Name

Role(s) - photo

Report

1950s

Miss W M Allen

Started in '51, left in '57 for Rye Grammar School.  On Computus committee - '56 Compotus

Mr J S Barker

Started in '57, left in '58 - '61 Compotus

Mr Barker

Music and RI

… the RI teacher who ran off with the VIth form girl.

It was rumoured 'Clara' found them 'at it' behind the piano in the music room.  The pupil whose name I forget came into the VI form from Rosary Priory.  Before he had the affair with her [it was alleged that:] he had an affair with Miss Rocha and that was why she left and went to Heriots Wood.  You will see him in Sports Day '61 photo (by Jeff Lewis), wearing glasses and standing behind Mr Knight. - Val Crooke (from 'DGSEUK' on 'groups.MSN')

We saw 'the dragon' catch him from our position at the art room window where we blokes were cheering him on! He wasn't actually 'at it' but it was an 'intense snog' as we used to call it.  She chased them round the piano for a bit then they fled, to our cheers.

He seemed a most unattractive man - a bit like Renée from 'Allo 'Allo! - but then I could never work these things out anyway.  Seems to me that in those days girls liked silver hair, and now I've got it, they like men their own age! - Robert Head (from 'DGSEUK' on 'groups.MSN')

Mr C W Basham

started in '55, left in '58 for Head of English Department at Ellis School, Nottingham

Peter A Biggar

Metalwork '54,'62, '69, '73

Transferred from Chandos Secondary Modern in 1953 - '61 Compotus.

Despite (perhaps because of ...) considering safety as paramount, he appears to have been somewhat despised - particularly by (self-acclaimed) low achievers in his 'subject’.

At the start of every single Metalwork lesson with Mr Biggar, he made all of us stand in a line and recite the following "mantra":
"We come down here to learn about the tools, materials and processes associated with metalwork and to try to become a craftsmen"
I won't forget that as long as I live! - Steve Bowler ('65-'72)

I only did metalwork because I didn't like any of the alternatives - I thought Mr Biggar was a great teacher, he even helped me rebuild a motorbike engine. - Colin Tigg

Beware - the tale that follows is not for the faint-hearted:
One of my class-mates was particularly short so when, during metalwork, he needed to use the pillar drill he had to stand on a box to reach the ‘star-wheel’ properly.  One day, whilst drilling, he fell off the box but as he fell he grabbed at the ‘wheel’ and managed to pull the revolving drill-bit downward, somehow piercing his upper lip.  Although the pupil was severely limited in his ability to shriek, the associated commotion attracted Mr Biggar's attention and he rushed to assist.  Following brief hospitalization, the pupil sported a swollen upper lip for three weeks. - Colin Tigg ('65)

Deceased - Jeff Lewis

A comprehensive review of Mr Biggar's attributes salvaged from the 'DGSEUK' web site.

Mrs A Bosley

Girls games

started in '58, left in '59

Mr Robert E Brett ‘Bertie'

Maths '62

Started 1955 - '61 Compotus. Left in '63 - '63 Compotus
Played "Pooh-Bah" very well in The Mikado, about 1963. Favourite punishment: "Come here boy, and bring a twelve inch steel ruler with you" - the flat across your fingers, or the edge across your buttocks. Ouch! - Phil Rattenbury

That sod Brett once whacked me with the wooden board compasses used for drawing circles on the blackboard with a piece of chalk--that hurt... - Andrew Forester

Bert [that swine of a math teacher Brett] had a Lambretta painted in cream and brown [named "Bert's Banana Split"]. - Andrew Forester

Mrs J Burbidge

Needlework

Started in '59 - '60 Compotus

Mr N Bygrave

appointed in '55, left in '57 to be Head of English at Rotheram County School (Luton)

Miss Sheila M Caldwell 'Minnie'/'Clara'

English/Dep. Head '54,'62, '69, '73

Started 1950 - '61 Compotus

When, in 1963, class '3D' realised that their regular teacher would not be arriving for class as usual, they thought they would prepare a special welcome for the stand-in - whoever that would be.  This was to comprise the classic 'inverted waste paper bin perched on the door' trick.  When the replacement eventually entered the whole class were stunned into silence, as much by the faultless, 'Tom and Jerry'-style execution of the 'drop' as by the identity of the recipient: a certain Miss Caldwell.  This jolly jape earned a "Class detention!" - Colin Tigg ('65)

Wrote to her after last re-union. She wrote back explaining about her school in Kensington.  I went to visit, but was confused as they were teaching sanscrit and stuff to junior school girls, nevertheless a lovely school, She was playing a more diplomatic role, travelling backwards and forwards to South Africa as her colleagues had just opened a new school just outside Cape Town, I think.  She remembers Pauline Nicholas, Diane Higgins, Sharon Clarke, Linda Hill, (Both of them)  She was in contact with Miss Hurst and Miss Bewley - Linda Christmas ('68)

Remember being caught by Miss Bewley with fag in hand in loos by library and marched to Miss Caldwell's office to put out offending object in an ashtray.  However, Miss 'C' showed me amazing respect and really helped me and decided I should not be expelled after a career of being labelled 'recalcitrant', despite other teachers recommending this course of action. - Nicole Westcott ('70)

Miss 'C' helped to save me from myself and an 'in need of care and protection' order, a euphemism for 'girls borstal'.  I had got picked up in the Alphabet Club, Gerrard Street, Soho, on 'blues', aged 15, in 1969, while celebrating for 16th birthday in a few days time.  Police came to my home and school. - Nicole Westcott

Clara's later years - anecdotes from 'DGSEUK'.

In January 1975 Miss Caldwell accepted the headship of a private, independent school: St James Girls School, Kensington.  All the school management committee were members of the 'SES', an international spiritual cult.  One ex-pupil's experiences of the alleged "mind control" cult are catalogued in her recent book.

The St James Group was latterly involved in a 'corporal punishment' debacle.  The findings of the subsequent Inquiry Report were damning.

Miss Caldwell retired from her headship in 1995.

Mr D J Carpenter

started in '51, left in '57

Miss P Chandler

left in '59

Douglas 'Nobby' S Clarke

RI, Duke of Edin. '60-DofE, '62

Started 1954 - '61 Compotus

Douglas [Nobby] Clarke [if I remember what he told me correctly] went to Lascelles, then as head of Blackwell which was a real "challenge" that he sorted-out and from there on to the "old" Harrow Weald County and set it up as a "new" Sixth Form college and made it a great success. He is now retired, living in Devon. I've had a couple of long telephone conversations with him and he is still the delightful chap he always was. Somebody told me that he is not in great health but of course that old Spitfire pilot, stiff-upper-lip mentioned nothing about such things...  Andy Forester (55-62).

Nobby Clarke was respected by everyone - the only teacher I ever met who could quieten a classroom merely by walking into it. He had (still has I expect) a good sense of humour too: We had set up a pile of books on top of the door for his bald pate one April 1st - but instead of Nobby, Miss Caldwell received the lot! Nobby arrived after she had gone and said "I thought you might have something up your sleeves for me .... so I let her go first!" - John Best

Died Oct 2003 - Jeff Lewis

Mrs W Crewe

temporary appointee autumn '57

Mr Colin S Crouch

English

'60 Compotus
Snowdonia '61
ex-RAF and used to fly Meteors or Vampires.  I remember this because he and Nobby Clarke, who had flown Spitfires, had a debate for the aero club on the merits of piston engines vs. jets. - Andrew Forester

Mr G A Davies

 Geography
Careers Master

I was told I was a failure by Mr G.A. Davies, the geography teacher who was also careers master.  But that swine told almost everybody they were failures.  He told me I'd be lucky to spend my life mixing cement on a building site...  How the school could put a prat like him in charge of advising young people is astounding.  Given his initials he was known as "Geography Arseholes" Davies.
I think he eventually got a headship at a Sec. Mod. where he doubtless ruined many lives and aspirations--total opposite of Doug Clarke!
There was one funny story about him. Two years ahead of us was a class of villains and he walked down the passage between the desks, swinging a geography textbook, and dishing out cauliflower ears as he went declaiming in his lugubrious Welsh voice "I'm a gla-cier, caaarvvvving my way down th' valleeee".  Can you imagine a teacher getting away with belting a child on the side of the head with a heavy book these days? - Andrew Forester ('55-'62)

Mr J M Davies

Geography '54, '61, '62

Started in '52 - '61 Compotus
left '64 - '64 Compotus

Peter Davies

Woodwork '61 '62 '69 '73

Started '55 - '61 Compotus
Sorry guys but... Mr Davies' car was a Lotus Elan, not an Elite. I think it was a Mk 1 version and it was 'all yellow'. Mr Davies was generally less well known to the girlies because we had to take needlework and cookery whether we liked it or not. I really would have liked to have done woodwork but even this was considered too risque in a co-ed school in the sixties.In the 6th form, when I was working on the set for The Mikado, Mr Davies taught me how to use an electric jig-saw to cut the flats, a skill for which I have always been truly grateful. I used to occasionally get a lift in the Elan if I was walking to school along Camrose Avenue and he was passing. - Sue Howe ('73)

I'm pleased that Peter Davies graduated to an Elite or Elan [both vehicles I would love to own although anything that can self-destruct on UK roads would hardly be suitable to negotiating the country roads in a Canadian winter...] because long before that [I am 55-62 vintage] he had an "Ashley". What is an "Ashley?" I hear you ask... This was the time that building 'specials' was at it's height. You got an Austin-7 or Ford Prefect/Popular with the 1172 cc side-valve [flathead] motor, and ripped the body off, tuned the engine [skimmed a few thou' off the head, polished the ports, replaced the downdraft Zenith or Solex carb with a side-draught SU or--if you were really going for records, two of them, and bolted on a free-flow exhaust] then you added a sleek [sort-of sleek, compared to a Ford Popular...] glassfibre body--in Davies' case, an Ashley--and then you pretended you were driving an Aston Martin.Easy to take the piss--these specials and 750 racing were the origin of Lotus and other specialty companies. But trying to extract high performance from an Austin-7 or Ford flathead motor sound ludicrous now ... - Andrew Forester

Mr E L Dean

Languages '62 '69

Started '57 - '61 Compotus

Previously at Trinity Grammar, Wood Green.  Died '89 - Y Emel Rochat.

Miss E J Dixon

Languages

joined in ’54, left in ’56

Mr M M Evans

Music '54

started ’51, left in ’57 to become Head of Classics at Tregaron County School.
Assistant Producer of Pirates of Penzance in ’56.
Both a classical music and a jazz enthusiast, he influenced ‘Long’ John Baldry - BBC4’s ‘LJB - In the Shadow of the Blues’

Daphne M Forrest (Mrs Lock)

Biology and RI '54

started in '50, left in '57
- Christine Baskerville (now living in NZ) ('50)

Mrs V M Fox

English

started ’57, left in ’59 for Bishopshalt Grammar

John Joseph Gorsuch 'Jimmy’

Biology '61 '62

Started '55 - '61 Compotus. Left in '63 - '63 Compotus

I remember 'o' level Biology classes in the 'new' science block. Raymond Coffer & co always sat at the back of this glass classroom generally making trouble. Mr Gorsuch was usually a good shot when he threw the board rubber at Coffer only this time the target ducked… there was a horrible sound of breaking glass followed by a deathly hush. The lesson finished in silence. At break time Mr Gorsuch was seen with a bucket picking glass out of the newly landscaped garden behind the lab. - Susan Horrobin

Miss (Dr) Alison E Grant

History/Geography '54, ’62

- ’61 Compotus

Miss Goldsack

- June Pursey

Donald Henry Grattan

b: 1926
Educated at Harrow County School.

Left in ’56 to become BBC Schools’ Television producer - '56 Compotus.
Eventually became Assistant Head of BBC Schools Television.

Mrs M Rosemary Hannon (Miss R Goldthorpe)

Maths

moved to Hampshire in ’59 - ’59 Compotus

Miss J M Harding

Produced and conducted Pirates of Penzance '56

Miss Monica Hirst

French and Spanish '62 '69

Started in '54 - '61 Compotus.
Lives in Pinner (2005)

Pearl Holden

'54

... I persuaded him ('Long’ John Baldry) to come to the school reunion that year and the highlight for him was meeting our teacher from 1957, Pearl Holden. She remembered us both and as she wanted to see John in concert, he arranged for tickets for she and I. John told the audience she was there and told them he had always thought her the prettiest girl in the school when he was there. I'm sure Pearl was thrilled. - Jennifer Goodall (Tribute to LJB on FR, 'Famous Pupils' July 2005)

Miss J D Hopwood

left in ’58, married and became Head of Art at Haywards Heath Grammar - '58 Compotus

Mr K G Howkins

RI, Games

started ’57 - ’57 Compotus

Miss P Hurley

left in '58 for Kent College, Tunbridge Wells

Mr Eric S Janes

Geography

started in '57 - '58 Compotus

I would however like to mention Mr Janes, the Geography Master, who brought his dance band (well I think there were 4 or 5 of them) to play for our dances.  Great stuff!! - Val Crooke '56-'61

Miss M L Jones

Biology '62 '69

started '57 - '57 Compotus
I've been wondering for some time what happened to Miss Jones who taught biology and A-Level zoology. I meant to ask Jimmy Gorsuch at the 8th June re-union but forgot as there was so much going on. Miss Jones was a superb teacher and gave "my lot" a thorough grounding in zoology in the VI-form. I was able to answer embrylogy questions in my degree finals using my A-level notes with minimal revision! Quite a few of my year took zoology A-Level and went on to bio-medical studies at university ['think the class logged two medics, a dentist, a vet, two PhDs and several bachelor degrees in biology--at least] and I for one regret that I never ever thanked her.  So--does anybody know when Miss Jones left Downer and what happened to her? - Andrew Forester

Sadly Miss Jones died in the mid 1970's. She developed cancer of the tongue which proved fatal. - Stuart Aitken

Mr J B Jones

Modern Languages '54

joined in ’53, left Christmas ’55 - ’56 Compotus

Mr H S Jones

joined ’56, left in ’58 to become Senior German Master at Chiswick Grammar - '58 Compotus

Mr D J Kibblethwaite 'Kipperfeet'

Science

started in ’52, left in ’56 to be Head at Acton County Grammar

Gerry H Knight

Maths/Dep. Head '54, '61, '62, '73

started in '50

There was a bomb scare around 1972/1973 and we had to evacuate to the playing field.  The task was carried out successfully, the police checked the building to find that Mr Knight had been forgotten in his room and the evacuation had been sooo quiet he hadn't realised that something was going on. - Bob Ford (from 'DGSEUK')

Mr Knight aka 'Gerry Hippo' was not disturbed because he was enjoying a well-deserved after-lunch nap in his room (the swamp). - David Harrison (from 'DGSEUK')

I have always wanted to personally strangle Terry Crossley for making the hoax bomb scare call, in which Mr Knight remained in his office, I just remember standing ouyside freezing! - Sharon Baker (Goodall) (from 'DGSEUK')

A puzzling character - he is the only person I've ever known to wear his tie (kipper shaped in those glory days) outside his figure-hugging v-necked pullover.  We could then inspect the array of gravy and custard stains as he wandered between the desks inspecting our equations and theorems with his world-weary demeanour.  But when the music started, a twinkle-toed Gerry emerged, an elegant, tuxedo-clad ballroom dancer.  I saw him once at a PTA organised dance, held in the school hall and it was not so much 'Gerry Hippo' but 'Gerry Gazelle'. - David Harrison (from 'DGSEUK')

Deceased - Jeff Lewis

Mrs Knight

Girls sport

A Lambert (Mrs Campbell)

Domestic Science

left in '59

Mrs J Lawrence

Head of Modern Languages

started in '53, left in '57

Mary Lawson

Chemistry

started '57 - '58 Compotus

Sid C Legg

Physics

left in '59 for Rhodesia.
Sid Legg[e] the monosyllabic physics master had a beautiful, metallic pale blue, Douglas motorcycle with a horizontally opposed engine.  I have no idea if these bikes were any good but I thought it was a fantastic thing at the time... - Andrew Forester

Oliver John Lippitt

Art '54,'61, '62, '69, '73

Started '51 - '61 Compotus
Once revealed he could earn more over the summer holidays painting portraits than he could the rest of the year as a teacher. He drove an old Volvo. - Richard Bradford ('74)

Mr Lippett (Art) had a fabulous collection of ties.  These, it was rumoured, were made from the hems of former Sixth Form girl's skirts. - Sue Woolf (from 'DGSEUK')
Died in 2000 - Jeff Lewis

Mr Francis Bernard Lock

Woodwork and TD '54

- '60 Compotus

Coffee in the VI-form common room brings back a few memories.... I used to drink my coffee black and out of a pint beer tankard--this led to an hilarious incident when Baldilocks wandered in, took one look and concluded I was drinking brown ale. I did nothing to disabuse him of this erroneous notion and might even have encouraged him to think so. You will remember that ill-tempered sod used to go from zero to pop an aneurysm faster than a Ferrari Testarossa without any additional encouragement. He set a new personal best that day--only to slink off once he'd sniffed the drink. - Andy Forester (from 'DGSEUK')

Mrs R Lock

Mr R J McGillivray

Boys sport '54

started '51, left in '58
…the worst was getting one swipe of McGillivray's size 13 or 14 plimpsoll. I have never experienced pain of this nature since…   A great fellow but rather reserved. He'd flown Fairey Swordfish off carriers in the war and I was never sure if his pockmarked face was actually scarring from a crash/fire. He asked us to call him "Mr. Mac" as he said we would never be able to spell or say his name correctly. He was a first rate rugby forward playing No.8 for Wasps second team. The only reason he was not in the firsts was that Wasps also had Ted Woodward the England cap. - Andrew Forester, 'Detentions and Punishments', 'DGSEUK'

Mr Mays

Physics  '54

Mrs J New

Music

left in '58

M J W Oliver

Mathematics

started in '56 - '56 Compotus, left in '59 for St Olaves

Mr Herbert Keen Olphin ('Bert')

Headmaster

Head of the combined Blackwell-Downer for its two years.

Mr Olphin was a Classics major, a very formal man with impeccable manners which he imposed on the pupils.  One of his rules was that all boys had to wear their jackets in the presence of a lady teacher. - Sue Baker (Blackwell staff, 1968)

The following anecdotes are purloined from the, 'BlackwellSecondarySchool' web-site on Yahoo Groups (now inactive):
… HK Olphin, the Mr. Chips manque, who seemed in denial that he was running a sec.mod and strutted about in his academic gown like the headmaster of, at the very least, Eton.
Barry Lynch, Skibbereen, Co. Cork. (Blackwell '59-'65)

WE CALLED HIM BATMAN BECAUSE WHEN HE WALKED DOWN THE CORRIDOR HIS GOWN FLOWED BEHIND HIM LIKE BATMANS CAPE
TOM ROTHWELL

Ted Sutton, Julian Howell Jones and the rest of the class who "failed" into Blackwell in 1956, it would be great to hear from you. In fact it was the best failure of my life as Blackwell under the ever-optimistic and energetic Mr Olphin and his staff worked to re-build shattered ego's and convince us we really could succeed. Thanks to Blackwell I went on to A levels and then to a university degree. I now own a financial consulting company with offices across Canada.
I know I am not unique in this but to this day my blood boils when I remember the effects of the eleven plus on those of us who didn't pass.
What a great school and environment Blackwell was. I shall always be greatful (sic) for the rescue!
Tim Egan

Tim you are right Mr Olphin was an inspiring head and very many of us owe so much to him, I know I do. Without his encouragement, I would never had such a great career in education and sport.
Ken Charles (Blackwell staff)

… a day when the class was playing up and Olphin walked in.  He slammed the cane he was carrying on a desk overiding the teacher.  He spotted that Mike (Michael Donnelly) was chewing a sweet and told him to spit it into a waste bin.  Mike however faked it.  He kicked the bin pretending the noise was the sweet going in.  Olphin didn't twigg this but the class did.  Arthur Biggs was also caught chewing and told to spit it in the bin.  He did the same and kicked it only this time Olphin saw this and was enraged.  Mike couldn't stop laughing.  Olphin hit him with the cane which only made him laugh more.  It finished with Mike being hauled out of the room still laughing and being caned all the way down the corridor to his office.
J Harniman

Mr R P St. J Partridge

French and Spanish

Started '56, left '61 - '61 Compotus

Mrs P A Rangely

French

temporary appointee in '57

Mrs. Rangely taught us back in about 1956. She was a good looking woman and on one occasion, immediately after she had left our classroom, I decided to give her a good loud wolf-whistle (I was 12 years old and the juices were flowing freely and I was anxious to taste the fruit - but had to wait for a long time (as the sexual revolution still hadn't arrived.  - You know what they say about men.............we have more "start" buttons than a jumbo jet.  Mrs. R was just one button of many.  With regards to the Sexual Revolution, I seemed to have been inadvertantly left out of that event.)  Surprise!  She returned to the room and demanded to know who had whistled. I owned up and sheepishly tried to convince her that it was the lid of my desk that needed oiling and had made the offending noise.
Detention again!

Mrs. Rangely frequently made the whole class stay behind for group punishment (it's forbidden by the Geneva Convention isn't it?) so we were handed out paper to be used for writing out French verbs on, and the person who handed out the paper (Paul Blakely) would whisper that it was "Rangely paper".  I'm afraid that we made her life hell and I feel rather ashamed about how she would walk out of the classroom with tears in our eyes.  Please forgive me Mrs. Rangely. - Robin Bather ('55 until '59 ) Santiago, Tianguistenco. (from 'DGSEUK')

Miss Y Emel Rochat

French

Miss Y Emel Rochat taught French at Trinity Grammar, Wood Green, from '50 (Trinity OSA) and joined Downer, under Mr Dean (also previously at Trinity) in ’57.  She left in ’59 for the post of Head of Modern Languages at Heriots Wood.

Miss Rochat was guest-of-honour at Trinity County Grammar School’s mid-October 2006 re-union.

Mr T R Sanderson

Languages

replaced J B Jones - ’56 Compotus, left in ’57 for Brookfield County School, Kirkby, Liverpool.

Miss M I Sandford

Needlework

joined in ’52, left in ’56; designed costumes for school productions.

Peter J M Shepherd

Applied maths '54, '62, '69
 

Started in '52 - '61 Compotus

One of my favorite teachers, however, I wish he had read the syllabus he was supposed to teach.  Two of us entered for the "Special Paper" in applied Maths.  That year the symbol for natural log changed from Loge to Ln.  Nobody told us.  There was no way we could make the required proofs work out.  He could have pointed it out on the day of the exam but didn't.  We both got merits but could easily have got distinctions with the correct information. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

Died in 2003.

Several fond tributes to Mr Shepherd were posted on the message board of the 'DGSEUK' site.

Miss J Stainthorpe

Geography

started in '53, left in '58 to be lecturer in Geography at the City of Leeds Training College.

Miss D Strathers

Needlework, Art

started '57, left in '58 for Kingsbury Grammar.

Mr Alan Stuart

Geography

Started '58, left '61 - '61 Compotus
Snowdonia '61

Mrs Pearl E St Ville

History '54, '62

Started in '53 - '61 Compotus

Miss G Smurthwaite

Languages

- '60 Compotus

Alan J Tayler

English '54, '69, '62

started in '51 - '61 Compotus
Moved to a comprehensive in Bristol in '67.
Deceased - Jeff Lewis

Nancy Whyte

French

Conducted school trip to France in '54 - Anton Tyler

Miss M J Whitcombe

Domestic Science

started in '56 - '57 Compotus
Welsh; co-ordinated wardrobe for Mikado '60

F G Williams
Crippen'

Chemistry '62 '69

Started '54 - '61 Compotus
It was a bloody cruel name to give a really decent person.  The odd thing was that he came to Downer from Wembley County where he was also known as "Crippen". How did that awful nickname follow him from one school to another? - Andrew Forester

Someone mentioned his nickname of "Crippen". This was because he resembled the early 20th century murderer of the same name. As a brand new face to his class in 1960, I was told he was "Crippen" and had no clue he was actually Mr Williams .... "What's your name boy?" he barked " John Best, Mr Crippen" I replied! ..... it rather went downhill after that!! - John Best ('65)

As a 'first year' arriving for my first chemistry lesson I remember asking an older pupil leaving the previous lesson, the name of the teacher to check I was in the correct queue.  I was told it was 'Crippen', and used this name when responding to a question - only to receive my first ever detention for rudeness.  Not the best start in my first week. - Nicole Westcott ('70)

Jill Bottomley was a popular, jolly, pupil, not in any way subversive or disobedient.  One day "Crippen" spied what he thought was make-up on her (which was forbidden).  He told her to stand up in front of the class and attempted to humiliate her in front of her peers - naturally causing her some distress.  The whole class was left feeling rather uncomfortable by this incident - respect for authority diminished. - E4B ('67)

Deceased - Jeff Lewis.

Numerous, fondly remembered anecdotes of Mr Wiliiams appeared on the 'DGSEUK' site.

Mr L Williams

Chemistry

b: 1928

Started at DGS in '53, left in '57 for West Derby Secondary Technical School, Liverpool where he was Head of Chemistry

Peter Williams

Woodwork

With Biggar and Mr. Locke [Baldilocks] going ballistic every few minutes it was a good thing we had Peter Williams in the woodwork/tech.drawing crew as a touch of sanity... - Andy Forester (on 'DGSEUK')

David Woosley

Head Teacher '54, '62, '69

Lived in Pinner.

My school report lists 13 detentions in one term--can anybody beat that?
Unfortunately, Woosley did not list the number of canings on our report cards but I had quite a few over the years.  We used to line-up outside his study after assembly and--if you were not first in line--would listen to the "swish" and then "thwack" to figure out if he was dishing-out 3, 4 or rarely 6 swipes for the offence.  Sometimes you could get caught-out: your buddies might get 4 each and so you would go in, bend over and brace yourself for 4 of the best only to find a 5th and 6th landing on your rump [this would happen if it had been decided you were the ring-leader or somehow more culpable of the crime than the rest of the crew!]
Woosley was not so much "bad" as a creature of his time.  He could be quite human and visited us on our Duke of Edin. trek and was very informal.  He suspended me and Mick Patterson for smoking but later admonished me for the nicotine all over my fingers, lit a cigarette, and showed me how to hold it properly - saying he smoked but could I see any nicotine on his fingers?  Of course, I knew all this and we deliberately let the smoke go up our fingers precisely to get them yellow--a mark of sophistication and manhood! - Andrew Forester

Mr Woosley contributed to BBC2's 'The Other Route: Engineering' broadcast 7/6/66.

Mr Woosley's retirement article in Compotus '70.

Deceased - Jeff Lewis

1960s

Mr Archer

Caretaker

Played a lot of badminton with him, particularly after I left school. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

Mrs C Barker (Miss C Allen)

English '62

Started '61 - '62 Compotus.
Married Mr John V Barker.
Deceased

John V Barker

Latin and Philosophy '62 '69 '73

- '61 Compotus
More a refined uncle than a teacher.

Melvyn 'Mike' Barnett

Chemistry '61 '62 '69

- '61 Compotus
Lives in Kingsbury (2002) - Ray Richiardi

On being discovered most of the way up the end wall of the outside of Room 4 by Mike Barnett, I argued that the school rules stated that one should not climb onto the roofs and made no mention of walls.  Off to Mr. Woosley though for a caning.  Not my first.  My first was for flicking a lolly stick at a prefect when I was 11. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

Mr Mike W Beaman

Languages

Started in '62 - '63 Compotus

He was my Class Tutor 1B /2B taught me French and then Spanish, I was not a very well-behaved pupil and was always showing off and wanted "the last word" (remark in my report) however he was very fair and never gave up with me.  I am now trilingual and so grateful that he was such a patient man with us all.  I am often asked where I learnt my language skills (I am really very good) and I proudly inform "at grammar school" - well that's where it all started thanks to Mr. Beaman . - Pauline Nicholas

A genuine Gent ... He always turned up on his days off on Saturday mornings to Carreeras (?) to cheer us on in the Rugby 15, which showed a special sort of dedication since he wasn't part of the PE empire. - John Best

Miss Dora E Bewley (Mrs Tayler)

Languages '69

Started '59 - '60 Compotus
Started '64 - '64 Compotus

Married Alan J Tayler. - Lesley M ('60 - '67)

- P.I.

Ms Jean Bingham

English '62

Started '59 - '60 and '61 Compotus

Miss Bingham wore so much make-up that we referred to her as "the make-up factory". - E4B

Miss Bingham achieved nationwide fame overnight - and particularly at school - when she appeared on the popular ITV quiz programme "Take Your Pick" hosted by Michael Miles.  She won the top prize- a set of decorating materials. It was a well kept secret. I, together with many others, was astonished when she suddenly appeared on the screen one Friday evening in 1959 and naturally it was the main topic of conversation the following Monday! - Paul Kennett ('59)

Mr R J Black

Applied Mathematics '69

Totally non-descript except for the unusual way he held the chalk with his little finger sticking out, and therefore, revealed that he was in fact one of... "The Invaders". - David Harrison (from 'DGSEUK')

One of our girls asked him to come over as she didn't know what to do - she said it in a little girlie way.  When he leaned across the desk she started fluttering her eyelids and just pouring out this sexual energy (you had to be there to get what I mean) - she was basically taking the p***.  He lost it... went very red.  He knew what was going on, poor bloke... it was excellent!!

I got sent down from the top maths set because I could never be bothered and he got me right back up again next term. - Carole Harvey

Mr D Blair

Started and left '62 - '62 Compotus

Neil Bowman

Music

He is a private instrumental & singing teacher across North London.  Conducts The North London Chorus (in 2003) - Jean Joyce ('72-'77)

June Brock (Mrs Sturt)

Geography '69

Died in June '09 - P.I.

Miss M C Brown

Started '62, left '63 - '63 Compotus

Miss Burton (Mrs Haines)

Domestic Science '69

Gerald Copp

Physics

Started in '64, left in '66 - Gerald Copp

Geoff W Cornes

PE '61 '62

Started '59 - '61 Compotus
Left '64 - '64 Compotus
PE Teacher, had a mutual dislike, made me play scrum half (I was 4'6 and 6 stone weakling then. He Played football for Chesham - Raymond Clark ('63)

Mr Cotton

Geography, Liberal studies ’69

…teaching us nothing and using teaching time to reminisce about his wartime experiences, notably earthquakes and his dog sliding across the floor. - Nicole Westcott

Mr Cotton also taught "O" level Economics.  As I recall we read the book, while he regaled us with stories of his share and currency dealings - (he was stockpiling old half crowns for their silver content - which actually was quite a shrewd move).  A character who, I very much doubt, would survive a current Ofsted Inspection. - Peter Edward ('62-'69

Mrs Davis

English ’69

T J Ericson

Physics

Started ’59, left in ’61 - ’61 Compotus

Miss Fenwick

Languages ’69

Miss Fenwick (possibly) was an older spinster who took great delight in explaining the sexual double meanings in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.  I believe sexual repression wasn't only rampant amongst the children at school! - Bob Long (from 'DGSEUK' on 'groups.MSN')

Miss Ferner

English ’69

my form teacher for two years and a wonderful woman - Paul Hooper.

Has anyone any recent information about this admired teacher?

Miss Silvia Fletcher (Mrs Munro)

History ’69

Miss French

Latin

She gave me an 'A' because of my illustrations even though my exam result was 6%.  She also hit me and when I raised my hand to retaliate - but stopped - we had an understanding. - Nicole Westcott

Miss Frost

Maths

Miss Frost, maths (66-68), had a kit car (a Ginetta - wasn't it?) and she lost a load of our work books when they fell through a hole in the bottom of the boot. - Lennie Bradshaw

Mrs M T Gathercole

Cookery '62 '69

Started '59

Derek Glover

Economics '61 '62

- '61 Compotus

Mr M G Goulder

Maths

Started in '59 - '60 Compotus
Left in '61 - '61 Compotus

Miss Jenny M Hawkins

Languages '62

- '61 Compotus
Married J J Gorsuch in '63

Miss B Hay

Started and left '64 - '64 Compotus

When I was taught by her in 1964, a double physics lesson turned into a double dictation lesson without any time to discuss any of the finer points of physics.  We ended up with writer's cramp only to be told that "we should expect nothing more since she was taught in the same way".  I felt that I would have learnt more by reading text books!!

The only redeeming feature was that she appeared to be terrified that she would miss her lunch and if she was teaching the lesson preceeding the lunch break, the lesson would end at around 12.20 and we assumed that this was to enable her to be at the head of the queue for lunch !! - Peter Farres (from 'DGSEUK') 

W Malcolm Herbert

'62

Started in '61 - '62 Compotus
- '64 Compotus

W. Gerard 'Gerry' Howells

Physics '62 '69

Started in '56 - '61 Compotus

I distinctly remember he pronounced 'vacuum' in three sylables - as vac cu um. - Carole Harvey

Apparently he hailed from Port Talbot.  Was once heard to say "Don't you 'look you' me, look you, boyo" - Phil Rattenbury

his detentions consisted of sticking stamps on envelopes. - Andre Ingram ('68-'75) (from 'DGSEUK')

The world's worst physics teacher, managed to get me through A level without a mention of 'Electrostatics' which severely limited my choice at exam time.  Still, I carried on with physics for another ..... still going. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

I was the only girl in our year group who opted for physics and chemistry at yr 3, rather than biology.  (Clive Tucker opted for biology but changed to Ph & Ch because of peer presure.)  Mr Howells, from Wales, took the piss out of me and made sexual comments whenever they could be fitted into our lessons - and further, he tolerated outrageous behaviour towards me from the 20 boys in our group of 21. - Nicole Westcott

A thoroughly vile man who offered little or no education, intimidated many, was rude, spent most of the lessons running the Teachers' Travel Service (for profit).  I did (and do, even now he's dead) hate him. - Leslie Parratt ('68)

Died in 2002 - Don Giraldos ('66)

Mr J A Hoyle

English

Started in '62, left in '63 - '63 Compotus

1961 was our first year - and his.  I recall one English lesson in the school hall.  He asked us to simulate offices or something for arole-play, using chairs (there were many at the back of the hall for teachers and sixth-formers to use during Assembly).  It rapidly got out of hand when we piled all the chairs into a huge pyramid, despite his protestations.  Naturally Mr Woosley walked in just as we had finished.  Called Mr Hoyle outside for a 'quiet word' ... - David Silver ('61)

He was a "new from college" teacher and we used to give him hell.  I seem to remember a "sit-in" on the stairs leading to a class at the top of one of the towers so that he couldn't get into the room. - Michael Wilson

Mr Hussein

- a nice little man.  He had small features.  His most memorable characteristic was the light brown rings around his dark brown irises. - John Clayton ('69)

Miss Pauline E Ibbotson

English '69, '73
 

Wendy Plastock and I used to remark on her latest outfit worn under her teacher's gown - always very fashionable.  She gave Wendy a lovely pink jumper that we had both admired. She was a great English teacher and the first to introduce us to the theatre in her spare time.  Still her her when I visit England, she lives in Pinner.  Wendy lives in Charlton (South London) - Pauline Nicholas ('68)

Enjoyed an evening out with her at a concert at Swiss Cottage where I was the only pupil who turned up.  Brahms or Bach? double violin concerto I think.  Was never my teacher but I wish she had been. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

She took a group of us to the Central School of Speech and Drama to see Tessa Peake-Jones (played 'Del Boy’s' girl friend) in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' - so she's partly responsible for me getting into this silly, insecure business!  My mother won't thank her. - Pauline King ('79)

Mr Irwin

Mathematics '69

Anyone remember Mr Irving maths teacher - very tall - Janet Saville once called him a beanpole! - Margaret Bell ('72)

Demonstrated violent tendencies - Bob Ford

He used to bring his guitar in on the last day of term and sing to us, one of his other hidden talents was drawing circles, Sue Gibbs and I could never work out how he could draw them so quickly and get the ends to meet. - Lee Fosbury

I found out from a mate that Irwin had been previously sacked from a school in Harrow Weald for … yes, you've guessed it: violence towards pupils.  What a surprise! - Peter Mayes (from 'DGSEUK') 

Mr P J Jones

PE - Sport

- '64 Compotus

Does anyone remember Jones, the ex-army short P.E. teacher?
I once recieved a full in-the-face punch from that poor specimen of a man - I have often thought that I would like to meet him again! - 'Micky'

I was playing with medicine balls in the storage cupboard.]  Mr Jones got me into a corner and landed a barrage of punches to my body.  Nowadays he would be prosecuted. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

Miss Anne Kendall (Mrs Thurtle)

Geography (and RE) '69

Miss kendall was discussing cows and milk yield, what came next was sublime: a boy called perry raised his hand and with a straight face asked the heavilly-breasted (stop it) miss kendall how much milk she produced in a year!!! - Pete Mayes (from 'DGSEUK on 'groups.MSN')

I worked in a greengrocer's next to Queensbury station after school in about 1970. The lovely Miss Kendall and her "friend" Mr Thurtle (otherwise known as the 'hairy monster') used to come in and do their shopping on the way home and I can assure you, I always gave Miss Kendall big portions! - Brian Catt ('63-'65)(from 'DGSEUK')

Married Mr Thurtle after romance kindled following a day trip to France - Pennie Lauezzari (from 'DGSEUK')

Miss Kendall, who later married Mr Thirtle, described my views in RE as unorthodox. - Nicole Westcott

living in Cambridgeshire, daughter is a GP - Tony White

One can empathise with the emotions expressed by the literarily accomplished Karl Wiggins ('67-'74).  He details his pubescent, erotic fantasies about Miss Kendall's delights at: 'http://www.abctales.com/node/536158'.  Treat yourself to some of Karl's other entertaining musings while you're on the site.

Steve Lawson

Maths

- Jeannine Poree

Miss Nada Meeze

History, English, Games '62

Started '59 - '60 Compotus

A really wonderful person.  Learnt a lot of history in particular.  Went off to the Bar I think, a real loss to the teaching profession. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

I can't remember what she taught but when we started mucking about in class the catch phrase was "Now then wonehh!" (1A being the class) - Carol Carr ('65)

Miss J Meggitt

Maths

- '64 Compotus
"petite" - Barry Gowan

Andrew Davey built a radio-controlled radio.  We hid it on top of a light and then turned it on and off remotely.  Miss Meggitt immediately picked me out as the culprit, what insight.  We tried it in the library but didn't get much reaction.

Miss Meggitt was a first class maths teacher, at least for people like me who could do it all.

Roger Bootle beat me at Arithmetic once - I was really annoyed with myself. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

Ray V Miller

'62

Started in '61 - '62 Compotus.  Left in '63 - '63 Compotus

Mr Moore

Maths

was a bit of a letch and frequently took to throwing board rubbers at pupils. - Nicole Westcott

Mr Morris

Music

I remember Mr Morris teaching music ... I think he was a pilot during the war. [?]  RAF anyway.  He taught us an obviously cleaned~up version of at least one forces song. - Sheila Jennings ('69)

Clive Munro

Music '69

Married Miss Fletcher (History?) in 1967. - Richard Bradford

A nice man but I never learnt anything about music from him, music lessons were a complete waste of time for me.  Whereas at Stag Lane I learnt a lot of music that I still remember, both theory and appreciation.  Took a few weeks to work out that Dymoke and Bradshaw were one and the same. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

Miss Murphy

Biology '69

Along with Miss Jones, Miss Murphy taught me most of the biology I know.  Both really managed to get the best out of me in spite of my poor English and the fact that exams were very essay-based. I thoroughly enjoyed biology and would have loved to take it further if it had not been so information-based and required piles of writing. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

Miss Celia W Nightingale

Mr L E Palmer

Started in '62, left in '63 - '63 Compotus

Miss Margaret J Pearce (Mrs Moore)

PE '62

- '61 Compotus
- '64 Compotus
- P.I.

Betty Pettifer

Justin Portillo

French and Spanish ’69

Radcliffe 'Lurch'

Lab technician

... do you also recall the day he got carted-off feet-first to the local hospital after being nearly fatally poisoned by chlorine gas after some clown left the taps open (deliberately as the inquest concluded after the event) on the Kipps Apparatus? What nobody realised was that poor old Ratcliffe had defective olefactory organs and therefore, could not smell the gas. He was found semicomatose in the nick of time apparently. Anyway, I forget the name of the miscreant who was responsible but as I understood it, he came perilously close to being sacked. - James Mason

Almost right--but it was hydrogen sulphide [used for precipitating Gp. III metals I think... ] not chlorine. This stuff is more toxic than cyanide and it laid old Ratcliffe out and it was just chance that two teachers [Williams and Barnett I seem to remember] walked into the science block, smelled the gas, and got the unconscious man to safety. The culprit who left the Kipps apparatus running is well-known but I shall not mention his name here... The issue was treated seriously but no disciplinary measures were taken as it was hoped that everybody had learned a lesson in lab' safety. - Andrew Forester

Mr Alan Reeve

Maths '61 '62 '69

Started in '59 - '60 and '61 Compotus

Miss Valerie Robertson

Maths '62

Miss Valerie K Robinson

Maths '62

left in '63 - '63 Compotus

Quite tall and slim with frizzy hair and Dame Edna glasses. I remember what a bright shade of pink she used to go when we were disruptive in class!! Lots of missiles used to fly around the room when she turned to write on the board. Once a banana skin stuck to the wall above her head and stayed there all lesson, fascinating!!! - Carol Carr ('62)

Mr A M Schwartz

Started and left '64 - '64 Compotus

I think I have the right man.  He came from Canada and taught geography for a short while.  Terry Diggins, right at the front of the class as usual, made some wise-crack remark.  Mr Schwartz, landed a double slap to his face, first the backhand then the front.  Very loud and painful.  It worked but I never had any respect for him (Mr. Schwartz) after that. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

Reg Sheppard

History ’69

'Reggie' was a quietly-spoken teacher who used to always sit on the desk - normally on his hands. he always walked in a very slow and 'deliberate' manner, very upright and wore the same corduroy jacket - yes with elbow patches. Spin bowling specialist so was good with us cricket lads. One on the many targets for Roger Bootle's exceptionally funny impressions, which never ceased to have us in stitches in the sixth form - several of the teachers thoroughly enjoyed his caricatures as well when we were on the L6th geography field trip in North Wales. - Robert H A Brimacombe ('70)

Kit Singleton

a "student" teacher -- son of the well-known cricket commentator Jack [?] Singleton. Singleton was immensely tall and brought his fiance, who was barely five foot and extremely cute, to the school dance at which point all the lads tried putting the moves on her.  Must have been hilarious for Singleton and his lady... - Andrew Forester

Miss C C Snow

- ’64 Compotus

Mrs B Spencer

PE ’69

Started in ’59 - '61 Compotus

Miss Stuart/Stewart

 Maths, History

Miss Stewart, known as 'Thighs' would sit on the desk at the front of the room facing the class so giving tantilising glimpses up her short skirt.  She also wore black boots in winter (steady).  The best bit was watching as she got off the desk at the end of the lesson to see if you got a glimpse of any underwear. - Terry Stern (from 'DGSEUK')

the boys used to actually fight to sit at the front so they could cop an eye-full! - Lee Fosbury (from 'DGSEUK')

Mr A Sturt

Geography

Started in ’62 - ’63 Compotus

A really good geography teacher… and then they put in Mr. Cotton as Head of the department. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

Mrs J Thompson

Language assistant, Spanish ’62

- ’60 Compotus

Miss P A Thornton

Started in ’62 - ’63 Compotus
left ’64 - ’64 Compotus

Jane Threlfall

- P.I.

I had Mrs. Threlfall (in my dreams!) for English in the sixth form. I believe she was married to David Threlfall the actor, but I could be wrong. She had long dark brown hair, wore leather mini skirts and fishnet stockings (until Clara apparently had words with her). - Bob Long (from 'DGSEUK')

Bill Thurtle

History

Deceased.

Married Miss Kendall, a Geography teacher, in about 1971 - Richard Bradford.

I thought he was an exceptional history teacher - although he never stopped moving. - Peter Edward. ('67-74)

Also see the hyperlink for 'Miss Kendall'.

Mrs M Wainwright

Applied maths

Started in ’62 - ’63 Compotus
Left in about ’67

Mrs S C Webster

Started in '62 - '63 Compotus
Left in ’64 - ’64 Compotus

David Whittington

’69, ’73

He assumed the mantle of Compotus 'editor’ from Mr Tayler in 1967

- P.I.

Merlin Williams

English ’61 ’62 ’69

Merlin set us for homework the task of compiling a crossword.  I was poor at English but very good at maths, puzzles and logic.  I could use a dictionary.  I spent ages compiling what I thought was a really good crossword.  When Merlin handed them back he picked out the good ones first to show us all what he thought of them.  Mine got handed back with the rest.  When I asked him what he thought of mine he said, "yours was obviously cribbed from a newspaper".  A compliment I suppose, but I didn't think so at the time.  I think he really didn't understand my capabilities.  Still, I got a C at English, better than I hoped.
He was also a good fencer and a moderate badminton player. - Tony Dymoke-Bradshaw

Andy Williams

PE '69

Gorgeous gym teacher with lovely welsh accent - Pauline Nicholas (’68)

when you were cheeky - or whatever - he would grab hold of a handful of fat from your waistline and march you around the gym at top speed - bloody-hell that hurt!! - Phil Boulter ('68-'73)

Norman F Wilson

Music ’62

Music teacher, well not really any teaching done. Used to play pieces and we would sit totally disinterested. His punishment was to make you write 10 pages or so on a topic e.g. boredom, we knew lots about that. I remember a piece of wood with a rusty nail on the end which he would threaten you with. - Claire Rockall (’63)

His nickname was 'Count Basie'.  When singing Cherry Ripe it was inevitably bowdlerized into Cherry Rape with a resounding crescendo on the refrain "Rape I cry!" I recall him losing his temper on one occasion to the extent where he leapt up from the piano shouting that we were all in detention and then much to our amusement slamming down the lid of the piano and failing to remove his thumbs in the process. - James Mason

I love classical music now and get a chuckle whenever I hear Schubert's "Trout" quintet or "The Erl King" and remember how we used to sabotage it. Hymn practice especially--people singing "Glorious things of thee are spoken..." with others howling out "Deutschland uber alles..." or the rugby team "Life presents a dismal prospect from conception to the tomb..." and Wilson trying to figure out what was going on. What assholes we were... - Andy Forester

He left Downer in 1962 for an equally inauspicious posting at a South London school.

Mrs M J Wood

left in ’63 - ’63 Compotus

Les B Wright

RI '69

Previously at Chandos.

I recall Mr Wright 'Holy Joe' who taught RI and he had a blue volkswagen caravanette which presumably he drove all over the place on his errands of good deeds. - Pennie Lauezzari

… had pendulous bits hanging below table tops as he sat on desks when teaching - gravity changed his appearance. - Nicole Westcott

1970s

H John Becker

Head Teacher, English, Music '73

Still lives in Stanmore (2004)

- P.I.

Sue Brinn

PE

- Tony White

Barry Clark

- Catherine Cook and P. Ibbotson

Mike "Bubbles" Frith

Mr Frith sparked an outbreak of "ERF" being carved into many a desk. - Christine (from 'DGSEUK' on 'groups.MSN')

Having a speech defect is bad enough, but when teaching maths.... we had 'twiganomatwy', 'twiangles' and by 'Mr fwiff'. - Bob Ford (from 'DGSEUK')

Penny Graham

French

- Jeannine Poree

Miss Harris

Geography '73

Pam Hewett

PE

- Jeannine Poree

Mr Hurst

Physics

Didn't he have the nickname 'Godfrey' (after the Dad's Army character)? - Richard Bradford

Debbie John

Biology

Attended June 2002 reunion.

Clair Keyes

French

I was hopelessly in love with her!  Does anyone know what happened to her. - Leslie Parratt ('68)

I remember her saying that the French couldn't pronounce her name and called her "Miss Kiss", which she thought was very amusing. - Lennie D-B (from 'DGSEUK' on 'groups.MSN')

Miss Kriteman

Geography

a particularly loud teacher, she had a stunning and seriously subsidised wardrobe for a secondary school teacher in the Seventies. - Sue Woolf (from 'DGSEUK')

replaced Mr Cotton’s ex-RAF style with her leather dresses. - Richard Bradford

Steve Lawson

Maths

- Jeannine Poree

Mr Martin Morris

Mr Martin Morris was a real physics teacher, he inspired us and let quite a few of us on to careers in science engineering and the early days of computers.

Martin Morris drove a mini cooper, had the front seat taken out so his poor old alsatian could travel in with him. I think he was a student teacher when he first taught us in 1968, - Andre Ingram ('68-'74)(from 'DGSEUK')

He and one of the Science technicians commuted on motorbikes, although on some days Mr Morris brought his (German Shepherd?) dog by car, which sat outside on the grass.

He married one Miss Dobbs on 14 April 1973, and had some unexpected guests at the Cherith Gospel Hall service in High Wycombe (train to Amersham, then a bus). Lower Sixth Formers were Tony and Ian Reeves, Ian Hay and his (then) 1st-year girlfriend Jean Joyce, Murli Sanghri, and myself.  Other teachers present included Miss John and Mr Richiardi. - Richard Bradford (’73)

Leon Parker

Science Technician

"I was a pupil at Downer Grammar School from 1962 to 1969 before I was employed as a chemistry technician in January 1970 (to '72).  Mr Radcliffe was my Senior Science Technician.  When Mr Williams left, Michael Barnett became head of Chemistry.  I still keep in touch with Mike and his wife." - Leon Parker

Ray Richiardi

Chemistry

Replaced 'Crippen' when he retired to Australia in 1970.  Attended June 2002 reunion.  Mr Richiardi was a private Chemistry tutor in 2002.

Mr Risdon

French

- Diane Burstein

Mrs Sengupta

Languages '73

… a supply teacher from New Zealand called Mrs Gupta.  Not only did she have the misfortune of taking an unruly class that she could not control, but too got ribbed for her accent.  In addition she was expecting a baby and was emotionally highly strung which was particularly tough for her, and an an opportunity for the whole class to make her lessons with us something of a disaster.  One of the things that became a regular feature of her lessons was to remove the ink tube from ball-point pens and to use the tube as a paper-ball shooter when she was writing on the board.  The target was usually movable, preferably her back or her dinky ankle boots.

In one lesson she turned around just as I had aimed and fired.  She went beserk and inevitably put me in detention.  I still feel collectively culpable for the hard time we gave her.  However, I can never forgive her for a false accusation of spitting - which would have been pretty disgusting. - Sue Woolf ('DGSEUK')

… someone 'stealing' her master classroom key, and then we (I honestly cannot remember who took it) would lock ourselves in the loos outside room 13 ( I think) for a crafty fag!! - Catherine Cook ('DGSEUK')

In the first Spanish lesson she gave us she greeted us in Spanish and pronounced all the 'Z's as "th" - we all thought she had some dire speech impediment and sniggered behind our books, cruel as schoolkids are.  Then we found that was how you were supposed to speak and had the embarrassment of having to copy her. - Sharon Hope

During her time at Downer we as a form managed to get her dissolved into tears at least once, and whilst in room 11, during one lesson, Renata Beal hid in the cupboard at the back.  There was much whispering around the class and whilst I think Renata wasn't discovered, the teacher was certainly suspicious that something was going on. - Bob Ford (from 'DGSEUK')

… she [Renata] obviously didn't want to do the lesson so she climbed into one of the cupboards at the side of the classroom and stayed there all lesson after shutting the doors behind her. - Steve Drinkwater (from 'DGSEUK')

Miss Silverthorne

Maths?

Dodgy teeth - drove a Triumph Herald - Catherine Cook

Reg. Stepher

History  ’69

Harry White

Brass Instruments

Deceased (November 2004)

Alan Vickers

PE

- Jeannine Poree

Jenny Webb

History

- Jeannine Poree

Whitmarsh

French