61st REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 8th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64 (1B)

Piggy Purchas - What a nice guy!  [reply 60].  I was terrible at Art, the sort of child who'd paint the sky as a horizontal blue strip at the top of the paper, because everyone knows the sky is well above our heads.  Piggy bore me no ill will.  He once wrote on the bottom of my termly report that I'd come 3rd in class with 28 per cent.  He meant 28th with 3 per cent.  I remember one task he set us.  We had to illustrate this description, which he wrote on the board:

"And in Willy Nilly the postman's dark and sizzling damp, tea-coated, misty, pygmy kitchen where the two spitting-cat kettles throb and hop on the range, Mrs Willy Nilly steams open Mr Mogg-Edwards letter to Miss Myfanwy Price, and reads it aloud to Willy Nilly by the squint of the spring sun through the one sealed glass window running with tears."

I could no more paint it than climb Everest, but I learnt the wonderful words, even though I'd no idea then of where they'd come from.  There's education for you.

On another occasion we had to paint a farm scene, or something of the sort.  I asked Piggy how to draw a tractor.  He just drew it, then and there, in detail, in proportion and in about two minutes.  You could almost hear the throb of the engine and see the lumps of mud flying off the wheels.

62nd REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 8th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

I warmed to Piggy Purchas, not least because of his ginger beard. Beards were right out of favour in the dreary 50s, unless you were a folk singer or an artist. I suppose that the art master was the only member of staff who could have got away with wearing one (together with a rather loud jacket), although I seem to remember that Mr Thomas the French master was allowed to grow one temporarily when he had a skin problem which prevented shaving.  It caused a bit of a sensation.

Given that this is largely a class of '57 thread, I suppose Symmonds (no beard) must have been before Purchas, yet I think of him as coming after.  I suppose most of you would have experienced the new art room as well as the old one?  They were only just beginning to dig up the Gun Field to build the big extension to the school when I left, so I never experienced the refectory or the new art room - at the time.  However, I certainly had quite a lot to do with the 'new' art room three decades and more after leaving the place  (see if you can guess in what connection).  I can tell that you a large but (to my mind) pretty awful painting by Purchas of the original school building in Wood Street still hangs somewhere in the vicinity of the art room - possibly on the stairs.

63rd REPLY

NAME: John Bibby

DATE: 8th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1955-59

My grandad Edward Hirst lived in the old school circa 1954-57. I remember being there at 7pm on the day that Britain first bombed Cairo in 1956: I remember it vividly because the 7 o'clock news was on and it said "Radio Cairo has just reported ....".  I was on my way to choir practice at Barnet Parish Church opposite.  My grandad was secretary of some charity that I think owned the buildings at that time.  (We lived at 14 The Avenue, up the road by Ravenscroft Park - only 200m from QE's, but non-prefects had to walk a long way round.  Only 'Winkie' - Latin master and war-veteran R.M. Wingfield who lived on Byng Road sometimes let me go in with him).

64rd REPLY

NAME: John Symons

DATE: 8th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-65

One thing that strikes me when I look back over my reports is how many Latin teachers we got through! None except 'Tiger' Timson, who taught me in the 6th form, and RM Wingfield, whom we had in 2B, lasted long.  Who remembers Mr Willis who had the unenviable task of teaching us the basics in 1B?  Who remembers Mr Hoyte, who taught me Latin in my 3rd year (3B/4A)?  We made his life a misery and the poor man soon departed (or was given the boot?).  On one occasion we were given a detention in which we had to write an essay extolling the virtues of learning Latin.  I ended my effort with the sentence 'we all think Latin is a b.f. subject'.  I was summarily dispatched to 'Poker' Pearce, my Housemaster, who strangely - and luckily for me - shrug the whole matter off.  I suppose it was because I was good at Latin and normally didn't put a foot wrong!

65th REPLY

NAME: Ian Sadler  

DATE: 13th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Former pupil 1951-58

There's a challenge! [reply 57].  As far as I can remember the exercise book colours were as follows: Blue: 'General'.  Pink: Scripture (as it was called then).  Grey: Geography (& English?).  Brown: Chemistry.  Green: Physics.  Orange: Maths.  Dark Red: History.  Yellow: Biology.  As I was in the science section I have no idea what the language and classics people used.  Can anybody complete the list?

66th REPLY

NAME: John Symons

DATE: 13th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-65 (1B)

Various contributors have referred to WJ Filer (School Captain 1957-58) in a less than favourable light.  I personally never crossed swords with him, but the Lieutenant of that year, JK Macleod, wouldn't have won a prize for philanthropy either. He lived at ther bottom of my road in Totteridge.  Does that mean we had anything in common?  Not on your life!  One afternoon - I hadn't seen him approaching - I took off my school cap and started to eat a Mars, while still standing on the pavement outside my house.  He said nothing at the time, but gave me a 'B' report at school the following day.  Nothing came of it.  Poker didn't take such trifles very seriously and no canes were flexed.  However, I do remember the sight of Derek Scudder's backside after he was caned - there were (at least) 3 parallel, equidistant reddish-blue stripes: I can't remember who administered this punishment (I expect Derek can!), but it was clearly the work of a perfectionist who prided himself on his precision!

67th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 14th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

As I recall [reply 62], the new building (ready, I believe, for the new three form intake in 1957) originally contained just four classrooms, the dining hall and kitchens, and the gym and its vile changing room.  The art room was still at the end of the top stroke of the E of the old building (first floor).  The room underneath became C0cks's room two or three years later. No doubt the new art room was an extension to the new building, but I have no memory of it.  Actually, now I come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that the new gym wasn't available in September 1957.  Was the old one in the bottom stroke of the E, in a room which later became a Physics lab?  I may be imagining this.

68th REPLY

NAME: Martyn Day   Then & Now

DATE: 15th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Inmate 1956-1963

I am sure that Nigel Woods [reply 61] now knows that... 'And in Willy Nilly the postman's dark and sizzling damp, tea-coated, misty, pygmy kitchen where the two spitting-cat kettles throb and hop on the range, Mrs Willy Nilly steams open Mr Mogg-Edwards letter to Miss Myfanwy Price, and reads it aloud to Willy Nilly by the squint of the spring sun through the one sealed glass window running with tears.'.. is from Dylan Thomas's play for voices Under Milk Wood.  The line actually continues...'while the drugged, bedraggled hens at the back door whimper and snivel for the lickerish bog-black tea.'  This I know because I went to a rather good school!

69th REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 15th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

By one of those little coincidences, I listened to Under Milk Wood (and watched the Burton-Taylor film) a couple of days before Nigel's reply 61.  It was the result of a visit to Thomas' house in Talacharn (Laugharne).  Do visit it next time you're in South-west Wales.

I believe the great man died before it was first performed through the medium it was written for - the radio.  My partner Angela (is this the first mention of a woman on this website?) heard that first performance (on the Third Programme) and remains a great fan.

Yes, I've given up trying to steer this thread - it's an anarchist.

70th REPLY

NAME: Mike Cottrell  

DATE: 15th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Pete, like you I can't remember too much of the detail of my time at QE [reply 55] but I do recall the names.  However do you remember the amazing stunt we pulled in September 1963?  The two of us signed up for Wednesday afternoon pottery classes at a nearby school.  With the Michaelmas term upon us, we thought that being in the dry and warm was far better than being in the wet and cold playing rugby.  I think the potter was a guy called Lynton Money and when Piggy Purchas came to see how we were progressing after a few weeks he was quite impressed by our handiwork.  I still have the odd (and some of them were) dish or two in the attic.

71st REPLY

NAME: Stephen Giles  

DATE: 20th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: A-level failure, 1957-64

I have just read that no less than 37 confirmed places have been achieved by this year's A Level gang at QE.  This is a tremendous achievement, I think - am I right in remembering that this would have resulted in 5 weeks additional holiday back then?  I'm sure that on the odd occasion that some thoroughly decent egg got a place in Oxford or Cambridge, we were given an extra day and for a place in a university of 'lower degree', we had an extra half day.  How many of today's Universities were Polytechnics back in 1964 I wonder?  Turning to MacLoud (spelling?), sweets and a B report [reply 66], I mentioned this story to my wife, a Northlands girl from Buenos Aires (a sort of Cheltenham Ladies College equivalent) who was appalled that this could happen out of school!  I remember being given 100 lines by a similarly odious prefect called Johnstone or Johnson, I forget which, for holding a bar of chocolate in the cloakroom (with intent to eat).  I refused to do the lines, they were doubled.

72nd REPLY

NAME: John Symons

DATE: 13th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-65 (1B)

Nigel's right about the location of the art room; I don't remember the new one either.  But I have a vague feeling that we had gym for the first few weeks of our first year in the room beneath the art room, which subsequently became Cock's lair.  Of course the art room doubled as music room, which is a further indication of the low regard in which those subjects were held.  Talking of music, I was the 1B 'favourite' chosen to sit in the corner and operate Dicky Whittington's record-player.  I should add that I was accorded this honour through no merit of my own, but because Dicky had also taught music at my father's school, Stationers', Hornsey. Being a favourite had drawbacks, too: Dicky put me down for the school choir, which led to my first encounter with C0cks, who, quickly realising I couldn't sing and with his customary tact, asked me to perform solo. My singing days were over almost before they had begun!

73rd REPLY

NNAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 20th August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

With regard to the ongoing discussion about where the "new" art block might be, the one I've had something to do with in recent years is part of the big white complex in this satellite image.  I can assure you it didn't exist when I left in '59!  By the way, does anyone know when Regina Close (see sat image) replaced the lodge and garden of Mr Mayes the caretaker (remember him?).

74th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 21st August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

• One thing that stuck in my mind from my visit to Talacharn / Laugharne [reply 69] a very long time ago, was the shop which boasted (sic) the legend 'Ivor Pugh OBE tobacconist'.  There's glory for you! Incidentally, wasn't Piggy Purchas really Huw Purchas, the Huw being spelt in the Welsh way? What I meant in reply 61 was that although I could't do art to save my life, I still learnt, even if obliquely, from Purchas's lessons.

• John Symons is quite right about Latin masters [reply 64]. I think E H Jenkins must have operated a pretty ruthless firing policy for beginning teachers who had discipline problems: out at the end of their first year.  A latin master John doesn't mention was "Ferd" Finnett. He didn't inspire one with his burning passion for his subject, nor did he have us in fits of laughter with his sense of humour, but he was a very clear teacher.  One of the things he did was to make us think about English words derived from the Latin. Fascinating.

• I think Ian's spot-on with the exercise book colours [reply 65]. I found an old Chemistry book the other day with a chemical stain on it, which somebody had neatly labelled, in mockery of a textbook: "Slurry is calcined here".  In maths Bernie Pinnock used to say "Get out you ginger books", or sometimes "ginger jom-joms books".  No doubt he wanted to inspect our hausarbeit.

75th REPLY

NAME: Peter Craggs

DATE: 21st August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Hello Mike, I can vaguely remember doing pottery, but not much more.  Certainly the aim of being in the dry and warm rather than in the wet and cold playing rugby was an aim close to my heart.  I remember going to dancing lessons at the girl's school on Wednesday afternoons - as far as I remember I was selected for this by Eric Shearley on a voluntary basis - you, you and you.  I think there were about half a dozen of us.  Strange that one of the few memories I have of the school was going to the girl's school!

76th REPLY

NAME: Martyn Day   Then & Now

DATE: 23rd August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1956-63

I am sure that we all love Vic to bits - not least of all for setting up this wonderful website - but he is wrong in suggesting that Regina Close has replaced Mr Mayes' lodge because Mr Mayes' lodge is still there!  If you click on the south orientation arrow on the satellite picture of the school you can clearly see it next to the main entrance.  My memory of Mr Mayes lodge was the dead cat caught up in the branches of the tall poplar tree that stands behind the building.  The story was the fire brigade couldn't rescue it so it was shot instead!  It may be my eyesight but I would swear that the corpse is still there today.

77th REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 23rd August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

The flattery has, of course, worked - I'm not in the least bit peeved that my observational error has been exposed.  Well, actually, it was more than an observational error, it was a senior moment, insofar as I visited the school with Nigel Palmer a couple of years ago - it must have been close to the time of your visit, Martyn [thread 26] - and saw that the lodge was still there!  We also saw that a tree had been planted in memory of Eric Shearly on the grass opposite the lodge.  The cat story was already current when my sentence started in '54.

78th REPLY

NAME: Chris Mungovan

DATE: 23rd August 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

So Mike [reply 70] you don't remember much eh?  Surely you remember Ma Bullas, stodge and goolies with lumpy custard !  Such culinary delights !  Have a look at the photos and see if you can remember the names.  You're in the middle of most of the pics.  By the way I had completely forgotten that the excercise books were coloured differently for the subjects, says much I guess.

79th REPLY

NAME: Derek Scudder

DATE: 3rd September 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

I remember Mr Willis [reply 64], the Latin master for 1b.  I also remember Hoyte (Tutti Frutti?).  He did indeed have a terrible time of it.  He left QE and went to teach in Northolt where, strangely enough, he taught Latin at my wife's school.  Apparently he had toughened up a lot by then but she recalls him being divorced by his wife for spending too much time with his rugby mates.  He turned up on her old school website at a reunion last year.

80th REPLY

NAME: John Hamilton  

DATE: 3rd September 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1958-64

Re reply 78 from Chris Come on mate, name names on those photos - you've got a much better memory than most. I had a job recognising myself. I see Mike Cullen, Pete Lockerman, Mike (Daisy) Day and the bloke with a cheeky grin and a black leather coat with zip!