INCIDENTS, ACCIDENTS, FIRE & FLOOD
DIVERSE INCIDENTS
A sister from Gidea Park has sent me a supplement recently issued by the
Romford Recorder to accompany it's '100th year of printing' (1903/2003) edition.
Two brief RLS mentions might be of interest to HM's:
AUGUST 5, 1927 - 'HUMOURS OF A HOLIDAY
The 7th and 9th Romford (Liberty School) Scouts started from Romford on July
27th outward bound to "furrin parts".
NOVEMBER 8 1963 - HAIRCUTS FOR LIBERTY'S BEATLES
Boys with Beatle-style hair at Romford's Royal Liberty Grammar School have
been told to get it cut by their headmaster MR J A Coles who says they are
"untidy and slothful". (Terry Hadert)
This reflects the state of the school when I was there. I recall a boy dislocating
his knee during break time, near the Scots Pine in front of the school, across
from the caretakers house. The first aider (?Dim Jim again) called for
the school stretcher. The poor boy was duly laid on this contraption of canvas
stretched between two wooden poles. If only you could have seen the four strong
boys elected to lift the thing – 1, 2, 3 lift. All they lifted was the two
poles. The perished canvas just tore, leaving the injured boy on the ground.
Just like a Carry On movie of the time! (John Hawkins)
In response to Andy Lee's question - "This is intriguing! Can anyone
else remember an instance of a schoolmaster apologising publicly to the pupils"
the following is a previous posting. If any of the new lads can add anything
to the story, please do so" "There was another man hunt (and I will
probably get the details wrong) when one of the master's raincoats disappeared
from its coat hanger inside the main door. This event was followed by consistent
pleas and threats at morning assembly in an attempt to embarrass the culprit
into submission, but this did not result in the return of the coat. This went
on for a number of days until the deputy head took the dais and "cap
in hand" admitted that the previous evening he had located the raincoat
hanging behind the front door of his house and that he had inadvertently taken
it home by mistake. This admission was accepted with glee by all the pupils".
(Peter Cowling)
The missing raincoat belonged to Mr Walters I believe and was lost for about
ten days. He was my English teacher at the time and I was in either 4L or 5L
(1956/7/8). He accused us of stealing it as earlier in the year we had locked
all his cupboards and drawers and hid the keys for a week. I think it was Mr
Graham who mistakenly borrowed it, but I cannot remember the public apology. At
about the same time there was an incident when someone 'borrowed' one of the
chemistry teacher's lab coats to go home in as it was raining, but I cannot
remember the details. (Bill Groves)
...school announcements made by the Head Boy, after the Masters had left
morning assembly. Boys would thrust notes into his hand just before assembly
commenced, and there was always the chance that a howler might get through.
Once we heard that "All boys are welcome to join a mass debate in the
Library after school". (John Hawkins) I was particularly intrigued to read
the Editorial from the 1967-68 School Magazine. Why so
intrigued ? Because it specifically mentions not only
the torching of the Swimming pool cubicles, but also the arson attack on Doug
Palfrey's car which took place at the same time. Hon members may remember me
referring to these incidents previously, and receiving so little support that
even I started to believe that I had made them up!! (John Bailey) See also Swimming and the Pool
This reflects the state of the school when I was there. I recall a boy
dislocating his knee during break time, near the Scots Pine in front of the
school, across from the caretakers house. The first aider (?Dim Jim again) called for
the school stretcher. The poor boy was duly laid on this contraption of canvas
stretched between two wooden poles. If only you could have seen the four strong
boys elected to lift the thing – 1, 2, 3 lift. All they lifted was the two
poles. The perished canvas just tore, leaving the injured boy on the ground.
Just like a Carry On movie of the time! (John Hawkins)
ACCIDENTS AT SCHOOL
The reminiscences of others who have suffered accidents in
the chemistry labs reminded me that I was gassed twice and also witnessed two
explosions. I can't remember the full details but as I was only taught
chemistry by Mr Hammond and 'Jet' Morgan, that narrows the culprits down a bit.
The first gassing was quite comprehensive and resulted in a file of boys being
led onto the football pitch in 'Great War' style, hand on the shoulder of the
boy in front. I don't know what it was that was being produced but it resulted
in running eyes and vomiting, although fortunately not for me as I never had
any inclination to sit too near the front of the class. The second case of gassing
wasn't quite so serious and the offending brew was quickly placed in the
cabinet where all deadly failures were placed and therefore just gassed the
residents of
The first explosion cleared the main desk of piles of glass apparatus and narrowly missed a chap called Steve (Etienne?) Newman, who had been told to move by a very astute Mr Morgan (well there's always a first time). We, or for the sake of litigation, Mr Morgan, were producing Hydrogen that time.
The second explosion resulted from the reaction some metals
have with water. Mr Morgan demonstrated a couple of violent reactions, then asked us all to close in as the next demonstration
wouldn't be quite as spectacular. What a tease he was! He placed whatever it
was in the bowl, which then bubbled about a bit and
then exploded in contemporary style like a napalm shower (Jet's little tribute
to '
I believe there was rather a large explosion in Boozer Graham's lesson during my time at the school, which resulted in some boys attending hospital to have glass removed from their faces. Does anyone have the details? (John Hawkins)
This reflects the state of the school when I was there. I recall a boy dislocating his knee during break time, near the Scots Pine in front of the school, across from the care-takers house. The first-aider (?Dim Jim again) called for the school stretcher. The poor boy was duly laid on this contraption of canvas stretched between two wooden poles. If only you could have seen the four strong boys elected to lift the thing – 1, 2, 3 lift. All they lifted was the two poles. The perished canvas just tore, leaving the injured boy on the ground. Just like a Carry On movie of the time! (John Hawkins)
I remember an incident in 67 or 68 which occurred at the bus
stop outside the school in
The news item on the tragic death of young Tom Fowler
reminded me of a similar incident during my time at RLS. Can anyone remind me
of the young boy's surname? I think it
started with a B, and he was a couple of years younger than myself.
I am unable to find it in the library. John."
His name was Graham Bellinger. He
was a bit of a solitary soul and one of 3 boys from the 63 intake who were
tragically dead before their mid-twenties (Roger Harlow)
The boy who died was Graham Bellinger,
killed when his scooter ran into a lorry.
He was not much more than sixteen, and he was 1963 intake. (Alan Golding)
I remember him well - he was a friend - the whole school was
very sad - incidentally I thought it was a bus but I may be mistaken. This
highlights the difference between then and now - in
Not the whole school was sad, I'm afraid, Colin. Some were sick
- I can remember entering either an English or Maths lesson within a couple of
days of his death and on the board was a drawing of a brick wall, through which
was 'punched' the shape of a spread-eagled body. Underneath were the words
"Bellinger RIP".
I confess to having a black sense of humour, and find no
shame in it, but that didn't make me laugh. Which I guess shows that it's all
subjective - after all, ALL humour is based on laughing at other people's
misfortunes, but I guess the further you are distanced from them the bigger the
laugh generally. And sometimes you're too close to laugh at all. (Chris
Stratford)
When I heard the news of Graham's death on the scooter it
was one of only two religious kind of experiences I
had during my time at RLS. I had always secretly admired Graham's ability to be
so different and yet make it so normal. He was, in my eyes, a true free spirit
who allowed himself a whole range of little oddities speckled with charm and an
infectious laughter. He found a way of making his own special characteristics
fit in and be a part of the kaleidoscope of different kinds of lad at the
school, while at the same time retainig his own
special dignity that made any mockery of his occasional oddness like passing
rainwater off a duck's back.
It was as though Graham's special brand of freedom made you
aware of your own mortal normality. I've reflected on this many times since and
my adult mind feels as though it was like coming into contact with a walking
angel who returned early to the fold. (Ian MaCauley)
I too remember this incident vividly - and sadly, it was
neither the only death during my time at RLS nor the last occasion when someone
I knew was killed in a motorcycle accident.
However, surely this particular event must have happened
shortly after you left RLS rather than during the time that you were at the school ? If you left
in July 1967, no-one in my year would have been riding a motorcycle because
none of us were yet old enough to drive. I was one of the oldest in the year
and I wasn't 16 until September 67.
Perhaps you heard about Graham's death from someone who was still at the
school, or possibly you read about it in the Romford Recorder
? I do seem to remember it being reported in the local press. (John
Bailey)
I heard of such an incident, after I had left, from Geoff
Key. The Head Boy, (Peters?), made the announcement about the 'mass debate'.
Coles, who was still in the hall, got up and asked why boys had laughed. (JAS) The news item on the tragic death of young
Tom Fowler reminded me of a similar incident during my time at RLS. Can anyone
remind me of the young boy's surname? I
think it started with a B, and he was a couple of years younger than myself. I am unable to find it in the library. John.
" Older HMs
may remember the somewhat similar death (can't recall the exact circumstances)
of David Dennis, a late (probably 1949) entry to the 1948 year. It must have
been in about 1950-51, at a guess. Another from that year who died tragically
young was John Howard, who I think died while climbing somewhere. (Graham Jackman)
David Dennis died on
In 1960 there was a boy in 2L (his name won't quite come
back to me, but I can still picture his face) He had a heart condition and was
a very bad colour. His nickname was "blue lips". After one of the
school holidays we were told that he had died. I always felt sorry afterwards
for using the nickname. (John McCarthy)
I must mention Mac Macgowan
(spelling?) of my year. During the sixth he developed a brain tumour which
responded well to surgery but he died of something like measles whilst still in
hospital. He was in my set for Biology. We had a collection for him while he
was ill and bought him a copy of the book 'Virgin Soldiers' which was just out.
Although really just an acquaintance from a long time ago he is still
remembered affectionately. (Robin Hackshall)
I too remember the young MacGowan
(though I'm sorry to admit I would not have easily recalled his name) and for
very many years would occasionally pause and think about him, though I didn't
know him particularly well. It just seemed so tragic. I thought this happened
when he was only about 14...? (Paul Harrison)
THE SWIMMING POOL FIRE
John Bailey asked: "...does anyone remember the time
the school swimming pool (or rather the cubicles) was mysteriously torched one
summer's weekend?
The great swimming pool fire? I joined RLS in
September 1970 and I recall stories about the fire which suggests that the
event must have occurred in 1969 or early 1970. {Editor's
correction - but the 1967/8 school mag. reports on
it!} By 1970 the pool heating had given up the ghost but, come hell or
high water, first PE lesson of the summer term, Pete Benson would have us lined
up at the deep end. I recall grey skies and a chill North Wind together with
the blackboard on the side of the shed proclaiming the water temperature which
was, more often than not, under 60 degrees F. The
maths lesson in the next period could not come quickly enough!
After that things improved, I think the School had some loose change from the
Jubilee Fund having splashed out on the new organ, and the heating was repaired
(or some coal was bought). Using the pool in the summer became great fun with
added interest brought about by some of the younger female staff and French
assistants (not Mdme Bruzac
I hasten to add!) choosing to swim after School when the pool was open to all.
(Michael Jamieson)
... I had stopped using the pool on a Saturday morning. Perhaps this was laziness, but more likely it was guilt after a "friend of a friend" claimed credit for torching the cubicles (& Doug Palfrey's car) after being thrown out of a Saturday morning swimming session by Pete Benson for not being a pupil. Some Masters would let anyone in 'cos they didn't have a clue who was or wasn't entitled to be there - Pete Benson was made of sterner stuff! (John Bailey)
What pool heating? I was never aware of any pool heating during my time (1961-9). I was in the swimming team and we were always expected to start training each spring before the pool was opened to everyone else. Brass monkeys didn't know they were born! I don't remember a fire either. (Mick Lee)
FIRE AT THE FURNITURE FACTORY
The Big Fire: Remember it well, Greg. It was the closest most of us got to playing under floodlights as a whole gang stopped on after school to play football on the playground in the not inconsiderable glow of the fire. Curiously, someone tried to repeat the incident (of the fire that is) a few years later and as a cub reporter on the Romford Observer I covered both the initial fire story and the subsequent arsonist court case. (Chris Stratford)
... does anyone recall the mid-60s
furniture factory fire. What a day that was, the largest fire since the war at
the time (only 20 years then). The building at the end of
...the huge fire that engulfed the
furniture warehouse opposite the school on the other side of the railway in
about 66, 67. It burned for days,
Do you remember going down to the
The only fire at the school that I recall was later, just after school hours when the caretaker's private tool store was destroyed. This adjoined the 1950s caretaker house, next to the new toilet block by High Trees. I think a cigarette ignited petrol fumes whilst he was refuelling his lawn mower. Boys rushed all over the school to collect extinguishers, but none of them worked. They were faded pink, rusted old things, some pyramid shaped. There were large brass fittings. Some had to be struck hard to the ground, others had to be inverted to work. So it was necessary to find and read the instructions on each. However, the best that was achieved was a small squirt! After that all the extinguishers were replaced and regularly serviced. (John Hawkins)
FLOOD
Incidentally, there's a photo of the School Grounds flooded in 1947. But there's no river nearby is there? What would have caused the flood? (Andy)
1947 flood: Peter jogged my memory with: "but we had a period of heavy rain, followed by a deep freeze to such an extent that" pupils were able to ice skate in the school playground. ...and I recall what must have been the same period of weather - which makes it 1955-6 - when a similar phenomenon (though nowhere near as drastic) as is shown in the picture again occurred at RLS. The same football pitch was frozen over with some pretty solid ice, as was the playground so that some quite spectacular "slides" were concocted. Many were the pair of shoes, and the occasional knee or backside of trousers, that were worn through in the frenzied activity! The thrill was to run at it as hard and fast as you could, launch yourself into a high-speed slide, struggling to maintain balance, and attempt to extend the length of the highly polished ice until you could career into the bike sheds! Some brave (foolhardy?) types even made a slide on the ice in the swimming pool!!! Do I also recall that the pr*f*cts had their *own* slide out on that football pitch? All great fun for energetic schoolboys until Bert was detailed to be the official "killjoy" and went round with his shovel and a bucket of ashes from his beloved boiler! There ensued an even better game which was to construct slides faster than Bert could wreck them! Incidentally, am I right in referring to that particular pitch as the 4th XI pitch? I seem to remember that, before the pavilion was built there was a "3rd XI" pitch near the main gates with the cricket square between it and the 1st & 2nd XI pitches. When the pavilion was built the 3rd XI pitch disappeared but I don't remember the "4th XI" pitch ever being re-named. (David Maltby)