King edwards VII school.

[hillsbro]

Hi Dreb - it often surprises me how people like you and me remember faces, while other classmates I've met since leaving school have only remember a handful of people from school.

 

Chris Gilson (my good friend as it happened) and I actually repeated the 4th year, as in 1963 we didn't quite get the five academic 'O' levels that you needed to start 'A' level a year early. Clapton in fact did us a good turn as (being science-oriented) we went from 4GL to 4A and both got another six 'O' levels in 1964. Chris has lived in South Wales since he went to work for B.P. Chemicals in 1969; he is married with two children.

 

Jeremy Fisher lived just down Clarkegrove Road; his dad was I think a lecturer at the University. He was indeed often picked on, though Chris and I were friends with him (we were all trainspotters). Jeremy went into accountancy after several "false starts" but sadly took his own life in 1987, aged 39.

[Dreb48]

Hi Philip

I'm confused now. I was in the same situation as you with regard insufficient O Levels to start the A Levei year but I went from 4A to 5G then to 5MS before leaving from 6MS in 66. I'm sure that's right unless my memory's playing serious tricks with me. Any clue why that would be?

Really sorry to here of Jeremy's demise. How tragic

[hillsbro]

Hello again Dreb (we're just back form lunch with Ian & Valerie Minogue!) Yes, your experience was the usual one. 'O' levels were taken at the end of the 4th year at K.E.S., instead of a year later as at other grammar schools. If at this time you didn't pass 'O' level in a minimum of five academic subjects (art, woodwork etc. didn't count) then you normally went into 5G, and took 'O' levels again the following year. If you then qualified for 'A' level you went into a 5MS or 5S form to begin the two-year 'A' level course. But Clapton evidently thought that Chris Gilson and I would benefit from being in the specialist 4A (formerly 4S) science form, doing three separate sciences instead of 'General Science' at 'O' level. It worked well, as although we hadn't done the 3rd year course in separate sciences, we each passed Physics, Chemistry and Biology in 1964.

 

I didn't see much of Jeremy Fisher after leaving school, but felt sorry for him. He was gay and I don't think 'came out'. He was clearly unhappy and was found dead from an overdose of an antidepressant at his Crookes home.

[Dreb48]

Hi Philip. I'd no idea that Nat favoured people in that way. My encounters with him were unfailingly negative.

Despite the fact I won several Art prizes in my time there it counted for nothing.

I remember one Speech Day in particular when he was going to stop me receiving my prize unless I had my hair cut and also the time he dragged four or five of us out in assembly to humiliate us because our hair was over our ears.

The times they are a changing !

[PaulSH]

Hi Dreb

 

Yes, I was in the 1[4] intake with Philip then went thro 5Sc & 6Sc.

I remember you now from the 4th yr photos. Nat had a thing about hair altho few other staff seemed to care. It was the 60s for god's sake. Was Frank Cartledge one of the others dragged out in assembly? Of all the guys in our year he always struck me as the one who pulled off the cool dude thing most successfully [and a nice bloke too].

I recall Jeremy Fisher. What a sad story. I never realised he was bullied at school altho others were [Alistair Clarke comes to mind as do the names of several of the bullies - probably retired stockbrokers now].

I kept in touch with a few thro uni years [Julian Peckett -RIP, John Mills, Phil Ford & Rod Armitage] all united by music & girls. Them were't days!

[Morts]

There was a lad in my year who killed himself. Mark Baker-he would have been about 14 at the time. I cannot recollect why he did so but needless to say a great shock to all his class mates.

Mark and another lad, Simon Flowers, were Jews and always waited outside morning assembly until the days announcements were given.

[Dreb48]

Hi Dreb

 

Yes, I was in the 1[4] intake with Philip then went thro 5Sc & 6Sc.

I remember you now from the 4th yr photos. Nat had a thing about hair altho few other staff seemed to care. It was the 60s for god's sake. Was Frank Cartledge one of the others dragged out in assembly? Of all the guys in our year he always struck me as the one who pulled off the cool dude thing most successfully [and a nice bloke too].

I recall Jeremy Fisher. What a sad story. I never realised he was bullied at school altho others were [Alistair Clarke comes to mind as do the names of several of the bullies - probably retired stockbrokers now].

I kept in touch with a few thro uni years [Julian Peckett -RIP, John Mills, Phil Ford & Rod Armitage] all united by music & girls. Them were't days!

 

Hi Paul

I cant remember now who the other ' hair ' rebels were. Frank may have been one but I'm not sure. Met up with him a few times for drinks several years after leaving. He was a good lad but I don't think one of Nat's favourites by a long chalk.

Do you recall John Burgin? He sort of epitomised that sort of ' Elvis ' style cool to me.

By the time I left I think the fight against change had been abandoned. Nat was gone and Sharrock was in place. I can look at the leaving photo of myself and see that you could get away with dressing in a way that would have been totally unacceptable 2 years earlier. In that final year I was a regular at the Esquire though I always took my school cap with me in case I got lines off a prefect for not wearing it on the bus!

All the names you mention I can remember and see their fresh shiny faces as if it was yesterday

[hillsbro]

Hi Paul - yes I remember you now (but sitll don't know who Dreb48 is!.). Alistair Clark is still going strong in retirement and lives in Stockport. I saw him a few years ago; he and I had lunch with Don Nicolson (Old Edwardians website) at Renishaw. Frank Cartledge was certainly a "one off", and such a sense of humour! So sad about Julian Peckett.

[Dreb48]

Hi Paul - yes I remember you now (but sitll don't know who Dreb48 is!.). Alistair Clark is still going strong in retirement and lives in Stockport. I saw him a few years ago; he and I had lunch with Don Nicolson (Old Edwardians website) at Renishaw. Frank Cartledge was certainly a "one off", and such a sense of humour! So sad about Julian Peckett.

C'mon Philip. Wake up at the back boy.

I PMd you a few times last year. On one of the form photos somebody's actually included my nickname in the roll call

[hillsbro]

Hi Dreb - yes I remember now. I dunno - I must be getting old and forgetful. Sometimes I think I shouldn't be allowed out, but Matron gives me a 12-hour pass....