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replies 21-33 >

ORIGINAL MESSAGE

NAME: Andrew Hersom

DATE: 09 September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1960-68

There were [in the 1960s] some first-rate, highly talented teachers who deserve more than an honourable mention; I would highlight DW Fairbairn (physics), NF Gerrard (chemistry), K Townsend (maths), JA Curry (languages), NA Kobish (classics) and Mr Patterson (geography). Neil Gerrard only stayed three years, leaving to teach in a college in London, then becoming a councillor and ultimately a Labour MP. One excellent English teacher (c1963) whose name escapes me came from, I think, Rhodesia. Rumour had it that he went back after about a year because he couldn't get/afford servants in the UK!

RESTRICTED THREAD: please make teachers not much mentioned elsewhere on the site the main subject of your reply.

1st REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean  Nick Dean Nick Dean gallery

DATE: 10 September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

I made a few passing comments about Jack Curry earlier in the year [thread 109, reply 12] and agree he was a good chap. Took us for French in the first year and was our form master in 2C. When he first sat at our lunch table, I thought, in my naivete, that he was a prefect! Another master barely referred to is Colin Carter. He took us for English in 1C and then moved on to a school in - I think - Tewkesbury. Gave the occasonal impression that he thought we were a bit of nuisance (I think he was used to taking senior forms), but he was enormously popular simply because he was such a very good teacher. Came top of our 'favourite master' poll and we bought him a tie at the end of the year. He used to wear those increasingly fashionable ('64‑5) square ended ones. He produced The Tempest in 1965 in which I played the important part of second sprite mainly because I was the right height.

I remember Eric Shearly stumbling on the raw data relating to the favourite master poll because someone was analysing it in the margins of a maths lesson. He proceeded to make an a exaggerated fuss about the rather average marks he had received and to berate by name some of those who had failed to score him highly. All very amusing. He did add that it could be very difficult to be both an effective teacher and a popular one (although Carter, who, at the time, I tended to think of synonymously with Mr Carter in the Jennings books, was both) and cited Mr Winter, who was before our time, as someone who would have scored highly on both counts. In an essay about my first week at the school (probably for Colin C), I described Eric as "a tall man with a loud voice". Evidently this, and maybe similar statements by others, was fed back to him because he quoted it at a subsequent parents' evening. (Incidentally, on the subject of Jennings, I used to equate Eric with Mr Wilkins.)

2nd REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen  James & Ayleen Cowen James Cowen galleryThen & Now

DATE: 12 September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

Well done, Andrew, for opening a new thread for masters liked and worthy of esteem! [those not mentioned much or at all elsewhere on this site, that is.] Most of your lists, Andrew and Nick, are after my time apart from Messrs Fairbairn and Townsend, whom I had little to do with and Messrs Shearly and Colin Carter, whom I did have much experience of. Eric Shearly is of course well honoured by having 1 of the newish buildings named after him as well as having 1 of his colour blazers and a photo in the school museum. Despite my general failure in passing English O Level and the Use of English mentioned elsewhere on the site I did receive a lot of praise in English classes from Colin Carter and remember him with affection. He said my critique of Waiting For Godot was worthy of entry in to The Elizabethan apart from my poor punctuation. (Why not get me to change that and submit it anyway?). He also was amazed at my paraphrasing Chaucer into modern English without any outside help. He was a great fan of course of Graham Greene's writing.

I recall another author much esteemed by Colin Carter was Nevil Shute, who died in 1960. There was an auction sale of various library books from stock and CC bought up all the Nevil Shute books on sale. All 23 books are listed on Wikipedia and were all reprinted by Vintage Books in 2009. I have myself only read 1 or 2 of the Australian based ones but some have also appeared as films, as have Graham Greene's.

3rd REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean  Nick Dean Nick Dean gallery

DATE: 17 September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

In addition to his obvious devotion to literature, Colin Carter took a very firm approach to grammar and spelling. I can still recall his writing "Vanappic" on the board during our first lesson, its being a mnemonic (correct spelling?!) to remember the eight part of speech (verb, adverb, etc). We also had to maintain an official list of words that absolutely had to be spelt correctly on pain of something-or-the-other. These included Shakespeare (sic) about whose spelling he was adamant. Andrew H mentioned Pattison [see original message] I can't help feeling I must have been taught by him, but, in fact, the only two things I can remember are that (a) for the first few days at the school I was under the impression that Sam was called Pattison; (b) he was succeeded no later than 1965 by Abel Williams, known then as Lloyd-Williams. I can be sure about the date because, under Williams' auspices, we had a debate about Rhodesian UDI. Later on, I sought a specific assurance that he, rather than the senior geography master (who, in any case, he succeeded at the end of the lower 6th), would be taking the A level form before opting for the subject.

4th REPLY

NAME: Malcolm Walton  Malcolm Waltont

DATE: 22 September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1953 - 59

By reading this thread I have now discovered the name of our Physics Master - Donald Fairbairn. I had been trying to recall his name in order to relate a couple of amusing incidents, during my last year in UV1Sc. Mr Fairbairn was demonstrating how smog was formed, due to atmospheric pressure and smoke. In order to do this he had to fill a bell jar with smoke and then pressurize it. So he asked who had any cigarettes in their pocket. Nobody responded ! He then said, "look I know some of you must have them and I will pay 3d for one". There was then a rush to be the one to supply the said object to him. I can't remember the price of a packet of fags in 1959, but I think that 3d for one would have shown a profit.

The other incident was when myself and another boy were asked to conduct an experiment to measure the coefficient of restitution of a tennis ball. This involved using a very long piece of wood to which were attached metre rules in sequence. We were then told to stand at the top of the staircase holding the long wooden object vertically and to drop the tennis ball down to the ground floor. We had to note the distance that it returned agaist the metre rule. Believe it or not, we were left to our own devices while Mr. Fairbairn remained with the rest of the form in the Physics Lab. After thoroughly enjoying ourselves throwing the tennis ball down the stairwell who should come up the stairs but EHJ himself !! Whipping off his glasses, he glared at us and demanded an explanation for this breach of good behaviour. I explained: "we are measuring the coefficient of restitution of a tennis ball sir!". He clearly didn't have a clue as to what that meant so he simply harrumphed and stormed off in the direction of the Physics Lab and the non‑conformist Master who encouraged such things.

5th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  Nigel Wood

DATE: 22 September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Presumably he then released the pressure causing the air to cool and water vapour contained in it to condense on the smoke particles? Donald Fairbairn, and, I believe Gabby Hayes, did lots of demonstrations, most of which worked well. I recall that a packet of cigarettes cost 3s/4d In the early 1960s, but this isn't much help because I can't be sure whether this was for 20 or 10. I think it was for 20, which would make sense of the clamour to accept Fairbairn's deal. Malcolm: did you have a younger brother at QE?

6th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean  Nick Dean Nick Dean gallery

DATE: 24 September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

When I went to Guernsey with the scouts in 1964 they were about two bob for 20, which we noted was about half the cost on the mainland. I also remember a much repeated advert on Radio London (c 1965-6) for "Peter Stuyvesant King Size - 4/9 for 20".

NOTE FROM VIC: No further discussion about cigarettes without some reference to or inclusion of matters related to this restricted thread, please!

7th REPLY

NAME: Malcolm Walton  Malcolm Waltont

DATE: 24 September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1953 - 59

Yes you are correct, Nigel [reply 5], about the way the smog experiment worked. I can recall that a great deal of 'smog' was created from a relatively small amount of smoke in the bell jar. Things like this by Fairbairn and others showed how to teach and retain the interest of the pupils unlike some (C0cks for instance!). I did indeed have two brothers following me into QEs. Rodney, who would have entered in 1955 or 56, and Richard who would have entered in about 1964.

8th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen  James & Ayleen Cowen James Cowen galleryThen & Now

DATE: 29 September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

Oh what fun you science A Level students had, although I too remember some of those days in the labs in the lower forms especially mixing substances in chemistry and watching the change in form and colours in those test tubes. I did have much jealousy in respect of you all, or at least many of you, going off to science exhibitions in London and hence arranged that we went off to some classic exhibitions in respect of the Greeks and Romans. Of course we did also go with Mr Burrell to Bradfield College near Reading for the open air classical plays. We arts students at Oxbridge did benefit from not having work all day in the labs like you scientists and hence enjoyed afternoons playing for my college at soccer, rugger and even new to me hockey against those Cambridge girl colleges (Newnham and Girton, the latter no longer being girls only) as well as doing cross-country and some rowing.

9th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  Nigel Wood

DATE: 29 September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Malcolm: thanks for listing brothers at QE! [reply 7].  Could I trouble you to check out the Walton who, complete with quiff, is second from the right in the middle row of the museum photo of the stage crew for One Way Pendulum, the school play in 1964?.

10th REPLY

NAME: Andrew Hersom

DATE: 09 October 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1960 - 1968

Re 8th reply: I am reasonably sure the name Jas refers to as 'Burrell' should be 'Burnell' (but I was never in his Latin class). The name (RC Burnell) is with a 'n' in a discussion elsewhere but in Vic's staff list the name has a double 'r' which I think may be incorrect. Another member of staff I vaguely recall was RH Cosford who tried to teach me French, unfortunately without success.

NOTE FROM VIC: It was originally 'Burnell' in the staff list but I changed it following Jas's reply 8. Have now changed it back!

11th REPLY

NAME: Mike Cottrell  Richard Dilley & Mike Cottrell

DATE: 09 October 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Nigel, I think the Walton in the photo [reply 9] was Pete Walton from Brookmans Park.

12th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen  James & Ayleen Cowen James Cowen galleryThen & Now

DATE: 16 October 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

Yes folks you are right [reply 10]. If I put Burrell instead of Burnell it was a typing error on my part I missed when checking through. Sorry. I will do the 50 lines punishment.

13th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen  James & Ayleen Cowen James Cowen galleryThen & Now

DATE: 27 October 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

In regard to Ron Cosford [reply 10], enquiries on the Internet will produce reports of the work of Ron Cosford, the watercolorist, whom I think is our man, the former French teacher. He began in 1986 as a full time watercolorist and there are copies of many of his paintings, which may be bought and look pretty good to me, though I personally am a photographer rather than a painter. He says that he no longer exhibits but continues to paint for pleasure.

14th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen  James & Ayleen Cowen James Cowen galleryThen & Now

DATE: 17 December 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

I noticed that there was a Mr Kobish at both this and last year's OE Annual Dinner and I think he is the master mentioned in the original message. It is good he still enjoys coming to these occasions. This year beside the current HM there were two former HMs, one of whom gave the main speech, much enjoyed. There was also a large group of OEs who left 10 years ago and they were a lively group. I also enjoyed meeting OES I know.

15th REPLY

NAME: Stephen Giles  Stephen Giles

DATE: 19 December 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: 1957-64 gang

I remember NAK Kobish very well for his patient teaching of Rod Jones (I think) and myself as a class of two late in my time at QE.

16th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean  Nick Dean Nick Dean gallery

DATE: 13 January 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

Cosford [replies 10 & 13] was just before my time, but, in the course of recent party chit-chat relating to hand gestures, someone a few years above me at school mentioned an occasion when Cosford was sitting at the head of a lunch table. His cheek was leaning on his hand and his index and middle fingers were making an unmistakable, but no doubt inadvertent, V-sign. This evidently caused a lot of merriment, not least because Cosford had no idea what everyone (being boys) found so amusing!

17th REPLY

NAME: Allan Ayers

DATE: 23 June 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1960-1967

Does anyone remember the Nostradamus of Q.E. otherwise known as the Reverend Upton (a.k.a. 'Rev Up')? A refreshingly liberal character he took us for 'liberal studies' once a week in the heady school world of the 1960's. "Boys" he said, "they have invented something called a computer - and it means that you lucky boys will only have to do a half day week as computers will be doing the rest" - did he get that one wrong! His other memorable classroom pronouncement was: "boys ... they have invented a wonder drug that enables people to remember being born and it's called LSD! I wonder how many ambitions changed slightly at that point. Unfortunately it led to more residents at Knapsbury mental hospital than birth memories. Note to current pupils - drug taking is definitely NOT recommended by this correspondent - attending art schools in the '60's left me in no doubt as to the damage done.

NOTE FROM VIC: He's remembered in two or three a few other places on this site, notably in Thread 91/6. In view of your own starting date at QE, Allan, I've changed Upton's dates in the list of former staff to '1959-??'. According to the old dates he was there for one year only. Does anyone else have any clues regarding his dates?

18th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen  James & Ayleen Cowen James Cowen galleryThen & Now

DATE: 24 June 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63

In connection with the 17th reply I think the hospital concerned should be Napsbury rather than Knapsbury. There is actually an interesting website about former psychiatric hospitals in Herts, including Napsbury. There are many favourable reviews by staff who worked there. One correspondent in 2011 says "Bring back places like Napsbury. Patients were better looked after." My dad worked at a similar institution, Shenley Hospital, and went there on the 358 bus. I remember I brought home one of the patients let out from there and attending Borehamwood Baptist YPF. My dad said: "What do you mean by bringing mental patients home?" He wasn't keen on visitors of any sort but especially not ex-patients of where he worked. Both hospitals closed for patients in 1998 at the time of the 'get patients back into the community' drive.

19th REPLY

NAME: Stephen Giles  Stephen Giles

DATE: 24 June 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: 1957-64 gang

I remember 'Revup' very well [reply 17] - he gave me an A Report for throwing a handful of chalk at him (absolutely disgraceful behaviour) whilst he was writing something on the blackboard! I think Poker gave me the cane - very annoying at the time because I was the one to be caught!

20th REPLY

NAME: Ian Sadler  Ian Sadler

DATE: 27 June 2014

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1951-58

In your green footnote to reply 17, Vic, you say the Rev Upton dates were originally thought to be 1959-60 and indeed that is what it says in the appendix in EHJs book.  In my first year as a research student (in London) Peter Ambidge contacted me and asked if I could teach for one day a week, as Mr Clark was off and their usual backup, a Mrs Silk, was not available. This was the summer term 1962 and Upton was still there then.  This was the first year after EHJ retired so it looks as if Upton's "temporary appointment" was extended. In practice I taught two half days - Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning - 2nd and 3rd year. I have never been so exhausted in my life as then! On the second morning the senior geography master said "Oh you must be Mrs Silk", so I snapped back "And you eyesight must be failing". He actually laughed. How much longer Upton was there I don't know.
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