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Replies 81-100
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.jpg "James Cowen gallery")
Then & NowDATE: 25 April 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Yes, Vic [reply 80], Wikipedia does agree with you in regard to Cambridge UK having city status since 1951, despite having no diocesan cathedral, as it still comes under the diocese of Ely. I also like the picture of the Electrostar train named City of Cambridge by the Mayor. The other info you give was also relevant and interesting to me.
82nd REPLY
NAME: Nick Dean
.JPG "Nick Dean gallery")
DATE: 25 April 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
By sheer chance, I am currently in North Wales and visited Bangor for the first time a few hours before I read replies 78 & 80. From a distance, I assumed that what turned out to be the university was the cathedral. The latter is about the size, and about as distinguished, as a large parish church, which I thought it might be when I stumbled on it. Sorry to be so underwhelmed. Maybe this would be better for TripAdvisor. Jas is right to draw attention to the magnificence of King's Chapel; and, to be fair, some regard Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford as essentially a college chapel on a grand scale. Cambridge also has Ely in fairly close proximity. Near the beginning of the Christmas Eve service from King's there is an habitual reference to "this city of Cambridge" and also to Edward VI's other foundation at Eton, the exterior of whose chapel looks similar to that of King's.
83rd REPLY
NAME: Nick Dean DATE: 27 April 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
I read an article a few years ago about the granting of city status to St Albans in the 19th century (probably before 1888 - the significance of which date is presumably the Local Government Act of that year which, as I recall from A-level history, created county boroughs and the LCC, among other things). This focused on the less than complimentary views of civil servants advising on the issue - by comparison, "provincial town" would sound like high praise. An OE friend close to civic affairs in St Albans told me recently of plans to raise its profile as a tourist destination, drawing on experience in Colchester. These days, city status usually results from success in one of the periodic competitions that coincide with such landmarks as the Millennium or Golden and Diamond Jubilees.
Then & NowDATE: 07 May 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I was intrigued enough by your reply 80, Vic, concerning the Electrostar train named City of Cambridge, to look up about city-named motive power in Ian Allen's Rail Guide by Colin Marsden (priced at a reasonable £20 given all the info it contains. I recall my Combined Volume in the 60s was 10/6d in old money). Most city-named are contained in the Virgin West Coast Class 300 Pedolinos. There are 14 city-named there including the City of Bangor mentioned by Nick in a recent reply. The City of St Albans is not included and in fact there are ten of the steam Coronation class not included. There are three additional names not included in the Coronation list. Besides the City of Bangor there is the City of Wolverhampton and the City of Preston. City of Cambridge is unique in being the only city-named of the class 379 Electrostars. There is also a class 357 Electrostar named Southend City On Sea. I do not know who decides on these names but there is room enough for others.
85th REPLY
NAME: Nick Dean DATE: 11 May 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
Just to add to Jas's reply 84 above that Southend is not in fact a city, although the line from Fenchurch Street to Southend Central/Shoeburyness is known as C2C (city to city). As regards Bangor (reply 82), almost everyone to whom I've mentioned my recent visit, has (in addition to saying that he/she has never been there) treated me spontaneously to a few lines of that rather annoying song about a day trip from about 35 years ago. I was reminded of The Times grudging obituary of Joe DiMaggio which said he would best be remembered for a line in a song by Simon & Garfunkel.
Then & NowDATE: 28 May 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
My wife and I have recently been in Shrewsbury on one of our camper van trips and we went on a boat trip along the River Severn. In his commentary, one of the boat staff remarked that on the horizon was Shrewsbury Cathedral and he then said "Why is Shrewsbury then not a city? It is because the cathedral is a Roman Catholic one." He is right of course in saying Roman Catholic cathedrals do not make a place a city but from my acquired Stapylton Field website knowledge, he is wrong in any assumption that you need a C of E cathedral to be called a city now. Perhaps not many people know that but we now do. Isn't dispersal of information a wonderful thing?
87th REPLY
NAME: Nick Dean DATE: 01 June 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
Another coincidence. Having seen messages about Bangor a few hours after visiting that city for the first time [reply 82], I found myself reading Jas's reply 86 on the train to Shrewsbury (another maiden visit)! I was sufficiently intrigued to have a quick wander - there was too much incense! - round the comparatively small RC cathedral. This was unmistakably the work of Augustus Pugin, a Catholic convert whose leading patron was the Earl of Shrewsbury, though, like his better known Houses of Parliament, it was completed some years after his death. Many of its Gothic flourishes, though added by others, were very similar to those found inside the Palace of Westminster. Quite a little gem really. And a word too for the courgette and lime cake served at the Music Hall cafe in the market square: well worth crossing several counties for. Referring back to reply 85, I am told that, contrary to what I had always thought, C2C (the Southend Line) does not necessarily stand for 'city to city'. The company's website claims that it can mean whatever you want it to mean - 'capital', for example, or, I suppose, textspeak for 'sea'.
Then & NowDATE: 08 June 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I enjoyed reading your comments, Nick, about Shrewsbury Cathedral. I have not been inside myself but maybe will do on a future visit there, if we are spared, as the lady used to say on the Today programme. Thanks also for the recommendation of the café and the cake, which we may also try. We are likely to return fairly often, as we have done a few times to date, to the Ebury Hill caravan site near Shrewsbury, as we like it there. We are of course getting into WW thread territory rather than school business but sometime I may also give some thoughts about the Battle of Shrewsbury site near to the city and a reminder of schooldays reading Shakespeare's Henry IV. In relation to the small size of Shrewsbury Cathedral (full name The Cathedral Church of Our Lady Help of Christians and Saint Peter of Alcantara), Nick, I learn from Wikipedia that in construction a stratum of sand was discovered near to the building's foundations causing the spire to be abandoned and the building scaled down. Most of the work in regard to the architecture was done by Augustus Pugin's son, Edward Welby Pugin, who was eventually responsible for the design of over 100 Roman Catholic churches in England, Ireland and a few in Wales and Scotland. Wikipedia has a full list by reference to him. Edward apparently took up the control of Augustus's successful practice after his death in 1852. Shrewsbury Cathedral Wikipedia says was opened in 1856 by Cardinal Wiseman.
Then & NowDATE: 13 June 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I enjoyed listening to Mark Steel's In Town on Radio 4 Extra on Shrewsbury. Of course there was much joking about the two ways of pronouncing Shrewsbury and the different factions wanting it one way or other. Much else was both interesting and entertaining. I especially liked Mark saying well known ex-citizens of the town were noted for getting away as far as possible. An example was Clive, the well known soldier and administrator with a big statue in the middle of the town. He went off to India. Darwin, an ex pupil of Shrewsbury public school with a shopping centre named after him, went to the Galapagos Islands. Percy Thrower, the well known ex park superintendent and ex-Gardeners World presenter, also has a statute in the town. Mark points out that, whilst other places honour such statesmen as Nelson Mandela, Shrewsbury honours a gardener. Not a bad thing I say. No mention was made to the Battle of Shrewsbury only of lesser battles within the town.
Then & NowDATE: 16 June 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
For those who opposed going to the Dinner Debate in March [replies 32-36 & 40] and indeed any others not enrolled on the official QE website, or for that matter for those who are, it would be good to see a few more people at this year's Founders Day, which continues to take place on the 3rd Saturday in June (20th June this year). The church service is at 11a.m at the church in the centre of Barnet, followed by the roll call and reading of the Chronicle at the school. There is an OE buffet lunch and the OEs v the school cricket match on the 3rd Field, with beer for sale. This is in addition to the usual excellent School Fete on Stapylton Field run by the Friends of QEs. If desired entry may also be made to the OE museum and visits to other buildings on site. Advance notice of attendance at the Church or the OE buffet lunch should be made to the Headmaster's secretary at the school.
Then & NowDATE: 22 June 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Having urged others to give Founders Day a visit this year I hope that I shall get there. I have a strong summer cold, as well as a back pain, but I have still managed to play badminton and table tennis this week as well as going to the Magna Carta procession in Salisbury, so I hope my wife and I get there. Unfortunately my brother who came the last two years won't be there as he died this year but maybe some of my family may be able to come due to Father's Day being so near. I look forward to chatting with OEs from school years earlier than mine if they come, as in the last few years.
Then & NowDATE: 25 June 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
My wife Ayleen and myself did make it to Founders Day this year and enjoyed the church service, buffet lunch, FQE fete, including the Irish dancing and fencing contests, and even talking with some well-known OEs at the cricket match beer tent. I did talk about this site to several people and maybe they will be contributors, though I do not have much confidence in this. All I can do is encourage them. I can't force them to write. We did like talking with one of the parents we were at table with at the last Dinner Debate. It was unfortunate that once again there were problems with the PA system, to such a degree that sitting opposite the main entrance by the Fete performance stage we heard practically none of the Chronicle reading. Those standing next to the Headmaster were perhaps more blessed. It is good I believe that the Headmaster read it all through anyway. We of course have heard most of it before and missed most any additions for this year. At the buffet lunch I looked again at the Oxford scholarship board, one of the ones that has not been added to for many years unlike the School Captains board. I note that on it Wilfred De'ath's name appears as a state scholarship award winner to Oriel College. I am reminded of one of the anthems sung in the service in the parish church this year ("Let us remember famous men"), also sung at the Wellington College service commemorating the Battle of Waterloo. Whilst the Oxford scholarship board continues to exist the name of Wilfred de'Ath will be remembered as well as in the records of the Oldie magazine. Of course other names on the board will have the same honour such as my old friend Richard Beeny (Scholarship to Pembroke College), Chris Brand (Scholarship to Queens College) and PJ Rhodes (Scholarship to Wadham College). Forgive me for not mentioning others, though other OEs could do so, if they wish.
DATE: 27 June 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: inmate 1957-64
PA problems yet again at Founders Day "Eh" James !!! [See 150/19 & 20]. Frankly this is pathetic, why they do not hire a decent PA rig with operator for the afternoon is beyond me - perhaps cancel the lines paper budget for a year or have a compulsory raffle to pay for it !! There is no excuse whatsoever in 2015 for bad sound. The school is presumably still running Windows 95 on its computers !!!
Then & NowDATE: 30 June 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
At the Founders Day this year, as in the last few years when I have also been there, Eric Houston (teacher of English from 1976-2010) was present at the church service and buffet lunch. I was not able to talk with him, as he was speaking constantly with others including the Headmaster but I know that he was second master at the school from the time of Eamonn Harris (Headmaster 1984-99) until he left in 2010. This was confirmed by those OE committee members Simon Lincoln and Martyn Bradish. Maybe someone has the exact dates for the former staff list. Was it 1984 to 2010?
Then & NowDATE: 03 July 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I do agree with your comments on the PA system or lack of it, Stephen [reply 93]. I did comment to the Headmaster after the event but that is of course after the fiasco had happened. I really hope that someone will take it in hand successfully before next year's event. Perhaps we have got used to poor communicating these days generally such as on BBC radio but that does not make it acceptable, especially for what is proclaimed as the best school in the country. for exam results.
96th REPLY
NAME: Nick Dean DATE: 08 July 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
In his book Elizabethan Headmaster, Jenkins describes how, 80 years ago, the school's organisation of athletics was well in advance of how others did this sort of thing. In addition to running lanes and trowels for sprinters to dig starting holes, "we hired a Public Address set to control the meetings, and a little later bought our own". I hope you're paying attention at the back, Enright! Oddly enough, I have no particular recollection of there having been a PA system at Founders Day, possibly because the (by then, truncated) roll call was conducted without one. Still, I suppose there had to have been one or we should have gone through life without hearing Cllr P Woodruff's indispensable advice [thread 107]; and, of course, one only notices these things when the technology isn't up to scratch. A few weeks ago I saw Burt Bacharach in concert at the Festival Hall, the night before his appearance at Glastonbury. The show was recorded by the BBC for later transmission and, in between numbers, the Great Man was interviewed by Michael Grade. What I bet you will not hear on the broadcast is the audience screaming out that they can't hear properly!
DATE: 09 July 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: inmate 1957-64
Oddly enough we attended a concert in the Queen Elizabeth Hall on July 5 in celebration of Shirley Collins' (folk singer) 80th birthday. The centrepiece of the evening was a performance, probably for the first time, of her 1971 No Roses album. Now although the "all star band" was appalling, the sound from the PA was very good indeed (I shall be uploading it to my dropbox in a day or two if anyone is interested). I am surprised at the poor sound from interview in the Festival Hall.
Then & NowDATE: 24 July 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I enjoyed talking with a number of OEs at the Founders Day buffet lunch this year. One of the OEs I talked with this Founders Day and indeed at last year's Founders Day was Graham Lloyd Evans. He left the school in 1952, some time before I joined and lives just down the road In Barnet. It was interesting especially to hear about his working as an accountant for the charity St Dunstan's and going to a royal garden party on the strength of it. This was interesting in itself but as my father too was invited to a similar garden party there was a bit of added interest to me. I wonder if other readers on the site have memories of Graham from his schooldays or elsewhere. He like me has a new-found interest in QEs and not only has bought an OE tie but has even attended an OE AGM, which others would certainly put on their list of events to avoid, especially if an out-of-towner.
99th REPLY
NAME: Nick Dean DATE: 29 July 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
Following Wilfred De'ath's claim to have discovered Kenny Everett [reply 13], it was interesting to see a degree of corroboration on a recent BBC4 programme, The Secret Files, introduced by Penelope Keith, which drew on correspondence in the BBC's archives. This took the form of an internal memo, dated May 1964, in which De'ath, who was then producing a show called Teen Talk on the Light Programme, commended the 19-year old Maurice Cole (his real name), whom he described as spending all his time playing with tape recorders. As Dame Penelope explained, it wasn't until 1967-8 that Everett came into his own at the BBC, having first made his name on Radio London and Radio Luxembourg, both of which sacked him. He was ultimately sent packing from Radio One for casting aspersions on how the wife of the Minister of Transport came to pass her driving test. Everett was never a great favourite of mine, but I wonder if others also remember Kenny and Cash, his early Big L show with Dave Cash? It was 50 years ago today ...
Then & NowDATE: 14 August 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Continuing on the theme of OEs at the Founders Day buffet lunch this year [reply 98], I was interested to talk with Sir Leslie Fielding KPMG, a distinguished OE and regular supplier of articles to The Elizabethan. He did look as if he should have servants or at least a butler attending to his needs, probably an air he has acquired from his days as a diplomat and later distinctions. I joked with him that the buffet was a self service one and there were no waitresses in attendance. I still find it amazing that our humble grammar school, as so it was in those old days, has such a man of distinction. There is usually some that are exceptions to the rule. Talking with him I got the same feeling I got when I went to Cambridge and my wife and I were shown round the Union building when officially closed by the President, an alumnus of my old college Sidney Sussex. "The old college has certainly come on since my day", I thought, to have a President of the Cambridge Union.