Name: clive;pigramattesco;net
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1950-1957
Date: 01 Dec 2008
Time: 15:23:31
"Bert" (as he was known)Morsehead can be seen in the front row of the 1952 Panoramic photo of the CCF, in his Naval uniform, between RSM Johnny Carr and Capt Snowdon. I think he was senior to Reg Goff in the Naval Section.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 01 Dec 2008
Time: 07:05:19
To all those who recall him, I was informed yesterday of the recent passing of Michael Morsehead, who taught science between 1950 and 1957, and also served in the Naval section of the CCF. No further details at present.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 30 Nov 2008
Time: 14:19:54
Clive The idea of an OGA blazer has been put out twice now with only a single maybe other than your own interest. One problem being the cost. The OGA did look into prices, but the feedback was either a minimum of something like 10 at £150 a go, or we could order the material for individual members to have their own blazers made, which collectively would probably be even more. I do have several in the archive if one is required urgently, and depending oncircumstances am happy to lend.
Name: Clive Pigram
Email: clive,pigramattesco;net
Years_at_school: 1950-57
Date: 30 Nov 2008
Time: 02:47:31
I don't suppose the far east company can produce quality blazers, as this project seems to be falling on deaf ears at the moment. Centenary Year is fast approaching!!
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 29 Nov 2008
Time: 16:16:05
With regards the rugby shirts proposal, I think you asked me about that several years ago Stephen, but there was little interest over here. One reason is that single coloured rugby shirts are still easily found in plentiful supply over here, so cheap as they may be, a specialist order would probably be more trouble than its worth. The School shirt was different colours depending on your era (green and pale blue hoops, dark green with a gold hoop across the chest, the same but with the gold band also around the sleeves and a green shirt with a pale blue hoop across the chest). Certainly the shirt worn in my time (reversible green / green with a gold band) is still available locally, with the largest sizes fitting the average. With Jon's comments in mind, and not wishing to make this a sales pitch, the Old gaytonians Association already sell items in the School and OGA colours (the OGA being the same as the school green and plae blue, but with the addition of brown), the latest item being a superb 'English College Style' scarf, double sided in 100% wool. OGA members will have seen this in the latest newsletter, non members can contact myself or Jeff if they want any further information.
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnie at shaw.ca
Years_at_school: 46-51
Date: 28 Nov 2008
Time: 17:10:53
Colin Dickins brought up the name of Diamond in the 1951 Scholarship VIth. I believe his first name was Derek, who captained the 2nd XV at that time. I was pack-leader at that time, and occasionally took over as captain when Diamond was called up to the 1st XV. He also appears to be on the far left, back row of the 2nds a year earlier. Others in the Scholarship VIth are: Alan Wells, back row, 4th from left; 3rd from left is Gordon Catto. Tom Stanley is 4th from left in the front row. Now brings up a mysterious situation...could Gordon Catto be in the Scholarship and Lower Modern at the same time? Look at the photos of both, same glasses, pen in pocket and a greyish pullover. Both pictures must have been taken the same day.
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email: jongru at btinternet.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 28 Nov 2008
Time: 14:21:21
With that endorsement I hope Stephen is able to find some people to help with his business plans. Sorry, Stephen - I hope you don't see as many spam emails as I do. It's a world of con-men out there.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffrey maynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 28 Nov 2008
Time: 12:35:37
Jon, a little confusion here. Stephen Frost is quite genuine. He is an Old Gaytonian and is investigating making clothing in Harrow County house colours. He can get them made in Thailand where he lives, but needs someone in the UK to take care of the UK end. It is a question of demand. Stephen is also an expert on the life of the first Headmaster of the school, Ernest Young, who lived in Thailand before he came to Harrow County.
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email: jongru at btinternet dot com
Years_at_school:
Date: 28 Nov 2008
Time: 03:42:31
With regard to Stephen Frost's message (a few messages below this) my first thought, I'm afraid, is that it has the hallmarks of a scam. Apologies if it is a perfectly genuine business proposal. But if it is, I really don't think this is the place to advertise business proposals.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-53
Date: 28 Nov 2008
Time: 03:13:24
Photo - Scholarship Sixth 1951. Fourth from left back row is Brian Wilson. I'm sending him an e-mail to ask if he can add to the list of names.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-53
Date: 28 Nov 2008
Time: 03:03:10
Photo - Scholarship Sixth 1951 - The unnamed third from right in the front row is the elder Diamond. In 1951 the failing Labour government was forced to call a General Election and Simpson decided we should have a mock election in the School. Diamond was the Labour candidate. On a hiding to nothing, he fought hids campaign cheerfully and lost to the Conservative candidate. I can't remember who he was. I often wondered whether a Labour MP of the same name was his father and whether he became the Labour peer Lord Diamond.
Name: Stephen Frost
Email: sftankathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 27 Nov 2008
Time: 19:56:59
I have contact with a factory in Bangkok that makes sportswear. I can get school and house rugby shirts made. They are very good quality.I can deal with the factory, ensure the quality, colour, sizes, and packaging and arrange individual posting to UK buyers. I will issue the order to the factory. But I need someone who is UK based, basically to collect money in advance and forward the money to me, so that I can place the order and pay the factory. Factory will want a minimum order of 22 pieces. I am not able to place an order with the factory unless purchasers have paid in advance. If anyone can help me on this, please contact me at sftankathotmail.com regards Stephen Frost
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffrey maynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 26 Nov 2008
Time: 14:29:24
Fans of Dr. "Twink" Bradley may be interested in his book, for sale, rather expensively, on amazon.com: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bantry-Ireland-Napoleon-Wolfe-Tone/dp/B001CEX1AO
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: asperusual
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 21 Nov 2008
Time: 12:31:16
Charles Crinson must have been the most popular teacher of the lot! His travellers tales - remembering to use pidgin English to tell his assistant to load his suitcase when the Queen's English had been to no avail and running out of radiator fluid in the middle of nowhere - confirm the Allan Quartermain image. "There's nowhere he hasn't been" was one description of him. He also invited us to express our views on South Africa ("it shows up the lousy state of the South African Government for allowing it to happen" opined a certain 12-year-old). Most important of all was Charles Crinson's habit of wearing his tie outside his pullover! I remember him and his smoker's cough with the greatest affection. Michael.
Name: Graeme Young Email: moc.yksta3gnuoyg Years_at_school: 1947 to 1953 Date: 20 Nov 2008 Time: 00:36:34 Comments: YES!, Mr Crinson taught us Geography. He was a very quiet man but held the attention of my D-stream colleagues without any apparent effort, and we learned a lot from him. He is another teacher to whom I am very grateful! Although I hated HCS with a fierce, unreasoning, hatred I found kindness amongst the staff. I remember those bogs with extreme displeasure and the writing on the wall in one cubicle (ice-box?) was: When you use this noble hall Cast you eyes upon the wall, And if the paper can't be found Wipe your "bleep!" along the ground! I wonder how many OGs remember that. I lived very near the Old Gaytonians Sports Ground and used to walk over there from my home in Wood End Road to watch a cricket match, sitting in the shade of the trees on a sunny day. Those were same kind of days that the Poet John Betjemann wrote about so vividly, a lost Elysium. My thanks to Jon Grunewald and Roy Goldman for refreshing my memory.
Name: Stephen Churley Email: churley482 at yahoo dot com Years_at_school: 1969 to 1976 Date: 19 Nov 2008 Time: 16:16:11 Comments: I think it must be easier now to be accepted for being gay at school but I'm sure bullying still prevails. However, in recent years being gay has become a much cooler thing to be, and the change in the age of consent to 16 is a big plus. But at the end of the day I think that acceptance depends on confidence. I wasn't confident. A friend of mine who was much more brazen, GM, did not suffer as much antipathy as me. But being less confident, and frankly not wanting to be gay, it was easier for me to fall prey to cruel insecure school kids, to a black and white fundamentalist baptist church, and to years of partially misdirected counselling. Mr Wilson helped me regain my confidence a lot but all along he believed he could convert me to being straight. He had had 'success' with another boy. I was not strong enough to resist and so I spent my last years at HCS and all through university (when I still saw him out of term time) agonising over my identity. Consequently I missed out on a lot of pre-Aids fun at university. It was only after I graduated that I finally told him that I knew I was gay and there was no going back. He immediately buckled and accepted what I said. I saw him just a couple of times after that. Mr Wilson told me about the 'inquest' chaired by Mr Hull to decide my future at HCS. He swore me to secrecy. Gerry Lafferty was modest enough never to tell me that he argued my case, and naturally Mr. X kept silent. I heard that the meeting got quite heated with reputations being put on the line. The majority view was that I should be expelled just a few months before taking my A levels (thank you Mr. X for that after many years of teaching me) rather than excluded and then sit them. I have no doubt that a high moral religious tone prevailed amongst the prosecution; what an irony that the misuse of religion was a major cause of what happened! (moderators note - I have removed Mr. X's name - Jeff)
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email: jongru at btinternet dot com
Years_at_school: 1967 to 73
Date: 19 Nov 2008
Time: 07:57:25
I was very interested to read Stephen Churley's piece. Somewhere on this site are my own recollections in tranquility of my early years in the school and how unpleasant the school seemed to me("in these bogs there is no paper. Use your finger as a scraper..."). I can see, of course, that in general terms some of us have predominantly happy memories, some can only remember being unhappy and this may say more about our personality types than about the school itself. Being gay at school must have been a very lonely and isolating experience. I'd be surprised if it is any less so today, despite the policies and manuals that line every head teacher's study. And Stephen's story reveals that Gerry Lafferty was an even more enlightened and sympathetic teacher than even I, one of his most loyal fans, had supposed.
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email:
Years_at_school: 1967 to 73
Date: 19 Nov 2008
Time: 07:31:58
Mr Crinson retired as geography master in my time, presumably around 1971. He was a kindly gentle sort of man. Wasn't it he who, when setting lines, favoured the lines "manners maketh man is the motto of Winchester school, but good manners are not necessarily confined to Winchester"? I think I recall him teaching us about South Africa, and being very disparaging about the way the South African government lumped together all black folk as Bantu when there were so many different tribes - I thenceforth regarded Mr Crinson as a sort of Allan Quartermain figure.
Name: Roy Goldman
Email: roygraceatbigponddotnetdotau
Years_at_school: 1943 - 1949
Date: 18 Nov 2008
Time: 12:21:58
For Graeme Young - the Geography Master was without doubt "Charlie" Crinson. He wore silver-grey worsted trousers, superbly pressed but with cigarette burns down the front. I was once chatting with some O.G's who were at HCS during the 1930's and when discussing teachers, one (Cyril Doman) said "Do you remember the Geography man with the immaculate silver-grey worsteds that had cigarette burns?
Name: ye min
Email: yeyeye63athotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 18 Nov 2008
Time: 08:19:48
Dear Stephen, I am glad that you wrote about your experiences at HCS. Ye Min
Name: Graeme M Young
Email: moc.yks.ta.3gnuoyg
Years_at_school: 1947 - 1953
Date: 18 Nov 2008
Time: 05:46:50
Thanks to those who added some detail to the Nigerian Scam, I have had remarkably few since I took copies to the Police and Trading Standards office. In one instance the scam was being run from rented offices at Heathrow Airport, and the miscreants were caught. Can anyone recall the name of a Geography teacher at HCS, he was a dapper man, had been in the meteorological service in the RAF? He was a great teacher who held even our somewhat "active" form in thrall. I was befriended by Maurice Venn and went to his home one day to sort out a very unstable radio receiver he had built himself. Fortunately his confidence in me was justified! My season's greetings to all who read this, I am going away over the Christmas period and will be dreading the sight of my Inbox upon my return.
Name: Stephen Churley
Email:
churley482 at yahoo dot com
Years_at_school: 1969-76
Date: 17 Nov 2008
Time: 09:39:03
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 14 Nov 2008
Time: 11:13:27
Yes, it was unkind of me and I apologise. No place for those kinds of comments here, I agree. It is a pet peeve of mine (probably thanks to GY & JG) but I should not have indulged it.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: bernardgillespiearogers.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 14 Nov 2008
Time: 11:06:57
for a brief moment I thought that perhaps I was the only OG who felt impelled to comment on the recent death of Roy Hargreaves ..... I am relieved that Phil Chesterman has written (Nov 10) ....... Roy entered HCS three years behind me so we would have passed in the corrridoes and bellowed out the same hymn at morning assembly ....... Phil similarly joined HCS a few years after Roy and a year or two after I left ...... Roy told me why he left Canada for Australia (although I have now forgotten what he said) but he clearly felt that Oz was where he wanted to spend the rest of his life ...... I imagine that Phil and I feel much the same way about Canada.
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email: jongru at btinternet dot com
Years_at_school: 1967 to 73
Date: 14 Nov 2008
Time: 01:22:25
One should never judge by appearances. I know a very successful solicitor (who left HCS at the same time I arrived) who never bothers with the Shift Key on any of his emails. In part, it might be a result of relying on a secretary to do one's typing over so many years. It is perhaps a sign of the times that all solicitors are now encouraged to apply for Lexcel accreditation, to prove that their firms have reached a good standard of excellence, but among the goals to be achieved (documented management structure, documented client care system, promotion of equality and diversity) you won't find anything about ensuring that letters are grammatical and give clear advice.
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnie(at)shaw.ca
Years_at_school: 46-51
Date: 13 Nov 2008
Time: 22:19:23
To Chris Rickwood, were you not a bit unkind to D S Garton? Please don't discourage new correspondents just because they never had a chance to even use a typewriter in their lives never mind these new fangled toys.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 13 Nov 2008
Time: 08:46:52
Had HCS stopped teaching punctuation and capitalisation by 1985?
Name: Type your name here
Email: www.dalstondanimal at hotmail.com
Years_at_school: 85to89
Date: 11 Nov 2008
Time: 18:01:27
hi was looking too see if there was any photos of my fprm but doesnt seem to be any from what i remember my teacher was mr campbell till he got made year head was a great teacher looked up to him very much,some of the boys in my class ,Jason Bell and Stuart Flint. thank you Yours Faithfully Mr D S Garton Virtus Non Stemma
Name: Ray Parnell
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 67-74
Date: 11 Nov 2008
Time: 15:23:21
Wouldn't the simplest answer be to split the document into a series of .pdf's, thereby preserving the quality, reducing the [individual] filesizes, and allowing people to download the years which are of interest to them? Apologies if this has already been considered, but it seems the least labour-intensive option!
Name: Steve Grimes
Email: via Jeff please
Years_at_school: 58-64
Date: 11 Nov 2008
Time: 12:04:53
For Chris Rickwood - re Dr Simpson's Punishment Book Chris, thanks for your interest and it is timely to post an update on this. I scanned the original "caning book" and converted it to Adobe Acrobat format. that was a slow and tedious process for various reasons. I then forwarded the file to Jeff. Jeff had some concerns about the large size of the resulting .pdf file which he thought could cause technical problems on the web site. Consequently, I am currently looking at various ways of reducing the file size without loss of quality. Hopefully this issue can soon be overcome and I will get the file back to Jeff ASAP.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 11 Nov 2008
Time: 09:20:59
I was wondering if there has been any progress in publishing the "Punishment Book"
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnie(at)shaw.ca
Years_at_school: 46-51
Date: 10 Nov 2008
Time: 20:18:24
Today was a sad day, learning that an old pal, Roy Hargreaves had died. This I learned from the newsletter, then noticed the obituary on this site. I don't remember Roy at HCS, but upon becoming a regular with the OG rugby club I met Roy and we played together, mostly for the Extra A for many years. Then he emigrated to Canada. Thanks to him I was able to emigrate shortly after, and Roy put me up, virtually free of charge until I got settled. I had arrived with about $135 in my pocket, and wouldn't have lasted long without his aid and assistance. I will remember him forever; had it not been for him I would never have met Connie, had the 3 wonderful kids that we have, never mind the grandkids. Roy was a mild-mannered man until he got on the rugby pitch. The he turned into a tiger. He should have been an ice-hockey pro instead. Anyone wishing to know more about Roy,or wanting to contact his wife Chrissie, please email me.
Name: Dennis Orme
Email: dennis_orme at msn.com
Years_at_school: 1967 - 75
Date: 10 Nov 2008
Time: 11:26:17
There is a blog on Michael's programme with some interesting comments. www.digitalspy.co.uk slash forums slash showthread.php?t=927925 replace the slashes with real slashes, this guest book rejects them.
Name: David Kirkham
Email: david.kirkham2 at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1951-56
Date: 10 Nov 2008
Time: 10:30:49
Only just found the site! Found it because my wife noticed Michael Portillo's programme in radio Times (After it had been shown) and commented, "Isn't that your old school?". My only previous web encounter had been with a very negative view of the place. I certainly wasn't a star pupil. I was in the 4th Harrow (Foresters) with Harry Mees as Scoutmaster. I was sorry to learn of his passing, I have often reflected on his positive contribution to my life. I have a few scout photos somewhere and will look them out and send them. I haven't kept on touch with anyone from my years at all and would be interested to hear from Mike Astle, Ken Walmsley, Michael(?) Fortgang and any others who remember a "Blond fat boy" and Mr Webb referred to me. Talking of Mr Webb remonds me of his comment in a report that I "Cannot draw with any accuracy" and "Can't cut wood straighT". I started my career as a draughtsman and became a structural engineer, in retirement I make furniture and wooden toys for a hobby! Best regards.
Name: Keith Palmer
Email: keithdotpalmerathotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1968-1975
Date: 10 Nov 2008
Time: 10:10:51
I can only add to the comments already made on Michael Portillo's programme about Gary Findon. I did not know Gary personally although I knew of him briefly through the school's musical productions. Andrew was one year ahead of me so our paths crossed occasionally. But it was Jeanette, whose tireless work on the costumes for The Sorcerer (was that really one month after Gary's death?), The Pirates of Penzance, and The Bartered Bride, that I would most like to pay tribute to. An extraordinary woman, and that came over in the TV programme. To Michael, thank you for an extraordinary piece of television. So sensitive, yet revealing. For Michael and Clive, it must have been difficult watching the programme again so soon after Geoff Perkins' death. My thoughts go out to all involved. If anyone wishes to see it again it is available on BBC iPlayer for the next few days.
Name: Dennis Orme
Email: dennis_orme at msn.com
Years_at_school: 1967-75
Date: 10 Nov 2008
Time: 04:05:57
I'd like to add my appreciation for Michael's programme on Gary Findon. It seems to have been well received by those not at HCS judging by the previews in the TV listings and other articles published. Example from today's Independent on line. I had half-expected that Michael Portillo Death of a Schoolfriend would be a morbid slice of celebrity reminiscence, but it turned out to be something far more impressive and important. Rather than television exploiting celebrity, it was an example of a celebrity using the resources granted him by television in order to explore a personal tragedy, and to find some consolation for people who are, 40 years after the events it recounted, still grief stricken. I was in Andrew's form 2A at the time. I can remember Ken Waller, who was our form teacher, coming into form period one morning to tell us what had happened. From what I remember he was speaking in a soft voice and some of us were struggling to hear what he was saying over the noise of the traffic from Sheepcote Road. I can't remember how much he told us or whether I found out the full story from a Harrow Observer article later. Andrew then joined us in the form. I don't remember whether this was the Monday or later in the week. I think as 12 year olds we took time to take in the enormity of what had happened. From the documentary, it would seem that the trigger had been the breakdown in the relationship with the girlfriend and there was no mention of academic pressure on a bright boy which is so common these days.
Name: John Clark
Email: jmclarkdot2atvirgindotnet (replace symbols)
Years_at_school: 1954-59
Date: 09 Nov 2008
Time: 16:22:13
I would just like to add my endorsement to the many appreciative comments already made about the programme "Death of a Schoolfriend". My wife and I were captivated by the sincerity and sensitivity of its presentation and by the natural manner in which the story was allowed to slowly unfurl without any hint of pretentiousness. When it ended, we agreed it was one of the most beautifully crafted documentaries we have ever seen. I was completely unaware that it was to be broadcast, not having seen any of the advance publicity. The uncanny thing was that I had snoozed through both of the preceeding programmes, but the moment that Michael Portillo started introducing this one, I sat bolt upright and fully awake! Congratulations to Michael and the entire production team.
Name: Dave Buckley
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 53-61
Date: 09 Nov 2008
Time: 03:55:40
My wife and I watched Michaels programme last night and found it very moving. It was also made more poignant in that Geoffrey Perkins has died since the making of the programme - and like a previous post, I am surprised that no mention of this was made at the end. I hasten to add that the Head of Production credit (David Buckley), is not me but given the circumstances, I do think that it is an amazing coincindence!
Name: Barry Lightman
Email: barrylightman at aol.com
Years_at_school: 1963 - 1970
Date: 08 Nov 2008
Time: 15:02:51
I have just seen the programme about Gary Findon. I remember him and his family from my years backstage in the properties department working on plays performed in March each year and on the Gilbert and Sullivan performances in the summer. Well done to Michael and all involved in the production. So sad that Geoff has died. I noted no mention of this after the credits though Michael has mentioned this in one of the journals I have read. I remember vividly the moment I was told of Gary's death. It was the day I was taking a French A level. I don't remember if it was the Monday after his death or later in the week -- as when not taking exams I was at home revising -- not that it did me any good! I was stunned and found it difficult if not impossible to concentrate. The memory of that moment of being told has stuck with me ever since. For me personally, I can only liken it to remembering where I was when learning of Kennedy's death and Lennon's. Whenever the subject of young suicides comes up, I have always mentioned Gary. If the Findons read this, I wish them the very best
Name: Steve Hilsden
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1969 - 1976
Date: 08 Nov 2008
Time: 11:18:46
What a senstive peice of television the programme by Michael Portillo was. I was so sad about how the tragedy had coloured the lives of Gary Findon's parents and his brother - and affected the relationships between them and also with their grandchildren. One of the best pieces I have seen in yeasr - and Michael Porillo came over as sensitive and caring
Name: David Holmes
Email: david.holmes at themisweb.com
Years_at_school: 1957 - 1963
Date: 08 Nov 2008
Time: 08:30:38
Michael Portillo's film 'Death of a Schoolfriend' prompted me to log onto the site and look through the archive of photographs. I found photo of form 3D in 1959 and read Mike Harrison's account of Graham MacFadyen's tragic death - being knocked down by a lorry whilst carrying a cricket bag. Mike said that he did athletics that day and missed the accident. I was carrying the bag with Graham ('Mac') who was a good friend of mine. Half way along Gayton Road on that fateful day we realised that we had left the ball behind, and I volunteered to go back for it. I think Malcolm Pyne took the handle of the bag from me. If I hadn't gone back for the ball, I would have been injured also, or worse. I still remember that day even now, and wonder about the tricks that fate can play. I appear in the 3D photo, misnamed as 'Roger' Holmes. Mac was in 3C at the time, and he appears in the 3C photo of the same year, he was also in form 2D in 1958.
Name: Dave Buckley
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 53-61
Date: 08 Nov 2008
Time: 07:11:27
I have yet to view Michael's programme as I was out last night, but I was aware that some HCS footage was in the prgramme (as Alex explained in previous postings). However, even though I was involved with some of the HCS films all those years ago, and got a credit on one of them, I don't think it's me that is credited! I think he may be a VT editor. I'll have a look later. I certainly think a copy should go into the Archives. When I worked for the BBC, there was a Dave Buckley who was head of one of the Overseas Services at Bush House. One day, I received an invitation to a reception at the Egyptian Embassy, which had been delivered to me instead of him! I phoned his office to say what had happened and said to the secretary who answered 'this is the other Dave Buckley in Television Training' after which there was a short pause and a surprised 'Oh!' I did think of going to the reception, but decided against it!
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 08 Nov 2008
Time: 06:19:03
Even though I was aware of the content, I hadnt of course seen the final edit, but I thought the documentary was superb, very well constructed and very moving. I hope that Gary's family can now find some sort of release as a result of their involvement. To those interested, the colour film of HCS that was featured is currently being transferred and sorted by the OGA and will be available on DVD. Dave Buckley is assisting with that, but I dont think that the one mentioned at the end of the programme was 'our' Dave B (at least he's kept it quiet if so!). Just one of those strange coincidences. I shall be writing to Judith Dawson who produced it, and will mention the comments here. I was going to mention that it would be available on the BBC i player for those who missed it, but wasnt aware it was unavailable outside the UK or Europe.
Name: Peter Vincent
Email:
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 07 Nov 2008
Time: 23:44:13
Just to say how well made and moving I found Michael's programme about the death of Gary last night. How sensitively made it was and beautifully photographed - with Ken translating Gary's morbit note in Russian and not being able to resist commenting on a mistake in the grammar. I saw Alex got another credit for supplying material from the archives - but did I see Dave Buckley's name also wiz past at the end?
Name: Ray Parnell
Email: parnellATpobox.com
Years_at_school: 67-74
Date: 07 Nov 2008
Time: 23:42:11
Michael Schwartz - please get in touch via email. I may be able to help you in downloading the programme about Gary Findon. I agree with others' comments that the programme was very well made and handled a difficult subject very sensitively. It was impossible not to be moved by the dignity and courage of Gary's parents and brother.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: bernardgillespieatrogers.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 07 Nov 2008
Time: 16:33:21
I was distressed to read in the obituaries that Roy Hargreaves had died in sunny Australia .... I never met Roy but we kept up a lively e-mail correspondence for a couple of years ....... his time at school overlapped mine by about 3 years ..... and he was a far better student than I ......... I shall miss his banter and the annual Old Gaytonian will be the poorer forr his passing
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.gawnatorange.fr
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 07 Nov 2008
Time: 14:36:08
I was at school too early to have known Gary Findon. Nevertheless, Michael Portillo's programme was sensitive, and courageous, a brilliant piece of television. Michael's e-mail address is available on his web site. Ian Gawn
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: p_fowler at ntlworld.com'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 07 Nov 2008
Time: 14:29:22
Alex or Jeff: I assume you have Michael Portillo's email contact. Someone from this site needs to tell him that the programme on Gary Findon was a quite beautiful piece of television. Lovingly made, brilliantly executed - and very, very moving.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: asperusual
Years_at_school: 1965-72
Date: 07 Nov 2008
Time: 13:41:30
I would very much like to have seen Michael Portillo's programme about Gary Findon. The problem is that as I am now in Toronto I can not watch the recording on the BBC2 home page as "the service is not available on your area. Is it possible for someone to download the programme onto the Harrow County website, please? It would indeed be appreciated. Michael.
Name: ye min
Email: yeyeye63athotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-1970
Date: 06 Nov 2008
Time: 11:13:53
interested to read your comments Stephen, you may remember me.. Gary spoke to me not long before he killed himself. I couldnt understand it, i told him, he seemed to have everything I didnt have..he was bright and talented, A stream.. I looked back, mostly with bitterness at my experiences at HCS and realise we all coped the best way we could..Ironic that i eventually became a special needs teacher hopefully becomnig the inclusive nurturing teacher that I would have benefitted from at HCS..Now I work as a dramatherapist in a child and family mental health setting and working in many schools and like you Stephen I look back at people and incidents at HCS and think if that happened today.. I recently went to the funeral of a 12 year old suicide and was impressed at how supportive the school were to family, and pupils..weeping staff supporting weeping pupils. With this kind of death we are always troubled with the 'what if..' I work with a lot of bereaved families and give training to Cruse counsellors, and yes, I have experienced personal tragedies, but often wonder if the roots of my work were laid with my meeting with Gary. I apologise for this rather longer than intended message and the sad nature of its text.
Name: Stephen Frost
Email: sftankathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 05 Nov 2008
Time: 00:18:36
I remember Gary Findon. Although he was in the year below me, he skipped the fifth form so I met him in LVIA. He had a bright and effervescent personality, a little manic, but so were many of us. I cannot forget his death either - he died on my 17th birthday. I heard that it was to do with a girlfriend, that's all. I also remember David Carrick, who was in my year and was a chronic asthmatic who died during the long hot summer of 1967. His death was announced in the first asembly of the new year in September 1967. I am sure that several of us suffered with depression, anxiety, etc, but would never have thought to take Gary's route out of it. I was sent off to see an educational psychologist when I was in lower sixth. Didn't help. In my sixth form, A______ suffered from anorexia nervosa, but we did not know that at the time. Schools today are more attentive to depression and its causes, bullying, racism, etc. It must have been a severe shock to staff at the time, I doubt that they ever had any training to detect mental illness or depression, let alone cases where the sufferer might be contemplating suicide. Stephen Frost (1963-70)
Name: Simon Salisbury
Email: simonsalisburyatsky.com
Years_at_school: 1968 - 1972
Date: 03 Nov 2008
Time: 08:58:25
Reading of the forthcoming television programme by Michael Portillo on the sad and tragic death of Gary Findon, prompted me to search for this site on the internet. Although I only attended Harrow County for the final 4 years of my schooling, it had a profound impact on my life and this site has helped me revive many of those memories.
Name: Dennis Orme
Email: dennis_orme at msn.com
Years_at_school: 1967-75
Date: 03 Nov 2008
Time: 06:20:18
The Daily Mail Jon Grunewald mentions below is on their web site. There is a different piece on Gary on the Daily Telegraph web site.
Name: Keith Palmer
Email: keithdotpalmerathotmaildotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1968-1975
Date: 03 Nov 2008
Time: 03:23:16
I'm not sure if this has been raised before but, having just taken a look at the staff photos of the 1980s and 1990s, what a motley lot they looked! Call me old-fashioned, but there was a lot to be said for the days (even in the 1970s) when masters wore gowns. And not just the men, unless my memory is seriously failing me, Jenny Landon sometimes wore one. It gave an air of respect, or even aloofness, which was no bad thing. I wonder what Mr. Waller (I still can't think of him as Ken) thinks. In his days of trying to bash Latin and Ancient Greek into my 12-year-old skull, I think he always wore his gown. Out of hours, when working on school productions etc. was fine, we were then equal. But during teaching hours, it was right that there was just one person in charge. And the gown was of great significance.
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email: jongru at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1967 to 74
Date: 01 Nov 2008
Time: 05:20:16
And there is a very good feature article written by Michael Portillo, published in the Daily Mail today, about Gary Findon and his family. I don't know if the same piece is to appear elsewhere, but it is superb. Perhaps the Gary Findon page on this site ("In Memory of Gary Findon") could be expanded?
Name: Ray Parnell
Email:
Years_at_school: 67-74
Date: 01 Nov 2008
Time: 01:02:42
The evening after the documentary about Gary Findon is to be shown, BBC2 are airing a programme in the 'Comedy Connections' series in tribute to Geoffrey Perkins: Comedy Connections BBC Two Saturday 8th November 2008 21:45 to 22:30 Geoffrey Perkins. Geoffrey Perkins, comedy writer, performer and producer had a glorious 30-year career. This Comedy Connections tribute traces his career and sees friends and colleagues pay tribute to his extraordinary sustained success. Starting as a producer at BBC Radio in the late 70s he took The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy on to the airwaves and marked himself out as a name to watch. When he died at the end of August 2008 he had stacked up credits on more than fifty radio and television shows and collaborated with the biggest stars in comedy.
Name: Andrew Carruthers
Email: ajcarruthersatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1961-8
Date: 31 Oct 2008
Time: 09:24:06
Just to draw attention to the article in the Daily Telegrsph today about a programme made by Michael Portillo to be shown on November 7th about the sad suicide of Gary Findon, whom many will remember. The theme of the programme is the effect of suicide on others I believe.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: unchanged
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 30 Oct 2008
Time: 19:16:17
Michael Portillo's Death Of A School Friend. An article on this is now up on the Telegraph website. There is a photo with the article but I can not find it on this website. Michael.
Name: Syd Dean
Email: sydat eastcotelane dot co dot uk
Years_at_school:
Date: 30 Oct 2008
Time: 14:26:45
I want to let every one know who went to Eastcote Lane-Roxeth Manor School that the new book Eastcote Lane 'The Early Years Continued' is now ready. This is a complete copy of the first book plus letters, pictures and photographs from Ex-Pupils. Total 244 pages including School Team photos, peoples memories etc: This is again a non-profit project material cost only. You can see the cover at www.eastcotelane.co.uk The cost in UK money is Book 9 Pounds, Postage UK 2.55 Pounds, USA, Australia, Canada 7 Pounds, if using PayPal the equivalent to 17 Pounds sterling. Please contact me regarding payment
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard do com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 23 Oct 2008
Time: 16:13:10
The website was down today and the guestbook was not working properly for a few days. Everything seems to have been fixed now - if not, please let me know.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: testing the form
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 23 Oct 2008
Time: 16:07:22
testing the form
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 17 Oct 2008
Time: 12:19:26
Comments
Thanks for the edits Jeff - I see youve sorted the problem of spaces between paragraphs!!
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 14 Oct 2008
Time: 07:11:41
Having caught up with this after a few weeks, I'll make a few odd notes in random order.
1) I wont add my email address to this site now, as it previously resulted in so much spam (more than 75 messages a day) that I had to change address. Since doing so I rarely get any now, but most people probably feel the same. (Note - there are two alternatives. If you write your email address without an @ sign, i.e. 'square at yahoo dot co dot uk' it cannot be picked up by an automated email address harvester. Or, email me - jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com - with your email address and I will pass on any enquiries. If possible, please leave an email address because I get lots of mail of the 'I haven't seen my best friend since 1970, do you have his email address' type. - Jeff)
2)Ive had many scam mail's in the past, including some supposedly from legit charities. If im in the mood I normally email back and say they are being tracked by the security services and it seems to do the trick.... If you get tired of phone scams, do what my cousin does, sound interested for a minute and then just go away and leave the phone. it works equally as well.
3) To Chris Rickwood, the story of the german Pilot being shot down was told to me by 'Taffy' Roberts. I can put you in touch with Taffy of you want to get it first hand. He is a mine of information.
4)Dave (Wilson). Good to see you again and yes! Please do send those items to me. They will fill several gaps, and in fact I should have been listed in the prize giving list!! I got a prize but as I was due on cadet Camp as senior School Cadet, it was handed to me in registration much to my surprise. I'll try and email you Dave and arrange something. Many thanks for keeping me in mind (hopefully I am not too late).
5) There have been several messages left by a 'Peter Benge', most extremely offensive which Jeff has managed to delete first. Some have pretended to be from Mr Lando, others referring to me. This has been investigated and I have spoken to the real Peter Benge who never attended HCS, GHS or HHS. As the real phone number of Peter Benge was added to the site without his knowledge or permission, it possibly breaks a law too!! The matter has been referred further, but a thanks to Jeff for sparing most of us from the worst. A teenager is behind it not a poor old man (obvious as he has claimed to be at school with both myself and Mr Lando - some feat indeed), probably attracted by the Gayts name. (I have edited these out and removed the phone number - Jeff)
6)On notes of poor performances, a quick endnote. About two years ago, we had an HHS lad who was shortlisted for a place at Eton where he was to study in the 6th Form. Despite making the last three he wasnt selected. Harrow County will always have produced more high flyers, because it was a different school and in being far longer than Gayton High, and so far Harrow High. But its not to say GHS and HHS have not already produced their own high flyers, despite the youth of the establishments or its former alumni...
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeteratgmaildotcom
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 14 Oct 2008
Time: 02:03:33
We all need something to cheer us up during times of trouble, like world financial meltdowns. With me it's the BBC show "Coupling", which I've watched umpteen times on DVD, but it always makes me laugh out loud. Watching it again recently I discovered that it was Executive Produced by ex-HCS Geoffrey Perkins. I didn't know him, but I have a lot to thank him for. Sorry, Laurence, for which to thank him.
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 13 Oct 2008
Time: 00:03:57
To Laurence J. Lando; Please read something on distinguished ex-HCS Nobel Prize winner, Sir Paul Nurse. Due to "disappointing" A-Level results, he only got to (Birmingham) University through UCCA clearing. A-Level results aren't everything.
Name: Peter Hallam
Email: phallam_bopeepathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1953-1959
Date: 03 Oct 2008
Time: 14:49:27
Under 13s XV 1954 I told you recently that I was third from the left in the front row. Please add me to the photo. I was also in the under 14s and under 15s but I have no photos. (Done - click for U13XV 1954 - Jeff)
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: when we could spell!
Date: 02 Oct 2008
Time: 10:49:03
QED
Name: Dennis Orme
Email: dennis_orme at msn.com
Years_at_school: 1967-75
Date: 28 Sep 2008
Time: 04:32:45
04 Oct 2008 20:00 BBC Radio 4. Angus Deayton presents a tribute to the influential comedy producer, writer and performer Geoffrey Perkins, who died recently. Clive Anderson, Michael Portillo, John Lloyd and many others offer their tributes to Perkins, who was instrumental in the success of such radio and TV classics as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Radio Active, Father Ted and The Fast Show.
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at hotmail.com
Years_at_school: 80 - 84
Date: 27 Sep 2008
Time: 07:24:01
Message for Alex... Alex, - under pressure from my better half I'm having a clear out of 'stuff' I've had in the attic for years. I've discovered a box, with, amongst other things in it(lots & lots of old Gayton exercise books) - a cast certificate from the 1981 performances of 'Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber', a copy of the script for the play (entitled ... 'The girl they all died for' - by Jonathan Wise )that won the House drama competition for class 4C in 1984 and a copy of the programme for the School Prize Giving on April 6th 1984. Would any of these be of interest to you for the archives? If you are, then send me a note and I can arrange to get them to you - before they are disposed of ! David
Name: Edward Kerr
Email:
Years_at_school: 1960 - 66
Date: 26 Sep 2008
Time: 04:39:13
FOR CHRIS RICKWOOD
The story was about an RAF pilot called Freddie Green shooting down a Luftwaffe JU 88 bomber, whose navigator was called Muller. Both Green and Muller were Old Gayts. Muller survived the ordeal and, amazingly, the Officer in charge of the Army detachment that came to escort him to his POW Camp was another Old Gayt - CW Stevens. At least some of these names appear in the 1930s Form Lists published on this Web Site - sufficiently close in age that they would have almost certainly known each other at HCS.
To get to the original story (told wonderfuly by Alex Bateman), click the "War Memorial" link
http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/warmemorial.htm (towards the top of the Home Page) and follow the links - it is at the top of page 5 of the history of the HCS War Memorial.
Name: Neil Davison
Email: neil.davison at compuware.com
Years_at_school: 1964 - 1970
Date: 25 Sep 2008
Time: 18:39:49
Great to see all the photographs. Brings back wonderful memories of people & places.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 25 Sep 2008
Time: 05:35:24
I have a vague recollection of a message ages ago that referred to an instance where in WWll an RAF fighter shot down a German aircraft and both pilots being OGs. I can't find such a reference on site. Can anybody help?
Name: David Morrison
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1956-63
Date: 25 Sep 2008
Time: 04:59:35
I am prompted to make a comment on Mr Lando's note, which appears to attack the notion of opening up access to HE. I attended a "Highly Selective University" and in my first year lived on a staircase with three others, all of them Etonians. Two of them failed to complete their courses, mainly because of other interests (Bullingdon Club and hunting), so presumably took up places that could have been offered to oiks like me, who did complete. A Level grades are in my opinion a poor indicator of performance (academic or otherwise) in HE. (I speak as a former admissions tutor.) Although an opponent of private education, I found myself obliged to pay for private A Level tuition in maths for my daughter, because her teacher was head-hunted at the last moment by a local fee-paying school. I suspect there are many kids whose parents could nothave given this help and ended up with an unrepresentative grade.
Name: Laurence J Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: too long ago
Date: 24 Sep 2008
Time: 06:03:10
C Lewis, so sorry don't know you first name, but hope you and others share my disdain that the new scheme publicised today, inviting students with poorer exam grades to apply to highly selective Universities. It would only result in more students failing to complete the undergraduate course, whilst keeping more able students from following their chosen educational pathways. On the other hand it might help them improve their English?
Name: Peter Hallam
Email: phallam_bopeepathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1953-1959
Date: 22 Sep 2008
Time: 08:32:06
I can identify myself in the picture of the Under 13's 1954-55. I am front row third from left.
Name: C. Lewis
Email: is a store-and-forward method of writing, sending, receiving and saving messages over electronic communication systems
Years_at_school: 4
Date: 21 Sep 2008
Time: 14:25:04
Pleased to see you have not been disappointed Larry. How was your high altitude training? Where was it also? (Genuine questions of interest). I do believe though, that lexicographers have enough to do trying to sort out the many broken English words of a generation or Bi-lingual kids morphing words at will!!!
Name: 'Larry' Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: too long ago thank G-d
Date: 21 Sep 2008
Time: 00:44:31
Back from high altitude training, to be welcomed by so many emails of ecouragement, that I can't reply to them all. I fink I can keep a lexicographer busy for years ;-)
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: greekmultilingualyahoocouk
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 18 Sep 2008
Time: 20:40:50
I don't know if it is any consolation to the gentleman who has been receiving proposals of marriage and get-rich-quick schemes but the best one I ever received informed me that a professor who had left millions of dollars had died in a road crash along with his wife. "This man also died in a an air crash....." Some are hilarious, others tedious. Michael.
Name: Edward Kerr
Email: e.kerr / herts.xx.xx (replace "/" with the symbol for "at" and "xx.xx" with "ac.uk")
Years_at_school: 1960 - 1966
Date: 17 Sep 2008
Time: 15:17:33
Graeme - welcome to the wonderful world of the "419 Scam". This Scam, which has been mentioned many times in this Visitors' Book, originated in Nigeria about 25 years ago and has since spread to much of the rest of Africa and way beyond. It is called the 419 Scam because what they are doing is a criminal offence against Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code. The offers of romance that you have been receiving are a more recent version of the same Scam Rather than try to entertain "Nottingham's Finest", the best thing is just to ignore it AND TO AVOID LEAVING YOUR UNDISGUISED E-MAIL ADDRESS anywhere. Mind you, if you happen to have a spare USD 10 million, I do know of a School that has been trying to build a new Pavilion since the 1950s and might fancy a donation !! If you want an amusing read, try Googling "Nigerian Scam Wikipedia" and reading what Wikipedia has to say about it. There are also Web Sites run by people who have responded to the sort of approach that you have received and strung them along, often with hilarious results.
Name: Graeme Young
Email: gyoung3atsky.com
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 17 Sep 2008
Time: 09:05:15
Recently I have been getting letters from alleged solicitors telling me that a wealthy oil man with my surname has dies laving $10M in a bank. The bank will not release the money to any other heir but a 'Young', so would I please step up and play the long lost heir. I have also received pleading letters to allow transfers of vast sums of US dollars into my bank account, and proposals of marrige from 20-year-old young women. At age 72 I am not in the market for a wife, being very contented with the one I have, and no way will I divulge my bank details to some "solicitor". I have printed the letters and taken a copy to our county police and also to Nottingham Trading Standards - who, for some reason, are most interested. If the spammers are reading this, expect a knock on your door at 0600 one day from a fine body of men armed with handcuffs and a black Mariah! The grammar and spelling is atrocious in some of the letters.
Name: Alan Bunting
Email: a.buntingatbtclick.com
Years_at_school: 1948-1953
Date: 16 Sep 2008
Time: 02:51:59
Calling all those from HCS 1948-entry form 2D. I have recently made contact after 55 years (since I left school) with 2D classmate Vic Roots. Through a very circuitous series of casual conversations, involving another 1948 '2D-ite' Bob Campbell and ex-4th Harrow Scouter (and former District Commissioner) 'Charlie' King, it transpired that Vic lived at Wantage in Berkshire. Scrutiny of the Wantage area telephone directory by Bob soon turned up a 'V E Roots'. A phone call by yet another '2D-ite' Ken Wilson - probably Vic's best mate in their HCS years - confirmed it was indeed he. And Messrs Wilson, Roots and Bunting duly met up last Sunday for a most convivial lunch at a pub in Reading, where the years fell away and we agreed to repeat the exercise before another 55 years have elapsed! Any more 1948 2D-ites out there? If so, let's hear from you. I'm on 01582 760564.
Name: Colin Lewis
Email: See previous posts
Years_at_school: xxxx
Date: 15 Sep 2008
Time: 03:46:16
Thanks to everybody that has E-mailed me personally, they were gratefully received and all points noted. I would also like to thank Larry Lando, because of you i now intend to brush up on my diction and "uva fings". I to have been getting those damned Nigerian scams now know why. Never mind, its only a click of a button. Once again, thank you all.
Name: Peter Hallam
Email: phallam_bopeepathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1953-1959
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Time: 05:50:55
In your photograph of form 1B dated 1953 the boy sitting next to Mr. Pritchet; I think his surname was Stevenson or with a ph and not a v.
Name: Peter Robert Leslie Hallam
Email: phallam_bopeepathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1953-1959
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Time: 05:23:09
When I get organized and I've had a look at your web site I might have a few pictures for you. My first year form master was Mr. C. D. Pritchet
Name: Richard Bunt
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1966-1973
Date: 13 Sep 2008
Time: 08:31:25
Regarding email addresses may I just say that I am still getting over the dreaded Nigerian spam scams because I once posted my address on this forum in week 1. Some 8 years later I still regret it.(The email scams I mean not posting here!!)I am happy however for Jeff to supply my address to any ex HCS for private correspondence but please understand why so many don't include them any more. Perhaps we could have such a system if needed for private wars!..... Richard Bunt
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: p_fowler at ntlworld.com'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 13 Sep 2008
Time: 06:23:26
Most forums use a Private Message facility where private slanging matches can happily take place. We don't have that here; but most of us enter our email addresses. I would suggest, given that we don't have PMs, that we all do enter our email addresses so that anger can be expressed in a slightly less public setting.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: too long ago
Date: 12 Sep 2008
Time: 12:34:15
Alex Thank you for your fullsome response. The circumstances that you describe make the continuance of this dialogue pointless, and as such I agree that the discussion ceases forthwith.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 12 Sep 2008
Time: 10:38:41
Mr Lando. Although you clearly didnt read my posting about this NOT being a matter for the guestbook (or perhaps my diction was poor?) I shall answer you. Since you ask, I am well aware of the record of the school, thankyou, better than you are yourself, from 1911 to the present day. But a verbal bully is no better than a physical one. I am glad that you have apologised, but wonder if you would have made the same comments if you had been aware that the person you directed your comments to is a cancer sufferer who currently spends most of their time in a hospital bed? It probably would have made no difference to you, as he was not HCS anyway. Not everyone, even (believe it or not) from HCS rose to your lofty, literary heights, but I know several from Harrow High who have surpassed those from Harrow County, possibly even you despite their youth. I will say for the last time (although Mr Lando I know you will inject your customary last word) that this is the end of the discussion, and perhaps think about others before you make such comments.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: too long ago
Date: 12 Sep 2008
Time: 09:52:04
Alex, Please be good enough to address your issue to me. I have apologised if my remarks were defamatory, see my message dated 6 September. However for the sake of anyone who might still over react to my comments, I do apologise for any offence caused. This does not include the individual who considers a good beating is the way to settle differences. His attitude is that of the school bully, and I'm sure that individuals with learning difficulties suffered from the hands of these pupils. I do hope that you concur with my view that HCS was a school of excellence that made the motto 'Worth not Birth' never more appropriate. PACE.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 12 Sep 2008
Time: 07:53:34
I personally didnt see any of the comments that have been left recently and removed, but I feel that using the guestbook to comment on, or correct a persons diction, spelling or whatever (unless done in jest) is firstly, extremely petty, a waste of good guestbook space and, considering the person might be ill, dyslexic, on medication or suffering with some other condition, also extremely insulting. Considering recent events, such comments and the ongoing discussion perhaps say more about the person concerned, and is of no interest or importance to those who actually have a life. I would suggest that what's done is done and in future think before you write. And by that, I mean I do not want a long drawn out discussion on this message.
Name: Dave Brookes
Email: harrow??-contactdave at yahoo dot co dot uk
Years_at_school: 1974-1978
Date: 11 Sep 2008
Time: 09:01:07
I saw the message from Lorette Rutter and e-mailed but haven't seen a reply. Checking Habs girls school staff list I notice she is no longer shown so perhaps she has left and her e-mail no longer works. If you are reading this Lorette contact me at the above e-mail (note replace ?? with the year I started HCS) Dave
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: too long ago!
Date: 10 Sep 2008
Time: 10:47:38
Paul, thanks for your understanding of my pursuit of excellence. My accuser is quite correct on one point, my 'beloved HCS'. This school gave many young men a chance to rise from modest backgrounds, and it was a great pleasure to meet with several former pupils, at the dinner in honour of Ken Waller. They have all risen to prominence in their individual fields of occupation. The school had many faults and foibles, as evidenced by this magnificent website. I did suffer from Clarkson's slipper, and was embarrased by having to hand in lunch vouchers in open view of my class mates. Yet the school was the best of its genre, and it did do 'what it said on the tin'.
Name: paul phillips
Email: paulatbrianpaul.co.uk
Years_at_school: 71-76
Date: 10 Sep 2008
Time: 10:30:25
Last post Test speak should read TEXT speak
Name: Paul Phillips
Email: paulatbrianpaul.coouk
Years_at_school: 1971-76
Date: 10 Sep 2008
Time: 10:28:58
No doubt Laurence the anonymous comments will be removed. (They have been! Please do not leave anonymous comments on this guestbook, and please note that while it is OK to mention someone's "foibles" as the late Jim Golland used to say, it is not OK to leave anonymous insults.-Jeff) Keep up your good work on trying to maintain standards; those that were shown by the excellence of the late Geoffrey Perkins for example. Unbelievably I heard a professor of something or other on the radio only yesterday advocating that the English written language should be as spoken. He indicated that text speak was the future. Cannot understand it myself but what a sad indictment of this once proud country. PAUL
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: long time ago
Date: 10 Sep 2008
Time: 07:23:21
Please make yourself known, as your comments (the anonmymous comments were removed! - Jeff) are taken at face value. I assume you were one of the school bullies, but then there were several of these sad cases who managed to gain entry to HCS. Now as I was not at the school 30 years ago, it seems our paths didn't cross. You clearly did not read my contribution, as my comment was on the poor punctuation, not diction, but I'm sure that your vented spleen is now well satiated.
Name: Keith Palmer
Email: keith.palmerathotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1968-1975
Date: 09 Sep 2008
Time: 17:18:21
It was with great shock and sadness that I heard the news of Geoff Perkins' passing. It is documented elsewhere on this site the impact he, and the group of students with which he mixed, had on school life and it was clear even then that all were destined for success in their chosen fields. I was one of those who followed that generation into A2 so got to know them reasonably well. Geoff was the "nice guy", but clearly had extraordinary talent and the obituaries I have read make it clear he carried these credits throughout his life. I have no idea if the current school encourages "home made" writing in its drama productions (or if it even stages anything like those of us were fortunate enough to witness in the late 60s and early 70s). However, I do think it would be nice if an annual award in Geoff's memory could be set up. The current pupils have probably never heard of him, yet it would be good for them to know that talent at an early age can be recognised and, with proper application, lead to far greater things later on. My sympathies and condolences go to his family and friends.
Name: Leon Loberman
Email: leon at loberman.net
Years_at_school:
Date: 09 Sep 2008
Time: 05:05:41
Just read the sad news about Geoff Perkins. My condolences to his family.
Name: Paul Ware
Email: paul_ware_77401atyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1965-72
Date: 07 Sep 2008
Time: 20:14:53
Paul Ware wrote at 10:09pm Geoffrey Perkins, Clive Anderson, Francis Matthews et al., were a year above me at Harrow County School. When finally the likes of Dave Hantman and myself were writing scripts for the "Christmas Entertainments" in the early 1970s, he was kind enough to say that he liked my stuff and was surprised that he had never seen any of it before. The reason was simply that until those guys eased up (Oxbridge preparation) there was no way the rest of us could be noticed. A script I wrote required someone to make a pratfall. He amazed us by doing a half dozen in a row, all onto a wooden stage with no cushioning, with the grace of Buster Keaton. I had emigrated to L.A. by the end of the decade so missed out on his later fame but am not surprised by it--he had natural comic genius from an early age.
Name: Steve Mulliner
Email: No Spam
Years_at_school: 1968 - 1973
Date: 07 Sep 2008
Time: 06:46:26
Noted. I stand corrected.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: too long ago!
Date: 07 Sep 2008
Time: 05:47:26
Steve, please note the correct spelling of my forename, no w! Pompous no, irritated by ineptitude, yes.
Name: Steve Mulliner
Email: No Spam
Years_at_school: 1968 - 1973
Date: 07 Sep 2008
Time: 03:56:59
Lawrence Lando, you really are a pompous tw@
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: too long ago!
Date: 06 Sep 2008
Time: 15:02:30
Punctuation is not diction, one is written to other is oral! If that is defamatory then I'm sorry, and perhaps it will be removed. But then athletics were not my strong point at school.
Name: Dennis Orme
Email: dennis_orme at msn.com
Years_at_school: 1967-75
Date: 04 Sep 2008
Time: 01:47:09
To Colin Lewis, yes the Old Gaytonians Athletics Club is still around but is called Harrow Athletic Club and has merged with the local female club Parkside. The web site is www.harrowac.co.uk
Name: C. Lewis
Email: As below
Years_at_school: as below
Date: 03 Sep 2008
Time: 09:57:23
Am pleased to see that the
comments after mine have been removed, diction was not a specific class in my time no! However manners and respect were things my parents taught me and obviously something that his were devoid of teaching.
I am only here in an attempt to contact old acquaintances and not to be ridiculed. If anybody has any information on teachers
I may have known or pupils in my era (no matter what your opinion on it) it would all be gratefully received.
Regards
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 03 Sep 2008
Time: 07:05:30
L. E. Thursby started at Harrow County in 1924. In 1925-6 he was in Form IIIB. He had a poem published in the March 1926 issue of Gaytonian (which I do not have to hand at the moment). He was Secretary of the School Chemical Society in 1928.
Name: Sally Neville
Email: nevillesallyatyahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school: nil
Date: 03 Sep 2008
Time: 06:52:36
My father (and also(?) his brother, my uncle), were at the school called Harrow County Secondary during the 1920's. My father was very keen Boy Scout. I have come back to the website and have found that my uncle had a poem published in the school magazine, and I was wondering how to get a print of this poem, please? Our family surname is Thursby.
Name: Colin Lewis
Email: colinlewis08atgooglemail.com
Years_at_school: 92 - 96
Date: 02 Sep 2008
Time: 04:59:27
Have just found this site, and its taught me a lot
I didn't know already. I fear that as my Year was the last to be "Gayton" there are too few memories.
Mrs Cavanagh was my form tutor and as I understand it was recently married to Mr Cavanagh (also of Gayton).
Is the Old Gaytonians athletic club still running (see what I did there)
Would be interested to know if anyone else has more info about the school or knows anyone from my era.
Kind Regards
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: long time ago!
Date: 01 Sep 2008
Time: 06:17:13
Peter, I concur. The comparison between HCS and the current establishment is meaningless. Indeed I wonder if comparison between HCS and schools of like selection policy might be more of interest. Tiffins in Kingston on Thames, for example. My interest was to see if the current establishment, is improving within its peers in the Harrow area. The figures quoted from the Harrow Observer make that question rather hard to clarify.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: p_fowler at ntlworld.com
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 01 Sep 2008
Time: 04:00:06
Laurence, I suspect, like me, you will look at the the figures given by Dennis with bemusement. You and I may be on the different sides of many debates, but I have to admit that the percentage success rates quoted for Harrow schools are, to me anyway, completely meaningless. We clearly can't compare these figures to those of our time, because the exams and the assessment regimes appear to be poles apart; and I'm not sure, in these days of academies and new tranches of GCEs, if we can even compare school with school. Labour's assessment methods, following on from those started by Ken Baker, are washed up, quality killed by quantitative techniques that have scored the curriculum to death. With the only goal, as far as I can see, the force feeding of inappropriate students onto inappropriate University degrees in order to get a job in Burger King. Ironically, Crosland's vision of Polytechnics was never more needed.
Very sad about Geoff Perkins. He was after my time, of course, but anyone who came up with Mornington Crescent deserves very real thanks.
Name: Mike Moradian
Email: creative_printdesignatyahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1968-1971
Date: 31 Aug 2008
Time: 03:54:44
Have read the tragic news about Geoff Perkins. As with Dave Hantman - the last time I saw Geoff was at the Convergence reunion event.
Such a shame that someone so talented is no longer around.
My abiding memories of Geoff is the double act on stage in Xmas Ents with Clive Anderson in "The Joke Salesman" sketch. Other sketches included "Army recruitment centre" and "Courtroom Drama" (did Geoff have a hand in writing them too?)
At least memories of Geoff will live on - for all the laughter and enjoyment he gave others. I regard him as great man for the quickness of wit that I admired in him.
Mike Moradian
Name: Dennis Orme
Email: dennis_orme at msn.com
Years_at_school: 1967-75
Date: 30 Aug 2008
Time: 11:39:53
In answer the the query about GCSE results this year, the Harrow Observer gave the following figures. Listed are the current school name, its pre 1974 name and the percentage obtaining grade C or higher. 2007 figures are not given. State schools only.
Bentley Wood (Heriots Wood) 70,
Harrow High (HCS) 71,
Hatch End (Blackwell) 66,
Nower Hill (Headstone) 77,
Park (Chandos) 78,
Sacred Heart Girls Catholic 89.5,
Salvatorian Boys Catholic 70,
Whitmore (Lascelles) 72.
Rooks Heath (Roxeth Manor) and
Canons (Downer and Camrose) did not submit figures.
This year was the first year of results for the new sixth forms. Listed are school name, pre 1974 name if relevant, percentage obtaining grade C or higher, percentage pass rate.
Harrow College (HCS Girls and Harrow Weald) 59 and 93,
Harrow High (HCS) 80 and 100, St.
Dominics Catholic Sixth Form College 81 and 98.1,
Hatch End (Blackwell) 69 and 95,
Stanmore College 77 and 99.6.
Others did not submit results but the combined figures for Nower Hill, Hatch End, Harrow High, Rooks Heath, Whitmore, Bentley Wood and Harrow College was 65 and 96.
Name: Nick Salisbury
Email: sarumfamily at aol.com
Years_at_school: 1968-1974
Date: 30 Aug 2008
Time: 02:33:04
Fascinating memories. Spurred in logging on by tragic death of Geoffrey Perkins
Name: Dave Hantman
Email: hantmanATbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1965-1973
Date: 29 Aug 2008
Time: 15:49:25
Just seen on Teletext the tragic news about Geoff Perkins. Dreadful. I met him again at the school-hamlet reunion after many years. He instantly remembered me and was a real gentleman. Very shocked indeed. Dave Hantman
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 29 Aug 2008
Time: 11:51:18
It is being reported that Geoff Perkins (HCS 1964 - 71) has died after a road accident earlier this evening. Geoff was formerly the Head of Comedy at the BBC, and had worked on many of the more well known TV and Radio comedy shows.
Name: Jeremy Thorn
Email: jeremy_thorn at hotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1961-68
Date: 27 Aug 2008
Time: 06:51:16
Hello, all you people
Name: LAurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: long time ago!
Date: 22 Aug 2008
Time: 12:29:30
What were the results from the school for GCSEs this year? Have they improved viz a viz the other local schools?
Name: P W Tanter
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1934 - 39
Date: 15 Aug 2008
Time: 07:44:34
Joined R A F in March 1943 (not November as in list). Trained as a pilot in Oklahoma and graduated as commisioned pilot in June 1944
Name: Brian Parker
Email: brian.parkerattherentservice.gov.uk
Years_at_school: 1969-1976
Date: 13 Aug 2008
Time: 12:34:35
Noted the recent posting from Mr (Clem)Tegg. Just like to say thank you and that I owe you a debt of gratitude. I lagged behind a bit in Maths, finding the pace of its teaching a little fast for me. I was lucky enough to receive your patient help in a lower set in fourth form and everything began to click into place. I went on to get A at O level and use maths and statistical analysis every day in my professional life. Is it possible to E mail a virtual pint? Cheers!
Name: clem tegg
Email: teggs_ukatyahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1972/4
Date: 13 Aug 2008
Time: 08:24:43
I taught maths and had form 3T then 4T. A school full of bright and interesting people; how did I manage to get a job there. I'd like to hear from John and Mary Ling and any other folk I didn't annoy too much. Clem Tegg
Name: Ray Phirangee
Email: ray_phirangeehotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1990 - 1993
Date: 11 Aug 2008
Time: 12:19:37
Calling all Gaytonians from this era to come forth and let your presence be known
Name: ye min
Email: yeyeye63athotmail.comWrite word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1963-1970
Date: 07 Aug 2008
Time: 12:43:48
i'm wondering if anyone who was at school in October 66 can remember how much was collected for the Aberfan Disaster Fund? I vaguely have a figure in mind but I may be wrong. The reason I ask is i have a poem about Aberfan accepted for an anthology and will be reading it in September and I feel I should just check this fact if I can.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 06 Aug 2008
Time: 15:21:10
I'm amused by the small flurry of correspondence concerning the great Dr AR Simpson's caning book. Having had possession of it for 47 years (I'm a slow reader) I considered it time to return the treasure to its rightful place. Of course, it is truly sad not to reveal the names in it (which included a couple of my own japes) because therein lies the fun. It brings back to mind wonderful characters and ardent rebels. But I had to advise against such publication. There are certain entries, some of which I remember happening, which were not punishments for ludicrous offences. These involved incidents like stealing and lying and it really would not be fair to the dim and distant offenders to make such revelations. On the subject of caning statistics, I did the calculations, at the time, and these have been provided, in hand-drawn graphical form, in the inside cover. As Simpson became more peculiar, losing control or even inciting rebellion and subsequent punishment, the figures rose spectacularly, year on year. Not all the entries are his, however. He had willing lieutenants queueing up for their own offerings, notably Deputy Head George Thorn who made me squirm and the extraordinary larger than life character, Lt-Col W.M. Bigham OBE. There were others, too. The big question was 'Who hit hardest?' In general opinion, Thorn was thought to be the winner, by a head, followed in Silver position by Bigham. (Thorn's enjoyment of punishment probably added to the pain.) The Bronze possibly went to Swanny Amos whom I remember striking me, during PE, across the elastoplast and cotton wool of my 'flu jab, one hour after the school injection. I had failed to scale a rope fast enough, so fair enough. Of course, there was no thought of running home and reporting such outrages. These were accepted through gritted teeth, though not usually with especially good grace. The original Square's caning record (an innocent but rather battered school exercise book) has been placed in the HCS Archive for posterity (I think there's a good joke in there, somewhere, although the humourless Square would not see it.) Finally, a small Simpsonian anecdote. During one of my own caning bouts one character, the splendidly witty Pete Woolard, was forced to take an extra stroke for our joint misdemeanour. As Woolard bent over to receive his first swipe, a packet of cigarettes fell to the carpet from his top blazer pocket. The enraged Simpson thus awarded Woolard an extra cut. Barely suppressing our laughter, we could not help but note the enormous pile of stubbed out fag-ends littering Simpson's ash tray. It was full to over-flowing. Player's Weights, I seem to remember. Woolard's cigarettes were confiscated and I often wonder what happened to them. I believe they were of a superior make.
Name: Richard Porter
Email: richard.j.porter at lmco.com
Years_at_school: 1962 1964
Date: 06 Aug 2008
Time: 10:28:14
The recent posts re corporal punishment have AROUSED my interest. Are any victims of ARS prepared to divulge if they too have succumbed to the same PTCS (Post Traumatic Caning Syndrome)fates (delights) as those recounted by Max Mosely.
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnie at shaw.ca
Years_at_school: 1946-1951
Date: 05 Aug 2008
Time: 21:35:27
Further to the news about the Caning Book. I agree 100% with Colin Dickins that those who got their arses spanked carry their heads with great pride. It's an Orwellian task but perhaps we can all contribute to a reconstruction of who was caned from 1946, when ARS arrived, to 1954. I for one, will, with the aid of my Pupil's Report Book recreate term by term the number of canings. It's only about a dozen (baker's of course), but can we include that ugly strap he used when his canes disappeared? Used on the hand of course, and just before sn exam. (All this reminds me of the Gestapo, SS and KGB who liked to keep such records.)
Name: Steve Grimes
Email:
Years_at_school: 1958 to1964
Date: 05 Aug 2008
Time: 09:54:29
For Colin Dickens - Sorry to disappoint you Colin but the register starts from 1954, so your own grievous misdemeanours were not recorded for posterity!
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-53
Date: 05 Aug 2008
Time: 04:11:09
Oh, Steve, what a pity. So the names are to be deleted to protect the guilty. I can no longer remember whether I was caned twice or three times, nor when, and I was looking forward to being reminded of the events and the details - as well as reading Square's obiter dicta. I'm sure I could take the public humiliation, as I did the puinishment, like a man. I do understand the pressure you feel, but have you checked the legal position? Any lawyers out there who could offer an opinion? Surely these punishments were matters of public knowledge at the time pour encourager les autres?
Name: Steve Grimes
Email:
Years_at_school: 1958 to 1964
Date: 03 Aug 2008
Time: 15:38:58
Just a quick note to those interested in Dr Simpson's Caning Book ......... I can confirm that I now have this magnificent work of art in my possession. The plan is to scan it and then send it on to Jeff for publishing on the website. The original will then be sent on to Alex Bateman to hold in the official archives. The delay is due to "confidentiality" issues. Obviously the full names of "culprits" were recorded (including mine, in fact) and some may be known to the public. As it is not possible to contact all "culprits" to obtain "consent", it has been decided that we will need to obliterate names from the web version. I don't think this will spoil anyone's enjoyment! Unfortunately, as we all know, Square was an unpredictable character and the layout is extremely disorganised. That means the "blanking out" job will take time. I am trying to do this as quickly as I can but (due to other commitments) the work is unlikely to be complete before the autumn. So watch this space for Dr Simpson's Caning Book. It will be here soon. Reagrds to all Steve
Name: KVEkCtyvqjBsqrrZPPG
Email: lrNyBYVxJfa
Years_at_school: rDdThetcy
Date: 01 Aug 2008
Time: 19:18:44
doors.txt;9
Name: KVEkCtyvqjBsqrrZPPG
Email: lrNyBYVxJfa
Years_at_school: rDdThetcy
Date: 01 Aug 2008
Time: 19:18:08
doors.txt;9
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnieatshaw.ca
Years_at_school: 1946-51
Date: 29 Jul 2008
Time: 22:21:16
Referring to Brian Hester`s recent message. Brian, please email your phone number and we`ll have a conversation in Northern Quebecois, which not one French teacher in HCS, past and present, would understand. Except maybe Hugh Skillen; didn`t he write a textbook called Hank Le Trappeur, with a Canadian theme.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 29 Jul 2008
Time: 08:56:28
I think Steve Grimes now has them and is currently working hard on scanning the pages.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 25 Jul 2008
Time: 19:02:18
Any progress on making the stolen punishment book available online or copies available some other way?
Name: Peter Starns
Email: Peteratstarnsdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1956-1962
Date: 25 Jul 2008
Time: 15:40:12
Seem to remember 4th Harrow (Merrymen) more than anything else! An amazing site which brings back more memories than I wish to keep!
Name: Tom Backer
Email: tab at cwgsy dot net
Years_at_school: 1956-1963
Date: 17 Jul 2008
Time: 07:11:10
I too am sorry to learn of Mr Butler's death. He taught me Chemistry in the 2nd year I think (Form 2A), although in later years it was Tom Busfield who eventually succeeded in teaching me enough to read Chemistry at Oxford. I particularly remember Mr Butler's statement to the class before we started the practical session - "Remember, if you don't know anything, ask." I think Jim Golland would have been amazed and possibly amused by this abuse of grammar. Best wishes to all my former classmates, many of whom contribute regularly to this guest book. Tom Backer
Name: Graeme Young
Email: gyoung3 at sky.com
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 17 Jul 2008
Time: 01:24:28
I am so sorry to learn of Mr C.W.Butler's death. He taught me Chemistry from the first days and made the subject so fascinating that many of us in the "D" ( for Dreaded? ) stream bought home chemistry kits and terrorised our families with bad smells, minor explosions and questionable stains here and there. I can visualise him still, and remember his voice, so good was the impression he made upon me and my classmates. Moreover, we learned much from his teaching and I have no doubt that he inspired some to take up Chemistry in some form or other as a profession. May he rest in peace.
Name: Lorette Rutter
Email: loretteathabsgirlsdotorgdotuk
Years_at_school: 1974-1978
Date: 11 Jul 2008
Time: 04:16:19
Hello ! I have just posted a photo of my form in 1975 or 76? and I would very much like to have news from everyone I taught at the time. What happened to David Brookes ? Tony Booth ? Mark Ames ?Paul Hooper ? Out of my form, I remember Ashwyn Kashyap, who wanted to be a doctor, and Jonathan Rose, whom I taught at Alevel with Stephen Beaumont. What's happened to you all ? Best wishes....
Name: Richard Lee
Email: RichardLeeATLeeGlanvilleDotplusDotcom
Years_at_school: 1954 to 1961
Date: 09 Jul 2008
Time: 06:26:11
Many thanks to Brian Hester, Bob Blackburn and Eddie Kerr for help on the Matric details. You helped me to fill in a lot of blanks in the info I had previously found.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.ashgroveat tesco.net
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 05 Jul 2008
Time: 03:03:25
Peter No, Dad was definitely "Gawn", his father was Edwin Gawn (he of the three wives (consecutively!)),and hence my surname also being Gawn. Dad always said he was pretty inconspicuous at the school, but he seems to have left no trail at all. The three people he remembers who were still around in my time were Billy Duke, Reg King and Swanny Amos. Maybe something will turn up Regards Ian
Name: Malcolm LeMay
Email: malcolmlemayatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1981-1985
Date: 28 Jun 2008
Time: 15:36:09
I'm pretty sure that's Rahul Shah - not ? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Name: Malcolm LeMay
Email: malcolmlemayatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 4
Date: 28 Jun 2008
Time: 15:33:25
What memories!!! Did we really look like that???
Name: Peter Vincent
Email:
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 28 Jun 2008
Time: 11:44:06
Ian - you mentioned your father had half-brothers? Is it possible that his surname was not Gawn while he was at HCS? The website contains complete lists of starters for the years your father is likely to have started, but no Gawns in sight.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.ashgroveattesco.net
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 27 Jun 2008
Time: 08:03:45
Really by way of a last attempt to find sone documentary link between my Dad and the school. He was born in 1909 so presumably attended from around 1921 or 22, but left at 15 -ish on the death of his father Edwin, who had been the last saddler in Harrow, until inreasing car use drove his business down and he went bankrupt. Certainly Dad was always proud of having been an Old Gayt, and to family embarrassment (well, we were young!) used to sport a striped OG blazer at every opportunity. How I wish it was still around and I could wear it! Does anyone know where Jim Golland's 85000 record cards ended up - did they go to a library. Just that he had some info on Dad's half-brothers, one of whom won a MM in WW1. Regards to all Ian Gawn
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 26 Jun 2008
Time: 10:58:31
Re: the Gaytonian 1924 and the speech by Dean Inge. I have a dim memory of there being a sepia photograph of Inge somewhere in the school. Damned if I can remember where as there was a large number of pictures hung at random all over the school.
Name: Monty Maizels
Email: mmaizelsatoptusnet dot com dot au
Years_at_school: 1934 - 39
Date: 26 Jun 2008
Time: 09:11:25
Sorry the last message from Monty Maizels was typed my me (Alex Bateman) as he has had trouble uploading it. I accidentally got his email wrong, which is correct here should anyone wish to contact him. Make the usual changes
Name: Monty Maizels
Email: mmaizelsatpotusnetdotcomdotau (change the usual)
Years_at_school: 1934 - 39
Date: 26 Jun 2008
Time: 09:09:17
Having just read the tributes to illustrious Gaytonians who are no longer with us, Monty Maizels (1934-1939) would like it known that as of June 26, 2008, he is still alive and, pending medical tests of his reflexes, presumably kicking. And would be delighted to hear from any other survivor from the above school years. Greetings to Brian Hester, with my regrets that we never met in 03. And to Bernard Gillespie, who I see joined in 1939. Since I left early, in May of that year, close - but no cigar. Sorry I stayed away for so long. Monty
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 26 Jun 2008
Time: 09:06:08
Jeff I have a copy of that magazine and can scan it for you. I might have a complete copy spare in the archives if you want the actual one?
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.gawnatesco.net
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 23 Jun 2008
Time: 07:05:18
Finally retired (this time from Secretary of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club) and in final throes of our move later in the summer to the Vendee. Nice to see Martin McCluney's name on a entry. I recall us being in the Pipe Band together.Please note change of e-mail address, the only practical respose to a cock up at a well known high street bank, which allowed a fraudster to hijack my credit card account, and to cancel my Pipex account, to whch Pipex's response to a request for help was a thunderous yawn!
Regards to all
Ian Gawn
Name: Anna Stone
Email: anna_stoneat aviva.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 23 Jun 2008
Time: 02:47:52
Just a bit more information on one of your Alumni Frank H Toovey - he worked for North British & Mercantile Insurance Company joining the law courts branch in 1924 and being appointed chief clerk in 1930. By 1954 he was chief clerk at Southwark branch and married with 2 sons. During WW2 he served in the royal signals and saw service in Normandy and africa. He was very good at arts ad crafts and a regular competitor in the office cross country races as well as being on the Committee of Middlesex AAA and a track judge.
This information comes from the North British and Mercantile Staff magazine, Autumn 1954 - I am the group archivist at Aviva and NB&M is one of our constituents - I thought it would be nice to give you a bit more information about him as I happened to have it.
Anna
Name: Jeffrey Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard.com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 22 Jun 2008
Time: 20:59:50
Wanted: a copy of Gaytonian for March 1924 with a report of Speech Day with Dean Inge.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard.com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 22 Jun 2008
Time: 16:04:39
To get to the Jim Golland pages, go to the website home page, scroll down to where it says Major sub pages, Some Gaytonmians, Staff Members... and clicj on Staff Members. Then click on J. S. Golland.
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email: jongru at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1967 to 73
Date: 22 Jun 2008
Time: 14:46:17
Peter - the Jim Golland obits seem to be links from this page: jsgolland.htm - hope that helps. I'd type the full link but it won't let me.
Name: Peter Vincent
Email:
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 22 Jun 2008
Time: 11:12:54
Jeffrey - talking of Jim Golland, am I going mad or has his obituary disappeared off the website? I can't find a link to it anywhere.
Name: Geoffrey Plow
Email: gaplowathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1968-1974
Date: 12 Jun 2008
Time: 14:41:55
No, Jim Golland was not an idiot - the last word to describe him. And the comments that suggested that he had a greater effect on his pupils than other more 'pedestrian' teachers probably got it right, too. When I think of the work he conjured up from a lot of people at O level and A level, I don't know what processes were involved. I often thought it was to do with fear; you just didn't dare to slacken. And I'm forever amazed at the sheer choice of his teaching material. 'King John'? 'Samson Agonistes'? These are hardly the thing now in schools (and Jim Golland taught 'King John' as an O level text...). But it took me years to work out that Gerry Lafferty's essentially much more generous approach to literature (Gerry enjoyed it, so we enjoyed it) had actually left just as much of a legacy as the glowering presence of Jago. It was all 'horses for courses': Jim Golland was impatient enough to want to work quickly with pupils capable of working quickly too. The not inconsiderable number of Old Gaytonians underwhelmed by him were not well served by this briskness. He was the wrong teacher for them, and that was the limitation. But 'idiot'? No.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: bhesteratcogecodotca
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 12 Jun 2008
Time: 14:33:21
You are right of course Bob about the foreign language requirement for Matric. I recall a Ken Blackburn, is he a relative? Whiffy King's teaching style was nothing if not unique. On a typical day, he would march into the class, announce that the place smelled like the garret of a fourth rate Marseille street walker and fling open all the windows. When someone questioned him on this comparison Whiffy had the lad stand outside in the corridor. When Randall Williams entered asking if Whiffy was having a problem with 'this boy', Whiffy would immediately say no and tell the boy to join the class. He would then start marking our homework awarding a rare star but the rest an alpha or beta qualified by a plus or minus. The mark was entered with a crayon and covered much of the page. Utter failures got a D and the offending book was thrown at or out the window and owner sent to recover it. When a column of soldiers from New Zealand came marching along Sheepcote Road, we were sent to the windows to sing La Marseillaise which he conducted while leaning from the window. He enjoyed life and taught me French grammar but I came away unable to speak a word. I overcame that inability while working in northern Quebec. My children tell me my accent is quite unique.
Name: Bob Blackburn
Email: With Alex
Years_at_school: 1943 - 1949
Date: 12 Jun 2008
Time: 11:52:59
Just to add to the Matriculation Exemption- you also needed a credit in a foreign language. I stayed on at school specifically to try to obtain a credit in French without success. "Whiffy" King ( my French master), came up to me one day and said, " You know Blackburn, I am retiring next year and for some time have been congratulating myself that I have not had a bad career as a teacher, in fact I have been rather good, THEN YOU CAME ALONG !" I bear him no ill-will for the comment, he was quite right. Best wishes to all those O.G. who remember me, Bob Blackburn
Name: Keith Palmer
Email:
Years_at_school: 1968-1975
Date: 12 Jun 2008
Time: 05:19:01
In the five years I studied English Literature to 'O' Level I had five different English Masters (C.I. Anderson, S.L. Edwards, Dave Burt, Jim Golland and one whom I can't even remember)! I can't say that anyone particularly inspired me but probably the raw material wasn't there for them to work on. I did, however, have great respect for Jim Golland as a teacher and as a man. Maybe he did focus more on the better pupils who were headed for University but that criticism could be directed at the school in general in my time there. He felt passionately about the school, took great pride in the achievements of his pupils, and was utterly devastated when the changes that took place in 1975 were announced. He had little reward from my English achievements but we worked closely in A2 (the bookroom) and I typed most of "Gaytonian" for two or three years under his watchful eye (at a time when men couldn't type - and what are we all doing now??!) Despite passing like ships in the night during my final year, he sought out my last school report and penned a good luck message, something that I still appreciate to this day. When I first found this site a few years ago I thought it would be nice to try to contact him after 30 years but, of course, I was too late. I also lived in Pinner but moved away when I was 25 and am now living in Bolton. One day I will get around to reading some of his own literature on our "home town".
Name: Brian Hester
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 11 Jun 2008
Time: 19:01:06
Richard Lee asks about the various forms of School Certificate. The universities of London Oxford and Cambridge set their own examinations that were more or less of the same standard. In Scotland they had the School Leaving Certificate which was generally thought to be marked at a slightly higher standard. Most schools took the School Certificate at age 16 but at HCS it was 15. Results were awarded F for fail, P for pass, C for credit and D for distinction.To earn a certificate, you had to get about six Ps. If you got five or more Cs, you were given a certificate of matriculation exemption. Matriculation was required for entry into first year university for a four year degree. It was also used as entry to accounting etc. You had to get a credit in both English language and mathematics to earn matriculation. Higher School Certificate work was taken in the sixth forms. The same marking system applied as for the School Certificate but you needed only three passes to be awarded the certificate. If you earned four passes, then you also got a certificate exempting you from first year of university, the so called Intermediate exemption. Those amongst us who earned four distinctions on their Higher School Certificate (not me!) were in line for a state Scholarship. When I went to university in 1947, they were still offering a first year course equivalent to the Intermediate certificate but it was rough course for a single year. Most of us entered into what was then called second year armed with intermediate exemption certificates earned at school.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 11 Jun 2008
Time: 06:25:25
I certainly would not describe Jim Golland as an idiot, but nor would I agree with the faint praise of George Yelland. I had three English teachers at HCS, Golland, Yelland & Turnbull. I thought Golland & Turnbull good teachers but I would not say I found either inspiring. I found Yelland truly inspirational and I credit him with my lifelong love of literature. I don't think one can make "absolute" assessments of any of the masters. I think much depended on how each pupil's and teacher's individual personalities meshed.
Name: Steve Hilsden
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1969-1976
Date: 10 Jun 2008
Time: 12:42:35
Comments and opinions about Mr Golland vary. I was not a fan - mainly because I had Gerry Lafferty (RIP) up to the 6th form - where I had my first lessons with Jago. As I failed English Lit he was hard on me at A Level and was very scathing when I failed again. As head of 6th form I did not feel he helped me prepare for life outside - probably more interested in those heading for good universities whilst I went out to work. On the other side he was a very interesting local historian - and that was a much better experience for me
Name: Edward Kerr
Email: as before
Years_at_school: 1960-66
Date: 10 Jun 2008
Time: 11:54:05
Just a couple of comments about recent postings. Richard Lee raises a number of terms which relate to the educational system of former years and it may well be that terms and practices that those of the HCS generation use quite freely might not be familiar to those of more recent generations. There is quite a good "one page" briefing note on the history of education in England at http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/childrens_lives/education_creativity/education_england/index.html It is published by the Victoria & Albert Museum and, although it is not free of spelling errors (e.g. "perticular"), is a useful document. Peter Fowler's posting encapsulates the difference between a teacher and an instructor. Fortunately, we had many real teachers at HCS, including Jim Golland and many of the other members of the English Department of the time.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: Via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84 (OG & School archivist)
Date: 10 Jun 2008
Time: 08:13:28
As some of you might know, I was out in France last year filming a TV documentary about the Dambusters, at the time, excavating the crash site of one of the aircraft. For those in the UK who might be interested, this is going to be shown next Tuesday, June 17th on Channel 5 at 8pm, called the 'Last of the Dambusters'. I'm apparently shown looking like I know what I am doing! At some point it will be shown in Canada too (but I'm not sure when) as the pilot on its last flight was a Canadian.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: p_fowler at ntlworld.com
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 08 Jun 2008
Time: 14:23:06
Michael, for once we're on the same side. Jim Golland was anything but an idiot - and, as an exact contemporary of Malcolm Hayward's (I think we were both in ID together), I can say, with complete certainty, that this is not a view across his year group. Jim could make me cross, lots of times, but he was a hell of a teacher. And as for George Yelland....George exuded gravitas, he was completely in command of his classes - and, as his subsequent career proved, he was a natural Headmaster. But his English lessons - often centring on a read-through of the text being studied (I remember him reading through the entire book of CS Forester's The Ship, each lesson, one chapter) - had absolutely none of the flair or panache of Jim Golland's lessons. Jim made you think: George just demanded respect. One had a lasting impact on the boys; the other didn't.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: still the same
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 08 Jun 2008
Time: 12:25:21
A comment was recently made that "Golland was an idiot." Why does the person who made the comment feel that way? Michael.
Name: Dennis Orme
Email: dennis_orme at msn.com
Years_at_school: 1967 - 75
Date: 08 Jun 2008
Time: 10:26:05
The School Certificate was usually taken at 16 and the Higher School Certificate at 18. The latter was abolished in 1951 when "A" levels were introduced.
Name: Steve Hilsden
Email: stephendothilsdenatbtinternetdotcom
Years_at_school: 1969 -1976
Date: 08 Jun 2008
Time: 10:25:37
Mrs Rutter - I remember - our sixth form class must have been one of the first ones you took. You were certainly more interesting than Hughie Skillen in your teaching methods. I remember so pretty meatie essay titles - and I am sure some of my views then would be radically different with greater life experiences. Never went on to college - but the French (and Latin) come in useful on holiday still. Amazingly after 30 years I can read a French sports paper (and enjoy it) and join in conversation with French people
Name: Richard Lee
Email: richardlee AT leeglanville DOT plus DOT com
Years_at_school: 1954 to 1961
Date: 08 Jun 2008
Time: 02:17:30
Hi - I look in on the site quite often to read what's going on. I have mixed memories of my school days but it's nice to hear of other names from the past. This, however, is slightly different - and a request for help if poss. I have recently come across some papers from a late Aunt who attended the Girls school from 1918 to about 1924 and there is mention of various things like "General Schools Exams", "School Certificate", "Higher School Certificate", "Matriculation" - in this case for the University of London - and "Matriculation Exemption". They are all words I have heard of but have no idea how they all relate. Is there anyone out there who knows how the system worked in the early 1920s? I realise that this refers to the girls school but I imagine the boys systems would have been the same. Any help would be gratefully received.
Name: MrsLorette Rutter
Email: loretteathabsgirls.org.uk
Years_at_school: four
Date: 07 Jun 2008
Time: 11:05:48
I was a teacher of French and Spanish , who came as a student in "Harrow County" and carried on a as a teacher in Gayton High School. I remember well Harry Mees and Ken Waller , and would be interested to have news of former pupils....I have lost contact with all but Miss Angela Doublet, who came as a history teacher with Harry Mees.Please contact me at my school, thank you.
Name: Malcolm Hayward
Email: CanoeCaper at aol.com
Years_at_school: 55 to 63 probably.
Date: 06 Jun 2008
Time: 07:25:17
Very mixed feelings, especially about the premature deaths. Overall it was a fine school and such shools are gratly missed. The Grammar School system was the best system we have had for producing players for GB Plc. The 11+ has now been replaced by the much more invidious SATS but the system is broken. Bigham should have been put down (daughters OK though). Golland was an idiot. Yelland, possibly the finest schoolteacher I have ever met. Most of my direct contemporaries would concur. However, every year I hold the English dept. in respect for the grounding I was given. Just as o point of interest, I believe a son of Jiggens taught my son. Further Email sent. Rgds. Malcolm (Tank) Hayward
Name: OxntmmtQJFLhWmxu
Email: waqJZbTmvRkUdpN
Years_at_school: UbwOSPuTK
Date: 05 Jun 2008
Time: 10:12:50
forum.facka.ru.txt;2;9
Name: Jeffrey Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 04 Jun 2008
Time: 20:09:17
We've added a new section to the website about Harrow County School for Girls. Does anyone have any reminiscences about the girls school? Or photographs?
http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/HCSG/harrow_county_school_for_girls.htm
Name: Philip Smith
Email: Phil.tardis45 at blueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1962- April1969
Date: 03 Jun 2008
Time: 10:08:57
Haven't visited for a while. Would like to pass on grateful thanks to the following masters... Mr Bilson (who helped me pass Eng lang at the 3rd attempt in 1967) Mr Cowan- a Deputy who I found most warm and interested in me as a person and who even remembered my name some years after I left (Im a teacher and I know how hard that is!) Mr Ling and Mr Savage who inspired my love of Mathematics and Physics, led me to be a teacher after University of Bristol. Mr Thorne, Mr Edwards, and other staff who ran the Rugby teams which so enriched my growing years and widened my social life. Also to Mr Bodiam for Chemistry and my love of scientific experiments. Id like to thank Mr Thorne who also got me involved in backstage dramatics as well as taught nme Chemistry. I would also like to thank those who ran the CCF (especially RAF) which led me to getting my gliding license but (alas) not a flying scholarship. A special thanks to Mr Hartley, who forgave my imulsive desire to be popular by not reporting me for soaking him with a 'bomb' from the diving board as a 'dare' (thanks 'Judy' Garland!) . he taught me that sometimes giving a child a chance to forget an incident makes a real impact on the future attitude (I still use this in my teaching). As I near retirement, I too consider myself lucky to be associated with HCBGS and thank Jeff Maynard for maintaining this site. Good luck to all fellow Gaytonians - though my house in Harrow is no longer there and my home has been Bristol, then Devon, I still am fond of my roots and still use the mathematics I was taught so well in my teaching.
Name: Robert Tabb
Email: robert.tabbatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 56 - 63
Date: 27 May 2008
Time: 00:24:52
Thanks for letting us know about your father Jon Butler. Mr Butler as he was always known, certainly intr