to thank or appreciate them. The
OGA also has provided new trophies, finance for instruments, finance for a
yearbook, and other incentives. But none of them write how HHS will never
be HCS, or pull the current school to bits, even though we ALL bemoan the loss
of our particular school or era.
If you are even half as interested in HHS as you keep spouting you are, why not
get off your backside and do something about it? I am not suggesting
censorship of anything on this site, but you taking your own time to seek out
what you want. I am not the only person here who feels that with you
alone, I am banging my head against a very deaf brick wall.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 - 64
Date: 23 Sep 2006
Time: 01:01:48
Jeff - Thanks for your input and guidance. Be assured that my position will show due cognisance to your suggestions, I am sure others will also agree. I have asked about the 'Golden Years' of HCS. Now I start another thred. This is ' What were your best and worst times at HCS?'. My contribution should include, making it into the fabled sixth-form (best), and (worst)getting beaten by Clarckson! The collection of lunch money was also quite a sore point, as two of us had 'vouchers' and as they were collected in public was demeaning, but one learnt how to cope, and as such was a learning experience in itself.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jefreymaynard.com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 22 Sep 2006
Time: 13:45:00
We have a great and lively education debate going on here, thanks to Laurence Lando, Alex Bateman and others. However, lets be clear about what can be discussed here and what cannot. This is not the official site of the school currently called Harrow High School. (We can debate whether or not we have a clear succession - Harrow County turned into Gayton High which turned into Harrow High). If anyone wants official information about Harrow High, they must ask Harrow High School. If anyone wants to discuss published information about Harrow High or any other school, that is legitimate. Many of us see the current Harrow High as the continuation of the previous entities, but recognise that it has different educational philosophies for a different and modern student population. Harrow County benefited from taking the best pupils from a large catchment area. Harrow High has a potential student base that includes a large population who have English as their second language. There is an obvious hope that the new Sixth Form, however it is organized, will provide the current student body with role models and leadership. However, it is a different student body than Harrow County or the early years of Gayton High. Debate is welcome and interesting points are being raised. Try not to make it too personal.
My thought is that if Harrow County had just been left alone and not had its name changed, would it have naturally progressed into Harrow High today? The change in population and the needs of the current children of Harrow make me think that the school would have changed anyway. Along the way there would have been pressures that would have changed the admissions policy, and the switch to a mixed school in 1998 might have happened even if it was still Harrow County.
Name: Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 22 Sep 2006
Time: 13:00:29
PS. Following on from your information. What is the truancy rate at the present school? Or do you want me to get that from the school's website too?
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 22 Sep 2006
Time: 12:57:45
Alex appears to want to censor contributions to this site. It should not be necessary for me to reply to this absurd request, but I will. It will be my task to ask the questions and hope to get authoratative responses. Alex can be assured of my continued interest.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 22 Sep 2006
Time: 10:48:30
Laurence, this site and guestbook were not set up to monitor the performance of the current Harrow High School, while I think the prolonged comparison of the current HHS and your beloved HCS in the tone you take has run its course. May I suggest (hopefully for the last time), that you 1) contact Harrow High School after the 2007 exams to quiz the school on its continuing performance, and 2) perhaps set up your own website as a discussion on the education system in the UK in the year 2006? This site was meant as a fond 'scrapbook' of things relating to Harrow County School, Gayton High School, and as time progresses, Harrow High School. Discussion of the merits of each, and the difference between them is one thing, but in depth analysis and deep probing questions are getting very tiresome. For the current school only, there is an official website thus- www.harrow-high.harrow.sch.uk Moving on, figures released by the government today show an average of 55,000 pupils are skipping lessons each day in the UK. This is apparently enough to fill 820 primary schools and 250 high schools.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 _
Date: 22 Sep 2006
Time: 08:09:47
Rather than stop the questioning, I would think a positive input would be if MORE individuals were to participate in this forum. With a bit of luck we might even find past pupils who also share our joint hope that the aspiration of the present and future pupils will benefit from their time at the current school, maybe even getting into a Public School. Most of which can't hold a candle to HCS!
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 22 Sep 2006
Time: 06:33:56
Sorry, that last posting was from me. Incidentally, HOWARD LAMB, Where are you?! Tried to drop you an email you old fart but it bounced back. Drop me a line via Jeff, I have been trying to find you for ages! Alex
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 22 Sep 2006
Time: 06:31:57
I'd agree with Paul, and am happy to stop the annual questioning, something I asked for a couple of weeks back. Its the same every year, and I feel personally its not questioning from an interest point of view, but one in trying to highlight the low points. From the point of view of Laurence's questions, as I have said, it would be a lot easier if he were to go to source and, if he wished share the info with the guestbook. On the question of my last posting, It is not a team to deal with this sort of behaviour but an admin team that spends too much time on issues such as truancy and lateness. The days of students being afraid of a letter home or a detention are long gone. Kids know that staff can do little so take advantage. I wont go into specific cases but having supportive parents is a help. In one case, after a child was given a Friday detention for three episodes of lateness a parent rang to say basically it must have been the traffic and that as such her son was not to blame as he was a good boy, therefore she would not allow him to sit the detention. Imagine trying to ring a parent to say that a child has not attended a lesson, and finding maybe three of four numbers incorrect, the time it wastes. As always, its a small minority who make a lot of work. It is not a reflection on the school which is gaining in every positive way. Last year we had one boy on a shortlist to an Eton scholarship, which unfortunately he did not get.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957-
Date: 21 Sep 2006
Time: 23:58:20
Paul, why stop a dialogue that seems, at last, to get information? The latest info from Alex certainly does raise new issues about the problems arising in schools. As for your own children, it is hoped that you do ask questions before they attend the 'wrong' school. In our area, Tiffins School is the only match for our own HCS. The choice in the Independent Sector is vast, as is the cost! Rather than stop the dialogue, wouldn't it be better if more individuals would join the process of memory & knowledge gathering.
Name: Paul Phillips
Email: paul at brianpaul.co.uk
Years_at_school:
Date: 21 Sep 2006
Time: 21:46:36
Name: Martin Cutter
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: '52 to '59
Date: 21 Sep 2006
Time: 18:29:14
On this question of standards: I recently watched via broadband a very interesting BBC Working Lunch interview with Sir Digby Jones (retiring Director General of the CBI). He was asked what, if any, were his disappointments during the six years he had held office. He replied that his biggest disapointment was that the two following statistics had not changed since year 2000. 1. 20% of the UK population was functionally illiterate 2. 50% of school leavers failed to achieve GCSE Grade C Were things as bad as that in the fifties?
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 21 Sep 2006
Time: 11:28:14
Cricket Photos 1959 Fascinating that 'Jo' Wade is shown in 1st, 2nd and 3rd 11s
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 21 Sep 2006
Time: 04:21:10
Laurence To answer your question, the 6th Form at Harrow High has about 45 pupils this year, and I would imagine that is about the same for the other 6th Form's in the area. I'll confirm what subjects are taught on site later. As to the other gent (who left an anonymous message), to give one example, we have an office of seven who spent about 80% of the time dealing with exclusions, noting absences from lessons, disruptive behaviour, dealing with truancy and calling parents. A common factor in modern schools of a similar frame.
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 65-72
Date: 20 Sep 2006
Time: 16:14:13
It can be easy to read about the changing nature of a schools intake and not to comprehend what this can mean. I had something of an introduction to this when doing some substitute teaching where I was to give a lesson on society instead of my normal maths.The lesson I was to deliver revolved about the set up of a modern family. It kicked off with the mum, dad and kids model, for which the class was strangely quiet. However, things picked up for one parent and kids and hummed along for grandparent(s) and kids followed by a free for all which included items on the line of my mum's ex-boyfriend's girlfriend etc Another time, when group work was needed, there was difficulty with one boy who was 'challanged', shall we say, and there was a reluctance to include him. Then, with no prompting, another boy went over to him, included him, took time with him and really made his day. I was so impressed that I later sought out 'authority' to register a compliment or whatever the term was. I was duly thanked for my efforts but the boy concerned had since got into a fight, kicked a hole in a wall and had been suspended. Ho hum. What I am trying to say, amid all this ramble, is that I don't know how modern teachers can cope with class control and personality dynamics and still find space to further the pursuit of academic exellence. "Good on you alex and all the others".
(Please do not leave anonymous entries! - Editor)
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 - 64
Date: 20 Sep 2006
Time: 05:09:16
Alex. Didn't need the sermon, but appreciate the current information. That I don't share your passion for the new school is obvious, that I did appreciate the old school is also obvious. That I wonder what the current education system is bringing to the next generation is very pertinent. That vested interests take offence is par for the course in any situation. So the next question is how many in the current sixth-form and what subjects will be taught?
Laurence I can fully understand your interest in how the school compares to those others in the area (despite the fact that it is not your school and is as far removed from your old school as can be).
However, as already mentioned, the type of probing questions you are asking can only be properly answered by the school or local authority, partly from a legal point of view and partly because they alone have the information. 'Vested interests' took offence because your original comments, made purely on the basis of a short reunion and BEFORE the 2005 exam results were published, were bemoaning the loss of a school that you attended almost half a century before and the fact that despite huge efforts by the current staff the current school did not match up in your view. This was coupled with the fact that you took great offence to others not sharing your view, when you rigidly stuck to your own, despite many of those others having far greater contact with the staff and school than you. To many, arrogance and offence to the extreme. A majority of those who have contributed to this site feel the same about the school, even I, but we have all accepted the fact that Harrow, and the school have changed beyond all recognition. But these thoughts have previously been made in a far less offensive and abrasive way, instead with a note of sadness.
The new 6th Form is not concentrated in quite the same way as the HCS days. It is the 'Harrow 6th Form Collegiate', in effect a 6th form spread over several sites, including Harrow High, Nower Hill (Headstone), Hatch End (Blackwell), and the Harrow College (over several campus).
I stumbled upon this website over two years ago, although have never made a contribution until now. I cannot say that my time at HCS was the best of my life, although it had its moments. Laurence Lando asks "when was the golden age of HCS?" My response would be, probably shortly before I arrived as a pupil in short trousers. I don't think there can be any argument, as Jim Golland so succinctly put it, that many of those who left in 1971 were earmarked for greater things. I don't wish to name names, but after that I can't think of too many who have made their mark on society. Frequent visits to this site have been an interesting experience for me. I have been reminded of many things that had disappeared to the back of my nearly 50-year-old mind. Whilst I no longer live in the area, I frequently drive past the school and can see that it is nothing like the place I attended for seven years. The day that I left was the day that the sixth form ceased to exist, so I welcome the re-introduction of that 31 years on. So what are my memories of my time at Harrow County? Morning assemblies, masters in gowns (I was shocked at a staff photo in the 1990's, what a shabby lot they looked. Is that what's called progress?) Good teachers (although no great English student, Jim Golland still shines like a beacon, and was a great Form Master in the Fourth Form). And Dave Burt was good too. I suppose the man I have to thank most is Reggie Goff, like Jim, sadly no longer with us. Reg took so much trouble getting me through Accountancy 'O' and 'A' Level, I wish he knew that I have been an accountant with my own business for the last 18 years. But I suppose I also remember the bad teachers, who shall obviously remain nameless, although they started to appear in the early 1970s. And they were the ones who killed my interest in many subjects that I enjoyed in my early years. One, in particular, told me I had no chance of passing the 'O' level in his subject when I went in for a special tutorial a couple of weeks beforehand. I'm pleased to say I proved him wrong, although he can take no credit for that particular "pass". To Jeff, and Alex, thank you for your sterling contributions on this site. You have made the good memories stand out, while diminishing the bad ones. I always look forward to seeing new contributions and being transported back in time.
When was the 'Golden Age' of HCS?
Seems that I will have to miss the photograph of the new Sixth Form Study area. A vast improvement on the Beauty Salon! I do hope that Alex can now appreciate that my interest in the school, is not only to remember what was, but to ask pertinent but pointed questions about the current educational standards at the school, compared to its peers in the area, and not to be rude to anyone. Vested interests seemed to take offence, and so I received the most arrogant and imprudent responses. Alex refers to the messages of last year, as do I. Let us hope that the new Sixth form will perform as well as the others in the locale.
Harrow Weald Grammar became Harrow Weald Sixth Form College (later called Weald College and now a campus of Harrow College) in 1974. All the Harrow Schools including Harrow Country Girls (which became Lowlands Sixth Form College) were included in the comprehensive reorganisation in 1974. Harrow County and Heriot's Wood survived an extra year because of protests made about their change in status. Read Trevor May's history of the School for the full story. Several people (who no longer live in the area) have emailed me directly this year and last year with questions on the education system in Harrow. A couple I have had to reply at some length. So there is some interest out there on what is going on. If anyone else who wants to ask questions perhaps they would like to do so via the message board for general consumption.
May I ask Daniel Brown, which of Laurence Lando's questions he is referring to? Also, do his comments refer to Laurences recents guestbook entries, of those from a year or so ago, which caused great offence to many old boys and current staff alike? If it is the former, perhaps he should read the latter.
For those interested, the old school balcony has recently been much altered and is now separated from the school hall, forming the 6th form study area. Those who are (still) members of the Old Gaytonians Association, will see photographs and a 6th form progress report in the next edition of the Old Gaytonian Magazine.
(Editors note - to get the Old Gaytonian Magazine you need to join! Click here - Jeff)
Harrow Weald County became Weald 6th Form College, sometime in the mid to late 1970s (possibly the same time Harrow County became Gayton High - 1975). It remains as such now, although is referred to as 'Harrow College, Weald Campus'.
The message on 6th form was interesting.
As I have been out of the country for a long time can anyone enlighten me as to where the old Harrow Weald County fits into all of this?
I mentioned below that I would report on any Harrow Observer articles concerning the new Harrow Sixth Forms and one has appeared today. It states that "more than 400 pupils returned to their secondary schools at the beginning of term to begin studying for their A Levels". The six schools are Whitmore (the former Lascelles), Bentley Wood (Heriot's Wood), Harrow High (HCS, Gayton), Nower Hill (Headstone), Hatch End (Blackwell), Rooks Heath (Roxeth Manor). These are joined to Harrow College (HCS Girls) to form the "Harrow Sixth Form Collegiate" or Central Consortium. Next September Canons (Downer and Camrose) and Park (Chandos) will be linked to Stanmore Sixth Form College to form the Chandos Partnership and a Roman Catholic Consortium will link St. Dominics Sixth Form College to Salvatorian College and Sacred Heart. The only school to comment was Rooks Heath's head "A large number of our students wanted to stay with us to continue their education and this is also the case with the other schools." The chairman of the Harrow High Schools Headteachers commented "We are delighted to be opening sixth forms and the response from students and parents has been fantastic." Other education news in the Harrow area that may be of interest. A new secondary school, Ruislip High, opened in September in Ruislip Gardens. There had been a school nearby, Southbourne, but this had closed in the 1980's due to falling rolls and the site built on.
Only signed entries please!
It's the way the web works. My "Ouch!" was a response to Daniel Brown, not Dennis Orme.
Ouch!
As an aside to this education debate, I remember at the height of the controversy about the introduction of comprehensive schools in Harrow, a book "Risinghill: Death of a Comprehensive School" appeared in the School library. Someone must have decided it was right to purchase it and leave it in the library for our consumption. I mention this because I have discovered a web site for the above book www.risinghill.co.uk which makes interesting reading, especially as I thought that it would be a topic and school long forgotten about.
855.37
Peter Fowler, you have not changed in all these years. You did not like critisism then and cannot stand it now. Laurence is making a valued point, and asking a sensible and reasonable question. We should scream the schools achievements.
Dennis, many thanks for the update on the current school. It is so good to get input without the 'added heat'. I look forward to viewing the school's progress with a reintroduced sixth form. One abiding memory, I am sure I share with many boys of HCGS, is the balcony stuffed full of sixth-form pupils at assembly. It was something of which we all wanted to be involved. I was up there in 1963 when we were told of the Cuban missile crisis. We didn't know if WW3 was about to begin. Perhaps being told that a 'beauty therapy area' was to be placed there was just one shock too far!
New Harrow High Sixth Form: Alex mentioned this in passing below but it is worth dwelling on as it is part of the most significant change in Harrow's education system since comprehensive education was introduced in 1974. Most of the Harrow High Schools have gained or regained sixth forms. The sixth form college system, which latterly has been part of the tertiary college setup, has not proved to be popular with something like 25 per cent of Harrow students going outside the borough for their A level education. The coming months will prove interesting as we see what the uptake for places in the sixth form is like and how it will affect numbers at the sixth form "centres". From an Old Gayts point of view, it is likely that pupils who have spent longer at the school will feel more loyalty towards the establishment than they would have done in the previous 12 to 16 setup. If anything appears on the subject in the Harrow Observer I will add it to the guest book.
Colin,
Laurence etc.
One reason for my 'heated' responses to Laurences entries on this site are
twofold. Firstly, as Colin pointed out, I find it strange that, after
distancing himself from the current school and OGA, he takes such a keen
interest. The other is the fact that he uses the site to seek the
information he is after. My reply that he should contact the school, was
not meant to sound petty, but comes from a legal point of view, in that even I
as a member of staff, am not qualified to give an official breakdown of facts
and figures such as Laurence seeks. Therefore, if he wants such
information, the official spokespeople are the school (Manager or Head), or
secondly the local authority.
Many things take place at HHS that we, as old boys do not like to see.
Some bemoaned the loss of the CCF, others cringed at it losing its single sex
status. Whatever happens, Harrow High of 2006 is just that, a new school,
adapting to the local and national environment, something it will continue to
do. And it will continue to improve due in the most to a great deal of
hard work on the part of the staff.
At the end of the day, those who know me know what I have done with the archives
and the effort I put in to the archives, OGA magazine, displays, tours and
reunions, all im my spare time. I don't do it to keep myself busy, it is
so we don't forget what HCS (and GHS) was, and perhaps show HHS what it can
aspire to. I have been credited by one particular OG as being the person
keeping the memory of HCS alive despite the fact it was a school I never
attended. Well, that is taking alot from people such as Jeff and this
site, but I am not blinkered to what went before, and perhaps more than many
would like to see that standard return.
The Schneider Trophy Banquet (Private Event) Organised by The Air League and the Royal Air Force Museum London 13 September - 13 September From the winning, outright, of the Schneider Trophy on 13th September 1931 to the present day the evening will pay tribute to aviation record breakers from around the world. Further details including a booking form will be available shortly. Surplus funds will go to the Royal Air Force Museum and to support a Schneider Trophy Flying Scholarship through The Air League. Click on The Boothman Window.
Colin, Jon, Howard, Dennis, Steve, Peter, and especially Alex. I hope some light at the end of the tunnel is not a train coming, but rather some agreement that the present school is improving, yet might be able to improve more in years to come. You all, in your different ways, react to my missives, the recent ones being more sympathetic to the issues that you raise. The result I hope will be an awareness that the excellence that was cannot be recreated, but nonetheless be lauded. Whether the OGs have a official place on this website is not for me to say, but my resignation was regretfully necessary. I will continue to monitor the progress of the school and look forward to expressing my views with objective candour. PACE. Laurence
Alex, Alex, Alex! For those contributing to the current heated debate who will probably not know it, we are good friends and I admire, respect and value the enormous amount of work you do for the OGA and the School. Pretty much everything you do and say I suppport and agree with.
However, firstly, I understand the hurt and offence you felt on reading Laurence's first ill-judged and ill-phrased offering from which all this stems. I felt it too, and supported the response by you and Christine Lenehan.
Secondly, while Laurence does not need my support, he's going to get a bit of it: I accept his contention that he is not conducting a campaign but favours "the pursuit of excellence" in the School. I share that aim. By his standards he has made several emollient statements, but he can be as prickly as you, Peter Fowler and others and some remarks on all sides have been less than empathetic.
Thirdly, those with a longer history than mine in affairs Old Gaytonian (mostly no longer with us) have told me how heated and vitriolic debates in earlier times could be between powerful and caring OG's. Some of it I saw for myself. Meetings were stormed out of and resignations were tendered. Mostly, because of their common interest and ultimate respect for each other, these men would share a pint and resume long-standing friendships almost instantly. But they would not necessary retreat from their positions, which usually represented different sporting subsections, or factions. Thirty years ago, when I was drafted onto the Committee to raise funds for a new clubhouse I insisted as a sine qua non that factional strife should be suspended while we campaigned in common cause. It worked, but do not suppose that people who care strongly about the Association have not resigned or expressed themselves vehemently from time to time subsequently.
Fourthly, the present conflict is symptomatic of a robust and vigorous group of disparate people with common cause and interest. I ask myself, and everyone else, why Laurence persists in his questioning - indeed, his constant monitoring of and contributing to it - if he does not care. The debate is good and healthy, if sometimes intemperate, and it should continue on this site.
Finally, let me say that you continue have my unqualified personal support. Let the debate continue on this site - but perhaps with a little more temperance and empathy on all sides.
I suppose it is natural for some of us to look at the Harrow County buildings that we all remember so well, and still think of those buildings as our old school. In fact, this website is probably the only real connection with the old school. But I'm certainly not in favour of returning to the old days that I remember from the late 60's, of shabby classrooms, broken furniture, vandalism, uneven standards of teaching and lots of bullying by boys and by certain members of staff. I think in general, standards are better now. The current school nurtures its intake of pupils and adds value, whereas the old school took the cream of the cream (as it so frequently boasted) and wasted a lot of it. But I still admire a handful of really brilliant and inspirational HCS teachers.
I still have the Collins Dictionary and the Hymns Ancient and Modern (Revised) that we were instructed to buy when we joined the HCS first form. I gather that the singing of hymns does not now take place in the average school which seems rather a shame, because for me the sound of certain hymns is a very effective way of bringing to mind the atmosphere of a typical school assembly and Mr Cowan reading the list of detentions.
Having read some the messages recently, I would strongly agree with comments from Alex Batemen and Steve Grimes. We should celebrate the success of the pupils and teachers, along with their continous and ongoing improvement. Best of luck to everyone involved in what must be an extremely challenging environment, for pupils and staff.
Boys only schools are tolerated when they are independents or grammar schools
(e.g. Dr. Challoners in Amersham) but not comprehensives when parents have the
choice. Girls only schools are still popular and, given the high rate of
teenage pregnancies, one can see why parents would want to keep girls away from
boys in the vulnerable teenage years. Indeed Harrow is in the curious position
of having a girls only school (Bentley Wood the former Heriots Wood) but not
boys only. The Catholic schools, Salvatorian and Sacred Heart are still single
sex but on almost adjacent sites on opposite sides of Wealdstone High Road. At
the time there was a small minority who opposed the removal of the choice of a
single sex boy's school was it wasn't numerous enough to defer the decision.
Over the years I have found it an item of conversation amongst old boys that it
was the one major failing of HCS that it was single sex and they would have
preferred a mixed environment. Of course, that was not the school's fault; it
was a product of its time. Most secondary schools were single sex and a number
of the other schools in the borough (e.g. Roxeth Manor, Lascelles) were actually
separate girls and boys schools on the same site.
Woops, I am probably treading on dangerous ground. Having moved from Harrow many years ago I watch this message board from afar, (South West England) and have noted with regret how the debate about the performance of the current school has taken an increasingly frosty course. Although I am personally very sad that Harrow Boys County School (and Gayton High) became extinct (like the dodo) I realise that their cultures and standards can only continue to exist in our memories. Whatever our individual feelings, I do think it is better for us, as former pupils, to refrain from making public challenges to the current school (Harrow High) which, as Alex Bateman says is a very different and unfamiliar school to those some of us attended. Personally I would like to see this message board remain a friendly forum through which we can ALL remember our school days and share our happy (or perhaps unhappy) experiences with others. I don't think the message board is really the right place for political point scoring.
Laurence
Why on earth do you say my suggestions about contacting the school are '...just
obfuscations.' Are you suggesting that it is too difficult for you to contact
the source to find out the information you require? Aside from anything else,
the only source that would have accurate details is the school (or second, the
local authority), and they are the only official spokespeople with regards to
enquiries such as yours.
It seems to me that instead of quietly taking the time and trouble to contact
the people concerned, you delight in making a mockery of what the school are
attempting to do.
Let me make some facts plain and simple. Firstly as mentioned to you many times
before, this website is not the official mouthpiece of the Old Gaytonians
Association, nor are the comments left in the guestbook exclusive to the OGA
membership. Despite this you took offence to people voicing their own opinion
and the OGA not defending your own views.
On the subject of modern schooling, at least in Harrow you seem to be vastly out
of touch. Harrow High School is not Harrow County School. I am sure that most
parents wish only the very best for their offspring, but in these times, Harrow
High School like thousands of others, is made up of children from every country
under the sun, some with physical or learning difficulties, others with no
family in this country or families who acknowledge them. Many of the students
come from disrupted or severe backgrounds, a percentage higher than any time
before. With this in mind not every child has a parent, or one who cares. In
addition, many have no say as to what school they may attend.
Harrow High School is only 8 years old but has already had three Headteachers in
that time, each improving on the last, with the result that the school is
steadily improving. As from next week, a 6th form will once again feature in
the school. But a boys grammar school with a 50 year old record will never
compete with an 8 year old mixed comprehensive.
Why do you delight in making comments that insult members of the OGA, and staff
of the school, but take offence when others voice their own opinions, others I
hasten to add, who have a lot more contact with the school than you have done,
and can more readily see the growing improvement? When the OGA did not defend
your remarks, you distanced yourself by resigning your membership. With the
school not meeting the expectations of what you recall 40 or so years ago, you
make remarks hurtful to the staff that needed a response direct from the
Headteacher.
May I make the suggestion that you do actually take some time to contact the
school, this year, next and for however many more you wish to know, and not use
this guestbook. The guestbook is not the source of information, nor are ANY OGs.
Also that the discussion stops now. I don't think any person who reads this
site is particularly interested in hearing about your disappointment that Harrow
County no longer exists (at least in terms of exams), or your continued
questions at exam time. You have ben happy to distance yourself from the OGA,
you have been happy to distance yourself from the school. I think many or even
most would be happy to be distanced from you and your views.
Alex has joined Peter, and by inference the vast majority of members of the OGA, and whilst making a list, the Head and staff of the present school. I wonder what aspiration the present parents have for their children? My enquiry about the current examination results shows a vast improvement in very recent years. I have applauded those results, and have asked a simple question as to the %age of total students were put forward for the GCSEs. I have been told that this is not the site for OGs, and I apologise to any and all that may be irritated by my pertinent questions. I do not find your suggestiona at all helpful, they are just obfuscations. That the new school has nothing to do with HCGS is obvious; as is making any comparison. Reinhold Neibuher is paraphrased as 'realising the diference between what can be changed and what cannot'. In this matter I agree with you.
Laurence
I too wonder at the point of your continued questioning on the subject of the
school. Can I make a suggestion? If you are as interested as you
seem to indicate, why not take the time to contact the school for yourself,
either by letter or telephone to determine exactly what you wish to know?
I think most people on this site are getting a little fed up by your comments.
Failing that, the Local Education representative at the Harrow Civic Centre will
be able to help.
You seem to be about the only person who can not accept the change that has
taken place, and that Harrow High School has NO CONNECTION in any way to what
was Harrow County School or even Gayton High School. The make-up of Harrow
has changed, as has the education curriculum, the composition of the school and
many other factors such as finance and the influx of staff. To try and
make any form of comparison between any of the three schools on the site is
impossible. In effect, you might as well compare Harrow County School with
the present day Shetlands Primary School.
You wrote earlier that my '...close connection with the present school does not
allow a meaningful dialogue...'. It seems to have escaped your notice that
amongst other things, I run the archives for the school and am also an ex pupil
as well as being current staff. I am possibly in the best position to see
the school throughout its life, and do also wish Harrow High could take its
place as one of the best in the country, but I also realise the changes that
have taken place over that time. In the same way that you can not compare
the Harrow County of the 1950s with the 1920s, you can not compare Harrow High
of any date with Harrow County.
Remember that Harrow High School is NOT your old school, and was only created in
September 1998. Please contact the school with any questions you have
instead of asking old boys. This campaign, seemingly to pick holes in the
progress of the school is becoming a very irritating and tiresome annual event,
is no help to the school, and is somewhat insulting to the staff as well.
Times
certainly have changed. Blackwell ahead academically !!!!
But, as has been said, the school faces totally different challenges. About all
it has in common is the same building.
As has been said the Ofsted report reflects great credit on this school in
today's circumstances.
Peter
et al,
Well that didn't take too long for the apologists to crawl out of the woodwork.
Not as vindictive in your comments as others have been in the recent past.
What is my objective? To see the present school improve. I have applauded the
recent improvements and look forward to seeing the new Head and staff getting
better scholastic results as well as integrating the various communities into
Harrow society.
My campaign, as you so incorrectly call it, does not exist! My concept of
pursuit of excellence does. In days of yore, many immigrant communities came to
the area, and their sons gained that wonderful education, albeit with gratuitous
violence, from HCGS. I note that many of our fellow pupils have made a positive
mark on our society, coming from less than privileged backgrounds.
I do not apologise to you or any others for the same chance being given to
present pupils.
Please, what is the purpose of this campaign of yours, Laurence? What are your
objectives? Have you read the 2004 Ofsted Report on the school? Did you perhaps
notice, in this report, how the make-up of the school was so challenging? That
'over half of the pupils do not have English as their first language'? The large
number of refugees? The travellers' children?
And how, in this report (and believe me, OFSTED is not the doddle of the HMI
visits I remember in the early days of my educational career), the overall
summary is so positive? An 'effective and inclusive school, with a very positive
ethos...with very good management (providing) a clear direction for staff and
pupils'.
My gut feeling is that the underlying reasons for what I have seen as an
essentially spiteful campaign are political. You are using this school as a
battering ram to serve your own prejudices.
We should, as ex-pupils from another age, support the place, not berate it. This
is England, 2006, Laurence - my guess is you don't much like it.
GCSE Results: It will be some weeks before full data "seeps" through for comparison. 2005 figures are available on the DFES website: www.dfes.gov.uk enter a school name and the key statistics are displayed. But no 2006 figures yet.
I'm very interested to see the Harrow GCSE results synopsis. I would be interested to see the Harrow schools' percentages of A* to A grades as well, if anyone were able to supply these.
GCSE Results - many thanks for the information about the results. Well done to all concerned. How many students were entered for the exams as a %age of the total number of students in the relevant classes?
GCSE Results: In reference to the comment below, the GCSE results for Harrow were published in today's Harrow Observer. The percentages given are on the number of A*-C passes. Harrow High's percentage increased 8% from 48% in 2005 to 56% this year. It was 33% in 2004 so that it 23% in 2 years! Results for other schools in the borough. 2005 figures in brackets and pre 1974 names also in brackets for those of you unfamiliar with the names: Bentley Wood (Heriots Wood) 69.5% (66%), Canons (Downer and Camrose) 60% (55%), Hatch End (Blackwell) 63% (62%), Nower Hill (Headstone) 73% (71%), Park (Chandos) 73% (71%), Salvatorian 70% (58%), Sacred Heart 78.5% (81%), Rooks Heath (Roxeth Manor) 46% (52%). Figures for Whitmore (Lascelles) were not available.
Hi, was told about this site by a friend who attended the same time as me. Who is also standing next to me in the 1979-2E photograph. Great photographs and brings back a lot of good memories. Fantastic and interesting site, keep up the good work.
GCSE Results:
Would someone please inform us as to the examination results for the current school in the recently published tables. Were they up to expectation? How did they compare with other Harrow schools, and if there was an improvement how did this relate to the Head Teacher & Staff's value-added paradigm.
I did not even know there was a Gayton Website Great to see and I particularly enjoyed Alex Batemans comments on his time there I remember the names of the teachers and many of my fellow pupils I see Stuart Mackintosh and Paul Tavagaris did the ID's Anyway I hope all are well Feel free to mail me at my mail address that I have left on the comments form. Regards Howard
Readers may be interested in the Old Gaytonians Golf Society, which has been running as a section of the Old Gaytonians Association since 1928. Here is a link to their website: http://www.gaytonians.golf.dsl.pipex.com/
Interesting to read today's "Times" obituary to Old Gaytonian Squadron Leader David Munson of Beaufighter fame. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2305784,00.html
Thank you, Jon. I take the findings with a pinch of salt. I'm sure you know that a carefully designed study with optimum protocol for its purposes can prove alomost anything. (The classic is passive smoking, but that's another story.) Association of exogenous oestrogens of all sorts has long (and probably legitimately,to a degree) been made with female cancers. And the world is full of scientists who pursue more and more arcane research, partly out of legitimate scientific curiosity and partly to achieve publication and further their careers. Cancer is a great favourite because the non-medical press frequently gives such papers a good airing if they can be made comprehensible to the layman. Incidentally, I think we know each other slightly through Pinner Players; Tracey Berge is my daughter.
The stilboestrol story on the BBC site can be found if you go to the BBC website at news.bbc.co.uk and search for DES or Diethylstilbestrol (both being the American names for the drug). I'd quote the full hyperlink but for some reason you can't use certain characters when posting messages here! I think the first Panorama or World in Action story about the carcinogenic effect of stilboestrol was at least 15 years ago. But I'd agree with you, Colin, when you say that this and thalidomide were valuable drugs (the latter is used for treatment for leprosy) and it is only in the journalistic mind that something is either a wonderful miracle drug or a terrible disaster rather than, as would be closer to the truth, a drug that is valuable if used with care for certain specific conditions.
Stilboestrol was indeed discovered (before the war, I think) by OG Professor Sir Charles Dodds and was the first synthetic oestrogen. It has long been superseded in clinical use and I regret not to having seen the recent references to "DES" (can you help me, John?). In its day it was the only and the best, but every discovery has its day until something better is found. Like all clinically active drugs it had side-effects, but they were not serious compared with its benefits. As for thalidomide, it was a useful and effective drug, its only unforseeable flaw was that it was teratogenic - it affected the development of embryos leading to deformity - and in recent years has been "rediscovered" for use in certain conditions because of its effect on fast-dividing cells. An interesting and unsavoury corollary to the thalidomide story: the Sunday Times persists, more than 40 years on, in congratulating itself on its "thalidomide campaign", when it took up litigious cudgels on behalf of the victims. Apart from destroying a perfectly reputable pharmaceutical company (Distillers) it prmoted a greed for riches in the victims' families and I believe that more than half of the marriages of their parents broke up in the mad scramble for damages and retribution.
I see there are more newspaper reports about the hazards of DES (a drug perhaps more commonly known as Stilboestrol) on the BBC website.
I think I am right in recalling that this drug was actually discovered by an Old Gaytonian, Sir Charles Dodds. It would be unkind to blame him for any harm that resulted from the drug, but it is perhaps interesting to see how current events sometimes have a Harrow County connection, however tenuous. As a schoolboy it may be your ambition to achieve the highest possible success in your chosen field, yet even after applying much inspiration and perspiration and making what appears to be a great scientific discovery, you might find that you have invented just another Thalidomide.
Have just got back from holiday and saw Old Gaytonian 2006 on my doorstep - the first of I hope many. What an excellent read especially the Pinner Park story. Well done alex and all the contributors Paul
Just seen Colin Dickens' little prod to get me to 'clarify' the stuff on
ARS, presumably in the light of Paul Romney's note sorry, my eye has been
off the ball!
I thought I was clear. I did not specifically see evidence of anti-semitism.
However, given his own sets of beliefs and values, and that of those of his
peer groups; given what I remember rather vividly of his little political
asides in Latin lessons; and given the fact that he lived his life in a
country going through the fag-end of imperialism, he would have been, and
was, a 'racist' according to the values of the early 21st Century. As, I
said in a previous note, was my own father. And as were, probably, most
people who lived in this country.
Which takes us precisely nowhere. (This time round, I agree with the last
sentence of Laurence Lando's recent posting that ARS's views were likely
to have been 'typical of his generation').
I too would hate to see George Cowan lumped in with the Bighams and ARS's of
this world. (Bigham I experienced at first hand; ARS I know by reputation
only.)
I only ever knew GHC in his Deputy Headmaster role and yes he was feared by a
bunch of newly-arrived 11-year olds but over the years that fear turned to
respect for the reasons Min gives. How he dealt with, and earned the respect
of, a bunch of unruly and ungrateful kids is a lesson in itself.
I still remember the surprise I felt the first time he called me 'Ray' rather
than the 'Parnell!' I had come to expect over the previous 5 or 6 years.
Somehow you felt you had moved onto a different plane. Or maybe that was just
me?
Anyway, I too hope that he continues to enjoy a long retirement.
Just to support what Michael said. George was someone to fear when he was Deputy Head, but also respected. I got punished when I deserved it but not otherwise - George treated every boy in exactly the same way. He knew my name probably before I knew his. He was tough - but also fair at the same time. So no, please don't lump him in with the bad guys unless you have a different experience of him than I did - and I was certainly no angel! By the way, how is the old beggar?
Min
Nigel - regarding your comment "im having a complimentary ..that means you dont have to pay.. evening at peterborough greyhound stadia evening with food drink and free entrance. why cos its everything ars, bingham and cowan would have hated," George Cowan may not approve of the food served up at greyhound stadia. Fine. If you are lumping George together with Bigham and ARS (I form my opinion from the comments on this site) this I can not accept. George did a fine job as Deputy Head and classics teacher and I remember him with respect and affection. I feel better now.
Michael.
Alex I do not make a habit of swopping insults and will not do so in your case. My comments on the GHS were objective and if they caused offence, I regret that fact. Your close connection with the present school, in my opinion, does not allow a meaningful dialogue. PACE. I look forward to contributing my valid opinions at some future date, but expect a continuation of personal invective.
Laurence
I have also just received my copy of the OG mag and would just like to express my thanks to all those who worked hard to make it possible. An excellent publication, as usual.
Brian, thanks for the notes on the magazine. The photo of Beaky is reputed to be the only one of him with hair, and was taken (I believe) when he was a member of the Kings College tennis team.
But what a striking difference between that photo, of a 'carefree' youth, and the other of an experienced and battle weary Army Officer, taken maybe only 4 years apart.
Laurence What are you wanting us to hear? You initiated the discussion by being extremely insulting to Harrow High School, its staff and the hard work they do, while at the same time refusing to acknowledge that the school is far removed from that which you knew. Then you resign from the OGA, even though it was not the OGA in any official or unofficial form criticising you, citing the reason that the Association did not defend you against the free thoughts of others.
I just find it bizarre that you insult many people (to the point that the former Head has to make a personal statement on this site) but don't accept others not sharing your view. Then resign from an Association that had no connection with those comments anyway.
Alex Thanks for the added insult about my resignation being 'childish'. It was not, yet I seem to speak to those who cannot or will not hear. However, It was pleasing to know that personal abuse has been criticised by Chairman of OGA.
In the meantime I will continue to monitor this site and will wish that your efforts in improving the school come to fruition. Laurence
I have just received my copy of the OG mag as was delighted to read the piece about Fooks. He was always one of my favorites. At last we have a photo of him while he still had hair! He was amongst the most bald men I have ever encountered. We'll never know the detailed circumstances of his award but thanks for trying.
Laurence I was very sorry to read your latest comments. I can understand you not appreciating personal abuse, but you are forgetting several things. To begin with, a majority of people who contribute to this site are not members of the OGA and in turn this website is not the OGA mouthpiece. Therefore, your resigning from the OGA is a 'protest' aimed at the wrong people.
In addition, aside from the fact that we are all free to make what comments we wish, you don't seem to acknowledge that your comments about the current school were extremely hurtful to a number of current staff who work damn hard in a school that is not Harrow County and is far removed from Harrow County. Being one of those staff myself, I can speak first hand on that.
Lastly, and bearing in mind my comments above that this site is not the OGA site, the OGA chairman has indeed rebuked those who made defamatory comments through this site, be they OGA members or not. But having (in my view childishly) resigned your membership, I guess you would not be aware of it...
hi
every one,
im having a complimentary ..that means you dont have to pay.. evening at
peterborough greyhound stadia evening with food drink and free entrance.
why cos its everything ars, bingham and cowan would have hated,
i intend to sponsor the pavilion fund stakes,
IT WILL ALL BE ON SKY TV!
please e mail me if you want to come, also tell any old school chums
tis worth not birth
nigel morley
It is not the considered response to my present and previous missives that abhors me, but the indignation and consequent personal abuse that resulted from some members who had personal contacts with current or past members of staff. I resigned from the OGs with regret, as any Association that contains or does not critisise such personal attacks, is also in need of self-examination. As to the published views of Square, my personal experience, including being caned once, was of a man who was proud of his school and what it and he had done under his leadership. I would have thought his views on boys from other religions and those who were hobbly-hoys would be typical of his generation. Laurence
Please do not leave anonymous or unsigned messages on the guestbook! They may be removed! If you want to leave a message or join in a discussion, you must include your name. Thanks, Jeff Maynard (webmaster)
Laurence Its a shame that in an association, you feel that members are not entitled to their own opinion, when the discussion you began showed an astonishing lack of flexibility. If you are still that interested, I suggest you telephone the school for a breakdown of the plans they have for the future.
Resigned because of responses from some OGs that were not acceptable. Many thanks for the update, and I look forward to the published results in due course.
Laurence If you hadn't resigned your membership of the Old Gaytonians Association, you would have received a copy of the 2006 Magazine that contains a message from the new Head teacher which spells out her vision for the next few years, as well as a report the Chairman and Secretary had with her to discuss the future and the ways the OGA can help. She has, in her previous role as Deputy Head, been given much of the credit for the school jumping 15% in its exam results last year, when the next highest school gained 4%. Results are expected to continue in the same way in 2006. If so Harrow High will leapfrog those schools currently above them.
Who is the new head? What do they plan to do to improve the academic standing of the school? I am not, at long last, trying to recreate the HCS4B, but am interested to learn what can be done to climb off the bottom rung of the results table.
No entry for 12 days since Paule Romney's. I await Peter Fowler's clarification. The minor irony of Cameron's name had crossed my mind, but politics, like life, is rich in irony - not least that "the West Lothian question" was posed long ago by Scottish socialist Tam Dalyell, while Paul says 'as the Tories try to exclude Scottish politicians from "English" politics.' I think I shall not embark on a discussion of the monstrous anomaly of the Scottish role in British (and English) politics - nor of their own.
Pete Fowler: Sorry if I misunderstood you. I had thought you were arguing that Square was NOT a racist. But if your position is that he was a racist, but we now have a better appreciation of the cultural context of his racism, then we are clearly on the same page. And even as we speak (sort of), his apparently bizarre sense of himself belonging to a minority is regaining currency as the Tories try to exclude Scottish politicians from "English" politics. Ironic that such a position should be pushed by a bloke named David Cameron.
Reading Mick Boggis made me think about my first year at HCS. My first experience of physics, noone said what the point of it was, hence my report wriiten by Mr Thyrrit? 'apathetic.' There wsa Biology with the terrifying WMB. Latin with Mr Varsanyi, I was ok with latin just didnt get on with him, 'Boys, what was your homeworks for today?' 'Boys, I will not give you homeworks today.' 'Boys, because I did not give you homeworks yesterday, I will give you double homeworks today.''Min, you are the first former I have given a detention to..' Chemistry with Mr Hood who seemed to spend all the lesson polishing coins for us, unfortunately, he didnt reappear after Christmas and we had Mr Gibbs (sausage van) and he and I didnt see eye to eye by year 5, he was particularly appalled by my long hair and choice of arts rather than science and hopefully out of sphere of influence. My sad journey through HCS was 1c, 2d, 3b, 4c, v3, L6A, A6A, Lost interest in education by then, funny how I became a special needs teacher later in life, made me realise what children need to motivate them.
I remember the absolutely livid uncontrollable anger of the headmaster when the proposed debate "Better red than dead" actually had a proposer and seconder.
Musings
on timetables in the Simpson era. I think it was Stephen Frost who supplied the
the Form 1A timetable for 1963-64 a little while back, which I studied with
great interest and nostalgia. Many thanks.
By 63 I was in V(2) on my second pass through the 5th. form, but I am sure that
the allocation of subjects in the 1A timetable was virtually unchanged from my
own first form, 1D of 58-59. Five periods each of Maths, English, French and
Latin per week - basically one of each every day if logistics (apalling modern
word!) permitted. I'm not sure I recall two of Music though, only one tiresome
session per week with George Thorn comes to mind. Maybe we had two of Biology
instead of one; Bio seems to have lost out to Physics and Chemistry's two per
week.
I remember the first day or so of the new school year always held one in some
degree of nervousness and anticipation as the year's timetable was awaited. In
later years, when skiving was rampant and one had some idea which lessons could
be 'avoided' without too much danger of retribution, how each day panned out was
very important. If I recall correctly though, you only got to know the 'what'
and the 'when' and the 'where' on the timetable - you didn't get to learn the
all-important 'who' until the first time the lesson came up. Groans of despair
would issue when it was realised that a subject would be taken for the
whole year by someone of disciplinarian tendency - say Smiley Saunders for Maths
(an excellent teacher, I now realise) - as you wouldn't be able get away with
very much. On the other hand, getting - to pick someone at random (!) - Butch
Beauchamp for Chemistry was considered a bit of a bonus as you probably didn't
even have to turn up.
I recall my longtime mate Pete 'Peewee' (also 'Sambo') Davies being genuinely
annoyed one year when he realised that he had someone stern for French (Ellis?)
in period 6 on a Wednesday. In the morning he had managed to get quadruple Butch
followed by Lefty Wright, and of course there was Games in the afternoon. Pete
was furious - "if it wasn't for French, I could take the whole day
off!"
Seriously, putting the timetable together for 50 or more forms and groups,
60-odd masters, 40 periods and however many rooms were available must have been
an absolute nightmare for whoever had to do it (was it the incumbent DHM's sorry
task?) Must have spent the whole summer holidays trying to make it all fit. And
without computers. If I recall , the whole game plan was displayed on a huge
roneo'd 'spreadsheet' (as we would now call it), about A1 size, which I think,
had masters down the left, and periods & days going across. One of these was
pinned up in the rear entrance to the New Hall, was another upstairs by the
DHM's office? So if you lost your timetable (which I always did) and had
forgotten where you were supposed to be you could examine these splendid
hand-drawn works of art to find out. Did any of these survive? They would be
fascinating.
If anyone has copies of any more timetables, I'd love to see them, they tell a
great story. Perhaps Jeff could make some space for them and link to them from
the relevant form or year photo? Just a thought. Another thought - Alex B, do
you have any of this stuff in the archive?
My sad progress through HCS went 1D (58), 2B (59), 3D (60), 4E (61), V4 (62), V2
(63); if anyone is harbouring any timetable info for any of these, I'd love to
see them!
Mick Boggis, HCS 58-64
(A hobbledehoy forever, and still, sadly, listening to negro rhythm music....)
Paul, I assume, as our careers begin to fade, that you, like me, will have spent a lifetime working with, and relating to, those with other points of view. And sometimes such people have loomed very large on our landscapes, maybe as a colleague, maybe as a friend. At that point, if someone has become important to me and yet holds views that are opposite to mine, I have generally wanted to know why they feel the way they do. I’ve wanted to know their backgrounds; and I have been curious as to the contexts of their lives. At the same time, the views we ourselves hold have been similarly contextualised: I know only too well that I am the product of a moment in time, the almost titanic cultural clashes of the 1960s. My whole outlook on life was determined in the 1960s.
This site has allowed us a glimpse into the psyche of those who controlled our school lives at Harrow County. We never really ‘knew’ those people at the time – we knew them as one-dimensional caricatures, as figures of derision (Simpson, Bigham), figures of fun (Spargo, Eagers) or as ‘great teachers’ (Mees, D’Arcy, Golland). Some connected to us – the teachers – some alienated us. Some made us laugh, some scared us to death.
I had no interest in Simpson as a person when I was at school – in the teenage world of blacks and whites, he was the Ace of Spades, the enemy of the people. A racist pig and a fascist to boot. A disgusting specimen of humanity.
But he set the ethos of Harrow County in our period – the school was the realisation of his vision. And we were all there as pupils, so whatever it was that he did was of profound importance to us; because he was in control of our school lives precisely when we were being formed as independent human beings.
In the fullness of time, and with this great site at our disposal, I got interested in these people, Simpson and the key staff – why did they think the things they did? What motivated them? What was their view of education? Its purposes, its methods? Why did they believe in ‘grammar schools’? How were they politically aligned?
I jumped at the chance of a lengthy e-mail correspondence with Jim Golland – and, of course, one of the very things I put to him was the question: why did you stand up for Simpson? Why, when you had the chance to back us against him – and Paul, you’ll remember the incident - did you side with him?
He never wavered in his responses, never shifted from the ideological position he had adopted in that B8 day in 1961. That is, that Simpson had been, despite his quirks and his idiosyncracies, ultimately beneficial to the school.
Jim, just like Simpson, had been brought up in different times. With different values. And since my own father had what I can only describe as outlandishly racist views, is it really surprising that those who taught us, from a generation or two above us, reflected so often the prevailing cultural winds?
This is manifestly not ‘going soft’. It is simply saying that here was a man who lived his life according to a set of values which we now find alien (and often repulsive). But, especially when we read his convoluted sentences, with their improbable syntax, and finally say ‘oh, this is what he meant’ – at that moment we begin, in a manner we never did at school, to ‘know’ him.
And, yes – still oppose him. But with a much clearer idea of what it is that we are opposing. And a much clearer idea of what made him the person he was.
I was quite startled to see a reference to Simpson being anti semitic and from my memory I do not consider it to be true and that there were several examples during my time at school which prove the contrary. Simpson was severe, old fashioned and with an ability to make remarks with complete disregard for the appropriate time or place. He was also honest, sometimes alarmingly so, fair, and capable of showing great personal kindness.
Two contemporaries sitting on the wall, One named Peter, one named Paul. I have to side with Peter (Fowler). Spot on. You have him exactly and, no, you haven't gone soft, Peter.
Pete! Have ye gone soft now you've turned sixty (-one)? Well, so have I: as I can still hear meself saying, it makes him seem more human. As for the anti-semitism, I said it was incipient in the remark. Racism to my mind is always incipient in ethnic generalizations of doubtful accuracy. Your reference to Enoch sent me to Wikipedia to remind myself about his "rivers of blood" speech. What would you suggest we make of these people? What exactly was that Greek-inspired view of what constituted excellence, and what is its bearing on his remark (to your brother, was it not?) that too many Jews were coming top of the class? There was that Greek celebration of physical prowess of course, manifest, for instance, in The Iliad in the games that Achilles holds to celebrate the killing of Hector. We know that Square shared that ideal, but why, when he entered the room where some of us were sheltering from Rugger, did he feel impelled to cite the Nazis' espousal of that ideal ("Not all the Nazis' ideas were bad" or words to that effect?) Nowadays we have a deeper, more nuanced perspective on pre-Second World War British attitudes towards the swarthy stranger within the gates: attitudes that Square and Enoch carried over into the 1960s. Can we see them as purely benign Britannic nationalists? I look forward to hearing more.
Paul, I find it hard to read anti-semitism into the Simpson quote. I loathed the man when I was at school; but the narratives that have unfolded on this site (particularly the Simpson-written pieces) suggest an altogether different story. He was, first and foremost, a Classics scholar; and a man with a very distinct, Greek-inspired, view of what constituted 'excellence': indeed, if there is one other person who constantly reminds me of him, it's Enoch Powell. Given his views, he achieved his 'goals' for the school, but was forever disappointed with the turning of the cultural tides that were drowning the old certainties that had characterised his own youth: he was a man out of time, out of step with the changes. Within his own truths, he did his very best; and nothing is more poignant, to me - an inveterate foe of more or less everything he stood for - than the image of this man, in his last days, walking the promenade in Torquay, deliberately having cut himself off from any contact with his Harrow past. We can stand against him; but we can feel for him. And no, I don't think he was an anti-semite, or a crook or a liar. He was just from another age.
I was at HCS the same time as Chris but I'm afraid I do not remember the comments he refers to being made by Simpson - although I doubt if most people understood half of what the man said at the best of times! (I do remember his reference to 'woodpecker' shoes - when he should have said 'winklepicker'. With hindsight, this may have been deliberate!) I'm also not surprised that masters couldn't understand him either. In around 1959 Simpson took part in a radio programme about the pressures of getting into university - too many students chasing too few places. The day after the broadcast, in a Maths class taken by Reg Allen, Reg asked us if anyone had listened to the programme. When a few of us said yes, his comment was to the effect 'Did you understand anything Simpson said?'
I remember the incident when square gave his "anti-anti-semitism" speech well. It would have been about 1956. He mentioned a couple of incidents of bullying (which by the way, in my experience, wasn't common at HCS) One had been of a boy whose raincoat had been tied up in knots and, it turned out that boy was on the verge of parental bereavement. The other was of a Jewish boy which was when he went into his "I'm a member of a minority" speech. I also remember that our first period that day was with "Heap" Webb and someone asked him if Square had just said he was Jewish. Webb simply shrugged his shoulders as much as to say "damned if I know what he did say"
I was stunned to see Geoffrey Abrahams's report of Simpson referring to "this rotten school." Maybe in my day he was building it up academically and not displeased with his progress. Certainly I would not have expected him to hold such a view, then or at subsequent meetings at OGA Dinners. There was never a hint of it. As for anti-semitism, Geoffrey's note suggests a fairly benign racial stereotyping by Simpson but not anti-semitism. I have reported this before, but it bears repeating: a few years ago, when the subject came up, I asked George Cowan, whom I saw frequently at Sudbury, if he thought Simpson was anti-semitic and he was vehement in his denial. "Absolutely not," he said. "He wanted only the best. Nothing else mattered." I wished now I'd also asked him how his fellow Scot felt about being a member of a minority group!
Interesting contrib from Chris Rickwood: can you tell us when and why, Chris? As to ARS belonging to a dsiparaged minority, it would have been true of the 18th century, when Scots coming south to make their fortune after the Union of the Crowns in 1707 (or thereabouts) were often seen by the English as pushy folk in a hurry. Boswell had to put up with a bit of that from Johnson. But I should think you'd have to have had a pretty big chip on your shoulder to feel part of a disparaged minority in Square's day. A Scottish perspective on that would be useful.
I certainly had no love for ARS (the reverse in fact) but I do remember him actually condemning Anti-Semitism at one Assembly. Memorable because he said he had a special dislike of it as he was also "a member of a minority" That puzzled us all - we concluded he meant being a Scot!
Geoffrey Abrahams's anecdote about Square is a real eye-opener to me. I don't recall any previous recollection offering quite this angle on the esteemed Dr. S (though I may be forgetting some earlier titbit). I mean the bitterness of frustrated ambition, together with the sense of being the author of one's own disappointment. A bitterness exquisitely garnished by the torment of having to pretend day in, day out, that "this rotten school" was such a wonderful institution. It is perhaps the most endearing thing I've read about the man: it makes him seem more human. The remark about "ye people" is also interesting. Surely by 1955 he must have seen a few Jewish pupils who had NOT escaped his hellhole prematurely at the price of forgoing Oxbridge. Yet out pops the dubious generalisation: not blatantly antisemitic in this instance, but surely incipiently so.
The photograph of Prefects 1950-51. Front row between Carroll and Henderson is Tom Moore. Centre row 3rd in from the right is Diamond
There are several mistakes in my last comment. Dave Fickling also sent his regrets. A photograph of the event will be circulated. Finally, the 6th was the 62 anniversary of Churchill's speech announcing the D-Day landings.
Thanks Jeffrey for the 'plug' for the 2A reunion of 1940. The Daymonds provided the hospitality in the form of a fine lunch at their home for the six of us that finally made it. Mick Hornby, Mick Armitt and Jim FitzGibbon were with us in spirit but unable to come. Those gathered around the table were Ron Barney, Charles Melbourne, John Thornton, John Daymond, Derek Higgins, and me. Today is the 60 th anniversary of the meeting after lunch in what we then knew as the "New Chemistry Lab" to hear Winston Churchill announce that the invasion of Europe had taken place that morning.
I was delighted to read the site -particularly the recollections of Dr. Simpson which revived memories long since brought to mind. I remember goinmg to see him for permission to leave at the end of my A sixth year, to go to UCL rather than wait a year for Oxbridge. " Ye people are all the same. In a hurry to get ahead. " He said. "Just look at me - If I had gone to Oxford instead of being in rush to go to Edinborough, I could have been a professor by now - instead of wasting my life in a rotten school like this." On the other hand, although scarcely understanding a word, one was aware in his Greek Class of being in the presence of a scholar. I remember him telling us that the Chorus, which he called the dance, was the center of all Greek culture.
OLIVER! A Musical Play - Freely based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. Book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. A Harrow High School production, Directed by Jennifer Cattini. New Hall, December 2006. "With this show, the audience whistles the tunes as they COME IN to the theatre." Technical Team composed of Harrow County "Old Boys": Scenery&Costume Design: Katie Finch (Percival); Lighting: Richard Bunt, Min Vincent, and Viv Cooper; Sound: Sim Hill and Dave Buckley; Stage Manager: Vacant. Look out for more information over the coming months. If you are interested in joining the Technical Team, get in touch!
Dear all, Just to confirm that the meeting with Peter Gore, Site Manager, and Jennifer Cattini (Drama) about Oliver! 2006 will take place at Harrow High on Wednesday May 31st 11am (YES DURING HALF TERM - HHS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION!). I have contacted the people who said they were going to attend directly, but anyone else with a contribution to make is welcome - meet at the main entrance (I presume this means the gate from Gayton Road to the main entrance car park will be open). The idea is to sketch out some ideas on how us oldies can help make this vision of HHS a reality, mainly with regard to set, staging, and lighting. Just let me know to expect you and what sort of contribution you may be able to make. Min Vincent
A recent addition, at an advanced age, to the joys of the internet, I thoroughly enjoyed my first browse in your nostalgic website. I have no doubt I wil be returning thereto from time to time. Would love to hear from any other surviving entrants to form 2A in 1944. One curiosity about that year - we had three different headmasters in our first three years!
just checking into the dunkley name in interested you may contact me in canada
Good to see the effort being put into the site. Thanks for the memories awoken by the school song and glad to see that the 'Old Gates' are still going strong. I have happy memories of my time at school, particularly the latter years in the 6th form. Of the 4th Harrow scouts (Air)then the CCF (RAF section), House concerts and other parts of the House competition (Northwick house), sports day, rugby and cricket matches, the Gayton Fair, and so many members of staff who helped so much in making me work for o & A levls. Greetings to anyone who remembers me - even if very dimly.
I was teacher at the school from July 1979 to July 1981. I have lots of fond memories, its great that your site helps to keep them fresh.
What an absolutely amazing site you have! It puts us Harrow County girls to shame, we have nothing like it...it has triggered old and happy memories of ...boys - ah, those were the days. Thank you. Melysa
I am arranging a mini-reunion of Form 2A 1940 entrants, on Mon. 29th May for a luncheon. There are expected to be at least seven attendees, including Brian Hester on a visit here from Canada. Any other 2A entrants not yet involved, please send me an e-mail for further details. You will be welcome to join in. I will post a photograph with names later.
I'm in Southampton, David Palmer
Ian, There is a least one more Old Gayt in the Solent area. Me. John Parker, Romsey, Hants.
Message to Ian Gawn re 'An Evening with Michael Portillo'.
Hi Ian You almost got my name right - it's Geoff (not John) May!
Very impressed that Michael remembered your name when you asked a question in the second half! The evening proved a very enjoyable surprise 60th birthday present for me. Look forward to seeing you again at a future OGA event.
Regards
Geoff
p.s. to Jeffrey Maynard - a super web site. Well done and keep up the good work.
Latest on Oliver 2006 -
I am meeting with Jennifer and the caretaker at the school on Weds 31st May 11am to start the ball rolling officially. If anyone else wants to come along, please do so and just let me know to expect you. We have a couple of lighting people (Richard Bunt and Staff) and at least one person interested in looking after sound (Sim). Do we have anyone out there interested in designing a set, which the Technology department will build, which takes account of the lack of stage facilities? (Katie - could you ask Francis?). What about a stage manager and stagecrew to run the show? Or any other jobs? Just let me know asap so I can keep you informed with the progress. There is apparently a lot of interest brewing with the staff and students to make this show happen!
Regards --
Min
Ian Did you sign 'em up? More importantly, how long did it take you to find the way home the other week? Good to see you again though!
Jane and I went to Michael Portillo's very enjoyable evening at the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton last night. The evening concluded with an impromptu inaugural meeting of the Southampton Chapter (3 founder members) of the Old Gaytonians Association, held in the car park! Mmebers, John (I think was his first name) May 1957-64, and RB Dodridge who left in 1955 and me. Any others in the Solent area? Ian
With the local elections coming up, can anyone tell me of any OGs they know of standing? I also edit the Old Gayts Assn magazine and would appreciate any info. Thanks
Jane and I are going to the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton on Sunday night to see Michael Portillo's "one-man show". Any other OGs going to be there - if so we could meet up in the bar in the interval. I have sent an e-0mail to the Nuffield to tell Michael he will not be the only OG in the building. Ver much enjoyed the Reunion Dinner, but not quite the atmosphere of the Clubhouse. Thanks to all the organisers.
Ian Gawn
Here is an outline list of things to think about which I sent to HHS tonight:
- Do your site services have a tower or cherry-picker tall enough to reach the
FOH lighting bars safely, or are we going to have to rent one (or put up
separate trussing).
- Can you find out how much power is being supplied to the existing dimmers? In
my day it was a 30A three-phase supply, but this might have been reduced during
the last "refit" to a single phase supply.
- Is there any possibility of getting additional power to the lighting tower SL,
as a single or multiple high power feeds? If so, could site services suggest
what might be possible and give a ball park estimate as to how much it might
cost? Obviously the sockets would have to be fail-safe ones which cannot be
turned on without a cable connected (site services will know all about this). I
would guess we are looking at the equivalent of 4 x 30A (single phase) or higher
if at all possible which might be presented as single or 3-phase whichever is
easier.
- Can you do an inventory of what lighting equipment the school currently has
(including anything in the drama studio)?
- Can you fix the dates as soon as possible, as the sooner people can block out
the dates in their diaries the better?
- Assuming we take the lead with lighting, sound, and stage management can you
make a wish list of all the jobs you can think of and whether the school or one
of my crew is needed for each one? BTW, will your sixth form be active by then?
- It would obviously be a good idea of your Technology department build the set
due to the problems of transporting 14ft scenery items! Will you need a set
designer, or will you be handling this yourself? There are several ones on the
internet to look at for ideas.
- Most of us are covered in our respective theatre companies by their NODA
insurance which expressly covers volunteers for injury/death. Do/will HHS have
appropriate insurance for this production?
- Will you need to purchase a full licence to present Oliver? If so, I can ask
my sister how much it costs but I suspect is a lot. It is possible schools have
a way around this?
- What are your plans for music? Do you have access to a good enough orchestra,
or will you need sound to provide recorded music? Again this is just so the
potential sound crew can have an early warning of some complexities to consider.
Just some initial jottings on the sorts of things which need to be hammered into
the ground fairly quickly. Let's stay on email for now as I live quite a long
way away. I believe your half-term will be a week offset from mine so that might
be a good time for me (and any others which can make it) to come over for a face
to face meeting just before you start rehearsing? Half term in Basingstoke is
from 29 May 2006 to 02 June 2006.
Min
Some more info from Jennifer on initial thoughts for Oliver 2006. Note that I
need to hear from stagehands and behind the scenes people of all kinds, as well
as anyone who might have access to staging, scenery, lighting, sound equipment
etc at a low cost. Let me know if you are interested, in principle, in being put
onto an initial crew list.
...
However I could now start looking around and trying to recruit teachers in the
school (the Technology teacher) to see if we could knock together a set for
Oliver. If I could get together a programe of set designers and a cast would you
be interested in helping us with this production? I have obviously got to cost
it too, and work out a budget with the head, and Ruth Dennison before I get
started. However if this is a combined project, ticket sales will hopefully mean
the show pays for itself!
I plan to start rehearsing next half term and will begin auditions at the end of
this half term, and would love to discuss ideas with you and your team.
Would your team be wishing to perform in the play? I have a pupil keen to
perform as Nancy, and a teacher keen to take part in one of the adult parts.
I look forward to hearing from you again.
Jennifer
Email:
pv at
vinntec.co.uk
Email received from the school today proposing a production at the end of the
year. Can anyone who is interested in providing some support for this project
please let me know via this forum so we can see how much interest there is?
Hello Peter,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Ruth Dennison passed on your details
to me when I returned from Maternity leave, I am the current head of Drama at
HHS, and I would like to work with you putting on a productiuon.
As you are probably aware the hall needs a little work, however I would love to
perform OLIVER in December 2006. I could provide the cast and music/acting,
however I would be delighted if the set, and technical side was provided by you
and your group.
I am struggling here with set and lighting, as finding time to design and build
sets and sort out lighting and sound. You are right when you say that with some
TLC the hall could be an excellent performance space.
I could provide cast and some crew members to supervise and I also have a number
of ex students who could help back stage also. I would love to work with you and
put together a perfornance next year.
Jennifer Cattini
Found your excellent and memory stirring web-site by virtue of an eagle-eyed son-in-law and have spent far too long this morning glued to the photographs section - mightily amused to find that JH appears almost exclusively as "X" - good to learn that the policy of studiously keeping a low profile at all times was so successful...even if this was the only thing at which I was markedly studious. Good to see so many ugly mug-shots, I'm still in touch with a few from thta era and can identify one or two of the others hailing from Dept.X. Will trawl on a bit further to see if there are any others and let you have the names in due course. And the School Song....! Wow, I thought that was expunged forever but the words all came flooding back. Oh well you chaps, must get back to my work in the construction industry - specialising in drainage just so that I may claim to be part of the effluent society...."Square" would have been so proud. Well done Jeffrey, very enjoyable! John Hooper
Hi Clive. Sorry about that. I never could spell; I even had to use a dictionary to find out what I'd done wrong! I suppose it's what you get when you are taught English by an Irishman (or two)!
This is the first time I've looked up the school on the net. I will be in London this July and have been reminiscing lately. I would like to try to reconnect with my some of my classmates while I am there. I was in Byron House, please send me an email if you were in my class. I was searching the site and wasn't able to find any pictures from class 4E 1979 or any previous E classes. I hope to hear from some of you soon! Somji
My daughter found your website while trolling the net. My husband was Ernie Welling, who appeared in the first picture.He died in 1993 at the age of 64 of a massive stroke. Ernie & I came to Canada after our marriage in 1952 & I now live north of Toronto. We had a son and daughter and 3 grandsons. Ernie was an editor and publisher for several technical magazines and was a lifelong amateur radio enthusiast. Loved seeing the picture,, but I can tell you it gave me goosebumps. Many thanks, Barb Welling
Having passed the 11-plus exam when I was ten years old, I started at Harrow County School for Boys in Form 1C, then 2D, then 3C, then 4D, then 5-2. Though I'd been cleared for some "O" levels then, I left the school in 1957 to emigrate to the U.S.A. with my family. I shall be 65 years old in August of this year, 2006.
Look up Roy Denman on the web. There is some interesting stuff about him - an interest but contentious person. He did well both in his career and as an author. I recall a favorable review of his 'Mandarin' book but did not realise who the author was.
very enjoyable reunion dinner. Took my Uncle (Douglas) 1945 -1949 . who met an old class mate after 60 years a very worthwhile evening. Great website just viewed my school photo from 1979 and my brother (stephen) 1981.
Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Merlyn Rees. This will take place on April 20th at noon, at St Margarets Church in London (by Westminster Abbey). Entry is by ticket only. For tickets please apply in writing (enclosing an SAE) to The Assistant Receiver General (Protocol), The Chapter Office, 20 Deans Yard, Westminster Abbey, LONDON. SW1P 3PA. Entry is from 11.20am, and they request that you be seated by 11.45am.
In what connection did his name crop up in the Daily Telegraph? Brian, I should have made it clearer. He passed away - it was an obituary. Michael.
I recall Denman vaguely as someone in the sixth form when I was a new entrant to HCS. If you scroll through the various entries you will find that he rose to be EC ambassador to the U.S. and was knighted. He lived in Belgium. In what connection did his name crop up in the Daily Telegraph?
I recall Denman vaguely from my junior days at HCS when he was an exalted 6th former. I believe he was a prefect. He is probably on that photograph of the school trip to Switzerland in 1938 but I am not sure that I would recognise him.
Have just seen the follwing in today's Daily Telegraph: Roy Denman was born on June 12 1924, and educated at Harrow Grammar School and St John's College, Cambridge, where he read French and German. One of ours? Michael.
I've just spotted a poem by Colin Grossmith on the site. I used to meet Colin at the Mayfair Cafe at lunchtimes and, as far as I can remember, never realised that he had been at HCS. The last I heard of Colin he was moving to Rustington (under protest) with his parents, probably around 1967. I did hitch down to Rustington with some friends from Harrow School of Art but I think that we failed to meet up with Colin. He was a dear soul and I am wondering whether anyone is still in touch with him. I made one of my extremely rare trips to Harrow today which has sparked off this nostalgic spasm. What a terrible shock!!! Not only has the art school disappeared but also the Havelock!!! . . . not to mention the Huts. All the best to you all.
Thanks to all those who attended the Old Gaytonian Reunion Dinner tonight at the new venue in Kenton. Not Sudbury, but I think we all agree it was a very good do!
In the archives I have, amongst other things, spare copies of all issues of 'Gaytonian' and most of 'Old Gaytonian'. Email me
at
"gaytonian at jeffreymaynard.com" if interested.
I have copies of The Gaytonian dated from 1938 to 1941 for sale on e-bay, its on magazines, history site.
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZ3331trevorQQhtZ-1
Dave Buckley's link (see below) is 1 character wrong. Try http://www.r-m-t.org/ohshit.html Actually well worth the trip. Reminds me of some of our mistakes like in Romeo & Juliet when the script says "what light through yonder window breaks"..................................................... Richard hits the blackout. Oh S**t!!
There are a couple of prewar copies of Gaytonian magazine for sale on e-bay right now, that may interest those who were at the school in 1938. See http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-GAYTONIAN-COUNTY-SCHOOL-HARROW-MAGAZINE_W0QQitemZ7019539273QQcategoryZ72342QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem and http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-GAYTONIAN-COUNTY-SCHOOL-HARROW-MAGAZINE_W0QQitemZ7019541673QQcategoryZ72342QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
any OGs who were involved with drama while at school, or are with an amdram group, might like to take a look at........ www.r-m-t.org/ohshit.html and see that other groups also have their problems!
Many thanks for the considered response to my request for a suitable reply to the figures printed in this week's press. I do hope that the school continues to improve and applaud the concept that OGs be asked how they can assist the school help raise its standards, compared to other schools in Harrow. My motivation is solely to initiate discussion and action to make the current establishment move towards the status that HGS had within the educational and local community.
Dr Laurence Lando
Superb response to Laurence Lando's entry, Jeff. (I do rather wonder why he needs to do it, but it does present the opportunity for such constructive, well-informed and encouraging contributions as yours.) I had coffee with Christine Lenehan a couple of weeks ago. It was an opportunity to thank her for all that she has achieved for the School and the reinforced bond with the OGA. She is leaving for a bigger and probably even more taxing appointment - so she must have been doing something right. By chance, I saw her "in action", dealing with some sinner who was being sent home by someone else. She was caring, gentle but firm and I understood how she has raised the level of behaviour and respect during her tenure. As someone who visits the School with some frequency, I would perhaps mention that all the students I meet always show courtesy and friendliness - and I don't just mean the senior ones who help out on such occasions as Remembrance Day. I, too, look forward to the benefits of a VIth form and anticipate a continued upward trend. The School may not become what it was in "our day", but nothing anywhere stays the same and I hope and expect that it will increasingly reflect the standards and pride which most of us have enjoyed. And if Christine should read this, thank you for the coffee, Christine, thank you again for all you have done and good luck in the future. I look forward to seeing you at future OGA Dinners as a fully fledged Old Gayt.
With reference to Laurence Lando's note - see below - I must politely and
respectfully disagree, because the School has progressed, although I agree with
the sentiment that we would all like to see the School do better.
1. The statistics, which are actually for 2005, are available on the
www.dfes.gov.uk website.
2. 28.3% of Harrow High School pupils who took GCSEs have special
education needs. In spite of this, the school achieved a value of 48% in the
GCSE table, a big jump from 33% the previous year. This is the % of 15-year olds
achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A-C.
3. The School is not bottom of the Value Added table for Harrow -
Salvatorian College has that distinction. It should also be noted that the
general levels in Harrow are well above the national average.
4. On Value Added, DfES says that if every pupil in a school
achieved the median for pupils with this level of prior attainment, the school
could score 1000. Harrow High scored 995.8 (This, I assume, is Laurence Lando's
96.0). DfES also says that a difference of 14.4 should not be regarded as
statistically significant. This means that the school is about par for the
course.
Nevertheless, we would all like to see the School do better. The staff are
working with the available material, a partially immigrant population with a
proportion who do not speak English as their first language, and they have
succeeded in a significant increase in GCSE passes. They do not have the
selective population that the School enjoyed up to 1975, which achieved
outstanding academic successes. Some of us believe that the re-establishment of
a Sixth Form in the school, starting this coming year, will help by providing an
older leadership in the student body and an atmosphere that includes more
advanced academic work.
What can the Old Boys (and now Girls) do to help?
Once again, with regret, I note that the current school comes bottom of the schools table in Harrow. English 55,Maths 61,Science 50. The one item I would long to see increased, is the 'added value' of the school. This alas is also bottom of the table at 99.6. I assume that 100 is no gain, and as such the pupils have had no apparent benefit from attending the school. I await the anticipated hystrionics, but would appreciate some informed response as to why the school fails to progress. Dr Laurence Lando
The 1952 photo of 2B shows Mr Charlesworth (Geography) Interestingly he was on one of the ships (Exexter, Achilles, Ajax?) that got the Graf Spee. I also remember him and Maurice Venn putting on a superb performance in "Rope"
Good to see the effort being put into the site. Thanks for that. Also great that the Old Gaytonians is still going strong. Will try to get to an OG dinner one year soon.
What has happened to the original 4th Harrow web data, please? It had some good stuff on it.
David (Morrison): your Crisp was of a quite different flavour. Nigel (NHS) was 'educated at Upingham School and St Johns College, Cambridge' (CV, Guardian, 22, November, 2000)
I learned in the last couple of days that Derick Richardson, a member of the very successful 1963 First XV died suddenly from a heart attack on March 7 at his home in Sutton Coldfield.
The timetable as Peter describes was correct in late 50s. Earlier, there was a small change. The afternoon periods were 40 minutes not 35 finishing school at 4pm. The change to a 3:45 finish occurred around 1958
I see Nigel Crisp has resigned his post running the NHS. I have a vague recollection of a Nigel Crisp in Form 1A (1956). He left after a year or possibly less. Is this the same person? David Morrison
Just to let everyone know that despite using Jeffrey's suggestion to use the word "at" in my email address, I have now been flooded by emails from our Nigerian friends again who are obviously monitoring this guestbook very closely. Are they just picking on me? Oh well...PV
"Pronuntiation" Shame on you Keith, "Twink" Bradley would turn in his grave - probably faster than the speed of light.
I see there is a Roland J King who was at school 1952-1958. When I arrived there were 3 masters called King:- W H (whiffy), R S (killer) and D J (D Jigh -rhymes with high - following the Square's pronuntiation). Did RJK get the same treatment from his fellow inmates?
With regard to timings of the day all the time I was at HCS, I am pretty sure of the following. We started at 9am, had lunch at 12.30, and ended at 3.45. I cannot remember the other details for the life of me, except that rugby in the first year seemed to go on for ever on cold afternoons. PV
Thank you gentlemen, was assembly really 25 minutes every day? Seeing Peter's message i was thinking 9.20-9.55 9.55-10.30 10.30-11.05 break 20 mins 11.25-12.00 12.00-12.35 lunch till 1.50 1.50-2.25 2.25-3.00 3.00-3.35. I remember running and usually missing a 183 bus later than that. I do remember many double and triple periods that made the morning break and lunch times more important.
Brian I remember those days - am I not right Grove Road was great becasue the girls scholl was the other side of the road?
I am trying to locate pictures for these years form 1c to 4c respectively and cannot see any. I still keep in touch with many friends from these days at gayton and will never forget Mr Gear allowing the cadets into the dining room first
Those long lunchtimes were invaluable and, to my mind, illustrate how those of the "hothousing" persuasion have got it so wrong. It was a chance to explore non-curricular interests and increase contacts with the like-minded - just as educational and formative as any formal lesson. It also kept you fit as I remember trekking off on long walks with fellow students over the hill - Mike T. Jon G. Mick C - or playing 20-a-side cricket with bits of broken desk on the Grove Fields - remember that? Regards to contempories Mr Lawson and Mr Hilsden who precede me here - two of the good guys I well remember.
The lunch break was not as long as indicated by Peter Lawson as afternoon registration was either 1.45 or 1.50pm before the first lesson of the afternoon. Anyone from my year going to the Old Gayts dinner??
Furtehr to Pete's timetable - all things changed in exam season - and lessons were longer because no assembly - cos the halls had exam paraphenalia in. Those were hard to cope with in the afternoon if you had lessons you disliked
Have read Colin Bridle's message. In my time:
Period 1: 0925 to 1000; period 2: 1000 to 1035; period 3: 1035 to 1110; Break: 1110 to 1125; period 4: 1125 to 1200; period 5: 1200 to 1235; Lunch: 1235 to 1400; period 6: 1400 to 1435; period 7: 1435 to 1510; period 8: 1510 to 1545.
Great site. Does anyone know the times of the morning and lunch breaks in the 70's I am sure we had over an hour and half for lunch but cannot remember details. I'm living in the States and my 13 yo son gets 30 minutes for lunch and no other breaks all day. Perhaps missing so many classes I lost track of the actual timetable. thank you
Ian Gawn, The dates you mention seem to be about right, but not realising that David was an OG I actually didn't know him that well. I only knew him as one individual that I came into contact on the odd occasion, in a building that at one time contained several hundred people. I can't comment on his prowess as an aeromodeller, but perhaps Mike Dean might be able to throw some light on the subject.
Roland King- is the David Ogilvie you mention the one who left about 1960 and lived in Pamela Gardens, Eastcote? If so, he was a great aeromodeller as I remember, and at one time he and his sister and parents adorned the National Savings posters around the country. Anyone else from Class of 55 going to the OG Dinner? Ian Gawn
Urgent - Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia is considering deleting it's article on Sidney Fooks! They are asking for opinions. Please go to the article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Fooks create a username if you don't have one already, and add your opinion on whether this article should be deleted or not.
Not the only "Snotty". Joined the "Andrew" as a volunteer on 1st December 1943 having worked for a year in the "Citadel" in Code And Cypher Section. Arrived at Butlin's Holiday Camp Skegness AKA Hms Royal Arthur. Soon became an Ordinary Coder and then passed out as a Midshipman (too young to wear the Stripe) and then Finished up on a stone frigate in Sydney OZ on staff of C in C BPF. Became Sub Lieut and stayed for a year and a half.How lucky can you get?
A small matter but remembering the rigours of that winter, I went to the Royal Naval College in Jan. '45, going to sea in July as a Midshipman (the lowest form of animal life in the RN). Two more snippets from the memory bank. And I do emphasise that the great majority of masters were respected or liked; sometimes both in the case of Fooks and 'Whiffy' Hay. I recall a maths master (who shall be nameless) who boxed our ears into terrified submission in our first term. Later, as a senior form we occupied the Old Music Room of Harrow School on the Hill. Here, the same master was unable to resist the temptation of the local hostelry, such not being available in Gayton Rd. Many years later I realised that the poor chap was probably an alcoholic. Perhaps there was something about the isolation of that Room that encouraged delinquent behavour. A biology master, 'Eggy', awoke our latent pubescent sexual awareness by setting a questionaire on our knowledge and proclivities, and then leading a discussion in open forum. In those days ( not now!) such a blatant departure from the syllabus would have appalled the school authorities and almost certainly resulted in his dismissal.
Yes before anyone mails me, the word in my last posting is 'centre' not 'sentre'. A slip of the finger I promise!
Hi All Catching up on recent posts. Paul Hymas, sorry I did not answer before. I think your question has been answered by Min and the message from Ruth Dennison the School Manager, although if there is anything else I can help with do ask. The photograph of the dining room is indeed the room/rooms directly opposite the clock on the upper landing. Originally you walked up a flight of about five steps opposite the clock and through swing doors into the dining room. The roll was originally 75 Boys so it was fairly easy to cater for two or three sittings (including Masters). Later, the room was split as mentioned, with the room on the left (the far room in the photo) being the male staff toilet, and the room on the right (foreground) being a learning support sentre. Over the years it has been the office of George Cowan and the ever young Beryl Chase. The School reception as was, is now immediately in front of the main door downstairs. The other photograph, showing the landing (with the steps up to the dining room to the left) is pretty much the same now. Although many people thought the clock was a fixture from the outset, it was actually only installed in 1932, as a memento of the 21st birthday of the school (see: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/clock.htm The two photographs are part of a postcard set of (we think) at least ten images, showing most areas of the school around 1914. For members of the OGA, two others were featured in the last Old Gaytonian Magazine, one on the front cover.
Mike Dean, Mike we must have worked together in WD house, on and off for the best part of 20 years but I never realised that you were an Old Gaytonian as well. I quite regularly look at the HCS web site and having a few minutes to spare tonight had a quick look and reading your mail on the site got quite a surprise. I was at HCS from 1952 to 1957 so our paths never actually crossed. Since leaving BKW I became aware that David Ogilvie was an OG. We will have something other than BKW (possibly A R Simpson etc) to talk about if we meet up at the next get together in April. Roland King
Hmmm a day after showing my email address on here disguised by REMOVENOSPAM, I still get our Nigerian friend contacting Peter "Min" Vincent to offer to empty my bank account. They must be desperate to listen to all the messages and filter out the REMOVENOSPAM... Min
(Editorial note - we are now trying something different. We suggest that you do type in your e-mail address, so that people can contact you, but type the word 'at' instead of the '@' sign. Like this: 'Square at btinternet.co.uk' instead of Square@btinternet,co.uk. )
I have looked at your webpage many times and it is great. I have been clearing out a few things at home and will pass a few bits of data to Jeffrey for inclusion in the website. Also from when I was secretary of the Old Boys Athletic Club I have some photos (1955 and 56)which includes a number of masters if anyone is interested I haven't been active in the Old Gayts for many years but spent a lot of time down at Sudbury for many years. I played rugby for them and indeed was in the first seven-a-side team to ever win a competition back in 1956. I have a photo of that infamous team if anyone is interested. I remain active in the game and having refereed for many years I now assess referees in the South East of England and come across Old Gayts all over the place. I have just retired partly age related and more critically through cancer which I am glad to report is now all sorted. As a Chartered Engineer I worked for a number of International Contractors all over the world and in some of the most remote parts I came across a number of Old Gays in that time. Most recently I spent two years working in China alonside another Old Gayt - David Ogilvy who has now moved from Crawley in sunny Sussex to the cold North of Scotland.
The dining room that Stephen Frost asks about was still in use in 1947 when I left the school. It was situated at the top of the stairs across from the "bench under the clock". In my time it was divided into two rooms known as "rooms 13 an 14" (?)and used as class rooms for small classes, mostly sixth form. Food was brought into one of the rooms (the right hand one going up the stairs) by means of the dumb waiter that ran in a shaft from the kitchen on the top floor (now the archive room), to an opening in the landing by the clock (see photo) and down to the basement. Boys caught climbing the shaft of the dumb waiter did not incur Randall Williams' pleasure. We had no table cloths but made do with oil cloth and there were certainly no flowers on the table that I recall ever seeing! the upstairs dining room was considered the preferred place to eat. The overflow diners ate from tables set up in the corridor outside what was then the New Physics lab that was on the basement level of the older part of the school. Except for the absence of the clock, the photograph of the landing with the 'bench under the clock' is much as I remember it, even the gas light was still there for several years after 1940. The older part of the school was lit entirely by gas until after the war. At one time it was the custom for various school groups and forms to give pictures to the school. These were all removed without comment or notice during the summer of 1945 or 1946 when the place was redecorated and the electric lighting installed. I recall there being a picture illustrating Chaucer's Canterbury Tales running most of the length of the bench under the clock. The pole with the suitable attachment at one end for opening and closing the sash windows and kept in each room, was also used for pulling the chains of the gas lamps to turn them off and on, provided the pilot light was still working.
With regard to the photo of the Dining Hall 1914, am I going mad or might this be George Cowan's office at the top of the stairs looking out into the quad with what were staff toilets in my time on the other side? I saw a lot of this room each day giving excuses about Gayton Fair returns et al... Min
Further memories: I am glad to read that Fooks is remembered. He
certainly had more influence over me than other masters. Difficult though
it might have been I think he actually liked his pupils
Birch, a maths master, was the school's scout
master. When we returned to the school after our 'evacuation' it was to
discover that the troop had been disbanded and that Birch was enjoying Her
Majesty's hospitality in Brixton.
Dr Williams was the head throughout my time. A
diminutive figure, quiet spoken, who ruled the school with a rod of iron.
One example: sometimes on the way to school the air raid siren would go
(probably a lone German droning overhead and hopelessly lost) and some of us
would take refuge in a underground shelter built into the hill opposite
Harrow station and we would have a marvellous time playing games until we became
hungry and emerged in time for the school lunch. After a few such
occasions Dr. Williams 'cleared lower deck' and informed us that we got to
school on time, air raid or no air raid.
The photos of the Dining Hall c. 1914 are amazing. But judging by the limited number of places, the glasses, water jugs and cruets, this must surely be the masters' dining area? And where in the school was it located? Stephen Frost (1963-70)
On a completely different matter, I am in the process of organising a youth production of Oliver! in aid of charity at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre Woking for late August. I am desperate to find an amateur adult Stage Manager with recent experience on a fairly serious scale. If anyone happens to be out there who might be interested, please can they contact me by email for more details? Thanks -- Min
In
reply to Paul's question about offering to help stage a big show at the school,
Ruth sent the following update last November (2005):
Dear Peter,
...
Our drama teacher has changed three times recently and the current lady, lovely
girl called Jennifer Cattini, is on maternity leave. All productions are halted
for the time being other than those required for GCSE.
I can understand your feelings that the stage is not being used to its fullest
and we certainly don't have all the wonderful expertise that was around in the
heyday of HCBS. Jennifer may well be interested in support to create a
production when she returns (not sure when as the baby was born this month).
Please may I pass your email on to her next year?
You may not know but plans are afoot to start up a sixth form again. One of the
options is Theatre Studies so hopefully we will have enthusiastic older
students.
...
Best wishes
Ruth H Dennison
==========
So watch this space, as "The Ruins" may yet have some life put back
into it!
Min
Perhaps my personal record be updated. '.....1945, gaining a place at Royal Naval College. Later Royal Naval Staff College and submarine Commander.'
Memoirs: 'When war broke out' boys studied at home for a term as the school, clearly, was an obvious target for air raids. On our return discovered some bright chaps had dug a line of trenches in the playing field alongside Gayton Rd. These became a death trap as they filled up with water and, at considerable cost to the war effort, had to be refilled with earth again.
Whilst I'm here, I'll pass comment on the recent subject of exam results...Let me cut and paste a small piece from my memories of Gayton High... 'One lasting memory was the end of term R.E exam, I scored a massive 6% but one member of our class managed a minus 2% mark! He had no interest in the subject and simply wrote his name and the date at the top of the page and sat daydreaming for the rest of the test. Unfortunately he got the date wrong and was docked 2% by the sadistic teacher.' ...Nuff said ?
Alex I know I'm asking about something that appeared on this board last summer but can you tell me if anything came of the project to put on a performance at HHS, with the stage hands etc being former pupils? I obviously haven't visited here for quite some time but I only ask as I've now returned to University and I'm taking a BA Hons Degree in Performing Arts. I was a stage hand back in my time at school and am learning a lot more (techinical side) on my degree. I am just wondering what ever happened with the original idea from the egmatic Mr Vincent. Paul H
Just received Don Kincaid's wonderful CD. Particularly liked the one about the vicar and the curate. I was taught French (and more enjoyably the guitar) by him in the 50's and he was cool even then. Does anyone know if he still performs?
DID YOU GET BACK YOUR PAVILION FUND MONEY ? I GAVE YOU MY WINNING GREYHOUND TIP ON VALENTINES DAY>HE OBLIGED AT 6/1. scroll back to see story,....10.30pm peterborough friday 17th 1st by 2,3/4 lengths my next greyhound will be called tis worth not birth! or woodpecker shoes, oh roll back the years. fratenal best wishes to all chums nigel
Good try Fred but I doubt either would apply to Fooks whose origins I believe were quite low on the social scale of the time starting out near Portland on the Dorset coast. I doubt he had much to do with public schools. We had a 'Nigger' but it was simply a corruption of 'Nigel'. We were innocent and unaware that any such terms might cause offence.
Sambo and Nigger were often given as nicknames at English Public Schools before the First World War to boys who had been born in Africa or India.
Thank you Colin for all the information about Fooks - far more than I ever expected. As I have mentioned before, I have always held him in high regard, both for his personal qualities and his ability as a teacher, and have regretted not keeping in toucb with him although we did correspond at the time of his 100 th birthday. He replied as if he actually remembered me, which was flattering. I cannot imagine how he came by the nickname of Sambo.
Yes, Brian. Beaky (or Sambo, as he liked to be called - a family nickname I could never bring myself to use; I just called him Sidney in correspondence and when we met) married Elsie first in, I think, 1919. I only met her once or twice and found her slightly patrician - perhaps just shy, but not strong. She died in the late fifties, early sixties and he later married her widowed sister, Beryl, a sweet and gentle woman who would greet me with quiet warmth then leave us to get on with our chat. She died, I think, in the mid-seventies. Sidney and Elsie had one daughter, Rosalie, who was of a mathematical or scientific bent and married a man called Chris something of similar training. They both worked at GCHQ at Cheltenham, which is why he moved down there, taking one of a pair of isolated cotttages of which Rosalie and Chris had the other at the time, although they moved on only a few years late. They had two children, Anne and Asher (as he now is) and retired and moved to Spain for Chris's health. I only met them once, at Beaky's 100th birthday celebration, which I attended with Cardew Robinson. When Beaky retired in 1952, he stayed for a while in his rented house in Lyon Road, Harrow, then moved to High Wycombe for some years. He never really settled there and was glad to move to Winchcombe in, I suppose, about 1958/60. He reckoned at the time that it would take twenty years to become accepted in this rural community. He managed that all right!
Searching the London Gazette is a bear!!!! There is some very good advice if you follow the LG link from: http://www.military-researcher.com/
SEE WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT SCHOOL MASTERS PHOTO 1991 xxxx me ,where are the gowns?, xxxx me, there are women, xxxx me, there are cosmopolatain [ars speak] elements [even people of a different skin tone]. i remember masters being told to have haircuts and wear their gowns!! WHERe DID IT ALL GO WROND MR SIMPSON? [to quote george best]
TIME TO GET BACK YOUR PAVILION FUND MONEY. I invested it in a greyhound,they said i could not call it pavilion fund as the name was taken by ars simpson and his trainer col bingham. Next time surelines expert[name a tax dodge]runs at peterborough it will take an act of parliament to beat it[or a few ex masters..we know the names...] Be lucky friends,tis worth not birth be that our battle cry.. what are we supposed to spurn? oh yes a lie, across the years best wishes to you all nigel morley
Re 'Beaky' Fooks, you can view the London Gazette on line at: http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ For some reason, when I typed in 'Sidney Fooks', 'Sidney Frank Fooks' or just 'Fooks' it came up with nothing on him. It found him under 'Frank Fooks'! I was surprised to see him with the RFC as well, although he can not have been a flyer or he would have worn an aircrew badge with his WW2 HCS ATC uniform. He was probably attached or posted in on the Admin side.
When Fooks was off ill for better part of a term in early 1944 we learned he had suffered a nervous breakdown and assumed it was a result of his war experiences combined with the stress of teaching in yet another war. He looked very ragged when he returned. I would imagine that his convalescence in Scotland in association with a group of poets would have done as much towards his recuperation as anything the doctors did, except for curing the boils - weren't they one of the afflictions Job suffered from? I know nothing of his private life but assumed he must have married. Was he married more than once? Did he have children?
'Have a few names and war time tales if of interest.
Fascinated to read Chris Rickwood's account of SFF's MC award. His medical treatment was precipitated by a huge erruption of boils which totally ioncapacitated him. His subsequent transfer to Craiglockhart suggests an enlighted (for the time) recognition that the condition arose from combat stress. Rehabilitated, he spent the last months of the war trying to train irredeemably incompetent and ageing recruits - some of whom, for example, could not swing one arm forward with the opposite leg when marching. It was at this time that he met his first wife, Elsie. I hadn't known that he transferredto the RFC
I agree with Brian about Sidney Fooks war. Its interesting that he was awarded the M.C. for cumulative bravery etc in July 1917. But by June 1917 he was admitted to Craiglockhart War Hospital. That hospital I believe only dealt with 'shell shock' victims. The Military Command in WWl were very inclined to regard shell shock as malingering. The fact that the medal was awarded later clearly shows that he must have been very well regarded.
Many thanks to you all for the information about Fooks. I have a great respect for the man and often wondered about his military career. I did not know him in retirement as I have lived abroad for many years but did correspond with him occasionally. The mere fact that he alone of all the officers survived the battle of Somme says enough to merit the award. He must have lived through some terrible experiences.
Hope this isn't a duplicate post - having computer problems
More on Sidney Frank Fooks
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 4 JUNE, 1917, Page 5479
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the
undermentioned rewards for distinguished service in the field : -
AWARDED THE MILITARY CROSS.
2nd Lt. (actg. Capt.) Sidney Frank Fooks, Lond. R.
------------------
The date of the London Gazette is notable - Birthday Honours were usually
announced on this day, and this is what happened here. There is no citation for
these, as they were classed as Periodic Awards, rather than Immediate Awards for
a specific act or acts of gallantry.
He was one of many thousands of young men who received their officer training at
the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps, and he entered that unit on 15 Jul
1915, serving with the 4th and 5th Companies with Regimental Number 4849. After
commissioning on 15th Nov 1915, he was posted to the 12th (County of London)
Battalion, London Regiment (Rangers). His address is given by the Inns of Court
OTC as
49 Meadow Road, Salisbury.
It's possible you might find him mentioned in the battalion history, which is
"The Rangers' Historical Records: From 1859 to the Conclusion of the Great War",
edited by Capt A V Wheeler-Holohan and Capt G M C Wyatt, 1921, 272 pp, if you
have access.
I did find details of Sidney Fooks medal. The National Archives has medal cards for World War I. If you go to this link: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp you can do an Advanced Search, type in Sidney Frank Fooks and see that he was a Second Lieutenant in the London Regiment, (which was his regiment when he was at Craiglockhart in 1917). However, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corp and was promoted first to Lieutenant, and then to Acting Captain.
I too have been unable to find details of his M.C. but I think the trauma he suffered is shown by the fact that in 1917 he was treated at Craiglockhart War Hospital, which was solely for the victims of 'shell shock' as it was then known.
Beaky Fooks was not exaclty self-effacing but he was certainly a modest man. I knew him very well in his latter years, visiting him regularly in Corndean, near Winchcombe, and I would say that he had a very good sense of humour. There were time when he would positively chortle over something which amused us both. In class he would be ready to smile, but he was serious in an equable way about teaching, and jokes were not part of his professional armamentarium. As for his military career, he would only talk of it later in life, confiding to me once that the horror of WW1 ruined his middle years. He became increasingly communicative in his nineties, not only to me but also to researchers and archivists collecting first-hand acounts from survivors. Remember, he was 103 when he died and he probably felt that he owed it to his fallen comrades to go on record. He never told me the story of his MC, but he was the only officer in his battalion to survive the second Battle of the Somme and it may have had something to do with that. His best accounts of the war are in his verse. He was not the poet he would have liked to be, although he wrote something like a dozen "slim volumes" which he distributed to friends (and was pleased to receive donations to LEPRA in appreciation), but the best poems were a few written about the war, some deeply moving.
Fooks was a very self-effacing type and I am sure he did his best to cover up the record of his gallantry. Nevertheless he wore the ribbon on his ATC uniform so I am sure he earned it. I wonder if he was with another regiment when he earned the decoration.
It is an interesting story regarding Fooks' Military Cross. I have tried to find the details of why he was awarded it, but strangely there is no record at all of anyone with his name or Regiment being awarded one during WW1 in the London Gazette (where Military gallentry awards are recorded).
Sidney Fooks was an inspiring teacher of English. He never spoke of his experiences in WW1 but there is clearly an interesting story here. He must have survived life in the trenches to have reached the rank of captain. We have never learned the circumstances leading the the award of his medal. While some masters would regail us with tales of their experiences in the war, Fooks was always silent and would turn the question. He was always pleasant and controlled the class well (no mean achievement) but I do not recall ever seeing him laugh. He might have smiled occasionally. He never mentioned any family.
Looking at the 1991 Staff Photo, I'm trying to imagine Simpson's reaction if he'd lived to see it!
Brian Hester's mention of Sidney Fooks reminded me of the BBC news story that I saw this week about the poet Wilfred Owen and the Craiglockhart War Hospital. Sidney Fooks was admitted to the Craiglockhart War Hospital in June, 1917. See: http://nulis.napier.ac.uk/SpecialCollections/CraigCon/WarPoets/hydra/Hyo05/hyo05a09.htm The BBC article is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4689300.stm
These tales of low marks reminds me of Fooks, our English master. He always marked essays 'out of twenty' but few of us ever achieved double figures. When Fooks was ill for the better part of a term, we were taught by 'Twink' Bradley who told us how bright we all were and what great essays we wrote. When Fooks finally returned to work he marked everything again virtually dividing Twink's marks by two. In this case, I believe Fooks' behaviour was simply a ruse to get us to work harder.
The subject of exam results brings to mind my days of studying German. I was put in the top set after gaining 93% on my first test. For the next year I struggled, just starting to learn something before we moved on to the next chapter. Despite my pleas to be moved down a set, I remained where I was. When it came to the exams, I got 3% and my friend John Bingham 1%. I had no qualms, having discarded any interest long before, but John had opetd to study it at O - Level. Miss Bowden's face was a picture!
On the subject of exam results, I think the more interesting ones are those like my 3% in Chemistry in 1962, on which the report said merely "disappointing." How true. I was however not bottom, an honour I seem to recall was enjoyed by one Johnny Hall. Happy days.
David Barker should be grateful for being second with 99%. In an Applied Maths "exam" set by Lefty Wright in 1966, 12 of the set got 100% and the poor schmuks with 99% were all 13th equal!!
never knew this existed (and im a regular@the O.G.'s golf days) be nice to browse down memory lane!!!!
Stumbled on the site by reference to someone's CV. What a trip down memory Lane! Well done all concerned. Greetings to anyone who remembers me.
Talk about the pupil who got zilch in a Latin exam reminds me about the time I got 99% in third form Latin under Ubi Lane. I was feeling dead chuffed with myself until I found out a classmate had got the full monty - 100% ! Balderstone, you bar steward, you! David Barker
In the list of IIIB for 1939 S.D. Williams (Selwyn)is stated to have possibly come from Bridge School Wealdstone. I can confirm that he did - one of six including me.
200,000 hits! Congratulations, Jeff.
Thanks to Mike Boggis for his report on John Hart, who did wonders for my Latin in 3B that were subsequently undone by exposure to Ubi Lane. As I recall, Mr Hart started that first year as a bit of a martinet but quickly loosened up.
Had not looked on site for a while saddened so see chris elvin had passed away.john claytons piece was spot on,in science in our year chris,paul[nurse]john[whittington]and myself vied to be top dog but i always felt chris was the brightest.i tryed to act the fool,as ken elvy said to me how did we all become so conventional prehaps chris never did!
THOSE WHOM THE GODS LOVE THEY TAKE FIRST.
love to hear from old comrades
nigel morley
[yes im still a gambler,brought a greyhound with the pavilion fund money,
now you know where it went!]
.
Those at HCS between 1958 & 1960 may be interested to know that I have recently been in touch with John Hart, who taught French, Histoty, RE & Latin during that period. John was my form master on entering the school via Form 1D in Sept. '58, and as such he made an big impression on me. He also taught me Latin and French that first year and Latin in year 2. I recall being rather in awe of this extremely well-spoken and well-turned-out young man who seemed so knowledgable and self-assured. Thus it came as a considerable surprise to learn that his post at HCS was his first job of any kind after getting out of National Service and my first day at HCS was also his first day of working for a living. John continued his career in education until retirement in 1992, when he stepped down as DHM from Westcliff High School for Boys in Essex, after 29 years there. He and his wife Averil continue to live not far away in Suffolk. I remember him with considerable fondness; along with Jim Golland and John Bodiam, he was one of the good ones.
Wally Vendome's note about the impending reunion of his old form reminds me that we are planning a reunion in May of 2A 1940 entry. Mike Hornby is handling the arrangements.
I'm whiling away a Saturday afternoon and found myself re-reading the various reminiscences of Dr. Simpson to be found on this site including the one I wrote in October 2001. I tried to be fair to Dr. Simpson and to set him in the context of his time but I was highly critical of him and said that he was a very odd man indeed who seemed to be at war with most of his pupils. Since writing this piece I've had the benefit of several conversations, both face to face and on-line, with former members of staff. For what it's worth, I'd just like to say that I wouldn't change a word.
A little bit of history was made at Christmas with the retirement of the last member of staff from Harrow County School, and one of the first from Gayton High. Some of your may recall Sue Pullen, who joined the Art Department in 1973 under Norman Anderson. She later became Sue Hather and then Sue Cavanagh after marrying her department colleague John Cavanagh. John also retired, having joined Gayton High in 1975. John has had some minor heath problems of late, so we wish him well. News also came in today of the death in 2003 of Colin Johns, who taught at Harrow County twice, firstly in the 1950s and again in the late 1960s/early 1970s.
Steve Green - you were not the chap I had in mind when I referred to 0 in Latin. The other chap remains anonymous. Unless there were two noughts -another string to the bow of Mr T J Jones, perhaps... Michael.
This is a good time to write a note about the year just ended. In August, several ex HCS pupils from Form 2C, 1943 entry, had a small re-union, together with wives, at a hotel near Oxford. The purpose of writing this to the website is not only to record the event, but also to express the hope that others from our 1943 -2C intake to HCS may see it, get in touch, and come along to join the small band of survivors. Those of us able to get there were :– Bob Blackburn, Bill Bowley, Roy Goldman (all the way from Australia!), Manny Lee, Dennis Rudd, Roy Street, and Wally Vandome. (Lots of photos were taken!) Some of us had not met for nearly 60 years, but made contact via Email and this website. In addition to the names above, we are also in contact with John Cooley, Colin Goldbart, and Peter Hutcherson, but unfortunately they could not come along last August. We hope they, and others will be able to make it next time. There has also been contact with Stan Miller who now lives in Australia. It is sad to record that our various enquiries indicate that Peter Rice, Derek (Wally) Hammond, and Harry Jones are no longer living (at least, to the best of our combined information), and we did hear the same of Sid Porter. Sincere apologies if these comments are wrong – any further news would be welcome. In that context, it may be worth recording here, as Roy Goldman has remembered, that way back in 1943/44 Dr. Hartland (Sorbo), during a French lesson, referring to the book which we were using “En L’an Deux Mille” – commented----- “The year 2000 - some of you may see it – I certainly shall not!” And here we are in 2006! Those of us who were able to attend in August all thoroughly enjoyed the occasion as did our wives too, and so we hope that we may be able to arrange a repeat gathering, with more people attending, sometime in 2006. Any news of others from the 1943 entry, Form 2C will be very welcome - it will only take an Email message to make contact!
Steve Green's recollection of Latin classes reminds me of a lad in our group who, when asked to conjugate the verb "possum" - I am able, proceeded to treat the word as a noun, incidentally demonstrating that he was not able. The lad immediately earned himself the nickname "poss".
After reading the Reminiscences of Michael Schwartz 1965 1972 it seems that the comment about one other pupil gets 0 in Latin he wrote two words and got them both wrong declares Michael Mendelblatt was me However it did help me achieve a lot of free periods down the road to dedicate to various other non academic activities
