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ORIGINAL MESSAGE

NAME: Anon

DATE: 08 April 2007

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1969 - 73

QE was always something of a mystery to me - I arrived (into the 4th Form) just as the 1st forms were comprehensive and watched as the school tried to come to terms with its somewhat changed status.  Some teachers and ALL the prefects still strutted their stuff in gowns and lines were given out for the slightest misdemeanor.  There was an air of 'old school tie' and 'history' without any appreciation of the great change the School was actually going through.

There were, however, some great characters amongst the teaching staff - Bernie Pinnock, Eric Shirley and Mr Carter, as well as some really sadistic bastards - Able Williams and Mr Thomas to name but two.  And who will ever forget Mr 'Pansy' Patrick the music teacher, Mr Barnett the 1st ever economics teacher and marxist on the staff and Mr 'Gabby' Hayes who earned himself a half page obituary in The Times for his wartime exploits in the RAF durring WW11.

I look back with a mixture of nostalgia, loathing and despair at the 4 years I spent there and wonder whatever happened to others in my year.

1st REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey  Vic CoughtreyThen & Now

DATE: 08 April 2007

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

Anon, this is fascinating stuff for OEs of my age, because it's the first glimpse on this site of the school some ten years after we left, when many of the same masters were still there but when the comprehensive revolution was just beginning to strike home.  A MARXIST teaching at QE?  That's almost as difficult to get one's head round as the job I did there some 40 years after leaving as a pupil.  I think I'll keep you in suspense about that for a bit longer (some of you regular visitors already know and will probably spill the beans in messages).  And Gabby Hayes, a seemingly ineffectual character whom we played up something rotten, was a war hero?  

It's a bit of a shame that you didn't give your email address, so that I could explain that there would be a delay in putting your message up.  I hope you haven't given up on the site as a result, because I expect there will be some response.

2nd REPLY

NAME: Stephen Giles  Stephen Giles

DATE: 28 April 2007

CONNECTION WITH QE: Nuisance 1957-64!!

Funnily enough, Bernie Pinnock was a good friend of a lady my mother befriended in a maternity ward in 1952 whilst giving birth to my sister!  He always struck me as being a decent sort of egg, and let's face it the masters on the staff in the 50s and 60s were always stuck between a rock and a hard place - whilst maintaining the class system!!!!!

3rd REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  Nigel Wood

DATE: 26 January 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64

Physics was - and is - my thing, so I remember Gabby (ARW) Hayes quite well, especially as a very clear sixth form teacher. He could, have 'stretched' us more - but so could most of the teachers.  He had a fondness for weak puns and referred to the Founder's Day before the change to comprehensive as 'Founderer's Day'.  I think he failed to cope with the change.  I'd like to dig out the Times obituary, but need at least the year of death.  Can anyone help?

4th REPLY

NAME: Simon Kalman

DATE: 06 February 2009

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1970-74

I joined QE in Sept '70 straight into the 4th form [see original message].  My form master was Mr Fry (difficult enough to understand his English let alone his Spanish) and remember well the likes of Messrs Pinnick, Clarke, Hayter, French and Hayes (the pretty decent guys) and Thomas and Williams (serious sadists).  All those comments we made about 'Pansy' Patrick seem to have been totally justified and who else remembers that sadistic prefect Aylard who strutted his stuff - first at QE, then in the Royal Navy and finally as Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales.  He came a cropper after the now infamous Diana/Bashir interview and is now to be found at Thames Water.

Felt rather sorry for TBE as he struggled to change a rather exclusive 400 year old school into a modern state of the art comprehensive and that famous quote of his "...there will be portacabin classrooms over my dead body...".  Does anyone else remember when Mr Gould (the woodwork & metalwork teacher) stood up in the refectory and recited grace before meals (the long version) in Latin and received a great round of applause?

5th REPLY

NAME: Simon Kalman

DATE: 06 February 2009

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1970-74

I almost forgot to mention Tom Guthrie who arrived halfway through my Lower 6th Year - he arrived with the glorious title of 'Head of Studies' which seemed to mean walking around with a clipboard in one hand and a pen in the other and doing very, very little for hours on end.

On the 1st day of the new term when he arrived, that wonderful character Bernie Pinnock had the entire 6th form assembled in the common room for all sorts of notices etc.  On seeing the initials 'Gu' on the timetable, and appearing not to know for whom they stood, proudly announced in a loud voice "...don't know who these refer to, but from today he with be known as the guru..." and it stuck to old Tom like mud!

Didn't know about Mr Hayes' exploits during WW2 until I saw his obituary in The Times!  What a wonderful man.  I also recall Mr Kelsall, probably one of the fairest teachers I ever had, although quite why we needed to learn all about logs and slide-rulers I will never understand.

6th REPLY

NAME: Anon

DATE: 14 December 2011

CONNECTION WITH QE: Escaped 1971

I think the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act possibly forbids mention of the only staff member to be imprisoned for paedophilia.  His visits to the gym changing room to discuss things with his pupils were hilarious at the time, but he blighted quite a few lives.  It's long time ago but I can't deal with it yet.  He still lives in Barnet: fortunately I don't.

7th REPLY

NAME: Simon Kalman

DATE: 17 October 2012

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1970-74

Not sure the last contributor is correct about the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 - according to most legal authorities on the subject, it is NOT an offence to mention/publish details of a person's criminal convictions, whilst it is an offence for someone convicted not to disclose his/her convictions when asked (subject to certain conditions) - anyway, I think we all know to whom you refer!

8th REPLY

NAME: Anon

DATE: 17 October 2012

CONNECTION WITH QE: Former pupil

On a matter of information only, and assuming that we are referring to one M.P., he did in fact escape prison having instead various other community sanctions, registrations and counselling imposed upon him. The judge was however particularly scathing about the school itself, its governing body and the Barnet LEA who he said were "aware of the situation and did nothing about it". Probably standard practice in most such institutions at the time.

9th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean  Nick Dean Nick Dean gallery

DATE: 01 December 2012

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

I was curious to see that, on the staff list, Bernie Pinnock is referred to as 'Slasher'. Although I was in his house and was even captain of it in my final year, I don't remember (or had forgotten) that nickname. Rather, it was applied in my time to a rather dour Northerner called David Lowe who taught chemistry. Quite why, I'm unsure: he wasn't a housemaster and I don't recall his being one of those who indulged in unofficial corporal punishment. In fact his main weapon was profound sarcasm (eg "W - A - T - E - R!"). I was initially rather bad at chemistry, but, one parents' evening, my mother and father responded to his comments about "lack of effort" that, since I was doing quite well at most other subjects, the fault might perhaps lie with him. I'm unsure that that was wholly true, but, to his very great credit, he spoke to me about it and said he would make a real effort to help. And he did: although in an 'arts' science set, I actually came top in my O-level year.

10th REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey  Vic CoughtreyThen & Now

DATE: 01 December 2012

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

I can confirm that Pinnock was known as 'Slasher' in my time. In the '50s his energetic application of the cane was legendary but he may have eased off a bit in the subsequent decade.

11th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean  Nick Dean Nick Dean gallery

DATE: 03 December 2012

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

A few more thoughts prompted by Simon Kalman's 4th reply. I don't recall Martin Gould's full Latin grace, but I do remember that, whenever Tiger Timson growled the shortened version, there was a loud "Amen" as everyone uttered this word in perfect imitation of him. On several occasions, before junior lunch, Eric Shearly got into a terrible rage about various misbehaviour and then, with barely a pause, lapsed, in the most godly manner, into "For food and friendship, we give thee thanks, O Lord". Another example of Martin Gould's talents is that, one summer, I spotted him acting as an official photographer when I was on a day trip to Butlin's at Clacton. He was a fine maths teacher and had an excellent sense of humour.

Just to round off, TBE's reported "portakabin" remark [also 4th reply] caused me to reflect that there are few good stories or quotes associated with him. My own favourite was when he sought to outlaw 'clackers' (bits of string with beads on the end which were bashed together), but complained instead that "a number of boys have been playing with knockers ...". In the first comprehensive term, he started referring to Speech Day as "prizegiving", making clear in assembly that he had unsuccessfully asked the Governors to end this annual ritual and regretted imposing on senior boys to attend. Perhaps he had a point - the event was rather tedious - but it all sounded a bit wishy-washy. Arguably, his own annual report, delivered on Speech Day to a diverse audience and reported in the local press, was a good example of public accountability.

12th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  Nigel Wood

DATE: 05 December 2012

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64

I had the greatest respect for Mr Gould [reply 4] He taught Engineering Drawing to the Lower Sixth I was in. I had no aptitude for it and no interest, and this would have been obvious. Nonetheless he continued to be pleasant and friendly. He seemed to assume that those he was teaching were cleverer than he. They'd certainly had the their intellects nurtured. I remember we were discussing short-cuts for finding the mean of a collection of numbers. I produced an algebraic justification of one of them, and he said he'd never have thought of the method himself. What modesty, and what a boost to a youngster's confidence! I believe, though I may well be wrong, that there was an (unlikely?) friendship between him and Ralph C0cks.

13th REPLY

NAME: Brian Seal  Brian Seal

DATE: 09 December 2012

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-63

Martin Gould also took me for woodwork. Like Nigel, I hadn't (and still haven't) any aptitude for DIY. Unlike Nigel I had little aptitude for anything. But I digress ... during the practical sessions, Mr Gould would come around to inspect our progress and make helpful suggestions, etc. I always remember he got to me, took one look, sadly looked me in the eye, smiled, shook his head and moved on. Obviously it made more of an impression than most other masters of mine !!

14th REPLY

NAME: David Stevenson

DATE: 15 June 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1967-1974

Only just found this site and it makes fascinating reading. I remember Simon Kalman [replies 4,5,7] but some names of Masters I had completely forgotten. Here's a few more to add if anyone remembers them: 1. Mr Boot. Taught biology unsuccessfully for a year or less. Was mercilessly chased around the school by a mixture of QE boys and QE girls one hobbies evening. 2. Rob Barnett was joined by another economics teacher a year later. Can't remember his name but came from the same left wing mould. 3. A history teacher whose wife was also a teacher at the school (Mr and Mrs Morris) with unsubstantiated rumours about involvement with another teacher. 4. Sam C0cks singing Feed me til I want no more in morning assembley and a suggestion that he gave lines to two boys who opened two doors for him. Taught me all I know about yam exports in 1936. 5. Mr Moakler - English teacher who looked like a monk. 6. Physics teacher - Mr P? with sharp suits and curly black hair. 7. Gilly Smith and Winifred Vaughan-Thomas. Taught me the only french I can remember:  puis je oter mon veston?

NOTE FROM VIC: Boot, Morris and Smith are mentioned elsewhere on this site - refer to the List of Former Staff to find out where. As for Sam C0cks, Thread 128 is reserved exclusively for him.  But many thanks for introducing the others. They've now been added to the list.

15th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean  Nick Dean Nick Dean gallery

DATE: 16 June 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

I think the physics master that David has in mind [reply 14] was Mr Perella, known to some us by the rhyming slang nickname 'Umby' (Perella - Umbrella).  Unfortunately physics was my worst subject, so I have no recollection of anything he taught me, but he did initiate a conversation at lunch about progressive rock. This took me aback slightly because it had never occured to me that schoolmasters of any age could be interested in such music!

16th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  Nigel Wood

DATE: 17 June 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64

The story of Mr C0cks giving lines to boys who opened both doors for him [reply 14] was around in my day, and I left in 1964! Maybe it was a school myth; if it hadn't taken place someone would have invented it.

17th REPLY

NAME: David Stevenson

DATE: 22 June 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1967-1974

Nick - I think you are right [reply 15]. I recall his classes only for the fact that an enterprising boy (who shall remain nameless) was able to 'acquire' copies of Health and Efficiency from WH Smith in Barnet High Street and would then sell individual pages by auction under the benches in the Physics Lab.

18th REPLY

NAME: Peter Sumpter

DATE: 6th September 2013

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1968-1974

With regards to "that" teacher MP [replies 6‑8] .....he was fortunately caught out when plying alcohol to a group of us 16 year olds whilst on a fell walking school trip n the Lake District. I stayed on soft drinks and the police duly arrived. This gave the school the needed edge to get rid of him. I don't know if he was caught before or after any wrongdoings...hopefully the former.

I recall one teacher, Mr Terry who always wore a tracksuit, so IIRC he was a sports teacher. However, he was also assigned to History. Most of his lessons bestowed the virtues of the Labour party in modern English history. I recall having many friendly disagreements with him.....

19th REPLY

NAME: Gary Davis

DATE: 10th August 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1971-78

This is my first post. Just reading the staff names has brought the memories flooding back. Regarding Stan Terry [reply 18]: Yes, he was a PE teacher and dabbled in history. He was my form master in my first year, which was the first comprehensive year, with six classes of thirty pupils. Mine was 1N. There was 1B, A, R, N, E and T! Those first few years were very memorable because of the 'old school' staff. Shearly, Carter, Hayes, etc. Fantastic characters. Of greatest influence on me was Martin Gould and Steve Curzon who taught me A-levels in Engineering Drawing and Design respectively. They set me up for university and my career. And I somehow got my A-level maths despite Bernie Pinnock's continued discouragement. Thank you for this website.

20th REPLY

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

DATE: 24 August 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63

I am glad, Gary, that you have put a reply on this website and may I for one give you a warm welcome to it. I hope that despite all the demands on time in our lives that you will be able to make further contributions to it, including on the wider world themes. I always enjoy reading the contributions of others on here and I expect you have a lot of interesting things to say.

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