We want to make this website as user-friendly as possible. Therefore we have created two new sections, which we hope will help OWs.

MISSING OWs

We know that we have lost contact with a number of OWs. If you are a member and have not received a magazine in February, do let us know. We have published a list of those members with whom we have lost touch. Please check the list and, if you know a contact address of any on the list, please tell us.

We have now published a list of OWs living abroad, to help any OW living overseas meet up with another OW living in the same country.

Please let me know of any other way in which we can improve the site.

I see in your latest letter on the RGS website that you have a question about the egg-throwing incident at Beaconsfield Station. I remember it well. I was one of the ‘interviewees’ at the time. The culprit did not throw the egg: it was broken on top of the guard’s head. After getting through the barrier it was possible to reach over the fence from the lower steps of the footbridge, carry out the dirty deed and then make an escape across the footbridge, while the victim was at the barrier surrounded by hundreds of boys who all had a clear view of the incident. My recollection is that the culprit was ******’ (Fear of an expensive libel action forces me to withhold the name at this stage! Editor.)

Michael Davies.

‘Dear Ian,

I was prompted to write by my brother, Robin, who also attended RGS, followed by my brother Timothy, and then myself. I have great memories of the place. I was at Uplyme under Mervyn Lewis and was in the X stream. Once in the 6^th form I remember we had the first and only girl in our classics classes, Helena Ellis*, if I remember correctly. I wonder where she is now! Teachers I remember: Chunky Jones (French language), Crappy Hett (French literature), a very tall man for English whose name and nickname I have forgotten.

Chunky Jones used to take our homework and stick it in the boot of his car, never to be seen again. Rumour had it that his garage was full of unmarked homework. We were always able to distract Mr. Hett by asking him about his wartime experiences as a pilot. Sport - cross-country running (or hiding in the woods for a while with a cigarette and then running back onto the playing field), and rifle shooting (or firing a few rounds and then lying in the grass for the rest of the period). Mervyn had a particular TV programme that he watched regularly - one of my chums spent half an hour in the loft with a spark generator, turning the handle now and then and hearing Mervyn walking across the lounge and thumping the TV each time! I got involved in the G&S operas and did Patience (as Lady Angela with my brother Tim as the Duke - I think he even has a photo of us still), HMS Pinafore in the chorus. I also remember seeing a production of The Mikado where it was obvious to the front rows that the men's hats had been made from Kellogg's cornflake packets. Names I remember: Chris (?) Boireau, Chris Marshall and David Farley who had both also attended my previous school, Ian Dury, who had leg irons, and Robin (?) King, (who had a very dangerous motorcycle.) I also remember the 'winkle shooting boat' in woodwork classes. I was in the Navy Cadets and remember some occasion when a visiting dignitary came and we all had to line the route in the blazing sun. I don't really recognise many people in the database from my time, but then it was a long time ago. I now live in Holland where I am a freelance Dutch to English translator. My eldest brother has retired and Tim is now Operations Manager for BA at Heathrow.’

Yours

Martyn Thirlway

wands@chello.nl

* Editor: "Helena, are you reading this? Anyone know where Helena is now? Do let me know."

Dear Ian

just found the programme for the 1958 production of the Mikado, and it was a photo of the cast of the Mikado that appeared in the February edition. Here are a few names. To my shame I can't remember (or maybe I didn't know) the first names of some of the cast.

The second row are from the left: ? , ? , N Gravette (Pooh Bah), Brian Hankey (Pitti-Sing), Jim Scouse (Katisha), John Burnell (Ko-Ko), R Paine (Mikado), Andrew Dixon (Yum-Yum), John Camp (Nanki-Pooh), Ron or Dick Cass (Peep-Bo), Dick? Rothwell (Pish-Tush), John? Dawes (Go-To).

Back row: second from left Edwin Janes - later RSM of CCF. 6th & 5^th from the right: Roy Gravstock and John Crayford. 2nd from the right: John Shackell - also CCF, RSM.

Front Row: 4th & 3rd from right Peter Farmer & Robin Wilson – later shared the fun of running the stage lighting with me under the direction of "Alpha" Leggett - Physics master - really lovely man - used to sneeze quite often and would let us count them out loud, after the third one!! Robin's mother was on the staff for some time - taught Maths I think. (Ed. "Yes, she did.) "Jack" Dawes was the producer - head of music - another really nice chap - also organist of Wycombe parish church.

It was a great production we all thought. Brian played a wonderfully moving Jack Point in the Yeoman of the Guard two years later. I went on to play Ko Ko myself at University and loved all the showing off the part could give me! My future wife came to our first production in the new Queens Hall, Ruddigore. She came to see the timps player, Clifton Hughes, but ended up with me after we met at Leicester University!

Andrew Dixon

‘Dear Sir,

I was there when the Queen visited, in the front row. I was in the "Lining of the Route." In uniform, but we did not have rifles as the Guard of Honour did.

ERT (aka Boss) had one regret about the visit, & I think he told Her Majesty; he would have liked us to sing "God Save the Queen" for her. I seem to remember singing it every day for months before & after the visit in assembly.

Yes, I remember Milk of Magnesia, and I still (very occasionally) use it. I now prefer tablet form, but nurse at "Uplyme" used the liquid form on us.

Looking at the photo of the Scouts, I think that the scouts were (L-R) Claire, Daley, Bireau, (all of Uplyme Boarding House) & the Senior Scout Master, Mr. Lawrence. He was not a master; he worked at the Admiralty.’

Nick Avery ('57 -'64)

‘Dear Ian,

With regard to the class 2E photo of 1963-4 I certainly did recognise myself (1st left, front row) pulling a face as usual. It's funny about memories. Mine of 2E are much the same as John's. But I also remember Mr Hollingsworth (Junior Head and our English teacher) teaching grammar by getting us to parse sentences by putting the Subject, Object, Verb, etc into boxes linked by arrows, and Rex Jones the head of games, who took us for PE (anyone remember being slippered for talking during changing or not being fast enough into your PE gear?). I was also in 6th (or was it 7^th?) set Rugby with him. There wasn't an actual pitch for us, but he got us to lay one out in front of the pavilion using our bags and briefcases. We were the set of all those who either hated games, were partially excused etc. At least he got us to run around a bit. There are a few others in the picture I can put names to, D.J.Moore and D.J.Moore (there were two), Ian Orme, Dave Morris, Chris Menmuir.

Anyone remember being in the School Choir in 63/64 and performing Handel's Messiah and Walton's Belshazzar's Feast?

Steven A John's plea for contact contained names that I was in 6th form with - Dave Barker (who we used to give a lift home to on occasion - he lived in Prestwood, we in Great Kingshill); Tony Reiss my bridge partner; and a couple of other familiar names.

Anyone who recognises my name can contact me at everettj@web.de. I live in Nuremberg, Germany.

There may also be some older old boys who will recognise my brother's name, Dave Everett (he's actually A.D.Everett, but always uses his middle name). He left in 62 going on to qualify as an Architect. He was renowned for three things (well that's what he says) - doing A-Level Art; being the scruffiest Corporal in the RAF Section CCF; and going out with Bulldog's* daughter (and yes, he did marry her! The reception was held in the Staff Room in the Queens Building during the summer holidays). He did leave one mark at the school for me to find though. I ended up cleaning a load of stage flats that were all signed A.D.E.

*Bulldog = Wally Clark, the late Head of Maths at the RGS (up to the late 70's if I remember rightly).’

Jon Everett

RGS 1963-1965 and 1966-1970

PS the missing year was spent at Wellington Grammar in Shropshire.

‘Dear Ian,

Here are some memories of E.R. Tucker, circa 1949-55:

1. I was unfortunate to fail 'O' Level Latin and needed it to enter University later on. Upon inspecting time off periods in my 6th Form schedule I discovered that no Latin lessons throughout the entire curriculum coincided with them and I would therefore be unable to complete that examination. This is where ERT stepped in. He told me that he would give me private Latin lessons either during school hours or afterwards. This he did for a whole term and I eventually passed. Although I never did make it to Leeds University where I had a place to study Geography.

2. I agreed to have an exchange German student stay at my parent's house, but before that he boarded at School House for a few weeks. ERT had to go to Cambridge University and he took both of us out of school and drove us to Cambridge. It was raining for a time and we had the windscreen wipers on. These had an hypnotic effect on ERT and once he fell asleep at the wheel, until I shouted at him to wake up. True to his commitment, he made me translate the Latin inscriptions seen in Kings College Chapel.

3. Watching a rugby match, his daughter was walking her dog which slipped its lead and cavorted among the players. An irate ERT shouted at her to remove the offending animal forthwith.

4. ERT sometimes played the piano for hymns at Morning Assembly or Boarding House Sunday Evening prayers. He always started each new verse by hitting the one note upon which we were to start.’

Peter Draper

‘Dear Ian

I have read some of the emails from other OBs and thought I'd add some of my best and worst memories, from the 1970s:

Best memories:

Geography Field trips to Aberystwyth and North Yorkshire; letting friends cut in line to get into the tuckshop; chemistry experiment mishaps; the camaraderie in School House; playing rugby; canoeing at Marlow (with CCF); annual show put on by the staff and other shows; football matches (Boys vs Masters); pocket money night in school house (funny how we never got our hair cut); Jonathan Davis telling the Dorm stories at night featuring members of staff as the main characters

Worst memories:

Sunday tea at School House (salad, cold meat and stale bread/cakes) - then going to chapel; my first night in School House (homesick); cross country; having to go into Bog Alley; going to report in to John Skipp after watching a film (i.e. we went to the pub) on a Saturday night; aged and ripe rugby kit that someone forgot to wash; smelly feet in the dorm room

Memorable Staff: Some that come immediately to mind include:

John Samways (slides of Nigeria and geological phenomenon really made Geography fun), Malcolm Cook, Ray Dosser (tremendous sense of humour); Steve Goldthorpe (Toutou impressions were priceless); Alan Chuter (sp?) - French and Tuckshop; David Flinders (pieces of chalk blazing and all windows open in depth of winter); Derek White-Taylor (okay), John Skipp (always showed tremendous kindness and allowed us enough freedom to be Boys), Roebucks (Mr and Mrs); Mervyn-Davies (great story teller); Mrs Pattinson (School House matron).’

Neale Minch

Do these letters bring back memories of individuals or events? Can you add anything? Do email me with your recollections!

I REMEMBER.

We start an occasional series of memories of teachers or former teachers entitled "I remember".

Barry Kempson, Head of R.E. in the 1980s and 1990s, writes as follows:

I remember that on the 1^st October 1991 I was given the following excuse by *****for not handing in his GCSE Homework. (No names: fear of libel. Editor.)

Boy: "Well Sir, I could not do the reading necessary because there is a Mission on at Princes Risboro."

Barry: "Why did you go to that and leave your homework?"

Boy: " Oh no Sir, it wasn’t like that. They had an appeal for Bibles for Africa. The poor people cannot afford Bibles, you know. So I gave mine away to the appeal."

Barry: "But there has been a week-end since."

Boy: " Well, next day my mum tried to buy me a new one but the shops had all run out, I suppose with all the people buying them to send out to Africa. So I couldn’t do my work."

Barry: Look of scepticism and amusement

Boy: "True Sir. You must have heard about the Mission. I am surprised that you weren’t there."

Barry: " OK, so where is your Bible now?"

Boy: "Well, I think it’s somewhere on a plane over Africa."

GEORGE SMYTHE or MAURICE BARNES , who were at the RGS in about 1950. Are you there? Do contact me, as someone would like to contact you.

"The most of the masters play Rugby but our game is soccer. Many of our boys play for teams in the High Wycombe Minor League but these boys miss the valuable coaching which the Berks and Bucks FA have arranged. I hope that if any of our Governors see this they will do all the can to get soccer as our team game."

NB This extract is from the Bucks Free Press in July 1948 !

I was so pleased to have the opportunity to meet John Taylor, who was at the RGS for the period 1918-1923, and was therefore present at the school on Armistice Day in 1918. I was able to ask him questions and gained a very clear picture of what life was like at the RGS over eighty years ago. These are some more extracts from our conversation.

Was Art studied in those days?

Oh, yes. A chap, called Grant brought the standard of Art to a very high level. Each year every boy had to take a drawing exam set by the Royal Drawing Society. I used to pass it, though goodness knows how. There were some who were very good at Art, Ellford who went to the Royal Academy, and Victor Bennett who later went to the USA. He remained a very good friend of mine until his death. Grant also taught woodwork. I remember him getting us to try to make a round ruler out of a square piece of wood. He was a very nice man, but he always set us the same homework. Every day we used to have three subjects, thirty minutes each subject. In Art we always had to produce a painting or drawing on a small piece of paper. There was never much paper for us to use in those days. Anyway Victor Bennett painted a wonderful red rose for which he got ten out of ten. Grant used to mark the work with a very soft pencil. Victor gave me the piece of paper with the rose on it. I rubbed out the mark and handed it in as my piece of work three times, but I never got more than eight for it!

Was there any Sport?

Yes, there was soccer, and in the last two years Rugby was introduced. A Chemistry teacher called Scotby was in charge of the rugby, and of course shortly afterwards some old boys formed the Old Wycombiensians’ Rugby Club, which was later to become the Wycombe Rugby Club. There were players like George Eyles, John Walker, and Norman Barnes. I was too small for rugby, (Indeed I was the smallest boy but one in the CCF) and played hockey. After I left school, Wycombe Hockey Club consisted almost entirely of RGS Old Boys. There was the School Field to play on, and round about that time it was extended towards Terriers. We also used a field that was on the other side of the Amersham Road behind Terriers Church, called Redfords. The fives courts, erected about 1921, as a memorial to Old Boys who had been killed in the War, were very popular.

Were there any school teams with matches against other schools?

Yes. We had games every Tuesday, and for those who were not in the OTC also on Thursday. There was instruction for those in the School Team. For those who weren’t, the afternoon games were merely recreation. The matches against other schools were on Saturday afternoons after we had lessons in the morning. Those of us who were not playing had to watch, or at least we had to watch until we got ourselves registered on the touchline. Once we had done that we used to rush off to watch Wycombe Wanderers, or something like that.

That was voluntary, and we did all the usual things, like drill, map reading, shooting, and three-mile long route marches. The drill stood me in very good stead, when I joined the RAF, where among other things, I became the Officer responsible for Ceremonial Drill. Generally speaking it was the active ones who joined the OTC, the ones who liked games, and the ones we called "swots" who didn’t. The "swots" tried to get out of games too. There were school plays. I remember I actually got a part in Pickwick Papers. Berry was Sergeant Buzz Fuzz and Jimmy Hearn Sam Weller. It was put on in the School hall and the poor parents were expected to turn up and watch. There were no bands or orchestras when I was at the RGS.

There were no clubs either, apart from the Hobbies Club, which Grant started just after I left. It was Tucker who started the clubs later on.

After assembly I think we had two forty-minute lessons, then a ten-minute break two more lessons then a long lunch break. We could either eat lunch with the boarders in the Headmaster’s House or eat our sandwiches in a cloakroom. We were not allowed to go inside the classrooms. All the windows were thrown open. Arnison was a great fresh air fan.

Everybody had a locker with a key to it and you put your shoes and anything else in that. Whenever you came in the School Building you had to change into slippers, unless you were a prefect. I suppose that that was a real advantage of being a Prefect. If a boy stole anything from your locker because it was unlocked, he would get six of the best for stealing and you would get six for carelessness.

I went into the Sixth Form. There were only about twelve in the Sixth Form at that time. A good friend of mine called Percy Cutler, with whom I walked to school every morning along with George Ray, got an Exhibition to Reading University. He was the first boy at the RGS to go to University, and we all had a day’s holiday to celebrate. It was good in the Sixth Form, because you had free Study Periods and could play fives or read novels or something. I was only in the Sixth Form for a term, because my uncle died at the end of it, and I had to go into the Family Business at the age of sixteen. I thus avoided the usual leaving talk from Arnison, telling you not to eat mustard, because it stimulated your sex-drive, and that kind of thing.

After school you’d go down Amersham Hill on your bike and the girls from the High School would go down Priory Hill and you would meet them in the High Street. But Sunday evening in the Wycombe High Street was the big occasion. Everyone would turn up there. There was no traffic on Sunday evenings in those days through the High Street, and you’d walk up and down with your bowler hat, walking stick, kid gloves, and with a bit of luck you might by about nine o’clock strike up a conversation with a girl.

Yes, Amersham Hill was just a narrow lane in those days with two very steep bits and a more level piece in between. It did not have tarmac, because the steamroller could not get over the railway bridge. In any case it probably could not have got up the hill. There was much more horse traffic than motorcars then. I remember about twenty horse vans each day assembling at about nine o’clock in the evening, ready to take all the chairs made that day up to London. Of course the railway coming to Wycombe made a difference. I remember being taken by my father to the Cemetery to see the memorial put up for the twelve or so men killed when the tunnel they were making between here and Beaconsfield collapsed.

Yes, both from Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield and from Saunderton and Princes Risborough. They would then always have a good excuse for arriving ten minutes late. "Train was late, sir," they would say, whether it was or not.

I am not sure. They may have been boarders, like Grimsdale. Certainly the Davises were weekly boarders, and they came from Denner Hill on the way to Prestwood. Morris from Handy Cross Farm and the Reddings from Reddings Farm near where the Ski lift is now came by pony. The ponies would spend the day grazing on the School Field.

I had a bike and came up from the bottom of Hatters lane, where I lived, and then went across fields on a footpath past our games field at Redfords and across Amersham Hill to the school. I had one stile to climb over, I think. Of course in those days you had to wear your cap and if you were caught without it you would be given fifty lines. I‘d always fold mine and stuff it in my pocket. Another thing you had to do was to raise your cap if you saw a master. To touch it was not enough. If you didn’t, that was worth fifty lines. Manners were very important in those days. You mustn’t walk down the hill more than two abreast. I think manners were much better then than nowadays.

I remember the entrance from Amersham Hill. That was where the boarders built an enormous barricade when there was a massive snowfall, and bombarded the dayboys as they arrived at school. There were railings at the Amersham Hill entrance, but I do not have a very clear memory of it all. What I do remember was a great mass of yellow flowers at the front of the main building. I think they are called hypericon, and I have never liked them since I left school, as they reminded me of the return to school in September, when they were in full bloom.

Very happy indeed. I never did any work and I managed to bamboozle my parents about it. But yes, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Congratulations to Richard Hickox who was awarded a CBE in the recent Birthday Honours.

Also to Luke Donald who was 18^th in the American Open (an outstanding performance indeed!!)

A number of OW members have said that they would like to have the opportunity of buying the School Magazine which is published every July. If you wish to have a copy and live in the UK, please send a cheque for £4.00 payable to the Old Wycombiensians, to Ian Clark, 5 Foxhill Close, High Wycombe, HP13 5BR. If you live abroad, please send a cheque for £7.00 (and confirm your present address).

Some questions to those who were at the RGS in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Which teacher said and when? "Go and eat your passports!"

Which teacher used the four-letter f-word in Assembly?

Which teacher left the RGS in July and was apparently replaced by his twin brother in Sept?

Can you remember the occasions? Were you there? Have you memories of funny things that teachers said? Do send us your memories.