Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 01 Feb 2012
Time: 09:03:04
As I mentioned before, I lived and worked in Chester for a time. The Grosvenor family's seat Eaton Hall is just outside the city and they own large chunks of real estate within the city walls, including the Grosvenor Hotel and the Edwardian 1960s shopping centre. They take a long term view of their investments and exercise a benign influence generally. The city is a wonderful place to visit with Roman, mediaeval and Victorian influences clearly visible.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 01 Feb 2012
Time: 05:31:59
I grant you the point, Colin. Anyway, the Grosvenors got there first!
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindotdickinsatblueyondercouk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 01 Feb 2012
Time: 03:37:36
Well, Brian, I've always thought that the Grosvenor family chose the motto as a caution to themselves - especially, perhaps, their descendants - that it was not the nobility of their birth which counted but how they behaved and what they did. With that view, I've always rather admired and respected it.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 31 Jan 2012
Time: 19:27:56
I agree with you Colin about the merits of reference books. The copy of Cassell's Latin dictionary that I have owned for a long time defines 'stemma' as a- "a crown or capulet" (Seneca) and b- "a genealogical tree" (Suetonius) and by Valerius Mart. as "nobility, high antiquity". Given these meanings, the school motto appear appropriate but I dont quite see how the Grosvenor family justifies it.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindotdickinsatblueyondercouk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 27 Jan 2012
Time: 03:08:00
" . . it has come to symbolise monarchy in the sense of the Crown." Ah, metonymy lives! Thank you, Michael. I know you are a Greek scholar and I'm glad to be enlightened. And, Jon, enjoy your new purchase. Google notwithstanding, I still get much information and satisfaction from old-fashioned things like reference books.
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email:
Years_at_school: 1967 to 1972
Date: 26 Jan 2012
Time: 11:14:08
If Stemma is a laurel wreath, I think a better translation would be "hard work, not medals". Or perhaps "Look to your laurels". However, I'm wondering whether the Greek word, if there is one, would necessarily be synonymous with the Latin word. I'm going to buy a Latin dictionary now. My copy of "The Approach to Latin" which I purchased out of nostalgia has "why did they not attack the sailors with arrows" but doesn't include the word "stemma". I have little Latin and less Greek.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: Seven, three on hard labour, ie, scicnce classes
Date: 25 Jan 2012
Time: 12:13:49
Glad Colin owned up to his mistake about PE departments. The mission statement of Vivian Edwards, head of PE for several years, was, "Any boy who does not bring his rugby gear will be crucified." Such compassion and humanity. Stemma does indeed mean a wreath used in a crowning. In Modern Greek it has come to symbolise monarchy in the sense of the Crown. Michael.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 24 Jan 2012
Time: 09:56:04
Oh, dear! That should have been "PR department".
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colinddotdickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 24 Jan 2012
Time: 08:42:21
"Broadly" eh, Jon? I confess to having checked my recollection before rushing into print (discovering in the process that the word comes from the Greek meaning "a garland" - but never mind). I think I would plead for "precisely, if succinctly". The motto is, of course, that of the Grosvenor family, as in the Duke of Westminster, for whom it resonates rather more than for us. Never mind - again. And I don't mind the use of Latin: it does allow conciseness, and 59 years on from my Latin 'A' level exam I still enjoy dabbling in the language. [Para] I was tickled to read Brian Hester's recollection of the resurrection of the School Song and Williams and Thorn being slightly uneasy about it. I think I would have been too. [Para] Oh, I do go along with your oblique cringe at the idea of a "mission statement", Jon. This ghastly fad came up in the nineties (presumably originating in some American corporate jargon machine) and many a company CEO or chairman succumbed to the pressure of their PE department to introduce one into their annual report, as well as their website. It's unlamented demise came with somewhat less than a whimper.
Name: brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com'
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 23 Jan 2012
Time: 10:03:00
I was interested to read Jon Grunewald's recollection about the school song which has clearly had a checkered history. When I joined the school in 1940, there was no mention of a school song to be heard. It was not until about 1945 that a contempory learned of the song's existence and organised a move to have it peformed again. Copies of the words were circulated one morning at assembly. Rather than displaying pleasure at hearing their work performed again, Williams and Thorne seemed resigned to the revival. The song was popular at the time but I am sure it is never heard these days except at OGS gatherings. I suspect school songs along with mottos in Latin and school caps have passed into history. .
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email: jongruATbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1967-72
Date: 23 Jan 2012
Time: 06:25:02
I think Colin Dickins is broadly correct, though "stemma" has connotations of aristocracy and coats of arms. Translating it as "birth" reminds me of our German lessons with Bob Tyler, an excellent but rather shouty teacher. If someone prepared an inadequate translation, based on a misunderstood dictionary definition, Mr Tyler would shout "Ah, you've been using COLLINS LITTLE GEM again, haven't you?". He knew that boys were usually too lazy to use a proper dictionary and generally preferred a tiny book with concise translations that did not give examples of context. Anyway, in my day nobody ever sang the "Worth Not Birth" school song, and most boys forgot the meaning of the Latin motto within minutes of being told what it was. Do schools nowadays have Latin mottos? Perhaps plain English might now be the order of the day. A long and tortuous "mission statement" could be placed below the school's badge!
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: plawson.collinsonatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 20 Jan 2012
Time: 15:58:55
In response to Jon Grunewald's query, the Inner Quad was for the first three years. It was given over wholly to football with blazer pocket-sized lattice balls. Masters surrounded that space, not least in their Common Room, but I don't remember their presence, despite regular fights and an awful lot of swearing. I was disappointed to have to move to the Outer Quad in 1972, though the all-new Menu B did, at 12p, soften the blow.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 20 Jan 2012
Time: 06:57:13
"Stemma" in Rome was the recorded genealogy of a family and translates best as "pedigree". Pretty good choice of word, given the intention behind the motto. "Birth" is a very reasonable synonym for "pedigree" and allows a handy expression.
Name: brian slater
Email: b123atgmail.com
Years_at_school: 57-61
Date: 19 Jan 2012
Time: 16:57:41
I see that Flower's passion in line with Portillo's predeliction has caused him a quandry. Has the school motto virtus non stemma been correctly interpreted from its Latin origins?. We all knew it as "worth not birth" Does it now mean you only get the education for your kids that you can pay for?
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 17 Jan 2012
Time: 02:10:18
Due to the large number attending, the funeral service for Ken Waller has been transferred to the larger West Chapel at Golders Green and the time postponed to 2pm. I repeat, 2pm. H
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email:
Years_at_school: 1967-72
Date: 16 Jan 2012
Time: 06:58:11
Browsing this site, I was struck by a link to Stemma Enterprises, a school project in 1998. The link is on the first page of this site. Keen to read more, I found the page. Was this a rearguard action to assert the benefits of an aristocratic background compared with our lowly origins? Seemingly not. "The name Stemma was chosen from the school motto. Stemma means birth, and this was the birth of a new company, which like a newly born plant would mature and grow into a successful business". Oh, I see. But Stemma doesn't actually mean birth, does it? I suppose that without a classics master on board, there's no way they could have known. I'm guessing that Stemma Enterprises, like an old and once great grammar school, is now mouldering in the great civic amenity site of history.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 - 64
Date: 15 Jan 2012
Time: 08:01:11
Over the past few weeks I have had the sad experience to learn of the 'passing' of four of my elderly patients. I have known them for over thirty years, and have tried my best to care for them throughout these past many years. The news that our dear Ken Waller has died makes me especially sad and whilst I only saw him once recently, at the 50th Celebration of his coming the HCS, he was always my special person from the teaching staff at school. It's not because of his teaching; Latin and my brain weren't well matched. He was my first form teacher in Class 1B, in September 1957, and quite frankly he was a star! He was the epitome of all that was good about the school. Always kind and to see him in full flow, with gown billowing and mortar-board in place was great. Indeed he was shown on the very recent 'Grammar School' TV programme just as I recalled his passage. At the reunion, he was kind enough to remember the boy who chose science rather that the Classics. RIP Ken. Laurence
Name: Michael H Jones
Email: michaelharoldattiscali.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1945/47
Date: 14 Jan 2012
Time: 02:50:12
I was prompted to look for the web site after seeing Michael Portillo on the Grammar SCHOOLS TV programme. I joined the school in 1945 - perhaps the first intake after the 1944 Act. I was in forms 2c and 3c before leaving with my parents to go to Ipswich (Northgate Grammar School). My memories are a bit faded (now nearly 78) but I have a very clear recollection of the buidlings, the"ruins" and the prefab. huts for the second forms. Some staff names I remember, "Jumbo" Jones as I think form-master and namesake. I also recall two women teachers whom we were instructed to address as "sir". I would be interested to know what happened after I left - were the "ruins" rebuilt and what was constructed on the playiing field ?.I have not been back to Harrow since 1947 ! If I can help with any more memories I would be pleased to do so
Name: Brian Hester
Email: BrianWHesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 13 Jan 2012
Time: 19:34:10
Jon Grunewald writes of 'those doors that were never used'. In my 'pre-new buildings days' this was the opening through which we entered the school until we were in the sixth form and were allowed to use the front door. We were brought to positions of attention by a swift 'peep' from Amos' whistle. At the second 'peep' each form formed into two lines in order.I never found out what miscreants actually did to deserve Amos' attention but when they did, he ran through the parted ranks to haul the miserable boy out who was then required to stand with a row of earlier offenders at the front until the end of term. On the third 'peep' we would all file into school. When he had something urgent to tell us about, Randall Williams would open the window of his study with a slam 'one moment please Mr. Amos' would be followed by a tirade usually containing phrase such as 'certain boys', 'this practice must stop immediately'and finish with 'boys found doing this will be severely punished'. Thank you Mr. Amos and the window would be slammed shut. It was a memorable show! I always liked and respected Randall Williams but his peformances at the window were a bit like Mussolini addressing the mob.
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email:
Years_at_school: 1967 to 72
Date: 13 Jan 2012
Time: 09:59:34
Can anyone remember what the rules were about which quad you were expected to use? The inner and the outer? When I was in the first form I remember a prefect barking at me to "get back in the quad" and pointing in the direction of the inner quad, a sort of prison exercise yard where people played football with the plastic balls with big holes in them. There were majestic steps going up to a doorway that was never used. Or was it? I think older boys were allowed to use either quad. Were the oldest not allowed in the inner quad? In the outer quad, some boys gathered at the front railings where the pavement was above our heads, and hoped to look up some skirts. And that memory in turn reminds me of Mark Phillips in class, telling a rather startled Ubi Lane that at our age we were terribly sexually frustrated. I think Ubi found a polite way to change the subject and get us back onto the fourth declension.
Name: paul Phillips
Email: paulatbrianapul.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-76
Date: 13 Jan 2012
Time: 05:22:19
thanks Dave. That corridor makes sense now. Not one that would use much but I do not remember a ban in the Avery days. I know we were not supposed to use the stairs by the war memorial till year 5
Name: Carol Turnham for mother Joan F. Vernon
Email: brookfarm.fisheryatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1937? to 1944
Date: 13 Jan 2012
Time: 03:21:38
Wondering whether anyone can remember my mother Joan Frances Vernon b.1926 who lived in North Wembley and attended Harrow Girls School up to matriculation?
Name: Dave Buckley
Email:
Years_at_school: 53-61
Date: 13 Jan 2012
Time: 02:22:53
In answer to Paul Phillip's post, the corridor in question was the top one which ran along the side of the hall, between the library and the art rooms (the inner quad is on the right of shot). In my time, anyone lower than sixth (or maybe fifth) form couldn't use it to get round the school. The shot in the film was specially set-up by Hugh Skillen in 1960 or 61.
Name: paul Phillips
Email: paulat brianpauldotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1971-1976
Date: 12 Jan 2012
Time: 23:45:31
Watched the second part of history of the grammar school last night and it brought back memories. Wish I had taken that bet that one day Bernard Marchant would be on TV. para. How right Michael Portillo was about the opportunity taken away in 1975 from those that could not afford to pay for education. I well remember that last assembly in July 1975 when Mr Avery paid tribute individually to each teacher (and then of course himself) who were "scattering" themselves around other institutions. That assembly was long and I am surprised I am still not sitting there. To this day I resent not having had the opportunity to go into the HCGSB 6th form and to be taught in an environment where learning and understanding appeared to be nurtured. para Looking at the Makers of Men film and the crocodile of new boys walking down the corridor with a master (was it Ken Waller?)made me wonder which corridor it was. It seemed so narrow and my memory was that corridors were wide and that apart from the A floor reasonably bright and airy. para And then I thought of those doors which went into Jock Lafferty's room. Could you imagine swing doors in a school nowadays? Health & safety inspectors would probably close the place down. Enough of my ramblings but i feel better now. PAUL
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: michaelwritesforyoutyahoo.ca
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 12 Jan 2012
Time: 18:40:40
Replying to Jon Grunewald. You will certainly find the HCS history worth reading, Jon. The inspectors were indeed critical of the physical conditions of HCS, describing them as squalid, but they also said they were surprised that the standards were so high despite that same squalour. I do not remember which aspects of the curriculum they disapproved of, but I agree with the conclusion that jumping the fifth straight into Lower Sixth was wrong. I found the fifth form a very enjoyable year, reading Richard II with Jim Golland and passing geography in the fifth in one year (Mr Haines). Any disappointment at not going into Lower Sixth Arts disappeared when I met my fellow fifth-formers who matured and went onto achieve whole strings of O levels. Someone who did do the jump told me that he had asked everyone else who had done the same whether they would have benefited from a year in the fifth and they all said they would have. We are not rewriting history - and certainly not because of a set of conclusions by the inspectors. One such inspector did turn up to monitor a Russian class by, yes, you've guessed it, Kenneth Waller. The inspector did not know a word of Russian... Michael.
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email:
Years_at_school: 1967 to 1972
Date: 12 Jan 2012
Time: 05:16:34
I've now received my copy of The History of the Harrow County School For Boys, published 1975, which was just as it was being transformed into a comprehensive. I am looking forward to reading it. I see that Ken Waller is listed as BA, LRAM,LTCL, AKC. I don't think there is anything about any individual members of staff, though. In 1971 there was a report by HM Inspectors that was very critical of Harrow County. They disapproved of some aspects of the curriculum and they particularly disapproved of the bypassing of the 5th Form by brighter boys (with the result that the 5th Form was a form for the less able). I had forgotten all that, but I think my parents were aware of it at the time. None of it was helpful when considering a year or two later whether this grammar school should be preserved as a centre of excellence. But if we assert that Harrow County's curriculum and customs (the streaming into arts OR science for example) were to be admired, will we be rewriting history?
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 11 Jan 2012
Time: 14:52:00
Clicking on "new" on the Home page, I came across the photos of the 1978 Review. Noticeably, the scruffiest soldier on parade was the nameless inspecting officer. And sad to see that dress of the day for the Naval Section was no longer square rig. It is only now that I realise how much I enjoyed wearing that uniform, bell bottoms, big flappy collar, black silk scarf and the white lanyard with nothing on the end of it.
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: plawson.collinsonatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 11 Jan 2012
Time: 14:27:08
I went to Romania in 1974 with Ken Waller and John Ling. The trip was the start of a life-long interest in Eastern Europe for me. I have a feeling I wrote it up for The Gaytonian. Both men were outstanding in their guidance of us in terms of what to look for and what questions to ask. Proper schoolmasters.
Name: martyn glencross
Email:
Years_at_school: 1984-1988
Date: 11 Jan 2012
Time: 05:51:55
Hi its been nice looking around even found pics of my form. My form teacher was Mr Green (mike) he was a good man and our head of year was Mr cavnagh he was a bit of a bully , would love 5 mins in a room with him now lol .
Name: Jeffrey Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 10 Jan 2012
Time: 19:58:14
Ken Waller's funeral will be at 12.30 on Monday 23rd January at the East Chapel, Golders Green Crematorium, Hoop Lane, London NW11 7NL. In his Will, Ken stated that his body be cremated and his ashes spread in the Garden of Remembrance. His ashes will be scattered alongside those of his sister, Irene Wilson, who died two and a half years ago. Ken's nephew, Steve Wilson, has asked me to post this information so that former pupils and colleagues may be informed. They are very welcome to attend and to meet afterwards somewhere locally (place to be confirmed) to share memories of Ken and further celebrate his full and varied life. If you wish to attend, please email Steve at maryandsteve at ntlworld dot com.
Name: Paul Phillips
Email: paulatbrianpauldotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1971 to 76
Date: 09 Jan 2012
Time: 05:40:38
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Ken Waller who was my form tutor in 3rd year. A true gentleman. Who can forget his translation of Gogol's Government Inspector from Russian and then its production? Added to his musical talents a very able man passes. I also remember the quality of the gowns he wore. He always said if i have to wear one of these things to keep the chalk off my suit then I may as well wear a decent one. Condolences to the family
Name: Jon Grunewald
Email: jongruATbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1967-72
Date: 09 Jan 2012
Time: 01:50:44
The Facebook page for Old Gaytonians can be located at : www.facebook.com[forwardslash]groups[forwardslash]2215577660 if searching for Old Gaytonians doesn't work...
Name: Dave Buckley
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 08 Jan 2012
Time: 15:44:34
With reference to the mention of the OGs being on Facebook, could someone please post the URL, as a Google search doesn't come up with a site, at least one that is uptodate (and I've tried various permutations!) Thanks.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 08 Jan 2012
Time: 15:21:43
A quick note to some of the regulars here who may not know: the Facebook pages of the Old Gaytonians (registered there as a group) have become extremely active. As an old hand on this site, I have said,'over there',that people ought to be contributing 'over here', but social networks tend to ignore such niceties. So: Peter Ward, Paul Romney, Michael Shwartz, Colin, Laurence and a dozen others, it's all happening at present on Facebook. Looking at the comments, though, for someone of my vintage is like Groundhog Day...
Name: Keith Palmer
Email: palmerdotkeith57atgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1968 - 1975
Date: 08 Jan 2012
Time: 10:53:59
Fellow correspondents may like to know that the BBC Radio 4 Programme "Top of the Class" featuring Michael Portillo and with contributions from Ken Waller, first broadcast on 19th July 2011, is still available on the BBC Radio Player.
Name: Bill Harrison
Email: bill.harrisonatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1961 - 1968
Date: 08 Jan 2012
Time: 04:32:43
If I recall correctly, Ken Waller's synthesised name was Quintus Valerius Murifex (maker of walls - geddit!). I was far from a classics scholar but his hard and patient work got (scraped) me through the O level. May he rest in peace.
Name: Keith Palmer
Email: palmerdotkeith57atgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1968 - 1975
Date: 07 Jan 2012
Time: 17:46:09
I would just like to add my own feeling of sadness at Ken Waller's passing. Our paths did not cross too often during my seven years at HCS, but he taught me both Ancient Greek and Latin when I was around 13 and it was clear, even to a boy with limited ability in the subjects, what a first-class teacher he was. But, as Andrew Carruthers has previously identified, his contribution to music was fantastic. In my opinion Carmina Burana (circa 1969-70) was his finest hour, followed closely by The Bartered Bride a year later. The passion he was able to generate, even to those of us in the chorus, was extraordinary and I suspect neither production would have happened at all were it not for Ken producing them. The big Opera House in the sky has a new conductor, and a first class pianist.
Name: Stephen Frost
Email: sftankathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 07 Jan 2012
Time: 07:43:54
I agree very much with Jeff Maynard's comments of January 3rd. Grammar schools offered many of us from modest backgrounds opportunities that we would not otherwise have had. No,the system was not perfect. But it should not have been thrown away with such indecent haste as it was. And I feel proud to say that both my sons attended one of the few state grammar schools that are left. Paragraph. Jonathan Gathorne Hardy has written an interesting history of public schools. Who from amongst the hundreds of old boys would be interesting in writing a history of grammar schools in ther post war period? I would be willing to help.
Name: Stephen Frost
Email: sftankathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 07 Jan 2012
Time: 07:25:56
Very sorry to hear of Ken Waller passing on. Paragraph He took me for Latin for two years during 1963-65. A highly intelligent man, in 1966 he took a Russian course and returned to HCS so that this subject could be offered at O level to sixth formers. Remember going to the dentist once in Burnt Oak and spotted him on a 140 bus. I think he lived in Mill Hill. Most masters wore gowns, but he was the only master in the 1960s who still wore a mortar board occasionally. In Latin classes, he would fix me with his beady eye and ask me to translate: - Frost, si vis - . Ken also made up a Latin version of his own name: Quintus Valerius Maximus, or something like that, and for soccer fans his translation of - Up the Spurs - was sursar calcares. All subject exercise books were bound in different colours, Latin being red. And how I remember copying out verb conjugations and noun declensions. How many of us can still remember these, memorised by heart? Amo, amas, amat; mensa, mensa mensam, mensae, mensae, mensa. Paragraph. For 1960s Gaytonians, Ken's passing means that the Classics Department consisting of Ken, Bernard Marchant and Ubi Lane has now disappeared. As has the History Department, and much of the English, Modern Languages and Science Departments.
Name: Andrew Carruthers
Email: ajcarruthersatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1961-8
Date: 07 Jan 2012
Time: 01:59:04
It is indeed sad to year of Ken Waller's death. For me this is the real passing of Harrow County. Ken was my form master for my first four years and I remember him vividly from my first day. He was a rare combination of intellectual quality, dedication, efficiency and kindness. He could have had a distinguished career as an academic but when circumstances meant that could not happen he devoted his career to teaching, which continued despite many frustrations at the changing atmosphere in the education world. His contribution to music at Harrow County was also immense. Those of us who attended the dinner to mark his 50th anniversary of joining HCS saw him, despite the advancing years, as bright and amusing as ever. A sad loss.
Name: Graeme Young
Email: under review
Years_at_school: 1947 to 1953
Date: 07 Jan 2012
Time: 01:36:08
Just to add to that I have written already, my years at HCS were fruitful but that reward came later-on in life. I was asked to teach basic electronic principles to members of the Armed Forces on re-settlement courses at Aldeshot Garrison, and then from the depths of memory came the physics lessons of Spadger Heys. My Maths, never very brilliant, proved better, even so, than the capabilities of many of my students. Thanks, HCS! I remember cycling to school one morning behind the School Captain. Like me he was bareheaded despite the orders of Square to wear the School Cap on such journeys. As we neared the School he reached back into the saddle-bag, pulled out his cap and donned it about 200 yds from the school gates. Now at age 75 and with a full head of hair, I still hate hats of any description.. I have never been back to Gayton Road as I went to Johannesburg immediately after leaving HCS and after a three year stay there returned, did National Service, and moved away from The Home Counties, finally ending up in a village near Mansfield, Notts. HCS was a good school despite the Simpson-Bigham-Amos rule of terror, I am still proud of having been there and gaining so much from the experience.
Name: Graeme young
Email: under review
Years_at_school: 1947 to 1953
Date: 07 Jan 2012
Time: 01:32:55
Just to add to that I have written already, my years at HCS were fruitful but that reward came later-on in life. I was asked to teach basic electronic principles to members of the Armed Forces on re-settlement courses at Aldeshot Garrison, and then from the depths of memory came the physics lessons of Spadger Heys. My Maths, never very brilliant, proved better, even so, than the capabilities of many of my students. Thanks, HCS! I remember cycling to school one morning behind the School Captain. Like me he was bareheaded despite the orders of Square to wear the School Cap on such journeys. As we neared the School he reached back into the saddle-bag, pulled out his cap and donned it about 200 yds from the school gates. Now at age 75 and with a full head of hair, I still hate hats of any description.. I have never been back to Gayton Road as I went to Johannesburg immediately after leaving HCS and after 1 three uear stay there returned, did National Service, and moved away from The Home Counties, finally ending up in a village near Mansfield, Notts. HCS was aa good school despite the Simpson-Bigham-Amos rule of terror, I am still proud of having been there and gaining so much from the experience.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email:
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 06 Jan 2012
Time: 20:49:43
Like Henry Wyatt and Dave Buckley I too am very upset to learn that Kenneth Waller has died. I was taught by Ken for six years at Harrow County, both in conventional Classics and in Russian. I will prepare an appreciation - it will take a little while because Ken's achievements were so many - but I hope that someone else will also write some words of tribute. I was surprised when I was the only person on this site to write a tribute to Bernard Marchant a little while ago. Michael.
Name: Dave Buckley
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 06 Jan 2012
Time: 15:05:23
I am very sad to hear of the death of Ken Waller. This is the second death I have heard of today of someone I have known, the other being Bob Holness who was President of Pinner Players, a local amdram group I was a member of for some years before moving north of the border. Dave B.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 06 Jan 2012
Time: 14:19:51
Those of you on Facebook will have learnt from Alex that Ken Waller died earlier this morning. I have been in contact with Ken's nephew Steven who tells me that he died apparently as a result of a fall at home. There will have to be an autopsy which will now not take place until Monday. Steven will let us know as more information becomes available. I am still in shock not least because I received a chirpy e mail from him on Wednesday morning in which he told me how pleased he was at the award for Carl Jackson. Requiescat in pace.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: paulromney03a taim.com
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 06 Jan 2012
Time: 10:24:32
Let's not get all sentimental here. Surely the rationale of the 20th century grammar school was to keep the middle classes happy by affording their children an education that would permit them at least to maintain their social status and offer some hope of upward mobility, while supplying the modern state with the necessary supply of pen-pushers. And isn't it true that the Eleven Plus rankings were biased to ensure that not too many girls passed?
Name: ye min
Email: yeyeye63athotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 06 Jan 2012
Time: 03:46:30
My mother rang me on Thursday 5th Jan to say this programme would be on as she had read an interview with Michael Portillo in the Daily Mail! She quoted him as saying there had been no drugs at HCS. as my wife said to me, 'How would he know?' and I laughed as my 84 yr old mother said,'There was drugs there, you had some.' I looked forward to hearing Michael, but alas he must be in part two..Must admit I do admire his jacket shirt combinations on Great British TRain Journeys, tho with all the cuts, are they the only train journeys we can make? Looking forward to more train journeys and part two
Name: ye min
Email: yeyeye63athotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 06 Jan 2012
Time: 03:40:45
My mother rang me on Thursday 5th Jan to say this programme would be on as she had read an interview with Michael Portillo in the Daily Mail! She quoted him as saying there had been no drugs at HCS..as my wife said tome, 'How would he know?' and I laughed as my 84 yr old mother said, 'There was drugs there, you had some..'
Name: Peter ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 05 Jan 2012
Time: 16:28:06
After a whole life based in professional education, in one guise or another, I watched the first of the two BBC4 progs. with interest. I'll comment more after the second when we shall have a complete picture. Meanwhile, just to pick up on Jeffrey's comments...early 60s Comps and, indeed today's Comps, are not quite as he represents. Whilst intakes were and are of mixed ability, it should not be assumed that teaching necessarily followed, or follows, that pattern. My Monday morning at Eltham Green school (ILEA SE London 1967)began with 35 minutes of 1C4. These were 11 year-old segregated boys and labelled ESN (educationally sub-normal- a perfectly ridiculous and insulting description.) In our First Year (now Year 7)there were no less than 16 groups separated by 'ability'; 1A-6, B1-6, C1-4 The following 35 minutes were spent with my 'A' Level Botany set all of whom would have come up through the segregated A classes of former years. recently, on collecting my 13 year-old first grandson from school,he proudly announced he had been moved up to the second to top set in Science out of 5.In other words, many of today's Comps continue to set by ability and performance. For that matter, when I was in Primary Education(1991 - 2000)we setted for Literacy and Numeracy. Where things went particularly wrong for some Comps was when certain Inner City schools, notably ILEA, experimented with mixed ability classes. But this did not apply always to Comprehensives, countrywide. The decisions were left to local Councils or even the schools, themselves. What the ratio was I do not know and it probably fluctuated as fashions flitted in and out. Making generalisations about either Grammar Schools or Comps is hazardous and often based on lack of actual inside knowledge or, dare I suggest, a degree of prejudice one way or the other? Poor old Education. It can't win. Perhaps the sainted Michael Gove has all the answers. Most politicians do -until proved wrong.
Name: Jeffrey Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 03 Jan 2012
Time: 20:40:39
BBC4 is broadcasting a two part programme: ‘Grammar School – A Secret History’.
Programme One will air on Thursday 5th January 2012 at 9pm on BBC4
Programme Two will air on Thursday 12th January 2012 at 9pm on BBC4
In this two part series we hear from a mix of less well known ex grammar school
pupils and a cast of some of Britain’s most well-known and well-loved house hold
names, all from humble working class or lower middle class backgrounds, many of
whom passionately believe they owe much of their success in life to their
grammar school education. They include Michael Portillo. Alex Bateman (our Old
Gaytonians Association Archivist) has helped the producers and supplied some
footage from "Makers of Men".
This is the story of Britain’s grammar schools. They have been regarded as
Britain’s most illustrious schools, amongst them many can boast a long and
successful history; their founding principle was based on providing otherwise
unattainable opportunities of a top class education to the very brightest pupils
from some of the poorest families in the Country. From the early days of grammar
schools they were seen as a vehicle for upward social mobility and continued in
this vein until their demise in the late 60s, early 70s. Programme one looks
into the history of these landmark schools and how they paved the way for many
children from less advantaged backgrounds to enter into top professions and for
some to reach the very peak of their professions.
In the early sixties the grammar schools were at the pinnacle of their success.
They were the pride and joy of the nations and regions, where schools and
education authorities vied with each other for the top spot, usually gauged by
how many pupils won university places at Oxford or Cambridge each year. However
the grammar schools were of course far from perfect. There were not enough of
them. There were far fewer places for girls. The eleven plus was an imperfect
means of selecting the best pupils. The first comprehensive schools were
introduced after the war- but nobody ever imagined that the grammar school
system, the pride of Britain and her democracy, would be killed off so quickly
and so brutally. The second programme focuses on the swift and brutal fall of
Britain’s best loved schools. By the late 1970s three quarters of the old
grammar schools were gone, despite their proven record of success as an
instrument of social mobility for working class children. They would be replaced
by the untried, one-size-fits-all, non-selective, mixed ability comprehensive
school which were pioneered in the post-war years.
Name: Clare Greenall
Email: clare.greenall57 at gmail.com
Years_at_school: none
Date: 02 Jan 2012
Time: 14:09:07
Very interested to visit your pages again after quite a long break and also interested to see discussions and reminiscences of Mr. Birch. Mr. Birch was my late uncle's form tutor for two or three years in succession and my uncle and father went on a trip with him to Paris (just the 3 of them!) before the outbreak of war. My Uncle remained friends with him after Birch left the school. It seems unlikely that he ended up in the Scrubs as one person on your site suggests as my uncle went to stay with him after the outbreak of war and they wrote to each other until my uncle was killed in 1944. The final letter I have from Birch was written from a Seminary though he was anxious he had begun his training too late and might be called up into the National Fire Service. The letters chiefly discuss matters of philosophy and religion and do touch on Birch's interest in National Socialism.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 01 Jan 2012
Time: 13:48:49
Carl Jackson (HCS 1970-77) received an MVO in the New Years Honours List (Congratulations Carl!) ... has anyone spotted any other names in the list?
Name: Dave Buckley
Email:
Years_at_school: 1953-61
Date: 01 Jan 2012
Time: 05:11:50
There is another series of Great British Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo running from Monday 2nd to Friday 6th January on BBC2 at 6.30pm........then on Thursday 5th January on BBC4 at 9pm - The Grammar School: A Secret History with Michael, Sir Richard Attenborough and Edwina Currie. This appears to be the first of two programmes. If you have access to the Daily Mail's Weekend supplement for 31st December, there's a short article on page 13. After the usual repeats and rubbish on the TV from Christmas to the New Year, these programmes are a breath of fresh air. I would be interested to know if a future series of the Great Railway Journeys will cover the line from Gretna Green to Glasgow via Dumfries. If so, there are a couple of Old Boys in Dumfries who would be very pleased to meet up with Micheal while he is in the area! Dave B.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 31 Dec 2011
Time: 07:15:43
You raise some good points Paul. I believe the decrease in the sense of bonding by more recent students and that which us older types feel is due to racial and cultural differences. In my time at school, we were all 'wasps' dressed in the same uniforms, and very strictly controlled - for good or bad, that is how it was. We were naturallymore disposed to bond that later generations. There were abuses but generally I have pleasant memories of the staff. Not only was English our first language, it was our only one. I don't recall hearing people speak another language until I was about nine and did not see a black person until I was ten. Times have changed. Just look at the old photographs! Since those days, the whole world has become multi-racial. Attitudes have changed as we came to realise that people who dont look alike share many values and opinions. All this does not dissuade us 'Old Gaytes' from take adantage of this site to revel in remeniscences and nostalgia for the 'good old days' much as old folks have done since time immemorable. Whatever our origins, the school was generally an improving influence and I salute all passed and present students in hoping the year 2012 will be kind to them.
Name: Paul Phillips
Email: paulatbrianpauldotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1971 to 1976
Date: 29 Dec 2011
Time: 08:47:32
Happy new year to all. Andy's comments made me respond! I wonder whether the lack of contributions from us younger ones has something to do with the throw away society we now live in and the sense of belonging and respect in general. A school now seems to be somewhere you pass through whereas reading contributors from earlier years who would have suffered the deprivations of the war and after know how to feel part of a society. That feeling of comaraderie would be strengthened on the realisation that HCS pupils had to stand together to fight what would appear to be an oppressive minority band called the teaching staff. PAUL
Name: ye min
Email: yeyeye63athotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 29 Dec 2011
Time: 02:02:44
first of all many thanks to jeff for maintaining this site. it has helped me put into some perspective the years i spent at HCS, not a success in the same light as those high flyers who shone, but I agree with Michael Schwartz, we need to hear more from the school underclass, the rebels, the marginalised. I certainly see myself in that group. I felt that my academic potential was wasted and misundertsood at HCS. It was not a system I could fit into nor understand. But in its own way it shaped me. I made sure my own children were supported through their education. I became a special needs teacher and now work in the NHS with children and families and yes, the kind who would have been overlooked and bypassed by the system at HCS, but that was then and this is now..cheers
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 27 Dec 2011
Time: 11:10:33
Energy restored following the Xmas break! May I wish all OGs etc a Healthy, Happy and Peaceful New Year. Be careful what you wish for!! Any anecdotes that we might all enjoy. I seem to remember putting the skeleton from the Biology lab into Square's car, but have forgotten who my fellow hobbledehoys might have been, time to own up? Laurence.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: The Later Simpsonian Period
Date: 22 Dec 2011
Time: 03:31:21
Dr Simpson, Bigham, Thorn, Swanny Amos - RIP? Fat chance! There's life in the old theme yet. Are some people missing the funny side?
Name: Andy Colhoun
Email: colhoun.whiteriveratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1950-57
Date: 21 Dec 2011
Time: 23:04:34
I have been reading the letters over the years, the debates about all the people whose names do not need to be mentioned yet again. I am coming to the conclusion that the contributors are like the attendees at Rememberance Day services, fewer, older, only of a certain era and soon to be no more.The school still exists but in a form few of our time would recognize. How many contributors do we get from Gayton High School pupils or later.The only interest comes from HCS former pupils. Let it rest guys.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 21 Dec 2011
Time: 04:36:20
Michael, as someone who's had ding-dongs with you over the years, I would never presume even to think of a 'finality'. I think what I was saying - and it was in response, remember, to someone who had noticed the diminishing number of entries on this forum - was that the central arguments that have involved a group of us have gone as far as they can. I mean, how many times can you call me a commie rat? And how many times can I scream UKIP abuse at you? How many times can Laurence raise his grumpy head and get pilloried by others? And how many times will he have the energy to respond? Our positions on issues like the role of the Grammar School, the regime of Simpson and the iniquities of The Colonel are rather set in the stone of the school entrance - and it's hardly conducive to the development of this forum when one of us, seeing an entry by a latecomer, blurts out that this point was rather well covered by Gerry Freed or Mike Smith in 2002. We begin to sound like one of those jumped-up prefects we always hated in the third year, all pomp and no panache. I worry sometimes that I start to sound like George Yelland, right eyebrow raised, withering eyes and wuthering gown, chucking the exercise book from his desk to the culprit's, pontificating, in that magisterial BBC baritone voice, 'Not bad, Newcomer Two: but it is rather evident that you have not read Richard Buckley's splendid polemic on Simpson from 2004....I suggest you do a little more reading next time!....' (I can still moan, though, that all these years on, I am not able right now to begin a new paragraph). No, Michael, this is not a finality (or even an ending!), it is simply an evolution; and the corollary of those like us not arguing incessantly, is two-fold: first, as the someone noticed, there are less entries on these pages; but, second, that a space is created in this strange cloud we inhabit for other voices to emerge. As they will continue to do so, since this site is here for ever. (PARA) Have a good Christmas, and ditto on the good wishes to Ken Waller.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: Oh Gawd, it's him again
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 18 Dec 2011
Time: 13:08:39
First, may I add my good wishes to those extended to Kenneth Waller. Get well, soon - and that's imperative (second person singular present active, to be precise). I understand that Ken's neighbours include the actress Emma Thompson. if I lived near her, I would never leave that part of London. There was an air of finality to Peter Fowler's comments. I know it is said that history is written by the victors; in the case of the school the history has predominantly been written since 2000 by the successes. The history of Harrow County can only be classed as "fully written" when those who did not enjoy Harrow County tell their story, but then there is little chance of that happening. People are embarrassed, traumatised, humiliated. Very few of the latter have come forward. Does this mean the end? I don't know - but I haven't half enjoyed it! Thank you, Jeff. Best wishes to all Gayts for 2012. Michael.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 18 Dec 2011
Time: 09:38:05
Henry, thanks for the information about Ken Waller, please be kind enough to pass my good wishes to him for a return to good health. Peter mentions the possibility of running out of fresh ideas, and this is more than possible. It seems that recent students of the new school have little or nothing to say. I must say how impressed I was with their new Headmaster, and to learn from him, that he is seeking a place for his offspring in the private sector! I must also add my thanks and congratulations to Keith Baker for all his hard work in the Centenary Celebrations. Laurence
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahhodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 17 Dec 2011
Time: 08:33:17
I have just been speaking to Ken Waller who tells me that he has spent some time in hospital and is still in some pain. I did not know of this in advance and therefore did not visit him. I will try and ensure that this does not happen again. Ken tells me that his experience in hospital was not entirely positive. As I am sure you know, the workload on hospital staff, particularly those caring for the elderly is such that some patients can be overlooked. In order to overcome this, it is necessary to convey to such carers that a particular patient is highly regarded and has a good quality of life which needs to be conserved. I am sure that there are plenty of Old Boys capable of conveying such sentiments cogently, if needed. I will let you know if it happens again.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindotdickinsatblueyonderdotcoukuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 14 Dec 2011
Time: 07:20:43
A perceptive and well-writen piece, Peter. Not just "old chums" but new ones too - as you and I have become through the ether without ever having met. Others include Jack Walters, the son of an American USAAF oficer who believed in exposing his son to English education rather than the inward-looking American schools. Jack was only with us for a year (slightly ahead of me) and I remember him throwing himself into many activities, excelling in athletics and at rugby. He browsed the website and made contact - and adopted the e-mail address "virtusnonstemma". It says a lot for the impact that the HCS environment had on thousands of us. There have, of course, been many old friends and contemporaries I have rediscovered through this site. It is all that you say of it, and will one day become a very serious historical document. It's on its way there now. Well done, Jeff.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 12 Dec 2011
Time: 03:30:04
I would suggest the lack of input is because the story's very largely played out. True, new voices have appeared over the years and these have added great value, but, at heart, they have added a slightly different melody to the same underlying themes, replaying the old tunes from other angles. The Simpson Debate was, as an example, comprehensively explored nearly ten years ago and was, perhaps, more forceful at that time because some of the key players (like Jim Golland) were very much alive and kicking. Nevertheless, what we have here is a marvellous resource which is endlessly fascinating, and hangs in the ICloud for eternity. And a resource to which people will still add, stories and photographs, in the endless build-up of a quite superb historical document.If we then add the important factor that it keeps a community of old chums together, a perfect way of keeping in touch, that, surely, is more than we could ever have dreamed of when Jeff started this in 2001.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 04 Dec 2011
Time: 06:55:38
I have just listened to a very good programme on Radio 4 by Michael Portillo on the English Armada of 1589. After the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, Drake was sent on a mission to fully destroy the Spanish fleet in Santander and San Sebastian. Unfortunately, Drake being the freebooting entrepreneur that he was, decided instead to raid the port of Corunna in pursuit of loot and booty. Things went badly wrong and he had to return home having lost half the English fleet.PARA. In the programme Michael mentioned that the historical reality of Drake's doings was a tad more nuanced than that which he was taught at school. I am sure, though, that Harry and Geoff D'Arcy would have have approved of this revisionism.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-1947
Date: 02 Dec 2011
Time: 05:38:15
You are not alone Bill in noting how things (like schools and people) change with time. Remember the old place as it was and be done with it. I went back once and found the corridor floors carpeted no less! That plus the presence of girls. Changes in the use and configuration of rooms has changed so much that the first comment old mates make is "I managed to find our old form room (which in our time was lit by gas)". Apart from all these changes, just about every bit of open space that I recall has been built on. This is presumably what you noted when you 'zoomed in'. All this is in keeping with the times. There is hardly a building left that I remember along my walk between station and school.
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeteratgmaildotcom
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 01 Dec 2011
Time: 18:03:08
I left London in 1979 to "travel the world", and have not been back to HCS since leaving 1967. Imagine my suprise, whilst doing some randon Internet "pottering", to come across this map; http://www.londonspovertyprofile.org.uk/indicators/boroughs/harrow/. On zooming in I found a VERY different school to the one I left. Well, I'm a very different person to the one I was in 1967. BTW, why aren't links allowed in posts? (editors note - slashes are not automatically allowed in posts because we kept getting spammed by people posting links selling things plus a few pornographic ones. However, if you put a link in using "slash" I will fix it!)
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: The Simpson Years
Date: 01 Dec 2011
Time: 10:08:42
Well done, Brian Hester. You are showing the way. Just one point on Simpson as a 'good manager'...in my years of Secondary and Primary teaching I wouldn't have got away with promoting only the elite and rubbishing the less academic. Picking up on your biblical quotation...Good Shepherd? Certainly not. I write as one of the sheep. BAA!
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-47
Date: 01 Dec 2011
Time: 09:07:33
As the eldest old lag who contributes here occasionally I am delighted to see that there are still contributors to this page who have not been overcome by the impairing evils of various geriatric conditions that would prevent further participation. I am prepared to forgive, but not condone, errors of spelling and syntax. As the son of the Jewish carpenter of yore is credited with saying 'let him amongst you who has not sinned cast the first stone' For my part, I continue to find comments on this page an absorbing read. Here we are now in advanced years, with opinions on our beginnings modified by an incredible range of experiences since we left school. For the large majority of us, the background was the same - Protestant - Semi-detached, NW Middlesex, primary school - capped by the HCS experience. The distant observer would expect us to all fit a single mold but this did not happen. In retrospect we see our schooling differently to the extent it is coloured by experiences of later life. Both Williams and Simpson developed the school through times of social change. Controlling a group of adolescent boys as well as a sometimes-unsupportive staff, is a task that each undertook in their own way with greater or less success. Most of the products emerged to achieve fair success in life. Williams and Simpson may not have been always 'nice people' but they were appointed to produce results, which they supplied in good measure. After many years in, under, and of management in various sections of industry, I see them both as 'good managers', sometimes with touches of inspiration but at others, especially in the case of Simpson, displaying a lack of understanding of social attributes.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 30 Nov 2011
Time: 17:21:41
Colin Dickins is right. Having started a few hares running on the site, for fun, I've been deeply disappointed by the general lack of inspiration, or response. Many contributions are minimal, uninformative and hardly a good read. A surprising number are poorly punctuated. (Roll over Jims Yelland and Golland.) Surely, ex-HCS characters can do better? I forgive their successors as there was not probably as much to write about - at least in controversial terms. So come on, Old Lags of Simpson. Make us sit up and (preferably, although not necessarily) laugh. Or RIP ( not forgivable for those still alive.)
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindotdickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 30 Nov 2011
Time: 04:53:04
Well, Brian, the old axiom is "if you've nothing to say, say it." The exchanges do tend to fly thick and fast when there's a new event or someone starts a hare runnning - often contentiously.
I have to say, while writing, that the School Centenary celebrations have been a triumph and I've enjoyed all the lectures and the Dinner. Keith Baker and his team, with enthusiastic participation of the School, have done a brilliant job and I'm sure Keith is looking forward to a well-earned break - except that next year is the OGA Centenary and he's got a few events lined up for that. No rest for the . . . . Oh, never mind!
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-1947
Date: 29 Nov 2011
Time: 14:14:00
This usually active site has become vey quiet of late. Has everyone become exhausted after the centennial exercises?
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-1947
Date: 29 Nov 2011
Time: 07:43:38
The site has been remarkably quiet for over two weeks. Is everyone suffering from post-centenary exhaustion, or what?
Name: Roger Busby
Email: rogerjnbusbyatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1949 -1956
Date: 14 Nov 2011
Time: 09:25:00
Ashamed to say that this is my first visit. Will send some CCF photos and must spend a bit more time having an in depth look at what seems a most interesting website.
Name: Edward (Ted) Mansfield
Email: edmansfield43atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1954 to 1959
Date: 09 Nov 2011
Time: 04:21:59
Just another hello to all who might remember me, fondly or otherwise (take that how you like). I've had to change my e-mail address to that as above, due to certain problems with the old one. Be good to hear from any old friends who remember those far off days. I recall in our first year being somewhat amazed at the antics of "Twink" Bradley, our English teacher, good at his job, but very eccentric. Ray(?) Boardman was another good (maths) teacher that year. Later, I was to encounter Mr. Saunders, responsible over several years for my futher maths education, and the unpredictable Colonel (?) Bigham, with his almost pathological dislike of those of us who had the temerity, in his view, of joining the School Scout Group. There was one lesson, I think when I was in the 4th Form, where he sprang a spot round the class random question session (he had all the questions and answers on the desk in front of him, of course). Those who answered incorrectly were lined up, and in the ensuing caning of each, he split several canes brought to the class for the purpose! Teachers I recall with thanks, and respect are Messrs Skillen, Golland, Tyrwhitt, Wilkie, Mees, Busfield, Beer, Turnbull, Pritchet, Crinson, Charlesworth, Venn, Fishlock. There are others, but I have forgotten their names, but can remember faces; getting old I suppose. Keep going everyone, it's a great life if you don't weaken!!
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.gawnatorange.fr
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 02 Nov 2011
Time: 01:28:13
Just a quick post to say how pleased I am to see that one of the Centenary lectures will record the then Flt Lt John Boothman's achievement in winning the Schneider Trophy outright for Great Britain in 1931.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.gawnatorange.fr
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 01 Nov 2011
Time: 06:00:13
I regret that I cannot be at the scuool on Friday 11.11.11. In France even the smallest commune has a ceremony at the village war memorial (usually 3 sides covered with names from WW1, a few from WW2, then the odd one or two from Indo-China and N Africa), usually at 1000, followed by a service in a local church for a dozen or so communes at 1100. The chuch is always full to overflowing. Each year we have recived an invitaion from M le Maire, but this year, because we have to be in Bordeaux on 10th for a medical appointment for Jane we shall be in Saintes on 11.11.11 at the invitation of the French Air Force, with others, laying the RAFA wreath. I have no doubt but that it will be a most moving occasion. However, I will also think of the School Memorial, tha names on it, and other friends lost, particularly during my RAF service. They Shall not Grow Old. Ian
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ashseventypanatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 24 Oct 2011
Time: 01:00:18
Paul Nurse has received many honours during a distinguished career (Nobel prize, knighthood, presidency of Royal Society etc) but at last comes the big one. 56 across in Saturday's Times' Jumbo crossword!
Name: nigel morley
Email: nigel_vinathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 21 Oct 2011
Time: 08:06:55
Wonderful dinner and evening .well done everybody on saturday, what would have square thought of 51 first languages! Exhibition on sunday brilliant.keith neal well preserved.remember being taken by him on a Moral Re Armament meeting with other six formers,not politically correct today.also a field trip to see badgers with his dad and paul saw boys from 44 years ago on the sunday.trev,rob,john etc please get in touch. george the gown cowan still unnerved me esp as he still pokes his finger at you. couldnt get out of the habit of calling the masters mr or sir loved the moment during the film where we all booed or hissed sang along with be honest tell a lie to all old boys across the decades and miles well done!!!!!!!
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 19 Oct 2011
Time: 13:17:50
As one of the 'far flung' old boys I was unable to participate in the centenary activities so appreciate the comments and reports that are now beginning to appear on this page. Richard Buckley's comments about the showing of photographs of past headmasters surprised me in that Crowle-Ellis was not included. Where Randall Wiliams knew the names of many of the boys, Simpson referred to everyone as 'boy'. I dont recall either ever smiling. Crowle-Ellis not only knew boys' names but actually conversed and joked with senior boys, of which I was one. It was while walking around the playing field with him that he disclosed to us his surprise at being replaced. I don't suppose we'll ever learn the circumstances of his replacement by Simpson.
Name: Richard Buckley
Email: richard at spaceplanner.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1959-65
Date: 17 Oct 2011
Time: 23:25:44
Many thanks and congratulations to all those who helped organise the event at school last Sunday. I hadn't been back since I left nearly 50 years ago. Whilst not overly nostalgic for the place I cannot deny its influence. I was shocked to learn that 70% of current pupils do not have English as their first language but very impressed at all the new developments and facilities. Although I am a fan of the digital age I was delighted that the school still has a library. There is something about the serendipity of browsing through books that the electronic media cannot match. Something very interesting happened when we were watching the short film made for the Centenary. Up came a photograph of Ernest Young which was received with affectionate oohs and aahs. Later a photograph of Randall Williams which was similarly received. I realised what would be coming next - a photograph of Dr. Simpson. What would be an appropriate response I asked myself. I decided on a hiss. I was thrilled that when it came I and a few others hissed and everyone else booed. And later there was a clip of 'Colonel' Bigham who was also booed. All very satisfying on a pleasant autumn Sunday morning fifty years on. Well done and many thanks to everyone concerned.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: michaelwritesforyouatyahoo.ca
Years_at_school:
Date: 16 Oct 2011
Time: 07:20:28
Laurence Lando? Eating humble pie? What is the world coming to? Michael.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 16 Oct 2011
Time: 02:43:44
Centenary Dinner - May I add my congratulations to Keith Baker and his team, for a truly wonderful evening. Haven't you all got so old; whilst I have remained as young as ever!!! One highlight was to meet Mr Neil, again, he also has maintained his youthful looks. David Barnett, Brian Bilgorri and Keith Simon, local lads still, reminded me who was who. I also met the current Headmaster, who was most impressive, so pleased to see that despite 51 languages being spoken at the school, a stream of young people are entering higher education and University from the school. Obviously my concern of years gone by are no longer pertinent, delighted to say. I do hope that photographs will be downloaded on to this website. Laurence
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter,ward16at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63 (The Nurse Years!)
Date: 11 Oct 2011
Time: 03:28:33
If people missed the BBC Radio 4 programme, this morning (09.00 - 0930, 11 October, British time) I suggest iplayering it from the BBC web site. 30 minutes devoted to the life and work of Sir Paul Nurse. Unmissable. I,too,'studied' Zoo, Bot and Chem at HCS but didn't get quite as far as Sir Paul. Possibly because I thought yeast was stuff that went into Marmite. We should be proud to be, however distantly, associated with him.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 05 Oct 2011
Time: 20:21:29
Chris Finill, who is running from California to New York, just emailed to say that he has reached Iowa! He should be in New York in November.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 28 Sep 2011
Time: 08:21:13
I did A level French with Hugh Skillen Don Kincaid and Don Wilkey. My abiding memory of Hugh Skillen was the utterly outrageous manner in which he conducted the dictation part of our A level examination. It was done so slowly and so distinctly that I am sure we all passed with flying colours.He has my grateful thanks and affectionate memories as indeed does Don Wilkey who attended last week's lecture. Mr. Wilkey made a valiant attempt to interest me in Proust's En recherche du temps perdu, but sadly to no avail. Still, I acquired a passion for Flaubert which has never really left me. The best French scholar of my era was a chap by the name of Stephen Kon. He was absolutely fluently bilingual. Anyone know what happened to him?
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 27 Sep 2011
Time: 15:52:54
Hugh Skillen, whose first foreign language was German, incidentally, although he never taught it at HCS, spent most of his war in the Y (wireless intercept) Service. The Y Service was the source of much of the German coded signal material which supplied Bletchley Park. He wrote the (now) official history of the Y Service and several more books on it. He also founded and ran the Enigma Reunions at Bletchley Park. He was a prodigious writer, particularly in this field, but also on educational exchange visits and film - an early passion. Some of his films form part of the School archive. The exchange trips were orginally with France, then with Germany. Later he extended them to Spain and became fluent in a third European language. His energy and leadership in this work were instrumental in the national and international development of student exchanges. He also found time to study law and form the School's "law society", which was summarily and inexplicably terminated by Simpson (he ws incensed by this). He wrote many pieces for me in my time as editor of "The Old Gaytonian" in the eighties and nineties. When a heart attack and several strokes interfered with his output he moved into "writing" using computer voice recogniyion - with, of course, the help of a grandson. He was still writing in his eighties.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 27 Sep 2011
Time: 13:25:38
Bletchley Park is one of the greatest stories of the Second World War. Or is it the greatest? (Not that the Soviets didn't do a good job pushing back the Nazi hordes.) That said, the Soviets benefitted directly from Bletchley Park Intelligence. So well done Major Skillen and Co. Did he appear in BBC 'Allo, Allo'? I think not but he would have made a wonderful character as a French teacher of English if the German occupiers had allowed such things. Maybe they should re-write this excellent comedy. Col. Bigham as a Double Agent in full SS garb but bravely filtering stuff back to SOE in Blighty. 'The Spirogyra has hatched with spiral chloroplasts, a single nucleus, and cellulose cell walls.' The signal for the French Resistance to rise up and support the june 1944 Invasion by blowing up railway bridges and German air bases. Spargo Rawnsley letting go his East Coast Defence air balloons and bombing the German defences. The mind boggles.
Name: Peter "Min" Vincent
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 27 Sep 2011
Time: 11:47:49
Been reading the "Secret Life of Betchley Park" and was humbled to see a quote included from one "Hugh Skillen" who was a teacher of French at HCS. He wore his intelligence uniform on Fridays and I remember we couldn't understand how he could have survived in occupied France with his Scots accent - of course he was instead much more usefully involved in the interception of enemy signals and clearly spent some time at station X as a result. It is amazing that he could at any time have said that he was involved in code breaking, but this remained secret for some years after I left despite some 10,000 people working at Station X at its peak. I raise my hat to - Major H Skillen HCS 1946-1975.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: paulromney03a taim.com
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 26 Sep 2011
Time: 03:24:29
The Montreal Gazette of 4 November 1943 contains the following brief report. 'Harrow, England. The average woman's vocabulary is 750 words, said Sydney Walton, the author. "It's a small stock, but think of the turnover," he added.' An odd item to find cheek by jowl with the latest war news.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1956/63
Date: 25 Sep 2011
Time: 15:17:21
What a fascinating question, Michael...and there must be classics scholars reading this who could answer this question better than me. Nevertheless, I'll have a guess: the generally accepted translation of 'virtus' includes the word 'honour' - it refers, usually, to the idea of living in a state of virtue, of doing the right thing, of acting with an appropriate sense of grace. But, if you follow the Google links (and we never had anything like these resources when we were young learners), you fall upon the Iranian prophet Zarathustra (most of us are only aware of his name because of Nietzsche) who, very clearly, uses our present-day noun of 'worth' in the context of the Latin word 'virtus'. He even contrasts 'worth' with 'birth'. (PARA) I wonder. Who came up with the school motto? Did Sydney Walton have anything to do with it? His presence seems to hover over the school from its inception right through to the Golden Jubilee of 1961: he was the one, according to Major Skillen's testimony, who persuaded Simpson to 'think big' about the 1961 celebrations. (PARA). Walton was an oddball- wasn't he very small? I seem to remember him on the stage in 1961 - and had strange links all over the place, including India and countries in the Middle East. He would certainly have known about Zarathustra, he was that kind of man - think of a Stephen Fry in the imperialist days. (PARA) What was his relationship to Randall Williams? Or, more pertinently, Ernest Young? Who came up with 'worth not birth'? A quite brilliant description of the Harrow County of Simpson's meritocratic years; and a motto, I would suggest, unparallelled in the Grammar Schools of that time. (PARA) I propose Walton; and I suggest he twisted the Latin to fit its intended ends.
Name: Michael Dover
Email: michael.dover at btopenworld.com
Years_at_school: 1956 to 1962
Date: 25 Sep 2011
Time: 09:09:19
I recently came across John Clark's comments of 17 July 2011 and like him I have often noted the Virtus non Stemma motto on the bridge at Chester which quite obviously preceded the formation of the school. My curiosity was aroused by John's comments and without any expectation of a result I put Virtus non Stemma in my Google search engine which pumped out an amazing list of references. Having browsed through these it would appear that the School Song has translated the motto incorrectly as the literal translation of Virtus non Stemma is apparently Virtue not Birth although I understand the Duke's family says it means Virtue not Lineage. If the references are indeed to be believed for a motto of Worth not Birth the latin should be Excellentia non Stemma. Alternatively the school song should have been Virtue not Birth. Would any of the latin experts out there care to comment.
Name: lorette Rutter-Gaffie
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1975-79
Date: 24 Sep 2011
Time: 01:29:11
Congratulations to all Gaytonians who come and visit this site periodially, like me. Well done Erica, for a full life, and if you were my pupil (French), I wish you to know that I was quite inexperienced in matters of gays and that I hope I showed all my pupils that I loved them and cared for them, and wished to teach them with fun ! do you remember the Snoopy posters in my class ? Best wishes to all....Lorette Rutter (as was)
Name: Brian Hester
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1940-47
Date: 17 Sep 2011
Time: 12:00:08
Colin Dickson's metnion of Ken Bagshaw's attend Paul Nurse'slecture prompted me to re-visit the photograph taken in 1939 during the school's visit to Switzerland. Ken B is identified by Jack White as well as several others. One extra identification I can make is that of Roland Birch who is sitting between Webb and the hotel proprietor. Birch was the German master (in addition to Attridge) whose inspiring teaching is extolled by (Sir) Roy Denman in his book 'The Mandarin's Tale'. I remember Denman but don't see him in the photograph. Birch was taken out of circulation early in the war and confined to one of London's famous prisons because of his facist sympathies. Once released, I believe he became a Catholic priest. He certainly did not return to HCS! I was with the school group that went to Switzerland in 1947 and stayed at the same hotel but there was no group photograph taken. About half of our group consisted of boys and girls from Harrow Weald County. The trip lasted ten days and cost our parents seventeen pounds! We were all shocked after nearly nine years of austerity in Britain to see the living conditions in Switzerland.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhester at gmail.com'
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 15 Sep 2011
Time: 06:16:04
Thank you Colin for the quick report on Paul Nurse's speech. I wonder whether it was recorded in some form or other for the benefit of those unable to attend. If so, I would be an interested purchaser as I am sure so would others. Such a sale could be a good money raiser. When I was very much a junior at school Ken Bagshawe was my 6th form idol. I was glad to read that he is both alive and well.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70pan at yahoo dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 12 Sep 2011
Time: 03:30:16
I was very proud to be there on Wednesday evening. I was particularly pleased to hear Sir Paul publicly acknowledge Mr. Neal his old biology teacher. Although he did not teach me, I do well remember him as one of the good guys. Incidentally, on the list of attendees I saw the name of Jerry Krause. Although I kept an eye out for him, I did not spot him. Mind you, after forty years......... If you're out there or if anybody has e mail for him, please get in touch. Thanks
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 11 Sep 2011
Time: 08:32:51
Paul Nurse's lecture was absolutely brilliant. He managed to tailor it to a diverse audience, recognising how limited the grasp of some may have been, yet putting some real meat into it for the many seriously informed guests who came. (Among them Professor Ken Bagshawe, who was at School from 1936 and was the first "cancer specialist" and former head of the Cancer Research Campaign. He wears his 86 years very lightly.) At one stage Sir Paul realised that it was appropriate for the benefit of some of the audience to explain exactly who he was. He reeled off many of his great distinctions without pride, yet without false modesty - difficult, but perfectly executed. Questions later were treated with courtesy, empathy and friendly seriousness. Not only has he an outstanding mind; he is also an outstanding communicator. As his theme he chose four great discoveries which marked the advance of biology and then speculated on a fifth (roughly, life as an information system). The dawning awareness of this concept has been there for years, but the formalisation and demonstration of it could be the next great leap forward in understanding the enormous complexity which is life. I hope I paraphrase him correctly - and that I am there to see his work on it published and recognised.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 05 Sep 2011
Time: 21:36:48
Just a reminder - the Gayton Centenary Lecture - Wednesday 7th September 2011 Sir Paul Nurse, Old Gaytonian, Nobel Laureate, President of the Royal Society, will lecture on Great Ideas of Biology. The Lecture will start at 7.30pm at the School in Gayton Road, in the School Hall (The New Hall). Tickets cost five pounds each at the door.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 05 Sep 2011
Time: 02:13:12
The chairman of the Stanmore Society, John Williams, has agreed to come on Wednesday evening because of his interest in the Boothman window. I am going to be a bit involved looking after Ken Waller and working on the door. I wonder if one of you 'fly boys' would be able to help out, please?
Name: David Fleming
Email: sueanddaveflemingattiscali.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1958-65
Date: 04 Sep 2011
Time: 08:51:28
A couple of weeks ago Ian Gawn referred to the Army camp at Lydd. I would guess taht it took place in 1960 as, at the beginning of my third year I moved across to the more relaxed environment of the Naval Section. I remember getting off to a not very promising start by fainting on the parade ground before we even left the school. At the time the camp was curiously described as our "first self help" camp. I never undrstood why as I assumed that we'd have to do a certain number of things for ourselves - it wasn't supposed to be a holiday camp. I wonder now whether "self help" was an attempt to put some positive spin on the administrative shortcomings (aka cock-up) which led to Ian being put in charge of the cookhouse.
Name: David Fleming
Email: sueanddaveflemingattiscali.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1958-65
Date: 04 Sep 2011
Time: 08:51:27
A couple of weeks ago Ian Gawn referred to the Army camp at Lydd. I would guess taht it took place in 1960 as, at the beginning of my third year I moved across to the more relaxed environment of the Naval Section. I remember getting off to a not very promising start by fainting on the parade ground before we even left the school. At the time the camp was curiously described as our "first self help" camp. I never undrstood why as I assumed that we'd have to do a certain number of things for ourselves - it wasn't supposed to be a holiday camp. I wonder now whether "self help" was an attempt to put some positive spin on the administrative shortcomings (aka cock-up) which led to Ian being put in charge of the cookhouse.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.gawnatorange.fr
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 03 Sep 2011
Time: 07:51:58
Not only did I have the Boothman link from school, but for the last 12 years of my working life I was on the Solent, so was reminded almost daily of John Boothman's achievement and those of his colleagues on the High Speed Flight
Name: Hussein Badakhchani
Email: ...husseinb01---atooogmail.com((
Years_at_school: 1986-1990
Date: 01 Sep 2011
Time: 16:08:59
The unidentified photo 103 is the class of 1d from 1986. I can identify most of them and I'm the 3rd from the right on the front row between Desmond (sitting next to Miss Schick) and Jason Baxter. I like to think Miss Schick would be slightly please to know I now work for a German investment bank now, even after the incident in 4d when I threw my report back at her and declared education to be irrelevant...I was right and it was ;)
Name: Peter Garwood
Email: peterdotgarwood777atbtinternetdotcom
Years_at_school: 1953-61
Date: 01 Sep 2011
Time: 01:23:36
I see that I had a senior moment and used the wrong sort of sought
Name: Peter Garwood
Email: peterdotgarwood777atbtinternetdotcom
Years_at_school: 1953-61
Date: 31 Aug 2011
Time: 10:15:15
Ian, you are not the only one who is in awe of Sir John Boothman's achievements and Mitchell's magnificent Spitfire, which you may have gathered from my diatribe in this year's OG mag. I did approach the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to see if they would fly over the school during Centenary year as a tribute to him and our war dead. They were sympathetic but there are liabilty and regulation issues regarding single engine aircraft flying inside what is known as the Heathrow Zone as Alex Bateman and I found out when we sort permission to take an up to date aerial photo of the School, which just falls within the Zone.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70pan at yahoo dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 31 Aug 2011
Time: 09:32:50
A couple of months ago I met John Williams the chairman of the Stanmore Society who was very interested in Boothman and the Schneider Trophy and knew about the window. I invited him to the Sheinwald lecture but I will remind him of next week's event.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.gawnatorange.fr
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 31 Aug 2011
Time: 05:46:34
I take it, therefore, that the anniversary of John Boothman's achievement is passing without notice.
Name: Brian J. Burgess
Email: bburgess2atkos.net
Years_at_school: 1950-1954
Date: 30 Aug 2011
Time: 19:28:52
Great site.Brings back many memories, mostly good. Was a member of the 4th Harrow Foresters scout troop. Served as patrol leader and troop leader. I suggested the name Foresters for the new troop. Played the dual lead role, Brian Whitley, in the Story of Mike. At Ralph Reader's request, I particpated in The London Gang Show for 5yrs, and then appeared in his Saturday Night Spectacular TV shows. Wonderful experience. Moved to Ontario, Canada in 1970 to work at the new McMaster University Medical Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. Retired since 1998.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 28 Aug 2011
Time: 19:09:05
Chris Finill (HCS 1970-77) has just started his 3,000 mile Run Across America, raising money for Help for Heroes. You can follow his progress on this website: http://www.runacrossamerica.co.uk.
Chris was born in Harrow in 1958, went to Harrow County http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/Chris%20Finill.htm, and has been a competitive runner since the age of 12. After moving up to Ultra distance (races longer than the Marathon) he won the English Championships at 100 kilometres and 24 hours in 2003 and 2008 respectively and has represented Great Britain 8 times in these events.
Chris is the only person in the World to have run all 31 London Marathons in under 3 hours, a feat which was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records in 2009.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 28 Aug 2011
Time: 12:48:18
I feel for you, Jeff. I've just downed my first cup of PG Tips after a 9-hour power cut. It was delicious ...
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 27 Aug 2011
Time: 20:53:57
For those who have asked - this website is hosted in California and will not be affected by the hurricane (currently heading right for us here on the south shore of Long Island). Yes we are OK, supply of bottled water and tinned food laid in, windows taped up etc. - but I am out of tea - I forgot to buy more PG tips.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: paulromney03a taim.com
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 27 Aug 2011
Time: 07:48:30
Glad to hear I wasn't the object of Peter Ward's tirade. Not that I supposed I was -- for one thing I wasn't engaging in pedantry. (Oops!) But what I'm really writing about is Dick Worsfold's posting (remember you from the Pathfinders, Dick). The well-to-do mother-in-law certainly explains Bigham's fancy wheels, and she probably explains the rest of his improbably successful career, including the gong that so vexed Square. Money equals connections. As to the man's well-documented brutality, I wonder if he was one of those teachers who wanted the boys to like him but had no idea how to connect with them. My only personal encounter with him came when I forgot to bring in the stubs of some raffle tickets my parents had dutifully bought. Bigham made me go home after school and get them (all the way to Wembley and back). A day or two later, I had to go and see him again to lug home the electric blanket my parents had won in the raffle. He was, in his terrifying way, joviality personified -- absolutely delighted that his insistence had been vindicated. Perhaps he sensed the contempt aroused by his pedagogical ineptitude and his harshness was an unhappy reaction to that.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70pan at yahoo dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 27 Aug 2011
Time: 03:08:06
As one gets older so one really does not give a damn. However, I recently succumbed to a bout of utter recklessness when I upbraided Ken Waller for the use of the expression 'gob smacked'. The great man rocked on his heels, almost apologised, but then said ' No, wait a minute.' We then spent the rest of the afternoon consulting various dictionaries including one on ancient Welsh before tracking down the etymology of the word gob. We eventually concluded that the expression was properly valid but it was somehow somewhat unsatisfactory but we could not quite say why. An honourable draw.
Now the point I would like to make is that all research, all scholarship is worthwhile and we ought not to apologise for pursuing such arcane matters. The English language is a wonderful, flexible thing capable of the most nuanced of meanings not found in any other language on earth (Ken's opinion of course to be considered.
Name: Richard Worsfold
Email: richardworsfoldathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1951-1959
Date: 26 Aug 2011
Time: 07:32:55
One had rather hoped that Bigham bashing was over and then I read Peter Ward's otherwise delicious memoir. Personally I was always treated well by the man who generally greeted me when we encountered each other in the corridor with a smile and perhaps a gentle punch on the shoulder. I am not certain why this was, except, perhaps, it followed the events of Bob-a-Job week in 1954 or 1955 when I knocked on the door of a stylish detached house on the corner of Trevelyan Crescent and Bouverie Gardens as I recollect. A pleasant Scottish lady welcomed me in and took me into the back garden where I encountered the Major (as he then was). He was resting from his school masterly exertions of the preceding weekend it was clear that his passion for botany had not spilled over into horticulture. Frankly the garden was a mess; all along the back fence were brambles that Br'er Rabbit would have loved. It was to these that I was directed and handed a rather blunt sickle. While I set to work his delightful children played and his well-to-do mother-in-law kept an eye on my efforts well wrapped up in a mink jacket against the cool spring weather. On the second day of work, the good lady alas, collapsed with some kind of attack and in the absence of the Major who must have been attending to some important matter, I helped to carry the poor soul into the house, and while the ambulance was being summoned, I attempted rudimentary first aid recently acquired from the 4th Harrow Pathfinders classes. Despite, or possibly because of my efforts, the old girl never recovered and passed away shortly after. I believe it was a month or two later that the Major traded his Ford Popular for a Consul or was it a Zephyr? Clearly he had a good side, and perhaps that we should remember.
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 24 Aug 2011
Time: 15:49:46
Colin, no disrespect. I think you are missing the point. Firstly, no-one has made any 'pedantic' criticism of the lengthy piece I wrote on the Simpsonsonian Period. Quite the opposite. So my discourse had nothing to do with that, wahtsoever. What I don't like is that, in the past, I have noted contributions from much younger contributors than ourselves that have subsequently been lambasted for their poor grammar etc. These have been written in a different age - the age of texts , Twitter and Facebook. We 'golden oldies' may shudder at their poor expression, by traditional Grammar School standards, but it seems to me a great pity if the contributors are then put off making further comments fearing they will get hauled up in public. We receive so little material on this web site from post-HCS students. I would wish to encourage them, bad grammar, punctuation, or not. Otherwise, the web site contributions will fossilise and stem only from the ancient past of which I am a small part. This seems to be the case and is hardly healthy. I'm sorry you rose to the bait on split infinitives. Perhaps that was a mite unfair and I apologise.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 24 Aug 2011
Time: 04:04:18
Who on earth said what to - or about - you to provoke this outburst, Peter? I was disturbed and surprised at its vehemence and went back through all entries since your piece and could find nothing pedantic - indeed, you received much favourable comment. Surely Paul Romney's not unreasonable expression of opinion on bowdlerisation doesn't constitute pedantry?
As for split infinitives, I generally find them clumsy and unnecessary, but there are occasions when nothing else will do. It's a rule, which, like all rules, should be regarded as "guidance for wise men and the obedience of fools." What grate with me more often are the tortured constructions of writers who timidly follow the rule by using the adverb (usually) so ineptly as to jar. They cannot see that an adverb may modify a clause, not just the verb from which they fear to wander too far.
Since I have mentioned your piece, Peter, let me say that I enjoyed reading it without necessariily agreeing with everything you said. More, I was enlightened. I have been known (if anyone has noticed) to be somewhat dismissive of previous rants about violence in the School. In my day it was common but mostly trivial. Sadism and bullying were rare and a light clip round the figurative ear was preferable to toilsome "lines" and detentions. I regarded the later reports as a generational thing. I had not realised how extensive and severe the violence had become as you record it in your piece. Perhaps, as others have intimated, it was the last desperate fling of an ancien regime which found its authority and traditional methods diminishingly effective. Incidentally, it was Randall Williams who introduced rugby to the School, not Simpson. My father, who was at school in the soccer (and Ernest Young) days and a devout member of the OGFC, never forgave him and used to delight in getting me excused from rugby on grounds of severe short sight.
Oh, and if you find my brief dissertation on split infinitives pedantic, let me remind you that you started it!
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958 -63
Date: 22 Aug 2011
Time: 13:46:02
Does this web site really need pedants? I have have spotted their occasional and unproductive contrubutions before now. It seems to me poor manners when guys bother to make sensible contributions only for these to be berated for less than perfect English, grammar or punctuation. and we all make tiping and speling errers in the heet of the momant. I'm very much a stickler for the best of English usage, and do my best to apply it, but find pedants a bore (I'll resist the other spelling.) I don't know if Dr Simpson reads this site from his Perpetual Purgatory (if so, he will be a disappointed, restless soul.) But at least he will discover his unique brand of Pedantry was not entirely wasted upon infertile ground. Wouldn't it be more interesting if HCS pedants actually had something to positively contribute rather than than the puny, carping criticism of others? PS Don't pick me up on the splitting of the Infinitive. This was a totally acceptable practice in 19th century writing, Dickens for instance. Its 'abolition' was a voguish fad introduced some time early in the 20th century. (See Burchfield, former Professor Emeritus, English Language, Univ. of Oxford.)
Name: Paul Romney
Email: at
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 22 Aug 2011
Time: 05:12:45
I can't help noticing that Ian Gawn, in his latest posting, has made a right cock-up of the word cock-up. I hope it wasn't done on purpose, Ian. I hereby propose that all mealy-mouthed bowdlerizations of "bad" language be prohibited on this site. I have lately taken to streaming video from the hulu.com web site. They have a few exotic British TV series ("Coupling", "The Office", "The Book Group") which are invariably prefaced with a warning that the show is intended for "matoor" audiences. And then, after that, they bleep out the ruder words anyway, just in case the immatoor (or their mummies and daddies) didn't heed the warning. I look for higher standards on the HCS web site.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.gawnatorange.fr
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 21 Aug 2011
Time: 07:01:12
A thought - has the school done anything to mark the 80th anniversary this year of the then Flt Lt John Boothman (later Air Chief Marshal Sir John) winning the Schneider Trophy outright for Gt Britain.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.gawnatorange.fr
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 21 Aug 2011
Time: 06:54:20
Just been having a nostalgic look through the CCF section - well remember the camp at Cultybraggen. Was it the following year we went to Lydd in Kent. Cannot have been 1961 as I did my flying scholareshp followed by Outward Bound that summer.I have a vague meory of an organisational c@ck-up by the grown-ups that meant we had no civilian staff to run the cookhouse. My memory is being stitched with the job of organising the cookhouse for the week, being handed over very many boxes of compo, and getting fresh bread and potatoes, and a few cadets allocated each day to do the work - am I dreaming or did it happen like that.
Name: Keith Palmer
Email: palmerdotkeith57atgmaildotcom
Years_at_school: 1968-1975
Date: 19 Aug 2011
Time: 18:18:18
Just making one of my regular visits to this site and memories starting to stir again ...... Sports.........oh the making of some, the dread of other small boys of the time. In 1968, "Games" was simply about rugby (and a certain Welshman in particular). I was one of the smallest boys in my year, keen but hopeless. For some reason (I assume my lack of height had something to do with this) I was scrum-half for Northwick in the first year. Quite an honour (or so I thought at the time). We traipsed down Watford Road, past the new Northwick Park Hospital, eagerly anticipating our game against Kenton House. All I can remember is the first moment I put the ball into the scrum, out it came, and I grabbed it. I didn't have time to pass to my fly-half, Anthony Wilkey (son of Don Wilkey) was onto me and hammered me to the ground. Nothing personal, of course, he was just much better than me and I think played for the School Team in his year). In the summer, of course, we played cricket. Apologies if the initials are wrong but Mr. T.H.W. Jones was in charge and there were signs that I could have been a Geoff Boycott-style of opening bat, stubborn without actually going anywhere. After that, Rugby was something to be endured, although I still remember the satisfaction of scoring a couple of tries (in 3 years!) But then came the choice between Rugby and cross-country running (I think in the third year) and I jumped at the chance. Now, I was no athlete, possibly the slowest in my year at 100 metres, but I found I could sustain a pace over a couple of miles which surprised everyone. And that was the start of my being taken seriously in School sports activities. I played for the School Team many times at Tennis, particularly in the Sixth Form, partnering Steve Doo. After I left the School, I joined St. Georges Tennis Club in North Harrow and had many successful tournaments with Sean Stone as my Doubles Partner. We entered tournaments as the "third string" and somehow always managed to win the crucial set against players much better than ourselves. But it was the Sixth Form golf that gave me the best memories. The old 9-hole Par 3 course at Greenford that we used to go to, and with Mr. Wilkin in attendance. One day he was almost in a stream, borrowed my sand wedge and hacked his way out. He obviously hit a sharp stone along the way and, nearly 40 years later, my club still bears the scar. From dreading Double Games, both Summer and Winter, to sports I enjoyed and was actually good at....well it took a while, but I got there eventually.
Name: Bob Blackburn
Email: With Alex Bateman
Years_at_school: 1943 = 1949
Date: 19 Aug 2011
Time: 12:22:46
Do not know how I became Mr.Anonymous. However I remember Mr. Snowdon ( must be Snowdon ) quite well. A very quiet kindly man, not involved with sport at all. Fairly bald. Not included in the staff lists. He gave me a superb hand written final report , countersigned by Simpson,which was in my possession before I had a major disagreement with Simpson and walked out of the school Christmas 1949. With Roy Goldman visiting from Brisbane we have just had another 1943 2C Reunion. Sadly our numbers had dwindled to just seven. Roy Goldman, Bill and Brenda Bowley, Wally and Yoshi Vandome, Eileen and Bob Blackburn. Best wishes to all who remember me, Bob Blackburn
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnieatshaw.ca
Years_at_school: 1946-51
Date: 18 Aug 2011
Time: 20:49:54
Thank you Mr Anonymous. Yes, I do remember the name Snowden (or Snowdon) but I find it very difficult to understand why I can't remember him over a period about 4 years. Perhaps he never hit or insulted anyone. But Charlie Crinson didn't either, and everyone seems to remember him and not just for his involvement in sports. People like them are the ones who deserved awards, rather than the Big-Ham and his sycophants
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 18 Aug 2011
Time: 12:01:14
Possibly Mr. Snowden
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnieatshaw.ca
Years_at_school: 1946-1951
Date: 16 Aug 2011
Time: 15:21:28
Is there anyone out there who still has a clear memory of the years 1948 to 1951 (or later)? After comparing notes with Peter Nice, now located in Vancouver, Washington, (or WA) we came to the conclusion that there was a master who taught English with the initials "J.S.", and seemed to have had more success than most, according to the remarks in our Report Books. His writing was tiny, but it did allow him to write something sensible rather than other teachers who simply wrote 'bad' or 'lazy'. He taught me in 3D from January to July 1948, and continued in the 4th and 5th forms up until July 1950. Peter Nice was taught by him in 5D until July 1951. Both Peter and I left HCS in December 1951, therefore we have no further news. (He does not appear in any sports teams photos). Thanks to him I did get an 'O' level in English; something which must have astounded Square and the other English masters of the day. He could have been a Mr Skinner, although the name Stimson rings a bell. However that cannot be as he would have been dubbed 'Saint Impson' and ARS, 'Sinner Impson'. Perhaps in later years?
Name: Tom Backer
Email: tab at cwgsy dot net
Years_at_school: 1956-63
Date: 08 Aug 2011
Time: 02:32:27
Peter Ward's account is fascinating. It brings back many memories (both good and bad). The Grimsby gasworks story is amazing. To correct Peter, the head of science was Tom Busfield, who helped me to get to Oxford to read chemistry. 'Faerie' was the nickname of Bryan Stanford, who as well as being the Group Scoutmaster of the 4th Harrow was Scoutmaster of the Forester troop, which I joined in 1956. After his retirement, he moved to Wymondham in Norfolk, and I and several friens visited him on a number of occasions, to listen to his never ending moans. Finally, the Eagers saga reminds of an occasion when he interrupted a Maths lesson we were having with 'Smiley' Saunders. Asking Smiley whether he 'could have a few words', he (Eggy Eagers) went on to harangue the whole class about 'The Noise' and how often he had heard it, asking for information on the culprits, and threatening the ultimate sanction, namely exclusion from participating in the 'School Revue' (Christmas Entertainments) of which 'Eggy' was in charge. The whole class (3A or 4A I think) could hardly contain themselves trying to hide their giggles, meanwhile Smiley himself was hiding his face in his hands trying not to burst out laughing. Does anyone else remember that occasion? Best wishes to all my former colleagues. Tom.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: at
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 05 Aug 2011
Time: 13:58:07
Sounds like a bit of a thug.
Name: Martin Goodall
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1959 - 1966
Date: 03 Aug 2011
Time: 12:08:33
To quote the late 'Swanny' Amos, when a boy protested at his proposal to beat the whole class because some unidentified miscreants were talking in class. "If you talk, boy, you get the 'crack'; if you BREATHE, boy, you get the 'crack. If you don't breathe, you die."
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 02 Aug 2011
Time: 10:26:50
No, Paul, I wouldn't say that "everyone would expect regular beatings", but even the most well-behaved conformists would occasionally find themselves included in whole-class punishments during the first few years. I recall Messrs Clarkson and Amos were particularly fond of such noble means of retribution. Besides, the threat of physical violence was always there, a major factor in the barely-concealed atmosphere of fear and authoritarian intimidation that pervaded the wretched place.
Name: ye min
Email: yeyeye63athotmail.com
Years_at_school: 63-70
Date: 01 Aug 2011
Time: 10:13:14
I think it was more of a case of avoiding being caught. I recall my first year class being asked, 'Who do you have for geography?' Someone foolishly called out, 'Boggy.' He was told to 'go to the staffroom and fetch my slipper..' The tearful boy returned, was made to bend over in the centre of the room, the master took a run up and hit him hard, the boy fell forwards across the room into the door. I certainly didnt want that to happen to me. I also witnessed enough of the colonel to scare me, he could change from friendly (and that too was scarey} to terrifying in an instance. I left the school with bitter memories, now i see it slightly differently. Some people were able to cope by being bright and oxbridge material. like many others who fell below that standard i felt that the school didnt value people like me.I became a special needs teacher and now work with young people in a child and family mental health department, so in a funny sort of way my time at HCS did influence me eventually in a positive way, impelling me to work with less fortunate in our society.
Name: Paul Phillips
Email: Paulatbrianpaul.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-76
Date: 01 Aug 2011
Time: 05:30:40
A very interesting last month. The Gaytonian centenary mag was excellent and especially the 2 historical articles. Then I read Peter Ward's tour de force. From his writing one can almost feel the forces at work at the school. How glad I am to have been 10 years younger (approx). One thought though - in an average school life in the simpson years would everyone have expected regular beatings (recorded or not) or is it that contributors to the guestbook were simply more lively characters? I have tried many a time to remember my school days but they seem a blur. Even Ken Wallers voice sounded nothing like I thought I remembered it. Was a bit disappointed by the interview (or are we supposed to call it a soundbite now) as I thought it was going to involve KW more rather than simply a further glorification of our re Minister of Defence
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: no.goodatscience.cockup
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 31 Jul 2011
Time: 07:19:32
Peter - a brilliant piece of writing. Social history in its own right as has been pointed out. When you found Simpson in his study and had to beat a hasty retreat I was soiling my underpants. You should have been a writer of mystery and suspense novels. Best wishes to all who survived Simpson. I'm glad I was not there. Michael.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 25 Jul 2011
Time: 11:57:28
A fine Centenary Offering too, by the way!
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 25 Jul 2011
Time: 11:54:18
Well done, Peter Ward - a most entertaining read indeed, not just a few scattered memories but a slice of social history, I reckon. Quite incredible it is to think that we lived in such times, in such a place...(No wonder 'Monty Python' etc. emerged a few years later)....
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 24 Jul 2011
Time: 21:50:38
Peter Ward has written an essay "Life Under the Doctor" about the Simpson years.
Read it here:
http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/new.htm
It can also be reached from the index page:
http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/index.htm
Name: steve manning
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 63-68
Date: 24 Jul 2011
Time: 21:46:48
Don't remember ever seeing a mortar board.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: The Sixties
Date: 22 Jul 2011
Time: 11:48:05
Well, Pete, we'll have to agree to disagree as even from an unbiased viewpoint I don't really think the programme "worked" that well at all, it was just another fairly bland 'remembrance of things past' set-up. Not saying it was a 'bad' programme, just that it was all fairly predictable, giving little insight into the school itself beyond, perhaps, that image of the younger K C Waller, hurrying along the corridor, gown flowing behind and mortar board squarely on his head! Funny though, I can't recall him ever wearing a mortar board while teaching us....
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1956/63
Date: 22 Jul 2011
Time: 11:23:35
Chris, it was a fifteen minute programme. It was only on at all because of Michael Portillo, who I happen to think is very much more successful as a broadcaster than he was as a politician. What do you expect in fifteen minutes? Think of the audience, almost none of whom had even heard of the school. A couple of anecdotes and a nice touch in inviting Ken Waller into the studio. I really don't think you could have asked for more: for me, trying to listen as a non-participant, I thought it was a neat little programme; and, as a participant, it brought back not A2 but the equally-dingy A1 in which I spent my year in Lower Six Arts. The programme worked - it just didn't happen to be the one you would have made.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondATyahoo.com ,
Years_at_school: More than enough, thanks!
Date: 22 Jul 2011
Time: 10:42:44
Well, I and one or two ex-pupils I know went out of our way on Tuesday morning to catch the Great Return of Portillo, hoping that he and one of the finest, most gifted teachers of our time there, Kenneth Waller, would offer an interesting, hopefully even somewhat 'controversial' - or at least slightly more than mildly revealing - discussion about the place during (and maybe even before)those mid-to-late 60's years.
Alas, for us it was a let-down, a most disppointing 15 minutes that served mainly as a means to add further lustre to MP's already brightly-shining ego (or 'halo' even, it seemed at times!).
No criticism at all meant of Mr Waller, now 78 years old - and I'm pleased he's happy to have appeared on the programme - but really, his contribution amounted to little other than praise of the Great Man, when I and my friends had been hoping for something perhaps a bit more, er, 'juicy' from such an intelligent man.
Likewise, of course, but more so, from Portillo. For example, a reminiscence or two of the 'Simpson years', a reflection on the authoritarian nature of the regime, a mention of any contrast between the HCS of Simpson and the school under Avery (in charge from Portillo's second (or third?) year, and my thoroughly unmemorable last).
But on reflection, we were surely rather foolish, naive even, to have imagined such a programme could have ended up any different from what it turned out to be. You know - 'Centenary Year' (which I still think is a thoroughly bogus concept, as some here have stated, eg Martin Goodall, a fellow Greek student with me under Waller), a 'VIP' ex-pupil with strong media connections, who, crucially, of course, is hardly known for his er, 'iconoclasm'!!
Some mirth was generated by the tale of the 'Great Scam' of hiding out for years with other talented and subsequently rich-and-famous celebrities in an almost subterranean room down in the half-light of the A corridor (oh, I knew it well in those final 6th form years),on the pretence of covering English text books - but really, was that the limit of the man's 'rebelliousness'?!
I'd wanted him, as a pretty solid-seeming, intellectually-strong character with considerable initiative, to have been far more critical of the institution. But instead, he came across as a 'believer' and I should have realised all along that he would, being of such a fundamentally conservative bent.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 22 Jul 2011
Time: 06:00:39
Sorry about the duplication; thought I'd lost the first one. Anyway, Ken Waller is chuffed about the radio programme and so he should be. It was all nicely done.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 19 Jul 2011
Time: 10:02:10
John Clark's remarks are very interesting. I lived and worked in Chester some years ago just across the street from the then Midland bank which he mentions. I was aware that the Grosvenor family's motto was Virtus non Stemma and I may have some further information in my papers. The Grosvenor Estate owns a huge chunk of propery in Chester including the Grosvenor Hotel, opposite that bank and the 1960s shopping centre behind the Rows, the mediaeval two tier shopping feature unique to the city. Michael Portillo featured the Rows in one of his railway programmes. The Grosvenor Estate and family exercise a most benign influence on the city, making it one of the most delightful tourist destinations. The Eastgate clock is the focal point of the city and as John say, the bank is right there.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 19 Jul 2011
Time: 09:46:48
John Clark's remarks are very interesting. I lived and worked in Chester many years ago, just across the street from the then Midland Bank which he mentions. I was aware that the Grosvenor family's motto was Virtus non Stemma and I may have something in my papers on it. The Grosvenor estate owns a huge chunk of property and acts as a most benign landlord in the city. It owns the 5 star Grosvenor Hotel opposite the bank and the 1960s shopping arcade behind the Rows, the mediaeval two tier shopping arrangement unique to the city. Michael Portillo featured the Rows in his railway programme. If you get the chance, Chester is well worth a visit and the bank that John mentions is right in the tourist heart of the city.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 18 Jul 2011
Time: 22:13:08
"Top of the Class" BBC Radio programme with Michael Portillo and Mr. Kenneth Waller - Tuesday July 19th at 9.30am on radio four. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012l1y6
Name: Stephen Frost
Email: sftankathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 18 Jul 2011
Time: 09:55:06
Well done, John Clark. Yes it is worthy of further research. It is the Grosvenor family motto.
We have to imagine ourselves in Harrow in 1911. Alderman Carlyon and Ernest Young (who was previously Headmaster of the Lower School of John Lyon linked to Harrow) and others were thinking about the school crest and motto. Google searches reveal that many Grosvenors went to Harrow school. Should we investigate the link between Harrow and the Grosvenors? Where did Alderman Carlyon and others involved in founding HCS go to school? What of Carlyon Avenue in Harrow? Think we need to look at Alderman C's background and those of other founders or early governors
Name: John Clark
Email: jmclark dot (figure)two at virgin dot net
Years_at_school: 1954-59
Date: 17 Jul 2011
Time: 12:56:50
Whilst on a day trip to Chester recently, I was walking the city walls.
Crossing over Eastgate (the one which carries the well-known clock) I paused to
take in the view of the street below and the facades of the historic buildings.
The building immediately to my right, presently occupied by HSBC Bank, was of
particularly striking Victorian (Gothic Revival) style which included a row of
shields above the ground floor, and then above the first floor windows, a
curious looking coat of arms with dogs rampant (makes a change from lions)
holding a shield showing a sheaf of corn or wheat. Then my attention was
suddenly drawn to the motto beneath the coat of arms; it read, "VIRTUS NON
STEMMA"! I was amazed to find our HCS motto, which I had always believed to be
absolutely unique to the school, in such an unlikely place and resolved to try
to find out if there was some obscure connection.
You can view a very good photo of the front of the building at
www.flickr.com/photos/lestiverton/3557856028 and if you right-click on the
picture and select to view the largest (original) size, the definition is high
enough to zoom in on the coat of arms and clearly read the words.
Alternatively, go to www.geograph.org.uk
slash photo slash 818081 where the zooming is already done for you, but you only
see the coat of arms, not the impressive architecture upon which it is placed. I
have since done a bit of elementary internet research into the history of the
building and apparently it was commissioned by Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st. Duke
of Westminster (1825-1899), designed by a prominent local architect, John
Douglas, and completed in 1883. It was constructed to be the premises of the
North and South Wales Bank, with a gentlemen's club, called The Grosvenor Club,
on the upper floors. It is stated that the coat of arms is that of the
Grosvenor family, which seems a logical conclusion.
However, I have not succeeded in progressing much further with this. Quite
different versions of the Grosvenor coat of arms are shown on various websites,
the only common factor being the wheat sheaf and the motto. The latter is
generally translated as "Virtue, not Pedigree" or "Merit, not Lineage", rather
than the more prosaic "Worth, not Birth" which was always quoted to us and also
incorporated into the School Song. Can any of you historians out there throw
some more light on the matter? Was there some connection between the Grosvenor
family or Duchy of Westminster and the founders of the school, or was the motto
already well established in the public domain by 1911, and the founders simply
adopted it?
After writing all of the above, I discovered that Alex Bateman has mentioned in
his piece about the school badge (on
this website), that the motto was chosen by one of the first Governors, Sir
Alexander Carlyon. This worthy local gentleman was a Barrister, J.P., and
Deputy-Lieutenant of the County of Middlesex, but it is conceivable that he may
have "borrowed" the Duke of Westminster's family motto, knowingly or otherwise!
Nonetheless, I felt that my unexpected experience was sufficiently interesting
to bring it to the attention of Old Gaytonians through this medium, as I hope at
least some of you will agree.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 16 Jul 2011
Time: 10:16:35
Can't quite understand why the tickets for the Centenary Dinner have not sold out, but would like it known that Keith Baker has now put them on open sale. Come on folks, just once in a hundred years can't be that bad!!!
Name: Steve Green
Email: gmachfla at earthlink.net
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 15 Jul 2011
Time: 16:18:39
jeff, I found some more old rugby photos from the 1930's I think, when my father was playing, either for the School or the Old Boys. If you would like them please e-mail your address to me and I will send them. Regards,
Name: Michael Mendelblat
Email: michael.mendelblat at herbertsmith.com
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 12 Jul 2011
Time: 06:33:41
I see that Radio 4 has a programme next Tuesday about Michael Portillo's return to the school and his meeting with Kenneth Waller.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 11 Jul 2011
Time: 03:53:06
In response to the latest, I look forward to the New Year's Honours List in which Rebecca Brookes will be elevated to a Damehood. Andy Coulson for Pope? (Or is that not in the PM's gift?)
Name: Brian Hester
Email: bianwhesterATgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-47
Date: 10 Jul 2011
Time: 20:21:02
I have always understood that certainly at the MBE and OBE level, awards are made as the result of recommendations made to someone in the prime minister's office. Rather than speculate on how people come by their awards, it might be possible simply to ask. Ultimately all the awards are at the disposition of the pm. I suspect the details of decision making are murky.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: near eternity
Date: 10 Jul 2011
Time: 08:46:27
I take Henry Wyatt's point but would point out we no longer hand out OBEs for beastliness. Plenty of gongs for corruption are still available, however. Been working on one for years!
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 10 Jul 2011
Time: 03:47:53
Andrew, O tempora, O mores! We have to believe that today the world is a better place, not least because we know of and acknowledge these dreadful things. I do not believe that the incidence of beastliness is any worse today than heretofore, notwithstanding the evidence before our eyes.
Name: Andrew Carruthers
Email: ajcarruthersatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1961 - 8
Date: 10 Jul 2011
Time: 01:15:31
On the subject of the OBE awarded to Bigham, I have just been reading Part 2 of the history of Cannon Lane School, the otherwise excellent primary school I attended, and was astonished to find that another brutal sadistic monster, by the name of Williams, also got the OBE for alleged services to sport and education. Harrow Council were appalled when they heard, so they must have known rather more than I might have imagined - but then why were such people allowed to continue their dreadful ways?
Name: Richard Buckley
Email: richardatspaceplanner.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1959-65
Date: 22 Jun 2011
Time: 10:28:51
I have just read Stephen Frost's paper on Ernest Young. What an interesting man he was. I vaguely knew this but Stephen's paper brought him to life. I would liked to have met him. Thank you Stephen.
Name: Lt .Col WMB OBE
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 16 Jun 2011
Time: 15:31:07
I thought all the boys knew it was awarded for "Other Beggars Efforts".
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: interminable
Date: 15 Jun 2011
Time: 17:13:01
Now, steady on, Chris Esmond. I sense you are taking the p---! Do remember that great men are often not recognised in their own lifetimes. Or, indeed, 50 years on. For goodness sake, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert were quickly forgotten before magificent restorations by eg Felix Mendelsohn (Bach) and Frans Liszt (Beethoven.) Dr. Simpson's time will come. Will you be the person to blaze the trail? It seems not. Who will rise to this great challenge? Let that noble person step forward.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondATyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 15 Jun 2011
Time: 03:46:52
Wouldn't it, therefore, be appropriate, Peter, to create a proper tribute to one who brought such lightness of heart and so much laughter to so many? I mean, that cartoon on the cricket sight-screen was fine in its way, but essentially ephemeral, due to its location (not to mention the innate self-effacing modesty of the Great Man). Perhaps a full-page on 'The Great Comedian' in the Harrow Observer on a date significant to the school this centenary year, to be copied, framed and despatched to all pupils who benefited from his comic genius?
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet..com
Years_at_school: infinite
Date: 14 Jun 2011
Time: 15:30:15
In answer to Chris Esmond, Dr AR Simpson did not receive any official recognition. But as one of Scotland's greatest stand-up comedians he at least deserved a BAFTA nomination. That line about 'woodpecker shoes'...it still mananges to have me convulsed. I have always felt Billy Connelly stole Simpson's thunder. The great Headmaster's sense of humour was so profound it had most people baffled, including himself!
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 14 Jun 2011
Time: 05:48:03
'Questions' post below from me, btw.
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 14 Jun 2011
Time: 05:47:00
16 years after the war? Surely it was for the school CCF? Btw, did ARS ever receive a similar award? IE as the man who opened the way for Bigham to run the CCF?!! So many crucial questions...Can't sleep at night....
Name: David Jackson
Email: david at jack-son.co.uk
Years_at_school: 59ish - 64ish
Date: 14 Jun 2011
Time: 04:23:04
"let us not forget the OBE granted to the unforgettable 'Lt. Col.' WM Bigham, circa 1961." Very good point. How did that particular individual manage to get an OBE. I guess it must have been his war record...
Name: Graeme.M.Young
Email: No way'
Years_at_school: 1947 to 1953
Date: 13 Jun 2011
Time: 03:11:00
At age 75 and beginning to feel the encroachment of the well-broadcast aches and pains that old age bestows upon such as I, I thought that I could look back on my days at HCS with a warmer feeling than hitherto. However my memories of the place were never all that good, bullying by staff and older pupils, the general atmosphere of fear, an undercurrent of suppressed rebellion and an oppressive and inflexible set of "school rules" remain my prevalent memories. I tried my best to contribute to the life of HCS and to be a good citizen, but it was never good enough and, like very many others, felt enormously relieved when I finally left and began my working life. The best I can say about those years at HCS were that they were character-forming.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.wardatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 13 Jun 2011
Time: 02:34:31
If we are celebrating awards of meaningless gongs to HCS Alumni, let us not forget the OBE granted to the unforgettable 'Lt. Col.' WM Bigham, circa 1961. That said everything about the merits of the Honours System. This year, I was disappointed to find that the Wayne Rooney's services to British public life had yet again been ignored. Not that he is a former HCS Alumnus, of course.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 13 Jun 2011
Time: 02:33:34
If we are celebrating awards of meaningless gongs to HCS Alumni, let us not forget the OBE granted to the unforgettable 'Lt. Col.' WM Bigham, circa 1961. That said everything about the merits of the Honours System. This year, I was disappointed to find that the Wayne Rooney's services to British public life had yet again been ignored. Not that he is a former HCS Alumnus, of course.
Name: Stephen Frost
Email: sftankathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 12 Jun 2011
Time: 11:48:35
Kindly Call me God to God calls me God?
Name: Chris Esmond
Email:
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 12 Jun 2011
Time: 03:46:07
KCMG to GCMG,eh? An advance of just 4 letters... Not quite good enough, I'm afraid, we expect a lot better than that from our alumni. ARS will be turning in his grave... Come on, Sir Nigel, get your finger out, son!
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 11 Jun 2011
Time: 21:47:01
Here are two from the Queens Birthday Honours - if anyone spots any more please let me know: Sir Nigel Sheinwald KCMG has been promoted in the Order of St Michael and St George to GCMG Richard Boyd, DL, FRSA., Chief Executive Officer, Disability Essex has been awarded the OBE for services to Essex.
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 08 Jun 2011
Time: 14:07:26
Mildly interested to read the items on Mathematical Pie (no insult to the contributors but only to Maths which I absolutely hated.) However, before being dragged down South from Doncaster Grammar School (1958) I happened to know the man who started the monthly magazine. I believe he acted as Editor or Joint Editor. At Doncaster, my parents were friends of Roland and Grace Collins, kindly people who were especially devoted to their severely mentally handicapped daughter. Roland Collins was Deputy Head of the town's Technical High School for Boys. This was in the days when the Education System took care of the alleged non-top academics, from the age of 11, and trained both boys and girls in all kinds of skilled engineering and apprentice-type courses. No doubt leading to bigger and better things,including valuable employment prospects. Roland Collins was pretty fanatical about this strange (in my terms) magazine that had a small national cult following. I remember taking one look at it and shuddering. Mathematical Pie eventually died a death but I think it was resurrected, temporarily, for a second short burst of existence after his death.
Name: Philip Levi
Email: pjlevi at gmail.com
Years_at_school: 1959-1961
Date: 08 Jun 2011
Time: 05:09:18
Further to Michael Schwartz's comments on Mathematical Pie, my copy of the May 1960 edition that was posted on the web site in February includes my original pencilled attempts at some of the answers which we attempted during our maths lessons at age 14-15 with Mr Duke. This was in the top set in the 1959-60 Form IV which I remember included the incredible mathematician Tom Lake who went on to get 6 Open Scholarships. The Mathematics Association web site www.m-a.org.uk contains a sample of the Autumn 2009 issue which is apparently suitable for today's 11-16 year olds. From their home page click on Publications, then Mathematical Pie, then Autumn 2009 issue. Mathematical genii of yesteryear may like to attempt the editions of October 1950 to Summer 1984 which are all reproduced on the unofficial site, www.mathematicalpie.com.
Name: Michael Schwartz admitting spelling errors
Email:
Years_at_school: Interminable
Date: 03 Jun 2011
Time: 14:39:30
Yes. I admit it. Special worlers are in fact social workers. Actually, they sound like something out of Rambling Sid Rumpo from Round the Horne (check him out on Youtube). My maths teachers were Farmer Giles, Grebo (glorious Grebo!) Garrett-Benson, Jack Kaprou, CPOD (Christopher O'Donoghue) and Mr Pearce. They did get me through O Level - but not Mathematical Pie. Michael.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: at
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 03 Jun 2011
Time: 10:49:40
Michael: Who are these "special worlers"? Sounds like something out of Paul Jennings.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: michaelwritesforyouyhooca
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 02 Jun 2011
Time: 07:30:28
I have now gone onto the Mathematical Pie page introduced in February under "New" three times. I have failed to get a single question right. H9w did I ever get Maths O Level? How could the editors of the newsletter be so cruel to 14-year-olds? These days we'd have the special worlers round on grounds of mental abuse! Has anyone else tried these puzzles? Michael.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondATyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 26 May 2011
Time: 15:57:22
Below post is mine, btw
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 26 May 2011
Time: 15:55:34
Just as you did on April 8, Pete! With a bit of help from the ever-willing Jeffrey Maynard, ie he just did it... (Cheers, Jeffrey,you're a 'star'!).
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 26 May 2011
Time: 14:17:29
Chris, on a far more important matter - how did you achieve paragraphs?
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondATyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 24 May 2011
Time: 13:29:29
Fair enough, Pete, I see you're more or less a 'kindred spirit', after all!
Including when you say,"I would maintain it was altogether sounder, when the ancien regime was so clearly withering at its roots, to stand on the sidelines and pour scorn on the stupidity of the bullies and cackle at the pathetic pomp of an Emperor who had, in his last years, not only no elasticated booties, but no clothes at all."
But perhaps as you were that much older than me at that point - and just a few years can make a lot of difference at that early age - you were maybe more able to develop an efficient inner shield against the abuses of that era? And or were psychologically stronger?
I wasn't able to 'rise above it all' merely by taking a satirically detached stance, although I tried, of course. Still,as time went by I and others I knew 'managed' the situation, my response being, around age 15, to withdraw into focusing on academic work (and football, both in playground and outside school, playing and as an obsessive fan!), after which the 6th form provided a welcome expansion into the world of literature and history, almost, in retrospect, a 'life-saver' at the time...Coupled with a disenchanted, alienated attitude towards the place, those things saw me through... But really, I rarely, if ever, felt 'at home' there, those first 3-plus years were uncomfortable and damaging, the rest in a way being a reaction to them. "Scared" and "scarred" I was, and mighty glad to leave.
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 24 May 2011
Time: 12:53:03
Chris, I don't disagree with a lot of what you say - and, if you read what I've written here (look at 'Now and Then' from 2001), you'll see that I'm hardly an advocate for the return of the schooling we had. All I'm saying is this: you have to look at what we went through and realise that this was the norm for the time - the school was firmly in its own historical context for the 'top rated' Grammar Schools ('top-rated' in the conventional sense, ie number of University entrants). Harrow Weald and Pinner County were much more relaxed; but Harrow County - the 'premier school in Middlesex' as it was described in Simpson's interview with the Middlesex authority - saw itself in an altogether higher league. It was competing at the national level. Of course there were some absolute bastards teaching there, sadists to the core; and, of course, there were those who suffered - and I outlined some of the categories of those in the entry to which you refer. But it was of its time: that's what the 'top' Grammar Schools were like in the 1950s. It was a period of brutality, of austerity, of rigid discipline; it was a period where the Colonels could act like mini-Pinochets and rule the classroom with a well-targetted walking stick. But you were there, as I was there, when the regime was crumbling under its contradictions; when the woodpecker shoes made the tyrant a laughing stock; when the cricket pitch was dug up by lads with suede shoes and quiffs in their hair; when rock'n'roll was stalking the corridors; and you, unlike me, was even there when the Great Man left the building in a flurry of acts of petty vandalism. I would maintain it was altogether sounder, when the ancien regime was so clearly withering at its roots, to stand on the sidelines and pour scorn on the stupidity of the bullies and cackle at the pathetic pomp of an Emperor who had, in his last years, not only no elasticated booties, but no clothes at all.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondATyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 24 May 2011
Time: 10:09:14
Pete Fowler wrote: "But, this 'scarring' was not a USP of HCS - after all, Simpson modelled his school on Eric James's leadership of the Manchester Grammar School, and there were any number of establishments in the 40s and the 50s with this ethos.
Moulded, yes - but 'scared' and 'scarred'? No more than any other equivalent school at the time."
Hardly the point,Pete. It's rather like saying that living under an oppressive political regime is not really much to complain about as after all, old boy (pun intended!), there are so many lousy regimes, aren't there, so what's the big deal?! Just because other such regimes,schools exist doesn't mean citizens, pupils don't suffer, aren't damaged, "scarred" and it most certainly doesn't imply that such oppression should be minimised or even denied.
As for your minimising the extent to which pupils were "scared", well, I recall, for example, some of those Simpson assemblies where you could almost smell the tension, the fear in the hall.
Also, I well remember how intimidating was the first day at the school, with unfriendly, domineering characters in gowns (including the self-important little twats of head and deputy head boy) throwing their weight around, each and every one on an authoritarian 'power trip'. "Christ almighty", I thought to myself, "What sort of hole have I ended up in?"
These are just two glaringly obvious examples, but they give an idea of the underlying atmosphere, the ethos underpinning the place.
Of course, there were exceptions, of both teachers and circumstances (sport, drama, music) where a greater informality and rapport could flourish - to a certain extent - but fundamentally the place was basically run on fear and an overwhelming wish to control. I mean, what in hell's name was Bigham doing taking lunch every day with the Head and Deputy Head? That alone spoke volumes for the place's ethos and ambience.
Some might call it something like 'necessary and beneficial discipline'. I beg to differ: It was just another institution aiming to mould its impressionable, relatively powerless inmates into the image required by the powers-that-be, who had themselves been subject to similar treatment - not least by service in the armed forces, including during the war.
Just another case of 'the sins of the fathers' being perpetrated upon 'the sons'. Aka one generation 'laying its trip' on another, with all the disrespect and delusion that implies.
Perhaps some thrived in such an atmosphere...I - despite being an academic and sporting high-flier - and a number of others I know, didn't. When I was 16 and started going to a local youth club, the former fellow-pupils at primary school who'd been at Harrow Weald, a mixed grammar school, since age 11, were obviously far happier, balanced, mature than those of the same earlier group who'd had those years at Harrow County.
"Scared", "scarred"? Yes, Pete, quite a lot, in fact.
Name: John Richard Bell
Email: johnrbell40athotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1952 - 1958
Date: 23 May 2011
Time: 15:20:24
Reading through the comments recently expressed in this guest book makes me wish that I lived somewhat nearer to the school and could enjoy the events that have taken place in connection with the centenary. I did get to the OGA Dinner in April and have booked my place for the formal dinner in October. I also intend to go to the Autumn lunch in November, but that will be about it for this year. Next year I am planning a reunion for the class of '52 and have contacted all of my year for whom I have addresses.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 22 May 2011
Time: 05:25:53
Well done to everybody involved with yesterday's event. Most interesting to hear Sir Nigel. It was gratifying to hear him acknowledge Ken Waller who was in the audience. I was particuarly pleased to meet up with Philip Levy after all these years. He tells me that he leads a somewhat peripatetic life these days, dividing his time between the UK, Andorra and South Africa. A great night.
Name: Robert Tabb
Email: robert.tabb73at googlemail.com
Years_at_school: 1956 to 1963
Date: 16 May 2011
Time: 11:51:36
Glad to see the GUEST BOOK has returned. I really missed not seeing any entries for so long & wondered if there were technical problems
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondat yahoo.comWrite word 'at' in full to'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 14 May 2011
Time: 18:26:21
Laurence, I find your comment hard to understand as a few years ago, finding myself in the Harrow area, I ventured inside the school building and wandered around for 5 or 10 mins. or so - it was a school holiday - revisiting those corridors and the memories they evoked. Inside was much as it used to be, although of course the field has been obliterated and is now a bit of an eyesore. Anyway, a rather weird experience and one I wouldn't care to repeat, especially having been so very glad to finally get away from the place all those years ago.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 14 May 2011
Time: 00:26:54
David, the heart was ripped out of the school many years ago, and now, with the exception of the front entrance and staicase, the skeleton has been so mangled, that the school as we knew it just occupies a small area of the site. I listened to the introduction to 'Any Questions', and was puzzled that so little was said of the venue and its history, after all wasn't that the purpose of the programme being there? Looking forward to the Dinner in October. Laurence
Name: David Fleming
Email: sueanddaveflemingattiscali.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1958-65
Date: 12 May 2011
Time: 12:22:25
The Guest Book seems to have gone quiet with no entries since 13th April unless there is a glitch. I attended Any Questions on Friday, the first time that I had been back to the school for well over 40 years. The outside has changed almost beyond recognition with the sports field having disappeared. The hall seemed less grand than I remembered, probably because it now doubles up as a gym. The organ had gone along with the Honours Board, not that I had a vested interest, and the balcony seemed to have been boarded off. There must have been a lot of Old Boys there although I barely recognised any. Don Wilkey looked well although I did not have a chance to talk to him. Dress standards were maintained with no shorty raincoats (as worn by 3rd class Swedish salesmen) or woodpecker shoes in sight. It was an interesting evening being part of a live broadcast and well run by the organisers.
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeteratgmaildotcom
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 13 Apr 2011
Time: 04:53:24
I was browsing YouTube yesterday for Mr Bean videos for my sons. I came across a Rowan Atkinson sketch, where he is a school headmaster who has caned a pupil to death. The headmaster has a very refined Scottish accent. I wonder.... BTW, I tried to post the link here, but special characters are not allowed.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962=9
Date: 09 Apr 2011
Time: 08:43:47
I see in the paper this morning that the government intends to institute a biannual prize for engineers to compete in status with the Nobel prize. It is casting around for the name of a suitable esteeemed engineer such as Brunel or Bazelgette. How about Fidler?
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeteratgmaildotcom
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 09 Apr 2011
Time: 01:42:56
To Brian Slater; I live "down the road" from you in KL. I tried to find you on Facebook, but was not successful. I'm the only Bill Peter on Facebook holding a small boy, who, I hasten to add, is my son.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 08 Apr 2011
Time: 08:47:39
Pete...I'm merely requoting actual contributions to this blog. The word 'scarred' has been coined by people claiming this happened to them. With regard to 'scared'...same again. Read back to find people say they were 'scared' of Bigham. Personally, I thought of the bullies more as pathetics or semi-loonies. Anyhow, it makes for interesting enough dialogue. Thanks to this blog, I meet Pete(r) Woollard, tomorrow, for the first time in 51 years. Where is Mick Regan? Does anyone know? He was the star of the anti-Simpson faction (late 50s - early 60s) and very funny with it. Well done Jeffrey Maynard. Your conception has unexpected spin-offs (sorry - HCS English grammar lessons - spins off!) Will I be picked up by the pedants?
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 08 Apr 2011
Time: 02:02:25
'Scared' and 'scarred' are the wrong words. I can't remember too many kids being scared, apart from those who were bullied either by other pupils or, on instances, by some teachers, which is the same in any school anywhere. The Chemistry teacher running from the corridor into the classroom, in order to achieve maximum leverage on the slipper he used to whack the boy bent over his teacher's desk, was certainly not a feature unique of the Simpson regime - his predecessors litter Dickens and even Charlotte and Ann Bronte's work, and I would imagine they are still around now, albeit a little hampered in fulfilling their fantasies by present=day legislation.
And nor is 'scarred' endemic. In these threads, some ex-pupils are rightly bitter - those who were marginalised because their skills set did not equate with the curriculum diktats of the Calvinists and went through school largely ignored, suffering the worst teachers throughout; those who were clever but, in the fullness of time, had a much firmer grasp of the future than those who were teaching them - I'm thinking of the ex-sixth formeer who wanted to do computing at Manchester when Turing was there, only to be told by Simpson that he was both wasting his life away and bringing the school into disrepute; those who were gay - and we've had at least one screech of pain on this site from someone I'm absolutely certain was 'scarred'.
But, this 'scarring' was not a USP of HCS - after all, Simpson modelled his school on Eric James's leadership of the Manchester Grammar School, and there were any number of establishments in the 40s and the 50s with this ethos.
Moulded, yes - but 'scared' and 'scarred'? No more than any other equivalent school at the time.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 07 Apr 2011
Time: 16:18:27
I think you have it about right, Bernard. Looking through the 'blog' (horrid word) it is clear some people were scared of, and scarred by, the Simpson Regime. Personally, I found it ludicrous. More to laugh at than be frightened of. But that doesn't make me retract my views on bullying. Teaching in a tricky Inner London Comp, only four years after leaving HCS, one was encouraged to find ways of getting on with students. Getting them onside instead of hitting and humiliating. Young people respond to the positive. Simpson and Co. (with honourable exceptions) operated in the negative. If, in those days, they had been 'OFSTED'd' the school would have been placed in special measures. Our generation did not run home with tales to get our parents to come roaring up, next day. If we had, certain individuals would have ended up in very hot water. Some might have ended up 'inside'. I remember seeing an ill-tempered master kick a boy down a flight of stairs because he had inadvertently got in his way. If he had committed that act in a more public place eg the steps at Harrow Met. station, he would have arrested for assault. Imagine if the boy had been seriously damaged...GBH. Today's teachers don't and can't behave like that!
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 07 Apr 2011
Time: 10:57:54
Peter ; I seem to have lead a rather charmed life as I have never been bullied either as a child or as an adult ............. or perhaps I was too thick to recognise it for what it was ....... happily neither have I ever bullied anyone, young, old, male, female .................although I feel that "such and such is not acceptable " comes close to a mental bullying intended to persuade me to change my position on whatever the topic is ........... happily, again, I don't believe that that was your intention ..... to change my position, yes. but to bully, no .......... as always, since I began checking the HCS guest book, I am thankful that I attended HCS during the headship of one of the nicest men one could wish for ....... and sorrowful for those of you who had not that pleasure ....... from many posts on this site it is clear that many of you who lived through the regime of the late Dr Simpson feel very bitter about your school years ...........
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinernet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 06 Apr 2011
Time: 16:59:11
Bernard...I take your point. We experienced the school in different eras. However, your comment about being 'Bolshie' (a Soviet reference, I think) is wide of the mark. The fact is, in our time, some of us stood up to gross bullying and intimidation at HCS rather than lieing down like passive lambs. Far from useless, it stood me (I can only speak personally) in good stead when I came up against bullies in later professional life. One was a senior BBC Head of Department who bullied her young, black, single-parent secretary without mercy. I took this particular woman(the Head of Dept. that is) to task and got her to back off. Likewise, I was involved, years later, in the removal of a Headteacher bully of both Staff and children, in a State Primary School. It was the early HCS experiences of being insulted by 'men amongst boys' that stood me, and others, in good stead and proved to be a valuable learning ground. Bullying is either to be tolerated or fought against. We make our choice. To dismiss taking it head on as 'Bolshie behaviour' is not acceptable. Are the opponents of White South African rule, Saddam Hussein's enemies and the brave Col. Gaddifi protestors to be dismissed as 'Bolshies'? I think not. Human history is laced with bullies, great and small. Bullying is an unpleasant aspect of Human Evolution. It should be contested at all levels. Our weakness, under the Simpson Regime, was that we were young, relatively inarticulate and lacking the wisdom that comes with age and experience. It took courage to stand up to the Bighams of our teenage world, however naive the manifestation.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 06 Apr 2011
Time: 14:39:23
Peter, I don't doubt, question or contest your comments about GT and AA, ...... I simply say that your experience was not my experience ......... perhaps during the war we had more things to worry about than the harshness or otherwise of teachers .......... and we lived under the generally benign reign of the great Randall Williams .......... perhaps during my school years they (GT and AA ) took a more grateful and conciliatory approach to each day ......... and perhaps also we, the student body, had a less bolshie view of school life than appears to have been the case in the following decade. ........ not that a bolshie attitude was anything but the right response given the leadership at that time ..... the right response, but largely pointless I suspect
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 06 Apr 2011
Time: 12:46:13
On further contemplation of my association with George Thorne, I recall a disposition towards unintended slapstick humour that would credit to Mr. Bean. Scenes that come readily to mind include the unsuccessful demonstatration of how to boil water in a paper bag,and his dropping accidentally a large quantity of sodium into a dish of water with the resulting burst of unsurpressable chemical activity. Another occasion which fortunately did not result in a macarbre outcome was when all 35 of us were clustered around the bench watching the conclusion of a demonstation of how a hot iron bar contracted when cooled. Fracturing occurred of the iron nail secured in one end of the bar with spectacular effect with bits of iron nail flying around the laboratory, fortunately missing everyone. Perhaps others have similar recollections.
Name: Doug Edey
Email: dugeliaatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1948-1953
Date: 06 Apr 2011
Time: 06:48:35
First visit - can't put it down!
(Click for photo of Doug Edey & 4th Harrow Scouts; http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/Scouts1950.htm - Ed)
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratcogeco.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 03 Apr 2011
Time: 18:19:01
You state the case well Pete. We did have some excellent,dedicated teachers. I tend to agree with Bernard about Thorne and Amos. Thorne's performance in teaching us general science for four years was anything but inspirational. What always surprises me is the number of his students who went on to scientific careers. Thorne seemed to have a special relationship with Randall Williams but I was never aware of seeing him being social with any of the other staff. He would drive off home in solitary splendour in his Vauxhall car leaving his colleagues to walk to the station in the rain. Of all the staff, he was the only one who was able to justify petrol coupons in those far off days of rationing. I rather enjoyed Amos's classes but then I was one of the more agile ones. The over-weight and less coordinated boys sometimes a bad time.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratcogeco.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 03 Apr 2011
Time: 18:19:00
You state the case well Pete. We did have some excellent,dedicated teachers. I tend to agree with Bernard about Thorne and Amos. Thorne's performance in teaching us general science for four years was anything but inspirational. What always surprises me is the number of his students who went on to scientific careers. Thorne seemed to have a special relationship with Randall Williams but I was never aware of seeing him being social with any of the other staff. He would drive off home in solitary splendour in his Vauxhall car leaving his colleagues to walk to the station in the rain. Of all the staff, he was the only one who was able to justify petrol coupons in those far off days of rationing. I rather enjoyed Amos's classes but then I was one of the more agile ones. The over-weight and less coordinated boys sometimes a bad time.
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 03 Apr 2011
Time: 14:38:34
Peter, I agree with you - which is why I taught my last lesson at the age of 39; and stormed out of my-then career as a teacher because I discovered, during the Falklands War, that any empathy I had with 17 year olds was over, finito, caput. But then I also eventually realised, with the benefit of hindsight, that those who were really gifted at the art of teaching, rather than the pretence of teaching, were able to transcend such things. At Harrow County, during our period, those of us in certain curriculum areas were immensely fortunate that there were a handful of those who were born to teach and born to inspire; and that whilst we might have to suffer the neanderthals, we were also given, just on occasion, the life-giving opportunities of the benefits of the real teacher. Some of those lessons are still with me - and this, as I know so well now, is one hell of a rarity.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 03 Apr 2011
Time: 11:56:56
Maybe what Pete Fowler is saying is that masters such as Amos and Thorn started young and semi-human but ended their days as fossilised old monsters. I once worked in an Inner London 'Comprehensive' (early 70s) and noted the gradual corruption of older male teachers (not all.)It helped me to make my decision to leave teaching as I didn't want to end up like them...cynical, unfulfilled and not very nice. And no regrets. These people were big fish in some small, obscure pond. It is interesting that both Thorn and Amos spent decades at HCS. Possibly a comfort zone in which they could inflict their increasing inhumanity, unchallenged.
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 03 Apr 2011
Time: 09:55:08
Bernard, you can probably take my narrative with a pinch of jaundiced and cynical salt: others may take a more positive view. But whilst age may continue, inexorably, to drive me to an anger that is almost certainly unhealthy, I cannot let your opinions on GT and AA stand uncontested: I, too, was summarily dismissed from GT's selections, though I, being a little suspicious - rightly, I admire my 11 year old gut feelings - simply said, on reaching 'Fah' that there was no way I could reach 'so'. And 'so' I was consigned to the dustbin at the back of the class. AA simply seemed to take a perverse delight in seeing me dangling from ropes that appeared to me to be at a quite unnatural height; and, after an inane and seemingly indefinite period of terrified limbo, when I finally found myself once again at ground level, I was then put through one of his 'sweat periods', the memory of which, fifty years on, still leaves me in a sweat right now. Neither GT nor AA leave me with even the slightest memory of anything that might be described as affection.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 03 Apr 2011
Time: 09:10:46
thank you Pete F for bringing me up to speed on the Academy thing ......... thank you also Peter W for the piece about George Thorn and music ............. as a non-singer I admit to being impressed with your participation in more than one choir ..... tenor, baritone, bass ? ............. Thorn and Amos have got a bad press in recent posts ........ my experience of these two two teachers seemingly is the reverse of others ...... while G Thorn hammered away on the grand in a most unmusical way he was otherwise docile ...... and Swanny Amos was never severe to me or any of my classmates ....... perhaps the C stream during the war was unusually docile and did not raise the ire of GT or AA
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeteratgmaildotcom
Years_at_school: 1960-67
Date: 02 Apr 2011
Time: 21:07:31
I have been reading the comments about Sir Paul Nurse on Horizon. I was in the same year as Paul Nurse, and the same class in 1963. I am sat next to him in the class photo on this excellent site. By coincidence I am also a Facebook friend of James Delingpole. Recently he has been very ill with an undiagnosed disease. I suspect that Paul's "cancer question" hit a raw nerve.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: Rather too many
Date: 02 Apr 2011
Time: 13:23:26
So the witty Pete Wollard with two 'ls' is alive and well! Excellent. He claims that as I joined the school, late, I would have had little to do with the obnoxious George Thorn. In fact, I did 5 terms in his awful orchestra as an incompetent second flute. As can be worked out from the raucous school song, Thorn was no musician. I, too, was put off joining his choir. Very sad, as I had been a happy member of the Doncaster Grammar School choir before being yanked down South. But Pete Woollard must not despair. I have recently joined 3 choirs, after decades of non-singing owing to Thorn, and have performed Messiah in Leipzieg and Halle. This June, one of my choirs goes to Budapest and a town near Lake Balaton. We shall take English music incl. Britten, Elgar and the Tudors. In Wadhurst Polyphony, we shortly perform Rutter's 'Feel the Spirit' (Negro Spirituals wonderfully arranged) and the Mozart Mass in C Minor. My point in stating this is IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START SINGING - even if you have been intimidated and ridiculed by George Thorn. My own personal complaint about Thorn was not simply his cruelty and worse (see previous hints on this blog from other contributors) but that he was a rotten musician. We shan't spin the old joke about Thorn playing on his organ but, musically, the sounds he forced out of thr unfortunate beast were grotesque. A point proved by a young teacher called Waller who, when occasionally permitted to play the instrument, made it sound up to its true quality. I gather George Thorn's organ now lies in pieces or has gone for scrap. Opportunity for more schoolboy jokes!
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 02 Apr 2011
Time: 12:25:23
'Academies', Bernard, were introduced by Tony Blair in 2000 or so - their affinity with 'grammar schools' is about the same as 'New Labour's relationship to 'Labour'. In other words, they turn the concept on its head. The present government like them because their rationale includes a break with local authorities - they are centrally controlled; and because they encourage the private sector to get involved. This has meant, for example, a growth in faith schools - madrassahs, perhaps, or creationist study centres. Rarities, admittedly, but all-too-possible and there are, sadly, instances. Our Tony, remember, was never too hot on the unfortunate details that underpinned and span out of his decisions. But then Our Tony is as much the architect of the PR men running the New Conservatives as Margaret Thatcher was the architect of New Labour. (Para) 'Academies' have to identify a 'curriculum strength' - perhaps they are a 'sports academy' or a 'media academy'. Their school curriculum can reflect this and they can ignore any lingering constraints of Kenneth Baker's 1988 National Curriculum. In turn, these switches led to a rash of new GCSE subjects so that it became possible for a student in a 'sports academy' to sit any number of examinations and gain A*s in heaps of them without the student having to sit through the pains of anything as tedious as sums and writing. Or, indeed, of learning any History. Or Geography. I'm not quite sure what the present Government's approach is to these rather central flaws in the systems they have inherited and intend to build upon; but, hey, as Tony would have said, anything's better than Gordon.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 02 Apr 2011
Time: 11:55:14
"Academy " ? is that what used to be called a "grammar school " ?
Name: Peter Woollard
Email: woollard780atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1955-60
Date: 02 Apr 2011
Time: 03:48:11
Having recently discovered the excellent HCS site (for which Jeffrey Maynard deserves the thanks of all Old Boys)I have spent a lot, perhaps too much, time looking through it. It has reminded me of the many incidents that occurred during my time at HCS which I have not thought about for over 50 years. I have been particularly interested in the fascinating contributions from Peter Ward who I last saw at a 4th Harrow Summer camp in Switzerland in August 1960 ( I wonder where Geoff Routh and Pete Hoggan are now). As Peter kindly referred to me as 'the splendidly witty Pete Woolard' in an amusing anecdote about our joint caning by Dr Simpson I shall excuse him the misspelling of my surname. I note that quite a lot has been written over the past two or three years about Dr. Simpson (a narrow minded elitist bully who seems to have blighted the lives of many boys who came under his 'care'), Swanny Amos (who I remember tearing up my mother's note requesting that I be excused PT, as I had a large and painful boil on a delicate part of my anatomy. 'Exercise'll do it good Woollard' declared an unsympathetic Amos) and Lt. Col Bingham (a ridiculous caricature of an Army Officer who initially brusquely refused my request to leave the CCF and join the Scouts but cravenly backed down when my father intervened). Perhaps though I could mention George Thorn (Peter W probably didn't have a lot to do with him as Peter joined the School in 1958 and,I believe, George left in 1959). At Primary School I had been an enthusiastic member of the school choir and was looking forward to continuing with my vocal endeavours at HCS. However, during an early music lesson with Form 1A, possibly the first, George auditioned us for the choir. We each had to stand at the piano and then run through the scale. No sooner had 'doh' passed my lips when GT peremptorily exclaimed 'sit down Woollard!' I have never recovered musically from that humiliation. Although I am very fond of choral music I have hesitated on several occasions to join local choirs because of the dreadful expectation of a mass call to 'sit down Woollard' from choir members, as they chortled in amused astonishment at my pathetic inability to master the most basic of musical accomplishments. Does anyone else recall being 'invited' by George to 'sit on my Dunlopillow (the hard wooden floor of the music room) for the remainder of the lesson for some minor misdemeanour?
Name: Paul Romney
Email: at
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 29 Mar 2011
Time: 08:31:39
From what I read, though, it appears that Harrow High Academy, or whatever it might be called, will be passing its "graduates" into severely degraded sphere of "higher" education.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 26 Mar 2011
Time: 08:33:44
Anything to improve the 'standing' of the present school.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 25 Mar 2011
Time: 02:07:37
You may have read in the local press that Harrow High is one of seven schools in the borough whose board of governors is considering a switch to academy status. This is now an option open to good schools; indeed, my own daughter's school. Bentley Wood, which is doing well under a very competent headteacher is another one of the seven. The proposals are coming from central government and unfortunately, the debate is being conducted on party political lines. As I understand it, the proposals will allow schools greater control over budgets and in particular over those services which they buy in from the local authority. The proposals are under consideration at the moment. Whether all seven schools choose to go this route remains to be seen but it is interesting that so many are at least considering it. I am not privy to the discussions at Harrow High but perhaps somebody who is can give us an update.
Name: Martin Goodall
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1959 - 1966
Date: 24 Mar 2011
Time: 06:45:17
I think Stephen Frost is being rather unfair in suggesting that Roy Avery did nothing to fight for the boys, staff or reputation of HCS. The school came under threat of reorganisation (as a comprehensive) almost immediately following his arrival in 1965, and he had to cope with this situation repeatedly throughout the 10 years of his tenure. It is very much to his credit that he held the staff together throughout that period and that significant departures by staff (including his own) occurred only when the battle was finally lost and the school finally closed in 1975. I would not blame those staff who felt that they did not want to serve in an entirely different school after that date.
Name: Stephen Frost
Email: sftank at hotmail. com'
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 23 Mar 2011
Time: 07:38:56
- immensely proud of HCS - ? Many of us think that Roy Avery did nothing to fight for the boys, staff or reputation of HCS, preferring to sail off to his next appointment at Bristol Grammar School. His failure to contribute to this website speaks volumes. Stephen Frost (1963-70)
Name: Martin Goodall
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1959 - 1966
Date: 23 Mar 2011
Time: 04:59:02
I bumped into Roy Avery in Bristol the other day. He was looking very fit and happy and was eager to swap reminscences. He regrets that family circumstances have prevented his attending any of the centenary events but is obviously still immensely proud of HCS. It was good to find him in such good form.
Name: Peter Gwynne
Email: pengwynne at orangehome.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1945-1951 (Northwick)
Date: 22 Mar 2011
Time: 17:24:11
I haven't "seen" the school since I left - though I passed it a few times when I briefly played Rugby for the Old Gaytonians. A cartilage op put an end to that. In 1949 I returned to live near The Angel in London, and travelled to Northwick park from Kings Cross each day. (At least I had the season ticket paid then!) Unfortunately, Dr Simpson lived somewhere on the Piccadilly Line, changing at Kings Cross and Baker Street. We tried hard to avoid one another. Me because I would have to put on the abominable Green Prefect's Hat with the yellow stripe which I just couldn't wear around "The Angel" in Islington. I don't know his reason, couldn't often understand his accent. It took a while to realise that when he called us silly "arses" it was really his way of pronouncing "asses".
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnieatshaw.ca
Years_at_school: 46-51
Date: 20 Mar 2011
Time: 20:10:02
I am a wee bit ashamed that I don't read the obituaries regularly. Today I noticed the name of John Talbot, seemingly entered about November 2010 after having 'passed away' in March of that year. The entry is very brief and says very little, actually nothing about him. I do believe he was the captain and scrum-half of the Old Gayts Extra A rugby team in the 1950s (if not before and after.) Lots of people can have the same name, but if this John Talbot is the man in question I can add a bit of information about him. I first played against the OGRFC Extra-A in about November 1951, for the HCS 2nd XV. Then played FOR the same Extra-As about a month later while still 'attending' HCS. (Long story)We beat West Herts with another current pupil in the line-up being Ken Spedding. The captain made both of us feel so welcome (considering a couple of 16-year-olds who were not wined and dined after the match, but thoroughly 'beered and cheered')that joining the OGA was a 'must'. But, I'm still not certain that gentleman's name was even Talbot. I can name dozens of contempories from HCS and even Old Gayts who never joined the association.
Name: Robin Moore
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1954 -1958
Date: 19 Mar 2011
Time: 09:42:48
Very interesting
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 14 Mar 2011
Time: 08:00:21
Ebay currently has a cigarette card showing the HCS School Cap. What I was actually looking for was a copy of the school hymnal
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindotdickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 18 Feb 2011
Time: 04:41:57
Yes, Henry. A great evening. It was enlightening, entertaining and enormously stimulating. I found the following morning that I couldn't concentrate on my Times as my mind returned repeatedly to what Kel Fidler had to say. You have his message to a T. The modest (but quality) attendace reflects the erroneous public perception of engineerring, a misapprehension born partly of its diversity and partly of the tendancy to label every mechanic, plumber and technician "engineer", the "oily yrag" perception. Yes, congratulations to Keith Baker and his team. Their orgnisation and presntation were superb. If they failed in anything it was marketing: no matter how good the publicity, it needs direct contact to engage people in the events, as was apparent in the late rush of attenders following just that. And, Kel, if you should read this website, thank you for a marvellous evening and the pleasure of meeting and hearing another Old Gayt who has brought great credit to the School. If it is not an insult, let me say that there were moments when you reminded me of Dr Simpson, whose passion and enthusiasm for his subject and drive to communicate to his A Level Larin students caused the perspiration to flow. (The analogy stops there!)
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 18 Feb 2011
Time: 02:06:07
I just want to thank everybody involved in the organisation of the first lecture on Thursday night. Prof. Fidler's talk made us all think hard about the role of science and engineering in our society and system of education. What he said made perfect sense if you believe that there is still a future for manufacturing and design in this country. He asked us above all to realise that engineering is not just the oily rag of science and has its own academic integrity. He is right to point out that this lack of respect for the profession of engineering has fatally undermined the role of manufacturing in our economy. Anyyway, well done to all involved. However, I must point out that the attendance was disappointing. There are tickets available for all future events and as you know, it doesn't take much of an effort to make up your mind to go. In particular, an awful lot of people are putting in an awful lot of effort to the concert in a couple of weeks time.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindotdickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 14 Feb 2011
Time: 02:35:56
Apparently not, Jeff!
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 13 Feb 2011
Time: 14:47:32
This is a test PARA test test
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 13 Feb 2011
Time: 14:31:37
I am very reluctant to make any criticism of this excellent site. However, is there any way of allowing paragraph breaks?
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 10 Feb 2011
Time: 03:55:42
Just once in a while, something really interesting comes up on this extraordinary Guest Book (in passing, congratulations to Jeff Maynard who must put in an enormous amount of time and effort on our behalf.) In this particular case, I read, with pleasure, the recent contribution from Hector Surtherland. He tells us his nickname was 'Haggis'. Fair enough but we had him down as 'Hamish'! In the past, I have taken part in discussions of the good v. bad of HCS. The excellence, or otherwise, of the teaching. I fear my weight is mostly on the negative. However, there were positives to be found. Gethin Williams, Gerry Lafferty and 'Uncle Mac' Don McEwen would score highly. And this is where Hamish Hector Haggis Sutherland comes in. He taught me English 58-59 and again, in my 'O' Level year, 59-60. At first, a highly rebellious set attempted to give him a hard time. As I remember, he was splendidly Scottish, red-haired and combative. With a mixture of inspirational teaching and commanding personality he ended up having his English set eating out of his hands. I happen to remember his results were nearly 100% pass with good grades. It was Hamish (I'm sorry, I'm locked into it) who gave me my love of Shakespeare. We read Henry 1V part 1. By coincidence,at this time, BBC black and white tele came out with its ground-breaking 'The Age of Kings' the young Robert Hardy as Prince Hal and similarly aged Sean Connery (little known to the general public) as Henry Hotspur. A piece of luck for us young 'O' Levelists but the ground work, including appreciation of poetry, was done in class. So lots to thank Mr Sutherland for. Sorry, Mr S, I shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition! I'd be pleased if he will contact me as I'd be happy to send him my recently published novels for children on The Vikings (the final part of the Trilogy is due out within weeks from my American publisher.) Curiously, I have always had 'Hamish' at the back of my mind,in the writing, as his Scottishness,flamimg red hair and big personality may well suggest Viking origin? This, however, is intended as a compliment. My Vikings are anti-plunder and pillage and do not play to the usual stereotype, although mighty brave and adventurous. If anyone's interested, just try googling 'Peter Ward Vikings' and the site should come up. Hope to hear from you, H.....!
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 09 Feb 2011
Time: 20:59:05
So many people have sent in photographs and reminiscences recently that I am having difficulty keeping up - but please check out the list of new pages to see what there is.
I also had an email from Mr. Hector Sutherland who writes:
Dear Jeff
I heard about your photograph collection through my daughter, who lives in Pinner and read about it in the local paper. I don't think you have the attached photo. I taught at the school from September 1958 to December 1960. I can't give an exact date for the photo. I'm the form master in the photographs of Form 1B (1958) and Form 2B (1959). Apparently my nickname was Haggis, for some mysterious reason, which has come as something of a shock to me, but I console myself by assuming it was a mark of the affection in which I was held!
Yours sincerely
Hector 'Haggis' Sutherland
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 - 1964
Date: 08 Feb 2011
Time: 10:13:45
It was great to hear from Keith Baker about the Centenary Dinner to be held at the school on 15 October 2011. I have requested to be seated at a table with fellows from either K Waller's Form 1B 1957-58, or Mr Neil's Adv VI Science 1963-64. Hope that won't put off anyone from attending!!! Laurence
Name: bob arthy
Email: bobatarthy.com
Years_at_school: 54-60
Date: 04 Feb 2011
Time: 10:12:16
Tough but Good
Name: Richard Boyd
Email: Richard.BoydatDisabilityEssex.org
Years_at_school: 1956 - 1962
Date: 02 Feb 2011
Time: 02:26:50
read Brian Slaters review with amusement - spot on!
Name: Harrow County's own Paul Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 29 Jan 2011
Time: 04:35:55
Conceivably he's "Harrow County's own Paul Nurse".
Name: Stephen Frost
Email: sftankathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 28 Jan 2011
Time: 06:01:46
Modest, highly intelligent, an accomplished scientist, a good communicator, is Paul Nurse Harrow County's own David Attenborough?
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindotdickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 27 Jan 2011
Time: 15:22:29
Grateful thanks to Henry Wyatt for a very good and accurate summary of the programme and Peter Fowler who sent me a link by e-mail. In fact, a mention of the Horizon programme in one of the earlier e-mails led me to the relatively low-tech solution of using my TV "catch-up" service and BBC iPlayer to watch the programme myself this evening. I was glad to be able to use Peter's link to rehearse several points. I agree that Paul was over-gentle with "Climategate" Jones, who has been cleared of scientiific cheating but did behave outrageously towards his detractors and the public. He was also gentle with the Telegraph (Spectator?) journalist whom he allowed to betray himself - first by changing the subject, then by blustering. There wasn't time, I suppose, but I wish he had done more to demolish the anti-GM loonies. As a matter of benefit to the human race it is so much more immediate and pressing - and certain - than the longer term climate change problem. Paul Nurse has shown himself to be right up there with Brian Cox as a brilliant communicator and we are fortunate to have both of them to do what Paul is so keen on.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 26 Jan 2011
Time: 12:35:06
Colin, he touched on three issues of scientific condern, namely climate change caused by man, the relationship between HIV & AIDS and the desirability of GM food crops. In all three cases he gave the impression that he personally supported the mainstream scientific consensus but this was not relevant to the main thrust of the programme. He was concerned about ill informed criticism of scientific procedures by individuals who have minimal scientific qualifications (like the idiot from the Telegraph) but are able to promote their views without the benefit of rigorous scientific conduct and in particular without the use of peer review. I thought that he may have given too easy a ride to Prof. Jones from East Anglia who was recently accused of massaging research data on climate change but he felt that the statistical splicing that Jones carried out did not warrant the torrent of abuse levelled at him. He was certainly very courteous to a chap who doubted the causal link between HIV and AIDS and although he did not agree with him, gave the chap the freedom to outline his case properly. On GM crops, he again pointed out the bitterness of those opposed together with their lack of scientific rationale. Anyway, I'm not a scientist so I hope I've got everything straight. All in all, as the others said, something to be proud of.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindotdickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-53
Date: 26 Jan 2011
Time: 10:18:57
Re the Paul Nurse interview on BBC TV: Peter Fowler, Peter Ward (in duplicate) and Henry Wyatt have the advantage of me. I didn't see the programme and I have no idea what he said. I've tried to search the BBC website but get only invitations to click on such luminaries as Paul Gambucini amd Nurse Jackie - not very helpful. Could one of you provide me with a link, please? Or, failing that, a summary of the discussion? I don't even know on which side of the climat change fence he sits, although I do have the Royal Society's September 2010 reasoned pronouncement on it and the various views which pertain. (It's very good, but long. Google it.)
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 25 Jan 2011
Time: 04:58:11
Well said, chaps. The fellow from the Telegraph was appalling. It was very shrewd of Nurse ; he only gave a couple of nudges and it all come out of the the man's own mouth.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16at btinternet .com
Years_at_school: The Simpson Interlude
Date: 25 Jan 2011
Time: 04:47:13
Absolutely agree with Pete Fowler on Sir Paul Nurse. Looks as though we now have a new combined Science and Media star to present stuff to the public and take on science and global warming 'authorities' such as HRH The Prince of Wales and the dreaded Nigel, now Lord Lawson. These self-appointed, non-scientific bigots are very dangerous when the trash Press gets hold of their prejudiced views and places them before a public that can't be bothered to tune into 'Horizon', or read the proper material. Good for Sir Paul. Lots more please. As President of The Royal Society he has to be listened to. And he's disarmingly logical and charming to try to argue with. We should be very proud of him. Just hope I shall have access to a TV set in the Tower of London when carried off on a Treason charge. (At least I would get in free.) Although watching TV, minus a head, might prove be troublesome. On reflection, lots of people do that already. Especially Daily Express readers etc etc...!
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16at btinternet .com
Years_at_school: The Simpson Interlude
Date: 25 Jan 2011
Time: 04:47:11
Absolutely agree with Pete Fowler on Sir Paul Nurse. Looks as though we now have a new combined Science and Media star to present stuff to the public and take on science and global warming 'authorities' such as HRH The Prince of Wales and the dreaded Nigel, now Lord Lawson. These self-appointed, non-scientific bigots are very dangerous when the trash Press gets hold of their prejudiced views and places them before a public that can't be bothered to tune into 'Horizon', or read the proper material. Good for Sir Paul. Lots more please. As President of The Royal Society he has to be listened to. And he's disarmingly logical and charming to try to argue with. We should be very proud of him. Just hope I shall have access to a TV set in the Tower of London when carried off on a Treason charge. (At least I would get in free.) Although watching TV, minus a head, might prove be troublesome. On reflection, lots of people do that already. Especially Daily Express readers etc etc...!
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 24 Jan 2011
Time: 14:15:18
Have to say that I felt proud to be an Old Gaytonian tonight as Paul Nurse reduced, on BBC TV, a Telegraph journalist to a quivering wreck on Climate Change: it was so good to see the scientific community finally coming out and presenting their case. Not quite sure, mind, how this brilliant guy first learned his Biology from a Colonel who was only able to dictate notes from a text book he used: well, actually, this isn't quite true - Paul was just curious from when he was little. Great programme; great symbol for the Centenary.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffrey maynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 24 Jan 2011
Time: 05:14:25
I'm in London for a few days with no email access. Went to the school for the 100th anniversary ceremony - 21st January 2011 was the day that the County School, Harrow opened. The main reunion celebrations are later this year - please, if you have not checked it out, click on the 100 years logo on the first page of this Gaytonian website. - Jeff
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 23 Jan 2011
Time: 10:07:18
To see some photographs of the centenary event, please go to one of the three 'Facebook' groups relating to the school. 'Old Gaytonians', 'Harrow High School 1998 onwards' or 'Gayton High School reunion'. To find them, search for 'Facebook' on google (or another search engine) and then type in the group name.
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 21 Jan 2011
Time: 16:21:10
To Martin Goodhall - whilst a birthday wish to Harrow County has been expressed here, the 'official' birthday wish (if I can use that term) has been to the building and educational establishment that has stood on that spot for the last 100 years, regardless of name (although many have wished Harrow HIGH a happy birthday as it is the name of the school there now). In the same way Harrow High School is vastly different to the Harrow County School of 1975, the Harrow County School of 1975 was vastly different to that of 1945, 1925 or 1911, although there are traditions and hints from all periods still running through the school of today... To Erica - there are a number of sport, form, CCF and other photos from the mid to late 1970s, although a majority have come from the school archives (which I run) and sadly in those cases we are limited to what has survived in dark corners of the school, or what has been donated. This doesnt seem to include your E form unfortunately, but I hope you'll find something of interest. I joined the E form the year you left, and well remember Miss Kleinlehrer, who took me for 1st Year German, before leaving. I last saw her on Charing Cross Station about two years later!
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 21 Jan 2011
Time: 16:00:54
Happy Birthday to the school, which turned 100 today! A fantastic Centenary Day event was held, with photographs appearing on here soon!
Name: Martin Goodall
Email: Square at abc.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1959 - 1966
Date: 21 Jan 2011
Time: 10:18:45
If a man dies aged 64, the Queen won't send him a telegram on his 100th birthday, nor will anyone else congratulate the deceased on reaching the age of 100, because he didn't. So why does anyone think it is sensible to do the same for a school which ceased to exist more than 35 years ago? Admittedly it is the tradition to celebrate centenaries, but such celebrations lose a lot of their point if the institution in question no longer exists and was thrown on the scrap-heap of history more than a third of a century ago.
Name: Erica Jones
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: sometime in the last 100 years!
Date: 21 Jan 2011
Time: 07:00:07
Happy 100 years School. I joined the army and then the navy, guess the school did not make a man out of me after all. :) BTW in case you are interested I served in the Gulf and also went to Beirut and joined a ship the day we all set sail for the Falklands..... Virtus non Stemma. Yes I am worth something, I did my bit for Queen and Country as did many.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 21 Jan 2011
Time: 06:27:08
Happy 100th Birthday to a school that gave so many boys the ability to use their God given talents, and to those young men who laid down their lives for others that would benefit from their sacrifice.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: michaelwritesforyouatyahooca
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 20 Jan 2011
Time: 19:09:26
Happy Centenary, Harrow County! Remembering the teachers who inspired us. And those Gaytonians who gave their lives in wartime. Here's to the next hundred. Michael.
Name: Erica Jones
Email: ericajonesvancatgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1976-1980
Date: 19 Jan 2011
Time: 20:22:07
Greetings from Portland Oregon USA. Its been many years since I left school,this year will be 31. I turn 47 in a few days. What a wild ride life has been for me. I went to a boys school a boy and now I am a woman. Funny how life turns out isn't it? Be nice to see some pictures from the mid 1970's when the school was called Gayton. Why does no one seem to care from that time period? I was in E class 1976-1980. Hi to Paul Weiss,Colin Worsnop, Mick Brown, Peter King, Manoj Bulsara, Stuart Ames,Ashley Livingstone, Chris Radette,Mr Cowburn, Miss Jones,Miss Kleinlehrer. Be well friends I know and friends I have forgotten, be well. Congratulations Harrow High School, I will raise a glass to you on my birthday which is the day after your 100th..... Peace.
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 19 Jan 2011
Time: 13:01:24
Laurence: you and I may have had our odd spats here but I am surprised that you would ever dream that I was after a flirtation with any pinny brigade....
Name: Paul Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 19 Jan 2011
Time: 05:24:37
Must be a hook and ladder brigade!
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957
Date: 18 Jan 2011
Time: 23:06:27
Well done Pete and Peter, you have gained the first rung of the pinny brigade. Maybe that's where Simpson got the name name Square!
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: The Simpson Years
Date: 17 Jan 2011
Time: 16:21:43
Pete...I think I can help out here. Deep research into the ever reliable and authorative Wikipedia reveals the following: PSGD - Periodic Secondary Grammar Delusions and APGM - Association for the Promotion of Grammar Myths. I believe I have spelt all the big words correctly. That's the benefit of a Grammar Education for which I have always been jenuinly and sinceerly greatfull.
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 17 Jan 2011
Time: 08:26:56
Laurence - no more esoterica! How am I supposed to know what those acronyms mean? Sure, I can google them, but I can't believe you are actually referring to the Partei Sozial Gerechter Demokratie in its forlorn attempts to discuss justice and solidarity; or, indeed, to the AutoPrevoz Gornji Milanovac and its undoubted expertise in investment matters. I think we should be told. As you, Laurence, came from the same background as me, and we were allowed, as we have learned, to jump up the old social ladder because of our timely immersion in HCS, I assume that you, like me, were warned by your father never to refer to certain shadowy organisations and their constituent parts, let alone refer to one of their elite. I believe the Colonel is awaiting your presence in his dungeon by the Biology Lab. He has asked me to tell you that he believes you still have lessons to learn.
Name: Laurence \lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957
Date: 16 Jan 2011
Time: 10:33:04
On another matter, does the OGA have an association with any Lodge? I know some members have or are senior members of the Masonic brotherhood, some indeed are PSGD and APGM.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 16 Jan 2011
Time: 07:32:29
Apologies for my poor typing, but I would prefer my surname being correctly spelt. Not that this alters my opinion that too many students drop out from poor courses at poor Institutes of Higher Education. This results in wasted funds, poor educational expectations and many unemployed graduates. That, after all is what the school is celebrating this years, success for those of worth not birth.
Name: clive pigram
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1950-1957
Date: 15 Jan 2011
Time: 09:08:00
Good to see Mr Lando is concerned about spelling. For my part I cannot find trace of the words straglely, od or hystionics. Misspent education for him perhaps, what a pity in one so vocal!!
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 14 Jan 2011
Time: 10:46:03
Peter Ward - diatribe as expected, no further forward with regret. Perhaps you will do me the courtesy of spelling my surname Lando and not Dando. Straglely I did meet the late Jill Dando, but we could not find an ancestor to share! Many congratulations to the School in this year od celebrations, and to remember the successes without the hystionics.
Gayton Centenary Celebration - Just to remind everyone - the School celebrates 100 years on January 21st. - Jeff Maynard
The School’s centenary is in 2011, The Old
Gaytonians Association (OGA) celebrates its 100th year in 2012. To mark
these significant anniversaries the School and the Association are working
closely together to plan a series of commemorative events over the period
January 2011 to June 2012. We anticipate that there will be something to
interest everyone, younger, older, sporting, cultural, historian and diner.
Please click
the Centenary Logo or this link
http://www.gaytoncentenaries.co.uk
to visit the Centenaries website. It provides a full timetable ents,
with details about each event, information about how you can participate and
help, and, soon, ticket-booking facilities and a small r
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 09 Jan 2011
Time: 10:52:12
In reply to Mr Anonymous - Firstly, if your email address is known to the organisers of the centenary then you must in recent times have contributed to this site openly, be a member of the Old Gaytonians Association, or had some other recent contact as that is where all have come from. Secondly, no one is being asked to bail out the school, the Old Gaytonians Association or anything else. As the Association no longer has a Sportsground to fund, we do occasionally, help the school where we might be asked to. Very few requests have been made and none are agreed upon without lengthy discussion amongst the Association Committee. There is still a very active and increasingly large school upon the site, whose staff and pupils are still eligible for membership of the Association, and this is why we do it. With activities in the school hall increasing and the interest in music and drama also at higher levels than for many years, we have decided to try and help aid this by way of a gift of new lighting. Very few such appeal's have been made in the last 25 to 30 years, but in all cases, those former pupils who have wanted to give have done so, and willingly. I have a feeling I know who wrote this message, which if correct, the tone does not surprise me in the least. But the simple message is, if you would like to give please do, if not, thank you anyway. if you bear a grudge against the school as was 30 or 40 years ago, it bears no relation whatsoever to the school that currently resides at Gayton Road.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet
Years_at_school: Simpsonian Era
Date: 08 Jan 2011
Time: 03:53:22
Thank you, Paul Romney, for your comments. My Darwin reference was never intended to support my thrust in recent debates ie lack of recognition of genuine achievements by today's young people, many from State Comprehensives. It was simply a specific response to Laurence Dando's general condemnation of 'drop-outs' from Higher Education. This has nothing to do with our on-going HCS-Comprehensives fandango. After all, Darwin is from a bygone era and attended Shrewsbury School! That said, I still hold to my main thrust which is that there is far more to education than schooling. And, today, there are positives to be found as well as the usual recital of perceived negatives. If you have any young relatives, you might like to track down my first book for children, The Adventures of Charles Darwin, CUP, ISBN 978-0-521-31074-1. This was re-issued in 2009. Or google 'Peter Ward Vikings' as the Darwin book is included on the general web site. It's good to debate.
(See http://www.peter-ward.net/ -ed.)
Name: Paul Romney
Email: at
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 05 Jan 2011
Time: 14:11:40
I'm not sure that Charles Darwin is on point here. One needs to know how he would have done if, instead of being well positioned in a highly elitist social order, he had been an ordinary bloke and educated at Gayton High or Harrow High. Or, if you like, how would I, Paul Romney, have done if I'd been educated at GH or HH? Even at HCS I only got two A levels, both mediocre; but I got into Oxford anyway. No doubt I wrote decent papers in the Oxford entrance exam, but it cannot have hurt that Harry Mees spoke to his old tutor, the Master of Pembroke, on my behalf. In other words, I had done well enough in primary school and on the 11-plus to position myself well in a highly elitist system.
How much did the quality of my education at HCS have to do with the outcome, though? I like to think that it helped me write those decent university entrance papers; but if so, why didn't it help me write better A Level papers? I'm inclined to ascribe the quality of my entrance papers at least in part to the calibre of my Sixth Form classmates, but perhaps I also owed something to the quality of other people who had gone to Oxford from HCS and given the school a solid reputation there.
In reality, you can't pursue the Ward-Lando argument on the basis of individual cases, be they Charles Darwin or myself. And here I have nothing more to say, since I have neither data nor the experience of living in the UK for the last 45 years to contribute. But perhaps I may refer briefly in passing to the remarks of the nameless ranter who asks us to respect his or her anonymity. People like us did indeed have a hand in bringing down the old system: i.e., middle-class people who feared that their children would fail the 11-plus and be shunted off into a Sec. Mod.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 04 Jan 2011
Time: 16:44:08
Just thought that I'd give the HCS web site a trawl before listening to the Test Match live from Australia. Laurence Lando and Bernard Gillespie continue to bang on about the disasters of the 'modern' Comprehensive Education system. Do they speak from intimate, inside knowledge? I do wish they would say but they never do. Laurence writes cuttingly about drop-outs at under-graduate level. Dropping out is nothing new and has an honourable history. So here is your NEW YEAR'S QUIZ question. Name a failure from a top English Public School who crashed TWO University courses, ending up without a degree. This lamentable individual had to be rescued from further embarrassment by a relative who pulled strings to send him on a ships' voyage around the world. At least it got him out of the way. That said, the fellow's subsequent thesis on Natural Selection and the Origin of Species wasn't at all bad. There is always hope.
Name: please respect my anonymity
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 31 Dec 2010
Time: 02:36:10
Since leaving HCS I have had virtually no contact with anyone. After such a long period I really have no wish to establish any contact (and thus want to preserve my anonymity) however I recently received a "Nigerian Scam" email (how did they obtained my new email address) asking for contributions to purchase lights for the 100 year anniversary shindig. I am not against this commemoration or having lights (at whatever the cost), but believe purchasing equipment as a pseudo legacy to the current establishment is grossly inappropriate. Why should we put our hands in our pockets to provide them with something they will (be incapable) not use? What was HCS is no more. In applauding Laurence Lando, it must be remembered that it is highly possible that OG's were the architects of the changes that have taken place. The raping and pillaging of the education system and building fabric is well documented. Also it would seem that over the years the OG's have severally bailed out the successive incumbents whose success is judged by ever changing standards (again something in which OG's may have had a hand). Now there is a request to bail them out again. It really has to be stopped.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 29 Dec 2010
Time: 09:27:38
BRAVO Laurence !!!!!!!!!!!!
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 28 Dec 2010
Time: 08:41:26
Peter remarks, in response to Bernard's question about current education standards, that it is wonderful how many school pupils acheive the entry into higher education. What he omits in saying, is that the fall-out rate among these sutudents is enormous and that many of the courses that exist, have a very difficult task in showing any added-value to the student's ongoing education. Indeed, it was only the Labour Party's mantra that increased the numbers of students attending establishments of higher education. To call them Universities is a step too far for many of them. The rapid escalation of costs of the increased number of students has resulted in the current increase in student fees. Higher education should indeed be available to all that qualify and to the nation that will benefit from a large group of young people able to contribute to society. That HCS is no more has been commented on by myself and others in the past, much to the annoyance of some. The school, even with such characters as Simpson, and Bingham, and with the scholars such as Waller et al, made its mark on the society we live in today. Perhaps the upcoming Centenary celebrations will rekindle some of the passion for education that enabled many from modest means, myself included, to be grateful to HCS for Boys.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
1957
Date: 28 Dec 2010
Time: 08:39:06
Peter remarks, in response to Bernard's question about current education standards, that it is wonderful how many school pupils acheive the entry into higher education. What he omits in saying, is that the fall-out rate among these sutudents is enormous and that many of the courses that exist, have a very difficult task in showing any added-value to the student's ongoing education. Indeed, it was only the Labour Party's mantra that increased the numbers of students attending establishments of higher education. To call them Universities is a step too far for many of them. The rapid escalation of costs of the increased number of students has resulted in the current increase in student fees. Higher education should indeed be available to all that qualify and to the nation that will benefit from a large group of young people able to contribute to society. That HCS is no more has been commented on by myself and others in the past, much to the annoyance of some. The school, even with such characters as Simpson, and Bingham, and with the scholars such as Waller et al, made its mark on the society we live in today. Perhaps the upcoming Centenary celebrations will rekindle some of the passion for education that enabled many from modest means, myself included, to be grateful to HCS for Boys.
Name: Peter "Min" Vincent
Email:
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 24 Dec 2010
Time: 01:30:07
While watching Breakfast on BBC1 this morning recovering from 'flu, did my eyes deceive me or did Carl Jackson's smiling face make a brief appearance during an article about the Queen's Christmas broadcast? Does this mean he will be in the broadcast - if so, well done him!
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 18 Dec 2010
Time: 02:51:48
Sir Paul Nurse is in the news again, in today's Times page 19. In the article he draws attention to the problems caused by visa quotas for his new UK Centre for Medical Research & Innovation. Since I live in the area, I have drawn the article to the attention of our local MP, together with a note of Sir Paul's local connection.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 16 Dec 2010
Time: 06:33:52
Thank you, Bernard from Canada! My publishers are basically Canadian although now taken over by a major USA firm, based in Philadelphia USA. I think maybe a little of your thinking is not...how can I put it...too up-dated? We don't talk any longer about chldren 'flunking' the 11-plus. It was (and still is in a few LEAs) a lottery, in many senses. It's not so much passing or failing but rather 'first past the post' That is, if there are (say) 250 places available it's very bad luck on No 251 who 'flunked' it. Especially, if that particular year was a good one. No.251 might have 'passed' the year before, or after. As to the 11-plus exam sorting out, at age 11, the 'intellectuals' who may gain from a cranked-up academic education...that concept is highly debatable. I would suggest the 11-plus was, and is, a very limited examination of a young person's intellectual potential - potential being the keyword. There are plenty of Loonies (I grant them the accolade of a capital letter) in modern and recent past State Education, in UK, who believe rigorous testing as the way forward. In 1997, the sainted Tony Blair got himself voted in on 'Education, Education, Education.' Not knowing the first thing about schools, he presumably meant 'Testing, Testing, Testing.' Now, 13 years on, our schools paricularly Primary Schools are rebelling against and, indeed, even boycotting these enforced procedures. As to the Community Schools... they try to do exactly what they are set up to do ie. educate all children of all abilities. At the top end of their academic range they can do very well, year on year. The results are there to see and be examined. My grandson attends one such school in Tunbridge Wells. Remarkably, this school has 4 local Grammar Schools to contend with (Kent LEA) with others in nearby Tonbridge. Also it has to cope with challenging local Public School competition eg Tonbridge School, itself. Talk about a handicap and cutting off arms and legs before the race. Nevertheless, this school The Bennett (C of E Diocesan) has a marvellous reputation with fine sets of academic results to back it up. (Please try googling it.) It is as genuine a Comprehensive as can be found, given the severe local competition. Other 'Comps' in the country do not face local 11-plus creaming off so they are in an even better position. For them, the only challenge is co-existing with the ultra-creaming off by the Public School system ('Public' meaning 'Private!') In your note, you talk about 'less academic' children having a right to education. So they do. And, outrageously, an enormous number subsequently succeed in getting into Higher Education. This was not the case with the Secondary Modern schools of the old (our) days. The key is not being categorised and written off at the age of 11. Fortunately for you, in Canada, I don't suppose the Daily Mail et al have too big a circulation. Although maybe they are on-line. If you want to get near the truth, please try original sources of information that aim to be accurate and objective. 'Daily Mail-type Think' (and I'm sure you are not prone to it) is best left floating in the gutter where it is well suited before being swept off to the general sewage system. There, it may well meet additional soggy copies of The Daily Express.) Well deserved but not a pleasant thought!
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 15 Dec 2010
Time: 05:47:23
thank you Peter for your response . I got to the Wapedia site by accident, as I said in a post of a few days ago I was having difficulty getting to the HCS site. a Bookmark I have used for years drew the response from the Net that I was giving wrong info . so I Googled HCS and came up with a group of which I chose two at random One was the 1927 entry list which however enabled me to get to the HCS home page and the other was the Wapedia site. my time at HCS was before the arrival of Dr Simpson and my understanding of the high regard in which HCS was held is based on the record before WW2 . from the various posts on the subject of Dr Simpson it is clear to me that his school was quite different from the one I attended and you may well be right that if his tenure has been Ofsted-ed the school would have received a failing grade. In Canada ( where we live 7 months in the year - the other 5 in Florida ) there is an educational entity called a "community college" which is between high school and university ..... its principal function is to train people who don't qualify ( academically ) for Uni in the applied arts and crafts . in this respect it is similar to the principle of the "Senior" schools that existed in Harrow for students who flunked the scholarship exam or who had not been invited to sit for it. the system recognised that not every student had the intellectual talent to go to grammar school and University but was nevertheless entitled to an education ..... is this the role of the "community school" in Britain ?
Name: David Farrell
Email: def at case dot edu
Years_at_school: 1950-57
Date: 14 Dec 2010
Time: 19:10:24
I moved to the USA in 1964 and stumbled across this fine website just yesterday. I was not surprised to read the lamentations and gnashing of teeth concerning certain larger-than-life "characters" on the staff. However, of more interest to myself are the quiet teachers whose day-to-day work in the classroom made the "climbing ladder" a reality for many of us. I'm thinking particularly of Bill Duke (math) and Cecil (Tufty) Groombridge (physics). I barely squeaked into the school, so started life in the lowest of the low, the frozen outpost called form 1D. But Bill showed me the wonder and beauty of math, and Tufty did the same for physics. Tufty's classes were memorable not just for their theoretical depth, but also for their astonishingly large experimental component; I still have lab books containing the results of a hundred and twenty seven experiments. In all cases, these are compared with theoretical predictions and the write-up personally checked by Tufty. I don't know how the man managed the labor involved. In USA high-schools, serious experimental work has now been essentially abandoned because it is deemed too labor intensive - or at best replaced by computer "experiments"; I suspect that this may also be true in England. But, as with human relations, so with experimental physics - there is no substitute for direct experience. I never did get to thank Bill and Tufty for their contributions to my career, but would be very interested to hear from others who owe them a similar debt of gratitude.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 14 Dec 2010
Time: 17:35:20
Thank you Bernard. Paul Romney's points are well made. May I suggest that instead of going to 'Wapedia' for your information, you go direct to the Ofsted site? The term 'outstanding' is by no means subjective. The term Ofsted's own and represents the highest of its five categories of attainment. Ofsted may have its critics but I don't think they can ever be condemned as non-objective. The 'outstanding' classification can be applied to a school as a whole, its Management and the performance of teachers and pupils in different subject areas. It is not given lightly. In fact, only sparingly. Of course, the huge irony is that the former Grammar School under Dr AR Simpson would have unquestionably been dubbed by today's rigorous Ofsted force as a failure. It would have been placed on a special list and monitored very closely, on a year by year basis. Recommendations of the inspection would be mandatory. I do know a little bit about this, having taught in both Primary and Secondary sectors, and been 'Ofsteded'! A fairly chilling experience as most teachers will tell you.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 14 Dec 2010
Time: 13:05:06
thank you Peter and Paul for your responses. the source for my earlier comments was the Wapedia site which quotes the OFSTED figures in two academic performance categories and in both if these HHS is below ( in the second category one might say well below ) the average values for England. That doesn't seem to fit well with someone's subjective judgement of "outstanding" . Reading the " Admission" section of that site it is clear that HHS is fighting an uphill battle and that given the low starting point of some of the students it may well be that HHS is doing a commendable job but the academic numbers do not yet support an "outstanding" rating. You are right, of course, Paul, HCS was shredded 35 years ago . and it was perhaps foolish of me to compare the academic performance of HCS grammar school with HHS community school ...... I have lived away from Britain for more than 50 years and term "community school" is new to me . Perhaps one of you would define it for me. thanks again
Name: Paul Romney
Email: same old
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 14 Dec 2010
Time: 11:38:13
Surely Bernard Gillespie, in asking how a once-great school could have fallen so far, is posing a question based on erroneous premises. Harrow County School ceased to exist in 1975. The two schools that have successively occupied its old premises are completely different entities. One might as well ask how Prince Charles's wife could have changed so much over the past 30 years.
Name: Bill Harrison
Email: bill.harrisonatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1961-1968
Date: 14 Dec 2010
Time: 08:24:07
With reference to the recent posts about Sir Paul Nurse, the core information was published in the DT last April. Good to see the Mail is well on top of current affairs!
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 14 Dec 2010
Time: 05:46:04
As Peter says the story on Sir Paul Nurse is interesting. Possible to take an intelligent guess at his paternity. He write "It?s possible he was a serviceman, perhaps even American. I have a picture of me as a little boy wearing an airman?s hat which Miriam gave me, telling me it was a present from a friend, so perhaps that?s a clue?" In 1948 there was a huge USAF base in Ruislip. An interesting thought that a U.S. Airman may have lived out his entire life not knowing he'd fathered a Nobel Prize winner
Name: Peter ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 13 Dec 2010
Time: 15:56:46
Maybe I'm going senile. My recently-birthdayed 67 year-old ex-brain has at last atrophied. I have just read Bernard Gillespie's claim that HCS was rated 5th best Grammar School in its time. Fine. By whom? And how scientific? The criteria? (Para) Further, and far more significantly, he claims the current Harrow High School...much more of an socio-economic-ethnic mix without the 'benefits' of County Grammar selection...is 'under-performing.' (Para) Has Mr Gillespie taken the trouble to examine the June 2008 Ofsted Report? I'd be grateful if he will inform us. My reading of it is that the current school is performing outstandingly. In Ofsted terms that's the tops. The Report is full of Grades 1 and the occasional 2. Please, Mr Gillespie, respond to the challenge. Have you done your homework?
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 13 Dec 2010
Time: 13:58:14
I had difficulty getting onto the HCS web site the past few days but thanks to the magic of Google I am back in business ......... while Googling I came across a site which described the present status of the school on Gayton Road ...... to my surprise and horror I read that many years since the HCS was rated among the top 5 grammar schools in England the present school performs " below average" ..... a bit below the norm for the rest of Harrow and a long way below the norm for England .......... is this the result of demographic changes in the catchment area ? or the "Sports College" title ? or poor teachers ? or the best and brightest students being sent by their parents to private schools ? or comprehensivitis ? or something else ? anyone out there have any ideas of what has gone wrong and how a once great school could have fallen so far ?
Name: Peter "Min" Vincent
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 12 Dec 2010
Time: 06:55:46
Interesting article about Sir Paul Nurse in Mail today - see www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1337908/Revealed-The-Nobel-Prize-winner-discovered-sister-really-mother.html for details.
Name: Angus Barron
Email: abarron85athotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1983 to 1987
Date: 08 Dec 2010
Time: 09:20:55
Re: names on your page: Form2C1984.htm
2nd from right on top row is Rajinder Sawney
1st on right on top row the correct spelling is Michael Matthews
Centre row 5th along is Simon Holman.
The mystery person surname was Brambhat or something very like that.
(the names have been added - ed)
http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/Form2C1984.htm
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonderdotco.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 07 Dec 2010
Time: 10:37:14
Reverting to recent references to Mike Hunt, I canot forbear mentioning a blunder yesteday by James Naughtie, presenter of Radio 4's Today programme, when he mispronounced Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's name when introducing him. He subsequently displayed his ignorance - or ineptitude - in a letter of apology to Mr Hunt when he called his blunder a spoonerism. It wasn't, of course; he didn't refer to him as Heremy Junt. Amazingly, an hour later, Andrew Marr - a rather better journalist - committed the same blunder in his Start the Week programme. (OK, Mike, I'll lay of now.)
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 06 Dec 2010
Time: 11:34:09
Simpson in drag? Now we're talking! And it explains so much. Does anyone remember that report of a middle-aged, chain-smoking woman in fox fur and high heels teetering down Sheepcote Road with the HCS Pavilion Fund proceeds in her copious handbag? Knacker of The Yard must have known about this. Why was he so silent?
Name: Derek King
Email: derek.king at blueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1960-68
Date: 06 Dec 2010
Time: 07:46:16
I saw 'Matilda, A Musical' (from Roald Dahl's book) at the RSC Courtyard theatre in Stratford-on-Avon on Saturday. Do go and see it - reviews should appear in the press in a few days, and it runs until 30 January. Why see it? (1) It's very good. (2) The villain is, facially to an unsettlingly uncanny extent, the spitting image of the late and unlamented Dr A R Simpson. Miss Trunchbull (played by a man in drag), even more uncannily, is (a) a headteacher; (b) represented her country at sport; and (c)shares many of the behavioural traits of ARS. Enjoy!
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 06 Dec 2010
Time: 03:04:09
Judt's arguments, as with everything he wrote, are evidenced. And some of us here understand his argument subjectively: those, that is, from working class backgrounds who passed the scholarship, went to HCS, and were given opportunities never available to our parents. I suspect there are many of us here who were given the means of social mobility by HCS. The problem, though, was rather obvious. HCS was geared to its Oxbridge entrants: the rest were failures. Even someone who trotted off to Manchester University to do Computing and Maths when Turing was there was dismissed as an also-ran by the school leadership - let alone the disposable boys in the lower streams, who were fed on a constant diet of the worst teachers in the school whilst the best teachers focused on the A streams (give or take the odd Harry Mees and his quite wonderful pedagogic principles). If you then add, as a further layer, the two thirds of kids who never even went to a Grammar School, let alone HCS, then it is painfully clear why the system at that time was rotten to the core. I know only too well that there are wonderful comprehensives and some really good teachers in them - but I know equally well that the comprehensive system has failed. I'm not sure, incidentally, how you can have a comprehensive system when you have private education at the same time, but that's an argument beyond this discussion. But none of this - the evidence of Judt's thesis, the failure of comprehensives - adds a shred of credibility to those who believe, somehow, that the HCS of its golden years is, in any way, a movie worth a replay. Yes, it gave a chance to a small few of us; but it operated within an overall model that condemned 80% of the children to a sub-standard education.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 05 Dec 2010
Time: 11:21:42
we seem to have a stand-off ..... two responses, one for and one against the proposition ..... thank you Peter and Michael for your contributions to this topic which I aired as much or its importance for education in the UK as to get the message board to talk about something other than Dr Simpson...... but he seems to have crept in even here ........
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 04 Dec 2010
Time: 17:39:54
To Bernard Gillespie. Thank you for your response. With respect, I think you may be missing the point. I did understand you were seeking the views of an recent 'Harrow High' type student and not an ancient old HCS buffer like me. But I was making a more general point. My (see previous) challenge to visit a local Comp goes for the 'new' Harrow school as any other. I'll bet my bottom dollar there are huge successes to be revealed and achieved by youngsters who may never have made it into the old HCS. (PARA) I don't fall for the 'so many degrees are down-graded argument.' Whilst I accept that Trout Fishing, Making Custard, Media Studies and Sports Sciences etc may be questionable, it would be interesting to find out if the current Gayton Road-based school gets young people onto seriously-rated courses in accredited institutions. At an educated guess, it no doubt does. Thus, I repeat my generalised point...today's State Comps so often do not get the recognition they deserve. Educationally, many are miles ahead of what the primaeval Dr Simpson understood to be 'education'.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 04 Dec 2010
Time: 15:05:48
thank you Peter Ward for sharing your thoughts on the grammar school vs comprehensive school system ........ in my previous post I was seeking the views of those who had put in their high school years under the comp system ..... so far I have seen one response from a former student at the school on Gayton Road that met my criteria and a second, yours, Peter, which does not ..... according to earlier posts you were at the Gayton Road school from 1958-1963 and thus did not experience as a student whatever it was that the new system brought with it .......... your present defense of the comp system appears to be spoken from within the system ..... as a teacher ....... ? I don't think that anyone previously has accused Professor Judt of talking "unresearched tosh" ......... as to the degrees that are being doled out in the UK ( although perhaps only in England ) since the post-war proliferation of so-called universities I don't set much store by them ........ Britain has become "Americanised" ........ in the US practically every village boasts it's university where undergraduate degrees are handed out to people who are sometimes barely literate ......... Britain has not yet sunk so far as that but I am distressed by the way that previously respectable non-degree granting institutions have been "up-graded " to university status with essentially no change in the level or nature of the education offered..... instead of a respectable diploma the student ends up with a meaningless BA ............ the undergraduate degree has been "dumbed-down" almost to the level of a high-school diploma...... would you not agree ?
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 03 Dec 2010
Time: 16:47:58
Grammar Schools vs. State Comprehensives? Only Grammar Schools possessed the ability to liberate deprived children so they might achieve success? I don't think so. I recently heard from an ex-pupil of mine (I taught her, in the 1990s, when she was nine.) She and virtually all our children lived on a very dodgy Council estate, in SE London. Michelle, who left us to go to a 'State Comp', is now taking her M.A. She told me that her whole table (3 boys and 3 girls) in that former Primary class have gained degrees. Two of the boys in Computer Sciences and another girl is now an Underwriter in The City. Those who have never been near State Comprehensives, and presumably wouldn't wish to, so often talk complete, unresearched tosh. It's the kind of prejudicial nonsense put out by the likes of those former newspapers, The Daily Mail and The Daily Express. Some of our Secondary Comprehensives are doing wonders in very difficult circumstances. Visit your nearest one and ask not just about the negatives but also the good news stories. There will be plenty. Guaranteed.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email:
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 03 Dec 2010
Time: 16:11:04
Bernard Gillespie: the historian Tony Judt, characterised the "destruction of the selective state schools of England in the sixties" as the "most socially retrograde piece of legislation in post-war Britain" a position with which I agree .......(I left HCS 20 years before it's demise) ...... but do the post-1964 students at the school agree? Yes, Bernard, I agree with you (and Tony Judt for that matter) wholeheartedly. A study by the LSE (crucible of revolution but for once I agree with them) stated that if you are born into an area of poverty you are now likely to spend the rest of your life in that area. One of the reasons for this is the current comprehensive education system with its house-price and post-code lottery (selection on the grounds of wealth) and its lying culture of "Head-teacher, we go to church or mosque or synagogue or temple every week." I have been waiting for 30 years to hear the dulcet tones of Eastenders, Sarf Londoners, Scousers, Brummies etc in senior positions in politics, the civil service, industry, academe etc. It's going to be a long wait. Enough venom and vitriol! Michael.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampabay.rr.com
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 03 Dec 2010
Time: 14:45:21
the historian Tony Judt, characterised the "destruction of the selective state schools of England " in the sixties as the " most socially retrograde piece of legislation in post-war Britain " a position with which I agree .......( I left HCS 20 years before it's demise) ...... but do the post-1964 students at the school agree ? ...... which brings me to my second point ....... next year, 2011, is 100 years since HCS was founded ........ but what are the celebrations about ? HCS hasn't existed for more than 40 years ....... the original buildings still exist more or less but I don't see that alone as a cause to celebrate ..... 2011 might be better considered a "wake" for a long-dead grammar school
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindotdickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 02 Dec 2010
Time: 03:57:08
Good to hear from you again, Tony. We did exchange a few e-mails after your last venture into the website, but looking back at them just now I find that some are incomplete because of changes in Windows. So successful was your low profile that I had forgotten that you were a member of the coterie in the back corner. You omitted to mention another member, Bob Mackenzie, who was top of the form every term for four years - apart from one, when a boy called Anton joined us and also sat in your corner. He came top just one term, but Bob saw him off subsequently. I've been very much in touch with Len Taylor over many years and we have lunched together in town frequently. He had a quite severe stroke earlier this year and our lunches and streams of e-mails have dried up, although I have visited him several times and will be seeing him again the week after next. BTW, you and I were, of course, at Longfield together and I have to remind you that Miss Cuthbertson (rather nice, actually) was head of the infants school. Head of the junior school was Miss Holiday, the person you describe so accurately. My most enduring memory of her was the ugly, twitchy grimace as she caned me for something - although I have long forgotten what my crime was.
Name: Tony Youdale
Email: wildlightathughesdotnet
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 01 Dec 2010
Time: 21:14:57
I found this site just over ten years ago and was pleased to do so and I was interested to find a lively discussion about my headmaster, Simpson. I am amazed to find the same discussions going on some ten years later by the same group of people. Simpson, along with the other masters had little effect on me by design and those who attended Longfield primary school will perhaps be amused as to how this came about. For my last year at Longfield I had a teacher whose name was Mrs. Gotobed, whose name I had a lot of fun with and spent some time outside Miss Cuthbertsons office(Headmistress). She was a dour person, with grey hair and she was a Miss need I say more. Before starting Harrow County there was a parent, student, masters meeting. I was in attendance and after one look at the grim faced men in black gowns in front of me (Simpson was one of them)I decided that Miss Cuthbertson was probably tame in comparison and that I was going to make every effort to steer clear of these men. I was quite successful aided by the fact that with a name begining with Y and the classes sat alphabetically, I had Wise on one side of me and Taylor just in front of me and they commanded most of the masters attention leaving me unnoticed in the back corner. I was in an outside the school scout group and ran cross country which brought me close to only Crinson who was a very nice guy. As soon as I had my advanced levels I left and started work at the Radiochemical center in Amersham and moved on in life unaffected by Simpson and his team. From what I keep reading I think I made the right decision
Name: Tony Youdale
Email: wildlightathughesdotnet
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 01 Dec 2010
Time: 20:45:23
I found this site about just over ten years ago and was pleased to do so and I was intewrested to find a lively discussion about my headmaster, Simpson. I am amazed to find the same discussions going on some ten years later by the same group of people. Simpson, along with the other masters had little effect on me by design and those who attended Longfield primary school will perhaps be amused as to how this came about.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: !958-63
Date: 01 Dec 2010
Time: 10:07:33
Good one, Clive. I stand corrected. If I had married Maggie Thatcher I would have devoted myself to methylated spirits. Or something out of Father Jack's drinks cupboard in the wonderful Father Ted. Parazone, perhaps?
Name: Clive Pigram
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1950-57
Date: 01 Dec 2010
Time: 08:26:29
Peter, please note as a matter of (political) preference, Denis drank gin (large ones) not whisky.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 01 Dec 2010
Time: 03:49:58
As I'm snowed in, in rural Sussex, there's more time than usual to visit the HCS site. Please, Michael Schwartz, leave Simpson's great grand-daughter in peace. Her original responses were dignified. As for the new Thatcher-Simpson debate...that could go on forever. What a pity they never met. Imagine the spawn they might have sired (if so inspired.) Is there a 'dictatorship' gene? Perhaps we should consult Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society. He may know. It makes me think of Mark Thatcher in a new light. Not half the horror he might have been if it hadn't been for Dear Denis. The world should be grateful to the old whisky-totting golfer.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: PeterFowlerFanClub
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 30 Nov 2010
Time: 19:57:44
Do you think we should invite Simpson's great-grand-daughter to visit the latest comments - as she did earlier this year? Just a (wicked) thought. Michael.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindotdickinsatblueyondercouk
Years_at_school:
Date: 30 Nov 2010
Time: 19:12:59
I think a rejoinder is called for, but for Chris (not Peter, I know he has read it already) I first make a link to my "alternative" view of Simpson in this website: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/dickinsars.htm
I have taken the trouble to re-read Peter's entries there fully and with some pleasure. Written at greater length than a Guestbook entry, your views seem more measured there, Peter. I have also carefully re-read this whole Guestbook thread and, Chris, I take your relatively restrained response to my "plain silly" with appreciation. However, while you call your reference to Thatcher humorous, I really can't see it. Like her or loathe her, she did what was necessary to rescue this country from threatened descent into third world status. The second Wilson government was utterly disastrous as, among other things, he put the trades unions above the law in a (contemptuously abused and rejected) attempt to gain their support. He led the country into an IMF bail-out and jumped ship to leave poor Callaghan to try and rescue things. All he got was the "winter of discontent". Just as now, the country knew then that some nasty medicine had to be taken and Thatcher was elected to prescribe it. She did it with admirable effect, and I cannot forbear mentioning that, hard and nasty as she was deemed to be by many, stories about of her personal warmth and kindness privately to people of all political persuasions.
The word "dictator" is much abused (although I do have some sympathy with anyone who protests that words and their meanings evolve in our great living language). It comes from a very specific Roman practice of appointing one man - the dictator - with absolute power during a political or national crisis. The appointment would be for three years only, and Fabius Maximus was the great archetype. Perhaps it would chime with you both if Simpson had been appointed for just such a limited period - although three years would hardly be enough and the School was not in crisis when he arrived.
Brian Hester's observation that "After a career involving exposure to management in heavy industry, Simpson appears in retrospect as rather a mild sort of chap compared with some I've met" amused me. But, Chris, you dismiss this as you contrast industry with teaching, saying "one is basically geared to making as much money as possible, the other to helping individual young people to fulfil their potential." You imply vice and virtue, but can you not concede that without the wealth created by the former there are not the means to provide the latter?
You, Peter and Chris, and I sit on either side of the political diivide. It has not prevented reasonable debate and regard for each other's opinion - nor should it - but I wonder how much that colours our respective tolerance of Simpson. For my part, it meant only, I think, that his right wing views did not grate with me - although I found his occasionally vehement pronouncement of them excruciatingly embarrassing. It seemed at the least bad manners and insensitive, although I do believe that he held his views honestly and decently. Let me just say that my "alternative" views of him were held without that aggravation. I still see many vices, but I see more virtues.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1959-66
Date: 29 Nov 2010
Time: 11:59:28
Precisely, Peter. I too speak from many years' teaching experience, at all levels, and confirm what you say about how not to treat the less academic pupils.
We had some excellent teachers at HCS, some average-to-good, a few just dreadful...And, in assessing ARS's achievement, let's also not forget the superb raw material entering his school in the form of pupils of very good calibre indeed, usually from 'good backgrounds' as well, where parental encouragement would not be lacking.
In other words, he was potentially 'on a winner', as it were, from the start, and the record of under-achievement referred to by Peter Ward speaks volumes for the man's limitations, frankly, both of vision and expertise.
His time at the school may even be described, at one level, as a descent from being an exceedingly zealous meritocrat to a 'stone raving bonkers' elitist.
And worst of all - he wouldn't even accept being given out in a Staff v School cricket match...Shocking example, eh?!!
Name: Peter Ward
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: Too many
Date: 29 Nov 2010
Time: 11:32:44
To Colin Dickins. I'm glad we can agree and disagree in a friendly spirit. I think Chris Esmond and I have the advantage over you. Judging from your stated years at the school, it appears you may have missed out on the time Simpson deteriorated into a somewhat ludicrous figure. He certainly lost control. I well remember him berating a fractionally yobbish colleague of mine as a 'Hungarian renegade from Soho smelling of spagetti!' (The guy was wearing 'condemned' brown suede shoes at the time.) If only Simpson said goulash. I think you missed out on the fun. The serious side of Simpson is not really the autocratic regime for which he was responsible. It was the HCS educational failure. Too much weight is given to 'his' State Scholarship and Oxbridge Exhibition achievements and no account is taken of the very poor results of C and D streams. These 'failures' were not dim. They were humiliated,antagonised, poorly taught and, in more enlightend institutions, may well have flourished. I have some insight into this having taught up to 'A' Level in two Inner London Comprehensives and enjoyed nine years in Primary Education. All three were in deprived areas. We got youngsters finally through to Higher Education who wouldn't have got near Simpson's HCS. The man's PR operation is simply not be believed. When singing his praises, his few advocates normally think only of their own successes and not the disappointments of others less academic. Oh - and just in case Dr Simpson never noticed - there is more to education than pure academe. His own lack of grace and a rounded personality is a good case in point.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1959-66
Date: 29 Nov 2010
Time: 10:45:20
Colin Dickins writes: I think your last two sentences are well worth considering, particularly by Chris Esmond, some of whose comments seem to betray a hatred which seems to be as fanatical as he judges his subject to be. To equate Thatcher with Hitler, Pol Pot et al. is, in fact, just plain silly and greatly diminishes his arguments.
Chris Esmond replies: Take it easy, Colin, you've missed the humour (thus greatly diminishing your argument!) - I deliberately included Thatcher for the fun of it, the irony of it rather tickled me...Although she was something of a 'dictatorial character' herself, was she not? And I don't recall seeing her shedding any tears for the Argentine dead as a result of her Falklands 'adventure'...
You impute 'hate' for ARS on my part. I wouldn't recognise quite such an extreme response in myself, yet rather that than any supine acquiescence to such an individual.
You see, Colin, reflecting upon my experience of the ethos and atmosphere he created at HCS, ARS representing almost an 'archetypal' self-righteously narrow, rigid, 'ossified' mentality, does induce strong feelings, of which I'm certainly not in the least ashamed and for which I see absolutely no reason at all to apologise.
Although my contempt for the man rather tends to dissolve into the sort of ridicule Peter Ward advises, being more appropriate on mature reflection. More of which, no doubt, in due course!
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 29 Nov 2010
Time: 05:19:52
Interesting, Peter. You and I have agreed and disagreed in the past (mostly the former) and your comments always ccommand my attention. While disposed to question the earlier part of your contribution, I think your last two sentences are well worth considering, particularly by Chris Esmond, some of whose comments seem to betray a hatred which seems to be as fanatical as he judges his subject to be. To equate Thatcher with Hitler, Pol Pot et al. is, in fact, just plain silly and greatly diminishes his arguments.
I will not rehearse yet again my oft expressed opinions and experience of Square, but it may be relevant to the discussion that I joinrd the School after he had established his position and was embarking on his most effective and successful years - the greatest of which were to come after my departure. His authoritarianism was much less exceptionable at that time. He did, indeed, have difficulty coping with a changing social and political culture, then and subsequently, but the vast majority of us who were there during his "tyranny" - and for some years to follow - benefited from what he created.
And to revert briefly to Randall Williams, he did decline in performance in his later years in office, as he became more interested in the church, and no less a person than Beaky Fooks, to whom I remained close to the end, confided to my astonishment that he was a bully. I think he was referring to him in respect of management of his staff, but it is something to reflect on.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 28 Nov 2010
Time: 16:53:37
Chris Esmond beat me to it and got it spot on. The fascination (not the alleged 'obsession') of Simpson is the fact that he was, as Chris rightly put it, a dictator. I have long been puzzled by the rise and self-proclaimed achievements of global dictators. Chris named some of the chief culprits. It's how they get there (that's where the energy and drive come in.) Just as importantly, how they fool people who back, appoint or believe in them. And then, horror of horrors, the fact that they stay in power with distorted PR, little challenged, supported by a seedy sub-level of (forgive the pun) ARS-licking underlings! 'People' like Mao, Pol Pot, Magabe, Idi Amin, and the wonderful Hastings Banda etc. kept or keep going, for ages. In his big fish in a small pond way, Simpson applied the same principles. Iron will and fist, fanatical belief in his own precepts and great PR. But he shouldn't be taken so seriously - with respect to some HCS correspondents who claim he scarred them for life. In truth, Square was pathetic and risible; the butt of numerous jokes, japes and escapdes. I have made the point before. He incited schoolboy rebellion, however adolescent. But in adult and professional life, it is sometimes necessary to kick against the traces and challenge the establishment-thinking of out of touch, rigid authority. It's how Society progresses. Few, if any, Reform Movements succeeded with the willing concession of The Establishment of the time. For me, exposure to Simpson's system of mild tyranny was a lesson well learnt. Perhaps we ought to be more grateful to our sad Mentor?
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1959-66
Date: 28 Nov 2010
Time: 15:58:09
Paul Romney writes: The longer I live, the more clearly I see that mere intelligence, however lovingly nurtured, is of little consequence unless it is harnessed to energy and will; and of course there are different sorts of intelligence. Square must have had considerable energy and will and a certain intelligence to rise from the humble origins that Pete's research has disclosed. CE: No doubt about it, Paul, he possessed the energy of a fanatic, driven by a rigidly-held, absolute belief in the total rightness of his cause. Rather like a good old Scottish evangelical, in fact?! Not that unusual he should land the job though, when you think about it - employers like a bit of 'enthusiasm' in a job applicant, don't they? Besides, I hardly think the school governors then were particularly 'enlightened'... Energy and Will - key attributes of all the great dictators, all the great meddlers and poisoners of mankind - Hitler, Stalin, Mao...Thatcher...!
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1959-66
Date: 28 Nov 2010
Time: 14:24:36
In response to Brian Hester, well,your impression of ARS was only from one year, perhaps significantly, your last, when you were on your way out, as it were, so it seems you were almost certainly spared the worst 'excesses' of his tenure. Also, of course, your time at HCS and that of myself and others of like mind here were considerably different in terms of the general ambience of the world we were growing up in, my generation being right on the cusp of far-reaching social changes, notably the burgeoning 'youth culture', the challenging on many fronts of the established social order and its hitherto almost inviolable norms, including the 'sexual revolution'(of which, admittedly, there was little, if any, evidence at HCS). My point being that we sensed very acutely, as time went on, how much of an ananchronism he was, how representative of a very old-fashioned, repressive standpoint, in dramatic contrast to the world that was unfolding outside the narrow confines of the all boys grammar school, presented to us by the music, films, newspapers and magazines of the era, and ever more visible in the streets. I don't think your experience, Brian, was similar in such respects. As for ARS being of a milder bent than you found in heavy industry, well, I'd suggest that management there and in schools are two rather different challenges, demanding very different approaches. For a start, one is basically geared to making as much money as possible, the other to helping individual young people to fulfil their potential. Sure, industry needs to 'keep people happy', meaning relatively 'pacified', content enough not to 'rock the boat',if possible, for the sake of efficiency and profit, but isn't one of the prime goals of education the happiness of the individual, empowering the person to create well-being in themselves by fostering all manner of skills? And respecting that person for who they are? Of course, that happened at HCS, in various ways - but definitely not through the direct influence of the personality of the Head, who for me and many others was an intimidating presence, someone who spread fear all around, someone you simply wanted to avoid, to whom you'd much rather remain unknown and certainly not get to know. As such, stalking around the place in his gown, he emanated a joyless discontent, incipient anger, a sort of miserable 'tyranny' even, which made its insidious mark upon the very young, impressionable (as you say, Brian)and sometimes very vulnerable boys. As I said below, simply pure poison - the antithesis of a happy atmosphere! You say he was there to produce "a string of achievers", Brian...What a very narrow definition of such an important job! What about helping to produce happy, well-balanced, well-rounded, creative, free-thinking people, unafraid to question the status quo, open to the new, open to life? You missed, of course, his infamous, completely mad rants in assemblies against pet targets, eg modern fashions and, notably, in this present context, the for him, academically - and even, socially - utterly unworthy fifth formers. Contrasting, of course, to his veritable paeans of praise for his precious Oxbridge scholarship boys... Do you begin to understand, Brian, the level of fear and consequent contempt we had for this character? Frankly, Brian, humour was the best weapon to have at hand against such an apparently blind, inflexible tyranny (and no, I don't think I am exaggerating using such a phrase). The younger ones, as I recall - if they were lucky - tended to learn it from the more disaffected, resilient older pupils. But it was not a particularly pleasant atmosphere to grow up in, to put it mildly.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: see below
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 28 Nov 2010
Time: 04:02:52
Brian Hester makes some good observations about Square, but I see nothing to justify his opening remark. Most (I hope all) of us spend a tiny fraction of our lives on this excellent web site. The fact that a certain topic relevant to the site tends to crop up frequently on it does not suggest an obsession on anyone's part. There are two good reasons why Square pops up so frequently. One is that, for many of us, our schooldays loom large in our memory (or we wouldn't come here at all), and Square loomed large in that experience. The other is that he was a rather remarkable figure, well worthy of the sort of retrospective contemplation to which Pete Fowler has subjected him. The longer I live, the more clearly I see that mere intelligence, however lovingly nurtured, is of little consequence unless it is harnessed to energy and will; and of course there are different sorts of intelligence. Square must have had considerable energy and will and a certain intelligence to rise from the humble origins that Pete's research has disclosed. I find it interesting that someone so devoid of charm should have been so successful in a managerial capacity, but he was operating in a hierarchical system where a strong will was a great asset. What we lack (or certainly I do) is a sense of how he interacted with his superiors. This would speak to the question, which Brian raises, as to how and why was he recruited.
Name: Bernard Gillespie
Email: rgillespieattampsbay.rr.com'
Years_at_school: 1939-1944
Date: 27 Nov 2010
Time: 15:00:14
almost every time I log onto the HCS website I thank my parents for conceiving me in March of 1927 and thus ensuring ( given my pretty dismal record of achievement at HCS ) that I would live my high-school years under the benevolent eye of Randall Williams MA ..........
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 26 Nov 2010
Time: 15:42:50
Stalking? If you write about the past, you have to do research. I was doing some stuff on 60s Grammar Schools and it dawned on me instantly: was there anything more representative than the very Head we had at that time? That's how history is written - digging. Not stalking.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 26 Nov 2010
Time: 14:45:48
I share Callum Kerr's surprise at the obsession with Simpson that so many contributors here have carried into their adult lives. I can quite see how the average impressionable eleven year old would be overawed by the man. My own acquaintance with him covers my last year at school and his first. He was evidently designing his course of action by 'treading lightly and carrying a big stick'. Before shaking up the boys he tackled the staff. We'll never what happened but there was much blood on the common room floor. For example, of the five old boys on the staff, four chose to leave. For Simpson, it was a plum job. In mid-career he was plucked out of a school in a small, provincial town reknowned only for its kippers and as the birth place of Harry Lawder. (His singature song 'keep right on to the end of the road' epitomized Simpson's position. He was there). How he was recruited, we'll never know but he knew how to take charge, set goals and formulate plans. He was a good manager and managed for results although he clearly made no attempt to make friends along the way. He simply came to work, spat tacks, and then went home to a life he kept entirely separate from work. After a career involving exposure to management in heavy industry, Simpson appears in retrospect as rather a mild sort of chap compared with some I've met. He built on the good standing the school already enjoyed when he took over and produced a string of 'achievers', which after all was his job.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1959-66
Date: 26 Nov 2010
Time: 10:31:45
No wonder the guy seemed so full of anger and ill humour - even his (extremely occasional) smile seemed 'forced', somehow, his face certainly wasn't usd to it - he came from a traditionally repressive background and tried to well and truly 'lay his trip' upon generations of innocent kids. As those of his ilk always try to, neither having known nor being open to accept any alternative. Yes, we can, did and do laugh at this caricature of a human being (as he was in our experience, we know nothing else), but he was dangerous, make no mistake, poisoning the atmosphere around him with fear. I have literally no positive memories of the man, none whatsoever.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1959-66
Date: 26 Nov 2010
Time: 09:21:29
Yes, a 'robot' indeed, Peter! Well, with that background - aspirational lower-middle-class (?), with more than a mere 'seasoning' of a no doubt very Scottish strain of puritanical Christian religiosity...Not to mention a penchant for the Classics... What else could emerge but a 'Robot' - of the traditional Scottish ("How dare ye give me out, umpire!") variety!
Name: callum kerr
Email: ckerratskorprionzinc.com.na
Years_at_school: 1970-77
Date: 26 Nov 2010
Time: 07:20:53
I am a little alarmed at the post from Peter Fowler in that you go so far as to get hold of a copy of Dr Simpsons birth certificate..... I appreciate the late Headmaster apparently had a tremendous impact on the scholars who passed though HCS, especially in those rapidly changing 50's and 60's...... But to track down a birth certificate....!! Not far removed from stalking, and surely an unhealthy obsession? I enjoy the rememberances and stories and strong opinions contributed, even of those who I never came across, but surely this is taking things a little too far! Or is this a joke that I dont see?
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 25 Nov 2010
Time: 07:29:10
I realise years ago I never posted the text below, and should have done: I got hold of a copy of the great man's birth certificate and did some rooting round.. Text: He came from a humble background in Dunfermline: his father was a salesman in the local linen trade (the city was famous for its damask linen), and himself was illegitimate. There is no record of his paternal grandfather, but his father's mother was a factory girl; and the young Alexander's Grandfather on the maternal side ran a local pub. They all lived in small terrace properties in the town centre. The family attended the United Free Church of Scotland in the 1840s - they were evangelicals.
Name: Peter Garwood
Email: peterdotgarwood777atbtinternetdotcom
Years_at_school: 1953/61
Date: 25 Nov 2010
Time: 04:42:11
Play fair, the car registration mark ARS was issued by Aberdeen[City] up until 1944 and as Dundee is not that far away he could easily have bought a car in that area carrying such a mark, without looking specifically. As Michael Caine said... 'Not a lot of people know that'.
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 24 Nov 2010
Time: 17:18:04
My father, who was taught Latin by ARS in Dundee before the war recalled that he - ARS, not my dad - had a car with his initials in the registration. Duh!!!!!!!!
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 24 Nov 2010
Time: 16:20:23
Knowledge about Dr.S's background will become public as soon as the census records for 1911 become available, if they are not already so. Is there a genealogist out there watching? Results should be of interest to readers of this page.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 24 Nov 2010
Time: 09:36:26
So Dr Simpson had human parents? A revelation. I had always assumed him to be a prototype Scottish robot. Remember that peculiar mechanical 'square' mouth? The accent for the voice was clearly a synthesised mish-mash of Low Dunfermline with High Edinburgh. All very unconvincing. Human? Unlikely. No racial slur against the Scots, or Scottish robots, is intended.
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnieatshaw,ca
Years_at_school: 46-51
Date: 23 Nov 2010
Time: 22:10:02
No Bill, Mike Hunt and all his also-named were victims of parents who never thought for one second that their choice of names could lead to ridicule. Remember the BBC's Valentine Dyall(?) of speedway's Vic Duggan? The ultimate is of course ARSimpson. Don't blame the offspring for their parents' stupidity, please. At least Dr Simpson didn't move to the USA and change his middle name to Sam, or Sylvester.
Name: Bill(y) Peter
Email: bncpeter at gmail dot com
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 21 Nov 2010
Time: 19:46:11
Mike Hunt is the basis for the old schoolboy joke. A joker 'phones a pub, and asks the barmaid to shout out "Has anybody seen Mike Hunt". Chortle, chortle.
Name: Erica Jones
Email: ericajonesvancatgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1975-ish thru about 1980 or so
Date: 19 Nov 2010
Time: 20:55:31
Hey you lot. Greetings from America. Anyone know the whereabouts of Ashley Livingstone.? Good kid, blamed for everything always bullied beaten and abused. Erica.
Name: Phil Chesterman
Email: philconnieatshaw.ca
Years_at_school: 1946-1951
Date: 18 Nov 2010
Time: 13:26:27
Welcome Aboard Michael Hunt! I remember you, also at Preston Park School. Moreso your sister Shirley.
Name: David Tomsett
Email: dc.tomsettatbtinternet,com
Years_at_school: 1964 to 1971
Date: 18 Nov 2010
Time: 01:15:47
Although I did not realise it at the time, this school gave me a fantastic education. It was hard not being a true academic as the school's "real mission" was to generate elite candidates for Oxbridge. Bullying was either tolerated or ignored. Nevertheless, compared to the modern system I would have preferred my own son to have experienced this rather than the politically correct rubbish that he went through.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 16 Nov 2010
Time: 17:18:16
Indeed he was, Bill. And another lad and I in the first year (can't remember his name - began with H, I think) used to tease him and be slapped around our short-trousered legs by his leather gauntlets. All very amicable, though.
Name: Bill(y) Peter
Email: bncpeter at gmail dot com
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 14 Nov 2010
Time: 18:40:11
I trust that Michael John Hunt is not known as Mike Hunt.
Name: Michael John Hunt
Email: mjzhuntatgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1945-50
Date: 12 Nov 2010
Time: 06:48:16
I only looked for the school out of curiosity. I find to my surprise that I appear in several of the team photos and remember many of the people.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 08 Nov 2010
Time: 18:30:17
Did you not answer your own question back in 2003? You wrote "My apologies to all concerned at Harrow. It seems I was mistaken and Mr. Edmund S. Ions was a HEATON Old Boy. :-)"
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 08 Nov 2010
Time: 18:26:12
Did you not answer your own question back in 2003? You wrote "My apologies to all concerned at Harrow. It seems I was mistaken and Mr. Edmund S. Ions was a HEATON Old Boy. :-)"
Name: Robert Paige
Email: roberttpaige at aol.com
Years_at_school: Visitor
Date: 08 Nov 2010
Time: 16:09:44
Looking for information as to whether Edmund S. Ions attended Harrow and if so any information on him at present.
Name: Brian Hearn
Email: kurrali.brianatipstarmail.com.au
Years_at_school: 1947-1950
Date: 07 Nov 2010
Time: 21:21:59
My 2nd visit to the site and 2nd entry in the guest book... scored a few responses: Roy Goldman, Geoff Taylor and Dave Buckley giving a contact for Barry Clifton. None yet from Brian Prime or Peter Moffat, if anyone knows anything of them, please get in touch. I knew 2 of the current crop of obituaries... form mate Richard Burnett and 1st XV team mate Lewis Hawken.
Name: Howard Reeve1953 - 1960
Email: halreeve at fsmail.net
Years_at_school: 1953-1960
Date: 03 Nov 2010
Time: 06:12:56
Pleased to find the site after all these years
Name: Graeme Young
Email: Square Peg in round hole!
Years_at_school: 1047 to 1953
Date: 03 Nov 2010
Time: 01:20:27
As I live in Nottinghamshire and find rail fares and accommodation so expensive I will not be coming to the Centenary Re-Union. Had employment market forces held me in the area I would have come along because for me the good side of HCS was the fellow sufferers who accompanied me through the D-stream from '47 to '53. I enjoyed their company. My lacklustre performance during those years, not helped by what I felt as an opressive atmosphere, improved dramatically and I did make 'good enough' once on my own in the wide world. My crowning achievement was to be awarded Honorary Fellow of the Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers - not bad for one Dr S considered to be a no-hoper. To all the fellows who were my friends in those years I send my warmest greetings Worth not Birth indeed! "Youngy"
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: unchanged
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 30 Oct 2010
Time: 07:47:59
Hello, Toby - yes, believe it or not, there is someone who just about remembers you. I do recall your being transferred to Harrow although the last I saw of you was when you were boarding a bus in Harrow in 1966-67. I think you got 100% in Latin which puts you in the category of Tom Carne who got 100% in maths. I attained a mere 94% in the same Latin exam and then got hooked on Greek. I take your point about the busy teacher - it was probably not Bernard Marchant as he did not teach our year. It was not Kenneth Waller as he was in the Soviet Union. T J Jones was himself busy but that was busy going loony so it may have been Mr Wood who also taught history. The plot thickens (or sickens). Hope the last 45 years have gone well for you... Michael.
Name: Toby Jackson
Email: LapelsToby at aol.com
Years_at_school: 1965-1966
Date: 28 Oct 2010
Time: 15:48:17
I was only at Harrow County School for a single year after moving to the Harrow area in 1965, so I rather doubt if any former classmates will remember me. I can remember playing Young Macduff in the school production of Macbeth and uttering "Mother, he has killed me" as a dagger was plunged through my heart. Great fun at the age of 12 and an exciting stage debut. I then took a state scholarship and ended up boarding at Harrow School. The lack of streaming in different subjects at Harrow County had prompted my move. I was new to some subjects at Harrow County such as science, but had studied others like Latin since I had been 7. When a busy master gave me the other boys' Latin exercises to correct, my parents decided I needed a move. Nevertheless I enjoyed my year and wonder how I would have progressed if I had stayed.
Name: Stephen Kell
Email: stephen_kell at ntlworld.com
Years_at_school: 1968-1972
Date: 28 Oct 2010
Time: 13:14:33
Brings back memories of my time at school.
Name: Raymond Saktreger
Email: R.Saktreger at gmail.com
Years_at_school: 1961-1967
Date: 26 Oct 2010
Time: 08:35:03
It is interesting to see all the old photographs. I may have a large number to contribute.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.gawnatorange.fr
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 26 Oct 2010
Time: 04:56:31
Just been looking at the L IV Science B 1960 and U IV Science B 1961, but could not work out why I was in the former, but not the latter. Then the 50 year old clouds cleared and I remembered that the photos were always taken in the first few days of term, and I started the 1961 Autumn term a fortnight late, as I had been on Outward Bound at the Moray Sea School. (I had also finished the summer term a fortnight early to go to Northampton for my flying course on a Flying Scholarship.)
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1959-1966
Date: 25 Oct 2010
Time: 15:05:12
Coming here, I'm always say 'thank Gawd' for the disbelievers, the rebels, the laughing boys, the ones who had the sense to see through the official facade, and the wit to make fun of all the nonsense we were subjected to. Yes, I do appreciate much of the teaching, a lot of the sport, arts etc. But those were like islands of well-being amidst what I largely experienced as a suffocatingly repressive institution. So, no, I wouldn't ever want to attend any sort of 'celebration', certainly not one for its centenary. I'll leave that to the (probably) massed ranks of the 'believers'. But an 'anti-celebration' - that might be something...But there again, hardly worth the candle, probably. RIP Harrow County, good you no longer exist!
Name: Brian Porter
Email: netherbyclose10ataol.com
Years_at_school: 1948 to 1956
Date: 25 Oct 2010
Time: 13:31:38
Great seeing all the photos, sometimes of long-forgotten faces.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 07 Oct 2010
Time: 04:26:01
Sir Paul Nurse features prominently in the Times today. The Eureka magazine names him as the country's leading scientist and he is the lead signatory of a letter from ten Nobel laureates published in the main body of the paper.
Name: David Hall
Email: buskeratlive.co.uk
Years_at_school: 74-79
Date: 05 Oct 2010
Time: 14:20:57
Alex Bateman\Jeff Maynard, a thought. Like many, I like to come to the guest book from time to time and enjoy contributing. However, because I don't have time to visit regularly the problem that arises is the impossible task of trawling back through dozens (hundreds?) of posts to see who has been in touch and what is being discussed. Is there any way to split offerings into indexed specific threads and general postings? It would be much easier to follow the comings and goings and probably generate more contributions because I'm sure I'm not the only one who has to quit trawling out of exasperation or boredom? Nevertheless, it's still a valuable site and those puting their time into it are to be thanked and appreciated. Regards, Dave Hall
Name: christopher keegel
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1976 - 1980
Date: 05 Oct 2010
Time: 07:15:54
Hi , just a quick thumbs up to the new improved website , very informative . Looking forward to centenary celebrations !
Name: steve manning
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 63-68
Date: 21 Sep 2010
Time: 16:59:39
Whilst googling my late friend Johnny Irving. He was Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, ( 60's band ) roadie. I came across Hervey Sheild and Jon Glover. They surely ain't the old gayts on the NEW section who just did the reunion gig last year. Wish I'd been there! Google -- Johnny Irving Hervey Sheild.Sx
Name: Paul Romney
Email: etc.
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 16 Sep 2010
Time: 07:26:02
Another triumph for Mees and D'Arcy!
Name: Pete Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 15 Sep 2010
Time: 03:35:27
A Wolfe in Pepys' clothing, Paul?
Name: Paul Romney
Email: same as ever
Years_at_school: ditto
Date: 15 Sep 2010
Time: 03:03:50
And who would rather have written Gray's Elegy than take Quebec ... ?
Name: Stephen Frost
Email: sftankathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 14 Sep 2010
Time: 23:45:08
It is from verse one of Gray's Elegy written in a Country Graveyard. Stephen Frost
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 14 Sep 2010
Time: 15:40:52
George Cowan has written a "must-read" article in the latest Old Gaytonian magazine, explaining his philosophy, The Plowman Homeward Plods his Weary Way, TRALA and other things. You can get a copy by joining the Old Gaytonians.
Name: Steve Morris
Email: evets121153atyahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1968-89
Date: 14 Sep 2010
Time: 14:40:35
What were the lines? "The ploughman plods his weary way homeward"? Is my memory correct and if so was there some kind of purpose within the text? George Cowan, wasn't it?
Name: Stephen Frost
Email: sftankathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-70
Date: 11 Sep 2010
Time: 23:40:49
Senior Service Sam? For me it was 10 Players No. 6 tipped for 1s 9d or 10 Benson & Hedges gold for 2s 6d, if I had the extra. Regards Stephen Frost
Name: steve manning
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 11 Sep 2010
Time: 19:18:47
Dear Ye, You have a good memory. I seem to remember having to ascend the stairs to receive my handshake from my mates, Joe & George. If I recall correctly it was to quite a lot of laughter from the assembled riff-raff that comprised the audience. I believe I had on, my treasured brown,suede,elastic-sided,ripple-soled bootees. Didn't stop me getting another handful or two of the daily caning ritual and more bl**ding plodding Ploughman.
Name: ye min
Email: yeyeye63athotmail.comWrite word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 63-70
Date: 05 Sep 2010
Time: 12:57:44
hey Steve, didnt you once win a christmas raffle? Did we see you walking up stage to shake hands with Avery or was it Simpson?
Name: steve manning
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 63-68
Date: 04 Sep 2010
Time: 22:27:58
I think the fags were Senior Service. I had a dram but I don't think the Col. had one. Sx
Name: steve manning
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 04 Sep 2010
Time: 21:59:00
Perhaps should have said. Am I the only Old Gayt that had Col. Bigham arrive totally unawares with 200 fags, a bottle of scotch, Black & White, and either 5 or 10pounds to give me? Sx.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: at
Years_at_school:
Date: 01 Sep 2010
Time: 08:41:56
Rooney I like, and it strikes me that it speaks to Canadians' prosaic cast of mind that doubloony never caught on for the two-dollar coin. I wrote "at" in full to avoid spam. Hope it works.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 01 Sep 2010
Time: 01:58:14
Have recently trawled this HCS Blog again (sorry, a horrid word.) Graeme Young is right to suggest taking advantage of the visit of the former Nazi Youth to our country viz. The Pope. I am sure he would be the first to recognise the fine qualities of the late 'Colonel' Bigham. Bigham's canonisation is long overdue. Graeme mentions his own diabetic condition and consequent aches and pains - but he should have faith. Following Intercession and suitable penance, the beatification of St. Willie might lead to a miraculous cure. I would be happy to try the new Saint for personal relief to painful knees and rotten right ankle (too much cricket and illicit playground soccer at HCS.)In a previous 'blog'I suggested the fourth and empty plinth in Trafalgar Square for the Colonel's delayed recognition. Now, after Graeme's timely intervention it appears something sanctified would be more appopriate. The Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral is just down the road. A dull name. So why not St Willie's? A Requiem Mass could be sung to honour the memory. The fact that Bigham may have been Protestant (he never left with Bernie Marchant & Co for the separate Catholic Assembly) should not be permitted to stand in the way. The canonisation of a Scottish Protestant soldier might represent a welcome boost to flagging global Ecumenism. Would Bernie turn in his recent grave? Probably.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 31 Aug 2010
Time: 09:39:51
Presumably you'll call a coin that fails to hit the net when thrown at toll stations to be called a Rooney; and maybe you'll call a new coin, all sexy and showing off, a swooney.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: same as ever
Years_at_school: ditto
Date: 31 Aug 2010
Time: 09:28:29
@ Michael Schwartz: The loony is so called because, when first minted in the 1980s, the dollar coin bore the image of a loon. Hence, too, the two-dollar coin is called a twony (or, for all I know, toony -- it happened after I left). Perhaps the 3-dollar coin, if ever it arrives, will by analogy with the thruppenny bit be called a thruny.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: michaelwritesforyouatyahoo.ca
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 31 Aug 2010
Time: 06:10:21
Hello, Steve Morris - good to be in touch again. First, there is no need to apologise. I learnt a great deal from Set 4 in maths (apart from the maths itself) and it removed some of the self-importance I had at the time. My bitterness is reserved for one pupil who purported to be a sixth-former but who had the maturity of a ten-year-old as well as the usual suspects in the Science departments. I believe that Joe Avery lost control of his own school - which is perhaps why the authorities you mention did not intervene. For all that, I would never have wanted to be in a school with ARS at its head. Yes, I have adopted the Canadian Dollar. It does, however, remind me of my wife's family as the Canadian Dollar is affectionately nicknamed the "Loony." No, I don't know why it is called the Loony. It was time in 2005 to make a change - and returning to london and pooling all our resources to end up in a rabbit hutch did not appeal. It may be a Canadian who wanted the euro - I understood it was a Luxembourger. Canada has weathered the recession better than most. The top five Canadian banks who were in the world's top 20 are now in the world's top 15 as the more irresponsible ones have gone under. Michael.
Name: Graeme Young
Email: behind the bike sheds
Years_at_school: 1947 to 1953
Date: 31 Aug 2010
Time: 04:55:46
I have just learned of the passing of David Sherriff. David and I belonged to the 10th Roxth Scout Group and went to many camps and did many hikes together. He was a great sportman, a good friend, and I regret his untimely passing. I anyone in Gaytonia-land has contact with his family please convey my sumpthies and regrets to them. Requiescat in Pace.
Name: Graeme Young
Email: Behind the bike sheds
Years_at_school: 1947 to 1953
Date: 31 Aug 2010
Time: 04:31:09
With the impending visit of The Pope, could we not get Col Bigham canonised? I am very happy to note that he was not all bad, it must have been my experiences as a teenage boy that produced my jaundiced views. I ws fair in other directions as I DID learn a lot at HCS and am eternally grateful for the knowledge gained. I still disliked the place and feared some of the staff. Now, as an elderly diabetic with a load of aches and pains, I look back on those days and think "they could have been better".
Name: Steve Morris
Email: evets121153atyahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1968-69
Date: 30 Aug 2010
Time: 15:15:14
Hi Michael Schwartz, tis interesting that you deem yourself fortunate to have adopted the Canadian dollar. I presumed your canditature here for UKIP derived from an attachment to the British pound and a dislike of the Euro. Not so it seems given that you seem pleased to have eschewed sterling in favour of the Canadian dollar! Interestingly, it was a Canadian economist, I believe, who first concieved the benefits of a single European currency! Perhaps he had in mind something akin to the Canadian dollar when he concieved the Euro. Just some idle thoughts following three pints of (continental) lager down the pub. Hic!
Name: Steve Morris
Email: evets121153atyahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1968-69
Date: 30 Aug 2010
Time: 14:33:44
Hi Steve Manning, I can confirm that I was the subject of Michael Schwartz's memoirs when he refers to S---- M-----. Moreover, I confess his account of me is pretty accurate, something of which in retrospective I am not proud. It would be convenient for me to characterise my 1969 school persona as "Youth having its fling" but, unfortunately, there was a lot more to it than that. Michael, I apologise for my intimidatory behaviour and for the disruption I caused to Donaghue's Maths classes. It should never have been allowed and the authorities should have intervened decisively, both for my sake and for everyone else's.
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 29 Aug 2010
Time: 21:44:02
Just a reminder
where to find a few things on the website:
For a list of new pages click
here
For the index to photographs 1911 to 2002 click
here
For music and drama click
here
For staff click
here
For form lists 1911 to 1950 click
here
To join the Old Gaytonians and to receive our magazine the Old Gaytonian, and newsletters click here (and if you are reading the guestbook, please join and support the Gaytonian Archives which provide much material for this website.)
Finally, to find about all the events planned for the School centenary click here: http://www.gaytoncentenaries.co.uk/
- Jeff
Name: steve manning
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 63-68
Date: 25 Aug 2010
Time: 20:01:41
Dear Steve Morris, I am so sorry that I mistook the value judgements of a 13or14year old,40 years on so personally. My only defence is that we are in a select group that includes the non-existent, the dead and anybody that believes that the world has changed since the sixties. Sx. Just come back from a 90th birthday party. Jeez, my brow is fevered.
Name: Ian Gawn
Email: ian.gawnatorange.fr
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 25 Aug 2010
Time: 02:26:13
The memory fades after the best part of 50 years, especially the bad bits. Yes, I too was caned by Mr Bigham the Biology teacher, but fared rather better from Col Bigham, the guy in charge of the CCF. Once he knew I wanted an RAF Commission, and via Cranwell, he left no stone unturned in his efforts to support my cause. The CCF paid a substantial proportion of the then hundred pounds fee for my Outward Bound course (which I am convinced was instrumental in my acceptance for Cranwell)and also the CCF gave me a small allowance to supplement my subsistence for my one month Flying Scholarship course at Northampton. His teaching methods, especially by today's standards, were awful, but there must have been some good in the man.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: michaelwritesforyouatyahoo.ca
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 23 Aug 2010
Time: 13:27:43
Steve Manning - the penny or, in my new and happy circumstances, the Canadian Dollar, has dropped. In my "memoirs" I do mention S---- M-----. This is, in fact, Steve Morris with whom I was in correspondence about seven years ago as a result of his correctly identifying himself from my description. However, if you do have any evil exploits to recount, I am sure Jeffrey Maynard will be delighted to offer you space on the site. Do tell! Michael.
Name: steve manning
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 63-68
Date: 22 Aug 2010
Time: 20:10:12
Dear Michael, Strange that you don't remember mentioning me in 68-69. You seem to remember it in your reminiscences that have been posted on this site for years. And again, your memory and facts are a little flawed, I was never a skinhead. Then again,like me,if you can remember the sixties you weren't there! Just got in again. No fevered brow,tho! Sx
Name: David Jackson
Email: david at jack-son dot co dot uk
Years_at_school: 59-64 about...
Date: 17 Aug 2010
Time: 13:31:33
The Pickerskill Reports is a sitcom on BBC Radio 4. The episode last night ( 16 Aug ) which was set in a minor public school, referred to a previous headmaster as ARS, and had a Colonel in charge of the cadet force whose surname began with the letter B. The name of the fictitious school was Haunchurst School For Boys, which is very nearly HCSB. I'm sure these are coincidental, but I'll be checking next weeks episode for any further references to the school that we knew and loved. The programme was written by Andrew McGibbon and directed by Nick Romero. I don't think either of them were at HCSB, unless anyone knows anything different. It's available for listening on BBC IPlayer until next Monday.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: Not the Bank of Nigeria
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 17 Aug 2010
Time: 07:24:38
Oh, alright, Steve. "Wasn't going to bother but needs must. Mr.Schwartz really should do his homework." Which is more than I did at Harrow County. "According to him, I was the highlight of his 68-69 year, I wasn't even there!" I don't remember mentioning 68-69 but I must have had some highlights from that year- being told by Harry Mees to choose another subject rather than history comes to mind. "The Bank of Nigeria is unfashionable, it doesn't exist!" Email address duly corrected, as above. "And I didn't have the chance to say whether or not Col. Bigham was invited for tea." I had visions, for some reason, of the Colonel inviting you, Steve. So you couldn't have brought your own arsenic with you? "Excuse punctation etc. but only just got in.4.am. Sx" Very flattered that you are up at this time of the night in my honour. Perhaps you could get one of the HCS dinner-ladies to pop round and mop your fevered brow... Michael.
Name: steve manning
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 63-68
Date: 16 Aug 2010
Time: 20:03:09
Wasn't going to bother but needs must. Mr.Schwartz really should do his homework. According to him, I was the highlight of his 68-69 year, I wasn't even there! The Bank of Nigeria is unfashionable, it doesn't exist! And I didn't have the chance to say whether or not Col. Bigham was invited for tea. Excuse punctation etc. but only just got in.4.am. Sx
Name: Peter ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 16 Aug 2010
Time: 07:44:34
Michael Dover is quite right. We should be more generous to the great Colonel Bigham. I,too, passed 'O' Level Biology in 1959, actually a year early. This only confirms the excellence of the Colonel's 'teaching' methods and presumably helps explain the justice of the OBE award he received, a year later. It does seem grotesquely unfair that the eminent biologist should be criticised beyond the grave. Balancing up views and opinions is all important. Please see my message of 24 June when I proposed the nomination of the 'Colonel' for a posthumous Nobel Prize for Services to Biology. A world authority on Spirogyra, he deserves better treatment than the mealy-mouthed stuff we have read in more recent contributions. There remains a vacancy for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. I can conceive of no more deserving recipient for belated national recognition.
Name: Michael Dover
Email: michael.dover at btopenworld.com
Years_at_school: 1956 to 1962
Date: 14 Aug 2010
Time: 06:50:03
Criticize Bigham's teaching methods all you wish but in fairness you should counterbalance this with success and here I record that I passed O Level Biology in 1959 whilst in his class
Name: Peter Hamill
Email: peterhamill at tiscali.co.uk
Years_at_school: 'over 30!'
Date: 09 Aug 2010
Time: 04:20:45
I'm afraid Alex is mistaken in his article regarding the School Organ. The organ was not removed from the hall, merely the console which had become electrically unsafe. The entire pipework still exists behind a facade and can be accessed through a door beside the so-called mock stained glass. Hope this clears up a misconception. PH.
(Peter Hamill is Chairman of the School Governors - ed.)
Name: PeterSims
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1983 - 1987
Date: 06 Aug 2010
Time: 10:35:36
1986 photo. It was me in the front row next to Connop (credited with the demise of Gayton High School). I was the Deputy Head at the time with Mike Morrell before the psycho other deputy was appointed.
Name: ye min
Email: yeyeye63athotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1963-1970
Date: 05 Aug 2010
Time: 11:29:04
in response to the last few messages re Col Bigham. Yes I too have memories of being scared and worried about his unpredictable nature. I recall him smiling and joking and then hitting a boy who came top in the exam but who had ink stained hands. but isnt it time we moved on a bit here? My father was of the same generation and i had a difficult relationship with him. Eventually when I was able to challenge him and it took hours and years, he said, i didn't know any better. and yes I could accept that. I could forgive him and really at 90 years plus he cant even remember what he did. The Col isnt here. He cant defend himself, there is nothing we can do about that except live our lives. I ended up as a teacher and at the back of my mind was I wanted to be teacher so different from ones who taught me. That to me is where we move on. I am now a dramatherapist with the NHS and i often work with young people struggling in schools. HCS and Col Bigham despite my not having too many positive memories did shape how i became and what i wanted to do.. if you had told me i would become a teacher when i was at HCS i would have laughed my head off. And speaking of laughing my head of, how did Steve Manning manage to have a cup of tea with the Col? I may ask him. There's a story there.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 05 Aug 2010
Time: 05:41:04
Some years ago, I posted a question here: was there anyone who would defend Bigham? There were no positive replies; so, in the present mid-stream of invective, I might as well try and swim against the tide and answer my own question. Bigham and Simpson were part and parcel of our history. Both were moulded in the freezing fires of Scottish Calvinism; both behaved, according to the codes by which they were reared, impeccably. As the junior partner, Bigham was promoted above his natural station because Simpson spotted something in him that would help develop the CCF, an organisation that the Head saw as central to his mission of creating a micro-polis, the Harrow County School. Many people on this site obviously enjoyed this part of our school history - they, presumably, owe at least some of those enduring memories to the man presently being reviled. Bigham, in other words, carried out, to the letter, his side of the deal he struck with Simpson in 1947. I might have loathed his lessons, I might have despised his pedagogy, and I witnessed his vendettas. But I'm not sure I can blame him any more than I can blame my dead father for his gung-ho racism. That is the way we were; that was Britain in the post war era. That is what we all reacted against; that is our history. Bigham was not only part of that story but, presumably, there are those still living from the genealogical line of which he was a part. I would not wish those to think that he was the devil incarnate, because I'm sure, in his own way, he did his best. He just happened to have come from a generation above us. But, and this needs to be said, he did do something that has resulted in others remembering the memories of the organisation he developed, the cadets, for the rest of their lives. And not that many people achieve this.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: Far too many
Date: 05 Aug 2010
Time: 02:04:42
It seems a mite harsh that some guy (Steve Manning) is dubbed a Shakespearian caterpillar for daring to share a cup of tea with the dreadful 'Colonel' Bigham. It would make a wonderful cartoon. Presumably, the reprehensible event took place about 45 or so years ago. So time for forgiveness. May I comment that caterpillars sometimes develop into exotic imagos? One assumes this one grew sturdy enough to rebuff such an offensive global barb. We all make mistakes in larval form. Arsenic in Bigham's tea? Far too swift a death. Would anyone care to suggest other options? My own would be to sentence The Great Soldier to a one-way car journey back to Glasgow. At the wheel of a yellowish Ford Sedan Convertible would be the chain-smoking Square, reciting Plutarch. Of course, Bigham could always riposte with exciting word-for-word dictations from 'A' Level Botany by Brimble. I have never been sympathetic to the burning of books but would make an exception in this case.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: Far too many
Date: 05 Aug 2010
Time: 02:04:40
It seems a mite harsh that some guy (Steve Manning) is dubbed a Shakespearian caterpillar for daring to share a cup of tea with the dreadful 'Colonel' Bigham. It would make a wonderful cartoon. Presumably, the reprehensible event took place about 45 or so years ago. So time for forgiveness. May I comment that caterpillars sometimes develop into exotic imagos? One assumes this one grew sturdy enough to rebuff such an offensive global barb. We all make mistakes in larval form. Arsenic in Bigham's tea? Far too swift a death. Would anyone care to suggest other options? My own would be to sentence The Great Soldier to a one-way car journey back to Glasgow. At the wheel of a yellowish Ford Sedan Convertible would be the chain-smoking Square, reciting Plutarch. Of course, Bigham could always riposte with exciting word-for-word dictations from 'A' Level Botany by Brimble. I have never been sympathetic to the burning of books but would make an exception in this case.
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeter at gmail.com
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 03 Aug 2010
Time: 19:32:08
It is interesting to read the comments here on ARS and Bigham. Like many boys, I just drifted through school, without much thought for the future, so regarded the pair more as buffoons than anything else. Everbody knew that Bigham was a rotten educator, who just dictated from a book, and ARS's tirades againsy trivial fashions, where, well, trivial. In retrospect the things that interest me in my retirement; history, geography & travel writing, and cosmology, I either hated at school, or had never heard of. I do remember some very good friends, one of whom is now dead, and the others I can contact via the wonder that is the Internet.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: michaelwritesforyouyahooca
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 03 Aug 2010
Time: 07:39:20
Am I the only Old Gayt who had a cuppa tea in his own house with Col. Bigham? I hope so. You qualify as one of those described in Richard II as a caterpillar of the commonwealth (Richard II - attributed to Shakesoeare but really written by Jim Golland). I would have laced his tea with cyanide. Michael.
Name: steve manning
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 02 Aug 2010
Time: 17:30:21
Am I the only Old Gayt who had a cuppa tea in his own house with Col. Bigham?
Name: Azelle Rodney
Email: susiea7
Years_at_school: two
Date: 01 Aug 2010
Time: 12:25:03
To all those that went to school in the 90s at Gayton Boys School Does anyone have any class pictures Azelle Rodney also known as Speedy was really good at football and had a big smile
Name: Dennis Orme
Email: dennis_orme at msn.com
Years_at_school: 1967-75
Date: 01 Aug 2010
Time: 02:28:54
Chris, as I said it was a rather remarkable monologue by Jim considering how different he and Bigham were. Perhaps he was just as shocked as we were at Bigham's sudden death. But Jim did give several lessons on the theme of the impending changes to Harrow County and this did overshadow the early seventies - were we going to finish our education there without disruption? So perhaps Bigham's demise was in some way a support of the changes in values Jim was talking about. Whichever way you look at it, Bigham's cadet force had a huge influence on the life of the school. And of course a number of old boys of that generation had distinguished careers in the services.
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 31 Jul 2010
Time: 14:45:33
"I left my Heart in the Civic Centre" by Long Tall Willie and the B12 Combo.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 31 Jul 2010
Time: 14:00:31
I must admit I have enormous difficulty with the concept of Bigham dying of a broken heart because of proposed changes to the Harrow education system or anything else related to education. Of all the masters I knew, good and bad, Bigham showed the least concern for quality of education.
Name: Dennis Orme
Email: dennis_orme at msn.com
Years_at_school: 1967-75
Date: 31 Jul 2010
Time: 02:55:59
On the subject of Bigham, I can recall just after it was announced in morning assembly that he had passed away, we had a lesson with Jim Golland which largely consisted of a sort of tribute to him. I don't know if anyone else out there recalls this but a lot of the content was probably motivated by the proposed changes to the Harrow education system which was hanging over us in the early 1970's. Jim's conclusion to this monologue of a lesson was that Bigham had died of a broken heart. It is rather remarkable looking back on it now because in terms of their teaching ability they were at the opposite ends of the spectrum. I've no idea what their staffroom relationship was like. Whatever your view of Bigham, his sudden passing was something of a shock to the school that morning. I was taught by him and by the time I arrived he had become something of a gruff old gentleman who dictated most of his lessons from the text book.
Name: Andy Colhoun
Email: colhoun.whiteriver at gmail.com
Years_at_school: 1950-57
Date: 27 Jul 2010
Time: 01:27:03
I have followed all the comments about Bigham,especially what a useless teacher he was. In Prob 6 and A 6 I was taught Botany and Zoology by a recently qualified Cambridge graduate called Clarke who was inspirational. I guess he did not last long with Bigham. Anybody remember him?
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 26 Jul 2010
Time: 14:10:38
Peter Roper asks about Sammy Watson. Between Randell Williams' leaving in 1945 and Simpson arriving in 1946, there was an interregnum occupied by Crowle-Ellis. The old staff adjusted to the interregnum but for some reason, Simpson's arrival was something of a shock and many of the staff left soonafter.I think 'Sammy' was such a one. He was very musical and word had it that he used to moonlight with a dance band at Wembley. Of the old boys on the staff, E.A.S.(Easy) Evans, Robinson and Street all left leaving only R.S.King. Cast, also joined the exodus as did 'Eggy' Webb the biology master and several others. It was quite a shake up. George Neil retired about the same time. Whiffy King did as well but shortly after. This substantial turnover right after Simpon's arrival points to a major revolution in the Common Room but what precipitated it all we shall likely never know.
Name: erroll goldsworthy
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1949-1954
Date: 26 Jul 2010
Time: 12:13:38
Although I was in the A stream throughout my time there I left at 16 because I found the place unbearable My only achievement was that I managed to avoid joining the cadets i was a scout elsewhere despite the regular grilling from ARS
Name: Peter D.L. Roper.
Email: peter.roperatmcgill.ca
Years_at_school: 1934-1939
Date: 25 Jul 2010
Time: 19:01:57
A lot of information, but its hard to find old classmates. I did find Ross Salmon in the cricket photo and the names of masters Crinson,(Cobb) Webb for carpentry and George Neil for Art as well as Randall Williams. What about "Sammy" Watson who was my form master in 1934?
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeter at gmail dot com
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 25 Jul 2010
Time: 18:01:08
Peter, Many thanks indeed for the info on the Harris Academy site. I just wish that my father was still alive so that I could show him.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 24 Jul 2010
Time: 06:10:55
Bill, it's fascinating to look at the Harris Academy site; and even more intriguing to read the history of that school. In the late 30s, when, presumably, ARS was teaching there, the school was led by one Alexander Peterkin. This classics scholar, as you read about him, seemed to act as the very template, the mentor for Simpson's future career. Even down to his leaving ceremony, when it was noted: '(His) qualities were perhaps best demonstrated on his retiral when he chose to depart without fuss and ceremony, making a last request that the retiral should not be marked by the traditional presentation'. Of course I know, from this site, that Simpson's departure in 1965 from HCS was marked by a series of pranks from a group of delighted boys; but his move to Torquay, his subsequent complete lack of involvement in his old fiefdom, and that rather perverse but nevertheless compelling paean to anonymity that he sent to the 1974 Old Gaytonian (also somewhere on this site), all suggest the same Periclesian spirit that so characterised Alexander Peterkin.
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeter at gmail dot com
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 23 Jul 2010
Time: 18:21:05
Regarding the use of coporal punishment in schools; I've posted this before, but Dr AR Simpson, who taught at the Harris Academy in Dundee before the war, when such punishments were common, was the only teacher there to use it on girls. Surely that must mean something. Any psychologists care to comment?
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 23 Jul 2010
Time: 10:20:15
Physical abuse in one form or another was standard, accepted practice in the British school system (and society as a whole) until well after the second war so I don't think it fair to criticise our teachers for the practice. Some of the best practised it while some, equally good teachers, never touched their pupils. Fooks for instance, had a presence and a mastery of words sufficient for any occasion. Brister, whom I also greatly admired both as a teacher and a man was adept at using his copy of "Principles of Geometry",by Brister and Duke, to thump the head of any boy seen not to be applying himself as diligently as expected. I don't think we ever opened the book but always had our copies out ready just in case. Like most eleven year olds arriving at the school, I held the masters in great awe. Not only was I being taught by men for the first time but by men with degrees. After a lifetime of experience in dealing with people in all walks of life, I find it interesting to speculate how our masters might have managed in other careers. Most were probably in the right job but some would have been misfits wherever they ended up. To their credit Williams and Simpson made few mistakes in hiring but a number had trouble transfering their allegiance from Williams to Simpson.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 23 Jul 2010
Time: 10:20:14
Physical abuse in one form or another was standard, accepted practice in the British school system (and society as a whole) until well after the second war so I don't think it fair to criticise our teachers for the practice. Some of the best practised it while some, equally good teachers, never touched their pupils. Fooks for instance, had a presence and a mastery of words sufficient for any occasion. Brister, whom I also greatly admired both as a teacher and a man was adept at using his copy of "Principles of Geometry",by Brister and Duke, to thump the head of any boy seen not to be applying himself as diligently as expected. I don't think we ever opened the book but always had our copies out ready just in case. Like most eleven year olds arriving at the school, I held the masters in great awe. Not only was I being taught by men for the first time but by men with degrees. After a lifetime of experience in dealing with people in all walks of life, I find it interesting to speculate how our masters might have managed in other careers. Most were probably in the right job but some would have been misfits wherever they ended up. To their credit Williams and Simpson made few mistakes in hiring but a number had trouble transfering their allegiance from Williams to Simpson.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-7
Date: 23 Jul 2010
Time: 10:20:12
Physical abuse in one form or another was standard, accepted practice in the British school system (and society as a whole) until well after the second war so I don't think it fair to criticise our teachers for the practice. Some of the best practised it while some, equally good teachers, never touched their pupils. Fooks for instance, had a presence and a mastery of words sufficient for any occasion. Brister, whom I also greatly admired both as a teacher and a man was adept at using his copy of "Principles of Geometry",by Brister and Duke, to thump the head of any boy seen not to be applying himself as diligently as expected. I don't think we ever opened the book but always had our copies out ready just in case. Like most eleven year olds arriving at the school, I held the masters in great awe. Not only was I being taught by men for the first time but by men with degrees. After a lifetime of experience in dealing with people in all walks of life, I find it interesting to speculate how our masters might have managed in other careers. Most were probably in the right job but some would have been misfits wherever they ended up. To their credit Williams and Simpson made few mistakes in hiring but a number had trouble transfering their allegiance from Williams to Simpson.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 23 Jul 2010
Time: 07:14:46
Dross might well have been an overstatement but there was certainly a lot of incompetence. Additionally, even the most talented of masters had their problems. A good example would be Harry Mees. A superb teacher and an admirable person. However, had he been teaching today his prediliction for smacking people around the head would have got him sacked and possibly jailed. The same is true of Reg Goff and several others.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 23 Jul 2010
Time: 06:01:39
Peter is quite correct to rebuke me for calling the majority of the staff 'dross'. It is just that violence that came from some of these individuals was not a substitute for the excellence that was imparted by their worthier colleagues. So I apologies if I offended and teachers either extant or retired. If you were to measure the school's excellence by entry to Oxbridge and perhaps Medical Schools, is there data from Alex to show when the 'golden age' actually shone? Laurence
Name: Dave Buckley (53-61)
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 23 Jul 2010
Time: 04:15:33
A new book about Bletchley Park - The Secret Life of Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay - has just come out. On looking through the index I found a reference to Hugh Skillen. His recollection of the operation concerns the card index in the Air Section......... The card index was equally formidable for Bletchley's Air Section, as veteran Hugh Skillen remembers:...'many thousands of cards in shoe boxes along both sides of a long hut. When a new word came up in the message you were translating - a neologism, new type of jet fuel, or machine part - you looked for it and if it was not there, the indexer put it in with a refernce time and a date stamp.'
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeter at gmail dot com
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 21 Jul 2010
Time: 19:34:02
I have only just read "Nicole's" posts. To put in my three Malaysian sen-sen's worth; Very few pupils had anything to do with Square. In addition, going back even further, my late father was taught by him in Dundee before WW2, and had similar memories to many of the posts here.
Name: MARTIN FOUNTAINE
Email:
Years_at_school: 1978-1982
Date: 20 Jul 2010
Time: 06:55:38
The school is turning 100 great to see, would like to now if any old gaytonians are in Australia with me. Would be great to here from you, im in Perth
Name: Brian Hearn
Email: kurrali.brian at ipstarmail.com.au
Years_at_school: 1947-50
Date: 18 Jul 2010
Time: 22:28:47
As several others say... what a blast from the past! Found this great site almost by accident. I was looking at another school site trying to find out about my father and grandfather, and thought... why don't I see if there's a site for HCS, and there is! I've read though guest book and the photographs, and am suffering from information overload! ... don't know where or how to respond. I was hoping to be able to contact those I knew well, but the only one who has written in the guest book is John Kirby... hello John! Saddened to see both the Norman twins have died... I knew them very well. Nothing about Brian Prime, though he appears unnamed in the 1950-51 Tennis team and Prefects photos... last saw him at his wedding in 1961. and I would love to hear from several fellows in the photographs ... Jimmy Henderson, Moggie Peel, Barry Clifton, Bill Bowley, Peter Moffat, Peter Saunders to name a few. I'm in several photos... 1st XV 1949-50 photo has me incorrectly named O'Malley, and yes, it is Crombie, but Geoff Taylor is not correct to say Pete Hollidge was captain, and he and Gene Styles, Alan Coxon et al had left before the photo was taken. He was captain and they played the previous year... and appear in the 48-49 1st 30 photo (ie 1st & 2nd XVs all in one). I'm unnamed in the 48-49 photo, at the right hand end of 2nd row. From L to R 2nd row should read: X, Davies, X, Norman, Kirby, X, Heap, X, Simpson (head's son), Carrol, Rose, Heslop, X, Henderson, Hearn... 2nd row in photo was mostly that year's 2nd XV in which I played hooker with the Norman twins as props, with the odd game in the 1st Xv when there was an injury, again hooker with Pete Hollidge as prop. In 1949-50 I played blindside wing forward, Tom Missen was captain and scrum half, Norman twins still props, Wayte in 2nd row, Lobb was lock, Cromie was fly half, Peel at fullback, Kirby and Heslop on the wings... if I remember correctly... right fellows? Saddened that the negative stuff about Simpson and Bingham, and Thorne and Swanny, is not adequately balanced by the good stuff about Beaky Foulkes, Joe Brister, Spadger Heyes, Charlie Crinson, Jumbo Jones, Claude Butler. They all get named but not enough said. Beaky Foulkes was the best... gave me the confidence to write and speak. Thanks to wartime disruption my spelling was appalling and my hand writing worse, and until I came under Beaky, no master was interested in what I was saying, just down on me for spelling and writing. He was interested in what I had to say! It wasn't just giving me confidence, it was also seeing the world through his eyes and his values. He outweighed Simpson's negatives. I went into the Science VIth, but Beaky continued to influence me through the one English period we had a week, and encouraged me to read widely and write essays, which I still do in retirement. Not only did I do science, I did biology and encountered Bingham. He had not yet become the brutal ogre that others remember, but was was a hopeless teacher... we dismissed him as a fool, a joke, a buffoon. By this time we had learnt how to study, so we ignored him and taught ourselves. And I remember Swanny Amos warmly, not the tyrant he became... he encouraged me. In 1947 Simpson hadn't become the fascist others paint him. He and Bingham had only just come to HCS. His intentions were good in some respects... it was his clumsy efforts in acheiving them... no inter-personal skills, perhaps even autistic. He had a blind spot regarding Bingham fed by their mutual obsession with the CCF. Maybe he was snobbish and elitist in trying to turn HCS into a Public School clone... but he encouraged me in my choice of a non-classical, non-arts. non-Oxbridge career and in rugby commended my 'fire, and fight and bash' ... I made up for lack of size with an overdose of aggression! There was probably a certain inevitability about Simpson and Bingham becoming as they are described by those at HCS in the 50's and 60's... they were the immovable objects in the path of the irresistable post-modern social forces sweeping the western world. I welcome some of the changes those force wrought, but not all, and Simpson and Bingham would not have liked any and would have resisted. And what a gracious lady his great-granddaughter Nicole is in responding to all the negative stuff about her great-grand dad. I've probably said enough for my first contribution. I'll write more if I any one remembers me, and recount how I came to live in Australia, with stops in Trinidad, Malawi, Yemen, Uganda, Afghanistan and many adventures en route. And thanks Jeff for maintaining this website... note the names for photos... I could give a few more...
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeter at gmail dot com
Years_at_school: '60 - '67
Date: 17 Jul 2010
Time: 22:53:23
@Peter Fowler; Yes. Paul Nurse's years at HCS did overlap with Portillo et al, but I doubt he knew them, as they were four years "below" "us" (I was a classmate of Paul, and we were in the RAF cadets, where we did gliding together). Even my brother, who was only one year "above" Portillo, didn't know him. Different years tended not to mix unless on a common interest such as the cadets or the Xmas Ents, or, even, the Pipe Band.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 17 Jul 2010
Time: 13:54:04
The Golden Age of the School, Laurence, is clear - Portillo's year. A collection of talent unrivalled, I would have thought, throughout its history. And at a time when some of the school's most brilliant teachers - Golland, Mees, D'Arcy - would have been at the very peak of their considerable form. I'm not sure if Paul Nurse was there at that time, but my guess is that his HCS days would have overlapped with theirs. He, of course, must have been taught, for at least some of the time, by Willy Littlemeat, just to play around with the Field Marshal's name in a manner completely unsuited to such a serious topic. But my guess is that you would wish this conversation to enter an altogether deeper domain, given your somewhat intemperate description of the mass of the teaching profession as 'dross'.
Name: Laurence Lando
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1957 -
Date: 17 Jul 2010
Time: 11:46:58
Having given this site a wide berth for a while, I am more than interested in the Bigham saga. It is most interesting that he demonstrated the violence towards boys that was a common factor from many of the masters during my time at the school. It seems the recruitment of staff of briliance was mixed with the dross of the teaching profession. However if you made it into the sixth form, then the ability of the staff to interact with the senior pupils resulted in those pupils getting extraordinary results in examinations and University entrance places. I have asked in the past about when you consider was the 'golden age' of the school, perhaps this should be refined to when was the sixth form at its best? Laurence
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 17 Jul 2010
Time: 04:22:08
(Please see previous Bill Peter entry.) I suggest Bigham was 'Our Bully'!
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeter at gmail dot com
Years_at_school: 1960-1967
Date: 16 Jul 2010
Time: 18:26:54
Surely, being Scottish, Bigham would have been "Oor Wully".
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 16 Jul 2010
Time: 10:35:06
Was Colonel Bigham a Willy, a Bill or a Billy, do we know? Wills, even?
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindickinsatblueyondercouk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 16 Jul 2010
Time: 02:24:31
Re the Hugh Skillen picture with an unidentified class of the 1950's, several faces are familiar, although of a later year than mine. I am almost cetain, however, that fifth from right in the middle row is Ken "Tug" Wilson, a regular attender at the annual Dinner. I haven't got his address or phone number, but Bob Smith might be able to help.
Name: Bill Harrison
Email: billdotharrisonatbtinternetdotcom
Years_at_school: 1961-68
Date: 13 Jul 2010
Time: 08:06:03
As we seem to be on a Willy Bigham roll at the moment I am reminded of his penetrating intellect and grasp of reality when at a CCF (Army) Annual Camp at Browndown near Gosport in Hampshire. One party had somehow gone out for the day in a Whaler that had been loaned to them by a local naval outfit. They got caught in the treacherous tides and currents in the mouth of Portsmouth harbour and were seriously late getting back to the camp. WMB was overheard berating the leader of this hapless party with the words (amongst others) "Were ye not near a telephone laddie?"
Name: Ray Parnell
Email:
Years_at_school: 67-74
Date: 13 Jul 2010
Time: 03:25:19
Further to Steve Grimes' research, the London Gazette contains further entries about the wartime and post war W M Bigham, including: <para> Plt Offs (prob.) cnfmd in appts 11th July 1942, and to be Flg Offs (war substantive) 11th Sept 1942: W M BIGHAM (101141) <para> The undermentioned relinquish their commissions under the provisions of the Navy, Army and Air Force Reserves Act, 1954, and have been granted permission to retain rank, as stated, with effect from the dates stated: Flying Officers, retaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant: W.M. BIGHAM (101141) 21st Feb 1954 <para> and <para> Harrow County Boys' School Contgt Lt Col W M BIGHAM OBE resigns his commission, 11th September 1969, and is granted the honorary rank of Lt Col <para> "Captain" W M Bigham's name can also be found on the National Archives website regarding the award of his OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 1962. (Apologies for the formatting, this site does not allow para breaks as far as I can see. Should anyone want a copy of the full list of London Gazette Entries, with web links, please email me - Jeff and Alex both have my address - I think!)
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 12 Jul 2010
Time: 14:03:43
To Pete Lawson. Very well done - except you failed to include O.B.E.,M.I.Biol. Please try again!
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 12 Jul 2010
Time: 06:17:38
Sorry about the error in anagram of Colonel Bigham. An anagram of Colonel William Montgomery Bigham is "Gor Blimey. Hollow, malignant commie".
Name: Steve grimes
Email: Via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1958 to 64
Date: 11 Jul 2010
Time: 10:00:49
Interested in Ray Parnell's earlier post. I delved deeper ad found more detail on pages 5307 and 5308 of The London Gazette 12th September 1941 which stated on page 5307 "The undermentioned Acting Pilot Officers on probation are graded Pilot Officers on probation - page 5308 includes the name William Montgomery BIGHAM 101141.[Source: www dot london-gazette dot co dot uk slash issues slash 35273 slash pages slash 5307]
Name: Ray Parnell
Email:
Years_at_school: 67-74
Date: 11 Jul 2010
Time: 03:26:47
You would be forgiven for thinking his first name was Colonel. Are teachers in\in charge of CCF contingents at other schools always referred to by their [RNR\TA\RAFVR] rank at all times? I cannot recall any reference to a Mr Bigham. ps. First names of William Montgomery were mentioned further down the page. A very quick Google reveals several entries in the London Gazette for that name, mainly post-war and ACF\CCF connected. The September 1941 entry may give more clues to his wartime service - I do not have the time to dig any deeper right now.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 11 Jul 2010
Time: 01:58:46
Sorry, I meant "O male bolching". (It's 5 a.m.)
Name: Paul Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 11 Jul 2010
Time: 01:57:03
Actually, it's an anagram of "O mole belching." Hope this helps.
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 10 Jul 2010
Time: 07:25:57
An anagram of Colonel Bigham is O male Belching.
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: plawson.collinsonatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 10 Jul 2010
Time: 07:05:51
Did Colonel Bigham have a first name?
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 10 Jul 2010
Time: 04:29:02
It would seem that the current spate of Bighammemorabilia has run its course. Any more for any more? I feel I must offer my apologies to the Great Biologist as I have discovered he was made an M.I.Biol. (Member of the Institute of Biology.) I, too, at one time belonged to this august institution. This may have been made for services to, as it were, 'biological broadcasting.' That was what I was in, at the time. The BBC kindly paid my annual membership fee. In Bigham's case, judging from recent contributions on this Blog, his recognition will have been for 'biological pronunciation.' I had forgotten the Colonel's various Lowland Scottish attempts at mispronouncing 'Spirogyra' but am happy to be reminded by the correspondents. 'SpiROGyra' I never picked up and greatly regret not doing so.
Name: Anti Bigamist
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 06 Jul 2010
Time: 08:16:51
see Feb 08 for early writings
Name: Paul Romney
Email: paulromney03a taim.com
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 06 Jul 2010
Time: 01:41:43
I was approrpriately terrified of Bigham, but my report book reveals that I had seven terms of Bigham of which I remember next to nothing except his teaching us how to mispronounce "bolus" (short o). He got "oesophagus" right, and I don't recall his having to grapple with the adjectival form, which would certainly have defeated him. I don't remember anyone getting caned for anything, let alone for spelling "fertilise" correctly. My one vivid memory of the man is of a school raffle he ran when I was in the first form. My parents dutifully bought the tickets, and I forgot to return the stubs, so Bigham made me go home and bring them back after school, which meant a train to Wembley and back. I don't know that I would have remembered even this except that my parents won the raffle and claimed the prize, an electric blanket. When I went to pick it up, Bigham was strikingly jovial at the thought that fate had justified his insistence that I go home for the stubs.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: Twentypercentifyougivemeyourbankdetails
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 05 Jul 2010
Time: 21:35:01
Perhaps for the record. There was nothing amusing abut Bigham; he simply would never have qualified to become a teacher these days. What he would have done, I have no idea. Grimsby Gasworks was a hoax. Two that weren't were a religious meeting called "Tortured for Christ" which sounds horrific and, for the London Underground enthusiasts, a selection of slides from Neasden Depot. Ubi Lane got stitched up when he got the contents of a musical event wrong. Grateful Dead must have been surprising enough to him but Country Joe and the Fish, followed by Quicksilver Messenger Service became Country Joe and the Fish-Quicksilver-Messenger-Service. A round of applause followed. George Cowan specialised in rhetorical questions. "Are you fed up with giving the same old Christmas presents?" resulted in 100 unbroken-voiced cries of "yes" from the first-formers. George even answered his own rhetorical question, "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?" "Harold Hobson of the Sunday Times" was the answer (intended to introduce a newspaper review). You had to move in Gollandesque circles to appreciate that one. Michael.
Name: Peter ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 05 Jul 2010
Time: 16:17:08
Wow! My original tongue-in-cheek suggestion to award, posthumously, the Nobel Prize for Biology to the great Lt. Col. W.M. Bigham OBE has unearthed some fascinating stuff. How deep some of it goes - the hurt and the wounding. I was lucky as I joined the school at 14-plus, coming down from an even more brutal northern Grammar School. Thus, I never suffered the Bighamphobia of younger, more vulnerable boys. I only saw him as a fool, although potentially very dangerous. In response to Chris Rickwood's comments re-Bigham not teaching 'A' Level, I have to say that I suffered two years of his awful lessons in Botany. Of course, he knew absolutely nothing and was a complete sham. One wonders if this 'shamfulness' stopped only at Botany. I gather there are doubts about his military record and, especially, his alleged brave exploits in North Africa, in WW2. Can some one enlighten us on this? I gather we have a Military Historian amongst the ranks of HCS bloggers. I well remember Simpson announcing Bigham's OBE through gritted teeth, at the Assembly. It was very swiftly dubbed the award for 'Other Buggers' Efforts'. More Bighamesque stories,please.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 05 Jul 2010
Time: 13:15:41
I've enjoyed the stories of winding up Bigham but, in truth, there was little funny about him. I remember as a 2nd former lining up outside the new Biology Lab ready for a double period nervously asking the departing class what kind of mood he was in. In fact, it didn't matter. Almost invariably he'd cane 5 or 6 every lesson. He entered details in his own punishment book (I wonder how legal that was). Those cold, cold eyes. The man was truly a psycopath (except that he lacked the ability to appear outwardly normal) Additionally he was a totally incompetent teacher. Interestingly, if I recall correctly, he was the only Head of Dept who did not teach 6th form (in my day he left this to Anderson)
Name: Andrew Carruthers
Email: ajcarruthersatbt.internet.com
Years_at_school: 1961-8
Date: 04 Jul 2010
Time: 12:07:50
The Bigham story is fascinating. At the tender age of 11, as a very nervous boy, and one who certainly had no interest in scouts or cadets (thank you for the brave soul description) he caned me for misspelling (as he thought) the word fertilise with an s, rather than a z. I still feel like suing the London Borough of Harrow. How stupid he was. I doubt I was alone in suffering from his malevolent temper. The fact that at the time I was the victim of bullying did not help. Had Ken Waller not come to my help I wonder how things would have worked out>
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 30 Jun 2010
Time: 16:05:02
Stitching up Bigham? This has been the funniest thing I have read for ages - and well done for getting away with it for so long, Peter! This is very much the sort of thing that would have appealed to Gerry Lafferty who could never accept the pomposity associated with certain of his (fellow Scottish) teachers. Bernard Marchant, too, had a highly developed sense of humour. That Mr Bodiam found it amusing did surprise me - he and many of his scientific colleagues always struck me as pompous and stuffy. Dr Simpson's demise occurred in 1965, when I joined HCS - the two are, of course, connected... Many of the henchmen continued for several years afterwards. They were joined, not to say reinforced, by Mr Bunting. For all that, the more human senior teachers also continued. Their juniors brought their own more relaxed styles of teaching. Whether this made them better or worse is too generalised a question. One view was that of Skillen who in 1971-2 described Messrs Armstrong and Salter and Miss Mitchell as "two beginners and a part-time woman." That was insulting. Michael.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 28 Jun 2010
Time: 16:59:39
Well done, chaps! Some good, lively stuff on the eccentric times of Bigham, Skillen et al. Did the school become less eccentric and calm down after the demise of Simpson, his henchpersons and all he stood for? I sometimes think our time was a bit like what it must have been like in the French Resistance ie rebelling and undermining outrageous, imposed authority but,in our milder case, with a twinkle in the eye. Are there more Bigham stories to follow? The only one I can dredge up is to do with Friday Assemblies when the might of the CCF turned up uniform and spit and polished boots. Not to mention 250 Scouts in ludicrous corduroy shorts. (We were teenagers for God's sake!) And up in the balcony, the brave souls who refused to join the two big organisations. They wore 'civvies' and Simpson rudely dubbed them 'The Non-Conformists.' Bigham, resplendent and puffed up in military attire, medals of some kind and shining leather cross-belt, always read the Friday Notices. Eg Rugger practice for U15s at lunchtime; school orchestra rehearsal; various societies etc. I slipped in a note, ahead of the Assembly, and left it on the Head's Table on stage, at Bigham's place. The great soldier entered, in full pomp, clutching the notices he had to read, and spotted an extra one left for him. He picked it up without any pre-editorial glance. It concerned the (legit.) School Science Society which I never bothered to attend although, later in life, I became some kind of scientist. In his High Glaswegian accent he announced the following - 'Scientific Society. Today, the Society will meet, at 1.15 as usual, in Room B5. Final arrangements will be discussed and pre-payments made for the Annual Visit to Grimsby Gasworks.' One or sniggers began, followed by others and, to my astonishment, I noted certain rebel teachers chortling happily, on stage, behind Bigham's back. These included Bernie Marchant, a Chemistry master called Bodiam and the splendid Gerry Lafferty. Unfortunately, the matter began to get out of hand as the laughter volume increased. For obvious reasons, I attemped to control my own emotional response but it wasn't easy. Bigham, neither a bright or perceptive man, went apoplectic. He stormed at the audience and threatened to have the whole school back after 4 o'clock including, I remember him saying, 'the Head Boy!' He said he would give us one more chance to adopt a respectful posture in the School Assembly, announcing. 'I shall read this notice again. If there isn't perfect silence you all know what to expect.' With a final warning glance and the menacing threat 'Not a squeak, mind you,' he seriously did go through the spoof notice a second time! I hardly dared look up from my scouting place, but noted a massive effort by all present to suppress their mirth. The lovely thing was to spot masters up behind Bigham, on the stage, squirming in their seats and trying not to catch each others' eye. So the Lt. Colonel's dire threat was never carried out. By breaktime, the Head Boy, Graham Morris, had me nailed. But before I could protest total 'innocence' he told me that he wouldn't report me as he thought the jape quite amusing. Good guy! He said I'd been seen placing the note on Square's High Table and subsequently reported. 'Grassed-up' in Cockney speak. I later worked out, when I did so, some miserable Lower Sixth Former was practicing the organ for the Assembly. I remember his name but will not shame him. Later, in the Summer, I bowled a particularly wild ball in the cricket nets. Our 1st X1 Coach, Gethin Willams, called out, 'That was a Grimsby Gasworks of a ball, Ward!' I was taken aback. 'How did you know, sir?' His reply, 'Everyone knew but we kept it between ourselves!'
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colindickinsatblueyondercouk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 28 Jun 2010
Time: 03:23:53
Ah, David, someone must have apprised the thick bugger at some time during the nine years which separated our experience of him at school that "spyROGerer" was incorrect. From your representation it would appear that a classicist rather than a scientist got to him first. There is a linguistic case for your version. As for Hugh Skillen, Pete, between starting and finishing an A Level French career with Whiffy King, Hugh was one of my teachers and I found him likeable and competent, if not enthusiastic. His accent was fun then, but we became quite good friends many years later when he devoted himself to recording the history of Enigma and the "Y" Service. His prolific output was impaired for a time by a stroke, but he substituted voice recognition for a keyboard and was hugely impressed at how well the system coped with "my accent". He was clearly aware of his accent; what puzzled me was how much it affected his pronunciation of French, German and Spanish, all of which he spoke (particularly the first two) quite fluently.
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: plawson.collinsonatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 27 Jun 2010
Time: 10:35:55
I am sorry to come back in so soon, but in connection with my last message, I can't resist mentioning French lessons with Major Skillen. At the start of every class someone would ask him what "soucoupe" meant, just for the delight of hearing him say "sosser".
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: plawson.collinsonatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 27 Jun 2010
Time: 10:23:52
Many of us have a Colonel Bigham story in us. However, when it comes to a particular and characteristic way of saying "spyrogyra", it is, I feel, that of Mr Bunting which is most noteworthy. I'm doing it now as I type.
Name: David Fleming
Email: sueanddaveflemingattiscali.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1958-65
Date: 27 Jun 2010
Time: 05:17:02
It's good to be re-acquainted with the Spirogyra, a word I haven't seen or heard for about 50 years. I must have drawn and labelled it a number of times - I think that I still could - without really understanding what it was. I thought that he pronounced it "speero-jeera" but may be wrong. It reminded me of another biology lesson Bighamism when we were doing - I hesitate to say studying - the evolution of the tadpole. Somebody asked - quite reasonably - how the tadpole obtained its food (fud?). The non-scientific reply was "How should I know - I'm not a tadpole". I couldn't imagine Harry Mees responding to a historical question with "How should I know - I wasn't there".
Name: John Parker
Email: parkerjsxxataoldotcom
Years_at_school: 1959-1966
Date: 26 Jun 2010
Time: 14:27:24
The Bigham dictation story certainly resonates with me. But I seem to remember the whole dictation business was slightly more subtle. The book he dictated from was not the one he issued to us. It was only when we identified which book he was reading from that we were able to produce word perfect text when transferring from rough book to best book.
Name: Roger Bowen
Email: rogerbowenattalktalkdotnet
Years_at_school: 1955-63
Date: 25 Jun 2010
Time: 14:22:55
To Peter Ward. I remember the incident with Bigham very well, but progressive senility prevented me from naming the unfortunate individual who managed to get ahead of him with the dictation. I think you must have been sitting in the row behind me, somewhere over my right shoulder. You have a more immediate reason for remembering the incident. I always stuggled to keep up with him so I just found it incredible that you were so far ahead of the rest of us. I could never read my scribble in the rough book, so writing it up in the best book for homework I always used the text book for reference. What a brilliant teacher he was!
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyondercouk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 25 Jun 2010
Time: 03:22:57
Lovely Bigham story, Peter. I remember the stupid bugger reading this unfamiliar word and optimistically putting the stress on the antepenultimate syllable. (Can't represent it here - the software would reject my symbols.) On another occasion he did the same with "olecranon process". Both words were new to me but sounded wrong, so I looked them up. It seemed imprudent to let him know.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 24 Jun 2010
Time: 17:32:28
Is there a posthumous Nobel Prize for Biology? I would like to nominate Lt. Col. W.M. Bigham. He should not go unrecognised. Bigham's lessons on Spirogyra, straight from the 'O' Level text book, inspired generations. I well remember him bashing me hard over the head with the same book as I had got ahead of him in the copying out. I was on p.43 whilst he was still back on p.42. It was not until I later took my degree in Zoo and Bot (Joint Hons) that I discovered there were other plants on the planet - like trees, flowers and ferns etc. Three of us once crowded into the old phone box opposite the 6th Form Bio Lab, on Sheepcote Rd. Putting on mock voices and accents, we convinced The Colonel that we represented The Spirogyra Company of South Wales. He accepted our Special Offer of a 'gross' of Spirogyra, promising to pay upon delivery. I hope he wasn't too disappointed when they failed materialise but I guess he wouldn't have recognised them, anyway.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 23 Jun 2010
Time: 23:59:50
Of course, Paul Nurse is not the only Nobel prize winner to be associated with the school. Does anybody remember a talk given by Sir Peter Medawar in the early sixties? I remember being marched into the hall and expected either a load of platitudes from greeat man feeling pleased with himself or a talk on scientific matters way over my head. Instead, I got one of the most inspiring talks of my life. I felt that the man was speaking directly to me as an equal. I am only sorry that the school's prevailing ethos of Arts and the Classics led me to choose that route, rather than science. Still, mustn't grumble. The old Latin English and History were pretty good too.
Name: Irene Fawkes
Email: irenefawkesatbtconnect.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 23 Jun 2010
Time: 09:11:13
Final word on the Abbot and Portillo Macbeth - sad person that I am I do have copies of both the Macbeth and the Contrasts programme. Katie is absolutely right - neither Diane or Michael are in the Macbeth programme, both are in the Contrasts one.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: La Diop knows
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 21 Jun 2010
Time: 02:39:08
No truth, then, to the rumour that La Diop is the original of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo?
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 19 Jun 2010
Time: 15:09:17
Oh, cruel Henry Wyatt. You presume to put your elders down. How gratifying still to be in the prime of life then to reveal,all along,Doris Diop has been the great love of your life. Permit me to refer you to Peter Fowler's worthy and well-researched piece for which he uncovered evidence that La Diop (I shake as I type) offered her seductive talents to the likes of A R Simpson, the Beast Bigham and,horror of horrors, the possibility she may have dallied with George Thorn's infamous organ. We must think about this. If I am correct, Thorn retired in 1959. Let us assume that La Diop, a well-practiced and experienced artiste was, shall we estimate, beyond her teens? At a round figure (which she no doubt possessed) let us place her, minimally, at 20 years of age when she stalked the HCS staffroom. This implies that Darling Doris was born in or before 1939, the outbreak of the Second World War (for which one cannot hold her responsible.) Or perhaps the Second World Whore, if you will accept the pun. Thus, in your egotistical claim to be the true and preferred love of La Diop you must concede that The Lady is now in her early seventies. Thus we, her rejected suitors over the decades, wish both great happiness with no trace of envy or demeaning bitterness. Enjoy!
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/63
Date: 18 Jun 2010
Time: 14:43:31
I'm surprised, Peter, that La Diop has faded from your mind - no doubt the sixty six years of hard labour has dulled your equipment. Wasn't La Diop the consummate catcher of the hardest of balls, those that were glanced, with ferocity, to leg slip? And wasn't La Diop the very slip of a fielder who, in the flash of a Dunfermline eye, ejaculated one of these very balls to knock off Simpson's bails? To which insolence the Great Doctor replied, 'Martha Matics is not an eligible player in this match....I am not, indeed, I never will be, out'. (The Doctor always found it hard to see the things that differentiated the girls: he could never tell a Doris from a Martha). (PARA) Wasn't La Diop the very temptress who sat on George Thorne's knee and told him where he could hide the Pavilion Fund? An organ for an organ, as she so intemperately put it.(PARA) So she calls herself 'Doris' these days. I often wondered what became of her, the mythical nymphette who strolled around the B Corridor, cajoling boys to turn the gas taps on in poor old Spargo's lessons; whispering in our ears to suggest we made the 'sound' that reduced Eggy to tears; and suggesting to us, in the subtlest of tones, to turn up at school in elasticated booties. (PARA) No, Peter, La Diop did not play opposite Michael Portillo - she played, if I remember rightly, with him. In a remake of Brief Encounter. In which a distinguished ex-politician made a series of programmes about our railway network, and ended the series focusing on Carnforth Station in Lancashire. Here, the newly-gravitased bystander, the reporter, watched from the platform as Doris Diop, sprawled in her underwear, teased a terrified Colonel Bigham into submission. But, as he withered on the biological vine, on the very point of admitting that he was really nothing more than an ordinary Tommy, a Bernard Miles in a David Lean movie, Doris's eyes were much more taken with the handsome bystander on the platform. It was Michael, she realised, who rowed her boat ashore.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 18 Jun 2010
Time: 00:46:49
Well, pardon me but I'm heartbroken. There I was thinking at long last it was worthwhile attending Harrow County for the love of my life to come to me and now you tell me Doris is a 419 scam. Perhaps in truth she prefers me to Peter and Jeffrey who are both jealous of my pulling power.Age is nothing to do with; I'm in my prime.
Name: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 17 Jun 2010
Time: 16:21:12
Peter - Doris Diop is a 419 scam - a fraudulent scam. Have a look at this website: 419info dot co dot cc
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1066 to 1073
Date: 17 Jun 2010
Time: 16:06:24
I have received an exciting piece of Spam (which I foolishly opened rather than automatically deleting) from one Doris Diop. Doris claims to have picked me up from what she describes as the Jeffrey Maynard website and my 'profile' on it. To be honest, I didn't actually know I had received such an honour and probably don't know how to find the alleged profile. Doris kindly writes the following (quote) 'i choosed you as the only one who i can entrust my heart on as far as love is concern making sure i bring satisfaction to your doorstep.' Wonderful news for my doorstep which is clearly in for a treat after a life of neglect. Before Doris gets too enthusiastic with her services, I should point out to her that she is entrusting her heart to a 66 year old. Probably a very good idea from Doris' point of view as she may be hoping, after a little strenuous exercise, I may kick the bucket bequeathing her my worldly wealth. Has anyone else heard from Doris? Or would they like to? I can pass on names in the greatest confidence. It seems slightly beyond its remit that the HCS web site should act as Gratification Agency for the Elderly but I suppose that's just the way of the modern world which I increasingly don't understand. I don't suppose Doris played opposite Michael Portillo in any school production in the absence of Diane Abbott? Is there any archival evidence for this?
Name: Katie Finch
Email: poussinpaintsatyahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school:
Date: 17 Jun 2010
Time: 15:09:35
Min- the only one of 'our' generation that I know to have been in the earlier stage outing for the Scottish Play was Francis Matthews, he was one of the youngest speaking cast members - the review from the relevant gaytonian is in the Music and Drama section. It was produced by Martin Walker in 1966-.Diane was certainly not in that production as we were in the same year at school and both started at the Girls School in September 1965- the Goff sisters usually provided leading ladies for Boys School plays before the days of convergence, any extras had to be negotiated, very delicately, with Miss Robinson, permission was not always granted and girls always had to be from the 6th form. This only changed with the advent of convergence.I seem to recall that this particular production was rather notorious,with the girls perhaps not having Miss Robinson's blessing, if indeed they were from the Girls School, but those older than me will be better placed to recall it. The Diane MacBeth film that never happened was several years later than this stage version- I'm trying to remember which year it was , but despite designing many costumes for it, I can't recall the exact time- possibly 1970?- certainly it was before Hamlet, but after Romeo and Juliet.I do recall a meeting in the Dining Hall at the Girls' School to drum up interest- an absurdly large number of girls turned up, one look at Francis et al and they were willing to sew countless complicated costumes....
Name: Peter "Min" Vincent
Email:
Years_at_school: 1966-1972
Date: 17 Jun 2010
Time: 08:13:18
Katie,Dave,Tom,Steve Before we dismiss the possibility entirely, has anyone a copy of the programme from the school's production of "The Scottish Play" in 1966? Was Michael in it - and if so was Dianne also some years before Convergence? Looking at productions around this time the Goff sisters did appear so is not totally impossible (but unlikely). The writeup on the website tells us very little about who was in it, and it was just before my time at the school.
Name: Katie Finch
Email: poussinpaintsatyahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school:
Date: 14 Jun 2010
Time: 15:41:10
Whoops! Just checked my script from contrasts...yes, both in it...brain addled....
Name: Dave Buckley (53-61)
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 14 Jun 2010
Time: 11:11:51
The previous posting is confirmed by looking under the Music and Drama heading (by some major pages) then Contrasts 1968.
Name: Tom Fawkes
Email: slender_tomatyahoodotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1959-66
Date: 14 Jun 2010
Time: 09:24:53
According to the programme, Diane and Michael both appeared in 'Contrasts', in 1968. This appears to be their first appearance together in public.
Name: Katie Finch
Email: poussinpaintsatyahoo.co.uk
Years_at_school:
Date: 12 Jun 2010
Time: 14:08:34
The MacBeth story is one of those pieces of misinformation that the media grabs hold of and perpetuates, occasionally elaborating, as it just fits the bill for the story they wish to tell. The MacBeth story has been around for years, but is inaccurate... despite the two protagonists going along with it on occasion. There was a plan to film a version of MacBeth, a plan that never came to fruition, Diane was indeed potentially cast as Lady MacDuff.I think Michael was in charge of the money. Nothing came of it.Screen teats were made to cast the play, costumes were designed, plans were made, but the film never happened. Diane and Michael did not appear onstage together in any school production to my knowledge. Diane was in Convergence's first production,'contrasts'. Michael was not. Michael was Friar Lawrence in 'Romeo and Juliet", Diane understudied the Nurse, but did not appear on stage. Michael was the corpse in "the Real Inspector Hound' , Diane was not in the production. Diane was in the (all female) Girls School production of 'Antigone' (pre- convergence). Needless to say, Michael didn't put in an appearance in this production. Michael was in 'Happy Poison"( Chris Ents), Diane was not. Lovely story though!
Name: Steve Grimes
Email:
Years_at_school: 1958 to 64
Date: 10 Jun 2010
Time: 02:26:08
With the Labour leadership contest under the hot media spotlight, The Times is reporting today that Diane Abbott (ex HCGSG) first appeared in public with Michael Portillo as Lady MacDuff "in a school play". Does anyone have any more information about this?
Name: Graeme.m.Young
Email:
Years_at_school: 1947 to 1953
Date: 09 Jun 2010
Time: 03:52:17
In past submissions to this website I have not been complimentary about Dr Simpson, Beast Bigham or Swanny Amos. In the case of Dr Simpson I have to say that as he was head man at HCS he must take final responsibility for the morale of the students and the performance of the staff in his care. Although I disliked and even feared the man, I have to be fair and state that despite the draconian regime of discipline and the overpowering attitudes of some of the staff, I valued the education I received there, for it set me up to face the big bad world of work and social interaction. Should any of Alexander Russell's antecedents read this, I hope they realise that life under his headmastership could have been very different from that under his parental functions. His memory lives on, obviously, and the fruits of his period at HCS will not have been totally negative ones. Now at the tender age of 74 my memories of those years are dimming amongst those of a full life, a very happy marriage, and a modestly successful career.
Name: Phillip Fowden
Email: fowdphill at aol.com
Years_at_school: 79-83
Date: 08 Jun 2010
Time: 03:05:37
It has been great looking through this site bringing back many fond memories. I have also noticed a lack of information for the year that I was in, a search for some photos is required to see if I have any form Photos. It was sad to hear about the death of Harry Mees who was my form tutor for 3 years. He looked after us as an extended family, treating us when we were good and punishing us when required.He was an inspiration and a great man who's love for teaching was always evident.
Name: Chris Esmond
Email: chrisesmondatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1959-66
Date: 06 Jun 2010
Time: 04:41:44
I find the recent comments by Peter Fowler and Peter Ward are absolutely spot on re the limitations of Simpson's school. And I can still clearly recall the powerful sense of relief I felt when passing through the gate for the last time, in summer '66. With a few weeks ahead of European travel on the road and, hopefully, a new, liberated life at university... No wonder there were widespread student revolts in the late 60's; anyone with any real intelligence in our generation knew in our very bones that 'the times were a' changin' and much of the way we'd been brought up and educated, with the outmoded values and beliefs of the past, was now redundant. I have absolutely no nostalgic feeling for that school past, I wouldn't re-live it for anything. Which, btw, is not to say that I don't appreciate the quality of some of the teaching: Messrs Waller, Kincaid, Golland, Lafferty, Billson, Mees, D'Arcy, for example. Without the class discussions in 6th form English and History, plus the school cricket (not forgetting playground football), it wold have been an utter nightmare, frankly.
Name: Carl Jackson
Email:
Years_at_school: 1970-1977
Date: 05 Jun 2010
Time: 11:53:09
I have yet to see it mentioned on this website, but it is truly good news that the Council of the Royal Society has agreed to nominate OG Sir Paul Nurse to be the new President of the Royal Society. Following consultation with Fellows of the Royal Society, the Council of the Royal Society, selected Sir Paul as its nominated candidate to succeed Martin Rees (currently to be heard giving the 2010 Reith Lectures). The result of the ballot will be confirmed at the Council meeting on 8 July 2010, and if successful, Sir Paul begins his five-year term on 1 December 2010.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: Givemethe20millionquidandstoptheemails
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 01 Jun 2010
Time: 19:49:28
Harrow County elitist? It took the son of a Spanish refugee from Franco and the daughter of West Indian immigrants (Portillo and Abbott) and brought out the best in them. Did anyone else notice in the Civil Service rich list that Gaytonians Sir Leigh Lewis and Sir Nigel Sheinwald are on GBP195,000 and GBP175,000 respectively? They brought out the best from the tax-payer. Michael.
Name: Keith Palmer
Email: keithdotpalmerathotmaildotcodotuk
Years_at_school:
Date: 01 Jun 2010
Time: 13:11:37
I also saw "This Week" when Michael Portillo made his comment about the two major parties having had leadership candidates from the two Harrow County Grammar Schools. I winced at Andrew Neil describing them as "elitist", and it showed his total ignorance. The whole point of grammar schools was that they were not elitist, that anyone with a reasonable intelligence at the tender age of 11 could have that enhanced, without the need to pay fees. Whatever anyone thinks of HCS (and I have put my own views forward here in the past), it offered an opportunity to all.
Name: Tony Knight
Email:
Years_at_school: 1954-1960
Date: 01 Jun 2010
Time: 01:37:45
Can I leave a message on this website for John West, or anybody who is in contact with him. John also attended the school during the above years, and we have been in regular email contact for the past few years. I have experienced problems with my laptop (hopefully, now resolved) and have lost his email address. Please can you get in touch. Many thanks.Tony Knight
Name: Ian Sanderson
Email: iansanderson2209atyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1981 to 1984
Date: 31 May 2010
Time: 17:31:00
i was in mr stanleys form. my memory is of people making penguin noises when mr tyrell was about
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 23 May 2010
Time: 22:20:26
Stephen Frost, who was at Harrow County 1963-70 lives in Bangkok and has written a report on what has been happening. See
http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/StephenFrost-Bangkok.htm
Name: Bob Garratt
Email: garrattsatbtconnect.com
Years_at_school: 1954 -62
Date: 21 May 2010
Time: 04:19:01
Amusing to see Michael Portillo with Diane Abbott on TV last evening pointing out that these two kids from "humble Harrow County School" had been contenders for their respective party's leadership; and to hear Andrew Neill slap them down with "humble?! It was an elitist academy!".
Name: iancobden
Email: iancobdenhotmaildotcom
Years_at_school: 1967-1974
Date: 21 May 2010
Time: 03:57:03
Watching This Week last night Michael Portillo commenting on Dianne Abbotts bid to become leader of the Labour party said that it was great that small schools such as Harrow County Boys and Harrow County Girls School could produce possible leaders of the 2 main political parties. Andrew Neil (he of the shredded wheat on his head) replied that they were not small schools but high grammer schools for the elite. I haven't been called elite for ages.
Name: Steve Manning
Email: notyet
Years_at_school:
Date: 11 May 2010
Time: 18:30:30
Dear Jeff, How come you've changed the 'I agree with Nick' icon on Facebook. Would've thought the outcome was beyond your wildest dreams. Granted another seat or two wouldn't have hurt. Ee the Liberals voting for a Tory Queens Speech. Steve
Name: john gilpin
Email: johngilpin_betteatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1942 to1947
Date: 05 May 2010
Time: 14:59:04
I was never an academic so my school years were not a particularly enjoyable time but I must have learned something because I made relatively good progress after leaving to enter an engineering career. I remember Mr Duke for maths, Dr Bradley (known as "Twinkle" for his star decorated ties). The geography teacher who had been a rear gunner in the RAF and the female teacher for French. I enjoyed the swimming pool which was new at that time. Mr "Swanney" Amos was PE teacher, and "Dickie" Dyer RE teacher. He rode a bicycle with a carbide fuelled front light and the frame was wrapped with insulating tape! The new buildings abandoned at the start of the war were still there. Hei -Ho
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 03 May 2010
Time: 20:49:37
The only Old Gaytonian that I know of who is standing for Parliament this year is Christopher Noyce, who is the Liberal Democratic candidate for Harrow West. Are there any others?
Name: Alun Green
Email: alunjgreen at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1
Date: 02 May 2010
Time: 04:08:13
My brother, David, was at Harrow County School for less than a year, September 1961 to April 1962. He is approaching 60 this month and finding this photograph of him has made my day. He is in th Harrow County School, Form 1a, 1961 photiograph. Back row, second from the left. As you only have his surname at present, you may wish to add his first name. Kindest Regards, Alun. Alun Green.
Name: Steve Manning
Email: dontthinkso
Years_at_school: 63-68
Date: 01 May 2010
Time: 19:23:20
Any Old Gayts standing for Parliament or local elections this time around? Thanks to people that have e-mailed me. Will reply soon. S
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: plawson.collinsonatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 01 May 2010
Time: 07:37:16
Andy, to say that the largeness of the number of comments about someone says something positive about them is a bit of a non sequitur, isn't it?
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56/62
Date: 01 May 2010
Time: 07:03:26
Simpson was a remarkable man, Andy: a classics scholar of distinction, a cricketing international and a formidable Headmaster. Since he was a figure common to the histories of many of those who use this site, it's hardly surprising that his memories engender passions here. After all, in many ways, he is an exact symbol of the changes in this country since we all left his school - the Grammar and the Comprehensive, his Spartan disciplines and the more flexible patterns today; the elitist and the populist; the meritocrat, the aristocrat and the socialist. It is hardly surprising, for those of us who were there, that he resonates. He is still relevant. That is what makes some of us think back to that time and reflect - and this is no nostalgia, and nor is it self-indulgent. It is, simply, one of the continuing hearts of the debates that characterise ethics, philosophy, pedagogy and politics. It is a living argument that uses a past master of his trade as a common reference point.
Name: Andy Colhoun
Email: colhoun.whiteriveratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1950-57
Date: 30 Apr 2010
Time: 06:39:17
It is astonishing to see how much time and thought is devoted in the guest book to one dead man who retired over 40 years ago.It must say something very positive about A R simpson
Name: Frank Durham
Email: frankdurhamatrabymere.wanadoo.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1945 - 1949
Date: 27 Apr 2010
Time: 15:30:22
The site passed a happy couple of hours. HCS and Spud Heafield in particular, gave me the tools that have served to make me a living and inspired a life-long love of words. At times, I found the school's relentless pursuit of excellence pretty miserable.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 1956/63
Date: 26 Apr 2010
Time: 05:58:00
Dr Simpson's elitism focused on boys who were capable, often despite their background, of reaching the greatest and oldest of Universities in order to study the oldest of courses. This meant an intense concentration on a curriculum that would have been seen as apposite in Matthew Arnold's day - the classics, the great works of literature and occasional forays into what the Doctor laughingly referred to as 'marthematics'. Most of the Sciences could be left in the capable hands of jumped-up Corporals with severe psychological problems. All of the rest was dross. Thus, boys who flourished (in his eyes) in these narrow fields were the indicators of the school's success, Simpson's version of the League Tables. (With, maybe, a supplementary nod - this time towards the armed forces and to sporting achievements). Any pupil who failed to reach his criteria of 'success' was seen as an also-ran, a disposable statistic; those who disgraced the school by entering trade, or enrolling on courses like those in the groundbreaking computing department at Manchester University, or, heaven forbid, becoming entrepreneurs, the very word reeking of a very French degeneracy. Ironically, of course, even those who succeeded in his school left that school with a crippled education; with the 'brightest' (his definition) dropping a whole raft of major subjects at a ludicrously young age. Today's education system might have mind-blowing faults - but to replace it with a re-run of the Doctor's Prescription would be a mind-boggling disaster.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: paulromney03a taim.com
Years_at_school: 1956-63
Date: 26 Apr 2010
Time: 03:50:08
The utter fairness of the 11-plus was that of the law which forbids rich and poor alike from sleeping under bridges. It was unaffected by issues of class in that, if you were an oik and somehow managed to pass the exam, your oikness would not bar from you from going to grammar school and getting an enhanced shot at a second-best position in a society in which the top positions were still largely reserved for public schoolboys. It was, however, class-discriminatory in the sense of selecting for traits that were much more common in middle-class than working-class children. If Henry Wyatt or anyone else is in any doubt as to this, he should procure and watch the first film in Michael Apted's 'Seven Up' series. It was made, I believe, while Henry was in the Second Form.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: Too long ago...and too long
Date: 25 Apr 2010
Time: 11:23:16
With respect to Henry Wyatt's comments on eletism, I politely venture that he may be missing the point. Sir Paul Nurse calls for an 'elitist' system to bring forth great GB scientists and innovators. Absolutely - we need them. After all, this is how great, young musicians succeed in the UK...Cheethams, Sir Yehudi Menhuin School etc etc. The problem with Dr Simpson's 'elitism' is that he failed to recognise talent in his less than golden pupils. Many fell by the academic wayside. (Check out his 'O' level % pass rates and grades.) He also failed to forsee that many (I am a modest example) came on song, post-HCS. And, of course, not all our 'stars' have to be academic eg smart businessmen and women. These alien notions were way beyond Dr Simpson's lamentably limited mind. On BBC Radio 4, recently, I heard a contributor putting forward the view: 'School got in the way of my education.' I smiled, ruefully, and understood. What a wise woman!
Name: henry wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 24 Apr 2010
Time: 08:09:31
I see from the Times today that Sir Paul Nurse is to be the new President of the Royal Society. He also featured prominently in the recent programme on his fellow Nobel laureate Sir Tim Hunt. In the article he calls for an avowedly elitist policy in funding scientific research by selecting 100 to 150 scientists for long term generous funding. He goes on to say that he is a complete non-elitist in other aspects of his life including science education up to a certain age. Our school was of course utterly elitist and I have the impression that he was not entirely happy at school but blossomed in later life. Although selection through the eleven-plus exam may have been restrictive, my own feeling is that it was utterly fair and unaffected by issues of class etc. I am not so sure that this is the case today. Middle class parents (including myself) seem to know how to work the system to the best advantage of their children. My own primary school produced two entrants to Harrow County and I certainly did not come from a privileged background. (The other was Alan Wilson; does anybody know how he is getting on?) Anyway, I am sure that everybody will join with me in wishing Sir Paul all the best in his future endeavours.
Name: Chris Rees
Email: gu3tux at cwgsy.net
Years_at_school: 59-66
Date: 18 Apr 2010
Time: 12:42:56
Just passing by....
Name: Dacre Mogg
Email: dacre.mogg at mac.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 17 Apr 2010
Time: 01:53:55
Did you receive my email regarding my brother Richrd Mogg. Please reply
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 15 Apr 2010
Time: 21:45:59
Some people have asked where they can find a few things. Follow these links:
Newly added pages: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/new.htm
Music and Drama: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/MusicandDrama.htm
Cricket: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/Cricket.htm
Cadets: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/cadets.htm
Gayton Centenary Events: http://www.gaytoncentenaries.co.uk/
Name: Alex Bateman
Email: via Jeff
Years_at_school: 1980 - 84
Date: 11 Apr 2010
Time: 04:37:01
Its been a while since i last wrote here, and once again it is sad news. I received a telephone call a couple of days ago from Norman Tyrwhitt who told me that former Physics Master Brian Williams (B E Williams), who was at Harrow County from 1957 to 1967 died last weekend. Another former Master, Denis O'Brien who taught Mathematics between 1962 and 1967 passed away last May. On a slightly different note, I am currently putting together the 2010 edition of the Old Gaytonian magazine, and would ask anyone reading this, be they members of the OGA or not, to drop me a line if they have any news, births, marriages or deaths, what contemporaries or themselves are up to, or any other gaytonia. Lastly, to Ted Mansfield, do join the OGA! At the recent reunion dinner I believe our Chairman recruited an octogenarian! Its never too late!!
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: the usual - keep the scams coming
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 08 Apr 2010
Time: 07:14:56
Name: paul phillips Message for Michael Schwartz - please can you wish David a happy 50th birthday for me. PAUL DULY DONE!, SIR! Name: Tom. C.P.Bartlett our firm and hard Scottish Headmaster he called for two pupils to come forward as he had seen them walking in Oxford Street, London I reckon there is something more to this. It is clear that they were all three of them on their way from Oxford Street to nearby Soho, they were busted during a police raid on a Soho brothel, and the police discovered just how firm and hard the Scottish headmaster really was. Not a pretty sight! Michael.
Name: paul phillips
Email: paulatbrianpaul.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-76
Date: 08 Apr 2010
Time: 02:53:22
Message for Michael Schwartz - please can you wish David a happy 50th birthday for me. PAUL
Name: Edward (Ted) Mansfield
Email: tedmansfieldatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1954-1959
Date: 06 Apr 2010
Time: 03:04:15
Hello. As Domestic management and I have only just got into this new-fangled IT thingy, I've encountered this website, great to see. I did attend our Class of 54 reunion back in 2004, met many old acquaintances. I never did join the Old Gayts, almost too embarrassed to do so this late down the line. Keep up the good work. Ted
Name: Tom. C.P.Bartlett
Email: tombartlett40athotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1952-1957
Date: 05 Apr 2010
Time: 16:02:16
I have only just discovered this site and have already found three pictures where I am included. I was unable to enter my correct e-mail address as it would not accept the 40 in tombartlett40@hotmail.com I saw a, terrible to me, write up about our headmaster "Dr.Simpson" and know the majority of pupils within the period 1952-57 had nothing but respect for our firm and hard Scottish Headmaster. Particularly after we left school and saw what was happening to schools and teachers in the '60's period. I recall how one Monday morning at assembly he called for two pupils to come forward as he had seen them walking in Oxford Street, London wearing School Uniform but not their school caps, something he would not tolerate!!! Needless to say they were given detention.
Name: Dacre Mogg
Email: dacre.mogg at mac.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 01 Apr 2010
Time: 05:31:33
My brother Richard Mogg was at Harrow Grammar School and some while back wrote an article about Dr Simpson. I have not seen Richard since 1957 as I went abroad and lost contact. If you can contact Richard and let him have my email address or telephone no 01243 582563 I would be pleased to hear from him. Thank you for your help
Name: Steve Hilsden
Email: stephendothilsdenatbtinternetdotcom
Years_at_school: 1969-1976
Date: 28 Mar 2010
Time: 10:33:21
Spavi That's bad news about Adrian Springsguth. I have wondered for years what happend to him. We pulled his leg so much at school about being Welsh - yet I have lived in Wales for 30 years and have two sons who are Welsh. If anyone has any news please let me know Steve
Name: Simon Palmer
Email: s.r.palmer at virgin.net
Years_at_school: 1969 - 1976
Date: 27 Mar 2010
Time: 13:19:19
Just heard from Brian Hickley that Adrian Springsguth has died. (We were all in the same year - so he was only 51 or 52. Any more details anyone??? Simon
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 26 Mar 2010
Time: 02:09:59
All those alliterative 'A's! Well done, 'Aul.
Name: A. Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 24 Mar 2010
Time: 06:53:16
I acknowledge an altogether appalling aberration, apt to an apothecary. An abject apology alone answers.
Name: Richard Lee
Email: RichardLeeATLeeGlanville.plus.com
Years_at_school: 1954 to 1961
Date: 24 Mar 2010
Time: 06:39:14
I have been contacted by Peter Pope who was a member of the 4th Harrow from about 1943 and, although he never went to Harrow County, his brother did. He is trying to find out a bit more about some names from the past - Douglas Mann, (usually Dougie or Duggy?) who he thinks was killed whilst flying for an RAF display at Duxford in about 1953, and Bobby Campbell who was also killed whilst in the RAF but, he thinks, a few years later. He asked if I would post something on the message board to ask if there is anyone still around who may have known more about them Jeff - I think there used to be a search facility on the site to put in names and find related bits and pieces - has it gone or did I just miss it or am I mistaken? Thanks Richard Lee
Name: Jeff Maynard
Email: jeffrey at jeffreymaynard dot com
Years_at_school: 1962-69
Date: 23 Mar 2010
Time: 18:52:30
I think someone is pretending to be Dr. Simpson. The real one is here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1590904734&ref=ts
Name: AR Simpson Ph D, MA
Email: Square at HCS.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1946-1965
Date: 23 Mar 2010
Time: 17:27:03
I am making copious notes (in Latin) on the many derogatory comments upon my otherwise unblemished and unequalled record of superlative excellence as Headmaster of The Harrow County School for Boys, Middlesex. The miscreants will not escape, unpunished. I shall leave no stone unturned until each and every Hobbledehoy and renegade from Soho, smelling of spagetti, is exposed to the public gaze. Make no mistake, I watch you all from my Celestial Resting Place. The bamboo twitches. You cannot escape. Retribution will be MINE.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-53
Date: 23 Mar 2010
Time: 16:26:42
Brian, "Square" was coined by Len Taylor in about 1948-9. As he says, "a square mouth in a square face in a square head." The appellation was not critical or malicious, just a perfect description. It was bound to stick.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 23 Mar 2010
Time: 15:37:56
Paul, Peter, Peter and David. I have loved the excursion into pedantry. And, yes, it is "riveting". But if David had truly wished to be pedantic he would surely have put commas both before and after "Peter". And while I am impressed by Paul's ability to spell onomatopoeic (if not his keying), I have to spoil it by pointing out that that Peter's prolific plethora of 'P's was, in fact, alliteration. So let's hear it in 'A's, Paul!
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56-62
Date: 23 Mar 2010
Time: 08:45:37
Bill: we don't need an arbitrator, I'm absolutely sure you're right. I loved them all, though, whatever they were.
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeteratgmaildotcom
Years_at_school: 1960-67
Date: 22 Mar 2010
Time: 18:47:32
@Peter Fowler; I remember jam doughnuts, currant buns, Wagon Wheels and Hoola Hops, but not "iced buns". Does anyone care to arbitrate?
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-1947
Date: 22 Mar 2010
Time: 17:43:36
What a great discovery it must have been for Nicole to find out so much about her great grandfather, the venerable Dr.Simpson. We cannot choose our relatives but take what information we can get of them be it good or bad, or in this case, widely varied. I wish I knew as much about my own great grandparents. One point I would like to clear up is that of the origin of the nickname 'Square'. This must have been applied several years after his arrival at school. The term used in the sense applied to Simpson, was not in use in 1946 when he arrived at school but was introduced into the language much later.
Name: Brian Hester
Email: brianwhesteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1940-1947
Date: 22 Mar 2010
Time: 17:42:14
What a great discovery it must have been for Nicole to find out so much about her great grandfather, the venrable Dr.Simpson. We cannot choose our relatives but take what information we can get of them be it good or bad, or in this case, widely varied. I wish i knew as much about my own great grandparents. One point I would like to clear up is that of the origin of the nickname 'Square'. This must have been applied several years after his arrival at school. The term used in the sense applied to Simpson, was not in use in 1946 when he arrived at school but was introduced into the language much later.
Name: John Pither
Email: john.pitherattalk21.com
Years_at_school: 1954 to 1959
Date: 21 Mar 2010
Time: 09:46:10
Totally agree with you, Henry. Well done to all those involved in the Reunion Dinner last Friday, great to meet up again with all the old faces (take that as you may!). Fascinating to hear about the charity, Pump Aid, you're working with Henry. Perhaps Alex might include a few words in the next magazine if you drop him a line.
Name: Henry Wyatt
Email: ash70panatyahoodotcom
Years_at_school: 1962-9
Date: 21 Mar 2010
Time: 01:37:41
Just wanted to rec ord my thanks to the organisers and staff for Friday nights dinner. A great pleasure to meet up with everyone. All the best
Name: Paul Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 20 Mar 2010
Time: 08:00:50
Perniciouslyonomata poeic poppycock, Peter. Pshaw!
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56-62
Date: 19 Mar 2010
Time: 07:51:50
Paul, perhaps, prefers pedantry, particularly precise pedestrian permutations. Peter prefers pleasantry, plucking pomposities, particularly pertaining to plonkers, prodigiously. Parabreak.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 19 Mar 2010
Time: 04:33:38
If Dave Fleming had meant to be pedantic, he would have put a comma after "Peter".
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 18 Mar 2010
Time: 03:16:33
For David Fleming. Thank you. I was unsure about 'riveting' and tried checking in my Pocket Oxford Dictionary, prior to writing, but it didn't help. So I went for the 'double t', perfectly acceptable in the English-speaking world (see modern American literature.) Whether, David, you 'hate to be pedantic' might be a fraction open to debate. In my experience, incl. 20 years in production with BBC Radio 4, pedants absolutely love to be pedantic. But no matter, as it keeps the rest of us on our toes and accuracy is to be greatly valued. (NB split of Passive Infinitive if there is such a thing.) I'd better not go on, at the risk of sounding peddannttic...pedannttic...peddanttic etc (none of these acceptable, even in the USA.)
Name: David Fleming
Email: sueanddaveflemingattiscali.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1958-65
Date: 18 Mar 2010
Time: 01:54:32
I hate to be pedantic Peter but do you mean riveting?
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63 although it seemed longer
Date: 16 Mar 2010
Time: 16:24:55
I have only just picked up on the (rivetting?) debate on the use of colons and semi-colons, or the insertion of colons - presumably up the .....! From now on, we should be on full alert for other grammatical abominations that would have sent the good and great Dr AR Simpson to an even earlier grave. For instance, errant split infinitives. I intend to scrupulously maintain a sharp look-out for such outrages.
Name: ye min
Email: yeyeye63athotmail.com
Years_at_school: 63-70
Date: 14 Mar 2010
Time: 09:37:37
Good Lord..a message from Steve Manning. I have such indelible memories of your time at HCS.
Name: Arwel Hughes
Email: clearwaycarriersathotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-76
Date: 11 Mar 2010
Time: 15:27:24
Was very saddened to learn that Jim Bassett (1k-1971) was no longer with us. Anybody know what happened to him? Had fond memories of nicking golf balls with him, Chris Berge and Dave Brown at Stanmore golf club in the mid 70's.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56-62
Date: 11 Mar 2010
Time: 11:33:33
I remember inner-quad footy only too well, Romney, you little sniveller. They were those people that used to make me drop my iced bun on the ground. We knew, of course, exactly how to deal with these parvenus: one dropped bun was invariably followed with one pointed Pepsi bottle, with the liquid inside considerably motivated to leap into the air by the addition of a Refresher. Thumbs were placed strategically over the top of the bottle, to be released when the villain who had wrecked the bun came into firing range. Justice was summary in the Inner Quad.
Name: Mike Townsend
Email: miket1athomecall.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1969-1976
Date: 11 Mar 2010
Time: 04:21:35
After colonic irritation ... I see that Callum Kerr is trying to provoke an apostrophe discussion (its v it's).
Name: Paul Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 11 Mar 2010
Time: 02:22:03
I wonder if we'll ever know what Fowler was trying to say when he found himself being shouted at about spaces and slashes and things. Something about inner-quad footer perhaps?
Name: Callum Kerr
Email: ckerratskorpionzinc.com.na
Years_at_school: 1970-77
Date: 10 Mar 2010
Time: 08:09:10
Gents, I think this conversation (punctuation, in case another threas appears before my comment does)is a good advertisement for grammar school education, in it's own way. Not that I ever shone on the language front. Not sure about the colonic irrigation, I thought that sort of thing was more a public school sort of thing! Pip pip! Great to come back to the site after a few months and see how things have moved on, there are some very astute commentators out there, I feel. Feel proud not to have given into the temptation to add a colon or half myself.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 10 Mar 2010
Time: 05:49:37
My monitor is fine - the problem was me - as usual. Despite reading "in this sentence" I focused on the first sentence which does have a colon.
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 69 to 74
Date: 10 Mar 2010
Time: 03:52:32
Colonic irrigation.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 10 Mar 2010
Time: 03:24:47
Agreed, Paul. Maybe Chris should invest in a new monitor? And, Peter, when I really, really want a para break I ask the blessed Jeff to add to his burden and insert one. He does. (Thought of using a semi-colonn in this, but it wasn't quite appropriate to the sense. I'm sure I'll find another opportunity.)
Name: Paul Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 09 Mar 2010
Time: 16:11:53
You fellows must be looking at it in the wrong font. It's a lovely semi-colon in my font.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56-62
Date: 09 Mar 2010
Time: 08:44:29
Yes, but Chris - what I wrote was a semi-colon, it's just not very clear. I once wrote a whole article on my fun when I typed, late 90s, the first page or so of 'Emma' into Word and then applied Microsoft's Grammar Checker. As you can imagine, Jane Austen proved to be a pretty terrible writer, all those sentences longer than seventeen words, all those passive voices. Basically, Word demanded that Jane start again. Sorry, Michael S: I'll clear off now so that person can reply to your question. And Paul, some of us - well, Colin Dickins and I - have moaned for yonks about the para. breaks. Maybe we should have a competition with posts like Peter Ward's, or this one, spotting where we think the Para Breaks should be. The prize, perhaps, could be 5% of the Pavilion Fund.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 09 Mar 2010
Time: 07:05:23
" : " is a colon not a semi-colon!
Name: Paul Romney
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 09 Mar 2010
Time: 05:32:33
Actually I'm in Maryland, where 4 feet of snow fell in the first half of February. But it's nearly all melted. Pete: your semi-colon is a thing of beauty.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: Undertheclockatpainfulcaning.ooowww!!!!
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 08 Mar 2010
Time: 13:41:51
Locked into Canadian winters, Peter? It is the most beautiful spring day in Toronto. Anyway, someone was talking about a Mr S who is Nigeriaphobic. Please enlighten. Mr S.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school: 56-62
Date: 08 Mar 2010
Time: 11:42:08
Paul Romney: You always were, you always are and you always will be a pedantic elitist of Simpsonian dimensions when it comes to the use of English. Still, I'm sure you're right; as I'm sure my use of the semi-colon in this sentence will have you reeling. (Paul, I'm at a reunion with Geoff Woolf and Mick Fulton and a couple of others next week...I'll raise a glass to old friends who are locked into Canadian winter landscapes and remember, promise, to get my singulars and plurals in proper working order. Best wishes..)
Name: Paul Romney
Email: unchanged
Years_at_school: ditto
Date: 08 Mar 2010
Time: 09:54:52
While we're about it, I can't even do paragraphs. It all comes out as one great big
Name: Paul Romney
Email: unchanged
Years_at_school: ditto
Date: 08 Mar 2010
Time: 09:51:31
Pete Fowler: Your question was syntactically challenging, but I believe the answer is No.
Name: Peter Fowler
Email: p_fowler at ntlworld.com
Years_at_school: 56-62
Date: 08 Mar 2010
Time: 08:23:26
Is it only Mac users who are finding it impossible to submit comments without being shouted at about spaces and slashes and things?
Name: Tim Huc
Email: thucattalktalkdotnet
Years_at_school: 1958-1964
Date: 08 Mar 2010
Time: 03:07:38
Much has been written about break time footy.As one always in the lower echelons and resident in one or other hut - a case of out of sight out of mind perhaps - football was played with bottle tops. No complaints from school authorities but some parents did object to the damage done to expensive shoes. Desk top table tennis was the number one game for some of us. Two or more desks dragged together with rolled up PT towels as a net. Hymnn books doubled as bats - a roll of adhesive tape was never far away.For me this lead onto thirty years of involvement with T.T.on full sized tables firstly as a competitive lower division club league player and later as an administrator, coach and international umpire. Great fun. The relationship with Harrow School has again been much posted about.Although he was never a favourite of mine - nor I his - I can remember being quite taken aback at what I perceived as utter rudeness shown to Dr. Simpson when we trekked up to their fields one year for the inter school rugby. It was lashing down with rain and Simpson seemed unprepared for the deluge. Many Harrow lads had large umbrellas and seats in a stand. Neither was offered to our headmaster. Boo! During the last year or so of my time at HCS my family actually lived right up on The Hill beside the King's Head pub. We were very much paupers on millionaires row but it was fascinating to live amongst 'them' and to go through their throngs twice each day. For a while I provided after match refreshments for either rugby or cricket teams on a Saturday. Cannot remember much about it except that I managed to make a considerable profit on the venture which I honestly, or naievely, disclosed to the master concerned.I think the beneficiary of my skill was the Pavilion Fund, of course. Perhaps that was an early showing of the entrepreneurial skills which led to my being the proprietor of a Ronnie Barker Open All Hours food shop in the English midlands for a decade?
Name: steve manning
Email:
Years_at_school: 63-68
Date: 03 Mar 2010
Time: 19:44:12
We have never had a reply about the blatant Nigeriaphobic comments from Mr.S. Obviously, Grammar is more important than racism.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 03 Mar 2010
Time: 16:29:29
John Parker is quite right. I had assumed Swanny and Thorn retired in the same year. Dredging what's left of my school memories, Thorn certainly went in 1959. As the cricket photo John refers to is 1960 then Swanny must have completed the extra 12 months beyond Thorn. Whilst some may have experienced the end of a gymnasium rope, I also remember that, at an advanced age for a Head of PE, Swanny's party trick was to ascend a rope , upside down, with his pipe stuck in his mouth! It was his way of proving to us wimps that if he could do it (his way) we could it the conventional way. The trick always drew admiring applause. Forwards of Swanny's 1960 3rd XV were always advised not to scrummage with slightly arched backs. When reffing practice matches, Swanny would shout, "Get your back down, boy!" before bringing down his whistle, swung on a ribbon, across the protruding spine. I wisely played out at Fly Half so acted only as witness and not victim.
Name: John Parker
Email: parkerjsxx at aol dot com
Years_at_school: 1959 - 1966
Date: 03 Mar 2010
Time: 13:02:00
In the description of the photograph of Cricket - 1st XI 1960 Peter Ward writes: ....He retired a day or so later so that probably explains it. Swanny and George Thorn both left that Summer, to everyone's relief.... That can't be quite right. Thorn had gone by the time I arrived in 1959 but Swanny was still there. I certainly remember the punish meted out with the leather covered end of a gym climbing rope.
Name: Peter Garwood
Email: peterdotgarwood777atbtinternetdotcom
Years_at_school: 1953/61
Date: 03 Mar 2010
Time: 10:00:53
.Colin, might I suggest that "Type your name here" is a dictionary salesperson, who aged 52 has only sold half his target figure. I would like to suggest that the OGA help him sell the rest, for a commission, to be paid into the infamous 'Pavilion Fund'. On that subject, is it not beyond the bounds of possibility that the money is still in a dead bank account, accruing interest as I type. In my day the school used the bank at the bottom of St John's Road, opposite Sopers, was it LLoyds or the Nat. West, perhaps one of our retired bankers might accept the challenge of tracking it down ?.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 02 Mar 2010
Time: 12:30:25
With the deepest respect to the memory of the late Chris Hunt who, a little after my time, seems to have been a good guy and a major Inner Quad footballer...this energetic playtime activity was not only enjoyable but, Simpsoninaly, extremely risky. As late-1950s and early 1960s Inner Quad footballers, we took our HCS lives in our hands. Tennis balls had been banned but plastic 'airballs', with holes, permitted. But after only a session or two of raucous 'footy' these balls disintegrated and became unkickable. A character called Mick Regan came up with the stunning idea that they could be filled with small pieces of stuffed in paper, torn from exercise books. This activity took about an hour, usually during Latin or Applied Maths. The 'solid' ball then lasted for about two weeks, before replacement. The introduction of the HCS plastic (stuffed) Inner Quad ball is actually owed to a character called Lewis, one of Simpson's champion betes noires, who sported a challenging Teddy Boy quiff, tight, nearly drainpipe trousers and...horror of Simpsonian horrors...thick crepe-soled shoes. Thus, on the final day of the Inner Quad Tennis Ball Era, Lewis (not a remarkably good footballer...sort of a pre-John Terry) kicked the ball which headed for a lower ground floor corridor window. The tennis ball struck the pane just as the great (for surely he was great) Dr Simpson passed on his way to morning tea. I suspect it bounced off, fairly harmlessly, but the shoe and its crepe sole shattered the window. Freeze of footballers. The good Doctor then peered through the jagged shards of glass and demanded to know whose shoe had inadvertently delayed his mission to the dining hut. Lewis ('Lou') was brave enough to own up. It was difficult enough not to given he was wearing one shoe at the time, so he was duly caned. The rest of us cravenly slunk away, disappearing into the doughnut queue. Thus, the ban on tennis balls and the origin of the stuffed airball - a far more deadly weapon as any non-footballing boy, whose head got in its way, would confirm. Further canings for Inner Quad football followed. With Dickie Head, I was caned for climbing on the school roof to retrieve a ball pushed high by a remarkable feat of goal-keeping. (This can be confirmed in the Caning Book.) Unfortunately, we had been spotted by a 'keen', on duty, prefect called Dixon. Leter, a joyous moment occurred when the good Doctor leaned out of his study, adjacent to the War Memorial window, over-looking the Inner Quad. He angrily commanded the miscreant footballers, below, to report to him. We knew that distance vision was not his strength so,once again, abject cowardice won the day. Yet the round ball game was to return to the Inner Quad, at whatever the risk. These were the sacrifices that former pupils were prepared to make for those who followed in a more enlightened era. These noble acts have never been fully recognised.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 02 Mar 2010
Time: 10:43:58
Who is "Type your name here", contributing at 10.52 (or was it 10.15?) on 1st March. What on earth are the first three lines about? It seems a cheerful, happy entry, but what is it all about? Is one of the things still to be achieved beyond age 52 a capacity for communication? (Don't bank on achieving everything. I haven't at 74, but I'm still working on it.)
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 01 Mar 2010
Time: 10:52:14
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary Search Select another dictionary Select another dictionary... --------------------------- Advanced Learner'sLearner'sAmerican EnglishIdiomsPhrasal Verbs Does your English Dictionary give you the help you need? We publish dictionaries for people learning English all over the world. Find out more... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Definition curmudgeon noun n [C] old-fashioned an old person who is often in a bad mood curmudgeonlyadjective (Definition of curmudgeon noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary) Well, I guess, pretty accurate description really! The point is that a website like this is thrives on trivia. As such, the website provides a lot of entertainment and amusement. Sometimes though a comment can trivalise when this is inappropriate. I acknowledge that this can happen when not intended. As I've commented before, I enjoyed my time at school, though I know many who didn't. I was lucky enough to form some strong friendships which have lasted over time. At age 52, I haven't done half of the things I'd like to have done. I still intend to do them though! In the words of Chris Rea, "Come So Far, Yet Still Have So Far to Go".
Name: Dennis Harvey
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 01 Mar 2010
Time: 09:29:41
Nothing wrong with writing about football in the inner quad if that is what you want to do. Just wrong context to have mentioned it.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: Nothing changes
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 01 Mar 2010
Time: 09:06:28
Before I knew it my comment was sent! Michael.
Name: Type your name here
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 01 Mar 2010
Time: 09:04:32
"a irreverent (and also frankly irrelevant) discussion on football in the inner quad" Is this really the Dennis Harvey whom I used to see on the 186 bus WHO WAS OBSESSED WITH ARSENAL AND WHO USED TO KEEP HIS PROGRAMME IN A FOLDER SO IT WOULDN'T GET DAMAGED? Do not be so curmudgeonly, Sir!
Name: Keith Palmer
Email: keithdotpalmerathotmaildotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1968-1975
Date: 01 Mar 2010
Time: 05:36:54
Geoffrey Plow, you were certainly not the only goal-hanger during inner quad football sessions as I must have been up the other end doing the same! Others, such as Chris Hunt, had way more ability than we had and were able to match talent with enthusiasm. On one day, I was playing in goal and my head collided with the post (yes, the drainpipe) creating a very bloody mess. The following day I thought I'd take a safer option and play up front. The ball was in the air and I decided it was best not to go up for the header so stayed rooted to the ground. One of the opposition, however, attempted to go for the ball but headed me instead, giving me a spectacular black eye. The name of that lad ..... one Geoffrey Plow! As far as I can recall, Chris Hunt and I were never in the same class or set during our time at HCS so our paths did not cross academically although we were at HCS for the same seven years, however I do strongly recall his sporting talent and his sense of humour. There is also a photo of him on this site in the 1972-73 hockey team. To Dennis Harvey, my recollection was not meant to be irreverent nor was it irrelevant, just memories of one aspect of my time at school when there were many from different sets, classes and houses who came together for an hour or so every day. The greatest sadness for me is that there are now at least five people from the 1968 intake who are no longer with us, but their memory lives on.
Name: Dennis Harvey
Email: dennisharveyatntlworld.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 28 Feb 2010
Time: 01:18:26
I attended Chris Hunt's funeral on Friday, a sad occassion but also a celebration of Chris, who packed an awful lot into his 52 years, of which his time at Harrow County was only a part. I think Chris would he amused to find out that his loss has intiated a irreverent (and also frankly irrelevant) discussion on football in the inner quad.
Name: Timothy (Tim) Huc
Email: thuc at talktalk.net
Years_at_school: 1958 - 1964
Date: 26 Feb 2010
Time: 05:15:05
Hi from a first timer.It has been quite powerful discovering this site which I rate as excellent.My years at HCS were undistinguished ones.Clearly some masters would not cut the mustard these days. Those who encouraged me included the late Gerry Lafferty, Fred Bilson and a Mr. Beauchamp.Assorted memories :- the religious diversity with Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, Jewish and many other traditions heppily rubbing shoulders;the effect of the death of Pope Pius X11 on Bernie Marchant; two pupils dieing,one through peritonitis and the other felled by a lorry whist walking down for a rugby period;blisteringly hot annual CCF parade days when Scouts posted the numbers of cadets fainting onto the cricket scoreboard;discovering Fred was a Liberal and going to an election count with him at Wembley Town Hall; a group of football nuts starting our own club - Barnhill - we lost by a cricket score to Harrow Town on their pitch which seemed VAST;somewhat perfunctory careers guidance; the D of E Award scheme and the comments about my Bronze expedition - despite initial trepidation Timothy completed an excellent expedition!It did take until my mid forties to discover that I was not a complete dunce.Four years at Westminster Theological College in Cambridge did the trick. Isn't it great that changing careers no longer causes raised eyebrows? Regards to any who remember me.
Name: Andy Colhoun
Email: colhoun.whiteriveratgmail.com
Years_at_school: 1950-57
Date: 26 Feb 2010
Time: 00:24:37
I saw Mike Trigg's comments on the guest book but when I used the e mail address as given, it just bounced back. Mike, try my address.
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: plawson.collinsonatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 25 Feb 2010
Time: 15:29:43
Hi, Geoff. I remember the football in the Inner Quad. Drainpipes for goalposts. I had a supply of those lattice balls (which for some time I thought were lettuce balls). I kept one in my blazer pocket, the resultant mis-shapenness of which once drew a bollocking from Bernie Marchant. I was the year below you. We played rougly in the middle across the quad. Your year was at the far end from the entrance to the quad. We were thrown out of there after 3rd Year. What I didn't realise until after I'd left the school was that the Masters' Common Room window gave out onto the quad and they would have heard all the swearing and seen all the gobbing.
Name: Geoffrey Plow
Email: gaplowathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1968-1974
Date: 25 Feb 2010
Time: 14:12:42
Keith Palmer has just revived my memory of Inner Quad lunchtime football - the ball with holes in it, the wave of goal-hangers (oh, all right: me). Does anyone else recall 1971 and all that?
Name: Keith Palmer
Email: keithdotpalmerathotmaildotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1968-1975
Date: 25 Feb 2010
Time: 08:26:29
Yes, Geoff, shocking news about Chris Hunt If my memory serves me correctly, one of the stars of Inner Quad lunchtime football circa 1971. My sympathies go to all his friends and family.
Name: Geoffrey Plow
Email: gaplowathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1968-1974
Date: 25 Feb 2010
Time: 02:13:55
Sad news: Chris Hunt, who attended Harrow County from 1968 to 1975, died last week as a result of liver cancer that had ensued from previous melanoma. Chris' funeral service is to be held on Friday 26 February at 2.30 pm at St Peter's Church, High Road, Bushey Heath, Herts, WD23 1EA. In memory of Chris a collection for Cancer Research and for a more specific research fund relating to ocular melanoma are being made. Should you wish to donate to Cancer Research, cheques may be made payable to 'Cancer Research UK' and sent directly to the Funeral Directors, Chas. A. Nethercott & Sons Ltd, 20 Aldenham Road, Radlett, Herts. WD7 8AX.
Name: Michael Schwartz
Email: greekmultilingualatyahoocouk
Years_at_school: 1965-1972
Date: 24 Feb 2010
Time: 18:35:31
"From 3d 1973 picture row 3 Simons, tim Ransome ..... Steve Strauss, David Levy paul" Good to see that standards of English grammar and punctuation are being maintained, Paul. Or is this what 30 years of accountancy can do to people? I did it for seven days.. Michael.
Name: Mike Edson
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
Date: 23 Feb 2010
Time: 15:48:54
I work at the school, on and off, assisting the caretakers. And I would like to know more about the man, I believe, was the first school caretaker. A Mr William Cozens, Annie, his wife, and Florence, or Florie, their daughter. I do not know if William was working at the school when he was enlisted to fight in the great war. He died in 1918. And I am wondering if there was an oversight, as to why he was not included in the school roll of honour. If anyone is interested, I can be contacted on druentia at msn.com
Name: Paul Phillips
Email: paulatbrianpaul.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-76
Date: 23 Feb 2010
Time: 05:28:40
From 3d 1973 picture row 3 Simons, tim Ransome ..... Steve Strauss, David Levy paul
Name: Paul Phillips
Email: paulatbrianpaul.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1971-76
Date: 23 Feb 2010
Time: 05:28:39
From 3d 1973 picture row 3 Simons, tim Ransome ..... Steve Strauss, David Levy paul
Name: Pete Lawson
Email: plawson.collinsonatbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1969-74
Date: 22 Feb 2010
Time: 13:20:39
I'm pleased that candid entries are still being posted about ARS. I had felt that the obliquely couched gagging requests of a while ago were going to prevail. That would have been a repudiation of the essence of the site. I don't remember any talk about or even allusions to ARS during my time at HCBS. We often talk tritely about how no-one is indispensible, how no-one's bigger than the School, how we're all forgotten when we leave etc, yet this man's unforgettable and egregious presence still evoked in 2010 is amazing to me given the oblivion that seemed to surround him in 1970. Why did nobody seem to talk about him when I was there? I never really thought about the values upheld by the school while I was there under Joe Avery. I think he was a liberal man who interpreted education in a modern way, but I find myself wondering now how much his governance must have been a reaction to that of ARS and, therefore, a little bit vicarious in its energies and emphasis. Or is that unfair? I think more than ever that it was a great shame that the School was snuffed out in the 70s. Well, that's my take. There was unfinished business. We never found out how the School would have settled long-term as a big grammar school after ARS's exceptional reign. Our judgments and perspectives about him will maybe as a result remain not quite as full as they might have been.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 22 Feb 2010
Time: 10:31:01
Poor Nicholas de Lange! I remember going home with him on the 114 or 158 buses, on occasions. How humiliating to be berated by Square after his Oxbridge triumph. I don't wish to rub salt into his wound but Peter Fowler recently sent me Square's Last Edict (on school uniform, of course.)This was concocted in the Summer of 1965, perhaps a year or so after Nicholas' unfortunate return visit to Simpson's Emporium of State Excellence. After a wonderful diatribe (to prospective parents about to purchase new uniforms for their lucky offspring) Square goes on to state what would be permitted . Nicholas will be dismayed, even shocked, to learn that brown suede shoes were deemed to be acceptable to adorn the feet of the Sixth Form (dark brown only...shoes, not feet.) In Square terms, this must have been a sea change of great proportion. If only Nicholas had delayed his visit for a year or so, he might actually have been congratulated for his obedient observance of School Uniform Regulations. Sometimes, you just can't win. As for Nicholas' 'Square was not great' etc. This is simply not fair. Dr Simpson was great. It's the nouns that follow the adjective that excite the controversy. These can be left to the conflicting judgements of generations of former Simpsonian inmates, depending upon their personal experiences with that most extraordinary of men.
Name: Nicholas de Lange
Email: nrml1atcam.ac.uk
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 21 Feb 2010
Time: 06:52:17
In response to Peter gold: Well, I WAS lucky enough to get an Open Exhibition. The Headmaster congratulated me publicly. Some months later, after I had left the school, I returned for a visit, in civilian clothes. Catching sight of me, he came up to me and asked, quite unpleasantly, why I wasn't in uniform. I recall he particularly objected to my haircut and my suede shoes.I pointed out that I'd left, and that he had congratulated me on my exhibition at Oxford. HE HAD FORGOTTEN!
I can't accept that he was a good head, or that he was just a 'victim' of the system. (Actually he wasn't a bad teacher - he taught my Latin set verse composition and I can still remember things he said.) It's not a question of 'letting go': his behaviour was so hurtful, even to keen and conscientious pupils such as I like to think I was,that it has left ineradicable scars.
Name: Michael Trigg
Email: michaeltriggattalktalk.net
Years_at_school: 1955-57
Date: 20 Feb 2010
Time: 11:23:34
Hi everyone, my first visit,certainly brings back a load of memories mostly good.I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me. mike
Name: John Wilson
Email: jbwilson at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1951 - 1956
Date: 15 Feb 2010
Time: 11:29:43
Found myself living adjacent to Tufty Groombridge's daughter in rural Norfolk. Must try and remember who taught me physics.
Name: Bill(y) Peter
Email: bncpeter at gmail dot com
Years_at_school: 19607-1967
Date: 15 Feb 2010
Time: 01:04:12
As, possibly, the only "old boy" whose father was taught Latin by The Square, I cannot remember having anything to do with the man, although my brother, Richard, may have had the pleasure of meeting him. HCS has, however, put me off single sex schools for my sons. They are not natural, IMHO.
Name: Peter Gold
Email: peter.goldattesco.net
Years_at_school: 1955-62
Date: 12 Feb 2010
Time: 08:46:24
Further to Peter Ward's message the best way of getting direct to Square's cricketing record is via www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/27/27146/27146.html By clicking on "matches and more detailed statistics" you can get a breakdown of the matches he played in. The page www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/13/13594.html shows that he did indeed play against Sir Don Bradman, even though not a lot actually happened due to the weather.
On the general discussion about Square's achievements as Head, there is no doubt that he was an elitist (at least on behalf of the School). He saw HCS's main competitor as the independent school Manchester Grammar, and the adoption of gowns for the prefecture was an attempt to mimic the practice of independent schools. I was fortunate in that I tried for and succeeded in getting into Oxford and therefore contributed to Square's strategic objective, although even so I was seen as a partial failure in that I did not succeed in getting an Open Scholarship or Exhibition and did not therefore merit inclusion on the Honours Board (at least not in that capacity). Taking a wider perspective Square's strategy did not serve the best interests of the majority (as my two brothers' careers at HCS demonstrated) and many ultimately succeeded in spite rather than because of it.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16at btinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 11 Feb 2010
Time: 13:01:07
I applaud Nicole's brave response. To obtain info on your ggf's cricketing prowess, try www.cricketarchive.com and put in AR Simpson, First Class, Scotland, wicket keeper, 1924-1934. That should do the trick. I note you have a cousin in Brisbane. As you are not a cricket person, ask him about the Australian and probably the world's greatest ever batsman, Sir Donald Bradman. Your great-grandfather was due to play against him, at Edinburgh, but Scottish rain ruined the match. To keep wicket behind Bradman, even for a long time as he knocked the Scottish bowlers around the boundary, would have been the greatest privilege. Poor old (actually young) Square was mighty unlucky.
Name: Nicole
Email: gold301 at yahoo.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 11 Feb 2010
Time: 08:32:20
Gentlemen, I am taken aback by the quick response with which you all have
replied. I have read all of the emails and comments here with an open mind and
an honest curiosity of your opinions and experiences. I think perhaps a few
points of information should be provided, as well as a few generalized
responses.
First, a note on my lineage. Edith Simpson, Alexander's daughter, was my
grandmother. She certainly stands as a role model for my self as she was a
proficient athlete, proud mother of three and very successful business woman
before she died of breast cancer in 1997. In fact, as a child she brought me to
Scotland and England where her and and her brother, Dr. James Simpson (Uncle
Jimmy to myself), showed me a small view of their childhoods.
Second, my source for the term ARSE is Thomas Foster. Although I have been informed otherwise, it is from his remarks that I drew my conclusion regarding an open use of the term. I am relieved to find a majority of those who responded did not share in this use of his initials, but in its stead, the term "Square," an extreamly revealing and less offensive nickname.
Thirdly, many have pointed me towards Alexander's cricket career. I am slightly hesitant to admit that I know close to nothing of the sport. Perhaps someone might point me towards a site which will untangle my confusion and allow for a proper reading of his statistics? I would be very thankful for such guidance.
Now away from the facts... I believe that his personal life, at a certain point, should be discussed in a more private forum. Even at his death, Alexander asked that only family be in attendance at his funeral. But, for those with questions, please email me and I will answer a few points.
My decision to post commentary was not to silence the discussion of your all's time at Harrow. It was an attempt to urge those of you who felt so hurt by Alexander's presence in your lives, to move on and away from such bitter things. Life, for whatever one might believe it to be, should not be spent with such anger on ones shoulders.
Admittedly, there was also personal gain. I had the opportunity to learn of the man from my grandmother and Uncle Jimmy, but my cousins did not. I googled "Dr. Alexander Russell Simpson" (an attempt to find a book he had written) and the Harrow site was the first to appear. If my cousins should take the same route as my self, and google him (an action not inconceivable, as we are all of the WWW generation), I could not help but feel they would not have gotten the entire story. It is much easier to direct frustrations at a dead man, than to evenly reflect upon him.
I am not, however, foolish and understand that many opinions, are sourced
from actual occurrences. So I will split the middle regarding opinions that I
have gathered here, on the topic of my Great Grandfather. And yes, I believe
that should my cousins or our progeny come upon this site, the comments that
followed my own will be more sufficient an explanation of his nature than the
comments which proceeded it. (That, as well as the documentation I have started
to build regarding him.)
To Mr. Goldman, to whom I respond to with respect towards a commonality we
share, directness: your kitchen is a public site, and to expect family members
to contain no similar interest in the time spent by both staff and students at
HCS is unreasonable. Perhaps you might share the experiences you had with
Alexander, as truth be told, my curiosity on his time at HCS has exploded, even
the time which is less complimentary of the man. As a point of less importance,
but more along the regards of "it is such a small world," very close family
friends of mine are Auzzies from Brisbane.
Gentlemen, I know that he was a strict man. His technique for use of a wooden spoon was passed through the generations to my very buttocks. But after careful consideration, I have come to a place where I find my self not just asking that some of the anger held for him be let go, but also wondering if in telling me your stories about the man, you might not find relief. For those that do not hold such frustrations, I still would like to hear more. Including anything people might remember of my Uncle Jimmy as a young man (he did pass a few years ago).
Again I thank you for your time,
Nicole
Name: David Palmer
Email: drtpalmerathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1947 to 1953
Date: 11 Feb 2010
Time: 07:05:36
Whilst agreeing that Dr Simpson was somewhat remote and that as a boy one tended to avoid him, I consider that he must be viewed as a product of his time. WWII had just ended and most of us at that time were still reacting to wartime discipline and thought little of Simpson's somewhat austere manner. He was not cruel, he was not an ogre and he could show considerable kindness as I myself discovered. One could certainly criticise him for allowing masters such as Bigham or Thorne to remain, as neither of them could teach and both had other unpleasant traits. He could not adapt to changing times but that is true of many; he did produce an excellent school, for which most of us who were there have cause to be grateful.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: paulromney03a taim.com
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 11 Feb 2010
Time: 02:01:40
Colin Dickins misunderstands me. I do not speak of some system that was personal to Square, but of the social system of which he was indubitably an agent. Head teachers are paid to maintain the status quo, not undermine it. Very likely Square himself was 'cowed' by it, as is commonly the case with the minions of repressive power. As for 'harsh but not cruel', my Concise Oxford treats the two as synonyms. 2. Touching the notion that Square's 'harshness' was a consequence of his staying on into an age to which he could not adapt, there are testimonies from his earliest days at HCS that contradict this. And Square was no hapless bystander caught up in an avalanche of cultural change -- he helped to bring down the avalanche by his exertions on behalf of the status quo. 3. I agree with Colin about Square's personality, though. He seems to have been conspicuously devoid of the empathy that is so valuable a quality in a teacher. And that very lack of empathy undermines the idea, which some have mooted, that he deserves credit for the excellent appointments he undoubtedly made, because it raises a question as to whether he knew what he was getting. In any case, one can hardly credit him for the good appointments without blaming him for the awful ones -- naming no names.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 10 Feb 2010
Time: 10:29:54
"Square was the zealous agent of a system which depended for its survival on instilling a sense of inferiority in the rank and file." Oh, absolutely not, Paul. And he was not a "minion" but a leader, although, I contend, not a Hitler: he was not a kindly man, but he was not cruel either - just harsh. He knew what he wanted to do and he may well have lived by a system which instilled a sense of inferiority in those who felt cowed by the strenght of his personality and his drive for excellence. He was certainly not an "agent" of the system, although he brooked no attitude or behaviour which he saw as impeding his ambition for the School - and it was for the School, not for himself. What he lacked conspicuously was empathy. He was totally unaware of others' feelings and his impatient zeal to achieve excellence closed his mind to alternative views and attitudes. He was the wrong man for the cultural changes which came in the sixties because he could not himself chsnge. He was the product of a different era, and he worked by the standards of that era. Not nice, in the liberated culure which increasingly characterised the subsequent era, but supremely effective while it lasted. He stayed too long, but I will not have it that he should not be respected for what he achieved.
Name: Paul Romney
Email: paulromney03a taim.com
Years_at_school: 56-63
Date: 09 Feb 2010
Time: 13:36:42
What a thrill to hear from Nicole, and first may I say that I've just become American myself. Having lived most of my life here since 1966, it seemed the logical thing to do. But I must say that I'm a little disappointed at the churlish note that has crept into some of the responses to our guest. Hitler? Give me a break! Eichmann, maybe: that is, not a leader (let alone a "great man") but a zealous minion. But the historian in me calls for some sense of proportion both for and against. Whatever role Square might have played had he been a German, he was not a German and Nazi comparisons do not fit the bill. (By the way, the anonymous posting in question should be deleted at once unless someone owns up to it.) (it has been - editor) However, I suppose the residual bitterness does speak to Nicole's point. Most of us have positive memories to counterbalance the negative aspects of our experience at HCS, but pain and humiliation inflicted on the young do leave a lasting mark, for good or ill. Square was the zealous agent of a system which depended for its survival on instilling a sense of inferiority in the rank and file. That was not all that HCS was about, but it was part of it. Yes, I know: "Worth not Birth," and all that. But Square inherited the school song. The memoir I posted on our web site shows that I have no fond memories of ARS, but I do share Andrew Carruthers' interest in learning more about a man who, for all that has been written about him here, remains something of an enigma to me.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 08 Feb 2010
Time: 03:46:21
I sympathise with Nicole. Continually bringing up the perennial and simplistic controversy of Dr Simpson, good or bad, must be embarrassing to the family. But honestly, Nicole, it's best not to view the web site. In seeking to, you may inadvertently re-open a can of worms. History cannot be expunged and opinions, as has been pointed out, will always vary. Correspondents have already hinted that views on your great-grandfather's running of HCS are diametrically opposed, with little substance in between. Personally, I wonder what today's OFSTED would have made of him and his educational stance. The British Government's official schools' watchdog defines four categories of performanance: Outstanding;Good;Satisfactory and Inadequate. Where would Dr Simpson and his Emporium have fitted in? Possibly a new category would need to be invented. According to the polarised defenders or detractors, this would have to be tacked onto OFSTED's list, one end or the other. But give the man a break. We have discovered his contribution to Scottish cricket. Thanks to Derek Tomlin and Peter Gold's researches, his catchings and stumpings can be found on appropriate web sites (we pass over his batting average.) The best site seems to be www. cricketarchive.com (try it Nicole) in which you type AR Simpson, First Class matches, Scotland, wicket keeper, 1924-34. That should do it. It seems that he would have played against the great Aussie, 'The Don' Bradman, but the Edinburgh match was rained off. Tragic. Misery. Oh-and a small point of accuracy. To our knowledge, Dr Simpson never 'canned' (your word, Nicole) boys - small, medium or large. This would have been illegal at the time and questions raised in Parliament. Caning, yes. I can personally vouch for it. His performances, whilst more numerous, were far less severe than those of other more notable and enthusiastic wielders of the hurtful bamboo. At least Square (he was not commonly known as ARSE) recorded his deeds punctiliously. The others flouted the convention and, in doing so, very likely the Law.
Name: Andrew Carruthers
Email: ajcarruthers at btinternet.com'
Years_at_school: 1961-8
Date: 07 Feb 2010
Time: 15:26:43
Was Dr Simpson a "great man?" Now, there's an interesting proposition (and a concept I suspect he would have sympathised with)! I rather agree that he must have done,some things right, otherwise he would not have built such a great team around him (even hiring the gum chewing Fred Bilson, hardly a man in sympathy with Dr S). That said, by the time I came across him, admittedly towards the end of his career, he just seemed deranged. Perhaps, like politicians, he just stayed too long? I sympathise with Nicole but, since she has introduced her family to the website, it might be interesting to hear about the other, domestic, side to his life. I wonder if part of the problem was not due to domestic pressures - do I not remember something about his wife being ill for example? He would not be the first person to succumb to stress in an erratic way.
Name: Geoff Spring
Email: Write word 'at' in full to avoid spam,eg 'Square at abc.co.uk'
Years_at_school:
1952-59
Date: 07 Feb 2010
Time: 13:19:35
I am Secretary of the Old Gaytonians Association and was at Harrow County School from September 1952 to July 1959.
Firstly, let me assure you your Great Grand Father was during my time was never referred to by the "A" word, his nick name was "Square", At that time all masters who were respected had nick names as did most boys, mine was "Gobo".
In my view, Dr Simpson was a fine man who took a school of circa 1,000 boys operating in an initially uncompleted school built for 650 from an ordinary grammar school to probably the leading state grammar school in England.
He was a "character" and he would not be ignored and anybody, who met him, will remember him.
Views about your Great Grand Father tend to be very polarised, most of his pupils valued the education they got at Harrow County School and recognised this was due to Dr Simpson’s focus on excellence. Others, a very few, felt the School damaged them and some blame him. Most Old Gaytonians believe this judgement to be unfair.
Your Great Grand Father was a Great man, but all great men create enemies.
Geoff Spring
Name: (editor - except for the first thought, this entry has
been edited. Please don't leave anonymous comments)
Email: nospam
Years_at_school:
Date: 07 Feb 2010
Time: 03:35:11
One can empathise with Nicole in her request to draw the line under the exploits of her forebear. However she must understand that the majority of correspondents are teenagers (in their own minds) and are only responding to that age in their lives. They remember Simpson first hand - for what he was. There can be no forgetting and he should not be erased from history or never mentioned.
Name: Roy Goldman
Email: roygraceatbigpond.net.au
Years_at_school: 1943-1949
Date: 07 Feb 2010
Time: 03:27:07
For Nicole,
Whereas you have felt the need to air your views about comments made on this
website that concern your great-grandfather - I would draw your attention to the
text that appears on your screen when you log in to unique site.
To refresh your memory, these are:
"This is the website for all Old Gaytonians - former pupils and staff of Harrow
County School for Boys..." Please read it again!
Through this wonderful site, after first accessing it from my home, in Brisbane,
Australia, I was been able to make contact with boys in my 1943 entry form and
to help organise a class reunion in England and then go travel to meet
form-mates that I had not seen or heard from for over 50 years. The reunions
continue to take place every year.
At Harrow County, we had during my years at the school, 3 headmasters - Randall
Williams, Dr. Crowle Ellis and Dr. A.R. Simpson. I'm afraid that with me, your
great-grandfather did not even come a close third. Only your email gave me his
Christian name - Alexander.
I have a piece of advice for you Nicole if you'll pardon some straight words
from the antipodes - If you don't like the heat - stay out of the kitchen!
Name: Graham Cutts
Email: graham_e_cuttsathotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1960-66
Date: 06 Feb 2010
Time: 23:24:31
Checking on the cricket section and
photos therein, there is one labelled
1st XI 1960, asking for help in ID process. As one of those there is Peter
Ward esq, he can probably ID them all. As a new boy then , but since having
played or watched some. I can ID 5 + GHW one of the best maths teachers I ever
had ( I never got to grips with Algebra until he took a hand and then with young
children of my own and since I can bore for England doing it! At least my
youngsters greatly outshone me!) and inevitably Swanny...
The site is very biased on cricket, not that I'm complaining, but need the
soccer, sorry Association Football stories to continue and the Rugby ones etc
etc
Where or rather from whom (thank you Mr Burt) can we discover more. I'll miss
all the functions living down in the furthest part of HM Commonwealth (no
corrections please on latitude x and the xy islands being further) and not have
the chance to push this around, but look forward to the periodic contact and
mostly gentle banter on the site.
I see another slightly forgotten name of Brian Portch, who was in a year down
from me, so it must be getting through somewhere........
Name: Nicole
Email: gold301 yahoo.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 05 Feb 2010
Time: 16:03:54
To the men who spent time under Dr. Alexander Simpson: I am more than slightly saddened and disturbed by what I have read here today. Both by the elitism and snobbery that he exuded and by the anger still held for him 50 years down the line.Although at this point, I am quite sure that it should be put to rest. I apologize for his strict hand (and yes, I did see the copy of his "caning book") and his harsh words. I am sorry for his habit of picking those who he thought the best and brightest without thought to late bloomers and those with talents outside of normal academia of the time.
And although I am young, 23 in fact, I still am interjecting on his behalf. Please, let this pain go. He is dead. All that is left now is his family, my self included. I am the eldest of his great-grandchildren.
And if it should help you move forward, know that future generations learned from his mistakes. And no, none of his offspring went to Oxbridge. In fact, all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren are Americans.
But we are still his children, and yes, it is painful to hear such things as the nickname "ARSE" about family. Especially dead family that has no way of defending or righting their wrongs. So again, I apologize. But please remember, somewhere in the world, his children are reading what you write. And what we know of him is a passion for sport, a love of academia, and a respect for our heritage. I wish you and all of your families a long a fit full life full of opportunity and joy.
Nicole
(Editorial note - Dr. Simpson ("Square") is often referred to as ARS because those were his initials - Alexander Russell Simpson. The staff often call him thus in their reminiscences. His nickname was not ARSE. Slight, but perhaps understandable, confusion here. - Jeff)
Name: Judith Hernon (nee Crampton)
Email: judyhernonatsky.com
Years_at_school:
Date: 03 Feb 2010
Time: 05:04:16
I am the daughter of Neville Keith Crampton who was at school from 1939 onwards. There is another chap called Alan May, who also attended Harrow, who looked after myself and ( Vivienne ) my older sister, when our parents were going through a rather messy divorce. They must have been friends from school. Does anyone know Alan May or maybe his children? My other sister Adrienne Crampton has left some comments as well. Please contact Adrienne with any info. Does anyone know if our fathers older brother Roy Arthur Vernon Crampton attended Harrow? We believe he was much older and was flying during WWII. Great web site!!
(Editorial note: Roy Arthur Vernon Crampton started at Harrow County in 1934. See http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/Entry1934.htm
Neville Crampton was in Form 2A in 1940. See http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/1940entry.htm He is sitting on the ground next to Alan May in this photograph: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/ATC1942.htm )
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 31 Jan 2010
Time: 12:41:53
Exciting news on that great International cricketer, Dr AR Simpson! I Googled him up to discover that he played 12 First Class cricket matches for Scotland, in the 20s and 30s. In those days, the visiting Tourists coming over to play against England went up to Scotland for a 'warm up' (or chill up) so it is entirely possible that The Great Scottish Cricketer played against The Aussies (Bradman?) South Africa etc etc. I have no Wisdens but can anyone please find this out? The GSC's batting average was a stunning 6.3, 20% of the runs being scored in a single innings - his top score of 19 not out. This suggests his other innings may not have been too fruitful. On the other hand, he took 14 catches and made 10 stumpings. One surmises that the Scottish pace bowlers of the time were not too nippy but the Scots may have had a useful spinner or two. I joined HCS late (aged 14) from Doncaster GS where I learned my cricket. This meant that I did not witness the alleged incident when the GSC appeared for HCS Staff vs 1st X1 (mid-fifties?.) I understand he was bowled out, possibly first ball, but refused to leave the pitch claiming he 'wasn't ready'! Further, that the umpire had to do as he was told and unwillingly complied. Is there anyone out there who saw this, first hand? The HCS web site Cricket page would benefit greatly from an account. To my knowledge, the only other cricketer known to challenge in this way was Dr WG Grace, himself. Grace replaced the bails on his broken wicket, at the Crsyal Palace, and ordered the umpire to carry on as if he hadn't been bowled out. Grace told the young bowler, over the moon initially, that people had paid good money to see him...bat that is and not be bowled out. Did Simpson do the same? With his now publicly revealed batting average I suspect this to be unlikely. Although, of course it would have been entirely in character!
Name: Kenneth F. Smith
Email: kenfsmith at aol.com
Years_at_school: 1948-1949
Date: 26 Jan 2010
Time: 00:42:12
I grew up in Kent and the greater London area during and immediately after the
war -- watched the Battle of Britain from my backyard in Loose -- except for a
year evacuation to S. Wales, and then the doodle bugs. Attended Maidstone
Grammar School (where I was in the ATC and took my first flight in a Tiger
Moth!), Whitchurch Secondary near Cardiff, then transferred to Harrow County
School in 1948 when we moved to Ruislip; was in 5d and left in 1949 when I got
my School Cert and London U. Matric. Then the family moved to Newquay, Cornwall
where I worked as a clerk for the County Council, until I was 18 and got called
up and joined the RAF.
After square bashing at Padgate, I was sent to Pershore to be a "copper", but
balked. Because I had some slight civilian experience as a General Clerk was
sent to Wyton, where I was assigned to Pay Accounts [Although I'd always wanted
to fly, since I wore glasses, I'd already been screened out at Padgate as
ineligible for flying training.]
I stayed at RAF Wyton until December 1951 when I volunteered for Germany and
right after Christmas spent about three weeks at Lytham -- including New Year's
in Blackpool -- before going to Luneburg. Later that year we transferred by
convoy to RAF Ahlhorn, near Oldenburg; then still later detached to Jever to
open the new base. Stayed a Jever until demobbed in January 1953.
While at Wyton, I was invited to the Air Ministry in London to interview for a
National Service Commission. Did OK on the tests, however I washed out because
I didn't have "OQ". As I was walking out at the conclusion of the interview, I
distinctly recall one of the board members sneering to another "Who the Hell
does he think he is? Bloody Grammar School boy getting above himself -- the
bugger can't even ride a bloody horse!" [which was one of the interview
questions.] As a working class scholarship boy to Maidstone Grammar School with
a 25% Irish heritage, that remark reinforced some family prejudices vs. the
"upper" class that set the tone and direction for the rest of my life!
In May 1953 I emigrated to the US -- New York -- and enlisted in the USAF.
Served 4 years in South Carolina, Japan and Washington State -- made Staff
Sergeant -- then took the "GI Bill" to stay in the Reserves, attend the
University of Connecticut, take Reserve Officer Training, then return to active
duty with a commission on graduation. [Ironically, while at UCONN, in 1958 I
received an award from the "Sons of the American Revolution" as the Outstanding
Air Force Cadet, while another English Expat got the other award as the
Outstanding Army Cadet!] Anxious to resume a career, I accelerated my academic
program and graduated before I had completed the ROTC program, but received a
direct commission in January 1960 as an Outstanding Reserve Airman for New
England.
But then came Catch 22 -- since I wasn't flying qualified, the "needs of the
service" criterion intervened -- and even though they'd paid for most of my
university schooling and officer training, they didn't recall me to full-time
active duty.
So I stayed on at U.Conn for another year and earned an MA Degree.
However, I stayed in the Reserves as an Intel. Officer, eventually joined the
Foreign Service, and had a concurrent active ready reserve, weekend warrior-type
plus emergencies military side-career (promoted to "bird" Colonel -- i.e. Group
Captain equivalent -- in 1978) -- in Asia (Vietnam, the Philippines, Korea and
Indonesia -- as well as the Pentagon a nd other bases in the US, until
retirement in 1991. Still unable to fly officially, I did get a private pilot's
license (Cessnas), and also got in a lot of helicopter time in Vietnam and the
Philippines during disaster relief operations as a cargo kicker and people
puller.
For my regular civilian career after I left UCONN, I was a civil servant for
awhile with the Pentagon in Washington DC, then transferred to the U.S. Foreign
Service -- US Agency for International Development -- and worked overseas in
Vietnam, the Philippines, Korea and Indonesia.
Returning from Vietnam, I got a sabbatical leave for a year, attended MIT in
Cambridge, Mass. and earned an MSc.
After I retired from the foreign service, I went back to university -- part time
-- and earned a Doctorate at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.
I also had a concurrent additional duty as a Liaison Officer for the Air Force
Academy & ROTC Programs, and served on a Congressional Service Academy -- i.e.
Air Force, West Point, Annapolis & Merchant Marine Academies -- Advisory Board,
and was Chairman of that board for several years, until I left the Washington DC
area in January 2009 to settle in my Eagle Eyrie condo in Honolulu.
[Needless to say, equal opportunity was much more alive and well in the US where
the Harrow County Grammar School motto -- "Virtus Non Stemma -- Worth Not Birth"
prevails; getting "above yourself" is considered desirable, and knowing how to
ride a bloody horse is not a criterion for officer candidate selection -- if it
ever was! (Hopefully things have now changed somewhat for the better in the
UK.)]
Nevertheless, apart from that incident which precipitated the change in my
life's direction, I still have many fond memories of the UK and the British!
Aloha
Ken Smith
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 24 Jan 2010
Time: 17:00:45
Thank you to Brian Portch for his cricketing and football memories. Please, other contributors, keep the cricket (and indeed the football) stuff rolling in. He mentions Terry Brigden who founded the soccer outfit he played for. Terry was also a founder member of the first renegade 'HCS' round ball team, the infamous and much Gordon Underwood-hated Gayton Rovers. Rather a useful right half I seem to remember (not Gordon but Terry!) with a solid tackle. Just think - the school 'produced' two Test cricketers, two (to my knowledge) England U19 Rugby players but...if we had officially played soccer? Who knows? Definitely County players, one surmises. The great World Cup team of 1966 might have included an ex-HCS footballer if only...if only...
(Cricket page is at http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/Cricket.htm JMM)
Name: Brian Portch
Email: briancportchathotmail.com
Years_at_school: 1961-68
Date: 24 Jan 2010
Time: 12:13:56
Let me reintroduce myself to my classmates from 1961 to 1968.ie
1B,2C,3B,4B,V3,L6ScB & A6ScB.
Have recently been in touch again with Frank Kirkham, whom I first met in 1B. (I
can still chant the Form Register - Ainley, Ainley, Bogle, Bush, Callendar,
Cook, Fischel, Fountain, etc etc)
Frank was later my Cricket Captain up to and including the 2nd XI in 1966,67 &
68 and also for Northwick House Cricket team.
My moderate claim to fame was as a Wicketkeeper and eventually a personal
highest batting score of 67 in the 1967 season against Rickmansworth (Away)
I seem to remember most of my catches coming off the "quickies" namely Ian Park,
Paul Poulter and, if I was lucky enough to see the ball - John Webb.
Met up with Frank last year after 40 years, when he stopped at my place in Devon
en route to his holiday destination in Cornwall.
Needless to say our wives were ignored as Frank and I went on a nostalgia trip
about our years at HCS, and in particular Frank's marvellous impressions (still
as good today)of many of the masters who were there during our time.
Re Soccer: I joined a team called Tasman who played in the Harrow Youth League.
It was managed by an Old Gayt, Terry Brigden ? and consisted mostly of HCS
pupils,such as Graham Spicer, Bob Bennett, Tony DeVletter, Richard Van Oostrum.
We even managed to reach the Final of the Harrow Youth League Cup at Harrow
Borough's ground in 1967, where we got thrashed 1-7 by the mighty Tansley. Have
still got the runners up medal up in the loft !
I remember we nearly always lost against the CFB team,mentioned in earlier
postings, also in the Harrow Youth League. Must have been those dazzling Blue &
Red striped shirts !
If any of my classmates still remember me, it would be great to hear from you.
Name: Dr Graham Clingbine
Email: businessopportunity attinyworlddotco dotuk
Years_at_school: 1961-1969
Date: 22 Jan 2010
Time: 08:39:53
Re: my recent post on here which was mainly about cricket, just to correct my own error, it should have been Mike Busby (not Matt Busby), he of the quick single and ''yes, no, wait'' call, the forward defensive push for a single, the strongest Birmingham accent i have ever heard, and ''i'll have a pint of Double Diamond''.....oh those were the days. Has anyone news of Ollie Burrows, Tony de Vletter, Stuart Relph, Mike Busby? Any contemporaries of mine are welcome to contact.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-1963
Date: 20 Jan 2010
Time: 03:09:20
'Grahams' Cutts and Clingbine. Thank you for your latest CRICKETOBILIA. Cricket stuff is romping in. We shall shortly collate it(although that will require a bit of sleuthing recent years of contributions to this site.) Hopefully, I can then approach the admirable Jeff Maynard of the 300,000 Hits and ask if we can transfer, as a permanent record, the accounts to the now set specially set up cricket web site page. To have everything together is the aim. So, a further reminder to former cricketing aspirants however bad or good, HCS, Ogs or both - please keep corresponding and encourage others to do the same. For example, Graham Clingbine seems to be in touch with Frank Kirkham. If I have it correct, Frank's father was a former County Pro with Derbyshire. Having given me a few runs in my first vs. The Staff match, he promptly bowled me out. Afterwards, he kindly took me aside and explained that I wasn't even holding the bat properly (I was more a bowler then!) Two seasons, later, I opened the batting and carried on to until the end of my Club days. I was always very grateful to Frank's dad.
Name: Dr Graham Clingbine
Email: businessopportunity at tinyworlddotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1961-1969
Date: 19 Jan 2010
Time: 16:42:51
To Bill Peter.....as Graham Cutts said, Richard Head is not a wind up......he was a very good quick bowler for the old gayts...although he sometimes cut his run up down, when in full flow he had a long run up and was a Fred Flintoff type who terrorised some opponent batsmen. Howard Collins i rember as a very hard to dismiss batsman who always seemed to get runs when wickets tumbled around him. I also remember the bowling of Pep and ''Kipper Payne'', a slowish but accurate bowler. I remember one match when John Bartholomew was captain, he had issued a batting order, when someone was out Derek Peperell was due in next but he asked me to jump the queue and go in before him...that evening i got a real (short) bollocking from Bart but it was soon forgotten. Some of you may remember Mat Busby who played in the 2nd and 1st teams.....his stock shot was forward defence and would crawl up to his fifty in singles. We became friends and with Francis O'shea we formed a rock band Ape and practiced at University College in the basement, Matt lead guitar, Francis base and me on drums...it was all Led Zep, The Who and Blues...we werent bad after a couple of years and played a few quite big gigs, until Uni life and girlfriends took over. Myself, Ollie Burrows and Tony DE Vletter never played for the school but we used to knock around in the nets and on the school field and ended up as regulars in the 2nd and 3rd elevens down at Sudbury, Ollie becoming the regular wicket keeper. I also had a good time at school playing badminton in the school team...i originally volunteered to play just to get out of Rugby on Wed afternoons but i enjoyed it and ended up playing with Stuart Relph in the school tem...this was around the time of the never ending Pavilion Fund, some of you will know what i am talking about, i never heard what happened to all that money..i went on to play for Bedford College in the University of London League, my standad went up, and eventually i got college colours awarded and became team captain.Anyone who remembers me is welcome to contact me...glad you remember me Graham Cutts....i have had a few emails from Frank Kirkham, i think he is an ex-cricketer.
Name: Graham Cutts
Email: graham_e_cuttsathotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1960-66
Date: 18 Jan 2010
Time: 19:27:35
Knew I'd miss something Bill, Richard Head, was the captain of the 2nd XI and something of a fine cricketer, along with the likes of Howard Collins. Peter, if you are in contact with Chris Pollard send him my regards and see if he can recall some of the missing 1stXI,2nd XI teams when I was there up to 1973 Does he remember an non old Gayt from Yorkshire(?) called Peter Cumbor. He frightened me just walking onto the field!
Name: Graham Cutts
Email: graham_e_cuttsathotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1960-66
Date: 18 Jan 2010
Time: 19:23:08
Ah I dont get on here for a while and there are more names appearing... Jim Broadribb another revered athlete and of course Preston house, good to see your name on here. Your comments on Syd Russell, confirm what I told Peter about his speed. I was there that day when PW got him, but not privy to the after match stuff. Additionally I really acknowledge what Peter says on 'those' days. Peter and others would be much better known if it were now not then and I too salute Ramps & Gus as products of the school. Tim Rutter didn't manage full England status but was Harlequins star for a while. Jim on Pep, absolutely brilliantly correct. I often umpired for the 2nds and was always the other end when Pep was bowling, so missed the..er chance to have him SPEAK to me, but what I did suffer was fielding down the club to his bowling. He had four in one over smashed in my direction, they all went for four. I refuse to take the full blame as those of you that have played there will remember the outfield wasn't quite flat. I remember one ball came to me at pace, positioned behind to take and whip in to stumps , it hit the ground and bounced over me, . being 6ft+ that was a feat... Graham Clingbine, the name of one of my missing teammates (you need to go onto the school photos section, certain to know some of the missing there) I attended the OGRFC 50 year dinner in 1997 and that was the last time I saw Bob or Peter Pinfield. Bob lived in Dernyshire somewhere with wife Lesley ( from the LTC) and twin sons. Peter was Chairman of OGRFC for a while, but when they folded I lost touch with everyone. Thus anyone else reading our chatter that knows any of the guys mentioned, I think both Grahams would like to get in contact. I am in the land of the long white cloud. I am the advanced party for Englands success in 2011 and hoping to set up an HCS,Harrow High,OG dinner during the RWC, so anyone that reads this or knows of someone in OZ or here, please put them in touch. If they are rich & famous I WILL talk to them, so do not hesitate in making that call
Name: Bill Peter
Email: bncpeteratgmail.com
Years_at_school: '60-'67
Date: 17 Jan 2010
Time: 21:56:31
I trust that Graham Clingbine's reference to "Richard Head" on 31st December was his attempt to get the "last laugh" of the old year.
Name: Colin Dickins
Email: colin.dickinsatblueyonder.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1947-1953
Date: 15 Jan 2010
Time: 03:01:22
Congratulations, Jeff. 300,000 hits exactly! I know, because that's what it says at the bottom of this Home page. And thanks for all your hard work creating and maintaining our website.
Name: Chris Rickwood
Email:
Years_at_school:
Date: 14 Jan 2010
Time: 13:05:55
To Brian Slater. Well there was another version of the school song I remember singing with gusto. The bit I remember (hilarious to our young minds!) "Shirk you work, be this our battle cry, Stand Up, Sit down, Dishonest, tell a lie" I (mercifully I suspect) forget the rest.
Name: brian slater
Email: b123rianslaterAThotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 56 61
Date: 13 Jan 2010
Time: 18:23:22
Name: Chris Rickwood Email: Years_at_school: Date: 04 Feb 2009 Time: 06:56:56 quote To Peter Ward, the Eggy Eagers egg sound was a loud "Her Hm" Drove the poor man mad. I remember him setting up a "dangerous six" where the six most persistent miscreants were sat at front desks. It was a badge of honour to be included and competition was fierce leading to more and more bad behaviour. Spargo Rawnsley had a similar problem with a "cuckoo" noise, which would send him into a huge rage. The irony is that both individuals were thoroughly nice men who were mercilessly tortured by us. I still feel guilt over my role. I suppose it was our way of hitting back at the overall cruelty of the system, attacking the weak links. unquote Ah yes I was one those spies, what a hoot, how could you resist it as a naughty boy. what a "schtrange eggy man" reputed to live in a flat in Cromwell Rd Earls Court Spargo Remember when an L Plate was stickered to his back. We caught on that if we got him talking about his war reminiscenses, then we didn't have to do any homework. So how many times did we hear about the time he parachuted into a cess pit from his Tiger Moth. Then there was the incident when some older boys went to Rickmansworth and set his barge loose from its moorings one night. I regret our cruelty today, but thats what we young leaders of tomorrow's society were like. Permanently mischievious. First thing you learnt was "do not get caught" so slippering ceased to be a detergent by the end of the 2nd form. One thing we all had was a sense of decency as the school anthem went - Tis worth not birth be this our battle cry stand up for truth and never tell a lie Well Presidents (Clinton, Bush) told lies and got away with it, Tony Blair did and has still escaped a war crimes indictment so far and so it goes Everyone lies these days - and its OK I just wonder how you can be an educator today and explain to bright kids about what is happening to their future inheritance. We never had such concerns in the days of ARS (who is reported, irreverently, as living in Tahiti - my word such impertinent familiarity - where's the cane). I see the old school has become a sports centre of excellence - well it beats latin and greek dunnit - certainly fits you out for a productive life of leadership - or you could go on and do immigrant media studies at the University College of Commerce - Folkestone Plc yada yada oh well enough grumpy old man stuff Cheers to the 56 crowd, pay attention Romney, Fowler and the boys of 1D
Name: Brian Slater
Email: b123rianslateAThotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1956 61
Date: 13 Jan 2010
Time: 17:26:02
I was saddened to read of the obituary for Bernie Marchant. That dear man infused me with classical greek, which even to this day I can still decline the Definite Article and read the script. He took the Catholic refusnics for RK and we wigged him mercilessly as boys do over certain renditions from the good book. Yet I never forgot his sincerity. They broke the mold
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 11 Jan 2010
Time: 14:10:30
Interested in David Wilson's admitted 'slightly tongue in cheek' comment regarding HCS cricketers of the 50s and 60s, whilst later generations produced Gus Fraser and Mark Ramprakash. Everyone of my generation must be extremely proud of 'Gus' and 'Ramps' and would be the first to give them great credit. However, David may not appreciate that, in our time, the life of the County cricketer was very poorly remunerated and players survived in pretty awful conditions (unlike Straussy and Co. of today who are paid and treated properly.) As it happens, a number of us were offered County Trials having already been selected for Middlesex Grammar schools or Young Amateurs. We politely turned down such offers as we preferred to go elsewhere such as Higher Education or business training. Magnifying this argument across the country, it probably means that the very best young players (many in Public School cricket) never gave the professional game a thought and were thus lost to it. (Cowdrey and Brearley, for exmaple, were exceptions and not the rule.) Whilst some of us cricketers got to the top of the Junior County game, two HCS Rugger players went further. Ray Tapper and Tim Rutter appeared for England U19s. Of course, in those far off days, Rugby Union was shadily 'amateur' and offered peanuts to such talents (again unlike today.) I don't know what happened to Tapper but Rutter, I spotted, has enjoyed an outstanding medical career in the States. I think this rather proves the point.
Name: David Wilson
Email: dachwilson at hotmail dot com
Years_at_school: '80-'84
Date: 10 Jan 2010
Time: 17:06:53
This may be slightly tongue in cheek - but watching with interest the memories of those remembering quality school cricket in the 50's & '60s. I wonder if the HCS boys of their vintage produced 2 England cricketers as those GHS boys of the late 70's & early 80's did with Angus Fraser & Mark Ramprakash.
Name: Jim Broadribb
Email: Jimbroadribbatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1955 - 64
Date: 06 Jan 2010
Time: 06:50:47
So nice to get confirmation from Peter that my memory has not completly gone. Encouraged by that I can recall another story about the king of OG cricket - the great "Pep" (Deryck Pepperal). Pep was always one for an lbw appeal off his own bowling and would give the umpire a withering look if it was turned down and we would hear about it for hours in the bar afterwards. Needless to say he was never out if the appeal was against him while he was batting. However retribution eventually comes and in an end of season "club" game Pep was batting when the ball made contact with his pads. The general view was that there was no chance of it hitting the stumps but there was a lone, but loud, appeal from the fielder at deep square leg. The only fielder to appeal !!!! Pep was given out without a seconds hesitation much to his obvious disgust. Later the umpire admitted it was not out but said the opportunity was too good to miss. I have seen the reports of the cold weather in the UK and have to say that it is cold here in Florida this week with temperatures below freezing at night which is very rare here.
Name: Peter Ward
Email: peter.ward16atbtinternet.com
Years_at_school: 1958-63
Date: 05 Jan 2010
Time: 12:16:57
Very kind and interesting, recent comments from Jim Broadribb and Graham Cutts on the subjects of Cricket and Football (which, at HCS, was all I was ever good for.) I'm really impressed with Graham Cutts' 1960s Gayton Hotspur - presumably a renegade soccer outfit pretending not to be HCS in the days of hallowed rugby. Even getting into a local League and winning cups! Splendid. Our Gayton Rovers, circa 1961-63, played in white shirts with red trimmings and were named after my beloved Doncaster Rovers. We had outstanding teams and proved the point (as did Graham) that soccer should have been played at Simpson's Emporium. As for Jim Broadribb's comments about my bowling...he is very kind and I am greatly flattered. However, he makes the point that I got all Chris Pollard's wickets for him in a Kodak (OGs?) match. As I meet Chris in February, I shall tread warily. The truth is he was a fine bowler and needed no help of mine! As for the great Syd Russell (Middx, Glos and even England once or twice I believe) it is true that I did bowl him out hook, line and sinker but it was not second ball. It was about No. 5 in the over in which he had smashed me to all points on the leg side. I was so irate I bowled the ball of my life which swung out in the air and cut back in off the pitch, removing the off stump. It is correct that Syd was sportingly complimentary but I did not mention to him that the ball was pure fluke. Fast, yes, but movement both ways? I repeat... pure fluke! That said, I do remember bowling a ball in a First X1 match at school and the bails struck the sight screen beneath the concrete wall of Kenton Road. Now that probably was a fast ball! Jim is right about the high times we had in the Simpson Era which is why I would never have been without the man. He provided all the gunpowder for the many explosive japes that took place. Finally, will former School (not necessarily First X1) and OG cricketers please refer to the CRICKET page on this web site? Photos and name idents are pouring in. The more of these the better. And please add cricketing memorabilia stories the like of Jim's. It seems that Cricket is the sport that is best remembered and treasured. The guys are getting together. (Peter Garwood, Bruce Langrick, Chris Pollard and I met in the Autumn for the first time in a hundred years. But we were all very recognisable. Well just.) Anyone wishing to make contact can come via me on my email address. We are trying hard to get things going for the Centenary, cricket-wise, and getting results. We'd be very pleased to hear from you. Final note to Jim . I am not slightly envious of your current balmy abode as I gaze out at glass-hard ice in East Sussex with the threat of heavy snow due at any moment. I'll finish now before the power supply is disrupted for three days and hard nights.
Name: Jim Broadribb
Email: jimbroadribbatyahoo.com
Years_at_school: 1955 - 64
Date: 31 Dec 2009
Time: 16:30:02
Just reading the guest book for the first time for some months and what memories the tales for cricket teams bring back. All though I was primarily an athlete, that was more like a career, and I enjoyed cricket as a hobby and played with many of those mentioned for the OG's especially while we were still at school. Many a team was surprised by the speed of Peter Ward and I remember playing Kodak who always used a half seam ball because thay had a couple of West Indian quickies. However they had forgotten about Peter Ward and won the toss and elected to bat. Peter got the brand new ball. I don't think he got any wickets that day. I believe Chris Pollard got most of them at the other end as they were terrified of Peter and tried to get what runs they could off Chris. I seem to remeber Peter bowling Sid Russell (Middlesex and Gloucs) second ball in the school vs Middlesex match and Sid saying afterwards he did not believe a schoolboy could bowl that fast. What entertaining times! Now I live in Florida where it is good cricket weather all the time (except for the hurricanes) but the game is not played much. A Happy New to you all
Name: Graham Clingbine
Email: businessopportunityat tinyworlddotcodotuk
Years_at_school: 1961-1969
Date: 31 Dec 2009
Time: 14:25:23
Graham Cutts, do you remember me, we played cricket together in the third and second eleven cricket teams several times...i understand you are ''down under'' these days...I live in Essex and have been married twice and have 2 grown up girls and three grandchildren. Do you have any news of some of our contempories if i may list a few...my school friends Ollie Burrows, Tony de Vletter....i also remember the Pinfield brothers, Derek King, Johm Bartholomew, Howard Collins, John Alderman, Alan Abel, Martin Flack, Ian Park, Ted ? Latham, Graham Carter, Steve Engelman, Richard Head...there are a few other faces but some names escape me...we had a captain Noel....Graham Spicer? I remember taking the grand total of 4 wickets in club matches and getting 44 on two occasions, once against Marlow. Any info. updates appreciated.
Name: Graham Cutts
Email: graham_e_cuttsathotmail.co.uk
Years_at_school: 1960-66
Date: 29 Dec 2009
Time: 20:11:19
I have been remiss Peter Ward. I note a question I never answered. The colours, Peter.. We started as Gayton Hotspur -1960&#