Master Anecdotes 4
Morley, J.S. Smith, Marshall, Russell-Jones, Gotaas, Whitmarsh, Witt, Spedding, Hurst,Tait
 

A.L. MARSHALL (pre-1947-1952?)

Subject: Woodwork - Assistant teacher
Nicknames: 'Al', 'Alf', 'Arthur'

[Room: Woodwork shop] One of the most neglected Masters seems to be Mr. A. Marshall. I know he wasn't a "Master" in the sense of having a BA or anything but he taught for some years at the school and always struck me as being a very down to earth and sensible person. (MJM)

Woodwork master was Marshall (he left the school and then came back a month later..a generous leaving present better off! (Bernard Coe)

At some point Phil Kingham possessed a puppet skeleton on strings. Having decided that a little wooden coffin would be the ideal accompaniment for it, he asked our woodwork master if he'd make one for him. Mr Marshall seemed delighted with the request and Phil got his beautifully made bespoke coffin, complete with hinged lid. (John Humphries ? 1952-60, Norman?.)

He appreciated anyone who could do anything with a bit of wood. I couldn't. He had a very sharp wit and would give tests to which I can still remember the rote answers " what is this?" (holding up a plane) The answer was " A Junior Technical Jack Plane" and you had to know it. I remember him asking "Why do we drive on the left hand side in England " and when everyone had exhausted their answers he said " Because its the Law". Strange man. [MM]

He would punish a boy by gripping him very tightly at the knee (the sensitive part). It was a sign of weakness to ask for mercy. [TT]

Kept a box of specially selected lumps of wood near his desk to throw at offending lads. [CC]

Mr. Marshall was the woodwork master when I arrived (and when I left) but he, as we have been told here in the Group, Marshall was not a "Master" in the full sense of the word (I guess that means he did not have a BA or a BSc.) He was a very practical chap and very good at what he did. Naturally, few boys were skilled woodworkers and this God given talent was owned by very few. If you were good, Marshall would dedicate a great deal of time to you. Alan Jagger in my year was one of these boys, I often wonder if he ever did go to Fords like he professed he would like to and make models of new vehicles?
Most of us though were absolutely dangerous with the varios tools and spent much of our time sword fighting with files and generally screwing around. My three years of wood work produced a letter opener which was about one third of the size of everyone elses (I wasn't very good with the router and gouged huge lumps from the wood making an item that was about six inches long when it was finished instead of the normal 10".) This wonderful example of English artisan work I eventually used to make a wooden plug for something or the other. I also made a dovetail jewelery box. This example of fine work was unique in the fact that the dovetails were not really dovetails at all as the pointy bits kept breaking off and I had to fill in the holes with plastic wood. We stained these boxes with a very potent dye and a good deal of blood. It took about a month to get it off my fingers. I don’t know what happened to that box, it’s probably in a museum by now.
At least I managed to make something vaguely resembling the model, others gave up at the beginning, not able to plane the wood and saws would have been weapons in their hands. I don’t recall what Marshall had these people do during the lessons but they were so helpless as to be dangerous. Did anyone actually enjoy woodwork? I didn’t mind it but I just wasn't any good at it and have not improved over the years. (Mike Merry)

I too had Mr. Marshall for woodwork, from 1948 to '51 in my case. It was a subject one dropped when the time for choosing a special subject, in the 4th form, I think. Things did not get off to a good start for me with Mr. M. because he mimicked my way of speaking (I had come straight from prep. school, due to a family crisis etc. and spoke pure RP). However, his exaggerated mimicking did not go down well with the class, a strange silence fell over it. During the next woodwork class, Mr. Marshall came an apologised to me in front of the class, very decently. He said that some boys had spoken to him about it and explained that I was o.k., and I 'couldn't help speaking as I did'. (He had a regular Romford-cum-cockneyish accent - one of the precursors of estuary English, I guess). It made me feel a lot better, of course. I now think it could not have been so easy for whoever did this good turn on my behalf to confront a master, even though he was reckoned as less than a master, as Mike M. correctly remarks (I had forgotten that!).
Woodwork went as much against my grain as I was against its. The many hours we must have spent in that class are a complete blank. However, I recall the boy who was top of our woodwork class - Mick Halpin. (Robert Priddy)

Mr. Marshall, the woodwork teacher, was always having little q and a sessions. It would start with him holding up one of tools and asking someone to identify it. You couldn't just say "It's a plane". That wasn't acceptable. It had to be (if the item was indeed) 'A Junior Technical Jack Plane' If you didn't get the whole name, you were wrong. It wasn't just "A Scraper" it was 'a Stanley Scraper' etc. One day he asked "Why do we drive on the left in England?" The whole class joined in and about twenty explanations were offered. All of which were refused. The answer according to Mr. Marshall? "Because it's the law" nothing else. I preferred the quiz's to leaving blood on the floor, but at least the woodwork room was usually warm during those cold UK winters! (Mike Merry)

I had forgotten his name but not the man. I recall the way he distributed pieces of work we had done - it seems always to have been joints (of wood - this was the 50s remember). They would have been done during the previous lesson and handed in for him to mark. He gave each one out by hurling it in the direction of its creator together with a brief, expressive and seldom complimentary adjective - but only announcing the recipient once the missile was well on its way. Woe betide you if you were not looking. Despite this habit, he seemed to me a fair and quite encouraging master.
His successor, John Tydeman, mentioned in previous messages, was definitely a good egg. When we started up a model racing car club he would give us the key on a Friday evening for (unsupervised) use of the workshop over the weekend for our race meetings.
The other occupant of that block was Schofield, the genial telephone directory tearer. Occasionally in PE we did a sort of circuit boxing session, with different actions in different corners of the gym. Minutes on end doing just straight lefts etc. At one of these stations we sparred with Schofield himself. He had a neat trick of waiting whilst we slowly gyrated - always to the right? - until the low sun shone through the wallbars straight into your eyes- then wallop! (Ian Calvert)

Mr (A) Marshall was the one woodwork teacher, I think, when I arrived in 1952. J.A. Tydeman arrived in 1954 (and became more prominent, partly through his RAF work - though I doubt whether Marshall would like to have been called his assistant) but Marshal continued until 1958 - according to the Alumni books. (Mike Butterworth)

I concur with this.  I was in the first form in 1954 and I thought Tydeman was there then and Marshall was his side-kick.  Marshall always wore a khaki coat but I can't remember what Tiddles wore, except that it wasn't a khaki coat.  Tydeman showed us what to do, which we tried to do, and Marshall helped the boys with their efforts.  There was no doubt in my mind who was the better craftsman.  Tydeman always gave the chisels and plane blades to Marshall to sharpen - he made a better job of it.  And as I learned later, you do not cut yourself on a sharp knife, only on a dull one. I recently made a bookshelf and other bits and pieces in wood for my daughter who has just taken up residence in Sussex.  Every time I start a project like this, I remember the training.  I still use a marking gauge, score the line and pare back, use a bench hook, always put the plane down on its side, and although I have no bench well, I put the tools in their allotted place immediately after use etc.  My great shame is that I use sandpaper, an item never to be found at the RLS ('a clean blade gets a better finish' - only if you are amazingly skilled).  Now that I am retired, I took the proper amount of time over the job and if I say so myself, the training paid off. When Vince and I visited in July, the workshop looked great fun, boys enthusiastically doing their thing, seemingly totally unsupervised.  But the methods in use were very much ad hoc and it appeared to me that no training had been given.  I may be completely wrong (and I hope so) but looking at the efforts and workmanship, I doubt if anybody could have made a bookshelf when it became necessary.  A great shame. Thanks Messrs Tydeman and Marshall. (David Silverside)

I agree with David's view that Tydeman was the boss and Marshall his assistant - in the mould of "faithful retainer" really.   Schofield was also the boss in many ways, with that size 13 slipper!  His reading of Sherlock Holmes stories were good though (when the gym was being decorated) but the portrait of Napoleon in his office was a bit scary! (Bob Tucker)

A couple of additional things I remember about Marshall who, with Tydeman, taught "Manual Instruction" (according to my early school reports). He would never let anyone try it, but he would use the palm of his hand as a strop to clean both sides of the chisel blade after he had sharpened them. He did this with such speed that we were all mesmerized.
Also, after we had made our battleships, he added finishing touches to them by chiselling stairs on the deck. You could have them going up or down - your choice.
I don't know if there was some clandestine reason for Marshall leaving, but I remember Foxy giving our French class a dissertation on what a loss to the school his departure was. He talked about how craftsmen were becoming few and far between, as was evident by the lack of quality in modern furniture - evident by the fact that drawers no longer fitted and required pushing on both ends alternately to closed them. (Funny the things we remember). He also talked about the lack of quality of modern cars and the fact that electric headlights no longer lit up trees on the sides of the road like the old oil lamps did. (Peter Cowling)

RUSSELL-JONES (pre-1948-1952)
Subject: Art
Nickname -

Was Mr Russell-Jones the art teacher who used a cut-throat razor for sharpening pencils? He would grab ones pencil and sharpen it very close to ones head while we edged away trying not to show our concern for our lugs. I am sure he did it for kicks. [CO'H]

Mr. Russell-Jones was of medium build and had longish arty dark hair, when 'long' meant only about an inch or two more at the back. He wore rubber-soled shoes, I think, for he would appear silently as if from nowhere over one's shoulder to see your work of art before you realised it. He had an equable disposition and really encouraged budding artists, such as Del Collard. He tried to get me to take art when the end of the 3rd year came and some subjects were dropped and a choice allowed, but I went for German with Fred instead. (Robert Priddy)

With respect to Russell-Jones, it should have been mentioned that he was a fine cricketer, being a forcing bat and excellent off-spinner as far as I could make out from the boundary. He was in fact skipper of the masters' eleven. Harry Askew was an even better bowler I would say. I believe Trevor Norman was impressed by the amount of spin he got on the ball. (Geoffrey Moring)

Re the painting "The Highwayman". I distinctly remember an art lesson assigned to us when in 3L1 or 4L1 ('48 or '49 ?) by Russel-Jones for us to illustrate the poem. If the painting you remember was a student's effort, it could well be that of Michael Rowe. Michael chose the scenario you described and greatly impressed the class and Russel-Jones. I remember how much action was captured and in a style seemingly beyond our puerile capabilities. We seem to have lost touch with Michael....I think that there was some reference to him in our original Smart Groups'postings and possibly his early demise in the USA.
One of Russel-Jones' assignment techniques was to draw some lines and curves on the blackboard and for us to draw and paint whatever they suggested to us individually. I disliked that concept and in a particularly bolshi mood that afternoon reproduced his suggestion by drawing the ear and spectacles of my next desk neighbour. Russel-Jones was not impressed. "You know thats not what I want of you, Rogers. And what's more,it is anatomically incorrect" said he. He was a good Art teacher ,although he annoyed me when he refereed football games in sports lessons and joined in the play by playing for the losing team. (Robin Rogers 46/51)

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F. R. I. GOTAAS (1948-1952)
Subjects: History, Scripture
Nickname -

 

I remember him as a severe disciplinarian who, as far as I can recall, did not actually lay a finger on a boy. A class would be waiting for him to appear and making all the usual noise it does when no master is present and when Mr Gotaas' footsteps were heard at the end of the corridor there would be utter silence even before he entered the class. I was so in awe of him I can't even remember which subject he taught. [TM]

He left in the early 50's but I can't remember the date (JAS - please help). He was involved with the CCF but had left by the time I was a member. I have a vague (senescent) memory that he left the RLS to return to the Army; that is probably where he learnt to control classes without any need for violence. [MJC]

In 1951, Lt F.R.I. Gotaas was Officer i/c Army and Basic Sections in the CCF. He had taught History and Scripture for four years and left to rejoin the Army.
I remember the saying that Gotaas hasn't got us anymore. [JAS]

Hillman (I think it was) was sitting in a flat top desk with a separate steel-frame-with-canvas chair. Those behind had moved forward so he'd got wedged. Gotaas asked a question (this was RI, called RE by the rest of the world). Hillman struggled to rise... "What's the matter, boy? Got glass hips?" rapped out Gotaas. At the time, it struck me as a wildly exotic thing to say. But for all I know, it's a sergeant major's commonplace. [ID]

...someone stated that Mr. Gotaas was never physically violent. From my own experience I can say quite categorically that it isn't true. In my very first year he called me out to the front of the class to answer a question of punctuation--I believe the insertion of a comma. Not having had much tuition in the subject of English grammar, I was unable to answer, so he told me not tobe stupid and then struck me hard round the face. This didn't improve matters, so he struck me again. Then he seemed to realize that he would get no more than name, rank and serial number out of me and let me go back to my place. On the other hand, perhaps he had just remembered the Geneva Convention. He was wearing his army uniform at the time, everything tickety-boo, and I couldn't help thinking that if he had struck one of his men in the army he would have been court-martialled. Happy days. (Geoffrey Moring)

W.H. WHITMARSH (pre-1928-1948)
Subjects: French
Nickname: 'Wobbler'

'Wobbler' Whitmarsh, (who wrote a standard text book), together with Mr.Smith taught me French. (Terry Hawkins 43-49)

...my French master was the famous Whitmarsh who began writing textbooks for schools which became widely used on both sides of the Altantic wherever French was taught from and English background. He made a great deal of money. He was charming, extremely well-read in general and up-to-date in contemporary literature. He gave me Céline's Voyage au bout de la nuit but did suggest I might find it somewhat difficult. It was indeed more or less incomprehensible to me at the age of seventeen, but I managed to make more sense of Malraux's La Condition Humaine, although I had to wait until my historical understanding was a good deal more sophisticated before I really appreciated what he was saying. Whitmarsh was wonderful and he gave me a feeling for France and the French language which has remained. (John Saville - 1927-34)

Bernard Coe wrote: "I think I can say with 99.99% certainty that W.F.H Whitmarsh was the RLS Senior French Master. He left the school around 1948, presumably to write more text books." I agree with Bernard. I arrived at the RLS in 1950. W.F.H.W's books were in use and they had references to his emploment at the school during the 40's. Many year's later I read an article in one of the Sunday papers about his considerable wealth and life as a tax exile. What a pity that I arrived too late at the RLS to gain a glimpse of the beautiful daughters! (Geoff Smith 50/57)

A recent message made mention (by John Savill) of the excellent French teaching of Wobbler Whitmarsh. While I had the greatest respect for him (and his attractive daughters) this multiplied when I read his obituary in "the Times" a few years back. Apparently his French text books were used in most secondary schools in the country and altogether the sales over the years topped 7 million (yes 7 million) copies. In todays currency this would have made him a millionaire several times over!...those daughters certainly were attractive!! (Bernard Coe 43-51)

W.H. Whitmarsh (not sure about the F) was still at RLS (just) when I arrived in 1948. We were taught by him for one term - a rather remote figure, I remember - , then he left. He wrote not just 'a' series but 'the' series of French textbooks that were hugely successful and were probably the dominant French courses in the 40s and 50s, probably into the 60s too. For a longtime thereafter they remained the classic example of their kind.

It was virtually 'from cradle to grave' - or at least from Year 1 to O level (Whitmarsh's Complete French Course), to A level (Whitmarsh's Advanced French Course) and even to Oxbridge entrance (Whitmarsh's 'Cours Supérieur').

I seem to remember that 'Marcel et Denise' figured rather prominently in the first book (or was that the Collins French course?). By today's standards they weren't exactly exciting - but in their way, and for their time, they were very thorough! I rather suspect I may have used the Advanced Course myself when I started teaching in the 60s, though lower down the school the AV revolution was just beginning (TAVOR and all that).

Peter Pearson refers to Mr Fox's part in the enterprise. I must say I'd forgotten that - and I don't think he had any hand in the more 'advanced' parts of the course. I was taught partly by him in the 6th form - but I was glad to have had 'Boggy Smith' at first and thereafter mainly Fred Holmes. (Graham Jackman)

Google lists under 'Français (langue) -- apprentissage' (que?) an entry for 'Simpler French Course : For First Examinations / W.F.H. Whitmarsh' C'est vrai. (Andy Lee)

The combination of the Whitmarsh books, the excellent first year teaching by Fred O'Hare and then later years with Doc Atkinson gave me an interest in French that not only enabled my highest O-level grade (!!), it also stayed with me so that, years later, I could still remember enough French to get by.

In particular I remember and liked some of the colloquialisms that featured in those books - Il pleut des halberdes (freely translated raining cats and dogs) and si on parle du loup, on l'en voie la queue (talk of the devil).

From time to time I try out my French on our Modern Languages teacher.  When I came up with those two gems she said disdainfully, "Your French is archaic!  Did you use Whitmarsh when you were at school?" If I'd known he had been at the Liberty, I'd have defended him even more vigorously! (David Maltby)

In the 50's I can confirm that the standard textbooks for French at RLS were written by Whitmarsh who, if my memory serves me right, taught at the RLS up to a year or two before the 1950 intake. I do not recall a collaboration with the dreaded Fox! Indeed if that

actually happened I would be  greatly depressed. I am pretty sure that the only person that I have ever actually hated in my life was Fox! He did his best to put me off foreign languages for life quite apart from the physical abuse. Fortunately he didn't succeed. He was a rare exception during my time at the RLS. The overwhelming majority of teachers were a marvellous bunch. My wife,Andrea, and I decided to have a go at reinvigorating our French some six or seven years ago.  Some how we got involved with an Ex, French Teaching, Head Mistress from Neasden Comprehensive School. (Shades of Monty Python's Flying Circus).To my amazement we were required to work through Whitmarsh exercises each week and  we were subjected to red pen grammar corrections galore! However I have to confess that we made some progress! I vaguely recall reading, some 20 years or so ago, in the Sunday Times, that Whitmarsh had retired to the South of France on his Royalty proceeds.Good on him! (Geoff Smith) 'To learn

REVIEW OF WHITMARSH BOOKS - & LIST OF TITLES
'French Without Tears, November 9, 2002' Reviewer: Alma Conboy from Newtown, Powys United Kingdom. This is the ideal book for French beginners who want a good grounding in grammar as well as easy phrases and a quick fluency. There is a well thought-out progression of vocabulary and grammatical rules built on a framework of interesting little stories and characters. The exercises build up good practice and the illustrations and presentation make it a pleasure to learn from. The other books in the series follow on to create a sound working knowledge of French.
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French intelligently, study the Whitmarsh series, November 24, 2001' Study using this book and others of the series and you will learn French intelligently. I have taught French using the complete series for 30 years to children and adults, bright ones and dull ones; all of them enjoyed the experience. Unlike so many modern text books, these have clear structure, excellent exercises and interesting vocabulary. Here, there is no question of learning phrases by heart. You are enabled to construct your own with the knowledge you have acquired. Read the texts aloud, answer the questions, move on from one tense to another, move back to revise, forward to acquire new competence. Here is a mature book, a strong pillar to treat with respect... Apprendre a parler francais commence avec Whitmarsh. (Reviewer: (jggreene1@***.***) from UK)
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1. A New Simpler French Course ~W F H Whitmarsh Longman Paperback - May 30, 1960.
2. Complete French Course for First Exams ~W.F.H. Whitmarsh Longman Paperback.
3. French Books ~W.F.H. Whitmarsh Longman Paperback.
4. More Rapid French ~W F H Whitmarsh Longman Hardcover.
5. Advanced French Course ~W F H Whitmarsh, C D Jukes Longman Paperback - 1996.
6. Modern Certificate French ~W F H Whitmarsh Longman Hardcover - March 1965.

I suspect this (???) may be a reference to Mr RCB Tait, who certainly wrote a maths text book and who left RLS in summer 1949. (Graham Jackman)