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ORIGINAL MESSAGE
NAME: Adam Lines
Then & NowDATE: 18 October 2008
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Reminiscing with Alan Jackson (57-64), with whom mutual contact was re-established some years ago, we had a 'whatever happened to' moment, the subject this time being Nigel Wood. A click on the Google mouse brought up your marvellous site and the memories came flooding back! Alan's memory of Nigel was how he would, in Dickensian fashion, charmingly characterize his class mates by name - the subject this time being Bob Merridale, who Nigel felt should be a member of the criminal underclass selling dodgy cars (sorry Bob - unless Nigel's powers were indeed prophetic). My own fond memory of Nigel, apart from him being most of the time on some other planet, was his rendition of There's a V sign on the lavatory door sung to the tune of All the ships came sailing in whilst waiting for Ken Carter to arrive at a lesson. Happy memories if maybe not such happy days.
1st REPLY
NAME: Nigel Wood.jpg "Nigel Wood")
DATE: 22 October 2008
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
I'd have thought that you, Adam John Vernon Lines and Alan Jackson, could have found more worthwhile topics of conversation... I hope I'm a bit less irritating these days, though it's hard to be sure. But great to see you putting in an appearance on VWS (Vic's Wonderful Site). Bob Merridale - a delightful young man, as I recall. Wasn't his one weakness that he could never resist helping old ladies across the road? Friend of 'Biff' Paget? Went on to be a name in Motocross? Can't believe I'd have cast him in the rôle you mention; must have been irony.
2nd REPLY
NAME: Adam Lines Then & NowDATE: 23 October 2008
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
Hi Nigel. Thanks or your response - I apologise if I have caused you or Bob any offence - reminiscences particularly of such a vintage can, unintentionally, appear impertinent. In the meantime I will try and come up with something more deserving of discussion than lavatory doors - perhaps 'The corporal punishment system at QEBGS 1959 - 1964' upon which I believe I am better qualified than most to comment.
3rd REPLY
NAME: Nigel WoodDATE: 24 October 2008
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
I was only joking - it hadn't occurred to me to take offence; I said and did things at QE that were far more embarrassing than the ones you quoted. I remember that you got into scrapes - it was part of your charm - but I can't recall what any of them were, nor the chastisements incurred. I usually escaped, though I sometimes sailed quite close to the wind with my attention-seeking (?) antics. For one misdemeanour, K W Carter set me to translate into English the whole of Mateo Falcone or some such - there were pages and pages of it. Funny thing was I quite enjoyed doing it - for the first page or so. I finished up telling him I couldn't possibly do the lot. He said it had 'served its purpose'. He was, of course, quite right.
4th REPLY
NAME: Derek ScudderDATE: 6th Movember 2008
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil Pupil 1957-64 (1B)
I remember Biff Paget. I had no idea he went into motocross. I got talked into passengering in a motocross (it was called scrambling in those days) sidecar race in 1969. The most terrifying experience of my life. Good to see Adam Lines on the site as he was one of the few people I met after leaving QEs. I don't know if he recalls meeting at a party some where in London in 1971. I had my arm strapped up after a very big crash at Snetterton, so it would have been in May or June of that year.
5th REPLY
NAME: Adam Lines Then & NowDATE: 14th November 2008
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
Hi Scudder (sorry still cannot get out of the habit of surnames...). Good to hear you're still alive - still got the carrot top and freckles? To be candid I cannot remember our paths crossing in London but then again I cannot remember much of that tumultuous period at all and certainly not details of parties attended - happy days! Two wives, six children and 50 years later I cannot complain! Trust you are well.. Regards, Adam.
6th REPLY
NAME: Stephen Giles
DATE: 17th November 2008
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
What ever happened to Bob Meridale? I was once accused by Poker Pearce of being a bad influence on him and Mick Allen, I think after they had both been kept down a year! I always remember Biff Padgett as being fierce, but isn't he something to do with the OEs debating society or something similar?
7th REPLY
NAME: Nigel WoodDATE: 17th November 2008
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
Putting the record straight... It was Bob Merridale whose name I remember seeing in a Barnet Press item about Motocross. [See replies 4 & 6]. As for 'Biff' Paget, I thought (perhaps wrongly) that he was at most three years older than my (1957 entry) cohort, but the R J (Bob) Paget who is prominent in OE affairs was at QE from 1952 to 1959.
NAME: Nigel Wood
DATE: 3rd December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
James Cowen has now pointed out [in Thread 142] that 'Biff" was the younger brother of R J Paget (QE 52-57), 'the debating Paget'.
DATE: 3rd December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
James Cowen has now pointed out [in Thread 142] that 'Biff" was the younger brother of R J Paget (QE 52-57), 'the debating Paget'.
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen 
.jpg "James Cowen gallery")
Then & Now
DATE: 12 December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Does anyone know why 'Biff' Paget had that nickname? I was in his form in 1b in 1956 and I do not recall. I do not think it was on account of any aggressiveness to others. Were his initials BF? I do not remember other nicknames from those years for pupils. Indeed, as expressed elsewhere on the site, unless one was very friendly with others people were known only by surnames, most of which I still recall. I suppose apart from Tim Fawdry and John Dawlis (I think that is correct rather than the English 'Dawlish' - his family was American), those I knew well and their christian names were those from Borehamwood who travelled on the 107 and 306 buses. We knew full names of people senior to us from Borehamwood but not all the classmates from places like Totteridge and Southgate, though the 1b class of 1957 seem to have done better in this respect. Is there much change today with current pupils?
NOTE FROM VIC: See Thread 9, reply 4
Then & NowDATE: 12 December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Does anyone know why 'Biff' Paget had that nickname? I was in his form in 1b in 1956 and I do not recall. I do not think it was on account of any aggressiveness to others. Were his initials BF? I do not remember other nicknames from those years for pupils. Indeed, as expressed elsewhere on the site, unless one was very friendly with others people were known only by surnames, most of which I still recall. I suppose apart from Tim Fawdry and John Dawlis (I think that is correct rather than the English 'Dawlish' - his family was American), those I knew well and their christian names were those from Borehamwood who travelled on the 107 and 306 buses. We knew full names of people senior to us from Borehamwood but not all the classmates from places like Totteridge and Southgate, though the 1b class of 1957 seem to have done better in this respect. Is there much change today with current pupils?
NOTE FROM VIC: See Thread 9, reply 4
NAME: Adam Lines Then & Now
DATE: 14th December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
Interesting point Jas. I do recall Biff Paget was treated with respect (ie avoided) by those in the years below him possibly due to his belligerent attitude and appearance. I too cannot recall any of my peers having nicknames unlike most of the Masters where it was Sir in their presence and Rastus, Frizzy, Gabby, Poker, Tiger, Frosty etc. etc. when not!
Then & NowDATE: 14th December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
Interesting point Jas. I do recall Biff Paget was treated with respect (ie avoided) by those in the years below him possibly due to his belligerent attitude and appearance. I too cannot recall any of my peers having nicknames unlike most of the Masters where it was Sir in their presence and Rastus, Frizzy, Gabby, Poker, Tiger, Frosty etc. etc. when not!
NAME: Stephen Giles
DATE: 15th December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
My only memory of 'Biff' Padget was that he was not somebody you would go out of your way to upset, for fear of being on the receiving end of a rather painful biffing!
DATE: 15th December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1957-64
My only memory of 'Biff' Padget was that he was not somebody you would go out of your way to upset, for fear of being on the receiving end of a rather painful biffing!
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 20 December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
At the end of my 9th reply in regard to "is there much change today with current pupils" you helpfully refer, Vic, to thread 9 reply 4 from Shyam Rajani from 16/3/2008, before I came on the site. ("Only the PE teachers call u by ur surname nowadays"). I find this change refreshing but still a bit surprising if 100% true (without disrespecting you, Shyam - I don't want to stir up Ali G's wrath.) Even in the progressive co-educational (boys and girls) comprehensive where the Channel 4/E4 programme The Inbetweeners is set, Greg Davies, playing the teacher Mr Gilbert (don't know his nickname), refers to pupil Will as Mckenzie. Why are the PE teachers the exceptions? Does this particularly help them with instructing others? For myself I coudn't even manage a forward roll in gym let alone vault vaults or climb up ropes, whatever the gym master called me, though I remember him as Ernest.
Do pupils know each others names more today? In our class we did at least know the surnames of fellow pupils early on due to the register being called each morning by the form master. He did not just look to see who was not present or ask others but reeled off the names to which we replied "Yes" or something similar. We always had to sit in the same alphabetical order and hence got to know the more adjacent best, especially as on the last day of term we were allowed to play games or amuse ourselves in other chat. I did chat with others at times but did not generally ask their christian names. Was this just me? I suspect not. Others were probably the same. I do remember you and your surnames over the other side of the class but not your Christian names. Will I ever see any of you again? Maybe at some future OE event.
In regard to 'Biff' Paget and why that nickname [replies 7-11], I will ask Paget senior if he can say, should I see him to talk to either at an OE 40 club lunch or at Founder's Day. You both seem to think, Adam and Stephen, it is due to his manner but I still have doubts. I will also ask RJ Paget what his own first names are with his initials RJ even though I think he is Bob Paget from others' conversations. I personally am a little slow in asking local people their names and then remembering them again on future occasions. My brother John, also an OE and younger than I, used to buy books through the post on the subject of 'How to develop a superpower memory'. I try to copy the techniques in the books but it means asking the person first their name of course unless someone else tells you. There are still people I chat to in Andover and Ludgershall, whom I would think I know well but do not know their names. I am trying to improve.
Then & NowDATE: 20 December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
At the end of my 9th reply in regard to "is there much change today with current pupils" you helpfully refer, Vic, to thread 9 reply 4 from Shyam Rajani from 16/3/2008, before I came on the site. ("Only the PE teachers call u by ur surname nowadays"). I find this change refreshing but still a bit surprising if 100% true (without disrespecting you, Shyam - I don't want to stir up Ali G's wrath.) Even in the progressive co-educational (boys and girls) comprehensive where the Channel 4/E4 programme The Inbetweeners is set, Greg Davies, playing the teacher Mr Gilbert (don't know his nickname), refers to pupil Will as Mckenzie. Why are the PE teachers the exceptions? Does this particularly help them with instructing others? For myself I coudn't even manage a forward roll in gym let alone vault vaults or climb up ropes, whatever the gym master called me, though I remember him as Ernest.
Do pupils know each others names more today? In our class we did at least know the surnames of fellow pupils early on due to the register being called each morning by the form master. He did not just look to see who was not present or ask others but reeled off the names to which we replied "Yes" or something similar. We always had to sit in the same alphabetical order and hence got to know the more adjacent best, especially as on the last day of term we were allowed to play games or amuse ourselves in other chat. I did chat with others at times but did not generally ask their christian names. Was this just me? I suspect not. Others were probably the same. I do remember you and your surnames over the other side of the class but not your Christian names. Will I ever see any of you again? Maybe at some future OE event.
In regard to 'Biff' Paget and why that nickname [replies 7-11], I will ask Paget senior if he can say, should I see him to talk to either at an OE 40 club lunch or at Founder's Day. You both seem to think, Adam and Stephen, it is due to his manner but I still have doubts. I will also ask RJ Paget what his own first names are with his initials RJ even though I think he is Bob Paget from others' conversations. I personally am a little slow in asking local people their names and then remembering them again on future occasions. My brother John, also an OE and younger than I, used to buy books through the post on the subject of 'How to develop a superpower memory'. I try to copy the techniques in the books but it means asking the person first their name of course unless someone else tells you. There are still people I chat to in Andover and Ludgershall, whom I would think I know well but do not know their names. I am trying to improve.
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 24 December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
In regard to christian and surnames I am interested to know the experience of other OEs in their communities. When my wife and I first came to Ludgershall in 1987 we were intrigued that everyone addressed us as Mr Cowen or Mrs Cowen, even though we said "please just call us James and Ayleen". Even today in Ludgershall with many such as the local councillors and the local curate this is still the case even though I served with the latter on the primary school's governing body for many years. I'd say to him and indeed others "Just call me James" and they would say "Yes alright, Mr Cowen."It can't just be an age respect thing specifically, as we attend an over 50 club thrice a week at Andover Leisure Centre to play badminton and table tennis and barn dancing in local villages twice a month. There everyone calls each by christian names and I would be hard pressed to say many surnames, though we are expanding our knowledge on this now we know most of the christian names.
Then & NowDATE: 24 December 2013
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
In regard to christian and surnames I am interested to know the experience of other OEs in their communities. When my wife and I first came to Ludgershall in 1987 we were intrigued that everyone addressed us as Mr Cowen or Mrs Cowen, even though we said "please just call us James and Ayleen". Even today in Ludgershall with many such as the local councillors and the local curate this is still the case even though I served with the latter on the primary school's governing body for many years. I'd say to him and indeed others "Just call me James" and they would say "Yes alright, Mr Cowen."It can't just be an age respect thing specifically, as we attend an over 50 club thrice a week at Andover Leisure Centre to play badminton and table tennis and barn dancing in local villages twice a month. There everyone calls each by christian names and I would be hard pressed to say many surnames, though we are expanding our knowledge on this now we know most of the christian names.
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 13 February 2014
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I attended at the funeral of Roy Claridge at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, East Barnet last Thursday 6 February 2014. He was an OE who frequently attended at Founders Day and the OE 40 club lunches and was someone I used to talk with there. I asked Bob Paget who also attended about Biff Paget [see replies 6-12] and he said 'Biff' was not based on his initials, which are CE.
In regard to Roy Claridge (born Nov 1930 and died 28/01/14, an OE from 1946-50) it was interesting to hear the tribute obituary given at the service by the Rector, the Revd James Mustard. He supplied interesting stories relating to Roy, which I had not gleaned from my conversations with him. There is usually only so much to say in a few meetings when also engaged in talks with others! Apparently he was a fellow thespian, appearing in the Church's pantomimes as a villager, and also enjoyed travelling on railways. Apparently he bought an all over GB rail ticket and on the first day went to Newcastle twice to get his money's worth before going elsewhere for the rest of the week. No wife to worry about keeping him in check! After the service I learned from John Hobson (OE from years 43-51 at QEs) that John used to sing in the choir at the church for years. The choir stalls are now gone but they still enjoy church processions including the swinging of incense.
As to the Church of St Mary the Virgin, East Barnet, where the funeral service was held, I had not been there before. Indeed in my schooldays and since I rarely have wandered into East Barnet, though often alighting at Oakleigh Park station to walk to my old job in Whetstone at British Road Servivces HQ. A local historian and a congregational member at the service presented me with pamphlets about the church. There has been a church on the site from 1080 and it was the original Barnet church. The one we attend in Barnet High Street on Founders Day is a very recent building in comparison. Both churches are now within the St Albans fold but this has not always been so I learned.
Then & NowDATE: 13 February 2014
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I attended at the funeral of Roy Claridge at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, East Barnet last Thursday 6 February 2014. He was an OE who frequently attended at Founders Day and the OE 40 club lunches and was someone I used to talk with there. I asked Bob Paget who also attended about Biff Paget [see replies 6-12] and he said 'Biff' was not based on his initials, which are CE.
In regard to Roy Claridge (born Nov 1930 and died 28/01/14, an OE from 1946-50) it was interesting to hear the tribute obituary given at the service by the Rector, the Revd James Mustard. He supplied interesting stories relating to Roy, which I had not gleaned from my conversations with him. There is usually only so much to say in a few meetings when also engaged in talks with others! Apparently he was a fellow thespian, appearing in the Church's pantomimes as a villager, and also enjoyed travelling on railways. Apparently he bought an all over GB rail ticket and on the first day went to Newcastle twice to get his money's worth before going elsewhere for the rest of the week. No wife to worry about keeping him in check! After the service I learned from John Hobson (OE from years 43-51 at QEs) that John used to sing in the choir at the church for years. The choir stalls are now gone but they still enjoy church processions including the swinging of incense.
As to the Church of St Mary the Virgin, East Barnet, where the funeral service was held, I had not been there before. Indeed in my schooldays and since I rarely have wandered into East Barnet, though often alighting at Oakleigh Park station to walk to my old job in Whetstone at British Road Servivces HQ. A local historian and a congregational member at the service presented me with pamphlets about the church. There has been a church on the site from 1080 and it was the original Barnet church. The one we attend in Barnet High Street on Founders Day is a very recent building in comparison. Both churches are now within the St Albans fold but this has not always been so I learned.
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