< Thread 162 Thread 163 (36 replies so far) Thread 164 >
Replies 21-36
< replies 1 - 20
DATE: 13 September 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1948-1953
What a great story [reply 17]. Henry's mother not only saw the barricade but was able to respond at the time. At Borehamwood's Furzehill through the 1940's the 11-plus was still called 'the Scholarship' and EJH interviewed the candidates without their parents. As for 'meld', one dictionary has the word deriving from 'melt' and 'weld', origin 1930's. But how about this second definition (in rummy, canasta, and other card games)? - to lay down or declare (a combination of cards) in order to score points: 'a player has melded four kings'.
Then & NowDATE: 13 September 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59
Nigel's comments about Cockney accents [reply 20] reminds me of an incident which did little combat my feelings of being an alien in the school. Although a Barnetonian, I conspicuously lacked 'Barnet vowels', as my parents were wartime evacuees from the Docklands and try as I might, I couldn't shake off the strong Cockney accent I'd inherited from them. One day during an English 'period' the master - probably Cov rather than Alfie, whose vowels were slightly northern, was so appalled by my accent that he made me stand by my desk (well, ON the desk is how I remember it - but surely that's false memory?) and recite "the rain in Spain" until he felt that there was some improvement. The comprehensive years must have been torture for some of those masters, especially as Barnet had acquired its own Borehamwood by that time, in the form of the Dollis Valley estate. However, the curious fact remains that EHJ had obviously not been put off by my accent and that of my father during the interview - and it has to be remembered that I was not exactly trying to impress [reply 1].
DATE: 14 September 2015
CONNECTION WITH QE: inmate 1957-64
But not all of Borehamwood was a "Dollis Valley Estate"!! I'm sure that those of us from Lullington Garth - Dick Newton, Tony Norman and myself all provided Alford approved speech!! A case of the fingers racing ahead of the Brain, Stephen! What I should have said was that with the building of the Dollis Valley estate, High Barnet became as mixed in terms of class as Borehamwood (but it was always more mixed than people who didn't live there imagined).
DATE: 14 September 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1948-1953
Accents [reply 22]. My parents were from Paddington and Fulham originally but had moved out to Northwest London before coming to Borehamwood. So there must have been some modifying of accents at home. I am fascinated by our country's regional speech and spent many hours with my brother imitating all the speech sounds we heard. I do recall being forbidden by my mother to speak in any way that that hinted away from RP. e.g. Wafford; Snorbns; Bar-ni'; Up West .. As far as the desk punishment is concerned Vic I am quite confident you did stand ON it as it was a common resort - Then. Once my whole class was directed to stand on our desks in an attempt to restore order.
25th REPLY
NAME: Nigel Wood.jpg "Nigel Wood")
DATE: 15 September 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
My reference to the purity of Barnet vowels [reply 20] was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I think it was D B Fry who chided us gently about our 'Barnet accents', but that would have been around 1960. He himself had acquired a beautiful Scottish (Edinburgh?) accent during his university years at St Andrews - probably within a day or two of his being there!
26th REPLY
NAME: Kenneth MarksDATE: 16 September 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1947-1954
I was interviewed by Jenkins [see original message and most replies]. The big problem for my mother and me was: should I wear my prefect's badge from Church Hill C P or not? Would it look like showing off or would it better my chances of getting in? I think I didn't wear it. Traces of my Glasgow accent must still have been lingering because the Ern suddenly said: "Good God, you're a Scot!" Perhaps I got in to add to the racial mix. And talking of mix, I managed to say: "Good aftersoon Nir" as I left. Ma thought it was East Barnet Grammar, here we come. I was at school with Derek Fry, a very entertaining bloke. I think Les Fielding has said elsewhere that Derek used to open the lid of his briefcase to cover his laughter when Ernie was speaking. And yet he was very kind to him years later when both had retired and the old boy was on the decline. Good Scottish accent, too.
DATE: 17 September 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1948-1953
D. B. Fry [replies 25 & 26] had perfected an Edinburgh Morningside accent in no time at all together with suitable phrases; - 'thereby' for 'approximately' for example. [20/09/16: see W16/124] There are a lot of references to DB Fry scattered throughout the site (use the former staff list and internal search engine (top of page) to locate them. I may try to bring them all together in one dedicated thread at some time, as I did with RM C0cks.
28th REPLY
NAME: Mike HaggerDATE: 27 October 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1955-61
Having just caught up with this one, I offer my own experience of the EHJ entry interview [see original message and most replies]. I agree with the view that interviewees were in two categories, namely "In" (EHJ's study) or "Maybe" (Library with additional interviewers. Although very few of us from Littlegrove had been aimed towards QE, I found myself with my father amongst the "In" crowd. Whether that was entirely on merit I cannot say - but it was a big plus that Dad had been a Prefect in EHJ's early years. The only question that I recall was the map. I was asked to find Barnet, and then move so many miles northwards, followed by a couple of other manoeuvres, and then say where I reached. It was Welwyn but, being an avid train-spotter at New Barnet station, and witnessing the regular local trains that terminated at Welwyn Garden City, I blurted out the latter. EHJ exploded. "Welwyn Garden City ! WELWYN GARDEN CITY !!?? Welwyn Garden City is a filthy hole. You get to the delightful old town of Welwyn". He then proceeded to speak with my father for the rest of the interview, whilst I hung my head. I duly joined Form 1C with Eric that September.
29th REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen
.jpg "James Cowen gallery")
Then & NowDATE: 09 November 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Well I think that someone needs to reply in regard to WGC being described as a filthy hole [reply 28] and I suppose that despite cries from some of "not you again" it will have to be me. The honorary secretary of the OE 200 Club, Graham Barnes, still lives there and perhaps has been a resident of WGC for a longer time than I was, including being a stalwart of St Francis Anglican church and being a member of their choir that tours all over the place,in addition to being a keen tennis player over many years. I think he is not likely to reply even if he knows about this site, which I doubt, or which he may have forgotten about, if he did once know. I lived in WGC for 16 years from 1971 to 1987 before moving to Wiltshire. A more charming place to live, either in WGC or my current address in Ludgershall, you will be hard pressed to find. I met my wife in WGC and we got married in the Methodist Church there. I enjoyed walking round the excellent lakes I once only knew by seeing them from the A1. I loved walking down tree-lined avenues, especially observing the cherry trees of Pentley Park and running in the woods. As for the Panshanger public golf course excellent enjoyment was had over many years.
30th REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 01 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
My wife and I returned to WGC last Saturday and walked by the Stanborough lakes along with my son Matthew, his wife Liz and our grandchildren Oliver and Annabel. These all live nearby in the Hatfield Garden Village area. It continues to be as lovely as ever and I took photos of the autumnal hues of the trees' leaves along with people walking by them. There was also a group of runners running through the trees on the grass above the car park enjoying themselves running and doing their exercises. We do miss in the summer the pool area, which was eliminated years ago after a tragic accident and lack of appropriate supervision there. Nevertheless the play area swings and climbing frames etc. there now are excellent and much enjoyed by the grandchildren and us playing with them there. The swan and dragon boats are still available to move along the lake, as well as rowing boats, if required.
Then & NowDATE: 10 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Inmate 1956-1963
As a teenager I got to know Welwyn Garden City rather well. At the time I was in a local group, ‘The Trekkas’ who often played at the ‘Hop” at Woodhall Community Centre, supporting such stars-to-be as Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart and Donovan. It was all a bit of a blast I seem to remember, helped no doubt by the proximity of Smith, Klein and French, the number of friends who worked there and the general availability of "product". I played at the Hop again a few of years ago, product free. Here's a photo [the lower one] taken outside Welwyn Department Stores. Another feature of teenage life in WGC was the Sunday afternoon double horror bill at the Embassy cinema. During the week I boned up on Antony and Cleopatra for Jerry Reid. At weekends it was The Blob and The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I also remember Jas’s swimming pool at Stanborough, long before the days of swan and dragon boats. It was the coldest place on earth. No matter what the weather was like - in the high 80s and the tarmac on the nearby A1M buckling in the heat Stanborough always offered hypothermia and mottled skin.
32nd REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 16 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Before I married my wife Ayleen, a Welwyn Garden City girl, who worked at ICI Plastics as an interpreter and translator, she used to go swimming at Stanborough Lakes pool after work. She tells me that she did not think it was that cold in the pool, especially in the summer sun, but there again she and my daughter Marie wade into the sea and start swimming even on non summer sunny days. I myself only go in when very hot, with my tyre ring. I did not learn to swim at QEs, despite those hours spent in that freezing outdoor swimming pool. These hours included being urged to float to the bar without any swimming aids by Mr Hoskisson, who used to stand in the pouring rain under an umbrella.
33rd REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 21 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I liked another example of how you looked in previous days, Martyn [reply 31]. You certainly look like many other pop stars of the 60s such as the Beatles. When I go to WGC next (DV) having taken a copy of your photo I will check the exact location of it. When I look at contemporary OEs at such events as the Annual Dinner or 40 Club lunches I am startled how similar to their schooldays so many look in appearance. Examples are Meesrs Newton, Wormald and Volkes. I should say that you and I appear quite different so am pleased when still recognised as being me by others. Sometimes they have to ask to make sure it is me. It may be worth mentioning again the Now and Then feature on the site. Currently there are just the five people on that section. If anyone should send current and past photos to Vic he would put them on the site after, but as Vic says in his notes any photos at all of contributors will be welcome.
Then & NowDATE: 22 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Inmate 1956-1963
I am reliably informed by our former bass player who still lives in Panshanger in WGC that the location of the Trekkas photograph, once the Departmental Store car park, is now a roundabout with a public toilet in the middle....which just about sums up the group.
35th REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 23 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Thanks, Martyn, for the info regarding the photo's location. I had a hunch that the facts might be as you state.
DATE: 28 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: inmate 1957-64
Thank you indeed for the photos Martyn. There were some photos my Dad took of the band with Mick Allen, Dave Ward and at that time I think John Bass, but I've never been able to locate them. A question for you Martyn - please see 25/1.