Newsletter of The Old
Thorntonians Association (Clapham)
“Education is the leading of human souls to what is best, and making what is best out of them.” John Ruskin (1819-1900)
No
12 March 2010
Issue 11:
the article “Mr Evans and HTS” was incorrectly dated Summer 1961. As some readers may have surmised from
another item on Mr Evans, reproduced in the preceding newsletter, it did in
fact appear in The Thorntonian of Summer 1951.
Sadly, the newsletter has to record the passing, in
recent months, of four “senior” OTs, all of whom attended the school in the
1930s.
Eric Smith (1938-43):
died 27 September 2009. Eric
spent his time at HTS at Clapham, including the wartime Emergency School
(1940-3). Joe Keeble Pipe (1942-50)
adds: “Eric was my
cousin by marriage. We were at school together but as he was two years older
our paths rarely crossed. After leaving
HTS he joined the army as a regular for some years, serving in Germany,
Palestine, etc – all the usual places in which the British Army served during
and after wars! I believe he became a
captain in the Royal Fusiliers.
Subsequently he spent his life in the antiques silver business,
finishing up in charge of the silver department at Phillips, the auction house.”
Adrian
(Eddie) Mann (1931-7): died 27
January 2010.
Philip
(Pip) Plummer (1931-6): died 30
May 2009.
Douglas
Routledge (1931-7): died 9
September 2009.
Please let the Editor know if you are able to offer any memories of the above, particularly related to their school years.
Annual
General Meeting 2010
The third AGM was held at The Windmill on Saturday
20 March 2010, with 14 members present.
The main items discussed or reported were:
●
Jimmy
Hill OBE was re-elected as President for a further year. The other Committee members elected to serve
until 31 March 2011 are:
Chairman: (Vacancy; the Vice-Chairman and/or other
Committee members will act in this capacity as required)
Vice-Chairman: Brian Bloice
Secretary: Ted Hayward
Treasurer: Terry Lawlor
Co-opted: Mike Surridge (as local
representative); Jeff Green (as
immediate past Chairman)
Entry-year representatives:
1930s/1940s: Brian Robinson
1950s: Chris Bishop
1960s: Peter Greenwood
1970s/1980s: (Vacancy).
●
The
audited statement of account for the year ended 31 December 2009 was adopted
(copy attached).
●
Subscriptions: on the recommendation of the Management
Committee, it was agreed that a. they should remain at £10 for Full and £6 for
Associate membership, and b. on this occasion the fee should be for a two-year
period, ie, from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2011. If you would like to
continue in membership and haven’t already paid, the Treasurer will be
delighted to receive your renewal subscription. Please post a cheque for the relevant amount, and made out to
“Old Thorntonians Association”, to:
Terry Lawlor, Spring Cottage, 11A Deepdene, Lower Bourne, Farnham,
Surrey GU10 3QP. NB The deadline for
receipt of payments is 31 May 2010, and no further reminders will be sent after
this date.
●
Pupil
honours boards: recently returned to
storage at Lambeth College’s South Side premises. Members of the Committee plan to re-inspect the boards in the
coming months and consider what further action should be taken to
preserve/restore (and possibly display) them in the longer term.
It
was agreed that the next AGM should be held at 2pm on Saturday 19
March 2011; venue to be confirmed.
Membership
Currently 120, including three Associates.
Kenneth
Neate (1937-42):
I have been interested to read about Mr Jeremy
in the newsletter. He was far and away
my favourite master. One aspect of his
teaching, though, I have not seen referred to and I hope in offering this I do
not denigrate in any way his integrity and his dedication to education pure and
simple. But I am sure he propounded a
little Socialism in his lessons.
Perhaps because my leaning was in that direction I detected more than
was really there but the prominence of such as Peterloo, Robert Owen and the
Co-operative Movement, the Tolpuddle Martyrs, the rise of Trade Unionism and so
on seemed to me to be revealing. I
wonder if others recall his fondness for reading to the rest of the class an
essay submitted by one of them. “The
Gospel according to Bloggs (or whoever),” he would announce. It would cause great merriment including,
even, on the part of the poor wretch who was being victimised. Because, being Mr Jeremy, there was no
malice in this; he used it as a teaching aid. He was a much-loved man.
John Jones
(1963-70): I do
have quite a few memories (though I must admit I didn't know the sculpture
outside Mr Dorrington's office was called “the scholar”). But certainly the school milk sticks in my
mind, delivered in 1/3 pint bottles, often frozen on winter mornings and
supervised by the most miserable of men (I'm afraid I think he was also a
Ted!), who was the school caretaker and would tell boys who sat on his wooden
table to “get off that bleedin’ table”. Of course, school milk was abolished in
the early 70s by Mrs Thatcher, then Minister of Education. I also took part in a school play in the
famous “quadrangle” soon after I started at HT, I seem to remember.
Mr Linden, Mr Davies
and Mr Taylor all hold special places in my affections as I am now a
professional linguist (translator at the European Commission) and I love
singing (I sing in one of the best choirs in Belgium, the Brussels Choral
Society). Mr Taylor ran the school
choir in which I sang as a treble and a bass.
I loved it, which ran against the grain in many ways as most boys hated
music (and languages). At Christmas the
choir toured four London hospitals, with a number of the teachers singing as
well, where we rendered Christmas carols in stairwells and on wards to the
patients in return for “tea” (sandwiches, cakes and mince pies), which became
more copious from one hospital to the next.
By the end of the afternoon we were quite bloated! I wonder if this tradition rings any bells
with boys who were at the school before me?
Peter Lawson
(1936-41), with further memories of the wartime evacuation: …we
met on Friday, 1st September, 1939 at 8.30am. travelled to Balham (S.R) with
haversacks and small attaché cases, to arrive in Bognor just after
mid-day. In crocodile formation, we
marched, full of excitement, to the Social Centre/Theatre opposite the Pier
Head, where we were “selected” by “locum parents” or put into small groups for
billeting. I was lucky, being in a
group of five with Prefect Veryken and billeted in holiday rooms over a
restaurant on the promenade within a hundred yards of the pier. The weather was glorious, and Bognor was
still filled with holidaymakers – we had a fabulous time. The only sign of war was the black-out with
every one colliding and jostling as they walked along the promenade. The only military prominence was a small
Walrus flying-boat slowly skirting the coast at a snail’s pace, once in
mid-morning and again in the afternoon with the front gunner sitting half out
of the nose. It was generally assumed it was a U-boat patrol.
War was declared on
Sunday 3rd September and, since one of our group – Koch – was a German refugee,
after listening to Chamberlain at 11.00 am we tuned into various German
stations but could only find dance music!
The list of Masters
who were evacuated with the school I never saw outside school lessons, but I
notice that one has been omitted: Mr Collings (“Coggs”), who taught
German. The most memorable lesson he
gave was when the Graf Spee broke the news and each class lesson for a week
was a running report on the progress of
the battle until the final scuttling - all in German.
The 1939 December
freeze was incredible, with many of the telephone poles snapped in half, due to
the weight of the ice in the wires – but the fun on the canal, frozen solid to
Dell Quay, and slides on the slopes of Goodwood.
This section concludes
with an amusing if slightly irreverent contribution from Peter Benson
(1932-8):
My
school life began in nineteen thirty-two.
My
form master was Pops, Mr Spofforth to
you.
We
had Fortnightly Orders, sometimes a disaster.
Bottom
boy in each form had to see the Head Master.
I
remember Ma Earp giving me fifty lines,
Don’t
ask me “What for?” – I was asleep at the time.
Composition,
perspective and balance and shade,
Art
master Dix was so strict and so staid.
Epidiascope,
books of remote foreign parts,
Lenny Bundle
was my favourite Master of Arts.
Mr
Cooper taught Latin in a flowing black cloak,
But
all I remember is hic, haec and hoc.
Cellist
Jeremy donned his historian hat,
To
dish dates by the dozen, ten six six and all that.
We
were kept fit by Bramble, a gymnast, of course,
Upside
down on the ropes after vaulting the horse.
And
Plugs
taught us woodcraft, precise tenon joints.
Much
later this earned me good DIY points.
Moggy
Morgan taught English: you may think it worse
That
he gave me good guidelines for writing in verse.
My
school chum Bassani at mischief excelled;
His
deeds displeased Taffy,
then he got expelled..
Wiggs enjoyed a good scratch teaching Heat,
Light and Sound.
His
class dubbed him “B…sitch”. Bad manners
all round!
Wilf
Finbow’s a big boy. Respect him we do.
Why
should one kow-tow? Well he’s bigger
than you!
The
Head Boy at this time, a fellow called Dennis,
Had
skills unequalled at cricket and tennis.
Myself
at lacrosse little talent I showed,
I
preferred to play football at Dover House Road.
Staff Personae
Pops:
Mr J A H Spofforth (English, History)
Ma Earp:
Mrs M A Earp (Mathematics)
Dix: Mr
G W Dix (Art)
Lenny Bundle:
Mr L B Cundall (Geography)
Cooper:
Mr W J Cooper (Latin)
Bramble:
Mr R S Bramble (PT)
Jeremy: Mr C E G Jeremy (History)
Plugs:
Mr H G Rawlings (Handicraft)
Moggy Morgan:
Mr W Morgan (English)
Taffy:
Mr W D Evans (Head Master)
Wiggs:
Mr H W Wigley (Physics)
From the Pages of The
Thorntonian
Autumn 1961: Past
Editions of the School Magazine
By
DAVID WHITING
It
is no surprise to discover that school life and school magazines alter very
little through many years. Senior Old
Boys will remember the “Bat”, the school magazine of Battersea Polytechnic and
Latchmere Road.
There
were then, as now, many societies.
Parliamentary, Science and Library and Debating Societies were always
active and there were less popular societies being formed and reformed as they
declined and ceased to be. The subjects
of debate were as wide as today’s, ranging from Female Suffrage in the early
years to Pacifism just before the First Great War, becoming often economical
during the depression when the School moved to he present buildings ,and
finally embracing the “wind of change” and Nuclear Disarmament of the
Sixties. Early on, light relief was
provided by debates on pixies and homeworks [sic], whereas recently we have discussed fairies
and whether history is bunk.
The
Magazine reveals a comforting continuity of Staff. Earlier numbers are full of references to Messrs. Cooper, Read,
and Yorke. One is impressed with Mr.
Cooper’s prowess as a singer, and with Mr. Read’s long-standing skill with a
camera, and his idea of a motion picture of the School.
The
style of writing, with the exception of the early use of the word “fellows”, is
much the same, and so is the style of speeches:
“The
world is going to be a more and more difficult places for the poorly educated
man…On the other hand there was never such scope for the man who has acquired
knowledge and the power to use it… who has achieved the habit of a disciplined
life…”
“He
urged the boys to develop the qualities of leadership… He had been astounded
at the vast need for skilled men in industry…”
Interesting
as this aspect of the magazines is, they are most valuable as a record of the
School. The Headmaster is trying to get
together a complete set for reference purposes, but certain numbers are
missing. We should, therefore, be very
grateful if anyone could give us copies of any of the following issues: Autumn 1934; any magazines published in
1953; publications between 1947 and 1950. [The Editor has been able
to trace copies of the Autumn 1934 and Spring and
Autumn 1950 issues. It is likely
that, for whatever reason(s), 1947-9 and 1953 were ”non-publication” years.
]
The
“New” School
Issue
no 2 (May 2007) included an extract from the magazine report on the opening of
the renamed school, on the Clapham site,
in 1929. Readers may also be interested
in the following additional information, taken from the Prospectus issued by
the County Hall Education Officer in June of that year. The introductory page describes HTS as “A
Public Secondary School for 450 Boys from 10 to 19 years of age”, and the main
text continues:
FOUNDATION
AND MANAGEMENT. The school is
maintained by the London County Council in accordance with the Regulations of
the Board of Education for Secondary Schools.
The Council is assisted in the administration of the School by a
Governing Body, specially elected, who take a keen interest in the welfare of
the School.
The
School was opened in its present buildings in January, 1929. It stands in a large garden at 45, South
Side, Clapham Common, and is easily accessible from Clapham Common or South
Clapham Tube Stations. The School is
served by many ’bus and tram routes.* Before 1929, the School, which was
originally founded in 1894 as a branch of the Battersea Polytechnic, and was
taken over by the London County Council in 1918, was in buildings in
Battersea. It received its present name
on being transferred to the site it now occupies, near the birthplace of Henry
Thornton, who took a prominent part in the movement resulting in the abolition
of the Slave Trade.
*Trams
Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 20, 32, 34, and Buses Nos. 5, 32, 35, 42, 45, 51, 67, 70, 80,
88, 89, 105, 180 all pass near the School.
PREMISES. The buildings are of the most modern type,
and include all the latest educational facilities. There are spacious Chemistry and Physics Laboratories, a specially
fitted Geography room, an Art room, a Handcraft room and fifteen classrooms.
There are also a Dining-hall, a fine Library and an excellent modern
Gymnasium. The School assembles in the Great Hall each morning for
prayers. There is a playing field
behind the School, with a concrete cricket-pitch for net practice, and a large
paved space for playground games in front.
Plunge-baths are also provided, and in the garden are two fives courts. The School also has large playing-fields at
Roehampton.
CURRICULUM. The regular subjects of the curriculum as
follows:–
|
English
Literature and Language. |
History. |
Art. |
|
Mathematics. |
Physics. |
*Scripture. |
|
French. |
Chemistry. |
Handicraft. |
|
Latin. |
Geography. |
Physical
Training. |
|
Economics. |
Singing. |
|
*Exemption
from this subject will be granted to any pupil whose parents desire it.
Pupils
take the General School Examination of the University of London at the age of
15 to 17. A pass with credit at this
examination is equivalent to Matriculation.
…
ADVANCED
COURSES. For pupils who have passed
Matriculation there are Advanced Courses in Political and Economic Studies and
in Science and Mathematics. Pupils take
the Higher Certificate Examination of the University of London, and by passing
in the requisite subjects, obtain in addition the Intermediate Science
Certificate. These Courses are
particularly suitable for pupils who aim at high positions in the commercial
and scientific world. There is also an
Arts Course for pupils specialising in Classics, English and History. The School has in recent years obtained many
open scholarships at the Universities of Cambridge and London.
[Selected
photographs from the prospectus are displayed on the website; click on
Memorabilia and then Buildings. Ed]
Teaching Staff
Here’s
the third list, detailing appointments from (or including) the 1950s. As always, please advise Ted Hayward of any
amendments or additions.
(excluding temporary appointments)
TEACHING STAFF: 1950s
|
D B Gaskin |
Head Master (1951-5) |
|
B
J F Dorrington |
Head Master (1956-66) |
|
|
|
|
J
G Allott |
PE (Succeeded Bramble in 1958; Officer i/c ATC
1351 Squadron from 1959) |
|
E Aufricht |
German (1948-58) |
|
S M Beadle |
Geography (1953-7) |
|
D Black |
Science
(1959- ?) |
|
C B Bonner |
English Literature (1955-63) |
|
R
S Bramble |
PE (1925-58) |
|
J R Carr |
History (1952-9) |
|
A H Chatterley |
Music (1957-61; succeeded Smethurst) |
|
N R Clare |
?French
(?-1954) |
|
W
J Cooper |
Latin; also i/c Sixth Form (1928-62, and
subsequently part-time) |
|
A
C Cossins |
Mathematics (1935-52) |
|
W
R Davies |
English, French, Games (1946-68, inc Acting Head
Master 1967-8) |
|
F E Delaney |
Economics (Succeeded Noah in 1958) |
|
G W Dix |
Art (1925-51; succeeded by Langford) |
|
J Doolan |
English (1958-?) |
|
D H Dyer |
History, Mathematics (1959-?) |
|
J D Edmunds |
French, English (1954-5) |
|
C
W Gribble |
French (1920-54; succeeded John as Second Master
in 1950; died 1959) |
|
D Griffiths |
English, Religious Instruction (1953-6) |
|
P R Hanna |
English (1954-6) |
|
E
L Hillman |
English (1946-52) |
|
W
F Hofmann |
Physics (1947-1970s) |
|
D W Huntley |
Art (1953-9; succeeded Langford) |
|
H E James |
?Geography |
|
C
E G Jeremy |
History; and Asst Master and Deputy Head Master
(1919-59; also pupil, 1909-13, at the original Battersea Polytechnic
Secondary School; died 5.9.62) |
|
A A Jones |
English (1959-62) |
|
A W Lambert |
French (1931-61; succeeded Gribble as Senior
French Master 1954) |
|
R R Langford |
Art (1951-3; succeeded Dix) |
|
P R G Layard |
History (1959-?) |
|
S Linden |
German (1950-?1970s) |
|
A N Littlewood |
Technology (1959-60) |
|
W M McElroy |
English/Drama (1957-9) |
|
H B McKie |
Mathematics (1958-?) |
|
A L Marshall |
Art (1959-?) |
|
A N Mason |
? (1957-9) |
|
S May |
Geography (1946-?; died 1973) |
|
J I Morris |
English (1952-8; succeeded Hillman) |
|
H J Noah |
Economics (1950-60) |
|
S
A Owen |
RE, Mathematics (1946-55) |
|
J B Phillips |
General Science, then Biology (1947-?) |
|
M
B Pollard |
English (1959-?) |
|
K
C G Price |
Science (1959-60) |
|
H
G Rawlings |
Handicraft, Technical Drawing (1936-55) |
|
S
W Read |
Chemistry (1933-68, inc Acting Head Master
1966-7) |
|
C G Rees |
Science, Technical Drawing (1955-?) |
|
L H C Searle |
Handicraft (1955-9; succeeded Rawlings) |
|
H Smethurst |
Music (1951-7) |
|
R Smith |
English (1957-9) |
|
H D Talbot |
Geography (Succeeded Beadle in 1958) |
|
A E Taylor |
Music (?1945-?) |
|
R Tearse |
Mathematics (1956-7) |
|
D
R M West |
French, Russian (1956-?; succeeded Williams i/c
ATC 1351 Squadron from 1958) |
|
D H Wheeler |
Mathematics
(1952-6; succeeded Cossins) |
|
D C Williams |
Mathematics (1944-58; also i/c ATC 1351
Squadron; died 5.7.62) |
|
G B Wilson |
History (1948-52) |
|
S V Yorke |
Mathematics (1946-61) |
___________________________________________________________________________
The Editor welcomes contributions for future
issues. Please post or e-mail them to
Ted Hayward, 31 Linfields, Little Chalfont, Amersham, Bucks HP7 9QH; ted.hayward@btinternet.com
Association President: Jimmy Hill OBE Website: www.oldthorntoniansclapham.org.uk