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< Thread 111 Thread 112 (21 replies so far) Thread 113 >
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ORIGINAL MESSAGE
NAME: Stephen Giles
DATE: 18 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Inmate 1957-1964
I have never seen so much fuss made over snowfall in the UK as in the media this week. I remember the bad winter of 1963 (was it?) when we walked to school from Borehamwood, and QE never closed - but of course we never had all this Health and Safety nonsense then !!!
NAME: Vic Coughtrey 
Then & Now
DATE: 18 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59
Well, most schools in Wales and all of them in this county borough (Blaenau Gwent} are closed today. However, there may be some excuse for that as we've had six inches of snow so far (it's still snowing) and high winds, which have caused some very deep drifts. On the whole, I agree with you though. I had to walk over a mile to school and the same distance back every day, whatever the conditions. I remember groping my way up Wellhouse Lane in zero-visibility smogs, clinging on to fences and hedges for guidance. Wellhouse Lane, being pretty steep, was also tricky when there was black ice on the pavement and you were wearing shiny-soled shoes. I fell over a few times. On many other occasions I arrived at school saturated.
I didn't resent any of this. On the contrary, I felt a bit contemptuous towards those who got the bus twice a day for much shorter distances.
I'm also reminded of EHJ's furious outbursts in assemply during the prolonged and totally solid bus strike of 1958. It had come to his attention that some boys had been hitching lifts to school. "You will use the feet the Good Lord gave you !" he thundered. And some of you lived in far flung places - such as Borehamwood, indeed.
Then & NowDATE: 18 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59
Well, most schools in Wales and all of them in this county borough (Blaenau Gwent} are closed today. However, there may be some excuse for that as we've had six inches of snow so far (it's still snowing) and high winds, which have caused some very deep drifts. On the whole, I agree with you though. I had to walk over a mile to school and the same distance back every day, whatever the conditions. I remember groping my way up Wellhouse Lane in zero-visibility smogs, clinging on to fences and hedges for guidance. Wellhouse Lane, being pretty steep, was also tricky when there was black ice on the pavement and you were wearing shiny-soled shoes. I fell over a few times. On many other occasions I arrived at school saturated.
I didn't resent any of this. On the contrary, I felt a bit contemptuous towards those who got the bus twice a day for much shorter distances.
I'm also reminded of EHJ's furious outbursts in assemply during the prolonged and totally solid bus strike of 1958. It had come to his attention that some boys had been hitching lifts to school. "You will use the feet the Good Lord gave you !" he thundered. And some of you lived in far flung places - such as Borehamwood, indeed.
NAME: Nigel Wood .jpg "Nigel Wood")
DATE: 19 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil (1957-64)
After the bomb damaged the North-East corner of the school in January 1941, Jenkins (at home) was soon informed by phone, and, after phoning various prefects and masters, "got a little sleep before turning out at five thirty to get a lift up Barnet Hill in a lorry". [Elizabethan Headmaster 1930-1961]. Not hitch-hiking, of course! (I'm well aware how unfair it is to unearth this story of desperate times and to place it next to a headmasterly protestation made in a different era, when there were no compelling circumstances to seek free lifts}.
DATE: 19 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil (1957-64)
After the bomb damaged the North-East corner of the school in January 1941, Jenkins (at home) was soon informed by phone, and, after phoning various prefects and masters, "got a little sleep before turning out at five thirty to get a lift up Barnet Hill in a lorry". [Elizabethan Headmaster 1930-1961]. Not hitch-hiking, of course! (I'm well aware how unfair it is to unearth this story of desperate times and to place it next to a headmasterly protestation made in a different era, when there were no compelling circumstances to seek free lifts}.
NAME: Mike Carter
DATE: 20 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-63
Like many of our age group, the winter of 1963 does tend to stick in the mind. I well remember cycling in (or trying to) coming off several times on the back roads from my house to the school and that was a fairly short journey. When I moved to Norfolk in 1963 the trip to my new school was three miles on a bike, twenty minutes on a train and then a ten minute walk with the reverse true in the evening whatever the weather. I cam remember seversl years later when still cycling to work travelling home in a blizard and eventually getting there like a walking snowman with around two inches of snow on my cycle cape.
DATE: 20 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-63
Like many of our age group, the winter of 1963 does tend to stick in the mind. I well remember cycling in (or trying to) coming off several times on the back roads from my house to the school and that was a fairly short journey. When I moved to Norfolk in 1963 the trip to my new school was three miles on a bike, twenty minutes on a train and then a ten minute walk with the reverse true in the evening whatever the weather. I cam remember seversl years later when still cycling to work travelling home in a blizard and eventually getting there like a walking snowman with around two inches of snow on my cycle cape.
NAME: Nick Dean 
.JPG "Nick Dean gallery")
DATE: 21 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
BBC2 has just shown a riveting documentary about the Big Freeze of '62-3, presented by Cliff Michaelmore and first broadcast in 1963. Among other things, this confirmed my recollection that it began on Boxing Day and lasted till March. It revealed also that a number of schools closed for prolonged periods (eg in Wales and Hampshire). Along our road in Cockfosters a snowman became so solid that it was still there in early summer. I remember also that, at my primary school, bottles of milk were placed against the radiators because they were literally frozen solid. In subsequent years at QE, there were a few occasions when we were allowed to leave early because of exceptional weather. Those from Brookmans Park (6 miles from Barnet) seemed to be accorded special understanding; the late arrival of one boy prompted John Finnett to enquire, "And how is life in the frozen north today?" Snowballing was verboten, but sometimes was permitted on the Third Field after school. Though I eschewed such officially sanctioned fun, I think there were problems one year when certain participating masters became special targets.
DATE: 21 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
BBC2 has just shown a riveting documentary about the Big Freeze of '62-3, presented by Cliff Michaelmore and first broadcast in 1963. Among other things, this confirmed my recollection that it began on Boxing Day and lasted till March. It revealed also that a number of schools closed for prolonged periods (eg in Wales and Hampshire). Along our road in Cockfosters a snowman became so solid that it was still there in early summer. I remember also that, at my primary school, bottles of milk were placed against the radiators because they were literally frozen solid. In subsequent years at QE, there were a few occasions when we were allowed to leave early because of exceptional weather. Those from Brookmans Park (6 miles from Barnet) seemed to be accorded special understanding; the late arrival of one boy prompted John Finnett to enquire, "And how is life in the frozen north today?" Snowballing was verboten, but sometimes was permitted on the Third Field after school. Though I eschewed such officially sanctioned fun, I think there were problems one year when certain participating masters became special targets.
NAME: Nigel Wood
DATE: 23 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil (1957-64)
I remember my father telling me how, when there was a decent snowfall, the headmaster of the school he attended in Leeds would stop lessons and organise a sliding competition for everyone in the playground. I'm particularly reminded of this by Stephen Giles's comment [see original message]. How attitudes have changed in a hundred years!
DATE: 23 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil (1957-64)
I remember my father telling me how, when there was a decent snowfall, the headmaster of the school he attended in Leeds would stop lessons and organise a sliding competition for everyone in the playground. I'm particularly reminded of this by Stephen Giles's comment [see original message]. How attitudes have changed in a hundred years!
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen 
.jpg "James Cowen gallery")
Then & Now
DATE: 23 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Yes you are right, Stephen [see original message]. There does seem to be a greater fuss in the media these days as well as many schools being closed. There is an article by Richard Littlejohn on this theme in today's Daily Mail (Tuesday Jan 22, 2013) and of particular relevance to us as he makes frequent reference to the Barnet situation. As he says "In some remote areas, roads were impassible. But in Barnet 60 schools were shut. Why?" and "The only weather-related disruption in Barnet was the panic buying in Waitrose, where the car park was overflowing and shoppers were squabbling over trolleys as they stripped the shelves bare." As he also says "I can't imagine my old headmaster letting a cold snap get in the way of our education" and "Come to think of it, I'm not sure my own kids were ever sent home from school because of the weather, either." He agrees with you, Stephen and myself and my wife, who was also saying "I don't remember staying at home due to snow and ice."
In regard to walking to school to and from Borehamwood I do remember walking in the snow and ice to school but in terms of distance it was not so far flung being between 3 and 4 miles away as against the 6 miles to Brookmans Park. However they were not the only times I walked or ran home before the 107 or 306 buses came. It all helped in the cross country conditioning. So many of the 107 buses from Enfield and Ponders End used to just go to Arkley Hotel of course and then turn back and I did not like the waiting, even with a free bus pass. The 107 still runs but only to New Barnet Station, where the 306 used to terminate.
Then & NowDATE: 23 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Yes you are right, Stephen [see original message]. There does seem to be a greater fuss in the media these days as well as many schools being closed. There is an article by Richard Littlejohn on this theme in today's Daily Mail (Tuesday Jan 22, 2013) and of particular relevance to us as he makes frequent reference to the Barnet situation. As he says "In some remote areas, roads were impassible. But in Barnet 60 schools were shut. Why?" and "The only weather-related disruption in Barnet was the panic buying in Waitrose, where the car park was overflowing and shoppers were squabbling over trolleys as they stripped the shelves bare." As he also says "I can't imagine my old headmaster letting a cold snap get in the way of our education" and "Come to think of it, I'm not sure my own kids were ever sent home from school because of the weather, either." He agrees with you, Stephen and myself and my wife, who was also saying "I don't remember staying at home due to snow and ice."
In regard to walking to school to and from Borehamwood I do remember walking in the snow and ice to school but in terms of distance it was not so far flung being between 3 and 4 miles away as against the 6 miles to Brookmans Park. However they were not the only times I walked or ran home before the 107 or 306 buses came. It all helped in the cross country conditioning. So many of the 107 buses from Enfield and Ponders End used to just go to Arkley Hotel of course and then turn back and I did not like the waiting, even with a free bus pass. The 107 still runs but only to New Barnet Station, where the 306 used to terminate.
NAME: Vic Coughtrey Then & Now
DATE: 23 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59
Surely, the modern phenomenon of school closures due to bad weather has a lot to do with parents. Many of them refuse to send their children to school on foot, even in ideal conditions, so at times when car journeys are impossible and the buses are not running, the kids simply wouldn't turn up for school, even if it were open. This would lead to a black mark in the Ofsted report, so the the schools use a loophole which enables them to close for health & safety reasons. I believe the Government (which admits that the current situation is ridiculous) is looking at the possiblity of no longer blaming schools for poor attendance during extreme weather. I don't know if the idea is to extend the same leniency to the parents.
Then & NowDATE: 23 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59
Surely, the modern phenomenon of school closures due to bad weather has a lot to do with parents. Many of them refuse to send their children to school on foot, even in ideal conditions, so at times when car journeys are impossible and the buses are not running, the kids simply wouldn't turn up for school, even if it were open. This would lead to a black mark in the Ofsted report, so the the schools use a loophole which enables them to close for health & safety reasons. I believe the Government (which admits that the current situation is ridiculous) is looking at the possiblity of no longer blaming schools for poor attendance during extreme weather. I don't know if the idea is to extend the same leniency to the parents.
NAME: Adam Lines 
Then & Now
DATE: 24 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: 57/64
The fact that winters seemed much colder 50 years ago may have had something to do with the absence of central heating or insulation in most houses (hence ice on the inside of bedroom windows in the morning), no heating in buses or cars (my dear mother once offered me a hot water bottle for the journey) and QE's insistance on short trousers being worn in Forms 1 and 2 regardless of the weather (knee length socks being hoisted northwards to compensate during really cold spells). That having been said, the school itself always seemed stiflingly hot in the winter months.
Then & NowDATE: 24 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: 57/64
The fact that winters seemed much colder 50 years ago may have had something to do with the absence of central heating or insulation in most houses (hence ice on the inside of bedroom windows in the morning), no heating in buses or cars (my dear mother once offered me a hot water bottle for the journey) and QE's insistance on short trousers being worn in Forms 1 and 2 regardless of the weather (knee length socks being hoisted northwards to compensate during really cold spells). That having been said, the school itself always seemed stiflingly hot in the winter months.
NAME: Brian Seal 
DATE: 26 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 57-63
Now there's interesting, Adam. Are you sure about the short trousers in the first two years? I seem to remember being given my first pair of long trousers by my grandmother for Christmas 1958 when I would have been in 2b. Obviously I desperately wanted a play-station, but of course, they hadn't been invented then!
<DATE: 26 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 57-63
Now there's interesting, Adam. Are you sure about the short trousers in the first two years? I seem to remember being given my first pair of long trousers by my grandmother for Christmas 1958 when I would have been in 2b. Obviously I desperately wanted a play-station, but of course, they hadn't been invented then!
NAME: Ian Sadler 
DATE: 27 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1951-58
I can confirm (re 9th reply) that short trousers were not compulsory in forms 1 and 2. When I started in 1A (1951) a few of the taller boys wore long trousers and a few more acquired them in the second year. What is certain is that you did not wear short trousers when you went into third year how ever small you were!
DATE: 27 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1951-58
I can confirm (re 9th reply) that short trousers were not compulsory in forms 1 and 2. When I started in 1A (1951) a few of the taller boys wore long trousers and a few more acquired them in the second year. What is certain is that you did not wear short trousers when you went into third year how ever small you were!
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 29 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
In regard to the short v long trousers discussion I am pretty sure that I wore long trousers in 1B in 1956, though as I was fairly tall this does not preclude others possibly still in short trousers, though I do doubt that a little. I cannot recall others in short trousers, though many of my memories have faded with the passing years. What is all this about remembering 50 years ago but forgetting what I went in the next room for or what I had for breakfast? As regards the 1963 great snows and long freeze I am reminded of the discussions of the parish council on The Vicar of Dibley as to what year was the great storm and the great wind etc. Some of those older than me at the over 60s club I go to (Peter Pan at the Andover Leisure Centre) and believe it most are older, even considerably older, talk about the great snows and freeze of 1947. There are certainly OEs who would remember those days as well, I imagine.
Then & NowDATE: 29 January 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
In regard to the short v long trousers discussion I am pretty sure that I wore long trousers in 1B in 1956, though as I was fairly tall this does not preclude others possibly still in short trousers, though I do doubt that a little. I cannot recall others in short trousers, though many of my memories have faded with the passing years. What is all this about remembering 50 years ago but forgetting what I went in the next room for or what I had for breakfast? As regards the 1963 great snows and long freeze I am reminded of the discussions of the parish council on The Vicar of Dibley as to what year was the great storm and the great wind etc. Some of those older than me at the over 60s club I go to (Peter Pan at the Andover Leisure Centre) and believe it most are older, even considerably older, talk about the great snows and freeze of 1947. There are certainly OEs who would remember those days as well, I imagine.
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 07 February 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Ah yes, Adam, I remember hot water bottles well [reply 8]. In bed in my freezing bedroom I used to have a stone water bottle in the bottom of the bed and this warmed the sheet up really well, whilst retaining their heat. Pity about the scalded toes if you touched it too often! For the top half there was the rubber sort, which of course soon lost their heat. With current central heating I doubt if many today share those joys. At home we have resisted electric blankets but my wife, who generally goes to bed well before me, heats a wheaty bag up in the microwave and this retains heat well. I would recommend them, certainly for other wives. She has spares, which she offers to guests who stay - sometimes accepted. I of course say my wife is the best hot water bottle in the world as well as having many other uses.
Then & NowDATE: 07 February 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Ah yes, Adam, I remember hot water bottles well [reply 8]. In bed in my freezing bedroom I used to have a stone water bottle in the bottom of the bed and this warmed the sheet up really well, whilst retaining their heat. Pity about the scalded toes if you touched it too often! For the top half there was the rubber sort, which of course soon lost their heat. With current central heating I doubt if many today share those joys. At home we have resisted electric blankets but my wife, who generally goes to bed well before me, heats a wheaty bag up in the microwave and this retains heat well. I would recommend them, certainly for other wives. She has spares, which she offers to guests who stay - sometimes accepted. I of course say my wife is the best hot water bottle in the world as well as having many other uses.
NAME: Nick Dean
DATE: 08 February 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
In common with maybe 40-50% of 1C, I wore short trousers on arrival in 1964 [see replies 8-11]. I graduated to the longer variety within about 6 weeeks and, with one exception, the whole form had done so by the following summer. Rather to my surprise, when I made the transition, I was gently ribbed by some of those still in shorts who evidently regarded this as rather pretentious. Similar mild derision was sometimes directed at boys who completed their new look by acquiring snazzy socks or Chelsea boots (admittedly, at that age, they probably looked less cool than they imagined). Within a year or two short trousers had virtually disappeared.
DATE: 08 February 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
In common with maybe 40-50% of 1C, I wore short trousers on arrival in 1964 [see replies 8-11]. I graduated to the longer variety within about 6 weeeks and, with one exception, the whole form had done so by the following summer. Rather to my surprise, when I made the transition, I was gently ribbed by some of those still in shorts who evidently regarded this as rather pretentious. Similar mild derision was sometimes directed at boys who completed their new look by acquiring snazzy socks or Chelsea boots (admittedly, at that age, they probably looked less cool than they imagined). Within a year or two short trousers had virtually disappeared.
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 18 February 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
In regard to the short v long trousers debate I know there will be some who regard such talk as ridiculous after 50 years, just like remembering figures of speech in Oliphant or when 1D was formed but I am one who is interested in these little issues in life as well as the larger matters. I have now gone to my photo archives for those years and find that whilst one shows me at 11 years in long trousers in our garden with a cricket bat there is also 1 of me in school uniform wearing shorts. Either I did revert to these in the summer or more likely went up to QEs originally dressed in shorts and moved on to long trousers very quickly. Rather than Nick's being ribbed in long trousers by those in short trousers I suspect it was the other way in my case, being overawed by peer pressure of those in long trousers or was it just that in our usual cold climate I just wished to be warmer?
When I wore shorts, I notice that I also had some school long socks with dark and light blue tops. I must either have been fond of them or did not have many others as I have other photos of me in non-dark jacket and shorts wearing the same long socks. I am glad that I do have these photos of those days as I have not retained any of the uniform including the cap but like to see me looking smart in them. I wonder if anyone who left school years ago still does retain the items of school clothing including the cap. I bet there are some, even though they may not admit it in public. I did ask my wife whether she noticed the uniform of today's 1st formers (i.e. modern year 7) at Founders Day and whether they wore long trousers or shorts, for as Mr Chillip said in David Copperfield: "Women are great observers,Sir." She said she only remembered seeing boys in long trousers. Put us right if this in fact an error.
Then & NowDATE: 18 February 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
In regard to the short v long trousers debate I know there will be some who regard such talk as ridiculous after 50 years, just like remembering figures of speech in Oliphant or when 1D was formed but I am one who is interested in these little issues in life as well as the larger matters. I have now gone to my photo archives for those years and find that whilst one shows me at 11 years in long trousers in our garden with a cricket bat there is also 1 of me in school uniform wearing shorts. Either I did revert to these in the summer or more likely went up to QEs originally dressed in shorts and moved on to long trousers very quickly. Rather than Nick's being ribbed in long trousers by those in short trousers I suspect it was the other way in my case, being overawed by peer pressure of those in long trousers or was it just that in our usual cold climate I just wished to be warmer?
When I wore shorts, I notice that I also had some school long socks with dark and light blue tops. I must either have been fond of them or did not have many others as I have other photos of me in non-dark jacket and shorts wearing the same long socks. I am glad that I do have these photos of those days as I have not retained any of the uniform including the cap but like to see me looking smart in them. I wonder if anyone who left school years ago still does retain the items of school clothing including the cap. I bet there are some, even though they may not admit it in public. I did ask my wife whether she noticed the uniform of today's 1st formers (i.e. modern year 7) at Founders Day and whether they wore long trousers or shorts, for as Mr Chillip said in David Copperfield: "Women are great observers,Sir." She said she only remembered seeing boys in long trousers. Put us right if this in fact an error.
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 19 February 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I have recently received a photo from Nigel Palmer, which shows 34 boys with Bernie Pinnock. It is perhaps a form photo rather than a house one. Was BP a form master, though? And one boy seems to have a prefect or sub-prefect gown? Appropos of the short / long trousers discussion above, 5 boys in the front row seem to be in shorts and the rest in long trousers. All have dark / school jackets except 1 seated and 1 standing. I recognize none myself except perhaps it is Snazell behind Uncle Bernie whose expression "When you have conkers you have bonkers" I remember well. (What was that about?). He used to call me 'caveman', on account of my gait. Winky Wingfield on the other hand called me 'Piltdown'. Who else had such nicknames? Thankfully no pupils used such terms. I was 'Jas' to them.
Then & NowDATE: 19 February 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I have recently received a photo from Nigel Palmer, which shows 34 boys with Bernie Pinnock. It is perhaps a form photo rather than a house one. Was BP a form master, though? And one boy seems to have a prefect or sub-prefect gown? Appropos of the short / long trousers discussion above, 5 boys in the front row seem to be in shorts and the rest in long trousers. All have dark / school jackets except 1 seated and 1 standing. I recognize none myself except perhaps it is Snazell behind Uncle Bernie whose expression "When you have conkers you have bonkers" I remember well. (What was that about?). He used to call me 'caveman', on account of my gait. Winky Wingfield on the other hand called me 'Piltdown'. Who else had such nicknames? Thankfully no pupils used such terms. I was 'Jas' to them.
NAME: Vic Coughtrey Then & Now
DATE: 28 March 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59
According to a message from an anonymous current pupil (which I couldn't publish, due to an invalid email address), QE hasn't closed due to bad weather [see original message and subsequent 8 replies] for at least the past few years.
Then & NowDATE: 28 March 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59
According to a message from an anonymous current pupil (which I couldn't publish, due to an invalid email address), QE hasn't closed due to bad weather [see original message and subsequent 8 replies] for at least the past few years.
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 23 April 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I am glad to hear, Vic ,the message in your reply 16. I have recently received my copy of the latest edition of The Elizabethan, which as I have now joined the OE Association I am entitled to receive. Published bi-annually it now consists of just OE news and writings apart from a message from the HM of a summary of school achievements. Whether there is any QE publication for the school alone I do not know. In the message from the OE President, David Farrer, he too talks on the theme of bad weather and the closure of schools. He writes "In Birmingham, where I have been priveleged to work, almost every school in the city was closed for about three days in conditions which posed no difficulty for travel, let alone threat to safety, for anybody commuting by road or train from fifty miles away." May we now say "Where the Stapylton Field site leads then the Elizabethan follows" ?
Then & NowDATE: 23 April 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I am glad to hear, Vic ,the message in your reply 16. I have recently received my copy of the latest edition of The Elizabethan, which as I have now joined the OE Association I am entitled to receive. Published bi-annually it now consists of just OE news and writings apart from a message from the HM of a summary of school achievements. Whether there is any QE publication for the school alone I do not know. In the message from the OE President, David Farrer, he too talks on the theme of bad weather and the closure of schools. He writes "In Birmingham, where I have been priveleged to work, almost every school in the city was closed for about three days in conditions which posed no difficulty for travel, let alone threat to safety, for anybody commuting by road or train from fifty miles away." May we now say "Where the Stapylton Field site leads then the Elizabethan follows" ?
NAME: Alan Pyle 
DATE: 19 April 2014
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1948-1953
Closing schools in bad weather [replies 1-7]: We seem to have congratulated ourselves on continuing to go to school in bad weather. How to notify? We just pressed on. In 'they days' not everybody had a telephone in the house and local radio was not around either. To illustrate - there is a dramatic photo of the 1953 floods showing a policeman with his bicycle going around to warn residents of the imminent danger.
NOTE FROM VIC: If anyone can find that bicycle picture, I'll put in a link to it.
DATE: 19 April 2014
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1948-1953
Closing schools in bad weather [replies 1-7]: We seem to have congratulated ourselves on continuing to go to school in bad weather. How to notify? We just pressed on. In 'they days' not everybody had a telephone in the house and local radio was not around either. To illustrate - there is a dramatic photo of the 1953 floods showing a policeman with his bicycle going around to warn residents of the imminent danger.
NOTE FROM VIC: If anyone can find that bicycle picture, I'll put in a link to it.
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 08 May 2014
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
You are right, Alan, about not everyone having a telephone in the old days. I wonder how many did have one or a TV pre 1953. Whenever I needed to phone anyone even after my Dad died in 1967 I used the red phone box with the A and B buttons down in Furzehill Road, Borehamwood. Now of course we frequently send text messages on our mobiles. Local radio too of course has also mushroomed. Besides Spire FM in Salisbury we also have Andover Sound and Castledown Radio near where we live. The local comprehensive in Ludgershall used to be called Castledown School prior to being the Wellington Academy. In our young days there was merely Radio Luxembourg or Radio Caroline. No doubt these will bring back fond memories (or not) to contributors.
Then & NowDATE: 08 May 2014
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
You are right, Alan, about not everyone having a telephone in the old days. I wonder how many did have one or a TV pre 1953. Whenever I needed to phone anyone even after my Dad died in 1967 I used the red phone box with the A and B buttons down in Furzehill Road, Borehamwood. Now of course we frequently send text messages on our mobiles. Local radio too of course has also mushroomed. Besides Spire FM in Salisbury we also have Andover Sound and Castledown Radio near where we live. The local comprehensive in Ludgershall used to be called Castledown School prior to being the Wellington Academy. In our young days there was merely Radio Luxembourg or Radio Caroline. No doubt these will bring back fond memories (or not) to contributors.
NAME: Stephen Giles
DATE: 12 May 2014
CONNECTION WITH QE: inmate 1957-64
Was that the phone box outside Eric Disdale's house?
DATE: 12 May 2014
CONNECTION WITH QE: inmate 1957-64
Was that the phone box outside Eric Disdale's house?
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