Owt 60 Old Wyves' Tales 60 - September 2008 Edited by Dennis J Duggan, Rock Cottage, Brook Street, Welshpool, Montgomeryshire

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OWT 60 OLD WYVES' TALES 60 - SEPTEMBER 2008 EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN, ROCK COTTAGE, BROOK STREET, WELSHPOOL, MONTGOMERYSHIRE. SY21 7NA TEL 01938 555574 07985 405365 www.wyvernians.org.uk EDITORIAL Not much to report since OWT 59, which appeared last June. A couple of new members have joined, one in the Phillipines and one in Australia. Those of you who read the Leicester Mercury might have seen an item about Clarence House on the Mr Leicester page; it was submitted by Brian Screaton. Speaking of Brian, he has been in touch with Age Concern and a date for our 2009 reunion has been agreed - Saturday March 21st. We have decided to stick with March, which of course won't suit everyone - but neither will any other date!! Obviously final details are still to be arranged, but I guess the mixture will be pretty much as before. I hope that one or two of you will volunteer to give a talk, so please let me know if you would like to have a go. There is plenty of time to come up with something. Ideally the topic should have some connection with our old school, either directly or indirectly. In memory of Ken Witts Wyvernians donated £50 to The Tear Fund, the nominated charity. Ken's widow, Jenny, hopes to attend the 2009 reunion, and has agreed that it would be nice if a few of us were prepared to stand up and say a few words about Ken. He made a great impression on almost every boy he taught, so if you would like to take part in the tribute (and of course this includes former colleagues) please let me know in good time. FROM ED FEATHERSTONE 1959-65 (Continuing Ed's memoirs - Editor) I've already mentioned my debt to John Lawson and Tony Baxter for extra tuition. John also ran many of the football teams, and was very generous with his time. Tony joined the school straight from university, and wasn't really much older than we in the Lower VI. We had total respect for his teaching ability, and everyone in my sixth form maths class liked him. Tony's notes, which we copied religiously from the blackboard, followed by worked examples, were an absolute treasure and ensured I got through the course and exam. I was so proud of these notes I couldn't bear to throw them away. They have travelled the world, and I still have them today. I must preserve them; I'm sure my children and grandchildren will find them fascinating in years to come. Obsessed as I was with becoming an aviator I was given to doodling pictures of aircraft on the covers of my exercise books. On the whole the teachers indulged me in this, but occasionally insisted I cover the book with brown paper, which simply meant I had a brand new canvas! One teacher, whose name I forget, took us for Latin for just a year. He had a natural air of authority and gravitas. Most of us were not very interested in the subject, and conspired to divert his attention. He was passionately interested in the Romans, so when a passage raised the relevant point we would deliberately ask what it was all about. He couldn't resist telling the story, and further Latin for the period went out of the window. When the bell rand he would say, 'Oh dear! Where has the time gone?' I inherited a reasonable singing voice from my parents. This was spotted in the first

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 60-2 form by Bill Sykes and he talked me into singing Once In Royal David's City on the assembly hall stage. He accompanied me on the piano in front of five hundred or so boys. I was so terrified I could not face the audience, but think I got through it without falling apart. Bill had little ability to keep order, and seemed a rather manic character. It was a pity that some pupils took advantage of this and made his life a misery. Children can be very cruel. My best memory of Bill is the school song (which he composed, and I still remember) and his amazing rambling recitals on the organ in Leicester cathedral. Later on I joined the school choir and learned a number of traditional French songs. Added to the anthems taught in junior school these have come in useful for impromptu sing-songs around the world. On one occasion, after dinner in a Hamburg restaurant, I received a round of applause for my renditions of Au Claire de la Lune amongst others. WAG Pace was quite a character. During my time he was probably the oldest teacher, and loved to tell stories about his childhood in London during WW1. He told us how children were sewn into their underwear for the winter, and how he saw a Zeppelin shot down. He found a piece of the airframe, his first sight of aluminium. Never one to make concessions to the correct pronunciation of place names he would tell us about Byoo-nose-airs and Marr-sails. The most intriguing teacher was Cecil (Chas) Howard, whom I got to know well via the Green Wyvern Yacht Club. Cecil (he said his name meant one-eyed in ancient English) was a fine historian and a published author. He was one of the first to demolish the myth that Richard The Lionheart was a great king of England, when in fact he spent only a tiny proportion of his reign in his kingdom, drained the coffers for his crusades, and left the dubious John in charge during his absence. We continue to suffer his legacy to this day. Cecil had sufficient income to own a flash Jaguar, and a yacht on the broads called Vanessa; she was Bermuda rigged, rather than Broads Gaff. I think he may also have owned Sabrina - or was she owned by his brother Bert, who was a teacher at Alderman Newtons? There were frequent rumours that Cecil and his brother were gay, though that wasn't the word used then, but I never saw any evidence. The GWYC was Cecil's invention, and during the summer he supplemented his two boats with half a dozen hired ones. Only Vanessa had a small auxiliary engine, so whatever the conditions we either sailed or poled the boat along using a quant. Tacking up the narrow River Ant, or shooting Potter Heigham bridge, required great skill. The latter required achieving as much way as possible towards the tiny bridge hole. Then at the last minute dropping the sails and mast so you still had enough speed to squeeze through the bridge, then raise the mast and sails on the other side to continue sailing unimpeded. Not many could do this well, and nowadays you have to embark a pilot. We would delight in what we called a pub race. This involved the whole flotilla setting off about an hour before opening time and racing from pub to pub. At each pub the skipper would get the boat alongside the jetty, leap ashore while the mate secured the ropes, down a half pint then jump back on board for a rapid departure to the next pub. The race ended at closing time, and we usually spent the night at the last pub we reached. Pubs loomed large in the evening entertainment, and like many others I had my first experience of alcohol on a Green Wyvern cruise. I met lots of interesting people as the club grew from Bert and Cecil to undergraduates, and postgraduates who were former pupils of CBS and AN, to new boys who were pupils at schools where skippers and mates were now teaching. The hierarchy was strict, and depending on skills you could graduate from member to senior member, mate, skipper, vice-commodore and eventually commodore. Discipline was informal but effective, and everyone had to learn to pull their weight and be an effective crew

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 60-3 member. We were all on first-name terms, including teachers, and I came to realise just how unstuffy was Cecil . I had some of my best times with the Green Wyvern, which was a great influence on my development. I even learnt the delights of reaching a new port and the concept of a run ashore, which I was able to follow for many years in the RN. During the spring, before we could begin the cruising season, there were preparations to be made at the boatyard in Brundall. Cecil would invite a few members to help over a weekend or so. He would drive us over in the Jaguar - very impressive - and we slept on the boat and ate in the pub. On one such weekend I put together a pram dinghy, made from a kit, with the help of Mick Souter from Alderman Newtons. Even the great C P Snow was once a member, and as a result wrote one of his lesserknown novels Death On The Broads. The opportunities offered by CBS in my time, including the GWYC, were quite remarkable. Today, without spending a huge amount of money in the private sector, it would be very hard to match what we enjoyed for free. I left the summer the school moved to Downing Drive, and it eventually became a mixed comprehensive. The school I visited after joining the RN was completely alien to me, and I have no desire to maintain links. The whole idea of comprehensive schools is to be inclusive, and to ensure equal educational opportunities for all, but the reality is that social mobility, and the opportunity for children with my social background to achieve success in life, has actually reduced. This is, I am sure, the opposite of what was intended, and has effectively driven more parents into the private sector and increased polarisation. I wonder what Mr Bell would make of it? FROM JOHN SIMMS 1940-47 More Irrational Voices. 'You are the laziest boy I ever tried to teach. Report to the headmaster. Tell him I sent you, and you wish to drop History. Permanently! At once!' Quaking inwardly I follow his shouted orders. Down the stone stairs and along the draughty corridor. I speak to the secretary. 'Please, miss, I've been sent to see the headmaster.' Details are requested and given. 'Wait. I'll see if he's in.' Stand there.' The agony is postponed, but the suffering prolonged. The outcome endlessly imagined. I ponder my fate, shuffle my feet. 'Sit there, in the chair by the door marked headmaster. When you hear the buzzer, knock and enter.' She returns to her duties. I wait, it seems forever, for the buzzer. Will it ever sound? She didn't say what kind of buzz. Have I missed it? I don't want them to know about my slight deafness. They'll say I'm daft. Call me names. Boys don't cry. I'm not a coward. They shoot cowards in the back, don't they? Blinfold at dawn. The door buzzes loudly. I knock and enter. Wait for him to speak first. He wears a smart black gown over his smart striped shirt. No chalk dust on him. He's the headmaster. Boys never cry. In the corner, behind his enormous chair, hangs a long black cane.. 'Now then, Simms. What's the problem?' The eyes gleam behind the pince nez, and he seems unaware of the cane behind him. I begin to relax as he helps me tell the story so far. 'So you wish to drop history and spend more time on other subjects, especially science?' 'Yes, sir.' My grateful voice causes a twinkle behind the pince nez. 'Very well, Simms. Don't waste the time you've gained.' His smile seems to broaden as he turns to his notes, leaving me to find my way out. Silence is golden as I make my way to the next class. Who said history is bunk? Some American chappie, wasn't it? Just For The Record: I'd somehow got away with it by deliberately failing the history tests. Did I tell my parents? I don't recall. What happened next? Don't know. Anyway, it's ancient history now. Shot

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 60-4 myself in the foot. Did I? Maths Intervenes 'What one fool can do badly another fool can do twice as well. You're all going to learn mathematics, and I'm going to teach you. Sit up straight and pay attention.' As he writes equations on the blackboard, Mr Carpenter strikes both fear and admiration into our hearts. Without turning from the board he shouts, 'wake up, Simms. Stop slouching, you'll hurt your back. Now, all of you, write these equations down for your homework.' Prowling the aisles between desks, he stops to see we are working. An encouraging word here, a pointing finger there, a sharp jab of knuckle to skull when needed. Mr Carpenter has our full attention. Some of us begin to enjoy maths, and avoid the jabbing finger. Others are less fortunate, finding there is no court of appeal against such an eminently successful teacher as Mr Carpenter. 'QED. Quod erat demonstrandum.' His rasping voice echoes down the years. Even now. FROM ROGER CHAPMAN 1950-55 Can anyone remember the name of the history master who demonstrated Hoplites and Phalanxes with the aid of a window pole and dustbin lid? He was also a crack shot with a blackboard duster, if I remember correctly. FROM ALAN WIGNALL 1958-63 In 1960 (I believe) I went with many others on a school outing to York, by train. I still have the itinerary, which gives details of train times and what to see in York. What I don't have is the actual date of the trip. Can anyone provide this information please (Let me know if you can help and I will pass it on to Alan - Ed) Last year I was pursuing my hobby of railway photography, in the Chesterfield area. My companion and I joined dozens of other like-minded individuals on an overbridge, and a man standing a few feet away said, 'it's Alan Wignall, isn't it?' I didn't recognise him, but after the train had passed I asked who he was and how he knew my name. He told me he was Maurice Pool, and that he had been in the same class as me at CBS. I recognised the name, but not the person I had last seen 44 years ago. It transpired that soon after leaving school in 1963 his family had moved to Chesterfield, where he still lived. I would never have recognised him, even without the beard! Maurice was a classmate, but not a particularly close pal. I found the incident totally amazing, and clearly some Wyvernians have exceedingly good memories. FROM STEWART SMITH 1936-41 (Following my mention of SAE sizes Stewart provides the following useful information - Ed) Envelope sizes are not the same as paper sizes! Paper is measured in A (A4, A5 etc) and envelopes in C. Thus C4 = 324 x 229, C5 = 162 x 229, C6 = 162 x 114. SCHOOL FILMS (Whilst clearing out some papers Brian Screaton came across the following three items. I can't remember if they have already appeared in OWT, but even so they are worth repeating. After all these years it is understandable there are some minor differences in the three accounts - Ed)

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ROGER PEBERDY 1950-57 The school films were dear to my heart back in 1956- 57. I was one of a group of two or three sixth formers who persuaded our honoured headmaster, Mr E J W Bell, to go ahead with the idea, and actually went with him to purchase the original clockwork cine camera. I can't remember the name of the shop, but I think it was in Belvoir Street. Of course the film stock was standard 8mm, silent and black and white. We had great fun acting as camera men, lighting men, producers and actors. To Mr Bell's credit the whole thing was virtually turned over to us; he did not know what we had been up to until he saw the developed reels! I recall rigging up floodlights, and improvising a camera dolly from a trolley borrowed from the canteen. This had a ladder precariously attached to film some sequence or other in the hall. I got into trouble for introducing some trick photography during a visit to Stratford. Someone walking by the river suddenly disappeared. My own starring role was to do some dissecting in the biology lab. GRAHAM MORTON 1949-56 In the autumn term of my third year sixth, 1955/56, I had a message to see the Head. When I presented myself he produced a black cine camera, which he placed on his desk. His enquiries in the staff room had led to me as the practising photographer around at that time. At his previous school a film had been made throughout the year as a record of the various activities and events. He felt we shoud do the same at CBS, and purchased a second-hand 16mm Kodak. It was rather like a box camera, with a simple viewfinder and some adjustment for aperture and film transport speed. When offered the opportunity to make a school film I leapt at the chance. What a surprise for my parents. The arrangement was that if I had any spare time (private study) I would practice with the empty camera. That was a good idea, as the viewfinder was only as clear as a contemporary box camera. Good judgement was needed. 16mm film was expensive, so shots had to be planned and rehearsed. After a short time I used the camera with film, I had to get an 'X' order from the secretary to take to Young's, Belvoir Street. The exposed film was then posted to Kodak, and the wait began. The most difficult thing to get right was the exposure. The camera had a fast lens, so low light was not much of a problem, and shots could be taken indoors if the room was well lit. Some over or under-exposed film was discarded, but I discovered a sixth form friend who had a light meter, which helped a lot. That did mean he became involved with some of the film sessions. Most of the film I shot was black and white. Colour was used to film King Lear, that year's play. I did not arrange or organise the shoot. It must have been 'requested' by Mr Bell, and reluctantly organised by Mr Franey one bright afternoon. I had the definite feeling that Mr Franey was none too pleased with the whole affair. The heavy backcloth had to be hoisted and hung from the fire escape in the rear yard outside the gym. It just would not hang straight. Members of the cast then paraded before it while I recorded the event for posterity. This short bit of film was my introduction to the City Drama Adviser, Mrs Bunty Plowman. She produced an outdoor children's theatre production which toured a number of schools. She borrowed the school camera, and me, to make a film of this in performance at Ellesmere School. Here I met Archie Orton, who a number of years later was to be my headmaster at Moat Boys. Another lasting memory is of the crosscountry, another introduction by E J W Bell. I felt this needed to be recorded on film, as I was reluctant to actually run in the event! Mr Gilman refused all excuse notes from anxious parents, others and consultant orthopaedic surgeons. I positioned

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 60-6 myself by the stream, camera on tripod, for some authentic shots. Next day there was a cartoon on the prefects' notice board captioned 'Metro Goldwyn Morton' When the film came back from the lab I made arrangements to view it after school. It was strange at first to make an appointment with one's headmaster to watch a film. This is where Mr Stribling came in handy, as he would have the projector ready for use - usually in the physics lab - with the blinds drawn. I had been trained to use the Bell & Howell 16mm projector by Mr Osborne (the previous lab technician) which proved to be a mixed blessing. It was good for the school film, but I was occasionally called upon to stand-in for the lab technician to show a film for a class. It was disappointing to see the dud shots, and more so to have to cut them out. Mr Stribling taught me to edit and splice the film. This took loads of time, and looking back I wonder where it all came from. My third year in the sixth was action packed, with more than the school film to fill my days. JOHN WORLEY 1956-64 The early films, say up to 1961, were shot on the headmaster's Eastman Kodak wind-up camera, which took spool film. In fact Mr Bell took some of the early material himself, and this is easily recognisable from the swift panning, not only on the horizontal plane but also vertical (especially on buildings) I believe he recognised his failings as a cameraman, and left the filming in the capable hands of Ken Witts. The clockwork mechanism eventually gave up the ghost, and we then used either Jock Gilman's very fine Bolex or my father's post-war 16mm Kodak. This took magazine stock, the great advantage being that one did not have to wait until all the film had been exposed before removing it; thus one could switch from colour to black and white at will. The scenes of the demolition at Lee Circle were taken by me on this camera. 16mm stock was not cheap even at 1960's prices. A 50 ft film, lasting two minutes, cost about £4.10.0, so you can work out that each film cost in the region of £80. To offset this cost the film was shown to pupils and parents on the penultimate Wednesday and Thursday evenings of the autumn term in the hall. ie: just before Christmas. To make up the evening's entertainment a full-length feature film was hired from a film library. These included several Ealing comedies. The Man In The White Suit, starring Alec Guinness (1956) Genevieve, The Titfield Thunderbolt, The Ladykillers, The Lavendar Hill Mob. Occasionally the theme was changed. Battle Of The River Plate and Operation Amsterdam, about diamond smuggling in wartime Holland. The school possessed a standard 16mm Bell & Howell projector, and this was supplemented by a second, loaned by the council, to enable continuous projection of the films, which usually comprised three reels. After Ray Stribling left the school (1960?) we, the cine society members, manned the projectors. FROM ALUN FISHER 1964-71 It was with great sadness that I read of the death of Ken Witts. I echo the sentiments of others as to his ability as a teacher - geography in my case - and his character. I always had the greatest respect for the way Ken treated his pupils, firm but fair. FROM HAROLD COATES 1944-51 (Continuing Harold's memoirs - Ed) One further set of memories needs to be related before moving on to my years in the sixth form. In the summer of 1949 Mr Curtis organised another camp, this time at Great

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Yarmouth. This was a longer and larger affair than the one at Brighton, and was to accomodate different groups of boys over a three week period. Mr Curtis took Brian Coley, Ray Cayless and myself to Yarmouth for a preparatory visit at the start of the summer holidays. We travelled in his car, my first long journey by car. We stopped for refreshments at a wayside inn near Peterborough; another first for me, and my introduction to the pleasures of cider. We stayed in a boarding house, with we three boys sharing a double bed. I can't remember much about the planning aspect of the visit, but do recall taking part in a gala at the open-air pool on the front. This was unusual, in that it was 100 yards long. I can't remember in what event I swam, but the greatest achievement was Brian's second place in an open race for adults for a trophy called the Ulph Cup. This cup was the most magnificent trophy we had ever seen, standing some 4ft 6 in high. But what set the race apart was the distance - ten lengths of the pool, 1,000 yards. Being only fifteen at the time, Brian's second place, in a close finish racing against men, was an outstanding performance. I also recall that because the pool used chlorinated sea water Brian's eyes were so sore it was more than an hour before he could see properly (What happened to the trophy - Ed) The camp, which took place later, was on a commercial site at the Gorleston end of Yarmouth beyond the amusement park. It was adjacent to the beach, quite near the rivermouth and long-since built on. Me, Ray Cayless, Brian Coley, John Hunt and Brian McNally stayed for the whole three weeks, with other groups changing weekly. Uncle, Mr Curtis' friend, was again present, this time occupying a small caravan. I think he was in charge of catering again. Mr & Mrs Woods, parents of one of the boys, also spent a week with us. It was a very relaxed, carefree time with few rules and an easy regime, Mr Curtis being the only teacher present. We spent a great deal of time on the beach, the campsite directly adjoining it, swimming and taking part in the usual seaside activities. One evening five or six of us decided to go for a swim in the dark. At the time fins were becoming popular, and we all donned a pair. Being near the river mouth meant the current pushed us away from the campsite. That meant that when we left the water we had some distance ro walk. We left our flippers on and made our way back along the water's edge, flopping and fooling about. Much to our surprise, and obviously to hers, a young woman jumped up from a hollow in the sand, screaming loudly, no doubt thinking that sea monsters had landed. Her boyfriend was not amused, and was so threatening we ran back into the sea to avoid him. One other notable feature of this camp was our participation in the open events of the weekly swimming gala. There were individual races, a diving competition and a relay race open to allcomers but mainly, I think, catering for the local swimming clubs. As we were all sixteen or younger we took part in the junior events. One thing surprised us at first, the amount of support we had from the spectators, especially in the team races. But perhaps not so surprising given how many Leicester people spent their holidays in Yarmouth. I can't recall how successful we were, but I remember one event clearly. It was either the second or third week, and we had entered boys for the usual number of events. But just before the gala Brian McNally, our diving competitor, sprained his ankle and we needed a substitute. It took a great deal of persuasion to persuade me to do it. I was reluctant because the dives were from one metre, three metre and five metre boards. The first two I could manage, but five metres was outside my experience. The only ones in Leicester were at the open air pools, and I'd only used them a couple of times probably in response to dares. However, I tried. My dives from the lower boards were adequate, certainly not among the best, but the high board proved my undoing. The lower two were sheltered

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 60-8 by the pool buildings and public seating, but the higher one rose well above these. I walked, rather nervously, to the end, took my stance, raised my arms and prepared to dive. As I did so a strong gust of wind blew me off the board. I struggled desperately to enter the water head-first, not wanting to bellyflop from that height. I somehow succeeded, but entered the water very untidily. Much to my dismay I saw, when I surfaced, the judges holding up marks of 1 or 1.5. I complained I hadn't dived, and Mr Curtis raised the matter with the referee, but the dive stood as marked. I think I was probably relieved not to have to face that five metre drop again. Practical memories of the camp are hazy. We slept in large hired bell tents, but I recall nothing about the catering apart from Uncle, who I presume dealt with it. The travel arrangements must have been similar to Brighton, with groups of boys travelling there and back by train with no adult supervision, except for the week Mr & Mrs Woods came. So back to school for my two years in the sixth. One event at the end of 1949 brought great disappointment to me and the others in our tight-knit group of swimming friends. Mr Curtis, discouraged and frustrated by Mr Crammer's negative attitude towards sport and what he (Mr Curtis) was trying to do, left CBS for the Thomas Coram School, Berkhampstead. His replacement, Mr Jock Gilman, was a great contrast. No enthusiasm! He was more interested in his second-hand car business, and looked for every opportunity to avoid his schoolwork - of which more later. FROM ERIC BIRD 1954-61 Brian Screaton's difficulty in remembering what logs were all about may stem more from being taught what to do without any reason being given, rather than the ravages of time. In these days when there is a call for more rote learning this may be evidence that it has no lasting value. It is repetition, the kind of process that used to be the core of apprenticeship schemes, that imprints the information in the brain. Brian may remember that when multiplying numbers with powers, the indices are added. Here we come to the problem of writing algebraic expressions on one line of type, so a pencil and paper will be of use here in writing the words down as symbols. eg:- x squared plus x cubed equals x to the power 5. 100 is ten squared and 1000 is ten cubed so 10 squared plus 10 cubed equals 10 to the power 5 ie 100 000 Hopefully Brian will also remember that the log of numbers in the hundreds have a 2 before the decimal point and numbers in the thousands have a 3 before the decimal point. This is explained in the notes at the back of the book of tables. So, logs (to base 10) are the indices of 10 that provide the number. Adding the logs of numbers is a method of multiplying the numbers. There are logs to other bases, ln is used for logs to base e (= 2.718) The page of logs is simply a means of finding out the values for powers of ten with values between 1 and 10, 10 and 100, 100 and 1000 etc. eg the log of 2 is 0.3010 this means that if 10 is raised to the power 0.3010 the answer will be 2 Try this on a calculator with a y to the power x button; 10 (yx) .301 = 1.99986187 The log of 20 is 1.3010 since 20 is 10 x 2 and 1.3010 is 1 + .3010 Time for some homework. Multiply 2.345 by 6.941 Set the work out in two columns, headed; Number - Log Write the numbers

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 60-9 in the Number Column, find the log of each number from the table, rule a line and add the logs, find the number from the Anti-log table Now make up four more and do them one after the other. Check the answers with a calculator. In the days before calculators there was no other way of dealing with extended problems in trigonometry without using log tables. Indeed, the tables of log sin, log cos and log tan helped to cut down the work and this taught the need to be well organised in setting out the solution. When the first calculators became available they could only add, subtract, multiply and divide, the one produced by Sinclair costing about £30 in 1970. Later, when scientific calculators became available, some people bought them to help find the logs more easily, not realising that the calculator could multiply without their use. The one I have used today cost £1. One of the reasons for Charles Babbage developing the calculating engine was to produce tables with reliable accuracy. Such tables as 'ready reckoners' were in use for calculating rates of interest, and were invaluable for those on piece work to work out their pay. Mathematical tables were need to calculate positions at sea. The successor to the mechanical adding machine (operated by people called computers) was the modern computer with memory. In the early '60s I went along with others in the sixth form to see the computer at the Leicester Tech in The Newarks. All I remember is that it was programmed to calculate the solutions of an equation for complex numbers and gave the answer with words in French as the programmer was French. The only occasion I have had to use logs when calculators have been available was to find high orders of rates of reaction in chemistry. If plotting a graph of the experimental results produces a curve, the log of the results is plotted and the graph is a straight line, so a ruler can be used for best fit. This reminded me of Bob Roberts, in humorous mood, explaining the approach to graphs in different disciplines. Given a scatter of points on graph paper, a statistician would draw vertical lines to the x-axis to show it was a bar chart. A mathematician would join up the points showing a beautiful curve but a physicist would say (and here he demonstrated with a violent stroke across the graph that broke the chalk) "it's a straight line!" (Editors note - my wife Stephanie (Wyggeston Girls!) says she cannot agree with Eric's figures,and has covered my printed copy with amendments. If anyone wants to see them (Eric???) let me know. The whole thing brings back painful memories for me, so I have not tried them myself. FROM MICK STOKES 1957-62 Ed Featherstone made reference to Nguyen. This would presumably be de Nguyen Van Tuan. When he arrived at CBS the story was that his father had been in the diplomatic service in Vietnam. About 40 years ago I attended Nguyen's wedding. This came about because his bride knew my wife, having trained as a nurse with her. All I can really recollect about the wedding is that it was alcohol-free, due to their religion. The first and last time I have attended such a function! We lost touch with them, but I don't know if that was the reason. FROM CHRIS JINKS 1967-74 Whilst looking through some old Leicester City Transport committee meeting minutes I came across an incident which will be of interest to CBS pupils from 1960: Leicester City Transport, meeting of transport

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(claims) sub-committee 21st September 1960. Claim No 510: Leicester Lido Ltd. The General manager reports that on July 14th 1960, motorbus No 1 (sic) when approaching the car park at the Leicester Lido, Scraptoft lane, collided with the supporting timbers of an overhead signboard, causing the structure to be demolished. Leicester Lido have submitted a claim for the reinstatement of the sign as it was immediately prior to the accident, and estimates supplied indicate the cost will be in the region of £150. The vehicle was not on its authorised route, having been ordered by the Education Dept for the purpose of conveying scholars from the City Of Leicester Boys' School to the playing fields either at Grace Road or Melton Road. The board supplied to the driver made it clear the destination was firm, and that deviation was not authorised. Such instructions followed an earlier incident involving the same school - a motorbus was directed to the Lido instead of the playing fields. A master accompanying the boys, however, told the driver to proceed to the Lido and he did in fact do so. Whilst it is unfortunate the master so instructed the driver, and the matter has been taken up strongly with the Director of Education, the order should not have been obeyed, particularly in view of the specific instructions on the running board. In the circumstances the General Manager feels the Department must accept liability and therefore recommends the claim from the Leicester Lido Ltd be settled on the best terms. RESOLVED that the claim be settled as now recommended. The questions which some readers might be able to answer are: 1) Which master instructed the driver to vary the route? 2) Can anyone confirm, from reports or the school magazine, that July 14th 1960 was the last week of term? Presumably, with holidays imminent, the master concerned wanted to treat the pupils to a dip in an outdoor pool, instead of cross-country or other activity, on a hot day 3) Do any readers recall this incident, or remember going to the Lido from school at other times? Do any ex-masters recall whether any action was taken against the master concerned? I must say I have some sympathy for the driver, mainly due to the fact he was issued with alternative destinations in the first place (ie: Grace Road or Melton Road) (I have a vague recollection of being taken to the Lido on one occasion instead of the usual games, but could not say when it was. I do remember it was a very hot day, which gives credence to Chris' point 2 - Ed) FROM DAVID MORTON 1954-61 Here is an amusing quote: On high school reunions. 'Don't go if you've never gone. You get that letter in the mail. You feel like you only have six months to make something of yourself.' FROM DR A A BURROWS 1957-68 STAFF I have recently been in touch with Dr John Sykes, who tells me that he has been promoted to a Professor in Materials Science in the University of Oxford (I understand this is in Recognition of Distinction) He is a fellow of Mansfield College, Oxford, and was until recently Chairman of the Materials Faculty. When I arrived at CLBS in January 1957 I taught John Chemistry in 5S, and thereafter in the three years of his sixth form career, and he went on to win the Pochin Exhibition at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. John was no stranger to me in 1957, since he was already a prominent member of the 91st Scout Group, and went on to represent Leicestershire Scouts at the International Jamboree in the

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Phillipines during 1959. In the 5S of 1957 was Peter Woods (65th Scouts) who went up to Churchill College, Cambridge, and John tells me that he is (was?) 'the Science Fellow in Atmospheric Science & Gas Analysis 'at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. Also in 1961 my Captain of School Swimming, David Morton (9th Scouts) moved on to read Veterinary Science at the University of Birmingham. He has enjoyed a most colourful career, but has yet to be persuaded to write an account for OWT. Perhaps these snippets of news will persuade others from the same year to tell their stories! FROM ROBERT HALLS 1960-64 (Taken from the web site - Ed) I really didn't make the most of the opportunities offered by CBS, but I'm an engineer not an academic. That said, many things were instilled in me at the school which I still draw on today. Does anyone know the wherabouts of Form 1A members, Elbow Lane 1960-61? I'm told that Wally Wardle eventually exploded in front of a class. Does anyone remember the lunchtime boxing sessions he used to settle disputes between boys? FROM MIKE STEVENS 1954-59 Coincidences concerning teaching. Never did I think the tables would be turned, as they have been. I was taught many things at Humberstone Gate, but nothing connected with computers. They were in their infancy in my day, and not to be found in schools. Now I find myself - in the same classroom I inhabited! - teaching computing. Age Concern have a well-equipped computer room, and offer courses to oldies who want to learn about this aspect of the digital age. I'm a geeky amateur computer aficionado, and noticed an Age Concern plea for volunteers in an IT magazine . I subsequently discovered that lessons would be held at Humberstone Gate. Although I have attended our reunions, and the main hall is little changed, I cannot remember any of the classrooms, including what is now the computer room. FROM MARTYN WILLIAMS (1958-62) Thank you to all those who keep the CBS reunions running. It was great for my brother Roger (1959-63) and me to visit our old school for the 2008 reunion after a gap of 45 years. We hope our musical contribution was appropriate and not too loud! We were pleased to include three songs by Buddy Holly, as the very next day (March 16th) was the 50th anniversary of his appearance at De Montfort Hall. He was part of The Crickets only UK tour prior to Buddy's untimely death on 3rd February 1959. I was delighted to speak to many Old Boys, and particularly glad to speak to Bill Mann. He was my form master for at least one year, and took us for Physics and Chemistry. He looks good! AND FINALLY... More material desperately needed please, otherwise OWT will fade away. Don't forget to let me know if you would like to say a few words about Ken Witts at the next reunion. Also remember that our web site has lots of information, including e-mail addresses for members. If you know any ex-pupils who are not yet part of Wyvernians please put them in touch with me. Remind them that membership is free. Does anyone recall Wally Wardle's boxing matches, as mentioned by Robert Halls? I was at Elbow Lane from 1960-62 and I'm sure I was

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 60-12 unaware of them. Where did they take place? What did the parents think about it? I hope someome can shed some light on this fascinating aspect of school history. End Of OWT60 October 5th 2008

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OWT 61 OLD WYVES' TALES 61 - DECEMBER 2008 THE IRREGULAR JOURNAL FOR WYVERNIANS EX-PUPILS OF THE CITY OF LEICESTER BOYS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL PRIOR TO 1976 EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN, ROCK COTTAGE, BROOK STREET, WELSHPOOL, MONTGOMERYSHIRE SY21 7NA 01938 555574 07985 405365 www.wyvernians.org.uk EDITORIAL I am pleased to say we have gained two or three new members since the last OWT, but sadly I have been notified of seven deaths. If you hear of any ex-pupils who have passed away please let me know so I can amend the records. It is understandable that the families of the deceased seldom tell me, mainly because they are unaware of Wyvernians, and it can be upsetting for those left behind to receive unsolicited communications. The obituaries appear in this edition. OWT is e-mailed to some 320 people all over the world, but those without internet access only receive it if they keep me supplied with SAE's. Earlier this year I was regularly posting 19 copies, but currently this has slumped to 13. Two have died, but of the other four I have no idea. Maybe they have simply lost interest, or maybe they too have gone to that big classroom in the sky. By its very nature Wyvernians will itself eventually wither and die. The number of potential members is finite, and the pool decreases with each month that passes. I have gone back to school this year, not as a pupil but as a sort-of teacher. Llanfyllin (Chlan vutlin) High School approached the Rotary Club Of Welshpool to ask if any members would be interested in helping with literacy support, and two of us offered to take part. The scheme is called Catch-Up Literacy, and involves Rtn Peter Hodgson and myself visiting the school each Wednesday morning for two terms. We each see four pupils, aged around 11, and spend time with them on a one-to-one basis. It is very rewarding, though I have to say it soon became clear they do not want to be my friend, nor do they want me to be their friend. I originally imagined there would be more of a bond between us, but to them I am just an old bloke who has become part of their timetable! Given how much I detested my time at CBS (1959-64) I never thought I would find myself entering a school as 'staff', albeit unofficial and unpaid! Age Concern have now purchased Clarence House for £1,000,000 (Leicester Mercury October 20th) They intend to upgrade and improve the building, and we can only hope it will remain recognisable as our old school. Wyvernians has made a donation to Age Concern towards the shortfall of £70,000. They are very supportive of our annual reunions, and we have no reason to believe that will change. I confirm the date of the 2009 reunion as March 21st. Invitations will be sent after Christmas. Many of you are kind enough to send Stephanie and myself a Christmas card, and I do hope you realise it is not practical for us to reciprocate. There would be just too many! But please be certain we really enjoy the cards, and many thanks to those who take the trouble to send them. FROM JOHN SIMS 1940-47 Random Schoolday Memories (Continuing the series - Ed) 1) Irrational Voices. 'Today is the fifth of November. Also known as Guy Fawkes Night. Why did they lock him up in the Tower of London all those years ago?' In the chemistry lab a sea of hands know the answer. One of them, in the end, gets it right. 'Correct. Sir Guy Fawkes was accused, with others, of plotting to blow up the Houses of Parliament. They were stopped in the nick of time.' A small tube of black powder is taken from the locked cupboard in the lab. The sample is clearly labelled Gunpowder. He's not kidding. Suddenly the teacher has our undivided attention, as he shows how it burns away vigorously on a Petra dish. Lots of smoke. We stumble, choking loudly, down the stairs to fresh air and safety. Just For The Record After school I rush to the chemists for a few missing ingredients. Then home, to repeat the experiment in my tiny lab in the shed. Like most suburban homes in the early days of WW2 we have an air raid shelter. It is constructed of heavy corrugated steel sheets, bolted together and hidden beneath layers of clay, gravel, topsoil and turf. It gets pumped out in wet weather. The

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Anderson Shelter is designed to withstand German bombs, they say. So we are told. Hmmm. I get busy with my experiment. Objective: to test Anderson Shelter for ability to withstand a direct hit. Procedure: gunpowder bomb is planted six inches into topsoil of shelter roof. Fuse is set and lit. Retire to safe distance. Wait and observe. Boom!!! There she goes! Earth and stones rattle down from above. Acrid, sulphorous smoke floats slowly past and across neighbouring gardens. The birds stop singing. All's quiet on the western front. I advance cautiously to survey the damage. There's a large patch of exposed steel. Otherwise undamaged. Rather disappointed I go indoors for tea. Dad comes home from work. Consults with Mum. Frowns deeply. Examines damaged earthworks. Turns to look sadly in my direction. 'Well, lad, that must have been quite a bang. Lucky no one was hurt, including you. Now set-to and get that shelter mended before Gerry flies over tonight and bombs us before we're ready. Jump to it now. And don't ever do that again.' His West Yorkshire accent always broadens when he's angry. Or sad. I avoid his glance. Jump to put things back as they were. Almost feel myself growing up. Engineering Triumphant. Next day Dad's home early. Puts a parcel on the table. 'Well, lad, open it. Let's see what you've got. Surplus to wartime requirements. OK?' He smiles at his little quip. Gingerly I open the parcel. He's not beyond the occasional practical joke. Inside is a metal tube. Each end has a metal lug to carry the rope sling which completes the design. I slide out the bolt. Nothing in the pipe. 'You'll have to find your own gunpowder,' he smiles. Shows me how to load and fire the makeshift device. I'm forgiven. 'Thanks, Dad.' FROM HAROLD COATES 1944-51 (Continuing Harold's reminiscences - Ed) My main feeling whilst recalling this period is one of amazement at how busy I was. How did I manage to fit it all in? Studying loomed large, and made considerable demands on out-of-school hours. An English essay, plus required reading, was set every week. Also a History essay; one week British history, the next European. For Art a pencil drawing each week, and notes on the History of Art to write up. In Woodwork, notes on the technical side of the craft to write up. My tutors were History, Mr Beaumont; English, Mr Wheater; Art, Mr Chapman; Woodwork, Mr Crocker. A source of constant criticism was my almost illegible handwriting, rather haphazard spelling and my inability to develop what they called a writing style. Was this what sparked my adult interest in calligraphy, or was it the wish to write as beautifully as my father? English Literature with Mr Wheater I found the most difficult. Shakesperar, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth, Byron, Austen, Shaw - none of them really appealed to me. I also think that Mr Wheater remembered my poor behaviour from the third year, and was fiercely critical of my poor handwriting and spelling. On one occasion I'd handed in an essay on Hamlet, in which I couldn't make up my mind how to spell tragedy. I alternated throughout with tragedy/tradegy as I was too lazy to look it up. When the essay was returned Mr Wheater had written across two pages of my notebook, in large red letters, 'For God's sake learn how to spell tradegy.' But I did struggle. I just could not work out what was meant by style, and analysing fictional characters as if they were real offended my sense of logic. History interested me more, and I found greater satisfaction in those studies. Mr Beaumont was an excellent tutor, very committed and particularly passionate about Irish history. One of the 6th form, a lad named Frost, made good use of this passion. Each week we had to produce a homework essay on a set question. One week English history, European the next. Frost became noted for not having his essays finished on time, and to avoid trouble he developed a remarkable ability. By means of a few questions and comments whatever Mr Beaumont was talking about could be turned round to the Irish Question. It didn't matter if it was European history, exploration or something about the colonies, Frost could somehow drag it round to Ireland. Then, with a few digs, often taking an anti- Irish approach, he could completely divert the course of the lesson. At times Mr Beaumont became so impassioned he would climb onto the library table and harangue us about the iniquities of the English towards the Irish. If Frost (I can't remember his first name) had timed it right this would bring us to the end of the lesson, and we would be dismissed without having to hand in our essays. History a dead subject? Not with Mr Beaumont it wasn't! As with History, Art appealed to me and studies into the subject developed into a life-long interest. Mr Chapman was also a dedicated tutor - skilful, knowledgeable and mischeviously given to shocking the sensibilities of his adolescent pupils. On one occasion, when we were studying figure drawing, Mr Chapman illustrated his teaching with some of his own drawings of a nude female. And if that was not embarrassing enough for his teenage pupils he calmly announced the model was his wife! Mr Crocker was calmer, quieter and less demonstrative but no less demanding. He used to really annoy and frustrate me with his demand that each piece of woodwork be finished to the highest possible standard. At the time I was always eager to get the job

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 61-3 finished. Now, as an adult woodworker, it is an attitude I heartily endorse. I was appointed House Captain at some time during this period. I was in Abbey, the others being Bradgate, Charnwood and De Montfort. This involved me organising the weekly House Assembly - reading the lesson, or trying to persuade someone else to do so. I also had to write reports on House activities for the school magazine. Usually these involved reporting any successes - scholastic or sporting - followed by somewhat trite exhortations to work harder, behave better or perform more successfully on the sports field - all for the sake of the House. FROM MIKE WALKER 1949-54 I could see nothing wrong with Eric Bird's logarithm figures (OWT60) and would be interested to learn why the editor's wife feels they are incorrect. While on the subject of logs, those who did 'A' level Chemistry may recall that the acidity/alkalinity is expressed as pH, defined as the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration - surely a plot to confuse, one might think. The rationale is that the hydrogen ion concentration varies between 1-10 -14moles/litre, so a negative logarithmic scale seemed necessary to cover the range and to avoid having to write the negative sign before the value. By contrast, in human medicine where the normal blood pH is around 7.4, values below about 6.8 or above about 7.8 (ie a factor of 10 when expressed as hydrogen ion concentration) are generally not compatible with life. Not, incidentally, because of the abnormal pH itself but rather due to the seriousness of the condition causing it. Consequently we do not need to punish ourselves by using a logarithmic scale in medicine and I found it far more useful, not to mention simple, to work in terms of hydrogen ion concentration (expressed in nanomoles/litre) rather than its negative log. Unfortunately for me almost everybody else was using pH, so I frequently found myself giving silent thanks to Bob Roberts for imparting to me an understanding of logs and to Mr Guy for teaching me how to make the conversion (Following further e-mail discussions between Stephanie and Eric it seems the original figures as quoted were in fact incorrect. Never under-estimate a Wyggy Girl! Unfortunately I neglected to keep a copy of the correspondence. No one else had mentioned it until Mike's intervention, so I thought that was the end of the matter. No doubt Eric will send in the corrected figures if he feels strongly enough - Ed) FROM ALAN MERCER 1959-63 One story from the staff room about the youthful looks of Ken Witts. Returning from a trip abroad the customs official did not believe that some of the party bringing in watches, wine etc were over 18. 'Well I don't think he's over 18, ' said the officer, pointing at Mr Witts. FROM THE LEICESTER MERCURY MR LEICESTER PAGE 24/9/08 One of my regular contributors, Brian Screaton, recently came across an interesting book. Published in 1978, it celebrates the centenary of Wyggeston Girls' School. The school began life in what is now Clarence House, and later occupied imposing premises on Regent Road which now house Regent College. Clarence House is currently the home of Age Concern, but like the Regent Road building it was originally custom-built for Wyggeston Girls. Later, from 1928-1965, it was occupied by the City Of Leicester Boys' School, followed by Charles Keene College. The book gives a lot of detail about the building's early history, which began life in June 1878 as The Girls' Department of the Wyggeston's Hospital School, and cost £7,162. The building, situated between Clarence Street and Hill Street, 'is in the Tudor style and composed of red brick with dressings of Ancaster stone, and has a frontage of 104 feet towards Humberstone Gate. The main entrance is from Clarence Street through an arched gateway, 10 feet wide, adjoining the porter's lodge. Above the gateway is a small oriel window surmounted by the arms and motto of the founder' There is a lot more descriptive detail, including the layout and measurements of rooms and the fact 'the building is heated by a hot water system, and the apparatus is placed in a stone cellar under the teachers' room' A former pupil recalls, 'During the first half-term the school was in a very unfinished state, especially in the lower rooms, and we were constantly meeting workmen on our journeys up and down.' Tuition fees in 1881 were £1 per term for juniors and £1 13s 4d per term for seniors under 15. The

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 61-4 over-15's had to pay £2! A fixed charge of 2s 6d was made for stationery, drawing paper and copy books. In 1882 the school was enlarged by the addition of a drill hall to the rear of the premises, which became the gym when CBS occupied the site and is now a cafeteria. Another pupil recalled, 'In those days we were proud of the building, which so well combined usefulness with dignity and beauty. Its position, however, had its drawbacks and in that first summer term a holiday was necessary not only because of cases of smallpox in the annual fair camped outside, but on account of the noisy merry- gorounds and the stamping of the horses tethered to the school railings. It was a great relief when a fairground site was found elsewhere. We were once mistaken for the Town Museum by a visitor, who asked to see the stuffed animals!' FROM STEVE MELLOR 1960-66 (I wondered if I should print this or not, but no names are mentioned so hopefully it is OK. I have no idea if the person concerned sees OWT - Ed) I'm not going to name the first husband, but wonder how many Wyvernians have married the same woman (at different times) I was married to the ex-wife of a distinguished old boy, and have since divorced and remarried (third try) If husband interested, Angi is still in Mauritius running her own pest control company. FROM DR ARNOLD BURROWS 1957-68 (The item from Dr Burrows in OWT60 was revised before publication, and did not really make sense as printed. I am therefore happy to reprint a corrected version, as supplied by Dr Burrows - Ed) SOME OLD WYVES OF 1961 I have recently been in touch with Dr JOHN SYKES who tells me that he has been promoted to a Professorship in Materials Science in the University of Oxford (I understand this is in 'recognition of distinction') He is a Fellow of Mansfield College, Oxford, and was until recently Chairman of the Materials Faculty. When I arrived at CLBS in January 1957 I taught John Chemistry in 5S (and thereafter in the years of his Sixth Form career) and in 1961 he went on to win the Pochin Exhibition at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. (John was no stranger to me in 1957, since he was already a prominent member of the 91st Scout Group and went on to represent Leicestershire Scouts at the International Jamboree in the Philippines in 1959) In the 5S of 1957-58 was PETER WOODS (65th Scouts!) who went up to Churchill College Cambridge in 1961; John tells me that he is (was ?) the Science Fellow in Atmospheric Science & Gas Analysis at the National Physical Laboratory at Teddington. Also in 1961 my Captain of School Swimming Dr DAVID MORTON (9th Scouts!) moved on to read Veterinary Science at Bristol, and has recently retired with an Emeritus Professorship in Veterinary Science in the University of Birmingham. He tells me the course at Bristol was only for four years (but compensated by a six-day week!) with farming during the vacations. Having qualified he moved on to Liverpool for his Ph.D. (research into the development of the oral contraceptive) and then to an Independent (Govt) research centre in Cambridge. He came back to Leicester as Senior Lecturer in human anatomy, and finally to Birmingham where he set up the Department of Healthcare Ethics and Law 'to teach doctors and nurses to be nice to their patients'. He says that vets 'get bitten or sued if they are not kind'! Perhaps these snippets of news will persuade others from the same year to tell their stories! FROM PETER MARKHAM 1946-51 Thank you very much for Old Wyves Tales 60. Once again as always very interesting and informative. I fully understand your repeated requests for more material. This I am afraid is a sign of the times. I am in a similar position as editor of the Leicester Walking Club newletter. One point I would like to comment on is Wally Wardle's boxing tournaments. Obviously as a CBS pupil from 1946 to 1951 I cannot comment on the situation in the 1960's at Elbow Lane. Nevertheless I do remember at least one properly-organised tournament held during my time at the school where Wally Wardle, dressed in white shirt and trousers, was the referee. The ring was positioned on the stage in the main hall. There had been an argument between two of the boys in my class, the late Chuck Saddington and Nev Wilson. As they were both of a similar stature and weight it was decided that one of the matches should be between these two. It must be remembered that in Amateur Boxing there is always a verdict, and no contest can be declared a draw, unlike the professional side when a draw can be given. Even so the result of the fight between these two was

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 61-5 declared a draw. The reasoning behind this was explained afterwards. If one of the boys had been declared the winner then the other would have been dissatisfied and would have requested another fight. As it was both went away satisfied, and as far as I remember were friends afterwards. Long before the time of the politically-correct experts there was an English Schools Boxing association, but this was disbanded in the 60's, probably round about the time that you are querying. Keep up the good work, as OWT is the only way most of us can keep in touch with our schooldays. FROM JOHN WILKINSON 1949-54 The only boxing I am aware of was at Clarence House in 1950. There was a boxing club (used to practice in the gym- cannot recall who ran it - might well have been Mr Wardle} In 1950 a ring was erected in the hall, and various bouts were put on in front of the whole school. I remember being in awe of the big boys - they certainly went for it big-time - could they thump ! My bout was less violent as we didn't carry as much weight - nevertheless we attempted to knock each others heads off but didn't manage it - thank God. The outcome was a points victory for me - I attach a copy of the certificate. Funny thing, but after the event the odd bully kept well away (The certificate is dated 1950. John Wilkinson, 5st 12lbs, won the bout against Geoffrey Ellis, 6st - Ed) FROM GEOFF MANCHESTER 1961-66 Robert Halls' comment about Wally Wardle's boxing matches brought to mind a match I came across during a break at Elbow Lane. It was held in the gym, which I had to cross to reach my 2A form room. The gym was on the first floor, by Mr Wardle's office at the top of the stairs. The match was between two third year boys; I knew them by sight but not by name. Mr Wardle was referee. There was no one else in the gym, and I did not wait around to see the outcome. I suspect that spectators were not encouraged. I cannot recall any talk of the bout, before or after. Could Robert Halls be the boy who was on the first public detention list that I remember? Mr Wardle read out the name one morning after assembly. He began: 'Halls, Needham, Needham again...' At that point he looked up from the list, whipped off his reading glasses and scanned the room. I assumed he was attempting to spot David Needham, who later became a professional footballer. I have a vague recollection of a group of boys filing into assembly just before the notices were read. I believe they were Roman Catholics? Did they have a separate service somewhere, or just wait outside (I hope someone can answer this query - Ed) I recall the woodworking classes, though I can't remember anything I attempted to make. Judging by my later DIY skills I suspect the results would have been of no use anyway. Mr Hutchinson was referred to as Bunny and was often in class with his arm in a sling or a wrist in plaster - he was also a jockey. I was told he lived in Tugby, and during the winter of 1962/3 he was unable to get to school for several weeks because of the huge snowdrifts. FROM BRIAN WELLS 1940-45 Thinking of wartime schooldays, and in particular Harvest Camp, I happened to be in the Belvoir area so went to look at the site of the Knipton camp but could not place it. I seem to remember it was opposite The Manners Arms, but must have been wrong. I recall cycling round the area looking for crashed planes to salvage bits of perspex to make into rings etc. I don't know if the planes we found were ours or German. I think others have said how primitive the camp was, especially the toilet facilities - a trench with a pole on which to prop one's backside! Guess there was a good supply of dock leaves! Thinking of Grace Road and sport, a few weeks ago I was taken to a 20/20 match and could not get over how big the ground was. I'm sure I never ran that far round but must have done. I always opted for the distance races on sports days, as I wasn't very good at sprinting. Someone said it is one of the biggest grounds in the country. By the way, we lost to Yorkshire on the last ball. Following my mention of Bud Fisher I had a very nice e-mail from his daughter, Ann Jessop, in New Zealand. Ann is writing her father's memoirs, and I'm sure would love to hear from anyone who was taught by Bud. I thought he was a really good teacher (The e-mail address is annf@clear.net.nz)

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OBITUARIES Dr Arnold Burrows has heard of the deaths of the following three Wyvernians. In each case he has no reason to doubt the news, but does not have positive proof. Norman Barnett (1931-34) A regular attender at the reunions, Norman was a Lecturer in Engineering at De Montfort University before retirement (Unusually, Norman has not renewed his supply of SAE's, so I suspect he has indeed passed away - Ed) Gerald Ireland (1937-?) Gerald was an architect, practising in Exeter before retiring to London. Gordon Midgeley (1949-54) Also deceased: Geoff Bott (1946-52) Geoff was another regular at the reunions, and passed away October 9th 2008 Mr C H Curtis, sports master at CBS 1945-50. Mr Curtis was born in 1915, and passed away in October 2008. A full obituary by Harold Coates appears in this issue. Malcolm Davies 1959-66. Malcolm was a contemporary of mine, and another staunch supporter of our annual reunions. He spent his working life with Severn Trent Water, and his ebullient presence will be sadly missed. Malcolm was a regular contributor to OWT and his lightly-humorous items were always well-received. Wyvernians donated £25 to CLASP, the nominated charity, and I wrote a letter of condolence to his parents. Malcolm passed away in October. Richard Tansley 1949-57. Passed away October 2008. Cliff Dunkley (1949-57) attended the funeral. Richard lived at Newtown Linford. FROM MICHAEL ELLIOTT 1955-61 Whilst playing golf recently my partner informed me of his dark past, and like me he went to the Humberstons School For Scoundrels. I lived abroad for some time and have lost all details of former pupils, though I did attend the funeral of a close mate, Mick Harrison, who sadly died about nine years ago. By the way, sorry to hear about Ken Witts. I think he always felt a little sorry for me as I was pretty useless at Maths, though OK at Geography, and my background did leave a bit to be desired! FROM KEITH WRIGHT 1958-54 A recent coach trip from North Wales to Berlin set me thinking about my two years' exposure to the German language at CBS. Flash Gordon, 3 Alpha's form master, provided the foundations and in the following year Herr Handtusch took us to window-ledge level. However the recent introduction of the 'O' Level (more about less) meant that for those with a scientific bent German became verboten. Flash introduced us to some German poetry, which strangely I can still remember in part. A stanza from Heine's Tannhauser - I think! In todays parlance he was obviously not teaching to the test, which I think reflected well on him. One schoolboy phrase was etched on my mind - Die Glocke lautet -the bell rings. Sorry, you knew that. At an appropriate time I dug it from the back of my memory for the benefit of my German house physician. Dr Bohn got his own back later with a tutorial on the rationale behind Madchen and Fraulein taking the neutral gender. The screenplay writer in the, I think, Edith Evans film The Importance Of Being Earnest had Miss Prism doing the same for Cecily. I don't think Flash or H H ever explained the apparent anomaly. They also failed to ding into me that To Travel and To Go in German are not alternatives, as in English, so I got into trouble with my landlady through using gehen when I should have used fahren. That was when I was briefly at Hamburg University during 1958! On a coach journey you notice the road exits are labelled Ausfahrt, not Ausgang, which nicely emphasises the difference, though search me why they are needed. I worked as a hospital physician in North Wales where the schools' emphasis on language to produce, in theory, a bilingual population means that locally-educated people - such as hospital nurses - often have little or no knowledge of continental languages. A high dependence in my day on usually Asian junio- grade medical staff meant that I only rarely received language support when dealing with the occasional monoglot French or German patient. Accordingly I was often the one-eyed man in the kingdom of the blind. My limited knowledge of these languages therefore proved very useful. In contrast I cannot remember ever needing to do a quadratic equation in my work, though a more extensive knowledgae of statistics would have been useful. Not all scientific literature is in English, so really the idea that scientists can exist in a linguistic vacuum is false. An academic chemist friend and university contemporary told me recently he had needed to be able to read original work in his field in French, German and Russian. Mind you, technical language may have very similar vocabularies.

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Thinking of academe, in my day university interviews were not prepared for at CBS, at least not for redbrick aspirants. Thankfully, before mine it occurred to me that to be seen to be reading out of the box, as I suppose it would be described today, would be no bad thing at the interview. I repaired to the library looking for a short novel to read on the bus en route to the interview. I hit on Orwell's Animal Farm, which thankfully proved to be useful interview fodder. It may have helped to overcome the excessive nervousness engendered by sharing the interview waiting room with three posh and very self-confident Wykehamists! FROM BRIAN STEVENSON 1959-65 My recent introduction to Wyvernians entailed a brief email conversation with officers Dennis Duggan and Brian Screaton, which brought up my participation in a band while in the 6th form, generating a few fond memories. This period coincided with the post-Beatles explosion, so it was inevitable that the school would spawn a few bands. The one I belonged to was started by Dave King, who is still playing in various combos on the Wirral, where he now lives. Dave, a passionate fan of The Shadows and The Ventures, persuaded fellow pupil Dave Durant to take up the bass and myself the drums. John Marney filled in on rhythm guitar for a while, but had a bit of difficulty getting away for rehearsals and was succeeded by Roger Rimmo Rimington, with Gez (later Zoot) Taylor coming in on keyboards. I can’t remember how long this lineup lasted, but along the way we diversified into vocals and I attempted to sing while still playing the drums. This sometimes had embarrassing results – I can still remember dropping a drumstick while delivering a particularly enthusiastic version of The Kinks You Really Got Me on stage in the school hall at some sort of concert (Christmas?) We shared the bill with a group we all thought, I’m sure rightly, was rather better than ourselves, featuring Dave Langton, Alan Shepherd and Jim Cryer. Jim was a tall, confident American, who appeared to be about 5 years older than anyone else in the 6th form, and was a commanding vocalist. I had actually bought my first kit from Alan Shepherd for a fiver, soon succeeded by a rather better one bought from John Neill with the proceeds of a summer job at Farmer’s factory at the top end of Charles Street. The band had a life well beyond the 6th form. Keith Duguid joined and brought a much more muscular sound to the band ie he played louder than anyone else. At audition we were particularly impressed by his mastery of Chuck Berry-style rhythms, essential at the time. It was only later we realised he couldn’t keep it up for a whole number because it hurt his fingers! Consequently our Chuck Berry covers tended to start energetically then sag in the middle while Keith took time out to nurse his fingers, before ending in a blaze of glory on the final verse and chorus. By this time I had abandoned the drums in favour of singing, which certainly improved the drumming. Geoff Maisey came in and raised the humour levels to unprecedented heights (not with his drumming, I hasten to add) as we embarked on a series of gigs at youth clubs and working men’s clubs around the city. Keith was probably the most ambitious of us, constantly trying to motivate us to higher things. However, we did have to discourage some of his more outlandish suggestions, such as his attempt to rechristen the band as Jeff Nod and the Nodders. By this time we were fairly well-established as The Jades – I can’t remember what we were called at the school concert, but the Rimshots and the Inner Circle were among our regularly-changing names early on. We even acquired a roadie-cum-van driver, Barry Smith-West – so called because we never found out whether his name was actually Smith or West. The final line-up, as we moved with the spirit of the times into soul music, with Otis Redding and Sam & Dave numbers in our repertoire, incorporated yet another City Boy, Gary ‘Just don’t ask me to improvise, lads’ Mills on sax. By this time it had all got a bit far from The Shadows for founder Dave King, and we all drifted apart amicably amid the usual musical differences, and focused on the day jobs. MR C H CURTIS - BORN OCTOBER 1915, DIED OCTOBER 2008. AN OBITUARY BY HAROLD COATES (Harold notes this obituary is a long one, bearing in mind that Mr Curtis was at CBS for only five years. However he feels that anything less would not do justice to the subject - Ed) Hugh Curtis was born in Croydon and received his early education at the Trinity School of John Whitgift; there he was a chorister and organ scholar. He went on to study at Battersea Polytechnic, University College Southampton then at Bede College, Durham, At Durham, where he specialised in Physical Education, he was the organ scholar at Durham Cathedral, and also gained the Archbishop's Diploma in Divinity. On leaving Durham, in 1939, he became PE Master and Assistant House Master

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 61-8 at the Royal Masonic Junior School, Bushey, Herts. After only a few months teaching he was called up for army service and trained as a PT instructor. On the verge of being posted abroad, and because he had received some education in science at Southampton, he was retrained as a radio, later radar, engineer. During 1942 part of this training was carried out at the Leicester College of Art and Technology, where his connection with Leicester commenced. He spent the final years of the war servicing radar stations on the south coast. On being demobbed in 1945 Mr Curtis came to Leicester and joined the City Boys staff. Prior to his arrival competitive sports at the school were limited to the annual swimming gala and sports day and to the 1st and 2nd X1 cricket and football teams. Under his guidance and enthusiasm junior cricket and football teams were entered in the City Schools Leagues, and teams entered in the City and County Schools swimming and athletics championships. Swimming teams also competed against other grammar schools in the city, and from Nottingham, Burton and Leamington. The school became Leicester's champion swimming school, a title it was to retain for many years. Unfortunately this expansion of sporting activities was not entirely pleasing to Mr Crammer, and after a series of disagreements Mr Curtis left in 1950. He took a post as head of the PE Department, House Master, Deputy Choirmaster and Organist at the Thomas Coram School, Berkhampstead. When the nature of this school changed, following its takeover by the local education authority, he moved to the south coast, and in 1954 joined the staff of Shoreham Grammar School. He was head of the PE Department, a Housemaster and, after 1965, Choirmaster and Director of Music. He was also largely responsible for the schools's survival in the acquisition of new premises and - inevitably - in the provision of a swimming pool. It is worth noting that his leadership of the choir gave it a growing reputation, and led to invitations for it to sing at major cathedrals, including Westminster Abbey. Mr Curtis retired from teaching in 1979, and soon became deeply involved with the charity Friends of Cathedral Music. This body raises funds to support cathedral choirs, and makes grants and scholarships to choristers. From first being their representative for the Chichester diocese he became a member of their National Council. He also took on a role of Diocesan Representative Co-ordinator, which involved travelling to cathedrals nationwide. His work for Friends of Cathedral Music aided a considerable expansion of its growth and influence. Closer to home he and his wife organised a weekly coffee morning for elderly and lonely people, which they ran for more than twenty years. This also included the provision of a Christmas lunch, with the support of other bodies such as Rotary and Round Table. It was a great surprise to all who knew Mr Curtis when, in 1983, aged 68, he married Daphne, a lady he met when she was nursing his elderly mother. This marriage was a great success, and a source of comfort to both of them, and they were pleased to celebrate their silver wedding in 2008. Those who knew Mr Curtis only as sports master at City Boys will perhaps be surprised to learn of his other abilities and enthusiasms - particularly his scientific background and outstanding musicianship. To me, for whom he was a source of inspiration, he remains an outstanding example of a man of wide abilities who spent his life in the service of others. AND FINALLY... Mention of Bunny Hutchinson made me realise I recall very little about my woodwork lessons. Where was the room? If my memory serves me correctly you entered the foyer by the main door and headed for the far left-hand corner. Past the cloakroom, where incidentally we left all sorts of things all day with no thought of them being stolen, down a couple of steps and into Bunny's domain. There were several very sturdy work benches, heavily scarred after many years of use. The benches incorporated a cupboard, wherein was to be found a selection of carpentry tools. I feel sure that for the first three years or so we did both art and woodwork. After that it was one or the other. Did we have the choice, or were we told? Whichever, not being overly successful as a schoolboy artisan I went on to do art with Charley Varley. The funny thing is I only have three memories of the woodwork periods. One is the glue pot, which was always simmering away. Two is someone gashing his knee with a saw and being sent to casualty by bus. Three is the construction of a table lamp. Bunny must have spent the first couple of years teaching us how to use the various tools before we embarked on this project. Looking back it shouldn't have been too difficult, as there were only two parts. The

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 61-9 base was a square of wood, probably with the edges chamfered. Fixed vertically to this was a piece of 2 x 2 or similar, I guess with the edges also chamfered. The project must also have involved sawing the wood to size and planing it smooth. But there was a potential problem - it required the drilling of a hole down the middleof the upright bit to accomodate the flex. I reckon I spent a whole term, and used several pieces of wood, trying to achieve that hole. In fact I can't even say I actually completed the job; I suspect the term might have finished before the table lamp was complete! Bunny did his best, I'm sure, but at the end of the day some boys were of a more practical bent than others. No doubt they were the same boys who excelled at sport. A few were good at everything, sailing effortlessly through all subjects without raising a sweat.. End of OWT61. Dennis J Duggan December 11th 2008

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OWT 62 OLD WYVES' TALES 62 – APRIL 2009 EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN ROCK COTTAGE, BROOK STREET, WELSHPOOL, MONTGOMERYSHIRE SY 21 7NA THE IRREGULAR JOURNAL FOR WYVERNIANS PRE-1976 www.wyvernians.org.uk REUNION REPORT The twelfth annual reunion on March 21st was another success, though the downward trend in the numbers attending continues to cause concern. At the peak, six or seven years ago, some 100 people joined us whereas this year it was nearer seventy. A knock-on effect is that fewer lunches are being served by Age Concern, down from over 80 not so long ago to 45. We are reaching a point where it will not be worth Age Concern's while to do the catering, and it would be a great shame if we lost that facility. The meals are hot, tasty and excellent value, especially as complimentary wine is available. Of course the decline in numbers is inevitable. The youngest eligible Wyvernian is now well into his forties, but the majority of our members are much older than that. Each year more succumb to the effects of old age and/or ill health. A few of our stalwarts said they simply could not make the journey this year, others have gone to that big playground in the sky. The reunion was pretty much business as usual. John Simms gave a humorous talk in the Everard Room, and all the memorabilia was on display. This year we pinned up more things than usual to make them easier to see, and release some table space. The collection of panoramic photos, always popular, continues to increase. Including some duplicates we now have 33. We were delighted to welcome Jenny, Ken Witts' widow, who brought along many items to do with Ken's life. Three Wyvernians gave a short tribute to this exceptional teacher who taught so many of us so well. Ken certainly made a deep impression on generations of boys, most of whom look back on their memories of him with great affection. After lunch we held a short AGM, followed by the raffle. My sincere thanks to Brian Screaton, Treasurer and our man on the ground; John Offord, for assisting with the setting up and packing away; Frank Smith, bouncer; Honorary Wyvernian Stephanie Duggan for selling raffle tickets, key rings, videos and DVD's and collecting the lunch tickets, plus being so supportive throughout the year. Thanks also to those who donated raffle prizes, and those who took the trouble to respond to their invitations. Hopefully we will be at Clarence House again next year. FROM JOHN INGRAM 1947-52 I look forward to reading OWT, but am disappointed to find very few references to students from my years. My only claim to fame was as a member of the school gymnastic team under Tick Curtis.

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FROM JOHN SIMMS 1940-47 (No 5 in the series - Ed) Irrational Annoying Voices 'I want the truth, Simms. Did you write this story for homework, or did you copy it from elsewhere. Come on, man. Own up. It's not your own work, is it?' I'm up in front of my favourite English master, Mr Howard. Why would he think such things about me? Confused. Near to tears. Very angry and deeply hurt at the same time, I hide my feelings and mumble a reply. 'Please, sir, I wrote it myself last night for homework.' At the back of the room someone sniggers. Mr Howard glares, but sticks to his guns. 'This is an excellent story. I find it very hard to believe you wrote it. Go back to your desk. Sit down. You may not have heard the last of this. Now, settle down you lot at the back. Turn to last week's questions.' Class life returns to normal, but it'll never be the same for me. Just For The record My best story. Teacher kept it as evidence, implying I was a liar. It still hurts. Are all storytellers liars? A Story Remembered A man is running to escape the lava flow from a volcano. He's gasping for breath. Screams of agony come from those behind him. In the acrid smoke surrounding him is the smell of burning flesh. The molten lave flows more rapidly as the slope falls more steeply. He tries to run faster. The gas cloud gets denser, gaining on his feeble attempts to escape. Screams from behind are suddenly silenced. The heat increases. His lungs are failing. His screams reach a crescendo. Then silence. He is no more. The burning river from the volcano flows onward regardless. European Languages Austrian Dr Meyer teaches us German in true teutonic fashion. Declensions before conversations. Hard work, but at least we learn to speak Hoch Deutsch with faultless Austrian accents. Much admired later by German friends and relatives. I may mis-spell your name, but I'll never forget your sad unsmiling face. Thanks, Herr Doktor Majut. Five years of French leaves me tongue-tied, but still able to pass exams. Science Sixth 'As new Prefects I expect you to behave like responsible adults. Outside or inside school your badge marks you out: on playing fields, in classrooms, along corridors. Most especially in your senior common room: Those minor explosions in the gas fire must stop. Is that clear?' The pep talk drones on. We exchange covert mock-horror glances. We're not entirely convinced, but we continue to listen repectfully. Whose voice? The Head Prefect it must have been. Wasn't me. FROM MICK STOKES 1957-62 Re Geoff Manchester's enquiry about assembly arrangements for Roman Catholics, in my time we had a classroom to ourselves and were unsupervised. Usually we just chatted, or maybe finished off homework. I was hopeless at woodwork, being unable to plane a piece of wood level. I recall being whacked more than once with Bunny's large metal ruler. Naturally, I gave up his classes at the earliest opportunity.

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FROM HAROLD COATES 1944-51 (Continuing Harold's memoirs - Ed) Somehow I also found time to be involved in the annual school plays. In my first sixth form year I had a minor role in a production of G B Shaw's play Captain Brassbound's Conversion. This meant attending after-school and evening rehearsals - all for my one spoken line. In the second year, my acting ability going unrecognised, I was relegated to stage hand and assistant scenery painter. Three incidents stick in my mind regarding this latter production - Gogol's The Inspector General. These school plays were staged in the theatre of what was then The Co-operative Hall, Belgrave Gate. Setting out one lunchtime to help with scenery painting, I was offered a lift on the back of Mr Wheater's motor cycle, Mr Wheater being co-producer with Mr Franey. Never having been on a motor cycle before I was totally unprepared for the sudden getaway, and was left sitting in the road as Mr Wheater departed. Nor did he come back for me. Later, when the scenery was largely completed and we were in the process of assembling the set, someone opened an outside door at the back of the theatre. A sudden gust of air demolished the set, and we spent several minutes dodging about as one flat after another came wafting down. Finally, confusion during the dress rehearsal. The play included a scene in which a servant - eavesdropping outside the door - is discovered when he tumbles into the room. Paul Harrison, playing the servant, came up with the idea it would be more spectacular if the door fell in with him. By experimenting, he found that as long as he stayed close to the door his fall was softened by the cushion of air. This had been included in the production, but when the time came to do it in the theatre we hadn't expected the floor to be so dusty. As Paul fell an enormous cloud of dust enveloped everyone and everything. It took a long time to settle, and even longer sweeping, dusting and damping down to ensure it didn't happen again. Outside, my involvement with school affairs was just as busy. The departure of Mr Curtis had somehow spurred on the formation of an Old Wyvernians Swimming Club. This meant another club night, and taking part in the league relay races and water polo matches. I also kept up my membership of the Belgrave Swimming Club, representing them when I could. The two major swimming successes of these years were winning the first Leicestershire ASA inter-club gala in 1951, with the Wyvernians and the school team becoming Midlands Grammar School champions in 1950. This latter success, the year after he left, achieved one of Mr Curtis' ambitions after trying for three years. I suppose in some ways the school championship prepared us for the inter-club win. We had become experienced in picking our teams tactically, with swimmers not necessarily swimming in their best event. This was particularly so when we had some knowledge of the opposition. Certainly, we knew the Leicester Swimming Club's team very well. They were the most successful of the local clubs and fully expected to be champions. They were certainly surprised to be beaten, so much so that one of their more vociferous members demanded a recount of the scores as he couldn't believe the result. All this swimming activity led to me being chosen to represent Leicester Schools in the

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Midlands championships, and the Midland Schools in the nationals. I also swam for Leicestershire ASA in their matches against other counties. Mr Gilman's lack of enthusiasm meant that my forays into inter-school athletics came to an end, the school no longer entering a team. Although somewhat to my surprise now I see, from old programmes, that I did run in the mile race in the school sports for both my years in the sixth. Also in 1950 I became the schools swimming Victor Ludorum. My father had been instrumental in raising money from other parents to present the school with a new cup in 1949. It was part of his unsuccessful attempt to persuade Mr Crammer to form a Parent/Teacher Association. In rather egotistical fashion Brian Coley, Ray Cayless and myself decided that ours would be the first three names on the trophy. Brian was the first winner in 1949, I followed in 1950 with Ray taking it in 1951. For most of our two sixth form years Ray and I would go swimming at Vestry Street baths during our lunch hour. Commonplace enough, but what we did afterwards shows how ideas about diet and sports training have changed. After our swim we would go over to the Civic Restaurant in Lee Circle for our dinner. Civic Restaurants were established during the war to provide cheap meals for workers in city centres, so they did not need to travel home at midday. The one in Lee Circle was housed in prefabricated concrete buildings (Horsa Huts) occupying part of the site of the present multi-storey car park. When the restaurant closed the buildings were used by junior classes of CBS for some years. Ray and I usually arrived after most of the workers had eaten, and especially on cold days the serving ladies often took pity on us. We received enormous helpings of whatever was on offer, and were easily persuaded to accept second helpings, especially of puddings. As all the food was of the bulky, filling type this meant things like spotted dick or jam rolypoly. Not exactly the diet now recommended for athletes in training. To compound the fault, having had our dinner we then proceeded to Bayliss' cake shop, Charles Street, for a jam doughnut or cream bun, before returning to school. It's a wonder we didn't sink when we entered the water. Oh, how blissful was our ignorance (To be continued - Ed) FROM ROGER WILLIAMS 1959-63 I was sorry to hear of the demise of several Wyvernians, though I fear this is somewhat to be expected as life goes on. FROM TONY INGHAM 1953-58 I went to Abbey Park Road School in Belgrave and passed the 11-plus, along with about 12 others, and we were portioned out to the eight (four boys' and four girls') grammar schools, although it seemed that we had a choice at the time. I remember the form being filled in and Wyggeston Boys' being disregarded completely, as it was thought I wouldn't have been clever enough to go there and survive, and so the choice was City Boys', not that any of the family had the faintest idea of what grammar schools were or how I would cope! I remember the whirl of

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 62-5 buying uniforms, none of which could be afforded by working class parents, as mine were, and the jacket being much too big so that I would grow into it. I think I managed the whole of my five years at the school with two jackets. We lived in a terraced street, Gresham Street, off Belgrave Road, and I well remember having to take my cap and coat off before entering the street after school or be beaten up by the local boys. I seemed to be the only grammar school boy in the area, or perhaps they were all scurrying round like me without caps and coats. My parents realised what was happening and somehow managed to buy a semi-detached house in the Gipsy Lane area, which was considerably better in those days and where the natives could tolerate boys in caps and uniform jackets coming home fully dressed. Being in the suburbs and literally at the terminus of two bus routes, the 39 and the Catherine Street (number forgotten) one, I went to and from school on the bus initially. But being three miles out of town it was better that I bought a bike and started cycling to school. I quickly made friends with other boys in the area at the school, and some days there would be whole flocks of us cycling at high speed on 14-cog fixed wheel racing bikes along Catherine Street or Melton and Belgrave Road into town. Ken Kelham, now in Canada, was one, along with Dave Ellicock, Roger Marston, Dave Chambers, Bruce Wood, and various others at different times. Amazingly I never had a school dinner! I always went home for lunch, mostly to my parents or sometimes to grandparents, but there was always a lunch for me and I always cycled, so I did about 12 miles a day in total and thought nothing of it. I was not a good pupil. I think that if I had devoted the energy to my studies that I used up in being obstructive and delinquent I would have had an easier passage later in life. I was about half way up (or down) in the 'A' stream throughout and then 5L for my last year. I did start to learn to play the violin at age 11. I recall the teacher I went to was an ancient man called Grainger ,who lived in a little terraced house off Hinckley Road (foreign territory to me being to the South of the City) that the violin cost £5, and that I made a harness for it and the case and carried it on my back whilst cycling. The lessons were arranged through Bill Sykes, and I vaguely remember playing in the second violins at school concerts. My love for music started there, but that period lasted about two years before I gave it up for the guitar. I had no idea then that music would haunt me on and off for the rest of my life, and that at the age of 64 I would receive my MA (Music) from Baroness Boothroyd at a Degree Ceremony at Symphony Hall, Birmingham to add to my Psychology Honours Degree. As it was I left school with only three 'O' levels and at 16 went into printing, which was a 'good job and it was best that I learned a trade'. University, or even the sixth form, were not even considered, especially with my results. I was not very sporty and actively hated football and cricket and would do anything to get out of games. Efforts in that direction involved, to my memory, a small tower on top of the Grace Road pavilion, where several like-minded sports haters would go and smoke instead of playing football and cricket. I've never seen that edifice mentioned by anyone in the newsletters, is my memory

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 62-6 at fault? In the fifth form I would simply get on my bike and vanish from school and not arrive at games. I was caught after many months and had to see Ding-Dong, but the punishment can't have been very bad as I can't remember what it was. I quite liked cross-country and swimming, and actually swam for the school once! It was at Vestry Street and I was entered in the two-lengths free-style by Jock Gilman. I wasn't very good at the front crawl, so I was the only one who got into the water at the start of the race and did the back crawl instead, as it was a free-style race. I came in last and was never asked to swim again, but some time later, to my intense embarassment and surprise, my name was read out at assembly and I had to go up to the stage to get my swimming tie for taking part on that one occasion. I was reasonably good at cross-country and would stubbornly run through the stitch stage just to spite it, and would usually come in reasonably placed. When Ken Kelham came over from Canada several years ago we were watching the video of the school film in which he figures many times, as he was and is very sporty. I was bemoaning the fact that I was not in it, only to have myself pointed out in two shots in a crosscountry race. Fame found at last, and it was there all the time! Enough. I had a good career in the police service and Environmental Health afterwards, and often mentally thank the people who took the trouble to educate me, although I wasn't very happy at the time. I recall a boy from my year named Cantello (I think) who died of appendicitis in about year three. I always remember it being read out at assembly and it being quite shocking to me, and I can remember another boy named (Keith?) Willie Wilkins, who emigrated to Tasmania at about the same age. I had great pleasure in meeting Ken Witts again at one of the reunions, as well as Mr Brushe, who taught me French and German, and John Lawson on a couple of occasions. At the 2002 reunion I met up with Mike Boneham and John Brookes, with whom I had been on a photograph in year 5, and we had a comparison photo done which is on the memorabilia CD. I was one who didn't come out of the comparison very well. FROM RODNEY BURBECK 1950?-56 May I be among the first, or more probably the last, to comment on the acquisition of Clarence House by Age Concern. As I become an increasingly old boy (1951-56) I cannot think of a more appropriate new owner (Rod, I have your dates as 1950-56 - which is correct? - Ed) FROM ADRIAN PILGRIM 1959-67 Re Geoff Manchester's question about the boys who filed in to hear the notices after the religious part of assembly each morning I was indeed, as a Roman Catholic, one of them and I recall there were (if everyone was present) about fifty in all; in other words, about 8% of those attending CBS. We had our own simple service which, organised by Mr Kearney in latter days, took place in the Downing Drive gym. As regards your own final remark about the woodwork classes, and the infernal problems of drilling a bore straight down the upright part of a table lamp, I

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 62-7 recall that one particular class member, desperate to make a success of this, enlisted the help of three or four other boys to guide him as he wielded the drill to cries of, 'this way a bit,' 'no, you're going too high, down a bit,' 'more towards me,' etc. The result, after a few minutes' earnest drilling, was that much to his dismay the drill bit emerged from one side about halfway down, after which his 'helpers' quietly returned to their own benches. OBITUARIES Brian Proctor informed me of the unexpected death of Reg Malcolm on October 17th 2008. He attended CBS from 1957-63, the same as Brian. The funeral was held on October 24th at a church in Leicester Forest East. Although it was packed, Brian did not recognise any other Old Boys. Stan Price, 1935-40, passed away recently. No further information available. Michael Broughton, 1941-46, passed away March 2009. He was a staunch supporter of our annual reunions. FROM MARK GAMBLE (NOT A WYVERNIAN) RE Sydney Riddington, have a look at my website for more information http://members.lycos.co.uk/marktmi45/index.htm RE Raymond Frere Waterman. He was my brother's father-in-law's brother. Details as follows: Sergeant (Navigator/Wireless Operator) 1578029, Raymond Frere Waterman, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died age 22 on the 18/01/1944. Son of Frederick James Waterman and Gwladys Waterman, of Leicester. Awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal for life saving. Buried Welford Road Cemetery, Leicester, Sec. C. Uncons. Grave 59. Reference Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. A well known Leicester swimmer, Sgt. Raymond Frere Waterman, R.A.F., a navigator in Coastal Command, is announced as killed on active service. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. F J Waterman, 8 Houlditch Road, Leicester. Sgt. Waterman, who went to City Boys' School, was a member of the school chess club, and of the orchestra. On leaving school he played for Leicester Chess Club. As a member of Knighton Fields S C he represented his county in the breast stroke championships, and in the Midland Counties breast stroke competitions. He was a member of the Aylestone Church Young People's Fellowship, taking an energetic part in all their activities. He had served two years in the RAF. He was previously an articled pupil with T May and Co. Incorporated Accountants. Source: Leicester Mercury. 20th January 1944, Page 5. FROM IAN CHRICHTON 1962-69 Many thanks for OWT61. I'm sure I'm one of the silent majority who really appreciate your efforts but seldom comment. Keep up the good work! FROM TOM WILLIAMSON 1946-51 One master I remember well, but who has not appeared to my knowledge in O.W.T, is Mr Nockels. He was a pleasant, portly man, who taught us German in 3 and 4 Alpha . He was also a

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 62-8 qualified lifesaving instructor, and tried with varying success to teach us the basics of lifesaving. He was in the habit of inviting boys to his home in Glenfield on Sunday afternoons to watch TV plays, whilst his wife Nan plied us with tea and cakes. On one occasion he came into the classroom and lowered himself into his chair, which promptly collapsed! He was furious, and was convinced that the chair had been sabotaged and that I was somehow involved - it hadn't, and I wasn't! He brooded about this for a long time. When he left City Boys I believe he obtained a post at the London School of Economics. Does anyone know what became of Jack Chaplin, last heard of as a maths teacher in Southampton; or Titch Miles, whom I last saw at Oswestry when we reported for our first day of National Service in the Royal Artillery, and Bert Tyrer, who was one of my close chums? (If you can help, contact Tom at [email protected] Oswestry is about fifteen miles from Welshpool, and Stephanie and I like to go there on the bus occasionally - Ed) FROM JOHN PASIECZNIK 1971-76 In the Mercury, I keep reading of the sorry state of many of Leicester's schools. So I sent an article (agreed version below) for the influential First Person column - which is published alongside the daily letters page - and the Mercury agreed to publish it. You may reproduce it for the next OWT. As a boy John Pasiecznik looked across the city/county boundary with pride. Now he is upset by city school standards City must get its schools back to top of league As a proud former Leicester schoolboy, my heart weeps at the state of many city schools. I know how a good education can improve a young person’s life chances. How things have changed since the 1960s when I – the son of Polish immigrants – would gaze from the bedroom window of our Belgrave house over to the ‘posh’ houses up on Birstall Road. Although Belgrave was far different in character to Birstall, the education in the city was on a par – if not superior – to that of the county. I received a superb education at Mellor Street nursery, primary and junior schools, and at the City of Leicester Boys' School; my best friends had similarly excellent educations at schools in Highfields, Saffron Lane estate, and City Boys’. I, and other 18-year-olds, went onto university; others went into local jobs, or gained apprenticeships. My parents were delighted by the excellence of Leicester’s schools – their own schooling was ruined by the Second World War – and they placed a huge value on education. Leicester City Council was very proud of its education system. Then in 1974 the council unfairly lost education to the county council. In 1988 the Greenwich Judgement allowed parents to apply for school places across local authority boundaries, and governments have consistently encouraged parental choice. In 1996 the city council rightly regained education, but national league tables had been embedded, leading to the flight of families to towns and villages just outside the city. There are some excellent city schools staffed by passionate and hard working headteachers, teachers and support staff, backed by committed governors. But many have been deserted by parents

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 62-9 who have no wish to send their children there. There have always been differences in attainment between some city and county schools, but the differences have become a chasm and it's clear which authority is suffering. Privately-sponsored academies are not the answer; there needs to be a local authority-maintained ‘family’ of schools working closely together and sharing best practice. However, the city council is being offered multi-million government investment in schools – if they become academies. So what is the answer? The campaign which gave us Highcross (obviously designed to attract shoppers from Houghton-on-the-Hill rather than Highfields, and Swithland rather than St Matthews) should, in 2009, be focused fairly and squarely on helping the 280,000 residents of the city of Leicester. It must make all local authority schools in the city once again places of excellence. I hope that in a few years if a young child again gazed at ‘posh’ Birstall from his or her bedroom window in Belgrave, they would be guaranteed just as good an education in Leicester's local authority schools as I was over 40 years ago. John Pasiecznik is a public servant. PS I first met Brian Stevenson, one of your contributors to the last Old Wyves' Tales, at Stockport Council several years ago - we both worked at the Council at the time. I wouldn't have known Brian at CBS of course, as Brian is now 60 and I am 48. However, we now attend Leicester City's away matches in the NW/Greater Manchester region together! We went to Oldham in October, and will hopefully go to Crewe in May when City will be crowned champions! FROM DR ARNOLD BURROWS (1957-68) I have an enquiry from John Bennett as to the whereabouts of Peter Storry. (If anyone can help please contact Doc at [email protected] - Ed) FROM STEWART SMITH 1936-41 In response to mentions of the woodwork room, the following might be of interest. The workshops for woodwork and metalwork were in one large room located where the library is - or was, it has now been removed. I seem to remember there were either six or eight woodwork benches. There was an engineers lathe, a forge and a large table/bench covered in sheet metal with several vices located round its edges. The woodwork lessons only lasted for one and a bit terms, as all timber supplies went on to licence during the war and there was none available for schools. There was a small supply of metals for schools to encourage the learning of engineering workshop practice - the 'war effort' was a common

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 62-10 phrase in those days. I well remember the metal-turning lathe, on which I made the handle for my toasting fork, being commandeered by the army ond removed. My fascination for all machinery and craftwork was born at CBS, and today I have a fully-equipped woodworking and machinery workshop. I keep two drawing boards going, one for calligraphy and the other for working details for both woodwork and metalwork. Originally woodwork alternated with art a term at a time. Voluntary metalwork was a further choice which took place after school, viz 3.55-4.35 one afternoon per week. It was taught by Mr Jeffcote, who also taught at Gateway School and the College of Art and Tech. Mr Arnold was the woodwork teacher.

FROM ERIK BELLAMY 1958-64 I began my career at CBS in 1 Alpha, based in the Lee Circle huts (Yes, I was fairly bright at the time, sadly things then went downhill) Some classmates I recall: Clive Bailey, Stuart Beacroft, Allan Bennett, Ian(?) Berrisford, Ian Bishop, Steven Coltman, Stuart Granger, Ian(?) Greaves, Roger(?) Grundy, Alan Hughes, Glen Kisby, Ian McCullough, John Offord, Pete Smith. Fagging of first formers was the order of the day for the first couple of weeks. It was just a posh name for bullying. At break and lunch it took the form of the Fags Hotel. At one corner of the playground the fence formed a very acute angle, and the elder lads herded us first-formers into it. The idea was to crush us into the smallest possible volume. Chalk marks on the fence indicated the previous best efforts. I soon worked out that if I got into the apex first, then dragged the rotund Beresford in front of me, he became wedged in the narrowing gap leaving me in a space big enough to have hands in pockets and elbows out. No squash for me. Youthful cunning triumphed over brute strength. My first year was under the rule of form master Joe Gould, a giant of a man who took us for English and stood no nonsense. On one

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 62-11 occasion he told us to stack our homework books on his desk. For reasons of poor eyesight I sat at the front of the class, and it was an easy matter to skim my exercise book across the gap onto the pile. Next thing I was moving across the room like a hovercraft, twelve inches above the ground. Craning my head in an attempt to ascertain how I had achieved that method of propulsion I spied Mr Gould's huge hand on my blazer collar. 'Ther's only one person in this class who throws books, and that's ME so don't ever forget it.' To my credit I made a perfect two-point landing from what was by then two feet of altitude. Other names and memories from that first year. Ken Witts and his amazing ability to draw perfect freehand circles on the blackboard. His uncanny accuracy with a piece of chalk, and hilarious razor-sharp wit, kept us in quiet attentive awe. Doc Burrows and his chemistry lessons, where we cleaned our bus fare coins in concentrated nitric acid until they gleamed. Chalky White's history lesson, where his graphic description of a pre-Mel Gibson Roman crucifixion had one lad on the point of passing out. Flo Willans biology classes, where we took delight in submerging a victim's hand in the aquarium containing leeches. And Bunny Hutchinson, whose woodwork room always seemed to have a pot of smelly glue bubbling away. For as long as I can remember there was a part-finished trials motorcycle in the corner, with the longest pair of cow horn handlebars I'd ever seen. His punishment for putting a jack plane on the bench blade-down was a piece of 2" x !.5" PAR (planed all round) applied to the backside. In fact Bunny might have had some method study experience, because occasionally he would deal with multiple offenders by lining them up bent over a workbench and applying the punishment with a 6ft length of the aforementioned timber. If we were lucky Jock Glman's PE lessons would finish with a game of Pirates. For those who can't remember, we had all the vaulting horses, press benches, ropes and any other kit spread round the gym. One

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 62-12 person was Chaser, and pursued the others over the equipment. Anyone he touched also became a chaser. The winner was the last one to be touched. Being fast and agile I did pretty well at avoiding capture, and figured the easiest way not to get caught was to climb one of the ropes and pull it up after me. The Chasers could then exhaust themselves, and when the last one was caught I'd slide down and claim victory. Youthful cunning triumphed again (To be continued - Ed)

FROM FRED BARKBY 1941-45 Picture the scene. A sunny morning, early September 1941 during the grim stages of World war II. New boys arrive from all parts of the city and county to join the renowned City Boys' School, Humberstone Gate. We entered not via the main gate by old Grundy's cottage but via a tradesmens-type entrance lower down Clrence Street. Waiting for us was the double line of older pupils, poised to carry out the fagging routine. We had received prior warning of this ritual which, I believe, had actually been banned by Dr Crammer. In the event it was rather a damp squib. A few brand new satchels and caps bit the dust, but it was soon over. Then we entered the building by the back door, mounted the well-worn stone staircase, turned left at the top and made our way to a classroom at the end of the corridor. It was austerely furnished with ancient wooden desks, which had initials carved by long-past pupils. This was the elite 1 Alpha. The form master was Eric Hancock, to my mind the best teacher of them all, but sadly he soon departed, presumably to the war. On that first morning the register was called, and after nearly 70 years I recall the following names: Adams x2, Addy, Bark, Barkby, Berman, Blakemore, Boat, Broughton, Davenport, Denton, England, Evans, Gretton, Halliday, Harvey, Hine, Jeffrey, Merilion, Preston, Ratnett, Rounding, Strange, Stapleton, Swirles, Woodford, Woolfendon. Apologies to those left out, classes were quite large. Our first French lessons were with Mr Hill.

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For me they brought into significance cartoons in The Boy's Own Annual 1899-1900, being direct translations from French to English. Pupil to friend, 'Is it that you have eaten with enjoyment the apples of the farmer?' 'Yes, but now I am unhappy for I have the achings of the interior.' Or how about, 'Is it that you have slept well the last night?' 'No, for I have the dreams afrighting, that which you call the nightmares.' Oh that such humour existed in the present day. Of all the teachers mentioned in OWT little has been said about Mr Rees, a rather sarcastic Welshman who taught physics. With his strong Welsh accent he always referred to iron as yron. Also Mr Burdett, who taught the diverse subjects of RE and PE. I think to a certain extent we wartime pupils lost out becasue we were left to the mercies of jaded old teachers well past their sell-by date. They had been at CBS since the 1920's, and taught by rote as they had done for many years. Josh Carter taught us the names of the islands which constituted Japan. 'Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu. And don't you forget it.' I never did. I can still hear the stentorian voice of Bull Smith in the physics lab. 'That rotund boy, bring me sundry gas jars with the utmost rapidity!' In maths Carpenter would go through an equation as if it were a country ramble. 'You start at Billesdon, go on to Tilton then Knossington and Owston etc.' We were comparatively well-behaved lest we aroused the wrath of Carter or Carpenter. I recall one notable incident which occurred in 3 Alpha. Dr Majut entered the classroom with the usual, 'Guten Morgen, Kinder,' only to receive a Nazi salute from Merilion and a loud 'Heil Hitler!' Dr Majut was not amused. I think we all emerged from CBS all the better for the experience, even though we may not have appreciated it at the time.

FROM CLIVE LANGLEY 1967-74 I read in a recent OWT the story about the ancient school bus that was used to ferry various teams around the county. This vehicle was of somewhat dubious vintage, probably circa 1955 would be a

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 62-14 guess (I wonder if Jock Gilman had a hand in it's purchase?) and I had the 'pleasure' of being a passenger on only a couple of occasions. Even to my untrained eye the thing was a death trap. No seat belts and falling to bits, it nevertheless did get us from A to B. The hockey team used it for away trips, and I can recall being bounced around in the back. I think I was the only non-Asian player in the team . We were quite good and did win the schools cup in 1973, beating Guxlaxton 2-0 away and had our photos in the Mercury sports page (something I have never acheived before or since). On the subject of Ken Witts, he is one teacher I will always remember. He used to carry a little briefcase around with him in which there was a tobacco tin containing chalk. Old Ken was something of a dead-eyed dick when it came to throwing said chalk across the classroom should some boy fail to give his full attention. He wouldn't even stop talking but would draw his arm back and send the missile across the classroom with unerring accuracy. Say what you like about Ken, but everybody respected him, and many including myself grew to have genuine affection for the guy. Some 5 years or so after leaving school I bumped into Ken outside the school. He recognised me immediately and I thanked him for his teaching over the years. I told him he was the best teacher I'd ever had, and I could see he was genuinely moved. I was so sorry to hear of his death and I , for one, will always remember what he taught me. Andy Marlow is writing a history of the school, and wonders if anyone can help with some missing information. For instance,what are the christian names of the following teachers: A M Knight c1930-35; C S Porter c1930; A G Standing 1932-37; H N Jones 1932-36; R Hill 1934- 46; R W Nicholson 1936; A Morgan 1937-41; ? Grainger c1939; H A Rees 1941-44; G F Butler 1943-47; A Farthing 1944-46; A J Crocker 1945-54; A A Wheater 1947-52; M Ginnett 1948; A Nockels 1948-52; A J Smith 1948-50; D G Cubberley 1948; G H Hantusch 1950-53; R Gerhardt 1951; E A T Sawyer 1951-52; R A Scott 1952; J R McDavies

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1952; ? Jackson 1952; K C Stuart 1953-?; A G Baum 1953-55; F E Holman 1953-55; E J Stevens 1955-57; D S Wilson 1956; M J Gooday 1958-60; D Freeman 1959-60; M L Franklyn 1961-63; ? Baguley 1964; ? Read 1965-66; D J Jones 1965-67; M D Bryan c1969-73; J K Duncan 1971-?; What are the christian names of the following war time women teachers: Miss A Eden 1940-41; Miss D Read 1940-41; Mrs J Wynne 1940-41; Miss I M Mearns 1941-44; Miss I M Matthews 1941-44; Miss E M Richardson 1941-44; Miss M Tetley 1941; Mrs M Wilkinson 1942; Miss E J C Smith 1944; Miss E Jones 1944-46. If you can help please pass the information to me. More questions in OWT63.

AND FINALLY... Strangely I recall nothing of the Humberstone Gate toilet facilities. Does anyone remember where they were - was it near the woodwork room? I guess they were fairly primitive. I think the cloakroom was situated in that area. And presumably the staff had their own toilets, were they ensuite in the staff room, I wonder. The Elbow Lane facilities were outdoors, which would be unacceptable today but we thought nothing of it. And how many of us appreciated the lovely garden at Elbow Lane? With the benefit of hindsight we were privileged to have the occasional lunchtime use of it. Dennis J Duggan April 14th 2009

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OWT 63 OLD WYVES' TALES 63 - AUGUST 2009 CITY OF LEICESTER BOYS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR EX-PUPILS (WYVERNIANS) PRE-1976 EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN EDITORIAL Little to report since OWT 62. It's a sobering reminder of how quickly time passes, but in two or three months we will be making preliminary arrangements for the 2010 reunion! Hopefully the downward trend in attendance will be reversed next year because the lunch, prepared by Age Concern, is an integral part of the day and a good chance to sit and chat over a meal. A significant number come to the reunion and don't have lunch, and this year we did a survey to find out why. Replies were interesting, with many reasons given. It's certainly nothing to do with cost. Some people have special dietary requirements, some don't like to eat a largish meal at lunchtime, many need to leave early to attend a sporting fixture etc. The problem is that we are approaching a point where, because of the falling number of attendees, and thus meals served, it will not be viable for Age Concern to do the catering. This year 45 lunches were served, not a lot in bulk catering terms. It would be a shame if we lost that part of the reunion. We are well aware that each year our numbers decline as Old Boys pass away, or become too frail or infirm to attend the reunions. Recently we have lost several of our stalwarts, and the number of new recruits does not keep pace with these losses. If the downward trend in numbers continues, which realistically it will, we might need to consider how long the reunions can be sustained in the current format. Talking of reunions, on July 1st I drove Stephanie to Leicester for a Wyggy Girls reunion. It was specifically for the 1959 intake, and took place at the old school which is now called Regent College or something. It began at midday, and finished around 8.30pm after a barbecue. It was very well organised, and there were some fifty ladies present though not all at the same time. That is an excellent result for a single year. It seems that the building, like our old school, has changed very little and much was still recognisable. I spent the afternoon in Quorn, visiting my former boss, and returned about 5pm. I was given a tour of the building, and they had lots of memorabilia on display. We stayed for the barbecue, and I was one of about five blokes. I enjoyed it very much. FROM JOHN SIMMS 1940-47 (Part 6 of John's random Schoolday Memories - Ed) Vaguely Remembered Voices 'Some modern composers have experimented with whole-tone scales, that's true. Personally I would advise against their use. The musical result is always colourless and boring. Better stick to the classic major and minor keys I've taught you.' So says music master Mr Sykes before dashing to get off our bus. Is this so I can't ask him more about improvisation at the piano? His classes show him to be a gifted pianist and disciplinarian. 'Write me 100 lines before you go home tonight.' I must stop asking precocious questions, I must stop asking precocious questions. And so on, and so on. Geography Half Remembered 'Used to be my favourite holiday area. The war stopped all that. Look at your maps. South German border. Mountain range stretches east to west. North of Prague. The Erzegebirge!' The Eartz Bearje. The voice of geography master Mr Carter. Strangling the language, rather than admit to speaking good German. Algebra Explained 'Many problems are solved only by algebraic equations. Algebra's easy. Let x equal the answer to a question. Let y and z equal the two variables we can measure...' Was it Mr Butler (Physics) showing us TV then drifting into algebra? Or was it OFT Roberts (Applied Maths) Memories are hazy. More likely Mr Carpenter (Pure Mathematics) Gently into algebra. 'If you don't get it now you'll not be doing science next year.' Sixth Form Wartime Privilege Thursday lunchtime concerts at Leicester Museum. Reconstituted brown banana sandwiches and coffee. Real live classical music played in the Art Gallery. Then the dash back to sixth form science. 'Yes, we have no bananas.' Black market grocer's song? Peace Breaks Out Celebrations and jubilation at the end of what was later called World War 2 form a background to our sixth-form life. We are racing to complete our studies. Exam results decide the future. Will it be three years university, or two years Natioanl Service? Nice to have the choice. The Allies are racing to reach Berlin before the Russians. Shows how uneasy is the peace. Suddenly I'm in uniform. Officers are shouting orders. They are teaching me how to shoot people. Schooldays are over. FROM HAROLD COATES 1944-51 (The final instalment of Harold's memoirs - Ed) In my

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 63-2 second year in the sixth form, in addition to being House and School Swimming Captain, I was made a Prefect! I've no idea how Prefects were chosen. Mr Curtis tells me the staff were not consulted, so it seems it was the head's decision, possibly consulting his deputy. In my early years at the school I had regarded Prefects, and sixth formers in general, as some sort of special, superior type of being. In becoming one I realised that was not so. Prefects, some of them, were just as likely to fool about and avoid work as anyone else. One privilege they did have was use of the Prefects' room, situated on the left just inside the entrance hall. Ordinary sixth formers had to seek out any empty room for their free (private study) periods. The more studious Prefects often had cause for complaint when the more energetic ones commandeered the table for table tennis, using books for bats and an improvised net. The School Captain for that year, a boy named Ragg, was a serious, rather priggish type, totally lacking a sense of humour and highly critical of others' levity and horseplay. He took this to the level of occasionally reporting us to the Head, by then Mr R R Pedley. Of course this did nothing to increase his popularity with the rest of us. Incidentally, Mr Pedley had some rather odd habits. One was to come to school with his trousers held up with an old tie, rather than a belt. Another was to walk quietly across the entrance hall and stand listening outside the Prefects' room door. One or two of the Prefects seemed to sense when he was there, and took great delight in opening the door and enquiring if he wanted someone. He rarely did, and usually muttered something before walking away. I can't recall what a Prefect's duties actually were. I feel they were mainly concerned with supervising boys moving about the school between lessons, and at break time. I certainly can't recall ever being in a situation where I had to hand out a Prefect's only punishment option - lines. On a rather different note, it is perhaps worth recording there was at the time a persistent rumour of a tunnel from the Prefects room which ran under Clarence Street and into the premises of the wine and spirit merchant opposite (Challis &Allen? - Ed) Given the situation of the room above ground level, and the fact the building was originally a girls' school, just goes to show that even intelligent boys will give credence to silly ideas. During this period two other significant events occurred. Having applied for a place at Loughborough Training College I was called to an interview there in 1951. I was interviewed by Dr Schofield, the college principal. He was a short, rather stout man with sharp features and what seemed to me an aggressive, irritable manner. This may well have just been his interviewing technique. I have no way of judging, because as a student there we had no contact at all. Only one thing about the interview sticks in my mind. At an early point he suddenly asked how old I was. When I replied in years he said no, he wanted it in years, months and days. This completely threw me, as it was no doubt intended to. Before I could work it out he'd gone on to the next question, then came back with,' Well, don't you know how old you are?' This continued throughout the interview, leaving me feeling confused and defeated. But I couldn't have done too badly as I was offered a place in September 1953, providing my exam results were good enough. Of a similar nature, but having no pleasant associations whatever, was being summoned for a medical examination prior to my two years National Service. Ray and I went together - I've forgotten where, but somewhere local. We were herded about with lots of others, stood in queues half-dressed, passed from clerk to clerk and doctor to doctor like meat in a processing plant. There were some amusing moments. Some lads, being told to provide a urine sample, were given a cantainer and told to 'fill it up.' They wandered round looking for a tap. When having our eyes tested we simply moved up to a line in turn and were told to read the top two lines of a chart hanging on a nearby wall. When Ray's turn came he startled the checking officer by saying he couldn't even see the chart. The officer thought he was joking until he realised someone was standing in front of it! Not a pleasant experience, and the first of many yet to come. But as I've commented before, it was something we expected, there was no avoiding it and everyone had to suffer it. Well, all the males anyway. So to my final exam period. Some time previously we had been informed the exam structure was to be changed, The School Certificate, and Higher School Certificate, were to be replaced by the General Certificate of Education 'O' and 'A' levels. As with all educational changes apparently, this one had its shambolic side. Rushed in without adequate preparation time, we found the new 'A' level often differed from the one we had been studying, and some of the exam questions reflected this. For Ray and myself it meant that, after two years work on the old HSC syllabus for woodwork, we found there was no equivalent 'A' level exam. It seems there had been insufficient time to prepare an exam for that subject, so Ray and I took the 'O' level paper again. The actual exams caused me no emotional upset or trauma, as seems so common these days. All my life I have been unable to get really worked up when facing a formal test, academic or otherwise. I remember Mr Wheater greeting me as I arrived for the English Lit paper, 'Well, you've got this far. I suppose you might as well take the exam.' In that exam there were two questions (we had to answer five) which called for more argument and opinion than knowledge of the texts or analysis of style. I think those accounted for my pass. It seems ironic that, at

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 63-3 the time, art was not thought to be academically demanding. In terms of exams and exam times it certainly was. English Lit comprised only one paper, history two - English and European - but for art there were at least four. These were: a free composition from a given title or lines of poetry; a still life from specific subjects (which to my dismay included a cut glass jug half full of milk; a poster or pen/pen and ink drawing of a set subject; a written paper on the history of art. Each exam lasted two and a half hours, spread over several days, compared with two and a half and five hours for English and history. Later we were told the results would be available on a set day at the school, and we just called in to see how we'd fared. This was a very low-key occasion, with none of the highly emotional screaming and shouting which seems obligatory when learning one's results these days. Mr Wheater did comment that he was thinking of asking for a recount, as he found it hard to believe I had passed the English Literature exam! FROM ADRIAN PILGRIM 1959-67 In answer to the editor's question as to the location of the toilets, there were some abutting the yard at Humberstone Gate. If you entered the yard from Clarence Street, and walked along by the right-hand wall, they were a few feet down on the right. Fairly close, I recall, to the building's entrance. There may have been others, but those are the only ones dredged up by my equally hazy memory. FROM ERIK (ROGER) BELLAMY 1958-64 (The second instalment of Erik's reminiscences - Ed) PE and Swimming were alternate weeks, and Mr Gilman’s swimming lessons were unusual in that he escorted us across the road to Vestry St Baths for the lesson and escorted us back afterwards. During the lesson he was nowhere to be seen. Rumour had it that he was in the Black Lion conducting some sort of shady car sales wheeler dealing. The swimming lessons were supervised by an old grey haired chap in a track suit, who was nicknamed Tiddlydum. His method of teaching us non-swimmers was to have us hold the bar around the pool, and kick our legs out behind us to his chant of … yes you guessed it … ‘Tiddlydum – Tiddlydum - Tiddlydum – Tiddlydum’. An hour a week of this for twelve weeks and I could swim like a ….. brick. As an aside, my pal Chris Speechley, under pressure from our Abbey House master, was ‘volunteered’ as our representative in the beginners width event at the annual School Swimming Gala. The competitors lined up on the edge of the pool, the starting gun fired, Chris did a racing dive into the pool and his backside surfaced two thirds of the way across the pool, way ahead of the others. As he started to ‘swim’ it was obvious that his style was a little thrashysplashy with little attention to direction. We all remarked on his tremendous lung capacity, because his head never came near the surface. As time progressed, the pool lifeguards took an interest and began to converge on this spectacle. Just as one of them had actually removed his tracksuit for a rescue, Chris’s hand touched the side of the pool … first ... he’d won ! He was dragged out of the water, frog marched to the podium and presented with his winners certificate to the hysterical cheers of Abbey House members. Afterwards he admitted he could dive, but not mastered the art of swimming and breathing and he was actually beginning to drown. Ask why hadn’t said anything before, he confessed that he thought his dive would get him across the width without having to actually do any strokes. Our physical well-being was further enhanced by cricket in the summer and football or the dreaded crosscountry in the winter. Cricket was a bit of a doddle for the un-enthusiastic. For this we were bussed out to Grace Road from the school on Wednesday afternoons. If you were in the batting team you got as far down the batting order as possible, and if you were lucky the good batsmen would still be in when the time was up for us to be bussed back to School. So you spent the 2 hours with your feet up in the pavilion chatting or doing your homework. If you were unlucky enough to actually be called on to bat, then it was pretty easy to fake an aggressive down-the-wicket-get-runs-at-any-cost attacking stroke … deliberately miss the ball … and be bowled out or run out by the wicket keeper. Calls of “bad luck” or “good try” from your teammates were usually enough to convince the teacher/umpire that you loved the sport and were determined to win the game single-handed. Dragging the bat dejectedly behind you on that long walk back to the pavilion was a good ploy to eliminate any doubt that you were absolutely gutted at being out first ball. If you were in the fielding team, extra, extra, extra long stop usually put you far enough from the play to never have to touch the ball. The more experienced long stops could sometimes manage to disappear behind the sightscreens and sunbathe for the afternoon. One unfortunate lad slightly overdid this and fell asleep. He was discovered later (still asleep) with a very burnt face and arms by the Grace Road Ground Staff as they were about to lock up and go home. Crosscountry was more difficult to avoid, unless you could forge a good excuse letter. This was OK up

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 63-4 to a point, but some of the more suspicious teachers had good memories as to those who were regularly ill on games afternoons. The course was at Rushey Fields, which in those days was an area of woods and scrubland. In wet weather it often became waterlogged or flooded, so finding a short cut without getting up to your knees in mud was difficult. One ruse which required an enormous amount of nerve was to hide a long anorak or packamac under your football shirt. At the exit to the playing field was a small wooden shelter of some sort, and if you could keep up with the pack as far as that it was easy to drop out and hide in it for a while until the teachers had stopped watching for stragglers. You then put on the long anorak/packamac to hide your brightly coloured running kit and casually walked along the footpath which ran across the far side of the playing field and out of the other gate where the runners would re-enter the playing field having done the entire course. You could then lurk until a suitable number of runners had passed by, remove your ‘camouflage’ coat, stuff it back under your shirt and stagger back to the changing rooms. I passed this ruse on to another lad (he shall remain nameless to save embarrassment) who used it quite regularly. Unfortunately, in his eagerness to get home early, he rejoined the runners too soon too many times, and having been noticed by an eagle-eyed teacher as possessing great running potential, was selected for the school cross country team. FROM ALAN WIGNALL 1958-63 I wrote to you last year enquiring if you had in your possession any information concerning the CBS outing by train to York. I originally stated I thought the trip had been in July 1960, but my brother David tells me there was an outing to Gloucester on July 6th 1960. Therefore the York trip was in 1959. It was on a Wednesday, I'm sure in June or July, and it features on the school film. The outing to Gloucester was also on a Wednesday. I recall there was a problem, because the special train was not available from Leicester. We had to travel on a service train to Birmingham and join the special at New Street. This took us to Gloucester, and back to Leicester. Gloucster was not as interesting as York, there was simply not as much to see. We visited the cathedral, then were bussed to Berkeley Castle where we learned about the gory end (no pun intended) of King Edward II. I don't believe there were any further outings on the same scale in future years. I can't believe there were any in which I did not take part. However, there were various outings for smaller groups in which I participated. In October 1961 (or 1962) Jock Gilman, PT master, organised a coach trip to the Motor Show at Earls Court, and a whole group of us suddenly found an interest in cars. By far the best of these trips was on Wednesday 19th July 1961, when Mr Bourne (We called him Luigi, for some reason - Ed) who taught French, took a group of railway enthusiasts to visit various railway sheds in West Yorkshire. We travelled on a Midland Red coach, leaving Leicester about normal school starting time, and arrived in Doncaster around mid-morning. After spending some time at the station we visited the sheds at Wakefield, Mirfield, Neville Hill and Farnley Junction, the last two being in.Leeds. The coach then took us to Ardsley, SE of Barnsley, because we had a permit to visit Ardsley shed. But the shed was actually located at East Ardsley, NE of Wakefield, so we were 25 miles off course. A vote was taken. Should we drive to East Ardsley, or return to Doncaster and spend more time at the station? The younger element won, and we returned to Doncaster to spend time on the platform before travelling back to Leicester. Everyone who took part considered the trip to be the best schoolday ever. SCHOOL HISTORY Andy Marlow is seeking more information for his book about CBS. If you can help please reply to me. What subjects were taught by William C Avery 1908-13; C S Porter c1930; Mr Morton (Temp) 1932; Mr Bowden (Temp) 1932; Mr Hickling c1932; Miss D Read 1940-41; Mrs J Wynne 1940-41; R Watchorn (Temp) 1952; D W Watson (Temp) 1952; Mr Jackson c1952; D Freeman 1959-60; A J Spooner (Temp) 1961; D K Parker (Temp) 1964 Does any one have a copy of the April 1956 Wyvernian that Andy could borrow? School Captains Needed Information could be on prize day programmes etc. 1932/33; 1933/34; 1950/51; 1952/53; 1953/54; 1954/55; 1955/56; 1966/67; 1967/68; 1968/69; 1969/70; 1970/71; 1971/72; 1973/74; 1974/75; 1975/76. Dates of School Terms Information could be on school reports. 1908-19 inc (Newarke School) 1919- 28 inc (East Bond Street) 1928; 1929; 1930; 1931; 1932; 1942; 1946; 1947; 1948; 1949; 1950; 1951; 1952; 1953; 1954 (Humberstone Gate) 1965; 1966; 1972; 1973; 1974; 1975; 1976 Prize Day Programmes Needed 1966; 1967; 1970; 1971; 1972; 1973; 1974; 1975; 1976 (Downing Drive) Athletics/Swimming/Sports programmes from any years needed Names of Prefects 1965-76 inc (Downing Drive)

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Ubiversity Admissions 1965-76 inc (Downing Drive) FROM ALAN WATERMAN 1936-41 Thanks for the memories. There is hope yet that one year I will attend a reunion. You can imagime my feeling reading about my brother in OWT62. He died serving with the RAF. His mosquito crashed on the beach at Mains Farm, near Frazerburgh, Scotland, in 1944. We both went to CBS, and for a few years were there at the same time. We were both members of a chess club, and riding home from a meeting we were blown off our bikes when a bomb landed in a small park near the jail. Both of us were musical, and played in bands from an early age. My brother was a brilliant pianist, and even to this day, at 85, I still play in bands and write arrangements for groups. Our father gave his cello to the school orchestra, and I remember the meeting with Mr Crammer when the offer was made. When Raymond was home on leave he and I would form a group for dances at the fire station and other centres, who found it hard to book a band. The school gave us both a great start in life, and I enjoyed the many activities offered to the students. FROM DEREK M BAILEY 1945-50 As you know, I have done much research into the history of CBS and its predecessors, but have been frustrated by the lack of any official records prior to 1910. The story begins with the passing of the Education Act 1870, which established the principle of compulsory education of all children between the ages of 5 and 13. This Act established the School Board. Under the auspices of this Board, the Oxford Street Board School was established. This opened its doors in the 1870's, possibly 1874; I have not been able to establish the exact date. Some official 'logbooks' have revealed some interesting if sketchy snippits of information, such as a reference to additional opening windows being installed to improve ventilation - no mention was made as to why this was necessary! In July 1903 it was noted that class Standard 3 had 84 children! In October 1904 reference was made to a list of about 40 children, who were regarded as being underfed, being supplied to the Education Committee. On 30th June 1905 the boys' department was closed, and some 150 boys transferred to Hazel Street school to make room for extensions. This was to allow the Leicester Pupil Teacher centre to move into the building from 1st August 1905. Prior to this the catchment area for the school was being depopulated because of slum clearance, thus reducing the number of pupils. The Leicester Pupil Teacher Centre appears to have been a local teacher training centre, which had operated from various sites. Those known are Prebend Street and Bishop Street, but there may have been others. No records of this establishment have been located. In January 1903 the school roll was 502 children. In January 1904 it was 477, and at April 1906 165 girls, following the loss of the boys in 1905. The Oxford Street Board School and the Leicester Pupil Teacher Centre merged from 1st August 1908 to form the Newarke Secondary School. The first (and only) headmaster was Thoma Ryder, who had previously been Director of Training Classes at the LPTC since 15th October 1883. The first meeting of the school managers took place on 12th January 1910. The minutes of this, and subsequent meetings, are somewhat brief but they are, at least, reliable records. On 2nd April 1912 it was recorded that tuition fees of £1.1.0 were to rise to £2.2.0. On 4th February 1913 it was recorded that a maintenance allowance of £5 endowment be granted to George A Fisher, aged 16, to proceed to become a teacher. On 7th October 1913 the headmaster recommended a free place be granted to Leslie G Brewin, on account of his exceptional ability. By 1919 the Governors faced a dilemma, as the Leicester Education Authority was pursuing a policy of separate schools for boys and girls. Thomas Ryder was the most senior headmaster in Leicester, and to split the school would effectively have been a demotion. Fortunately Thomas Ryder solved the problem by submitting his intention to retire from 31st August 1919; he would have reached his 65th birthday in September 1919. On 4th July 1919 it was reported that alterations were underway to convert the building for the use of girls only. On the establishment of CBS from 1st September 1919 the teaching staff, transferred from the Newarke Secondary School, were: headmaster Francis Gater, previously second master at Newarke; Second Master A E Bell. Teachers: G H Gater, G E Avery, R T Cooper, T Y Benson, A G Carpenter, G H Sarson (Temp) All the above, except Mr Sarson, had originated with the LPTC. To augment the teaching staff three aditional techers were appointed from 1st September 1919: W H M Bufton, G A Fisher, W G Jeeves. As the school grew, further teachers were appointed. J L Carter and C V Smith, 1st September 1920; Miss J I Wale (jointly with Newarke Girls School) 1st June 1921, C S Porter, 1st September 1925, - - Challifont, 1st January 1926 (Temp) J P Ivins 1st September 1926. All these remained on the staff until the move to Humberstone Gate, apart from Mr Avery. He left on 31st December 1925 to take up the secretaryship of the Education Committee for the island of Jersey. No further appointments were made until after the move to

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Humberstone Gate from 1st September 1928. After that date many new members of staff were required as the school continued to expand from the total of 290 boys when CBS was established. In fact when CBS was first created it occupied premises rented from the Great Meeting Vestry, East Bond Street, for an initial period of three years, as it was always the intention the school should have a new building. The original plan was for CBS and a junior Alderman Newton Boys' School to be built on land in Regent Road donated by Fielding Johnson. In fact this site was used for Wyggeston Girls' School, though it was envisaged for Wyggeston Boys! The East Bond Street premises soon proved inadequate for the growing school, so two rooms were rented in buildings adjacent to the Bond Street Congregational Chapel which accomodated 60 boys. The Cook Memorial Hall, at the junction of Archdeacon Lane and Orchard Street, was used as a gymnasium. In addition extensions were built behind the East Bond Street premises for use as a laboratory. At the Governors' meeting on 23rd July 1924 attention was drawn to 'the sale of objectionable postcards at a shop in Bond Street calculated to have a bad effect on the minds of boys - some of the postcards border on the indecent.' How times have changed! FROM BRIAN McCAULIFFE 1955-63 I expect you will get many replies relating to the whereabouts of the toilets! My recollection is that you could get to them through the doorway on the left of the stairs leading up from the main entrance hall (with your back to the main door). Then, I seem to recall, there was a small cloakroom and then a few steps down. The woodwork room was to the left, and the toilets to the right. Incidentally, I was in Leicester a few weeks ago for the first time in many years. I wandered into the old building for the first time since 1963. Much was as I remembered, but so much was altered. The main impression was, not surprisingly, how small it all seemed. The main hall, tiny. The prefects' room, miniscule (not that I was a prefect but we had 'A' level physics lessons in there, specially planned for those of us who didn't do 'A' level maths and therefore couldn't cope with complicated mathematical proofs of the various theorems) with Mr Mann. I visited the classroom on the third floor, along from the old library, where we first heard that Buddy Holly had been killed - it was almost exactly 50 years to the day since that event. I would have liked to have visited the Biology lab where I was inspired by the great Flo Willan - I subsequently taught Biology for over 30 years, using many of Flo's tried and tested teaching methods - methods which made my reputation as an oldfashioned teacher, but which still worked for decades after I had first learnt them. My visit reinforced my view that politicians who think they can solve the problems of education by simply throwing money at the system, just improving buildings etc, are wrong. My old school building was, and is, pretty poor but it was a fantastic school because of what went on inside. Its success was due to the teachers ,and there lies the solution to the future of the education system and of the country. I will now stop before I dissolve in my nostalgic tears. FROM BRYAN SMITH 1950-55 I am one of the few Old Boys who 'came back' later. I organised the City Council's Travel Concessions section move here (1985?) to work alongside Age Concern. We had the room opposite the secretary's room for ease of access, but it was a wee bit small. We also had a Photo-me machine so people could obtain the photos for their passes. We had an official opening with Morgan Cross from Radio Leicester, and Ernie Tate, who did so much to promote help for the elderly in Leicester. The cafe was well-used by staff and pernit holders alike. The Great Hall was often used to swear in election staff, but where as a boy it seemed enormous it later looked so small. However I could still see Bill Sykes on the lovely organ, and from whom I regularly got 100 lines or a detention - but never did either! Also Joe Melia, who I believe was the reserve organist. This was amongst his other great talents, including his hilarious Christmas acts and, of course, his later film career (Especially in Sherlock Holmes) OBITUARIES On May 19th 2009 Richard Thompson (1949-56) writes: 'I've just heard of the recent sudden death of Tony Roe at the age of 69. The following information comes mainly from Paul Bond, supplemented by some of my own recollections. Tony started at CBS in 1950, took 'O' levels in 1954 and left in 1955 after one year in the Science Sixth, to work in the Leicester City Library. He did National Service in the Royal Army Educational Corps in Hong Kong, returning to the library in 1961, becoming a Chartered Librarian in 1966. After various adventures, which we'd better not discuss in OWT, he obtained a diploma in book selling and returned to LE around 1977 and got a job working at Harvey's Bookshop - where he already knew Vance Harvey -as mail order manager until made

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 63-7 redundant in 1982. During 3 years out of work he became a qualified astrologer - even in his schooldays he had a strong interest in the occult. He then joined the Rural Community Council as Resource Officer, and laterAssistant Director (Information and Advisory Service) (The funeral was attended by Cliff Dunkley and Paul Bond, who tell me there was a good turnout - Ed) FROM RODNEY BURBECK 1950-56 Apolgies for not sending apologies for absence from the twelfth reunion, maybe I'll make it next year to mark the 60th anniversary of becoming a Wyvernian. I may even give a little talk on how close I came to being expelled for carrying out a survey on the smoking habits of fellow pupils for the school magazine. And I can still recall the look of disgust on Mr Pedley's face when I announced I would be leaving at age 16 to pursue a career in the inky fingers profession. I joined the sadly long-lost and defunct Leicester Evening Mail as a trainee reporter. He clearly regarded me as a lost soul. FROM DEREK BOLTON 1953-58 It's a while since I contributed to OWT. Perhaps my questions might stimulate a few replies. Does anyone have any recollection of a prefect known as Genesis? He was a prefect in my latter years at CBS. I seem to recall he always wore a grey suit, and gained his nickname because of his habit of giving lines to be written from the first book of the bible. I have no idea of his real name, but believe he was a Jehovah's Witness. Prefects could give lines and issue their own detentions, which were of half hour duration rather than the one hour type issued by the staff. I served the latter on numerous occasions, but always managed to avoid the prefects' attempts at keeping me in. What other privileges did prefects enjoy? Does anyone have any knowledge of Derek Fitzsimmons? He was always mad about the RAF, and subsequently joined on leaving school. I think he went on to become one of the youngest pilots, but correct me if I'm wrong (Derek Fitzsimmons is on our database, but does not have an e-mail address, nor does he send a supply of SAE's so unfortunately he will not see this message - Ed) On a lighter note, I hated cross country, probably as I wasn't any good. I tended to walk along at the back, cracking jokes with other like-minded individuals. However one of the earlier runs round the Aylestone gas works happened to fall on my birthday, and I decided to make a real effort. I left the changing room as soon as I had donned my running kit and was one of - if not the first - idiots off the blocks. After almost killing myself I actually managed to come in first, at which point Jock Gilman, knowing I usually came in at the back, declared I must have cheated and sent me round again. No more efforts from me after that. At this point, and after so many years, I am going to name names. When we gave up Grace Road the cross country event eventually moved to Rushey Fields. In my last year at CBS we had the annual inter-house cross country, and as usual I was at the back with a certain John Measom and Alan Mecklenburgh. I decided to thumb a lift, and some kind soul actually stopped! I jumped into the front of the car, expecting my two partners-in-crime to get into the back. Did they heck, thanks fellas! I was driven to a point just round the corner from the finish and came in twelfth, receiving congratulations from the teacher stationed by the finish line. I have never admitted to this before, so that's a detention, Bolton! FROM TONY WAKEFIELD 1951-56 Re your enquiry about the school toilets. At the entrance from the rear playground they were on the right. Turning left one came to a small area containing the wash basins, then into the cloakroom area. The woodwork room was there as well. FROM JOHN BROOKES 1953-58 I read the entry from Tony Ingham with much interest. A couple of things I can add; firstly the pupil that died from appendicitis was named Richard Painter and he died in, I believe, 1958, when Tony and myself were both in 5L. I had known him before his tenure at CBS due to his living in the same street as myself (Jellicoe Road, North Evington) for some time in the forties. Tony thought that the name was Cantello, however I think he is refering to Malcolm Cantello who was also in 5L and, as far as I know, is still alive and listed under the school heading on Friends Reunited. With regard to the notorious 'bunking off at games'episode; the fifth form games periods were the last two on Friday afternoon and it soon became a habit for numerous pupils to go straight home instead of to the sports ground (which I think was either Grace Road or Rushey Mead). However when, on one occasion, approximately one third of the fifth year (or thirty individuals) did not turn up, the powers-that-be realised that something was amiss and instituted a roll call! As with

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Tony, I can't recall the punishment, so it couldn't have been anything more than a detention I feel. Finally, does anyone have any stories about Mr.Stuart who taught me in, I believe, my first two years? He was a jovial, ruddy-faced man with a moustache, and was a fine teacher - except for Friday afternoons. I suspect that, during Friday lunchtimes, he became a little over-fortified (hope this isn't libellous) I remember one Friday afternoon he persisted in banging on the heating pipes to emphasise a point, resulting in Johnny Jeeves coming into the classroom to see what was going on. On another occasion, he handed out a detention to a friend of mine for 'looking out of the window.' FROM DR ARNOLD BURROWS 1957-68 (This message was received May 17th - Ed) John Bennett has recently been re-elected as one of the three Common Councilmen for the Broad Street Ward in the City of London, coming top of the poll. The Alderman for the Broad Street Ward has appointed John to be his Deputy. I have not heard of any former CLBS pupil achieving such a position. On leaving CLBS John went to Christ Church, Oxford ('the House') to read Biochemistry, but after graduating he decided to 'go into the City' by joining Deutsche Bank - from which he retired a few years ago. I am proud of yet another of my former pupils! AND FINALLY... Quite a few mentions of prefects in this edition. I never had much to do with any of the sixth formers, including prefects. To me they were more like men than boys, at least most of them. The only contact with a prefect I can remember was at Lee Circle, during my first year (1959- 60) On Friday mornings we had Bob Dennis for science, and as I had once again failed to do my maths homework there was an urgent need for me to avoid the inevitable confrontation with Mr Lawson later in the day. Bob Dennis was a kindly man, perhaps still young and naive enough not to see through the crafty machinations of a nasty specimen like myself - for that is what I had become. My plan had been prepared in advance, and halfway through the double period I raised my hand. 'Please sir, I don't feel very well.' I was given a chair outside the staff room (I think) and handed an aspirin. Maybe I should have followed Joe Melia into a career on stage and in the cinema, because my acting skills were such that after a brief discussion a prefect was summoned. He was tasked with escorting me home to Eyres Monsell by bus where my mother, who had been telephoned at her place of work, was waiting. Great inconvenience and worry all round, but presumably I was happy with my twisted little scheme. In fact it had worked so well I am now ashamed to admit I pulled the same stunt on at least one other occasion. The mystery remains. Why did I consistently not do my homework during those first two terms? What was half an hour's work compared to the trouble I regularly made for myself? Even if I couldn't do the homework, surely it would have been better to have handed something in, no matter how bad. I didn't know the reason then, and I still don't know now. End Dennis J Duggan (1959-64) August 12th 2009

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OWT 64 OLD WYVES' TALES 64 - DECEMBER 2009 CITY OF LEICESTER BOYS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL NEWSLETTER FOR EX-PUPILS (WYVERNIANS) PRE-1976 EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN, ROCK COTTAGE, BROOK STREET, WELSHPOOL, MONTGOMERYSHIRE. SY21 7NA TEL 01938 555574 07985 405365 www.wyvernians.org.uk EDITORIAL It's been four months since the last OWT, which is too long. My excuse is that since taking early retirement at the end of 2002 I have been so busy I don't know how I found time to go to work. I'm sure that most of my fellow retirees know the feeling! Very little to report on the Wyvernians front. Those of you with an e-mail address have already received advance notification that Saturday March 20th 2010 is the date for our next reunion at Clarence House. Invitations and full details will be posted during January. If anyone would like to give a half-hour talk in the Everard Room during the morning please let me know by January 1st. Ideally the topic would be something to do with our old school. There will be one session only, so first to apply gets the job. Please, please consider taking lunch in the Age Concern cafeteria. At £5 per person it is super value, and a good opportunity to sit and chat with friends old and new. The problem is that over the past couple of years lunch numbers have dwindled, and we are now approaching the point where it will not be viable for Age Concern to cook and serve the meals for us. We know that some of you have good and valid reasons for not having lunch, otherwise we hope you will do so next time. As a bonus we serve complimentary glasses of wine. The committee have discussed name badges. I think we all agree that badges are important, but our usual system of a label stuck onto clothing is not entirely satisfactory. We have therefore decided to purchase a batch of the type you are given when you visit a school, factory etc. A card is inserted into a plastic wallet, which clips to the breast pocket of a jacket or other garment. If these are handed in when you leave the reunion we can reuse them next year, though we accept that some people will accidentally walk off with them! I am desperately short of material for OWT, in fact after this edition there is NOTHING LEFT. So please send something ,no matter how small or insignificant you think it might be. Contributions from ex members of staff are particularly welcome. Let's keep OWT alive, along with memories of our old school. Each year we receive many Christmas cards from Wyvernians, and these are very much appreciated. Stephanie and myself hope you will understand it is not practical to send cards to you all, so we send you season's greetings via this OWT. FROM JOHN SIMMS 1940-47 (The final episode of John's popular series of Random Schoolday Memories) Half Remembered Voices: 'Let us bow our heads in prayer: Oh Lord let Thy countenance shine upon us and let our cry come unto Thee.' The voice of our Headmaster Mr Crammer leading the whole school in morning prayer at assembly. Was it the whole school? What about atheists? Some were excused on religious grounds. Were they sent to Mr Fisher for special instruction? Was there a real organ at the back of main hall? Memory is clouded by war. Sharply remembered religious instruction by Mr Bud Fisher: 'We are still at war with Germany. There are shortages everywhere. You boys can help our great nation towards victory.' He pauses and looks meaningfully at us all. What’s he on about? 'There are temptations. Certain practices you might indulge in to the detriment of the war effort, and indeed your health. 'He pauses again, this time for dramatic effect. 'There is a chronic national shortage of certain foods rich in proteins.' We continue to miss the point. Others begin to smile knowingly. Amid one or two sniggers from the back row Mr Fisher persists: 'Self abuse can lead to insanity. You must learn to resist temptation.' The penny drops to sounds of dismay and disbelief. He rushes on: 'In wartime we cannot afford the waste of protein involved. Masturbation causes a dangerous loss of proteins. You must stop. Class dismiss.' Bud Fisher’s face looks a deeper shade of red as we file out to play. A few of us gather around a dictionary. What was that word he used? Our Form Master deserved a medal for courage in the face of the enemy. Charnwood House at Prayer: The war in Europe is over. The atom bomb lies in the future. An uneasy peace has been celebrated at VE day street parties. Charnwood House is assembled for morning prayers in the gym. In charge is Housemaster Mr Sibson, recently returned from war service

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 64-2 as an officer in the Army. 'I’m nominating you to play the piano for our hymns today, Simms. No excuses now. I’m told you’re a competent pianist. Jump to it, man!' The House sings bravely to my hesitant piano accompaniment, as I stumble and then stop in despair. The singing grinds to a halt. I shoot a glance of apology at Mr Sibson ,as he shouts loudly with raised hands to the whole assembly: 'All of you! Start again from the beginning. Pay attention to the piano. Keep in time with the music in future! Carry on now, Simms.' With Mr Sibson’s unconditional support I carry on to the end of my task. It was a lesson in leadership I never forgot. 'Always show support to subordinates in public. Criticise in private.' Reflective Footnote: We move towards our eighties, becoming daily more absent-minded. But there is a reward in reaping and sharing longer-term memories. My heartfelt thanks go in particular to OWT editor Dennis Duggan for his quiet encouragement. This is the absolutely final instalment of ‘Random Schoolday Memories’ but the beginning of ‘National Service Memories’. Thanks again, Dennis. John Simms 26.05.08. OBITUARIES Trevor Cross (1952-60) writes on July 30th: I have just learned that Keith Wright (1953-60) has died after a short illness. Keith went through the Alpha stream and on to 6A1. The information has reached me by a roundabout route, so it might be prudent to indicate some uncertainty (We do have a Keith Wright on the database, but his dates are 1948-54 - Ed) Arthur Ernest Sweet passed away on September 4th 2009, aged 81. He was a teacher during my time at CBS, and many readers will remember him. In a letter to me his widow, Pat, writes: Arthur passed away after a very short stay in hospital (four days) while attemps were made to diagnose his condition and deal with it. Unfortunately neither of these happened, and he passed away there in his sleep. An autopsy revealed Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, which with hindsight accounted for his latterly breathlessness and lethargy. He was 81. We met as students at Leicester University, and spent the first 10 years of our 54-year marriage in Leicester - he at City Boys and cycling back and forth from Overdale Road in Knighton, where we lived. He never taught at the new school in Evington, but divided his time between Humberstone Gate and an outpost of huts somewhere not far away. Then we moved to Somerset and finally to Brewood. He was a schoolmaster through and through. Kind regards, Pat Sweet. At Mrs Sweet's suggestion, Wyvernians has made a donation to the Acorns Childrens Hospice Trust, Walsall. FROM STEVE ROBINSON 1964-70 I enjoy reading OWT, but don't recall any noteworthy events during my time at the school. I was very sorry to hear that Ken Witts had passed away, what a decent bloke he was. He taught me maths in my first year, and geography in the fourth form. I never quite got to grips with geography, even though it was a subject which interested me. Andy Marlow was asking about dates, the following are taken from my reports: Autumn 1964 8th September to 22nd December; Spring 1965 12th January to 8th April; Summer 1965 27th April to 2nd July; Autumn 1965 26th August to 22nd December; Spring 1966 6th January to 6th April; Summer 1966 21st April to 1st July; Autumn 1966 24th August to 21st December. FROM IAN CRICHTON 1962-69 Ian also responded to Andy's request, and gives exactly the same dates as Steve. Ian also tells us that the School Captains in 1967 and 68 were G Bowden and B J Flynn. The information is taken from prize day programmes. FROM BERNARD CAPP 1955-62 Thank you for OWT63. Re Andy Marlow's request for information on temporary teachers, I can help with one. D (Dave) Freeman, 1959-60, taught English, though not very effectively. Brian McAuliffe's recollection of the position of the cloakroom, toilets and woodwork room is spot on, though I don't share his happy recollections of the 'inspirational' Flo Willan. He was a Dickensian figure, and most of us saw him as the stuff of nightmares. I recall him intoning 'at the end of each day, you should go home with fifteen new facts.' Gradgrind. He turned me off biology for life. I managed to avoid Basher Brewin. Bill Sykes was an interesting case. Most boys had no interest in music, and Bill was hopeless at keeping order so the result was eruptions of bad temper and chaos. But for several years I was a member of the after-school violin class, though I can't think why as I was pretty hopeless, and there we saw a wholly different person - he was kindly, goodnatured and gentle. Overall a poor teacher, and probably in the wrong job, like a fair number of CBS

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 64-3 teachers! James Gilfedder, a contemporary of mine, went down the biology line and became another warm admirer of Flo Willan. I suppose the 6th form biologists saw a different side of him, but his fans are few and far between. (I too do not have particularly happy memories of Mr Willan, mainly because he was apt to fly off the handle at the smallest provocation. Was he the teacher who could produce the most beautiful chalk drawings on the blackboard, they were so good it always seemed a shame to see them wiped off - Ed) FROM HARRY NEWMAN 1945-50 The mention of Joe Melia in OWT63 reminds me that a few months ago I saw a rather large motor car with the number plate MEL 1A. Could it have been the elusive Joe - in Mablethorpe! Thank you to the Wyvernians team for organising the annual reunions, I hope they keep going for many years to come. FROM DR ARNOLD BURROWS 1957-68 A few snippets arising from OWT63. Christopher Dennis Ragg - another of my 91st Scouts, and for whom I had the highest regard. He was certainly a 'sober' type (the son of a CE Lay Reader, who was also the teacher of the 'Scholarship' year at St Barnabas School) I knew Dennis and his father extremely well, but lost touch when Dennis went to Cambridge (was it King's?) I understood that (after graduating in Natural Sciences) he went to work for an oil company in South America. I should like to hear of him. Can anyone help? Appointment of Prefects This was dealt with at the Staff Meeting which always followed the Speech Day rehearsal at De Montfort Hall. Mr Sykes was exempt, on the grounds that he had to 'familiarise' himself with the organ - which he did to the detriment of our ear drums! (From that, can we take it the meeting took place at De Montfort Hall? - Ed) G H Sarson went on to teach Mathematics at Wyggeston (a great teacher and a great ballroom dancer) He lies in the churchyard at Newtown Linford. One of the few teachers who had a motor car. The Regent Road Site Is there any evidence it was donated by Fielding-Johnson? (Certainly he was the donor of the site at the corner of Welford Road, Wyggeston School and the University of Leicester) I have always understood that the regent Road location was a result of the efforts of Jimmy Went, but I have never heard how he did it! FROM KEITH POPLE 1942-45 I was particularly interested to read OWT 62 and 63, as they contained many items of direct interest to me. I would like to respond, but whether I can manage it we will have to see. Thank you for keeping Wyvernians going, it is a noble and worthy venture. FROM GEOFF MANCHESTER 1961-66 After I passed the 11+ my parents received a request to state the order of preference for the choice of grammar schools. I remember City Boys was my first choice, but I cannot recall the order of Wyggeston, Gateway and Alderman Newton's. With the confirmation of my place at CBS was a list of clothing and equipment required. I went to Smiths, High Street, with my mother. We needed blazer, cap and sporting kit (green, as I was in Abbey House) We also purchased a cricket pullover and flannels, though I never played cricket and those items remained unused. Smiths had a system of vacuum pipes to transport payment via a shuttle to a remote accounts office. Change and receipt were returned by the same method. On the first day, at Elbow Lane, I entered the playground from the Cumberland Street entrance. All the first years had to run the gauntlet of second year boys, who used their caps to whack our heads whilst shouting 'fag.' One morning per week we reported straight to Humberstone Gate for lessons, which included a session at Vestry Street baths. At dinnertime we returned to Elbow Lane in a crocodile led by a 6th form prefect. In the first year it was sport at Grace Road, usually football. Later it was off to Rushey Fields,where it always seemed to be cross country, something I neve renjoyed. The incentive was that when you had finished the course you could go home. I would start off jogging, but soon dropped to the back of the pack to walk with other like-minded athletes. Mr Bunny Hutchinson would run the course in the opposite direction. Often we would be engrossed in conversation and not see him approaching until we heard his bellow, at which point we were expected to begin running. By the time we returned to the changing room most of the other boys had already left.

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FROM DAVID SHARP 1953-57 Driving along Anstey Lane recently I had to stop at the pedestrian crossing to let a gaggle of pupils from the Catholic School cross. I noted their uniform still consists of a blazer and tie. The various ways of wearing their ties took me back to my school days in the 50's when slim ties came into fashion. We used to wear our ties 'backwards' - the tail end was brought to the front and the wider end tucked into our shirt out of sight. My mind then wandered to school caps, not my favourite piece of the uniform. Mine came off as soon as I entered Lewis's on my way home, taking the short cut through the store and M&S to Gallowtree Gate. The main drawback with the cap was that it was not compatible with the hair style of the day, which consisted of a giant Elvis Presley style wave, held up by a large amount of Brylcreme (is that stuff still made?) It was a civil engineering piece of work to make it as big as possible, consequently the cap had to be perched on the back so that it did not interfere with the wave. The piece in OWT63 from Derek Bolton was a real blast from the past for me. Derek, a classmate of mine, obviously has a better recall of names than myself. I have no more information regarding the prefect known as Genesis, except to say that I thought he was a little spooky for some reason. Regarding Derek Fitzimmons, I also recall that he was an RAF fanatic, I seem to remember that for him there was a family connection to it but not sure of the details. After reading the piece I Googled the name and came up with an old article http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1977/1977%20-%202146.html wherein it stated that in the '77 International Air Tattoo Flt. Lt. Derek Fitzimmons (4 FTS, RAF Valley) came first in the Embassy Trophy for best solo jet acrobatic display, flying a Hawk T.1. I doubt there were many RAF pilots with that name at that time, so I would hazard a guess it was our old classmate (I also used to cut through Lewis's and M & S on my way home. I did it at my mother's suggestion. It must have been shorter than walking via the street, but not sure if it was actually quicker as one had to weave past the counters and customers. Mind you, it was lovely in the winter! - Ed) FROM GEORGE LOVE 1950-57 I lived on the Braunstone Estate all my school life and was surprised to see it is now a town! Attended the local primary and junior schools, and was one of seven to pass the 11 plus, along with Godfery Ginger Evans (NOT the England wicket-keeper) who also chose CBS. A chequered career through school 1A, 2B, 3B, 4B and then 5Sc, 6Sc1 and 6Sc2. The discussion on the alpha stream had a suggestion that 'older' boys were placed there – not in my years – the alpha stream was for top scholars (I was 12 years and a few days on my first day at CBS) I have always been puzzled by the 'A' 'B' stream set up. I started in 1A and did pretty average, 13th, 11th, and 10th with similar exam positions – 15th at French, but was in 2B the next year. One or two anecdotes: As a prefect in my final year I had to take the morning assembly, reading from the bible. Unlike the thespians, who gave it in round ringing tones, I just did my best on the first morning. On the second morning, having presented myself to Mr. Bell and received the reading for the day, I followed him up the left-hand stone steps towards the hall. About five steps through the door Bell turned and said, 'Love, yesterday that was the worst reading of the lesson I have ever heard.' Straight in front of 400 (?) boys! Great for the confidence! When I asked my mates what they thought they obviously hadn’t listened, but said 'perhaps it was a bit fast – but hey, that’s good!'. As a member of 5Sc I had to take three science subjects - physics, chemistry and biology. I failed all three – I was OK at mathematics. I did a re-sit of physics and chemistry in November when I was in the 6SC1 taking pure maths, applied maths and physics. Phillips taught physics and set us two major projects, one on the principles of a glass-house and the other on refrigeration. I protested that I had two 'O' level exams, but no excuse was accepted, the projects had to be completed. My first try at physics was 35% and my second try 65%. Funny but there were two 17% questions, one on glass-houses and the other on refrigeration - I’ve always suspected that a little prior knowledge was involved. Years later a sequel – I finished up my career lecturing at Lincoln University, which developed from the agricultural College of Canterbury University. In order to develop myself I undertook a Masters degree in experimental design, computing and plant science. My sense of humour may be diagnosed when I report that, having failed 'O' level Biology, I was awarded an Honours degree II/I as a Master of Agricultural Science. Lincoln finally recognised they were teaching a broader spectrum of subjects, and subsequently used other designations for students like myself. On the occasion of Nobby Clarke actually resigning from the school to take up a new position (in Coventry?) it was clear that Mr. Bell was not amused. At the assembly in which farewell was given he said after ONLY nine years at CBS Mr. Clarke was leaving. In reply Mr. Clarke indicated that from 1946 to 1955 was actually TEN years. Bell was somewhat bemused that this was the case! (Surely Mr

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Bell was correct? - Ed) Can anyone clear up the issue of Grace Road playing fields? It was a casual mention at a round of golf that our school grounds also served as the Leicestershire Cricket Clubs home ground that led me to this web site. I always understood that the grounds belonged to CBS, and the cricket club had use of them. I see on google-earth that the cricket club is still based at Grace Road. OFTR (Bob Roberts) in 5Sc used to fill the blackboard with very small writing of old SC questions – at least it gave him a quiet period! This technique of repeatedly going over old examination questions I applied in my six years teaching some very high quality students. It did not obtain the 'scholarship' levels (only 40 awarded in the whole of New Zealand at the time) but students going on to university always did very well at their first-year mathematics courses. I also used a modified technique for twenty years in the university courses I presented. A method used by Flo Willan in 1A was the '15 questions in two parts. A and B never suited my style – it was a method used by one of my botany colleagues at university (do all science teachers use this method?) I wish I had remembered it in the only science class I had to teach in my first three years of teaching. I also remember Basher Brewin burning hydrogen in air to obtain water. As I had all my old school exercise books I used to copy the experiments. The time I tried this particular experiment I had all the class grouped around the front bench (as did Basher) lit the fuse and exploded all the glass-ware – fortunately for me it went straight up! Improved my reputation in the school! Some things done at CBS transferred to remote corners. Some friends I had at school were Mick Dooley and Dave Brown – great sailing holiday. Howard Toon (who I contacted for the first time since leaving CBS, and who has a remarkable memory) and Mick Kirby (did I spot a comment from him in OWT?) who were maths and applied maths mates with OFTR and Remington. My two 'party' mates were Steve Mayes and Dave Embury (Dave lost his life in a road crash in his first year at Kings, London ) Teachers I recall were Maths: Clarke, Lawson, OFTR , Remington – their work formed the basis for my whole career!!! English – Whitbread – I never did read the first chapter of Mill on The Floss – despite getting 10 out of 10 in a test – visits to Stratford for History: :Bufton, real solid, no nonsense - although I did read Champion, Hotspur etc in class (under the desk) and Chas Howard as I was mad on medieval warships and also in the Green Wyvernians (sic) so I enjoyed his style. Physics : Phillips - I must have been a disappointment to him – I never did understand it. Geography: WAG Pace – oh those coalfields – I think if I really needed to I could draw the coalfields of England even now. Chemistry: Brewin and Guy. Guy would have been delighted that two of my sons obtained Phd’s and post docs at Edinburgh and Cambridge in chemistry – he could claim some long range credit because it did not stick with me! (There will be a further contribution from George in the next issue - Ed) BOB RUSSELL - EDITOR'S NOTE This item, dated June 15th, is from a gentleman named Bob Russell. He is not a Wyvernian, but he felt this information might be of interest to us: Further to our brief conversation today I am hoping that the following information about Carp Carpenter may be of use to you. I am researching a friend's family history, and came across the name Albert George Carpenter. He was the only son of George Carpenter and Ellen Read. Albert George Carpenter was the Mathematics Teacher at City Boys' Grammar School (1910-1945) This morning I discovered your Wyvernians website and newsletter, and noticed that an ex-pupil wanted to know when Albert George Carpenter died. I immediately searched the Times newspaper archives this morning and found the following death notice: 'Carpenter - 0n March 17, Albert George Carpenter, B.Sc., A.K.C., of 25 Sandfield Terrace, Guildford, aged 92. For 35 years Carp to all at City of Leicester Boys School. Funeral at St Saviours Church, Guildford, 12 noon, Tuesday, March 22nd. No Flowers.' [The Times, Mar 19, 1977 page 26] It's good to know that Carp not only survived 35 years of teaching maths in Leicester but enjoyed many years of retirement. He married twice, and had a son by his first marriage. The son sadly drowned in the Thames at Teddington in a swimming accident. Carp had a sister named Rosa Florence May Carpenter, who remained unmarried and predeceased him. He lived at 25 Sandfield Terrace from 1947-c1977. His final months were spent in a nursing home in a village near Guildford. If any of your readers can add to the information that I have provided I would be very pleased to hear from them by email to: [email protected] I wish you continued success with your Wyvernians organisation. FROM MICHAEL JONES 1956-63 My brother David was at City Boys from 1954 to 1961 (I followed in his wake 2 years later) He was a colourful character - starred in the unlikely role of Juliet

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 64-6 in the school play (at the age of 15!) was one of only 2 cellists in the school orchestra etc - and went on to Oxford, gaining a degree in PPE and a PhD. He worked as an economist all over the place - Tanzania, Botswana, Switzerland, Washington DC, Senegal and Chad - and kept up a steady stream of fascinating correspondence home, until his death in 1997 in a bizarre hit-and-run accident in Chad, where he had just been appointed head of the World Bank resident mission. The reason I'm writing is that our sister, Sheila, has just published a book recalling his life, including schooldays, mostly from his many letters but also from recollections of friends and family. I've completely lost touch with schoolfriends (I live in North Yorks now, near Northallerton) but there must be many of his old friends out there who might be interested. Sheila can be contacted at [email protected] for anyone wanting more details. FROM STEVE LAW 1964-69 Thanks once again for sending me OWT - they are always a pleasure to read. I started City Boys in 1964 (Elbow Lane, Form 1B) and spent one year there, with one day a week at Clarence House, before moving to Downing Drive in 1965. One significant memory of Clarence House was a piece of grafitti, carved into the lead flashing below the art room window: 'Help! We're trapped in here by a cunning art master' - presumably Mr Miller? You never know, the inscription could still be there now, 45 years later... Also there have been various references to the Green Wyvern Yachting Club in previous OWTs, and as a keen sailor I spent 3 summer holidays on the Norfolk Broads from 1966 onwards (contemporary crew members were Simon H.Smith & Keith Handley, both in my year). These cruises were loosely supervised by Chas Howard, together with some other teachers (I believe from a school in Croydon?) and whilst technically these masters were in loco parentis, they did absolutely nothing to prevent us from smoking & drinking with them in remote Norfolk pubs at the tender age of 13. It was also during my first visit to the Norfolk Broads in 1966 that I hitchhiked solo for the first time, only to be given a lift - and a stern admonishment - by an off-duty policeman. After all this time I don't recall whether I had smoke or alcohol on my breath, but he seemed more concerned about my safety, and took me to my requested destination rather than to the cells... FROM LES OSWIN 1935-39 Most of us will at some time have asked the question, 'to what extent has our life been influenced by being a pupil at CBS?' Without doubt most of us will agree that our lives after school have been affected by some degree. For those pupils who had university in their sights such influence was a known factor, but for we others who went straight from CBS to office, factory or other place of work, school experience would certainly have had a bearing, not only on our chosen careers but also eventual changes or developments in our lives. On leaving school at the end of December 1939 I started work as a junior clerk at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. I don't remember whether I applied for the job, or if it was arranged by the school. There was no real careers organisation in those days, and it was often a case of 'here's a clerical vacancy, and so-and-so can read, write, spell and did quite well at maths - offer him the job.' So the CBS influence had begun to operate, but in my case I did not have the benefit of much parental guidance. At that time my father was serving in the Far East in the Royal Navy, and with two other sons and a lot of boarders in the house my mother had a pretty full workload . Nevertheless, having paid attention in class and having obtained Class 1A form prize, 3 Alpha class prize, 3 Alpha French and German prizes, the infirmary must have considered they had secured the services of a reasonably intelligent employee. After about fifteen months, with more senior staff being called up, I was promoted to Chief Clerk in the general office, and without doubt my time at CBS had a bearing on this. Working as a team member, and being able to communicate with others, proved to be most important assets, and during this time I was fortunate to work with other CBS pupils, namely John Harlow, Norman Yates and Peter Mallett. I also had the privilege of occupying the chair used by old-boy Ben Bingley after he went to war. His name is on the school's Roll of Honour. But soon it was my turn to vacate the chair, and in June 1942 I swapped my pen and typewriter for a rifle. More specifically, having joined the Royal Corps of Signals, I swapped to a morse key and a pair of headphones. In fact on the day I joined the army I travelled to Catterick by train with anothe former pupil, Les Timson, with whom I trained for our first four weeks in uniform. During my time at CBS I was pretty fit, and spent a lot of enjoyable time in the gym with PT master Tommy Markham. On one occasion I appeared in a gymnastic display team on stage in the main hall during a Christmas concert. Not long after I donned khaki CBS began to show its presence. At the end of four weeks' basic training - square bashing, rifle and infantry etc, I was selected, along with four other trainees, to go on a twoweek Physical Training Leaders course. That was in the adjacent gymnasium, where only two weeks

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 64-7 before Sir Len Hutton (then Sergeant Hutton) had been a PT instructor. All our other colleagues, including Les Timson, moved on to other signals training - D R's, Instrument Mechanics, Clerks, Wireless Operators etc, but we five remained behind - in my case because of my fitness resulting from being one of Tommy Markham's favoured few. This past experience, going back to 1935, proved to be the main reason for my good performance on this short course. When the final results were announced I was thrilled to hear I had been awarded the highest mark. This was entered into my service record - A.B 64 Part 1, where it can still be read, and it had an influence on my later army service. As did many valuable lessons learned at CBS, especially on being a member of a team (To be continued - Ed) FROM PETER ROBINSON 1955-60 I completely agree with Brian McCauliffe's sentiments in OWT63. Throwing money at schools to improve buildings etc is wrong. As Brian says, our old school building was, and is, pretty poor, but it was a fantastic school because of what went on inside. I can also confirm what John Brookes says. The pupil who died of appendicitis in 1958 was Richard Painter. Does anyone remember the cake shop in Charles Street, close by the school? We used to buy out-ofdate cakes called stales. I remember going in there late in the day to ask, 'have you got any stales?' The cost was 6d, maybe? FROM RICHARD THOMPSON 1949-56 I think the prefect Genesis whom Derek Bolton mentioned in OWT 63 was called Wilkinson. I remember him well. He used to have theological arguments with Mr. Pedley. After leaving school I once met Wilkinson in Leicester and recall his saying 'I've just come out of prison' He'd been imprisoned for refusing to do National Service. Jehovah's Witnesses were usually not accepted as Conscientious Objectors because they were not strictly speaking pacifists. They do not object to fighting in any war, just to fighting in human wars; they hold themselves in readiness to fight in God's army in Armageddon. Incidentally there were several Wilkinson in the school in the 1950's, so readers should not assume that the above applied to anyone of that name. The Wilkinson I describe was a year or two senior to me; Iguess he started at CBS in 1947. AND FINALLY... WAG Pace was geography master during my time at CBS. I remember him as a short, rotund man with a bullet-head and short, cropped hair. He was also the careers master, and kept some relevant leaflets in a cupboard. WAG's lessons were entertaining and informative, and as another correspondent points out much time was spent on the location of coalfields, plus rivers and mountain ranges etc. Another topic covered was maps and how to read them, which is where I learned about contour lines. WAG Pace often mentioned the significance of a place being at 'a centre of communications.' At the time that meant little to me, probably taking it for granted because we lived in Leicester which, of course, is an excellent COC. Leicester had - and still does have - good access to the major road networks, including the first motorways, canals, rivers, airports. We could go north, south, east and west with equal ease. Thus transportation of raw materials, and the finished products, was relatively simple. Now we live in Mid Wales I can see the importance of COC's. Our nearest motorway is the M54, and depending on traffic conditions it can take an hour to reach it. Roads in this area are narrow and winding, with very few dual carriageways. That means overtaking can be a problem for those in a hurry, especially as there are numerous farm vehicles out and about. For those of us not in a rush, driving is still a pleasure. Indeed, Montgomeryshire is a magnet for motor cyclists, mainly from the West Midlands, many of whom come to grief on their powerful machines. But now I can see why WAG Pace stressed the importance of communications. Were I to consider setting up a new factory it would not be round here. One reason would be the lack of a skilled workforce, but mainly because it would take too long to reach the major trunk roads and urban conurbations. WA Dennis J Duggan December 15th 2009

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OWT 65 OLD WYVES' TALES 65 - MARCH 2010 CITY OF LEICESTER BOYS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL NEWSLETTER FOR EX-PUPILS (WYVERNIANS) PRE-1976 EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN, ROCK COTTAGE, BROOK STREET, WELSHPOOL, MONTGOMERYSHIRE. SY21 7NA TEL 01938 555574 07985 405365 www.wyvernians.org.uk REUNION 2010 The reunion was a great success, with over 70 people in attendance. Thank you to those who RSVP'd to their invitations. Following the appeal for as many people as possible to order lunch almost 60 did so, and Age Concern provided an excellent meal in the newly-refurbished cafeteria. I thought it was a shame the new suspended ceiling has covered up the remains of our old gym equipment. The new name badges proved much better than the old system of adhesive labels, which tended to fall off. The memorabila was as popular as ever, but it seems we inadvertently left a box at home as the trophies were not on display and someone pointed out that a netball photo was missing. No one had volunteered to give a talk this year, so everyone stayed in the Hall. The honesty bar was in full swing. There was a super atmosphere, with a continuous loud buzz of conversation and laughter. Lunch was 12.30-1.45 and although quite a few people had left by then we still had about 50 who listened to me droning on before the AGM commenced at 2pm. It took about 30 seconds to reelect Brian Screaton and myself, then Brian presented the Treasurer's report. That was followed by the raffle, and thank you to those who brought a prize. By 3pm people began to drift away, and we started to pack up. As usual special thanks to Brian Screaton, who makes the arrangements with Age Concern, buys the drinks and nibbles, collects us from The Hilton Hotel before the reunion and takes us back afterwards. Also to Frank Smith, who does duty as doorman, and John Offord, who helps to unload and reload the car and set out and pack up the memorabilia. And finally to Stephanie, for her unfailing help and support before the event and during it, when she sells raffle tickets and collects the lunch tickets etc. I think that secretly she is very proud to be an Honorary Wyvernian! Also we would like to thank those who sent a donation to Wyvernians funds. Brian estimated that after balancing the reunion books we will have about £900 in the bank. However, although we have not increased the entry price within living memory the costs go up every year, and we have now reached the stage where the reunions make a slight overall loss. This does not give cause for concern at the moment. The Age Concern staff certainly made us feel very welcome, amd some of the senior management popped in to see us first thing. Touch wood, but there seems no reason to doubt we will continue to be allowed to hire Clarence House for our reunions. That is very important, because the building is the big attraction for Old Boys. There is no doubt in my mind that if we met in a pub, or village hall, it just wouldn't be the same and the annual reunions would fade away. FROM GEORGE LOVE 1950-57 I lived on the Braunstone Estate all my school life, and was surprised to see it is now a town! Attended the local primary and junior schools and was one of seven to pass the 11 plus, along with Godfrey Ginger Evans (NOT the England wicket-keeper) who also chose CBS. A chequered career through school . 1A, 2B, 3B, 4B and then 5Sc, 6Sc1 and 6Sc2. The discussion on the alpha stream had a suggestion that older boys were placed there. Not in my years – the alpha stream was for top scholars (I was 12 years and a few days on my first day at CBS) I have always been puzzled by the 'A' 'B' stream set up. I started in 1A and was pretty average - 13th, 11th, and 10th with similar exam positions – 15th at French, but along with 12 other 'A' streamers I was transferred to the 'B' stream for three years. The only point of note was that in 3B Mr. Lawson noted in my report that I was first in mathematics out of all the 3rd form (3alpha, 3A and 3B). In 5Sc I justified the 'B' status by failing physics (Mr Phillips) chemistry (Mr Guy) and biology (Mr. ? W.J. ?) Completed pure (OFTR) and applied, mathematics (Remington) in 6Sc1 and 6Sc2, and continued to fail physics (Phillips) I obtained entry into Nottingham University – I suspect on the basis that my scholarship examination marks were as good as my 'A' level ones! A major feature of my years at CBS was the amount of time I spent in jobs earning money. Over the years I did two paper rounds a day, worked in a butchers shop, worked long hours in a corner grocery and then in the two sixth form years worked two hours after school and six hours on Saturday in a hosiery-knitting factory. In the early years I was dancing two nights a week, then I added lessons in

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ballroom. In the 6th this was replaced with coffee shops and dancing at the Palais, the Fire Station and also any other place where girls gathered! I had to do the same thing at University with holiday jobs at Christmas – post office or railways, and the long vacations when I was 'lucky' enough to obtain the full length of the vacation working at the General Hospital on the wards, in the main kitchens and a very interesting time window cleaning in wards, operating theatres, prem-baby units, nursing quarters etc.. As to careers advice I do recall a visit to BT Engineering (right name?) particularly the tin-tack room where the noise was beyond anything I’ve ever heard – and no ear-muffs. The firm interviewed boys for cadet positions. I also sat examinations for Dartmouth Naval Training College in the 5th and 6th forms. Always a point of interest to me that I could obtain only 50% at mathematics and yet obtain a degree in mathematics. Never any chance of passing, but fun anyway. At University I obtained exemption from National Service whilst my grades were good enough (NOT that good really) It was abolished in my last year at Nottingham, when I completed a Certificate in Education following my B.Sc. (Very ordinary). I married Margaret, a nurse at the General Hospital at the end of my four years, and immediately emigrated to New Zealand (try google-earth 35.16.57.77 // 174.05.21.58 for where we lived for three months on first arrival early spring/early summer– with NONE of the houses on the main beach area around the jetty when we lived there). Passage paid, teaching position ready and a new school house to rent over the road from the school! I stayed at the Bay of Islands College for three years (all 13-18 year olds from the surrounding district, which included some who crossed the Bay in a ferry before a 30 minute bus ride to school) Having managed to fail biology I had a class in General Science to teach. On the day of the frog dissection one small 3rd former brought 30-40 frogs in his school case, which he duly let free on the school bus. I learnt how to dissect a frog some 20 minute before conducting the class! It was eventually decided that failed 'O' level meant failed, and I was relieved of science teaching after that year. Obtained a good position in a school (all 13 – 18 year olds from the surrounding area) south of Auckland, and in the 6 years I stayed there taught nearly all examination classes. 7th form mathematics, 7th form applied mathematics (Humphrey and Topping) a 6th form class, the top graded 5th form class out of 12-15 mathematics classes, plus one other class. When New Maths came in with all its set theory I had the job of leading about 15 staff into new areas for them to teach with very few text resources. I must have been slightly mad as I also ran the first X1 soccer and first X1 cricket teams, compiled the timetable for the 3rd largest school in New Zealand - 1400 at the time - took night classes, drove the school bus and was Dean of the senior school. I also worked as a marker of S.C. (='O' level exams – 400 scripts in 3-4 weeks) On a personal level our second son was born, and we had our first home built. Altogether a busy time. Amongst my many students during this time were a future New Zealand Prime Minister, a future All- Black and a student who went to Cranwell Air Force Training College in the UK, who I was told won the Silver Sword for all-round excellence. I then obtained a position at Lincoln College, which acted as an independent body but the degrees were conferred by Canterbury University (similar to Sutton Bonnington and Nottingham University) Lincoln became an independent University later. There I was a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Biometrics (agricultural field trials e.g. Rothamsted in the UK) for the next 20 plus years. During this time I completed a Diploma in Education and a Master of Agricultural Science (Hons 2/1) I’m sure my CBS biology teachers would have been pleased (astonished?) at this. Margaret and I took early retirement (classes of 600 plus over a 12 week semester was not my idea of teaching!) and chose Nelson to live. A wonderful place. Highest sunshine hours in NZ , a great golf course only 10 minutes away with membership so low that we can get a game at any time (fees NZ$700 pa) Try google-earth 41.17.20.00 // 173.08.55.00. I recently completed a two-year stint as President of the Club. We have wonderful views of Tasman Bay and the mountain ranges, and my garden produces lots of mandarins, oranges, apples and vegetables. Our three sons live in Australia, two obtained Phd.’s in chemistry (I bet Mr. Guy would have appreciated the irony of that) they both did post-docs in the UK at Edinburgh and Cambridge respectively. The youngest went into computing ,and has worked in a large information company in London, New York and now Australia. FROM MRS PAT SWEET I have to inform you that my husband, Arthur Ernest Sweet, passed away on September 4th 2009 after a very short stay in hospital (four days) while attempts were made to diagnose his condition and then deal with it. Unfortunately neither of these happened, and he passed away there in his sleep. An autopsy revealed non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, which with hindsight accounted for his latterly breathlessness and lethargy. He was 81. We met as students at Leicester University, and spent the first ten years of our 54-year marriage in Leicester - he at CBS and cycling back and forth from Overdale Road, Knighton, where we lived. He

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 65-3 never taught at the new school in Evington, but divided his time between Humberstome Gate and an outpost of huts somewhere not far away. Then we moved to Somerset, and finally to Brewood, Staffs. He was a school master through and through (At Mrs Sweet's suggestion, Wyvernians donated a cheque for £25 to the Acorns Childrens Trust Hospice, Walsall - Ed) FROM JOHN BLAIKIE 1955-62 Very sad to hear that Arthur Sweet has passed away. I remember him as a very good, easy-going teacher. I have a lasting memory of Arthur playing in goal for the teachers XI at Grace Road, probably 1962. As to the passing of Keith Wright, I too am not sure which one! The one you mention on the database (1948-54) pre-dates my time. In fact I knew two Keith Wrights, but the one I knew most was at CBS at exactly the same time as me, so I think I can place them. The one in question I think played football for the Old Boys team. FROM IAN CRICHTON 1962-69 Many thanks for OWT 64. Sad to hear that yet another of my old teachers has died. Arthur Sweet never seems to be mentioned a great deal in the musings of old Wyvernians, but I remember him well even though our time at CBS barely crossed. He taught me English as a rather impressionable member of 1A back in 1963, and he had a great interest in the Classics, urging us to read Tanglewood Tales by Nathanuel Hawthorne, which was almost a century old even then, but the author's retelling of the Greek myths and the travels of Odysseus has rarely been surpassed to this day. Arthur came across as a very serious teacher, but one that was always in command of his subject. He could only have been mid 30's at the time, but he appeared to me to be older as did most of the teachers back then. I seem to remember he left City Boys soon after (c1964) Strangely enough I came across him ten years later when he was headmaster of Great Wyrley Comprehensive school, just outside Walsall, and he actually offered me a job, but unfortunately I had already accepted a post elsewhere. He must have found quite a difference between CBS and a 1970's comprehensive, and he still wore a gown which was most unusual for comprehensive teachers (even heads) in 1974. I looked him up on the Friends Re-united page for Great Wyrley, and there is but one mention of him where a past pupil wrote that due to his habit of wearing the gown he was known as Batman or Dracula amongst the pupils. The latter description reminded me of Mr Wardle, who I always thought of as Wally, but apparently earlier generations referred to him as The Count, and he certainly looked (and acted!) the part more than Arthur. FROM TONY WAKEFIELD 1951-56 In reply to George Love's query re Grace Road playing fields, I believe they belonged to the cricket club. I remember paying 6d to see County if they were playing on our sports afternoon. FROM PETER ROBINSON 1955-60 Wyvernians is great stuff, it's a miracle you keep it going. Images might liven OWT up a bit - maybe a blog would work better? It occurs to me that pupils/staff might submit more articles if it was added to a photo. I am very intereted in finding out what happened to some of the guys from my era - I was 66 in February. Maybe you could encourage contributors to send in a biography. Not job-application style, but something chatty with pictures of then and now. Lastly, does anyone know what happened to Joe Melia? (For various reasons it is not practical for me to make OWT into a magazine, so I'm afraid it's just blocks of text. I realise that does not make it visually appealing, but over the years we have compiled an extensive history of our old school, along with her staff and pupils, which must be unique. I can only print what people send, it is up to you, the readers, to provide material. In fact there have been many potted biographies published in OWT, but more are always welcome. Joe Melia is often mentioned, but his actual whereabouts remain inconclusive. I think that Harry Newman mentioned he thought he saw Joe (or at least a car which may have belonged to him) in an east coast town. See back issues for details - Ed) FROM ROY HUTCHINGS 1949-56 ( There has been some confusion over exactly which Keith Wright has passed away. The one on the Wyvernians database, 1948-54, is alive and well, but it seems

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 65-4 that several boys shared the name over the years. So Roy will be relieved to know his obituary is premature, but it is such a nice item I am printing it anyway. I hope Keith sees the funny side, and that neither he or Roy will be offended - Ed) I was saddened to hear of the death of Dr Keith Wright. Keith was indeed at CBS from 1948, as I know he was just one year older than me. We lived in Ainsdale Road, and Keith was in the next road, Oakthorpe Avenue. I seem to remember his father was a police inspector. I cannot recall if Keith completed the sixth form, but I feel he probably did and left CBS in 1955. I left in 1956, and left Leicester until 1959 after National Service, and had no contact with Keith until three years (?) ago. I attended a reunion at Clarence House, and Roy was there. Despite such a long gap, and the growth of my facial hair, we nevertheless recognised each other and had a good chat over lunch. If Trevor Cross's information is correct, I am hopefully talking about the wrong Keith Wright. FROM MERVYN BROWN 1958-62 OWT64 struck a chord in my memory banks. First was Geoff Manchester's recollection of his first day at CBS, and the playground ceremony of running the gauntlet . Obviously this had been in existence for some years, and was well-established as a welcome for new boys. Geoff also mentioned cross-country at Rushey Fields, in which I participated miserably. Like Geoff I always ended up walking back to the changing hut. I recall that during the worst of the winter weather my fingers would be so cold I could not undo the laces on my running shoes, and ended up still wearing them on the journey home. Peter Robinson mentioned the cake shop on Charles Street. I remember getting stales from their and yes, 6d was the going rate for a decent sized bag of cakes. FROM STEPHEN RADFORD 1954-59 Having observed that on a number of occasions Dr Burrows pays glowing tribute to previous scholars who went on to Cambridge or Oxford , it seems to me that one can overlook the many of us who went on to fulfill successful careers but never attended Oxford or Cambridge - or indeed any University at all! All too often the story of successful people focuses on intelligence and academic ability, but there are other routes to success which can be complex, including men and woman with stamina, courage, practical gifts and sheer hard work and detemination. People who for one reason or another never seemed to shine at school, but nevertheless developed with maturity in later life. Maybe it would be profitable to explore such cases. I offer the following for consideration: 1) Wife and children and grandchildren, and your skills in relationships with each of these. 2) Contentment in whatever occupies a significant part of your time. 3) A reflection on what you would like to be remembered for when you are dead, and what you would like to be written on your tombstone. 4) Your use of your resources, and not just material ones. 5) And for some, your effort to make up for failures of the past. Perhaps other readers would like to add helpful comments or additions to the above list. Can I also add a comment about Mr H H Sykes, since I think Dr Burrows' comments about him playing the organ 'to the detriment of our eardrums' was perhaps a little unkind. Mr Sykes was a brilliant musician, and some of us feel that he was quite unappreciated for the genius he was. He had been a pupil of Vaughan Williams, the English composer (1872 - 1958) and went on to obtain an LRAM (Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music) and his FRCO (Fellow of the Royal College of Organists) Clearly he often struggled when dealing with a class of boys who had no understanding of his brilliance, but for those of us who listened to his playing at lunch times, he was simply amazing. FROM GUNTER LAWSON (LOWENSTEIN) 1947-54 Richard Thompson wrote about a prefect named Wilkinson. There was someone of that name who was a contemporary of mine, 1947-54. I think he was John, but as ever we did not use first names. He was always called Wilky. ( I was Lowy). He was indeed a Jehovah’s Witness. What made this so weird was that his other great interest was boxing, and he had the disconcerting habit of suddenly starting to shadow box very fiercely while in the middle of a discussion. Wilky was a considerable linguist, and was selected to try for Oxbridge entry. This entailed having special lessons with Mr Pedley on general issues and current affairs. These of course were a perfect opportunity for Wilky to argue the Jehovah's Witness case. Mr Pedley took several of us to Cambridge in December 1953 to try for the college entry exams. I seem to recall that he was very careful in his advice to Wilky. He did not forbid him to talk about his beliefs; indeed he could not have done so. But he did advise him that it was not necessary for him to introduce his beliefs into any interview. I never heard whether Wilky took that advice. Wilky and I went up to Oxford in January 1954 to try for entry there. We were not sure about the eating arrangements, so had a hurried

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 65-5 lunch at a local restaurant. Poor Wilky must have got food poisoning and was dreadfully unwell, and in no fit condition to cope with the exams. I often wondered how different his life would have been but for that lunch. I also thought that he was dreadfully treated by the authorities. He was perfectly genuine in his beliefs, and had held them for some years, not just prior to National Service. I am sure that the school could have supported his claim if asked, but suspect that he never even thought to ask for this help. We had another contemporary who came from a wealthy and well known local Quaker family. He also sought exemption as a Conscientious Objector and was granted it. Poor Wilky drew the short straw, but certainly deserved better. The Autumn 1954 Wyvernian contains further information about Wilky. He got three A levels, with a Distinction in French. In the list of visitors is a J Wilkinson, hoping to be a Minister of Jehovah's Witnesses. FROM DENNIS LEAVESLEY 1943-48 A contributor mentioned the large gates which were further down Clarence Street. Those gates guarded the playground for Forms 1, 2 and 3, which was bordered by the science block, gym, biology lab, workshops and the back entrance to the building. One lunch hour during my first year, when Josh Carter was on yard duty and snow lay on the ground, there was raucous shouting from the street followed by a snowball, which just missed Mr Carter's hat. With amazing speed for an 'old' man he dragged open the gate and disappeared outside, and returned holding a squirming youth by the collar. They went into school via the back entrance, and according to rumour into the Headmaster's office. I never did hear the outcome, but from then on Mr Carter's status rose above the level of Old Fogey. In my time the science labs were the natural domain of Bull Smith (Chemistry) and Basher Brewin (Physics) Both managed to instil in me a love of science, but Basher earned my lifelong emnity by accusing me of something for which I was innocent. I can't recall what it was. When my protests became too strident I was ordered to the Headmaster's office to await his pleasure. The result was a double detention, each with 100 lines about self-discipline. Previously I had earned a double detention from Dr Crammer when as a 1st former, proudly wearing school uniform, an RSPB inspector caught me birds egging on Leicester Sewage Farm. I learned a useful lesson - when doing anything even slightly illegal do not wear anything that could identify you. At that time the front yard held a large brick-walled, concrete-roofed air raid shelter, the doors to which were always locked. This structure left little room for the senior boys, particularly when Bud Fisher parked his Morris Oxford. I was fascinated by the brown windows, presumably caused by ageing. I had a high regard for Mr Fisher, who I remember as a cheerful, charming man who taught Religious Studies, Geography and English to the junior school. His favourite admonition was You miserable sinners, all of you, said with a smile. In contrast are my recollections of the art master, Mr Dennis, or Dennis Somebody. To me he was a man out of his natural time. He thought the aim of an artist was to reproduce a still-life with great accuracy. At primary school I had won two prizes for paintings of action-packed war scenes, no doubt created with a very free hand, but Mr Dennis(?) wanted us to develop skills rather than express ourselves, and the final straw came when he described my attempt at drawing a beautifully arranged group of sycamore leaves as 'a bunch of fishcakes.' I retired hurt, and somehow managed to avoid his classes thereafter. My favourite teacher was Dr Majut, whose insistence on correct pronunciation bore fruit some forty years later. On a tour through Germany I was commended more than once for my accent, even though I had trouble remembering to put the verb at the end of the sentence. Dr Majut and Mr Goddard, who taught French, were responsible for the only Distinctions I obtained in exams. The younger teachers had a less academic style. Miss Smith taught English through practical experience, such as asking us to prepare and give ten-minute presentations on a subject of our choice. For some reason, now inexplicable, I gave an illustrated talk on the reproductive system of the common hen. At that time reproduction was almost a four-letter word, but Miss Smith didn't bat an eyelid. I have an idea she left rather suddenly, and it was rumoured she had been seen entering the Swan With Two Necks, Granby Street, with an American soldier. For that heinous crime she was apparently requested to leave the school (To be continued - Ed) FROM MIKE ROSS 1950-58 I had three years in the 6th form, and left when only marginally younger than the youngest teacher. I ended up as a Senior Prefect, 1st XI Cricket Captain and De Montfort House Captain. I am now a retired Headteacher living in Wigston. During my time at City Boys there were two Headteachers, Mr Pedley and latterly Mr Bell, who most times got my name wrong on our encounters. The staff names that come to mind are Flash Gordon, Harry Hantusch, Flo Willan, John Lawson, Dave Lawrance, Basher Brewin, Nobby Clarke, Ken Witts, Arthur Sweet, Ron

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Smith, and Messrs Brushe, Remington, Gimson, Whitbread, and the excellent Deputy Head, Mr Bufton. Like a previous contributor I remember Willan's Biology lessons, featuring 15 two-part questions set us about every two weeks. I was constantly in the top 3 in the subject, mainly because I could spell long words! It was Nobby Clarke who told us (Class 2A) that King George VI had died. In recent years I have been pleased to encounter Mr Bufton's son, Ivor, at Grace Road Cricket Ground. Ivor was 1st XI goalkeeper as I recall. I believe most of the above-named teachers have now passed on, but there were some wonderful characters among them. As a younger member of the school, names of illustrious older pupils included Ted Freer, Wragg, Baxter, Best, Coates and Cayless, and one Joe Melia, whose contributions to the Prefects Christmas concerts were legendary, and I've seen him in a West End Musical and in many plays on TV. Several incidents come to mind involving the senior boys. A meal arranged in the staff room at end of term, a For Sale board posted near the School entrance, Mr Brushe's front gate transferring itself from Oadby to the staff room, and Mr Bell's chair and table in the Great Hall nailed to the floor so he couldn't sit down. Awaiting in a classroom for a staff comment about the meal, all we received from the redoubtable Ron Smith was 'no bloody salt!' Ron was a brilliant teacher, and got me through History GCE 'A' Level (twice)! I have always been keen on sport, and remember watching a very good 1st XI football team play a lot of their games at Grace Road, near where I lived at the time. The team was something like: Carver, Deverill, Busby, A Manship, Hall, Rowley, Henderson, Capenhurst, Bird, Blount and D Wright. I did some reports on games for a news sheet, which appeared in a glass case in the school yard. I am still in contact with Alan Manship (now living in Harrogate) and Don Wright (living in Hinckley and recently its Mayor). Names I recall from the cricket eleven I captained included Kenny, Whitelam, Snutch, Morgan, K Wright, D Wright, Hopkinson, Hall, Carver and Povoas. The whole school used to travel to Grace Road for the Annual Cricket Match between Staff and School. Another retired Headmaster, Eddie (Ted) Blount mentioned in the football eleven also made a name for himself for his skilful mountaineering insertions through the Prefect room window, mostly well after the bell had gone for morning school. I had the pleasure of sending some of my pupils (Granby Primary School) to his Secondary School (Lancaster). There was a prize - some strangely sculptured article - I remember among the prefects, for the best reason for putting a pupil in prefect's detention. I believe it was won by one Derek Cole, but alas I can't recall the actual reason. I have attended the last three reunions, but it would be nice to meet more pupils from the 1950-58 period at the next one. OBITUARIES Mike Norton, 1957-62. Mike's widow, Sonia, was kind enough to contact me when I queried why his e-mails were being returned. Sonia writes: I regret to inform you that Mike passed away on Wednesday December 17th 2008. I write this with a heavy heart, but I am sure Mike would have wanted me to do this even though we have never met. Mike had mentioned you from time to time when recalling some funny anecdotes in OWT. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2008, and after a long battle passed away less than a month after his 63rd birthday. I apologise for the delay in writing to you, but although it is now fifteen months ago it is still difficult for me to mention his death. Laurie Braithwaite 1944-48. Allan Cornfield informed me that Laurie's passed away earlier this year. He was a staunch supporter of our annual reunions. John Ratnett 1941-46 Julian Pawley contacted me to say that John died during January 2010. A few years ago John presented me with a large amount of CBS memorabilia, including a special Wyvernians bow tie. He was in the gents outfitters trade (Parr & Sons, Belgrave Gate) FROM MIKE JONES 1956-63 Thanks for OWT64. It reminded me to have another look at the website, where I found for the first time the school song. I hadn't realised the words were written by Mr Gimson - one of the more inspiring masters from my time at CBS, not just for his enthusiastic teaching of German - I still remember lists of words like aus, bei, mit, nach, zeit, von, zu; durch, fur, gegen, ohne, um, weider, although I'm afraid now haven't a clue what their significance was! I also have fond recollections of mountaineering holidays led by him, and taking part in his choir (including several foreign language songs -Wie hat der wind zerissen, Do na nobis pachem etc) No mention though of the alternative version of the school song, which used to drone from the back of the hall to the accompaniment of sniggers. It went something like 'We want freedom, free beer and cigarettes, and mixed bathing at Vestry Street.....' Does anyone recall the rest? The last line was 'Then we won't be such fine cheps,' an illusion to Ding Dong's aspirations for us. I would put the date of introduction of

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 65-7 the school song rather earlier than shown on the music sheet, more like 1958 than 1968. 'Shall we not feel new love as men' seemed rather soppy at the time, but now is quite apt. Recalling the mountaineering also brings back to mind trips to the Norfolk Broads with the sailing club, including journeys packed into the back seat of Chas Howard's elegant old Jag - cruising at 80 on the cracked leather seats. Also sleeping in the smelly forepeak alongside the spare sails, the sinking of his boat Vanessa, and Sandy Powell's exploits with an aspirin bottle! I'm afraid I can't give an eyewitness account of the sinking of Vanessa. I sailed in her a couple of times but wasn't around at that time. I believe it was in 1959-60, and resulted from a collision with a motor launch. Particularly upsetting for Chas Howard as it was his own boat, not one of the hired ones, a fine 32-footer with 6 berths plus 2 small bunks in the forepeak sail locker. I managed to wreck the mainsail once by letting the main sheet out too far and snagging it on wooden piles in the bank, but played no part in the sinking. I expect you already know that Charles taught English and History at the junior end of the school, a generally easy-going rotund older gentleman with a sandy beard. I got on the wrong side of him on one occasion though, for mispronouncing the word chasm with a ch rather than a k in reading out a passage to the class. He took it as a cheeky reference to his nickname. I'm afraid I was not so quick-witted as to have planned that! FROM MR W T (BILL) BRUSHE 1953-61 Thank you for the invitation to the 2010 reunion, but once again I must reluctantly opt out. I have had two different health scares this year, resulting in two unrelated operations. The first was the day after my 86th birthday in July, the second in early November. I am now nearly 100% again, though of course 100% of 86 does not mean as much as one would wish for. May I wish you all a happy reunion, and my regards to those who might still remember me. FROM CLIFF DUNKLEY 1949-57 Bob Gregory tells me that Mick Walker is thinking of doing a piece on members of staff's military service, so we compared notes. Did you know that Bob Roberts was awarded the MC in WW1; Johnny Jeeves had to cut short his university studies for call-up; Mr Bell was involved in WOSB (officer selection) in WW2; Captain Evans served in Palestine post-war etc. FROM JOHN WORLEY 1956-64 I noted the references to Flo Willan in OWT64 with great interest. Many third, fourth and fifth year boys will never forget his biology tests, which took up 50% of teaching time on alternate weeks. Flo appeared to live in a WW2-and-after time warp when paper was in short supply. On test weeks he invariably arrived with eight sheets of 6mm-ruled paper (the old maths standard) which was torn in half twice to give thirty two sheets, sufficient for most classes. Many readers will remember it was then fifteen two-part questions, based on two-weeks text book readings. Flo never set written homework. The marking system was equally bizarre, usually carried out by the person sitting directly behind you. 1/2 a mark for every correctly spelled answer, reducing to 1/4 if one letter was misspelled. At the end of the test anyone scoring less than 7/15 was punished with some extra work. Everyone thought it was a complicated system, but no - it was a cleverly designed formula to minimise Flo's workload. In the third, fourth and fifth years, when the three sciences were taught as separate subjects, each half-term form order called for thirty marks each for Bilogy, Chemistry and Physics, so all Flo needed to do was to add the results of two tests together - job done. Obviously the system favoured those pupils with retentive memories over those who were keen on actually learning the subject, but Biology was by no means the only subject to which this maxim could be applied. Personally, having spent a considerable part of the last two years in hospital, I consider myself fortunate in having received some medical knowledge from Flo's lessons, allowing me to better understand the deliberations of the doctors and consultants. In conclusion, one or two anecdotes about Flo. In 4A our Biology double-period was scheduled for first thing on Monday mornings. From October to March Flo would instruct us to connect up our bunsen burners, then proceed to light them all in an attempt to increase the room temperature. I remember around 1960 him purchasing his pride and joy, a Bedford Dormobile. If I recall correctly the registration number was XRY 444, which might be worth something now (XRY 444 is a Leicester number from February 1960 - Ed) This was certainly not supplied by Jock Gilman Enterprises, and was usually parked by EJWB's Rover at the front of the school (I don't remember the Dormobile, but do recall Mr Bell's black Rover P4. It was certainly at or near the top of the range, most likely a 110. I was admiring the car one

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 65-8 lunchtime when Mr Bell came to collect something from it, which caused me some embarrassement. It was a relief when Mr Bell gave me a pleasant smile and said something like, 'It's rather dirty, I'm afraid.' -Ed) On talking with Bill Mann I learned that Flo resigned his post in the early 1970's, the day after it was announced that girls were to be admitted. One might deduce he did not relish the prospect of teaching Biology to mixed-sex classes. In conclusion, my interest in the Biology teaching at the City Of Leicester College is kept alive by working with one of Flo's successors, Mike Burden (retired 2004) We are both members of the Independent Examination Invigilators team, as schools are no longer allowed to use their own staff to invigilate at examinations such as GCSE (I did some invigilating sessions at Llanfyllin High School last year. Seldom have I been so bored, and will not be repeating the experience - Ed) FROM JULIAN PAWLEY 1944-49 The death was recently reported in the Leicester mercury of John Ratnett, of Kirby Muxloe and formerly of Great Glen. He was involved with Parr & Son gent's outfitters, Belgrave Gate. I was in the same year as his younger brother David, who incidently played the cello in Bill Sykes' school orchestra (Michael Jones please note) at the same time that I scraped away on the violin. I attended violin classes after school, run by a Mr Grainger, an elderly gentleman who arrived in a bowler hat and had what I assume was carbuncle on his neck (it's amazing what one can remember from childhood) My grandfather eventually paid for me to have private lessons after the class, and kept asking whether they had taught me 'the shake' -vibrato with the left hand. When I asked Mr Grainger about it he said that I needn't worry about that yet. I never did learn the technique. The Mercury also reported ,just before Christmas that a certain Ivor Bufton (son of WHM) had won £150 worth of ASDA vouchers in a competition. Hope you didn't spend it all at once, Ivor. I sat next to him in the fifth form, incidentally. Some months ago, whilst attending a concert in the De Montfort Hall, I recognised him after over fifty years, but he didn.t recognise me as I have a very wide parting these days. Page 4 OWT 64, Sorry Ed. but 1946-1955 inclusive is 10years. In answer to David Sharp page 3, yes they still produce Brylcreem. I was a Brylcreem boy (RAF) not that it did me much good. In answer to John Simms, Roman Catholics and Jews assembled, along with late comers, in the room opposite the main hall entrance, and filed in for the notices. There was never any mention of other religions in those days. A slight correction for Peter Robinson (p5) Richard Paynter died in Nov.1957. His gravestone is to the west side of the porch at St Luke's church, Thurnby. alomg with his parents who died in an unexplained car accident a year later. Richard and his parents were very active at St Lukes, as was Flo Willan. Richard was also learning bell ringing at the time. AND FINALLY... Now we have our free passes, Stephanie and I sometimes use public transport to get around. And what a contrast to the Corporation buses we used to get to and from school in the 1950's and 60's! The Midland Red buses seemed very luxurious in comparison, as some of them had doors enclosing the rear platform and cloth seats, but I don't think we could use our bus passes on them. So it was Leylands, AEC's and, occasionally, a Daimler for us. No heating, no doors, dim tungsten lighting, smoking allowed upstairs and the now-forgotten bus conductors issuing tickets. Only they could ring the bell - once for stop, twice to go, three times if the bus was full. 'Next stop, please,' was the oft-heard cry. In winter we thought nothing of finding the interior of the windows covered in ice, nor did we worry about the fug of tobacco. Did any of us ever choose to sit downstairs? I remember how the Leyland Titans struggled up the Lutterworth Road Hill when they had a full load of passengers. They almost came to a halt before the driver was able to double-declutch into first gear, which enabled the bus to make its painful way to the top of the hill and into Glenhills Boulevard and Sturdee Road. Happy days. End of OWT65. Dennis J Duggan, April 1st 2010.

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OWT 66 OLD WYVES' TALES 66 – MAY 2010 FOR WYVERNIANS 1919-76 EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN, ROCK COTTAGE, BROOK STREET, WELSHPOOL, MONTGOMERYSHIRE. SY21 7NA TEL 01938 555574 07985 405365 www.wyvernians.org.uk FROM CLIFF DUNKLEY 1949-57 This article was prompted by Ian Crichton's remarks in OWT65 on Arthur Sweet's continued wearing of a gown after the practice had gone out of fashion. Apart from noticing the occasional nonconformist clergyman, my first encounter with academic dress was as a new boy at Clarence Street in 1949. I quickly developed a fascination with this interesting form of attire, and began to seek out information from such reference works as encyclopaedias. Later on, as a sixth former, I was thrilled to find a copy of F W Haycraft's 1948 edition of Degrees and Hoods of the World's Universities and Colleges in Birmingham Reference Library, and spent a happy hour or so poring over it. Among the many exotic items listed - for what reason I know not - Master of Nursing (Saskatchewan) made a deep and lasting impression. This all came about thanks to the Northern Universities Joint Matriculation Board which, in the far off 1950's, insisted that oral examinations for 'A' level Modern Languages be conducted by nothing less than a Professor. The Head of the German Department at Leicester University College not having at that time attained the distinction of a Professorial Chair necessitated our taking the train to Birmingham to be grilled by Professor Roy Pascall. Since then Haycraft has been superseded by a relative torrent of publications, including the transactions of a learned body The Burgon Society. Sad as it may seem, there is a National Society for academic dress enthusiasts; an unusual preoccupation which could be regarded as a form of sartorial train-spotting. To return to City Boys, the first thing to notice was the difference of design in gowns, which in the 1950's were worn by all teaching staff with the exception of Jock Gilman (PE) Differentiation of degrees by status and awarding-university is signified by the design of the sleeve of a gown: 1) Bachelors' gowns (a) basic batwing pointed sleeves (Oxford, Sheffield) b) ditto, but with cord, pleats and buttons on the forearm (London degrees, worn by the majority of staff in those days) c) ditto, with a slit in the mid forearm seam (Cambridge, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham) d) ditto, with the slit at the base of the seam (Durham) e) ditto, with triangular flaps pinned back on the base of the forearm, with three buttons (Wales) f) ditto, with velvet braid running the entire length of the forearm sleeve (Leeds) 2) Masters' gowns: with a bag-shaped sleeve differentiated by the shape of the base. eg, half a fishtail (Cambridge) or a semi-circular cut-out leaving two sharp points (Oxford) Some universities prescribe strings ie, lengths of black ribbon which could be notionally tied, but never actually are, across the chest supposedly to stop the gown from slipping off the shoulders (Cambridge, Manchester) Gowns were made from a variety of materials: thin, flimsy cotton (Brewin) cheap blackout material, the result of wartime scarcity (Whitbread, Wardle) thick cotton twill, with a raised corded profile (Bufton, Jeeves) rayon with silken sheen (Phillips) heavy-duty Russell cord - a variation of silk (Franey) The remaining majority of gowns were made of lightweight polyester, as is the case today. Staff were not in a particular hurry to switch to a new garment signifying the attainment of a higherstatus degree, this being particularly the case with Oxford MA's. which can be claimed without further examination on the expiry of twenty one terms after matriculation. This was true of Messrs Beaumont and Brushe. Moreover, there were examples of temporary reversion to lower status, possibly to wear out the old garments (Messrs Sweet, to undergraduate gown, and Evans from MA to BA) Some of the gowns in use were especially scruffy. Bill Sykes sported a mass of tatters, added to by boys surreptiously hooking existing rips on to a chair or desk. Bill did, however, obtain a replacement in or around 1953. Mr Guy was another example of advanced sartorial distress: in his case his MA gown had mutated by ageing from black to bottle green and was on the verge of total disintegration around the yoke. This was particularly disappointing, as Mr G, as the holder of an Oxford BSc (in those days a postgraduate qualification) was entitled to wear a fancy silk creation decorated with black lace. One member of staff seemed unwilling to waste money, namely Mr Gimson, who wore what was blatantly a home-made effort, as was evident from the incorrect configuration of the yoke, the exposed stitching of the pleats and the general shapelessness of the whole, on account of the extreme flimsiness of the material. Snooping around when staff on occasion laid their gowns aside revealed a multiplicity of robemakers' labels. The 'big boys' were Ede & Ravenscroft of Chancery Lane, WC1, responsible for academic

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 66-2 attire for London and the majority of 'red brick' universities. Others spotted were: (Oxford) Shepherd & Woodward; Castells, Walters and W P Hine. (Cambridge) Ryder & Amies, James Neal, Joshua Taylor, and the unfortunately-named Bodgers. (Manchester) and Exeter) J Wippell. (Durham) Greys. This gave an incentive for window-gazing when visiting university towns. In the majority of cases retail robemaking was the perquisite of that now almost defunct species known as gentlemen's outfitters. School Speech Day was a special occasion of enjoyment, as staff wore their hoods as well as gowns. Most owned their hoods, but some were arrayed in what were clearly borrowed weeds (here's where the 'trainspotting' element comes into its own) that did not accord with their actual degrees. There was a preponderance of russet brown or gold borders - with or without white linings - denoting London (internal and external) degrees, with a scattering of Oxford crimson and Cambridge white for MA's or fur for BA's of both those institutions. Wales (Arts) was exemplified by an attractive greenish-blue shot silk, Leeds (Science) by a vivid green, and Durham (Science) with pinkish-mauve, scarlet and fur giving the effect of a whipped-cream trifle. Pride of place would have to go to Dr Burrows as the possessor of a London PhD (Faculty of Science) which entailed a full-length claret-coloured robe with gold facings and sleeve linings, accompanied by a matching hood. If headgear (mortarboards) had been the norm Dr B would have been able to grace the total effect with a Tudorbethan circular velvet bonnet! FROM ANDY MARLOW 1969-73 I have reached 1965 in the history of CBS, and hopefully the end of my research for the book is in sight. Can anyone provide the answers to these questions: 1) What has happened to the school honours boards? 2) What happened to the trophies, both sporting and academic? 3) What happened to the photo of the first class at The Newarke School taken in 1908. During the 1950's it hung in the entrance hall at Humberstone Gate? (If you can help contact Andy direct on [email protected] or via me -Ed) FROM RICHARD (DICK) MARTIN 1956-63 I was sad to hear of the death of Arthur Sweet (Monsieur Bonbon) partly because he took me for French, but more especially because he lodged with our family while he was at Leicester University and also for a short time while he taught at City Boys. Fortunately I was able to obtain his telephone number, and had a long conversation with both him and his wife Pat just before last year's reunion. Concerning Andy Marlow's request for information for his book, I'm pretty sure that Mr Froggy Freeman took us for English. Unfortunately he was not very good at class discipline, and I think suffered a nervous breakdown. I believe he emigrated to New Zealand. I'm sure we would now all feel a little guilty at having a part to play in his demise, but will remember with affection some of the pranks to which he was was subjected - exploding matches in the chalk, making ghost noises whilst hiding in the book cupboard, chalking on his gown, and the old favourite of books balanced on top of the door. Just in case you are thinking I may have been one of the perpetrators, I have to say I remember actually feeling quite sorry for him at the time, but also confess to laughing along with the rest of the class. FROM DENNIS LEAVESLEY 1943-48 (Continued from OWT65) I remember Miss Elizabeth Jones as a gorgeous, long-legged blonde of Veronica Lake ilk, who taught Biology. Despite the distraction of her long legs as she sat on a high stool in front of us I became interested in Botany, which developed into a life-long love of vegetation of all kinds, greatly aided by the enormous range of unusual plants to be found in Australia. After 1945 there was a trickle of new, younger teachers who had been demobbed. One was Mr J F C Harrison, whose initials I know because I have one of his books. He was educated at CBS before the war, and returned to teach History with great enthusiasm. In 5 Alpha we were shocked when Captain Sibson (Simpson?) dumped the textbooks and asked us to write about our wartime experiences IN GERMAN! He'd been an army Intelligence Officer, and realised we needed to develop a natural language if it was to be of future use. A further shock awaited us when the essays were returned. Instead of the usual 8 or 9/10 from Dr Majut there was a red MINUS 23! One mark was subtracted for every error of grammar or syntax. It was a consolation that many pupils had an even lower mark. Strangely I don't remember if he changed his marking system or if we became used to red negatives. My thanks to another post-war master, Mr Beaumont, whose lively and stimulating civics and politics lessons opened a world which has had great significance in

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 66-3 my life ever since. In contrast I'm happy to hand my one and only failure in the School Certificate exam to Mr Franey. His style of teaching English Literature bored me to tears. Reading and analysing classics, word by word and line by line, should have been obsolete, but he persisted. Bill Sykes and Wally Wardle were both great characters. As was Chas Howard, though on a quieter level. As a firstformer I was terrified of Maggie Matthews, because of the wooden metre-stick she used to impress the need to get it right. Maths, which had been one of my strengths in primary school, became a constant struggle throughout my CBS career. John Howkins and I usually vied for bottom place each term. Fifty years in Australia has diminished my memories of snow and cold, but I still remember at the beginning of the school year trying to get a seat close to the heating pipes, ready for those freezing winter days. I have not missed chilblains one little bit. D-Day, June 6th 1944, was a time of excitement, but mixed with fear in case the invasion didn't succeed. We heard the news at lunchtime, and had difficulty concentrating for the rest of the afternoon. Leicester had been in the path of huge volumes of war material. Troops, armaments, tanks, bren gun carriers, Queen Mary lorries carrying disassembled aircraft, all going south to the invasion ports. Outside the city were small Nissen-type shelters holding weapons and ammunition. They were poorly guarded and easy to enter, leading to boys swapping finds. I never heard of any injuries or fatalities from this activity, nor of anyone being found out. A popular Prefect was given a special sendoff; he was to join the Royal Navy and learn Japanese, so he could monitor their communications. There must have been many more like him. Sometimes we were used as cheap labour, and sent to farms to pick spuds. This was great. A day or two off school, and visits by bus to unfamiliar places such as Tugby. We were accompanied by Land Army 'Girls' but in my experience most were past that stage in life. Presumably there were also teachers, but I don't remember any. Each boy was given a large withy bowl, and as the tractor exposed the spuds we filled the bowls and transferred the contents to large wooden boxes. Inevitably, when no one was watching, potatoes would fly in all directions - some thrown with more malice than others. To me the best part was climbing to the top of a haystack and eating my packed lunch with other boys. On the way to the farm was communal singing, and one day the Land Girls threatened to stop the bus if we continued singing 'that song' - a well-known ditty which began Roll me over in the clover... Needless to say we didn't stop but the bus did, and the large driver told us we would be going back to school if we didn't keep quiet. Dead silence ensued. Finally, some of my colleagues in the 1943-48 Alpha stream: David Kirby, Colin Pritchard, Reg Horseman (recently retired Emeritus Professor of History, University of Winsconsin, Madison) Bill Houghton, David Goode, Don Lambley, John Zanker, John Kellett, Cyril Pilz, Colin Munro, Roy Dobson, Jack Littler, Mike Smith, John Howkins, Robert Ryde, , Roy Holmes, Ivor Bufton (son of Mr Bufton of chalk-throwing prowess) Trevor (?) Horton. FROM GUNTER (LAWSON) LOWENSTEIN 1947-54 Mention of WAG Pace in OWT64 reminded me of my geography exam. I always enjoyed geography with WAG, though I regretted he put so much store by neat and tidy drawings - something I could never achieve. I took scholarshiplevel Geography in 1954. The exam required one to answer four questions. Three were OK, but I was stumped for the fourth. Eventually I settled on one asking for the conditions necessary for market gardening to flourish., a topic we had not covered with WAG. However at the time The Archers had lots of material about agricultural life; in fact one of the characters ran a market garden and was always bemoaning the difficulties of doing so. From what bits I remembered I was able to answer the question. WAG asked me which questions I had tackled, and expressed surprise I had tackled the market garden one. He demanded to know what I had put in the answer, although not where I obtained the information. He seemed reasonably satisfied I had covered most of the issues, and thanks to The Archers I did just scrape a State Scholarship. It would be interesting to know why boys and their families chose City Boys. Wyggeston was the prestigious school, and one had the impression it was first choice for the professional and middle classes. In my case mother had been evacuated from London, and we ended up billeted with a family in Enderby. I was about six, and hero-worshipped the teenage boy of the family who attended City Boys. His name was Brian Stevens. I knew that was where I wanted to go. I suppose Brian was at the school 1939-44. By the time I took the 11+ we had moved to Leicester and I attended Medway Street School, which was in Highfields. Does anyone know of Brian Stevens, or his whereabouts? FROM HORACE COATES 1944-49 I've recently been in touch by e-mail with an old school pal, Brian McNally (now living in Ireland) and have been sharing memories of games afternoons at Grace

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Road. We recalled travelling there on Corporation buses; one double-decker and one single - maroon and cream paintwork. We seemed to have preferred the 'little' bus. The ground was still the home of the county cricket team, and woe betide any boy who ventured near the hallowed cricket square. That would result in loud cries of approbation from the groundkeeper's hut. The old changing rooms, with the wooden floors and the mud of ages and the imprint of football and cricket-boot studs accumulated over the centuries. I did not enjoy getting changed into shorts and football shirt in winter, and was not happy playing cricket once they started aiming that hard ball at me. I do seem to recall'playing on the gymnastics equipment in the 'old' pavilion - how we were allowed in there I cannot recall. Well I hope that may bring forth others memories of times at Grace Road. FROM KEITH WRIGHT 1948-54 Regarding OWT64 I am able to confirm that this Keith Wright is indeed alive and kicking! I can also confirm I had a namesake who joined CBS in 1953. I am rather ashamed to admit I did not know him, as our paths did not cross. If it was he who passed away he would have been 68, not the great age that would have seemed to 1950's schoolboys. Although Wright is, or was, the thirteenth most common surname in England (it may have been overtaken by Singh, Patel, Wong etc) I recall no other Wright during my time at CBS. As for Keith, nowadays probably a less-popular name, it is really a surname, likewise Stuart. Others are Duncan, Cameron and Murray. Keith and Stuart have their own tartan. The only other CBS Keith I remember was Bramley, though of course forenames were little used. He left in 1951, preceding John Hickman and myself to Birmingham Med School by three years. Our sisters are good friends, so I know he had a career in general practice near the south coast. By a strange coincidence his granddaughter and my great-niece are fellow scholars at Queenswood School, Hatfield, and both play the flute. John Hickman (1947-54) fell behind me through university by taking an intercalated BSc in Solly Zuckerman's anatomy department.and, unusually, got married as a student. That led to a social whirl, and we lost touch. However my former secretary, who I asked to check if John was in the British Medical Directory (which he isn't) thinks she worked for him during the late sixties at the Brompton Hospital, London, where he had been a registrar. I mentioned him to my best man, a semi-retired GP in Western Australia, on the off-chance John might be found in the Australian directory, but no luck. But he did recall meeting him briefly in a Perth concert hall twenty years ago, though had no professional contact. It's a small world. Geoff Manchester mentioned the vacuum pipes in Smith's Outfitters, used to transmit cash between the sales assistants and cashiers.. It reminded me of an earlier system extant in at least one Leicester shop in my day. Wires were suspended from the ceiling, along which money containers travelled. This system is referred to in Under Milk Wood, by Dylan Thomas. Mog Edwards, the lovesick draper, declares himself to dressmaker Myfanwy Price, telling her 'I have come to take you away to my emporium on the hill, where the change hums on wires.' In Prestatyn we have a shop with The Emporium boldly painted above the windows, but sadly, given its size, no change is likely to have hummed on wires therein. Should Under Milk Wood be stuied in today's schools I woner whether latter-day Hoppy Wheaters would be able to explain the meaning of the phrase. Another Leicester shop was High Street Hosiers which was run, if not owned, by Patrick Gedney's father. Patrick, as mentioned in a previous OWT, cycled across town to school with me. A member of my scout troop, the 90th - rivals to Doc Burrows' 91st - he and another contemporary, Michael Morris, played alto sax and drums respectively in a five-piece dance band with three Wyggestonians. Patrick went on to study engineering at Cambridge and Michael, who edited The Wyvernian in his time, I think studied languages, possibly at Oxford. To digress, readers may be pleased to know that the young amateur band is alive and well, at undergraduate level at least, judging from the twenty-piece student jazz band The Dysrhythmics (medical joke) which entertained at a donors' function at the Med School a couple of years ago. Strikingly it contained quite a number of women, but as 65% of the much-expanded intake is now female (c25% in the 1950's) that should not be a surprise. The teaching of grammar and style seemed to have a low priority for Hoppy Wheater and other English teachers at CBS. I learned nearly all my grammar at primary school, so the finer points of it and style are largely lost on me. Emphasis seemed to be on literature, rather than language. I do recall Spiv Beaumont explaining it was incorrect to place a comma after the street number when addressing a letter, and that only informal letters should be addressed with successive lines offset to the right. I think it was Spiv who explained that spoonsful was not the correct plural of spoonful. No one instructed us on split infinitives (which remain a mystery to me) or to avoid placing a preposition at the end of a sentence. My occasional shudder at my granddaughter's use of the grocer's apostrophe is, I suspect, a compensatory mechanism!

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FROM DR ARNOLD BURROWS 1957-68 STEPHEN RADFORD makes two adverse references to me in OWT65. I have no idea what has upset him - other than the possibility that he did not go to university. I wish to make it clear that I shall not desist from reporting the successes of any of my former pupils when such success is brought to my notice. My reports have gone beyond Oxbridge and will continue to do so when I have the material (but please don't bother to expect a report about the grandchildren !) My lifelong pursuit of excellence leads me to take a pride in the successes of all my former pupils. Stephen Radford has not done his homework, or he would know that in an earlier edition of OWT I paid tribute to the outstanding musicianship of my good friend and colleague H.H.Sykes; I recall saying that he should have been 'Master of the Music' in one of the leading cathedrals (or conductor of a famous orchestra) rather than teaching in a school (I am sure there must have been a good explanation) It was fairly well-known that a staff meeting followed every Speech Day rehearsal and that it was held in a ground-floor room at De Montfort Hall (adjacent to the platform) Mr Sykes had the opportunity to explore the magnificence of the four-decker Taylor organ - a very powerful instrument - always more powerful to those 'downstairs' and in the absence of a large audience. I remember him chiding me for overlooking this effect when I was playing the cathedral organ. You can gain the same effect on the sibling (Taylor) organ in St.Peter's Church - the huge sound needs to be 'mopped up' by a large congregation. The words of one of his favourite Christmas carols (Puer Nobis) come to mind : "Omega and Alpha he , let the organ thunder - whilst the Choir with peals of glee doth rend the air asunder" In this case the choir had gone to lunch but Mr Sykes certainly let the organ thunder! May I say again that I support every word about his genius. FROM ALAN PYKETT 1959-66 This article relates to the school trip to Paris in August 1965. I will write it as factually correct, but after 45 years my memory might be faulty. The party consisted of approximately 35 boys, 28 from the junior part of the school and seven sixth-formers including myself. Mr Orton was in charge, ably assisted by Messrs Baguley and Mann. As this was my first trip abroad I was very excited as I met with the group at London Road station on the Thurday morning. We travelled to London then to a very small airport called Lydd, on the Kent coast. Our plane was already in position, and most of us were amazed to note how small it was. But it only had to get us over the Channel, which it did, and we landed at another small airport on the north of the French coast. From there we boarded a coach to a village called Jouy-En-Josas, which was south-west of Paris. Our accomodation was a boarding school, Ecole De Montcel, which was not in use as it was vacation time. I shared a room with Mick Quincey, a very nice lad and we got on well. On the first evening Mick, myself and Messrs Baguley and Mann went to the local hostelry where we enjoyed a coffee. I can still savour the aroma as we walked in. Three other schools shared our accomodation. One was a girls' school, and it has to be said the trip did not get off to the best of starts. On the first night some of the younger members of our party exchanged loud banter with girls in the block across the forecourt. Mr Orton called us together next morning and warned that a repeat of the behaviour would result in us being on the next plane home. Fortunately the message got through, and the rest of the visit passed without incident. The purpose of the trip was to see the main sights of Paris, which we did with a vengeance. The itinerary included a an evening trip by the infamous Moulin Rouge, and a visit to the Palace of Versailles. As we were staying a few miles outside Paris we travelled in by local train then used the Metro. Each sixth-former was responsible for four or five juniors, and roll-calls took place at regular intervals. This system worked extremely well. I only recall one event at our residence, a football match on the Sunday morning. Presumably it was against one of the other schools staying there. After an excellent nine days we returned to Leicester the same way we had travelled to France. For me it had been my first flight, my first trip abroad and my first taste of foreign food, including continental breakfasts and bowls of coffee. I still have great memories. I have not visited Paris since, something I would like to rectify. If this article strikes a chord, or if I have anything wrong, I would love to hear from you. Most of all, does anyone know the whereabouts of Mick Quincey. FROM RODNEY BURBECK 1950-56 Amazingly, considering it is 54 years since taking my leave of what is now Clarence House, I am still working (freelance editing) and on the weekend of the 2010 reunion will be toiling on advance pages of magazines which will be distributed at the London Book Fair. I like to think Mr Pedley would be proud - even though he visibly shuddered when I announced I

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 66-6 proposed to leave after 'O' levels and pursue a career in Grub Street, specifically to join the Leicester Evening Mail. That long-since defunct publication operated from a long-since demolished stylish thirties building opposite London Road station. Regards to anyone who remembers me. FROM J RICHARD THOMPSON 1949-56 OWT64 inspires two comments. Christoper Dennis Ragg: I can confirm he went to King's College, Cambridge. His entry in the college register says he took Part 1 of the Maths tripos in 1952, and Part II of the Archaeology and Anthropology tripos in 1954. He did his National Service with the Royal Corps of Signals, then worked in South America in the finance divisions of companies in the Dutch Shell Group. He became Vice-President of Finance in Cerro Matosa SA, Columbia, which in 1998 - the time of publication of the register -was his last known place of residence. Bud Fisher: I remember Bud, but was never taught by him. I think he retired at the end of my first year. Boys he taught referred to him making them say 'I am a miserable sinner.' He was one of the masters who taught my father, who was at the school in the 1920's. Sometimes, when in town shopping with my parents, we would run into him resulting in long conversations that seemed to me to have no definite subject matter. Bud's reported injunctions not to waste protein makes me wonder in what unwasteful way he thought boys should dispose of the material in question. I was a chemistry enthusiast, and often duplicated school experiments at home. When Mr Willan did food tests I naturally tested some of my own by-products and can vouch for the high protein content - so at least one sample was used for educational purposes. Finally, one general comment. I often visit Clarence House because I belong to Leicester U3A (University of the Third Age, strongly recommended) and am leader of the Science and Technology Group. We rent a room from Age Concern. As renovations are under way the room changes from month to month, so we have explored most of the building. Some rooms have been sub-divided, but most are recognisable. I keep remembering what classes I had in the various rooms, though I can't recall the room numbers. Can anyone remember the numbering system? FROM ALAN MERCER 1959-63 I remember a security breach around 1960. The office staff used Roneo or Gestetner machines to duplicate exam papers. The messy inked skins were then thrown away. I doubt that any of our readers were among the lads who went through the bins to find the discarded skins, but they might know the culprits. We staff would like to offer them an amnesty after fifty years (Can you throw any more light on this? It's now safe to own up - Ed) FROM MIKE WALKER (1949-56)

AND BOB GREGORY (1949-56) 'They doon’t call me Basher for nowt' These were among the first words I ever heard Les Brewin use in the autumn of 1949. Les never taught a class of which I was a member until I reached the fifth form, but on this occasion he was covering for an absent colleague and was not in one of his more expansive moods. The lanky eleven-year -old victim had been reduced to Basher’s own height by a lightning-fast thrust of the left hand which had seized him by the hair and had brought his pink cheeks to a hittable level for Les’s spade-like right. The culprit covered up in the traditional method, but a couple of Basher’s right hands got through and hauled the miscreant back into his seat. The rest of the class watched, transfixed by awe and terror. I cannot for the life of me remember the reason for this exhibition, but it must have been something quite trivial for it was only the loud intrusion of those now well-remembered words into my thoughts which succeeded in arousing me from a bout of schoolboy daydreaming. The rest of the lesson continued in total silence and, as the bell rang, Les quietly shuffled his papers together and proceeded from the room in the manner of a vicar confident in the knowledge that his sermon had been well-noted and digested by the congregation. Les was a short man with a stumpy body but longish arms, which ended with broad hands and thick fingers. His face was slightly squashed, his mouth small and the lower jaw protrusive, so that his lower lip almost touched the tip of his nose. The whole was dominated by a pair of thick horn-rimmed glasses beneath a perfectly bald pate I distinctly remember our very first morning assembly in 1949 watching transfixed as the various gowned schoolmasters trooped in. Basher’s gnome-like appearance made him easily the most distinctive, and my friend Geoff Morgan and I, noting the sides of his skull bulged somewhat, concluded after a long and serious discussion that this was caused by an oversized set of

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 66-7 brains. As the years have passed, and I [RG] have come to feel less like a wartime refugee and more like a Leicester person, I have come to regard the memory of Les Brewin and people like him with some affection. Les. was a dyed–in-the-wool Leicester man. When he spoke in his slow croaky monotonic drawl he made no attempt to disguise his strong accent, and why should he? He seemed to have full confidence in who he was and what he was; he was not out to falsely impress. He introduced me [MW] to organic chemistry in 1st year 6th science, and he was an excellent teacher at that level, giving us a crystal–clear foundation on which to build. When I [RG] reached the fifth form I was classed among the less-able scientists and found myself 'studying' General Science under the wing of Les Brewin. Science bored most of my classmates, and me especially, since the whole point of our course was centred about the target of passing the General Science GCE, lightly regarded by the science community as science for dumbos and something of a joke. Much more interesting was to persuade Les to talk of his experiences in the Great War. 'I came through the great war cuz I wuz so small the Jerrys couldn’t see mi. When I wuz on the firing platform I wasn’t able to see through the aperture. So I ‘ad mi apple box. I used to carry mi apple box wi mi, an’ when I wannid to tek a pot-shot at Jerry I used to stand on mi box. I got fed-up ‘umpin it around sometimes.' Les would tell how the troops de-loused themselves in the summer. 'Wi’d all stand around a fire wi’d lit in the trench. Then wi’d gerra big sheet o’ brown paper, as big as yer could get. Wi’d cut an ‘ole in the middle o’ the paper. Then wi’d tek off all our cloze and stick us ‘eds through the ‘ole. All our jumping friends would leap onto the brown paper. When they wuz all safely aboard, wi’d whip the paper off our bodies and chuck it on the fire and enjoy the snap, crackle, and pop as the lice were consumed in the blaze.' I remember quite clearly my first science lesson in the fifth form. My only other experience of being in Mr. Brewin’s class having been four years earlier, I viewed our re-acquaintance with some foreboding and trepidation I need not have been concerned. Les pointed out to us, in case we did not know it already, that we were duffers as far as chemistry, physics, and biology were concerned. However, we were here to pass the GCE.General Science exam next summer, and this is what we would do. 'The first question on the paper is always three equations. You are given either the left-hand side or the right-hand side of the equation, and you're gunna fill in the other side. I’ve been through the papers for the last fifteen years and there are eighty o’ these. An’ you’re gunna learn 'em all.' From then on, for the next seven or eight months, first period on Friday afternoons began with Basher entering the lab and writing on the board three half equations, all of which featured in the list of eighty and which we religiously copied and learned. On the day of the exam in the following June the first question was exactly as Les had predicted, and I am sure that nobody in that room failed to be awarded the full three marks for question one, while having little or no idea what these mysterious combinations of letters and numbers signified. In the late 1960’s, when I was teaching in the school’s German department, my HOD was Mick Haddon, another old boy of the school. One morning when I arrived at school Mick told me he had bumped into Les a day or two before. It appears he has an identical twin, and spotting two bald pates barely visible above the dashboard of a Rolls-Royce Mick had idly looked for the faces below. To his amazement he recognised not one, but two Bashers. It seemed that Les’s brother had been chauffeur to some toff or other for many years. When the gentleman died he apparently left the car to his chauffeur and the twins were gallivanting around the country in a Roller. Mick quoted Basher’s words to me; “Ah Mick. I’ve gin ’oop the three R’s now and ah’m on the three B’s - Bowls, Bridge and Booze!' They doon’t mek em like ‘im no more! FROM JEFF CHAPMAN 1953-59 In reply to John Brookes' (OWT63) there is a memorial to Richard John Paynter (note the y rather than i) at the left-hand side of the south door of St Luke's church, Thurnby. It states he died on November 6th 1957, aged 15 years. It was interesting to read of Dave Ellicock (Tony Ingham, OWT62) as Dave and I worked in one of the labs at BB Chemicals/Bostik Ltd, Ulverscroft Road, for something like six years. At that time Dave was very much into guitars (1960-66) having made a Spanish-style guitar and being lead guitarist in a local group. In later years his musical interest veered towards classical guitar , and I suspect this still plays (no pun intended!) an important part in his life. FROM BRIAN COPE 1954-62 Can I add a few comments about some of those who have died? Arthur Sweet was a sound, humane teacher who turned me on to English despite being dealt a tough

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 66-8 curricular hand for 14 year-old lads (Coriolanus and Silas Marner) He could at times be pleasingly otherworldly -as when he had us queuing for a bus for half an hour on the wrong side of the road in Vevey - but he was a fine schoolmaster. His last words to me were 'Remember Coriolanus!.' Was he referring to that class 50 years ago, or recalling another arrogant man with an overweening mum? His words had such weight. Keith Wright was a fine bowler with a lovely action, but perhaps a bit short in stature and pace to trouble the best batsmen. My chum Colin Greenhalgh (Gateway cricket captain) certainly remembers his bowling with pleasure -but then he laid waste to most of the stuff we offered him. There is always a peculiar pathos when a fast bowler comes to the end of his run and does not turn back to the game. The death of Richard Paynter in 1958 affected us all. He came late to the school as I recall - a tall, elegant, aesthetic figure who seemed different from the rest of us. He was a great admirer of Dinu Lipatti's Chopin playing - sad to think he and his idol died so young. Not much was made of it at the time -we were not offered counselling - but it had a profound impact on those who knew him. Bernie Capp's recollections of student teachers prompted some memories. No doubt Dave Freeman could not cope with the hoi polloi, being better suited to the calmer waters of uni teaching, but as I recall he persuaded some of us to join the Leicester Poetry Society, which met every month at the old Vaughan College. There I was lucky enough to meet several members of the Leicester English faculty - Richard Hoggart, Philip Collins, G S Fraser- and some of these agreed to come to City Boys to give 6th form talks. It was Freeman in the unlikely guise of cricket umpire who was officiating in June 1960 when I managed to take 5 wickets in 5 balls against Market Bosworth Grammar School. Fielding at square leg two overs before, I was deep in conversation with Dave about the merits of WH Auden when skipper Whitelam made the most inspired bowling change of his life. (Afterwards the subject of WH Auden was eclipsed, but I was forever grateful that I did not take my wickets at Daves end, as this would have thrown an even more questionable light on one lbw decision which seemed rather high and possibly missing leg!) A more interesting man (Cambridge rather than Oxford , supple rather than stuffy) was James Auty who followed Dave. I suspect he did not stay in teaching (?) but he wandered through the byways of Eng Lit - late Jacobean drama, Gothic romance, the poet Samuel Butler, etc. - a sort of crazy-golf approach to the subject. More important he had a beautiful, blonde, German wife whom I was lucky enough to meet at his flat somewhere Grace Rd way. He made me think that the pedagogical life might have its compensations! FROM COLIN BEEBY 1951-56 G'day from Western Australia. I would have liked to attend the reunion and The Cheney Arms, maybe one day. I never seem to see any mention of people from my era. Rob Cooper, a friend for many years, sadly passed away last year in South Africa. Jim Henderson is a familiar name, but I don't know if it's the same gentleman who was a friend of (I believe) Brian Close, ex St Barnabas Scout Group. The following names come back to me: Bud Farrant, Mike(?) Elliott, Desmond Kershaw, John Fahey, Rob Cooper, D Daisy Penrose, Bert Lehman, Brian(?) Love, John Tea Leaf Cadman, Dave(?) Bolton. Teachers: Basher Brewin, Bill Sykes, Jock Gilman, Mr Bufton, Mr Pedley. Swimming: John Hunt (Backstroke) Brian McNally (crawl) Prefect: Joe Melia FROM LAURIE FORD 1962-66 I write to thank you for arranging the reunion. It was the first one I could attend, and although there were none of my contemporaries (that I was aware of) it was good to see and meet others, and put faces to some of the names that have made contributions to Old Wyves Tales. And of course yourself and Brian Screaton. I had lunch with John Lawson, who taught me maths in my 3rd year, and we had a really good and interesting conversation about old-boys and teachers of my era - and quite a few other things as well. As a low-profile mathematician, and sadly not a very good footballer, I never figured highly - quite understandably - on his radar in those days, but just to jog his memory further I reproduce the comment he put on one of my reports that year. Spring '65 - standard 3, position 16th - 'He must continue to work hard.' I think a rough translation is, he tries but is never going to be a rocket scientist or accountant!! But perhaps next year, John ,we can discuss the report more fully!! Back to the event, the vast amount of memorabilia was fascinating. The clothing, photos, old books, programmes, the various folders and particularly the old Wyvernian magazines. I also saw Andy Marlow's 'potted history' folder, which he told me he would like to turn into a book. I'll buy a copy. I notice he appealed for more information in that day's Leicester Mercury. A few of the things I saw brought to mind some memories. Reference to the The Desk in one of the

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Wyvernian magazines. This was a poor man's Wyvernian which 3B produced on shiny duplicated paper (I think under the supervision of Bill Gates - a Leeds United fan and excellent English teacher) I remember contributing an article about badminton. There was also one edition that gave a lot of information about the progress of the new Downing Drive school, together with drawings of what it looked like written by a couple of lads who lived in Evington (I think Chris Glenton & Steve Pinchbeck). The next year, under Geoff Elliot, as 4B we produced a French version. I think it was called Les Copains. Another memory jogger was seeing the City Boys 6th form scarf. It reminded me of the embarrasment I suffered, as when I started at City Boys the outfitter provided me with a 6th form scarf as opposed to the normal one. I got some grief about that from my fellows, but fortunately the outfitters changed it for the proper one. All for now, but thanks again for the hard work that keeps Wyvernians alive FROM JOHN BENNETT 1956-63 I think I can help with Mike Jones' recollection of the alternative version for the school song. Why I remember it I don't know, but the two missing lines are: ''High-necked sweaters, drainpipe trousers, then we won't be such fine chaps'. The word chaps was pronounced with an extreme cut-glass accent. It's amazing what's stored in the recesses of one's mind. FROM GRAHAME HURST (1955-60) My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the 2010 reunion, many thanks. The missing bit from the school song is: 'crew-necked sweaters, drainpipe trousers, then we won't be such fine chEps'. FROM PETER KNUDSSEN (NUTT) 1950-55 (This contribution is taken from Peter's autobiography, and has been edited to make it more relevant for OWT. Some people are mentioned by name, others you can work out for yourselves. Please bear in mind the original text was written for a different audience. I expect the piece will provoke some lively correspondence - Ed) City Boys' School, Leicester, was my grammar school for five years. It was housed in an old building in Humberstone Gate, with precious few facilities by today's standards, yet it tried to ape 'posher' schools with, amongst other things, its school hymn (And did those feet in ancient times...) and teachers wearing gowns. The standard of teaching was, I now realise, uninspiring to say the least - but perhaps not untypical of that kind of school at that particular time. I began to lose interest in formal teaching quite rapidly, and at the end of the first year was demoted from the Alpha stream to the A stream to take the full five years to attain my GCE's. After two years we had to specialise, languages or science, and I chose the former. I hated the smell of the labs, and disliked the teachers. Thanks to Harry Hantusch I was quite good at German, but less so at French, and I felt I could do quite well at literature. My introduction to French as a first year was, on reflection, quite comical; a little old man wearing the customary tatty black gown, sitting on the edge of his desk swinging his booted legs and intoning short strings of rhyming French vocabulary. Bijou, chouchou, pou, or something like that. It was perfectly 'lined out', with the class repeating each group of words phrase by phrase, trying to get the same intonation and pronunciation. That particular teacher epitomised to me all that was boring and unexciting about formal education. The whole of my time at grammar school was nonparticipatory. A monotonous voice from the blackboard explaining maths; we had little opportunity to question, just pages of exercises to work on from a book with very small print. I developed my dreaming skills, gazing out of the window or into open space. Biology was a weekly diatribe. I cannot remember performing a single experiment or dissection, in spite of rats and frogs in the glass jars lining the lab. We watched the teacher on those rare occasions when something practical happened. Most of the time it was the monotony of the chalk-and-talk approach. Each week we had a test, which not only assessed our knowledge and understanding of the subject, but also our ability to memorise and regurgitate the correct spelling of every word and term, otherwise no credit was given. Words like oesophagus, and phrases such as mass peristalsis of the descending colon (having a s**t, in simple language) We would stand outside the room at lunchtime, before the lesson, checking each others ability to spell. Failure in class not ony meant no marks, but ensured we would spend our break copying them out inumerable times. I have long come to the conclusion that teachers can be divided into four basic categories: 1) The forgettable nonentities, of whom we remember little including their names. 2) Those fixed in our minds through firm discipline, fear or bullying. 3) Those for whom we had no respect, and used as light relief in an otherwise boring environment.

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4) Those for whom we had great respect and affection, and who influenced us in a positive way. Eddie Holman, our RE teacher, came into the third category. He succeeded Flash Gordon, of small stature, who was in the second category having been, so it was said, involved in the allied liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp. I, being a foolish showoff, would try my own bit of taunting and mickey-taking on Eddie. He was a self-confessed born-again christian, and thus suitable for mocking. Any written work evinced a reply from me such as 'I do not agree with the premise of this question,' when referring (for instance) to the value of marriage. After I left school I got to know Eddie very well when I visited Hugh and Vera Gosling at Knighton. He was a delightful man, who sadly died too young, but that is another story. I would now move Eddie into category 4. He eventually became a head teacher in Essex, and wrote to congratulate me when I obtained my headship at Bottesford school. The stereotypical teacher in category 3 was our music specialist. He was a small, slim man of quick movement who wore a black gown which had been shredded by numerous pupils standing on its hem as he descended the stairs. He sat at a grand piano on a raised dias in the hall, attempting to teach us songs about larks and pretty maidens which we had no interest in singing. We squawked and squealed and generally fooled around. When he did notice he would descend from his lofty perch and, arms flailing like windmills, berate the culprits by slapping ears and heads. This was accompanied by incessant shouting, and the distribution of detentions like confetti. I remember a lad called Tony Johnson sitting next to me. He was fooling around with ball bearings and managed to swallow one. Putting up his hand to tell this teacher he endured the full wrath of the man, who proceeded to beat him round the head. How different today, when I am sure that Mr and Mrs Johnson would swiftly employ a solicitor to sue the school and have the man suspended. As a matter of fact he was a brilliant musician, who wrote some excellent music which has been broadcast on radio. At this point I would explain that at the time my name was Peter Nutt. Some of you might remember me. I changed it after doing much family research, when I discovered that my illegitimate great, great, grandfather assumed that name when his mother married a Thomas Nutt of Uppingham in 1823. Bullying, as it is now termed, was commonplace in all schools via innuendo and tone of voice, a fleeting smirk or raised eyebrow - there was little obvious from the imperiously gowned staff. All pupils experienced a taste, but with my name as part of the equation (something over which I had no control) I felt totally humiliated when it was directed at me. We were never known by our christian names, so inumerable times each day I was NUTT, NUTTY and much worse. The staff bully par excellence was Basher Brewin, a man who was, I'm sure, proud of his nickname. He would walk on silent-soled shoes between the desks, pause for a second or two behind his chosen victim (ie, one who had not done particularly well in a test) and with protruding knuckles punch his target in the back several times with the sneering words,' Not a sausage, Ducky, not a sausage (in my case) Nutty,' then wait for the suppressed laughter of the class. My least favourite subject was maths. Apart from its use in basic calculation, and I was good at that, I could see little pupose. It was, as taught, highly repetitive, mechanical and very, very boring, All my teachers fitted into category 1, and I can't remember any of their names (To be continued - Ed) OBITUARY (The following is from Ivor Bufton 1944-52 -Ed) John Graham Smith. John died on 30th march 2010 aged 76 years. His funeral, in Oadby, Leicestershire, took place on 9th April 2010. During his time at CBS John was a regular member of the 1st XI soccer team, playing as a 'wing half' as we knew it then. In the sixth form he took French, German and History for his 'A' levels, and subsequently studied Modern Languages at St Catherine's College, Cambridge. He continued his interest in soccer, and played for his college and also the Cambridge University Falcons. Other close contemporaries at Cambridge were Mike Haddon, also at St Catherine's and also reading Modern Languages, Don Bateman and Joe Melia. Before going to university John, Mike and myself completed our National Service, serving in the RAF (1952-54) In October 1952 all three of us gravitated to a Joint-Services Language Course in Surrey. What this, and other Russian language courses were all about at the time of the Cold War, is depicted very well in the book Secret Classrooms by Geoffrey Elliott and Harold Shukman (ISBN 1 903608 13 9) John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Elizabeth, and their four children. AND FINALLY... Bill Sykes is often mentioned in OWT. I think he taught me French, and we also had musical contact via the school orchestra until my unfortunate expulsion from that organisation. I recall the occasional lesson when Bill tried to teach us Old-English songs, such as Greensleeves and

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Summer Is A Cumin' In etc. At the time many of us could not see the point of such things, and did not take them too seriously. Via the medium of OWT it has now become obvious that, with one or two notable exceptions, Bill's pupils simply did not appreciate his marvellous talent, and my own eyes have now been opened, albeit fifty years too late. I remember a small, wizened man. At the time he seemed to be about a hundred years old, but presumably was only in his sixties. We believed that Bill suffered from heart trouble, and he often put a small tablet under his tongue. Bill was a man of mercurial temperament, and would lose his temper at the drop of a hat. This usually resulted in him striding up and down the aisles smacking heads right, left and centre. indiscriminately and irrespective of guilt, Did some boys deliberately provoke him, I wonder? Two or three times per year, on a Monday, we had to assemble in the hall after school for Musical Appreciation. So far as I remember, this involved us listening to a piece of classical music played on a gramophone. Few boys were interested, and the sessions were treated as a minor inconvenience. The only one I specifically recall was The Flight Of The Bumblebee, probably because the piece could sometimes be heard on the radio performed by comedian Arthur Askey. Presumably there was some form of explanation given, and with hindsight we completely missed the opportunity to learn something. Dennis J Duggan May 27th 2010

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OWT 67 OLD WYVES' TALES 67 - SEPTEMBER 2010 FOR WYVERNIANS 1919-76 EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN, ROCK COTTAGE, BROOK STREET, WELSHPOOL, MONTGOMERYSHIRE. SY21 7NA TEL 01938 555574 07985 405365 www.wyvernians.org.uk EDITORIAL We have a few new members since the last OWT, all coming via our web site. People sometimes say to me, 'I went to a reunion, but there was no one there from my year, so I won't go to another.' Of course the next year that remark might be repeated by someone else! So don't give up. You are assured of a warm welcome, whether you know anyone or not, and there is so much memorabilia you can't see it all in one visit so it's worth going again just for that. When I arranged the first reunion in 1998 I never thought we would still be going strong twelve years later. Another comment I receive is that OWT is not particularly reader-friendly, being great slabs of closelytyped text with no spacing or pictures to make it easier to read. I have to agree with that, but OWT is only a small part of my life. It is written when I have enough material, and the inclination to sit and type the contributions. Standard e-mails are easily cut-and-pasted, then edited as required. Those sent as an attachment to an e-mail have to be re-typed manually, as do submissions arriving by post. I have neither the time, skill or inclination to publish OWT in magazine format, hence its somewhat unattractive appearance. And several members without an e-mail facility have OWT sent by post, so it has to fit in a standard-size SAE. I hope that explains things. Back in May I received an e-mail from one Diane Jones, whose grandfather was called Bertie Arthur Beeby. He was killed in action in 1941, and the only known place where his name is commemorated is on a plaque in Libya, and thus inaccessible to her mother (Berties daughter) Diane's mother never knew her father, as she was a baby when he was killed, and her mother died when Diane's mother was nine-years-old. Somehow their search for a memorial to Bertie in the UK led to the Wyvernians web site, and her grandfather's name is on the memorial we had restored, and installed in the Hall at Clarence House. As a result Diane and her parents visited Age Concern, who were extremely helpful, and she tells me the occasion was very moving. Her mother thanks Wyvernians for finding the memorial, and having it restored, and had no idea her father attended CBS. This edition of OWT has used up almost all my material. I only have two items left, both from people who have items in this issue. If you want OWT to continue let me have more contributions asap. This specially applies to those readers who have yet to make a contribution, and to former members of staff. FROM PETER KNUDSSEN (NUTT) 1950-55 (This is the second contribution from Peter's autobiography, and has been edited (by Peter) to make it more relevant for OWT. Some people are mentioned by name, others you can work out for yourselves. Please bear in mind the original text was written for a different audience. I expect the piece will provoke more lively correspondence - Ed) The most charismatic character I met at school was not a teacher but a pupil. Joe Melia was three years older than me, his family being evacuees from Islington to Leicester. He lived quite close to me, and often we walked home together along Humberstone Gate. But he was not popular with staff, and was never made a prefect. Joe never displayed the arrogance and bullying attitude of some sixth formers towards younger pupils and yes, I do remember the Jehova's Witness prefect who made me copy out chunks from the book of Genesis as a punishment. Joe would entertain the whole school on the stage in the hall with his wit and solo comedy acts. His younger brother, who was my age, was a totally different character who, I understand, spent a number of years in prison. After we left school I never spoke to Joe, but saw him on at least three occasions on the West End stage. Also in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest; an episode of Last of the Summer Wine (A Bicycle Made For Three) and as Whisper in the film Too Many Crooks, with Alfie Bass and Bernard Bresslaw. Joe has a very distinctive voice, which I would recognise immediately even if I couldn't see him! I have tried to trace him within the last couple of years but he is no longer on Equit's books, so I wonder if he has died. Overall, my grammar school education was either indifferent or poor, probably as much to do with my own attitude as the teachers' abilbities. It was only in the final, GCE, year that I realised I needed to work hard to obtain respectable results - and a decent job. I was very capable at one thing - swotting! I had an excellent retentive memory, and by sheer repetition I could remember almost anything, even if I

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 67-2 didn't always understand it. But that was good enough to pass exams. Time was fast running out, so I spent many hours walking the streets and round Spinney Hill park with pieces of paper containing notes, facts, vocabularies and other relevant information. It must have worked, because I passed (but only just) all my subjects with the exception of French and Art, the latter hardly being suitable for swotting. This technique has stood me in good stead, and I have used it consistently when studying seriously or for pleasure. I obtained a smattering of a number of languages this way, as well as my only 'A' level (history) before going to college. For the benefit of anyone who does remember me, after I left school I had a few dead-end jobs. British Railways messenger, the stores at Standard & Pochin, clerk at Commercial Union, assistant in Woodgate library, a travel agents and a spell at a theological college in Birmingham. I ended up training to be a teacher (I always thought I could do better than the ones who taught me) After a spell at a school in Lewisham, my wife Brenda and I moved to Scunthorpe, then a thriving steel town, now a depressed one, and became headteacher of a lovely primary school. I retired in 1995 and have spent all my spare time studying at Sheffield, Hull and the Open Universities. I am interested in family history, and have found a relative who was a Mormon pioneer to Salt Lake in 1860 along with her diary, two convicts transported to Tasmania along with their convict records, a lace weaver who emigrated to Calais plus many framework knitters and boot and shoe workers who stayed in Leicester. FROM JIM HENDERSON 1953-60 (This response to the first part of Peter's memoirs, published in OWT66, is printed with his knowledge - Ed) It's a pity our old school left Peter Knudssen (ne Nutt) with such cynical and negative impressions. Whilst I accept our Editor's caveat that this man was writing for a different audience, his comment that the school "tried to ape 'posher' schools", says far more about Peter Knudssen, it seems to me, than it does about the quality or standard of the education we received. His characterisation of the school's teachers, only one of whom he expressed any respect for - and that was only after getting to know the teacher some years after leaving school - suggests that Mr Knudssen had, and still has, a very blinkered, jaundiced and one-sided view of the school staff. No wonder he left after only five years! I am still in touch with almost one third of my Lower Sixth class, and far from seeing only negative aspects in the schooling we received we realise now what we often failed to realise at the time, that City Boys' School gave us an excellent education of a kind one would probably have to pay for today. The grammar schools offered boys and girls, whose parents could not otherwise have afforded to send their children to independent schools, the kind of academic education that those fee-paying schools provided. Opportunities were created that fired aspiration and led to far greater social mobility than we see in Britain today. ( Even Tony Blair conceded that social mobility was much diminished from the days when he was at school.) I was unable to find any publication with an author listed as Peter Knudssen. If he has not yet found a publisher for his autobiography, might I perhaps suggest 'The Chip on my Shoulder' as a suitable working title for his magnum opus. Colin Beeby (1951-56) mentions my name in the May 2010 edition of OWT. If he is the same Colin Beeby who was in the 91st St Barnabas Scout Group with me, I remember him with affection. I think he may have been my Patrol Leader, or at least in the same Patrol, at the Auchengillan Summer Camp in Scotland in 1954, where at the end of the camp, in a shameful display of post-war waste, we cracked raw eggs over each other's heads, well out of sight, I should add, of our Scout Master, Dr Arnold Burrows. Rob Cooper was also mentioned by Colin, and he too, if it's the same Rob Cooper, was a member of the 91st. ( He used to live in Dorset Street in the Belgrave area of the city, I recall.) I was saddened to read of his death in Colin's contribution to OWT66. FROM TONY WAKEFIELD 1951-56 In reply to Keith Wright, in my first year at CBS (Class 1A, 1951) there were three Wrights in my class - Alan, Don and Jeff. I met Don again in 1960 in a pub, the day I came back from two years in the Gulf with the RAF. I believe he eventually became a German teacher. I don't remember the name Colin Beeby but would probably recognise him - if he had a school photo, of course, but do remember the names Penrose, Lehman and Cadman. I'm also down-under, living in New Zealand. FROM DEREK BOLTON 1953-58 First, a thank you to everyone involved in organising the annual reunions, and even more so for putting me in touch with a couple of classmates. I spent a few

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 67-3 happy hours catching up and reminiscing over an excellent lunch, and we hope to meet again next year. I attended a reunion a few years ago, but sadly did not meet up with any guys from my year so did not bother to go again for a while. How many others have the same experience? Perhaps you could circulate a list of attendees a week or so before the 2011 event - it might tempt a few more to come along (This is a perennial problem, a classic Catch-22 situation which many have mentioned. It could be worthwhile to circulate a list, as Derek suggests - Ed) Looking at the panoramic photos I wonder what became of some of the characters. Does anyone know what happened to Mr McNulty (maths) or Mr Holman (RE and maths) I believe he went to Harwich Grammar School, but his parents lived in Leicester. I have never seen a reference to the school trip to Switzerland, I think it was 1956, we stayed at the Hotel Krone in Brienz. We travelled to Dover, then boarded to overnight ferry. It was darned rough, and most of us were sick. Then it was on through the night to Basle. Does anyone remember several German school choirs on their way to a festival? They practiced their repetoires on that cold wet night at Basle station. A lone voice from our school began to sing Jerusalem and soon we all joined in with a passion - that shut 'em up! It was Swiss National Day during our stay, and in the evening we could see the bonfires and fireworks in the mountain hamlets. Three of us (I think one was Michael [Percy] Tupman) went into Brieze for a drink, calling out in English to the locals and wishing them a Merry Christmas - in June! That was until a local wished us one too. When we emerged from the hostelry we encountered a rather tipsy man on a bike. We chatted to him and plied him with beer, then took turns to have a go on his bike before sending him on his way; rather more wobbly than before, I might add. I also remember going to The Strandbadt, the local bathing area, on the way back to the hotel. We stripped off and jumped off the high diving board, swimming au naturel. This was around midnight and the water was extremely cold. Brass monkeys, beware. It was my first trip away from home, and like all naughty boys I had taken to smoking the odd cigarette. I couldn't get an English brand, so purchased a packet of a Swiss brand called Alaska. The packet had a picture of a green polar bear on it, never to be forgotten. I smoked most of the cigarettes that night, and woke next morning with my head feeling as though it were made from cotton wool. They were a menthol variety, and I have never smoked since. What a cure! I made the fatal mistake of going up the Rotthorn mountain on the train one afternoon, wearing shorts. There was ice and snow at the summit, so I did not leave the hotel there until it was time to leave. I have never been so cold in my life. The temperature had been in the eighties when we left on the trip. For the life of me I can't remember the journey home, I must have slept through most of it even though the Swiss trains had slatted seats and were most uncomfortable. FROM WALLY PAYNE 1953-58 I was delighted to receive your latest edition of OWT, and only sad that I couldn't travel from Hong Kong for the reunion in March. How gratifying for you that it was clearly such a success. I'm involved with the HK Rugby 7's here and, dare I say it, indispensable to the war effort. What a joy to see recorded in those pages the name of Bill Brushe, my former language teacher. Many, many times in my life, I have remarked to folk just how surprised he would have been to know that I'd earned my corn for many years speaking both French and German. He doubted that I would ever scrape an 'O' level pass in either subject. I'd dearly like to drop him a line but, from the list of members, I see that he has no e-mail address published. He won't remember me, but I certainly remember him and would love to pass on my greetings. I will never forget how we young lads used to guffaw each morning in German class, when he entered and said, 'Guten morgen meine Kinder.' We, of course, could then boom back, 'Guten Morgen Herr Brushe.' FROM COLIN BEEBY 1951-56 Cricket brings to mind Paul Munden, aspiring cricketer. I believe his brother played for the County? Tony Pyke also comes to mind. He was a gifted athlete, if a notvery- enthsiastic one, and Jock Gilman used to supervise his travel to sports days at Grace Road to make sure he didn't leave the bus on the way. But a gifted musician, who (I think) played traditional jazz on clarinet with The Confederates, then with the renowned Humphrey Littleton band. I note enquiries re the whereabouts of Joe Melia. I knew Joe only as a senior prefect; his Danny Kaye impressions were an annual highlight. He had a younger brother who I think also attended CBS, but cannot remember his name. FROM JIM JOYCE 1951-59 I would like to discuss a possible model for the different experiences

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 67-4 of pupils at CBS. In the first year pupils were put in one of three streams, according to ability. 1 Alpha contained the gifted pupils 1A and 1B (based on their 11+ results) All had come from mixed junior schools, where they were presumably mostly taught by female teachers. They were very immature, and did not begin to mature until their third or fourth year. Discipline at junior school was relatively relaxed, and they had high expectations because they had passed the 11+. Suddenly they were introduced into a boys-only environment, where they were taught by masters who often wore gowns. Many were overawed and afraid. Some of those who underperformed, or were treated badly, just gave up. I might add here it is generally recognised that modern schools fail 30-40% of their pupils. The masters were teaching three sets of pupils in the same way, but at a pace that had the GCE exams as the end product. Some had expectations of finding future stars for their 'A' level classes. Further, they were teaching, in their view, the simplest part of their subject. They would be pleased to teach the alpha set because pupils could readily understand what they were being taught and responded accordingly. They would only be partially pleased to teach the A set, because perhaps only half the class would achieve becasue the pace was set high. They would be disappointed in the B set, because those pupils were generally expected to lose the plot and under-achieve. This would frustrate masters, some of whom might respond in a negative way. This would bring out the worst in some masters, who concluded that fear was the best driver to achievement. There were no laws to stop any excesses, which became their own law. The other complication is putting thirty or so boys in the same form, with expectations that were sometimes not met. Generally the boys were scared and overawed, and created a pack mentality to survive. They would challenge the boundaries, and plan responses if they were treated badly. Some sought relief from the boredom of school; the rice and lemon wars were examples of this. Compare that to the sixth form. Pupils were there by their own choice. Mostly they wanted to succeed. They were mature, but not worldly. They could control their fear and other emotions. They would respond to being unfairly treated with cunning and strategy. The masters were teaching a relatively bright set of pupils at a level they enjoyed, and the class sizes were small which allowed for personal contact. Both parties were content with their position. Disturbances were generally minor, and if major tended to be sophisticated. What could be more sophisticated than the whole school deliberately not singing Jerusalem at an annual prize giving? It was a response to being kept back unreasonably earlier in the day. Amazingly effective! It was achieved by word-of-mouth, so for such a thing to happen there must have been a deep sense of resentment. Had I been the headmaster I would have been concerned that my actions had produced such a response, but not Mr Bell, who seemed oblivious to such things. On a different level, the screwing down of the Head's chair to the stage, and his subsequent embarrassment, was a clever response to other totally unreasonable mass punishments. The alternate school song was an erudite reply to the theme that the only way to a successful future was to be a 'good chap'. It expressed sentiments that were closer to the pupils' needs. And we all know you can be a successs in life without being a success at school, and that you don't need to be a 'good chap' to achieve such success. Many have asked why a school with a heavy accent on discipline put up with the occasional master who had problems in that department. I have seen this in schools attended by my children. I can only conclude that the likes of Bill Sykes and Bob Roberts were untrainable, but offered many advantages to the school. Both were brilliant at their subjects. Bill ran the orchestra, a key element in the school's vision, and Bob put many on the road to Cambridge. Perhaps their value outweighed the tenuous need for discipline? More likely, they had tried and failed. My school career was 1 alpha, 3 alpha, four alpha, four alpha, 5Sc, 6Sc1, 6SC2, 6Sc3. You will notice the two four alphas. Even though I came ninth in the end-of-year exam in 1alpha, WAG Pace decided, with the collusion of my mother, to keep me in the same form for the next year. I remember this as quite a shock, as my friends and colleagues left me with two others in the form room, then a bunch of spotty-faced youngsters arrived to make up the new 4 alpha. These were to be my peers on the journey ahead. It obviously worked, as I obtained ten GCE's and a state scholarship to King's, London. But had I reacted negatively it could have been a disaster. We can blame the system, but in the end we are all responsible for our own actions. FROM STEWART SMITH 1936-41 Thank you for OWT, and I was pleased to note the 2010 reunion was a success and sorry I could not be present. Several points recur regularly in OWT - for instance, careers advice. In my view it has always been very poor, and always emphatically in favour of academe and very much against vocational and trade training. I taught part-time day-release building apprentices for over twenty five years, and every year at exam review time brought up strongly the subject of careers advice, only to be derided by the hierarchy. To pick up a point in Dennis Leavesley's contribution (and I hope I am not sounding too critical here)

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 67-5 the art master's name was Dennis Hackley. His mantra was that one should learn about form in artistic expression. Nowadays, when one sees things purporting to be the latest expressions of art, I am inclined to think that Dennis Hackley had a strong point. FROM ALAN COCKBILL 1961-67 I hope one day to be able to contribute some recollections, or perhaps be able to provide an answer to someone else's question... but in the meantime I am grateful to you and those who do so for the recollections and reflection opportunity they give to me and others. Having purchased the CBS 1963 -70 DVD a couple of years ago at the re-union I was amazed and delighted to see footage of myself and some other school pals in slab square Nottingham in the mid 60's before setting off to walk the 26miles to Leicester to raise funds, and 'awareness' I think, for homelessness in the Cathy Come Home era. While I am a moderately socially-inspired person now I think at the time for me -and I suspect many others - it was just a chance for a day out and to do it just because we thought we could! I particularly remember, I think in Hathern? trying to get a shandy in a pub, and one of the lads I'm sure walking in his school blazer AND tie.... and then some awful blisters when I foolishly removed my cuban-heeled boots while laying on the grass by the traffic lights at the bottom of Red Hill, Birstall, and saying 'no way am I going to ever walk again and certainly not to the centre of Leicester'....yet somehow we did! I can't recall the name of the master/s who walked with us or acted as back-up in a vehicle, but I do remember both their encouragement and a pal saying I would be a softy if I didn't make it, which was sufficient for me to bow to pier pressure as I was often easily led and wanted to be part of the 'in crowd'. Many of my current friends and family have now had to tolerate viewing this, and my remembering a bit more each time I have shown it. Several of them have politely said that they 'need to get home' when I find I have backward and forwarded to different parts of the DVD and an hour has gone before I have realised..hah! Another link that Wyvernians has given me is to visit the Green Wyvern Yachting club's site and similarly find and recall goodtimes. I had several individual weeks with the club on the Broads, and as a direct result have spent some modest times enjoying yachting and boating and introducing others to sailing and cruising. Only last year a friend's friend broke his ankle while canal boating (ok I know its not tacking a 30ft yacht on the narrow river Ant!) so my friend, without any experience, and I rescued his boat over a few days back to its permanent moorings and I think that my early training and experience with the club may well have allowed that to happen. Time on the Broads with the club also introduced me to the hazards associated with drinking too much sweet stout and cider (poor man's black velvet?) and swinging around a wooden pole singing bawdy songs. Oh and highly topical, I recall watching England win the football World Cup in '66 in a pub, in Lodden I think! FROM RON TAYLOR 1948-53 My wife and I always look forward to OWT. I spent most of my time at CBS trying to keep my head down, and not to volunteer for anything. It all started quite well, in the Alpha stream, but gradually deteriorated over the years and ending with two years in the fifth. I remember attaining 2% for history in the mock, and they chose not to enter me for the real exam. Maths went very well with Mr Remington, but that ended when we met Bob Roberts and I caught many pieces of chalk in his unruly classes. I did sit at the back of Flo Willan's biology class. For the first term we sat alphabetically, but I was soon moved to the front when results counted. Sport was a nono. I used to grab a javelin and disappear to the top field whilst others beat themselves up playing football or cricket. Dreaded swimming, but managed to learn somehow. The only names that come to mind are Hector pace and Sid Philips. I made only one real friend, Shirley Anthony Lee, who was two days older than me. He was Sally to Mr Roberts, Tubs or Tony to me. Sadly we lost touch after he emigrated to Australia in the early sixties, and I'm still trying to find him. FROM PAUL WHEATLEY 1962-67 Thanks for another excellent OWT. I see my good friend Laurie Ford managed to sneak an article in last time so thought I needed to compete. So maybe you can use these Memories of Elbow Lane Only two years to go and it will be fifty years since I first started at Elbow Lane. I recall turning up in short trousers (do they still do that?) and wearing my cap for the first time,and am just glad I don't have a picture as I must have looked a right sight. I was put into 1B and had Mr Franklyn as our form master. He seemed formidable to me, and I had the great honour of being the first in class to get a detention for forgetting to bring in 200 lines (no idea why I got them) The worst of it was that I had spent the whole of the previous night doing them! After the detention fiasco I kept my head down and tried my damndest. As I ploughed through my first year the memories are pretty vague. I recall

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 67-6 regular rollickings from Wally Wardle for not performing too well in his geography quizzes, and not understanding one word from Flo Willen in Biology. Was I the only one terrified of Mr Remington? I thought I was good at soccer until the first practise match. I was put up front with Paul Steggles, he scored nine, was brilliant, and I never touched the ball. I heard Paul went for a trial with Chesterfield and never made it. He was the best of our year, which just goes to show how good you have to be to make a professional. Needless to say I never made the school first team. I have to mention at this time the life-long friendship that developed with one of OWT's regular contributors, Laurie Ford. The first time we met he was rabbiting on about being put in the wrong class. Apparently it was true that he was mixed up with another Ford, Mick, and should have been placed in 1A. He was obviously very posh and brainy even then, but sitting next to me was obviously not fortuitus for him. I dragged him down, and we ended up together for most years. He still has to suffer me at least once a year on our pilgrimage to the Walkers. We are a hoodoo, as we haven't seen City win together since 2003. The second and last year at Elbow Lane, before moving to Downing Drive, carries a few more memories and a lot of them revolve round a classmate named Wagstaff and Bill Sykes. I missed Bill in the first year, but the sight of him in the playground shouting his catchphrase 'you're too damn rowdy boy' made him a bit of a figure of fun. Perhaps he never actually said 'you're too damn rowdy,' but the Bill Sykes impersonators sure did. During French lessons Wagstaff decided to hide in the cupboards in the classroom, this went on for weeks and Bill always used to open the lesson with 'where's Wagstaff?' but he never cottoned on, or if he did I have forgotten. The classes were a riot, and I don't think I learnt one word of French that term. When we had Geoff Elliott as French master in the third year he could not believe what little 2B had learnt. Every class has its fair share of wags, and 2B was no different. The ones I remember most are Steve Turner, Paul Holohan and Andy Pengelly - all of them had great wit and I often wonder what happened to them. I used to hate the swimming at St Margarets [do you mean Vestry Street? - Ed] baths, all I can now recall is cold water, Jock Gilman screaming at boys misbehaving, and some of the more developed boys teaching the more innocent ones the birds and the bees in the shower cubicles. I have a vague memory of Jock Gilman catching one of the boys and he was later expelled. Having been a total failure in Wally Wardle's quizzes in the first year I vowed to get better and started to swot, managed to come top a couple of times and committed myself to a lifelong addiction to trivia quizzes! When I think back the teachers who controlled the classes taught me more. Maybe it was the other way round, maybe the teachers who taught better had my attention and the class controlled itself. It is no coincidence that my best subjects were the ones that the best teachers took. I look back and think of Maths and Baxter, French and Elliott, History and Anderson. I was always bad at Science, which is enough said!. I was there when Elbow lane closed and we all moved to Downing Drive. I have another vague memory of a closing concert where Wagstaff played Hitler, perhaps though that was Christmas. I know he left after that concert, and the Hitler impression was his parting shot. The memories are there but the time sequence isn't. There doesn't seem to be many contributors from the 62-67 era, certainly not from the old 1 and 2B. Still somebody might read this and share some of these memories. I did OK in life so the education was probably, no definitely was, better than I thought when I left. I keep wanting to go to the reunions but it always coincides with the Cheltenham Festival. Losing money on bad nags,drinking Guiness and being crushed on Cheltenham Gold Cup day is just too good to miss. Maybe next year (The Wyvernians database has the following people listed as joining CBS in 1962: Andy Bright, Brian Carruthers, Ian Chrichton, Laurie Ford, Chris Glenton, John Harris, Jeff Marsh, Derrick Marshall [deceased 2005] Martin Reeves, Paul Wheatley - Ed) FROM CLIFF DUNKLEY 1949-57 Congratulations on the recent reunion. Taking up the reference in Mike Ross's item in OWT65 to the prize for the best reason fo rissuing a prefect's detention, I seem to recall it was a statuette named Black Edgar. R M (Roger) Peberdy (1950-57) was instrumental in creating the object in question. Since Roger has submitted items to OWT perhaps he will be motivated tp give us more details in a future edition. I think the Founders' Day Service was invented by Bell in the mid 1950's. I'm not clear exactly which founders were being commemorated - the Victorian Education Board or Leicester City Council - no individual names spring to mind. Neither does a particular date register. 1880 (foundation of the Pupil Teacher centre) or 1919. I would be interested to know for how many years the custom persisted. The earliest services took place at the cathedral. No doubt that was facilitated by the then Provost, the Very Reverend H A Jones, being a School Governor. I distinctly remember Jones appearing on the De Montfort Hall platform on Speech Day clad, like senior Anglican clergy in those days, in frock coat, apron, knee breeches and gaiters, and giving a witty vote of thanks at the end of the proceedings. At

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 67-7 the beginning of the afternoon we all mustered in Alderman Newton's school yard, courtesy of the Head - was it still H ff (Hector ffoulkes) Gaskill? - before parading into the cathedral in some sort of order. Staff were wearing best bib and tucker ie, gowns and hoods. I didn't keep, or have lost, the printed service sheets, but can recall two Founders' Day services. At one the preacher was nice old Archdeacon Charles Matthews, who during his homily addressed us as 'my dears', while another featured the pompous Harold Lockley whose text, God help us, was 'Wherewithal Shall A Young Man Cleave His way?!!' The only hymn I recall was one I found particularly disagreeable, belonging as it did to what I classify as grovelling'hymns! Oh merciful and holy, who still by simple steps unknown, in simple hearts and lowly, dost build thy loftiest throne. Oh puhlease, as they say. I'm glad never to have encountered it since. On the first occasion the school choir offered Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring as an anthem, and on the second Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus. Still, it was a pleasant enough way of passing an afternoon. These releases from the classroom could be treasured as skives. Afternoons off were offered on Speech Day and Swimming Sports Day to compensate for compulsory evening attendance at these events. By the way, when did Speech Day/Prize Day disappear; they don't seem to exist nowadays. Another good skive was taking a leisurely and circuitous route from Clarence Street to the defunct St Mary de Castro school for chest X-rays as a precaution against TB, which was still in evidence back in the 1950's. FROM DENNIS BIGGS 1949-56 Many happy memories after nearly 60 years have been flooding back after I have been reminiscing about my school days at City Boys. I started in class 1 Alpha with classmates such as Clifford Dunkley, Richard Thompson and John Battersby, whose names I found on the Old Boys' list. Our form master was Spiv Beaumont, who also taught us History. English was with Mr Franey, Geography, Mr.Pace, Maths with Bob Roberts and French with Mr Nockels. I remember of course Bill Sykes, Messrs Gilman, Wardle, Holman, Willan, Brewin, Bufton and Kaye (Art) but I can't recall the name of the old boy who taught us Chemistry in the first year and called everyone Monkey. Later I took 'A' level French and German with Mr. Brushe and History with Ron Smith. Mr. Whitbread crammed us for 'O' level Latin in one year so that I could take the entrance exam for Exeter College, Oxford. Some of my best memories are a school trip to Paris (1950) being a cabin boy on the Broads with Chas Howard, helping out at Grace Road at County matches and meeting many of my heroes such as Dennis Compton, Len Hutton, Keith Miller and Ray Lindwall. The hops at the Lancaster Halls in the sixth form, where we learned to dance and socialise with girls, were also lots of fun. Prize days at the De Montfort Hall, mooching around the city centre in the lunch hour, tram rides to school and school assemblies every morning come to mind. Perhaps the least pleasant experiences were cross-country running along the banks of the river Soar in snow and ice, and school dinners which were pretty abominable, especially in the first years. I went on a cycling trip to Paris in the summer holidays with Brian Clay and Bob Gregory in the early 50s. I wonder if they are members? (Bob Gregory is, but he does not receive OWT - Ed) I pass my best regards to my contemporaries, and look forward to seeing them again at the next reunion. FROM DEREK GAMBLE 1951-54 I have just discovered the Wyvernians web site, and being an Old Boy I was very interested to see that many ex-pupils ares still active in maintaining contact and that reunions are organised. Congratulations on the work done, and for the time you and the committee members have spent as organisers. Well done … I was at CBS during 1951-54, after my parents moved inside the Leicester city boundary (to Knighton from Braunstone) transferring from Dixie Grammar School, Market Bosworth. Obviously I still have many memories of the school, and am interested to know how some of my old colleagues are doing now.There are many teachers I remember such as the Headmaster Mr.Prentice (Do you mean Mr Pedley? -Ed) Nobby Clark – Maths, Bill Sykes – Music, Mr.Wardle – Geography, not to mention Herr Brushe – German. AND FINALLY... My own miserable years at CBS (1959-64) have been well-documented in the last sixty six editions of OWT. The only year I remotely enjoyed was my final one in 5F, the previous four probably being the most awful of my life so far. Yet looking back that was not all the fault of the school, much of it it was down to me. If I had confided the problems to my parents, or even one of the more sympathetic teachers (yes, there were one or two!) my time at CBS would have been better for all concerned. Yet in my case absence has made the heart grow fonder, and I agree with those who say

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 67-8 that our old school provided a splendid opportunity for those who chose to take advantage of what was on offer. As several Old Boys have pointed out, the school was far from perfect. Indeed, one or two of my teachers would probably be up in court today for the way they treated us in those far-off times! Yet in the long run it did me no long-term harm, toughened me up a little and instilled a respect for authority which has continued all my life. And there were some good times along with the bad. The Christmas concerts, the light-hearted lessons as the end-of-term approached, those lovely long summer holidays, imagining that Jock Gilman really had believed my elaborate dodges and forged notes to avoid swimming, PT and games, lunchtimes in the well-stocked library.... End of OWT67. Dennis J Duggan, September 6th 2010

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OWT 68 OLD WYVES' TALES 68 - DECEMBER 2010 FOR WYVERNIANS 1919-76 EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN, ROCK COTTAGE, BROOK STREET, WELSHPOOL, MONTGOMERYSHIRE. SY21 7NA TEL 01938 555574 07985 405365 www.wyvernians.org.uk EDITORIAL Andy Marlow tells me he has received a good response to his request for information to help complete his book on the history of our old school. Not so long ago I was printing some twenty copies of OWT for those people who provided me with a supply of SAE's. Now I am down to eight. One or two have transferred to e-mail, but I don't know if the others have passed away or simply lost interest. Incidentally, Andy's queries resulted in an e-mail to let me know that another Wyvernian has passed away. If you have sent me a Christmas card then my thanks. I hope you will understand it is not practical for me to send a card to everyone. 2011 REUNION Saturday March 19th 2011 at Clarence House. Official invitations will be sent in January. Please try to take up the option of lunch. I know that some have dietary requirements which prevent you doing so, others have to leave early and at least two people tell me the food is simply not to their taste. The lunch has become an integral part of the reunions, and we do not want to lose the facility because numbers drop to a level where it is not worthwhile for Age Concern to prepare the meals. It is a marvellous opportunity to sit down with friends, old and new, over a glass of wine and a tasty meal. It provides a focus for the activities, and splits the day nicely. FROM STEWART SMITH 1936-41 (This was written June 6th 2010 - Ed) Glad to know you have heard from Andy Marlow. In answer to his queries - the sports trophies are in all probability gathering dust in scattered lofts and roof spaces. This has happened to all the early trophies belonging to the Leicester College of Art & Technology, and the former Amateur Athletic Association. I greatly value the medals I won at CBS (much to Mr Carpenter's dislike, as I mentioned before!) Together with my Leicestershire County Championship and Midlands Counties medals, they are being mounted in the the family history file. I am sure you will recall the conversations we had when recovering the photographs, memorabila and the two Honours Boards from Downing Drive; they are now hanging in our former assembly hall. I remember talking to Donald Harmer, in 1991, about the parlous state of the four major Honours Boards mounted at ground level at Downing Drive. They were being ruined by crowds of pupils rubbing against them every day. This was on the occasion of the 1936-41 pupils' 50th reunion visit. I believe the boards were the creation of Mr Crammer and his pride and joy. Presumably they were eventually discarded. This irreverent dismissal by Downing Drive of any respect for our school's history is shameful and, in my view, an utter disgrace. FROM DENNIS BIGGS 1949-56 Many happy memories, after nearly 60 years, have been flooding back as I have been reminiscing about my school days at City Boys. I started in 1 Alpha with classmates such as Clifford Dunkley, Richard Thompson and John Battersby, whose names I found on the Old Boys' list. Our form master was Spiv Beaumont who also taught us History. English was with Mr Franey; Geography, Mr Pace; Maths with Bob Roberts; French with Mr Nockels. I remember of course Bill Sykes, Messrs Gilman, Wardle, Holman, Willan, Brewin, Bufton and Kaye (Art) but I can't recall the name of the old boy who taught us Chemistry in the first year and called everyone Monkey. Later I took 'A' level French and German with Mr Brushe, and History with Ron Smith. Mr Whitbread crammed us for 'O' level Latin in one year so that I could take the entrance exam for Exeter College, Oxford. Some of my best memories are of a school trip to Paris (1950) being a cabin boy on the Broads with Chas Howard, helping at Grace Road at County matches and meeting many of my heroes such as Dennis Compton, Len Hutton, Keith Miller and Ray Lindwall. The hops at the Lancaster Halls in the sixth form, where we learned to dance and socialise with girls, were also lots of fun. Prize days at

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Demontfort Hall, mooching round the city centre in the lunch hour, tram rides to school and school assemblies every morning come to mind. Perhaps the least pleasant experiences were cross-country running along the banks of the River Soar in snow and ice, and school dinners which were pretty abominable, especially in the first years. I went on a cycling trip to Paris in the summer holidays with Brian Clay and Bob Gregory in the early 50s. I wonder if they are members? (Bob Gregory is - Ed) I have been looking through past issues of Old Wyves Tales with great interest. I have been overseas for a long time and only recently returned to the UK, so was pleased to find there is an active Old Boys' Association. Furthermore I have not been back to Leicester for almost 50 years and so, although I expect there have been may changes, I was pleased to learn that the old school building is still standing and I look forward to reviving memories of my days there when you have the next reunion. Looking back, I consider it was a privilege to have attended City Boys School, where I obtained a wide-ranging and stimulating education which has stood me in good stead in the intervening years. I consider the teaching at the school to have been excellent, and where I had difficulties in grasping ideas and knowledge the fault was mine, in many cases, for not paying attention or having too many other extracurricula activities to distract me. I certainly enjoyed my school days and the saying is true, they were some of the happiest days of my life. Perhaps the less pleasant times have faded from my memory, and indeed I have been scratching my mind to remember certain events and experiences. I started off in the Alpha stream, but whilst I was in 4 Alpha my mother died of breast cancer and I missed quite a lot of lessons as well as being traumatised, so I went into 4A instead of 5 Alpha and was able to meet a new range of classmates, which extended my range of school friends. Unfortunately I have, over the intervening years, lost touch with everyone so I hope to re-acquaint myself with many Old Boys in the coming years. I remember we were very respectful to our teachers, and personally I was in awe of many of them. I regret we sometimes played up teachers such as Bob Roberts and Hanny Handtuch, but I suppose we were not the only guilty ones. I remember Spiv Beaumont as our form master in 1 Alpha and History teacher, Mr Franey for English and his welcome introduction to Shakespeare and the English poets and classic novelists, Mr Nockels, Mr Jeeves and later Mr Stuart for French and Mr Goddard, who beat the basics of German grammar into us to be followed by Messrs Brushe and Gimson. Mr Whitbread taught us Scripture and Latin and we called him Aunty Gritty for some reason. Of course teachers such as Bull Smith, Basher Brewin, Bill Sykes, Bob Roberts and Flo Whillan were unforgettable characters, but I am sure we were a motley crew of erks whom they saw passing through their hands like hundreds of others over the years. I liked in particular Ron Smith our History teacher, and Mr Gould was very helpful and sympathetic after my mother's death. I have been trying to recall the names of my classmates in 1 Alpha and I remember as good friends John Hill, Bob Gregory, Brian Clay and Richard Thompson. Other names I remember are David Hockey, John Battersby, Bernard Harrison, Brian Garner, Mike Walker, Brian Snutch, Keith Burdett and Clifford Dunkley. Perhaps more names will resurface in due course. I went on the school trip to Paris in 1950, and can recall some of the events. We stayed in a boarding school near to Versailles if I remember correctly, and visited the Sacre Coeur and the top of the Eiffel Tower. I have been to Paris many times since, but as a 12 year old to visit Paris so soon after the war was an exceptional experience. I wonder if other classmates have similar recollections. I was not very enthusiastic over school meals, but as others have said there was always the prospect of going into town at lunch time to mooch about and get some chips from Ollerenshaws (next to Lewis's) or Bayliss's cake shop. I liked to walk round Leicester market, and was fascinated by the fish market. I was very keen on cricket and managed to get the chance to help out at Grace Road on match days, selling programmes and seeing many world-class players in action. Keith Miller the Australian allrounder and Dennis Compton were my special heroes. I also went to many football matches at Filbert Street, and remember such stars as Arthur Rowley, Sepp Smith, Mal Griffiths and Stanley Matthews (Stoke/Blackpool) Stan Cullis (Wolves) amongst many legendary players. I was very keen on the cinema in those days, my interest being whetted by Saturday morning visits to The Trocadero, Humbertsone, with the ABC Minors. I must have gone to see at least 2 films a week during my school days, and in particular I remember creeping in to the Floral Hall cinema to see naughty continental films with Gina Lollobrigida or Bridget Bardot. I was only 5ft 4 when I left school, so it was quite a feat to get in. I remember a number of teachers called me John Biggs after the statue at the top of Pocklingtons Walk. I wonder if it is still there? I have to say that unfortunately the standard of teaching today has been greatly dumbed down. I recently took the GCSE exam in Spanish, and was amazed to see how simple it was compared to the' O' Level French and German papers I took. From time to time I mention to my children some of my experiences from my school days and they listen in amazement when I tell them I was the ink monitor who had to fill the ink wells, or getting the slipper from Jock Gilman for some forgotten offence. They

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 68-3 think I lived in the times of Dickens with quill pens, but I only got my first fountain pen for my 12th birthday and a wristwatch aged 14.! I think I was 15 when Bob Gregory, Brian Clay and I set off on a cycling trip to Paris in our summer holidays. We had some fascinating experiences and adventures, athough many have faded into the mists of time; but I think we were quite heroic undertaking such a feat at that age, and I certainly would not have let my own children do it. I have no photos from that trip, and only fleeting memories . I wonder if Bob or Brian can recall more details. Still they were different times, and now a by-gone age in history. I am sure I will be able to dredge up other memories for your next OWT issue. I sign off with the memory of Bob Roberts showing us how to play the the diabolo, a sort of large bobbin on a string between 2 sticks, or of Herr Handtuch singing to us Ich hatte einen Kamaraden, a well known song fron the German trenches or Ach Du lieber Augustin, and someone bringing Mr. Brushe's front gate to school as an end of term prank. For me school days were truly happy days. FROM PAUL WHEATLEY 1962-67 Memories of Elbow Lane Thanks for another excellent OWT, I see my good friend Laurie Ford managed to sneak an article in this time so thought I needed to compete. Only two years to go, and it will be fifty years since I first started at Elbow Lane. I recall turning up in short trousers (do they still do that?) and wearing my cap for the first time, and am just glad I don't have a picture as I must have looked a right sight. I was put into 1B, and had Mr Franklyn as our form master. He seemed formidable to me, and I had the great honour of being the first in class to get a detention for forgetting to bring in 200 lines (no idea why I got them) The worst of it was that I had spent the whole of the previous night doing them! After the detention fiasco I kept my head down and tried my damndest. As I ploughed through my first year the memories are pretty vague. I recall the regular rollickings of Wally Wardle for not performing too well in his geography quizzes, and not understanding one word from Flo Willan in Biology. Was I the only one terrified of Remington ? I thought I was good at soccer until the first practice match. I was put up front with Paul Steggles; he scored nine, was brilliant, and I never touched the ball. I heard Paul went for a trial with Chesterfield but never made it. He was the best of our year, which just goes to show how good you have to be to make a professional. Needless to say I never made the school first team. I have to mention the life-long friendship that developed with one of OWT's regular contributors, Laurie Ford. The first time we met he was rabbiting on about being put in the wrong class. Apparently it was true that he was mixed up with another Ford, Mick Ford, and should have been placed in 1A. He was obviously very posh and brainy even then, but sitting next to me was clearly not fortuitous for him. I dragged him down, and we ended up together for most years. He still has to suffer me at least once a year on our pilgrimage to the Walkers. We are a hoodoo, we haven't seen City win together since 2003. The second and last year at Elbow Lane, before moving to Downing Drive, carries a few more memories and a lot of them revolve round a classmate named Wagstaff and Bill Sykes. I missed Bill in the first year, but the sight of him in the playground shouting his catchphrase you're too damn rowdy, boy made him a bit of a figure of fun. Perhaps he never actually said you're too damn rowdy, but the Bill Sykes impersonators sure did. During French lessons Wagstaff decided to hide in the cupboards in the classroom, this went on for weeks and Bill always used to open the lesson with 'where's Wagstaffe' but he never cottoned on, or if he did I have forgotten. The classes were a riot, and I don't think I learnt one word of French that term. When we had Geoff Elliott as French master in the third year he could not believe what little 2B had learnt. Every class has its fair share of wags, and 2B was no different. The ones I remember most are Steve Turner, Paul Holohan and Andy Pengelly, all of them had great wit and I often wonder what happened to them. I used to hate swimming at St Margarets baths, all I can recall is cold water, Jock Gilman screaming at boys misbehaving, and some of the more developed boys teaching the more innocent ones the birds and the bees in the shower cubicles. I have a vague memory of Jock Gilman catching one of the boys, and he was later expelled. Having been a total failure in Wally Wardle's quizzes in the first year, I vowed to get better and started to swat, managing to come top a couple of times and committed myself to a lifelong addiction to trivia quizzes! When I think back, the teachers who controlled the classes taught me more. Maybe it was the other way round, maybe the teachers who taught better had my attention and the class controlled itself. It is no coincidence that my best subjects were the ones taken by the best teachers. I look back and think of maths and Baxter, French and Elliott, history and Anderson. I was always bad at science, enough said!. I was there when Elbow Lane closed and we all moved to Downing Drive. I have another vague memory of a closing concert where Wagstaffe played Hitler, but perhaps that was

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Christmas. I know he left after that concert, and the Hitler impression was his parting shot. The memories are there but the time sequence isn't. There doesn't seem too many contributors from the 62-67 era, certainly not from the old 1 and 2B. Still somebody might read this and share some of those memories. I did OK in life, so the education was probably - no definitely was - better than I thought when I left. I keep wanting to go to the reunion, but it always coincides with the Cheltenham Festival. Losing money on bad nags, drinking Guinness and being crushed on Cheltenham Gold Cup day is just too good to miss. Maybe next year. FROM LAURIE FORD 1962-66 I noted in Old Wyves 65 lots of references to Flo Willan. I have strong and not too pleasant memories of Flo. I remember well the tests referred to. I always thought the arrangement whereby the unlucky ones with the lowest marks had to sit at the front was a bit dodgy, as those at the back with top marks usually stayed there as it was easier to use crib sheets undetected! I also had the unpleasant experience of being belted on the back for the heinous crime of not folding my arms. Not surprisingly I failed biology (twice) at Northampton ,which was where I moved to 2/3 of the way through the fourth year. A few memories about other teachers:- Bill Sykes: I think Paul Wheatley summed up some of our lessons with Bill perfectly in the last OWT. Wally Wardle: those terrifying words 'I'm waiting.' Bill Gates: Bill joined around '64 or 65 and taught English. He was my form master in the 3rd year, and always seemd very fair. He was from Leeds, and was always happy to debate the merits of City against Leeds (who were then a very strong outfit). He also looked after the badminton club, of which I was a team member. Wonder where he is now? Geoff Elliot: Another of the Yorkshire mafia. From Sheffield, taught French and started off Rugby at City Boys. Bunny Hutchinson: let's just say woodwork and I did not get on. I think I probably split more wood than he had a budget for. Charlie Varley: inexplicably thought some of my art was quite good. I think he was probably the only one! Tony Baxter: taught me maths in the 4th year. Had it not been for him I would never have passed maths 'O' level, as at Northampton my maths teacher was - lets just say not very good. Ding Dong Bell: met with him on my last day before moving to Northampton. Obviously had marginal impact on him as he thought I was going to Southampton. I think my only other contact with Mr Bell was when given the form that allowed me to get a colours tie (for badminton) Other miscellaneous Elbow Lane Memories: Record Club: spent many a lunchtime in the hall listening to 45's. Some tracks heard again years later can take me back to those lunchtimes. I seem to remember the Record Club being closed down for a while, and when it reopened you needed a pass to be allowed in. 2nd form yard: excellent facility for use of 2B only. Our own yard. After-school football: played many a long game after school in the yard. Always played better there than at Grace Road. Obviously a better player on tarmac. I was never in any danger of getting into any City Boys football team. Lunch time handball,: with benches as goals. A surprisingly well-stocked library. Vestry Street swimming baths, with a sadistic instructor who pushed you into the water whether you were ready or not. One such belly flopper almost put me off diving for life. The crocodile walk from Humberstone Gate to Elbow Lane. FROM DEREK GAMBLE 1951-54 I have just discovered the Wyvernians web site, and am pleased to note that ex-pupils are still active. I attended CBS from 1951-54, transferring from the Dixie Grammar School, Market Bosworth, when my parents moved inside the Leicester city boundary to Knighton from Braunstone. I have many memories of CBS, and am interested in knowing how my old classmates have fared. I remember many teachers. The Head, Mr Prentice (sic) Nobby Clark, maths; Bill Sykes, music; Mr Wardle, geography; Herr Brushe, German. OBITUARIES Jim Williams, 1961-65, passed away October 2010. FROM RAY MACHIN 1950-55 OWT's bring back memories of Joe Melia. .Early years at CBS were amazing. At the annual Christmas concerts Joe was nearly always the comedian, and I later admired his success on stage and screen. I knew his younger brother, Ron, who seemed to like rebel traits and I seem to remember a particular challenge that he put out to go in the ring with a chap called Clifford Mullaney, a hardenend puncher, but I don't know the outcome - but that was Ron! I remember Peter Nutt, but cannot comment further.

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FROM GRAHAM JOHNSON 1952‐1957 Reading the September issue of OWT, and the piece from Peter Knudssen's autobiography, it jogged my memory about Joe Melia, who became a professional actor. I will never forget his mimed portrayal of a boy in a fish and chip shop which, I think, was a turn in the Christmas show at City Boys. It was hilarious from start to finish! I last saw Joe playing the part of Mr. Jones in a four‐part adaptation of Love On A Branch Line. This was aired by the BBC in 1994. I also remember my first trip abroad, which was with a school party in about 1956. We went to Bruges in Belgium and stayed at the Hotel Jakob (or Jacob ‐ I don't remember the spelling). About four of us boys were completely lost amongst the canals and bridges of that beautiful city, and couldn't find the hotel. We spotted a gendarme and, not knowing any Flemish, quickly rehearsed what to say in French. We approached the gendarme and said 'Bonjour. Ou est l' Hotel Jakob, s'il vous plait'?. Much to our surprise he replied, IN ENGLISH, 'Turn left at the first bridge, straight over the next two bridges and then turn right and the hotel is on the left!' Sensing our surprise he added 'Don't worry lads, I'm on secondment from the London Metropolitan Police for the summer!' On one evening it was raining, and we decided to go to the cinema. The film was advertised on a board outside the cinema, but there was no picture of a scene from the film. It was called Le Commando Frappe A La Porte A Sept Heures. We decided that this meant The Commando Knocks On The Door At Seven o'clock and also worked out that it was English dialogue with French subtitles. The film had only run for about a minute when we realised that it was Cockleshell Heroes, a film we had seen about a week previously at a cinema in Leicester! FROM TOM WILLIAMSON 1946-51 Several comments have been made in recent editions of OWT about Joe Melia. I was in Forms 1 Alpha to 5 Alpha, and 6 Arts 1 with Joe, and, as others have said, he was an outstanding English student and actor/comedian. In 1951 we both left school, having decided not to carry on for our A Levels. I got a job in a local insurance company and Joe became an apprentice at a printing works. I used to cycle past this works on my way home, and often stopped to speak to Joe. He told me he was now regretting leaving school, and wanted to go back, finish his A levels, and go to university. However he felt embarrassed about approaching the school, as the new term had already started and he doubted he would be taken back. I undertook to contact Mr. Franey, who was our English teacher, to see if this was possible. This I did, and Mr. Franey said Joe should get in touch with him. The rest is history! I never spoke to Joe again but in later years, when he was at the height of his acting fame, I saw him walking in a street in London. Unfortunately I was in a taxi, and by the time I had got the driver to stop Joe had disappeared into the crowds. After his film and TV career, Joe appeared in several stage productions, but these seemed to stop in the mid-eighties. When I spoke to Mr. Franey he asked if I also wanted to go back to the school, but I declined. With hindsight this was probably unwise, but later I realised my childhood dream of going to Africa, which I did after finishing my National Service. Having knocked around this continent for the last 55 years I'm still here, in Namibia. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at City Boys, and didn't find the discipline too harsh. I feel that if the same standards were now applied, many of the schools in the UK wouldn't be in the mess they are today. Mention is often made of Bob Roberts and Bill Sykes. I believe that Bob had an MC from the First World War, and wonder if anyone can confirm this. Bill was an eccentric, but in the shower I still sing the songs he beat into our heads! Apart from the teachers who are often referred to in OWT, I remember Messrs. Howard, Kennedy, Curtis, Cubberley, Lewin, Crocker, Wheater, Goddard, Jeeves, Carpenter and Fisher. Classmates of mine included Joe Melia, Peter Harrison, Jack Chaplin, Frank Hutchings, Bert Tyrer, and Smith, Fogerty, Shipway, Kirk, Goadby, Miles, Summers, Wright and Bray - I apologise for forgetting some of their Christian names. FROM MIKE CAPENERHURST 1947-51 Just writing to thank you for the latest edition of OWT. Unfortunately my recent trip did not coincide with the re-union. I did take the time this trip to visit the school buildings (first time since 1951) and was given a pleasant reception and a quick tour of the premises. Whilst remembering the hall and noting the absence of the platform, I have to confess that little of the other areas rang many bells of recognition – apart from the location of the biology lab and Mr Willan’s abode, and the dining area AKA the gymn as was (I did enjoy my cuppa and quiet contemplation of what used to be)

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Strangely, I cannot recall having problems with Flo Willan’s tests – I must have enjoyed biology . I believe Basher Brewin was my first form master, and have always felt he was a good teacher no matter what the subject. His material - maths and science - seemed to stick, but I can’t say the same for others. Bob Roberts just could not control a class sufficiently well, or long enough, to get his material over. That I passed 'O' level maths was more despite rather than because of him. Johnny Jeeves was also a form master at one stage –towards the end of my stay. My lasting memory of his teaching methods in French was his habit of deducting increasingly high numbers of marks for incorrect declensions. Three mistakes could just about wipe out all the marks on a piece of homework. Ivor Bufton, Pace, Goddard (remembered for the closed eyes and 'gone' look when playing the piano at a morning assembly. Bill Sykes astounding us by playing Ghost Riders in the Sky one morning – then showing that it was a variation of the tune When Johnny Comes Marching Home. Chas Howard (and his brother Bert from Alderman Newtons) and the sailing holidays on the Broads and the Ouse (canoes) Wardle, Curtis for PE, Remington. There was also someone who taught woodwork, but whose name escapes me (I failed woodwork in GCE) . What I can remember about the woodwork workshop is what I now perceive to be a lesson in applied psychology, in that booklets on sex instruction were left piled on the benches. That they disappeared into cases, pockets, satchels for later perving was the covert intention, I am sure, and obviously saved an unknown master any embarrassment in explanations . I do recall, at the time of the polio epidemic, parties from the school attending camp – Staffordshire? – with Wardle and Curtis in charge. Cross country and cricket, walks, passing the time. Have a feeling that Joe Melia was there at that time. I also recall boxing being introduced to the school – briefly. There was an internal tournament with a series of bouts in the main hall – I still have my certificate that shows I won my bout with an opponent a stone heavier than myself, and then an interschool bout with Alderman Newtons. Again I won my bout and, wisely, decided to retire undefeated from the boxing game. I did participate in one school play (although was involved in other 'entertainments' on the school hall platform – an excerpt from A Christmas Carol seems to come to mind) This was The Inspector General - Gogol? - and was put on at the YMCA theatre on London Road (left hand side heading towards the clock tower and just below the station) I got to play the Inspector, and at one point was indulging in a drinking activity. Tizer was the chosen imitation alcoholic beverage, and on the first night it had been poured out long enough to go flat. Not so the second night where, because of a temporary blockage of lines, I indulged more heavily. Well, gas does rise and must escape. I was most fortunate that it added depth to my performance that night. Prize giving at the De-Montfort Hall, gowned masters sitting on the platform, hearty renditions of Jerusalem, swimming sports at Spence Street baths, the afternoon sport at Grace Road Whilst not disliking school, I couldn’t wait to leave. I took the first dose of the GCE 'O' level exams and came away with six of the eight subjects I sat (as well as woodwork, I have to confess to failing history, although having no problems during the mock School Cert) I left school and joined TN &FH Briggs, Tanners, Waring Street as a cadet.(sic) I also attended night school for the next 13 years. One thing that did become very plain was that the General Science paper that one sat for the GCE, and the level of science taught for that paper, was absolutely useless if one wished to go on for the 'A': levels. The gap was too big. In 1965, with the closure of Briggs, I came, with my wife and family, to New Zealand. First to the South Island and then moving to the North Island – and am still involved in the tanning industry. That I continue to work part time in the industry, ten years after retiring, gives an indication of the interest it holds for me. I recently received a staff photo from Graham Morton. Bull Smith I now remember but not before seeing the photo, Crocker was the master in charge of woodwork – I still failed, with or without his name. Franey and Whitbread were the masters (English) responsible for overseeing the school play. Pace of course for geography. My first thoughts on seeing the photo, taken in 1954, was how young the masters (in general) appeared to be whilst my memory told me they were ancient and decrepit when I was at CBS. Of course they were captured at a moment in time – I have now caught them up and overtaken them by a fair number of years so they are, indeed, young in comparison. The contact with Graham has been one of life’s co-incidences. On my recent visit I stayed with some friends. We got talking about schools, initially about primary/junior school. We had both been to the same primary/ junior school – as had Graham. The friend knew Graham had photos of the staff there, and this led onto us finding that Graham and I had CBS as a common ground.. Whilst the photo of the junior school staff rang no bells whatsoever, the CBS staff photo brought memories back to the surface. It must have been the common location for the photographing of the school – I have a class photo taken in 1950 which is in exactly the same location.

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FROM RICHARD THOMPSON 1949-56 Thank you for OWT 67, fascinating as always. Dennis Biggs' contribution brought back memories. He and I sat at adjacent desks in 3 alpha, with Mr. Beaumont as form master. I recall that was the year Beaumont's first child was born, so he was forever finding excuses to boast about it, telling us how little sleep he'd had the night before. However Dennis actually remembers a bit too much. Cliff Dunkley and I were not in 1 alpha, we started in 1A and were promoted into the alpha stream in our second year, as were John Page, John Tilbury, Keith Burdett, and Dave Morgan. The chemistry teacher was Mr C V Smith, one of the teachers who taught my father many years before. He taught us in 3 alpha and the first part of the 4 alpha year, but in that year he was often ill and Mr. Pace stood in for him, teaching a great deal about limestone hills, which to a Geographer must be a very important part of Chemistry. I think C V Smith retired in Easter 1952. A temporary teacher was appointed for one term and then Mr Guy arrived in September 1953, by which time I was in .5S I hope it won't go outside our terms of reference if I write something about Old Wyvernians at Cambridge. When I went up to King's in 1956 I soon heard from Cambridge Old Wyvernians. Most of them were 4 or 5 years senior to me because they had done National Service before Cambridge while I was deferred, and managed to avoid National Service altogether because it was abolished before I left Cambridge. So I had only quite vague memories of some of them. The Cambridge Wyvernians principal event was the annual dinner held late in the Michaelamas term. We booked a room in one of the colleges and they put on a special meal - Cambridge Colleges used to be quite obliging in that way. We usually had four courses plus coffee, and a different wine with each course, so it was a great improvement on school dinners, and on ordinary college dinners. Before the meal there were a couple of meetings to make arrangements. That year those were held in my room, because I was the only member with a room in central Cambridge. As well as people up at Cambridge, the dinners were attended by a number of OW's who'd graduated and moved on, and also three headmasters and another member of staff. The heads were Bell, then in office, Pedley, who had moved on to the headship of a school in London, and Crammer, retired. One delicate matter was who paid. Mr Crammer and the guest member of staff were free, but everyone else paid. We usually all met for tea around 4, which was a chance to collect money off diners from outside Cambridge. In my third year we had the dinner in Kings, and Tony Baxter provided a sumptuous tea in his room in the Garden Hostel. Alas, no-one had explained to Tony precisely who paid, so he approached Crammer and asked politely if he might have a contribution. With characteristic bluntness Crammer replied, rather loudly, 'You can ask, but you won't get anything' and silence fell over the previously happy gathering. The staff guest that year was Mr Phillips and we feared he thought he was going to be asked to pay. Fortunately the other two heads were very sympathetic and it was all quickly smoothed over - I think Pedley even offered to pay for Crammer. It was quite strange to chat with former headmasters as equals over dinner. I once sat next to Pedley, who told me about his killjoy doctor who had told him to give up both alcohol and smoking. I rather fear Pedley didn't take the advice because he died of a heart attack not many years afterwards. At another Wyvernians dinner Bob Roberts was there as guest and staying in a guest room in King's. The dinner was elsewhere, and Bob returned to King's to find it locked up. Colleges used to lock the gates at midnight. Bob therefore climbed in over the fence behind the chapel - I estimate the fence was 10 feet or so high, so he must have been quite fit. FROM GEOFF MANCHESTER 1961-66 During PE I recall participating in an activity known as Pirates. A nominated boy chased everyone round the gym, and the object of the exercise was not to be touched by him. Once you had been touched you retired from the game. The game was over when everyone had been touched, or the master became fed up. On one occasion Ogden, an older boy, was drafted in to ber 'it'. Being stronger and swifter, he soon completed the exercise.I don't know why it was called Pirates, perhaps someone can explain. For a time I was a member of my year's football team. On Saturday mornings we played home games at Rushey Fields. One Saturday I was waiting for the game to start and Ogden was there with a stop watch. He was timing John Offord on a cross-country run. Ogden congratulated John on his time, and a nearby groundsman overheard. He said the time was remarkable, and should be reported to the Sports Mercury. Paul Wheatley enquires after Andy Pengelly. I was not in the same year as Andy, but often travelled to school on the bus with him. We would have a bit of banter if our paths crossed in one of the school corridors, with each attempting an impersonation of Bill Sykes. We would shout 'you're too rowdy,

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 68-8 boy,' and make mock slapping movements. Several years ago I met a Mr & Mrs Pengelly via my wife's business, and asked if they were related to Andy. In fact Andy was their son. He had joined the police after leaving school, but had sadly died from a brain tumour in his thirties. FROM MIKE TURNER MBE 1946-50 I wonder if any Wyvernians might be able to help me .I was at the school from 1946-1950, and joined Leicestershire County Cricket Club staff as a young professional in 1951. You may know that I was appointed Club Secretary in 1960, and I was then the Club's CEO (various titles) for over 33 years and I 'retired' in 1993. I was also a non-executive Director for a few years. In the 17 years since I 'retired' I have worked in a consultancy capacity for the Test and County Cricket Board, and also the England and Wales Cricket Board - and I am still working! I am now working on a Leicestershire CCC history under the heading 'A Collection of Cricket Memories' covering the last 60 years. There will be a large photographic element in the book, but I do not have a good photograph of the old wooden pavilion and the wooden dining room (which was a nearby school gymnasium at the time) If anyone can provide me with a good photograph of the pavilion etc, which existed until 1965, I should be most grateful (If you can help, contact Mike at [email protected] or via me - Ed) AND FINALLY... Yes, I remember Pirates. It is well-known that I was one of the less sporty pupils, and I always arranged to be one of the first to be touched which conveniently meant I was able to sit out the rest of the game. But to be fair Pirates was tremendously popular with most of the boys, who bounced round the gym like demented monkeys with the wall bars seeing a lot of use! Quite often I forgot my plimsolls (or more accurately did not bother to take them) so was obliged to do PT in my socks. At the end of the session they had accumulated a stiff layer of floor polish, though I don't recall my poor old mum ever commenting about it when she put them in the wash. Dennis J Duggan December 19th 2010

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OWT 69 OLD WYVES' TALES 69 - APRIL 2011 FOR WYVERNIANS 1919-76 EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN, ROCK COTTAGE, BROOK STREET, WELSHPOOL, MONTGOMERYSHIRE. SY21 7NA TEL 01938 555574 / 07985 405365 www.wyvernians.org.uk REUNION MARCH 2011 We have now completed the incredible total of fourteen consecutive reunions! The continued success of our annual get-togethers is a constant source of wonder to many, yet interest shows no sign of waning. We had over eighty people this year, most partaking of lunch. Numbers were slightly up on 2010 As we never change the format of the reunions, the organising team (me, Stephanie, Brian Screaton, Frank Smith, John Offord) have the routine off to a fine art. It takes quite a while to unload everything and carry it upstairs. Panoramic photographs and copies of The Wyvernian are put in date order, various items are pinned up or laid on tables. The honesty bar is set up, nibbles put on the tables, the PA system tested, name badges sorted. We begin at 9.15am ready for the official start at 11am, though the first arrivals turn up well before that. This year we were ready in record time, so had a chance to chat and take stock before the visitors began to flood in. Tony Baxter's talk was standing room only, the Age Concern lunch excellent, and the AGM went without a hitch. Although we had not done any canvassing, Brian and I were unanimously voted in for a 15th term as Secretary and Treasurer! All too soon it was time to pack up, and in a few months we will begin to arrange next year's reunion. It was pointed out that what we do must be unique. Annual reunions for all ex-pupils of a school from 1919-1976, not just a particular year. Use of Clarence House, which holds so many memories for us and is still basically recognisable as our old school. Old Wyves' Tales, which has grown from a small newsletter to a huge history file. Andy Marlow's forthcoming book on the history of CBS. The large collection of memorabilia. And not least the enthusiasm shown by so many Old Boys and former teachers. Thank you all. The reunions will continue so long as we have the use of Clarence House, and there are enough of us left to turn up and reminisce. FROM DENNIS BIGGS 1949-56 I have been perusing the back numbers of OWT, and they make fascinating and enjoyable reading. It was particularly interesting to read some personal details of the teaching staff, of which I was completely unaware, and I think it is a great pity we did not have a more personal contact with our teachers. But I suppose that was impossible given the numbers of pupils to teachers, and the prevailing attitude of 'us and them'. I regret I did not have time to get to know some of the teachers better, such as Messrs Franey, Gould, Brushe, Gimson, Whitbread etc, who were so inspiring and motivating. The only teachers I knew on a more personal level were Messrs Smith and Kaye, who helped me when I was Captain of the 2nd Eleven Cricket team. I marvel at the detailed recollections of many of my contemporaries. One of my more vivid memories was of the Queen's Coronation in 1953, which I have not seen mentioned. The city centre was highly decorated with garlands and flags for the occasion, and we were each given a book, Ratae, about the history of Leicester, which unfortunately I have lost in the intervening years. I recall watching the ceremony on a neighbour's TV (in black and white of course) and that the weather was pretty damp and miserable. I do remember

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 69-2 that we had a street party and bonfire, which was great fun, as all the neighbours and children were in high spirits. The best street party of all was, however, at the end of the war in 1945 when people really let their hair down. I lived in Wansbeck Gardens, Humberstone, and there were two other City Boys pupils living in the same small street, namely John Measures (a couple of years older than me) and Alec Downes, two years my Junior. I would love to contact them again after such a long time if they are members (Regrettably they are not - Ed) I recall we visited the Royal Stratford Memorial Theatre, and think we saw Romeo and Juliet with Dorothy Tutin. However I did go there on several other occasions in later years, and may have my memories mixed up. The theatre has now been rebuilt, so I look forward to a further visit in the near future. I remember seeing the school play, King Lear, with a classmate, Tom Williams, in the main role who was brilliant. I am convinced he could have been a professional actor, and greatly admired his ability to take on this demanding role and learn all his lines. We all seemed to be keen on jazz music in those days, and a few of the class bought instruments and learned to play. I remember Trevor Adcock with a trombone, and Graham Morton with drums or bass. We also had a violin virtuoso in our class - Lakin (sorry I can't remember his first name) who played on several occasions to a school audience. I wonder whether he became a professional musican. I spent most of my evenings listening to the music of Ted Heath on the radio, Humphrey Littleton and many other American jazz players. This was of course after a nightly session of Dick Barton, Special Agent. After coming to live in London in the mid 60s I visited Ronnie Scott's Club frequently, and was able to hear many of my heroes in person. I have good memories of classmates such as John Hill, Peter Partner, John Tilbury amongst others, whose names I have not seen mentioned. The school dances at the Lancaster Hall were good fun, as were the classes where we learned the rudimentary steps of ballroom dancing. I do not remember from which school the girls came, but dancing was something I enjoyed and once a week I went to extra classes at the Embassy Dance Club across the road from the school. It was an enjoyable social skill, which stood me in good stead at university and during later years on my travels around the world, and even today I enjoy dancing. I am grateful to the ratepayers of Leicester for the free education I received at CBS, and for the annual grants and payment of my tuition fees during my university education, and I am annoyed that today's students do not receive the same support for their further education. I am sure I have repaid the costs of my education many times over in the high level of taxes during my working life, and I feel strongly that students should not have to face crippling levels of debt on finishing their courses. When I left school, my father insisted that I got an experience of the 'real world' before going to University, so I took a four-year apprenticeship with the engineering company A A Jones and Shipman, on Narborough Road South. I suppose that time could be considered as gap years in today's parlance, but it meant I was much more mature when I did go to Birmingham University in 1961. It also gave me the opportunity to save and buy a car, which was a great asset in those days. I am sorry that I have lost complete contact with the school and former classmates in the intervening years, and I look forward to renewing acquaintances at the 2011 reunion. FROM BERNARD CAPP 1955-62 The reunion invitation reminded me that the last issue of OWT included a query from someone about Sambo McNulty, a maths teacher who was my form master in 3 alpha in 1956-7. He left the school soon after,

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 69-3 and made the very unusual move to become a teacher at Ellesmere Road Secondary Modern School, Leicester. He explained he thought there was more scope for ‘real’ teaching there. Presumably he meant that it was less bound by the GCE syllabus and the like. I bumped into him in 1961 or 1962, and he was still teaching there. FROM ERIK (ROGER) BELLAMY 1958-64 (Episode 3 of Erik's memories of CBS - Ed) Having submitted memories of my time in 1 alpha, I have again put mouse to mat and committed my experiences in 3 alpha to hard drive. (Mouse to mat doesn't have quite the same ring as pen to paper) Having survived the first year, my progress was from 1 alpha to 3 alpha (Amazing eh?) We were still in the Lee Circle huts. I can't remember the name of our form master, but my most outstanding academic memory was being put into the tender care of Basher Brewin for maths. He adopted a totally different technique to Ken Witts, who had nurtured us the previous year. To continue the gardening analogy, Ken nurtured us, Basher force-grew his pupils. He did not suffer fools or leadswingers gladly, and retribution came on swift wings - or should I say knuckles-ontop- of-the-head? But there was another side to this 4ft 10" firebrand. If he could see you were genuinely struggling his whole demeanour changed, and he would gently - almost kindly - explain where you were going wrong. His personal crusade was with units. If you had a question which involved units, be they gallons, pounds, feet etc, and gave the answer as fifteen he would immediately yell, 'Fifteen what? Monkeys?' accompanied by a re-arrangement of your hair style with his bony knuckles emphasising each syllable. The only similarity between Basher and Ken was their amazing ability to draw perfect circles on the blackboard. Was this skill restricted to maths teachers? Wag Pace's attempts at the spherical shape of the earth was laughable in comparison. In fact we did laugh... aren't kids cruel sometimes? In 3 alpha, Dr Burrows introduced us to the delights of organic chemistry. An outstanding memory of the practical side of this subject was the chemical reaction which produced a bright-red diazo-aniline dye. We made this in large quantities, and dyed white fabric red. Its permanence was proved by washing the fabric in Omo (Anyone remember Omo?) That was fairly interesting, but not as interesting as our own investigations into the dye's long-lasting qualities. I can't recall the victim's name, it might have been a small lad called Iggy Smith. He put up a valiant struggle, but could not prevent his hands being plunged up to the wrists in the strongest concoction of the dye we could muster. It worked a treat, and the poor lad had to try and conceal the vermilion stain for the best part of a week, when it began to wear off. I don't know the COSSH (what's that? - Ed) position on the matter (Did COSSH exist in those days?) but his hands survived. And as a bonus it did deter the boy from picking his nose for a week. About that period I discovered the delights of the Norfolk Broads, with the Green Wyvern Yachting Club. For those who don't know, the GWYC was an amalgamation of CBS and Alderman Newtons. Their blazers were green, our badge was a Wyvern. Simple. I recall the club was organised by Chas Howard. For some of us the trip to the Broads was a body-cram into the leather interior of his Jag, which could cruise effortlessly at 80mph. A motoring miracle for those days. The fleet consisted of a number of hired yachts, plus a beautiful craft owned by Chas and named Vanessa. Each boat was crewed by a skipper and first mate, usually 6th formers, plus a sprinkling of 4th and 5th formers with experience from previuous years. Finally there was a motley collection og 3rd, 2nd and 1st years as winch-fodder and ballast. To

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 69-4 keep costs to a mimimum the yachts carried as many people as possible, and this involved some unfortunates sleeping on the floor of the centre aisle. But that was one step up from those who drew the short straws; they had to sleep in the damp and smelly forepeak alongside the stowed - and often wet - sails. The day's sailing usually involved an unofficial race to the next mooring. Our school's competitive spirit spurred us on to any means possible to obtain maximum speed from our craft. Not only did this imvolve setting every sail on the boat, but also blamkets and tea towels to act as spinnakers. The last resort was to remove the internal doors and bed boards for use as paddles. Loss of equipment incurred a financial penalty from the hirers, so when my pal Keith Roberts managed to empty all the cutlery over the side with the washing up water, desperate measures were called for. He was persuaded, albeit reluctantly, to strip to his underpants before being dangled over the side whilst held by the heels. He ferreted about in the thick black ooze for thew knives and forks. The experience must have had a profound effect on Keith, because that night he sat up in bed, still fast asleep, screaming repeatedly, 'Spoons... don't forget the spoons,' at the top of his voice. This caused pandemonium amongst the rudely awakened and confused crew. A few thought it was some sort of emergency, and in their rush to abandon ship tripped over the aisle sleepers. Some jumped onto the bank, and some into other boats, which started further panic. Keith slept through it all. Needless to say, he was not Mr Popular next morning, and kept a low peofile for the rest of the trip. If anyone else has memories of the Green Wyverns I would love to hear them, especially any enlightenment on the subsequent sinking of Vanessa (Keith assures me he was in no way involved with that incident (I seem to recall the sinking of Vanessa has been covered in a former issue of OWT, if anyone has the dedication to read the back issues - Ed) FROM RAY MACHIN 1950-55 I was very appreciative of the article by Dennis Biggs in OWT68. To me, it summed up most of my recollections of our old school, but unfortunately our aims are being eroded big time. Best wishes to all my old chums. FROM KEITH WRIGHT 1948-54 Thank you for OWT 68. I was particularly interested to read the item from Mike Turner, though regrettably am unable to help in his search for photographs. When at school he had the distinction of a personal mention in the Headmaster's report at speech day, having bowled R R Pedley out first ball in the Staff versus Pupil match. It was game of Pedley to mention this, remarking that Turner was a very suitable name for Mike! Despite the temptation to alliterate, I used pupil rather than student, as I seem to recall that you became a student only on entry to tertiary education in those days. Now it seems that progress in education is such that secondary schools have students. Many years later I approached Mike, when he was secretary of Leicestershire CC, on behalf of my son, to ask for the annual accounts of the Club, which being in the public domain presented no difficulty, as we had erroneously thought could be the case. Should Mike read this he might like to know that my son's dissertation on the Management and Finances of a County Cricket Club (actually Derbyshire) in a chapter in which he compared the accounts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Worcestershire, went towards earning him a Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) - a poor man's MBA.

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FROM MIKE TURNER 1946-50 I can assure you that I will be very happy for you to publish Keith Wright's cricket story. However I must admit that although the story reminded me of a happy cricket memory, I can also confirm that I played against R R Pedley sometime after I had left the school and he was the highest scorer in the opposition team. I personally had a lot of support for my sporting activities at the school, and I still have the bat presented to me as 'The School's Outstanding Cricketer ' at my last Speech Day at the DeMontfort Hall. In my school leavers autograph book, apart from R.R. Pedley's autograph and best wishes, I also have signatures of all the teaching staff at that time. R Beaumont wrote 'With happy memories of spinning cricket balls' and J.E.Wardle wrote 'May your life be straighter than your bowling' !! I had a special affection for J E Wardle, as he used to give me threepence ' for a bag of chips ' whenever I bowled him out in the nets ! Happy days! FROM DICK LAWRENCE 1934-39 Thank you for OWT68. On every occasion I avidly seek a contribution from a former schoolmate from the years of my attendance at City Boys (1934-39) but am invariably disappointed! The consequences of advancing years I suppose, although it would be interesting to hear if anybody remembers me - I was known as Harry Lawrence!!!! FROM GEORGE S MAY 1932-37 Born in 1921, I went to Thurnby C of E School and gained a scholarship to CBS in September 1932. Because I was below the average age of the form I was able to stay on until the end of the autumn term of 1937, and thus had one term in 6th form science. From Thurnby and Bushby the following went to CBS: Roy Fielding, Arthur Fowl, Alec|Sherriff, Peter and Julian Pawley, Pat Urquhart and myself. From Houghton-On-The-Hill there was C P Davies, and from Billesdon, Humphrey(?) Wadkins. The masters I recall are: Smith (Chemistry) Kearney (Science) Fisher (Religious Instruction) H J Trump (History) Jeeves (French) Copley (German) Standing (English) Miss O'Driscoll (Elocution) Carter (Geography) A G Carpenter (Maths) R W Crammer (Headmaster) Names from my form 5A: Joe Lester, Alec Pye, Jack Smedley, John F C Harrison, Jimmy Oswin, Lancaster, Ken Preston, A Hurst, A Hirst, F Philp, Jack Sowden. John F C Harrison went to Cambridge and became Professor of History at the University of Sussex. He wrote a book, Scholarship Boy, published by Rivers Oram Press in 1995. H J Trump, history master after WW2, moved away and much later published a book on the history of Teignmouth, published by Philimore. During the summer of 1937 our form (and perhaps others in year 5) had to take an aptitude test as part of an investigation by the City of Leicester Education Committee. In my case, it said I should be a scientific instrument maker, but there were very few openings in Leicester for that kind of work. However, because I was very keen on building my own short-wave radio receivers, and belonged to the Radio Society of Great Britain, I was asked to fill in a questionnaire organised by a branch of the Admiralty (DSIR?) In due course, in the autumn of 1940, I received a letter from the Admiralty saying that my name had been put forward for work in a government establishment. If I was interested, I should attend for interview at the Admiralty, London. This I did, and was interviewed by Mr F Brundrett (Later Sir Frederick) He offered me a job in the radio department of the Royal Aircraft

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Establishment, Farnborough. I went there on 19th March 1941, as a result of receiving a telegram on the 18th saying report to RAE tomorrow! During WW2 I worked on airborne radio equipment, and particularly radio interference from the then new RADAR sets. Not only in aircraft, but also in the Fighter Direction Ships used off the beach head in June 1944, and on various landbased radios that caused problems. Post WW2 I had a lot to do with the design of the airborne equipment for the UK Directional Sonabuoy system in Firefly, Sunderland, Shackleton and Gannet aircraft. I had to go to Patuxent River, Maryland, as part of the team to demonstrate to the US Navy the UK Directional Sonabuoy. Much later we did a lot of investagatory work on the problems of aircraft communicating via satellites, both military and civil. Also during WW2 I did quite a lot of flying in connection with the development of the MONICA tail-warning device in Lancaster, Halifax and Wellington bombers. Typical of the Scientific Civil Service, after becoming a Chief Experimental Officer there was a desire to rationalise the number of grades, and thus I became a Principal Scientific Officer, even though I was a Chartered Engineer by that time. OBITUARY Brian Thompson, former teacher, passed away March 2011 FROM DAVID WIGNALL 1945-50 I have been re-reading the December Old Wyves Tales and am prompted to comment, whether of interest to others I do not know. On the matter of masters' nicknames, I would mention Mr Willan was known as Tokyo Joe, Mr Wardle as The Count. He was known for using a City Boys school tie round his waist to hold up his trousers rather than using a belt, and Mr Nockels as Fat Arthur. Schoolboys are not known for their kindness in these matters. There was an occasion during a German lesson with Mr N, during which German to English took a back seat for a good portion of the lesson, when one of our number translated whatever German word was on offer to English as Mardy. The proceedings were halted for a time while the meaning of this word was explained to Mr N. May I tell you now of two 'it’s a small world' coincidences. Firstly that the deputy headmaster for at least part of my sojourn at CBS had been, in his younger days, a teacher at Avenue Road School in Leicester, and one of his pupils during that period was my mother. The other concerns a fellow pupil, Barry Scarborough. We started at CBS at the same time and were in the same forms, 1 Alpha, 3 Alpha, 4 Alpha and 5 Alpha, although he was a year older than me. He left school a year earlier than I did, but when I left and went for an interview with a firm of accountants, who should come into the room where I was waiting but the said BS. Eventually he left work for his spell of National Service, and a year or so later so did I. I was eventually posted to RAF Watnall, between Nottingham and Ilkeston, and guess who was there! If you said BS you can have top marks, in fact for part of our time at Watnall we ended up in the same hut. On the matter of a Staffordshire holiday camp, this was known as Shooting Butts and I also went there for a two-week holiday, during which I remember we were told we would not under any circumstances be going into Cannock, the nearest town, due to there having been a number of polio illnesses diagnosed, and this was of course before the discovery/invention/designing of anti-polio vaccines, so there was at that time a lot of worry about the possibility of contracting the very serious illness.

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FROM LAURIE FORD 1962-66 I noted in Old Wives 65 lots of references to Flo Willan. I have strong and not too pleasant memories of Flo. I remember well the tests referred to. I always thought the arrangement whereby the unlucky ones with the lowest marks had to sit at the front was suspect, as those at the back with top marks usually stayed there as it was easier to use crib sheets undetected! I also had the unpleasant experience of being belted on the back for the heinous crime of not folding my arms. Not surprisingly I failed biology (twice) at Northampton, which was where I moved to 2/3 of the way through the fourth year. A few memories about other teachers:- Bill Sykes: I think Paul Wheatley summed up some of our lessons with Bill perfectly in the last 'Old Wyves'.. Wally Wardle: Those terrifying words 'I'm waiting' Bill Gates: Bill joined around '64 or 65 and taught English. Was my form master in the 3rd year, and always seemd very fair. He was from Leeds, and always happy to debate the merits of City against Leeds (who were then a very strong outfit) He also looked after the badminton club, of which I was a team member. Wonder where he is now? Geoff Elliot: Another of the Yorkshire mafia. From Sheffield, taught French and started Rugby at City Boys. Bunny Hutchinson: let's just say woodwork and I did not get on. I think I probably split more wood than he had budgeted for. Charlie Varley: inexplicably thought some of my art was quite good. I think he was probably the only one!! Tony Baxter: taught me Maths in the 4th year. Had it not been for him I would never have passed Maths 'O' level, as at Northampton my maths teacher was - lets just say not very good. Ding Dong Bell: met with him on my last day before moving to Northampton. Obviously had marginal impact upon him, as he thought I was going to Southampton. I think my only other contact with him was when given the form that allowed me to get a colours tie (for badminton). Other miscellaneous Elbow Lane Memories: Record club: spent many a lunchtime in the hall listening to the 45's. Some tracks heard again years later can take me back to those lunchtimes. Though I do seem to remember that for a while the record club was closed down, and when reopened you needed a pass to be allowed in. 2nd form yard: excellent facility for use of 2B only. Our own yard. After-school football: played many a long game after school in the yard. Always played better there than at Grace Road. Obviously a better player on tarmac. I was never in any danger of getting into any City Boys football team. Lunchtime handball: with benches as goals. A surprisingly well-stocked library. The crocodile walk from Humberstone Gate to Elbow Lane. Vestry Street swimming baths, with a sadistic instructor who pushed you in the water whether you were ready or not. One such belly flopper put me off diving almost for life. FROM ALAN PYKETT (1959-66) He spotted this item on the Mr Leicester FIFTY YEARS AGO Page of The Leicester Mercury dated March 30th. The son of an ambassador, and grandson of a former Prime Minister of Indo-China, is now a pupil at the City of Leicester Boys' Grammar School. Nguyen Van Thuan is a fourth-former, and he is living with a Leicester family with two boys who are also at the school. Mr E J W

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 69-8

Bell, the school's headmaster, got to know the boy's grandfather, the former Premier Mr Pham Huy Luc, in England just after the war. The ex-Premier came to England frequently after this, and visited Leicester and the school. Earlier this year his son-inlaw, who was being sent as Vietnamese charge d'affaires to the Ivory Coast, wrote to Mr Bell saying he would like his 14-year-old son to come to Leicester. 'I think it is rather an honour for the school, and for Leicestar, that he should coime here,' said Mr Bell (Nguyen Van Thuan has been mentioned in passing a couple of times in OWT,. Personally I have no recollection of him - Ed) FROM JOHN HAMES 1959-64 I am semi-retired nowadays, and enjoying some well-earned leisure time. Whenever I pass by our old school I think about the good old days. I'm sure most of the pupils enjoyed their time there, even learning a thing or two which stood them in good stead later on. Happy days. I still remember most of the words of the school song, including the latin chorus, and can still picture Bill Sykes playing it on the organ. Sometimes I sing it in my bathroom, with my dulcet tones reverberating round the suburb of Evington. AND FINALLY... Once again my stock of items for OWT is completely used up. I am happy to produce the newsletter so long as you keep me supplied with articles. It is up to you, the members. Even I am running out of things to say in my little endpieces! I had a bus pass, valid for the corporation fleet but not Midland Red. The passes were renewed each year, I think at the end of the summer term. The majority of conductors (remember them?) only gave the passes a cursory glance as they passed down the bus, but the occasional officious one asked that it be removed from the wallet for closer scrunity. To me the Midland Red buses, with their plush moquette seats and posh interiors, seemed exotic compared to the mundane Leylands and AEC's of the corporation fleet. The latter's ticket machines had a row of six(?) levers, being filled with tickets of different denominations. The Midland Red conductors dialled in the fare, then turned a handle to produce the tickets. When paying for a ticket one did not ask for a tuppeny one, or a threepenny one etc. The standard phrase was, two please, or three please, that being the amount in old pennies. It was rumoured that the passes were not valid after 5pm, so if you left school late, either because of detention or some other form of activity, there was always a frisson of concern (at least in my case) if you did not have the fare available in case a jobsworth conductor decided to be awkward. Now the wheel has come full circle, and once again I have a bus pass! Dennis J Duggan 1959-64 April 11th 2011.

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 1

Index ~~~1~~~ 1935-40, 62-7 1947, 62-1, 62-14, 63-4, 64- 1823, 66-10 1936, 60-4, 62-9, 62-14, 63- 5, 64-7, 65-4, 66-3, 66-4, 1860, 67-2 5, 67-4, 68-1 68-5 1870, 63-5 1936-41, 60-4, 62-9, 63-5, 1947-51, 68-5 1872, 65-4 67-4, 68-1 1947-52, 62-1, 62-14 1874, 63-5 1937, 61-6, 62-14, 69-5 1947-54, 65-4, 66-3, 66-4 1878, 61-3 1937-41, 62-14 1947-c1977, 64-5 1880, 67-6 1939, 61-7, 64-6, 66-3 1948, 62-14, 63-4, 64-2, 65- 1881, 61-3 1939-44, 66-3 3, 65-4, 66-1, 66-4, 67-5, 1882, 61-4 1940, 60-3, 61-1, 61-5, 62-2, 69-4 1883, 63-5 62-15, 63-1, 63-4, 64-1, 1948-50, 62-14 1899-1900, 62-13 69-5 1948-52, 62-14 1903, 63-5 1940-41, 62-15, 63-4 1948-53, 67-5 1904, 63-5 1940-45, 61-5 1948-54, 64-2, 65-3, 66-4, 1905, 63-5 1940-47, 60-3, 61-1, 62-2, 69-4 1906, 63-5 63-1, 64-1 1949, 60-5, 60-6, 60-8, 61-3, 1908, 63-4, 63-5, 66-2 1941, 62-7, 62-12, 62-14, 61-5, 61-6, 62-4, 63-4, 1908-13, 63-4 62-15, 65-6, 67-1, 69-6 63-6, 64-7, 65-3, 65-7, 1908-19, 63-4 1941-44, 62-14, 62-15 66-1, 66-6, 67-6, 67-7, 1910, 63-5, 64-5 1941-45, 62-12 68-1, 68-7, 69-1 1910-1945, 64-5 1941-46, 62-7, 65-6 1949-54, 61-3, 61-5, 61-6 1912, 63-5 1942, 61-8, 62-15, 63-4, 64- 1949-56, 60-5, 63-6, 64-7, 1913, 63-5 3, 64-6 65-3, 66-6, 67-7, 68-1, 1915, 61-6, 61-7 1942-45, 64-3 68-7, 69-1 1919, 63-4, 63-5, 66-1, 67-1, 1943-47, 62-14 1949-57, 61-6, 65-7, 66-1, 67-6, 68-1, 69-1 1943-48, 65-5, 66-2, 66-3 67-6 1919-1976, 69-1 1944, 60-6, 61-2, 62-3, 62-7, 1950, 60-4, 60-5, 61-5, 61-8, 1919-76, 66-1, 67-1, 68-1, 62-14, 62-15, 63-1, 63-5, 62-3, 62-4, 62-6, 62-14, 69-1 65-6, 65-8, 66-3, 66-10, 63-4, 63-6, 63-7, 64-4, 1920, 62-13, 63-5, 66-6 69-6 64-7, 65-1, 65-5, 65-6, 1921, 63-5, 69-5 1944-46, 62-14, 62-15 65-8, 66-1, 66-2, 66-4, 1924, 63-6 1944-48, 65-6 66-5, 66-9, 67-1, 67-6, 1925, 63-5 1944-49, 65-8, 66-3 67-7, 68-1, 68-2, 68-4, 1926, 63-5 1944-51, 60-6, 61-2, 62-3, 68-6, 69-4 1928, 61-3, 63-4, 63-6 63-1 1950/51, 63-4 1928-1965, 61-3 1944-52, 66-10 1950-53, 62-14 1929, 63-4 1945, 61-6, 61-8, 62-14, 63- 1950-55, 60-4, 63-6, 66-9, 1930, 63-4 5, 64-3, 66-2, 69-2, 69-6 67-1, 68-4, 69-4 1931, 61-6, 63-4 1945-50, 61-6, 63-5, 64-3, 1950-56, 62-6, 63-7, 66-5 1931-34, 61-6 69-6 1950-57, 60-5, 64-4, 65-1, 1932, 62-14, 63-4, 69-5 1945-54, 62-14 67-6 1932/33, 63-4 1946, 61-4, 61-6, 62-7, 63-4, 1950-58, 65-5, 65-6 1932-36, 62-14 64-4, 65-8, 68-5, 68-8, 1951, 61-4, 62-3, 62-4, 62-6, 1932-37, 62-14, 69-5 69-5 62-14, 63-2, 63-4, 63-7, 1933/34, 63-4 1946-1950, 68-8 65-3, 66-4, 66-8, 67-2, 1934, 62-14, 69-5 1946-1955, 65-8 67-3, 67-7, 68-4, 68-5, 1934-39, 69-5 1946-50, 68-8, 69-5 68-8 1935, 62-7, 64-6, 64-7 1946-51, 61-4, 62-7, 68-5 1951-52, 62-14 1935-39, 64-6 1946-52, 61-6 1951-54, 67-7, 68-4

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 2

1951-56, 62-6, 63-7, 65-3, 63-8, 64-3, 65-6, 65-8, 1962/3, 61-5 66-8, 67-2, 67-3 66-5, 66-7 1962-66, 66-8, 68-4, 69-7 1951-59, 67-3 1957-58, 61-4 1962-67, 67-5, 68-3 1952, 62-14, 62-15, 63-4, 1957-62, 60-9, 62-2, 65-6 1962-69, 62-7, 64-2, 65-3 64-2, 66-6, 66-10, 68-5, 1957-63, 62-7 1963, 60-4, 63-6, 65-3, 67-5 68-7 1957-68, 60-10, 61-4, 62-9, 1964, 60-6, 62-15, 63-4, 64- 1952/53, 63-4 63-8, 64-3, 66-5 2, 64-6 1952‐1957, 68-5 1958, 60-4, 60-11, 61-6, 62- 1964-69, 64-6 1952-54, 66-10 10, 62-15, 63-3, 63-4, 63- 1964-70, 64-2 1952-60, 64-2 7, 64-7, 65-4, 65-7, 66-8, 1964-71, 60-6 1953, 62-4, 62-15, 63-2, 63- 69-3 1965, 61-8, 62-15, 63-4, 63- 4, 63-7, 64-2, 64-4, 65-4, 1958-54, 61-6 5, 64-2, 64-6, 66-2, 66-5, 65-7, 66-1, 66-4, 66-7, 1958-60, 62-15 68-6, 68-8 67-2, 67-3, 68-7, 69-1 1958-62, 60-11, 65-4 1965-66, 62-15 1953/54, 63-4 1958-63, 60-4, 63-4 1965-67, 62-15 1953-55, 62-15 1958-64, 62-10, 63-3, 69-3 1965-76, 63-4, 63-5 1953-57, 64-4 1959, 60-1, 60-11, 61-1, 61- 1966, 63-4, 63-6, 64-2, 64-6 1953-58, 62-4, 63-7, 67-2, 3, 61-4, 61-6, 61-7, 62-4, 1966/67, 63-4 67-3 62-6, 62-15, 63-1, 63-3, 1967, 60-9, 62-13, 63-4, 64- 1953-59, 66-7 63-4, 63-8, 64-2, 65-4, 2 1953-60, 64-2, 67-2 65-7, 66-5, 66-6, 67-7, 1967/68, 63-4 1953-61, 65-7 69-7, 69-8 1967-74, 60-9, 62-13 1954, 60-8, 60-10, 60-11, 1959-60, 62-15, 63-4, 64-2, 1968, 63-4, 65-7 61-8, 63-4, 63-6, 64-5, 65-7 1968/69, 63-4 65-4, 65-5, 66-3, 66-6, 1959-63, 60-11, 61-3, 62-4, 1969/70, 63-4 66-7, 67-2, 68-6 66-6 1969-73, 66-2 1954/55, 63-4 1959-64, 61-1, 63-8, 67-7, 1970, 60-9, 63-4, 65-3, 65-8 1954-59, 60-11, 65-4 69-8 1970/71, 63-4 1954-61, 60-8, 60-10 1959-65, 60-1, 61-7 1971, 62-8, 62-15, 63-4 1954-62, 66-7 1959-66, 61-6, 66-5, 69-7 1971/72, 63-4 1955, 60-5, 61-6, 62-13, 62- 1959-67, 62-6, 63-3 1971-76, 62-8 15, 63-4, 63-6, 64-2, 64-4, 1960, 60-4, 60-6, 60-9, 60- 1972, 63-4 64-7, 65-3, 65-4, 66-9, 10, 60-11, 61-4, 63-4, 65- 1973, 62-14, 63-4 69-2 7, 66-6, 66-7, 66-8, 67-2, 1973/74, 63-4 1955/56, 60-5, 63-4 68-8 1974, 62-8, 63-4, 65-3 1955-57, 62-15 1960-61, 60-11 1974/75, 63-4 1955-60, 64-7, 65-3, 66-9 1960-62, 60-11 1975, 63-4 1955-61, 61-6 1960-64, 60-11 1975/76, 63-4 1955-62, 64-2, 65-3, 69-2 1960-66, 61-4, 66-7 1976, 61-1, 62-1, 63-1, 63-4, 1955-63, 63-6 1960s, 62-8 64-1, 65-1 1956, 60-5, 60-6, 62-15, 63- 1961, 60-6, 60-11, 61-4, 61- 1977, 63-6, 64-4, 64-5 4, 64-5, 65-4, 65-6, 65-7, 5, 62-15, 63-4, 63-6, 64-3, 1978, 61-3 66-2, 66-9, 67-3, 68-5, 64-5, 67-5, 68-4, 68-7, 1979, 61-8 68-7, 69-2 69-2, 69-3 1982, 63-7 1956-63, 64-5, 65-6, 66-2, 1961-63, 62-15 1983, 61-8 66-9 1961-65, 68-4 1985, 63-6 1956-64, 60-6, 65-7 1961-66, 61-5, 64-3, 68-7 1988, 62-8 1956-7, 69-2 1961-67, 67-5 1991, 68-1 1957, 60-9, 60-10, 60-11, 1962, 61-5, 62-7, 63-4, 64-2, 1993, 68-8 61-4, 62-2, 62-7, 62-9, 65-3, 66-8, 67-5, 67-6, 1994, 68-5 68-3, 68-4, 69-3, 69-7 1995, 67-2, 69-5

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1996, 62-8 Arthur, 64-2, 65-2, 65-3, 65- BEEBY, 66-8, 67-3 1997, 64-6 5, 66-1, 66-2, 66-7, 66-11, Belgrave, 62-3, 62-4, 62-5, 1998, 66-6, 67-1 67-1, 68-2, 69-5, 69-6 62-8, 62-9, 65-6, 65-8, Askey, 66-11 67-2 ~~~A~~~ Auchengillan, 67-2 Bell, 60-3, 60-5, 60-6, 63-5, A.K.C, 64-5 Auden, 66-8 64-4, 64-5, 65-5, 65-6, Abbey, 61-3, 61-8, 62-4, 63- Augustin, 68-3 65-7, 65-8, 67-4, 67-6, 3, 64-3 Ausfahrt, 61-6 68-4, 68-7, 69-7, 69-8 Adams, 62-12 Ausgang, 61-6 BELLAMY, 62-10, 63-3, 69-3 Adcock, 69-2 Austen, 61-2 Belvoir, 60-5, 61-5 Addy, 62-12 Australian, 66-4, 68-2 Bennett, 62-9, 62-10, 63-8 Admiralty, 69-5 Austrian, 62-2 BENNETT, 66-9 ADRIAN, 62-6, 63-3 Auty, 66-8 Benson, 63-5 Africa, 66-8, 68-5 Avery, 63-4, 63-5 Beresford, 62-10 Ainsdale, 65-4 Aylestone, 62-7, 63-7 Berkeley, 63-4 Alan, 60-4, 61-7, 62-10, 63- Berkhampstead, 60-8, 61-8 7, 65-6, 67-2 ~~~B~~~ Berman, 62-12 ALAN, 60-4, 61-3, 63-4, 63- Babbage, 60-9 Bernard, 67-1, 68-2 5, 66-5, 66-6, 67-5, 69-7 Bachelors, 66-1 BERNARD, 64-2, 69-2 Albert, 64-5 Baguley, 62-15, 66-5 Bernie, 66-8 Alec, 60-6, 69-2, 69-5 Bailey, 62-10 Berrisford, 62-10 Alec|Sherriff, 69-5 BAILEY, 63-5 Berry, 61-7 Alfie, 67-1 Bardot, 68-2 Bert, 60-2, 62-8, 66-8, 68-5, Algebra, 63-1 Bark, 62-12 68-6 Allan, 62-10, 65-6 Barkby, 62-12 Bertie, 67-1 Alpha, 61-6, 62-7, 62-10, BARKBY, 62-12 Berties, 67-1 62-12, 62-13, 64-2, 64-6, Barnabas, 64-3, 66-8, 67-2 Biggs, 68-2, 68-7, 69-4 66-2, 66-3, 66-5, 66-9, Barnett, 61-6 BIGGS, 67-7, 68-1, 69-1 67-4, 67-5, 67-7, 68-1, Barnsley, 63-4 Bijou, 66-9 68-2, 68-5, 69-6 Barry, 61-7, 69-6 Bill, 60-2, 60-11, 62-5, 63-6, ALUN, 60-6 Barton, 69-2 64-2, 65-8, 66-1, 66-3, American, 60-3, 61-7, 65-5, Basher, 64-2, 64-5, 65-5, 66- 66-8, 66-9, 66-10, 66-11, 69-2 6, 66-7, 66-8, 66-10, 68-2, 67-3, 67-4, 67-6, 67-7, Amies, 66-2 68-6, 69-3 68-1, 68-2, 68-3, 68-4, Amsterdam, 60-6 Bashers, 66-7 68-5, 68-6, 68-7, 69-7, Ancaster, 61-3 Basle, 67-3 69-8 Anderson, 61-2, 67-6, 68-3 Bass, 67-1 BILL, 65-7 Andy, 62-14, 63-4, 64-2, 66- Bateman, 66-10 Billesdon, 62-13, 69-5 2, 66-8, 67-6, 68-1, 68-3, Battersby, 67-7, 68-1, 68-2 Bingley, 64-6 68-7, 68-8, 69-1 Battersea, 61-7 Biochemistry, 63-8 ANDY, 66-2 Baum, 62-15 Biology, 63-6, 64-4, 65-6, Angi, 61-4 Baxter, 60-1, 65-6, 67-6, 68- 65-7, 65-8, 66-2, 66-9, Anstey, 64-4 3, 68-4, 68-7, 69-1, 69-7 67-6, 68-3 Anthony, 67-5 Bayliss, 62-4, 68-2 Biometrics, 65-2 Anthropology, 66-6 Beacroft, 62-10 Bird, 61-3, 65-6 Anti-log, 60-9 Bearje, 63-1 BIRD, 60-8 Archaeology, 66-6 Beaumont, 61-2, 66-1, 66-2, Bishop, 62-10, 63-5 Archie, 60-5 66-4, 67-7, 68-1, 68-2, Black, 63-1, 63-3, 65-2, 67-6 Ardsley, 63-4 68-7, 69-5 BLAIKIE, 65-3 Bede, 61-7 Blair, 67-2 Beeby, 67-1, 67-2 Blakemore, 62-12

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 4

Blinfold, 60-3 Brookes, 62-6, 64-7, 66-7 Carruthers, 67-6 Blount, 65-6 BROOKES, 63-7 Carter, 62-13, 63-1, 63-5, Bodgers, 66-2 Broughton, 62-7, 62-12 65-5, 69-5 Bohn, 61-6 Brown, 64-5 Carver, 65-6 Bolex, 60-6 BROWN, 65-4 Castells, 66-2 Bolton, 63-7, 64-4, 64-7, 66- Bruges, 68-5 Castle, 63-4 8 Brundall, 60-3 Castro, 67-7 BOLTON, 63-7, 67-2 Brundrett, 69-5 Catholic, 62-6, 64-4 Bond, 63-4, 63-6, 63-7 Bryan, 62-15 Catholics, 61-5, 62-2, 65-8 Boneham, 62-6 BRYAN, 63-6 Cathy, 67-5 Bonnington, 65-2 Brylcreem, 65-8 Catterick, 64-6 Boothroyd, 62-5 Brylcreme, 64-4 Cayless, 60-7, 62-4, 65-6 Bosworth, 66-8, 67-7, 68-4 Buchenwald, 66-10 Cecil, 60-2, 60-3 Botany, 66-2 Buddy, 60-11, 63-6 Cecily, 61-6 Bott, 61-6 Bufton, 63-5, 64-5, 65-6, 65- Cerro, 66-6 Bottesford, 66-10 8, 66-1, 66-3, 66-8, 66-10, Chalky, 62-11 Bourne, 63-4 67-7, 68-1, 68-6 Challifont, 63-5 Bowden, 63-4, 64-2 Bull, 62-13, 65-5, 68-2, 68-6 Challis, 63-2 Bradgate, 61-3 Bunny, 61-5, 61-8, 61-9, 62- Chambers, 62-5 Braithwaite, 65-6 2, 62-11, 64-3, 68-4, 69-7 Champion, 64-5 Bramley, 66-4 Bunty, 60-5 Chancery, 66-1 Braunstone, 64-4, 65-1, 67- BURBECK, 62-6, 63-7, 66-5 Chaplin, 62-8, 68-5 7, 68-4 Burden, 65-8 Chapman, 61-2 Bray, 68-5 Burdett, 62-13, 68-2, 68-7 CHAPMAN, 60-4, 66-7 Bresslaw, 67-1 Burgon, 66-1 Charles, 60-9, 61-3, 61-7, Brewin, 63-5, 64-2, 64-5, Burrows, 61-4, 61-6, 62-11, 62-4, 64-7, 65-4, 65-7, 65-5, 66-1, 66-6, 66-7, 65-4, 66-2, 66-4, 67-2, 67-7 66-8, 66-10, 67-7, 68-1, 69-3 Charley, 61-8 68-2, 68-6, 69-3 BURROWS, 60-10, 61-4, 62- Charlie, 68-4, 69-7 Brewood, 64-2, 65-3 9, 63-8, 64-3, 66-5 Charnwood, 61-3, 64-1 Brian, 60-1, 60-4, 60-7, 60- Burton, 61-8 Chas, 60-2, 64-5, 64-6, 65-7, 8, 61-3, 61-7, 62-1, 62-4, Busby, 65-6 66-3, 67-7, 68-1, 68-6, 62-7, 62-9, 64-2, 64-7, Bushby, 69-5 69-3 65-1, 66-3, 66-8, 67-6, Bushey, 61-8 Chemistry, 60-10, 60-11, 61- 67-7, 68-2, 68-3, 69-1, Butler, 62-14, 63-1, 66-8 3, 61-4, 64-5, 65-5, 65-7, 69-6 Butts, 69-6 67-7, 68-1, 68-7, 69-5 BRIAN, 61-5, 61-7, 63-6, 66- Byron, 61-2 Cheney, 66-8 7 Chesterfield, 60-4, 67-6, 68- Bridget, 68-2 ~~~C~~~ 3 Brienz, 67-3 Cadman, 66-8, 67-2 Chichester, 61-8 Brieze, 67-3 Cameron, 66-4 Chlan, 61-1 Briggs, 68-6 Cannock, 69-6 Chopin, 66-8 Bright, 67-6 Cantello, 62-6, 63-7 Chrichton, 67-6 Brighton, 60-7, 60-8 Canterbury, 64-4, 65-2 CHRICHTON, 62-7 Bristol, 61-4 CAPENERHURST, 68-5 Chris, 60-10, 63-3, 66-9, 67- Britain, 67-2, 69-5 Capenhurst, 65-6 6 Broad, 63-8 CAPP, 64-2, 69-2 CHRIS, 60-9 Brompton, 66-4 Carp, 64-5 Christoper, 66-6 BROOK, 60-1, 61-1, 62-1, Carpenter, 60-4, 62-13, 63- Christopher, 64-3 64-1, 65-1, 66-1, 67-1, 1, 63-5, 64-5, 68-1, 68-5, Chuck, 61-4, 61-7 68-1, 69-1 69-5 Churchill, 60-11, 61-4

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 5

Claire, 60-2 Cubberley, 62-14, 68-5 DUGGAN, 60-1, 61-1, 62-1, Clark, 67-7, 68-4 Cullis, 68-2 63-1, 64-1, 65-1, 66-1, Clarke, 64-4, 64-5, 65-5, 65- Cumberland, 64-3 67-1, 68-1, 69-1 6 Cumin, 66-11 Duguid, 61-7 CLASP, 61-6 Cyril, 66-3 Duncan, 62-15, 66-4 Clay, 67-7, 68-2, 68-3 Dunkley, 61-6, 63-7, 67-7, CLBS, 60-10, 61-4, 63-8 ~~~D~~~ 68-1, 68-2, 68-7 Cleave, 67-7 Daimler, 65-8 DUNKLEY, 65-7, 66-1, 67-6 Cliff, 61-6, 63-7, 68-7 Daisy, 66-8 Durant, 61-7 CLIFF, 65-7, 66-1, 67-6 Daphne, 61-8 Dylan, 66-4 Clifford, 67-7, 68-1, 68-2, Dartmouth, 65-2 Dysrhythmics, 66-4 68-4 Davenport, 62-12 Clive, 62-10 Daves, 66-8 ~~~E~~~ CLIVE, 62-13 Davies, 61-6, 69-5 Earls, 63-4 Coates, 61-6, 65-6 D-Day, 66-3 Eartz, 63-1 COATES, 60-6, 61-2, 61-7, Dean, 65-2 Eastman, 60-6 62-3, 63-1, 66-3 Demontfort, 68-2 Ecole, 66-5 COCKBILL, 67-5 DeMontfort, 69-5 Economics, 62-8 Coeur, 68-2 De-Montfort, 68-6 Eden, 62-15 Cole, 65-6 Denton, 62-12 Edgar, 67-6 Coley, 60-7, 62-4 Derrick, 67-6 Edith, 61-6 Colin, 66-3, 66-8, 67-2 Desmond, 66-8 Edwards, 66-4 COLIN, 66-8, 67-3 Deutsch, 62-2 Elbow, 60-11, 61-4, 61-5, Collins, 66-8 Deutsche, 63-8 62-15, 64-3, 64-6, 67-5, Coltman, 62-10 Deverill, 65-6 67-6, 68-3, 68-4, 69-7 Columbia, 66-6 Diane, 67-1 Elizabeth, 66-2, 66-10 Compton, 67-7, 68-1, 68-2 Dick, 69-2 Ellen, 64-5 Cooper, 63-5, 66-8, 67-2 DICK, 66-2, 69-5 Ellicock, 62-5, 66-7 Co-operative, 62-3 Dickens, 68-3 Elliot, 66-9, 68-4, 69-7 Copains, 66-9 Dickensian, 64-2 Elliott, 66-8, 66-10, 67-6, COPE, 66-7 Differentiation, 66-1 68-3 Copley, 69-5 Ding-Dong, 62-6 ELLIOTT, 61-6 Coram, 60-8, 61-8 Dinu, 66-8 Ellis, 61-5 Coriolanus, 66-8 Dixie, 67-7, 68-4 Elvis, 64-4 Cornfield, 65-6 Dobson, 66-3 Embury, 64-5 Corpus, 67-7 Donald, 68-1 Emeritus, 61-4, 66-3 COSSH, 69-3 Doncaster, 63-4 Enderby, 66-3 Coventry, 64-4 Dooley, 64-5 Eric, 60-9, 61-3, 62-12 Crammer, 60-8, 61-8, 62-4, Dormobile, 65-7 ERIC, 60-8 62-12, 63-5, 64-1, 65-5, Dorothy, 69-2 ERIK, 62-10, 63-3, 69-3 68-1, 68-7, 69-5 Downes, 69-2 Ernest, 64-2, 65-2 Cranwell, 65-2 Downing, 60-3, 62-6, 63-4, Ernie, 63-6 Crewe, 62-9 63-5, 64-6, 66-9, 67-6, Evans, 61-6, 62-12, 64-4, CRICHTON, 64-2, 65-3 68-1, 68-3 65-1, 65-7, 66-1 Crocker, 61-2, 62-14, 68-5, DSIR, 69-5 Evington, 63-7, 64-2, 65-3, 68-6 Ducky, 66-10 66-9, 69-8 Crooks, 67-1 Duggan, 61-7, 61-9, 62-1, Exam, 63-1 Cross, 63-6, 64-2, 65-4, 68-6 62-15, 63-8, 64-2, 64-7, Exeter, 61-6, 66-2, 67-7, 68- Crosscountry, 63-3 65-8, 66-11, 67-8, 68-8, 1 Croydon, 61-7, 64-6 69-8 Cryer, 61-7

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 6

~~~F~~~ ~~~G~~~ Godfrey, 65-1 Fagging, 62-10 Gallowtree, 64-4 Gogol, 62-3, 68-6 Fags, 62-10 GAMBLE, 62-7, 67-7, 68-4 Goldwyn, 60-6 Fahey, 66-8 Gannet, 69-6 Gooday, 62-15 Falcons, 66-10 Garner, 68-2 Goode, 66-3 Farnborough, 69-6 Gary, 61-7 Gordon, 61-6, 65-5, 66-10 Farnley, 63-4 Gaskill, 67-7 Gorleston, 60-7 Farrant, 66-8 Gater, 63-5 Gosling, 66-10 Farthing, 62-14 Gates, 66-9, 68-4, 69-7 Gothic, 66-8 Fawkes, 61-1 Gateway, 62-10, 64-3, 66-8 Gould, 62-10, 62-11, 68-2, Featherstone, 60-9 GCSE, 65-8, 68-2 69-1 FEATHERSTONE, 60-1 Genesis, 63-7, 64-4, 64-7, Grace, 60-10, 61-5, 62-5, Fellowship, 62-7 67-1 63-3, 63-7, 64-3, 64-5, Fielding, 63-6, 64-3, 66-8, Genevieve, 60-6 65-3, 65-6, 66-3, 66-4, 69-5 Geoff, 61-6, 61-7, 62-2, 62- 66-8, 67-3, 67-7, 68-1, Fielding-Johnson, 64-3 6, 65-4, 66-4, 66-6, 66-9, 68-2, 68-4, 68-6, 69-7 Fields,where, 64-3 67-6, 68-3, 68-4, 69-7 Gradgrind, 64-2 Fighter, 69-6 GEOFF, 61-5, 64-3, 68-7 Graham, 66-10, 68-6, 69-2 Filbert, 68-2 Geoffrey, 61-5, 66-10 GRAHAM, 60-5, 68-5 Fisher, 61-5, 63-5, 64-1, 65- Geographer, 68-7 GRAHAME, 66-9 5, 66-6, 68-5, 69-5 Geography, 61-6, 63-1, 64- Grainger, 62-5, 62-14, 65-8 FISHER, 60-6 5, 65-5, 66-3, 67-7, 68-1, Granby, 65-5, 65-6 Fitzimmons, 64-4 69-5 Granger, 62-10 Fitzsimmons, 63-7 George, 63-5, 64-5, 65-3, Graves, 62-7 Flemish, 68-5 65-6 Greaves, 62-10 Flew, 67-1 GEORGE, 64-4, 65-1, 69-5 Greek, 65-3 Florence, 64-5 Gerald, 61-6 Green, 60-2, 60-3, 64-5, 64- Floss, 64-5 Gerhardt, 62-14 6, 67-5, 69-3, 69-4 Flynn, 64-2 Gerry, 61-2 Greenhalgh, 66-8 Fogerty, 68-5 Gestetner, 66-6 Greensleeves, 66-10 Fogey, 65-5 Gibson, 62-11 Greenwich, 62-8 Ford, 67-5, 67-6, 68-3 Gilfedder, 64-3 Gregory, 65-7, 67-7, 68-2, FORD, 66-8, 68-4, 69-7 Gilman, 60-5, 60-6, 60-8, 68-3 Francis, 63-5 62-4, 62-6, 62-14, 63-3, GREGORY, 66-6 Franey, 60-5, 62-3, 66-1, 66- 63-4, 63-7, 65-7, 66-1, Gresham, 62-5 3, 67-7, 68-1, 68-2, 68-5, 66-8, 67-3, 67-6, 67-7, Gretton, 62-12 68-6, 69-1 67-8, 68-1, 68-2, 68-3 Greys, 66-2 Frank, 62-1, 65-1, 68-5, 69-1 Gimson, 65-6, 66-1, 68-2, Griffiths, 68-2 Franklyn, 62-15, 67-5, 68-3 69-1 Grundy, 62-10, 62-12 Frappe, 68-5 Gina, 68-2 Guildford, 64-5 Fraser, 66-8 Ginger, 64-4, 65-1 Guinness, 60-6, 68-4 Fraulein, 61-6 Ginnett, 62-14 GUNTER, 65-4, 66-3 Frazerburgh, 63-5 Gipsy, 62-5 Guten, 62-13, 67-3 FRCO, 65-4 Glen, 62-10, 65-8 Guxlaxton, 62-14 FRED, 62-12 Glenhills, 65-8 Gwladys, 62-7 Frederick, 62-7, 69-5 Glenton, 66-9, 67-6 GWYC, 60-2, 60-3, 69-3 Freeman, 62-15, 63-4, 64-2, Glocke, 61-6 66-2, 66-8 Goadby, 68-5 ~~~H~~~ Freer, 65-6 Goddard, 65-5, 68-2, 68-5, H.H.Sykes, 66-5 Frere, 62-7 68-6 H.Smith, 64-6 Froggy, 66-2 Godfery, 64-4 Hackley, 67-5

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 7

Haddon, 66-7, 66-10 Hill, 60-6, 61-3, 62-12, 62- ~~~I~~~ Halifax, 69-6 14, 63-4, 65-8, 67-2, 67-5, Iggy, 69-3 Halliday, 62-12 68-2, 69-2 Ilkeston, 69-6 Halls, 60-11, 61-5, 67-7, 68- Hilton, 65-1 Ingham, 63-7, 66-7 1 Hinckley, 62-5, 65-6 INGHAM, 62-4 HALLS, 60-11 Hine, 62-12, 66-2 INGRAM, 62-1 HAMES, 69-8 Hirst, 69-5 Irish, 61-2 Hamlet, 61-2 Hitler, 62-13, 67-6, 68-3, 68- Islington, 67-1 Hancock, 62-12 4 Ivins, 63-5 Handley, 64-6 Hoch, 62-2 Ivor, 65-6, 65-8, 66-3, 66- Handtuch, 68-2, 68-3 Hockey, 68-2 10, 68-6 Handtusch, 61-6 Hodgson, 61-1 Ivory, 69-8 Hanny, 68-2 Hoggart, 66-8 Hantusch, 62-14, 65-5, 66-9 Holland, 60-6 ~~~J~~~ Harlow, 64-6 Holly, 60-11, 63-6 J.E.Wardle, 69-5 Harmer, 68-1 Holman, 62-15, 66-10, 67-3, Jackson, 62-15, 63-4 Harold, 60-6, 61-2, 61-6, 61- 67-7, 68-1 Jacob, 68-5 7, 62-3, 63-1, 66-10, 67-7 Holmes, 63-6, 66-3 Jacobean, 66-8 HAROLD, 60-6, 61-2, 61-7, Holohan, 67-6, 68-3 Jades, 61-7 62-3, 63-1 Hong, 63-6, 67-3 Jaguar, 60-2, 60-3 Harris, 67-6 Honshu, 62-13 Jakob, 68-5 Harrison, 61-6, 62-3, 66-2, Hoods, 66-1 James, 62-7, 64-3, 66-2, 66- 68-2, 68-5, 69-5 Hope, 65-8 8 Harrogate, 65-6 Hopkinson, 65-6 Jeeves, 63-5, 63-8, 65-7, 66- Harry, 65-3, 65-5, 66-9, 69-5 Hoplites, 60-4 1, 68-2, 68-5, 68-6, 69-5 HARRY, 64-3 Horsa, 62-4 Jeff, 61-7, 67-2, 67-6 Harvey, 62-12, 63-6 Houghton, 62-9, 66-3, 69-5 JEFF, 66-7 Harwich, 67-3 Houghton-on-the-Hill, 62-9 Jeffcote, 62-10 Hatfield, 66-4 Houghton-On-The-Hill, 69-5 Jeffrey, 62-12 Hathern, 67-5 Houlditch, 62-7 Jellicoe, 63-7 Hawk, 64-4 Housemaster, 61-8, 64-1 Jenny, 60-1, 62-1 Hawthorne, 65-3 Howard, 60-2, 62-2, 64-5, Jerry, 66-7 Haycraft, 66-1 64-6, 65-7, 66-3, 67-7, Jerrys, 66-7 Hazel, 63-5 68-1, 68-5, 68-6, 69-3 Jessop, 61-5 Headmaster, 64-1, 65-5, 65- Howell, 60-6 Jesu, 67-7 6, 67-7, 69-4, 69-5 Howkins, 66-3 Jews, 65-8 Headteacher, 65-5 Hugh, 61-7, 66-10 Jimmy, 64-3, 69-5 Headteachers, 65-5 Hughes, 62-10 JINKS, 60-9 Heath, 69-2 Hull, 67-2 Johnny, 63-8, 65-7, 68-6 Hector, 67-5, 67-7 Humbertsone, 68-2 Johnson, 63-6, 66-10 Heigham, 60-2 Humphrey, 65-2, 67-3, 69-2, JOHNSON, 68-5 Henderson, 65-6, 66-8 69-5 Jones, 62-14, 62-15, 65-8, HENDERSON, 67-2 Hunt, 60-7, 66-8 66-2, 66-9, 67-1, 67-6, Herts, 61-8 Hurst, 69-5 68-5, 69-2 Heures, 68-5 HURST, 66-9 JONES, 64-5, 65-6 Hickling, 63-4 Hutchings, 68-5 Josh, 62-13, 65-5 Hickman, 66-4 HUTCHINGS, 65-3 Joshua, 66-2 Highcross, 62-9 Hutchinson, 61-5, 61-8, 62- Jouy-En-Josas, 66-5 Highfields, 62-8, 62-9, 66-3 11, 64-3, 68-4, 69-7 JOYCE, 67-3 Hutton, 64-7, 67-7, 68-1 Julian, 65-6, 69-5 JULIAN, 65-8

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 8

Juliet, 64-5, 69-2 Lester, 69-5 Margarets, 67-6, 68-3 Lewin, 68-5 MARK, 62-7 ~~~K~~~ Lewisham, 67-2 Markham, 64-6, 64-7 Kamaraden, 68-3 Leyland, 65-8 MARKHAM, 61-4 Kaye, 67-3, 67-7, 68-1, 69-1 Leylands, 65-8, 69-8 Marlow, 62-14, 63-4, 64-2, Kearney, 62-6, 69-5 Lido, 60-10 66-2, 66-8, 68-1, 69-1 Keene, 61-3 Lindwall, 67-7, 68-1 MARLOW, 66-2 Keith, 61-7, 62-6, 64-2, 64- Line, 68-5 Marner, 66-8 6, 65-3, 65-4, 66-4, 66-8, Linford, 61-6, 64-3 Marney, 61-7 67-2, 67-7, 68-1, 68-2, Lionheart, 60-2 Marsh, 67-6 68-7, 69-4, 69-5 Literacy, 61-1 Marston, 62-5 KEITH, 61-6, 64-3, 66-4, 69- Little, 63-1 Martin, 67-6 4 Littler, 66-3 MARTIN, 66-2 Kelham, 62-5, 62-6 Littleton, 67-3, 69-2 MARTYN, 60-11 Kellett, 66-3 Liverpool, 61-4 Mary, 66-3, 67-7 Kennedy, 68-5 Llanfyllin, 61-1, 65-8 Masonic, 61-8 Kenny, 65-6 Lockley, 67-7 Mathematics, 63-1, 64-3, Ken's, 60-1, 62-1 Lodden, 67-5 64-5 Kershaw, 66-8 Lollobrigida, 68-2 Matosa, 66-6 King, 60-5, 61-7, 63-4, 64-3, Lord, 64-1 Matthews, 62-9, 62-15, 66- 65-6, 66-6, 67-4, 68-7, Loughborough, 63-2 3, 67-7, 68-2 69-2 LOWENSTEIN, 65-4, 66-3 Maurice, 60-4 Kings, 64-5, 68-7 Lowy, 65-4 Mayes, 64-5 Kinks, 61-7 LPTC, 63-5 McCAULIFFE, 63-6 Kirby, 64-5, 65-8, 66-3 LRAM, 65-4 McCullough, 62-10 Kirk, 68-5 Ludorum, 62-4 McDavies, 62-14 Kisby, 62-10 Luigi, 63-4 McNally, 60-7, 66-3, 66-8 Knight, 62-14 Lukes, 65-8 McNulty, 67-3, 69-2 Knighton, 62-7, 64-2, 65-2, Lune, 60-2 Mead, 63-7 66-10, 67-7, 68-4 Lutterworth, 65-8 Mearns, 62-15 Knipton, 61-5 Lydd, 66-5 Measom, 63-7 Knossington, 62-13 Lymphoma, 64-2, 65-2 Measures, 69-2 Knudssen, 67-2, 68-5 Mechanics, 64-7 KNUDSSEN, 66-9, 67-1 ~~~M~~~ Mecklenburgh, 63-7 Kong, 63-6, 67-3 Mablethorpe, 64-3 Medway, 66-3 Krone, 67-3 MACHIN, 68-4, 69-4 Melia, 63-6, 63-8, 64-3, 65- Kyushu, 62-13 Madchen, 61-6 3, 65-6, 66-8, 66-10, 67-1, Madison, 66-3 67-3, 68-4, 68-5, 68-6 ~~~L~~~ Maggie, 66-3 Mellor, 62-8 Lakin, 69-2 Maisey, 61-7 MELLOR, 61-4 Lambley, 66-3 Majut, 62-2, 62-13, 65-5, Melton, 60-10, 62-5 LANGLEY, 62-13 66-2 MERCER, 61-3, 66-6 Langton, 61-7 Malcolm, 61-6, 62-7, 63-7 Merilion, 62-12, 62-13 Lavendar, 60-6 Mallett, 64-6 MERVYN, 65-4 Lawrance, 65-5 Mann, 60-11, 63-6, 65-8, Meyer, 62-2 Leamington, 61-8 66-5 Michael, 62-7, 65-8, 66-4, Lear, 60-5, 69-2 Manners, 61-5 67-3 LEAVESLEY, 65-5, 66-2 Mansfield, 60-10, 61-4 MICHAEL, 61-6, 64-5 Lehman, 66-8, 67-2 Manship, 65-6 Mick, 60-3, 61-6, 64-5, 65-7, Les’s, 66-6, 66-7 Mardy, 69-6 66-5, 66-7, 67-6, 68-3 Leslie, 63-5 Margaret, 65-2 MICK, 60-9, 62-2

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 9

Midgeley, 61-6 Newtons, 60-2, 60-3, 68-6, Parr, 65-6, 65-8 Mike, 61-3, 62-6, 65-6, 65-8, 69-3 Pascall, 66-1 66-3, 66-8, 66-9, 66-10, Newtown, 61-6, 64-3 Pasiecznik, 62-8, 62-9 67-6, 68-2, 68-8, 69-4 Nguyen, 60-9, 69-7, 69-8 PASIECZNIK, 62-8 MIKE, 60-11, 61-3, 65-5, 65- Nicholson, 62-14 Patel, 66-4 6, 66-6, 68-5, 68-8, 69-5 Nobby, 64-4, 65-5, 65-6, 67- Patrick, 66-4 Miles, 62-8, 68-5 7, 68-4 Patuxent, 69-6 Mill, 64-5 Nobis, 66-5 Pawley, 65-6, 69-5 Miller, 64-6, 67-7, 68-1, 68- Nockels, 62-7, 62-14, 67-7, PAWLEY, 65-8 2 68-1, 68-2, 69-6 PAYNE, 67-3 Mills, 61-7 Norman, 61-6, 64-6 Paynter, 65-8, 66-7, 66-8 Milton, 61-2 North, 61-6, 63-1, 63-7, 64- Peberdy, 67-6 Mirfield, 63-4 6, 68-6 PEBERDY, 60-5 MONICA, 69-6 Northallerton, 64-6 Pedley, 63-2, 63-7, 64-7, 65- Montcel, 66-5 Norton, 65-6 4, 65-5, 66-5, 66-8, 67-7, Montfort, 60-11, 61-3, 61-6, Nutt, 66-10, 67-2, 68-4 68-7, 69-4, 69-5 64-3, 65-5, 65-8, 66-5, NUTT, 66-9, 66-10, 67-1 Pengelly, 67-6, 68-3, 68-7, 67-6, 67-7 68-8 Morgan, 62-14, 63-6, 65-6, ~~~O~~~ Penrose, 66-8, 67-2 66-6, 68-7 Oakthorpe, 65-4 Perth, 66-4 Morgen, 62-13, 67-3 OBITUARIES, 61-6, 62-7, 63- Pete, 62-10 Mormon, 67-2 6, 64-2, 65-6, 68-4 Peter, 60-11, 61-1, 62-9, 64- Morris, 65-5, 66-4 OBITUARY, 61-7, 66-10, 69- 6, 65-4, 65-8, 66-9, 66-10, Morton, 60-6, 60-11, 63-4, 6 67-1, 67-2, 68-4, 68-5, 68-6, 69-2 Offord, 62-1, 62-10, 65-1, 69-2, 69-5 MORTON, 60-5, 60-10, 61-4 68-7, 69-1 PETER, 61-4, 64-7, 65-3, 66- Moulin, 66-5 OFTR, 64-5, 65-1 9, 67-1 Mr.Pace, 67-7 Ogden, 68-7 Peterborough, 60-7 Mr.Prentice, 67-7 Oldham, 62-9 Petra, 61-1 Mr.Stuart, 63-8 Ollerenshaws, 68-2 Philimore, 69-5 Mr.Wardle, 67-7 Omega, 66-5 Philip, 66-8 Mullaney, 68-4 Orton, 60-5, 66-5 Philips, 67-5 Munro, 66-3 Osborne, 60-6 Phillipines, 60-1, 60-11 Murray, 66-4 Oswestry, 62-8 Phillips, 64-4, 64-5, 65-1, Muxloe, 65-8 Oswin, 69-5 66-1, 68-7 Myfanwy, 66-4 OSWIN, 64-6 Philp, 69-5 Otis, 61-7 Physics, 60-11, 63-1, 64-5, ~~~N~~~ Ouse, 68-6 65-5, 65-7 Nathanuel, 65-3 Overdale, 64-2, 65-2 PILGRIM, 62-6, 63-3 Nazi, 62-13 Owston, 62-13 Pilz, 66-3 Neal, 66-2 Oxbridge, 65-4, 66-5 Pinchbeck, 66-9 Needham, 61-5 Pirates, 62-11, 68-7, 68-8 Neill, 61-7 ~~~P~~~ Plowman, 60-5 Nelson, 65-2 Pace, 60-2, 64-5, 64-7, 66-3, Pochin, 60-10, 61-4, 67-2 Neville, 63-4 67-4, 68-1, 68-6, 68-7, Pope, 61-2 Newarke, 63-4, 63-5, 66-2 69-3 POPLE, 64-3 Newarks, 60-9 Painter, 63-7, 64-7 Porte, 68-5 Newman, 65-3 Palais, 65-2 Porter, 62-14, 63-4, 63-5 NEWMAN, 64-3 Palestine, 65-7 Potter, 60-2 Newton, 63-6, 64-3, 67-7 Paris, 66-5, 67-7, 68-1, 68-2, Povoas, 65-6 68-3 Prague, 63-1

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 10

Prebend, 63-5 ROBINSON, 64-2, 64-7, 65-3 Severn, 61-6 Prentice, 68-4 Roger, 60-11, 61-7, 62-5, Shackleton, 69-6 Presley, 64-4 62-10, 67-6 Shadows, 61-7 Prestatyn, 66-4 ROGER, 60-4, 60-5, 62-4, Shakespeare, 68-2 Preston, 62-12, 69-5 63-3, 69-3 Sharp, 65-8 Pritchard, 66-3 Rolls-Royce, 66-7 SHARP, 64-4 Proctor, 62-7 Romeo, 69-2 Shaw, 61-2, 62-3 Psychology, 62-5 Roneo, 66-6 Sheffield, 66-1, 67-2, 68-4, Pyke, 67-3 Ronnie, 69-2 69-7 PYKETT, 66-5, 69-7 Rosa, 64-5 Sheila, 64-6 ROSS, 65-5 Sherlock, 63-6 ~~~Q~~~ Rothamsted, 65-2 Shikoku, 62-13 Quaker, 65-5 Rotthorn, 67-3 Shipman, 69-2 Queenswood, 66-4 Rowley, 65-6, 68-2 Shipway, 68-5 Quincey, 66-5 RSPB, 65-5 Shirley, 67-5 Rugby, 67-3, 68-4, 69-7 Shoreham, 61-8 ~~~R~~~ Russell, 64-5, 66-1 Shukman, 66-10 R.A.F, 62-7 RUSSELL, 64-5 Sibson, 64-1, 64-2, 66-2 RADAR, 69-6 Russians, 63-1 Sidney, 60-10, 61-4 Radford, 66-5 Ryde, 66-3 Silas, 66-8 RADFORD, 65-4, 66-5 Ryder, 63-5, 66-2 Simms, 60-3, 60-4, 62-1, 62- Ragg, 63-2, 64-3, 66-6 2, 64-2, 65-8 Ratae, 69-1 ~~~S~~~ SIMMS, 60-3, 62-2, 63-1, Ratnett, 62-12, 65-6, 65-8 Sabrina, 60-2 64-1 Ravenscroft, 66-1 Sacre, 68-2 Simon, 64-6 Raymond, 62-7, 63-5 Saddington, 61-4 Simpson, 66-2 Read, 62-15, 63-4, 64-5 Saffron, 62-8 SIMS, 61-1 Reader, 64-3 Sale, 65-6 Sinclair, 60-9 Redding, 61-7 Sally, 67-5 Singh, 66-4 Rees, 62-13, 62-14 Sambo, 69-2 Sixth, 61-4, 62-2, 63-1, 63-6, Reeves, 67-6 Samuel, 66-8 67-2 Remington, 64-5, 65-1, 65- Sandfield, 64-5 Smedley, 69-5 6, 67-5, 67-6, 68-3, 68-6 Sandy, 65-7 Smith, 61-7, 62-1, 62-10, Richard, 60-2, 61-6, 63-6, Sarson, 63-5, 64-3 62-13, 62-14, 62-15, 63-5, 63-7, 64-7, 65-4, 65-8, Saviours, 64-5 65-1, 65-5, 65-6, 66-3, 66-7, 66-8, 67-7, 68-1, Sawyer, 62-14 66-4, 66-10, 67-7, 68-1, 68-2 Scarborough, 69-6 68-2, 68-5, 68-6, 68-7, RICHARD, 64-7, 66-2, 66-6, Schofield, 63-2 69-1, 69-3, 69-5 68-7 Science, 60-10, 60-11, 61-4, SMITH, 60-4, 62-9, 63-6, 67- Richardson, 62-15 62-2, 63-6, 64-4, 65-2, 4, 68-1 Riddington, 62-7 66-2, 66-6, 66-7, 67-6, Smith-West, 61-7 Riders, 68-6 68-6, 69-5 Snow, 60-3 Rimington, 61-7 Sciences, 64-3 Snutch, 65-6, 68-2 Rimmo, 61-7 Scott, 62-14, 69-2 Soar, 67-7, 68-2 Robert, 60-11, 61-5, 66-3 Scraptoft, 60-10 Solly, 66-4 ROBERT, 60-11 Screaton, 60-1, 60-4, 60-8, Sonabuoy, 69-6 Roberts, 60-9, 61-3, 63-1, 61-3, 61-7, 62-1, 65-1, Sonia, 65-6 64-5, 65-7, 67-4, 67-5, 66-8, 69-1 Souter, 60-3 67-7, 68-1, 68-2, 68-3, Scripture, 68-2 Sowden, 69-5 68-5, 68-6, 68-7, 69-4 Scunthorpe, 67-2 Speechley, 63-3 Robinson, 65-4, 65-8 Sepp, 68-2 Spence, 68-6

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 11

Spooner, 63-4 67-7, 68-1, 68-2, 68-3, ~~~U~~~ St.Peter's, 66-5 68-4, 68-5, 68-6, 68-7, Ulverscroft, 66-7 Staff, 63-3, 64-3, 65-6, 66-1, 69-7, 69-8 Uppingham, 66-10 67-7, 69-4 SYKES, 61-4 Urquhart, 69-5 STAFF, 60-10 Staffordshire, 68-6, 69-6 ~~~T~~~ ~~~V~~~ Staffs, 65-3 Tanglewood, 65-3 Vance, 63-6 Stan, 62-7, 68-2 Tannhauser, 61-6 Vanessa, 60-2, 65-7, 69-3, Stanley, 68-2 Tansley, 61-6 69-4 Stapleton, 62-12 Tasman, 65-2 Vera, 66-10 Steggles, 67-6, 68-3 Tate, 63-6 Veronica, 66-2 Stephanie, 60-9, 61-1, 61-3, Taylor, 61-7, 66-2, 66-5 Versailles, 66-5, 68-2 62-1, 62-8, 63-1, 64-1, TAYLOR, 67-5 Verum, 67-7 65-1, 65-8, 69-1 Tear, 60-1 Vevey, 66-8 Stephen, 66-5 Teddington, 60-11, 61-4, Victorian, 67-6 STEPHEN, 65-4, 66-5 64-5 Vietnamese, 69-8 Steve, 64-2, 64-5, 66-9, 67- Teignmouth, 69-5 6, 68-3 Tetley, 62-15 ~~~W~~~ STEVE, 61-4, 64-2, 64-6 Thames, 64-5 Wadkins, 69-5 Steven, 62-10 Thomas, 60-8, 61-8, 63-5, Wagstaff, 67-6, 68-3 Stevens, 62-15, 66-3 66-4, 66-10 Wagstaffe, 68-3 STEVENS, 60-11 Thompson, 63-6, 65-4, 67-7, Wakefield, 63-4 Stevenson, 62-9 68-1, 68-2, 69-6 WAKEFIELD, 63-7, 65-3, 67- STEVENSON, 61-7 THOMPSON, 64-7, 66-6, 68- 2 Stewart, 60-4 7 Wale, 63-5 STEWART, 60-4, 62-9, 67-4, Thuan, 69-7, 69-8 Wales, 61-6, 64-7, 66-1, 66- 68-1 Thurnby, 65-8, 66-7, 69-5 2, 68-8 Stockport, 62-9 Tick, 62-1 Walker, 65-7, 68-2 STOKES, 60-9, 62-2 Tilbury, 68-7, 69-2 WALKER, 61-3, 66-6 Storry, 62-9 Tilton, 62-13 Walkers, 67-6, 68-3 Strandbadt, 67-3 Timson, 64-6, 64-7 Wally, 60-11, 61-4, 61-5, 65- Stribling, 60-6 Titans, 65-8 3, 66-3, 67-6, 68-3, 68-4, Stuart, 62-10, 62-15, 66-4, Titch, 62-8 69-7 68-2 Titfield, 60-6 WALLY, 67-3 Sturdee, 65-8 Tizer, 68-6 Walters, 66-2 Summers, 68-5 Tommy, 64-6, 64-7 Wansbeck, 69-2 Sunderland, 69-6 Toon, 64-5 Ward, 63-8 Sutton, 65-2 Topping, 65-2 Wardle, 60-11, 61-4, 61-5, Swan, 65-5 Trent, 61-6 65-3, 66-1, 66-3, 67-6, Swimming, 60-11, 61-4, 61- Trevor, 64-2, 65-4, 66-3, 69- 67-7, 68-1, 68-3, 68-4, 8, 62-3, 63-2, 63-3, 63-4, 2 68-6, 69-5, 69-6, 69-7 66-8, 67-7 Trinity, 61-7 Wardle}, 61-5 Swirles, 62-12 Trocadero, 68-2 Watchorn, 63-4 Swiss, 67-3 Tuan, 60-9 Waterman, 62-7 Swithland, 62-9 Tubs, 67-5 WATERMAN, 63-5 Sword, 65-2 Tugby, 61-5, 66-3 Watnall, 69-6 Sydney, 62-7 Turner, 67-6, 68-3, 69-4 Watson, 63-4 Sykes, 60-2, 60-10, 62-5, 63- TURNER, 68-8, 69-5 Wellington, 69-6 1, 63-6, 64-2, 64-3, 65-4, Tutin, 69-2 WELLS, 61-5 65-8, 66-1, 66-3, 66-5, Welshman, 62-13 66-8, 66-10, 67-4, 67-6,

Old Wyves’ Tales – Volume 7 (Issues 60-69) 12

West, 61-2, 61-7, 63-4, 64- William, 63-4 Wright, 64-2, 65-3, 65-4, 65- 7, 65-6, 67-1 Williams, 65-4, 68-4, 69-2 6, 66-4, 66-8, 67-2, 68-5, Westminster, 61-8 WILLIAMS, 60-11, 62-4 69-5 Wheater, 61-2, 62-3, 62-14, WILLIAMSON, 62-7, 68-5 WRIGHT, 61-6, 66-4, 69-4 63-2, 63-3, 66-4, 68-5 Willie, 62-6 Wrights, 65-3, 67-2 Wheaters, 66-4 Wilson, 61-4, 62-15 Wyggeston, 60-9, 61-3, 62- Wheatley, 67-6, 68-4, 68-7, Winsconsin, 66-3 4, 63-6, 64-3, 66-3 69-7 Wippell, 66-2 Wyggestonians, 66-4 WHEATLEY, 67-5, 68-3 Wirral, 61-7 Wyggy, 61-3, 63-1 Whitbread, 64-5, 65-6, 66-1, Witts, 60-1, 60-6, 60-11, 61- Wykehamists, 61-7 67-7, 68-1, 68-2, 68-6, 3, 61-6, 62-1, 62-6, 62-11, Wynne, 62-15, 63-4 69-1 62-14, 64-2, 65-5, 69-3 Wyrley, 65-3 White, 60-6, 62-11 Wolves, 68-2 Whitelam, 65-6, 66-8 Wong, 66-4 ~~~Y~~~ WIGNALL, 60-4, 63-4, 69-6 Wood, 62-5, 66-4 Yates, 64-6 Wilkins, 62-6 Woodford, 62-12 YMCA, 68-6 Wilkinson, 61-5, 62-15, 64- Woodgate, 67-2 York, 60-4, 63-4, 65-2 7, 65-4, 65-5 Woods, 60-7, 60-8, 60-11 Yorks, 64-6 WILKINSON, 61-5 WOODS, 61-4 Young, 60-5, 62-7, 67-7 Wilky, 65-4, 65-5 Woodward, 66-2 Willan, 63-6, 64-2, 64-3, 64- Woodwork, 61-2 ~~~Z~~~ 5, 65-5, 65-6, 65-7, 65-8, Woolfendon, 62-12 Zanker, 66-3 66-6, 67-5, 67-7, 68-1, Worcestershire, 69-4 Zeppelin, 60-2 68-3, 68-4, 68-5, 68-6, Wordsworth, 61-2 Zoot, 61-7 69-6, 69-7 WORLEY, 60-6, 65-7 Willans, 62-11 WOSB, 65-7 Willen, 67-6 Wragg, 65-6