Fr ReU

Famous Pupils

Added by Richard Crooks on 04/02/2003 20:51:58 Year: 1974
John Rawling BBC Athletics and Boxing correspondent
.......in my view he supports the wrong Sheffield team! Up the Owls. Added by Brian Pollard on 17/01/2003 11:33:10 Year: 1971
Gareth Hulse Played the oboe in the school orchestra. Now plays it professionally, and has made recordings with internationally famous musicians e.g. The Nash Ensemble.

Added by Mark Chrystal on 22/12/2002 23:34:42 Year: 1990
Matt Clarke
Clarkey, played football for the first XI, and was perceived as a decent keeper. He has gone on to out shine all of us, on the field though, and has played for Rotherham, Sheff Wed and Crystal Palace amongst others. Good job, mate!

Added by Len Walker on 22/12/2002 18:15:29 Year: 1934
Gordon Nornable
Gordon Nornable MC Croix de Guerre.Gordon Highlanders.Had a distinguished war record,serving with the SOE in occupied France.In the words of Colonel Buckmaster ''he maintained throughout all his varied experiences the uncompromising toughness of his native Yorkshire''.In civvy life worked for Sheffield Public Works Dept.

Added by Chris Meakin on 05/09/2002 14:40:07 Year: 1960
Roger Laughton
Roger was deputy head prefect in his final year, and joined BBC Television after Oxford where he had edited "Cherwell". Producer ("Great ... Journeys of the World") and then senior management - inter alia brought "Neighbours" to the UK. Should have been D-G after Alastair Milne but along with several others was pipped for the job by the dreadful Birt. Went to Meridian TV instead.

Added by Chris Meakin on 28/01/2002 10:40:07 Year: 1956
Goulden,Thorp,Smith
A school performance of "Julius Caesar" in March 1956 included, as three of its crowd of "soldiers", P J Goulden, J B Thorp and R H Smith. Some 45 years later they were, respectively, British Ambassadors to NATO, Colombia and the Ukraine. See "Who's Who"

Added by Martin Hodds on 27/12/2001 14:54:02 Year: 1982
Julia Bradbury
Julia was with us only for a couple of years I seem to recall. She is on my 1A class photo from 1981/2, and went on to present a prog called Exclusive on Channel 5. I also noticed her on BBC Radio once.

Added by Paul Fox on 22/10/2001 23:47:40 Year: 1971
Gareth Hulse
I beg to differ with Brian's account [cos I know I'm right!] but Gareth played the OBOE not the Clarinet! Brian you should know better! Double reed not single etc. BTW I went out with your sister for a bit [a while I mean..] dear, dear Veronica

Added by Alastair Smith on 10/10/2001 20:31:57 Year: 1975
Matthew Bannister
Ex Head of Radio 1 and tipped at one point to be Chairman of the BBC

Added by Tara Cardwell on 26/09/2001 13:23:21 Year: 1970
Joe Elliot
Lead Singer with Def Leppard not sure what year he was there but know he did Art

Added by John Worrall on 03/09/2001 01:47:36 Year: 1974
Graham Fellows
He was, of course, "Jilted John" - wasn't he?

Added by John Worrall on 13/08/2001 01:16:49 Year: 1974
Phil Oakey
Of The Human League (remember the embrionic form of the League playing at Upper School in about 1972, with Phil Kersch(?) on guitar. Damned memory ain't what it used to be...)

Added by John Worrall on 13/08/2001 01:14:18 Year: 1974
Martin Ware
Also from the early line-up of The Human League, later of Heaven 17 (was it? - sorry Martin)

Added by Richard Havenhand on 11/05/2001 14:11:11 Year: 1983
Paul "Housemartins" Heaton
When Paul was on "The Word" he mentioned he went to King Teds. I think he also went to Lydgate. Don't know why he likes Hull so much though!?

Added by Kim Bradley on 09/03/2001 21:18:36 Year: 1977
Graham Fellows
Graham is now better known as John Shuttleworth, I think he got the name from Peter Shuttleworth he paid him a great compliment really by using his name.

Messages

Added by Ian Eccersley on 05/10/2001 16:51:42

6th Form Common Room

The Album 'Flowers of Evil' by Mountain bellowing out, superb.! Also the birth of Queen. Anybody remember Pete Stacey.?

Added by Ian Carr on 14/08/2001 21:55:31

6th Form common room

What an impact the introduction of girls had on the school. I distinctly remember listening to Pink Floyd's Meddle album with the lights out and the blackout curtains on the windows of the 6th form common room full of boys AND GIRLS, no unwholesome behaviour, but WOW, far out!

Added by Dominic Cheetham on 22/06/2001 19:08:36

6th form year end review

Re Tez - Remember it I certainly do. I also have a very blurry photo (thank god) of the event too! We'll probably one day find out Tez is a respectable civil servant - so it could be worth keeping hold of. That event and the trips to Berck really stick in my mind. Now what was the French teachers name...?

Added by Haworth Ward-Drummond on 15/05/2001 15:23:10

6th form year end review

Is it just me, or does anybody else have a giggle from time to time about TEZ opening the 6th Form review naked on the organ (so to speak!) there are of course so many other interesting memories from days at king teds, but that one was pretty amazing!

Added by Richard Crooks on 26/01/2003 22:09:23

Adam

Great French teacher, great character......his "tests" on a Friday morning for 5Y were something to look forward to.

Lots of memories.....a special one was when "Harry" Proctor walked back from the front of the class to his own desk and as he walked back he feigned that he had been tripped by Paul "Adolf" Littler as he fell to the floor.

There was all the proverbial to pay as Mr Adam charged down the class and cuffed Paul Littler and gave him a real earful....

The class was in uproar........best bit of acting I ever saw from Harry; best French teacher I ever had , Mr Adam.....

Added by Clive Buckler on 13/05/2002 20:34:06     Year: 1968

Adams (Fanny)

I remember one April fools' day when fanny (he who always wiped the board with his cloak) was taking our register. We'd turned all the desks (inc. his) round soe we were facing the opposit way to hem. Without any hesitation he took the register as normal whilst facing the wall.

Added by Fran Renwick on 11/11/2001 19:24:51

Air Raid Shelter

Does anyone remember the air raid shelter under The Close, with gas masks? and sharing the school with High Storres after the blitz? (My Dad, Brian Renwick does! He remembers David Swallow, too.)

Added by Richard Havenhand on 01/10/2001 17:46:43     Year: 1988

Aughton (Orton?)

MAJOR basin haircut - didn't like being called Rodney. Remember him chasing Simon Scruton after he unintentionally used this forbidden alias.

Added by Mark Barlow on 02/11/2001 17:00:01     Year: 1983

Aughton Rod

Wore a Sergio Tacchini tracksuit 10 years before they were fashionable. Unfortunately, it clashed with his hair.

Wonder what he's wearing now?

Added by Brian Brooks on 12/08/2001 13:24:41     Year: 1979

Aughton Roderick

Known 2 pupils as Robin Hood due 2 his hideous hairstyle.

Added by John Higginbotham on 10/07/2001 14:14:22     Year: 1966

Axford

I think the English master who directed plays at the school in the late sixties was M.T.J. (Martin) Axford. He was a form master of another first form when I started at the school in 1966, but I can't remember when he left.

Added by David Plews on 22/01/2002 17:07:44     Year: 1970

Axford M.T.J.

Ah yes - MTJA - taught me English A level and managed to instill a passion for English lit. that I still maintain. He wrote a book, I think on the metaphysical poets, or it may have been just specifically about John Donne. Does anyone remember it - or even have a copy. Although an excellent teacher, he had a short fuse and I remember one day he beat seven bells out of me for (yet another) smart-arse comment I came out with. One of the pupils in the class used the incident later as an essay and it is a lasting tribute to MTJA's integrity that not only did he give the piece top marks, but read it out in class and gave me a public apology! Well done Mr. Axford - your memory will always be treasured by at least this ex-pupil.

Added by Ian Wragg on 24/08/2001 22:35:15     Year: 1975

Ayers Dave

Always took school trips abroad. Famous for his 3 word proclamations. such as on the way there there will be "meal on flight", girls be aware the spaniards only want "sex on plate". Does anyone remember trip to Paris when he stood up and looked out of the coach window at some traffic lights in Paris and exclaimed "Good grief its Lord Carrington". To which everyone on the coach screamed Lord Carrington and banged on the windows. I remember he came up to the coach and asked how we all knew him. immortal phrase whilst looking out of the

Added by Paul Fox on 01/03/2002 20:49:30     Year: 1969

Ayers Dave & Sharpe

These two kept an eye on the the 1st 2nd & 3rd years at Darwin Lane. Mr Eyres was tall and slim and quite authoritarian, took care of the boys and discipline. He took us for games, like cross country and they both would walk to Forge Dam cafe to see if anyone was wagging it in there. (As if) Mrs Sharpe (and her 'orrible 'andbag) used to patrol the corridors looking for girls with make-up and jewellery. I recall one event when she had all the girls through her office, making them kneel on the floor whilst she measured the length of their skirts above the floor! (How is it I know this??) Those with too much leg showing were told off to make the skirts longer. She seemed to have very long arms cos her handbag was always near the floor.

Added by David Tunley on 18/09/2001 21:51:04     Year: 1962

Baker

Yet another who suffered at the hands of that devout religeous instrutor Mr.Baker. My crime - not ruling margins in my exercise book.

Added by John Worrall on 13/08/2001 00:51:01     Year: 1969

Baker

Ah, yes. Mr Baker - RE. Certainly feared, but also respected. damned well caned me in my first year, unjustly of course, but they all say that......
He left King Ted's, after I had left the school, to be Bursar (I think) at a private school. Later, it appeared that temptation had got the better of him and he ended up doing time for embezzelment! I would never have guessed. How do I know? My mother taught at King Ted's.

Added by Alan Leaver on 09/04/2002 19:47:17     Year: 1980

Baker

Deputy head I think, thin bloke, camp as anything and minced around the school in a black academic gown like Jackson and Sharrock. I heard he got fired after fiddling the school funds in the 80's. Graduated from Oxford and was interested in the occult. Very posh but over the top campness.

Added by Steve Raper on 06/08/2001 18:54:00     Year: 1969

Baker Charlie

RE teacher, who was feared by everyone. Well-scrubbed, caned any boy who moved, had a habit of nibbling on the end of the little finger of his left hand.

Added by Clive Buckler on 13/05/2002 20:29:47     Year: 1964

Baker Charlie

Threatened to cane me in 1964. My crime? I had opted to go to an organ recital at the church in Ranmoor and needed to get my cap out of my desk. Unfortunately, CHB was my form teacher and I disturbed his lesson to get my cap!! His writing on the board was really neat and tidy. Latin Bingo is also an enduring memory at the end of term.

Added by David Chamberlin on 05/11/2001 14:10:09     Year: 1968

Barnes Norman

NJB. It was quite possible to spend two lunchtimes AND one evening just singing in the choir or Mad Group (madrigal - or Mad, Wriggle as NJB had it on certain legendary notices). Norman's notices were always worth reading whether you sang or not. He made them from cut-out bits of SuperHero comics, so you'd read things like "Holy mackerel, Batman - you're in a hurry". "Yes, Boy Wonder, I've got to get to the TREBLES AND ALTOS PRACTICE at 12:30." He also, I believe, ran the church choir at Ranmoor parish church. He made me sing to my form once, which was embarrassing, and I'm sorry to say I let him down by larking about. If they don't make them like that any more, then they ought to, and my children are not being treated fairly.

Added by Stephen Joel on 25/06/2002 12:49:31     Year: 1968

Barnes Norman

The crazy music teacher(see memory posted by Ian Carr for 1967) would be Mr Norman Barnes, awesome organist and fan of Ravels Bolero long before Bo Derek or Torvill and Dean

Added by Ian Wragg on 24/08/2001 22:25:44     Year: 1975

Batty Miss

Real name Norma Snockers. Maths teacher with little or no control. Remember 4 members of our class getting out onto roof to find pencil dropped by Teddy Palmer. Bit naive but nice woman

Added by Paul Fox on 26/02/2002 00:25:53     Year: 1969

Bentham Miss

Miss M.A. Bentham. If I just put 'gorgeous' that would suffice. Tall, [every one was tall to me...] long legs, long hair, lovely eyes, lovely smile, soft voice, drooool....

She taught us Chemistry in the 1st year.  I blew it TOTALLY one day when we were doing an experiment and she took about 4 of us to the front bench to demonstrate something and I called her Mum... I died. I remember she laughed.

Miss Lowther was totally ace too - Biology lessons were a top priority.

Added by Roger Smith on 15/02/2002 15:13:55     Year: 1972

Booth

Prehistoric projector type device was in "Jerry" Booth's room. During many a scintillating geology lesson the said device would be completely dimantled and then rebuilt by many hands without "Jerry" even noticing.

Added by Steve Raper on 06/08/2001 18:17:52     Year: 1970

Booth Gerry

Geography teacher with a stutter. Still laugh to this day about the time he taught us about "Ooo, Ooo, Ooo, Oolithic Limestone"

Added by Chris Johnson on 19/04/2002 20:14:19     Year: 1986

Borman Mrs

Remember "Gagne" and "Lotto". These were the best lessons of the week!

Added by John Worrall on 13/08/2001 01:04:31     Year: 1974

Bramall - Spiv

I recall, in my second year ( be about 1968) Spiv having us open the front page of our text books so that he could inspect the entries we had made in the label inside (ie. name, form etc.). He proceeded round the class until reaching one unfortunate whose head he smacked - hard.
"Do you think it is funny now to write poaky in your book, boy?" he roared.
" But its my name, sir - P.Oakey"

That was typical of the man. (The boy was Phil Oakey - later of The Human League)

Added by Steve Raper on 06/08/2001 18:49:02     Year: 1970

Bramall - Spiv

Short French teacher who dressed, walked and talked like a spiv - hence the name.

Added by John Jefferis on 28/10/2001 11:32:32     Year: 1963

Bramall - Spiv

I remember Spiv teaching us French. His room was at the end of the building behind the columns, on the first floor. One lesson he was late arriving and we put his desk and chair out of the window onto the "balcony". Another time we broke into his desk and found a solitary, old, peice of wedding cake there, we wondered if it belonged to Miss haversham!.

Added by Michael George on 18/09/2002 15:26:34     Year: 1956

Burns

Shorty Burns. Taught English I think. He had a rather 'relaxed' teaching technique to begin with. His first year classes were a riot. After the first year however, he 'got tough' and became a well respected teacher who could discipline the class well as and when required.

Added by Darren Foster on 26/01/2003 18:06:08

Burton Mrs

Mrs Burton was an English teacher and our foam teacher. She was very sexy and all the lads fancied her.

Added by Peter Smith on 20/05/2002 13:34:07     Year: 1968

Carpenters

Do I remember them?

Mrs. Carpenter taught me organic chemistry 1971/72 and the one fact I still remember most vividly from my organic chemistry is that she had a birthmark high up on her left thigh.

I can still remember the sharp intake of breath when she used to stretch up to write at the top of the blackboard.

Mr. Carpenter er... remind me, who was he?

Added by Brian Marshall on 08/05/2002 09:19:15     Year: 1968

Carpenters

Does anyone remember the carpenters? He was tallish and had a goatee type beard and taught maths and she was blonde, nice figure, fantasy of all 16 yr olds and taught chemistry?

Added by Mark Reid on 25/08/2001 14:07:13

Chalked Body

Some person,when chased by Jeremy Dyal, tried to escape onto the narrow ledge outside a first floor window. Ofcourse he fell off and was quite badly hurt. But on arriving at school the following day someone had chalked his body out on the ground (Columbo murder scene style).A bit cruel but good value all the same.

Added by Richard Crooks on 06/07/2002 13:27:53     Year: 1967

Chapman Ken

History lesson in 1(3)....names of towns in Roman England being the subject.

We were stuck on the roman name for York......as a clue the Oldham Athletic supporting master, Ken Chapman, suggested we think about famous races that were held at York

"The Ebor sir"......

"Ah man after my own heart Crooks.....the winner this year was ....."

Eboracum and I've never forgotten!

Added by Zoe Francis on 30/09/2001 20:51:54

Circumnavigating the prefects room

Mark, Do you remember 'Circumnavigating the prefects room'?. I seem to remember that you and Graeme were particularly good at it. Not really suprising since you spent every available school hour practising. Anyway the tradition continues as my son is pretty good at circumnavigating the sitting room.

Added by Ian Carr on 14/08/2001 21:49:24

Clubs

Life is sometimes stranger than fiction but the clubs were actually called Houses, as in the famous country variety... Chatsworth House,Wentworth House, Arundel House, Haddon House, etc. I can't remember any more than the ones you listed but then it was a long time ago!.

Added by Brian Brooks on 12/08/2001 13:50:46     Year: 1979

Constadine

If you were unfortunante enough to misbehave in this guys class you would be given anything between 50 & 250 lines. Disobeying instructions can bring unpleasant consequences. Needless to say that he was one of the most respected teachers of my year.

Added by Jonathon Burns on 31/03/2002 22:33:17     Year: 1979

Constadine

When this man taught science it was both informative and funny..he used to call everyone 'Josephine Bruce' i think. i once had to write 250 of those awful lines he had concocted and they took ages. Sadly he died years ago..but one hell of a bloody good bloke and a teacher...he certainly inspired me to teach

Added by Clive Buckler on 13/05/2002 20:16:42     Year: 1965

Cook C. I. (Cicero)

My first ever memory of Rugby at Castle Dyke was crawling in a line with the rest of the year group, looking for a contact lense. This had been lost by one of the first team which was run by Cicero

Added by Susan Crossley on 21/01/2003 20:37:00

Cooper Mrs

I remember during one history lesson a lad was chatting and she throw a boardrubber at him, it just missed going through the open window at which she said "if it had gone through he would have followed it"

Added by Alison Stewart on 09/06/2002 17:43:22     Year: 1981

Cooper Mrs

My favourite teacher could spot mascara at a corridors length and I seem to remember spending a lot of time in the tuck shop queue for Mars bars for her.

Added by Julie Ellis on 12/05/2002 17:58:56     Year: 1978

Cooper Mrs

She was the best. If you got into trouble with her she was fair. She was a strong teacher. I had alot of respect for her.

Added by Robert Griffiths on 26/03/2002 11:11:19     Year: 1982

Corkill

A great geology / geography teacher who spent lots of his own time running the Duke of Ed. Scheme. I remember him as one of the coolest teachers at the time.

Added by Mark Reid on 02/09/2001 16:36:04     Year: 1983

Corkill (Peter?) (The Ayatola)

I think that's how you spell Ayatola but anyway Mr Corkill was a fab Geography teacher and a great bloke. I think he went to live in Germany.

Added by Joe Hackney on 17/08/2001 21:11:42     Year: 1986

Crossley Mrs

Lovely, if a bit hapless, physics teacher. Her lessons were always a bit on the riotous side. She showed great faith in her teaching skill by wishing, out loud, to take next years 6th form resit class when we were approaching o level time because she would miss us otherwise.

Added by Peter Smith on 23/02/2002 23:37:16     Year: 1968

Dobson Herbie

French teacher renowned for speaking French with a broad Yorkshire accent: "Wee lomm saytay don the fautay-y-y". He also treated his pupils with the greatest respect, I remember his favourite phrase was "you 'orrible little cretin".

Once he dragged out this hapless boy to be caned and we all heard: "swish...bang...ti nkle...oops...thwack&qu ot; as Herbie smashed a lightbulb on the upswing.

Overall though my French improved a lot after his lessons.

Added by Chris Meakin on 19/02/2002 16:37:48     Year: 1955

Effron

Billy Effron taught geography, French - and could teach just about anything else. Funny little chap. Quite brilliant. Spent his retirement collecting degrees in obscure subjects from Sheffield University.

Added by Nick Swinscoe on 18/10/2001 10:20:56

Enforced Skinny Dipping

How embarrassing, forgetting one's trunks and having to swim in the nude as Mr Davies's punishment. All those glass windows down the side of the pool, too. I've never recovered! Thankfully, the girls hadn't quite arrived at the school. Phew!

Added by Karen Stafford on 04/07/2001 21:33:20     Year: 1969

English

Who was the English teacher who produced all the plays in the late 60s? I was 'borrowed ' from Grange Grammar and had great fun being in 'All for Love' and 'Henry vi part 1'. I remember him on the stage and stressing out, yelling 'every one on this stage is an idiot' Then leaping off and shouting 'well now they are'!!

Added by Simon Kirby on 11/02/2002 15:01:41     Year: 1985

Eost

Music teacher, based on top floor of lower school. Who wasn't scared of him and his quiff!

All we ever did in music was listen to a record of the story "Peter and the wolf?" and he once sent me out of class for singing!.......quality.

Still, I know an Oboe when I hear one!!

Added by Paul Fox on 01/03/2002 20:34:40     Year: 1972

Evans Mrs (History)

The female history teacher could have been Mrs Evans, though that earlier ref was well before I think she came to KES. She had dark or black hair - seemed OK - in fact I think she was my last history teacher as I had the choice between history and music and I took music. Gave me more time with the late great NJB...

Added by Ian Wragg on 24/08/2001 23:06:42     Year: 1975

Finch

Mrs Manifields henchman. 6' 4" skinhead with doc martens on. Used to teach remove (sorry, special needs) class how to mend cars. Remember he used to walk along bottom floor at break times, knocking down any waif who was in his way or who could not jump onto the ledges in time

Added by John Wilson on 23/01/2003 12:50:58

Finch

Remember him once walking into the lower common room just as I was leaving and pinning me to the wall with his hand. Very scary man. Was he a qualified teacher or just some bloke who came into teach the remedials? I remember you could do Car Mechanics as a subsibiary subject and I think one term I turned up once to his class. Still got a "C, Satisfactory" on my school report though!

Added by Elizabeth Wallace on 25/06/2002 14:12:34     Year: 1992

Fone

I remember my first day at King Ted's and we were all in the hall. The first class was to be read out, 7L1, I was in it. I observed the teachers around the room and thought not that scary looking fella. Low and behold we got him, Mr Fone. He was my form teacher for three years, chocolate cake and chickedys... he was a winner!

Added by Moira Shepherd on 14/10/2001 18:32:05

French

I seem to recall a "select" group of pupils deliberately decided to push the front bench in the LLR off the edge of the platform in a combined 5XY French lesson, causing untold hilarity (as other pupils actually sitting in the bench at the time knew nothing of the evil plan). Poor Mrs Worral looked horrified. Did this surreal event actually happen as the memory of it still reduces me to tears of laughter now.

Added by Roz Combley on 09/07/2001 18:44:26

French trips

I also remember the French trips to Berck (and to somewhere closer to home - Thornbridge?? - where we were allowed to bring our own wine). The French teacher's name was Mrs Velarde. Her daughter, Dominique, was my best friend. Mrs V used a variety of unorthodox techniques to awaken our interest in French, such as pulling hair (Jo Rick's little blonde plaits). She was an inspired teacher though!

Stephen Blake on 03/04/2003 22:18:02 Year: 1964 German Cedric Taught English and was really well liked. Used to read Evelyn Waugh to us as a treat! He also trained lads for athletics/cross-country but when leading the running round the Close he'd quite soon become sick. He would just throw up to the side and then carry on as if nothing had happened! He had a mannerism sweeping back his hair across his forehead with a slow, exaggerated movement, which we used to mimic. A great guy.

Added by Clive Buckler on 13/05/2002 20:13:00     Year: 1971

Glass Miss

My upper sixth maths teacher(stats). One of the first young women teachers we had. She was excellent, really friendly and approachable.

Added by Paula Skelton on 19/02/2002 19:38:59

GOLDEN EAGLE INCIDENT

Anyone out there rembmer the'Golden Eagle' incident? Rumour has it that it was fixed up the the infamous 'Jokers' of flourbomb fame. A Golden Eagle had escaped from London Zoo and someone arranged for the brass eagle from the lecturn in the hall to be hoisted into a tree in the upper school grounds. The 'wags' then phoned the Sheffield Star to report that the 'Golden Eagle' had been spotted in the grounds of K.E. VII School. Children today clearly have no imagination!!

Added by Clive Buckler on 13/05/2002 20:09:57     Year: 1968

Grace

Anyone in my Physics class (year 3 I believe). One of the lads (Harrison?) asked to go to the toilet, AG gave him permission. When he got back very late he was asked why he'd taken so long, his reply, "how long does it take you sir?" earned him the cane. Harrison only tried that on because another class mate (Chris Bailey?) asked the same of Red Fred who thought it really funny - the only time we saw Red Fred laugh!!

Added by Stewart Rotherham on 04/10/2002 18:20:51     Year: 1968

Grace

Mr. Grace returned to the school in the mid-sixties, whilst there were still some who remembered him as a pupil. As a result, on the first day of the new school year, the Darkroom went into overdrive, producing copies of his - enlarged - first form photo, which were distributed liberally around the noticeboards. An unfortunate effect of name was that, since it features regularly in hymns, it would be emphasised with great gusto. This eventually roused Russ Sharrock's ire to the point where he leapt up, shouting to Norman Barnes to "Stop the organ!". "If that word is bellowed again," he continued, "you will all come back and practise it after school! Sing that verse again!" We did - and to a boy completely omitted the word "Grace". Flink thought this hilarious, but Russ was not, understandably, amused!

Added by Chris Meakin on 10/06/2002 06:10:21     Year: 1968

Grace Alan

Alan Grace was himself an Old Edwardian, via Oxford University. In his early youth he was at (long gone) Pitsmoor C of E Infants, where my mother taught him - his own mother was also a teacher there. Something of an infant tearaway in his day.

Added by Steve Raper on 06/08/2001 18:47:04     Year: 1970

Grace Tony

Young Physics teacher. Good bloke really, but mercilessly destroyed by 5th form. Got his revenge by caning me.

Added by Clive Buckler on 13/05/2002 20:22:54     Year: 1965

Halliwell

Sadly Mr. Halliwell died of cancer whilst still employed at the school. I remember those massive, strange pictures he produced. One was donated to the school in his memory (I'm sure it was one of the less explicit ones). My enduring memory is him eating huge salads when sat on the dais in the dinner hall on dinner duty.

Added by Peter Smith on 07/11/2001 22:57:34     Year: 1965

Halliwell

Does anyone remember Mr. Halliwell the art master, complete with a superb ex RAF moustache. My memories of him consist of him painting Rubensque nudes during the art lesson. Then of course there were the lessons themselves: "Now then boys" [in a great booming voice] "draw a naked woman as far down as you think decent."

Someone told me of an incident during a trip to an art gallery. Of course he headed off immediately for the nude paintings, then this lad came up to him and said, "Sir, that lady's chest doesn't look right." "Breasts boy, what do you know about breasts!"

A great character, he either retired through ill health while I was there or tragically died, I can't remember which.

Added by Chris Wright on 25/08/2001 15:18:58

Happy days???

First year - Charlie Baker as form teacher, latin and RE - were'nt we the lucky ones. We were warned he would cane a first year pupil immediately after half term (for some unknown reason we were allowed the first half term without fear of corporal punishment), and he did - not me though. He didn't get me until the fifth - smoking by the swimming pool!! Spent virtually the whole first year on egg shells - terrified of the man! Damn good teacher though. Anyone remember the Physics teacher - Bummer Grace - couldn't have controlled a vicars tea party, and didn't we play on it. About as good as Slug Thompson (French and German). I must have been one of few to suffer at the hands of Norman Barnes - caned for playing cards when a class mate threw a playing card at me!!! - still, I no doubt deserved it for earlier misdemeaners. - HAPPY DAYS

Added by Dave Hope on 24/12/2001 05:35:47     Year: 1960

Harrison

Mr Harrison taught me PE during my whole time at KES (1958 - 66). In that time he only ever wrote one word in my school report: 'Satisfactory'.

Is there anyone out there who ever had anything different?

I heard that he even wrote 'Satisfactory' in the report of one boy who had skived PE for the whole term!

Added by Kevan Judge on 14/05/2002 16:14:33     Year: 1971

Hemming"Josh"

Immortalised in my mind for two things:

1. Giving a glowing report for German, enthusing about my participation ((never my strong point:to be noticed)) in lessons, my wonderful grasp of the subject, and coming third in the exams. Not bad when you realise I didn't do German!

2. Sneezing, and blowing his false teeth onto the desk.

Added by Steve Raper on 02/09/2001 16:54:48

Houses

I think I now have a complete list of the 8 houses - Arundel,Chatsworth, Clumber, Hatton, Lynwood, Sherwood, Welbeck, Wentworth. I was in Wentworth.

Added by Wayne Biggin on 23/08/2001 21:51:49

Houses

The houses I remember: Arundel Chatsworth, Clumber, Haddon, Wentworth, Welbeck,plus 2 or 3 more, and when I started you were allocated alphabetically 2 at a time so if your name began with a you were almost always in Arundel. I was in Chatsworth.

Added by Paul Fox on 26/03/2002 23:40:13     Year: 1973

Howe Miss (Barbara)

Miss Howe took us for Eng. Lit. She was just LOVELY. Had a bit of a scar on her forehead but I could live with that. Eng. Lit. was well worth the angst of trying to understand Shakespeare {Midsummer Night's Dream) and Thomas Hardy (The Woodlanders) to sit through double periods of Miss Howe.......

Added by Alan Leaver on 09/04/2002 19:49:04     Year: 1980

Jack North

Very very old guy who took us for General English, whacked out and mad as a hatter. Wore a 1940's suit which was too tight and had greasy thin black hair. Space cadet type, very sharp and could talk anyone into doing anything. M

Added by Alan Leaver on 09/04/2002 19:45:37     Year: 1980

Jackson

Deputy Head I think, or was that Baker. Jackson was a bald, short man with a real problem if you did not conform to the school rules and wear your badge. He did not like me one little bit and the feeling was mutual. Known as BALDEAGLE generally and would stalk the corridors in rediculous mortar board and black academic gown. Unpleasant!!

Added by Steve Raper on 23/08/2001 09:18:27     Year: 1971

Jackson Flink

Flink Jackson - Deputy Head. Scared me. Why was he nicknamed Flink?

Added by Peter Smith on 23/02/2002 23:42:00     Year: 1971

Jepson Mrs

Girls arrived at King Teds a year or so before and we got young female teachers too. Mrs. Jepson was my Maths teacher for lower and upper sixth. Fantastic, I absolutely adored her and she inspired me in Maths also.

One added bonus was that she used to sit next to you on the desk while you were doing problems, she sometimes got so engrossed with the Maths that she didn't notice that her thigh was touching mine. This must have made everyone work that much harder.

Once she wrote something on the board that was obviously wrong, we all sat silently, nobody corrected her (you see we had all been Charlie Bakered). Once she realised the mistake she got upset because no one corrected her and the lesson was ended prematurely with her in tears. We all felt absolutely gutted that we had made her cry.

Ironically, she came back and apologised to us (someone had told her that we had all been conditioned to sit silently and not answer back).

So, if you are out there, Mrs. Jepson, a big thank you and I am really sorry for making you cry.

Added by Katherine Bailey on 11/05/2001 11:22:43     Year: 1984

Johnson Mrs

Mrs Johnson was head of 6th form for the girls when i was there. We called her Davros but no one ever knew what she was like because we hardly ever heard her speak

Added by Jonathan Williams on 12/06/2001 10:51:19     Year: 1985

Jones

English teacher and deputy head

very fair bloke. Good attitude. Liked by the majority of students. Tried hard to get the best out of us

Added by Alan Leaver on 09/04/2002 19:42:29     Year: 1979

Jones

Head of Art, bearded chap who painted steam trains, liked old style art, had a daughter in the 4th year I think, lived at bradway. Probably still painting steam trains. Odd sense of humour, a real traditionalist.

Added by Stewart Rotherham on 24/01/2003 20:15:38

Knowles B(ernard)

BK certainly deserves a "mention in despatches", even if he was not quite in the same league as Red Fred & Slug. He was, at the time, No. 2 in the physics team, and was my form master for a year, in room 16 on the ground floor in the old school (that was the year that we tried to have "Summer time" right through the winter - horrible). Romm 16 was - at that time - as cold as charity, but despite this a couple of the lads were eating their lunch (sandwiches) when BK came in to take the afternoon register. "What are you doing?" he thundered "This is NOT a cafeteria!"

Added by Ray Battye on 09/06/2002 22:28:11     Year: 1957

Kopke E.L.

As a member of the lowest year form at King Teds I was used to getting end of year exam marks in the teens, 20s and 30s and deserved no better. However, at the end of the third year I achieved 51% in Geography - not satisfactory for most but I was quietly pleased. Mr. Kopke sat on my iron framed desk and said "You know, Battye, you could do this subject if you wanted to." ( a verbatim quote)So, as this was the first time since primary school someone had told me I could achieve something in the class room, I became interested in Geography and started to "do this subject." Despite staying in the bottom form (and 5G2)I gained a place at Leeds Uni., then a BA and later an MA. and followed a career in education, retiring as a VP of a Sixth Form College. So, Mr. Kopke, if you are out there somewhere, thanks. Whatever else you achieved in your career you had a significant positive impact on one student at King Teds.

Added by Aidan Clarke on 22/09/2001 01:11:34     Year: 1986

lewis

Small Lancastrian who went on to work for a private school in derbyshire, well done taught me loads AIDAN

Added by David Fairey on 15/01/2003 11:14:48     Year: 1985

Little

It could only happen to a school teacher. See, Mr Little was anything but. He was a big fella but that's too easy; he had to illustrate his girth by driving the tiniest car man could find: A Hillman Imp.

I used to watch him arrive at the lower school, driving his little motor down the ramp into the carpark, thinking 'you poor suspension'. He resembled Buddha on a tricycle.

Alas, Mr Little was actually a nice bloke. I had him for R.E. and can recall that for some reason when he had to discuss circumcision with the class he went incredibly bright red. We was really embarrassed, poor thing.

Still, one of the better ones.

Added by Richard Crooks on 11/02/2003 18:46:05     Year: 1972

Lockett"Lucy"

Two particular memories:

On Wednesday afternoons in his three-quarter length light checked overcoat and trilby marching backwards and forwards just inside the school gates near the trees bringing to order the assembled disorganised crew of boys who were waiting for the buses for games at Whiteley Woods and Castle Dyke. His method was simple, crude and effective - in a semi-manufactured rage he would bellow words like "rabble" and "get in line".....

And he was a good teacher of Economics as well.

Added by Jonathan Williams on 22/05/2002 09:37:04

lower school

I always meant to go and take a photo of this beautiful place! Last year though, as I was driving past, it was gone!

Too late:-(

Added by Jonathan Williams on 29/05/2001 17:12:45     Year: 1985

Mace

Physics teacher at the upper school. Nice old fella, though sometimes during his lessons in the labs people would disappear gradually, only to be found at the end of class sitting in groups inside the bench cupboards!

Added by Brian Pollard on 31/08/2001 19:24:52     Year: 1968

Mace

Very thin Physics Master. Fairly strict, but a VERY good teacher. His instruction got me to think logically and scientifically (some of the time).

His thinness prompted Alan Pemberton ("Potty") to describe him as "The skeleton staff".

He played the double bass in the School orchestra - Mr. Mace and his double-bass.

Sometim es, he would make a mistake when writing an equation on the blackboard. If he noticed it subsequently, he would act out a little drama along the lines of "I really don't know why I am bothering with this, you are obviously not taking in anything I'm saying, really I'm just wasting your and my time, I might just as well give up and go home." It was all quite embarrassing. After a few minutes, he would snap out of it, and carry on as before.

Added by Marco Potesta on 15/05/2001 14:53:20     Year: 1982

Manifield Mrs

Mr Gallagher was his name I think.. boy was she ever scary... and the mole thing.. it all comes flooding back..

Added by Katherine Bailey on 11/05/2001 11:28:38     Year: 1984

Manifield Mrs

Yes! She was terrifying wasn't she!! And what was the name of her sidekick, a big guy whom I'm sure was an ex policeman before he came to King Teds Lower School? He may even have been the head teacher and Mrs Manifield the Deputy, but she was so scary he was a gentle giant in comparison! Mrs M's office was above the bridge connecting the two buildings and her window overlooked the playground. She would spot wrong do-ers and tap, loudly on the window with something metal. The whole playground would freeze in fear, look up and watch to see who she pointed her finger of doom at!

Added by Richard Havenhand on 11/05/2001 10:44:30     Year: 1988

Manifield Mrs

Mrs Manifield was a god fearing widow - teaching RE. She had a magic wart on her forehead that was used for sensing makeup on girls and chewing gum hidden in boy's mouths. She was the scariest woman I have ever met.

Added by Mark Reid on 02/09/2001 16:37:29     Year: 1983

Manifield Mrs

How could I have forgotten that wart as it throbbed, glowing, seeking out trouble from her bridge HQ? I remember being caught hopelessly and helplessly in the middle of the lunchtime crush,as it shoved and swayed along the bridge. Manifield emerged out of her lair and caught me in the beam of the wart. The crush was apparently all my fault.She vapourised me where I stood.

Added by David Fairey on 14/01/2003 16:39:09     Year: 1985

Manifield Mrs

THE DOT. It stuck out a mile. My brothers forewarned me: 'You'll recognise Manifield by the huge dot on her forehead'. When I saw it, coming at me like a cyclopse, I instinctively ducked (and I hadn't got out of my mum's car yet). It had an aura all its own; it permeated from her head, shone like a lighthouse in fog.

Someone used to draw a big circle on her office door and put a huge dot in the middle. It was like a bindi, only without the colour. It was naked. Man, it was scary.....

She wasn't too bad a woman. I hardly spoke to her infact. I'd run off shi ing myself at the merest sight of that spot!! SPOOKY!

Added by Martin Sills on 02/08/2001 22:01:50     Year: 1978

Marcer(?) Doc

Lived on Manchester Rd. also took outward bound. Didn't realise at the time(Youth) but what a great teacher and a wonderful sense of humour - much needed on occasion.

Added by Alastair Gent on 07/02/2002 02:46:06

Marijuna an Maths don't mix

Anyone able to verify the rumours about the growing of certain substances on the roof outside Twiff's maths room? Who can forget waiting outside Flinky Jackson's office on a charge of walking up the prefects stairs. How about when we took the day off to go to Fat Nat's funeral? I was in Arundel by the way along with my v much older brother, Graham.

Added by Samantha Godfrey on 05/07/2002 22:43:38     Year: 1984

Martin Miss

Miss Martin was my first year teacher, I remember Miss Marshall (PE) Miss Sargent(Home Economics), Any remember Mr Price (Maths)?. I frightened Miss Ward the art teacher by turning green at the after school Arts club.

Added by John Wilson on 23/01/2003 12:45:23     Year: 1976

Meredith Dave

Dave was PE teacher who with Dave Ayres escorted us on the fateful trip to Spain. Due to the girls being bothered on the beach by some unsavoury local hoods, Dave Meredith took upon himself the role of vigilante and attempted to negotiate with said hoodlums. To some effect I seem to recall despite the rumour that they were armed with knives.

As a young and streetwise teacher (to a degree) he would also be the one to have a word if there had been any trouble outside school. Well respected, he was from the new mould, light years away from the likes of Charlie Baker et al.

Added by Nick Swinscoe on 10/11/2001 11:21:32     Year: 1967

Middle-aged French Teacher

Yes, she was the one always threatening to fetch "Charlie" Baker to inflict some punishment. She never could understand where all the background humming was coming from. Was her name North?

Added by David Chamberlin on 05/11/2001 13:50:25     Year: 1967

Middle-aged French teacher...

That was possibly Mrs ("Ma") North (Joyce), though I thought she was there a little later. Taught French when given the chance... Another one whose classroom put her at the mercy of the climbers who disappeared out of one window and reappeared in through another one round the corner of the building. What is it with language teachers?

Added by John Scott on 24/03/2001 10:35:49     Year: 1986

My Eyes

Mr Eyee was a PE/ history teacher. He once fell asleep, (stood up), during assembly given by mr Sharrock - who'd read from a very old Bible for 30 minutes every week.

Added by David Parnell on 03/07/2002 23:27:56     Year: 1974

North Ma

The middle aged lady was affectionately known as "Ma North". She hated people eating fish and chips in the street!! Also we often wondered why she kept referring to one of our class by his christian name...James (ie. Jim Slack!) until we found out that she thought he was "so and so James" who was in a different class! This was about 6 months later!

Added by Steve Horner on 05/11/2001 05:52:41     Year: 1986

Pace Maice & Grace

Makes me laugh even now that 3 science teachers called Pace Maice and Grace sounds like solicitors! All good I wagged rest cos I liked science went on to do mathematics and computer design degree thanks

Added by Christopher Hayes on 01/05/2002 09:25:20     Year: 1978

Pardo Oliver

Do you remember mr Pardo, he was at king teds lower school. he used to teach various subjectshe used to drive a green citroen 2cv, and i think then he was a bit of a green warrior, I remember going on a school trip to leicester football club has he was a big fan (ithink it was more for his benefit than ours )

still i think on waht a great teacher

Added by Jane Rees on 28/10/2001 09:24:15     Year: 1977

Parkin

My Physics teacher. His lessons I always found interesting although I didn't understand them much!! He took a group of us on a weeks holiday on a canal. A barge trip. I remember there were 2 boats one for girls and one for boys. Mr Parkin and his wife slept on the girls boat and on the boys boat was no teacher at all. One night we (the boys and I) decided to stay up all night and into the early hours of the morning decided to move the barges down river so that when everyone woke up they would be in a different place. The boys boat was easy to move but on moving the girls boat Mr Parkin threw open the doors and told us that if we didn't leave the boat tied up right now we would all be home on a train in the morning. "and that goes for you too Jane" how he knew I was there I don't know till this day because I was hiding behind the door he had flung open.

Added by Ian Carr on 14/08/2001 21:44:50

Photo in "THE STAR"

As "also-ran" to my best mate(the appropriately named John Little) after he had successfully lost about 3 stone on a sponsored diet. He was just about the worst behaved kid in Charlie Baker's RE class but I heard rumours that he later returned as an RE teacher to the school, maybe somebody can confirm that. The game against City Grammar.. was particularly hard fought for the Under 14 XV in 1969. The game was played away and it could have gone either way....in the end we lost a very close game by 6-5.

The particular memory relates to the breakdown of a scrum late in the game.....the referee blew the whistle....he asked me if I was responsible for "this" as he opened his hand and presented half an ear lobe!!

I was not.....our captain, John Phillips, was clear he was not and there were no takers on our side. It could have been one of their players taking a misplaced bite.....but all in all it was not very pleasant!!.

Added by Chris Meakin on 05/09/2002 14:47:04

Pop comes to King Teds

Remember the agonising solo performances by spitty trumpeters at Final Assembly each July? Headmaster Nat Clapton didn't enjoy them either, so in 1962 - perhaps knowing something of developments at Liverpool Institute - asked Head Prefect Hetherington to "arrange" a rock band instead. Dave Nelson on piano, Chris Riley on bass - I forget the rest - and the immortal Roger Bagshaw swept down the aisle, grabbed a mike and launched fortissimo into "Bee-bop-a-lula, she's my baby". A first for King Teds. Clapton loved it, requesting an encore. Norman Barnes stayed away in utter disgust. The Beatles emerged four months later.

Added by Rebecca Pollitt on 04/11/2001 17:12:00

RE lesson with a difference

A gang of lads (including Kevin Tooze and Clive Kirby) got a large quantity of vodka from the supermarket in broomhill (?did they really nick it as it was claimed). Drank it one lunch hour then came back to school a bit the worse for wear. Everything was OK till RE when Kevin Tooze feeling a bit unwell lifted the lid of the desk he was sitting at and was sick in it! We all thought it was very funny till the teacher (thin, lots of makeup,called the Avon lady)lost it and put us all in detention till we confessed where they'd got the booze from and how. I don't think anyone ever did grass them up - till now!

Added by Garry Tindall on 14/03/2002 18:58:39

Re: The Backs

How well I remember the explosive device incident. If I recall, the culprit was one Ivan B (surname omitted for legal reasons!). The device was made from weedkiller/sugar, and when set off, blew a sizable chunk out of one of the wooden doors. This led to Flink's immortal comment that "someone could have had a foot blown off". The double entendre was not intended!! Many happy hours spent in the backs drinking gallons of free school milk and smoking the odd Embassy No 6. Looking back, the cloud of smoke rising above the backs must have been very obvious to anyone in the school. The milk came from the crates under the shed that was eventually converted into a garage for remedial classes run by the very scary South African, whose name escapes me at present.

Added by Steve Thorpe on 24/04/2002 17:08:22     Year: 1963

Rhodes Dusty

Bert Towers colleague in Geography. Walked with a limp (old war wound) and was utterley fearsome. This man threw boxes of chalk not the odd stick. However, rescued me from a life at the bottom of class by the simple expedient of giving me 25 out of 20 for some homework. 3 degrees later that is still my most formative educational experience - as the teacheers at my son's school are no doubt sick of hearing.

Added by Jonathan Williams on 12/06/2001 11:16:25     Year: 1985

Ringrose

wheelchair bound English(?) teacher at the lower school. His claims to fame were having the same initials as JR Ewing (er, right!) and seeing Dire Straits in concert I believe

Added by Jonathan Williams on 12/06/2001 11:19:57     Year: 1985

Robinson

Upper school Geography teacher. Youngish fella. really good laugh. There was a Miss Robinson who taught the other geography group and he used to get a bit of ribbing about their compatibility.

good fun. full of stories about what he'd been up to recently

Added by Stephanie Preston on 30/08/2001 10:00:28     Year: 1985

Robinson

Funny- but I seem to recall him too and yet I didn't even take Geography! Maybe it was his stories of what he'd been up to in our last year there that I remember so clearly!??

Added by Chris Meakin on 28/01/2002 10:30:05     Year: 1960

Robinson Keith

TKR arrived in 1954 to create an "Economics" sixth. By 1960 he was so successful his A/S entrants won 13 of the 25 distinctions awarded nationwide that year by the O&C Examination Board. Most popular man with the very picky Sixth Form, nowadays lives in excellent retirement in Buxton.

Added by Brian Brooks on 12/08/2001 13:31:45     Year: 1979

Rodgers Ian

P. E. teacher had a Freddy Mercury moustache & he used 2 mince round the gym. during lessons like John Inman. A really funny guy.

Added by Richard Havenhand on 13/06/2001 15:06:00     Year: 1988

Rogers

A "sports-teacher" in the widest possible sense. Used to smoke like a trooper - always remember running through a cloud of smoke at the cricket wicket when he was umpiring. Great example.

Added by Rebecca Billingham on 01/11/2001 13:01:27     Year: 1999

Rogers Mrs

History teacher who spoke so fast she could do all of world war one in an hour!!! Also saw her in the sunday paper once, V scary!!!!

Added by Roger Smith on 10/02/2002 09:35:24

School Anthem

...nunc adestis hoc sit omnis....tema nostri carmenis... etc.etc.and so the school anthem went on and on and on.......

Added by Philip Robinson on 01/02/2003 15:49:27

School Anthem

The tune was composed by Norman Barnes in the 1950s; I think the words were written by the head of classics at that time. I am no musician, but I did perform the first mouth organ rendering of the tune that Norman Barnes had ever heard. I doubt if he wanted to hear another one... The words were in three verses - 1: Tempus est ut concinamus quicquid Edwardensium, nunc adestis, hoc sit omnis thema nostri carminis; qualis est qui cuique nostrum semper aemulandus est? 2: ille verus Edwardensis, quisquis humani nihil, a sese alienum putabit, usque consors ceteris, sive gaudebunt secundis seu laborabunt malis. 3: strenuus labore mentis, corporis non negligens, omnium sententiarum perspicax inquisitor; semper artium bonarum pervicax videbitur. I failed ‘O’ level Latin, and so I will only attempt to transate the first verse: “It is time for us to sing together about Edwardians. You are present: let all be here, the subject of our song. What are our characteristics, that are always envied?"

Added by Paul Fox on 17/04/2002 13:50:22

School Anthem

The first two lines were: Tempus est ut concinamus, Quiquid Edwardensium (then) nunc adestis hoc sit omnium etc. but I forget the rest. Would I be right in thinking that NJB wrote the tune?

Added by Jonathan Williams on 12/06/2001 11:12:55

school skiing trip to Madesimo 1984

one night after running loose around the 'town' our hotel was surrounded by a load of local youths who weren't very happy (late at night / early morning). Teachers didn't have a clue what was going on. The hotel had naughty mags in reception too!! Needless to say these soon found their way to the lads' bedrooms!

bloody good holiday though

Added by James Wills on 14/02/2002 02:22:38

School Trophies on the roof

Anyone else recall the school trophies being hung from the roof of the upper school? This made the front page of The Star. Can't remember if the culprit was ever "caught", but his identity was pretty common knowledge as I recall.

Added by David Speight on 08/10/2001 21:55:09     Year: 1964

Scobie Bill

Does anyone know what became of WDL Scobie? He taught English from around 1964 to 1967 and was probably the most inspired teacher I ever met. A scotsman from quite a varied background - he'd been in social work in Glasgow in the 1950s, and had also worked for the Billy Graham organisation at some time in his career. Of slightly unconventional appearance, he probably predated the new romantics by 15 years, and his velvet jackets and straw boater were a regular sight in Newbould Lane.

As with many of the staff in that era, he had the ability to nurture enthusiasm in his pupils.

I believe Mr Thompson had endured some personal misfortune during the mid 60s. When I started at KES in 1961 he was a good disciplinarian, if an uninspired teacher of french. About 1964 he just seemed to lose interest in teaching, and suffered greatly at the hands of some pupils. Kids will do it, but looking back it was unfortunate.

Re: Flink

I believe "Flink" was named from the German word- flink - quick,lively, agile, which seems most apt.

He was a fine Maths teacher. I got hauled down to his office once and he actually listened to me and then made me feel ashamed of my actions without resorting to the cane.

Fine teacher - I almost feel sorry he was on the receiving end of the flour bomb (after my time).

Added by Philip Robinson on 19/01/2003 15:12:28     Year: 1964

Scobie Bill

Just answering David Speight's query, Bill Scobie was indeed a unique character. After leaving K.E.S. he taught at a college in Liverpool, and then I lost touch with him, but he was never in the best of health, and Brian “Lucy” Lockett told me that he died young.

Added by Peter Smith on 23/02/2002 23:49:05     Year: 1966

Scobie's William spelling test

Does anyone else remember this? I must have got about 3/10 on it.

Everyday words like:

diarrhoea haemorrhage(probably still spelt wrong)

Added by Catherine Walker on 08/06/2001 14:48:57     Year: 1986

Senor Ibarz

Spanish teacher who was a real poppet. Lived on Crookes and used to take us out on trips and invite the class for dinner. Brilliant teacher!

Added by Nick Swinscoe on 18/10/2001 10:09:50     Year: 1973

Shabby? Ken?

Anyone remember the maths (?) teacher (can't remember his real name) who looked so much like Monty P's Ken Shabby he was known to everyone by that name? Great guy, couldn't control a class.

Added by David Chamberlin on 05/11/2001 13:45:12     Year: 1968

Sharp Sam - possibly "Shabby"?

Mr Sharp taught maths and was my form master in (I think) 3L - in the newish wing where the Art rooms were. A decent young chap, but eventually got fed up with rude rhymes (courtesy John Fox, Geoff Hunt and others), so caned my pal Simon (T) Elliot (toilets), whose crime was to be in possession of the original manuscript as it was passed round...

Added by Jane Rees on 28/10/2001 09:12:17     Year: 1979

Simmons Mrs

Initials C.S. She was my maths teacher and was the wife of the local vicar in Crosspool. A very kind lady who gave me extra tuition to try to help me pass my o level.

Added by Paul Fox on 26/02/2002 00:21:08     Year: 1974

Some initials translated

The postings of teachers initials - these may be correct... DEG was Mr Gillion [hard 'G'] a short man who taught us maths. He was good too - I felt I learnt stuff.

PGC was Mr Corkill, taught Geology/Geography. Tallish with a full beard etc. Quite a wit - we learned about the rock structure around Lost Wi'Ethel in Cornwall.

DBB - possibly Mr Benn, for metalwork at Lower School. Had a superb workshop backing onto the top car park by the science labs. I did extra curricular lessons to build a go-kart with other like minded guys who built motor bikes and so on. Great chap. Smoked after school hours, drove a grey VW Beetle.

Added by Carol Battye on 14/10/2001 16:27:19

Stead

Can distinctly remember Mr Stead running up and down the classroom pretending to be a gladiator!! I think I would have lost interest in Latin sooner if it hadn't been for him!!

Added by Haworth Ward-Drummond on 01/06/2001 10:33:40     Year: 1985

Stead

What an amazing character, I'm sure that the teaching profession isn't suited to introverts, but I quite liked this guy. He had one arm of course, and in the second year I recall learning it's deadly accuracy when he hit and knocked my pen from my hand with a piece of chalk... whilst writing on a desk in a History lesson. I never did care much for Bessemer's Convertor..... (from HAZ)

Added by Angela Leadbeater on 26/01/2003 16:09:36

stead

poor mr stead history teacher god he used to get some some stick sorry Mr stead!

Added by Richard Crooks on 30/01/2003 18:48:49

The "Foot and Mouth" Crisis of 1968

I'll recollect for two things at school

 all cross-country running was banned for the duration.....few tears shed there

"Bert" Towers explanation of how the disease spread

- during a Geography lesson he took it upon himself to explain that the disease was essentially spread by birds flying from cattle to cattle in adjoining fields.. according to him starlings were apparently the main culprits

he chose to illustrate the role played by the birds by imitating their flying in front of "Daisy" ..... his arms moving up and down (rather slowly for a real bird) were apparently their wings

Quite bizarre and Pythonesque.... the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries might have learned something.....of what value I'm not sure

Added by Steve Knight on 03/10/2001 15:45:30

The Flour Bomb

I was there. The stuff that legends are made of!! One of the most memorable moments of my school career, in fact probably one of the most memorable events in the schools history. After all, it did make the local papers.....But why did they keep us back when the culprits had long since fled?

Added by James Smithson on 22/02/2002 16:56:17

The Flour Bomb

Phil Beet was the "culprit". Tragically he died in a car accident not long after leaving. I was a Prefect at the time and I still remember being marched out of the Hall to receive a "grilling".

Added by Peter Dean on 23/06/2001 17:16:00

The Flour Bomb

I was there (although in no way involved in the incident naturally). As far as I remember and from what I was told, I believe the flour was held by a rope and was actually released when a strategically placed candle burned through the rope and allowed the flour to fall - hence the concern at the time that the joke had been a serious fire hazard. It was nonetheless a cracking stunt and, like others here, I remember the audience collapsing when the next prize winner to come up was a kid called Whitehead

Added by Gregory Monaghan on 29/04/2001 10:39:24

The flour Bomb

I was there! The uproar lasted almost a hour as I remember and the news made the Sheffield Star.

Added by Stephen Joel on 26/04/2001 21:53:18

The Flour Bomb

To the best of my memory, the flour bomb incident was at the school speech day/prize-giving in 1974. The prize giving was being held in the school hall for the first time, it previously having been held in the City Hall. The flour bomb struck at 2:20 p.m. precisely and scored a direct hit on Mr Jackson (deputy head). The place was in uproar and it took ten minutes for everyone to calm down. Mr Jackson attempted bravely to carry on but unfortunately one of the next few names to be read out of the prize-winners list was Whitehead at which point the audience erupted in laughter again.I remember we were all subjected to a full roll call of the school and everyone was kept behind.

Added by Kim Bradley on 09/03/2001 21:22:36

The flour bomb

Some clever person got into the roof of the stage in the hall and set a timer on a flour bomb which then fell on to dupty heads head, was it Jackson? can't remember his name but I remember ther was hell to pay!!

Added by Ian Eccersley on 24/10/2001 15:42:19

The Flour Bomb

I remember the culprits were a bunch called the Jokers who because of the timed device, a tray, a candle burning and rope, were able to view the whole incident, some good the role call.! Mr.Jackson had unfortunate eyebrows that captured a fair majority of the flour. Russ Sharrocks was not amused. What annoyed me was all the teachers were creased up until Russ Sharrocks showed his annoyance then it was serious. Still think about it today and it made the 'Star'.

I think the Jokers were that bunch that went Horse Racing at Doncaster after Scool.?

Added by John Wilson on 03/01/2003 15:13:18

The Flour Bomb

If you were in the know the tension before it went off was unbearable. The Jokers were disappointed that Sharrock didn't bear the full force of the bomb. Although I'm not sure whay he was singled out. Glad it's not only me who remembers Whitehead, thought I'd imagined it.

I think it was Phil Beet and a couple of others who masterminded it. Several weeks of preparation with string, candles and bags of flour to get the timing right. He told me about it one afternoon whilst wagging off games at Chipper Hemmingfield's house, to watch racing on the telly!

Added by Richard Crooks on 03/07/2002 08:14:21

The Flour Bomb

At the time - April 1974 - the flour bomb incident was quite simply the most hilarious incident that anyone could recollect at school.

The context was the School Prize Giving ceremony - normally held at the Sheffield City Hall - this year held in the afternoon in the main hall.

All was ready and prepared - masters, governors and dignataries. The stage with the headmaster and his deputies - Messrs Sharrock, Jackson and Hemming. Little were they aware of what was overhead.

Suspended above an open grille in the ceiling high above the stage was a flour bomb - a contraption made up of a candle, string and bags of flour - timed to be released when the candle burnt to its mark at 2.40 pm.

The flour bomb had been the subject of meticulous planning and preparation and was indeed a testimony to the well learnt principles of physics and chemistry.

It had been set-up via access through the small panelled door in Dave Anderson's classroom on the top floor.

So confident were the perpetrator(s)of success that they had called the "Newsdesk" at "The Star" that morning.

A number in the Upper Sixth knew that it was timed to go off at 2.40pm. Anxious glances were made at watches by those going up to collect their prize as the clock approached the designated time - indeed a number made glances up at the ceiling as they crossed the stage.

Come the time .......a huge white cloud of flour emerged from the ceiling directly onto the stage below. For a moment there was silence - suspended animation of disbelief really - then shrieks of laughter that grew in volume and intensity at the sight before us. Even Mr Hemming - for a moment - smiled. Mr Jackson was the main recipient of the unwanted gift from above as the flour rested on his head and gown.

Hilarious.

Simultaneously with the flour descending Mr Adam left the Upper Hall like grease lightning - no doubt intent on catching the perpetrator(s)......the y were not there.....but enjoying the uproar.

Added by Richard Crooks on 03/07/2002 21:25:00

The Flour Bomb - More

A number of other additional points on the flour bomb incident:

- shortly after the flour bomb had gone off a Sixth Former named Whitehead did go to collect his prize - purely coincidental

- the detailed roll call of all pupils later that afternoon identified Michael "Juicy" Coward as the only person "missing"

he had nothing to do with the incident but he had a lot of explaining to do.......

- who were the perpetrators? I am not sure that anyone knows for certain who actually did the deed - the group involved were so very close knit

Added by Richard Crooks on 29/01/2003 17:29:21

The Living Museum.....

......otherwise known as the Whiteley Woods Pavilion and Changing Rooms....the splinter filled floorboards were something to behold and you chanced more than your well-being if you attempted to use the pre-war showers.

The groundsman was Mr Waghorn......the one fact I learned at School Assembly at his retirement presentation in 1971 was that he played one county championship cricket match for Sussex... it was not explained why his cricket career was limited to the solitary appearance.

And I am pleased there was not a preservation order placed on the Whitely Woods pavilion....!

Added by Clive Buckler on 26/12/2001 19:40:48

The organ loft

I remember one of the older lads getting into the hallowed sanctuary of Norman Barnes organ loft (in the original/upper school). It was the last day of term and he was expelled after playing an excellent rendition of 'Nights in White Satin'

Added by Richard Crooks on 01/02/2003 18:05:33

The Welcoming Address....

....

to the primary guest at the annual prizegiving held at the Sheffield City Hall was always given in Latin.

This required one of the senior boys to stand in front of the guest on the stage of the City Hall and deliver a five minute monologue - no script or prompts.

Whether the guest actually understood what was being said I think is open to question......no doubt the boy had been rehearsing for weeks on end and could probably even now recite it in his sleep!

Added by Alastair Gent on 25/02/2002 02:18:16     Year: 1964

Thompson J E (JET) - "SLUG"

So on to 3G? Slug diminutive, portly bespectacled; looking not unlike Mr Mainwaring of Dad's Army. Form master and French, not much cop at discipline. Oh the giggles we had answering for each other at registration; I think I was David (kept down twice) Gittings most of the time! Anyone remember the day we sang Rolf Harris'"Sunarise!& quot; until they sent for Flinky! Ahhh happy days

Added by Daryl Edwards on 06/08/2001 20:08:06     Year: 1972

Thompson SLUG

SLUG was Mr Thompson. His initials were JET, that's the reason for his nickname

Added by Bryan Ross on 02/09/2001 22:18:41     Year: 1961

Thompson SLUG

Mr Thompson (J E to be precise) had the misfortune to form-teach 3C around 1964 amongst whom was Dave Gittins (a bleeder who could not be caned). He played all sorts of tricks such as climbing out of the window (via the window cleaner's ladder) and returning to class via the door several times during a lesson.

Dave often led us in a chorus of McNamara's band, the culmination of which was accompanied by whatever percussion "instruments" we had to hand. This could only be stopped by Slug's crescendo of shut up - shut up - shut up - shut up.

Slug's life was a mysery that year but I couldn't wait to get to school. It sounds cruel now though.

I wonder if anyone remembers the peculiar dictaphone device Slug used as a teaching aid to no effect whatsoever.

Added by Aidan Clarke on 22/09/2001 01:13:54     Year: 1986

Timmins Mrs

Your all to blame, By God an interest in thr world thankyou Aidan Carke

Added by Paul Fox on 22/10/2001 23:55:03     Year: 1973

Tomkeieff

Russian physics teacher - we had him at Upper school [year 4x/y and then 5x/y] couldn't keep order [sounds familiar?]. Seen outside the Gaumont in Barkers Pool handing out anti-Russian literature. Remember Steve Percy and Molly [Ian McHale] were the bain of his life.

Added by Chris Meakin on 10/06/2002 06:30:08     Year: 1961

Towers

R N Towers had joined the staff way back in 1946 and was still there when I last visited the school, in 1978. Public schoolboy himself from St Edward's Oxford, he had taken degrees in BOTH Geography and then History while at Keble College Oxford.

That was just before his endlessly described career in WW2 in the Royal Navy serving on destroyers. His tales from the Murmansk Convoy escort duties being quite the scariest of the lot.

Bert'slong Keble connection meant that, circa 1959-63 anyway, a whole succession of KES geographers (present writer included) all went up to his old Oxford college. Real character and a very fine teacher.

Added by John Wilson on 23/01/2003 12:23:39

Towers

Was it Towers who had the huge contraption for projecting books onto the wall? It used to sit on a table at the back of the classroom. I can't remember it ever being used though.

Added by Mark Wingfield on 09/02/2003 17:21:27     Year: 1977

Towers

I was dreadful at Geography and on Parents Evening, Towers first asked my parents "which one is he?". Hadn't a clue who I was. When I was described to him, he thought for a minute, managed to recall me and said to my parents, "Yes, Mark Wingfield. Not very good at Geography. Do you think its because of his size?"

Hmmmm

Added by Mark Reid on 25/08/2001 13:38:10     Year: 1983

Trevor (the mild mannered janitor)

Trevor would drink tea, shuffle along the corridor downstairs and not do much else. Part of the furniture really. Did he have a job? or did he just come in off the streets and shuffle into that little room of his every morning?

Added by Gary Clarke on 23/08/2001 20:09:17     Year: 1980

Various

Found my last school report and timetable for 1980. Here are the initials, can anyone remember the full names? Maths DEG and MPS and CS Geography PGC and JMM Chemistry CPK Metalwork DBB English MW Computer studies EW

Added by Ian Carr on 14/08/2001 21:36:27     Year: 1967

Various

Mr. Mace: a good strict teacher who imposed his will by threatening to apply aspects of the laws of Physics on the boys' rears.

Mr.(Slug)Thompson: a poor harmless soul who was afflicted with a class who passed frying pans, thermos' flasks and several more unsavoury things around the class as well as undoing their shoes and slinging them off their feet at the blackboard while he was at the other side of the classroom. There was a lot of caning by him but it did little to lessen the riots during his class.

A certain middle aged lady French teacher who had the misfortune to take over the classes so mishandled by SLUG and consequently often ended up in tears, poor soul.

Mr.(POJ,his initials)Jones-Art:an excellent teacher whose teaching style was the complete opposite of that of the other teachers. Attending his class was like being in the eye of the Hurricane, relaxing but productive.

Mr. Davies-PE:There was also one special occasion of embarassment for myself when under his strict, ever hard-slippering, guidance I managed to release some bodily gases when ordered to perfom a forward roll on a mat.

I fondly remember the way we all drooled in our all boys school as we were taught by our first youngish female history teacher who insisted on sitting at head height at the front of the class in a mini skirt with crossed legs.

I also remember and agree with the names and comments regarding Spiv, Stittle, etc.

I had a great deal of respect for Mr.Sharrock who was not only an excellent Head but could teach superbly too.

Who was the crazy music teacher of those years?

I didn't enjoy my time much at King Ted's but it certainly gave me some amazing memories of class and teacher antics.

I only wish I had understood at the time what a character forming exercise my years there were.

Added by Richard Crooks on 05/01/2003 18:42:06

Volleyball..........

.....and all its delights were introduced to the school by a teacher from Canada - Bruce Canning.

His enthusiasm was such that games were organised in the school gym with a "kick-off" of 7.30am...eezing cold winter mornings setting off for a freezing cold gym......and we enjoyed it!

Added by Alastair Gent on 16/02/2002 00:48:42     Year: 1962

Vout

1a Wideyed fag that I was - big brother saying, Christ you got the short straw! Eli Vout for form master AND R.E.- Eli Vout the devout scouting lout! I remember pieces of chalk, board rubbers etc.flying through the air with the greatest of ease. I even remember the cup of tea that he sent someone out of detention to fetch. Then he poured it over Robert "Haggis" Hague's head!. No wonder Haggis went off to work in a tailor's when he was 13!

Added by Ian Wragg on 24/08/2001 22:24:12     Year: 1975

Walkup Jack

Latin teacher famous for asking a question and waiting forever for an answer. Once read a bit of latin out and said "Verb, Biggins". 20 minutes later after side splitting silent laughter someone told him Biggins was off ill

Added by Aidan Clarke on 22/09/2001 01:17:42     Year: 1984

Ward Mrs

Who saw me through a long and twisted road before I passed my English. And now one novel later, Thanks Aidan Clarke

Added by Mark Wingfield on 09/02/2003 17:25:01     Year: 1979

Warkup

Just one phrase comes to mind....

"What seems to be the insuperable problem?"

Only person to ever use the word "insuperable"

Added by Katherine Bailey on 11/05/2001 11:20:54     Year: 1984

Watkin

Mr Watkin was the best teacher I ever had. He taught A Level English Lit and loved it and got us to love it too. A really lovely man! At the end of term he'd make up a kind of Blockbusters style game relating to whichever books we were studying. We all loved him and his classes were ones we'd rarely skip!

Added by Alan Leaver on 09/04/2002 19:43:47     Year: 1980

Watkin Roger

English teacher, loved the Shakespeare and Graham Greene and a bit of crime fiction. Strict but fair, directed the famous school play every year in which I starred in 79 and 80.

Added by Paul Fox on 24/06/2002 23:50:33     Year: 1969

Wilcock

Mr Wilcock {Red Fred} was our 1st year form tutor and maths teacher. He, like Slug couldn't keep order. In one lesson, one of the girls came up to the front on the pretext of sharpening a pencil in his bin under the desk and she crushed a stink bomb there. We were all sent out cos of the pong. I think it was Susan Hannemann..? Mr Wilcock used to lock himself in Rm 15 at lunchbreak with Mrs. Smith [maths?] to play piano duets. He drove a Triumph 1500 and had those 'deceptive' glasses which you couldn't see where he was looking...

Added by Brian Pollard on 31/08/2001 19:15:55     Year: 1968

Willcock Alan

aka Red Fred. His name was definitely Willcock, not Willcox, because I remember Alan Pemberton (aka "Potty") discovered that it could be rearranged as "Mr. Wolclick". Potty also produced a photo of the BBC2 test card with Red Fred's face where the girl should have been!

He played the school organ at assembly very competently, and played the violin in the school orchestra.

His maths teaching was a very strange experience: he had a way of speaking such that any three or four words together would make sense, but a whole sentence never made any sense at all. He also uttered some very strange "sayings", which I used to write down. When he discovered this, he expostulated "...even sensible people like you, Pollard, er, just writing things down....go and see the headmaster."

Th is I did, and he (Russ Sharrock) explained that it was difficult to find good maths teachers!

A few days later, Mr. Axford, the English teacher asked me for my book of sayings, for the staff party....

One lovely outburst, when a boy came in chewing something was "You come in here, chewing your head off.." and of course he never got any further due to the gales of laughter that swept the class.

Added by Tim Straker on 13/02/2002 11:38:00

Willcock Red Fred - Maths

Never in control and coined the following legends "Watch the board while I go over it" "Watch the board while I go through it", and "Every time I open my mouth, some fool speaks" All classics in our time

Added by David Plews on 05/03/2002 16:44:45

Willcock Red Fred again

Or how about this wonderful snippet from RF's library of quotables:- "See me at the end of school!" "Yes sir. Which end sir!" Does anyone remember the time he was feeling particularly stressed (or maybe just more wacky than usual) and he climbed onto the windowsill, threatening to jump!?

Added by Stewart Rotherham on 16/10/2002 18:09:59

Willcock Red Fred revisited

A favourite "Fredism" was coined when when he interupted a lunch-tine card school in the hall with the line "Put those cards away or I'll come and deal with you!" - to be met with "Shall I cut you in, Sir?" The real question is - Why did he never learn? The same Fredisms were repeated by him for generation after generation. If ever a man deserved a tribute web page after his years of suffering it is surely "Red Fred" Wilcocks!

Added by John Wilson on 03/01/2003 14:24:12     Year: 1976

Willcock Red Fred Willcock

I think he may have been responsible for the immortal line: "Every time I open my mouth some fool speaks".

Also can any one remember who asked of any pupil "Do you follow, Willy?" Especially confusing for Bryan Wille.

Added by Richard Crooks on 28/06/2002 18:05:41     Year: 1969

Willcock Red Fred Willcock

My earliest memory of "Red Fred" was in Form 2X. It must have been late September time - the wasps were out in their hundreds.

Martyn Ellis and me were at the back of the room noticing that one wasp had taken a particular interest in the bottom of Paul Bishop's trouser leg (unbeknown to PB).

Bishop started to shake his leg as the wasp buzzed around it.

"What's wrong Bishop?" asked Red Fred

"Nothing, sir" came the reply

Some moments later the wasp made its way up Bishop's trouser leg. Much more strenuous shaking of leg.

"Bishop, what is wrong boy?"

"Sir, I've got a wasp up my trousers"

Every one save Red Fred and Paul Bishop were in fits of laughter at this point

"What's it doing up there?"

"I don't know, sir"

"I think you'd better find out and be quick about it"

Exit Bishop at high pace....moments later outside Room 71......."Aaargh.. .." The wasp had scored!

Added by Edward Walker on 23/03/2002 22:42:22

Yorkshire Ripper

On Friday Jan 2 1981 Peter Sutcliffe was arrested in a lane nearby King Teds and the Sheffield Girls High Shcool.

Added by David Chamberlin on 05/11/2001 14:03:21     Year: 1967

Young female ...

My memory is not good these days - but I seem to be able to recall KES teacher names well enough. I always seemed to have Rufus (Stittle) for history, so don't recall a female historian. But what about the delectable Miss Lowther (Ann I believe, but I was determined she should be Alison). She taught Biology, but mysteriously was replaced by a male when THOSE three lessons came up in the schedule (now I can't remember his name!).