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ORIGINAL MESSAGE
NAME: Martyn Day
Then & NowDATE: 16 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Inmate 1956-1963
I feel that I should wave a little flag for 'Jerry' Reid, my English teacher at the school. I remember him as a quiet, rather unassuming man who never earned himself a reputation as 'a character'... but he did have a rather special cupboard. It was full of books, Penguin paperbacks mainly, that we could borrow at any time. They were the books that never appeared on the school syllabus - modern books, controversial, relevant and edgy, the kind of books that Hitler would have burnt and Kerouac would have carried in his bedroll - John Steinbeck, Orwell, Graham Greene, Aldous Huxley, F Scott Fitzgerald, Wodehouse and Dylan Thomas. Over the terms Jerry's collection grew larger and more dog- eared as people like me dipped into it and added to it. I've rarely returned to the 'classics' that the syllabus required me to read but 50 years on I've still got the key to Jerry's cupboard.
NAME: Stephen Giles 
DATE: 19 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
I never knew that about Jerry, seems like he was a decent egg. I often think it would be interesting to have a chat with our teachers from that time after all these years - it would be good to speak to the interesting ones (even Sam Cocks perhaps) and to tell the bad ones what we really thought of them! I am in good form there at the moment, having told the Argentine ambassador what I thought of her after her Falklands rant at the Anglo Argentine Gran Asado last month !!
DATE: 19 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
I never knew that about Jerry, seems like he was a decent egg. I often think it would be interesting to have a chat with our teachers from that time after all these years - it would be good to speak to the interesting ones (even Sam Cocks perhaps) and to tell the bad ones what we really thought of them! I am in good form there at the moment, having told the Argentine ambassador what I thought of her after her Falklands rant at the Anglo Argentine Gran Asado last month !!
NAME: Nigel Wood .jpg "Nigel Wood")
DATE: 20 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
For his sins, poor Gerry had to teach English twice a week to our science sixth form (or was it TXS?), though we behaved politely enough. We had a fat green textbook, written by one Lancelot Oliphant (a retired diplomat, I now discover). In his chapter on figures of speech he gave three examples of puns, including: "She was a good cook as cooks go and as cooks go she went." and "Three strong girls went for a tramp. The tramp died." His example of zeugma was "She went straight home in a flood of tears and a sedan chair." All wonderfully dated, even then, but strangely memorable (except for the third pun...).
DATE: 20 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
For his sins, poor Gerry had to teach English twice a week to our science sixth form (or was it TXS?), though we behaved politely enough. We had a fat green textbook, written by one Lancelot Oliphant (a retired diplomat, I now discover). In his chapter on figures of speech he gave three examples of puns, including: "She was a good cook as cooks go and as cooks go she went." and "Three strong girls went for a tramp. The tramp died." His example of zeugma was "She went straight home in a flood of tears and a sedan chair." All wonderfully dated, even then, but strangely memorable (except for the third pun...).
NAME: Vic Coughtrey 
Then & Now
DATE: 20 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59
I well remember "Get out your Oliphants" from Alfie among others. I also remember the 3 examples you mention, Nigel. The only other piece of knowledge I can say for certain I derived from Oliphant is that it's nonsense to say you should never split the infinitive. He gave an example or two of when it's actually essential to do a spot of infinitive-splitting in order to get across some subtle shade of meaning. Unfortunately, I've forgotten those examples now. Anyway, there's no excuse for any OE from the Oliphant years to smugly declaim against the split infinitive.
Then & NowDATE: 20 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1954-59
I well remember "Get out your Oliphants" from Alfie among others. I also remember the 3 examples you mention, Nigel. The only other piece of knowledge I can say for certain I derived from Oliphant is that it's nonsense to say you should never split the infinitive. He gave an example or two of when it's actually essential to do a spot of infinitive-splitting in order to get across some subtle shade of meaning. Unfortunately, I've forgotten those examples now. Anyway, there's no excuse for any OE from the Oliphant years to smugly declaim against the split infinitive.
NAME: Derek Scudder
DATE: 21 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Why is a crow like a bee? Bee caws. Can't remember what that's an example of, but it's from Oliphant.
DATE: 21 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Why is a crow like a bee? Bee caws. Can't remember what that's an example of, but it's from Oliphant.
NAME: Derek Scudder
DATE: 21 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
More Lancelot: 'Sam Weller took his hat and his leave' - Zeugma?
DATE: 21 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
More Lancelot: 'Sam Weller took his hat and his leave' - Zeugma?
NAME: Mike Cottrell .jpg "Richard Dilley & Mike Cottrell")
DATE: 22 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
During part of my time at QE I think that 'Jerry' Reid [see original message and replies 1 & 2] was the keeper of the school pound which was located near Room C on the ground floor. Wasn't the cost of redemption of a lost item either 25 or 50 lines? No amount of negotiating would get him to reduce the punishment. Perhaps he could have been a traffic warden in another life. I had forgotten all about Lancelot Oliphant but thanks to Nigel for reminding me of the green textbook.
DATE: 22 June 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
During part of my time at QE I think that 'Jerry' Reid [see original message and replies 1 & 2] was the keeper of the school pound which was located near Room C on the ground floor. Wasn't the cost of redemption of a lost item either 25 or 50 lines? No amount of negotiating would get him to reduce the punishment. Perhaps he could have been a traffic warden in another life. I had forgotten all about Lancelot Oliphant but thanks to Nigel for reminding me of the green textbook.
NAME: Adam Lines 
Then & Now
DATE: 01 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Inmate 57-64
OMG - the power of the human brain (even mine) never ceases to amaze me! After 50 years we are still able to recall not only a particular English Grammar book but also some of its contents. My recollection of Oliphant was that it set out the distinction between a pun and a double entendre - the former being unintentional although I'm not sure Oscar Wilde would have agreed. Not in Oliphant but strangely memorable from that period was "A young lady asked me for a Double Entendre the other day, so I gave her one". (Apologies).
Then & NowDATE: 01 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Inmate 57-64
OMG - the power of the human brain (even mine) never ceases to amaze me! After 50 years we are still able to recall not only a particular English Grammar book but also some of its contents. My recollection of Oliphant was that it set out the distinction between a pun and a double entendre - the former being unintentional although I'm not sure Oscar Wilde would have agreed. Not in Oliphant but strangely memorable from that period was "A young lady asked me for a Double Entendre the other day, so I gave her one". (Apologies).
NAME: Martyn Day Then & Now
DATE: 08 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Student 1956-1963
I seem to remember that Bernie Pinnock looked after the Pound [see message 8] and the cost of redemption was 1d (That's an old penny pre-decimal fans!). Thus the old slogan "Look after the penny and the pound will look after itself". Fnaar! Fnaar!
Then & NowDATE: 08 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Student 1956-1963
I seem to remember that Bernie Pinnock looked after the Pound [see message 8] and the cost of redemption was 1d (That's an old penny pre-decimal fans!). Thus the old slogan "Look after the penny and the pound will look after itself". Fnaar! Fnaar!
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen 
.jpg "James Cowen gallery")
Then & Now
DATE: 11 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1956-1963
An interesting site, which I have just come across when inquiring about QE school and OEs. In reference to dear old Oliphant I remember well the quotes from your other responders. I have sometimes quoted to my wife, Ayleen, one of his quotes in figures of speech being "Oh Mrs Higden, Mrs Higden , you are a woman and a mother and a mangler in a million million." She came across it again the other day as she is reading for her current book Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens and said to me "You know that phrase you have sometimes blurted out to me, well I have just come across it in the book I'm reading." One other memory is from our old Collins French Grammar, a little blue book I recall smaller than dear old Oliphant. I have been known to quote this on occasions when in France: "Voici le tableau noir! (Here is the blackboard!). Voila le saltimbanque! (There is the strolling player!)". It has always tickled me the phrases the book thought would come in useful in France. Once there was a programme on TV referring to a French strolling player and I said to my wife: "Voila le saltimbanque! Ou est le tableau noir?"
Then & NowDATE: 11 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1956-1963
An interesting site, which I have just come across when inquiring about QE school and OEs. In reference to dear old Oliphant I remember well the quotes from your other responders. I have sometimes quoted to my wife, Ayleen, one of his quotes in figures of speech being "Oh Mrs Higden, Mrs Higden , you are a woman and a mother and a mangler in a million million." She came across it again the other day as she is reading for her current book Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens and said to me "You know that phrase you have sometimes blurted out to me, well I have just come across it in the book I'm reading." One other memory is from our old Collins French Grammar, a little blue book I recall smaller than dear old Oliphant. I have been known to quote this on occasions when in France: "Voici le tableau noir! (Here is the blackboard!). Voila le saltimbanque! (There is the strolling player!)". It has always tickled me the phrases the book thought would come in useful in France. Once there was a programme on TV referring to a French strolling player and I said to my wife: "Voila le saltimbanque! Ou est le tableau noir?"
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 12 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Student 1956-1963
In reference to 8th reply, I remember the pounds well, as I know others will. I never had to claim back clothes from the clothing pound, which had a secure lock on it but was a frequent claimant in regard to the other items pound, which did not have a secure lock on. At first I did pay as a good boy but costs can mount even at a penny a time and you could buy things with the old pre-decimal pennies in those days. I like others did resort to putting my hand through the top and retrieving items at no cost. Once I was caught by a prefect, who was also my local cub master. I suffered the usual penalty of 50 lines, which I completed in the usual way on the bus in to school from Boreham Wood. I remember we were fairly frequently late on either the 107 or 306 bus getting to morning assembly for 9.15 a.m. These buses usually came along together. George Jones, the sub-prefect also from Boreham Wood, was usually there to plead our case to the Headmaster, Ernie Jenkins, and to say the bus was late and no punishment was given. What happens to lost items these days? Is there still a pound or pounds and what fee is levied for retrieval?
Then & NowDATE: 12 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Student 1956-1963
In reference to 8th reply, I remember the pounds well, as I know others will. I never had to claim back clothes from the clothing pound, which had a secure lock on it but was a frequent claimant in regard to the other items pound, which did not have a secure lock on. At first I did pay as a good boy but costs can mount even at a penny a time and you could buy things with the old pre-decimal pennies in those days. I like others did resort to putting my hand through the top and retrieving items at no cost. Once I was caught by a prefect, who was also my local cub master. I suffered the usual penalty of 50 lines, which I completed in the usual way on the bus in to school from Boreham Wood. I remember we were fairly frequently late on either the 107 or 306 bus getting to morning assembly for 9.15 a.m. These buses usually came along together. George Jones, the sub-prefect also from Boreham Wood, was usually there to plead our case to the Headmaster, Ernie Jenkins, and to say the bus was late and no punishment was given. What happens to lost items these days? Is there still a pound or pounds and what fee is levied for retrieval?
NAME: Nigel Wood
DATE: 13 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Derek [reply 4]: "Bee caws" must have been the third pun, which I could't remember. James [reply 9]: How curious - I've fired off "Oh Mrs Higden, Mrs Higden..." on several inappropriate occasions since leaving QE, but had forgotten that I must have come across it in Oliphant (illustrating bathos?). It was still quirkily amusing back in the 1960s, when most people knew what a mangle was, but might need an explanatory footnote now.
DATE: 13 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Derek [reply 4]: "Bee caws" must have been the third pun, which I could't remember. James [reply 9]: How curious - I've fired off "Oh Mrs Higden, Mrs Higden..." on several inappropriate occasions since leaving QE, but had forgotten that I must have come across it in Oliphant (illustrating bathos?). It was still quirkily amusing back in the 1960s, when most people knew what a mangle was, but might need an explanatory footnote now.
NAME: Chris Mungovan
DATE: 28 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Following the great success of Thread 32, which I started as a quiz, I thought I'd ask another question: Whatever happened to the three girls who went for a tramp? [see reply 2]. Doubtless PN Wood can answer that one (he was always very bright).
DATE: 28 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Following the great success of Thread 32, which I started as a quiz, I thought I'd ask another question: Whatever happened to the three girls who went for a tramp? [see reply 2]. Doubtless PN Wood can answer that one (he was always very bright).
NAME: Mike Cottrell
DATE: 29 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Chris [see reply 12] I only know what happened to one of the three girls. She got into the tramp's charabanc and turned into a layby.
DATE: 29 July 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Chris [see reply 12] I only know what happened to one of the three girls. She got into the tramp's charabanc and turned into a layby.
NAME: Nigel Wood
DATE: 02 August 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Best I can do at the moment is... The girls were given suspended sentences. The words went right over their heads.
DATE: 02 August 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
Best I can do at the moment is... The girls were given suspended sentences. The words went right over their heads.
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & Now
DATE: 10 August 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
Jerry Reid I cannot recall [see original message and replies 1 & 2]. Certainly we did not have him as a teacher. After Mr Alford (Alfie), who we had in 1B and 2B as a teacher, we had C Carter (as opposed to K Carter for French) and Jack Covington. All were good in their various ways. Mr Carter was young but capable and enjoyed Graham Greene as well as guiding us through Canterbury Tales. Jack covington was like a benevolent uncle. I still recall poems we read out aloud in Alfie's classes after committing to memory (In Xanadu did Kula Khan etc. Now fades the glimmering landscape etc) as well as Shakespeare addresses such as Henry V, also seen at school on a film.
Then & NowDATE: 10 August 2012
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
Jerry Reid I cannot recall [see original message and replies 1 & 2]. Certainly we did not have him as a teacher. After Mr Alford (Alfie), who we had in 1B and 2B as a teacher, we had C Carter (as opposed to K Carter for French) and Jack Covington. All were good in their various ways. Mr Carter was young but capable and enjoyed Graham Greene as well as guiding us through Canterbury Tales. Jack covington was like a benevolent uncle. I still recall poems we read out aloud in Alfie's classes after committing to memory (In Xanadu did Kula Khan etc. Now fades the glimmering landscape etc) as well as Shakespeare addresses such as Henry V, also seen at school on a film.
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