Memories of Loxford
County Secondary School, Ilford, Essex
In the early 1990's the
school was demolished to make way for private housing.
This was captured on film
by J. Barber, who lived at Dawlish Drive, Seven Kings, Ilford. He was able to get photos which are on the
Friendsreunited
site.
View from Eton Road :-
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Added by Martin Smith
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(courtesy of Friendsreunited)
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I quote from his letter "unfortunately we only got 3 photos of the building actually coming down. We
intended to take a series of photos at different stages of demolition, but one day the school was there and a week later it was gone completely. You would
not believe such a large building could be knocked down so quickly." The School's gone now. There's a housing estate where Loxford and Woodlands school once stood,
with the gym block now an Islamic community centre. This describes the end of a fine old school. Perhaps many old
Loxfordonians will miss the buildings but we still have the memories.
View from Staines Road :-
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These
two photos were taken by Victor Scott
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when
he visited the school in 1980
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Alan Earwaker, Barry
Hill, Neil Patten and
Stewart Smith attended
Loxford County Secondary School,
Eton Road, Ilford, Essex 1959 to
1964.
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FORM
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YEARS
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FORM
TEACHER
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Form
1A
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September
1959- July 1960
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Mr.
S. Hosking
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Form
2A
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September
1960- July
1961
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Mr.
K.J. Shave
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Form
3A
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September
1961- July
1962
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Mr.
J.S. White
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Form
4W
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September
1962- July
1963
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Mr.
J.S. White
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5th
form
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September
1963- June 1964
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Mr.
Hutchins
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Add
your Loxford memories, classmate's names, (if you can remember), and photos.
To
add your name to this web page, please cut and paste the table below and
e-mail in 'HTML' format to 
earwaker(at)lineone(dot)net
with anything else that you have
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YOUR
FULL NAME |
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FORMS
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YEARS
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FORM
TEACHERS
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Form
1?
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September
19 - July 19
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Mr.
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Form
2?
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September
19 - July 19
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Mr.
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Form
3?
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September
19 - July 19
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Mr.
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Form
4?
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September
19 - July 19
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Mr.
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5th
form
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September
19 - June 19
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Mr.
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Do
you remember these PUPILS in our year (September 1959 to June 1964):-.
Colin Anderson, Trevor Barnard,
Andy Bird, Phil Chandler, Bob Clemence, John Dowers, Alan Earwaker, (?) Grint, Barry Hill,
George Jones, Alan 'Rick' Lee, Geoff Martin, Brian McCarthy, Alan Norris, Ed Nunn, Claus Ohmke,
Colin Overall, John Parrish, 'Knobby'
Parsons, Neil Patten, Mick Perry, John Pitcher, (?)Pullen, Barry Richards, Colin 'Bill'
Smart, Stewart Smith, Trevor Spurling, John Stanfield, Ian Stephenson,
Eddie Steward, Rex Witham, Richard Wilson.
(Ken Piper, who unfortunately died in an accident
while working in Australia).
I was told about the Friends Reunited site by a work colleague. We were trying to trace an
old colleague
and by chance thought I would look
up my old school, Loxford. I was
completely amazed to find it was not only listed but to find entries from
names I have been struggling to remember. I was utterly astonished
to find my own name mentioned. On
reading the comments by various individuals the memories came flooding back
especially teachers names like Reggie Stubbs, Mr Hutchins, old
Fish Plaice, Mr Foot and Jimmy Ruff. Was it him that used to use a
plimsoll and delivered it by leaping in the air? (Yes it was -
Alan) Although I lived in Essex all my
life and as a field engineer spent a lot of time around Ilford and Barking, the
last time I went past the old school it
was still standing, so you can imagine how surprised I was to read it had been
demolished.
Same teachers as Alan with the exception of Form 4P, September 1962 - July 1963,
form teacher Mr R.W Peters
I would dearly love to know what has happened to Brian McCarthy, I know his
brother Keith who was a year younger and a close pal emigrated to
Australia around ?1966? and we lost contact. I also seem to remember names like Barry Villars and John Knight who
has a sister Linda, who went to Mount Girls school. Were they in our class or just the same years ?
I remember John Stanfield and Phil Chandler. I seem to remember they
Joined the Post Office engineers like me (BT nowadays) what ever happened to
them, lost contact when as trainees we went to different areas. George
Jones if I remember was a good violinist and wanted to make that a career. I
have some photos which I will scan and send on as soon as I can I will also
put my thinking cap on and add some more memories, Well
all the best for the present - Rex Witham.
Can you remember anyone else?
Loxford 1963? Added by Peter Whiffin (courtesy of
Friendsreunited)
Front row, 1st from left Thomas. 3rd left, John Earwaker. 5th left,
Luscombe, I think he went into the A stream in
the following year. 6th left, Clive Allen, he went into
the A stream the following year.
2nd row, 5th left, Teacher - Mr. Pickett. 6th left, Ray Whiffin. 7th left,
Stephen Bird.
3rd row, 2nd left, Brookes. 4th left, Richard Nelson. 5th left,
Alan Sonisire. 6th left, Adrian Mc Keown, (Mac).
4th row, 5th left, Stephen Bentley. 8th left, Richard Richardson. 9th left,
John Baxter - added by Adrian Mckeown (Mac) and John Earwaker.
Do you remember these Teachers:-
R.E.-Alf Pace 1967, the discussions on religion. Also in 4S
(Holmes's form) we had Rosenblatt and two other
Jewish boys, they sat
over on the right side of the room -
Martin Smith.
Alf Pace and I never saw eye to eye. It was more like a case of "he who wins - scores a point".
I know I held my own ground - Bill Vicker
He never used corporal punishment.
He never needed to.
Once he offered £5 to the first person who could find a mention of the
3 kings in the bible. There is no mention, but we read a lot of bible
trying to win the £5 -
Alan Payne
RE teacher who said he had "never ever caned a
boy". Too right, he always sent us to Hutchins to do his dirty work! - Paul
Stygal.
'Holy Joe' Pace used to run the junior cricket team which I was a member
of. On one occasion he took me on a Saturday to the War Museum, he must have
seen the educational side of me - Barry Hill.
Remember Alf Pace RE Teacher? He used to take the 2nd year
cricket team and would buy us an ice cream every time we won. We only
lost one game in 1972. He retired to the Isle of Wight and helped
organise the IOW Steam Railway taking school parties around the station.
When I met him he remembered all the cricket team I played with. Great
bloke! -
Colin Edwards.
Picture of
Alf
Pace, (courtesy of Friendsreunited)
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Cricket team 1961. Donated by Paul
Simpson.
Back row, left to right:- Bob Clemence, Barry Hill, Hill, Barry Shepherd,
Stewart Smith, David Edwards, Dave Cleary, Albert Richards, Eric Pace.
Front row:- A Gooch, Ron Ridgely, Ian Stephenson, Mick Seamans, Paul Simpson.
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Music - George Little I seem to recall that George Little the music teacher used to smoke about a trillion cigarettes a day and only had one lung. I remember when he used to get every boy
up individually in class to sing the scales and if you cocked it up you got a burst of abuse or blackboard rubber. If you ducked the blackboard rubber
or half managed the scales you were in the choir, volunteer or not. Choir practise - I was a staunch member of the school
choir at treble, alto and eventually baritone. George Little was the conductor, pianist, lyricist and chain
smoker. I remember rehearsing Jericho in readiness for the school rendition at Ilford Town Hall. Baritones lead the intro. with the line "Joshua fit the battle" which was repeated
about 6 or 7 times before extending to "Joshua fit the battle of Jericho". However the baritones used to adjust this line to "George
has hit the bottle". We never, (well not to my remembrance), ever extended this to the live performance at Ilford Town Hall! - Barry Hill.
What about the school plays?
What about them? As a pupil with a reasonable singing voice I was regularly
involved in the annual production that Mr Little and Mr Liddiard were
heavily involved in producing. They went on over 3 nights and as I
remember the scenery was built by Mr Hutchins and painted by the art
department - Eric Bamsey
Picture of
Alan Earwaker, (courtesy of Friendsreunited)
| Added by Michael Bick |
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| Michael
Bick is on the extreme right. Alan Earwaker is on the extreme
left. Bob Guy is the tall one, 2nd left. I used to love
the School plays. |
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George Little, I remember him throwing weighty music books at you if you were not paying attention! Great shot with the chalk if you weren't
paying attention. Used to pull the most extraordinary faces while
hammering out a piece on the piano - James Bush.
George Little on the left. Hutchins 2nd from the right
History - George Little, the music and History teacher - and his
amazing accuracy in throwing the blackboard rubber! - Paul Stygal.
Woodwork/Technical Drawing - Mr. Hutchins was a very strong character with pock holes in his face. Remember the woodwork shop, they did not take too kindly to sawing a
bit off a bench! Not too hot on finding rivets round the playground either.
Once saw him give the cane to 2 boys for having a slightly blue magazine
under the desk, now in the 21st century he would have got 3 years for assault
and the boys would get compensation - John Pridham.
Deputy Head Master in
1966, Technical Drawing and woodwork teacher also in charge of the School
Prefects, of which I was one and later Head Prefect. Mr Hutchins was part of
the School, he joined the school in the 1930's and taught my father who
attended Loxford between 1935-8 and lived in Staines Road opposite the gates.
He allowed me the keys to the woodwork shop to work on a project. Although he
was hard on boys he was a good master. When he caned a boy it was an art, the
boy with hand out stretched and Mr Hutchins adjusting the height with the
cane, before moving back. Then he jumped forward and whacked the cane down hard. I
still have two pieces of woodwork I made, a table and writing box. - Martin
Smith.
I got 4 of the best from Mr. Hutchins. One on each hand and 2 on the posteria and he put his back into it. Old Hutchins became a Head master at Fairlop High. I met him there and he ejected me from their Friday night school disco. I would love to talk to him again. To you Hutchins and to you Foot: saluta - added by Adrian McKeown.
English - Jimmy Ruff
What about Ruff who used to write holding a biro in clenched fist
between his first and second fingers. Jimmy Ruff was probably the coolest teacher there. David Earwaker and I would
occasionally see him at the Paper Makers Arms in the days we went there to
play darts. He had a good attitude and knew how to communicate with his
pupils. - John Jones.
Used to have a slipper in the bottom drawer of his desk which somebody purloined, (not guilty!) Had a cane called Archibald - thin
bamboo and shaped like a walking stick. What about the chess tournaments which
Jimmy Ruff and Ernie Peckett used to run each year. Do you remember Ruff was a miss
spent cricketer
- Barry Hill.
First day at Loxford. First form teacher. The immortal words he uttered
"Good morning, my name is Ruff. Ruff by name & Ruff by nature".
I do remember the first manned space flight when he brought in the
"wireless" & during his
English lesson we listened to Alan
Sheppard's sub orbital 20min flight! Happy days - John Pitcher.
I remember he
used to make fun of the pupils by putting make-up on them. Also he borrowed my
New Musical Express to read. There was one boy who was regularly called to the front
and
made-up, unfortunately he died in a fire in Manor Park and the whole year
attended the church on the corner of Britannia Road. It may not of happened if
the teachers had not held a staff meeting and sent us home early. - Martin
Smith
English - Mr. Liddiard was in charge of the Library. He also ran the debating society. Never made prefect, managed librarian
though. Only way to get ones hands on the books - Barry Hill.
Did you know that during the war (1939-45) Mr Liddiard was a Lieutenant in
the Royal Navy in charge of a motor Torpedo boat!!! I found this out when I
(amongst others) was learning Morse code in one of Mr White's evening
classes. Liddiard came in (on hearing our pathetic efforts) and showed us
how to do it. Before then I saw Liddiard as a Thespian on a stage spouting
Shakespeare not sitting behind a machine gun killing the enemy! - Robin Wery.
English Literature teacher, he taught in the library. The two things I can
always remember about him; he wore a bow-tie and a waist coat, but what struck
me more was he was out of place in the school - Martin Smith
P.E. - Mr. Roberts a Welshman. I remember the Welsh wizard of the gym who took
P.T. and he had a size 15 plimsoles. It was a big slipper and when he whacked you it really hurt. I am sure he came to
England, just to beat Englishmen's sons. I enjoyed his P.E. classes.
Nothing like a good game of Pirates to get you going - Adrian Mc Keown. I dreaded PE in the freezing winter over the
park - John Willis. What about the cross country runs over at Epping. The mad dash to the
muddy, wet, slippery first stile and then the 4 or 5 miles to the finish. We
used to get those manky lunch boxes for the trip on the coach. What about the
swimming galas, what was the name of the boy that used to win all the races,
brilliant swimmer used to win by miles. Reckon he had a prop up his ???? -
Barry Hill. The School had a large gym with wooden wall bars which we had to climb, also ropes to climb-up
and changing rooms. This was on the Oxford Road side.
Art - Mr. Dean What was the name of the art teacher? Tried to turn me into a budding artist with a cavalier painting, needless to say it didn't work -
Barry Hill.
There was also an art teacher who had a beard, but his name escapes me for now.
I believe he was named Mr. Dean - John Jones.
Art teacher with a beard, I can remember him especially
when I recall pottery lessons. Yes I still have a piece of pottery I made.
David Goodman provided the name to the beard -
Martin Smith.
I was there from 1955-60. I was in the 'A' set and stayed on for 5th
year. Some other names that were there then in my class: Michael Jarvis, Keith
Gardner, Dennis Masters, Keith Jarman, Keith Allen, Paul Harden (I'm
struggling now). Just looking at other
messages and Pete Harris ring
a bell. Wonder if he remembers any of the names I have said.
For the life of me I cannot remember who my form masters were for any
year except that Hutchins was form master for my 5th Year. If I think of anything else I
will get in touch, but please keep the info coming. You are doing a great job
in co-coordinating this - Bill Vicker.
I was at Loxford 1955-60 the same as Bill Vicker, who I remember.
I have a school photo of form 5P taken March 1960. The form master being Mr
Pickett hence the "P" In the photo are; E.Sayer, Terry Rackshaw,
Tony Wyatt, Freddie Stening, Eric Barlow, Ray Frost, Dennis Masters, Jeoff Jeapes, Charlie Webb, Dave Jarman, Brian Byford, M.Cornwell, Peter Snelling, D.Baker,
G.Clark and Keith Lloyd. I also have a photo taken by the Ilford Recorder of one of the trips abroad
with the party, coach and masters George Little, Hutchins. Once I have found out how I will try to e-mail to you. I remember the areas out of bounds like the "wildo" the waste land
between Loxford Lane and Barking Park and also the Mount School for girls !! The "tuck shop" in Staines Road by the entrance to Loxford Park
also comes to mind together with our sports days in the park and at Crickelfields sports ground. I also concur with the tempers of both Hutchings during Tech Drawing if you
got it wrong and George Little if you got a note wrong on your recorder Thanks for the memories and will dig out my old reports to fill in the form masters gaps - Keith Harrison
There are several names that I know from my leaving year (1959). I am looking for some photo's that I have from, I think, the 1957 or 58
school trip to Holland. I think that there are several group pictures with
Messrs Lower, Hutchings and Peckett in them and also George the coach driver.
When I find them I will e-mail them to you with as much detail as I can remember
- David James.
I think that by now all the teachers
we knew are dead - Alan Earwaker.
My name is Alfred Charles Syrett and I'm now 79 years of age. I joined
Loxford School in 1934. I was rather tubby and tall for my age and
wondering what my new school would be like. It was excellent and
provided me with many good friends and happy days. During my stay I saw the building of the Carpentry
and Metalwork Workshops. The time spent in the Carpentry Shop has
provided me with the basic grounding for both hobby and home skills which has
served me well throughout my life - and continues to do so! My
carpentry teacher, Mr. Hutchins - yes, the same Mr. Hutchins mentioned by
other members. At that time he had no pock-marked face, quite
clear in fact. As he was a Major in the army during the war and
was wounded by shrapnel, this was the probable cause of the pock-marks.
He was a great teacher and a good friend to all the lads. Many of the teachers of my time served in the forces during the war with quite
a number of them obtaining commissions. I am not aware of any of
them failing to return. Many old scholars also joined the forces. I joined the army and served for four years till wounded during the Normandy
invasion. I spent a year convalescing in hospitals in Wales before
being discharged. The gymnasium was finished during my final year and therefore not used until
the following school year. I'm sure all you young sprogs would
have treated it with the proper respect? The masters I remember were Mr. Fleet - our class teacher/Geography; Mr.
Mervyn Jones - Phys. Ed. - who had various sizes of cut-down cricket bats to
fit various sized bottoms - ouch! - Welsh rugby cap; Mr. Caplin - Music; Mr.
Potter - Science who became ?County Director of Education; Mr. Lance - ?;
Mr. Barnes - History/Maths; Mr. Bowen - nasty man/English; Mr. Hall -
Crafts; Mr. Finch - Art/History; Mr. Marsh - Maths/Tech. Drawing. Our Head Master was Mr. Norman who I'm sure was born a Head Master. I could never imagine him doing otherwise.
Yes, there was an air-raid shelter in the school and another in Loxford Park. I lived in Sandyhill Road and was a member of 6th West Essex Boy's Brigade at
St. Luke's Church in Uphall Road.
I emigrated to Australia in 1957 and have lived in Tasmania for 43 years.
Retired and living in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Have 10 grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren. Still love my
woodwork as a hobby and have never really grown up - possibly the Loxford in
me. Used to attend Loxford Central School, Ilford, Essex, England. Names of
classmates I remember and would love to hear from/of are Dennis Whiffin, Bill
Hume, Eddie Chapman, Stan Bailey, Tucker Daly, Bryn Armstrong, Claude Smith,
Phillip Smith, ? Povis, Peter Carson, Frank Akers, Derek Collins. Any of these
names ring bells with anyone? If any members have fathers or
grandfathers I may have known, I would love to hear from them. AD ASTRA -
Alf Syrett.
Mr. E.R.Lower was the head. If I remember rightly
Mr Lower's first name was Ernst. Does anyone remember his School Secretary, I
believe her name was Miss Griffiths, a lady then in advancing years -
Eric Bamsey. I remember him well as he caned me on numerous occasions. I remember that if you were sent to Lower, you would be alright. "Thank god for that",
one would utter, as one went to Mr Lower's door. When he caned you he only tapped you. It was different when a
master told you to go get the 'cane and book.' I wonder what happened to that book. I would dearly love to see it? I remember his secretary
that sat in the outer office and I remember the inner office. He wasn't so bad was old Mr. Lower. I met him in 1985 and he was alive and well in the
better part of Dagenham - Adrian Mc Keown.
Reggie Stubbs was deputy head when we were there. Who remembers this wonderful storyteller (supposed to be a maths teacher.) We learned more about
the war than anything else. As for 'Stubbsie' all I remember about him was his egg shaped head - Robin
Wery. Remember the stories about his brother. He must of had about 15 in all. The Army, Navy, Air
force & goodness knows where else. What about the Maths books? - Biggs & Vidal - John Pitcher. I particularly remember Stubbs and visualise him
looking something like that bald headed sales assistant in the t.v. programme "Are you Being Served". He spoke with a whistle! His classroom had a ceiling that was covered in ink blots - remember? What about the time that
some of the kids took Stubbos bike to bits. Do you remember his telegram message story about the wife who purchases a mink coat? Goes something like
this:- Wife is in Paris and sees mink coat but quite pricey. Sends telegram to husband asking if she can buy it. Husband sends telegram back saying "no
price too high" and not "No! Price too high." Do you remember, he must have told us about 10 to 15 times in 3 years!
- Barry Hill.
Science - John White. I remember well Mr. White nearly blowing himself up using phosphorous - trying to make special effects for the school play one year.
I was working on parts for the school play for him at the back of the school
lab, when it happened. I remember rushing to get other members of staff from
other rooms to help. The lab being filled with smoke and poor Mr. White being
rushed to hospital . But he was OK, just slightly singed - Robin Wery.
A
very remarkable man who fed my interest in Science. He, together with a
younger colleague Mr Nurith, spent much of their own time helping me to
study for GCE Chemistry which was not offered at the school. His lessons were
a joy. Much of my success in life was because of the start he provided. - Tom
Short.
He also
taught some of us how to strip down an old Austin A30, rebuild it and then taught us to drive around the playground - until someone drove the car into
the cycle sheds. We were banned from driving after that.
He showed us how to strip down an old Ford Anglia and rebuild it
1955 - 60. When finished it didn't have a body
shell at all, the accelerator was a piece of string that you pushed with your
foot to make it go and the fuel tank was an old tin can on the end of a pipe
which we filled half way to stop spillage and would give us 2 laps round the
playground. Sounds a really safe vehicle eh. Oh! the drivers seat was a piece
of wood -no back. The engine was covered with 9" of shoe rack grille. He
was driving a Vauxhall in those days and tried to show us how to drive on ice
one year and nearly demolished the railings. He didn't try again. He was a
laugh and was liked by us - Bill Vicker.
Science - Mr Nurith ran about in a bubble car.
Instructed Dave Smith, Mike Copsey and I all about the melting point of steel while watching Moultons/Harrison Gibson's burn in 195? - John Willis.
Science - Mr. Foot We had a nickname 'F-f-foot' -
Martin Smith.
Metalwork - Mr. Pickett was a sadistic burly guy. I remember him using a 6 foot metal ruler on the rear end of one class mate who promptly fainted afterwards. Imagine that happening in this day and age - John Jones.
Music - Ken Shave used to bash on the piano in assembly if fatty Little wasn't there.
P.E. - Mr Jacobs Anyone remember this Welshman . He had a black belt in Judo, you didn't mess with him!
- John Wren.
P.E - Mr. Evans Remember when he was P E
teacher, he was strapped to the wall bars of the gym? - Stephen Elford.
Geography - Ernie Peckett was called smelly Peckett because he was always smoking, had yellow lips from nicotine, and his breath smelt. We used to sing the hymn
"Breath on me breath of {death}". Grey hair always sticking up.
French - Ernie Peckett, the hours spent trying to learn the 36 verbs in French, Je vu
etc., which I never mastered, but I can speak reasonable German to get by (my
wife is half German!). I heard that he died sometime ago. - Martin Smith.
1968, Form / French teacher anybody remember him giving me the
cane for thumping Geoff(?) Lane in class. Going to get the cane and book was a
bit of an experience. Mr Lower asked "why do you want this?" -
Stephen Matthews.
Geography - Mr Norman ran the school weather bureau. Got me up on the Gym roof
which was out of bounds - John Willis.
History - Mr Barker was a small 'weasely' man who always had heavily
Brillcreamed hair
(in the style of Hitler) and was a great one for using the cane. I was in 1B
when he was the form master. He used to teach History and he had a very impish
sense of humour. I can still hear his "come hear boy!" His
classroom was
George Little's music room - David Lee.
History - Mr. Horn for 4L, circa 1965. God bless him, he tried and he never stood a chance. That's what I call a hero, but he loved history and I have learnt to see his point of view. My fondest memory of Mr Horn was in the summer. He would open the windows, which was a bad mistake with 4L.
Every time he turned to the blackboard, someone would slide out the window. The idea was that you went round and then came in the classroom door. Mr Horn would look at you as you walked in and ask you where you had been? One would reply that one had been to the toilet and that old Horn had given permission. He got very confused for a while. He must have realised in the end because we had 3 outside the classroom door, forming a line, and all tittering, waiting to go in team
handed, when Hutchins bush wacked us. I got 4 of the best. One on each hand and 2 on the posteria and he put his back into it. Old Hutchins became a Head master at Fairlop High. I met him there and he ejected me from their Friday night school disco. I would love to talk to him again. To you Hutchins and to you Foot: saluta - added by Adrian McKeown.
S. Hosking Do you remember him? Anybody know what he taught?
I notice your old form teacher was 'Flogger' Hosking . All I can remember about
him was how easy it was to wind him up. We tried to get as many lads as possible to stand outside the classroom door. I don't know what the record was but I
think there was a danger of more than 50% of the class being outside! Anyway, it
was nice to receive your 'E' mail & it certainly brought back many memories.
- Clive Burton
I'm an "old boy" of Loxford School when it was still at Eton Road. I
was there from 1945 until late 1948 and my reason for contacting was the
mention of old masters some of whom were quite familiar in my days. Mr Lower
was the Headmaster even then, Mr Stubbs was my form master in the last two
years of my time there, other name such as Mr Liddiard, Mr Hutchins
(Metalwork), Mr Crowe was the Art Master, Mr Norman was responsible for
teaching us Geography, maybe my reason for going into the Royal Navy for a
number of years, not every thing he told us was true. Thank you for compiling
the old staff list it has revived so many old memories, some of them are of
course after my time. Once again many thanks - Alec Lovett
I was at Loxford, I think, if I remember rightly '47, '48 and '49. We formed a class
called 4S. Our group left at the end of the summer term in 1949.
Our form teacher was Mr. J Stone (AKA 'Jim'). I don't know whether
this 'S' group continued after our time there. Of course all this was a
very long time ago,
(50+ years), but I remember that Jim Stone was an
excellent teacher with a remarkable capacity for tolerance. The class members were
Mike Wilson (I believe he died, reported missing in his RAF aircraft - he
was a glider pilot whilst still at school), Bentley, Bemment, Bass, Pat Day,
Felstead, Hoole, Norman, Page, Rush, Roche, Peebles, Smaggesgale, Rodney
Stock (Hong Kong Police), Young, John Peploe, Gallagher, McCabe, Allan, John
Sell, (I'm not sure but I heard he died in a road accident), Hicks and
Potter. There were others but I can't remember them all. I sometimes wonder what
happened to all these old classmates - Mike Le
Maistre.
School Memories
You can see a sketch of Loxford
School MAP (circa 1987)
(you will probably need to type this address into your
browser if you have problems with the
picture below:-
http://www.earwaker.co.uk/Loxfordmap.jpg).
This shows the school as it was in 1987 when it was Loxford Comprehensive, Lower School. The first floor layout was much the same as it was in 1950 to 1970, (most of it has been replaced by residential homes, apart from the gym area). The main assembly hall area where
we had assembly every day as I remember and lunch at lunchtime. The hall
contains a stage upon which many of our plays took place. To the left of the
stage were cloakrooms. House shields to the right of the stage. To the right of the stage was
the music room. Little would pull the piano too and fro for assemblies and
music lessons. Entrance to the back of the stage through the music room.
Next to that was the R.E. room where Alf Pace would have his lessons. Next to
that two general purpose classrooms. Then the drawing office which was Hutchin's domain.
Next to that was the Kitchen. Upstairs there was a maze of rooms. As you
went up the stairs on the left hand side there was the staff room on a
mezzanine floor above the cloakrooms on the left hand side of the main
courtyard. You went up a circular stair, almost scary, and the staff room ran along the back. They sat there and
smoked and drank tea. First room was a small multi purpose room. Next was Stubbsie's
office. There was a large Biology laboratory where Mr. Nurith had his Science
lessons. Round the corner was the Physics laboratory which was also John
White's form room. Prep. rooms and dark room between the Biology and Physics labs. Opposite
the Physics lab. was a multipurpose room. The library occupied most of the
upstairs with a library classroom between the Physics lab. and Maths room. In
the corner was Stubbsie's Maths room, then Ernie Peckett's Geography room and
then Jimmy Ruff's English room. Coming round the corner was a multipurpose room
mainly used for evening classes. Coming down the stairs on the other side of
the building to where we started was E.R.Lower's Headmaster's office, also on
the mezzanine floor.
Having examined your map I originally believed that my memory was going, but I can only assume that
changes happened after I left in 1960. The staff room,
(next to the stage in 1987), was in my time Mr Little's music room. When I originally joined
Loxford (in 1955) the room to the right of the stage were cloakrooms. Also the upstairs was
much different in that there was a large hall, (of a similar size to the
ground floor), instead of what was there during the last days, (1990). Two classrooms
were converted into what became the science lab (Mr White's domain), a new
classroom was put at one end of the upper hall, (this became Mr Peckett's
room), and two dividing walls were added to form the library. Also
in the map you show premises on the far side of the metal/woodwork buildings.
In my time there was a caretaker's house next to them, and a dividing
wall on the other-side. These premises, (as described in the previous
sentence), were part of Woodland's primary school, (which I attended
from 1948 to 1953), so I have distant memories of that school also - Robin
Wery.
I remember the general layout of the main
building, but the 1st floor library was built during my time there. Then, as I
seem to remember, the building at the end of the gym was, downstairs the
science lab and the art studio was above it. I seem to re-call that there was
a basement under the science block where they showed films as and when. The
woodwork and metalwork rooms were in the single storey building at the other
end of the playground. No biology in those days. Played many games of snooker
on the stage. I was there from 1955-60. Never heard of Nurith, Stubbs and Ruff
(Liddiard took English then)- Bill Vicker.
Across the yard was the gym area where we were forced to
perform stunts and do regular exercise. Here we would be taught by the likes
of Mr. Roberts. Do you remember the continuous wooden bench seating and metal frame and grille arrangement with
built in hooks, could sit both sides of it. The showers used to be communal
behind that tiled wall with one mixer block for the whole lot.
Seeing as there used to be about 40 in each class reckon there was two
sittings for the showers. Paid to run well on the cross country running, got
there early for the hot water. Remember the cross country used to take you
round the back of the park through that country lane, Loxford Lane, (dump for all the
local rubbish) and in the back gate of Loxford park. Seem to recall we used to climb
those big trees in the back lane next to the park. Why do I remember
somebody falling off the tree and impaling them selves on the park railing
spikes? - bit morbid. The gym contained access to the only changing rooms that
contained showers on site. On the left of the gym were the outside toilets,
boys only then. On the far side of the gym there was the clay making classes and
upstairs there were Art classes. They also had Woodwork and Metalwork
classes in large classrooms built in the playgrounds, these were led by
teachers such as Mr. Hutchins and Mr. Pickett, etc. Another set of outside
toilets at this end of the school. There were a set of bike sheds in them
days. In the playground all the students mixed together during playtime, this is where much
excitement took place, games, fights, chases etc.
Do you remember the school wall opposite the bicycle sheds that used to be used for a tennis ball game, what was the name of the game? Used to throw
it against the wall above a line and on the rebound you could catch it without bounce or maximum of one bounce. Three lives and
you're out. If you got the angle right you could clear the bike shed, put somebody on the roof of the toilet block or send somebody down to the gym.
Talking about games, what about Bulldog, across the playground, conkers in the winter. Must have been mad playing bulldog, it was like
being attacked by a herd of whirling dervishes.
Talking about games, what about Jacks and marbles. I used to have this whacking great ball bearing that I used to play marbles with. Used to
crush the oppositions glass marbles. Do you remember in the summer when it got really hot the tar roads used to bubble and you could peel the tar off
and roll it into balls. Used to stick to the soles of your shoes as well -
Barry Hill. One school playground activity was "high jimmy knacker",
banned because I split my head open after hitting the wall head first, (my
claim to fame) - Tom Wilson.
Near the school was Loxford Park, here we would extend some of our PE lessons as well as our school
fights.
One can't forget the tuck shop 1 penny a cigarette, used to sell the Domino
cigarettes, 4 in a pack. You're never alone with a Strand, oh boy how corny! Up the Roding! What were the other Houses - Abbey, Manor and Forest.
Wonder how many first years caps got thrown on the roof of the outdoor toilet
block, tee hee! You sat in there at your peril. There was about 2 doors and 10
sit downs. Wind used to blow through there like a gale - Barry Hill.
You may remember my dad who was park keeper in Loxford Park. He had a hump on his back from an illness, but kids being kids,
took the mickey and called him 'humpy' - Bernie Marsden.
Annual School sports days in the summer at Cricklefield Sports Ground and the annual School Swimming Gala. Annual
Teacher v Pupil cricket match. The School Houses - Abbey, Forest, Manor
and Roding, there was competition for house points. Remember the School plays and
Christmas plays and musicals (George Little at his best pounding the piano). The
school had prefects, who where under the control of the head prefect, he was
answerable to the Deputy Head. The Library was above the school hall and was
well stocked with books. It was used by the school debating society and chess
club. There were cycle sheds which were well used.
Check
out these web sites:-
(Thanks to Eric Bamsey, Clive Burton, James Bush, John Dowers,
John Earwaker, Colin Edwards, Stephen Elford, David Goodman, Timothy Farrow, Barry Hill,
David James, John Jones, Alan
Kooyman, David Lee, Mike LeMaistre, Alec Lovett, Bernie Marsden, Stephen Matthews, Adrian
McKeown, John Oldfield, Alan Payne, John Pitcher, John Pridham, Victor Scott, Tom Short, Martin Smith, Stewart Smith, David Stafford, Paul
Stygal, Alf Syrett, Bill Vicker, Robin Wery, Peter Whiffin, John Willis, Tom Wilson,
Rex Witham and John Wren for their
contributions.)
Please get in touch if you can add anything to these memories, mail to:-
earwaker(at)lineone(dot)net
Alan Earwaker
