INFORMAL CVs of MEMBERS

(newly submitted CV hereafter put on top of file)

Characters, all in disorder of appearance:  PETER TILBROOK, GARY DUGGAN, DEREK MARSTON, M ARTIN JACOBSON, PETER ISAAC, TERRY HADERT, EDWARD POND, BRIAN MUTTON, NEIL A. TETT, MICHAEL JAMES MERRY, RICHARD HALL, IAN MCCORMICK, GORDON KENNETH WALKER, BARRY KRAUSHAAR, DAVID SILVERSIDE, PHIL KINGHAM, RICHARD MARSH, ASHLEY BRANWELL HOWE, GRAHAM ALEXANDER LEE, COLIN CHAPMAN, DEREK K. HUMPHREY, RUSS MARTIN, LES FARROW, MIKE BUTTERWORTH, ROY WOOLEY, EDDIE POND, GEOFFREY STYLES, BRIAN COAN, JOHN BAILEY, MALCOLM DAMON, GED MARTIN, CHRIS BROADBRIDGE, CHRIS FRIBBINS, NEIL FRASER, BOB HILLIS, PAUL KENTISH, GEOFF LEAR, CHRIS STRATFORD, GREG COOPER, ROBERT PRIDDY

 

PETER TILBROOK 1960-68 After 8 pretty happy years at the RLS, I went to Durham University and spent 3 years in that lovely city studying Zoology, Botany and Geology (thanks to Messrs Faithfull, Hardy and Reekie) and ending up with a respectable Hons Degree in Zoo. My future was dramatically influenced by the Zoo Prof (Cragg) who had a connection (though fairly minor) with the Antarctic. He called me out of my finals practical exam to meet the recruiting officer for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (later called the British Antarctic Survey or BAS). As a result I was signed up within a few months and spent the next 14 years working on Antarctic research.
My initial 2 years of southern 'duty' were at the Signy Island base in the South Orkney Islands. This period was spent in a hut (though larger than the Scott and Shackleton variety) with 7 or 8 others - which proved very 'character forming !' Also, because, unusually, there was almost a complete change-over of personnel that year, I was given the job of Base Leader - which meant that apart from being 'in charge' I was also postmaster and GP. With no link with the outside world for six months or so each year, this could have been dodgy, but fortunately nothing went seriously wrong. On the way down to and out from Signy Island, I was lucky enough to see something of (and do some work in) the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands and the Falklands.
In fact, the whole experience 'down south' was magic for someone who loves wildlife and wild places and the two years shot by. The wildlife that we all enjoyed was spectacular and in abundance (penguins, other birds and seals), but my research was on the tiny (0 - 3 mm) invertebrates living in the mosses, lichens and primitive soils. It was a particularly interesting time to be involved in Antarctic work, as many parts of the region and the species that live there, were little known. Consequently, even my pretty basic post-graduate efforts turned up new things - so 4 species and 2 landforms are now burdened with my name. Not the immortality it might seem when one realises that neither the species nor the places are ever likely to be encountered by more than half a dozen people!
On return from the Antarctic, the next 11 years were spent firstly attached to Queen Mary College, London and then to Monks Wood Experimental Station, near Huntingdon. During this period ('64-'75), I organised the terrestrial zoology programme for the BAS, completed a research degreee and went south again for a further 6 months southern summer . More importantly, I got married and we had two daughters.
Gradually, though, I decided that fascinating though the Antarctic and my research were, I was becoming more and more committed to conservation generally and the broader environmental problems that beset us. Consequently, I joined the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) in Inverness in 1975 and the family moved house to Cromarty (of shipping forecast fame, north-east of Inverness), where we still live. Until 1996, when I took early retirement, I was Director of the North West Region of first NCC and then Scottish Natural Heritage (which the NCC changed to in Scotland in 1991). This was another stimulating, if occasionally stressful, period with many causes celebres to fight, such as forestry in the Flow country of Caithness and Sutherland, inappropriate oil developments, superquarries, etc.etc.
We all quickly fell in love with Scotland and the Scots and now regard the Highlands as our home. Indeed, since my mother died in 1993 (still at the Hornchurch house where I'd grown up) my links with Essex have been more or less severed. After retiral, I did some consultancy conservation work but mostly have been (and still am) heavily involved with various NGOs, particularly Scottish Wildlife Trust (currently a Vice Chair), John Muir Trust and the Moray Firth Partnership.
So that's my life in a (longer than intended !) nutshell so congratulations to those still reading. The only person from the RLS I'm in regular contact with is Chris Gorman (who can't be persuaded to join this group), but many years ago I came across Peter Grubb and Ian Rolfe professionally. If there are any other RLS OBs who have worked in the Antarctic I'd be interested to know. (Peter Tilbrook 1960-68, Saxon, Guilty)

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GARY DUGGAN: 1971 - Got into PRINT. 2002 -- Still there. Rumours at the time suggested that there was money to be made in this trade, but I didn't realise that they were only talking about 'Fleet Street'. Needless to say, I didn't work 'on the papers', but in a way, it's not such a bad thing, because it isn't there any more! Currently working as a Proof Reader in Quality Control in Shenfield. I, like others amongst us, have a 'Ford' connection. They're our biggest client, so my days are spent poring over the technical specifications of the Ford Tourneo Connect, and other such exciting vehicles. . . Zzzzzzzzz. Sometimes we get work with PICTURES in as well. But only if we're good!

I got married in 1976, (separated in 1998) and have got three lovely 'babies' . . . one of each. Angela who is 23, Jack who is 21, and 'Zep', a 1968 Land Rover, which was being built at the very same time that I was being prodded in the back with a compass by Tony Fisher in 3C. You remember things like that. He was a laugh though, and the last I heard, he was heading for Canada to be a Mountie. Anyone know of his whereabouts?

As mentioned previously, I'm a Leicester City fan (not sure why, but I think it started in my schooldays…) but at least it's topical eh? I'm doing my bit to help out Gary Lineker in his quest, by purchasing a season ticket. But they wouldn't listen to my request to build the new Walkers Stadium in Billericay, so it's the M1 for me on every other Saturday from now on. I'm also an official 'englandfan' (which means I'm not a thug), and am looking forward to spending some time on the beach, (and at the odd match) in Portugal for Euro 2004. (Blind faith makes me believe we're going to qualify!) (Gary Duggan)

DEREK MARSTON: Left RLS in '71 with 8 'o' levels and decided I'd had enough of JPC and rules/regulations. Went to Rush Green Tech. to study 'A' level Biology, Maths and Chemistry and discovered what real life was. Was amazed to discover that this was real fun! Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll big time! Spent two years doing b*gger all and flunked exams. Decided it was time to earn a living (had to pay for all those motorbikes and expensive women somehow). Got a job as a Despatch Supervisor in a local factory making contact lenses. Had a great year there before joining Romford Brewery. Did various jobs there, getting well paid and well pi**ed! After two magic years, joined Fords Foundry at Dagenham in '76 to get my hands dirty. In between were several disasterous relationships that are best forgotten.

 

Got seriously involved in the union movement/politics and spent many an hour on demos of one thing or another. Graduated to clerical side after someone found out that I could type (2 fingers). Became a proper clerk (could type with 2 fingers on both hands) and got off shift work. Travelled extensively whenever possible (USA and most European places of interest). Several more crap relationships later, was part of the C.B craze that swept the country around '81. Met and fell head over heels in love with my wife Maureen after a brief 'on air' rapport. A year later got married and had an instant family. Struggled a bit at first, but got through it. Joined staff in Accounts in '83 and have had a few promotions since. At present, I'm Accounts Supervisor for Aston Martin Lagonda and have a keen interest in keeping this company alive! Lost my brother Steve (also RLS, some of you may remember him) in '90 and had major health problems in '97 (triple by-pass, neck surgery, and now diabetes). It was touch and go for a while, but survived! Now that I've got my life back again, and realising just how quickly life passes, I thought I would seek a few of you out. The rest is history. Now I'm a granddad (5 lovely grandchildren) and finally got the degree that JPC told me I would never get if left RLS. Now studying for a Masters in Art History and hope to begin a second career as a lecturer in the next couple of years. Hope you are not too bored with all this stuff - not as glamorous as some, but that's life! Pictures to follow.

(Addendum): I am still an 'arold 'ill boy and never did wander far from where I lived in the sixties (about 1/4 mile). Yeah, life's a bitch sometimes, but that's the way it goes! My roots ? Well, that's another long story.

Born in Oldchurch Hospital. My dad was a foundryman when I joined the Lib after being in the Army for a long time (end of WWII and Korea etc.). His father was a railway worker who lived in Romford most of his life after being a WWI pilot (shot down twice) and a Black & Tan (no work over here). Family originated in Stepney.  On my maternal side, my granddad was a painter/decorator and my Nan never worked. I found out later that he came from a wealthy family and she was 'in service'. Once married they were disowned by his family.

Anyway, I had a happy childhood with lots of cousins and uncles (big family) and was brought up in a typically working class neighbourhood. When I passed my 11-plus, this produced a problem. I couldn't go to the local school (Boot Hill), so my parents decided I was to go to 'the best school in Havering' - the RLS. Amongst us working people, it did have a tremendous reputation at the time. Spent the first year feeling completely alienated. I'd never met people like this. Even paying for the school uniform was a struggle for my dad; especially when my brother Steve got there as well. Once settled in , I began to enjoy the place more and met some great (and some not so great) people. Hated all the petty rules and attitudes. By the end of the fifth year had decided enough was enough! I wanted my freedom and the chance to be treated like an adult and went to Rush Green with some of my best pals to (as you say) 'get a life'. No regrets! It is only nowadays that I wished I'd kept in touch with all my mates. (Derek Marston)

MARTIN JACOBSON Born 1952 in West Ham, the family moved to Carlton Rd, Gidea Park in 1956. (Parents still there!)

Earliest memories of Romford are the Market Place, which was a proper livestock market, with iron-barred enclosures containing cattle. Couldn't understand why there was a place with a big painted sign saying "Rumford Market" on it - couldn't the sign-writer spell? I used to love standing on the footbridge at Gidea Park Stn when one of  the main-line trains went underneath - all that soot and steam!

Went to Squirrels Heath Primary (aka Salisbury Rd); brother Roger & I used to walk there on our own - something which our Mum says would be

unthinkable these days - is Gidea Park *really* that dangerous?

Was sad to find that my best friend at primary, David Hammond, was going to Hornchurch Grammar; I remember the last weeks when we went around

vaunting the superiority of our respective Grammar Schools. We got it into our heads that boys going to the Liberty were "Libertarians": in retrospect, "Libertines" would have been closer to the mark!

I visited the school in the summer holidays before starting - it was very awe-inspiring! The place seemed so big! And old - not as in crumbling - but as in steeped in history. The first day at school was terrifying - come morning break, a group of second years came into the classroom, and started to pick on me (aged 11 I was Billy Bunter's look-alike). I somehow survived unscathed, and spent most of the first year having fights in High Trees with second years. The bastards never won, but they never gave up, either!

By the time I got into the second form, my voice had broken, I had grown eight inches taller, and I was never bothered again!

Odd school memories: folding our dinner tickets so they read "Scho Din Tic", "advance 1-2, spar" in the playground with Daddy Scho in the 1st year, standing in line for dinner in front of 'Biffo' Bailey - a sharp backwards thrust into the Bailey Wedding Tackle was always good for a laugh (except, oddly enough, from Biffo, who would be doubled up with pain). My ineptitude vis a vis woodwork has been chronicled elsewhere - suffice it to say that I was heartily glad to drop it in favour of Music. Had a year of Carl Browning (who played a mean jazz piano) before Mike Brewer turned up. Music was great - there were only four of (I think), in the class, so things were pretty informal. Thanks to Mike, by the time I left school I was in the big school choir, the small choir, St Michael's church choir, and the Havering Youth Choir. Oh, and of course there was "The Mikado" where I played "Pooh Bar - Lord High Everything Else", and "The Sword in the Stone", written by Mike Brewer (words by Vic Slade?) Much against my will, Jake/Jasper made me do 'A' level Chemistry, along with Physics, Pure Maths, and Applied Maths. Inorganic Chemistry, with 'Jet' Morgan, was awful, but Organic Chemistry (Oh, what was the name of  the guy?) was good, not least because of the lab assistant, who was young, blonde, attractive, and had legs that seemed to go up to her armpits. Applied Maths was terrible - I spent nearly two years not understanding what it was all about - then, finally, with three months to go before

the exams, I suddenly realized that all you had to know was how to resolve forces and take moments. What was all the fuss about? I started off doing the classic Pure Maths syllabus, but Biffo Bailey introduced me to Algol, and after six months of programming for fun, I switched to Bill Broderick's class.

Post school? Went to Exeter University, where I did Physics. Then, having graduated in 1973, went out into the World to become a computer programmer. Moved to France in 1981, working for ICL. Lived in La Defense in Paris, then 17th arrondissement before buying a house in Verneuil sur Seine. Still have the house, although now rented out, as I moved to Italy in 1996. I'm still in the IT business - anyone want to hire a Technical Project Manger with Web and Java experience?

Looking back, I have largely happy memories of the Liberty, although it seems now that most of what comes back took place outside school - exchange visits to Paris & Leverkusen, going on tour with the Small Choir, drinking in The Ship before church choir practice, the drunken parties, the dearth of girls, which meant that we seemed to pass them from one to another, like cigarette cards! Ah me! Ain't nostalgia wonderful! (Martin Jacobson)

PETER ISAAC Feb 20,  1955 Born Haydock Close,Hornchurch. Over the next few years moved first to Billet Lane in Hornchurch, then to Cedar Avenue, Upminster.

1960-66 Langtons Junior school - contemporaries Alan Weddell, Steve Hennessy,  Andy Carter,  John Hunt,  Chris Heath

1966-1973 RLS years.

Miscellaneous RLS memories - First assembly, and the sheer volume of the singing (in parts) from the choir gallery - so much that I had to turn around and make sure it wasn't a recording being played. I subsequently spent most of the next 6 years in the choir, first under Carl Browning, then continuing with Mike Brewer. Looking back, Mike Brewer is the finest choir master I have ever come across, and the musical activity seemed to fade the moment he left the school Viewing 'holes' appearing in the ranks of assembly from the choir gallery.  Viewed from above these things had a life of their own, sometimes two fusing to form a bigger hole.

First time in the school pool, Pete Benson having recorded the temperature on a chalk board as 54F.  Swimmers to line up ready to jump in and prove it by swimming a length.  I was in the first row to jump in - I practically bounced off the water because it was so cold. Although no great speed swimmer, I must have swum a length in Olympic time, and once completed we were ordered out of the pool to dry and change.  Non-swimmers were then ordered into the pool and spent the next 20 minutes undergoing serious hypothermia. Next lesson there seemed to be a lot more people to be classified as swimmers. Pete Benson made quite an impact on me early on. During (probably) the first PE class he sat us down on the floor of the gym and asked us what we thought school was for - and got the usual mumbled responses about 'learning stuff'. Pete Benson's response was 'You're all wrong - school is here to teach you one thing only - and that's how to think'. Ever since that moment I have always have had difficulties with anyone who has tried to tell me 'what' to think, and with people who continuously ask to be told 'what' to think. I have a lot of time for anyone who can assemble their thoughts and beliefs into a logical and coherent system, and rather than telling you their thoughts and beliefs, they teach you about the system.

Many friends who were close at the time, but whom I lost contact with immediately after leaving school. One in particular stands out - Tony Fisher.  Now Tony, if your life lacked a little zip, as mine did, added immeasurably to the interest in life. He had two principle features that made him a great pal - one was his encyclopaedic knowledge of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) that he used to collect breed. Secondly, a knowledge of explosives way beyond what was normal for one of so tender years. Quite how he gathered his knowledge of fast oxidation is a mystery to me, though I think he may have had an older relative who was a chemical engineer.  Tony's speciality (don't try this at home kids) was a rocket made by placing a wound up piece of explosive-impregnated paper into a drinking straw. One end of the straw was folded over, the other was lit - they had a range of maybe 30-50 metres.  Once we managed to set fire to the banks of the Ingrebourne alongside Hacton Lane with these things, putting the fire out meant leaping the river then dancing around on the flames - which we managed to do, fortunately.  Tony left school,  if I recall, some time after the mock A level exams,  and was never heard of again - I presume he has got old and boring like the rest of us,  rather than disappearing in a puff of smoke.  There is something infectious about being in the company of an enthusiast, and Tony's various enthusiasms made their mark on me.

Loathe or dislike Wiggins - I have to admit that the woodwork project to build musical instruments was an inspired choice (mine was a glockenspiel).  I have been searching ever afterwards for a copy of the book that had the plans for these instruments (generally known as Orff instruments, after the composer and educator). I still own and play a bowed psaltery (that I bought, unfortunately).

Jake - quite the most bizarre person I have ever met.  It was plain to even the most dim-witted that someone who could sap his energy getting in such a tizz over hair length,  yet apparently not care tuppence about general educational standards,  was sooner or later

going to drive the school into a terminal decline. I suppose he epitomised the Peter principle - pretty good as a teacher (which is what he should have stayed) useless as a Head. My Dad was aware, I think, of a lot of the tension at the school and early on gave me the sage advice to just keep out of Jake's way whenever possible, and where not possible, not to make myself conspicuous. I did just that, more or less.

Ash Howe's amazing expandable hair. I remember on one of the field trips Ash coming to school with his normal compacted barnet, and within 30 seconds of the bus leaving the school grounds the true glories of Ash's thatch being revealed (I have a photo somewhere of that),  much to Derek Hardy's astonishment.

Never once being able to tackle Chris Stratford or keep possession of a football or tennis ball away from him.  Chris is unnaturally modest about his young footballing skills (he really was quite a whizz) but probably hasn't realised that his secret weapon as a teenager was his height (being at the time a little vertically challenged). No matter where the ball was, Chris was always blocking one's line of sight to the ball.

Sneaking into the cloak rooms to the left of the main entrance with DD Hall (I think) and Richard Landon and a couple of guitars. It was that first exposure to a guitar that has provided me with a lifelong hobby (thanks both).

The misery of interminable road runs during every spot of foul weather during the winter.

Flying out to Gibraltar, aged 15 or 16, for exercises with the Dartmouth Training Squadron (small arms then gunnery training), returning to the UK on HMS Tenby. Qualifying as Quatermaster/Navigator.

Overseeing the demise of the naval section of the CCF. If I recall correctly it came about that none of the 65ers stayed on in the naval section in their final year.  I was the only 66er in the section and thereby promoted (way beyond my level of competence - and interest).

Studying for 4 A levels and trying to organise the section was just too much,  and despite much help from a keen leading hand (Ian Petitt), the decision was made to fold the section.

Writing first computer program (under Gino Washington's tutelage) to estimate the constant used to calculate the distance between succeeding fret positions on a guitar neck. Miffed when the answer was 'right' for the first couple of decimal places but 'wrong' thereafter. Days of checking what was a comparatively simple calculation. Big disillusionment - mutterings from Gino that it must be a precision problem.  Even bigger disillusionment several months later when someone with lots of letters after their name published in a guitar magazine the fact that the traditional constant was wrong (and the RLS answer was right). Missed out on that one, and a career with Gibson etc.  If anyone's interested - the traditional constant is still used as it is supposed to take into account not only the change in the length of the string when it is pushed against a fret, but has a fudge factor to deal with the slight change in string tension. I leave it as an exercise to the reader to derive the correct equations (and, indeed, whether the traditional factor is 'right' - personally I think it isn't).

Being told that the A level Physics set I was in would study the more modern syllabus, rather than the more traditional physics that I wanted to do (as it would be more relevant to biology). Being warned that on no account should I study anything in the older syllabus. Being warned that I should not, under any circumstances answer questions derived from the older syllabus in the exams. I studied the older syllabus anyway outside school (by reading Nelkon and Parker cover to cover) and passed anyway by answering the questions on the older syllabus - yah, boo, sucks.

And yet through it all the everyday sadism ran. Reading through the archive threads the pattern of sadism had changed by the time the 66ers arrived (I don't recall hair or side burn pulling by masters), but the chief culprits were often the same. The main weapon of these miscreants was the face slap. On one occasion one boy with glasses was slapped so hard around the face that his glasses travelled half way across the classroom to disintegrate against the wall.  On another occasion a boy was so startled when he was slapped (I guess he hadn't seen the master approaching) that he ran from the room not entirely knowing what had hit him.

Final score - 9 O Levels - parents overjoyed,  me disappointed because I flunked two; plus 4 A levels  Biology, Chemistry,  Physics and Maths.

The boring bits:

1973 -76 Unversity of Sussex BSc Hons Biology. The availability of Harvey's and King and Barnes beers exerted a considerable (downward) influence on my grade.

1977-1978  worked as a technician at the University of Sussex. More Harveys's, plus Young's.

1978-1979 MSc in Gene Technology, Univerity of Essex.  Greene King and Adnam's

1979-1982 PhD in biochemical genetics and molecular biology, University of Edinburgh.  Lorimer and Clark.

1982  Married Sandra.

1982-1987 Resarch Fellow  University of Edinburgh in plant molecular biology.

1987-1995 Reseach manager for Nickerson seeds, Cambridge (formerly part of Shell,  part of Limagrain). More Greene King.

1989  First child,  Faith, stillborn.  Terrible time... then...

1990 Oliver, first son born, followed by James in 1991 and Thomas in 1993.

1995-present Scientific Director, Agrogene SA - analysing the genetics of plants (http://www.agrogene.com).

And nowadays.... Currently settled in France, about 10km north of Fontainebleau, just near the Fontainbleau forest. I am probably the only member of this list whose brain is fuelled by claret and "Seize". Outside work I'm the music director for the English Speaking Church in Fontainebleau. I'm also involved with the local school writing arrangements for tunes, written by the pupils, that will eventually be recorded (probably next October) and a CD sold to raise money for anti-Malarial bed nets for a school in Uganda (anyone interested in following that up please email me off-list to save clogging the list non-RLS matters).

And looking back... Thanks largely to Tony Fisher I got enthusiastic about biology and found my way into a career that has taken me pretty much everywhere I have wanted to go in the world.  Thanks to Richard Hall and Richard Landon for the first guitar lessons. Thanks to Jake for just keeping out of my way (whenever I couldn't keep out of his). And thanks to Derek Hardy for pushing me in biology... (Pete Isaac)

TERRY HADERT - RLS 1949 - 54)
[This is posted with an E&OE caveat and with life's low-spots, dross & many pains and mistakes overlooked or ignored! ] 
"Semper Procedens".  Always proceeding? Or perhaps 'always on the move'?   Apt motto perhaps for some of the 'Rolling Stones' who've posted CV's.   However, despite the proverb, most seem to have gathered some moss.   I claim 'Rolling Stone' status, citing 11 full-time employers since school (most within a 'career' structure'); a full-time 'mature-student' College course; 15 'permanent' addresses since marriage and mid-life migration half-way round the world!
So where at presently?  64 years young, married 43 years to the same Romford girl, Carol, with two children and 3 Aussie-born grandkids.  Living about 40K's from Adelaide - South Australian Capital.  We run a small vineyard, as a 'paying' retirement hobby - selling grapes to a 'boutique' winery which exports to the UK and USA.  We're involved in the Community and have a good circle of young-at-heart friends.  Some health problems, but we're both pretty fit for the condition we're in!  Life's adventure continues!  I'll 'return to Go' and summarise how a raggedy-arsed Council-house kid became an Australian grape-grower after what I consider to be a rewarding and interesting life (so far!).
Romford-born in '38 - 6th child of 9!  Parents did well to support a large family in hard times.  Most siblings 'passed the Scholarship' (as locals called '11+' ) and seemed to be OK in life.  Even two younger sisters, who died prematurely, showed special achievements while they lived.   With wisdom of hindsight I salute my parents, but "wish I could have told them in the living years" - as the song goes!  I took things somewhat for granted!
Nearly didn't make school!  Family home bombed in WW2, but fortunately after I was evacuated.  Then spent most of evacuation in several hospitals with Diptheria and Spinal Meningitis (not sure in what order).  Came through OK.
Attended RLS 1949-54 from Rush Green Primary school. Family Moved to North Romford in 49.   Mike Merry wrote "Being a Grammar school pupil meant that you were amongst the elite, that percentage that had passed the eleven + examination ... deemed worthy of attending one of the Nation's premier schools ...implied that you would go on to great things later in life. ...Whatever lay ahead, the Grammar school pupil was deemed to  have the best shot at it".   I certainly didn't appreciate that at the time.  Wish I'd seen the planned RLS film then!   I really have no 'warm fuzzy feelings' about RLS, which I seem to have endured, not enjoyed.  I don't remember Newth as either saint or sadist and the only teachers I remember in any detail are Schofield (enjoyed his sessions, mostly) and Fox.  For me his sarcasm left sad echoes. My happiest childhood / teen memories are non-school people and places! 
Recalled RLS highlights include 12th Romford Scouts (Badger Patrol Leader),  10-Stone Inter-House Boxing Champ (54) and  Goalie for 3rd XI.  I may have contributed a poor poem or two to School Mags and read at least one to a suffering school gathering!  Got Newth's cane several times and Schofield's plimsoll many more!  Embarrassed to reveal final academic standard (Excuse is that I was easily diverted from homework by sport and girls at an academically crucial, but hormonally vulnerable, age!).  Outcome sufficient to get job with Stock Exchange Council.   However, my 'Education' (as opposed to 'qualification') - though not appreciated at the time - obviously served in good stead as a foundation for later life.  I ponder sometimes how things might have been had I shown discipline and dedication at RLS! 

TERRY HADERT (previous posting noted duly by the archivist. The moving finger writes… nor all your wit can ‘eer erase a word of it)

I attended RLS from 49-54.  I was a Roman but not a prefect. Perhaps my 'recallable RLS high points' were 10stone 2lbs  Boxing Champ in (I think) '53 (but that was about 3.5 stone and 50 years ago!), keeping goal for the 3rd XI in the 5th year (I was a late developer into goal but played - post National Service - for the Old Libs in the Southern Olympian League, before moving on to Rainham and then Hornchurch in the Athenian League).  My early soccer skills were honed in weekend and evening (or whenever we could) 'kickabouts' in Lawns Park, with some RLS schoolmates among other local teenagers (when I should have been studying!).  I even, surprisingly, made Patrol Leader of the 12th Romford Badger Patrol - such dizzy heights!  I'm one of the decreasing genre of Romford-borns with memories of the cattle markets -now living happily in South Australia - having migrated at age 50 in 1988,  with my Romford-born Wife of (now) 43 years (the marriage, that is - not my wife).

I shan't mention sexual experiences during my pubescent and teenage years when (like you, no doubt) I was an active bundle of hormones, as (judging by school attendance years of some of you guys), a number of your mothers might have been involved!  In fact my hindsight - and some of your recent emails - seems to support the adage "the older I get the better I was!"). (Terry Hadert)

(Addendum): The SE job sufficed while I was unattached (reminds me of a Cockney expression - "Only had his cock to keep" - BUT  GENTLEMEN - PLEASE DELETE THAT EXPRESSION IF ANY LADIES ARE TO READ).  I earned enough to commute, contribute to home and fund out-of -work activities.   These included, at stages:- Youth Centres (Clockhouse Lane & Crowlands ); Drama;  Boxing with Romford Central BC; Soccer with Junior Clubs; Cricket (Kamikaze catches a speciality!); Cinema and dances at The Kings Head; Lambourne and Wykeham Halls . Found time for cycling - including riding to the City daily for a few years!  Learned enough at work to do the same things that other staff , nearing retirement, had done for most of their lives.  Their high spots seemed to be WW2 service!
National Service came as a welcomed adventure.  Served with Parachute Light Regt RA (gained Parachutist wings and Full-Bombadier rank) serving in various parts of UK, then tours of duty in Cyprus and Jordan.  Lots of sport - representing Regiment in Boxing, Soccer and X-Country. Demobbed in '58 from Middle East and immediately married Carol, to whom I was engaged  in '56 (we met initially at Brooklands, watching the 'Boro and were on Romford Youth Council together).  Returned to Stock Exchange. Son born (1960).  After several rented homes, bought house in Dagenham East.  Daughter born (63). I kept Goal with Old Libertians, then with Rainham and Hornchurch FC's.  To help with mortgage I worked part time as Youth worker with Essex CC and Dagenham Council - undertaking training courses. Sense of vocation and enjoyment from part-time jobs provided a spring-board for an eventual interesting and rewarding career. 
Opportunity for a "Sea-Change" came in 63, so I left the Stock Exchange (foregoing prospect of a 'good pension at 65' - which, had I stayed, could be drawn next year!). 
Hey, I've just reached age 25!  I'm taking a break now and maybe write more after the Shiraz is harvested (Chardonnay already picked).   For the record - due to a late, slow, grape-ripening, 2002 should be a good year for premium South Australian wines! (Terry Hadert)

EDWARD POND

1929  Wall Street Crash. I was born 12 March in Shoreditch. Started school at 3 years of age in Bethnal Green. Funny thing is that I was quite bright up until I passed the scholarship, the first one in the family to achieve anything scholastic. In Pownall Road, Shoreditch, so naturally I thought my family were all Londoners. How wrong!

My Great grandfather was born in Upminster in 1850, moved to Beacontree Heath then to London. In 1935 we moved from Bethnal Green to the country at Romford so we were back in less than a century. My father was a very bright man but effected by WW1, which he entered aged 16 and the General Strike. So he always thought in terms of security. Get a job in the bank or the town hall. He never really took a chance or stuck his neck out.

1935  Moved into the "country" at Romford. It was then. There were fields on the back of the house in Heather Glen. A farm opposite and the whole of Rise Park was farm land. Went to Havering Road School which still had barge board, creosoted huts, as school rooms. Passed the scholarship along with Brian Shawcroft, Jack Bethal and Roy Malloney to go to the RLS.  I did quite well. In the top class.

1939  War Declared! Wonderful! No school from September till Christmas.

1940  To the RLS at the same time as The Battle of Britain started. What fun! Living in air raid shelters, until they got flooded. Going down the school air raid shelters and out the escape hatch to go to Gidea Park golf course and sit and watch the dog fights in the sky. Mr Fox decided he did not like me from the start. Mr Fox nick named me Froggy - Froggy Pond - and I went down hill from there on. Funny thing is that I was quite bright up until I passed the scholarship, the first one in the family to achieve anything scholastic. School was difficult. Not the work just everything. Schofield had me in the school boxing team at 5 stones 7 which kind of kept the bullies at bay in spite of being small.

Put into the Spanish stream instead of doing art, which I loved, and Fox's agression got worse while school work went decidedly down hill from then. Did great Ink Spots and Mills Brothers numbers with Len Fraser and Charlie Stubbs. Played football at Chadwell Heath at the back of Don Ginn's house. Respected Ken Catton and Bob Metson because they were so much bigger than me. Teased John Algar and Aspinall because they were sissies. Got up to all kinds of things with Alf Ranson and Ginner Godwin. Was a favourite of Harry Saville and allowed to sit in his shed and read Health and Efficiency from under the seat. Obtained Royal Life saving Society bronze medallion. Joined the 7th Romford scouts because they had use of the swimming pool, the ATC, the YMCA, everything going. Fire watching at 1/9 a night in Romford market. Straight to school next morning Must have been 13.

1944 Had enough of school and Poxy Foxy so left. Broke my father's heart and his bank, for he forked up the £5 penalty. Started work in an accountants in the city. Narrowly missed being killed when a V1 dropped in Old Jewry. Went farming in Devon and left my father to dispose of some fifty rabbits.

1945 Worked in an accountants in the city until a doodle bug dropped in Old Jewry which made me think I'd better get out. So I went farming in Devon but missed home so came back at Christmas 1944.

In the summer I went hitch-hiking with Jerry Ranson (ex RLS, now passed away) and one of our lifts offered me a job. When I went to get it it no longer existed so I went to work as a solicitors’ clerk in Covent Garden.

Working at Briggs Motor Bodies when a V2 dropped on the car park half an hour before work started, or I would not be telling you this. Started in a solicitor's in Covent Garden when they still sold  fruit and veg. Enjoyed the work. Offered free articles which I decided to take up when I came out of the forces. Made a lot of extra money as a process server. They did not expect some one so young, on a bike in shorts, to be serving writs. The war ended.

Mad on dancing and jazz. As many as five times a week. 100 Oxford Street. George Webb's Dixielanders. Muggsy Spanier records. Heaven! 1946 At 17 I volunteered for the Navy as a Helicopter Engineer with Jack Bethal. He was accpted I wasn't. Never found out why.

1947 The war was over so in 1947 I went to Bury St Edmunds, then to Colchester, then to Aldershot, where I proudly joined the Parachute Regiment. Looked forward to it. Made the most of it. Went into the Parachute Regiment. Represented them at boxing, cross country and hockey. Off to Egypt and Palestine. Then to Germany. Aspinal and Tug Wilson were officers but I never made it. Never more than Private. In Germany I was a storeman and spent practically a whole year reading gas and electric meters. Some one had to do it. I spent much of my time in the Education Centre and caught up on much of my missed education.

1949 Out! Now what? Considered travelling Europe but could not afford it. Did some farming and then back to the solicitors. Decided to apply for a Forces Education Grant so started art classes and applied to the South Essex Technical College and School of Art. The principal of the art school said I had talent as a textile designer. Would I like to do that? As I wanted him to approve my grant application I readily agreed. I didn't get it. He wanted to start a textile department, but I was by now so much into the SEETC that I decide to go with it.

1950 The first three years were difficult. No fees but no grant either. Living at home, cycling to school. Gradually it worked out. Window cleaning was the general money earner. Post Office at Christmas. The second year I was put in charge of an office at Rush Green. Summer vacation building Harold Hill. Then I muscelled in on college dances. You could make up to £10 in one night at a time when £5 would keep you going for a week. So life started to get good. I was a first class student. Won prizes and passed my Intermediate Exams which now qualified me for a grant. I was laughing. Student life agreed with me. In the college rugby team and on Wednesday afternoons Captain of Rugby, Soccer and Hockey. Swam the 100 metres breast stroke. You name it I did it. I was a leading light and gloried in it.

1954 Married. Still a student. To Jane Sparks from Hazell Crescent, Collier Row, and still am. How she's put up with me all these years I'll never know. 

1965 We had moved to Bramhall where the posh people lived. I played rugby for Wilmslow 1st XV and a special Tuesday night team of internationals which included Stagg of Scotland and Johnny Williams, the England scrum half. The reason that I did so well at Bernard Wardle was because I made them so much money. I managed to get the lion's share of MOD (government contracts), mainly because the chief Purchasing Officer had been in the Parachute Regiment and preferred me to the other airey fairey types.

Then Chinley Derbyshire was a bit out of the way and when an advertisement appeared for what sounded like the best design job imaginable I applied and got it. My salary went from £3500 to £5500 which in 1965 was an absolute fortune. I now had two more kids so we had an au pair girl, holidays at St. Tropez, and skiing every winter. The job was running the Central Studio of the Wall Paper Manufacturers. The company owned Sanderson,Crown, Shand Kydd, etc. I was Design Director, director at Polycell Products in charge of new products. I was responsible for the education of designers and toured Europe visiting all the places I had ever wanted to go to. In the swinging sixties this was a magic job.

We had moved to Blackheath with two cars and became part of the local set. This included Jeff Banks and Sandie Shaw, with whom I appeared in charity events and on TV. For a season I was a presenter on ITV’s Magpie. For Polycell I started two companies Polypops and Paperchase. With a change of MD I bought Paperchase off them and in 1976 went on my own with a three year consultancy agreement with WPM.

1976 Life started to get tougher but I survived. Acting as consultant to various companies, running Paperchase, lecturing all over the place. Started to going a lot to USA.

1981-83 President of the Chartered Society of Designers. Attended 10 Downing Street to discuss with Mrs Thatcher the position of design and designers in industry. "Listen to me young man" she said grabing me by the lapels off my coat. Never the less she impressed me, which surprised me. Paperchase were instructed to wrap government gifts after this so something must have rubbed off.

1989 I had run down my studio. Sold Paperchase. Moved house to another part of Blackheath with a studio from where I worked. This is when I started to get the commissions from British Rail. Not only British Rail but Spanish rail and Egyptian Rail. The Egyptian work was the refurbishment of carriages made in Romania to be tarted up in Spain. When the Spanish MD saw how I worked he gave the job to his friend in Majorca. Which is why there are now pictures of bull fights and flamenco dancers on trains running through Cairo.

1991 It was about this time that I had a request to talk to the 6th form at RLS. CDT (craft/design and technology) was all the rage in education and would I like to go and talk about it? Come to lunch.This was served in the head master's study, with my place at the head of the table. Four or five other senior staff, who called me Sir, joined us. The high light was me telling them that the only time I had been in this room before was to get the whack, whereupon they produced the old punishment book. My name was not there. To get whacked and not put in the book was almost a fraud. I remember Hinchcliffe was in there twice. His father also kept rabbits.

1993 British Rail was privatised. The work started to dry up. We decided to move to Cornwall where we had had a flat in a castle for some years. So we moved to Cadgewith, right at the bottom of the Lizard, converted an old sail loft with a balcony over looking the beach and my wife decided she didn't like it before we moved in. I loved it. I was in the folk group. In the jazz band. In the art society. It was a long way from anywhere but the people were extremely friendly. Any way we sold up and moved back to Blackheath, which is where we are now.

2002 My prime interest is genealogy and spend ar too much time and money at it. My family, the Ponds,  go back to 1500 at Ingatestone and one section William Pond my Great great great uncle lived with his family at the Fir Trees Beer House, Ardleigh Green. His lot were all from Upminster Common.

My son has a BSc in Engineering and works for Imagination. My daughter Rebecca is a very successful fashion designer now domiciled in Singapore. My other daughter, Hannah, works for the NHS, unfortunatey not as a doctor.

One of these days I will fill in all the bits which I have left out. Either intentionally or because my memory is not what it was. (Edward Pond)

BRIAN MUTTON

If anything was behind my words (ed's note: on self-discipline) it was the pride I had of attending the RLS which had such a wide respect within a large area amongst the community something Brentwood school never seemed to have. I missed the first year and joined in the second from my school in Clacton and was already behind in several subjects-an example of RLS excellent teaching-but I was selected very quickly for the 1stXI soccer team initially on the left wing although I was really a right winger that meant that every Wednesday I was usually representing the school in various fixtures and not attending lessons so even more catching up to do but I was happy and mixed with the elder boys-prefects as well as most were in the school team. The basic self discipline was you don't have to attend class but if you fail it is your fault not the schools. Manners were also mandatory so there was mutual respect.

Like most families my sister and I were totally different she passed 10 O-levels and 3 A levels and hated sport and I got the biggest shock when I failed all my O levels and then realised why-too much time away from the classroom. My mother wanted me to have the same opportunities that my sister had but it was not for me -I really wanted to be a professional soccer player so I stayed in the 5th year for 2 years before, leaving that last year with Coles at the helm made me decide this is not for me and I made my way into the business world im in today.

I actually passed more o levels after I left the RLS albeit only 3

When asked recently by a head-hunter what university I graduated from I answered the university of life and received distinctions in Bacardi and Ronrico which totally confused the American questioner

I lived in Denmark for 2 years in the early80's so fully understand why you have a psychologist!!!!!!!!!

although I have to say I enjoy going back as I will be there next week albeit only for the day after I return from 2 days in Mumbai this week, perhaps I need a psychologist now. (Brian Mutton)

NEIL A. TETT

A quick cv since leaving the Liberty in Dec 75, having started in Sept 68. Post Sorbonne activism and with unfortunately long hair, only to get longer, much to John Coles despair.

Went to Shenfield Comp. and taught girls for the first time. Surprised a few by being aware of what they might be thinking, except the one who revelled in the knickname of "Anus"!

Stuck it there until Dec 1981. Well slight lie I got married in Aug 1980 to 22 year old drama teacher 11 years younger than me.

Moved to Singapore and taught for the Min of Ed. not the most fun job but well paid.

Returned to UK, lived and taught in Weston-super-Mud. Nostly supply. The kids thought that I was a cop.

Went to Malta for a year to teach in an American school. Great location-ex-British fort. My class room was the first one over the moat with a grape vine around the doorway. Unfortunately not a great school for my 2 kids.

Returned to the well paid Min of Ed in Singapore. 1990.

In Feb 1992, I scored 4 goals in the 2nd half against my own team, Colbar Tigers Founded in 1981, got home and found I had a job at UWCSEA and that my wife was pregnant.

Started UWCSEA in Jan 1993 and I'm still there in the best paid teaching job any where in the world. I'm head of a boarding house. Travel on school business regularly to all parts of Asia. Teach, but most of all still play football at least twice a week for the Tigers and the staff and anyone else who'll have me.

Motivation for the joining: nostalgia. On Friends Reunited I recognised your names immediately. As John Arlott said on a memorable tape the old memories are sharp, the recent obscure.

Went to Coles retirement party in 1989? See Dave McClean and Colin Brennan irregularly. Anyone passing through Singapore is very welcome to look me up. I've seen a few photos on Friends Reunited and Ray Sammons sent me his. You look a lot older than me. The tropics obviously look after you. The reading goes on, the learning goes on and apologies for the many things I didn't teach you that I would do now. Tetty or to some Voice-on-a-stick (Neil A. Tett)

MICHAEL JAMES MERRY

I first saw the light of day in 1940 and for the next five years my memories are of living in cold and wet Anderson shelters and watching contrails in the sky over Essex. I was made to study very hard for the eleven-plus, turning me against formal learning for ever. Passed. Arrived at RLS. I enjoyed most things about the school except learning the various subjects and being whacked by Scruff.Played football and cricket just well enough to make the teams. I was a lifesaver (much better at this). I boxed (good until 18 and then found out that anyone above 112lbs could hit very hard) Active in dramatics and house activities.

Left in 1956 with absolutely no certificates to show that I had had the benefits of a Grammar School education. (I'm convinced to this day they all got lost at the GPO). I knew enough however, to be convinced that UK offered few opportunities to those such as.

I went to work for an ITT company and two years later jumped at the chance to go to Panama as a telecom instructor when Latin America was changing to more modern methods of communication.

I lived first of all in the Panama Canal Zone, a socialist-type enclave dropped slap bang across the Canal in the middle of a sovereign country. (Gen. Torrijos the Dictator called the Canal Zone `A stake through the middle of every Panamanians heart'). It was completely self-contained and its police force was feared for their nitpicking methods of keeping law and order (ticketed for driving 31 miles an hour in a 30MPH zone etc.) If you were not a "Zonian" you were not acceptable. You could not date the daughters of the residents or take part in any activities, you could only spend a certain amount of money in the commissaries and had to carry ID with you at all times. The large US military presence made life bearable

for me as many of them had served in the UK and actually liked the English!

Promoted to Latin American headquarters in Panama City. Reported to General James McNitt, a retired US Air Force general with many Latin American contacts. From this position I became aware that big business could tell governments how to act. I learned my company proposed to actively support the overthrow of the leftist government of one Latin American nation during a conversation over drinks with an elite group of executives who made no bones about why this action was being taken. They wanted certain business concessions and they were willing to do anything to get them. This did eventually come to pass and many rumors about the company being involved surfaced and indeed, one female was actually indicted.

In 1968, after the overthrow of the government in Panama, and having hosted Gen. McNitt at the Presidential inauguration a few weeks earlier (my father-in-law was the First Minister), I was obliged to leave ITT forever. Short period of exile, cleared of any political misdoings, and then back to work for a company who had the communications concession, joint-ventured with Western Union International. Sold the company to the military government in 1974. Retained on a year 'transition' contract but Colonel in charge of enterprise was a friend and told me not to bother doing anything, if he needed me he would find me (and believe me, he could have!).

Purchased house at the beach and for the next seven months proceeded to lower golf handicap. Got bored, called ex-boss and was offered jobs in Hawaii or Puerto Rico. Wife chose Puerto Rico.   

Went to P. Rico with Western Union International as Manager Caribbean in 1975 and stayed seven years running at first a joint venture operation with Cable and Wireless (they imported even the toilet paper from UK) Obliged to study for BSc. before kids graduated and

had a chance to laugh at me. Received BSc 1978.

In spare time became an announcer for WOSO the only English language radio outlet on the island at that time. Played lots of tennis and met quite a few international players through the station. Stayed on until 1982 when I returned to Panama to start my own business.

Managed to get swindled out of everything I had by two French Canadian contractors (Very clever. We ordered these large consuls to hold interactive video displays and they were supposed to build them. They kept sending pictures of the progress and we were impressed.

Then came the final picture and the product was absolutely wonderful. Found out eventually that these pictures were actually models about four inches tall that one of the buggers had built and photographed!)

Started again as a "consultant". Worked for Minister of Housing and took care of certain business arrangements for him. Set up and implemented cable television network for the US Military in the Canal Zone and then got a contract from Caleb Brett (Inchcape) to set up

their Venezuelan GATT inspection unit. Did some work for a couple of the colonels, buying a TV station in Venezuela etc. (Once attended a lunch where twelve of the fourteen ladies present were "Miss" something or the other. Miss Maracaibo, Miss Maiquetia etc.)and in

1987 was recruited by Dow Jones/Telerate to start their Latin American Division.

Finally, a job befitting a boy who went to RLS. Running a division of a Fortune Five Hundred company, 600 plus employees. CEO of operation plus writer/editor for political and financial news for the on-line service. Stayed ten years and accumulated almost a million miles on

American Airlines (Present total is 984,773 miles). Multiple visits to every civilized (and some not so civilized) destinations from Bermuda down to southern Chile, islands included. (The place to see "famous" faces is in the first class cabin of airliners). Started writing essays and making notes of RLS days during long trips.

Reported from Argentina in '87 when the Army revolted (very impressive seeing all those tanks etc. prowling round the city cutting up the street surfaces). Reported during Col. Chavez's (now President Chavez) first attempt at a coup in Venezuela and got stuck there for ten days (witnessed a classic infantry platoon attack on the civil airfield from the Euro Building Hotel which provided a birds eye view of everything from the 25th floor.) In Panama during the '89 attempt to overthrow Noriega by junior officers. (Noriega himself personally shot two of the officers involved in the head in the courtyard of the Defense Forces building after escaping) Dined with Col. Roberto Diaz the evening before he came out against Noriega and broadcast a list of his criminal activities, setting off a siege of his residence and his eventual exile to Venezuela. (He didn't mention during dinner what he was going to do the next day).

Retired in '95 but after forty-five days got very bored. Contracted to write two nationally televised financial programs and edit a monthly financial news magazine. Great job but had to drive fifty miles each way to work.

Left in '96 and now work as Director International Relations for Miami telephone company where I remain today. First novel (and probably last) due publication in February 2002. Attribute good health to drinking several large martini's every day and playing golf with clients. Travel every couple of months to take a look at operations in Latin America and to see friends in Panama. Married almost 39 years, two grown up sons, one who played American football for Gettysburg and the other who played tennis for Barry University (much better athletes than I ever was). One lives in same street, one lives a mile away. Two grandsons. Live in Miami Shores (seven miles north of Miami) by the side of a golf course.

Expert at spinning tales to young ladies who profess to be absolutely overwhelmed by my experiences but who seem to gradually fade away after the clock strikes 8pm. No thoughts of retiring yet. That's about it. (Mike Merry)

 

More of MICHAEL JAMES MERRY from a previous posting of his:-
It was never official but if Mick Coles passed English Composition I MUST HAVE got 6 "O" levels. Mick Coles never passed anything but gas! When they didn't come in the mail I kept telling my parents they must have been delayed, however, by November they grew a little suspicious and my Father said "Well, the press was always good enough to provide for us in this house and it's into the press you go" He neglected to tell me that at 16 one was not automatically given a Sub Editors position at the Telegraph and before you got to that lofty pinnacle, fifteen or twenty years in the wire room (overseas photos and transmissions) were necessary! I lasted in my "apprenticeship" two y ears and then took the first chance to leave the country. In those two years I learned three very valuable lessons:
1) how to type very quickly without looking at the keys
2) not to drink Gin on an empty stomach
3) always say "thank you" to a lady who has been nice to you
Coupled with my RLS education, I was well equipped for the tropics!
With this incredible knowledge I embarked to Latin America to make my fortune (and until this week and the Bear Markets, it wasn't going to bad!) (Mike Merry)

Andy, replying to Peter Robinson said "I am sure the old teds will disagree with us both! They will ... just wait and see." Naturally, I have absolutely no idea who OEM refers to when he says "Ted's". We all know there were no such things at RLS, not in the years 51/56 anyway. Whether or not Phil Kingham started the style after those years is something I cannot personally vouch for, that would be up to Phil to confirm or deny. However, as Andy well knows, there are some of us who can't resist a wire-pull...

Whether the 50's were better than the 60's? An interesting question. I lived in UK during the 50's and recall it was rather dreary. Naturally, one remembers more positive things than negative ones and I managed to survive until 1958 but that was it. I didn't like the cold and wet and, as another member mentioned in a recent post, it was very much of , "He's got a degree pay him a lot of money". Without an education it was a difficult haul for many youngsters. The late fifties and the sixties were exciting for me. I changed environments completely and had excessive heat to complain about instead of intense cold and rain. I saw both US and Latin American education systems at work and marvelled at how they differed from the UK style. The US for instance placed an enormous amount of importance on the social side of things. Who was going out with who etc. Their sports were evening affairs with hundreds of pupils attending games at well constructed stadiums under lights. They were taught a completely different story about the American Revolution than I remembered from school!

I came home every three years or so and gaped at the changes being made in the Romford area. But I always went back to the other side of the world after a couple of weeks.

The late sixties and early seventies were very interesting. A revolution and a new government that was learning how to steal and making every possible mistake a government could make, despite all the books available on how to govern. They still managed to get it wrong! There was bringing up children and vowing to raise them in a different way to how my parents had raised me. Travel and new jobs, a multitude of changes always.

On through the eighties and nineties and now into the new century. I think it's all been exciting 40's through to 2001. It's exciting every morning, waking up and finding there's another day to deal with. It only gets boring if one doesn't wake up, or that's what they say, though no one has come back to confirm that yet. (Mike Merry)

RICHARD HALL:

Born in 55, lived in Hornchurch. 60-66 Edwin Lambert Infants & Junior school.

1962 Liverpool promoted to 1st division under Bill Shankley, started to support them and learned to hate Man Utd, both of which have lasted to this day.

1964? Saw RLS and the computer on a television program and decided that was the school I wanted to go to. Program didn't mention Jake otherwise life would have followed a different path.

66-71 RLS (Dane - Not Guilty)

71-73 Barking College of Technology. Discovered accountancy (and probably the fact that I am a very sad person).

2nd July 1973 joined Barclays Bank, Dagenham Dock branch. Waiting outside door wondering what to do, up walks the scarey woman.

August 1973 - engaged to the scarey woman.

1974 Come to the conclusion that bankers are w*nkers and move to the Insurance industry.

June 1975 Get married. Live in Walthamstow.

March 1976 Daughter Kelly born (9 months and 1 week after the wedding in case anyone was wondering).

Late 1976 Move to Barking

October 1980 Son David born.

1982 Move to Dagenham

September 1988 after various jobs, current firm go bankrupt & am made redundant.

October 1988 Given job by company who has taked over the work of previous employer. One downside - they are located in the middle of Buckinghamshire, 125 mile round trip. Have to leave home at 5.30 in the morning to beat teh worst of the M25. (For Hon Membs residing outside the UK, this is Londons orbital motorway and the worlds biggest car park).

Sometime in 1990, contacted by Hon Mem Ian McCormick and introduced to indoor cricket - which took over my life for the next 4 years (and got my son onto Blue Peter).

1994 Company opened up an operation in London and I wangled my way into it.

1995 Invited to the committee room at the Essex ground in Chelmsford to see them play Sussex. At lunch sat next to my idol John Lever, stood next to Graham Gooch and couldn't say a coherent word.

2000 About to be made redundant, got the opportunity to transfer to the companys accountancy arm in Barking as a bookkeeper.

July 2001 both children leave home within 2 weeks of each other. Happiness complete.

August 2001 son tells me about Friendsreunited and get sucked into this madness.

November 2001 Having pension with Equitable Life decide to set up own part time bookkeeping business as I've worked out I'll never be able to afford to retire.

Hope that some of you managed to stay awake long enough to finish this. (Richard Hall)

IAN MCCORMICK

1955 February 14th Born in Highgate, North London. Spend first year of my life in Hoxton, before moving to Romford. It was Seymer Road to be exact, next to the Bus Garage. (so some peoples memories are correct). Over the next couple of years a number of brothers and sisters appear, 3 sisters and 2 brothers and one is called Iris.

1961 Start school life at Parklands primary school in Collier Row. Late entry to school due to mother’s insistence that I do not go to Mawney Road primary school and will go to Parklands, which keeps me out of school for almost the first year.

Met Ash Howe, become friends, along with a couple of other guys, as we discover that we all do indeed have the same collecting bug. And a love of astronomy and all science fiction spin offs. (Dr Who etc)

1966 Start at Royal Liberty School, and from day one, am involved in a fight. Cannot remember what it was about, but I knew from that day, that life in an all boys grammar school, surrounded by what I can only describe as priviledged kids, was going to be a constant war zone. (66 - 70 Dane Not Guilty)

1967 Meet Richard Hall, 'DD', who turns out to be a long time friend and we become 'sidekicks'. Which in turn brings me to my first encounter with the then terrifying Tom Saunders, the scourge of the 66 intake. Having picked on 'D' in the dinner queue one day, I bravely stand there and whilst poking him in the chest with my finger say 'if you want to pick on my mate, you are going to have to deal with me first'. To which he replies 'okay'. After a furious battle in the corridor outside the biology labs, I realise that I am not actually getting anywhere, and decide that I had better extricate myself from the situation, ie: run away. Unfortunately Tom Saunders also happened to be the fastest sprinter in the year, and he soon caught me up, and left me in a heap, on the coal heap outside of the computer lab. However, 5 minutes later, he returned and offered me his hand, as I had been the only one in school to have stood up to him. We are still the best of friends to this day.

1968 - 1970 The rest of the life at Liberty, was endless run ins with Jake and numerous canings with my compatriot Tommy. But I did continue with my collecting and now had got into Marvel comics, along with Rich Hall, and started to appreciate music. (I still have the original vinyl Blood Sweat and Tears, Creedence Clearwater and Chicago albums from this time) 1970 Is a change year. While in a chemistry lesson, Myles, the teacher I think, I get accused of doing something I never did and told to go and see Coles. I refuse. Myles eventually gets apoplectic with my constant refusal and goes and gets Coles himself, who personally orders me to his study. I again refuse. I had had enough canings from Coles over the years, so it was not the fear factor, but a principal, and I would not have him cane me for something I had not done and told him so. He suspended me. My parents come to the school, and Coles, offers the olive branch that I can come back to school, if I accept punishment. My father and myself in unison, tell him to shove it and I move to Romford Technical.

1971 Don't have anymore luck at Romford Tech either, caned again on a regular basis, and fail most of my O levels. But at least I have encountered girls here.

1972 Leave school because of necessity. My family is not well off and I need to earn money. However, by this time, I and Tommy have discovered motor bikes and Hells Angels and all sorts of things that they get up to, and as soon as I am old enough to ride a bike, we start the Hornchurch chapter of the Devils Henchmen. I do go to Rush Green evening college though, to do A level Pure and Applied Maths. There follows two years of absolute mayhem. Drinking, drugs, girls and more girls, fighting and a number of court appearances. Great fun though.

1974 My parents decide to emigrate to New Zealand, and I do not wish to accompany them, so they will go without me. At this point, I need a proper job, so the colours have to go in the bin, and I become a trainee operator in the then 'new' IT industry.

1976 Having constantly to move from flat to flat, I make the worst decision of my life, one I shall always regret, and sell all my Marvel comics, as I couldn't keep moving them around with. Submerse myself in music, take up the guitar and start playing in various bands.

1978 I have trod the boards and been on the treadmill for a while so finally try my hand in the recording studio. Record enough demos for a complete album and send them off. Get invited to LA by three record companies, so off I rush. Unfortunately, though, cannot get a deal, but return with renewed vigour and start recording again. Have given up everything else because of my perception that I was close to something big. Not to be and I get the same results as the first time. I finally put the guitar away and go back to school. And I'm fed up being on the breadline.

1983 - 1984 HNC in Computer Studies at NELP.

1986 Move to New Zealand with my then girlfriend in the hope of starting a new life. She turns out to be an absolute bitch and I have my first very traumatic relationship break-up.

1987 I return to England and leave her in New Zealand.

1988 Buy a new house and get back into serious contracting, to pay for everything that had been destroyed by the move to New Zealand.

1991 Everything financially sorted out, I get the guitars out again and take up the keyboards and a bit of bass and start playing the pub circuits again. Another one of those decisions that you regret. How good could I have been if I hadn't stopped for all those years. Start to re - collect my Marvels, only they are now, a lot more expensive.

1996 I'm exhausted with the constant gigging, the band were too good and we were gigging 3 or 4 times a week. Couldn't handle it anymore, so I give it up and take up the saxophone, just to relax.

2000 Diagnosed as having emphysema and have to stop playing the sax. All that bloody smoking. But conracting all these years has given me a great collection of Marvels. (And I do have Spidey#1, along with Fantastic Four #1, Xmen #1 and a number of others, but I'm not going to sleep with Ash).

2001 Happily single and intend to remain that way, contracting at present at Fords as a Technical Consultant, though IR35 may force me abroad.

And Tom Saunders has been with me all of the way, I still see him regular and have bumped into a number of 66'ers over the years. Richard Hall more than most, but Chris Fribbins, who has forgiven me for all those fights at school I hope, Steve Southgate at Save and Prosper, and Chris Heath and John Hunt who played guitars and bass on my studio sessions. Maybe I can dig a couple of them up and get them to join in the fun.

Needless to say, my life has made me into what I am today, which as a fair warning, is further right than Ghengis Khan. I never expect sympathy, nor do I give it, and have no time for wasters. Hope this hasn't bored too many of you, I was only acting on the advice I was given. Hopefully I will get to the point of joining in the discussions. (Ian McCormick)

GORDON KENNETH WALKER

(b. 1942): I joined R.L.S. In 1958 from a grammer school in Coleraine, N.Ireland. I was posted  to 5L.  On reflection they were all a good mixed selection of lads. There were the jack the lads - John A. Parker and Bob Branch! (they could pull the birds!!) There were the 'toffs' - Richard E. Smart & R. J. Trail!! Both very good at amateur dramatics. There were the very bright lads - Mike J. Stimpson and Mick G. Wadam, who never seemed to study but always came top of the class!! Bottom of the class were the smokers and drinkers - Gordon K. Walker (me). I did not do too well at my G.C.E's so I spent the next year in  5E with a lot of no hopers, smokers and drunks!! These included Johnny A. Keery, Alan J.C.Collins and Martin Wallis.

My only claim to fame was that I beat Barry F. Newman in the boxing finals. George H..R. Newth, after my 6th canning for smoking,  told me that I was not an asset to the school  and he was proberly right!! After leaving school I worked for the New Zealand Government in London before joining the Met. Police for thirty years. It was a good life. (Gordon Walker)

BARRY KRAUSHAAR

Spent some 3/4 years visiting Poland on a regular basis, as a Project Manager for McVitie's - we had a biscuit factory at Jaroslaw, in the SE, near the Ukraine border - Russian mafia much in evidence! Can confirm that Polish girls are as attractive as any - a visit to Krakow town square, observing the scenery, will confirm this!

David Maltby commented on the spelling of my surname. As a third generation Pole, I was the first member of the family (which came from Waszawa) to go back to Poland - in the mid-1990's. The surname is, in fact, German (means "curly hair") but each generation (now into its 5th) has decided to keep the original spelling. This caused problems during WW2 as, in spite of my father serving in the RAF, my mother and I were arrested on one occasion and I was prevented from joining in the VE day celebrations at school. Otherwise, it has always proved to be a good talking point!!

Had hoped to trace family members in Warszawa but none have survived - those of you who watched "Band of Brothers", last night, will get the drift. (Barry Kraushaar)

DAVID SILVERSIDE

Much of my lifetime story featured in the first page or so of my defence of Comprehensives (post #1533). But this was angled to fit the piece. So, if you don't want to go there and need more, (did I really say that?) here I am:
On a bleak winter's day in 1942, in a run-down B&B in the wilds of Lincolnshire, conceived on a 48 hour pass
1943 Born in the front bedroom in Shepherd's Hill `so that I have something to remember your father by'! Does anyone else ponder the wisdom of giving birth in war years?
1948 to 1954 Harold Wood County Primary School, Gubbins Lane. Fell in love with Miss Addiman and her wonderful college scarf to which she stuck felt figures. Passed the `Scholarship' I was told, but I think the scheme had finished by then. Proud, unknowing parents.
1954 Enter RLS to taunts of  ‘sc*m' from rooms 2 to 6. Nice, welcome, little boy in a big school. Academically seriously challenged; like me, my parents had difficulty understanding grammar school culture. Boys went to school to fill in the time between birth and work, didn't they? Homework discouraged as it made this Jack a dull boy. I was never pushed, so didn't really try. And I seriously regret it. Peer pressure did not rub off either. Mea culpa. Sporting skills had I none bar swimming, which I could just about do. Had to box Pete Rich and couldn't care less about the result. Stage lighting. 7th Romford Scouts, camping, climbing, Dene holing. Fell in love with a girl from chapel.
1959 Two `O' levels and they let me into the sixth form to do Zoo, Bot and Chem for none of which I had an `O' level!. Parents horrified at having to support me for two more years. The word `university' was banned from the house on financial grounds. A non-achiever, late developer and innocent anyway. What more could I learn? Fell in love with RCH girls, one in particular.
1961 Left the RLS a virgin and having failed three A levels, went to work at Sainsbury's meat (I kid thee not) research labs in Blackfriars. (Research, with my qualifications, beat that!). Post mortem glycolysis of muscle. Got A level Botany and struggled to get tertiary qualification on day-release. Austin A30. Fell out and in love many times with girls from many walks of life, some twice.
1971 Ten years later, fed up with looking at wrinkled sausage skins and without hint of marriage, I joined the Tropical Products Institute (TPI) and was with it or its successors to the end. It wasn't one job, probably a 100 because it involved a lot of travel to far-flung corners of the world each on a different assignment.
My most exciting times were spent overseas in such exotic places such as The Gambia, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Seychelles (6 - 24 months apiece) and a couple of hundred shorter visits to many, many countries mainly in the Third world. My particular favourites are St Helena, Mongolia, S Korea and for reasons I don't understand, Bangladesh and Sudan. I am no longer fussed about Africa and I can't find any more work in the West Indies. Dammit. Still falling in love albe'em at greater distances
1973 After two years in The Gambia, I met my future wife (Penny) and moved away from M&D in Harold Wood to live in London S1N. Circumcision. Loads of heavy short-term travelling.
1978 Married on my 35th birthday. Transferred to Abingdon in Oxfordshire. Loved it, such a dream to live near Oxford.
1979 Claire born.
1980 Malaysia with family. Loadsamoney but lost a baby boy so downtime
1982 Back to UK, Becky born. Great time in Oxfordshire. Fell in love with Emma Kirkby. What a fantastic voice! Such purity, clarity, range, control, agility; I go weak
1990 Transferred to Chatham to live in Maidstone, Kent. A cultural void.
1993 Got OU qualification in management. In latter years I became a sort of manager and my travelling was as good as over.
2001 NRI (TPI Successor) spent £9.6m more than it earned between 1997 and 2001 so half the staff were made redundant including me. I really wanted to tell my daughters that I was in full time work from the minute I left school to retirement. Dammit, beaten at the finishing post.
Still married to Penny (scientific editor), Claire teaching English as a foreign language in Lisbon (English Hons, Leeds Uni 2000), Becky at Sussex 2001 - (Social Psychology) all three Cordon Bleu cooks (I manage an egg or a salad and do the marmalade, pickled onions and pears in red wine)
Morning rattler; definitely/maybe a diabetic (naturally diet-controlled), good line in king-size, long-lasting palpitations, high BP, high cholesterol, in fact high most of the time. Good eyesight, necessary to read the pill bottles. Driving a 15 year-old VW Passat Estate and a 10 year old Polo Hatch. Part-time genealogist (only 90 of us in the world), pub-goer (Pedigree) home drinker of French-bought exotic wine (from frequent, personal visitations to La Belle), home gourmet, in-house decorator (red a speciality this month), gardener (I love my grape-vine), cabinetmaker, silver polisher, shoe cleaner, listener to proper music, TV watcher, cat-feeder and sleeper. But jobs in the pipeline. Its goodnight from me and goodnight to him. (David Silverside)

PHIL KINGHAM

Kleenex at the ready fellas, for herewith the last will and t...oh bugger, wrong thing: How to waste a prestigious education, henceforth known as the shiny cv. (I've glossed over a lot)
Yeah, verily, in the dim & distant past, one PK's intelligence shone out at the age of 11, so much so that it required a bribe of only £5 to ensure I passed the 11+. The parents' big mistake was to imagine that my cerebral acumen would advance beyond the age of 12. WRONG. I was totally out of my depth at RLS. I couldn't give a toss about the conjugation of Latin godwots, and the place was run by sadists in black frocks, along the lines of Stalag Luft and Eton circa 1775. I did, however, meet some interesting blokes, lifelong friends. Thrust headlong into the harsh world of commerce at 16, I realised that the areas of academia/law/medicine or anything involving my brain would not open to me, and after bumming around, found it easier and more to my liking, to use these appendages on the end of my arms. Hormonally charged, I had married at the age of 20, and she had sprogged the following year.
In about '66, the old man (RIP Syd), wangled me into engineering. This was me, but in the constant search for more dough, I left to become a motor fitter (again one of the old man's cronies) in the days before they called them technicians.
In about '74, conned my way into being an AA man; loved the job hated the shiftwork. So did no 1 wife, who, seeing the error of judgment she had previously made, divorced me 1978. I commend divorce to nobody and everybody, in that chronological order. Met current lady, Chris, 1979. She was a breakdown job. aaaaAAAhhhHHHHH. AA changed shift pattern '97, told them to spin in the August, taking early retirement. Back to bumming around until 2006. Part-time only, manual not physical, open to offers. Bind books, previously learnt at LCP, to supplement meagre pension/income.
No 1 son, Steve,39, driving instructor, south coast, divorced, new lady, 2 kids No 1 bricks, Karen,36, domestic engineer, ?Crewe, married, 2 kids No 2 son, Jim,33, computer something, own co.,West London, supplier and unpaid troubleshooter of this infernal thing, single, sensible. No more kids (thanx God) Grandad dotes
Spare time: Make and run small scale steam locomotives, current project weighs in at 3cwt, tracing family tree, astronomy (mines a 6", not one to boast), play the bassoon and contra ditto in local bands for ex's only, look after herself, support the Chilean wine and British gin industries, charitable donations to Gordon Brown inc. via Rothmans tobacco, and last and certainly least, this f*cking computer. (Phil Kingham)

RICHARD MARSH

In a hurry as usual I arrive 3 weeks early in my mother and fathers bedroom at 8 Alan Gardens Romford.I was a well planned replacement for my older brother Harold who died in 1958(anyone went to Crowlands 54/58 who remembers him?). May 63 Move to new house in Hornchurch 8 Oak Dene Close. Living at number 4 is a family called Landen...any relation to Hon Mem? As a small child I am allowed out in the street, but only as far as Landen's lamp-post.
April 66 Attend Squirrels Heath school.Why is everyone crying? I could not wait to go to school.
1971 Good things...School football team wins the league and I get elected House Captain.
1972 Oh God RLS here I come.Get offered 1/2 scHolarship to Brentwood School but decline it as someone said you have to wear a straw boater. Oh foolish boy.
1977 Spend 5 years making a total dickhead of myself and scrape some O levels
1977 Do I go into the 6th form or into industry choose industry and...
1977 Start work as a gravedigger at Romford Cemetery!
Sept 77 Start as a Police Cadet at Hendon.
April 80 Leave TOTALLY disillusioned I must have been so naive to think all policemen were the village bobby type.
1980 Spend a year working for a despatch company in London riding a motorbike. What a fantastic grounding for dealing with today’s traffic.
1980 Still being alive I nail my colours to the mast of being a MOD and I still am. Lose virginity with...yes you guessed an RCH girl yippee! No not bloody Daisy Bubbers... you got there first Mr Maltby.
1981 to 1984 - 3 years in retail Menswear Willerbys and Coles in the Quadrant Arcade. Starting as shop assistant and rising to shop assistant.
1984 Get married to Julie and coincidentally get a proper job so I can get in proper debt. I blag my way into a job at the BMW dealer in Collier Row although I know bugger all about cars (know how to interview well and lie through my teeth though but).
1989 1st child and still Dads favourite thing Christina.
1992 2nd child Michael supports Man U like me sensible boy.
1995 3rd child Stuart supports Newcastle, why?
1995 4th child Benny supports West Ham poor sod.
1996 Get TV and video fixed
1999 So far down the pecking order at home wife forgets who I am. Get divorced and run off with 'THAT TART'
2001 Living happily ever after with 'that tart' Anna.She was born while I was trying unsuccessfully to grow up in 3R. Have a stepdaughter Amy who is 9 and supports Orient. HOBBIES Making children, riding Suzuki Bandit, Playing Darts.
LIFE AIMS Buy another Lambretta. Live long enough to see the children grown up. MUSIC Early Genesis, Mod stuff, 60s beat groups, Manics. Favourite saying 'If you can’t affect it don't worry about it.' (Richard Marsh)

ASHLEY BRANWELL HOWE

1955 22nd June born of man and woman, in Collier Row, Essex - and mother still lives in the same house.
1959 Attended Parklands Infant and Junior School, Collier Row Lane. First remembered experience of British comic environment - Harold Hare's Weekly.
1963 Various experiences with Lion, Tiger, Eagle, Valiant, Boys' World.
1964 Discovered Billy Bunter - never shall the world seem the same again.
1965 Reading Rover and Wizard, first girlfriend (platonic) was the kind soul who used to give me her elder brother's comics when he'd finished with them. First experience of Motown - jilted girlfriend in favour of Diana Ross.
1966 Attended Royal Liberty School - in a state of awe at being a small fish in a big pond. Decided then and there to become a big fish. 1967 Summer of Love - first rustlings in mind that there may be a larger world out there demanding attention.
1968 First experience of science fiction - a love affair that lasted for the next 33 years (and continues).
1969 Man walks on the Moon - now definitely convinced that the external world needs looking at, but brought down to Earth with a bump by JPC who was not in agreement with me having a day off school just because I'd been up all night watching Armstrong and Aldrin. First inkling that this man and I would not be getting along, coupled with continuing signs that nor would my father and I.
1970 First heard Led Zeppelin, followed closely by Carlos Santana. Long downward spiral into immorality and social depravity commences. Hair starts getting longer, apparel becomes scruffier.
1971 10 "O" levels, but some serious flaws in the JPC / A. Howe relationship have developed.
1972 Parents' decree nisi - father moves out of family home, but not missed.
1971-3 Irrevocable deterioration of headmaster / pupil relationship. Open warfare - continuous harping on about length of hair has convinced me this man is not in touch with reality. 3 grade A's at A level persuade me I was doing something right, but I think I was happier because I hadn't had a haircut. Left RLS without a backward look (to eternal shame).
1973 Attended Leeds University Medical School, but academia had palled and it was quite clear that yours truly was not cut out for a medical career. However, I took to the student life like a duck to water, and decided to debauch until the grant ran out. Mission accomplished.
1974 Six months commuting into London working in Recruitment for British Rail, saving enough dosh to have a 3 month break over summer (debauchery part 2). Decided to have another year off before going back to Uni to study Psychology, so worked at Warley Psychiatric Hospital to gain practical. Clinical Psychology experience (and to help people, yawn, yawn). Formative life experience!! World never appeared the same again. (cf. Billy Bunter above)
1975-8 Leicester University - Psychology, with subsidiary Sociology and Astronomy. The downward spiral continues...
1976 2000AD published - back into the world of British comics again!! Judge Dredd revitalises brain.
1978 First Class B.Sc. (Hons), so started M.Sc./Ph.D. course at Birmingham. Same old story, though - lasted a month before boredom crept in.
1978 Fell into British industry by mistake (to pay the bills), but got interested in computerisation.
1979 Got married to Linda, French graduate and Geordie, who I had been living with since 1976.
Attended first world science fiction convention at Brighton - refused to buy the anorak. 1979-87 Working in Leicester, improving the use of computers in industry. (uphill struggle)
1982 Son Stuart born (apple of eye).
1986 Daughter Louisa born (apple of other eye).
1987 Connection between testicles and rest of body compromised by Fu Manchu clone posing as vasectomist.
1988 Started work for Marconi / British Aerospace as MRP / computer systems manager.
1992 Father dies - hard b**tard Howe feels nothing, but thinks maybe he should.
1997 Moved to Hampshire as part of relocation with British Aerospace.
2001 TODAY!! Son Stuart at Loughborough Uni reading Computer Studies and Business Management. Daughter Louisa twice tennis champion of Hampshire, studying for GCSE's. And I'm the ERP / Integrated Business Systems Manager for BAe Portsmouth. Still happily married, still reading Billy Bunter, comics and science fiction. Conclusion: still never actually attained adulthood. There!! I told you I should have stayed in the corner! A life of self-degradation has left some scars, but the hair is all mine (albeit short and grey), the paunch is paid for, and the attitude is still all wrong (quote JPC). (ash howe, 66-73, RNG, morituri te salutant)

GRAHAM ALEXANDER LEE

I should explain that when I left University in 1973 I took up a career in the recorded music industry better known by all and sundry as............................."

" ROCK AND ROLL "" My best friend was and still is, if he ever returns to these shores from whatever gig he is playing, a guy by the name of Malcolm (Mal) Linwood-Ross. Just before I met him and round about the time ash was getting Sonja's poster all sticky, Mal was the tour manager for Curved Air and was married to Sonja. Their marriage however was on the rocks and the first time I met her was when she came back to their apartment one evening to collect some of her things. She had with her a tall, gangly and rather nervous American guy who was introduced to me as Stooart (work the accent out for yourself). Later and by pure co-incidence I became good friends with a bloke called Tony Reeves who was a much respected bass player (John Hiseman's Coliseum, Argent, briefly Roxy Music) and who subsequently played bass with an incarnation of Curved Air. One day I was at Tony's house and was introduced to a tall, gangly not now so nervous American called Stooart. We all went down to the Round House in Chalk Farm where Curved Air were playing that night and I again met Sonja. It transpired that Sonja and Stooart, who played drums for CA, were an item. They later married and she and Stooart became Mr.& Mrs.Copeland as in ' The Police '. Tony and I often lamented that we didn't take a management interest in the lad when we had the chance. (Graham Alexander Lee)

COLIN CHAPMAN

Born 1971 in Cuckfield Sussex 1976 - 81 Attended Gidea Park Primary School 1981 - 1987 Royal Liberty School, left at 16 with 1 O level and 7 CSE's. I was very lazy and preferred reading Marx! 1987 - 1989 London College of Furniture studying musical instrument technology and electronics, worked part time for a vintage guitar shop in London. 1989 - Moved to the States and started taking drugs, played in a few bands and traded vintage guitars in London 1989 - Returned to London and worked for a 'commercial intelligence company' because my father instead that I get a proper job!, took lots of drugs while doing A levels and got married. managed to get 3 A levels 1991 - Series of odd jobs in London plus lots of drug taking and reading. (I cannot recall much of these years except that I lived in Lewisham and then Islington and had a shaved head for some of the time!) 1993 - 1996 Kings College London doing a degree in Late Medieval & Renaissance History and Politics, working in vintage guitar dealing and bar management while taking large amounts of drugs and generally being very unhealthy! Lived near Oxford Circus in a mews house.... 1996 - graduated and unemployed for a while mainly doing private research on the occult and London and edited numerous arts and media theory books and essays for publication. Managed to give up most stimulants at this point but got into cocktails....also learn't Russian 1997 - Got job at RBS Trust Bank followed by a year at Natwest Stockbrokers as a general dogsbody. 1998 lived in Bloomsbury in a huge 'Rosemarys Baby' style apartment block and travelled to Japan. 1999 - Worked at SocGen as a program trader until I got fired, got into the gym and gave up smoking. 1999 - Joined Merrill Lynch as a corporate actions arbitrage analyst and still there. Got into martial arts and Zen and really gave up smoking. Also got into web design and co designed several Russian language sites. 2001 - Hit 30, Got separated and loving it. Live in Clerkenwell and while I still cannot give up drinking coffee I am determined to read and write myself out of existence! (Colin M Chapman)

DEREK K. HUMPHREY

57/62 (Roman Not guilty)
8.1.1946 born
11.9.57 start RLS
23.7.62 leave RLS
1.8.62 start work
28.8.67 married
8.1.06 leave work
0.? dies (RIP)
(Derek Humphrey)

RUSS MARTIN

Born in High Wycombe in 45 due to ma being evacuated although WW2 was over by then. Never been there since. We then moved to Ladywell (grandma's house), Lee Green (prefab) and Sydenham (council house) - all in South London. It was a great time to be there - collecting playing cards that came with bubble gum (each featuring a Vargas girl and probably worth screeds of money now), listening to my first Bill Haley ep's and roaming around empty houses full of furniture that had been left over from the war. I particularly remember the time my brother and I pushed a piano over the 3rd floor bannisters in order to see what damage was caused.
At the age of 11 we moved to Upminster and I hated it. Spent 3 dismal months at Upminster primary and then move on to the Royal Lib. 5 years spent learning not too much except how to play brag, poker and pontoon. After leaving worked at WHSmith for 3 months and then at the Royal Exchange company - fired after one year. A year at Lloyds followed by a year at Fords in Dagenham. To get there I hitched each way in all weathers. The most interesting things about Fords were that it was the first time that I had ever seen styrofoam, and the older lady who would spend hours standing behind me with my head resting between her very large breasts. By that time we had moved to Rayleigh and all my friends lived in the Southend area. Many happy hours were spent at the Shades on the seafront. It was run by Robin Trowers dad and the Paramounts used to play in the basement.
Starting in Jan 66 I spent a few months bumming round Europe and Morocco and ended up in the alleys of Tangier from where I had to be repatriated. The British Embassy refused to spend any money and my father had to send 37 pounds by wire. Got the money and spent it on illicit substances and carried on travelling. Came back and worked in a parachute factory with a gorgeous selection of gypsy girls from the infamous Bibby family. I then got a job in the computer dept of Carreras. Married in 69 and quit the company in 1970. A succession of jobs followed including pea-picking, selling velvet paintings door to door and being an ice cream man. The ice cream job was the low point in all this - I had a big bushy beard and long hair at the time and my only customers were tough kids from council estates who would kick the sides of the van and say things like 'Got any broken biscuits, Jesus?'  They never spent any money and the gig ended when I ran out of diesel and had to be towed about 15 miles by another van only to fuse all the refrigerator hook-ups for all the parked vans.
1970-77 worked as a programmer for a variety of companies both permanently and as a consultant. This period included another brief interlude where I attended college for a year, worked delivering free newspapers, ran a T shirt printing business, worked at the Post Office, and worked with a friend from California importing stuff from Marrakesh. Daughter born in 73, son in 76. In 77 we went to live in Khartoum for 3 years. At the end of that time we spent 6 months travelling through Ethiopia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Seychelles and India. My son spent his fourth birthday in Antananarivo. 80-81 back to the UK and worked in both London and New Jersey. Back to India and Nepal for 2 months and then (81-89) we all moved to Bermuda. From Bermuda we moved straight to the house we now occupy in New Jersey. Despite taking lots of lysergic acid in the late 60's I never really had any spiritual revelations but do still have both testicles. (Russ Martin)

LES FARROW

After the Lib I took a year off before university and did a crummy clerk job for Barclay's in the City - I've never been sure whether that was a good idea or not, as I got a taste for earning money, which I'm sure adversely influenced later decisions. Anyway, I went to Southampton University to study Maths, and after one term decided the only thing I could do with a Maths degree was become an accountant - which of course, is just slightly worse than death, so I left, apparently with the notion of going into the big wide world and making my fortune...! On later reflection, I realised this probably wasn't such a good decision, especially bearing in mind that I went on to become a programmer (never occurred to me at the time, and even less so at school, being the first school in the country to have it's own computer - remember Rob Cubbitt on Tomorrow's World with, was it "Paddy Feeney"?).
I bummed around for a few years, doing all sorts of ridiculous jobs (the worst was probably road-sweeper). My mother had moved up to Caister, just north of Gt. Yarmouth, and she knew someone who had a job opening, so I moved up there, and that led to several more "bum" jobs.
At 22 I met Kim, literally "the girl who lived across the road" (even though she had to ask her friend who I was...!). Her mother, god bless her, had a cousin who was doing well in computers, so she suggested, with my maths background, that I should try it (I don't think she wanted her daughter hanging out with a bum...!). There was nothing much happening in Norfolk, so much to her mother's dismay, we packed our bags into the back seat of my Vauxhall Victor, and with a hundred pounds to our name, we set off for Southampton. I got myself a job as a trainee programmer for a small software company, and my career as a "computer specialist" began on Jan 3rd 1977. I won't go into all the gory details, but suffice it to say, I took to it like a duck to water, and I'm still doing it 24 years later, and I have to say, doing it very well (the money's good too...!).
Kim and I got married in 1978, and eventually moved back to Norfolk, where we had two boys, Daniel and Gregory. They are now 18 and 17, known as Dan and Greg, both driving cars, both got girlfriends, and boy do they remind me of me when I was that age....scary!. By this time I was working as a computer consultant, and there was a lot of contract work advertised in America, so we thought, as an adventure, we'd work and live in a foreign country for a year.
We lived on Staten Island, one of the five New York City boroughs, and I worked in Manhattan. Largely due to the fact that The Bank of New York brought 25 consultants over from the UK (we were told it was because they respected the British expertise - we later found out it was because they could get us cheap...!), we ended up experiencing one of the best party periods of our lives (cost us a fortune). Our house on Staten Island had an in-ground pool, an item which it seems generally comes with a bunch of new friends (hangers-on, whatever..!). To cut a long story short, we ended up staying a lot longer than planned, and circumstance dictated that, by the time we considered going home, we realised we were no longer visiting, but that this in fact, was now home. We were in NYC for five years, enough for anyone in one lifetime, in my opinion, and left pretty much as soon as my visa status allowed us to. From about five choices we decided to move to "Upstate New York". Albany is the State Capital so there's quite a bit of State Government work around, and also banks, insurance companies etc. - enough at least to keep me fully employed for the last 11 years. We ended up living in a community made up of two villages, commonly referred to as Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake, renting a house actually on the lake.
In '91 my daughter, Georgina, was born. Now, at ten years old, she is beautiful, intelligent, witty and the love of my life (I look at her and think, "I must have done something right in my last life".) Unfortunately, two years later (for reasons I won't go into now), Kim decided she didn't want me around any more - a decision I still strongly disagree with (but that's another story). However, I agreed to leave on the understanding that we would have joint physical custody of the kids. I didn't have a whole lot of money to throw around, and was very fortunate that a small house right on Ballston Lake came up for sale. The owner had let it fall into a certain amount of disrepair, so I picked it up fairly cheaply. I've done a lot of work on it since, and still live there, and the kids live with me one week on/one week off. As I said, it's right on the lake, which is 3 1/2 miles long and between 300yds to 3/4 mile wide - I've got a boat, so in the summer we do a lot of boating, swimming and skiing. One of my priorities was to ensure that Georgie became confident in the water - she now swims like a fish.
About six months after breaking up with Kim (1983), I met Sue, an American girl from Norwich NY, strange as Kim came from Norwich, in Norfolk. Actually I had known Sue for some time at work, so it's probably truer to say we "got together" (one Friday night a few of us met for drinks after work, and I asked if anyone wanted to come back for a swim at my new house on the lake - Sue was the only one who said yes.........etc. etc.). We lived together in my house, but it was a strange relationship. I was still "getting over Kim" (which took me four years), and Sue seemed to be happy to put up with that - but we never had any kind of commitment or plans to spend our lives together. After about four years together, we broke up, and then for various reasons, I literally had a change of heart, and asked her to marry me. After six refusals she eventually said "yes", and we got married in '98. Life has a strange way of throwing curves at you though - I expected that we would have a long and happy life together, but she never seemed to be able to accept that I loved her, and things very soon started to go downhill - we got divorced earlier this year. Talking of coincidences, both Kim and Sue are Librans (never know where you stand with them...!) and both their father's were born on April 16th - guess I know what to avoid next time around...!
So, that's about where I am now. I'm very happy with my life - I've got a great job, a lovely (little) house, lots of friends and three wonderful kids (sometimes that's not what I tell them..!). I also get to be a father half the time and a care-free bachelor the other half - pretty good arrangement, I think...!. I am also very pleased that bearing in mind the average quality of American "pubs" (ranging from bad to abysmal), the village I live in has a great "Irish" Restaurant/Bar called Carney's, which I have claimed as my "second home" (just like Cheers). Bob Carney, the owner, claims to have a "three-Brit limit", but as yet, un-enforced...!
I get over to England quite a bit, three times last year, and I'll be over during the last week of November. My brother (Howard) and sister (Carla) and their families live not far from Norwich. For reasons that I may mention some other time, I don't really keep in touch with my other brother Tony (he's a year younger than me and went to St Edwards). In January this year I went to visit my Aunt and her family (9 of them) in New Zealand for three weeks, and as a special treat to myself, I tagged on a week in Fiji - that was fun.
Well you're probably totally bored by now, and thinking "when the h*ll's he going to shut up"? So, my apologies, verbal diarrhoea...! I'll try and stop now...! And if you're really pissed off with being made to read this garbage - then guess what, you can blame Greg.....! Anyone who got this far, you really need to get a life...! (Les Farrow)

MIKE BUTTERWORTH

(formerly known as Mick or George) I went to London Road Primary School (where the headmaster was Mr Beanse, our form teacher was Mr Onions and we had at one time, I believe, a Mr Fish - nevertheless I did not stay for school dinners, even though it was only 1/6 a week when I first went). We lived along London Road on the corner of Crowlands Avenue. at a newsagents and tobacconist with sub-post office. The school is now, I believe, called Crowlands. Others at the school who went to the Liberty were Roy (Goof) Landon (known to some as Birmingham) and Richard Cowling (is Peter his brother??) - both were excellent footballers (full back and goalkeeper - I only got the job of goalkeeper for RLS when Richard left after the fifth form).
I was at the RLS from 1952 to 1959 (or was it 60? - only one term of it at most. Norman; guilty)- stayed on for a term in the third year sixth in order to have a go at Cambridge Open exams (but they failed to recognize my suitability). Taught at a primary school in Dagenham for a term or two (and we won the district cricket trophy).
Went to Manchester University and became a committed Christian in the first few days. Church had previously been a means of meeting girls (the only other outlet being the fortnightly dance at Romford County High with HM Daisy Bubbers in attendance) and singing in the choir (Squirrels Heath; others there were Mick Rendell (No. 2 in Jake Melnick's classification, or in order of birth among the four boys), who first passed on news of OL activities; John Paxon, Bob Green, the choirmaster's son (now retired and living in St Albans) and Paul Morgan (now organist at Exeter Cathedral).
By the end of my degree I had transferred to maths and philosophy (instead of just maths), become an ordinand of the C of E, and got engaged. Then a year at the Mayflower Family Centre in Canning Town , East London, where I learnt a lot that had not been on the school syllabus. Then three years at theological college in Bristol and off to be a Curate in Derbyshire (South Normanton - J28 of the M1). Four years there, a year in Birmingham at Crowther Hall preparing for service overseas.
We actually went to Bangalore, South India and were there seven and a bit years: five years as a theological college lecturer and then two plus as a course writer for TEE (theological education by extension) and a pastor of a church in a poor area of Bangalore.
We came home to Britain in 1980 and I taught at Oak Hill College for 17 years and then moved to the present job, Principal of St Albans and Oxford Ministry Course, a part-time training course for (mostly) ordinands (mostly) of the C of E.
So there it is with answers about anyone in the ministry and primary school along the way as promised.
Mr Morall is a former colleague of my wife - they were both at Enfield County School and he left to sort out some other school (at least I think so) before RLS. He was highly rated at Enfield and they thought he would go far.
Following attendance at last year's reunion I have a few thoughts to float. It seems a nice idea to have a regular OL event, but I can't see many of today's OLs being that committed - they leave after the fifth form - unless there is some very attractive reason for attending. So what do you think of the idea of an event every x years at which we have a former pupil who has made it in the field of entertainment (or something else entertaining). Quite a few Old Boys are in the Arts - I can think of several musicians without trying very hard. And at least one TV writer is on our list.
That's long enough. Now all I have to do is work out how to inject this into the system. Thanks to Bill Groves for the welcome note and kind comment about my goalkeeping. Yes it was 1957 onwards and included the first term of the1959-60 year. I continued to play in the maths department goal, then theological college as a student, then as a lecturer (in India and back in Britain). Finally gave up at the age of about 40. Couldn't reach the high ball from the wheelchair. I only took up goalkeeping because you don't haveto run so much and because Goalkeeping Prolongs Active Life. (Mike Butterworth)

ROY WOOLEY

I note from the 1956-57 Alumni that he was Warrant Officer i/c RAF Section in the CCF. (JAS) (Also note: RLS Head Boy in the 50s)
Yes I was a WO in the CCF (how’s that for jargon?). My greatest claim to fame was that the RAF section was allocated a basic glider, fired by catapult across the school field. I was the only one with a licence to fly it. The only problem was it came in the winter, the ground was sticky, I was too heavy (surely not, I hear cry) and the d**n thing would not take off! I left before it got into the air. What became of it?
I was amused by the Prefects Newsletter in the 1955 magazine. I well remember the reference to me. I married that Carole and we now live here in deepest Hampshire.I still have a copy of that magazine and possibly one other which I will hunt for as well as a pristine copy of the Hymn Book (never sung from).
Thanks to David for his gracious reference to the lines. I can honestly say that it never occurred to me at the time that one act on my (or anybody else's) part could create an impact to last for so many years. Belatedly, David, I am sorry I troubled you. As regards Head Boy etc. My memory fails me but I was never Head Boy - that was Alan Richards and I was his deputy, whether for one year or two I cannot remember. I did a third year in the 6th for Oxbridge purposes (why I even tried I can't think) and I left as Deputy in Summer 1957. During that last long hot summer term, with Colin Brazier and Arthur Searle, the three of us spent hours in the Essex County Record Office researching the history of Hare Hall. We won the County history prize for that and I believe it was subsequently published and sold at Summer Fairs etc? I went into the RAF National Service and the RLS training stood me in good stead since my job took me two days a month and I had to lose myself the rest of the time.
I am in annual touch with Mike Elliott (in 1st XI photo on file), Graham Robinson, Howard Carter ( yes his family included the Howard Carter who discovered Tutenkhamun) and I was the friend who advised Graham Bond to buy a saxophone. This stuff is addictive and I hope not boring to you.
Graham, Howard and I went to a good few concerts as our blossoming interest in jazz coincided with the arrival of the Chris Barber Band on the scene. We heard them in the Festival Hall and the recital room many a time. In particular the skiffle spin off was also starting, as you will remember. We also saw Duke Ellington (at which concert the highlight for Carole (now Mrs Woolley) was standing next to Lonnie Donegan in the coats queue!). Together we also saw and heard Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet among others. Subsequently ,whilst in the RAF, I heard Count Basie. Those were the days. We recently saw the Chris Barber band in Bournemouth - only the audience gets older. (Roy Wooley)

EDDIE POND
What you probably don't know is that I was the first singer with the Temperance Seven, billed as Ed Pond "The Singing Barsteward". I also boxed for the Parachute Regiment and played county level rugby, but that is not something I learnt at RLS.
My brother David was in the same form as Michael Ward who happens to live not far away in Blackheath. Geoff Styles was in my year. Funny but there was no cadet force of any description during the war. Just the 7th Romford boy scouts. What ever happened to it?
I was in the ATC, 6F Squadron. We actually spent a lot of time at Hornchurch Aerodrome loading machine gun belts and cadging as many flights as we could get. I flew in a de Havilland Rapide, Avro Anson, Westland Lysander, didn't quite make a Spitfire.We also volunteered for fire watching at the HQ in Romford Market. 1/9 a night plus a good time "mucking about" Straight to school in the morning. (Eddie Pond - 1940-44)

GEOFFREY STYLES
I was born in 1929, old enough in 1939 to remember the 11:00 a.m. sound of the first siren on September 3rd. Each morning after the blitz started in 1940 we saw bomb damage as we made our way to the RLS. Sometimes we walked and picked up shell and bomb fragments en route to Gidea Park from Romford. We slept every night for year in Shelter Number 4 on North Street in Romford. We saw war at first hand. However nothing I have seen in my life equals the devastation of September 11, 2001 in New York City and Washington, D.C.

I was at the school from 1941-1946. I live now in Tallahassee, Florida. I emigrated to Canada and thence the USA soon after the end of WW II. I have attended several reunions in the past few years and you are welcome to touch base with Ken Catton. I applaud the effort (and your web page) to keep some sort of association going. In my day there was a very active Old Boys Association with such stalwarts as Keith Merlin, Ian Munro and NormanWinston as strong supporters in spite of WW II and their imminent "call-up" notices. I maintain contact by e-mail and snail mail with Nicol Hilton, Ken Catton, Bob Metson, Laurie Moles and John Aspinall. At least three of the former have visited us over here. Old friends are very often the best friends, not that I don't have many friends stateside. We "Yanks" are a friendly lot! We also try to fit in a UK trip annually.

I left UK shortly after WW II (alone) at an age I now consider quite young. I arrived in Canada via ship (the SS. Aquitania - long gone to the scrapyard). After six years of wartime diet and blackout, Canada was like a fairyland. It took 2-1/2 days by Canadian National train from Halifax to Toronto. I was met at Union Station (after making a local phone call) by a man I did not know, but he was a friend of a family in knew in Brantford. He took me to his home where his lovely wife plied me with breakfast and conversation and then drove me to Brantford - 65 miles - a huge distance at that time in England. The lady who sponsored me to the USA was married to a George Cobham. His brother Sir Alan Cobham was well known in British aviation circles. George was involved with Duveen & Co. a prominent NY art firm. Her brother was a Master-at-Arms on the "Queen Mary". During NY layovers on her Trans-Atlantic trips he would always come out to Long Island and visit us.

I was greeted warmly and stayed a week with the family I knew. I got a room in the YMCA (Room 425) and lived there, eating three meals a day out (I had a job within a month) and could afford decent food. Shop windows were lit and streets covered with snow (snow clearing was not a big deal in those days). I will not bore you with the manual labor I performed. Later an opening came up in the office of the firm where I was employed.  Although I came from a loving family, it was never a demonstrative family. I was never homesick.

I made three excellent friendsthat year, two of whom have since died. The daughter of one of them is my goddaughter. I keep in touch with her family, ther friends and especially the man who still lives in Brantford, Ontario. I later moved to New York where I was sponsored by a lady who attended nursing school in London (UK) with my oldest aunt and so my stay in the USA began.

Three years later, and after serving my stint in the US Army, I was hired by a Wisconsin based firm. With my background I was asked if I would work from their Canadian facility. It just happened to be in Brantford and so I was back with old/new friends.

Again, I was never homesick. I loved Canada from the first day. Lights, traffic, friendly people, wide open streets and highways, and I felt I was truly in a new world.

I felt the same way about New York City and other places I visited. For a young man it was an exciting time.

I am sure my parents missed me, but I did not miss England or my family. I am very adaptable. I have visited and have friends in many countries. I love to see them and maintain contact with them. However my home is the USA and I am (in my view) very fortunate to have many friends here, many opportunities to be part of the community through volunteer work, and I love the climate in Tallahassee. Much softer than Wisconsin, Ontario, New York, Quebec, or even Virginia. I am very lucky in that my only brother also lives here, although he is an RV-er and not home that much. He and his wife love their motor home and the open road. They are presently on a 60 day extended trip to the West Coast.

Life is what you make it. When I first got to Canada I played soccer for the local club. Many of the wives of immigrants would complain about Canada - you can't get this or that, everything is different, I miss my old neighbors, etc. I would tell them if they felt that strongly - go back home. It was not a well received comment, but some of them did pack it up and had back to the UK.

I have been fortunate healthwise, careerwise, and cannot ask for more. Any difficulties I have had I brought on myself, but those are all history. Carpe diem!  (Geoffrey Styles)

BRIAN COAN
I am alumni of Royal Liberty School, graduating in 1957 (I think). I remember most of my fellow classmates and teachers, in particular "AGGIE" my house master who lived in Chelmsford. I was in Roman house which stood in last place in almost all activities at that time. I emigrated to Canada in 1966 and returned to university in 1969 to obtain my bachelor of commerce degree. I doubt that my professors of 1953-57 would believe that (we were in the 3f class).Would be pleased to hear from old classmates or teachers (Brian Coan)

JOHN BAILEY
I attended RLS from 1963 to 1970 - I believe my year were the first to have John Coles as Headmaster throughout our time at the school - and I was for my sins a member of Danes. My school nickname was "Biffo", which some of your members will doubtless remember.
Having moved away from the area I have not had any contact with the school or my old classmates for around 25 years, however my family still live in Hornchurch so I do pass by occasionally. My brother's children attended the school in the late 80's and early 90's, and my stepsister's son is a current pupil in year 9 or 10. (John Bailey)

MALCOLM DAMON
Hi Andy, We were obviously at the RLS at the same time, me from 57-64. I was in 6A Science year, and in the Cadet force. The headmaster had just changed from Mr Newth to Mr Coles, I am now a partner in an Electronics company dealing with Sound and lighting installations in Clubs etc. hey ho, happy days! ! (I'm afraid I'm guilty!!). I left to get Physics degree at Brighton Poly, then sponsored by Marconi Co. to work on Swing Wing, and Space Comms, before going out on Contract work., then as a partner in an Electronics co.
Used to be in the CCF, as CSM army. Got loads of memories of Cadet camps with the regulars. Didn't have much to do with the glider, but I seem to remember seeing members of the Air force trying to launch it with what looked like 100yds of knicker elastic. I took a look at the old school a year or so ago, and it definitely seemed a bit shabby. I was surprised that the swimming pool was still there, but the changing rooms and the water looked atrocious.
I used to see Mr (Sus) Pender around the Brentwood area, but that was a few years ago. Other masters who are fondly remembered were Jet Morgan, Spook Smith, Ron Smith, Mssrs Webber, Tydeman, Benson.

GED MARTIN

In about 3 months' time, this screen will go blank. I am taking early retirement from Edinburgh University and intend to move to Ireland (my wife's home country) to write books. I have about fourteen planned at the last count (honest) and yes, I suspect that some or all won't make it. Among my outline plans is a Short History of South-west Essex, so wotchit you lot or I might put you all in it. (Any OL running a publishing company out there?) (Ged Martin)

CHRIS BROADBRIDGE

Hello. Buggered off at end of 5th form, thus totally not guilty although I did make corporal in the CCF.  How to condense 33 years, which seem more like 33   weeks into a posting that won't send everybody either to sleep or an early  grave? To summarise:

1968 Having left the RLS with 5 poor O Levels I entered the Merchant Navy and went to the University of Southampton.

Joined my first ship, away for ten months running between the east cost of Northern America & Australia during which time my mother informs me I managed to write home no less than 6 times. Thereafter sailed on a variety of ships and spent frequent periods ashore studying until, finally, I achieved qualification as Master Mariner, Foreign Going, in 1980.

197?   Married Jacqui.

1979  Left first company which was going under, as was the rest of the British Merchant Marine, and joined a Government owned operation to ensure that I was still employed to achieve final goal, see above.

1981 Went to Falklands sitting on top of 50,000 tonnes aviation spirit and diesel fuel, a definite cure for constipation and  heavy sleeping!

1982    Daughter, Madeline, born, a definite cure for constipation and heavy sleeping!  Left Essex (Tillingham) and moved to Hampshire (Warsash). Left Government employment and joined British Telecom International, sailing on cable ships installing and maintaining the international telephone cable links around Europe.

1986    Moved ashore into project management.

1991    Transferred to BT as manager responsible for liaison with other seabed users and Government Departments to protect BT's subsea plant.

1994    Took the plunge, took the tests and was made a member of British Mensa.

1996 1996 Accepted ridiculous offer to bugger off as BT downsizing (some say lean & mean, I say anorexic) and started own company as consulting cable engineer. The fact that my boss, his boss & his boss all left did provide me with a hint towards the future.

Now, Director or of four companies, OK only one profitable with two desperately attempting to break into new markets and one moribund. What do I remember about school? Precious little, I look at the photograph and see a sea of faces, the names of which totally elude me! Am I in contact with any other Libertians? No, that's probably why I lurk on uk.local.essx and was pleased to find this group. (The archivist asked: You are the only other merchant seaman I know of on our list. But others
may still be out there (literally). Please tell us more…) Chris replied:- Oh, what a list!
1. Ellerman City Liners including excursions into Ellerman's Wilson Line and Ellerman & Pappyani. General cargo including reefer, heavy lift, liquid & bulk Passenger/cargo Container. Cadet, 3/O, 2/O & acting C/O. Once left in charge of a vessel but not as Captain!
        East coast Canada & USA - Australia & New Zealand
        UK - South Africa
        UK - East Africa
        UK - Mediterranean
        UK - Persian Gulf & India/Sri Lanka/Pakistan/Bangladesh
        Canada - India/Sri Lanka/Pakistan/Bangladesh       

2. Royal Fleet Auxiliary   General cargo. Landing ship (logistic). Products carrier (tanker)
        Fleet replenishment tankers.
        UK - Mediterranean
        Northern Europe
        UK coasting
        Persian Gulf Patrol
        Falklands campaign

        2/O, often referred to as PWO (Principal Warfare Officer) with responsibilities including navigation, planning, liaison & logistics, gunnery officer (seriously), medical officer and flight deck officer (the bloke with the ping-pong bats who directs the helicopters), C/O.

3. British Telecom International/BT (Marine) Ltd Cable laying/repairing ships Navigating Officer & Acting Cable Officer. As all officers had a Master's ticket MN ranks were not used. Nav/O (two stripes) specialised in navigation and ship positioning and kept the bridge watches, Cable/O (two and a half stripes) planned the operations and specialised in ship handling during repair operations and supervising and reporting upon repair activities. We all had a knowledge of cable faults, testing and x-raying.
        Northern Europe & Mediterranean  Cable laying/repairing ships Rock dump vessel 

4. Consulting engineer
        Northern Europe & Mediterranean                             (Chris Broadbridge) (1963–68)

CHRIS FRIBBINS

I left RLS in 1972 after an unsuccessful first year in the 6th form. I didn't fancy a spell with the intake of 1967! so went to Barking College of Technology (Rush Green College to most of us), I hit the world of work (IT) in August 1973, still 'earning' my corn by thinking and pressing buttons. 1973-1976 Barclays Bank, London - Computer Operator, Support

1976-1993 Lloyd's of London, Romford & Chatham - Various positions from Senior Computer Operator, to Operations Support Manager, via Systems Programming. Lloyd's relocated from Romford (North Street roundabout on the ring road) to Chatham, Kent in 1978. I travelled down for a year and then moved down when I got married in 1979. 2 sons - I at University studying Computer Science!, at college to improve his GCSE grades. 1993-1994 Swiss Bank Corporation, London - Freelance IT Support

1995 Pearl Assurance, Peterborough - Contract Environment Specialist 1995- NatWest, Aldgate - Contract Configuration Management NatWest taken over by Royal Bank of Scotland in 2000. Outside of work, I have held many positions in the local community - some of the more significant ones are :- Cliffe & Cliffe Woods Parish Councillor - 1983 - to present (spells as Chair and Vice-Chair) Rochester City Councillor (District Authority)

1987 - 1999 (became part of Medway) Medway Councillor (Unitary Authority) 1998 - 2000 Chair of many major committees on both authorities - Planning and Transportation my major brief School Governor of Village Primary School since late 80s. Local Comprehensive since about 1992. (Chris Fribbins)

NEIL FRASER

I'm working in the City and have done since leaving that strange place we used to call a school.  Living in Upminster so haven't strayed far from our old stamping grounds. I don't have any regular contact with old class/school mates but used to bump into various people (Grant Rome, Paul Watson, Andy Freeman, Dave Thilthorpe etc) when still playing football.  Also captained the Old Libertians cricket team for a few years so came into contact with various old boys through that, although they were mostly older than us (Phil East, Jeff Berry, Simon Bunnell, Rich & Rob Davies, Ron Carter (now deceased I'm afraid) Andy & Martin Fairbairn among others for those in the group who may recall them).  Sadly, the Old Libertians are now defunct although I understand that the Liberty Casuals still exist.

Did bump into Steve Baldwin (now owns the garden furniture shop in Main Road, opposite Heath Drive) at Sandown Races a couple of weeks ago and see Mark Wilcock (now lead singer in a local band) fairly often.  Most seem to have matured along the same lines as myself i.e. got fat and gone bald (Neil Fraser)

BOB HILLIS

Came across this group having recently registered on friendsreunited.co.uk and thought it would be good fun to join. My name is Bob Hillis and was at the RLS between 1972 and 1977.  It was the era of teachers such as Tommy Taylor (bless him) Drip Draper, Piggy Coles, "Daphne" Jackson, Saul, Willimott, the sadistic Benson, Del Reynolds (rub that chin!), Deputy Head Dickie Groom and Jake the Headmaster. Didn't achieve much at school but do have fond memories and still have four very close friends from the same class.  My school reports always read that I was a bit of a dreamer and a practical joker.  Jake wrote on my last report that all I had to offer the world was a cheerful countenance! A bit unfair but to

some degree true ...I hope. Presently I am a Director of an Industrial Paint Company and have recently set up an E-commerce website selling fine art prints; www.art-prints.co.uk

You may like to visit the site, there are over 1,500 prints in categories such as Abstract, Landscape, Street Scenes, Classical, Antique, Sport, Animals etc. If any "Old Boy" is looking to buy a print then I'm happy to give a 10% discount. Use the shopping basket as per normal but also send an Email to me; bob@art-prints.co.uk to apply for the discount. The last thing I want to do is sound like a long lost friend or relative selling Life Assurance but I hope you don't mind me doing a bit of networking and it will give you an insight as to what this "Old Boy" is up to! (Bob Hillis)

PAUL KENTISH

I was in 1B, 2L-5L, then 6B/A Sci, so I guess our paths didn't cross too much. Maybe I sold you a Zoom from the tuck shop freezer? There was a group of us who were the Photographic Society, had the school darkroom as our base (and a place to play bridge) and ran the Tuck Shop. Can't remember exactly when we did the Tuck Shop - probably from 5L onwards (1964?). My partners in crime were - Andy Dix, Brian Sadden, Les Want, Mel Wilkins and Kev Hardern. We all ended up doing Maths, Physics and Chemistry 'A' Levels. I'm still in touch with Kev and Les. We had a rota each lunch time - two in the tuck shop and four playing bridge. (Paul Kentish)

GEOFF LEAR

(RLS 1959-65) I sure do remember you Andy, & thanks firstly for signing me up; secondly for the database - deserves a house point. One thing I recall about you was your disquietingly good copper-plate handwriting - most unnatural in a 15 year-old, & probably redundant to the keyboard now! I have already had contact from Joe Levy who emigrated to Los Angeles 20 Years ago. Some vital stats: address -DOVER Kent - where I have lived happily for 16 years, the longest I have stayed in one place actually.

Married 28 years to Phyllis/ 2 beautiful fashion victim daughters of 19 & 23yrs/ Dad aged 79 lives with us down his end of the house. I'm Modern Man, really, ie I took voluntary redundancy from BT 10 years ago, & now have fingers in several pies. Have also become religious nutter & preach in local Anglican churches (but will refrain from doing so in the RLS dialogues unless persuaded otherwise). (Geoff Lear)

CHRIS STRATFORD

(1966-73; Norman; NG). Left Liberty with 11 O levels but just one A, having entered the exams in suicidal state following dumping - two weeks before first exam – by girlfriend whose love of my long hair had led me to being suspended. I had to be chaperoned from the school gates to the exam room (the new gym) and out again for each exam.

Joined Romford Observer as cub reporter in October 1973, graduating to Sports Editor in September 1976. Assistant editorship at Golf Illustrated

magazine in London followed (Jan 78 - April 80), followed by spells as sports sub-editor/West Ham reporter and then Sports Editor of the Chelmsford

Herald. Left in May 1982 when paper folded, joining The News, Portsmouth, as sports sub editor/writer, the latter part of the role seeing me cover Southampton.

FC in their near glory days (2nd in the old First Division, FA Cup semi-final spot). After a spell as The News' TV feature writer I joined the Yorkshire Post as Deputy Sports Editor in August 1987, a position I hold to this day.

Finest moment? Being told an anecdote about the legendary footballer Pele and halting the recounting of the tale with the words "I know - I was in that lift". (Chris Stratford)

GREG COOPER

(Saxon 66-73 NG) Left RLS -3 A levels and unhelpful ref from Jake "went through school with chip on shoulder". Went to Leeds Poly because a) who else would have me? B) an Old Boy (who?) in 71 or 72, displayed Town Planning work from Leeds in Geog room. I wanted to draw pretty maps too. 73-77 in Leeds was "the four year weekend" spent in Harehills and Chapeltown going to shady reggae clubs. Course run by Marxists - where did they go? Got distinction for thesis but visiting prof later done for child molesting which degraded his opinion a bit. Discovered I could run over the Yorkshire Dales with sheep farmers (free country), surprised as shorts frightened me at school. 77 No jobs so lifeguard at Brentwood open air pool for 5th glorious summer, last before it closed still have key but it's a car park. 1978 Redbridge Town Hall. Peter Benson (RLS PE master) was mate of a manager RLS helped get job. 7 yrs working on Ilford Town Centre making it shoppers paradise. Crossed paths with Stuart McCredie and other RLSOB in property. Post Grad qual in urban design. May 1979 not good, Thatcher elected and I got testicular cancer like Bob Champion but he had better PR. Feel your bollocks regularly. Had one off and radiotherapy, suitably lighter I ran first London Marathon - appeared in the Sun next to Sir Jimmy Savill. Triathlons next - especially the London called `Dead Dog Triathlon' due to corpses in Victoria Dock. Acquired a `62 Triumph TR4 rebuilt it and still play racers. 1988 left Local Govt for architectural and town planning practice The Halpern Partnership. Found niche negotiating planning permission for central London developments. More exotic include restoration of Lyceum from ballroom to theatre, also Dominion, Hammersmith Odeon, scheme for Donnington Park to get British Grand Prix last year, big and little schemes all over country, testing the rules just like school. Career high - helping Peter Stringfellow establish table dancing. Founding partner retired couple yrs. ago, two of us bought him out. New studio on Grand Union Canal, Hackney, employ 40 - 50 architects and planners, having fun building things and doing pretty maps but no more property recessions please. Married Barbara 9 yrs ago, a Kiwi renal nursing manager encyclopaedic knowledge of rugby, cricket and kidneys. Two boys Callum 5 Tim 15 months therefore pleased with remaining bollock. Knackered - friends have kids leaving home I'm still with nappies. Live in Shenfield. Just joined e-mail group to become a recluse. (Greg Cooper)

ROBERT PRIDDY

 CVs tend to get rather dry, but I have laughed my way through life and at most empty social conventions and opinions. Tried many things, made many classic mistakes (wrong first marriage, poor financial decisions etc.). Very idealistic - became socialist, utopian writer, spiritual seeker... but leading to improved sense and judgement (I reckon or hope)..

25-9-1936 - Dragged here screaming (presumably) at Cirencester, Glos. 1942. First kindergarden, then governess, then Cirencester Grammar for children. Moved to Cambridge, St. Faith's School. 1943 - Moved to Horsham, Sussex. St. George's School. 1944 Began at Wisborough Lodge Preparatory School, nr. Billingshurst, W. Sussex.
1948 - Moved to stay with aunt & uncle at Gidea Park, Essex and began at Royal Liberty School. Took up the guitar! Left with 7 O-levels 1953 (July) and moved to Belmont Hospital, Sutton Surrey, where my mother worked - I was a kitchen serf for 3 months or so. Took up ice skating with vain hockey ambitions.
1953 (Nov.) Joined the Merchant Marine as apprentice deck officer with Greek-owned UK-reg. tanker with Indian crew at Liverpool: MT 'London Glory'. A 9-month world tanker tramp tour to about 20 countries in five continents. Joined MT 'London Pride' for 3-month tanker tramp service, mostly in middle and Far East. Left the Merchant Marine at Christmas. (Too many depressed, lonely drinkers)
1955 Joined the RAF as an Air Signaller cadet. Stationed at Swanton Morley, near Dereham, Norfolk, for 1 year for technical and flying training (in Ansons & Perceval Prentices). Became RAF Sergeant Air Signaller, posted to Transport Command, RAF Thorney Island near Portsmouth (flying in Vickers Vikings), then RAF Dishforth Transport Command Conversion Unit near Leeds, Yorkshire (flying in Vickers Valettas). Worked my ticket out of the RAF before being sent to sandy Aden to help in the killing of Arabs by Jan 1957. Music was calling me!
1957 Shipping journalist in the City of London for the 'Syren and Shipping Illustrated', Billiter St. for 2 years. Studied guitar with pro. session musicians in London. Various gigging around town 1957-1959.1958. Started a dance/jazz trio & began evening residence at the Grotto Club, Baker St. 1959 Resigned journalist job to go on summer tour with the Kenny Barker Quartet to Aberdeen, Scotland.
1959 (September) First visit to Norway, followed by move to Norway in December, (since when I have been officially resident here).
1960 Social work at home for delinquent boys near Drammen, Norway. Then lowly job in Oslo printing works, then as English clerk for a Jewish import/export firm. 1961 Took A-levels in London, then began studies at the University of Oslo, psychology. Took degree in sociology. Did research experiment with LSD-25 which changed my whole outlook. Stayed for 3 summer months in Paris (1962). Sold the New York Times on the bvds. 1963 Travelled to France, Italy, Greece & Turkey for 3 months. Married in UK in July. 1964 Son Kai Nicolai born. Moved to Stockholm, Sweden, and worked for 1 year in three institutions for delinquent/disturbed children and youth. 1965 Studied History of Ideas at Oslo Univ.1968 Completed studies, majoring in philosophy (continental 'Magister degree'). Began teaching at University of Oslo. 1969 Researcher at the Institute of Social Studies, Oslo. 1972 Returned to teaching full-time at University of Oslo. Diverse publications and articles in philosophy & sociology of knowledge, psychiatry, socialism etc.in this period. Separated 1974, divorced and remarried happily in 1978. Wrote a 4-vol. novel about future world after a global catastrophe, unpublished (characters too wooden!). One year's sabbatical (1981/2) in UK - stayed on Jeremy Sandford 's farm near Crickhowell, Wales, (Jeremy wrote the first drama-doc for BBC -'Cathy Come Home'). 1982 Returned to Norway & continued teaching. Began to have many amazing dream visitations and other phenomena from an Indian 'master', Sai Baba, of whom I had only heard. 1984 First journey to Bangalore, India.
1985 Stopped teaching work due to chronic, incurable lumbar problems.. Subsequently pensioned as invalid. Engaged mostly in music production, research and writing since then. Frequent visits to India - nine in all. - too incredible a tale to tell here, but in 1994, I first published an autobiographical book, 'Source of the Dream' in Bangalore about this. Subsequently republished 1998 in USA by Samuel Weiser Inc. and in India again in 2000. 2000 I got involved in undercover investigations of murders and paedophilia in the ashram of Sai Baba, In 2004 my 600-page exposé of Sathya Sai Baba and hisentire movevement was published entitled 'End of the Dream'

Presently still stuck in Norway, hoping to find place to live half each year in UK, writing in various fields - books on internet on philosophy of science, psychology and other quite varied subjects. Have made perhaps 35/40 UK visits through the years.