October, 1965. This is where your blogger spent his formative years from 1963 to 1970. I have had to scan as four overlapping sections. That's me in the fourth section (right hand end of the panorama). I am in the second row down, 13 from the left or 15 from the right.
We were assembled in a semicircle on the playground and the camera panned round. And nobody ran round from one end to the other to appear in the picture twice. Some time after I left, St. Mary's combined with St. Joseph's girls' grammar school in Abbey Wood to become co-educational. The school buildings visible behind us still stand, but extensions now cover the playground. The site is now occupied by St. Luke's sixth form college.
I shall not even attempt to put names to all the faces. It would take up too much space and I cannot remember everyone anyway. If you were there, you will have a good idea of who was who. If you were not, names will probably not mean much to you. But if you do have any questions about identities of the people in the picture, leave a comment or e-mail me and I'll see what I can do.
UPDATE 22 April 2019. I have added as a separate post these photos tagged with the names of those who were in the third year at the time. As time and available information permit, I hope to add other version.
UPDATE 4 August 2020. As you may know, former pupil Matt Eastley is writing a history of St. Mary's and there is now an accompanying website www.inomnibuslabora.co.uk. If you can contribute in any way, please visit the site and make contact.
251 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 251 of 251Martin, as far as I can tell,"Top Dog" was Peter Downes who does not appear to be listed in candidates for 1967 O-level results on: http://mackiegenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/02/st-marys-memorabilia.html
Where you are listed as having passed 7 subjects and I was fortunate enough to pass 9
Thanks, Martin. I'm an exact contemporary of yours - 1962-69 - and I was in 1A in the winter of 62/63. Is my memory accurate in that our form room was the languages room and yours the music room next door during that first year? I also recall that the A form was reputed to be brighter than the Alpha, but that may just have been a legend. In social terms I can't think of any difference between the forms and used to count Iain Duncan and Stephen Jones among my friends and they, as you say, were in the Alpha form.
I think the tall lad you mention might have been called Downes, though his first name escapes me. Other names which come back to me are Nicholas Jennings, Kenneth Foote and Stephen Reid. You mentioned Nigel Greenard. He had a terrible car crash and walked with a limp thereafter. By the time we were in the sixth form a small number came to school by car or motorbike.
The sixth form common room was created in the area that was outside when we arrived in 1962 underneath the cloakrooms and toilets. We could smoke in there and there was often a game of brag to be had. Near the back door to the staffroom were a couple of small teaching rooms for smaller, probably sixth form groups.
I'm sure more will come back to me.
Both Martin and Anonymous make interesting observations. Looking back, I think it was quite clear that in a 1960s two-form entry Grammar School streaming would have been rigorous and that on 11+ scores the A form would be higher than the Alpha. Only in Year 10 (4th Form), when O Level options came into play would there have been some proper mixing of ability. However, I can clearly recall being awarded a 4th Form Geography prize despite being only fourth in the set. When I pointed this out to Ron Hesketh he replied that my mark was the best of boys in 4 Alpha! Furthermore, such initial streaming was not the most accurate predictor of eventual O Level achievement as a review of SD 1967 006 in
http://mackiegenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/02/st-marys-memorabilia.html tends to indicate. I am unaware whether the same applied to eventual A Level attainment as I left the school in 1967.
I remember Ken Foot , he went to my primary school in Dartford and lived in Swanley . I was in the alpha stream and your right the a,s were brighter. Wonder where they all are now , I'm in Tenerife on holiday ,
Lucky bugger, 'Flossy'!
Interesting post, Martin.
I'm an exact contemporary of yours at St Mary's from 62 to 69 but an A former. There's such a lot I remember, including you.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but in thet first year the As were in the languages room right at the top of the main stairs, then through some double doors and up another little flight of steps and the Alphas in the music room next door. Our form teacher was Mousey Murrell - don't know who yours was.
Where does one begin? I remember playing what we called wall-ball, kicking a tennis ball against the bottom step that lead into the area that later became the sixth form common room. We played across the drive but in those far-off days we were presumed to be savvy enough to get out of the way of teachers' cars coming and going. We also used to lie out on the grass in summer when it was being cut by a tractor pulling a set of cylindrical cutters and move out of the way at what we thought was the last minute.
The tall boy you're trying to remember was called Downes, but I can't recall his first name. Paul Mason I remember not only from St Marys but also from St Anselms Primary on Temple Hill in Dartford. Stephen Read had the same provenance.
Surowo suggested that a boy called Pratt was the son of Brian Pratt, the art teacher. I'd doubt it because I don't recall anyone being givem a hard time for being a teacher's son. Could be wrong, of course.
St Mary's gave me an enduring dislike of team games and sport in general. Now, at a fairly advanced age, I not only regret but resent that. Had I been encouraged I could have enjoyed a healthier life. Heigh-ho.
I'll come back and post again.
Hi Steve Calannan
I remember you both at St Anselms and St Marys , your mum was a very good teacher and you were one of the smarter ones in the A stream . I remember your mum rolling up your sleeve and slapping your forearm as punishment , I don't think she liked doing it to primary school children as she always went bright red in the face . It did us no harm and a pity a bit more discipline is not around now. Do you remember Miss Cotton and Mrs Kielty and the famous Sister Agnes at St Anselms .
I went on the become an accountant and did very well as a result of being taught well by people like your mum . I still play golf , enjoy walking and my holidays . Hope you are well
Paul Mason
Hello Paul
Thanks for your kind comments about my mum. She remembered you at St Anselm's when we were both at St Mary's. I do recall Mrs Kielty but had forgotten about Miss Cottom. Sister Agnes always looked as though she went round on wheels under her habit. Do you recall Mrs de Bechevel? She wasn't French but was married to a Frenchman.
For the first couple of years I went to and from Dartford to Sidcup by train, then my folks moved, and my journey was from Meopham to St Mary Cray with a change of train at Swanley and a bus journey to Sidcup to round things off. I missed the chance to buy a bag of "stales" at the bakery near Sidcup ststion. The bags had 3 or 4 of yesterday's cakes and buns and sold for sixpence each. We'd eat those and then run down at morning break for the doughnuts sold in the main entrance lobby.
Food must have been a big part of our lives. I enjoyed the lunches and the endless joke that the pig-swill lorry that came each afternoon was delivering the following day's lunch ingredients.
Odd the things that stick in your head. I still remember singing about The Fishermen of England and Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill in the music room while some teacher whose name I've forgotten hammered away on the piano.
I think I should add a little to what I said about games in a previous post. Of all the subjects, PE was the only one I recall being approached in such a way as to wring any possible fun out of it. If O'Neill could get a bit of a laugh out of Caesar's Gallic Wars and Crappy Dick a smile out of physics then I'm sure...
Another random thought - there came a time at the end of the third year when subjects had to be chosen for O level and beyond. The time-table design meant that you could do either woodwork or latin but not both. I enjoyed woodwork but needed latin for higher education so woodwork had to go. I've still got in the kitchen a wooden cruet holder I made with the original green plastic salt and pepper containers, just like those we used at lunch. Visitors marvel at the craftsmanship.
Hi Steve
I don't remember Mrs Kecheval but I do remember buying the stale cakes and selling them in the playground if they weren't too stale , I used to have a paper round and scrump apples which also sold in the playground. My dad used to wake me at 6am every morning so I could be home at 7am and get myself down to Dartford station by 8 am for the train to Sidcup. It gave me good exercise on my bike every morning and earnt me some money of my own, I think it was a great lesson , teaching me the value of money rather than being given it as is often the case today.
The form master of the one alpha stream was Mr (thick) Robinson who was also the PE master. I think his name was Ted. He taught me football and he was always screaming "hit them hard" as I played at left back . Today I would have been sent off every time . How things have changed . My main sport was middle distance running and cross country .
Do you remember that awful swimming pool we were taken to by coach were we held under the cold shower before being allowed to enter ?
I am not sure about the singing but I do know we had one gay music teacher who left or was pushed out . I remember Rory Grealish who taught latin which I was hopeless at and he was not much better at teaching, We had double latin and during the second period he used to complain it was too much for him and us so he used to revert to playing the piano which he had taught himself, He was caught by the then head master and he left shortly afterwards as he was no teacher and became a park keeper . He couldn't hand out the cane and used to lash you so lightly we used to laugh and take our hands away , what little so an so's we were .
The separation to study latin I do remember well as it was a hugely bad thing for me, I got 28% in the latin exam and I was hopeless but about 80% in technical drawing which was my choice of subject but they made me do latin which I never mastered.
Oh well that's all for now , have nice Christmas and Happy New Year
Paul Mason
I've just been through all these comments. I was at the school with Martin. Top Dog's surname was Downes. He used to bully me but we later became friends playing football every night after school in Sidcup Place with Burnell, Anthony Bumstead and Philip McMahon occasionally joined by Sean Gibbs. I was in the production of La Malade Imaginaire mentioned earlier and was one of the two boys who had to sing live when the tape broke. I was playing the love interest 'Angelique' ( it was an all boys' school!). I also played Sir Oliver Surface in the later play directed by Fr Truman. I remember Rory Grealish and his speedhand Latin homework. Absolutely hopeless teacher and I think I'm right in believing he left early when the school realised how bad he was and all pupils in his class failed Latin O level. Mugs was certainly difficult (I was once caned for not having my hair cut one weekend) and I remember the handwriting nonsense. Bizarrely, he gave my wife to be the religious introduction lessons which were then mandatory for non Catholics marrying Catholics and actually performed the marriage service. Happily, my wasted days being conditioned into believing all that nonsense are a distant memory now. Anyone remember playing unglee bunglee in the sixth form classroom where an upright unglee bunglee was the gold standard? Lawson: Too right - a vile bully. Wasn't that keen on Thick either. I remember Kenny-Levick keeping us in for detention when he'd obviously forgotten he needed to be elsewhere and we saw him drive off just minutes after seeing we were all there. It took a while before we realised he wasn't coming back.
I have just come off the phone following a really good chat with Adrian Jarvis who is very much alive and well aged 94. He has a pin sharp memory for all the school plays he produced between 1957 and 1966 before he and his family emigrated to Canada. A really lovely man. He also has many, many photographs which he has kindly agreed to share.
That's great new Matt. Mr Jarvis (even after all this time it seems presumptuous to call him 'Adrian') has a few mentions-in-dispatches here. I'm sure he has many interesting tales to tell. It will be good to have a view from the staff room of St. Mary's in the 1950s-1960s.
It has been interesting to read the recent contributions from those I still think of a second-years, since that is what you were when I arrived in 1963. Here are some responses.
I caught up with Kopczyk in the sixth form when he and a few other boys repeated a year to improve their grades. Although his name was Felix, I have an idea he was sometimes known as George. He and I travelled down to Falmer on one occasion for interviews at Sussex University. On the journey he was singing the praises of Captain Beefheart’s new album ‘Trout Mask Replica’. I don’t know how Kopczyk fared, but my ‘A’ level results were disappointing so I didn’t progress to university. My interviewer at Sussex was Doctor J.B. Pedley. Under the nameplate on his door, someone had written ‘man of parts’. This may have been a reference to the fact that he had part of one finger missing.
I don’t think there was any intentional segregation by ability in my year. ‘O’ level results show A and α quite evenly matched. But I remember Father Howarth announcing at assembly that some boys from the year above me were being moved from A to α. He stressed that this was not to be seen as a downgrading, but simply that they would fit in better there. I think one of the boys who moved across was Nick Jennings. I encountered Nick a year or two after leaving school when he was in an experimental theatre production at the Three Tuns in Beckenham. (There was a lot of experimental theatre back then – often made by people with little discernible talent who nonetheless felt they had something to offer the world of performing arts.)
Quite a few St. Mary’s boys took the 229 but I think some preferred the one that got them there just in time, whereas I went for an earlier one. My journey home could be frustrating as I travelled through to Abbey Wood but quite a few buses terminated at Bexleyheath or Belvedere. Break of journey was not allowed with school bus passes so I couldn’t change en route but had to wait for a bus going all the way through. When school hours were rearranged so that we finished half an hour earlier, there was no benefit to me as there were no direct buses I could catch. Buses between Bexleyheath and Sidcup have to cross the Rochester Way. Nowadays there is a bridge linking the northern and southern halves of Arbuthnot Lane. But back in the 1960s it was a different matter. The 229 came down Townley Road past what was then Bexley Technical High School for Girls, turned left into Upton Road, right onto Rochester Way then left into Arbuthnot Lane. There were no traffic lights, roundabout or suchlike and the driver just had to find (or force) a gap in the traffic. Such a manoeuvre would be impossible today.
The only teacher’s son I can recall from those days was Anthony O’Mahoney. If there had been others I’m sure they would have been well known. And in the 1960s I’d say Mr Pratt was too young to be the father of teenagers. But Surowo tells us that he was a crooner which puts another school memory in context. In the art room there was usually on display the handiwork of some of the more able pupils. One of their assignments must have been to design record covers. Amongst those on show was ‘Jazz on a Summer’s Day’ and Frank Sinatra’s ‘In the Wee Small Hours’. I’m guessing these were based on records in Mr Pratt’s personal collection.
Steve Callanan. I think the music teacher you mention was Father Cassidy (‘Pop’). He taught us ‘The Fishermen of England’ and ‘The Bold Gendarmes’. He had those odd little whiskers right at the top of his cheeks. He was amiable enough most of the time, but could blow his top occasionally. I recall once he pointed at a badge on someone’s lapel and asked what it was. When the reply came back ‘It’s a badge Father’ he interpreted this as impudence and slapped the unfortunate lad round the head. They then seemed to get caught in a loop with Pop repeating the question, getting the same answer and delivering another slap.
(to be continued as I'm near the character limit)
Paul – you mention the swimming pool. This was Darrick Wood in Lovibonds Avenue, Orpington. It’s still there, but I hope it has been refurbished since then. The instructor was Mr Jarrett, a rather dour individual. He usually wore a flat cap, boiler suit and wellington boots and was armed with a long pole to attract the attention of swimmers who had earned his displeasure. I did a Google search for ‘Darrick Wood Mr Jarrett’ which led me here knowhere.co.uk. Back in 2000, someone was researching for a book about the place and some readers have shared their memories. Later on, swimming lessons took place at Swanley Baths, now White Oak Leisure Centre. You also mention a gay music teacher. Could this have been ‘Batman’ who cropped up in the comments here some years ago? I think his surname was Hardy but I wouldn’t swear to it. He was a Scot and none too pleased about the nickname we gave him. But maybe it wasn’t the best strategy to tell your pupils ‘I do not wish to be known as Batman.’ But the choir under his direction was excellent. With hindsight we can now see Rory Grealish as a rather tragic figure. He was well-intentioned but just didn’t have the right stuff to be a teacher.
There has been some mention of the choices we had to make when we entered the third year. I had been inclined to opt for biology but I also fancied myself as a bit of a linguist and I was advised that geography would be a better fit so went for that instead. This rapidly proved the wrong choice and I wished I had followed my own inclinations and ignored ‘advice’. I asked about changing my options but it seemed the die was cast. I would be told to ‘give it a little longer’ until in the end it was too late. Since I had little chance of passing, I wasn’t entered for geography O level. As my inclinations shifted more towards the sciences, biology would have been a better bet anyway.
I’d better stop now or I’ll keep thinking of just one more thing to add.
If you used it once, you used it on me. You are forgiven.
Thanks for the list. Brought back memories. #11
What a trip down memory lane I came across this blog this morning while searching for information on Sidney Kenny Levick, whose name, for some unfathomable reason, featured in a dream least night. So many names that I thought I had forgotten! I'm Tony Robson and I'm clearly one of the more forgettable boys from the time that most of the blogs reminisce about. I was at St Marys from 62 to 69. I caught the 229 bus from Bexleyheath into school, I was in 1a when Mr Murrell was the form teacher, I was on the school trip to Paris in 66, acted in Macbeth (soldier) and Murder in theCathedral (third monk) and was stage manager for School for Scandal, played rugby for the colts, second and first fifteen, was pretty good at long distance running and had a distinctly undistinguished school academic record featuring in the bottom quarter of the a stream for all the time I can recall.
I don't have particularly great memories of St Marys but neither are they that awful. Now that I have been prompted I have reasonably good memories of most of the teachers but, apart from Ron Hesketh, don't recall being especially inspired by any of them. I remember Mr O Mahoney telling me I'd never pass a maths exam and the pleasure at passing's the maths O level. I do remember getting caned quite a lot, (mostly by Mugs) for being late for assembly I also have a recollection of being caned by Mr O'Neill in the latin class every Wednesday in the third year. If you got less than 5/10 in the Wednesday class you got the cane - or am I just imagining that?
I am amazed at how many names and faces I can remember from the 65 photo. They're all in the second row from the back and start from Martin Downey who I believe is 24th from the left. Going from left to right they are:
Ring
?
?
?
Jones
Heath
Donovan
Callaghan
Burnell
Tauber
Coles
Scott
Kopcyck
Hancock
Me
Gibbs
Webster
Foote
O'Brien
Sewell?
Mcdermott?
Taylor
?
?
?
?
Greenaway
?
?
?
Monksteel
Twomey
Lyons
?
Reid
Pelican
Reilly
?
?
?
Skinner
Rice
Grant
Further along I can see Bumpstead and Duncan.
I could do a similar name filling in on the 63 photo and I have a photo of the 1969 sixth form with names if anyone is interested.
Very shortly after leaving, I lost contact with nearly all the people I knew. In the summer of 69 I went on holiday with Phil Burnell, who was probably my best mate through school. Of all the kids in our year, his was the only house I could, at a pinch, walk to. I've not seen him since and the only guy I remain in contact with is Frank Reid who ran a ceilidh band and still does
After leaving school and college (HND Business Studies), I worked in Personnel management for 8 years before joining the Prison Service as a trainee Assistant Governor. After a career spanning 27 years, I ended up as the Governor of a High Security Prison on the Isle of Sheppey. I retired a year early in 2010 and have enjoyed an interesting retirement living on and sailing a yacht, initially around the Greek Islands and Turkish Coast and then across the Atlantic to the east and west Caribbean and the eastern seaboard of the US. Boat is now sold and living in Wiltshire.
Its been a real pleasure to read this blog. Many thanks.
I’ve just noticed 2 errors in my list of names. O'Brian should be McBride and Callaghan should read Callanan who, I note, has already posted to the blog. I didn’t see the second page of postings until after writing my post. Apologies to Steve And to anyone else who I have named incorrectly but I don’t think it’s not a bad try after 50 years.
I'd completely forgotten you(and most others)Tony, but as soon as you identified yourself in the 65 pic you came right back to me. Oddly, I think you've not identified me correctly. I don't think I'm in that pic, so doubt the lad between Donovan and Burnell is me. It would be great to see your 1969 sixth form pic to see if I recognise myself from that.
Best wishes.
Hi Steve. Whoops. Another apology. Now that I take a second look, I have no idea who that chap is. Happy to share the (slightly creased) photo with you but I’m not sure I can do that on this blog. Contact me at antonyjrobson@gmail.com.
I was a pupil at St Mary's between 1971 and 1978. Came across this blog accidentally when I googled the school for the address, as I've just started writing a sort of bio which my sons and grand kids have asked for!
I remember most of the teachers and nicknames mentioned in other posts, but especially Paul Juckes and Sue Worthington (maybe Surowo?) who taught me Spanish and French respectively. They also took us to a pub in Chislehurst when we were sixth form.
I had a bit of a hard time because I had an older brother there, who most teachers thought the sun shone out of and I didn't exactly live up to his standard! But I got 10 O levels and 2 A levels so didn't do too badly.
I'm grateful for the many life lessons from some of the teachers, especially Spike, Pomfret (never understood the nickname), Jucksy and even Black Harry. I'm almost 60 but still find myself repeating or doing things I learned from those guys.
Things I can remember:
- Going on a school exchange trip to Bailleul near Lille in France.
- Losing a plimsoll during a cross-country race near Beaverwood. It had been raining hard and my foot sunk in a load of mud. When I pulled it out, the plimsoll had gone. Rod Turner happened to be race marshall at that particular spot in the woods and screamed at me to carry on the race with only one shoe! Needless to say, I did!
- I can remember lots of names of fellow pupils which I will post separately. Someone earlier posted the names of the Alpha stream and I recognise some of them. I was in the A stream.
- Hating rugby, cricket and tennis. I did cross-country instead. The result is dodgy knees and joints after all that pounding roads in flimsy plimsolls.
- Getting the 51 bus from Welling Corner to Sidcup and back.
- Football becoming once a games option once Mr Turner left and his replacement (I think it was Roy White who was a football coach at Eltham College) arrived.
That's all for now but I'm sure there'll be more at another time.
Val D'Rosario (1971-78)
Hi, I,ve just been reading this blog. I was at St. Mary,s from 1955 to 196 approx. Fr.Leo Mc Iver was the Head. He was a great bloke. The school was St. Marys College then and was situated in the old buildings adjacent to St.Lawrence Church. Terrible place but full of character. We used to use the playing fields down near where St. Marys Hospital is. Moved into the new School in 1957 next to the bypass. I can remember many fellow classmates, Michael Batt, James Pontin, Terry Futter, Peter Jeffs, Philip Hyland, Joey Ferugia, Paddy Madigan, Michael Snelders, John Warburton to name a few. I would be interested to hear from any other old boy who was at the school at that time and remembered any of us. My name is Anthony Young and my email address is tony.young100@hotmail.co.uk
June 3rd 2020 11am.
Bill Rawle here. I heard about this blog a couple years back,but never got round to contributing until now. I've been contacted by Matt Eastley,a pupil in the seventies, who is researching a history of the school.
I've scan read some of the recent posts. "Rookie" was Dennis Rooke. He lived in Beckenham. My persistent recollection is his Mum giving me sugared banana sandwiches. Great that "Mousey" Murrell is still about, albeit in Portugal.
When we moved house from Bromley to Dorking, I lodged with Philip Woolfe for a year or so whilst I did my A-levels. I bumped into him when I worked in London donkies years ago. Said we must keep in touch, then my office promptly moved to Wimbledon. I believe he went into the Civil Service (his Dad was something high up there).
Looking at David Reddington's magnificent work on the School photo, Dennis Rook is front row (between Tom Richardson & Eric Watson behind).Paul Newson is the fair haired chap, front row (Brian McKie behind). John Heath is front row (Mr O'Neil behind). To left of JH is a face I recall but, to my embarrassment, I forget his name. We were part of a group Paul Newson, me and Ian Honeysett. Ian Honeysett is wearing specs, front row (Roy ?? & Vaughan Wells behind). Paul "Willy" Whiles is front row (Bernard Perry behind).
And Martin Downy - are you a lawyer? Did our paths cross years back when I was doing a due diligence exercise for a Client?
And it was me who let off the stink bomb in the entrance hall at end of one school year. I'd given up physics, but I learnt a lot about convection currents that day, as the pong pervaded pretty much the whole school. I also discovered my nascent ability to negotiate (six strokes of the cane down to four), which held me in good stead as a Quantity Surveyor.
Some of the bloggers didn't like St Mary's much. But if you behaved yourself, and kept your head down (which most of us didn't), you could stay out of trouble.
We could be cruel. Can anyone remember the French girl who came for a term to get us into conversational French? She was pregnant and we messed her about so much, she left the classroom in tears. "Spike" Wilkinson was absolutely livid. I can't remember the outcome, but it involved the cane.
And the poor maths teacher (alphas, stream 3 - the thickoes. I was there!) who had a fused neck and couldn't look up. We put the board duster on top of the blackboard, to our shame.
I'm rambling. Got to go. Thanks to all the contributors. I'll delve into the blogs a bit deeper.
From what I,ve read so far in the blog most of the comments are from boys who were at the school later than me. Its worth mentioning that most of the teachers referred to were in place when I was there. Spike Wilikinson, Doug Wingfield, Thicko Robinson, Jarvis, Hesketh, Moomin etc and the priests Leo McIver(Headmaster) Mugsy, Shortle,Norton, Howarth etc and a particularly odious little priest by the name of Duffy who suddenly disappeared. I was fortunate being fairly athletic and a reasonable footballer and cricketer representing the school all the way through my time there so I got on well with Muggsy et al and had something of a free pass as did other members of the teams. We certainly had the best school football team at that time in North Kent and South East London from the Under 12s upwards which was the icing on the cake. All the teachers already had their nicknames when I arrived. Its true that discipline there in my time was very arbitrary and often sudden and violent. I used to travel there on the 229 bus from bexleyheath and in my early years at the school Itried to deliberately miss any bus that had a prefect on it and woe betide anybody who was spotted not wearing their school cap. Monday morning assemblies were when all the infraction punishments were handed out. Anthony Young
Hi Alphabetter,
Like many it seems I came upon this blog by chance and read through loads of interesting input with no direct relevance until I saw the name Steven Draper.
You are correct that I was like being in the USA for many years but since 2003 I have been residing in France.
I have always loosely prided myself in being able to recall the class register and a couple of weeks ago I thought I'd better put my money where my mouth is and write them down. I managed twenty eight of the thirty two in '1 Alpha' of 1965.
My recollection....
Bassett
Beaman (Little ears Lehman)
Beismans, John
Bell, Paul
Budd, Anthony
Butler
Clarke,
Draper
Easterbrook, Dave
Efrussy
Farrow, Damian
Garbet,Paul (changed name to Higham on mother's divorce and was the only declared gay in the village)
Hague, Stephen
Jozviak, Anthony
Komadera, Anthony
Lee
Mattingly, Nigel
Morrison, Tony
O'Keefe, Martin
Pearson
Piney, Hugh
Reynolds, Adrian
Ronan, John
Sheering, Jed
Stanley, Andy
Van Maurik,Gerardus
Wilkinson, Anthony
Wood, Brian
Hopefully someone will supply the missing four names.
Generally happy memories though nickname of 'pusspot' could have been kinder. 'Damsy wamsy give us a smile' will also haunt me a little.
Was thinking of Martin the other day. We used to go fishing together every weekend either on the Medway or perhaps at Dartford Lakes. One Saturday morning I knocked on his door and Mrs O'Keefe opened it. "Hello, Mrs O'Keefe...is Martin ready?"
"No he's dead".
I went back home on the bus in some shock/confusion. My mum phoned Mrs.Okeefe and found out the horrible truth.
Hello all,
Just a brief note to bring this to your attention, if you haven't seen it already. If you have any recollections, photos, memorabilia etc. to share Matt will be very pleased to hear from you
https://www.inomnibuslabora.co.uk/
It was good to see an entry from my old classmate Jed Sheering though it has since been withdrawn. If you want to chip in again Jef we can reminisce.
Hello all,
I haven't been active here for a while. I don't reply to individual comments if I have nothing useful to add. But it is always interesting to read other people's stories. I'm sure many of you are now familiar with Matt Eastley's website https://www.inomnibuslabora.co.uk/ and one or two of you have featured in the 'Where are they now?' section. Mattis always glad to hear from former pupils or staff. He has now completed his book about St. Mary's which will be appearing in summer.
Anyway, I am afraid I bring sad news about a former pupil, Mike 'Adolf' Morgan (1963-1970). He had suffered a stroke but developed complications and died last Saturday (26th March). I had known Mike since 1961 when we joined St. Thomas a Becket primary school, which had opened to serve the rapidly expanding Abbey Wood Estate. The headmistress was the formidable Madam Pius and I believe she pulled a few strings to secure us places at St. Mary's. Mike has been a contributor here. For further details please see his Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/Mike-Morgan-838547889554961
Sorry, messed up the Facebook link
https://www.facebook.com/Mike-Morgan-838547889554961
I was at St Mary's (Alpha stream) from 1964 to 1968, and my classmates included Tony Clark, from Dartford, and Tony Budd, from Eltham. I started there with Greg Westrap (A stream) who like me, lived in Greenhithe. I last saw him in the 1980s when we were both working at the now-defunct Bexley Hospital in Kent.
Greg's brother, David, was friends with another St M's boy from Greenhithe, Chris Cleaver. They were both sixth formers by the time Greg and I got there.
If anyone that I've mentioned or anyone else from those far-off days happens to read this message in a bottle, here's a long-overdue hello!
Best wishes, Gerard (Gerry) Sheerin
Hello Gerard,
I always knew you as Jed at school and was in your class. I have pretty fond memories despite being 'learned' quite a lot by Tony Budd, Paul Bell, Andy Stanley and others.
I am remember loads of the kids and can recall most names.
I haven't stayed in contact with anyone but have chatted to Michael Effrussy through this site and hope to meet up with him for a beer one day when next in the UK (I currently live in France).
I'm always available to swap notes if you're interested.
Cheers Damian (damsywamsy) Farrow.
Hello, Damian, delighted to hear from you after so many years. I believe I'm right in thinking that you are standing next but one to the left of me (scowling, grey shirt) in the school photograph, with Billy Owens at the far end of the row. So many faces, names, and memories.
I retired from the NHS, where I worked mainly in palliative care teams, in 2017. Upgraded to granddad status in 2019. How about you, what have you been doing?
Very best wishes, for now, Gerard (Jed) Sheerin.
Hi Jed.....hope you're okay with that name as that is who you were to me.
Great observation about the photo as you are right. I always thought that I was one of the little kids sat down in the front row. I remember nearly all the kids in our class by name but putting faces together is trickier. You really do look like you didn't want to be there.
Congrats and respect for your work in palliative care. My best mate passed away in a care home in Tunbridge Wells last year having spent about six months in a home in Bermuda where he had been living before that.
I've travelled around a bit and have been in France since 2003.
I haven't really kept in touch with anyone until Matthew started this book but I've since swapped emails with Michael Effrussy. We plan to get together for a beer some time when I'm in the UK so just let me know if you're interested (and anywhere near Kent/Sussex).
Cheers and take care, Damian
Just to say it was good to meet a few of you in person on Saturday back at the old school for the launch of "We Did Our Homework On The Bus". Sorry if I didn't recognise anybody. The book is clearly a labour of love and so far I am finding it an informative and entertaining read.
Hi there, Damian Farrow.
Apologies, Damian, but my Aug 30th reply to your Aug 23rd post seems to have vanished?!?!
It said, essentially: Yes, I'm fine with that name - stuck with it now anyway, lol.
Truly sorry to hear about your best friend - that must be very tough for you.
I live near Rochester in Kent, so hopefully, we can arrange something for one of your next visits. I would love to see you again and catch up face to face after so many years.
Please do let's keep in touch, with very best wishes, Jed.
Hi Jed,
I'm really glad that you responded positively and I look forward to hooking up with you.
Rochester is not too far as most of my family live in East Sussex nowadays so I'm usually around there when I get to the UK.
I'm not sure when my next trip will be ....could be a couple of weeks or months away but I will definitely keep you posted.
By all means drop me a line as well whenever you like. I live near Lorient in Brittany.
Meanwhile take care and have fun,
Damian
Sounds good, Damian. Please do keep me posted, as I'm looking forward to seeing you.
Very best wishes, Jed
Hi Damian, just wishing you and any other St Mary's old boys a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.
Love and peace ✌️
That last, 'love and peace' message is from Jed Sheerin btw 😊
Hi Phil,
Just received my copy of in omnibus labora, some familiar names from our year in there.
I am in the 1965 panoramic photo standing right behind Mr Mukherjee
Anyone else out there? It is 60 years this September that I first wore the smart blazer.
Mike (Mick in 1970) Norrie
Hi Mike,
It's god to hear from you after all these years. I hope you enjoy the book. I found it very readable with a good balance of historical facts and personal anecdotes. I was happy to contribute some of my own recollections and memorabilia.
I kept a few items of uniform as souvenirs but the blazer has long gone the way of all things. Eric Thomas must have made a good living putting coats on our backs (and caps on our heads) over the years.
If you have read through the 246 (and rising) comments on this post, you will see a few from 1963-1970 veterans. I am still in touch with some old boys including Steve Clark, Steven Dean, Pete Stickels, Charles Joyce, Jerry Fowler and Biff Vernon. Others such as Chris Warren and Mike Morgan have now gone to the great sixth from common room in the sky.
*good
I am a veteran 1976. Assistant teacher of Spanish.Greetings to my old pupils, Paul Juckes, Mary, the teacher who drove me from Datford to Sidcup Luis A. Diez⁶
Wow. Good to hear about people of the class of 1965. So many familiar names.
I can remember Micheal O'Malley from Abbey Wood missing from the list along with Dick Marshall from Chislehurst. Nick Lawson from Sidcup too.
First names missing Tony Clarke from Dartford; Nick Pearson from Orpington. Micheal Beaman from Peets Wood Stephen (Sid) Draper.
Some names from the "A" class spring to mind such as the Baldwin twins.
One day about 25 years ago whilst bored at work I did write down most of the names, just can't locate that list.
Now live in Devon and contactable on brianthegooner@hotmail.com. I often visit France, so those that have moved, happy to share a bottle of wine there, such as Damien Farrow.
Sorry to be the bearer of sad news, but my good friend and former classmate Steve Dean died yesterday. He slipped into a diabetic coma after a fall and suffered a cardiac arrest. He was 71 and living in Hastings. We hadn't met in person for a while, but my phone tells me that we last spoke on 6th January this year, no doubt exchanging a few St. Mary's anecdotes. You will see a few contributions from Steve amongst these comments. I am intending to write an obituary piece for https://www.inomnibuslabora.co.uk/ so if anyone wishes to share any memories, that would be very welcome.
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