To Clare Lidlington: I really hope that someone will send you a reply (which years ?) Those crimes that you recount makes me wonder where is PETER PHILIP, of my era ?
I have found your site very interesting as i have wanted to find out more about my dads (Bruce Lidington)high school. i had been told a few memories including a (little) prank on a maths teacher nicknamed Chalky White , wrapping a teachers car in toilet paper while the mayor visited the school.Last but not least getting suspended for smoking and betting on school grounds my nan kept the letter.If any one has any memories of Bruce Lidington pls reply to sheila.lidingtonNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@tiscali.co.uk
I happened to stumble across the site and have spent a wonderful couple of hours browsing through the various articles so many thanks to those who obviously spend a great deal of time maintaining it.
I spent every spare hour playing sport at school, failed dismally academically (thankfully not irreparably), but thoroughly enjoyed every minute and would do it all again tomorrow if I had the chance. Very little hope of that happening, alas, but rekindling old friendships would go a long way so if anyone would like to contact me I should be delighted to hear from them.
Tarun Badiani
P.S. The photographs are absolutely shocking.
For Brian Hester
Brian - have you put your prefect's cap on again and put me in detention? A simple greeting from myself to you was rejected by your anti-spam software.
If you don't wish to hear from me (or others) a one-line message to that effect suffices.
Roy.
I enjoyed Alex Bateman's leering department, but I was delighted by the small flight of stars opposite the clock.
The photograph of "cock house" 1948-9 surprised me in that so many of the senior boys are shown wearing grey flannel suits rather than blazers and the staff, of whom I recognize Whiffy King, George Thorne, Sammy Watson and Bill Duke, are all gownless. I always understood that "keeping up standards" was one of Simpson's mantras. This photo belies this. Why were all the flags out?
This is getting a bit elitist, where did the fun go?
Last Saturday I had a visit from Tom Lake who left HCS in 1963. We had a good natter about families and careers and all-in-all it was a delightful visit. This evening I received two e-mails from Old Gayts and I am delighted to hear of their respective careers and successes. I am amazed at the successes of old boys and the far flung places at which they now 'reign' If anybody cares to contact me, I shall be delighted to receive news of them.
We now have a batch of unidentified Gayton High School photographs on the website. If you were at Gayton High, please take a look and see if you can help:- www.jeffreymaynard.com/harrow_county/unidentifiedgayton.htm
Harvey Shield, drummer of the Harrow County groups The Madisons and Episode Six, remembered for "Drum Break" in several early 1960s Xmas Entertainments, is singing with his A Capella Doo Wop group, The Mighty Echos (www.mightyechoes.com), at Danny's Skylight Room, 346 W.46th St., New York, Saturday Night, January 3rd at 7 pm. Reservations 212-929-2242
HCS blazers: One poor (literally) chap in about 1948, wore an army battledress more-or-less dyed green. Dr ARS was not amused.
1996 eh!
Let's try '66
Leonard Lyle was the school outfitters by 1996...barathea was so much nicer than the wooly stuff. (Probably explains why I am to be seen in jeans and T shirt nowadays!)
seasonal good wishes etc...
This is a great page Jeffrey - we even receive it in Tasmania. Keep up the good work !!! Robbie. ( D.I. Roberts 1935-42)
Alan Bunting explains complexities of blazer purchases that I did not realise existed! When I started school in 1940, I was taken to Mann, Lightbody and (I believe) Wheatley which was a bespoke tailor at the site where Alan describes Wheatleys as being. I was measured up and fitted for my first blazer but the second one came from Bakers. In between I got by with a sports coat which was allowed towards the end of the war when times were 'tight'. To add to the snob appeal of Mann, Lightbody and W., they had a distinctive badge design, not the rounded shield we all know, but a rather ornate scalloped affair. The different design of shield appeared on the caps as well. I wonder if Alan Bateman has an example? I recall vaguely that M. L. and W. went out of business but it sounds as if the Wheatley element continued. The only other Lightbody I have met was a heavy-set mining engineer employed as Master Shaft Sinker at a gold mine in South Africa. He claimed to be related to the tailor in Harrow but I must not digress!
I've recently perused the HCS website's wonderful Guest Book for the first time for several months. Three recent entries prompt recollections/comments. 1. It's nice to learn from his son that my chemistry master in the early 50s, Mr Butler, is still with us. Of course, I never knew his name was Charles. I recall his tall, upright bearing - a ramrod straight back - and his measured but unhurried gait. Also he never got agitated, which might well have played a part in his longevity. 2. While 'War & Peace' was being read by the Guest Book contributor who served nepotistic (there must be such a word) time as a porter at Stanmore Village station, some of us were busy placing pennies on the rails a mile down the track at the Vernon Drive/Wemborough Road foot crossing, to be squashed flat (the pennies, not us!) by tank locos with LMS numbers like 20 and 43. 3. Where did parents go to purchase their sons' HCS blazers in the late 40s & early 50s? I recall a clear class distinction. If you came from a well-heeled family, your folks lashed out on a prestigious blazer from Charles Baker, the relatively upmarket outfitters, whose emporium was I think just next to Harrow Tech in Station Road. Their garments were purpose made for HCS boys, the give-away being the school badge directly embroidered on to the breast pocket. Financially middle-of-the-road parents (mine was one such) patronised Wheatley's, 30 yards further up Station Road, next to the National Provincial Bank (facing College Road), where they sold you a perfectly adequate green blazer and a separate badge which your mother had to sew on. If funds were really tight, you went to the boy's clothing department in Soper's and bought a blazer in roughly the right shade of green and again Mum had to sew on the badge - which probably had to come from Wheatley's.
To Jon Butler: I remember your father well from my days in IIId in 1948. A placid man who could teach. I went from 30th place in the second term to 3rd in the third term, but your Dad reported that I didn't use my brains (What did we say about the rest of the form ?) Give him my regards.
I'd like to send my seasonal greetings and all my deep, genuine thanks to the old boys of Harrow County who have sent such kind, moving messages to me. Although I'm still not in the best of health, I've begun working my way, slowly, through all the messages and references, starting with those who actually wrote to me (with addresses on top. Hint)They are a source of great pride and pleasure to me. Many, many thanks. Gerry Lafferty.
Tony Youdale: we were in the same cross country team circa 1951/2. Remember? Nice to know you,re still around but I'd better watch my spelling! Stuart Johnston Sydney
Alex You spelt leering wrong. I am interested that there is a leering department!!
Alex You spelt leering wrong. I am interested that there is a leering department!!
The last line of that last message should say that the office is NOW learning development, not NOT learning Development!!
Replying to the disturbed junior prefect. The room in question was indeed originally the kitchen which had a dumb waiter from the lobby larder to the foot of the spiral stairs. After the food was cooked it was taken down to the landing below in another dumb waiter. Sometime after the war it became a class room, and by the 1960s was the prefects common room.
When I went to the School in 1980, it had become the office of one of the year heads, and later the reprographic department. The room is now home to the school archives.
As you walk through the room, there is at the further end now a fire exit leading into what is now the male staff toilet, which in turn leads into the staff room (not used much now as the site is so large each department has their own office).
As for the rooms below, if you stand with your back to the clock, and look at the small flight of stars in front of you, there were originally a pair of swing doors there, and the rooms formed the dining room. Later the swing doors were removed, the two sides walled off with the left one made into the male staff toilet, the right an office (in my day the secretaries office, Mrs Chase et al.) The right office is not learing development.
At some risk, judging by some of the comments about the teaching staff, I can offer the information that my father, Charles Butler, who taught chemistry (in the 50's?) is still very fit and well, enjoying retirement, now nearing 90.
Note: He sent me to Watford Grammar!
In response to Robert Paige, no apologies are needed in a mixup between the two Harrow schools. Harrow School produced one dunce, Winston S. Churchill. Harrow County School has produced thousands, most of whom seem to be successful and content with life; like me.
Re unidentified photo no:23.
This is my form 3L 1973/74. Names as follows, reading L-R in each case:
Back: Graham Carpenter,Mark Lewis, Bruce Reynolds,Jon Holme,Nick Sloane, Nick Jurascheck
3rd;Karim ??, Martin Bazen,Ian Tomalin,Steven ??, Jon Mortimer,Bob Mainprize, Michael Cowen, Phil Cotterill, Neil Clarke.
2nd: Paul Decker, Mark Decker, Michael Grinsted, Jon Florsheim, Chris Hurst, David Harman, Asif Saifuddin, ???,
Front: Richard Clarke, David Solley, Peter Gowling, Mr G Lloyd-Jones, Michael Zeitlin, Steven Catton, Victor Bassett (or Matthews??)
Absent: Jon Adams
Hope this is helpful. I can offer some other archive material e.g. staff cricket team, Rugby Tour to Narbonne 1976, but I don't have a scanner, so will need a postal address tto send them to.
Best wishes,
Gsreth Lloyd-Jones (Staff 71-78)
Unidentified Athletics 1 - Mr. Crinson with a team, mid to late 1960s?
Possible identification:
Back row second from left - possibly Alan Barnett (became prefect, had younger brother)
Front row second from right - Philip Saktreger (deceased).
Colin Dickens. Have tried to contact you at the two e-mail addresses I have for you without success. My new(ish) e-mail address is: drtpalmerNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com
Unidentified Photo #1: Back Row,2nd from right is Roy Moodie 2nd Cricket XI 1949:Back Row right is me(with tie).
I continue to read some of the messages posted here with amazement.It's as if a school other than that I attended from 1944-51 is being described.None of my teachers ever deliberately struck a student,indeed I am sure they would never dream of doing so,and the only case of corporal punishment that I can recall was one given by the headmaster to one of my 5th form class-mates for bringing a pornographic poem to school entitled 'The New Typist'.And I remember that because of its uniqueness.Perhaps things changed for the worse after I left!
Alex
Whilst not really being able to help with all of the old pictures, I'd just like to comment on the one that's taken in front of the cricket changing rooms.
I'm surprised you're asking which year (ha ha). Just take a look at the guy standing at the very front of the steps, check the flares!!! I seem to remember flares being the height of 'fashion' in the mid 70's. I don't recognise any of the faces so, I'll safely assume the pic was taken in either '76 or '77.
See wot you mean about the speling. They must have stopped teeching it after 1942
I believe you sent me an e-mail concerning my Aunt, Margaret Swindale, who taught at Harrow County Boys School around 1941 or 1942. I am afraid the e-mail has disappeared into the æther but my aunt informs me she doesn't recognise the photgraph you referenced. However she has one or two interesting anecdotes of her teaching practice.
Women staff were definitely not welcomed at the boy's school and she was forbidden entry to the staff common room. Instead she was allowed to drink her tea (on her own) in a 'broomcupboard' alonside her bike!
Today's papers are showing the lowly place that Gayton High now occupies in the lowerarchy of education in Harrow. Whilst Grammar Schools, which would not have been able to compete with HCS come top. What a sad comment on the loss of a great school, despite its problems with a few staff who were to quick with the slipper etc.
Dr Laurence Lando 1957 - 1964
The disturbed junior prefect is not far off the mark. There was definitely a large piece of board on the right hand side looking from the entrance which, when removed, provided a panoramic view of the staff room toilet area!
From the description of the room at the top of the circular staircase I believe you are talking about what used to be the kitchen. There was a dumb waiter in one corner that with a bit of care you could ride down to the basement but it was a cardinal sin if you were caught at it.
I've just had a weird flashback. You will remember the prefects common room up the circular staircase. At the far end of the room was a small room or walk in cupboard, which it is rumoured once gave privacy to a certain member of staff and a senior prefect. Before you reach the far end there was a threadbare settee on the right, against the wall, facing the windows. Beside it, on occasions, was a black and white television with a coat hanger aerial. But behind it. What was behind it? My flashback suggests that there was large piece of board that when removed revealed an opening into.. well, shall we say, a staff area. Is any of this true or is it a distorted and somewhat disturbing false memory?
My apologies to all concerned at Harrow. It seems I was mistaken and Mr. Edmund S. Ions was a HEATON Old Boy. :-)
Can nothing be done about the poor quality of the spelling in this guest book?
Generations of English masters must be turning in their graves.
Does Clifford Walters have access to priviledged information? what does he know about the elevation of Jeff our webmaster? I do not refer to the organ fund. Will HCBS be celebrating Lord Maynard of Gayton/Sheepcote?
as a computer illiterate,this experience has been totally fascinating.i will return.j
The Harrow-Stanmore railway! My father was Station Master of Harrow/Wealdstone and Stanmore from 1953 (after the crash) till his retirement in 1964. As a sixth former, I got a summer job (the joys of nepotism) as the porter/everything else on Stanmore Station; and, so busy and hectic was the job in 1963 that I managed to read both 'War and Peace' and 'The Lord of the Rings' in the eight week block before starting university.
Incidentally, working on the Harrow & Wealdstone station at that time was a foreman called Foskett. He taught me all I needed to know about class consciousness and cynicism: one morning, standing with him on No 2 platform, he stood next to me, flag in hand, berating the bowler hatted gents running down the stairs to catch the train to Broad Street or Euston. At the time I simply found his attitude astonishing - he loathed them. Then, right on cue, one particularly finely suited man ran up to Foskett and asked 'how do I get to Dalston?'.
'By train', Foskett replied, winking at me, 'by train, sir', and walked off hurriedly.
What on earth would Foskett have made of the imperative to tell his customers to 'have a nice day?'
One or two points.
I note the presence of a Mr Foxwell on the site. In the history of the Harrow-Stanmore Railway there is a picture of a Mrs Foxwell attending the last day of operations on the line in 1964. Any relation?
Re the first rugby pic of Bob Tyler and a young team, I believe the first rugger bugger on the back row is a Mr Lacey, possibly ex Stanburn. Far right of row two seems to be Alan Kon (ex Brum University).
Will try to identify some more - but it's good to see that Colin Dickins has started this task. Leave some for the rest of us, Colin!
Michael.
Dear Maynard May I say that you have formed a really superb website for the school - there is so much that I have only been able to look at a fraction of your material. Two points occur to me. You have photographs titled Kenton House 1944-45 and 1945-46. What I notice is how many people are missing (including myself in both years) Where were all the others ? I can think of a dozen or more boys in my Form who are not there, though there are some boys who are present in each picture. I distinctly remember being in a couple of pictures taken in this traditional location, thoug my memeory tells me that they were Form pictures only, and not House pictures - perhaps the House pictures were for Good Boys only ?
regarding the History of the Scout Troop (indeed one might mention this point in respect of the general history of the School) there is the barest skeleton of what the Troop did for the War Effort including special camps such as, on one occasion to cut timber for pit props , in Devon, and another in Suffolk, to get the wheat harvest in. Indeed, in one term, I should guess it was in 1944, one form, Lower Five, I think, was 'let off' all school work, in order to cycle to Harrow Weald every morning to get the potato harvest in !! Lower Five, in which I appeared, was a form then in existance for boys who were not clever enough to go into the Fifth Form to take the School Cerificate, but who were too embarassingly large to stay in the Fourth Form !!
I look forward to going through further pages in the course of time,
Yours sincerely,
Clifford Walters 1940-1945
Most of my time at school(40-47)was under the relatively benign administration of Randall Williams but my feelings are much the same as David Foxwell's. If there were any criticism to be levelled I would place it in the field of career guidance. With a few exceptions, the staff were fundamentally academics who were comitted to teaching. Most of them did a good job, or at least tried to. In retrospect I believe their acquaintance with the "big world out there" was not great. Most of us were left as a consequence to choose careers on our own. Could this have been a good thing?
Mr. Paige, I was interested to read your exchange with Phil Chesterman. It may well be that from your reference to a Harrow School old boy that you are asking your question on the wrong website. Let me explain. Harrow School is the famous public school located on top of Harrow on the Hill. Public school is really a misnomer because in fact, it is a very expensive private school. Perhaps the most famous old boy was Winston Churchill. Our school was Harrow County School which was located at the bottom of the hill! This was a true public or state school. Needless to say with them at the top of the hill and us at the bottom, there was a constant rivalry. I don't know if Harrow School has their own website where you may be able to trace this gentleman. By the way, I am not so far away from you here in Atlanta. I'll take this opportunity to endorse David Foxwell's comments. David, your exepriences of the school and sentiments expressed are very similar to mine. I remember you very well and I think your nickname was inevitably " Foxy" Best regards to all
Re: Sherlock Holmes in Dallas etc
Ion's publisher is: Congdon & Weed
I'm sure they'll have contact info
Re: Guest Book entry of Mr. Phil Chesteman. Thank you for your question on the guest book. This is not a spoof, although I am certain it must assuredly lead one to believe that it is . :-) I am a resident of Irving, Texas, USA and a member of the Dallas (Texas, USA) Historical Society. Believe it or not, there really is a book by the name of "Sherlock Holmes in Dallas" by Edmund Aubrey, which in turn is the pen name of Mr. Edmund S. Ions. Sometime ago I read a reference to a "Professor Edmund Ions" that he was a "Harrow School Old Boy" .But, for the life of me, I can't find it again ! :-) I hope this might explain a few details and any other questions will be gladly answered. I do find a lot of the entries on the Guest Book to be highly interesting if mystifying, but I suppose if you were to visit the Dallas Historical Message Board you might find them to be equally so. :-) Thank you again for your reply and any information on Mr.Ions/Aubrey will be appreciated.
Re: Robert Paige (of doubtful date)
Sir: If you could identify yourself, someone could help. The title sounds like a "House Concert" spoof. Knowing you better might help us to explain what a spoof is. Are you an Old Gayt or whatever ?
Unidentified photos:- 1. (From left) Bernard Lord, Dave Maddox, x, x, Derek or Roy Norman, x,x Of the girls I can identify the one in the middle as Shirley Jones (sister of Ian who went from Longfield to UCS). She was at HCS Girls, so presumably a netball match against our sportsmen - if there are seven in a team. Probably 1952. 2. Peter Mettler, ?Tony Cresswell, Ron Simpson, ?Michael Dean, x, ?Tom Stanley, x. Probably 1952. 3. Recognise, but can't recall names. ?1948 intake 4. Is that Mike Harrison back left? 5. 1949 or 1950 intake 9. Surely Mike Harrison back row 3rd from right. 15. Several familiar. ?1950 intake. David Drinkwater middle row 3rd from left. Last two on right of front row are surely Clive Pigram and David Westcott. Is it David Dee on Crinson's left? 16. Back 2nd left is Tony (sorry, can't remember surname at the moment; used to play hooker). Is 7th from left Howard Collins? ?1951/2 intake. 29. I recognise almost everyone. Nearly all 1947 intake. Contemporaries circulated. Will supply full list when they come back to me. 30. Mike Harrison on Crinson's left.
new photos 7/12/2003 advance 6th modern 1959:-
back row...barry norton--willets,ray sewell front row...chris grubb.mr. goff and unknown
Unidentified photographs-can you help:- Senior cross-country 1959 Back row-3rd. from left.....Tony Bush Front row..from left...Ray Sewell,Waddington,Mr. Crinson,Dave Golby and Chris Grubb
Re Jeff Maynard's unidentified photos; in No.21 I recognise Gareth Smith, Dennis Orme and Ian Barnfather, if that helps
Att:Mr Foxwell Your comments were very well recieved . I had some wonderful moments at Harrow County and some truly wonderful guidance. My comments were simply speaking a grudge to one particular teacher.They were childish. I must focus on the good in all life brings , and all life has given. Thank you for your wisdom.
We are trying to identify some photographs that are in the school archives without labels. They date from about 1950 to 1980. Have a look at this link and see if you can help: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/harrow_county/unidentified.htm
I am trying to locate a British Author, Mr. Edmund S.Ions,author of "Sherlock Holmes in Dallas", written under the pen name of "Edmund Aubrey." Somewhere :-) I remember seeing his name mentioned in connection with Harrow Grammar School. Any replies and information will be appreciated.
Robert Paige Irving, Texas , USA Member of Dallas Historical Society
I was at HCS from 1957 - 1964ish
I cannot relate to many of the critical comments about harshness, cruelty and indifference perpetrated by masters at the school. Perhaps I went to a different school to some of the commentors. Certainly there were good and bad teachers as there were more able or less able students. I meandered indifferently through various lower streams quietly enjoying myself. I do not recall any teachers abandoning me as I was not oxbridge material. All tried to nurture me to the best of their ability and more to the point to the best of my ability.
I am comfortable with my achievements at school and since leaving school with my achievements in life. I also believe that it is of no use to look back with regret or forwards with anticipation but to live in the here and now.
Went to Canada in 1977. Great seeing some of the old faces. Hello to any who can remember. If I met the old French teacher- Mr Morrell?? I would give him the "brush" for all those times, and surely Mr X the cane. My buttocks bled you bastard
David Palmer, where are you? We exchanged e-mails a year or two ago and I sent a note of it to Brian Evans, another of our contemporaries who has just emerged from OG oblivion. I copied it to you, only to find that you no longer exist! Not at the address I have, anyway. Tell us your new e-mail address.
I FIND THIS WEBSITE VERY INTESTING AND GIVES ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HARROW COUNTY SCHOOL FOR BOYS. AS I AM A FORMER STUDENT OF GAYTON HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1994 TO 1996. I COULD NOT FIND MY NAME IN THE FORMER STUDENTS REGISTER. IF YOU HAVE ON INFORMATION ABOUT ME IN YOUR FILES COULD YOU PLEASE REPLY TO MY E MAIL.
I forgot "Beaky" and George, his organ and the opening of the new hall: the school song really raised the roof. Even "Square" congratulated us.
Congratulations on the website. I was there from 1947 to 1953. Remembering "Square", "Swanny", Wiffy", and the second form huts. But most of all "the fifth rate tin-pot band". .
You got the price of the dress the second time around Roy. Four pound would have been very steep. I recall when about the same time my father told my grandfather he was earning £500 a year, the old boy remarked that was nearly £10 a week and that he never expected to see a child of his earn that kind of money! The school in those days charged a fee of four guineas each term but there were reductions according to some kind of means test.
Oops! Sorry that last one, "three and eleven three" was of course three shillings and eleven-pence three-farthings - just short of four shillings, not four pounds as I said. Colin will say that I've been at the Jacobs Creek again.
I believe though that we export stuff like that to unsuspecting people north of here. Roy.
Certainly this site induces nostalgia. I remember my mother dragging my reluctant self into Sopers in Station Road Harrow during the 1940's and complaining that the dress that she wished to buy was priced at "three and eleven three" - in other words, three pounds and eleven pence three farthings
"Why not four pounds" she would say, "just who do they think they are fooling?"
Today of course in Brisbane, times have changed. "While I am out at bridge" my wife says, "Woolworths has rock-melons at $2. Slip in and buy one, as you have nothing else to do."
During this period of "nothing else to do" I slide furtively into Woolworths to find rock-melons priced at $2.99. Women are picking them up and sniffing them. Thinking to myself that it takes all sorts, I grab a melon and take it home.
Later, as my wife distributes succulent freshly cut slices of melon to her friends, she remarks "Not as good as I would have wished, but my husband picked it up somewhere for two dollars".
From my hiding place, I pretend not to hear and pound away at my computer keyboard.
Like several others, I have been plagued with this spam-scam from various countries, mostly in West Africa. I got rid of the menace by instructing my message box to reject any message that contains the name of any West African country, It seems to work well. There are people in this world who apparently get jollies from playing along with the scammers and the publishing the correspondence which on occasion, at least to a warped old mind like mine, gets quite amusing. For an example, see http:/www.nigerian419fraud.freeserve.co.uk.
Irony, is that the word ? I have lived and worked in West Africa in recent years and still make frequent business trips to Nigeria. Despite sending hundreds of emails, headed letters, handing out many business cards etc., I only received about one 'greedy fool bait' note a month. I made my first post on this site on Sunday and West African SPAM (not the famous and nutritious Ghanaian luncheon meat) has been hitting me at the rate of five a day ever since. Guys, you need to take a look at this or at the very least put a health warning on the 'Add Your Comments' page.
Min Vincent - Many thanks, got your email. Great note. I will reply, but I'm curious...What exactly will be my share of the $376 million you have in this dormant account ?
Ken - Excellent. Thanks for my mention in dispatches. I will make contact also.
Still looking for signs of Loyd Sale, Nigel Stein, Graham Pattiloe et al.
I am thinking of starting up a 1966 intake bad boys ginger group. A sort of HOT PIG ("that phrase") revivalist thing..... I know you guys are out there.
Cheers Zen
Educational elitism has been a long time gripe of mine. I was one of those, who in 1953 left school for employment. The ground work at the school did help in gaining my HNC and Hon.BSc. Biochem. both gained in part time study while working. I went on to publish 60 papers and in my senior years taught new PhD's how to do research. I was, however, never allowed to join their ranks because of the lack of a PhD. I am reminded of one tecnician I worked with who was considered the "clever" one in his family as he went to university. His two brothers, one a plumber and the other an electrician, commanded twice his salary.
There has been considerable discussion and comment on this website about the alleged academic elitism of the school during the period of Dr. A.R. Simpson’s stewardship. Many have said that he (and by his direction, most of the staff also) were only interested in those pupils who displayed high academic prowess, the remainder being regarded as virtually worthless. Others have defended the regime, suggesting that this was a myth perpetuated by those who preferred to blame the school rather than their own laziness, for their lack of achievement.
Having just discovered a copy of “Gaytonian” which I felt sure was somewhere in the house, but has eluded me until now, I believe I have found the evidence to show beyond any doubt that the charge of elitism is completely valid. The following is a verbatim quotation from the issue of December, 1959 (Volume 34 – No. 15), page 6:-
“Analysis of the intended careers of the 119 boys who left the school in July reveals that thirty-six went up to Universities and Colleges, four to other Educational Establishments and seventy-nine ‘sought employment’. These are figures to stimulate thought in the most junior members of the school. They represent effort, achievement and failure.”
Wow! Can you believe your eyes when you read this? I cannot find a way (and I have tried) to put any other interpretation on this bold statement, than the clear implication that those boys who left school and went straight into employment, were regarded as being failures. To start earning one’s living rather than spending several more years in higher education at the taxpayer’s expense, was obviously not regarded as laudable.
I must declare my personal interest in this, as I was one of those 79 leavers in July, 1959 who both sought and obtained employment, and was fortunate enough to be continuously employed for the next forty years. Neither did my education cease upon leaving school; like many others I continued with part-time technical studies for a further nine years which eventually earned me a professional qualification. And then, thirty years after leaving school, I undertook another period of intensive study to facilitate a complete change of career, again culminating in a new professional qualification. But as far as the school was concerned, I was just another failure!
Incidentally, if two-thirds of that year group left the school as “failures”, does this not reflect upon the performance of the school itself? Sounds like an own goal to me.
Why not go back to the TWISTED PAIR. Des Smith 1937-1942
Unwanted emails, Darryl? Too late; once those Nigerians have got you they don't let go! I've given up on the email address I originally put on this site as I was getting 100 spams a day! It's either this site of friends reunited that's been hacked, possibly both. If anyone wants to contact me (why?), look me up on friends reunited as I've put a new address there which I can afford to get spammed and it's easily changed if it does. But - Jeff - so many people have moaned about spams as a result of posting here, isn't there something you can do about it?
Could you please take me off the guest book; I'm getting a flood of unwanted mails
Message for Richard Amy...... Re judo photo... It's around 1967. I joined 1P in Sept 66. I also have the photo from the Harrow Observer as I am the 'thrower' - chosen as I was the smallest in the class. The boy to your left (ie on the other side of the gap) is Loyd Sale, who came from Bridge Primary with me and was also in 1P. He left and left at the end of that academic year on a scholarship to Harrow public school. I believe the boy on the front row, far right, had the surname of Turnbull, but I have drunk a lot of Polish vodka since then so.... Anyway, I would welcome hearing from anyone of the class of 66, but especially Loyd. Zen.pawskiNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@conocophillips.com
In my time (1953/8) it was on-her-lulu pennies. There's inflation for you.
FARTHINGS ! How many of us have a collection of HONOLULU farthings ? Possibly enough to hold a convention ? Perhaps the State of Hawaii could sponsor us for a free trip and booze to advertize its attributes ?
Look in your collections, guys and gals !
As an English born Old Gaytonian resident in Australia for the past 23 years I am inspired to deliver the following message to all my English friends! Wait for it!!!
GO THE POMS!!!!
and I've got the shirt to prove it!! Stuart Johnston 3rd under 16 rugby team 1951 you can't get any lower !
The show Taboo has now opened on Broadway in New York - it had previously had a run in London. One of the characters portrayed is Philip Sallon, who becomes the first old Gaytonian to become a character on stage. Philip, it will be remembered, played a very convincing Mrs. Noah in the school production of Noah in 1966. For a photograph of Philip click here: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/harrow_county/Form3C1965.htm
The counter was broken briefly about two years ago. The number of hits while the counter was not visible were added in, so that it is correct.
I think that one reason for a slight decline in hits is that Jim Golland died in May 2002. He is no longer looking at the site and sending me corrections!
Oh, yes, the broken counter. This was a deliberate attempt at disruption by the Greeks from the Black Sea (the Pontic Greeks, Modern Greece's answer to the Irish, with jokes to match). I must confess I have not made any libations recently, which might account for some divine wrath. Quite which god has decided to put me through my own last nine months (redundancy, change of address from St Albans to Buxton, new career in lecturing) I don't know. Hermes is perhaps the god to contact as he specialised in lucky finds and I might get a job at the end of the course. Good to hear from Dave Hantman as well as Paul.
Michael.
Nice to see another Michael Schwartz contribution especially in an area well outside of his enormous talents.Surely though Michael you as a classicist could have philosophised as to why this peculiarly strange phenomenon occurred. Were the gods against us or was it in the period when the counter was broken?
Nitrogen Tri-iodide. Ammonia plus Iodine Crystals, yes lads we were still doing it in the sixth form in the early 70's. Add Ammonium Hydroxide to Iodine Crystals wait for it to evaporate and it goes bang on contact.....and thats why I failed chemistry A level!!!
Dave Hantman
I believe the chemical that we used to liven up the chalk was ammonium iodide but I forget how it was made. The formula must have been passed from father to son for generations.
Gaytonians - this is the time of year when the School Mathematics Project (new maths) justifies itself. I calculate the rate of hits per day on Jeff's site.
Well, I can tell you I am a little disappointed (cynical aah from the site surfers). After two years when the daily averages were 112 and 146 the figure for 2002-2003 was a mere 75.5. I don't know who the 0.5 was - Simpson trying to contact us from beyond the grave, maybe?
Anyway I would like to thank the five maths teachers who made my calculation possible: Farmer Giles, Greebo (oh, glorious Greebo) Jack Kaprou, Chris O'Donoghue and "Go more slowly" Pearce.
No need for Mr Maynard to resign.
Michael.
Colin. I am curious. What dried - the kitchen floor or the cat? Peter
Yes, I remember the fun with farthings. I actually have a box of them acquired by my bank clerk father when they ceased to be legal currency ?in the 1950's). Useful as counters or chips for pontoon etc. There was a brief period when I used to dissolve mercury in conc. nitric and sulphuric acids and dip farthings in them. They became shiny silver coins resembling sixpences - as did ha'pennies, resembling shillings. It rubbed off after a few days. The game came to an abrupt conclusion when someone started presenting them at the tuck shop as sxpences and shillings.
Another chemical sport was to dissolve iodine crystals into the same acids (I think, or was it HCl instead of sulphuric?), washing the sediment and packing it into hollowed-out chalk. When dry, it became an extremely sensitive high explosive and lobbed across the classroom would explode sharply on impact, leaving nothing but traces of chalk and a transient purple stain on light surfaces. Some accidentally spilt on the floor during manufacture at home caused enormous distress to the family cat when it dried!
I recall another incident when George Thorn was irritated by farthings. GT supervised the lunches in room 14 where he also collected everyone's sixpence, that being the price of the meal. A boy was delegated at each meal to collect the sixpences from each table and take the proceeds to GT. When George discovered someone had paid in farthings the heavens opened. Subdued smirks all around greeted the response from the guilty boy that farthings were legal tender for up to sixpence. I hope the culprit spent a subsequent successful career as a lawyer and that he was never in one of George's classes! I admired his guts.
The George Thorne 'Organ Fund'. Even in 1955 one farthing was a ludicrously small denomination of currency - 0.1p in today's terms. In music lessons it had become the habit of 'Sir' to regularly request that money be rolled into the middle of the room by the students for the Organ Fund. I personally did not subscribe to this. I just happened to have a farthing in my pocket on one such occasion and with some contempt rolled said coin. It was with some delight I awaited 'Square' to announce the total for the collection the following month. £x, four and seven pence three farthings. So perhaps another pupil was only half as contemptuous as myself!
Really, Nige, a greyhound called "Pavilion Fund"? I presume every time it nears the finish, someone moves the winning post! Good to hear you're still pursuing your pet interests...
Well, well ,well it is a pleasure to see that nige morely has clocked into the site. Hope you remember me and rick fenge, tim bush, chris elvin etc.
get in touch. if you need my email address pse contact Jeff maynard.
best wishes Graham Leach 1959-67
Thanks Colin, Yes I think it was a House contribution but I didn't remember the author. However I'v suddenly remembered the final line which was repeated. It was 'Get your receipt'. So we only have one line to go Any offers? To review pooled memories to date we now have: 'Organs are cheap today, Cheaper than yesterday, Small ones are half a crown. Large ones four thousand pounds, Make your donation, Without consternation, Dahdy-da di dah dah., Get your receipt, Get your receipt'. I'll try to restrict myself to one hit on the send button this time!! Stuart Johnston
I have just been directed to the web site and in particular the photograph of Lower Sixth Arts 1971. I am the question mark, back row, far left and I believe second row from front, far left is Andrew Smith. Excellent site by the way! Made me realise just how shot my memory was!
Yes, Stuart, I remember it - but only as far as you do, except that the next line is, "Without consternation . . . " (And I think it was £4000.) Was Chris Levinson the author, and was it Preston House's concert contribution?
Recent comments about George Thorn and the organ fund prompt memories of a ditty sung at one of the reviews held at that time. It went something like: 'Organs are cheap today, Cheaper than yesterday, Small ones are half a crown, Large ones five thousand pounds. Make your donation...........
To the tune 'La donna mobile' Can anyone complete it?
My first contribution to the site which I very much enjoy from far flung Australia - congatulations to all concerned. Stuart Johnston (left 1952)
Recent comments about George Thorn and the organ fund prompt memories of a ditty sung at one of the reviews held at that time. It went something like: 'Organs are cheap today, Cheaper than yesterday, Small ones are half a crown, Large ones five thousand pounds. Make your donation...........
To the tune 'La donna mobile' Can anyone complete it?
My first contribution to the site which I very much enjoy from far flung Australia - congatulations to all concerned. Stuart Johnston (left 1952)
Recent comments about George Thorn and the organ fund prompt memories of a ditty sung at one of the reviews held at that time. It went something like: 'Organs are cheap today, Cheaper than yesterday, Small ones are half a crown, Large ones five thousand pounds. Make your donation...........
To the tune 'La donna mobile' Can anyone complete it?
My first contribution to the site which I very much enjoy from far flung Australia - congatulations to all concerned. Stuart Johnston (left 1952)
Well it's a shame your website isn't up to the standard of this one then. I suggest including items of interest or change your name...'our' Jeff will be getting a bad name for dreary content otherwise. Best wishes from your friendly high tea technologist - my! is that the time...must dash, having lunch at the palais...
Just to avoid confusion, the whimsical note below was posted by Jeff Maynard, the co-founder of Netstore, PLC, a distinguished IT technologist. Not to be confused with Jeff Maynard, Old Gaytonian and distinguished IT technologist!
Hey...
I see we have a problem. I.e. The SAME NAME.
I think you'll change yours if you know what's good for you.
If you need to pay any money for the legal progression of this action, I would be more than happy to contribute 50% of the cost.
Thank you,
The REAL Jeff Maynard
amazing how many people remember the card games still play bridge on the internet,play casinos and had a spell as a part time bookmaker now boring expert witness in pharmaceuticals got drunk with paul nurse in soho,still smiling still nice guy john hughes[johnny]of our era,any news? also john whittington? it was the best of times,it was the worst of times cheers to you all across the decades ps anyone want a share in a fast greyhound called pavilion fund?
It was quite a thrill to hear the chorus of the old school song which I clearly remember 'singing' with much gusto when led by Rev. Williams and Dr. Thorne (the originators) at morning assemblies. Thanks for these memories and the for the many others contained on the web site.
I have not been keeping up with the site for a while and am interested to see that the issues of teacher behaviour and how people experienced HCS are still appearing. Perhaps not surprisingly there seem to be two main "camps", one, those who hated the place and the other, those who did not. Perhaps there is a third lot who don't recognise any of it. I have spent most of my life since leaving HCS concious of being a failure for not having gone on to take A levels and then University. However I recently watched the last episode of a programme called "That'll Teach 'Em" (or something like that)in which an examiner who had marked both O level and GCSE exam scripts offered the statistic that in the 1950's and '60's five O levels was the national average. I cannot explain the chemistry but something changed for me from knowing that and I feel better for it. Pathetic, possibly but there it is. Perhaps in my new more mellow view of the world of HCS I realise that whilst some masters were, shall we say, more human than others, some of the treatment handed out to those masters who did not command instant respect (fear)was awful and shameful. I am ashamed of some of mine anyway. I think if there is one indictment of the school which remains at least for the time I was there, it is that it really was only interested in those who could demonstrate excellence. A failing boy was not noticed or if he was nothing was done to throw him a lifeline. My wife, who is a teacher, says that whatever may be the shortcomings of the present day system (a 60 hour week for a teacher!) there is at least a recognition that some pupils need a different approach than others. As for the issue of parental violence (the "slap on the leg" to disclipline a naughty child) I have never subscribed to it. Perhaps I have been lucky, my children never invited physical punishment and I never offered it or threatened it. They behaved well. I have no clever theory about it. I know I feel sick when I see parents hitting their children or shouting at them to make them behave better. I loved reading the contribution from whoever it was backed down Simpson over the matter of the lack of hot weather uniform. I have said before here that I wish I had had the maturity then to understand that it was us gave them their power. What was lacking (and it is probably worse today) was mutual respect. Somebody has suggested that the real purpose of school is to keep kids off the street (and the labour market) for as long as possible while pretending to educate them. But that is another story.
Pete Fowler, yes, that is Oswald Mosely in the 1922 Speech Day photograph. I've now identified him in the caption. He was M.P. for Harrow, and his wife, Cynthia Mosely, presented the prizes at Sports Day the same year.
See: http://www.jeffreymaynard.com/Harrow_County/speechday1922.htm
1922 Speech Day
Is that Oswald Mosley in the centre of the picture taken at the 1922 Speech Day?
Quote from article in Gaytonian, December 1953, by George Thorn:
"THE SCHOOL ORGAN
It has been a great joy to us to see that work has at last been begun on the School Organ. For some seventeen years the erection of this Organ has been a dream."
(No, I'm not making this up)
Well none of you will know who I am, but I came across this site whilst looking for info about our family. My late husbands name appeared and from there it led to this site. If any of you remember Gary Tennyson-Smith you will probably already know that he died many years ago from cancer. I would be interested though, if you have any school anecdotes involving Gary. He made some mention of setting fire to the gym! does anybody remember that? Or was there some artistic license attached to his story?
Referring to the Rugby Club's Treasured Songs, does anyone remember the "Lobster Song" (Nothing to do with Lobb !) ? It was the Old Gayts' signature from the fifties and sixties.
Anyone wanting the words can email me privately.
Referring to Colin Dickin's message about Nigerian spam and Lobb. To all of you in a one-language country, think of us in Canada where we get this stuff in "English" AND "French" (Maybe I should never have replied to the gentleman in Togo with an invitation to manger de la merde).
In the early fifties the hit(?)parade came up with "RAG-MOP":
I say, R A, R A G, R A G G, RAGGMOPP, RAGMOP.
This became, "I say, L O, L O B, L O B B, LOBBCLOT, LOBBCLOT.
In all due respect, that had I have been at the siege of Ladysmith, Mr Lobb would have been the ideal RSM.
Colin, we meet up too often.
hiya i wud like to say wat a lovley wb site..im a marine cadets and im often at cultybraggen training camp..im going up there again on 31st octobr.its really fun..but because it was a p.o.w it sorter scares me but the pictures are great..from adele of hartlepool
Meurig Devonald's contribution brings to mind a master of the same surname who taught at the School in the 1950's. He was a Welshman of lively temperament whose proudest new possesion, a mature small car, was once hoisted onto the (old) School Hall stage one lunchtime in about 1950 or 1951 and draped in streamers - probably toilet paper, but I can't remember. Huge entertainment to all but him; he looked choleric when he saw it. Even Joe Brister came to have a look, stroking his lips to hide a smile. I think a quiet word was had with the putative ringleader to restore it to its place in the car park and there was no official retribution. Any relation, Meurig?
1961-1968 would to make contact with Trevor Salmon I was best man at his wedding!! Am now DDS DMD LDS.RCS FRSMed Working in Ireland,I knew Bruce Liddington as My one of My Best friends at HCS ,apreciate contact with any comtemporearies from that time I was in the year above Clive Anderson and 2 years before Michael Portillo?!!!
I don't know that this website is the sole source of all the spam I get, but with a decent virus checker and firewall I don't seem to gat anything too problematic. Deleting the spam takes only a moment and there is the occasional deleight such as the one I got from a lady in Nigeria called Purity Abed. Now there's a thought to conjure with!
Regarding all the remembered ATC and CCF songs, one not yet mentioned is The Quartermaster's Stores, where one made up a couplet based on the name of a master, officer or NCO. One I remember was "There was Lobb, Lobb," (referring to Derek Lobb; I leave the second line to others' memories or imagination). The refrain ran, "My eyes are dim, I cannnot see./I have not brought my specs with me." (No, I don't know, either.)
These songs, and many others, were also enshrined in the Rugby Club's golden treasury. The famous Jack Herman had them all written down in his "hymn book", and great was the sense of bereavement when he lost it (on a trip to France, I think).
I would never have have suspected this page to be the source of the e-mail I get from the several worthies in Nigeria looking for my help. I get a steady flow, not as great as formerly Dave, but from Benin, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana as well as Nigeria and South Africa. They all have the same plot. I worked in many of these countries and thought my name got on the list from someone who collected business cards. All you have to do to stop the messages is programme your messages so that anything with a reference to these countries is eliminated automatically.
Interesting thought Dave, I really hadn't considered that but now you come to mention it there were a few suspicious characters around the school....
SteveG
No, Steve,
These are actually from ex HCSB con-men, only pretending to be Nigerian scam operators.
DaviD J
Thanks to those who have picked up on my recollections of various rhymes we enjoyed in the Corps. I have only been putting comments on this site for about 2 weeks and since then have been targetted about 14 times by Nigerian con men looking for money. In case anyyone else gets these fraudulent messages the advice I have received from the police is do not reply to them. It could be very dangerous. You can forward the offending messages to abuseNOSPAMREMOVETHIS@isp (where isp is the isp of the perpetrator). That should get the originator's email address shut down. Also current police advice in my area is to copy the offending email to the local police headquarters.
One or two of the more poeticaly inclined amongst us at school might have been able to recite the odd stanza from Eskimo Nell but I was not to hear the full ballad until I attended the institution of advanced learning of my choice. On certain festive evenings an officer of the students' union with the title "pornographer, was required to recite the whole poem (written in the style favoured by Robert Service)from memory on pain of being dowsed with beer. I heard later that the poem was composed by Noel Coward in response to a competition set by the chairman of the Cambridge university debating club. Does anyone out there know the circumstances?
Steve,
I seem to recall we had a box in the Signals Hut with the words of all the main songs written on it.
Own up...who's got it!
Other songs spring to mind.
The Engineer's Song. An engineer told me before he died......
Old King Cole..He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his fiddlers three. Now every fiddler had a fine fiddle and a very fine fiddle had he....There's none so fair as can compare with the boys of HQ Company.
The Wild West Show....Including of course the tribe of 4 foot pigmies living in 6 foot elephant grass.
PS Not a song but equally literary...Eskimo Nell
When men grow old and their b**** grow called they can tell you a tale or two.
Regards
Perhaps it's my age playing tricks but wasn't "Friggin in the rigging" a 'hit' for the Sex Pistols?
"Frigging in the rigging" was going strong in 1945 with the Air Training Corp. The others I can not vouch. Our favorite was "Roll me over in the clover" but from the lack of references to it, the song must have died a natural death.
Frigging in the rigging?? That's The Good Ship Venus, the one you sing after Four & Twenty Virgins!
I remember Nige Morley, I lost my pocket money to him most weeks at cards and double-or-quits. You still at it, Nige?
Totally addicted to this nostalgia! I was in Form V(4) in 1962 to 1963 at about age 16. My Form Master was Mr B.E.(Baby Face) Williams. I have lost my form photo and nobody seems to have put up a copy on the web site. Does anyone have a copy? If so please help!
On a further point to the song mentioned by Steve Grimes, Frank Kirkham reminded me that it was the 'Old Mans daughter' we were fighting for, not the Colonels!!
Others sung (if I remember correctly) were 'Three German Officers (crossed the line)', 'The hair on her dickie dido', 'The first time I met her', 'Airborne Warrior', and if we could get hold of the words, 'Frigging in the Rigging'.
I'm sure some of those were certainly of my era only!!
Steve, I shall be in touch. Currently I am editing the Old Gayts magazine.
Thank you Alex Bateman it is good to know that the tradition survived, even if the words changed slightly. I'm sure we were "men" not "lads"!
Regarding the new article about Mr Bachelor, consulting the staff list for 1967 on this site shows the following entry:
History: Head of Department: Mr. H. J. Mees Mr. G. W. D'Arcy Mr. R. J. Batchelor
So it appears he taught History not Latin as the article suggests?...PV
Regarding the photo of Steve Grimes with the wartime 18 set, and the note about the song below. That was still being sung in the CCF in the early 1980s, except somewhere along the line we had stopped being the 'Harrow men' and become the 'Harrow lads'!!
In response to John Jeffers' musings about the Spoons, I don't have mine, but do remember them and how appallingly and expectorantly they reflected on us. I seem to recall that the B12 Emporium began as a little sideline selling curly wurlies raising but ended up dealing cars.
A belated response to Steve Mulliner's message about people legging it from one end of the 1971 panaramic photograph to the other end,so appearing twice.At least one boy managed it (Not me sir!)I know his identity,although it is not clear on the picture.The original photogragh was hung up outside the back of the new hall and was defaced within minutes of being put there. P.s. Has anybody still got their Benge spoon?
A belated response to Steve Mulliner's message about people legging it from one end to the other end,so appearing twice.At least one boy managed it (Not me sir!)I know his identity,although it is not clear on the picture.The original photogragh was hung up outside the back of the new hall and was defaced within minutes of being put there. P.s. Has anybody still got their Benge spoon?
Someone mentioned the cricketer Dean Bibb recently. My brother was friends with him and his family lived a few doors down from us in Warden Avenue in the seventies. He in fact went to Roxeth Manor School and transfered to Harrow County for his sixth form. He was part of a successful Roxeth Manor cricket squad and played for a local club. My brother lost contact with his later in the seventies and his family moved from Warden Avenue but I know he did get married.
Just found the site. I was at HCS from 58 to 64 - never a superstar! Lost touch many moons ago and now live away from Harrow. After spending hours browsing I have been stirred into action. Someone posted a question about the "Egg Noise". As I remember it this was a sort of "hherr-hummm" with a throaty beginning. Someone else referred to the "coffee clubs" in the Signals Hut(and other hut based communities. Ah Yes! I remember them (and the Armoury) with affection. You could lock yourself away for hours, especially during games, which was an excellent way of skiving from Swannee Amos and avoiding slap round the legs with his stick for not running fast enough down Watford Road! (You had to use your initiative in those days). However I wonder if some of my former Masters are still wondering why I was so often absent from their lessons! (Oh dear - better get under the clock right now!). I was never a particularly compliant scholar but I have read a great deal of what I feel to be unfair comments regarding the late Col. Bigham. Yes he was a hard man that is not in doubt. However, I believe he did his job in the way he felt right in the climate at the time and that some of the judgements posted on this site are unfair. I understand that not everyone will agree with me on this but I would like to go on record that I had considerable respect for Col. Bigham whilst I was at school, he was always fair to me and was a good teacher. I believe he should be given the credit for the considerable effort he put into building up the CCF. Finally, I have read a lot of comments about "woodpeckers" but everyone seems to have forgotton about the "eyetalianate raincoats" (italianate) comment that came out of the same assembly. I have also seen some pictures of an old banger called "IT!" in the photos section and I think I was one of the "others" referred to in that article. What a dreadful creature I was and not one of "Square's" ideal scholars!However, I'm still around and its not been such a bad life after all.
No. It isn't "our" Peter Mansfield.
He is about 10 years older and...
Professor Mansfield, 70, left school at 15 to become a printer. He only entered academic life after studying part-time to complete his "A" levels before going to university.
Is that our Peter Mansfield awarded the Nobel Price for Medicine today?
This is for Bill Peter.......
Hi, Bill, I think I just about remember you - at least I remember your name. I'm pretty certain you were in the year below me, but you lot caught up with me (and most of my mates) because we got kept down a year in the Vth.
Anyway, you'll be pleased to know that after a very lengthy interval (30 years+), I amnow in semi-regular drinking contact with Rob Thomasson, John Clayton, John Allen, Jim Harris, John Sewell, Pete Robinson and Trev Moore. Nigel Morley's name has certainly been mentioned on several occasions, but I have to confess I personally can remember little more than the name.
I expect to be speaking to one of more of the above in the near future, and will certaibnly mention that you have 'surfaced', so to speak.....
Regards, Mick Boggis ('58-'64)
I was most interested in Alex Bateman's brief biogs of post-Avery headteachers. I was particularly intrigued by the 'missing years' between 1982-1994 for which no-one is listed.
As I have made clear on more than one occasion on this site, I loathed HCS in general and Simpson in particular and still do with a strength of feeling that, in middle age, surprises me after all these years. But at least Simpson and his staff aspired to achievement and excellence even if the methods used were, in my view, inappropriate (I'm trying to be very measured here).
In the early 1990s, my youngest son's football team occasionally used the then gym for training. Waiting for him one evening, I wandered around the school for the first time in decades. One can tell a lot from the a school's corridors and my overwhelming thought was 'Who runs this place nowadays'.
Come on Alex, name!
so a great tip down memory lane...
although i was never invited to a reunion.. it was great to see the pics of the old place..
get in touch
1982-1986
involved in drama, lightenning for the old gaytions plays
simon
As I have just spent quite some time browsing, it seemed a bit churlish to logoff without leaving a comment on what has been a lot of work, although I haven't really much to say. It was all a long time ago (57-65), and I can't get too worked up about any of it now. Puberty is always pretty fraught, I imagine.
New photos:
67/68 Rugby 3rd XV: Master is D. Thorne 68/69 Rugby 1st XV: Master on right is Bob Tyler
Very sorry to hear the sad news of the death of Jennifer May. My recollections of her were as Jennifer Dempster, my teacher at Pinner Park School. According to my father she was the best teacher I ever had! Both mine and my father George’s condolences to Trevor.
nice to see some old friends are still knocking about
Hi, I am still trying to find anybody who knows what has happened to Gillan Stewart. He left Gayton in about1987 and moved to Australia. would love to get in touch with him
Forgive me if I use this medium to reach some people for whom I have no other means of contact.I have a message for friends and acquaintances of Trevor May - old Gayt extraordinaire, and school historian.
Trevor's wife, Jennifer, died last Sunday following a fall from a horse some two weeks previously. Jennifer herself attended Harrow County Girls' School, and was an active member of the Old Gaytonians Dramatic Club for many years . The funeral will be held in Devon on Monday 22nd.
If anyone wishes to contact Trevor, please post your messages on this website, and I'll pass them on to Trevor.
Alternatively if you include your e-mail address, I'll contact you directly with his details.
Thank You
Hallo Gaytonians!
A few months have passed since my last contribution and, as I might be accused of skiving, I have twisted my parents around my little finger in order to avoid being crucified - a fate which awaited any boy who did not bring his rugby gear to Mr Edwards' lessons. Much has happened. The company I worked for in Sutton, Surrey, went into liquidation in the spring. It had been a wonderful three years, not least in 2002 when I went on business to Cannes, Monte Carlo, Singapore and Hong Kong. And, through a prize won via work, to Sydney, Shanghai, Beijing and Inner Mongolia. I could have spent lots of time churning out applications and CVs for publishing jobs but with the feeling that I would never have obtained a post as enjoyable as editor of Asian Communications. I thought long and hard and the image of a further education lecturer entered my mind. In fact, the image became more and more implanted in my grey cells to the extent that I applied for the Postgraduate Certificate of Education at FE level at Derby University. It is from the library at Derby that I write to you in the induction week for this course. It has meant a move, and we sold our house in St Albans. We are presently exchanging and completing for a beautiful Victorian terrace in Buxton (Bath of the North). My teaching practice will be centred around the colleges there. What is more, Hazel decided that she wanted to be near her mother in Manchester. And so, the pieces of the jigsaw have fallen slowly into place (a bit too slowly but that's life). Who knows, I may be lecturing your children and grandchildren (or maybe even your good selves as adult learners!). Kindest regards Michael.
I was at the School from 1932 until 1939, my brother,M.V.Needham also, he was 18 months my senior. We both consider that it was the best of schools and a great privilege to have attended there. So many memories!
Good to see the web site. I was one of the transitionary year that started at 2 and left after 5. The last year of HCS but we didn't sit the 11+ it was some other test. Good to see some memory joggers from the past, particularly the inspirational Harry Mees. Does anyone remember his colleage in history, the radical Angela Doublait? Are those classrooms down to the right of the main stairs still as dingy?
Remember being in awe of Mr Avery, the head in the last year of HCS (Harry Hull took over after that) as he sat at the front of the 140 bus reading The Times.
I was a member of the Sound staff and particularly enjoyed Chrisents and the spectacular Dr Faustus where the set descended into the hall (Andy Kelso directed as I recall) I got a lot of stick for managing to sound 13 dongs at midnight!
Paul
In answer to your questions, I actually had most of those teachers myself, and several are still at the school.
Audrey McNamara, who taught English, went back to Ireland and as far as I know is still teaching over there. Di Watson, who taught Geography in my day, married to become Mrs Marchant, and is now Watson again. She still teaches at the school, and is partner to Steve Campbell (PE and former pupil) and they have a daughter together. Chris Temple left, but seems to have disappeared. I did have an address for him, but it seems he had already moved on. A great teacher. Miss Critchley - the name rings a bell, and I think I am right in saying she and Andy Flemming married about 1981, a year after I joined the School. He taught me German, and I know he left theabout then.
Terry Andrews is one of the legends of my time, known for his dated suits and long hair, his short stature and love of watford FC. In double maths on a Monday morning, if they had won, someone would always ask, "what about the game on Saturday sir..." kowing that the next half hour would be football talk not maths. If they lost, it was just as amusing as the reply would be a quick, "get on with your work!" always said with a smile. Then there were the wrestling bouts with him and Garth Ratcliffe, the opposite at about 6ft 2in, the sight of Mr Andrews in a headlock being led around the room will always stay with me! Mr Andrews is teaching at (I think) Watford Grammar or another school in that area.
Mr Freel was another character, very Russell Harty, especially in the way he said 'shut up'. Consequently he earned the tag Mr Feel. But a very nice bloke. He left about 1983-84 but I have no idea where he is now.
Some others you might recall are Mike Wilkin who taught maths. he only left about 18 months ago after some 28 years or so, but was hit by tragedy last year when his 16 year old son passed away in his sleep. Sue Pullen (Art), a favourite of many in became sue Hather, and is now still teaching at the school as sue Cavanagh, having married her Art Dept Colleague John.
Mike Eagle is still there as head of the tech dept. Mike Dolinski left to become a probation officer about 1982, Oliver Mannion (English) is an actor) although I have not yet seen him on TV), Morrie Venn I think is still alive and well and very busy, but sadly he has not replied to my last few letters.
There is a Gaytonian staff Association for those staff who caught HCS or the early GHS days run by Norman Tyrwhitt and his wife.
Those still at the School always like to see former pupils so do come in. And the archives are always open!
Alex
It's over 18 months since Nick Sloan offered a bottle of chablis to the first person to discover the whereabouts of Andy Hayes (HCS 1970-76). Surely someone must have found him by now. Come on Nick or Chris Berge... what have you found out?
Regards,
Steve Banks (also 70-76) Melbourne, Australia
Alex,
In the line of duty, do you have much (or any) contact with former staff from the 'latter' days? There seems to be a lot of news of teachers from the (real) by-gone days but what about a bit later on? My mind goes back to the likes of Mrs McNamara, Miss Watson (Marchant), Mr Temple, Miss Critchley, Mr Flemming, Mr Freel, Mr Andrews etc. It must be nice knowing how ones former teachers are doing now (Mrs McNamara will be in her late 40's!!) but I don't think I've ever read a piece in the guestbook from or about those teachers mentioned above or anyone else who taught me for that matter. It'll probably shock my English teacher that I seem to have a talent for writing children's poetry/stories. After coming 2nd in a recent writing competition (6000 entries) I hope that one day I'll get accepted for publication.
If there are any lines of enquiry that you have in regards to those 'teachers of my time' then I would be grateful if you could pass the details on.
Keep up the good work and I WILL get down one day for a visit.
Regards
Paul H
My first experience of smoking at HCS was in my first year (1947) in the huts by Sheepcote Road. We used to roll the brown autumn leaves in blotting paper. They were unbelievably foul. The thick, smoky atmosphere welcoming masters coming in to give lesson caused many a diatribe against the old heating stoves. Later, when compelled to go cross country running, a few of us would go down the path beside Ducker (Harrow School swimming pool), which was supposed to be the return route after running round Northwick Park colf course, and smoke Woodbines or Black Cat cigarettes. The latter were not much better than the bltting paer things. We would tag on at the end of the returning runners - which led to another misfortune: We were so engrossed in smoking and kicking a tennis ball around we suddenly realised the runners had all gone. Hastily trailing the last visible runner, we discovered that we had, in fact, tagged onto the end of the leading pack while the also-rans were nowhere in sight. Quite difficult getting out of special attention for the team. Fortunately, Charlie Crinson accepted that there was something odd about our performance (probably thought we'd cut the course but wouldn't own up) and didn't press us too hard. Charlie, incidentally, keen athlete though he was, was also a heavy smoker and a major contributor to the enormous fug in the masters' common room.
I can vouch for the staff smoking quite openly during the forties, but not in class. From the odour that poured from the staff room I would think a kipper would have felt quite at home there.
Jeff: We smoked in the bog; from whence, perchance the latter got its name ? (1946-51)
I attended Harrow County from 1966 to 1968. I don't often get back to the Harrow area however I am gladdened to see that the school is still prospering .... but what happened to the cricket pitch?
I just acquired an interesting Harrow County cigarette card. It was issued as one of a set of 50 cards depicting school emblems in 1929, for Black Cat cigarettes. The front shows a picture of a Harrow County school cap, with the crown, three scimitars and oak tree badge. It is labelled "Harrow". The back says "County School for Boys, Gayton Road, Harrow, Middlesex. A secondary School administered by the Local Education Authority, inspected and recognised as efficient by the Board of Education."
As many of the other schools depicted in the set are public schools, and the card says just "Harrow" on the front, we may have been confused with Harrow School!
This set me wondering - back in 1929 were schoolboys allowed to smoke? Had the school yet banned smoking? Did Carreras (manufacturers of Black Cat) produce the series to attract schoolboy smokers? Does anyone know when HCS banned smoking?
In 1929 did huge clouds of smoke pour out when the staff common room door opened? And did the boys smoke behind the Pavillion even then?
First signs of senility. I wrote saying that I could not reach Patty Lafferty and now see that I entered my own e-mail address incorrectly. This is the correct version.
I read Patty Lafferty's comments. I was very sorry to hear of Gerry's illness and tried to contact her by writing to the e-mail address given in the current guest book but my letter was returned to me saying that the address was not valid. Perhaps Patty, if you should see this, you could send me a note!
Having got back from holiday I spent an enjoyable short period reading guestbook comments. Condolences to the Groombridge family and best wishes to the Laffertys. Cricketing comments brought back 2 memories in particular. Firstly, being hauled over the coals by Mr. wright (?) maths because the whole class was late for a lesson in the T block. The problem was our access as some HCBS no 1 batsman was facing the first over in an inter school match circa 1974 or 5.After 5 balls we were 30 for no loss and after the first over 30 for 1. Dave Bright's only comment was to lambast the poor guy for getting out so lamely. Who was he? Secondly, I believe there was someone called Dean Bibb who liked to smash school batting records. I remember some carnage where a large group of us watched after hours just for the sheer enjoyment. What happened to him if I got the name right?
Yet again we lose one of those devoted individuals who probably served in WWII, and went on to WWIII, teaching at Harrow County. Can it be the same C. Groombridge whose initials appear in my Pupil's Report Book in 1948 ? Taught Physics and also, I believe, refereed rugby at about the Old Gayts Extra "A" level ? (He should have refused to referee us; I know I should have been sent off)
I will be out of touch for 3 weeks or so. Thanks to the British Pensioners Association of Western Canada, who informed us about Friends Reunited, then onto this wonderful site, which is a class unto itself, we will meet up with Colin Dickins after a gap of 43+ years. Even more remarkable will be meeting Geoff Speller and Tony Andrews after about 51 years. Geoff is going to wear a Virtus Non Stemma sign around his neck at Manchester Airport in case us aged creatures can't spot each other.
i have only recently discovered the internet - and therefore the hcs site. i was at hcs from 1960 to 1967. so far i have seen info on john clayton, rob thomasson, nigel morley and malcolm (lew ) lewendon. if they see this, please contact me. thanks.
Hello Philip Harratt!
Glad you're still playing. Regretfully, after 40 years my lip has gone and I sold my horn last year. Still working on bits of piano accompaniment though.
Having taken the plunge yesterday to post an entry on the site after a long absence I must also send my best wishes to Gerry Lafferty, although I hardly knew him. He was new to the school during my last year and I seem to remember him taking me for a token (probably only one period a week) General Studies lesson, or some other catch-all name. Much has been written on these pages about the fierce regime at HCS. Those days were not the happiest of my life and I became quite barbaric myself in order to survive. I remember one topic being discussed by Mr Laffery which sowed the seed of thought in my head that there was another, better way. It was evident that he was not in total agreement with the establishment and that seed stayed with me, only germinating some years later, but I'm so grateful that it was planted.
My best wishes also to Don McEwen, and my apologies for mis-spelling his name yesterday.
Hello, Roger Bowen! You came at Arthur Haley's request to our house in Kynance Gardens in 1969 to help to prepare me for my audition to be a Junior Exhibitioner at the Academy. I'm still playing the horn!
Greetings and best wishes to you, Mr Lafferty. I still say "That's my boy" to my own.
And I recall Mr Groombridge with affection. Can he really have let us roll blobs of mercury around on the bench?
Thirty-five years now since I started at HCS -Form 1W in Room A7, Form Master Eric Goulden, Form Prefect Laidlaw.
Sorry to hear about Tufty Groombridge. I think I am correct in saying that he had the thankless job of sorting out the GCE entries every year?
"All London GCE candidates, report to the front of the 'all after assembly".
PV
I, too was very sad to learn of the death of Cecil Groombridge. He taught me in the sixth form (most of my earlier teaching came from Don McEwan) and he was always a true gentleman. One particular kindness for which I still remember him was in the A level practical exam. We all had to perform two experiments in the time allowed. The lab was set out with sufficient potentiometers for half the candidates and various other pieces of apparatus for the other half. Whilst working on my potentiometer experiment I noticed a resonance tube and set of tuning forks in the corner of the room but nobody using it. Half way through the exam, first experiment completed, written up and graph plotted, we all played musical chairs. "That one's for you, Bowen," was the gentle instruction from a smiling Mr Groombridge. He had never before made any reference to my musical ability but he knew that the sound experiment was right up my street and had taken the trouble to arrange for me to tackle it. It was good to see the smile still there in the recent photograph supplied by Don McEwan, another much-admired physics master.
Sorry to learn of the death of Mr Cecil Groombridge. He taught me Physics in 4A, 1957/58. Under his teaching I 'made considerable improvement', so says his comment in my Report Book. Mr Don McEwan then took me on to A Levels. Thanks to both of them.
MR. CECIL GROOMBRIDGE I have heard from Mr. Don McEwen that Mr. Groombridge died on Friday, 29th August, 2003, at his residential home in Kingsbury. The funeral takes place on Thursday, September 4th, 1.45pm at the Hendon Crematorium, Holders Hill Road, Mill Hill, London NW7 1NB, and there will be an informal service at 4.00 pm at Hazelwood house, 58-60 Beaufort Avenue, Kenton, Middlesex. Flowers or a donation (for RSPB) can be sent to William Putnam, Funeral director, 185 Streatfield Road, Kenton, harrow, Middlesex, HA3 9DA (Cheques made out to 'RSPB')
Ah ! These cricket duels ! From a country (Canada) where cricket got a mite of attention by beating Bangladesh and to be honest I have not kept up to date with the antics from green uniforms to roughing up umpires over the 47+ years away.
As for OZ bowlers, I remember Ray Lindwall who could desecrate the knackers of a moth if he was in the mood, but who remembers JACK IVERSON the spinner ?
Very interesting. Cannot believe how many people have kept all this stuff
What a pity that Col Dickens saw fit not to post on the website, the article that I sent to him on Shane Warne, that most eloquent of Oz cricketers.
Shame again that the writer, Peter Wear, has (since writing the piece), not had his services retained by the Brisbane Courier Mail. What is wrong with people?
One cannot but feel sorrow fo