This is definitely the last posting today - someone has asked where the name "Mini" (or sometimes "Min") came from...
Richard Salter invented the name when I played football [illegally for a 1st Former] in Outer Quad in the same group as my elder brother Nick. In true HCS fashion, instead of just calling me "Peter", a new name was invented originally "Mini Vincent" - as my brother was "Vincent"!
PV
I forgot to mention...
I am in contact with one Tony Kirkland who left HCS after a scholarship year in around 1958 before going to University. If anyone remembers him, please contact me and I will pass the info on (he isn't on email as far as I know). I just happened to find myself sat next to him at work in 1988...
He says he was on the Honours Board - but the recent photos don't show this period. Can anyone confirm his story?
PV
Memories of HCS Stage Lighting 1969-1971
I will close my postings with a few words about the team behind the Stage Lighting at HCS in those days...
For the benefit of modern stage lighting engineers, it really was a team effort from start to finish - with everyone who wanted to be involved right through to the performance itself. And if you look at programmes from the time you will see a large lights staff - and not just for the hours of work in getting the settings prepared (which we did from scratch every time). We had to PERFORM the lighting changes just as much as the cast performed the play, as all the dimming was manual with no presets. There were around 40 channels if I remember correctly, some of which could be switched 2 or 3 ways. A complex lighting change could involve:
a. One person following the script and calling the cues. b. One or two people (sometimes three) on the dimmers of the main board. c. One on the second set of dimmers which were on the facing wall (from the old HCGS board I believe). d. An additional person to adjust gel-changer settings. e. In the middle of all this some of the patching might have to be changed so dimming on the main board might include some faster dimming to zero, switch to another outlet, then dim up to finish at about the same time as everything else!
We used to call lighting changes the "Dimmer Dance", although Richard Bunt coined the term on Alan Munns' antics to synchronise the lighting effects of the "Drum Break" during a particular ChrisEnts - which people watching from the audience would have had no idea was achieved manually with zero gizzmoes!
Anyone else out there with same time, earlier, or later experiences to add?
Peter Vincent
Academic Memories...
My last year at HCS was in Chris O'Donoghue's Vi form (see picture from 1971 [it says 1972 but I am sure it was taken at the start of the year before my accident at Xmas]) which were the schools academic failures (although full marks to those that got out of this cycle) - BUT you will see at least two Merit ties (with the badge on a plain green background) and several Colours ties (with the single diagonal band). There are also some proudly wearing their CCF badges - Simon Goodes in particular who dedicated himself to the Navy section. Others were to get awards later in the year...
However, I am now BA(Hons) [1st Class from Open University] and MBCS in case anyone is interested... I wish someone had managed to talk me into starting my academic career while I was still at HCS, as I realised soon after leaving that I wasn't a Dunce after all despite a career in the "D" stream and could have got to at least a decent University if not Oxbridge itself.... But miss the Lights Staff (see earlier posting)?
Other teaching staff worthy of mention IMHO: - The Head (Mr. Avery) who pulled some strings to get me into an Electronics course at Willesden Tech (also the Electrical Engineering head's son, one Dunmore who was a pupil at HCS, also helped but I never knew him as far as I know). It was this chance, bypassing the normal entry requirements, which put me on the road to eventual academic success. - Mr. Cowan (Deputy Head)- who was 100% fair to everyone, and knew the names of all the nearly 1,000 pupils. "The Ploughman Homeward Plods His Weary Way"... - Mr. Golland, who I suspect was one of the few who had higher hopes for me than most and put up with my continual absences during the Diamond Jubilee year on Lighting duties. He also dragged my set to A Midsummer Night's Dream on a beautiful summer evening in Hyde Park - which might not have helped the exam results much but was much appreciated. - Mr. Deakin - who despite being one of the first masters without a degree when he first came (1966 or 1967), was THE Physics teacher. - Mr. Lafferty - being taught Burns and Macbeth by a Scot, even if I couldn't understand a word, was a delight! - Mr. Taylor - the long suffering form master of 4D who did his best to make our lives tolerable. - Mr. Chris O'Donoghue - the same for Vi, plus in the Scouts I had the pleasure of his footballing abilities (I believe he was a 'Pro at one time). - Mr. Arthur Haley - those unforgettable end of term flourishes on the organ after assembly.
If anyone remembers me, please get in touch.
Peter Vincent
Memories of a Flying Lighting Engineer 1971...
Few distinctions while at HCS, although Stage Lighting enthusiast - especially during Diamond Jubilee year (1971). Had a leading role in most of the big lighting challenges of that year (Hamlet, Bartered Bride to name just two), along with Mr Jim Maddison, Richard Bunt, Paul Lewis - not forgetting the girls Catherine Davies, Jane Deal and Ann Richie - and their minder Miss Elisabeth and another generation of up and coming boys and girls to take over after we moved on, including Tubby Taylor and Jackie Cooper (and the musical Carl Jackson in the generation after them?), who had to do a lot of the donkey work...
Going back to me, I am probably most famous to the general population at the two HC schools for the swallow dive at HCGS while fixing up their lights which finished my lighting career at the end of 1971... and put an end to any hopes of decent O level results...
A couple of years ago I helped with the lighting for a school North of London. How different it was to HCS - the teachers did a Le Mans start at 4pm when the car park emptied leaving volunteers like me to provide some outside school activities for the children (I had no link with the school and was just helping a friend while stuck in digs during a long contract). However, the children weren't allowed to do anything - electricity is too dangerous, ooh that's too high up [even on the most stable platform I have ever seen]... The kids were allowed to do the operating (low voltage remote control affair) - but as they had no part of the build up they were not that interested.
So I take my hat off to Norman Tyrwhitt, Jim Maddison, and Harry Mees who had to take the can when I had my fall at the end of 1971. The HCS kids (Stage and Lights) WERE allowed to do the full business from start to finish which included high voltage (remember when you made the footlights live Tubby?) as well as aerial and rope work. We were all trained during an apprenticeship period by the older ones before being allowed to do anything serious and mine was the only accident I can remember - although nowadays I wonder why we didn't at least wear harnesses which would have left me high and dry but in one piece [100% recovered thanks]. Not to mention Harry's Beam Team (which Alistair Muir talked me into joining one Scout Show) - 20 ft up in almost pitch darkness on three beams and a small catwalk. I see on the photos that those beams are hidden now, so obviously the current crew aren't allowed to fly. However - the challenge was part of growing up and I did at least leave HCS as a young and wiser adult.
If anyone remembers me, please get in touch!
Peter Vincent
Anyone who remembers the aircraft spotters circa late sixties (see photo on this site) is invited to join us for a beer or three at the Lord Moon of the Mall pub in Whitehall just off Trafalgar Square on 11th July from 6 p.m. We will move on at about 7.30 in search of more beer and perhaps a meal so bring lots of cash! Hope to see some long-lost (but not forgotten!) faces!! Contact me for any more details.
I have just discovered this wonderfully entertaining site and have spent a couple of hours already looking through the contents. My years were 1950-1956 and I am therefore in the full set of form photos for the start of the 1955/56 year - in AVIMod.
I can add some more information and anecdotes to some of the items I have so far read from your contributors.
I remember W E "Billy" Duke's "throw a log at it". He also used to describe a polygon as a dead parrot! As a result of this I have spent a lifetime annoying people with my poly-puns; e.g. polyfilla is parrot food, etc.
There are numerous wonderful instances of Dr Simpson's way with words. He once pronounced "budgerigar" as if it was the title of a pop song (of the 40's?). As one of your letters already says, he expected every pupil to join either the cadets or the school scout troop and used to take it as a personal affront when some didn't. One day the cadets were parading on the school field and some boys did a bit of barracking. The next day Simpson denounced them in assembly and said that they were "cynics, saboteurs and non-conformists". After that there were three ways to describe a boy at the school. He was a cadet, a scout or a non-conformist!
I note that one of the letters says that Col(?) Bigham - he was a Major when I was there - was the only master to use the cane (this in the mid 60's?). In the early 50's the ruler and the cane were used quite frequently and by quite a few of the masters (as I know from personal experience!).
KJA
Re: Alex's 'request'. It just goes to show that The Mail is way behind the Times... Hello Alan Springford too - it's about time you surfaced!
Great site. Pictures of people I haven't seen for 30+ years.
My memories of music classes go back twice as far as Chris Harman's. We didn't do singing and music much then either and we had Sammy Watson to contend with rather than a glamorous young lady! My sole memory of the classes was of being asked to find middle C on the piano and being told to try just above the key hole! Enjoyment of singing, at least to my own ears, came a decade or so later when I cultivated the art of drinking beer and I learned a whole range of songs not considered appropriate for use in schools. In later life I learned to play a little on the recorder with my children, which I rather enjoyed. Perhaps we should have been doing that in music classes rather than what was attempted. What was attempted?? Fooks introduced me to classical music in English classes when he played records of the incidental music to Midsummer Night's Dream.
Today (Friday 29th) have just had another call about Mr P. This time from the Mail on Sunday who want to to do a piece on'Politicians at School'.
Another plug for HCS!
I had vowed never to leave any comments, my feelings having been already summed up by a previous correspondent with the entry “I’ve spent 28 years trying to get over the experience of Harrow County – and now this”. However my psychiatrist is a great believer in aversion therapy.
Rachelle Goldberg’s contribution and Ray Symons memories of that Music examination have prompted me to say something we should have said a long time ago. Rachelle, I’m sorry for the way we treated you. But you see, 3D just don’t do singing, not then (and speaking for myself) not now. I seem to remember you found that out on your very first lesson with us. You announced we would start the lesson by singing an aria of which you were particularly fond. You got us to open our mouths all right, but that was more from shock. We stood up to sing (you thought this would be a good idea as it would help with our breathing!), and what came out, I’m sure, even Fat Boy Slim would have trouble doing something positive with.
Still, there is more to Harrow County than music lessons………which is a shame actually.
PS John Young fails to mention that his 6% in the music examination actually placed him 11th out of 68.
Hi Colin, 'Potillo'? Is there something we don't know? M
The school is also given a name check in today's Telegraph (28/06/01) in an article about Portillo. It mentions the others around him in his year and his starring role as a corpse in a school play.
When I have more time I will post more of the article.
Steve
For those who haven’t seen it, the Sunday Times carried a piece by columnist Godfrey Smith. It was particularly about modern family preference for “having the children at home”, rather than sending them away to boarding school.
He went on, “Keeping them at home saves a pot of money. Take Harrow, whose inner workings are being unfolded to us now in a new lTV series. There is an alternative down the hill. It started life as Harrow County School in 1911 and has long been on terms of friendly rivalry with its great neighbour. It was invited to send a team to play Harrow rules football - the only school ever to get such an invitation – and lost by one goal.
“Harrow on the Hill draws its boys from all over the world; its namesake simply from the borough of Harrow – sometimes from very poor families. That hasn’t stopped it from turning out Sir Paul Nurse, director-general of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund; Sir Nigel Scheinwald, UK permanent representative at the EU; Clive Anderson, the television presenter: Geoffrey Perkins, head of comedy at the BBC; and Michael Potillo.
“Harrow County lost its way when it went comprehensive in 1975 as Gayton High School (although ti did turn out cricketers such as Mark Ramprakash and Angus Fraser), but it is back on track since relaunching as Harrow High, a mixed comprehensive, three years ago.
“Meanwhile, the bright boys from Portillo’s year have not forgotten the debt they owe their alma mater. When they left they gave a slap-up dinner in the school canteen – all they could then afford – to their old headmaster, Roy Avery, and his teachers.
“Twenty years on they gave a glittering dinner for them in the House of Commons. That’s how they feel about The Other Place at Portillo’s place.”
(The logic doesn’t bear too much examination, but it’s nice to have such a plug for the School – then and now – in the biggest and most prestigious Sunday broadsheet.)
Peter Lawson wrote about playing football in the inner quad and said "I once sweatily received a ferocious volley from Mr Marchant". Personally, I'll always remember Bernie for his incredible overhead or "bicycle" kick. With his gown billowing around him, he would put Robbie Fowler to shame. I heard theat BM had given Watford's Nick Wright some coaching before the Div 1 play off final a couple of years ago. Nick's opening goal in that match certainly bore all the trademarks of a "Bernie Special".
Hi! Your photo of "Form 2? 1965" is actually Form 2B. I was in that class. I am third from the right in the middle row.
I'll see if I can ID a few other names and send them to you. Right now I think I see Brian Webster (5th from the left, middle row), Andrew Boxall (2nd from the left middle row), and Anthony Bradley, on the right end of the bottom row.
I think the boy 4th from the left in the top row might be ???? Welch. And 6th from the left in the top row might be Michael (?) Chadwick.
Also, I think the boy at the very end on the left of the top row is ?????? Wyatt. Cruelly, we used to call him "Jumbo".
FYI I have been living in Chicago for the last 21 years and I work in the Foreign Exchange Department for Bank One.
Well done on the WebSite. Very nostalgic!
I remember Rachel Golberg's music lessons, organised chaos seems like the best description. It must have been hard for her trying to control a bunch of boys who had no interest in music. I remember the earlier mentioned exam, if I remember correctly I got 5% and Kevin Peter (Baldi) got 4%. Also I saw an earlier mention on Mick Cook, more affectionaly known as Skin. He was my form teacher in 3D 1971 and if more teachers had been like him I probably would have done better at school.
In response to Rick Fletcher's discourse about lattice balls: I still have two left, but I've moved on from that sort of thing now. At least six games of football would go on widthways and concurrently on the inner quad, no-one being perturbed by what now seems to me the totally unacceptable confusion of there being no pitch markings, no player identification etc. Drainpipes for goalposts, if you were lucky. I once sweatily received a ferocious volley from Mr Marchant in C4 for being uniformedly dishevelled and in particular for allowing a lattice ball to bulge and tear my blazer pocket. Like Rick, I have noticed the soft tones of the pergolas, walkways and potted rubber trees that have supplanted Osgood and Chivers.
My last year at school was Dr. Simpson's first. I remember the subuded ripple of mirth that followed his arrival at his first assembly wearing a mortar board. Assemblies at the time were still held in the old hall where the layout obliged the staff to walk in from the back and walk through the lines of boys tot he stage. I don't think 'Square' was too amused at the greeting. He made it quite clear that he intended tightening things up but I believe he gave up on us older boys who had just be nurtured to a year under Crowle-Ellis's very liberal approach. Rick Jamieson wonders what the staff thought of the new era. My impression at the time was that the older ones who had all joined the school in the twenties as young men under Randall-Williams, were now close to retirement and evidently decided to stay on for the few year remaining to them. Quite a few of the younger ones moved on at the end of the first year. The ATC had been a flourishing organization but was summarily terminated and replaced with Army Cadets under Bigham who arrived with Simpson. None of the staff who had contributed to ATC joined the Cadets. Only one of our number made the switch to the cadets as I recall and that was because he was offered the seargant major's job! I was a prefect at the time and recall not long after his arrival there was a huge uproar when 'Square' caned one of the senior boys as the result of a badly handled situation which I still think should have been settled amicably without violence. There was talk of general resignation by the prefects but we were talked out of it by Brister who was senior master. 'Square's' response was that 'it was a clear case for corporal punishment'. House concerts were then a ritual at the end of the autumn term. Mick Hornby and I wrote a skit for Weldon House entitled "Mutiny on the County" in which Captain Bligh, speaking with a strong Scottish accent, announced that the behaviour of several of his crew "was a clear case for keel-hauling". Early next term the announcement was made that some of the acts 'were not up to standard' and house concerts would be discontinued for a while. From what others have written about later experiences, we were lucky to get away with it so lightly!
As it seems important to put in a good word for the junior school we all came from I would like to mention Belmont Juniors, quite simply the best, nothing more needs to be said. Move over all you others, Belmont was unbeatable
Neil
Jez Newell where are you to back me up here!
Paul Romney's description of Jim Golland's apparent embarrassment at one of Square's rants raises an interesting question, which I see has been mentioned before.
What did the master's make of the Square regime ?
Picking up on Richard Fletchers comments regarding the Sunday Times article, I was contacted by Godfrey Smith who had seen the start of the Series on Harrow School on ITV (Might only be the London area). He wanted to compare the two suggesting that with the people HCS turned out, why would you want to pay £18,000 a year to go to the place on the Hill? The final comment was to be along the lines of "If you cant afford Harrow, Harrow High (as now is) is the next best thing!!" This was ammended when I pointed out Harrow High is now a mixed comp and far removed from the HCS days!!
Just found your web page from Friends Reunited. I was at HCS 1956 - 63 and then onto Bristol University to do Chemistry. From there I have been in Plastics. Excellent to see photos from the 90th Birthday - I would have come if I had known about it! Jim Golland brings back memories of my aweful Eng. Lit.! I live in the Midlands now but feel free to contact me. Regards Robert
Does anyone else remember the assembly at which Square shared his joy at attending a Buckingham Palace garden party? He described seeing from afar the Queen wheeling Prince Andrew (I think) in a push-chair. "A gracious Lady, head of a great Empire," he rhapsodized. Five years or so after Suez, this was too much for even a moderately critical mind, and his sentimental eloquence instantly foundered in an upsurge of jeering.
No one has yet mentioned Square's open anti-semitism. I suppose the big influx of Jews must have occurred during his headship. It was Pete Fowler, I recall, who told us how Square had complained to his (Pete's) brother that too many Jews were coming top of the class. I recall the headmaster stalking into a classroom where some of us sixth-formers were exercising our option to eschew Games. His baleful glance swept over us. "Not all Hitler's ideas were bad," he remarked, explaining that he meant the Nazi cult of physical fitness; but some of us were unconvinced. Besides, I for one would have been glad to turn out for a bracing game of soccer, had not that plebeian option been foreclosed by his snobbish impulse to emulate the school on the Hill.
Harrow County in the early 1960s was an institution at war with itself. The drive for Oxbridge success could not be achieved without nurturing our critical intelligence, which was done with particular success in English. Inevitably, the intoxicating practice of critical inquiry prompted us to challenge the stale and snobbish conformism that the regime also sought to impose. In retrospect, one recognizes the regime's dilemma as typical of tyrannies that feel the need to modernize, and Square, like many a tyrant, could not quite bring himself to grin and bear it.
In Adv. VI Arts (1961-2), some of us disseminated a mildly subversive magazine called The Seeker. Soon afterwards, Square stamped into one of Jim Golland's double periods (Volpone, I think it was) and lectured us for an hour on our iniquity. Jim sat on a desk at the front of the room, wrapped in his capacious gown, trying to pretend he wasn't there. At one point Square turned to him and addressed him grimly as "Mr. English Master." Was it then or another time that he denounced us as "the arty-crafty Communist mob"?
Picking up on Geoff Plow / Peter Lawson comments regarding Kenmore. Can I claim honorary membership of the Kenmore fraternity, having started at the primary school in 1962, which must have been the same time as you Peter on the basis that we joined HCGS in 69. Never made it to the junior school as the family moved out of the borough for a few years, returning to Kenton to enter HCGS via Elmgrove with Danny Thomas, Simon Rosenberg and Peter Barker.
Peter have you preserved a collection of those small plastic balls with holes that we were mandated to use for football in the inner quad? Specially designed to preserve the school infrastructure, but useless for the Beckhamesque free kick, or was it the Bobby Charlton thunderbolt in those days.
Incidentally I observed during the school tour at the recent birthday bash, that the current masters - or should they now be called teachers - have come up with a cunning plan to prevent football in the inner quad. A covered walkway, which appears to be based on the Kapellbrucke at Lucerne but missing the pictorial panels, divides the quad in two. To one side have been added "picnic tables" useful for trading Pokemon cards, the other a life size chess set; presumably in order that the school can assemble on the first floor corridors overlooking the quad to view the chess club in action.
As a matter of interest HCGS was featured in an article in the Sunday Times 17th June.
RF 69 - 76
Congratulations on a wonderful piece of work. I have enjoyed browsing and I am just a little disappointed that my years in the school are so thinly represented. I spent my working life in schools in Warwickshire initially in King Edwards School Nuneaton and latterly at Kenilworth Grammar school which became Kenilworth school in 1975 - the largest and most successful Warwickshire Comp. I retired in 1997 as Head of Castle Sixth Form Centre. I was at HCS between 1939-47.
In reply to Colin Dickins request for more sporting highlights.
Steve Rigby (68-75 ??): Middx Rugby, England School Trial??, Wasps ?? Great wing forward - school rugby captain - good bloke!!
Dave (Beb) Thomas (70-77 ??): Middx Rugby, England Schools (pretty sure of that). Strangely enough I think the same spec as Steve ie: Great wing forward - school rugby captain - good bloke!!
By the way Beb was younger brother to Danny Thomas - who I remember well as a fun/funny/great tackling and running full-back, and the 'conductor' of the Glenn Miller Orchestra in the ChrisEnts of 1975 which was mentioned in the pictures area.
I was selected for Midddx Schools in 1975-6 season - but could not play that game!!
I'm pretty sure that in those few years there were some others for both Rugby and Athletics.
COLIN DICKINS ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS
colin@north-wood.demon.co.uk Date: 6/15/01 Time: 1:45:54 PM Comments SPORTING SUCCESSES
Can you help?
The School is planning to apply for sports college status under the Government scheme. This will increase the support and facilities it receives from central and local education authorities. Also, evidence from established specialist schools shows that there is a beneficial effect across the curriculum.
To support the application it is hoped to make reference to past sporting successes and I should be grateful if anyone could add to or flesh out the following list:-
Pre-war Middlesex County cricketer (?Jack Durston) J V Powell – 400 metres(?) – Berlin Olympics 1936 Tom Misson – Walker – Helsinki Olympics ?1952 Rugby 1952-53 – Unbeaten(?) team supplied 11 members of the Middlesex Schools side and 3 England schoolboys (Maddox, Mettler and Norman?) Peter Mettler – many years playing rugby for Wasps and Middlesex – England trial 1976 - Rugby Middlesex (?and England) representation at School level Cricket – Angus Fraser and Mark Ramprakash – Middlesex and England; Angus now Mx. Captain; Mark has moved to Surrey Alan Yarrow played rugby for Middlesex
Old Gaytonian successes include winning the Middlesex RFU Agar Cup nearly every year it happened; and, at cricket, winning the Mayor of Harrow’s Cup (?year)
Please reply soon if you can help.
I’ve volunteered to hep the School with this and I plan to come back soon. Promise!
I see that the stage staff elite is mentioned at last. Martin Cove called it the 14 foot flat club - the correct title was the 14 foot book flat club and I think that I was a founder member. Was it during the Critics that I dropped this enormous piece of scenery? By the way, have met up with Tony Eldridge - he is now called Tony Spencer, lives in Finchley and his daugther is a friend of my daughter. Also see Stewart Wiseman and Howard Levene (occasionally)- although they are both much older than me (about a year!) and of course my brother Selwyn. For Michael Schwartz - Stanburn old boys are still alive and kicking but we are refined and quiet. The site is great and I see that for all the bad memories nearly 20,000 people have hit it since November.
As there have been a few here mentioning connections with ex-Heriots Wood girls, it seems appropriate to note that a reunion has been organised on 1 July 2001 for girls who left the Heriots Wood 5th form in 1976. For further details contact Hilary Lawson (nee Bocking)whose email address is: DHTOE@42lawson.fsnet.co.uk
In response to Michael Schwartz note, I deny all knowledge!! There must have been a few Bateman's over the years (none related to me!) as i keep getting asked if I was the bateman who booked such and such in 1963, or whatever. I am in reality a young Gaytonian, going to the School from 1980 onwards.
i do recall one thuggish incident during my time as a Senior CCF NCO though. At that time we had John Lyons lads to make up the numbers, and one was giving a lecture in the RAF hut. As all the officers were out of the way about four of us decided to draw weapons from the armoury and go on 'patrol'. Upon reaching the RAF hut door I gave it a swift kick only to see it disappear into the middle of the room. The frame was so rotton I am surprised more didn't fall off. Anyway immediately we 'scarpered' follwed by the JLS lad who grassed us up with the words, 'Sir, I think Bateman has kicked the door off its hinges' Luckily for me I was told to fix it quick, and being an RQMS did the decent thing, found the smallest cadet I could and delegated!!
A thug? Me? Never!!
I was at HC 1956 - 63.
An excellent site, really worth exploring.
My add something later. At the moment my memories of the promised rewards, and the way the place prepared for the wider world are mostly negative.
In my last year at HCS I was told by Mr Marchant to take a piece of paper round to Mr Bright. One or two pupils were to see a certain Joe (not Stalin, but not far off...). Mr Bright looked at the peice of paper and exclaimed: "Bateman, you thug, go and see the headmaster". Having met Alex a few weeks ago, I can not imagine anyone less thuggish!
Is there a guilty secret from your past, Alex?
As for Ms Goldberg's exam, how I wish that sciences werew the subjects deemed fit only for the lower orders of 2C and 2D. Metalwork and music were always far more enjoyable.
PS temporary greetings to Old Gayts from Singapore, where I am covering a telecoms conference. It's all go!
It was really hilarious reading Ray's comments. I laughed so much. I remember the occasion very well.
There was also another time when I made one of the forms do a test and several boys had signed themselves Rory Gallagher, and I had to try and deduce from the handwriting which of the pupils it was. Rachelle Goldberg
Just spotted loads of spelling mistakes - crotchet?. I was pretty bad at English as well as music!
Interesting to read Rachel Goldberg's comments.
I remember being in her class. I was in the C stream and I think only the C & D streams took music. The C&D steams were not the most committed of music pupils to say the least and had a hard time taking music seriously. That year was the first and only time we had a music exam and it was one of the funniest exam experiences I ever had. It started with Ms Goldberg explaining something along the lines of "there is an error on the exam paper and that in the 2nd question, third line, the note should be a crotchet not a quaver". One pupil's response of "what's a crotchet?" was taken up by almost the entire room and developed into a chorus. The exam continued, with almost everyone not taking it seriously at all and competing to give the most rediculous answers. For example I remember :
Q. What is a quaver -A. a crisp Q. What is a tempo - A. a felt tipped pen Q. What is this famous tune (music supplied) - A. Beanz meanz Heinz
etc. etc.
I guess you had to be there!!
I recently saw Dave Bright at a friends wedding. he had been year head of the year above me, and left gayton 9as it then was) about the mid 1980s I think. Since then he has suffered ill health and the death of his wife, has moved to his native Wales and back to the local area. Apart from a bit of white hair he looks pretty much the same though.
Picking up on a recent(ish) thread, I met Mike Cook (English teacher 69-71 or 2) last week. He's still at Haberdashers' Aske's in Elstree, where he went after HCS. My son has been in the Habs prep school for 4 years and I'd never met Mike in that time, but as my lad is about to enter the main school, I went to a parents' induction evening and there he was. He's well and looks much the same as I remember him. OK, maybe he looks a little older, then I guess I do too. I asked him who he remembered from HCS and besides the obvious Portillo, Anderson, Perkins Book Room gang, he seems to remember the bad lads most of all. In particular, he recalled how lots of boys possessed expensive gold-plated pen and pencil sets, which as it turned out had been nicked from Debenhams. That occurred about 1971 and resulted in about a dozen boys from my year being suspended. I should be flattered that he didn't remember me at all! I only had 5 minutes or so to chat to him between meetings, but I've no doubt I'll be seeing him again soon. I must tell him about this web site.
Also, I had a look at Professor Richard Tufnell's Middlesex University web page. He has a photo on there in which he looks EXACTLY the same as when I last saw him in 1974. He was my last form master at HCS and also taught me a lot of practical, useful in an everyday type of stuff in the Tech labs, not least when I spent many after-school hours in there making props for Hamlet.
Last, no I am not the bastard offspring of Gareth Lloyd-Jones. Gareth, you were also my form master (in 72/73 I think) and if you're wondering how on earth you could fail to recall a pupil with the same, relatively uncommon surname, it's because I changed it. At HCS, I was David Jones and Lloyd was my middle name. Later on, I worked in 2 consecutive jobs where there was another David Jones. The confusion over phone calls and mail was just about managable, but the camel finally suffered severe spinal injuries when one of the "other" David Jones's received a large Income Tax refund that had taken me almost a year to negotiate with the Inland Revenue. A deed poll was drafted soon after and the hyphen inserted. There are other David Lloyd-Jones's around, but they all seem to be in positions of eminence in Law and Medicine and (wait for it) Education. So it goes.
Should have said yesterday that I went to the Girls School and also Priestmead. I remember going to the Sith Form dos with the Boys and Heathfield Girls who we disliked!! Rachelle goldberg
Hilarious pics. (I went to the girl] school)
Blimey, I feel dizzy. Someone please tell Harry Mees that I became a historian, and tell Jim Golland that my work owes a lot to the close reading of texts we practised in English. That's by way of saying that the Sixth Form at HCS was, in my case, intellectually formative. More when I've recovered.
i'm sorry but I actually should have written Dave. Williams not Bob. So sorry
I think Michael Portillo sang in my choir??? 1971/2 I must have a lot to answer for!!!!!!!! all good wishes Rachelle goldberg
Found out about the Website this week.
what an interesting account to read.
i notice that no one mentioned music.
i taught at the School from 1971-2 and recognised quite a few names on the Emails.
I do remember conducting the Christmas Concert owing to the fact that Arthur Haley was recovering from a serious car accident.
I also remember that the size of the choir suddenly went up too and all the pupils seemed terribly enthusiastic. I had a marvellous year there.
i was one of three female staff and some of the Staff refused to speak to any of the female staff because they resented the fact that their domain the Staff Room was occupied by females. Of course there were very many amusing moments. I can recall being asked to put music to the school film and then invited to come and watch the premiere. Major Skillen who had helped make the Film with Col. Venn was featured treading grapes in france.
I remeber putting the Dambusters march to the part where boys were filmed abseiling down the building!
On another occasion one boy who obviously did not know I was the music teacher was heard to say. I didn't know we had girls in the school!!
Look forward to keeping in touch with Staff and pupils Rachelle Goldberg
In the photos I believe Vick Mietkowski is holding a plastic comb though I remember the standard tool used was a protractor or six inch ruler. This would have been the last year the game was played as decimal coinage was introduced the next year. Though the rules are exactly as have been described, needless to say we thought we invented it! -pw
I'm interested in the pictures posted of the game that we called shove halfpenny...which, of course, for those who know the habits of Northern pubs, was nothing like the game up there.
What this game was - and we played it in 1959-62 - was a game played with coins on a table that basically followed the rules of football, with goals, corners and teams (generally, as in the 1970 picture, two people a side).
We played the game with combs: the combs were used to 'flick' our player (at that time, an old One Penny coin)onto the 'ball' (at that time, an sixpence). The aim was obvious - to get the sixpence into the opposing goal.
Now we, of course, thought we invented this game: we had serious competitions in the old A1 room when we were in Lower VI Arts when we would take on all-comers from various other classes. The main players in this circle were David Griffiths, Laurence Samuels, Tony Eldridge, me and some Polish kid whose name I've forgotten.
I do remember, in some discussion, working out the rules for corners...and even inventing what was and was not a foul.
Are there any out there who played this game in an earlier period? And, for those who followed, like those in the picture, did you still use combs? Or did other things (cheque cards would have been great, but they weren't invented when we were at school)get to be used?
I write this idling away an hour at work..
I fell into your excellent site by happy accident. I shall return with some photos which you may not have
I'm responding to Geoff Plow's little tangent on Kenmore Park. Into HCS in 69, yes. I was joined by Jon Grogan, Dominic Long, Colin Price, Colin Greatrex & Alan Southcombe. Pat Coady, a year or two before was also Kenmore.(On the Glebe School tack also: Mike Townsend and Stephen Malnick in 1969.)
And for those that missed it it is:
http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/
A few notices back, Ray Parnell mentioned the 'friends reunited' website. It is fantastic and I urge people to have a look at it, as it includes primary as well as High Schools. The address is on Ray's message.
Mr Lloyd Jones, Sir (or can I call you Gareth). I have to say that your memories of the rugby coaching and the dedication to the cause of the masters is very much as I remember it. You may also have resolved for me one of the greatest mysteries of all time - why did the P.E. masters office always smell so strongly of Ralgex. I always assumed that the masters used to enjoy spraying the stuff onto the pupils to make them smart for the rest of the day. Now I believe it may have been to mask the odour of various illicit substances such as alcohol. Never mind, some of my fondest memories revolve around cricket, rugby, basketball, swimming, cross country, athletics and the excellent masters such as Paul Rocky, Dave Bright, Mr Stewart.
All along I had assumed the problem was me after leaving in 1972 and spending the following 28 years never far from being restrained in a giggle jacket, it was this damn place all along doing the same for all of us. I was one of the (Kenton) HCBS usual suspects '67-'72, a self inflicted C streamer with older brother Stephen '64-'70 who is now a successful lawyer elsewhere on the planet. I can now safely confess at distance to the removal of the skeleton from B12 on a Friday evening in '72 to the phone kiosk opposite. There all my guilt has gone. Others may write here for their own reasons, I just feel I have to thank Dick Tufnell and Arthur Anderson for my gift in tooling and CAD/CAM since acquired, and Herbie Collins for inspiring me to braze a file onto a vice. I must also thank 'get a grip' Deakin for helping me cultivate the explosive hair trigger needed to defuse subordinates with. Other than that I found the whole thing rather wasteful, apart from the many and varied humerous images still etched, for instance Bill Lane sneezing his teeth out whilst negotiating the stairs between B15 and B16 at speed and the whole lot smashing on the floor. Have noted the presence of many I recall whilst on the site, met Andy Moore c.'79 who was in the Police at that time, had contact with Paul Lilley all the way from '67 up until about 5 years ago when he moved to Stevenage, he supplied a limo for my wedding in '84, ran into John Dunworth about the same time who was at Kodak. Had a very hazy recollection attending an equally hazy party with Pat Coady, Chris Burdge and Alan Springford about 15 years ago, Pat assured me that Tony Wright had been a pastry chef at some point, knowing Pat I somehow disbelieve him, and I have also emptied many a bottle in the company of Derrick Davies, now at Unisys HQ in Milton Keynes, up until my 40th in '96.
SPORTING SUCCESSES
Can you help?
The School is planning to apply for sports college status under the Government scheme. This will increase the support and facilities it receives from central and local education authorities. Also, evidence from established specialist schools shows that there is a beneficial effect across the curriculum.
To support the application it is hoped to make reference to past sporting successes and I should be grateful if anyone could add to or flesh out the following list:-
Pre-war Middlesex County cricketer (?Jack Durston)
J V Powell – 400 metres(?) – Berlin Olympics 1936
Tom Misson – Walker – Helsinki Olympics ?1952
Rugby 1952-53 – Unbeaten(?) team supplied 11 members of the Middlesex Schools side
and 3 England schoolboys (Maddox, Mettler and Norman?)
Peter Mettler – many years playing rugby for Wasps and Middlesex
– England trial 1976 - Rugby
Middlesex (?and England) representation at School level Cricket – Angus Fraser and
Mark Ramprakash – Middlesex and England; Angus now Mx. Captain; Mark has moved to
Surrey
Alan Yarrow played rugby for Middlesex
Old Gaytonian successes include winning the Middlesex RFU Agar Cup nearly every year it happened; and, at cricket, winning the Mayor of Harrow’s Cup (?year)
Please reply soon if you can help.
I’ve volunteered to hep the School with this and I plan to come back soon. Promise!
Geoff Plow, I went to Kenmore Park, I used to live opposite the school gates in Moorhouse Road. I started at HCS in 1965, leaving in 1972. Others from KP that year were Barry Taylor, Dave Gledhill, Alan Perkins and Geoff Tidball. I haven't stayed in touch with any of them unfortunately, but if any one of you reads this please get in touch. Perhaps we'll have to fire up another website!! Oh no!!!
What nostalgia. Interesting to see what masters are remembered with affection, and those without! Attended HCSB from 1954 to 1962. I was one of the 'nonconformists' who didn't join the Cadets or Scouts. We were a rare breed in those days. I still live in Stanmore. Somewhere I have a complete set of form photos, will look them out, they may be of use. I also had a complete school panoramic photo taken sometime during that period. Thanks, keep up the good work.
Apologies for the double press of the send button (previous blank e-mail deleted- ed.). I seem to do that every time. Still, not bad for a simple Welsh lad who only found out about the electric recently, and is now totally addicted to the HCS site. Think what a truly sad person I shall be in five weeks, six days, thirteen hours and ten minutes (approx) when I finally retire and have time to spare and can get round to replying to all those who have written so kindly in the last few weeks. Martin Flack, search 'Professor Richard Tufnell' to see his C.V. & photo (and John Cave's.) Rich is the only HCS staff I am still in touch with. We write every Christmas, and he occasionally comes to stay when working in Bristol where I now live. Don't be fooled by the 'Professor' handle. When the fourth pint has gone down, it gets just like old times.
Gareth
Time to mention Kenmore Park, I think. I know that Kevin Maton has tried elsewhere on the Internet to find a few people who went there. In 1968 there were Mike Cordy, Kevin, Stephen Green, Nigel Glover, Alan Day and me (and I've probably forgot others).
Any idea of how many there were in previous years?
We never had Portillo (could have phrased that more felicitiously), like some schools down the road, but we did boast Tessa Peake-Jones, a.k.a. Raquel from 'Only Fools And Horses'.
Memories include epic soccer clashes with Glebe, Stanburn and St Bernadette's. And rounders. The rest is hazy. Do help an old man remember.
A Stanburn lad speaks up! Geoffrey Perkins, who lived in Barn Crescent off Lansdowne Road, attended Stanburn and Harrow County. His career has been more in the Clive Andewrson mould rather than that of Michael Portillo, as he is now head of comedy at the BBC. I did see a picture of him in the Guardian a few years ago - he still looks 18!
The 1965 Stanburn intake at Harrow County comprised your humble servant, Laurence Greenfield (running his own business), Peter Jobber and Geoffrey Richardson (part of the back corner clique), Alan Howe (went to Watford Grammar instead; must have known something), Barry Ditton, Arthur Atkins (last heard of in the environmental health department of Folkestone Council), Martin Packer (now a professor; see Some Old Gaytonians page), Ian Webb (headboy at HCS), Peter Ashby, Brian Melichan (computer specialist and linguist), Andrew Powell and I am sure there must have been one or two more.
Stewart Gillies (recent posting) - there's a name I remember!
In answer to your question, Stewart, I was informed by Nick Tyrwhitt (to those of us there at the time, he will only ever be Nick - sorry, Norman) at the 90th. bash that it was 'spent on worthy causes by Mr. Avery in the late 60's'. Whatever that meant, I got the impression Nick wasn't too sure, either.
Story by Ron Taylor about being clocked by Anderson from the Craft Room window climbing over the back gate when late had resonances - Pete Lund and I were clocked by Andy Caprara from same window climbing over said gate, but going in opposite direction, probably on a Wednesday afternoon (Games and I parted company somewhere around the 4th. year). Unfortunetly he didn't save it up for some years before mentioning it, we were dragged up in front of Square the next day and given the usual lecture plus caning. I think I hated the lecture more, because it was always so boring. He never hit you that hard, not compared with other members of staff - Smiley Saunders was one of the worst, Malcolm Clarkson was definitely the worst!
Firstly I would like to appologise for getting Mick Cooke and Colin Done mixed up in a previous entry. It was indeed Colin who was tragically killed in a car crash. They were both form masters of mine at different times, and it is good to hear Mick is still teaching at Habs. Thanks to Gareth Lloyd-Jones for putting me right. I never was any good at art but got to know Norman Anderson through the RAF section of the CCF. He was always tremendously supportive of the section and was keen to get as many cadets to be awarded with flying scholarships or their gliding licences. We used to take the .... out of him in those days thinking he was a bit soft. It's only later, when you are older and wiser, that you realise how people have helped and encouraged you in your past!
Mike Bergquist (69-75)
Just caught up with the last week or two's guestbook. For those who remember Mike Cook (HCS English Dept 1970-72 ish - we boys called him Mick), he's still teaching English at Haberdshers' in Elstree.
While I'm here, I'd like to echo Martin Flack's sentiments about Norman Anderson. Mr A was not only a most human of human beings, but a superb teacher. I studied Art because I was hopeless at science, but within a few of his double period lessons, he'd opened my eyes and turned me into a reasonable sketcher of life and still life. His teaching of observation and seeing beyond the surface of things was probably the most profoundly effective and influential lesson I received at HCS.
I remember "Herby" Collins having been in his metalwork class. During my time there he built a sidecar for his motorbike. The brick wall return outside the metalwork room formed a handy desk for rapidly copying homework before classes started.
Peter Morey [1952 - 1957]
It is with some hesitation that I add my contribution to this fascinating website; I've no idea what made me search for it. I was at HCS 1951-59, during the reign of the charismatic and disciplinarian Square Simpson. I look back on my time there with great affection, but no doubt slightly dulled by the passing of time. I live in Bucks, passing the days as one of Her Majesty's District Judges and enjoying it greatly. If anyone remembers me I'd be happy to get in touch.
|John Fortgang.
I think there was also a master called Mr Davies when I joined HCS...I blame Maynard J.(again) for wrecking my dinner! Can anyone elaborate? And what about Mr Collins, the 'metalwork' teacher who must have lived in a house made of old school desks...and Jack, the technician.( I think he used to bring a dog to school with him??? ) Who remembers scratching engineer's 'blue' with a scribe? This was a vital exercise in the development of an important bracket or somesuch thing... And, the black japanned baseplates with your own house number - beautifully crafted in brass! Actually, talking of technology, I bumped into Richard Tufnell and John Cave when I was doing some teacher training at Trent Park. These former masters, turned university lecturers have written many books on this subject - go to Amazon .co.uk and see. They may still be at Trent Park - at this point Gareth LLoyd Jones usually provides an answer..! OK I'm gone again.
Thanks for the web site. Quite a few memories.
Sorry to hear about Norman Anderson.
I do have a related story.
I was chronically late for school. This was unfortunate as this meant an automatic detention each time and a caning from 3rd offence onwards.
Offenders were caught by Prefects who were posted either at the main entrance or at the gate on Gayton Road.
I used to solve this problem by getting off the 114 bus at the Granada, going up Bonnersfield Lane. When I reached Gayton Road, if there were no prefects on the gate I'd get to the fence by the 5th form entrance (overlooked by the Craft Room) and climb over and sneak in via the archway and mingle with everybody else as the assembly ended.
If the Prefects were posted at the gate I'd wait until they were looking the other way, dash across Gayton Road into the first front garden and cross fences until I reached the school at the same spot.
Only when I reached the 6th form did Norman let drop that he had seen me many times. I hate to ponder my fate if he'd reported me.
Of course, the one thing we never knew (and still haven't discovered) is how the various masters really felt about the "Square" regime. Whilst some embraced it I get the feeling that others (e.g. Anderson, Webb, Oliver) were decidedly less enthralled.
To add to the discussion on Art teachers, the pre-war long-time Art master was George Neal.
Mr. A. N. Anderson, who sadly passed away last year, joined the school in 1953. There is an interesting obituary at http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/harrow_county/ananderson.htm, written by John Cavanagh, who joined the School in 1975.
Also, in the early 1960s, the second art teacher was Alex Caprara. Today, he is a painter and graphic artist. Web site http://www.opus-online.co.uk/about/staff.html e-mail: alex@opus-online.co.uk
Jeff Maynard
Mike U-J,
Not sure about a specific Priestmead site (I never went there) but you might like to try :
http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk
which is a 'generic' website for keeping in contact with others from your old schools - and, incidentally, how I found this excellent site in the first place. And the cause of me spending more hours here wallowing in nostalgia than I care to mention !
Regards,
Ray Parnell (1967 - 1974)
I see lots of references to Priestmead !! As an old alumnus of Priestmead school, does anyone know of a website where we can dump our memories?? (I was an excellent left-arm over the wicket bowler in those days, and was instrumental in winning some sort of cricket cup (donated by a grateful parent) around 1960 - "red house"). Regards, mike
With reference to Richard Miller's earlier mail, I remember Mr Efosopolous in the art department, closely followed by a really influential (for me )nice guy called...Michael Melville Bewer Swain. After him came the creator of Captain Harrow,the revolutionary Mr '...you can call me Malcolm' Poynter. There were others I'm sure, but I conclude with a mention for Norman Anderson - he gave academic no hopers like me a direction. Thanks.
Neil Stubbings/Chris Bradshaw et al, Typical. Ungrateful post-sixties softies. Have you any idea how hard it was for the staff who taught rugby/Cross Country etc escorting you excitable boys down the Watford Road dressed in your warm rugby kit when all we had were two track suits each, blowing the whistle from the middle of the pitch while you enjoyed yourselves in the snow, walking you back to the cold showers, having to stay in the PE office until nearly 6.00 p.m. because the scotch bottle was still not empty. THAT was dedication, my son. Before you start moaning, think back and marvel that we sacficed so much and still stayed in the profession.
Chris Bradshaw, hallo and thanks for the confirmation about Leapy Lee. Interested to hear about Gaz Stenner giving Dave Bright some verbal - no change there then. Why was it that all the P.E. masters appeared intent on inflicting as much pain and humiliation as possible. I remember those walks down to the Watford Road playing fields to run around after a rugby ball and if the weather was really bad we were given a reprieve, all we had to do then was a cross coutry race, including Football Lane (I think that's what it was). Anyway doesn't matter what it was called the result was complete exhaustion. Apparently that was all character building and made us the people we are today. Probably accounts for quite a lot.
Neil.
TRYING TO THINK WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE ART TEACHER IN 1966. INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO US AS FRED. HE WAS INTRESTED IN MADRIGALS AND SERGENT PEPPER BY THE BEATLES. DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER RULING THAT ALL TROUSERS WERE TO BE NO LESS THAN 15 INCHES AT THE TURNUPS....... UNFORTUNATELY FASHIONS HAD CHANGED AND MOVED ON UNDERSTANDABLY UNBEKNOWN TO 'SQUARE' AND WE WERE NO LONGER IN OUR ROCKER PHASE(ANYBODY REMEMBER A GREASER CALLED ABBOTT}WE WERE INTO FLARES AND JIMI HENDRIX ...PEACE AND LOVE
Really enjoying all this nostalgia and all these guys I remember. But why all this accent on Priestmead? In my year 1969 1K was made up with boys from three different schools - Priestmead, Vaughan Road and Stanburn. I was one of the latter and there were 13 of us if I remember rightly - just as many as Priestmead. In fact one other Priestmead boy was in 1W - Robin Wynde A QPR fan like myself - but in 1N was Iaian Cobb from Stanburn so numbers were level that year. I can remeber many of the lads from Priestmead - Colin Pollard, Steve Bonnick, Steve Fitzwater Ronnie Hulman, Gabriel Hearst etc but also the lads from Stanburn - Gary Reading, Simin Corscaden, Huw Dorkins, Philip Bunt, Steve Freedman, Brian Glicker, Leonard Klein, Clive Nicholls, John Attwood, and myself of course. We have had soem distiguished old boys too - whats the betting on Michael P now? And Clive Anderson went to that primary school. So come on Stanburn lads - speak up for us too.
Steve
Apologies to those who have noted in the guestbook or mailed me regarding the list of 90th Anniversary attendees, that they are not included.
In checking the register again, of the five concerned, only one appears in the register. It is probable that those others instead signed the GUESTBOOK not the REGISTER, the former containing comments, the latter giving addresses and dates of birth.
What a great web site! I have been an avid follower for some time. I was surprised to encounter my own youthful features c/o David Bradburn's 4d photo. My school career was somewhat less than brilliant, having started in 1a then continued to 2b, 3c & 4d. I remember Harry Mees very well having been in 4th Harrow Foresters Troop. I have not seen any reference to the scout summer camps. The first one I attended was in Hathersage in Derbyshire, the second in Stradbally, Waterford and the third on Guernsey. I seem to remember that my beer drinking career started on the steamer crossing.I have lived in Sydney, Australia for 35 years, this site has certainly brought back some memories. I can still visualise Square railing against the "non conformists" and the wearers of "polychromatic socks". It was interesting to see the reference to Priestmead school, which I attended and also to the Belmont Rattler which my friends and I used to ride up and down on until we wore out our welcome.
WOW! I am very impressed with this web site. I cannot believe the tales I am seeing, the faces and names that are cropping up. I was at HCS form 67 – 73 and have some great memories from my days at school. I remember vividly the slatings I got from the likes of Jago and Colonel Bigham (fully justified) and the comments on my report from Mr Burton (chemistry – not justified I then came joint top of the year with Tim Eales). My entire class failed geology ‘O’ level after two years with Maurice Venn. Some of them are now working in that field!
I can but wonder what these teachers would say now if they could see me – Colonel Bigham in particular. A biology teacher!
I would love to get in touch with some of my old friends from school and I am very sorry that I didn’t encounter this site in time to come to the reunion. I hope there will be others – and soon too.
Good luck with the site
Nick B
Very interesting site. It brought back memories that were buried very deep. I look forward to exploring it in greater depth when time is more freely available. I believe I have one or two photos to add to the collection.
1969 - 74
To agree with Ian Cobden's earlier posting, myself and Kevin Peter (better known as Baldi) signed the guestbook at the reunion and aren't included, I thought it could be something to do with us being perpetual D streamers. Long live the Benjy Brigade, Hall Hanging and Juica Jim runs!
Just noticed an error in mmy email address corrected above but in the meantime have had a chance to read some more which has generated memories.
Does anybody know what happened to the Pavilion Fund which was built up by outright extortion & blackmail?
Sitting under the clock awaiting justice was certainly an unsettling experience.
Fascinating, I was another middling achiever who did well as a result of having been at the school through the days of "Square" 1957 -1964.
Sad to hear that so much has been lost because looking back it was a tremendous institution although it didn't seem like it at the time.
I saw the list of those who attended the March reunion.Funny,I could have sworn that I attended and even signed in..I went to a school where reading and writing were thought to be useful!
Just came across this site. How nostalgic it is , I will need hours to go through everything. I think that I have some Form photos for my era starting with 1C in 1952 , I will dig them out and forward as soon as possible.
Would that be the same Rodney O'Mahoney I new whilst playing for the school at table tennis?
Mike Bergquist (69-75)
Hello to Neil Stubbings and Paul Spencer - Neil the physics teacher was Leapy Lee!
71-76
In answer to Pete Smarts enquiry re. the water bombing incident, I was stood next to Rodney O'Mahoney when he threw it. Not satisfied with soaking the unfortunate chap with the water bomb, Rodney then twisted the taps round (one of the Physics labs) and turned them on the chap who was standing there in shock at what had just happened.
The aftermath was all a lot of people being rounded up into the old gym, and eventually Rodney was "grassed up". I can remember a number of people chasing the "snitch" up Gayton Rd into a then derelict Bernie Inn. A bit of useless information - Rodney was leader of a small group of idiots called the 2W IRA - I still have a medal in my possession for distinguished service (a recycled regular church attender medal - God knows how these were procured).
Its good to see other names coming out of the woodwork, I think Pete Smart mentioned Gaz Stenner, I still see Gaz who when drunk goes into completely over the top Shakespear renditions - so against popular opinion he did learn something at school. A couple of years ago after an Old Gayts Golf day - we retired to the Royal Oak on Watford Heath with Chris Berge, Dave Thomas, Ian Abbott etc and Dave Bright. Gaz staggered out of the pub, saw Dave Bright and, after a few moments shouted at the top of his voice, "Dave Bright, you ******* b*****d" - Dave took it very well.
It was good to see Gareth's comments re Ged (Jed) Done who was my form teacher for a year, he was well respected and popular with all of us, and I remember we were all deeply shocked by his death.
Does anyone remember Bernie McAdam - we had a lot of fun at his expense!!
I have just been directed to this site by Neil Stubbings.
I was at HCS 1971-76 and seeing some of the pictures has brought back some memories.
I shall have to find some of the pictures that I have of various teams.
Well done Neil Gill, it was Chunky Cowburn! He was indeed the cohabitor with Jane Austen. I was by the way in about 4G by then and not 1N by the way. Hadn't thought about going to girls houses alone until at least Year 2...lol! Neil Stubbings, I remember that day in the hall with Mr Hart, can't for the life remember who threw the water bomb though. If I remember correctly it wasn't one of my 'crowd' either, much to our surprise!
How wonderful! Who said nostalgia was dead - just discovered this site and been lost in memories and names floodng back for nearly a couple of hours. (Thanks Jeff).
Very sorry to have missed the re-union, but there are a bunch of names in the guest book to whom I'd like to say: Hi!
Class of '69, left in '76, memories: 1K intake with a whole bunch from Priestmead School, Hamlet (a tumbler), Rugby thru the years and as an Old Gayt, Scouts, Chess and many teachers names I thought I'd forgotten and to whom I am grateful.
Now living in Herts. Married, 2 kids.
Mike Berquist You're right about Mike Cook moving to Haberdashers: we saw him a few times after he left HCS, but lost contact. It was Colin Done (Econ/Hist) who was killed in his car near Borehamwood. Colin also moved to Habs after HCS. He was an Old Haberdasher, and a great bloke, outstanding cricketer and hockey player.
Best wishes#
Gareth
I remember Mick Cooke, he was my form master in either 70/71 or 71/72(D stream of course!). He moved to Haberdashers but was tragically killed in a car accident! I seem to remember hearing he went into a tree. I was sad when he left HCS and I remember being totally devastated when I heard of the accident.
Mike Bergquist(69-75)
The other English teacher I recall beginning with 'C' was Mr Cooke. Surely it was not he who was cohabiting with our beloved Miss Austen (apart from the majority of 1N by the sounds of your last message Peter! Yes, we were subjected to the flowers around the gas taps by Mr Gupta. Can you remember who the physics teacher was who used to delight in connecting unsuspecting first formers up to the Van der Graafs generator - may have been Mr Lee? I also have a memory of our last summer in that wonderful place when the 5th form as we were then, were all called into the Small Hall by the Head (Mr Hull?). Someone had lobbed a carrier bag full of water out of the old physics lab on the second floor looking out over Gayton Road and had managed to find its target! A very wet and knaffed of gentleman had phoned the school to complain. Can Peter or anyone else help - who did it?
Was Jane Austin sharing a flat with "Chunky" Cowburn, also an English teacher?
Thanks again Neil for provoking more memories that weren't quite as bad as some of the days at HCBS. Jane Austen was everything I, as an adolescent boy at the time was looking for. Red hair, a perfect lisp, reading John Master's novel and bringing Shalespear to life (oh well perhaps that's a bit of poetic licence!) She did however invite Gaz Stenner, Mike Angus, Richard Slim and a lot of others to her flat rom time to time when she lived in north harrow. Can't remember who she shared the flat with at the time but it was another English teacher whose surname I think began with a C. Perhaps someone else can help with the memory on that one. Hey Neil do you remember Gupta srawing flowers around the gas taps with chalk? No, I am not surprised that the is now in the property game, I believe that he would have quite an aptitude for that. Other teachers good and bad that spring to mind include Mr Keeler, Maths, Mr Shadrack, RE and Dave Birt, 1st form English. Sorry Neil but prefer to forget the likes of Hayes (History), Colonel Venn and Marchant, but that was personal....then not now, but I don't remember as to why, maybe it was me...lol
Looking back through the recent messages, I see the school pool has come to the forefront. I have very mixed memories of this pool. Apart from spending most of the summer terms freezing various parts of my anatomy, one of the alternative uses for it we found was somewhere to try out the polystyrene hovercrafts we had made in TD. The caretaker didn't take too kindly to the oil slicks we left behind.
I also used to help the caretaker with the chlorine level tests and occasional cleaning duties. It was on one of these missions to prepare the school pool during the easter break, that I decided to ride my push bike around the outside of the empty pool. With two laps successfully negotiated, I was a bit suprised, as I tried to hop my bike over one of the pump pipes, to find myself flying trough the air dropping nearly 10 foot onto the concrete bottom of the pool. I reckon I was lucky to escape with only badly broken leg. Still, it netted me a few months off school with no daily ear tweaking from Gupta or wooden hairbrushing from Morrell.
Well, well! What fun to read Peter Fowler’s railway memories. Foster was surely “Tom”, called a foreman in my first spell at Wealdstone, and I assumed him to be still so in 1953. He was a lean, dyspeptic character and I felt he didn’t like me much: probably, I now suspect, because I was a grammar school “toff” (and, of course, my father was not the Station Master!).
The other two Foremen were Reg and Charlie, the latter surely the model for the Fat Controller. He was instinctively kind and good with people, but not Brain of Britain. One hot August afternoon the driver of a down train hooted as he came in. I ran to the cab and he said a workman’s hut the other side of the road bridge, next to the up electric line, was on fire. I told Charlie and the two of us rushed to and from the men’s loo on Platform 1 carrying buckets of water over two electrified tracks! Fortunately, there were no disastrous mishaps – and, of course, we did no good whatsoever, the hut being razed.
Incidentally, my introduction to the job in 1951 was by Peter Wyatt, a few years older than me and by then a student at Leeds. He lived in Bolton Road in Harrow. I believe he married a nurse in Leeds and settled there. I’d love to know if anyone has heard anything of him and where he is now.
Love the Driving School story.
As secretary of the Debating Society I was responsible for giving "Square" the announcement to read:
" The Middle and upper School debating societies will be holding a mass debate......"
(Say it quickly!!!)
I don't think he ever understood why everybody laughed
After all these years I have finally found out how the stimulator went, thanks Peter for that. I was also reading some of Peter Smaets messages earlier, asking if anyone remembered certain teachers. I cannot imagine why you remembered Jane Austen Peter! Was it just the attempts to control a bunch of adolescent boys whilst reviewing that dodgy scene from Night Runners of Bengal? I don't think so. Mr Gupta, you will be pleased to know now has a string of properties to his name in the Hammersmith area which he manages with his brother. I wonder how the physics teaching is going. Does any one else remember Mr Hayes (History) and Mr Bunting(Biology and the Discount Store). What about the fearsome Colonel Venn? Mind you, he was very nice to me the day my shoe flew off during a game of footie and went straight through his office window. One last memory before signing off and that is of Mr Lodge the Maths teacher. Any boy talking or yawning in his lessons found the chalk or board rubber hurled at their open mouth. Invariably a perfect shot. Chalk dust! McEnroe had nothing on old "Porka"
PS Sincere apologies Mr Lodge if you ever read this.
Re the Railway reminiscences: my father was the Station Master at Harrow&Wealdstone from 1953, when we moved south, and 1964 (he's still alive, 100 in September). I used to work during my summer holidays as a porter both at Harrow and Belmont...the Belmont job, as you can imagine, was such a doddle I could spend most of my days there reading books.
My father was appointed there after the crash: almost all the staff who had witnessed the crash left the service pretty well immediately, having so obviously been traumatised (though we didn't seem to understand those things at that time).
About the only survivor was an Inspector called Foster, a man with the sharpest of tongues and the driest of wits.He used to despise the 'bowler hat brigade' who frequented the station in the rush hour; and I well remember standing with him on No 2 platform at about 7.45 one morning when a man attired in this uniform of the 'toff'ran down the stairs and asked Foster how to get to Broad Street.
'By train', Foster replied, winking at me and walking off in haste.
Foster evidently was not aware of the impending Americanisation of customer service etiquette.
Thanks for that memory Neil Stubbings. I had forgotten all about that glorious day in assembly concerning Harrow Driving Centre. Yes I was on of the lads that had a great time on the stimulator! In fact maybe I never, ever quite recovered. That driving centre was a real hoot actually. A couple of years ago on one of my trips back to blighty I took my son to Legoland and I swear they've designed a ride based on the Harrow Driving Centre where you get to drive Lego cars instead of the real ones that they some how allowed us to practice in.
Hello,I had the joy to attend gayton 86-90.Great years!!!!!!!!
Great site, need all day to go through everything so will have to come back later. One memory immediately springs to mind was in assembly when the polish superviser from the labs was helping out by taking groups of boys to Harrow Driving Centre. His announcement in assembly to god knows how many boys of a vey impressionable age was that he would be "taking a group of boys for a session on the stimulator" Was anyone out there one of those boys? Can you tell us how it went!!!!
Many thanks for all the comments re the Schneider trophy (yes, my typing skills were also not very good!) I also remember the "swimming pool" - my recollection is of a fearsomely cold process where "Swan" would shout at you as you changed into your "swimming togs". Then he would shout louder as you approached the edge of the pool, trembling with cold and trepidation. Then he would shout even louder, exhorting you to "JUMP, BOYS" In we would go, less terrified of death by drowning than we were of Swan's revenge (a wet slippering) The "splashdown" was followed by what seemed like hours of flapping around in the (very) cold water, propelling pieces of polystyrene across the shallow end of the pool. The worst was yet to come. "OUT BOYS" came the cry from Swan. One leapt out, temporarily grateful for the respite. I am not sure where the towels came from that we used to dry ourselves, but they were rough! It was also cold, since in my days at the school the previous ice age had not quite receded. Therefore the subsequent drying process was rapid, but painful. Parts of the body not used to rough treatment were pummelled. Enough said. To this day, I regale my grandchildren with tales of "how to dry themselves quickly after a bath to stop getting cold"
Er - by the way, I actually learnt to swim many years later, after the trauma of the school lessons had worn off!
Oh, Jeff - what wonderful memories you bring back. Thanks very much. Regards, Mike
I wonder how many old boys were killed in the Harrow and Wealdstone disaster? Someone told me that Alan Neal (1940-7) was amongst those who died. He had the amazing ability of being able to sit on a chair poised at the edge of a table then make a somersault landing on the floor while still sitting on the chair. I am sure Dr.Simpson would not have been amused.
Further to Colin's note, here's another link - a gruesome photo of the '52 train wreck: http://danger-ahead.railfan.net/gallery/harrow.htm
As I mentioned in my reminiscences, I was on a bus on the bridge between the first and second collisions.
Regards, Martin
Delighted to follow Martin Cutter's link re Stanmore station. I sen the following to the author:- Fascinated to come upon your piece via link in www.jeffreymaynard.com/harrow_county.
In 1951, at the age of 15 (and again in 1953) I spent my school summer holidays working as a porter at H&W. The loco then was steam push-pull and didn't run round to the front at each end of the line. I remember the magic "baton", actually a large steel ring with a key on it, which had to be used to switch points for passing at Belmont, and possibly elsewhere, so as to avoid head-on conflict with another (imaginary?) train on this line. Standard railway practice, I think. I always hoped for a free ride (when I should have been working) but I didn't get lucky, unlike one or two regular lads there.
Incidentally, mention has been made of the 1952 crash at Harrow - 3 trains, 111 or 112 killed. I cycled there from School when I heard about it and nervously offered to help (God knows how!). Rather relieved to be told, not too unkindly, to go away. A friend, who had just left John Lyons and was earning a few bob as a porter spent many gruelling hous crawling through the wreckage finding victims.
Re. the thread related to old Stanmore Station, those of you interested in old photos should visit this site: http://www.magma.ca/~dewi/trains/stanmore/stanmore.html
Regards, Martin
Regarding the Supermarine S6b seaplane that John Boothman flew for the Schneider trophy race, It is now housed in the 'avaiation Gallery' of the Science Museum, london. Near to it in a case is the huge Trophy (and I mean huge. The marble base is about 4 and a half foot high, and about 4 foot square). The aircraft is just sitting on the floor, not suspended, but is difficult to photograph due the the fact that the gallery is very dark, and the aircraft 'hemmed in' by other exhibits. I tried when I wrote the article at the end of last year, but none were any good.
As for the George Neal artworks, I do have one not of, but including the pavilion, plus others of the war memorial (outside) and views of 'the ruins'. There are overall about half a dozen. I can scan them in and send them over to Jeff.
(Glad to see the School badge article Jeff!!)
As a child in Stanmore, I was told that the Stanmore Village station building was used as a location in the old Will Hay comedy "Oh Mr Porter".
Can anyone confirm this?
I apologise Jeff for not contacting you to congratulate you on the web site. It was really fun to see so many familiar faces at the 2 reunions in recent months. My memories of school are on the whole very positive. I arrived at HCS in 1966 entering the 3rd form having come from 2 years of a public school where the day to day discipline was far more strict & therefore the regime at HCS was for me at least easy to cope with. Although I was no great academic the most indellible memory of the school was the talent of so many of the teachers ,the characters &the talent of the pupils as is borne out by the success of so many of my contempories .The school did not only aim for high academic achievement but also for success in sport drama music etc etc & did achieve it----there are few schools today who come any where near what HCS achieved on a regular basis.
I've read a lot of negative comments about Viv Edwards--he could be a tough b---d but many forget that although he was hard was in charge during the most successful years for HCS Rugby & my recollection is that once he left success was much harder to come by--I didn't like him--I used to impersonate him with some success with the younger boys--but I saw that his strict regime did breed success.
For those who might be interested my younger brother Mark lives in Cape Town & is a leading international commercials producer. My older brother Brian still lives in Roxborough Park in Harrow--his film credits also include ''Not Without My Daughter'' & ''Vice Versa''--he's working on a new movie now .
I live in the West End during the week & in a picturesque village--Hartest in Suffolk on the weekends.
Hope to see more news of my contempories
Stephen Gilbert
I do not recall George Neil's picture of the swimming pool but there was a water colour of the sports pavillion hanging somewhere. What happened to that I wonder? It was me that had the vague recollection about the Supermarine seaplane hanging in the Science museum. Can anybody confirm?
The opening date for the Harrow-Stanmore railway was 1890 (and not 1980). It started in Gordon Avenue (and not Grodon Avenue).
Airfix used to make a model of the Supermarine S6B, but with changing consumer tastes and Airfix's own troubles (I stopped buying them and so sales fell by about 95%) I do not know if it is still in the catalogue.
Thanks for the kind comments on the Schneider trophy article. If anyone has any queries or questions on anythng related to the School, I will do my best to answer them.
With material I have in the archive, I have written a few other articles which are with Jeff at the moment, who adjusts the format so they can appear on the site. One is the story of the swimming pool, but unfortunately I don't have a copy of the photo mentioned of the foundations being dug. I do have a lovely watercolour painted by george Neal the Art Master, whcih is incorporated in the article, but can be available otherwise if required.
Jeff, thanks for pointing out the Schneider article, it certainly puts an end to all the guesswork! I will visit the Science Museum soon, I did not realise that the trophy and the aircraft were on display there. Many thanks again.
An interesting article Alex. Isn't the plane exhibited at the Science Museum? I know I have seen it somewhere. The plane was made by the Supermarine company which made a technological breakthrough in the design of the airfoil of the wings which was incorporated into the Spitfire fighter when it was built a few years later.
There is a new article about John Boothman, the Boothman Window (the stained glass window over the front door of the School) and the Schneider Trophy. Click here!
Sorry, yes , I know It's Schneider, not Scheider. Finger trouble. So what's new? Luv Spence
Mike U-J,m I too am interested in the Scheider Trophy winner (?) in the window by the clock. I always thought that he was an ex HCS man, but have not been able to verify that even after watching several Discovery Channel programmes on the subject. As a pilot myself I am very curious. Can anybody help? Cheers all Spence Smith
Short note about the swimming pool.
When I was HCS (50s) there was a photograph on one of the walls (don't remember which one) which showed parents working on its construction.
I believe it was excavated entirely manually.
Photo would be a nice addition to website if it survives.
Yes, indeed - thank you all for the memories of the Belmont Rattler. Now another one for you all out there! (Why I have waited 40 years to ask these questions is merely a reflection of the fear and trepidation that I have have experienced at the hands of this school!)
What is the significance of the seaplane in the stained-glass windows near the famous clock?? I have always had the impression that the window was in honour of an ex-pupil who had been the pilot who had won the Scheidner Trophy (a prize to do with seaplanes)but this may well be one these famous urban myths!
Regards, Mike
A note in haste. Barry Lightman is quite right about the Belmont Rattler.
It was a single track line opened in 1980 with its Stanmore terminus in Grodon Avenue (named after Frederick Gordon, who put the money up for the line). The line contributed greatly to Stanmore's development from being a country village to becoming an important suburb.
Belmont Station was opened in 1932, and if you park your car behind the fish and chip shop in Belmont Circle you are parking on the station area.
There was a rifle range in the fields around Belmont (now, who shall I nominate among the people I couldn't stand at Harrow County...).
Stanmore became Stanmore Village in 1948 (to avoid confusion with a certain other Stanmore on the Underground). It closed to passengers in 1952, but the odd freight train ran through to Harrow & Wealdstone. Belmont made it to 1964, and I can remember a lorry parked by that station in 1966-7, with the track being lifted up.
Traces are becoming harder to find but the disused platform at Harrow & Wealdstone was the Belmont platform. At the Stanmore end there are a couple of cottages called Porters Cottages and, as Barry says, the house in Gordon Avenue was once the station.
Peter Scott's book has all the details, and Railway Magazine has in the past carried articles on the line.
Another note in haste. A few weeks ago, my step-daughter was dropped off at a party - that is my other job, unpaid taxi-driver. The surname of the host family was Rosenblatt. Any relation of Malcolm Rosenblatt, I asked the young man? That's my father came the reply. It was a real pleasure to swap stories with Malcolm (although I was saddened to witness the effects of his acute arthritis). Malcolm tells me that he is still in contact with many of his fellow students in A6M 1972, may of whom now occupy very senior positions in the finance departments of some of the largest companies based in the UK.
Come on, you economists and accountants, tell us the secrets of your success!
Michael.
A note in haste. Barry Lightman is quite right about the Belmont Rattler.
It was a single track line opened in 1980 with its Stanmore terminus in Grodon Avenue (named after Frederick Gordon, who put the money up for the line). The line contributed greatly to Stanmore's development from being a country village to becoming an important suburb.
Belmont Station was opened in 1932, and if you park your car behind the fish and chip shop in Belmont Circle you are parking on the station area.
There was a rifle range in the fields around Belmont (now, who shall I nominate among the people I couldn't stand at Harrow County...).
Stanmore became Stanmore Village in 1948 (to avoid confusion with a certain other Stanmore on the Underground). It closed to passengers in 1952, but the odd freight train ran through to Harrow & Wealdstone. Belmont made it to 1964, and I can remember a lorry parked by that station in 1966-7, with the track being lifted up.
Traces are becoming harder to find but the disused platform at Harrow & Wealdstone was the Belmont platform. At the Stanmore end there are a couple of cottages called Porters Cottages and, as Barry says, the house in Gordon Avenue was once the station.
Peter Scott's book has all the details, and Railway Magazine has in the past carried articles on the line.
Another note in haste. A few weeks ago, my step-daughter was dropped off at a party - that is my other job, unpaid taxi-driver. The surname of the host family was Rosenblatt. Any relation of Malcolm Rosenblatt, I asked the young man? That's my father came the reply. It was a real pleasure to swap stories with Malcolm (although I was saddened to witness the effects of his acute arthritis). Malcolm tells me that he is still in contact with many of his fellow students in A6M 1972, may of whom now occupy very senior positions in the finance departments of some of the largest companies based in the UK.
Come on, you economists and accountants, tell us the secrets of your success!
Michael.
Good evening from Victoria on Vancouver Island. I attended the school in the mid and late thirties, leaving to join the RAF at the end of the summer term 1940. When I first attended the school, that small swimming pool had just been opened. I recall that in my final year, we often took our lessons in classrooms at Harrow School (on the Hill) although I never did know why that was. Michael
The Belmont Rattler, at least in my days [1963-1970] ran from Belmont Circle to Harrow and Wealdstone Stations.
I believe in earlier years it started further back the line at Stanmore [ British Rail] from what is now a house at the beginning of Gordon Avenue Stanmore.
Dr. Beeching, I think, put an end to the Belmont Rattler in or about 1966.
This is my first visit to the site, having been introduced to it by Richard Bunt (1960s at school).
I was at the School 1946 - 1952. I still have all my Gaytonians in the loft and group photos of prefects in 1952 and my final form (UVI Sc A).
I was active in the CCF, rising to the lofty rank of sergeant in the RAF Section. This was useful for when I did my National Service in the RAF a few years later after graduating from University College London. I then spent the rest of my career in the BBC, from which I retired 10 years ago.
A quick look through some of the photos on the site revealed a number of familiar faces - mostly staff, including Dr Simpson, who was Headmaster for my years at the School.
One of saddest things to have happened more than two decades ago must have been the decision to virtually destroy one of the best schools in the country. Perhaps a little of it remains; I do hope so. There are certainly plenty of happy memories.
I wonder if anyone out there remembers me? Please get in touch.
Tony Berry
Funny how I see more Priestmead Primary than anybody else that went to HCS! I too was at Priestmead. went to HCS in 1957 - the only other person from Priestmead that year that went to HCS (as my memory serves) was Michael Browning. I can't accurately remember which HCS school year he went into, my recollection is 1B. I also remember a M. Anderson in my year at HCS (1C). These memories keep getting dragged up from the depths - amazing, isn't it! Thanks yet again, Jeff.
I also vividly remember coming home from school one lunchtime (Priestmead?), and seeing small aeroplanes flying round & round in the distance. Later that day I found out that there had been a train crash at Harrow & Wealdstone station, with many (~150?) dead. I assume now that the planes were press journalists taking photos.
I also remember a train called "The Belmont Rattler" but can't remember where it went from, or to.
Regards, Mike
What with Roger Armstrong and Peter Smart is there a danger of a Priestmead website being created!! I was at HCS from 1963-70 having graduated from Miss Ashby's class (as opposed to Miss Ashcroft's. I too remember Johnny Speight at sixth from society, but in his defence I seem to remember he had a terrible stammer so probably was not the right person to have as a guest speaker. Also remember Raymond Baxter and the classic question What about the Wankel!!
Thanks for the revelation of pupils 'graduating' from Priestmead, Roger Armstrong. There were also 40 pupils in our class, just over half were girls and I think three boys either went to Haberdashers or Merchant Taylors as well as HCBS. Thanks for the feedback though Roger.
Ref. Geoff Taylor's identification of boys on the 1943? Athletics photograph; on the second row, left to right are Jim FitzGibbon (at the April meeting), Addison, Ian Charlton, then Aspinall. On the front row, I think the chap at the left resplendent in the colours blazer is Rushton, then ?,?, then Pete Bellamy. Masters are Parkinson, Randall Williams, Robinson, followed by Ken Blackburn (who also was at the April bun fight).
With the help of my old address book to remind me, I can name many on 3 photos: (1)Athletes,1950 ? ? TWMisson ? ? (GSlapper?) JMPeel ? ? (DWhitmore?) ? MJFoxwell GRTaylor ACoxon Inder (Kirby?)? (CDFarrier?) RJTapper (front row)(Peat or Peel) SGWEvans CarlJames 4masters BSJoynes CRPonter PMettler & GNorman (2)Athletes, 1943: ? ? ? EEStyles RJClare ? ? ? ? 2nd row: ? ? ? ? DMAspinall ? ? ? SGWEvans CJames front: ? ? PDBellamy 3masters ? KABlackburn ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Rugby 2nd xv, 1950, front row only: Moffat ? MRose master Henderson TPAndrews
i was at Harrow County in the intake of September 1964 i did not realise at the time how many pupils would be so famous all these years later. i sent in details of my ist year photo and it is reassuring to see so many of my year detailed in the Old Gaytonians section . The only member of my year that i see regularly is Ray Lewandowski who was working for British Airways on computers.Great site
i had a fear of cadets ....blancoed belts.....shiny boots(instant shine)marching with two left feet,stammering my cadet number 983,defaulters,army camps in fremington...parades shudder shudder i was one of the original refusniks...sorry dad i just cant go to cadets any more..you see col.Bigham.....dont know what he said.....Fridays became activities of one sort or another with the other objectors...never became a prefect....was always in the Art room....nobody seemed to mind...went to Harry Mees lessons some times not a bad bloke.
Did you enter the school in September 1968?
If you did, it's official the Class Of '68 re-union is to take place at the school on the afternoon of Sunday 7th October 2001.
This message goes out to the likes of Dennis Harvey, Nicholas Young, Tony Wilkey, Dave Dalton, Rod Aiken, John (Oily) Campbell, John Jeffers, Ant Glynne, Pete Joyce, Trevor Baker, Steve Rigby, Vernon Yates to name but a few.......
If you are reading this and you entered the school in '68 or know how to contact someone who did please contact me at LSugar@MRPartnership.co.uk
We are now planning planning to spend the next 4 months tracking down as many of our intake as possible. More details will be posted as and when we have them
I've spent the best part of a lifetime trying to come to terms with my unhappy schooldays; and now this!
A recidivist in terms of revisiting the site. Three current observations beyonds thanks to the Webmaster and all who contribute:
1. Like Peter Smart I too attended Priestmesd though a little earlier, being at HCS between 1962 and 1969. My recollection was that the whole of the "A" stream and some of the "B" stream went to HCS - the class sizes were 40+ - I stand to be corrected by anyone with a better memory. 2. I was at school exactly when the Webmaster was there but there is a dearth of replies from our contemporaries. Where are you? 3. Does anyone remember the Sixth Form Society that met on a Friday afternoon/evening with girls from both the Girls' School and Heriots Wood? To my memory the guests included David Frost, a drunken Johnny Speight and Cliff Morgan plus many more luminaries no doubt.
Is there a harrow county girls website? Thanks to martin flack for "coqenbois" - i wish i'd thought of it! and gareth you're getting quite witty! Thanks also to jonn savannah as i must remember to call him for recommending his hairdresser. Why have i suddenly gone grey? Sudden flashback - recollection of Dave Burt's production of zigger zagger (oi! oi! oi!) and tony samuels coughing his guts out on gauloises we'd been smoking back stage. Where are they now?
yes......happy days....doctor simpson..... from the stage glaring at an assembly of boys not quite in the regulation trouser width......... I will come amongst you...freezing stare......do you remember a later incident in early Mr Avery time when a paper statue in his likeness was tied up high above the inner quad and burnt. Harry Mees told us we were all working class and that the times were a changin...how right Mr kincaid singing protest songs and burt weedon on stage,cream buns and doughnuts with the sixth form girls at afro american blue club on fridays
Found the site my chance - what nostalgia! I was at the school 1946 - 1952, the Dr Simpson era. I played rugby with Peter Mettler, Roy Tapper, Geoff Norman at school and then Alan Coxon etc at Old Gates. Note on the "New Buildings" The Huts and the staff bring it all back.
An e-mail from Jon Florsheim the other day reminded me that 16 Priestmead Primary School pupils entered Harrow County in September 1971. I wonder if that was some kind of record intake from any one primary school in one year. Anybody know any other intakes that were as high. We were all in Miss Ashcroft's Class 1 there too. Also there were 6 classes in our year at Priestmead and up to 40 kids in each class from my memory!!! They complain about the sizes of classes now!
Many thanks to those people who reminded me that the "face-slapping woodwork teacher" was Harry Cobb. Indeed, how could I forget!. I also note that I could could have found his name in the 1958 staff listing.! This brings me to the comment that this website is genuinely adictive (again) and that it has lovely little "nooks & crannies" that one can explore Jeff - thanks again! I was astonished at the obituary to "Lt. Col. Bigham" given by Dr. Simpson, which I have only recently discovered on the website. To those of you who knew the beloved Colonel, I would ask - "what the hell was "Square" on when he wrote that?, and can I please have some as well"?
Oh well, speak no ill of the dead!
Out of interest, isn't it amazing how a school can give one a lasting love of a particular subject ( In my case, english & cricket) and a lasting hate of another (rugby!!)
Regards, Mike
A lot of Old Gayts started at Pinner Wood. The Headmaster was Bill Broadhurst who is alive and well. Another in that Harrow Weald class of 1933 was Carol Bateman who married Charlie Sewell, Old Gayt and whose son John Sewell was at Harrow County in 1960's. I know he has visited this site.Virtual No Stalgia
A brilliant collection of memorabilia - brings it all flooding back.....! I may have some material to contribute myself, which I will try and look out later in the summer when I have a little more time....
Gareth Rees' and my roots have one further bizarre twist in that a classmate of his dad--and my mum--later became our Headmaster at Pinner Wood. However, unlike Gareth's illustrious parent, mine did not go on to become Home Secretary (well, yet, anyway; she's only 80!).
Time for a dig around in the attic now i have discivered this web-site
Great idea, thanks
Garry
This is a terrific site with so many memories! The latest photo published of the 1971 Scholarship 6th has Michael Thomas in the centre of the middle row directly behind Keith Neal. Michael was at the same primary school as myself, Stag Lane in Edgware and also at the same Scout Group, 6th Edgware. Last heard of teaching in Oxfordshire.
Stag Lane pupils were few and far between at Harrow County until 1970. That year we were five, a record. Would really like to hear from Roger Evans, Mitch Malone and Callum Kerr. Still in touch with Garry Giles.
Tom
The 1971 photo of Paul Ware's form with Keith Neale in front row caused proplems for him over head boy and deputy. Aren't they Graeme Rocker and Barry Jones. By the way Paul Ware was at the same primary school (Pinner Wood) as me although he was in the same class as my brother Patrick. I was in the same class as Jon Grunewald. In fact Pauls mum and my dad went to Harrow Weald together in the 1930's. Which brings me on to Jonathan Woodcock!
Oh, this site! It's so bloody addcitive it's not true! The Laurence in the Scholarship Sixth Science 1971 pic is Laurence Raphael, who is now living in Jerusalem, possibly working as an actuary). The disputed figure is indeed Peter Reid - we went to Birmingham in the same intake - he got a first in Physics.
Michael.
Thank you old Gaytonians who have links with girls from Heriots Wood. Thanks to you I have found 6 class mates.
http://home.netscape.com/netcenter/whitepages.html I may be missing the point here about Andy Hayes (...perhaps he nowadays prefers to go by "Mrs Luff"?) but if it is important enough to post messages as to his whereabouts on this site every four minutes, then perhaps you might try one of many search engines available.A cursory look revealed only 46 listings for" Andrew Hayes" in the UK, not an impossible number to contact if you are as desperate as you appear. -pw
Readers of this excellent web site may or may not be very pleased to hear that Andy Hayes (71-76 or thereabouts) has.........still not been found!
Not 'a very real achievement' boys.
No colours, no hand-shakes on stage I'm afraid.
Edith Luff (Mrs)
It was good to see some of the old faces and the 'page' certainly brings back memories.
I was there from 1961-1968
regarding the enquiry about the register taken at the reunion. If no one has any objections, I see no reason why it can not be made available. I can either type it up and send it to Jeff, or it can be available from me.
At the moment it is a bit busy at the School, so give me a little time!!
Alex Bateman
At the open day/re-union last March we all filled out our details on the register. Does anyone know if there are any plans to publish the attendees names/email anywhere, here for example.
It could be interesting to see all those who were present that day. Perhaps to enable some more contact etc?
Excellent, commendable initiative, but VERY nostalgic!
A quick reply to Mr. Woodcock - a girl who lives down the road cuts my hair for a tenner. Why do you ask? Do you have any hair? Do you need some for a locket? Or was it that you visited my website and saw a pic from back in the eighties? There is a fabulous pic floating around from the 70s when I had a glorious perm that went horribly wrong and became an enormous afro - brilliant! I'm so glad it was back then even though my present haircut looks more like a bog brush each day. Mind you in my line of work it helps to retain a bit of hair! I think I was first in line when they were doling it out though, double crown and all that... Hope this satisfies some weird curiosity Mr. W. regards - Jonn Savannah
I am reliably informed that it is 'coqenbois', Jonathan! (...Gareth Rees at a back-slapping lawyer's party? Never..!) Message for Syd. Forget that bit on my email about www.jeff etc - I see you have 'been' already!
Wallow, wallow, wallow. What a hoot! and what a fantastic site. Well done whoever you are jeffrey maynard. I'm at this very boring lawyers' party - you know the one where you slap each other on the back just before the slagging off - and gareth rees comes up to me and says 'hey there's this really cool site, check it out man'. Not being sure whether gareth was on anything here I am. All these names and photographs. Some of you had hair then. Some of you still do. By the way who is Don Snow's hairdresser? Looking at what some of you are doing it seems that the scope for blackmail is enormous. I remember the time before Michael Portillo was a Tory. I was at HCC 1968-75 and I now live in Pinner so I have moved 5 miles down the Uxbridge Road in 25+ years which is pretty adventurous. I really would have loved to have come to the reunion but I didnt bloody know about it did I. Thanks for provoking some happy memories!
Nice site. I was at HC from 69 to 75.
Re Richard Fletchers photo of U Six 2, the upper middle row, 5th from the left between me and Dennis Higgins is Simon Palmer (you might remember there were two with the same name).
Also, in photo of U six 1, in the middle row was my good mate Jez Begner (not J Begley). I wonder what happened to him?
I am very glad to see this website, it has been good reminiscing the good years spent at Gayton High.
Are there any further photographs between the years of 1980 - 1984 ?
David Jackson is right: Harry "Cob" Webb - although in my days of post-war reconstruction there was no spare wood to be worked by boys and Cob taught Mechanical Drawing and Maths. (Kept him occupied.) He started life as a builder's labourer, attributing his short, thickset stature to carrying heavy wooden scaffolding poles, and gained an education at the "evening institute", presumably getting a degree eventually.
His passions were stamp-collecting and rugby. He played for Harrow and seduced many early post-war boys to that club before the Old Gayts got properly up and running again.
He really had no problems keeping order and commanding respect, but had cheerful old-fashioned habits: quite minor errors were marked (rather than punished) by a quick clip round the ear - often accompanied by the remark, "The quickness of the hand deceives the eye, Eh, boy?" Then it was over and forgotten. Personally, I always preferred this sort of discipline to the long drawn out business of detentions and lines (I endured many of both "remedies") and grieve for present-day staff and pupils (sorry, "students") who toil in the silly realms of political correctness.
Mike Unstead-Joss and Brian Hester's writings about 'Colonel' Bigham reminded me that the man played, in a round about sort of way, a pivotal role in my life.
I encountered the great man, rest his soul, in 1968. As no doubt had always been the case, the Colonel's teaching methods consisted of filling the blackboard with notes about biology in his copperplate script, which we all dutifully copied down in precise detail and in total silence.
One day at the beginning of a lesson the Colonel was distributing the exercise books we had handed in the week before. Mine however was not among them. 'Holme, where is your book?' he demanded. Rejecting my plea that I had handed it in like everybody else, he said 'You've lost your book haven't you boy!'. It was not possible to argue further so I accepted that my book was indeed lost. Colonel Bigham told me to borrow someone else's book and copy up the term's notes into a new book. I borrowed Pete Hargood's book (though in fact anyone's would have done as well as they were all identical) and copied up all the notes so far. As this happened shortly before an exam, and as I had never in my life performed such a great deal of revision, I did remarkably well in the exam with an improbably high score.
Another term went by, and shortly before the end of the year we were sitting in the beginning of a lesson awaiting our books back. The Colonel produced my original exercise book saying 'Why have you missed out the last term's notes from this book boy?' And for good measure he added 'And why have you been using this other non-regulation exercise book?' He demanded that I write all the last terms notes into the original book.
So once more I borrowed Pete Hargood's book and copied the additional new notes back into my old book. Since once more this occurred just before an exam I again scored a very high mark. And from that point all the staff assumed I had some sort of natural talent for biology (which I later studied at University).
It's a funny old world.
I recall two Cyrils. first and foremost was Cyril Atkins, also known as "Tommy" who was school secretary, He had a gruff exterior but was a kind man underneath. His typing skill was something to behold as his single workable hand danced over the keys, He also taught shorthand. The other Cyril was Cyril Smith, a popular physics teacher who led the first school trip to the continent in 1947 but did not stay long in the Simpson era. I recall Bigham's first days at the school when I am sure he was introduced to us all as Major Bigham. The Colonel must have come later.
Mike asked "Who was the woodwork teacher - a short, fat man, with a distressing tendency to slap you in the face if the woodwork tools were not being used correctly?"
Was this not Harry Webb. I remember alway having to queue up outside the woodwork room before each lesson, and my total incompetence at making anything even slightly resembling a dovetail joint.
DaviD J
"Cyril" was Cyril Atkins, was he not?
This website is addictive - wasn't the school secretary's name in the 1950's someone we knew as "Cyril"?
Regards, mike
Jeff - I have spent a very interesting couple of hours trawling the guest book, and have been fascinated by everybody's reactions! I was at the school from 1957 until about 1961, leaving with only art "O" level (in my previous email I did say that I didn't like the school much - my guess is the school didn't like me much either!)
One thing that stikes me is the uniformity with which the teachers were either liked and respected, respected, or hated by all your respondents. I would certainly agree that Jim Golland was one of the most inspiring teachers I have ever met. I still remember during my first English essay in class being roundly berated by Jim, for not putting the title of the essay on the correct line of the page! I doubt he remembers me, though, since I was in the C/D streams, and several of your correspondents in the guest book have pointed out the disadvantages of being in those classes!
One of your correspondents asked the name of the school secretary during the period. (corpulent, with a withered arm). I believe his name was "Smith", but I could not be certain. I well remember him telling me that I "had" to do Sciences at "O" level, even though I desperately wanted to do History & Geography - this memory after 40 years still rankles in my mind! Biology, however, brought me into contact with the "beloved" Colonel Bigham. A lot has been written about him in the guest book I noticed!! However, I was good at Biology (except when it came to "O" levels, of course), and he liked me. I remember the story that he was supposed to have been a gunner in the airforce during the war, and was only an honorary Colonel, due to his CCF activities. One vivid memory is getting the same high score (84%, how about that for memory!) as the person sitting next to me in a biology test AND I HADN'T CHEATED! However, for some reason the "beloved" Colonel disbelieved me & I was slippered. The person sitting next to me during that test was known as "Min" no-one knew why, he just was - anyone remember him?
As everybody else, I vividly remember teachers such as the headmaster "Square", "Ubi" Lane, "Runt", Nick Tyrrwhitt, Bodium, Waller, "Babyface" etc.
One episode I remember was accidentally breaking "Ubi"'s son's finger during an "argument" - I cannot remember the cause, and cannot remember the son's name - I hope he reads this and forgives me!
Finally, in this set of recollections, how well I remember Mick Boggis! From your contributions so far, Mick, we seem to have had similar problems at the time!
One question to you out there - Who was the woodwork teacher - a short, fat man, with a distressing tendency to slap you in the face if the woodwork tools were not being used correctly?
Jeff- many thanks for putting up a website which has so many memories!!
Regards, Mike
Great site. Sorry to have missed the reunion. I've only just heared about the site. Great stuff. Like to get in contact with anyone else from my years
Any more gatherings planned for the future?
Neil
Sorry all Old Gayts!!! read my missive__ Castle contact was --yes-TJ -otherwise known as Terry Jones Cheers Sydney
Hello all Old gayts, I have only just ben dragged into the latest century!!! Hence now joined the cyberworld and looking forward to hearing from old Gayt's that I know and those that I don't but will find out about.I was fortunate enough to have playedfor OGRFC and forged many freindships there over many years.I was at the St Georges Club lunch last monday with a number of Old GaytS including Tony Roades ,Nobby West,Mike Foxwell,Geoff Spring,Ed Naylor etc etc--it wasgreat fun.The following day I managed to track down and take out for a few beers (Castle?Harrow on The hill)) and chat about the great times we have had and continue have .Iunderstand my old mate Flackie is logged onto the site so if so expect to hear back fom you cheers to all you Old Gayts and speak soon I hope
Got through all the entries now - and it really brings back memories. I remember Geoff Plow and so many others - the trips to Boppard with Mr Lloyd Jones and his wife - went that with my old man a couple of years back - nothing much has changed,
1976 Second XI photographs - yes that is me on the end as the scorer. I still have a copy of that - and I even played once that year against the staff run out for 0 by Paul Dunmore the skipper. The guy next to me is Paul Spencer and then Nick Cray is next to Nitin Shah - our opening bat who was rather slow at times. The keeper was Bruce Newbigging- not John Neighbour - he's sat next to Dave the Cat Carlen and tehn paul Dunmore. If Nick Burfitt reads this I still owe him a pint from a First XI trip to play Andy Scott's old school at Suttin Valence. Keith was a star slow bowler - took a hatrick that season at least twice.
Adavced Sixth 2 - the missing names on the back row are Geoff Cooper and dave Owen - Slim. On the lower middle row Martin Cawley is at the end and Steve Cox is next to Dave Zeitlin - the guy next to him may be Jonathan Cohen.
Some old names that I remember are posted on here - especially Pete Smart who lived round the corner from me in Bromfield. I went up from Stanburn with Richard Bunts brother Phil and my then best mate Huw Dorkins - a doctor somewhere. Also friendly during my time with Jonathan Grunewalds brother Richard and well as Gordon Taylors brother Malcolm.
Steve Hilsden
What a great site - it'll take me ages to get through all of it so I'll have to contribute over time.
Gareth Lloyd-Jones - good to hear you are still going strong. Always remember german with your jokes and comments about Nick Craik's dogs, more affectionately known as the ferrets. One of your former pupils is the missing character in Advanced Sixth 1 in 1975 - Martin Staples - son of the minister at Harrow Baptist at the time - and a whizz at languages. He only joined in the sixth form hence why not many remember him.
I was in that photo too on the front row. Gppd memories of my time 1969-1975 and nice to see old names like Pete Lawson (kerthimiento) and Mike Berquist. Whatever happened to some of the other guys - I only exchange Christams cards with Dave Zeitlin - living in Rayners Lane and working for Orange last tiem we spoke. Nick Craik was a nurse in Southampton when I last heard. ray Farrow is in the States as Gordon Taylors brother told me when i tracked him down. What happened to the others like Chin Ho Jo (Clive Silverman) and Keith Thorn. Those were good days in German.
As for me I left and went out to work for the DHSS then ECGD. As part of the latter I moved down to Cardiff, got married to an English girl and now have two boys - both fervently Welsh.
Steve Hilsden Tiba Dibbles etc
As
I was at Harrow County from 1967 to 1974. More positive memories than negative memories. Nice to see that they haven't all faded.
Great website! The photos have just given my sons a laugh. It is strange to be sitting in Sydney and seeing all those old familiar names and faces. Heard about the reunion the week after, when I was last in the UK and caught up with Jonn Savannah (formerly Don Snow). Good to hear of old schoolmates from the years of 67-73 in particular and of course Gareth Lloyd-Jones - your inspirational teaching of German, apart from all the other things we used to talk about, has landed me half way around the world - work that one out!
Best wishes to you all.
1968 to 1975
This is a very impressive Web site.
I must say that stumbling across a virtual Harrow County so long after leaving the real one was an odd experience. It stirred a strange mixture of feelings, of dread and of a kind of nostalgia. The dread, because I found the experience of Harrow County to be, by and large, and to varying degrees, stifling, oppressive, constraining and, well, miserable. And the nostalgia? This was the more surprising feeling.
In fact for some time I wished to expunge it completely from my memory. But alas, it is all there, and the Web site brought it all back. The smell of the corridoors, the sounds of desk tops banging (not computers!), excited chatter once a prefect left the room, the squeak of chalk on the board - when it was not flying unaccountably in your direction...
But in essence, for me the school was a dark period in my education, sandwiched between the joys of junior school (The Weald School) and the delights and liberation of Aston University, and the real world beyond.
Incidentally I should add that there was a view that the school motto 'Virtus non stemma' was best translated by 'Virility not sterility'... that says it all really.
Some random, disconnected thoughts about the school.
The website is a great piece of work.
I say that despite having many negative memories of the school.
I was at HCS 1953-60.
I hated almost every moment of it.
But I do have some positive memories.
Harry Mees. A superb teacher and a real character. Not, I'm sure he'd be the first to admit, without some warts. A truly vicious temper But, somehow, a clout around the head by Harry in temper was both more human and more humane than some of the more ritualistic and sadistic punishment regimes of other masters.
George Yelland. Another superb teacher. I never once heard him raise his voice, much less saw him raise his hand. A true passion for his subject.
Bigham. Very bad memories of waiting outside the Biology Lab and asking the departing class "What mood is he in " Was it really necessary to cane 4 or 5 boys EVERY lesson ?
"Spargo " Rawnsley and "Eggy" Eagers - two essentially decent people, mercilessly ragged by the boys. Our treatment of them was truly cruel and I feel some shame to this day.
Reg Goff. Excellent teacher. Great sense of humour. Intolerant of mediocrity and another hot temper.
Richmond, who taught Physics. Wasn't there long but a very kind concerned individual.
Simpson. I detested him. A snob and totally humourless. The culture of institutionalised violence he encouraged was unforgiveable.
Gerwyn Williams and Glyn Johns - a rarity - two PE teachers who were not vicious.
Charlesworth. Taught Geography. Served on one of the ships that sank the Graf Spee. very much his own person and seemed outside the "square ethos"
Spider Webb. Did not realise how much a rebel he was until later.
Charles Crinson. A gentleman.
(Who wrote this? Please sign it! - ed.)
The non-suit in the picture of Harry Mees is Jerry White, one of the many distinguished back-stage recidivists.
I am an old Heriots Wood girl and I am looking for anyone who went to my old school. I attended from 1970-1975.
Our school used to team up with yours for school discos and drama productions. Hence the appeal.
Andy Hayes is not here, as ever.
Arrived at HCBS in 1966. 1P, 2A, 3B, 4B, V?, L6M, A6M, yes , having spent a fun couple of hours perusing the site, I still remember many familiar names from my years in Gayton Road (or was it Sheepcote Avenue?). It would be good to get in touch with some of you in time, so sorry I missed the recent re-union. My main memories were the C.C.F. (Army), the Corps of Pipes and Drums (special thanks to Martin Flack for his initial tuition in the side drums), a spot of Rugby in the 3rd XV in my final year.
Jeffrey - a very nostalgic page which brings back memories of a time that I hated with a deep and deadly loathing. (I note that many of your correspondents have a similar view of the school). Keep it up!
Regards, mike
I was interested to learn at long last from Colin Dickson's entry the nature of the injury Spadger Heys suffered. He was said to have been quite a good runner before the accident. I had always thought he suffered war wounds. He was a good teacher of physics. Like many of his associates from the Randall Williams era he could control a class of 35 boys without having to resort to the "cane culture" that Simpson brought with him. I don't know what we all thought would happen to us if we let our attention wander from masters Duke, Fooks, Jones and Heys, and of course, Randall Williams himself, but the thought of kicking up a fuss or not working never occurred to us! These men all had that undefinably talent known as "presence" which Simpson, despite his numerous talents as educator and administrator, did not. I only encountered that gentleman in my last year when I was in the sixth form. About all I remember of him were his repeating the question "are you working hard, boy?" and the self-justification he made that just about every minor indescretion was "a clear case for corporal punishment". One old boy, who now has a mountain in Antarctica named after him, told me he was caned for something he did not even do so it looks rather as if compensating for the offence was more important on occasion than punishing the guilty!
I was interested to learn at long last from Colin Dickson's entry the nature of the injury Spadger Heys suffered. He was said to have been quite a good runner before the accident. I had always thought he suffered war wounds. He was a good teacher of physics. Like many of his associates from the Randall Williams era he could control a class of 35 boys without having to resort to the "cane culture" that Simpson brought with him. I don't know what we all thought would happen to us if we let our attention wander from masters Duke, Fooks, Jones and Heys, and of course, Randall Williams himself, but the thought of kicking up a fuss or not working never occurred to us! These men all had that undefinably talent known as "presence" which Simpson, despite his numerous talents as educator and administrator, did not. I only encountered that gentleman in my last year when I was in the sixth form. About all I remember of him were his repeating the question "are you working hard, boy?" and the self-justification he made that just about every minor indescretion was "a clear case for corporal punishment". One old boy, who now has a mountain in Antarctica named after him, told me he was caned for something he did not even do so it looks rather as if compensating for the offence was more important on occasion than punishing the guilty!
Thanks, Jeffrey, for the magnificaent work undertaken on The Virtual Gaytonian !
Having had nothing to do with the School for nearly forty years, especially since it was turned into a Middle School, I was pleasantly surprised at returning for the 90th to see just how many people I still knew. I will try now to help it again.
What I noticed from a quick glance at Some Gaytonians is that many of the folk who attended the 75th Anniversary of the 4th Harrow Rover Crew are not on this list. They did a good job in collecting names and addresses there, so a chat with Charlie King may help map the diaspora.
Bob Garratt
In reply to two recent enquiries:-
Geoff Taylor - Spadger's name was spelt "Heys". He ruled the lower corridor with a terrifyingly sharp and incisive tongue but was actually a very nice man and a good teacher. He walked with two sticks, having had his legs smashed by celebratory rockets standing on the bridge in St James's Park at the end of WW1.
Roy Goldman - Membership Secretary of the Old Gaytonians Association is Bob Silsby, Tel. 020 8868 7627; address 15 Deane Croft Road, Eastcote, HA5 1SS. He has a stock of ties and will gladly send membership forms and copies of past OG Magazines to any OG who would like to join. No, he's not on line, so no e-mail address.
Started at HCS in 1943 Class 2C in the huts. Also became a member of 4th Harrow scouts Pathfinder troop.
Now living in Brisbane Australia and would like to hear from anyone who remembers me. Would especially like to know where to go for Old Gaytonian ties, scarves etc. when I visit Harrow in June 2001.
Fascinating site which will attract return visits. The Physics master whose name escaped Newton Myers was "Spadger" Heyes or Hayes, I believe.
Having just found time to read Paul Danon's eulogy to Brian Doggett, and as one of the lab coated minions, it is time that the real reason for the pioneering attempts at a local area network using copper wire and Cookie's radiators is revealed. Although providing much needed entertainment for those suffering double periods in the B corridor this was the front for the clandestine surveillance work, vital to the information gathering needed for the other projects he mentioned. I can now reveal that the real reason was to place a listening device in the study of a Mr. J. R. Avery. As Brian and I were placing the copper wire along the outside of the school one lunchtime, a member of the teaching staff (Dave Burt I think) did ask us what we were doing. When we truthfully told him that we were bugging the headmaster's study, he foolishly did not believe us and accepted some feeble excuse about a science project. Sadly, events which led to Brian's departure intervened before the microphone could be installed.
Martin Flack. Have just picked up the big hello from a couple of weeks ago (I'm a slow reader). I have kept silent all these years, but I can now reveal that I stayed with the dying parrot that April day because he knew more words than the OG forwards, and could shuffle them into sentences. Do you remember that move we backs taught you, snappily titled 'Take ball near big white sticks and put down over line?' Oh what fun you all had trying it out at extra training. I left in '78. Did you ever master it? As for 'late again', you're thinking of Dave Bright, another Welshman at HCS doing GCE (Give Culture to the English.)
All others who have kindly contacted me and stirred the sludge in the memory, thanks so much. I will reply to you all in the near future, promise.
Finally, Paul Sassieni Have just read yours. It's worth pointing out that the teacher you refer to was acquitted of all charges, and that the slimebags who lied to set him up were appropriately dealt with for wasting police time.
Gareth
I was at Harrow County/Gayton High from 1974-8. Back then I was plain "Sass". Anyone remember me? I don't think I've been in touch with anyone from school since at least 1980. I've lived in Boston, USA since 1987 and work in finance. Frankly I don't have too many memories of the school and those that I do have are not very pleasant. My kids stare at me with amazement (as do adults with whom I share some stories) when I tell them of about the use of the cane and other devices used by some of the teachers. There was a French teacher who used a slipper and others who used a ruler over the knuckles. Sounds like Eton c.1850 rather than Harrow in the mid 1970's. Nowadays there would be a different light cast on grown men in gowns spanking boys in uniforms. I think we were catching on to that then. I remember a counter-culture growing after a teacher was found exposing himself in the men's toilets at Harrow-on-the Hill station in about 1977. I don't remember his name but everyone would mimic his voice with a gutteral "urrrrrr".
I was in the Army cadets and have only unpleasant memories of being thoroughly miserable at some of the camps. I was also the school archivist in about 1975-6 and a senior prefect. I remember when the teachers went on a work-to-rule in about 1977 or 1978 and the prefects decided to go on strike in sympathy rather that used as "scabs" by the Headmaster to do playground duties etc. A couple of us were summoned to Mr. Hull's office and in no uncertain terms our lives flashed before us! We did the playground duty!
There were some great teachers. In particular I remember Mr. Cowburn, the English teacher and a great history teacher whose name escapes me (Miss …….) who I remember as being quite radical but left me with a great interest in the subject.
Most of the entries on this website seem to pre-date me but if anyone was around at that time feel let me know.
Jon Grunewald's letter revived a memory.
In the few years after WW2, the London County Council established a number of small "overspill" housing estates in Middlesex to re-house, amongst others, those who had lost their homes in the east end of London as a result of the docklands raids, refugees from Germany in the thirties, etc.
At the age of five, I could be found on the LCC Headstone Lane estate, within the catchment area of Harrow County School. Six years later myself and a handful of others from Chantry Primary School were proud to have obtained a place at HCS, thanks largely to the equal opportunity in education policy of the government of the time.
And so, one morning in 1956, the English teacher swept into the room to announce that he had just learnt that Adkins, etc (yes, Jon, first names were indeed a personal secret at HCS) travelled in from the local LCC estate and that this therefore explained a lot. I can still see his gown flowing in a breeze of indignation. I wasn't quite sure what was explained exactly, although I do know that my accent was most unlikely to have been up to scratch and I was certainly left with the clear knowledge that I shouldn't have been there at all.
I sank gradually from 1A through 2B to 3C before fortunately finally surfacing via A6ScA and on to University in 1963. But it disturbs me a little even now to recall that my then compatriots from Chantry barely survived their first year at HCS and that by the end of the second year they had all gone.
Without some very good companionship during those times it is unlikely that I would have completed the full seven years, and to those individuals I remain grateful.
Looking back, I don't think that this teacher's views at all represented the majority view of the teaching staff at HCS at that time. If I felt that he held the same views now I might be inclined to mention his name. But I feel sure that he cannot and so will spare his blushes.
This is of course only one memory of many, there were a lot that were far more pleasant and if I contribute to this guest book again I will seek to restore the balance.
But virtus non stemma.
Easy enough to say, isn't it.
Let me correct that.
Easy enough to say, ain't it.
Jon Grunewald's painful memories struck an unpleasant chord. During the nineteen-eighties I lived in Indonesia (Borneo and Java). Because of my interest in wildlife I was considered something of a soft touch for visiting primatologists who would stay en route to study gibbons or orang utans. One evening, one of these scientists explained how the "noble savage" view promoted by the likes of Jane Goddall (in the nineteen-sixties, of course) had given way to a view of our primate cousins as brutish bullies, hostile to outsiders, quick to gang up on the weak and apt to vandalize the researchers' equipment just for the hell of it. "Not unlike adolescent boys," I said. "Oh, not as bad as that," he replied.
One point though, Jon, on which I might take issue. One evening during the run of Hamlet--by common consent the best school play produced at HCBS--we actors (I played the "churlish priest") were using a classroom that was the "Form Room" for some innocent First Years. One of my fellow actors (now a respectable pillar of the establishment) discovered a desk that had not been securely fastened. With great disdain he held a book up to public view. He then tore out the last page and threw it in the bin. "That'll teach the little shit to read Nesbit!" he said in his plummy voice.
No Jon, it wasn't just the "C" and "D" streams that were capable of cruelty. For all that, most of us lived through HCBS without too much emotional scar tissue (actually, for those of us who disliked violence, it gave an added impetus to develop verbal skills and the ability to amuse our peers). I guess in effect we became case-hardened--or just grew up.
I don't want to be a bore about this. However, I live now in a country where the bullied have equal access to firarms and revenge can be bloody. Life was a lot simpler when we were young. -pw
I hope we "oldies" can be excused for not responding quite so quickly as the younger ones in recording our congratulations to the organisers of the 90 th anniversary. Our generation enjoyed an interesting and pleasant afternoon not just in seeing what has happened to the school but in hobnobbing with each other for the first time in over fifty years! Some of us actually recognised each other. Of the 2A entry of 1940 (there was no form 1 in those days), we managed to assemble John Pocket, Dave Fickling, John Daymond, Ron Barney, Jim Fitzgibbon with regrets from Mick Armitt, Chas Melbourne, John Thornton and Mick Hornby. We had all left before the "new" buildings were finished so were duly amazed to see the finished product and to note the absence of the swimming pool and pavillion. As for the carpeted halls, well whatever will they think of next. A lot for us old fellows to ponder and comment upon in the short time available and with mouths full of celebratory cake.
Following on from Rick Ferguson's message, of course Jimmy Page makes a mistake on Led Zeppelin II. It's during the excruciating guitar solo on Heartbreaker when he obviously fluffs a note mid solo.
G'day mate Lol
Well, after many years out of touch, technology means I can catch up with events and some of my friends from the past - some I see listed in the original guest book. Not heeding "Bill" Bulter's advice not to stay in one job too long, I spent 43 years very pleasant at NPL Teddington, travelled the world - and still do on International Standards work. Although "retired" I spend many happy days working on steam engines down at the Bluebell Railway. Will visit this site from time to time to catch up on news.
Steve Bellis is alive and well - I still see Steve from time to time, he still lives in Harrow and can be found in the town centre watering holes!
Next time I see him I will put him in contact with this site
Steve Bellis (Bellissimo)was last seen in a pub next to me in Wembley giving it large with the gloats while The Gooners gave my lot a pasting. Cost me two quid as well!
'(Almost) a very real achievement' by the fraudster proclaiming to be Andy Hayes, Guestbook 31 March refers. You're going to have to do better than that.
Funny how there was no email address!
Wherever Steve Bellis is, he'll no doubt be engaged in some bass behaviour
All these fine words are well and good. But the question remains: where IS Steve Bellis?
I was class of 68, and managed a full house! 1P, 2D, 3D, 4D, 5 Something. My 7 year old son is at Sydney Grammar Prep School here in OZ, I wouldn't let him suffer the same ignominy. (Not that I cared at the time). - Laurence Sugar, in 1969, you told me thatthe band Led Zeppelin had made a mistake on their Album Led Zeppelin 2, and they repeated a section on the album. Well, I still play it and I still can't detect the mistake. Are you sure? Ian Garrod, you were an Arsenal supporter, broke my heart last night, if the Spurs had won, I was on my way over. After I left HCGS I played football for Harrow Borough in the Isthmian league, then swanned off around the globe. Been doing the VP/Director thing with Cisco for the last six years, am am now in Oz, so maybe that D stream thing wasn't so bad after all......
See Ya
Rick Ferguson 68-73
(1948-55) saw the site for first time today courtesy of my brother Laurence (1956-63). will revert when I have had chance to have proper look at everything.
I was at HCS 1964-71 or thereabouts - I left the lower 6th for Harrow School of Art in such a hurry I forgot to collect my O level certificates from the school office. Anybody know if they're still there? I heard about the site from my little brother Dave after David Hantman told him about it. Keep up the good work, I'll visit the site again.
Anybody remember me?? i was at H.C. from 1959 - 1964 didn't exactly cover myself in academic glory but enjopyed the time nonetheless. Where are you Johnny Hall, ' Gilfud ', Chris Box, 'Noddy ' Capel and others of 1B, 2C, 2D
Give me a call if you're still kicking.
How do I get my pavilion fund money back? Is there an action Group??
Oh, I didn't mean to sadden anyone with my recollections (Paul Danon's message)- and I suppose I had better come clean and admit that I was being deliberately controversial.
I think that by today's standards, Harrow County's building and the ethos (the quasi public school atmosphere) were dreadful. But heck, the people were nice enough, many of them. I greatly admired some of the teachers - I should have mentioned Ken Waller who had a wicked subversive sense of humour and made Russian (and Latin I expect, though he never taught me that) great fun.
No, I didn't have that bad a time. It was like - what was it like? - being in Colditz and looking for ways of escape. And your fellow prisoners were not only the boys, but maybe the masters too.
The site you've built is simply first class - but then what else would you expect from an Old Gaytonian! Will come back with some scanned in photos in due course (I've got a complete set of form photos from 1957 - 1964).
Geoff May (1957 -1964)
I just read Jon Gruenewald's recollections and was deeply saddened. If you read what I wrote you'll see that I had a predominantly happy time (except for Latin and PE), but it's salutary to realise that others weren't enjoying themselves. Jon, if I recollect, was no slouch academically. I'm sorry if my recollections seem insensitive in the light of others' torment. If it's any consolation, I've had some horrible things happen to me since leaving school!
Blimey - anyone would think that we are getting old!
Keith Greatbatch - how the hell are you!!
I am still in contact with the usual suspects (Dave Thomas, Phil Green, Chris Berge, Nick (worrying amount of time spent on the net) Sloane, Ian Abbott, Fran and unfortunately Jon Adams - times haven't really changed! Also see Gaz (stinking afgan) Stenner who as still as horrible as ever, Pete Balderstone rears his head at the odd party.
It would be good to get a better turnout from the 71-76 year at the Association dinner, next one scheduled for March 2002, after being reprimanded by the Master of Ceremonies for the last 4 or 5 years it would be good to enlist help from others!
Anyway, great site and guestbook but I must go now to try and learn how to grow up
For those interested in the whereabouts of some of the 1967 intake:
Neil Balderstone - computer contractor. Lives in Harrow Weald. Has done a lot of work for Nat West but last heard of taking time off and traveling.
Ian Barnfather - various jobs including recruitment officer for Fluor Daniels, currently living in Ruislip and working in a car showroom in St. Albans. Wife Gill works for Citibank reviewing potential investments abroad.
Mark Harrison - I worked with his father for a few years organizing the Harrow Marathon in the early 1980's - Mark was then living in Brighton.
Keith Jones - last seen in the early 1990's living in Pinner and an officer with the Met Police.
Gareth Smith - lives in Grove, Wantage and works at the Rutherford Labs. Obtained a PhD from Sussex University. Worked on one of Rutherford's experiments at the CERN particle accelerator near Geneva for 5 years looking after the computers monitoring collisions. Has two teenage children.
Andy Wright - worked as a mining engineer in Botswana in the 1980's before returning to the UK to start up his own company. Currently living with his family in Ireland.
I'd like to add my thanks to all concerned for organising Saturday's HCS 90th birthday celebration. As several others have already commented, the essence of HCS seems somehow to have survived the many changes and improvements to the school buildings that have taken place over the years. I would have been greatly disappointed if the noxious odours from long-forgotten chemical reactions were not still haunting the C corridor labs. It was good to see Mick Boggis and several other familiar faces from a former era, but slightly disappointing that there weren't more from this particular stratum. It would be good to establish contact with anyone else from the 1960 onwards brigade who happens to scan these messages. Lastly, congratulations to Jeffrey Maynard for setting up an excellent website.
John Clayton HCS 1960-67
Hello, Looks good. I know it's a lot of work. I'm trying to make a family tree and it's very time consuming, but enjoyable. I'm looking for my GGfather. He was Headmaster or teacher at Harrow, probably back in late 1800's or early 1900's. NAME- WHEATLEIGH OR WHEATLEY, MAXWELL He was married to an AVIS BOLTON. He had a son by the name of ERIC HUGO born Dec.5,1885 served in the British Army I think. Anyone with any info,birth records,death records, please e-mail me at above address. Tks.a lot Raymond Lyons Esq.
I have to add my thanks to the organisers and the current school management for last Saturday.I have to say that I half expected to go in, spend 10 minutes, and then go home.Imagine it, me being slung out from school.Usually in the old days it was the other way round!
Although the school has in many ways been altered the heart of the old HCS was still there. I too smelt the old chemistry lab smell in the new IT rooms.
And what have they done to my stage! The old Lights board has been ripped out - replaced no doubt by some computerised wizardry.The stage has now recived some ceiling treatment completely obscuring the space above the beams. Perhaps for safety reasons? Any way I couldnt see if my name was still painted there, shame. The sound room at the back of the hall has gone together with the old M.E. room. The old cold twist & cough in there never to be repeated (Hopefully)I wonder if you can still play cards in the roof above the new hall.
The main stairs seemed so much smaller than I imagined they were.Pleased to see that many other features are preserved.
I enjoyed meeting up with some who I havent seen since 1972/3. Leon Loberman,Keith Mount,John Abbott,Simon Benson,Paul Danon,Martin Flack, Katie Finch et al. And Dave Hantman who I havent seen since 27th February 2001!!
Any way well done Harrow County a fairly real achievment.I would be delighted if someone could arrange a class of 1966 re-union; however since we only achieved about 9 or 10 of us its a long wat to the 120 mark.
It was fun.
Richard Bunt
Regarding Andy Gee's remark about not remembering the nickname of the Physics master, Mr Walker. It's probably because it was too obvious, Andy. It was "Johnny" (also, and equally unoriginally, known as "Taffy"). He was evidently unimpressed with a career in teaching after his efforts at Gayton Road. I believe he went off to join his family business after leaving HCBS.
Sorry to have missed the 90th birthday (I've been on a biz trip in the Far East). Sounds like y'all had fun.
-pw
I too enjoyed Saturdays 'reunion'. It was good to meet so many old friends.
Gareth Rees asked about other people who started in 1967. I keep in touch with a few. Several are, like me, professional geologists - thanks to Maurice Venn's inspirational field trips! Paul Nowak (I am godfather to one of his sons) is an engineering geologist living in Kingston, Paul Logan is an oil geologist and lives near Milton Keynes. There are two geologists from the year above - Barry Chacksfield and Harry Proctor who were, when last heard of, working for the British Geological Survey and Amoco in Houston, respectively.
I keep in touch with Gary Shelton (now a Chartered Accountant), Roy Secker (an insurance advisor) and John Bonner who all live in the Bucks/Herts area and also Gary Thomson, who was from the year below, and now works for Hilti in Manchester.
Also hear of some 'contemporaries' at Harrow County Girls school as my wife and her sister both went to the girls school (maiden names were Barabara and Liz Hopkins, repectively).
Just logged on for the first time. The site was emailed to me by Martin Haley, my brother-in-law and son of Arthur Haley (Music Master from 1959). Looking at the report of the Christmas Concert 1959 reminds me how incensed I felt when I saw my initials mis-printed at the end of the first paragraph - such minor details meant so much in those far-off days! (I have corrected this! - ed.)
Great to have a browse, and I'll be visiting again.
The costumes department above Norman Anderson's art room. That brings back memories! A few missed lessons were spent up there. I see my name is even in the Zigger Zagger programme, although I can't remember exactly what I did! Anybody know whatever did happen to my old mates Lee Dean & Chas Harman?
Mike Bergquist 69-75
I can't get over how many people I saw on Saturday that I hadn't seen for ages and what fun it was! The stage was distressingly tidy and clean though.....but I did wonder if any of the costumes were still up in the loft above the Art Room and the large props in the roof above what used to be the metal workshop,perhaps the tour next time could take in these more out of the way places.....thanks for oganising it Alex!
Impressions of an excellent Open Day on Saturday.
It was the first time I had been within the hallowed portals since 1964 and the experience was seriously spooky. Health and Safety has reared its ugly head in the interim; fire doors across the corridors every few yards, the old Prefects' Common Room declared a safety hazard (only one exit), and horror of horrors, the organ has gone, apparently because the console was declared a fire hazard sometime around 1990, doubtless by some tedious council jobsworth.
Biggest burst of nostalgia was generated when we entered Chemi Lab C7, a computer lab since 1998. Benches, sinks & gas taps all gone now, but the room was otherwise unchanged, and still had that utterly distinctive C7 smell! The smell of many dodgy experiments, some illicit, some not, over 88 years has permeated the very fabric of the room, and hit all of us instantly on entering. There used to be a fume cupboard just inside the door, I remember, which was never that effective at keeping hydrogen disulphide or nitrogen dioxide out of our young lungs. They say that smell is the most evocative of the senses, and this experience proved it so.
Overall impression after 37 years was that everything seemed smaller than I remembered. Individual rooms have been radically altered, even disappeared in some cases - we were unable to find B6, the lecture theatre, where I spent many a detention, and where, if you were bored during a lesson, you could disappear down a trapdoor at the back under the benches. Old Entrance area, staircase, clock, etc. virtually unchanged, though.
We (Dave Jackson, Pete Lund and myself) had our photo taken sitting together under the clock. Not the first time by any means that we had been there collectively! The following day I bumped into Brian Attkins, who was a year below us, and he showed me a 1963 School photo, in which the same 3 faces appear next to each other. Forty Years On!
I spoke to Jim Golland, who did remember me, to Nick Tyrwhitt (he will always be Nick to us; sorry, Norman) who I don't think did, and to Harry Mees, who definitely didn't. 120-odd boys a year for 25-odd years = 3,000 faces. They can't be expected to remember us! On the other hand, there were only 50-odd staff, so I recall them all vividly.
We were slightly disappointed that only one other from our year was there - Nigel Denton. The rest of you are all out there somewhere!
Mick Boggis HCS 1958-1964
Like so many others I had a wonderful afternoon last Saturday. Having been involved at Sudbury with Rugby and Cricket for the last 27 years since I left it was a refreshing change to se a lot of old friends. I missed everyone in my year except Gordon Taylor. Andy Gee tells of Will Gee, his brother, as part of 1967 1k. Where is he? Peter Thorn lists the rest. I bumped into John Dunworth about ten years ago and Richard Sharp is a partner at Goldman Sachs. Peter reported that, very sadly, Neil Clarke died from cancer a few years ago. Any news on the rest?
I was just browsing through the photographs. In the listing of Form 2 photos in 1965, the first one on the list is Form 2c - I know because I'm at the right hand end of the back row. Interesting to see faces I haven't thought about for years. Recognisable people inlude Eddie Gaines (2nd from left in back row), Graham Nash (2nd from left in front row), Dennis Gladdy (sixth from left centre row) I remember them particularly because I was at Roxeth primary school with all of them.
Alan Kohn (must be spelt wrong) and Phil (I think) Edmunds are 4 and 5 from the left in the back row; Dave Pratt is second from right in centre row and I think Bill Cook (Williiam probably) is third from right in the middle row. I'm in desultory contact with Dave Pratt and he's a motor sport journalist writing under the name of David Tremayne. His sister Madeleine was at the reunion on 31 March (remember Duchess of Malfi and Romeo and Juliet)
Howard Aitken's on the left end of the middle row and 4 and 5 from the left are Graham Smith and I think Mike Thomas, Peter Webb is on the front row extreme right and Graham Dunning is 4 from right next to Mr Walker (I had to really struggle to remember that it was Walker and I couldn't come up with a nickname or first name at all - I think he taught physics, but its an indication of my ineptitude at the subject that I can't remember if he taught me at all!)
Richard Amy who provided the photo is presumably in it. By coincidence I was sorting through some (very old) boxes of papers and things (including some old Gaytonian and Enquiry magazines and I came across a copy of Hymns Ancient and Modern, duly inscribed inside the front cover Richard Amy - so if he wants it back, I've got it...
Thoroughly enjoyed Saturday and great to see so many (recognisable) faces after all these years!
Re: Lawrence Sugar's comments - Lol, I think you have thrown out a challenge! First 2 questions - where and when? I suppose Harrow somewhere and I guess early summer/autumn?
Last comment - I had not been back in Harrow for many years and from the amazing route required to get to Harrow & Wealdstone Station afterwards it appears Wealdstone has declared independence from the rest of the borough.
I am sure we can do better than 14%!
Glad to see you that all that attended had a great time at the 90th birthday celebrations, wish I could have been there but bit of a way from here. Been smiling at all the Nick Sloane, Keith Greatbach reminiscences; keep up the quips guys. Also liked the notes from Gareth Lloyd Jones, remember him although I was in Greaser Green's class not his. Talking of teachers anyone remember Jane Austen, Mr Keeler (Maths, Mr Gupta (he who used to draw flowers around the gas taps as he spoke with his marvelous 'Goodness Gracious Me' accent and Mr Tufnell who made it just a little easier to transform from Priestmead Primary School to HCSB? Nicholas Rawlings are you out there???
My thanks, too, to the organisers of a very happy and successful day (a very real achievement in the face of national competition and without the grain of sand that sinks a ship). I was just wondering why my memoirs were pinned up on a display board under a photo of Joe Avery.
Well, at least I have learnt in the last few days that it was Paul Danon who wrote about the rats leaving the sinking ship!
Michael.
I would like to add my thanks and comgratulations to the organisers of Saturday's event - it was far better than I anticipated. Together with this web site, it brought back many memories.
As for the Advanced Sith photo, I think one of the missing names on the front row is Mick Andrews.
Best regards, Gabriel Hearst 1969-1976
I attended HCS from 1964-71 and I believe the reunion on 31 March was the first time I had been back since a rainy Gayton Fair some time in the 70s.
The reunion was far better (and better attended) than I had anticipated. I turned up with John Roberts, Brian Hanney and Neil Taylor (all 1964-72) and also John's dad EPAI who probably overlapped with my father who was at the school in the mid 1920s. There were quite a few from my vintage there including Howard Aitken, Matthew de Lange, Clive (I think) Moore as well as Geoff Perkins and Michael Portillo.
I was interested in Peter Lawson's comments about C and D streamers, having progressed 1K, 2C, 3D, 4D, 5(3) and then L6A and A6A. I think I probably hated school until the fifth year but I enjoyed immensly my time in the sixth form. Its interesting how the names of the same teachers occur again and again as having engendered enthusiasm and affection.
For me Harry Mees and Gerry (Jock) Lafferty were probably the difference between my leaving school with absolutely nothing to show for it and sneaking into higher education via Portsmouth Polytechnic. I should add that Jim Golland also laboured hard over what must have seemed very unrewarding fruit.
Someone called Peter Thorn was asking for news of people in 1K in 1967 and the Gee on his list is my brother William (Will). In fact I think Will's first year was my cousins Terry and Michael last year so there were 4 Gees at school at the same time.
I'm based in Brighton, Switzerland and Antigua now and would be delighted to hear from any contemporaries particularly from L6A and A6A.
Many thanks to the organisers for Saturday's bash. A real trip down memory lane with the bonus of a few beers in The Castle to conclude the day. Especial thanks to Martin Abel for his guided tour of the school, his enthusiasm and commitment is a real credit to the school.
I rummaged through the baggage that has accompanied me round the world over the last twenty years, and discovered a photo of Upper Six 2 - 1975 to pair with Upper Six 1 - 1975 submitted by Jon Grogan (Hello Jon after 25 years). Apologies to my fellow class mates for not remembering all the names and my thanks to Mike Bergquist (Hello Mike after 25 years) for completing most of the question marks. We're still missing two names, so if there are any sixty niners who were still persevering in seventy five with a great memory for names and faces, it would be nice to complete the set.
Now for the competition - From both of the Upper Six - 1975 photos who was playing truant on that particular day? I can think of two absentees Harman and Giltrow - others? And the bonus question, was there an Upper Six 3, there are are certain faces missing such as Greatorex, Wynde etc and they certainly wouldn't have gone AWOL!
Richard Fletcher 1969 - 1975
Saturday was the first time that I've been back since my last A level paper in July 1974,hasn't everything changed? Not only the school but also the faces. Me,I am still the same though!Didn't recognise anybody except for 1 teacher who shall remain nameless who I steered well clear of (I know that's bad english or is that a clue?) as he didn't like me then and ..........
However be that as it may, congrats. on organising it so well and heres to the next celebration.
Forgot to say thanks to all those who gave me material on saturday, sorry I didn't have longer to talk to you all.
As for those who mentioned and promised items, please send them!
Alex Bateman
Very interesting afternoon on Saturday and thanks to the organisers for all their efforts. Would just like to point out that the 'Class of '68' seemed to do very well in terms of attendance. On my reckoning there was approximately 14% of the original intake present on Saturday.
Particularly good to see the likes of John Jeffers and Mick (Paddy) Hopkins flying the flag for the C stream in view of the predominance of A stream individuals. Now the question is where are you Pete Joyce, Vernon Yates, Pete Tilly, Dick Lavender, Kevin Edwards, Mick Day? Also seemed to be a whole strata of people missing such as, Steve Rigby, Al Yarrow, Dave Dalton, Chris Bond, Paul Hardy and so on. Any leads on these people would be most welcome.
Anyway it was good to meet up with everyone albeit briefly. Now, will anyone put their head above the parapet and organise an official re-union of the 'Class Of 68' for later in the year?
Gareth Lloyd_Jones
Now there's a (welcome) name from the past. Anyway I must just append a note from an e-mail I jsut sent Nick Sloan about 10 minutes ago and then logged on here for a quick read. It relates to Beb Thomas's broken leg. Coincidence or fate !!!!
The French tour to Narbonne is still a fond memory. The singing of the English national anthem on a table, the arguing with the Frenchies that Jaques Fouroux (ish) was not the best rugby player at the time, the kissing of the cradboard cut out of a French waitress outside the restaurant, teh reception given by the mayor of Beziers, the putting fingers down Simon Young's throat to get the Pernod and Peppermint cordial out. The things you did for your mates back then.
I was in Narbonne and Carcasonne on vacation about 5 years ago and drove around with my wife and children and eventually found the hostel we stayed in by the Grande Eglise. The bars looked different -probably becuase they weren't full of 15-16 yaer old Brits !!
Anyway if anyone can remenber the name of the school between the Chiswick Roundabout and Hanger Lane let me know !!!
All the best Keith
***********************************************
OK Nick this is twice I've had to correct your memory !!! Assuming mine still works !
I spoke with my Dad today as I remember him talking to Parky on the touch lines over the years. It was Windsor Grammar that his son attended just off the M4, not Hampton. However the Spencer straight arm tackle I believe was indeed against Hampton.
The old man reminded me of another one as well. Do you remember the Dave Thomas leg break against *********** (the school just up from the Chiswick roundabout). Dave went for a boot down the field and one of their guys just put his foot up to try and block the kick. Well the ball went where it was intended (as Beb's always did) but this guys boot caught Dave's shin. The only reason Dad remembered it was that he drove Dave to the hospital and wasn't seen for another 4 or so hours !!
Anyway another reminisce to add to the collection
Kind regards to all and I hope the Dinner went well.
Jon, Did many of the Class of '76 mange to get there?
Keith
Hello it was a great day yesterday it was nice to see "old" faces.Lol Sugar thanks for the memories can anyone remember the sesions at the Castle on Harrow on the Hll I went back there today but the dartboard has gone.I would have liked to have met Nigel Sheinwald to thank him for the write up in Gaytonian 1970 thanks for a lovely day JOHN JEFFERS
(On pages 17/18 of the 1970 Gaytonian, Nigel Sheinwald reviews the Junior Convergence quartet of miracle plays. He writes "...The Crucifixion, perhaps the best received of the quartet, where John Jeffers tackled the part of Christ with an amazing confidence and calmness in spite of the obvious mental and physical difficulties involved." - Jeff Maynard)
My thanks to us for being there and supporting Alex B. and the many staff who helped the day fly by! This was a wierd and wonderful experience as I tinkered with my memories...(as you would at an all boys school ) Anyway, hello Paul Danon - I saw you yesterday but didn't manage a chat. Hello again to Dave Graham who hasn't changed a bit...OK maybe a bit. And to John Abbott, who remembered spearing the scout's standard into the balcony when exiting the Rememberance Day service. Not so bad for the pointy end of the flagpole which hit the acoustic tiles but the blunt end was, how you say 'adjacent' to John's trousers! And Finally. Big hello to Gareth Lloyd Jones,( late again ). Famous for putting his parrot before a game of rugby - not bad for a Welshman! Good health to all, Martin Flack
Many thanks to all who arranged the OG Dinner and the 90th Birthday yesterday. It really was a good experience, but cannot understand why the distance from the buildings to Kenton Road seemed to have shrunk!
Good to see old colleagues again, and I will try not to leave it so long to get in touch in the future.
Kind regards to all
IAN GAWN
Like so many, I greatly enjoyed yesterday's reunion. I've since contributed a couple of things to the site and shall encourage others to do likewise. I'd much like to hear from other contemporaries.
Hi, I came to this quite by accident. I remember a few of the faces.
I'll be back!
Best Wishes.
All I wanted was to find out why OGRFC had disappeared from the Monday Telegraph summary of results. On the offchance I typed in Gaytonian - my 17 year old son showed me how to plug in the machine, press the buttons and do a He-male (Luddite? Me? No chance.)- and suddenly I am back teaching at HCS in 1971-78. All those names, all those memories. If only I had found out about the 90th a few weeks earlier. Thanks for the kind comments Pete Lawson. I am still telling the same jokes as I coast gently into my last term before retirement. (16 weeks to go-hoh!) Meanwhile, a challenge, Nick Sloan. When did Andy Hayes get sent off for the FIRST time. Who against? Why? EXACT date? If you get it right, I will replace the bottle of Chablis. Also, where and when did Beb Thomas break his leg? And it was my Under 14s, not the Under 15s, who lost the Middx Cup Final 0-4 to Chris Wren (I was moaning at Paul Spencer for not tackling before I discovered he had played all but five mins with a broken collar bone). Somewhere I have photos of that team at Under 12, 13 and 14. What a side! Paul Rockey, with whom I spent an unexpected and very drunken weekend last year, ostensibly on an RFU county coaching course, is till teaching at Bodmin School, Cornwall. We talked fondly of the Good Old Days, especially the French tour 1976 - Keith Greatbatch, the stains never came out of our clothes - and the other highs of HCS. He is much unchanged, still Welsh, short, and muscled, although badger grey. There is much more to say now you have all woken me from my torpor. I shall return. Cheers to you all. Gareth.
Advanced Sixth 2 Dec 75. I can help with all but two of the missing names. (in missing order, left to right)
Back row: G Cooper, D Owen. Upper middle: S Palmer Lower middle: J Cawley, J Cohen, ?, M Irwin Front: ?, M Rees
Mike Bergquist
All I've read so far is Dave Hantman's reminiscences. Particularly eerie was the slabs of memorised register: I recognise half the names!
I really enjoyed the 90th birthday bash yesterday, espescially meeting all those faces I'd been trying to forget for so long... ;-)
I've added a new page to my website for some of the photos I took at the bash. Go here if you really want to see them:
http://www.mice.dircon.co.uk/School/hcs90th.html
Cheers, Mark (1970-1977)
Sorry that I had to leave the 90th b'day early. I know I must have missed so many people and apparently the tour did take in the prefects common room. Sad to have not stayed. I did get to see a few notables, in particular Beryl Chase, Jim Golland and Harry Mees. It certainly stirred memories.
I have just spent a fascinating hour dredging back through the dimmest darkest recesses of my mind. i am deeply indebted to you.
In my haste to get a note down yesterday I forgot to mention a couple of people!! Before I get any hate mail, the irrepresible Richard Bunt was in good form and how could I leave out the as ever wonderful Beryl Chase, who looked a million!!
Hi
A huge thanks to everyone involved in the birthday open-day. First time I've been back in the place since 1964. It has a more human and friendly feel to it now than it did back then.
I went with Mick Boggis and Pete Lund, also from the 1958 intake. One thing we all noticed - the old chemistry lab upstairs, which is now a computer room. The three of us exclamed simultanouly - THE SMELL. It still smells of chemistry experiments and bunsen burners etc, even though it hasen't been used as a lab for 15 to 20 years!!
Met the new deputy head, who seemed remarkably friendly and normal. Apparently they no longer cane/hit/slap the pupils any longer, which is a welcome innovation.
Very glad some of the old bits remain, especially the seaplane staind glass in the old entrance, and the seat under the clock upstairs. We were able to sit there without expecting to be caned shortly, which was pleasant.
So a good day, and sincere thanks to those involved in organising it, and to the present day teachers and pupils who let us trample all over their school.
I'll put an extra half-crown in the pavillion fund next term....
All the best -
PS anyone knowing the whereabouts of Peter Lawrence, or Peter Davies from the '58 inmates please let me know. Thanks. DaviD J.
Thanks from us organisers, to all those who turned up for the 90th do at HCS on Saturday. Regardless of anything on our part, it wouold have fallen flat without your attendance. Now about that 100th...
It was wonderful to visit the school for the first time in 24 years and meet contemporaries and former staff. How the place has changed - even if the memories are fully intact! I deeply regret having to leave the Birthday Bash early in order to fulfil a long-standing musical engagement in Canterbury. Warmest good wishes to all those whom I saw briefly this afternoon, and to friends there whom I was unable to meet.
Here’s looking forward to HCS’s 100th!
Carl Jackson 1970-1977
What a great day at HCS. Where were you Nick Sloan?
Just a quick note having returned from the 90th Birthday bash - a great nostalgic afternoon meeting up with old friends (and enemies!!).
My congratulations to the organisers for letting us back in for some great memories - especially up in the Prefects common room!
The school has changed - how on earth can anyone play football in the inner quad now - and yet it hasn't - going up that staircase between A1 and C3 brought back memories!!
Great to see a few names and faces from my past - Dave Hantman, Simon Benson, John Tyggier, Katie Finch, Dickie Salter, Gareth Rees, Geoffrey Perkins, as well as some of the teachers - Jim Golland, Harry Mees, George Cowan and Nick Tyrwhitt.
Here's to the 100th Birthday party!!
Leon