Michael Merry is a walking, talking, living book of knowledge on RLS and life in those long-gone days of the 1950s.
Some of his entries of the RLSOB site have reached this page

Gentlemen:
Council houses where I lived had built in coal cupboards accessible through a door in the kitchen and also through a half-door on the side of the house on the path to the back door. Through this the coalman would tip his sack.
On cold winter mornings (were there any other kind?) one would remove the ashes from last night's fire and out wood and newspaper into the grate before lighting. It helped to 'draw' the fire if the entrance was covered briefly with a newspaper. Once the stick were alight, coal was placed strategically around the budding fire. When this caught, coke could be added and 'banked up'  for a steady, warm fire. Coke fires were great for toasting bead and muffins and I would imagine every house had a 'toasting fork' those long spindly wire things with prongs on the end. Eventually gas heaters came into mode but the old coal and coke fire was a stable that I would imagine most of us senior citizens recall.
The RLS heating system was still coke when I left in '56. Oh! how Bert protected his great pile outside the back door! Woe betides those who would dare to use the pellets for missiles!
Mike Merry 51/56

Michael J. Merry (Feb 11 1:27 PM)
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00OBL3AQA

Gentlemen:
Many boys didn't have a fountain pen in the early 50's. The white porcelain inkwells at RLS were filled from a can not unlike a milk container which was wide at the bottom and narrowed towards the top and had a large spout. I believe it was Bert that kept the inkwells filled. The ink was very smelly and excellent for soaking blotting paper in and using a rubber band to propel it across the classroom in the direction of some unfortunate's head. The ink faded to a light brown with time. If you look at the report cards in the archives you can see this. Using a school pen meant your thumb and following two fingers were permanently stained with that horrible stuff.
Mike Merry 51/56

Michael J. Merry

THE BOX WITH RLS 'MATERIALS' MIKE MERRY BOUGHT
and what eventually was extracted from it

On and off for the past three years I've been working on a project that tickles my fancy. At the reunion of the class of '51, I spoke to someone about my this and my hobby of collecting old books and the history of RLS. He revealed he was in the business of buying and selling old documents and maps himself. He said he would let me know if he ever came across anything that might interest me. I didn't think anything else about this until I received a call two weeks back from my reunion friend who said that he had received a flyer which described a book and document auction at Bournemouth which, amongst another 700 items, contained "books, pictures and school records from Romford". The preview for this show is scheduled for this Sunday, July 27 but he was able to call someone he knew and and obtained some information about dates of the papers and the titles of some ledgers in the lot. When he called me to inform me of what he had found out I was a bit confused but I had a feeling there was an associated interest. Hence my planned meeting. I was told in no unclear terms that no information could be provided over the telephone and any conversation would be off the record and informal. The ground rules are that my information will either be confirmed as viable (based on the dates and titles I have been provided with) or I will be told its probably nothing to do with my subject and that I'm barking up the wrong tree. If its worth following up on I will be in Bournemouth on the 2nd to see what its all about.
It's probably nothing but at my age there's nothing else to do except try and impresss young ladies and better my book collection. I'll let you know. (Mike Merry)

I am back from my trip. I was fortunate enough to have had lunch with Bill B. in London (Chez Max, Yeomans Row) last Tuesday. Before that I purchased two boxes of "Romford" documents at Auction on the 2nd of August. I had them shipped to Miami surface mail. They are due in this week and I will let you know what they are all about. I didn't have much time in Brighton to examine them and several packages are wrapped in manila paper and tied with string. (Mike Merry)

Brighton? I thought the auction was in Bournemouth???? Slip of the finger on the keyboard, Mike??? (David Maltby)

The Bournemouth Auction box came yesterday while I was at my office. Last night I took a preliminary look. After a glance through the pulpit records and accounts of the Methodist Church for 1949 and 1950 (all loose papers) I opened the first packaged item. I have no idea where the contents came from but what was inside was a not very exciting surprise. I now have in my hands two packages of letters written by parents of RLS pupils to the school in order to excuse the absence of their sons for various ailments. The packages each cover one year of school, 1950 and 1951. Colds seem the most common but coughs, a nose bleed, several cases of boils and lots of "doctors appointments". There are a few "death in the family" letters and a bunch of "Railway Strike" or "Bus Strike". All are stamped with a RLS stamp as "Received" and below is a handwritten date. The handwriting is not always the same and it's easy to discern at least two different hands.
I had to leave things after half an hour as we had a great deal of problems due to the power outage in New York etc. and was on the telephone most of the evening trying to contact our our satellite ground stations.
I have a dilema now and will ask HM's their opinion. Should I provide some of the names of the pupils and contents of the letters or keep this anonymous? I don't know if some people will be embarrassed so I'll wait and not do anything until opinions are in. I will be busy tomorrow but Sunday I've put the morning aside to delve a little further into the contents of the box. I don't think the "Please excuse my sons absence.." is very exciting so I don't hold out much hope for any other explosive material. (Mike Merry)

Hi Mike, Seems you spent a lot and got a pig in a poke... so far, at least. Surely you did not go to UK only for the purpose of an uncertain auction? There is a queer musty odour somewhere in all this... but I will play along so far. So if you got any notes/letters to RLS concerning mesself, that would be interesting, though... but hardly to anyone but me, I think. And not enough for me to help defray your expenses in all this. (Robert Priddy)

Reveal! Reveal! Reveal! Mike.If anyone threatens to sue you could always claim that it was a wind-up!I'm sure you'll get support from The List for THAT excuse!!!Anyway if its only 50 and 51 you won't be publishing any of MY family skeletons - so reveal!!! (David Maltby)

Two replies from Robert and DGM both saying "Go ahead". Now I've only seen 50 and 51 and not all of these by a long chalk. There are perhaps a further dozen parcels in one box and some smaller cardboard shoe type boxes and more in the other. It's hardly fair to post anything about the 50 and 51 inputs before exploring the rest of the junk, after all, if I find a letter from Mrs Maltby for instance, explaining that David had a nasty boil on his bottom, I certainly want to include that to balance the earlier letters!
Let's see what comes out of the box on Sunday and I will then advise what I find and HM's can make the decision. For Robert. I didnt just go for the auction, that was a last minute chance which fitted in with plans. My friend could have done all the work but I've not been down to the south coast for about five years so it was worth a trip. I went on vacation to see friends and try some of the excellent restaurants of UK, Spain and Portugal. In Suffolk I had the pleasure of eating at The Fox and Goose in Fressingfield. In London, Langans, Quaglinos and Boisdale (as well as lunch with Bill at Chez Max). In Spain at Donastiaras, La Baraca and Mingos in Madrid and Club Pino just over the border in Portugal. Apart from the high (111 degrees) temperatures at time in Spain, it was enjoyable. (Mike Merry)

I am following the MJM discoveries in what may or may not be an RLS Ark of the Covenant with vacillating opinions... Take this bit he served up, for example... "Back to other interesting things. I have opened another manilla packet from the box and will tell you what I found later today when I get a few minutes. Bear with me, much of the stuff is in bad condition, its been around for probably 40 odd years and has been fodder for insects and probably stored in a wet place making many sheets stick together and much of the ink, run. There is still no clue as to where it all came from but I have, I believe, some contacts who might be able to help with that."
The little sceptic chap inside me says, 'he's just playing for time to think up how to draw the wool further over the empty patches in his explanations', while the eager believer thinks 'Must be tough with all the ink that has run, pages stuck together... and why would this capital fellow bother to invent all these details?'
To which the little cynic replies 'Aw, he's just seeing who he can dupe into looking like a big boob.' To which the detached observer inside says 'He's just doing his best to awaken interest in the old school again. It's harmless', to which the cynic replies 'But if he's really got my catapult... nope, bet he ain't!' and so on with each new episode in this King Solomon's mine safari. (Robert Priddy)

Mike. Wind up or not, I want to be entertained. Please let us have the next instalment of your revelations.(Richard Hall)

Had a quick go through last night with the box and found another wrapped lot of notes from parents requesting their sons be excused from swimming or games for some reason or the other. The years seem to be 50/54 and I didn't see anything from DGM's mum there!
I need to take a really good look because I recognize some of the names there such as Heath and Baxter from my year and Norman from the 50 input. Several from Cast's parents explaining a cycle accident which I remember very well, he landed on his face in some gravel and was messed up for a couple of months, very tender. Also, two of the smaller boxes contain what appears to be confiscated and lost items. There are four rubber bulb water pistols with the rubber very deteriorated and one plastic one. A caterpault made from a tree branch and what looks like the tongue of a shoe, the 1/8th inch rubber is in very bad condition. A copy of a small magazine named "Men Only" and a lurid novel by H. Janson. Various packs of cigarettes, all open and most containing only one or two insect specked fags. One Woodbines and one Weights and a pack of Players with about fifteen fags still in it! Some pages from National Geographic with rather lurid pictures displayed. two hand drawn pictures of the female body. Three penknives of various sizes and a small piece of cardboard with what appears to be answers to history questions on it, very faint. There are a couple of caps, two football socks, a very stained tie and a purse with two pennies in it. There is also a dried out fountain pen and a propelling pencil in a tin box. I'll have a further look tomorrow and report. Still nothing earthshaking I'm sorry to say. Hope this is not boring anyone. (Mike Merry)

The latest windup from Michael James (and his cohort David Maltby) are proving to be one of his best yet. BTW the two pennies are mine & I need them to buy a cream bun at Break. Please transmit ASAP. (David Gregory)

Hi Mike, Just to let you know I claim the caterpult... I recognise it as mine! 1/8 inch rubber from the ironmongers at Ardleigh Green and shoe tongue from my uncle's thrown-aways. Yes!! (Robert Priddy)

Facts from the Punishment Book:
1. Having perused the entire book I can confirm that only EP and GHRN
signed for administering punishment.
2. No punishments besides strokes of the cane are listed.
3. The maximum number of strokes is 6.
4. Only five boys during the 47/59 period received 6.
5. Two of these boys received 6 on two different occasions.
6. There are punishments for truancy but not for lateness.
7. One of the most common offences was "smoking"
8. "Disrspect to MR. xxx" is one of the most used catchphrases
9. "Putting fireworks in lavatory" is one strange entry.
10. "Cruelty to school horse" is another.
11. "Forgery of parents signature on excuse note" appears on at
least two dozen occasions.
12. At least two pupils who became Head Boys were caned in their early years.
13. Without going into numbers, 2 seems to be the favorite number for strokes of the cane.
14. There is an entry in 1952 for "Contaminating swimming pool" (it doesn't say with what but it bought an award of 2 strokes). (Mike Merry)

Mike wrote: 14. There is an entry in 1952 for "Contaminating swimming pool" (it doesn't say with what but it bought an award of 2 strokes). I recall someone putting potassium permanganate in the pool... I was there in 52, so it could have been that. Or else it could have been someone thinking that every little bit helps... but how would that have been detected? Cheers, Robert Priddy (49-53)

Up early this morning and into the box. After reading DGM's remarks about how he never missed school or anything I was suitably impressed. I was absent on occasion and missed games and swimming occasionally for some reason or the other. I was packing those games and swimming notes back this morning into the paper they came in. Many are very deteriorated and damaged by damp, several are stuck in bunches where it seems, ink has fused. Trying to separate some of these I came across a letter from a Mrs. M. A. Maltby dated 25th April 1957 addressed to "Who it may concern" and requesting that "my son David" be excused P.T. that day due to a "billious stomach".
Ah! Were there two David Maltby's in 1957? It's not been mentioned before as far as I know. How about it David, is it possible that perhaps, just once you missed PT? Reveal reveal Reveal as the saying goes!
Bad News regarding next two shoe boxes. More church records and about a hundred essays from perhaps a Sunday School competition all entitled "Why I believe in God, Creator of the World". Good News (but nothing earthshaking again) regarding loose receipts. A receipt dated 12 September 1953 from A. Searle Printers 4 Eastern Road Romford in the amount of Seventeen pounds ten shillings for Z/Z 260GSm etc., 600 copies Alumni and Year book 1953-54. This receipt bears a "received" receipt stampt with the initials "EVR" in the space provided. I dont know what ZZ is or who EVR is but perhaps someone can fill in the blanks. These initials appear on many of the excuse notes with exactly the same stamp. Have to get to the golf course now. Will take another look when I have time. (Mike Merry)

Mike anticipated: " ... a letter from Mrs Maltby for instance, explaining that David had a nasty boil on his bottom ..."
Not a chance, mate! My mother didn't subscribe to illness or other assorted weaknesses. Boils on bums, coughs, sneezes, spots, rashes, even, I suspect, broken limbs and I'd STILL have been packed off to school with no chance of an excused note! Didn't do me any harm ...etc., etc., Kids today...etc., etc.
The only time I can recall a note from my mother was when she discovered her little boy, like all other first years, was expected to box in the house competition so she wrote demanding that I be excused. I gave the note to Daddy Scho who promptly gave me a glare and a pair of boxing gloves ...! I still have my little red certificate for being champion at six stone that year!!! Sorry, Mum! (David Maltby)

Mike, It saddens me to read so many posts from the Doubting Thomases in this list. Let me just say that I believe every word, and that although there is nothing of earth-shattering importance (so far) I feel that Andy would love you to send scans of the aforementioned items for the Library. I think we all look forward to seeing them. (Vince Leatt)

What indeed is in the box? the.librarian has set aside vast acres of disc space in anticipation of the imminent deluge of photos. The Greatest Collection of RLS Memorabilia In The World (tm) awaits with bated breath. (Andy Lee)

'EVR' could have been Mrs E.V. Rivett, a Clerical Assistant. But then Mike could have found this information, as I did, from the 1953-54 Alumni. (J. Alan Smith)

I regret to inform you that I did not meet as arranged. The brief encounter was planned for July 31st and my brother was supposed to take me to Romford for the 11am get-together. Unfortunately he was detained and by the time he arrived it was too late. I called to apologise though! Hopefully next time. (Mike Merry)

Vince is correct to remind me of my duties to send samples for the archives. Firstly however, I do wish to solve the mystery of the boxes and their contents. Where did they come from? Who compliled the information?
What happened on 18th November 1950 at the Methodist church. I've a partial document and can read that date. I'ts badly water damaged and completely unreadable except for that handwritten date in a margin in pencil. It says "Saturday November 18th - Morning dedication" nothing else is readable. Did the Methodist Church have a cricket team? There's a handwritten note from 1956 that looks like a batting order. I really have no interest in the Methodist church but seeing as though their documents are mixed in with some RLS stuff I wonder if there is a connection at all?
I am having another look through now and will let you know what I find. I just read J. Allan's post and after I did so I went up to the attic and pulled out my copy of the blue book for 195/52. I only see Mrs. M. Mackay and Miss O Blakebrough as Clerical Assistants. J Allan is probably right though, he usually is about any of the school records. (Mike Merry)

The late Mrs. Maltby was a pillar of the educational establishment of Edwin Lambert Park Lane Primary School. Testimonials to her skills as a teacher, and the high esteem in which she was held have been posted in these annals by various Hon. Mems. who benefited from her ministrations over the years. Her attention to detail in all things educational was legendary and she was even more pernickety about English usage, grammar, punctuation and spelling than I am. Incontrovertibly she knew her who from her whom! Thus I can safely and confidently insist that there was never any likelihood of her sending into school a letter that contained either a spelling or a grammatical mistake!
However, her initials were M. A. and, if this unlikely letter was ever written, it was written on her birthday! Both of these facts are accessible on the www as Ian Macaulay can confirm.
April 25th would normally fall within the summer term when swimming replaced PT. I would have expected that "my son David" (and she would have inserted a comma after the word son!!) would have been requesting to be excused "swimming" and not "PT". Though I have a stomach like a cement mixer and have NEVER IN MY LIFE suffered from bilious conditions of any sort or magnitude, it may be possible that I persuaded my mother to collude, on a particularly cold day, in attempt to evade those hated swimming lessons in that bloody unheated water. If I'd prefaced the attempt with a cup of tea and breakfast in bed, a suitably lavish present, a "best Mum in the world" birthday card and a bunch of flowers, I might have met with some success!But I doubt it and I don't remember it!
What I DO remember, though, is that Easter was VERY late in 1957 with Good Friday falling on April 19th and Easter Monday on 22nd. Seems like we were back in school fairly promptly after the Bank Holiday? (David Maltby)

When I wrote the contents of <rs. M. A.'s note I did not have it in front of me. At this time my home desk is full of papers and I am trying to spread contents of boxes all over the floor in separate piles related to content. I found the letter again this morning. It's written on commercial notepaper, not a page torn from an exercise book or anything and, there is indeed a comma where DGM indicated there should be. The letter is written in a very neat script and the lines are very straight, this indicates care and attention and only (in my experience) people who expect their handwriting to be read, write this way.
I don't seem to be getting many answers to the questions I posed about dates and cricket teams etc. I will be quite busy this week but will check the posts and see if any of them throw light on my feeble attempts to inventory the boxes.
One last question. Does the word "Prims" mean anything to anyone? There is a file folder with that name on it but nothing inside. (Mike Merry)

David Gregory said: "The latest windup from Michael James (and his cohort David Maltby) are proving to be one of his best yet. BTW the two pennies are mine & I need them to buy a cream bun at Break. Please transmit ASAP"
Some cohert Maltby is. Absolutely no help at all! Who can remember a stomach ache 40 years later? I ask you! I will be happy to send the two pennies if DG can tell me the dates to prove they are his? Also, if Robert can let me know if his caterpault should show saw marks or whittling? and was waxed twine used to connect the shoe tongue? that also can be sent back. No takers for the almost new football sock? (Mike Merry)

Well, Mike, the shoe tongue was certainly secured by some very stout thread, but whether it was waxed I can't quite recall. It must have been damn good wax if there is any still on it!! As to saw marks and whittling. Definitely whittles at the grooves at the ends where the rubber was attached to each end of the fork. Each side of the fork was of slightly different thickness... yes? I can't recall whether I made saw marks, but quite likely as I only had one of those small simple fretsaw-like tool, a small metal saw... if Mr. Marshall taught me correctly. If I have identified my dear weapon of miss destruction correctly, please do not send it, it might get damaged in the mail. Perhaps you could bring it? (Robert Priddy)

If, and it's a big if, the boxes are bona fide, and Mike comes across any RLS paperwork. Any "excuse" notes appertaining to one D Gregory will be in my own fair hand, and vice versa, and most certainly not written by our respective parents. Forgery was rife even at the age of 11. (Phil Kingham)

Back into the box for a short while yesterday evening. Miscellaneous pack of letters to and from RCH. Most signed by Mrs. D. E. Bubbers BSc. but a couple from a Mrs. Goddard. Almost all going to Mr. G. H. R. Newth, M.A. covering a five year period which seems to be 1949/54.
Letters cover invitations to send 5th form to plays at the RLS. One letter, dated March 23rd 1954 thanks GHRN for the invitation to the Dress Rehersal of Richard 11 "which was thoroughly enjoyed by myself and thirty seven 5th form atendees" signed by DEB.
Letter inviting "an interested group of boys from the RLS 5th form" to attend a Religious Discussion Group to be held in the RCH library between 5pm and 630pm on the third Wednesday of each month. "Refreshments will be provided at the end of the discussion".
Four letters from RCH complaining about a) RLS boys on bicycles making a nuisance of themselves outside of RCH early mornings when girls were arriving at the school b) Behavior at the RCH Summer Fair by two boys (unidentified) from RLS who supposedly chased "Mrs. Russell's dogs" c) A complain from D.E. Bubbers who had received a "telephone call from an irate parent of one of her girls claiming that a group of boys from RLS had stolen scarf's from atendees at a dance and had refused requests to return it, again no name of the boys involved. d) Complaint of boys hanging around RCH gates at 3pm on a Wednesday.
A letter from D.E. Bubbers, dated (cannot see exact day) but June, 1956, to Mr. E. Pilling B.A. thanking him for his assistance and that of Mr. V. Schofield and Mr. G. M. Pryde for opening the RLS swimming pool for the RCH Gala and providing four life savers for same.
Letter from DEB to Mr. C. L. Walters dated January 26th 1956 thanking him for the loan of "Reference Books" from the RLS Library.
Letter from Mrs. Goddard to Mr. G. E. Mold, dated March 7th 1956 accepting an invitation on behalf of the RCH Chess Club to play a friendly match with RLS at RLS on March 21st. There are a few dozen more letters from various societies at RLS and RCH suggesting visits etc.
In addition there is a friendly letter from GHRN to the headmaster of Erith School in Avenue Road Kent dated May 24th 1948 which suggests the schools arrange a cricket fixture and in which GHRN refers to "a newspaper article regarding a collision in the Thams off Erith earlier this month". Still nothing earth shaking, sorry. (Mike Merry)

Whilst hoping that the whole thing is true... Just when did Daisy Bubbers become Head Mistress at RCH? At the begining of the War she was at East Ham Grammar because she taught my Mum. Say 1940. She would then have been a Deputy Head somewhere before Head at the end of the '40s (supposedly). Quite a decent rise. Can any older HMs throw any light on this (possible) new evidence. However, I do repeat line 1. (Robin Hackshall)

"Miscellaneous pack of letters to and from RCH. Most signed by Mrs. D. E. Bubbers BSc."
Well, you learn something every day! I was always under the impression that Dear Old Daisy had forgone the holy estate of matrimony, preferring to direct her energies into the furtherance of her career. Unkind onlookers might have suggested that it would have been a brave man who would have taken on Daisy as a lifelong soul-mate. It gives one food for thought to speculate on the characteristics of Mr. Bubbers. Did anyone ever meet him? (David Maltby)

Following Michaels posting of 20/08/03 describing some letters in detail I am forced to admit that I can recall some of the events described and therefore am also forced to admit that this hitherto described "scam" may indeed be genuine after all!
I do, however, adamantly reject the serious accusations of forgery levelled at me by one Scriber Kingham and formally challenge him to a duel on Rainham Marshes at dawn (someday). (Unless, of course, subsequent archived articles from The Box indicate otherwise!) (David Gregory)

To quote several HM's regarding Mike Merry's recent 'thread' - "Hmmmm!"... Mike, did you, perchance. pick up a copy of the 4th July 03 Romford Recorder whilst in UKland? It was the '100th Year' edition. The sports pages headline "Prims toast a proper 75th birthday party". There is a report of Prims convincingly winning a cricket match and a subsequent 'Barbecue and Drinks' at - where else? - 'The Royal Liberty School'
A photo of some of the gathered current and former 'Prims' players was printed, along with 1950's team . Two of the 50's team (Roy Cross and Alan Tucker) still currently playing! Prims were formed in 1928. One founding member of the 1928 team, Norm Ritchie - the father of a current player, was an opening bowler and featured in 590 games spanning an amazing 56 years, before 'hanging up his spikes' in 1984! Incidently, the recent photo showed, I think, the RLS building in the background, but didn't say whether that was where the match was played.
So was Mikes mysterious 'Prim's ' package a creation inspired by a recent Recorder article? Is the fact that the 75th anniversary function was held at RLS a coincidence? I think Mike asked earlier if there was an historical connection between RLS and the Prims. Can anyone help further? (Terry Hadert)

Regarding the 'Prims" matter. RLS, RLS Old Boys and the Liberty Casuals played cricket against every local team around over the years. I thought that they might have played "Prims" and that some member might recall them. I didn't get to UK until the 30th of July so I have not seen the Romford recorder referred to. I will however look it up today. Also, I called D E Bubbers 'Mrs.", it should of course be Miss. That's typing without paying attention. The other laides teachers mentioned at RCH are "Mrs.". Here's another fact that you might not know. Miss Bubbers worked after her retirement as a nurses aid. She, as did GHRN, contracted the dreaded ALZ disease and passed away I am told in the late 70's. There's nothing mysterious about this knowledge, I have mentioned that I had a two cousins both with sons who attended RLS and with whom I meet, or at least telephone, whenever I go home to UK. Several members of this group recalled one of the cousins (now deceased) from their schooldays.
Back to other interesting things. I have opened another manilla packet from the box and will tell you what I found later today when I get a few minutes. Bear with me, much of the stuff is in bad condition, its been around for probably 40 odd years and has been fodder for insects and probably stored in a wet place making many sheets stick together and much of the ink, run. There is still no clue as to where it all came from but I have, I believe, some contacts who might be able to help with that. (Mike Merry)

Naturally, the first thing I did was search out my own name in the book. I found a total of 4 entries. The first was - 24.1.52 1B Merry Entered cloakroom by window 1 GHRN. The last was 10.12.54 5F Merry Disrespect to Mr. Bell 4 GHRN. Perhaps the best one was 9.11.53 3F Merry Spitting at nuns 4 GHRN. The only other one was for disrespect to Mr. Askew and I remember that was for disrupting the cross country final.

Because of the nature of the book and some of the reasons for punishment listed, these are the only entries I will reveal. While I personally care not a grain of salt about my own misdeeds, there will be others who would not like their indiscretions made public. For instance, "stealing" is not an uncommon entry and "misbehavior in toilets" is another that is open to interpretation. I believe it best to let sleeping dogs lie. (Mike Merry)

The Punishment Book is a very informal record to my eye. It's a regular long type of accounting book with no title on the outside at all.
Inside are half a dozen columns on each page and thirty rows on each page. The book is not full, about 50 pages are used. I counted about 2,500 entries through July 15th 1959 (the book started September 15th 1947). That gives an average of about 200 punishments per year.
The only headings are on the first page and after that there are none at all. The original headings are Date, Form, Name, Offence, Strokes and Signature.
Dates are written (example) 14.2.50. Then comes the culprits form (1a 2s, 3g etc). The name is merely the surname with no initials unless there is someone else of the same name (Smith J. for instance and later Smith R.) The offence is written (example) "Bullying" and a small note such as "kicking Smith of 1a) or "smoking" or "Truancy" or "Foul language in class" etc. There is not much in the way of explanation. Nor is there anything to indicate who made the complaint. All of the "Signature" entries are initials. Vast majority are GHRN but a few groups of EP (obviously on days that Scruff was away). There was not punishment every day by a long chalk. Sometimes six or seven or even ten days could pass without the whack being given. However, there are "Multiple" entries, for instance for "smoking in High Trees" and they are indicated as being the same offence for up to four or five boys, same number of strokes (2) and same date. Same thing for "Truancy" etc.
The EP Journal or Diary is a collection of what seems to be very political notes and explanations as well as official letters and in some cases, unofficial ones!It is obvious that EP was the "point man" for GHRN with the Governors and the Romford authorities. I am still looking through this and will comment once I have formed an opinion. It's interesting reading. (Mike Merry)

Punishment Book - Personal Entries: Something from the 1966-1971 files :- I never did get back a couple of books I took into school that were confiscated. One was an interesting historical story of life in a medieval convent (and I think it predated The Devils). The other was an old hardback book on how to hypnotise people - didn't master it 'tho. As for the punishment book - a 'few' detentions in Jake's office when you a large (20 number) number and had to add the original to the sum ten times and 3 lots of 2 canes and one of 3. My best 'get out' one evening was when I had two detentions at the same time - one was Physics I think and the other with Jake, so I pulled rank on the physics one and then pleaded 'no bike lights' on the second and got away with both. (Chris Fribbins)

Final two items I found in the box were:
1. The school Punishment Book from 1947 through 1959. (I thought someone said that it was lost or there wasn't one?)
2. An unofficial diary of events concerning RLS through those same years written by Mr. E. Pilling.
My thoughts as to whom collected most of the contents of these boxes were confirmed when I found the diary. It kept me up until 4am this morning. The Punishment Book reads like a members list of RLS 0ld Boys! I'm only up to '56 so far. (Mike Merry)

The contents of the box were damp when I saw them at the auction. I assumed that they had been stored somewhere where water had got at the contents. They had then been put into the big Sainsbury's boxes, which were dry. Some stuff is wet, other dry and brittle. It's a mess and my studio looks like a forensics lab right now. Much of the stuff is useless and unreadable. I am dumping this out and only saving the items that can be read and which in some way concern RLS. The Pulpit Notes, Accounts and Parish items I am also getting rid of.
As for the names on these latest notes, I said at the beginnng I would not put names all over the list, although I must say the recipient would be about 113 or so by now so it's hardly likely he is still around. He did have three children and a wife though!
I only had a very very faint idea who this lot might have belonged to at the beginning but after seeing the last lot of notes I know exactly who it is. I'm sure, if everyone puts on their thinking caps, they can guess very easily also.
I hope to finish up this weekend and put this to rest so I don't cluter up the list any more with this junk. (Mike Merry)

Mike,Appropo (is that how you spell it?) 'I will not reveal the name of the person they were written to'
and having followed this thread with a morbid interest, I have to ask - "why not?". And another thing. Why is everything so bloody damp? After being around for 40/50 years and consigned to your abode in warmer climes, one would assume that dryness would be uppermost (Derek Humphrey)

Very interesting find, however I will merely give you the contents of a couple of letters. I will not reveal the name of the person they were written to. Andy can decide if he wants to do this and put them in the library or destroy them when he gets the package. In any case, many of them are unreadable with the ink having run and the words obliterated or completely stuck together in a solid mass. These I will merely thow away, saving the dozen or so that can be read.
First item: Handwritten (most of these appear to be personal type of notes and requests as opposed to typewritten official memorandum's.) The first two are on the paper of Borough Education Office 90 Eastern Road Romford.
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30/10/53 Gidea Park
Dear xxxxx I am taking the liberty of dropping this note through your letter box on my way home this PM as Olive said you would be up town today. Latham came by my office this morning and said that a neighbor had complained to him about XXX using that slipper of his again. While I
have the greatest respect for xxx, this is not the first time I've mentioned this to you. Will you please have a word with him this coming week. I know the lads ask for it sometimes but there are procedures for punishment as you know. I will probably be at the Old Libs clubhouse Saturday so we can talk there if you intend to see any of the games. GTJ
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10/11/54 Gidea Park
Dear xxxx In the canteen this morning Bill White mentioned that there had been two bonfire night incidents last Friday, involving several boys from the Libery, two of them over here from America. I am given to understand that the police at Gidea Park were called by a resident of Eugene Close to complain about boys throwing fireworks near his house and frightening his two cats. The resident, said he recognized Liberty blazers. I called Reg but I learn that he is in Portsmouth today. I am dropping this note off on my way home and will walk over this evening when I trust you can enlighten me further regarding this event. GTJ
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7/1/54 Brian Rd., Dear xxx After our chat last Saturday I was pleased to receive a formal note from Johnny xxxx with an invitation to play on the 19th. I have made arrangements to get free around 11am so providing there are no rail delays I will be at the school by noon. Thank you again for including me in this match. Ron xxx
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There are another dozen readable letters all in the same type of mode, all somehow connected with the school but containing nothing more than the bland contents listed above. I'll package them up. (Mike Merry)

Coming towards the end of the box materials now. Last evening I unwrapped another manilla parcel and found amongst the inevitable church accounting papers, several letters addressed to a member of the staff. These looked like someone had set a fire extinguisher on them but I managed to unstick them and left them to dry out on paper towels overnight. I'll give you some of the content later today. There are only three or four packages left now and I have started getting a parcel ready to send to Andy. The damaged stuff I have retreived I've slid into clear plastic sleeves and the stuff in "reasonable" condition I've put between paper toowels to give it a bit of padding. (Mike Merry)

Some months back I told you of my findings in the box I purchased which was said to include papers and documents from Romford. I told of how I was trying to sort out the items and put them in some kind of order.
There was a lot of junk with no interest to anyone, there was the Punishment Book which provided excellent reading and there were packets of papers containing some assorted of information on RLS from the day it opened in November 1921 through 1960.
In addition there was what was obviously a collection of papers which were being saved for a purpose, probably a history of the school. Amongst these there were many that I could not decipher or understand vis a vis their place in the order of the overall idea. I've had to
abandon these as useless to my own efforts. If only there were more time and other sources of reference, but of course, there are not after all these years.
These papers had been collected by a member of staff and not filed or sorted in any order. It took me three weeks to just get the items classified by year and a further two weeks to throw out the junk, water damaged items, and things which seemed to have no redeeming
features whatsoever.
It was, in my opinion, a worthwhile operation. I gleaned from the papers a history previously little explored and I have completed the first 25 years in form of an essay.
The information provides a fascinating look at early RLS. When I say fascinating I mean to the members of the Group who are interested in the early history of the school. Perhaps one or two of you will read it, nod your head and say "I often wondered about that!"
So there we are. Tomorrow I'll post the first part of the story. Whether you read it or not is up to you. Remember, it's not obligatory to read anything that's posted here, after all, it's only a tiny piece of history and probably won't appeal to all.
On another subject, I have still not decided when/if to Fedex Andy the papers I have separated for inclusion in the archives. I am still mulling this over. It's not an easy decision as you may well understand. (Mike Merry)

THE MAIN RESULT OF MIKE'S BOXING: Ernest Pilling was born in 1895 at Newton Heath, north east of the city of Manchester. Early documents record that after leaving Manchester University in 1917, Pilling commenced teaching at Manchester Grammar School. The venerable Old Hall Lane institution with it's "Sapere Aude" (Have the Courage to Think) motto seems to have proved a fertile breeding ground for Pilling's ambitions and it was at this time that he surely came to the notice of S. B. Hartley, a Magdalene scholar and ex MGS pupil who had returned to his old school to teach Classics. In all likelihood they first became friends playing cricket for MGS's alumni and old boys team and this friendship thrived when they discovered a mutual interest in music, Pilling it seems, leaning towards opera and Hartley, an enthusiastic pianist and composer. There must have been many discussions regarding the future of education between the two. Pilling, although a disciplinarian, could understand Hartley's views on interacting with pupils and providing support for boys who perhaps due to social pressures, could not rely upon their own parents for assistance and advice. He agreed with Hartley's approach but also felt that discipline should not be neglected.
Hartley was beginning to attract national attention with his radical views regarding the teachers role in education at this time and after he met Hilda Johnstone, a Professor of History at Manchester University at a gathering, she spoke with the Rev. Canon Claude
Jenkins, Head of the History Department at Kings College about Hartley's ideas. Jenkins probably invited Hartley to speak at Kings early in 1919 and Hartley traveled south and addressed an enthusiastic audience sometime during the spring of that year. He talked of his philosophy, doubtlessly addressed the necessity of building relationships with pupils and acting as a mentor rather than the prevailing trend of the day, which was control by discipline. Present at the event was Augustus Hickley, a prominent member of Chelmsford Star Co-operative, a Methodist elder who thought like Hartley and who wielded some influence in the country's educational circles at the time.
In 1920 when plans were being formed to open a new boys school in the Romford area, Hickley it seems, spoke with friends at the Government Board of Education and suggested that Hartley be considered for the post of first Headmaster. Hartley was interviewed at cHelmsford in December 1920 and two weeks later the powers that be offered him the post officially. Before accepting the position, Hartley requested that he be able to name his own assistant, and after hearing of Pilling's qualifications, no objections seemed to have been raised by the Board. In January of 1921 the two men submitted their resignations to MGS as of the end of the school year ( July 1921). In mid July they traveled south to take up their new positions. By bringing Pilling with him, Harley was ensuring a more traditional disciplinarian was his deputy which would offset any repercussions resulting from any lapses in his own philosophy.
There must have been an enormous amount of work to do before the official opening of the school in November. One of the first problems would have been when Hartley decided that the school should be called The Romford Royal Liberty Grammar School for Boys while the
Government Board of Education insisted that the name was Romford County High School for Boys. This issue it seems, was resolved before the opening ceremony, although according to comments made later, Hartley and the President of the BOE, Henry Fisher did discuss the
matter privately during the morning of the inaugural day.
According to Pilling, Hartley engaged in spirited correspondence with anyone who disagreed with his designating the school "Royal Liberty". There is a story concerning a letter from Albert Illingworth, who was Postmaster General at the time, which seems to have chastised Hartley for appropriating the word "Royal" in the schools title. He wrote "it has been bought to my attention by Postal officials that your establishment uses the word "Royal" in its name. It is my duty to ask you if a charter was granted allowing you this privilege?" It's said that Hartley's reply was "sharp and to the point", telling Illingworth that the lands on which the school stood had indeed been a "Royal Liberty" in Henry VIII's reign and therefore the school had every right to utilize the name.
We are told that Hartley and Pilling it's recorded, attended Church on November 6th, 1921 and "Gave thanks to God for providing us with the opportunity to teach at the new Royal Liberty School". The School had actually opened and accepted pupils since November 1st, however, the official opening ceremony took place on November 9th and the Liberal Member of Parliament H. A. L. Fisher, President of the Board of Education opened the school at that time. He was reportedly accompanied by Sir Amherst Selby-Bigge, the Permanent Secretary to the Board, and Pilling spent quite some time that afternoon begging and pleading for additional supplies, which were in short supply after the 1st World War. Selby-Bigge explained to Pilling that the Board of Education, was established in 1899 from earlier bodies. The board however, never actually met, and the President acted in all
respects as Minister of Education. The board's activity covered only England and Wales and most education was actually run by local education authorities, part of borough and county borough councils. It was established in 1902, and the board has supervisory powers only. He did however, promise to "assist in whichever way possible" and it appeared to Pilling that Selby-Bigge "was going to be of great help in the near future in allowing the new RLS to function smoothly with all of the necessary tools."
Pilling's tasks, in addition to his responsibilities for English and Religion, included recruiting young men to teach at Royal Liberty. It appears that in August of 1921 he met Paul Nash, the surrealist, who was convalescing in Romford where he had been a map-reading
instructor during 1916. It's likely that he asked Nash if he would be interested in teaching Art at RLS and it seemed for a while that Nash might take the job. However in October of that year he returned to London and later joined the Royal College of Art as an assistant. Pilling seems to have been undaunted. There were many ex military men who were desperate for teaching jobs and by 1923, the school was already making a name for itself both as an institute of learning and a budding power in the sports field.
It was in June of 1925 while they were both playing cricket for Gidea Park that Hartley asked Pilling to undertake yet another mission. This was to liaise with the local education authorities and generally push for any additional help outside of the regular boundaries that the school could get.
Pilling met and seems to have cultivated the friendship of Charles Rhys, the National Liberal MP who had won a Military Cross for service in France in 1917. Rhys probably provided Pilling with introductions to influential citizens in the Romford area and Pilling
made sure that they were invited to events at the school and encouraged to send their sons to be educated there.
In 1926 Ken Farnes who was to become one the greatest fast bowlers for England, Essex, and Cambridge University in the years before the Second World War, joined RLS and was taken under the wing of Hartley and Pilling, both cricket enthusiasts. Pilling talked of watching Farnes play at Reed Pond Walk, which he describes as `behind the Raphael's tennis courts'. This is where it's said that Farnes began his cricket career. The masters encouraged Farnes efforts and soon had him playing with the Gidea Park side, of which they were both regulars.
By 1930 RLS was well established and considered as a viable second choice to Brentwood School. In fact, as Pilling so succinctly stated "and our lad's wear caps. The Liberty motto is "Semper Procedens" (which I need not translate) while the boater bunch at
Brentwood can only boast "Virtue, Learning and Manners" in English. Perhaps we are more of the Public School than they." From various sources it seems that Pilling was very happy doing what he did and one gets the idea that he enjoyed his liaison duties perhaps more
than teaching.
Through the 30's, RLS's reputation grew, as it sent more and more of its pupils on to University. Honors were published in the annual Speech Day program and every year the number and luster of the awards increased. The schools athletes now traveled far and wide to meet any challenger. They played against amateur sides and junior university XI's and on one occasion according to Pilling "thrashed the Essex Regiment's football team on their home pitch at Colchester".
In 1939 when war broke out the school suffered an exodus of pupils and teachers who went to join the armed forces. Those that remained were either to old to fight or who were prohibited from doing so due to illness or injury. Pilling we learn, at 46 volunteered for the Home Guard but was turned down due to "the importance of providing education and leadership to our young men" as we so aptly learn from notes made during the later months of that year.
>From all events and circumstances it appears that about this time Pilling was "recruited" by Charles Rhys. Rhys, the ex MP, was now with the Auxiliary Units, as they were known. These super-secret groups were to stay behind when civilian populations were evacuated
should the Germans invade England. They would hide in specially constructed underground bunkers, which were dotted around the country. Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex alone contained over 300 of these bunkers. After training at Coleshill House in Highworth (Wiltshire),
Pilling was assigned to a sub-Patrol under Leader Keith Seabrook who was based in Brentwood. There were three bunkers and about 18 men under his command. All had been recruited by Rhys and Seabrook and none were professional military men. They were chosen for their unquestioned loyalty and their ability to get things done with a minimum of fuss. There is little information from Pilling regarding the Units. It seems they were so secret that the records regarding their activities have still to be released. Pilling did say that they were "authorized by the highest authority to carry out sabotage to German communications, destroy or immobilize vehicles and even to "execute collaborators if so instructed'." There are only two recorded events regarding this phase of Pilling's life and both are brief and apart from the basic information, somewhat lacking in detail.
At RLS, Pilling seems to have thrown himself into preparing trenches and enforcing air raid drills at the school. He met frequently with Romford authorities and was instrumental in bringing experts to the school to talk to the boys about various subjects involving the war. He played an active part in planning the menu's for the School Dinners as we find from notes dated Monday March 9th, 1942. The week's menu was "Monday boiled potatoes, boiled cabbage, cheese pie, Spotted Dick. Tuesday Sausages with Mash and boiled greens, Baked
sultana cake. Wednesday Haddock, mashed potatoes, baked beans, jelly. Thursday Pea Pure pancakes with turnip mash and green beans, Prune Pudding.. Friday Mock sausages, macaroni, cabbage, mock date pudding. He writes of `making sure the boys had their Virol', which
seems to have been some kind of vitamin. The first Americans had arrived in Britain in January and the Blitz was intensifying. In the desert, Rommel's forces were advancing on Tobruk in a counter attack. PilLing mentioned to a friend on March 22nd ".. yesterday the wife had to queue up for two hours and managed to get a pound of cooking apples and two oranges. We spent yesterday night in the Anderson and didn't get any sleep. Helped move along the knitting of my new pullover however!"
Piling at these times was very upbeat and spoke often of happenings at the school and around the district. There seems to be significant gaps in Pilling's routine for a couple of days each month. These are explained by notes referring to "out on camping trip for two (or four) days". These `Camping Trips' seem to occur every month on or about the 23rd or 24th, whichever was a weekend, perhaps these were the periods when Pilling was training in the Auxiliaries. Later that year on July 5th, Pilling recorded "There was " a grand concert in Raphael's Park given by a band from the Royal Air Force. I believe that all of Romford and Gidea Park turned out to hear the music".
By 1943 things had started to improve as far as the war was concerned. Pilling met with "young Ralph Bennett who does something hush hush at a place called Bletchley in Buckinghamshire. He was down here to see the Head who he had followed to Cambridge". Bennett was with the Enigma project as we learned after the war and was an admirer of Hartley who had encouraged him to attend Cambridge. From this information it seems that even someone who was involved in secret activities apparently had no knowledge of the secrets of others.
Although the war news was better, the food situation was still poor. Milk was provided, whenever available, for pupils and occasionally, when real sugar was available, the cooks were able to produce meringues. Otherwise the various pies, puddings etc. were produced
using sugar beet. In May of 1943 the Dam Busters dropped their bombs and a newspaper cutting boasts large headlines proclaiming "German Dam's breached". In June, Churchill met with Roosevelt in Casablanca and in July Mussolini was deposed. In November Stalin met with them in Tehran where Overlord, the invasion of France, was discussed. On December 6th a cryptic note attributed to Pilling records "Seabrook said that Rhys called to say no more uncomfortable weekends – Thank God for that!", probably a reference to the Auxiliary Units being stood down around that time and Pilling's relief at not having to rough it any more.
By 1944 there was little doubt that the allies were winning the war. In June came the invasion of France and the following year, victory over both Germany and Japan. By 1946 people were trying to forget the war but rationing continued and even bread was included due to a very bad harvest. Bread rationing continued we learn from Pilling "through
1948." In 1954, with meat finally becoming more available rationing ended in England. Pilling mentioned in August of 1946 that his wife was often able to `pick up a little extra' by arriving early at Romford Market on a Wednesday morning.
One difference that the end of the war made to RLS was that there were now thousands of ex-servicemen attending teaching colleges throughout the UK. Many of the men had been at university before and during the war and now it was over, were ready to enter the field of
education. Pilling seems to have been the interviewer for these candidates and the resulting hires accurately reflected the philosophy of both Harley and Pilling and the direction in which RLS would sail in the future.
It must have been about this time that Hartley first mentioned to Pilling his intentions to retire from the Headmastership in the not to distant future. Hartley was about sixty six in 1946 and had been with RLS since day one. Pilling must have thought that his chances of
succeeding Hartley were high, after all he had been the strength behind the throne and had a better working knowledge of the school and the politics involved in running it, than anyone. As 1946 ended then, Pilling could face the future confident that his highest
ambitions might well be realized in the next 24 months.
(To be continued)

(The contents of this essay were a result of the examination and interpretation of documents, books, papers and letters. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents accurately reflect the happenings, there is no sure way of determining if the events depicted herein took place in the order they are set out, or if indeed, these events did actually take place as described. It is impossible to predict what a subject thinks in any situation and to prophesize why certain actions were taken. It falls to the historian
to use available materials to propose their best analysis of a situation and this missive does just that, no more. The contents, far from being portrayed as a definitive history, should be viewed as the author's view of what he believed occurred.) (Mike Merry)