13 April 2001

Memory test for the 1964-1971 generation

Which teacher professed to have 'coom from Scoonthorpe'? Which teacher lost his cool and announced that he was 'fed and sick up with you all'? Which language teacher,on hearing a place name in the country concerned, had usually 'bin there'and went on to say when, why, etc etc....ad nauseam?

8 comments:

  1. Hi Mike, Welcome to the list, and thanks for posting this message. Sorry but I don't know the answers to the puzzle, the younger members should do though! Please post a photo if you have one, regards, jim wishart, list manager   

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  2. Hello Mike, nice to run into you again. It was Mr Rolfe who got "fed and sick up" with us, and Mr Hammond who had "been" everywhere. And who had "coom from Scunthorpe"? You've got me there ... maybe one of the teachers who you encountered after our paths diverged in the Sixth Form. But please let me know!

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  3. Thanks Jim, very interesting site and a good idea to set it up.   Hi Bernard - and good to make contact again (after all of 30 years!). Actually the one you didn't get is the one I thought you'd know immediately - it was Ken Redmore (Chemistry - did he take you for that?). But spot on with the other two.   More generally, people of our era seem very thin on the OS ground. I joined OSS about 5 years ago and have been to a couple of meetings and one dinner, but all those there seemed to be one or several generations prior to ours. I attended the centenary of Peter Symonds School back in 97 and met Ian McDonald, Keith Kirby, Chris Bacon and Paul Hammond from our year. John Ashurst was there looking much greyer, otherwise the same voice, but much more charm than he ever used when talking to us as pupils! I have often told our own three sons how a look from him could demolish a brick wall at 50 yards, but they just don't believe me!   Otherwise at the same occasion, saw Faulds (Biology), Dearnleigh, Chalky White, Tweedy Harris, Biffer Smith (now died), - even John Shields, pre-Ashurst head, was there aged 90 something - now passed on sadly.   As you rose easily to my initial challenge, I'll try and think of some more memory testers. Are you in contact with any other OSs?

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  4. Amazing - thanks for the reply. I had no idea that any centenary celebration was taking place, but I'm now living in Santa Barbara, CA, and it sounds as though lines of communication weren't as open in those days as they are now. I remember all the people you met very well. Did you or anyone take any pictures? I'd love to see what everyone looks like now. Maybe you could post some shots on this site. The only contemporaries of ours I'm in touch with are Bob Lane and Bill Ricquier, but they have themselves only re-established communication recently, and only by e-mail, so that's why I'm very glad that this message board has been set up. Thanks for the reply and I'll be checking back regularly!

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  5. Unfortunately I did not take any photographs, but there may have been one or two published in the Hampshire Chronicle at the time of the dinner held over the weekend of the centenary.   All those whom I mentioned were instantly recognisable, which is reassuring as we all age!  

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  6. Hi, Mike! Reading your posting was a real memory jerker.  Some names there I haven't heard for a long time.  I remember when Dicky Dearnleigh came to PSS - his first attempt at the thermite reaction was a total failure! Do you remember any of these OSs: Clive Bringlow, who lived in Compton and was a brilliant musician Ian Greenfield, who ived in Eastleigh and rode to school on a Lambretta Pete Bernfeld - just an all round 'good bloke' Chris Hill - the only one I've ever seen since.  Met him in the police force - hope his career lasted longer than mine! And many others over the years! Bob Crocker (64 to 70)  

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  7. Hi Bob, nice to hear from you. Sorry for delay in replying, haven't visited site in a while   Yes, I remember all those names apart from Chris Hill, who I can't recall. Some of them came up on the train from the Eastleigh direction I think, whereas I came on the train from Alresford to school every day. On the same train were Tim Fielder (year above us), Jim Bulloch (in your form?), Ray Bevan, Martin Gardiner, Kit Nielson and Ray Carter (both 3 years above us). Some others whose names I've forgotten.   Also in our year there was Colin Ivory who always seemed to be in trouble. I used to think he was rather picked on by teachers.   Pete Bernfeld's dad owned a jeweller's business in Winchester and I think his family lived in a mega-house in Chilbolton Avenue (remember gasping your lungs out in cross-country runs along there?!)   Best wishes   Mike Hedges

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  8. Hello Bob and Mike I have just returned from England (I live in Santa Barbara, California) because I got married six weeks ago! Just thought I'd let you know. I remember Colin Ivory, but he wasn't really picked on - he usually deserved it, if you see what I mean. I also remember Gardiner, Bevan and Bulloch, and old Bringlow (you're right, he was a gifted musician), and I often wonder what happened to them all. Maybe someone should organise a reunion for everyone. Hello to everyone and please stay in touch! Bernard Webber  

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