Master Anecdotes 1
Hartley, Jobling, Pilling, Graham, Elwood, W. C. Smith, Meo

 

S. B. HARTLEY - HEADMASTER (1921-1947)

Subject: - ?? Cricket?

Nicknames: 'Gussy', 'Jam pots'

 

Gus Hartley - Educated at MGS & Magdelin (sp) and returned to teach at MGS before moving to RLS. Nick Name also "Jam Pots". [B. Butterworth]

 

The nickname ‘Jam Pots’ must derive from the brand name Hartley’s Jam. (Robert Priddy)

 

Although Mike Merry says Ep was quasi deputy to Gus Hartley, it was in fact Jobling who used to stand in when Gus was away. Because of the war Gus stayed on past retirement age, becoming mildly eccentric in the process...e.g..his battered trilby frequently on back to front....his habit of giving you a small bar of chocolate if you called on him at home. As regards the naming of the school there was a story that some years after it started a senior Min. of Education official spent some time looking in his files for the RLS but could still only find RCHS for boys in Romford. Gus had got one over them and there was no going back. May they both rest in peace. Bernard Coe 43-51

 

...my uncle David Knights was at RLS, circa 1929 - 1934 (Norman, undeclared).  He offered the following anecdotes during a recent chat. An incident that was particularly vivid, in the 4th year, was that everyone was summoned to the Hall one day, to witness Headmaster Hartley administer 6 of the best to a lad in his year.  The offence was to take someone else's bicycle one lunch-time, and wreck it in an accident.  Everyone was surprised that Hartley reacted in this way, the boy concerned was "a bit of a rogue", but nothing more than that, and if it hadn't been for the accident, no one would have noticed.  Apart from that, he is sure that corporal punishment, other than of a comparatively mild everyday level, was almost unknown in his time there.

There was an incident of a science teacher named McTravis setting fire to himself when an experiment went wrong and he was covered in burning liquid. He rolled around on the floor trying to stop the fire, while the bewildered boys sat and watched. Two more names he mentioned were groundsman Oatley, and his assistant Saville. (Tim Knights)

 

Mr Hartley was the composer (both words and music?) of the sometime school song so he has something to answer for. Specifically, he ought to be pilloried for using the word "fane". In a lifetime's reading of old and obscure literature, I've never come across this word. There seems to be a word "fane" which means "ruin" but that surely isn't what he meant.  

In '54 or so (he had long retired but lived nearby) he addressed the 7th Romford Scouts at one of their Sausage and Mash suppers. At one point he sang the praises of Michael Rowe. "Doughy" or "Doey" Rowe was a keen Senior Scout by then, a great organiser and worthy.  

"The last time I heard word of Michael" said Hartley "was when he was in New Delhi". But Doey was sitting right there with us. I'm proud to say that rather than embarrass the old man, Doey slipped out of his seat onto the floor and later we smuggled him out of the room.  I remember distinctly that Hartley pronounced it "New Dell-high". Was that the old way? [ID]

 

Here are two Hartley stories which I received as part of the oral tradition and cannot vouch for personally. A master saw a crowd of boys round a horse chestnut tree with someone up the tree gathering conkers. He called the 'boy' to come down and then found that it was Hartley.

Hartley was watching a County Cricket match at Brentwood when he saw a couple of his pupils in the crowd. He bought them tea. The next day he caned them for playing truant. [J.A. Smith]

 

S. B. Hartley was the first headmaster of RLS and set the tone of the School from the start. He came from Manchester Grammar School with a firm conviction that a state grammar school (which of course RLS was set up as) could and should give just as good an education as a public school. He was not a strict disciplinarian, always happier to encourage and praise rather than dwell on misdemeanours. His favourite phrase of 'well done' was frequently mimicked by the boys. Normally soft-spoken, with a trace of a northern accent, he could nevertheless project his voice when necessary. Once during 1940-45 he carried out a caning in front of the whole school for an offence which strangely was not specified (might have given the rest of us ideas?) At the start of each school year he would set out with determination to learn the names of all the new intake; he would spring out unexpectedly in a corridor or from behind a tree calling out surnames with a look of triumph (not always well-founded of course). He lived in the house at the n. boundary of the school grounds and did his best to turn a blind eye to the seasonal desecration of the walnut tree which otherwise helped to form a screen between his house and the playing fields. Went everywhere on a sit-up-and-beg bicycle, sometimes wearing cycle clips for long periods between trips. (J.C. Jennings)

 

I remember him as a very genial white-haired old boy... ex-headmaster of RLS whose garden backed onto the playing field. He was mad on cricket. and always very kind to me.. got me into some of the county teams which meant time off school!!.. whoopee! [Colin Calvert]

 

I corresponded infrequently with Gussie Hartley (when I was living in Canada) for a few years after my emigration from the UK. His letters were filled with his memories of the Dominion and tour he and university fellows made in the early part of the century. He was a great guy in my view and a super asset to the school and the community. [Geoffrey Styles]

 

Football. It was a great institution and in my day played most seriously after school from about 4 to 5 pm. The main "pitch" ran from the swimming pool cycle sheds to the lavatory block although a lesser pitch went from the gate by the old ARP post to the side of the lav block. The use of the tennis ball I am sure improved control when one came to the regulation size ball.
One clear memory is of Gus Hartley joining in the game, with great enthusiasm, on more than one occasion. Little wonder he was loved and admired.(Bernard Coe 43-51)

As to whether Hartley ever had a 'punishment book': I wonder if they ever existed I remember SBH caning once or twice a miscreant in front of the whole school but that was because the boy was a thief. Perhaps lesser crimes saw the punishment admiistered in the privacy of his study. (Bernard Coe 43-51)

 

SBH would certainly have had a PB. I can recall two public whackings - particularly one in late 1940, involving two boys who had vandalised the air raid shelters - well deserved punishment. Several of my contempories were caned in his study as was my brother in the 1930's. There was a large table in SBH's study that had to be moved in order to allow Gus full use of his cane. To add insult to injury, the poor victim was obliged to help him to move it! On no occasion did I see a master administer any kind of punishment - it was usually a matter of a note to the Headmaster although the latter received many a report from "Keyhole", the caretaker. I once had the slipper from a prefect, although I do not recall his name, he was, without doubt, of dubious parentage. (Gordon "Alec" Alexander, 1940-44)

Mr. PILLING (1921-1960)

Subjects: English - Deputy Head

Nicknames: 'Errrn', 'Pip'

 

FIRST ever RLS LIST MESSAGE! Who remembers Mr. "Ernie" Pilling? Room 7 - taught either Maths or English - I can't remember because I never had a lesson with him! But he was Senior Master and, despite being a little guy, he had a fierce temper and a mean right hand!!! Must have originated in Lancashire as he had that accented burr to his pronunciation of the letter r. Reliably quoted as his favourite saying was, "Errr, coom and have yerr earrr smacked, laddie" - hence the nickname "Errrn" although I believe his name really was Ernest! OK, guys, there's for starters. (David Maltby)

 

Bald, very round face - (round body too, now I come to think of it!) NEVER seen to smile! Another constant gown-wearer. Used to quell pre-assembly noise (George's warm-up act!) simply by stepping up onto the dais! (David Maltby)

 

Sign on a shop door in Adelaide: 'On leaving these premises, management reserves the right to check customers' bags'. I remember Ernie Pilling telling one of my classmates that such linguistic abominations were called dangling participles. He reinforced the point by giving the boy a kick up the backside ( a common Ernie teaching technique). This was the same Ernie Pilling who, I seem to recall, gave every boy in the school (about 700?) a cuff behind the ear as he left the hall in single file after a rowdy assembly. (David Vale 53-59)

 

Ernie Pip who would have fitted in well at 'Dotheboys Hall'. Nasty bit of work in my opinion. (Fred Denny) 

Mr.Pilling... who could slap the back of your head and kick your behind at the same time. He taught me where to put commas.
He once set as an essay subject 'Spring onions' (no kidding). I wrote just - 'What can a humble onion seem, but an onion, small and green. How can a schoolboy write a word upon a subject so absurd.' and left it at that. The clip/kick treatment was expected. What he gave me was a note in my book - '10 out of 10 for wit. Now do the essay by tomorrow, or else'. He was quite a nice teacher, as us teachers go. I also remember a very embarassing time (remember it was in the 40's) when, quite out of the blue, while we were doing 'How Horatius Kept the Bridge'or 'Travels with a Donkey', he told us that we should not fondle girls breasts because it gave them cancer. Of course we all took it seriously. (Chance would have been a fine thing in those days). (Colin O'Hare) 

Room 7. He was Senior Master and, despite being a little guy, he had a fierce temper and a mean right hand!!! Must have originated in Lancashire as he had that accented burr to his pronunciation of the letter r. Reliably quoted as his favourite saying was, "Errr, coom and have yerr earrr smacked, laddie" - hence the nickname "Errrn" although I believe his name really was Ernest! [D.G.Maltby]

 

A tyrant who lived for the days when George Newth (who was a hard man himself) was not at the school. He loved using the cane and one the days that George was not there, PIP would have a field day. He boasted he had the keys to the city of London, which most of us thought was some wonderful award but which we learned could be obtained by paying about two quid to some organization. I got to know him better after I left school and joined the Old Libertians. He was always at the weekend football games at the field and pavilion over on the Southend Road just before Gallows Corner. [Mike Merry]

 

Former cadets will remember that holes in the targets were covered up by pasting squares of paper (approximately 1 inch squares) over them. On one occasion they had been used to paste the following words on the wall: 'IRA', 'EOKA', and 'ERN'. Tug Wilson asked who had done it: Chris Hogg replied, 'Probably an Irish Cypriot with a grudge against Mr Pilling.' At one period it was fashionable to chalk on many of the school buildings the claim that they belonged to the Second Master, e.g. Ern's Stable, Ern's Shed etc. [JAS]

 

Fortunately my path did not cross much with Ern's. If your name was Smith.. he would always refer to you as "Mrs. Smith's little boy" and specialised in the bum kick. He did this once too often. One lad (I think it was Dawkins, the swimming champ?).. grabbed his foot as a reflex action as it made contact… and Ern fell backwards… damaging his back quite badly so he was away for months. Can you imagine the fuss there would be nowadays! [CC]

 

A strict disciplinarian, no charm and could make cutting remarks. Feared. A clique of boys who tended towards Teddishness answered Errrn back, however, and he seemed to like the cut and thrust of argument with them. As one of them told him (Randall), they designated themselves as 'yobs' - a new term then which they claimed to have invented, explaining it is 'boy' backwards to everyone. (If this is so, it was some achievement to have 'offered up in England's fane' (i.e. 'temple')? (Or 'fame', if this after all was a misprint? [RP]

 

E. Pilling (Ernie / Pip) was the Second Master during my time at School (1951-59), having joined the staff when the School opened in 1921. He left in 1960. The Magazine for December 1960 contains an appreciation. [JAS]

 

From what I can remember, in the period 1951-59, which was in the Newth-Pilling era, it was only Newth who caned boys, except that, when he was off, Pilling would do it. (JAS)

 

E. Pilling (Ernie / Pip) was the Second Master during my time at School (1951-59), having joined the staff when the School opened in 1921. He left in 1960. The Magazine for December 1960 contains an appreciation.(JAS)

 

...the memory of one Grady (Christian name forgotten) who was always able to derail Ernie Pilling's English lessons into a discussion on the existence of God, Allah or any other "Prime Mover" as he called them. Gordon Whitcomb will remember, I am sure. Where the hell are you, Gordon? (DGM)

 

Teacher bullies-Of Course- Schofield, Pilling were my worst tormentors. I even got 6 from Ernie Pilling who caught me slamming a desk lid. (Brian Coan)

 

Deputy head, Ernie Pilling

Taught grammar and lit. to the willing

Of this and religion

I learned not a smidgen

But Butterworth found it fulfilling (Phil Kingham)

 

When I left the school in '56 I became a member of the Old Boys. I played football and after the matches at the Eastern Avenue ground we would get together in the bar. Ernie Pilling was often there and we would have a conversation over a beer. He was nothing like the Ernie I remembered as a pupil, nothing at all. He would talk without being sarcastic and was a perfectly normal person, a far cry from the relationship between pupil and schoolmaster. (Mike Merry)

 

"...the memory of one Grady (Christian name forgotten) who was always able to derail Ernie Pilling's English lessons into a discussion on the existence of God, Allah or any other "Prime Mover" as he called them. (David Maltby)

 

By Jove or Whoever, I do declare that I heard Grady (who I feel sure I recall ok) and his fearless questioning of Pilling on the God question! How is this possible - that we could have been present at the same time to some such incident, DGM? I recall some odd mixed classes with Pilling when the timetable went awry or suchlike? I though those present included 'Doggie' Smith (and Jaggar perhaps). (RP)

 

Being also concurrent 1952/7 , My remaining two brain cells tell me that Grady's first, or maybe second, name is Robin. I shared the first year with him and DG. He did have the ability, even at the tender age of 12, to put Ernie on a tangential track. Like myself he peaked intellectually at 13.(Phil Kingham)

 

Who remembers the time that the pr*f*cts put the whole school in detention for misbehaving at assembly? It must have been '54 - '55 time frame. Anyhow the after- school detention broke into a near riot with everybody shouting,stamping their feet,jeering. It was scary being there. The pr*f*cts panicked and got the masters. Errrn restored order instantly - really instantly. He stood at the forward door of the assembly hall and made the whole school march by him one at a time and proceeded to clout everyone around the head as they passed him. It was an impressive lesson in power! (Reg Caton)

 

...knowing our Ernnnn, I belive he was perfectly capable of clipping the ear of 2 or 3 hundred of the lower forms. I had the opportunity to learn a little more about Ernie when I left school. He was a regular at the RLS clubhouse on the Eastern Avenue and would come and support the football teams playing there. Afterwards in the bar he wasn't the Errnnnn we knew at school but a completely different person. The first time I saw him under this new environment I was somewhat aprehensive, having suffered for five years under his Assistant Headmaster role. However, to my surprise Ernie smiled and congratulated me on joining the Old Boys. He told a few stories and treated me, as he treated every other person there, as if school days were one thing and adulthood, another. I met Johnny Bell and others, pr*f*cts, etc. whom, once out of school days, were completely different people. Alas, I never did get to see Scruff after that July day of 1956 when I left Hare Hall. That now could have been a very interesting conversation. (Mike Merry)

 

Re Member Paul's comments - I recall Pilling only as a smart mouthed person with a superior attitude. He was never warm or encouraging to anyone who did not suit him as a student. I think we learned from desire more than from example. (Geoffrey Styles)

 

For me, Ernie Pilling was more of a comedian than a sadist; I enjoyed his lessons despite the occasional slap on the head, etc (never administered with much force). I think I've recalled before how once, before Ernie arrived for a lesson, Dave Smith chalked on his blackboard: "Bert Pead all over the floor".  Dave owned up and was caned but not before a bemused Bert was, for some reason, summoned to the room and shown the atrocity!  (Bob Tucker)

FOR MIKE MERRY'S EXTENSIVE ESSAYS ON PILLING & EARLY RLS DEVELOPMENTS, CLICK HERE

S. G. GRAHAM (1924-1963)

Subject: Physics

 Nickname 'Boozer'

 

Deputy Head 1960 - 1963 [BB] Room: 14/15 (Physics Labs)

 

S.G. Graham (Boozer) left in July 1963, having joined the staff in September 1924. He was Deputy Head from September 1960 until his retirement. The Magazine for January 1964 contains an appreciation. [JAS]

 

Mr. Graham..... Now his angry look and generous chin were enough to keep me respectfully behaved in class. I can't remember any riots or stunts in his classes. Working in pairs on some experiment requiring heating hydrochloric acid (conc) in a test tube, my partner, a happily studious boy called Sullivan, accidently poured some acid onto my newly acquired utility brand corduroy trousers. Mr. Graham was at that moment talking to Mr. Newth up front of the class. I butted in..."Please Sir. Acid on trousers." Newth glided away in silence.

Graham bellowed at me "Take 'em off". He thrust them under a tap and through splashes and fumes announced to the whole class, if not wing, "You had a nice pair of pants there Rogers. If your mother writes me a stinking letter, I'll write one right back" When I told my Mum, she seemed  to pale, but said and wrote nothing. I guess he controlled her, too. (Robin Rogers)

 

Following an American film on the petroleum industry, he commented: 'Gasoline is what civilized people call petrol.' Towards the end of a double period, with about ten minutes to go, he said: 'That's all I have to say. Does anybody know any funny stories?' [JAS]

 

He was giving a demonstration of burning air in gas. A large bell-jar was filled with mains gas and stood in a dish of water. He introduced a rubber pipe from below blew gently into it and somehow ignited the interface between the two gasses. (I canít remember how). The flame was quite a bright orange in colour, which prompted a boy to ask why. Standing at the back, in an over-loud stage whisper I said, "It's the alcohol in his breath". 'Boozy' looked at me and suggested that I see him in the preparation room after the lesson. When I arrive he had a large gym shoe in his hand. In great trepidation, I apologised to him. I can’t remember what he actually said, but it was to the effect that I should not let on that he had not actually whacked me. Then he hit the work bench half a dozen times with the gym shoe and told me go. I did, and to this day have not told another RLS Old Boy the truth, although I have related the story to common folk many times. Incidentally, I am pretty sure we called Mr Graham 'Boozy' not 'Boozer', but could well be wrong on that point. [CO'H]

 

yes, he was "that stupid" or, to put it more kindly, "safety conscious" [DGM]

 

S.G. Graham (Boozer) left in July 1963, having joined the staff in September 1924. He was Deputy Head from September 1960 until his retirement. The Magazine for January 1964 contains an appreciation. (JAS)

 

I recall Boozer's speech at his final assembly. Remember there was a special end of day assembly in the hall to mark end of term. The masters were seated on the stage, as in a group photo, with the head in the centre. Words were said for retirees. I remember Boozer saying "I know some of you thought that I left the bottles in the lab for other bottles at home". The masters all knew their nicknames. I don't think Boozer's name was related to direct evidence. He had a ruddy complexion, especially a large red nose. He was altogether large, & rather sleepy; he would often catch forty winks at opportune times. This suggested the behaviour of an inebriate. (John Hawkins)

 

John Hawkins wrote: "Boozer Graham is shown as a physics master.  I recall him as the chemistry master.  Does my memory deceive me?  Was he really up to teaching both?" "Sid" Graham was definitely Chemistry in my mind. (Bill Broderick)

 

Boozer Graham was undoubtedly a 'Character'. The unpredictable nature of his experiments suggests to me that in a past life he was Chief Alchemist who attempted, frequently and without success, to convert Lead into Gold.. (Dick Stokes)

 

I particularly remember a trophy presented to 'Boozy' Graham (Chemistry master and a Norman), in recognition of his achievement in drinking the most consecutive pints in a competition held at the Ship pub in 1947 (Peter Ray)

 

I've just remembered a story about Boozer Graham. For some reason he was in Room 7 as a substitute one day and I was looking at a purloined copy of Marilyn Monroe's picture from her first Playboy appearance. Boozer saw me looking at something and started walking over. I put it in the desk but he made me open it. He picked up the picture and said something like "I'll take that" and put it in his pocket. I never had the cheek to ask for it back. I wonder if he showed it round the staff room or kept it for a private viewing? (Mike Merry)

 

Boozer Graham: I remember him with fondness - our physics lessons took place in the afternoon and he had to make frequent trips to empty his bladder, having spent lunchtime in the pub. Consequently, there was plenty of opportunity to see what would happen when you poured acid on the floor or mixed things together or just to engage in general mayhem.

Of course, at my advanced age, I now realize that his frequent trips to the bog may have been entirely non-pub related. (Russ Martin)

 

Boozer Graham's retirement speech - "It has been said that I leave the bottles in the chemistry laboratory and go home to another set of bottles..." (John Bald)

 

 

A. G. F. ELWOOD (pre-1926-1951)

Subject: Geography

Nickname: -

 

The compiler of the School Hymn Book and composer of the School Song [AHL]

 

1. A typical lesson. There would be a general sigh of relief whenever Geography came next on the timetable, the prospects being good for a relaxed period of reminiscing over the following topics: (a) School buildings, staff, or pupils from day 1. (b) Old boys, their visits to the School, and subsequent life histories. (c) How the swimming pool had been constructed and paid for by a pioneering group of parents (much to our own regret on cold April mornings) (d) Sporting achievements of Kenneth Farnes, England fast bowler (house affiliation not known) (e) Scott's expedition to the South Pole (--ditto-- ) (f) Other great geographers of the past especially Some Greco-Egyptian who looked down a well at Syrene and discovered the summer solstice at the bottom thereof. Columbus Capt. Cook (g) &c &c. The ring of the bell for the end of period would then prompt the punch- line: usually one of the 'great truths' of 'physical geography' such as why it doesn't rain in a desert.

2. Philosophy. (a) By avoiding lists of towns, countries, or indeed anything, and leaving pupils to find out for themselves if they were interested, he was ahead of his time. (b) Similarly ahead in seeking to explain the physical reasons for towns growing, communities prospering, etc.

3. His Maps. Mostly a legacy of his earlier days, when he presumably worked harder, these were cleverly executed and quite ingenious, some of his favourites being framed and hung on the Geography Room walls. [J.C. Jennings]

 

I remember being in a music class (we were singing songs like 'Where ere she walks' and 'The Ash Grove' at the time) when the teacher (Mr Elwood?) called me out to the front. He swung me round to face the class and said 'Here is a boy who has been letting down the good name of the school. He was wearing the school cap when he delivered my newspaper this morning.' I can't remember my immediate reaction or that of my classmates, but I do remember that a Mirror was substituted for his usual Time on the odd occasion after that and sometimes his paper was rather soggy on wet days. [Colin O'Hare]

 

I have many memories of Elwood and his pleasant teaching style. So many things he said in class come back to me. On one occasion as he walked to school he observed a motorist mail a letter from the window of his car. He told us that one day people would be born without legs as they did not use them properly or enough! (Geoffrey Styles)

 

I was taught by Mr. Elwood for just one term, and he was a very kindly fellow who gave a sense of security. After he left I has a brief dose of Mr. 'Buffalo' Brooks, then the younger and more invigorating 'Dinger' Bell took over. (Robert Priddy)

W. C. SMITH (1928-1953)

Subject: French

Nickname: 'Boggy

 

'Nice guy. [TT] ...was there in my First Form year, leaving at the end of the Summer Term in 1953, having been ill for some time. He had joined the staff in 1928. The Magazine for December 1953 contains an appreciation. (JAS) I remember Smith (who lived across the street from the school) casting lustful glances at our lovely Biology teacher - one Miss Coucher during morning prayers/assembly. (Geoffrey Styles)

 

Boggy Smith used to doze through most maths lessons, but he would kindly give us a  theorem to learn first. (Robert Stevens)

 

'Boggy' was 'W.C. Smith'.  He joined the staff in September 1928 to teach French.  He left at the end of the Summer Term in 1953, having been absent through illness for some time (see Magazine: December 1953). (J. Alan Smith)

 

W. C. Smith was in my mind an excellent teacher of French. He was a jolly chap that looked a bit like a boxer who had been punched in the face often. I remember his somewhat offset nose! I liked him and (perhaps because my great-grandmother was a "Normande") I enjoyed my French lessons and love France. (Geoffrey Styles)

 

w.c. Smith we used to call "Boggy" for obvious reasons. I recall he was quick to anger but equally quick to forgive. The detention he gave you at the beginning of class was normally forgotten by the end of the period. (Bernard Coe 43-51)

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Mr M.R. Innes MEO (1942 - ?)

Mr. Meo was appointed temporarily to the Romford Royal Liberty School on 5th October 1942, to take over after the resignation of Mrs May on 4th October 1942 for domestic reasons.

 

In art classes at RLS we had an old (50's?) Bohemian type teacher (Mr. Meo) as a replacement. He lived in London and rode the train to Gidea Park every day. He looked disreputable to my young eyes, but draw - WOW - could he make a picture on the blackboard with colored chalks. I was constantly amazed at his skills. I was so poor at drawing anything at all that for life drawing he made me stand in front of the class as the model. He was just damned good in my view! (Geoffrey Styles)

I remember Meo.He would arrive from the station looking, as has already been remarked, very scruffy. he invariably carried a shopping bag and had a large woolen scarf wrapped around his neck. He certainly could draw with chalks superbly and was much respected for that.
Most of my class were scared stiff of him as he had a somewhat violent and unpredictable manner at times. Two things stand out. One boy in the class collected regimental cap badges
that he put around his belt. In the class he took it off for comfort and put it on the desk. Meo was walking around the class inspecting our daubs when he spied the belt. "Fascist, disgusting fascist" he shouted, and picked up the belt and threw it out the window with considerable force and it crashed onto the cycle sheds below. I never discovered the reason behind this action.
Another thing he could not stand was a blunt pencil. Anybody attempting to draw with such an instrument would have it snatched from his hand and it would be attacked vigorously by Meo with a large , sharp penknife. Wood chips would fly in every direction and a much reduced in size pencil with a vicious point about a half inch long would be handed back to the boy.
I always understood he had a good reputation as an artist and was an RA. He was replaced after the war by Russell-Jones who was as different as chalk is from cheese..dapper, well spoken very much the ex-army officer who probably would have loved the collection of regimental brasses. RJ also coached the first XI cricket..Meo would not have known the first thing about the game. Where he went to after the war I have no idea. (Bernard Coe)

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Mr MAKARIS (? - ?)

Subject:: Penmanship

 

Someone who I think was greek cypriot with a name like Makarios (sic) ......I have just found an old school report from 1943 and it was Makaris..not a bad guess! He was my form master (1c) in sept 1943 and he taught "penmanship" Yes- penmanship!. I always remember him telling us a story (shocking at the time) that in parts of Canada it was so cold in winter that when one had a pee one produced sticks of barley sugar! That sweet never tasted the same after that. (Bernard Coe 43-51)