81st REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 6th September 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

Since quite a lot of this thread has been about Sam C0cks, I'd just like to draw everyone's attention to the newspaper article in the museum.

82nd REPLY

NAME: Mike Cottrell  

DATE: 18th September 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Chris, French was not one of my better subjects [reply 58].  I have to be honest but I believe the answer to your question is le chou-fleur.  What a fantastic set of photos in the museum from our Welsh trips in 1963 & 1964.  I will try to put some names to the faces soon.  I remember walking up Snowdon in '63 and digging up Yapp's line on the salt marshes in '64.  Yapp had vandalised the area, in the name of science, many years earlier with brick dust so that future biology students could wallow in the mud.  I also remember on the '64 trip that Tony Crausaz was refused beer at a local hostelry, despite being 18, as he looked too young.  I being slightly taller didn't have that problem.  Have you ever been back to 11 Micklefield Way?

83rd REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 19th September 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

I was given a lot of the names by Chris [reply 82, above], but didn't put them in because some of you seemed to want to make a bit of a competition of it (and why not?).  The snag is, I've since deleted Chris's email for the second time and dread having to ask him for the names yet again.  Next time he visits this thread, I'll be in trouble!  Actually, it wasn't entirely my fault - if you could not use that old email with the pics attached next time, Chris ...

84th REPLY

NAME: John Hamilton  

DATE: 20th September 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1958-64

R M C0cks: What an interesting newspaper article re his retirement.  For all these years I have laboured under the misapprehension that he had been a POW in the Far East and this was the cause of his 'physique' and demeanour!  On the recurring topic of trips to Wales: who remembers all jumping in unison on Borth Bog, and also getting sunburned climbing Cader Idris with shirts off and then being silly enough to play piggy back fighting at the YHA hostel in the evening?

85th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 30th September 2008

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

I've just remembered being told another C0cks story.  He used to help in a Summer holidays scheme (no doubt organised by, or supported by, the Baptist Church) for taking poor children to the seaside.  This sounds quite out of character, but I heard it from an utterly reliable source: Richard Turner (standing to the right of, and behind, the teacher in the third photo on the top row of more pics in the 'School Photos' section of this wonderful website).  On one occasion, apparently, C0cks fell asleep at the wheel of his Morris Minor on the journey back, with children in the car.  The car hit something, but I don't think anyone was hurt.

86th REPLY

NAME: Derek Scudder

DATE: 3rd October 2008

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

Ah yes, C0cks' Morris 1000.  Does anybody else remember gathering to watch him and Piggy Purchas get out of the car first thing in the morning, just so we could see the suspension jump up?  Piggy was a really nice bloke.  His art club was, if I remember rightly, the only after school club I ever joined.  I also remember the street scene painting that John Rainbird did.  Piggy's reaction was more sorrow than anger.  These days John would be hailed as an artistic genius and would have his work displayed amongst all the pickled animals etc that pass as art.

87th REPLY

NAME: Chris Mungovan

DATE: 30th October 2008

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

Well John [Reply 80] I had hoped that someone else would have been brave enough to have a go at naming the faces in the photos and since Vic lost my previous comment I must now request assistance from all of you to keep this thread alive and help name the faces.  I recognize half of them [names now added to caption of pic].  I'll comment on the other photos later but I need some help.  So come on chaps put your specs on and the drink down and stretch your memories.

88th REPLY

NAME: Chris Mungovan

DATE: 30th October 2008

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

Well we have covered a lot of ground since I started this thread but so far no mention of 'Bidge' (Mr P Ambidge, Chemistry). Surprising really, given that half the class would do Bidge impersonations when he wasn't looking.  Mr Ambidge was a good teacher who made his subject interesting (to me any way).  I remember him explaining all of the chemicals that could be obtained from coal and that it was too valuable to simply burn.  He suffered from asthma or worse and had to use an inhaler which comprised mainly of a rubber bulb which he would pull out of his jacket pocket and put up to the corner of his mouth and squeeze several times in rapid succession.  At the same time he seemed to press his elbow into his ribs.  The whole procedure was nothing like the modern inhalers that are used increasingly nowadays.  Comical in a cruel school boy way.  He must have known but he soldiered on and had much better control over the class than others less physically afflicted.

By contrast Sid Clark, who was the perfection of physical fitness after all of his shot putting was, in my opinion, a poor teacher of chemistry who gave boring lessons.  Like C0cks he often would read passages from the text book but he was such a dull character that nobody was doing Clark impersonations.  Needless to say I found it hard to stay awake in his sixth form lessons and failed A level chemistry.  Many years later, after competent lectures, I eventually became a Chartered Chemist.

89th REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 30th October 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

I was about to ask why no mention of Ambidge myself - I remember him very well.  As regards his respiratory problem, the story I kept hearing was that it was the result of a fume cabinet malfunctioning.  I also remember Clarke very well.  But what of Miss Something-or-other-man (Newman? Henman?), the young lab technician?  She was the subject of many a schoolboy-crude fantasy and hormone-driven noise such as only the Sun knows how to spell.  Oh, come on, lads - you must remember her!  And Fairbairn - or was he maths rather than chemistry or physics?

90th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 5th November 2008

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

Agree entirely with Chris on Ambidge. I even remember the bit about coal.  He was also against space exploration, reckoning we should channel the money into finding out the secrets of this planet.  One of his stories was about a chemical factory where he had worked, and where the dreaded brown fumes - how they haunted my schooldays - were given off in some process.  All the workers were instructed that they must wear masks. One of them thought real men didn't wear masks, so he didn't.  Neither did he wake up the next day. Ambidge had a good voice, and there was a rumour that he'd sung with Ambrose and his Orchestra. [Ambrose/Ambidge - I'm sceptical.]

'Sid' Clarke.  Often to be seen shot-putting into the sand-pit at the front of the school.  Every put accompanied by a groan.  From his accent he was clearly raised North of Barnet, and we used to invent lines with lots of long 'a's which we'd shorten, e.g. "Oh blast! "Who tooched that glass flask last?" As a (sixth form) Chemistry teacher he made sure we had copious (very good) notes copied from the board and had performed umpteen titrations.  Then there was the frustrating business of semi-micro-analysis...

D W Fairbairn, was, I thought, an excellent and enthusiastic Physics teacher ... when he was in the classroom/lab and not chasing around on school orchestra business.

91st REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 6th November 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

Just to draw you attention to the fact that Chris's truncated message (reply 88) has now been repaired and the missing Clark(e) bit has now been added.

92nd REPLY

NAME: Adam Lines   Then & Now

DATE: 13th November 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil Pupil 1957-64

Ref pic of One Way Pendulum production mentioned in Reply 87, I can help with the front row left to right: John Caplan, Ray Johnstone, Steve Worsley, Adam Lines, Chris Harkness, and Alan Jackson.  The only other I can i/d apart from (PNW and MC) is Chris Layson,(who like myself never had a day off sick from QE), standing over the fireplace.  I think it was Steve and I who, concealed in the stifling darkness under the stage had on cue to lift the weighing machine into view and a recorded message gave the weight.  I would need to Google the script to check what weight was announced unless anyone with a pachydermic memory (Nigel?) can remember?

93rd REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 19th November 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil Pupil 1957-64

The weight was 15 stone, 10 pounds, spoken, I believe, by the nice guy (can't remember his name) at the extreme back right, with the 'Gormless' label, next to Layson.  He had to spend the duration of the play in the loft above the stage, and his words were amplified by a distorting amplifier which I'd built.  During a rehearsal the amplifier and speaker fell though a trap-door on to the stage, mercifully not hitting anyone.  Eric Crofts said he feared that I was going to follow them down.  The amplifier still worked just as well (just as badly) after its tumble.  Other faces I recognise: sixth from left in back row (with strong specs): Chris Webber; second from right in second row: Walton.

94th REPLY

NAME: Stephen Giles  

DATE: 26th November 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Nigel, I have dabbled in electronics for the last 30 or so years - mainly in the sound processing end of things, but I don't mess with mains voltages!  Have you ever designed a Barberpole phaser?

95th REPLY

NAME: Alan Calverd

DATE: 27th November 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1956-63

I came across this website by accident - a delightful find!  Just to add another memory of the redoubtable R M C0cks: two days before 'O' level he summarised the United States of America thus "A very large country, thinly populated by people very much like yourselves....."  A lifetime later, I still admire his accuracy.  [See many references throughout this thread to RM C0cks]

96th REPLY

NAME: Nigel Wood  

DATE: 29th November 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil Pupil 1957-64

Stephen: I'm afraid I never took electronics very far [reply 94] and a barber pole phaser is beyond my capabilities, though I do find the Escher-like things it can do with sound rather amazing.  Now here's a co-incidence... I read your remark last night and immediately thought of a real electronics whizz: Alan Calverd.  [Google 'A M Calverd' for some interesting reading.]  And now here he is - on this very thread!  Alan: I emailed you several years ago, having read your letter to The Times on your experience of Physics lessons [at QE].  Any chance of your emailing a copy to Vic?  I'm sure The Times wouldn't mind its re-appearing here.

97th REPLY

NAME: Chris Mungovan

DATE: 29th November 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Re the new list of former QE staff, most of whom are mentioned on this thread, here are some of their subjects as I recall them:  Ken Carter - French, Finnett - Latin/Classics, Fry - French/German, Gould - Woodwork/Metalwork/Physics(?), Hoyte -Latin, Hoskinson -French, Wakelyn -History, Willis - Latin.  Hope this helps fill some of the gaps.  Another master much impersonated was 'Clew'. can someone remind me of his proper name?  He taught German and spoke without moving his mouth, like a ventriloquist.

98th REPLY

NAME: Vic Coughtrey   Then & Now

DATE: 29th November 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59

Thanks for the info, Chris - I've now added the subjects.  'Clew' ('Klew') was surely KL Woodland?  Strangely, as well as teaching German, he was in charge of the uniform and kit store.  You bought the uniform and games kit directly from the school when I started, therefore a visit to his cramped little den was necessary just before your first year at the school actually started.  As an 11-year old, I found his humourless ventriloquism pretty scary - a grim forewarning of things to come.

99th REPLY

NAME: Derek Scudder

DATE: 19th December 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

Seeing the obit for Eric Shearly reminded me of the year Barnet got to the amateur cup final (1959) and lost 3-2 to Crook Town at Wembley.  A group of us went to the match which had a very exciting last ten minutes or so.  Barnet came very close to equalising as they were much fitter than Crook, who were fading fast.  The story was that Eric was involved in training Barnet, but I never found out if this was true.  Does anybody know?

100th REPLY

NAME: Chris Mungovan

DATE: 23rd December 2008

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64

I know nothing about football [reply 99] and don't know whether Eric Shearly was involved.  I do recall that Keith Record told me in 1957/8 that it was Eric Crofts who shot the cat in the poplar tree [replies 76 & 77].  The evidence to substantiate this allegation was a rifle propped against the wall in the biology lab prep room and an army tunic hanging from a peg.  For that act alone I have always had the highest regard for him but alas we shall not know now (Thread 40).  So at 100 and not out the quiz continues !  Does anyone know the name of the cat?  Who remembers Champery and hotel Berra?  Who remembers the title of the school play 1957/8   Merry Christmas to all of 1B 1957 and other classmates 1957-64.  I shall return to this thread in the new year 2009.