From
Malcolm Hughes
My name is
Malcolm Hughes and I attended Tulse Hill between 1972 and 1977.
I think your correspondent has made a mistake, unless there were two trips in
1975...I went on the trip to Valkenburg in Holland.
The previous year the school went to Gersau in Switzerland....Donald Miller,
Chris Brown are names I remember from the trip.
In constant moves I have lost the photos from both trips...
There were also annual one day trips to France.....
Donald and I were also asked to assist with some 'under privileged' children
on a week camp in either 75 or 76, but cannot recall who else from the school
went.
Girls from Norwood Girls School were on the trip....much to our delight.
It was held in Bushey, nr Watford on an old army or air force base......
I joined Tulse Hill from a boarding school and both in their own ways were
tremendous life experiences.
I still feel a kinship with those who survived THS....and would like to meet
up with anyone who remembers me.
From Rob
Duncan
One day we were summoned to a 'full school assembly' in the Great Hall. It
sticks in my mind for two reasons firstly, a 'full school assembly' was a very
rare occurrence and secondly, it was called because a serious incident had
occurred. The reason escapes me now but I do recall that the entire school was
aware of it! We duly assembled in the Great Hall, first years in the front,
then in ascending year order with the 6th years at the back. Teachers and
prefects on the stage and some teachers along the side of the Hall at
strategic points to ensure the card schools didn't start. You could have heard
a pin drop as the head boy was dispatched from the stage to knock on the
Headmasters study door to inform him that the school was ready.
The silence was still deafening as we heard the door that led from the admin
block into the hall swing open. All eyes were fixed firmly to the front as the
sound of the metal pieces on the toes and heels of Raymond G Long's shoes clip
clipped along the parquet flooring with frightening speed. As he came into
view we could see his gown billowing behind him like a ship in full sail. It
was a terrifying sight to a young boy not only because of the image but
because Raymond G Long was so rarely seen in public, at least not during
daylight hours! As the Head reached the stage he turned sharp left and, almost
with military precision, began to quick march towards the dais.
Now we could clearly see his face. Lips pursed, moustache bristling, and eyes
firmly fixed on his target. Oh boy, were we worried! His purposeful stride
swept him across the stage and just as he reached the dais he slipped, legs
went up, arms went out and our headmaster landed flat on his back with all the
indignity he could muster. Whether it was the shock or the embarrassment I
don't know but the silence continued for what seemed an eternity. Teachers and
students alike just stared in total disbelief....then it happened....a first
or second year, unable to contain his mirth any longer let out a stifled laugh
which cut into the silence like a knife. It was enough, suddenly almost two
thousand people were convulsed in uncontrollable hysterics.
From Rob Duncan
Some teachers on the stage attempted to raise Raymond G from his prostrate
position, some teachers simply turned to face the nearest wall, whilst others
stuffed handkerchiefs into their mouths in vain attempts to feign a cold.
*Rob Duncan was a pupil at THS between 1966 and
1972. A Wren House prefect from Year 5, he 'never attained the
dizzy heights of the Big Oak Leaves!'
From Seth
Pittham
I started at THS in 1970, coming from a small Primary school in Streatham.
This was the biggest culture shock ever. Going into a large establishment with
some 1200 pupils, most of then involved in or being beaten up by others,
thrown off the terraces, etc; Here we go with the introduction to real life.
Never really liked school. I was only interested in practical, electrical
things and any lessons that didn't contain an element of that, totally bored
me and my concentration span was limited to approx that of a playing time of a
45 rpm record (7 inch round plastic things, for those ex pupils who left long
after I did).
I suppose I have to be quite critical and not look back at the place with rose
coloured specs. Did I like the place, well generally no. Perhaps that was just
school though. However, I do have some fond memories and some bad. As they
come into mind, I penned them down. Some readers may find them interesting.
The school was 8 stories high with 4 stairwells and 4 lifts. I recall only one
lift ever working at a time and this was controlled by 'little Dave' a
caretaker. He was a good bloke.
One day in a science lesson, we were taught that anything would burn if the
surface area were high enough. Flour and sugar being good examples. Well that
was a silly thing to teach me. I thought it would be a good idea if we put our
latest bit of knowledge to the test and managed to persuade (bearing in mind I
had a knack of not getting involved directly with activities that would get me
into trouble, but enthusing others to carry out events for me) someone to get
a bag of flour. This was obtained through a visit to the local corner shop. I
don't think any money changed hands. My apologies to the owner of the shop.
So, back to the school and we took the flour to the top of one of the 4
stairwells. I suggested that someone be at the bottom with a lighted match and
the person at the top, tip the contents of the bag down the well to see what
would happen. When the flour got to the bottom of the stairwell, we had it
confirmed that indeed flour did burn. A number of us lost eyebrows, some
worse. I am very sorry. I managed to escape without trace. I learned to skip
lessons I hated at an early stage. Thanks to Ken Green, Head of music in the
early '70s, he let me (and others) help out in that dept. I started to get
interested in music and took up the saxophone, being taught by Barry Graham I
think. I have to thank Ken Green, because my interest in music and playing the
sax has been quite a big part of my later life.
In latter years, Ron Pite took over the dept. and was responsible for a number
of good musicians coming out of THS. Good stuff Ron. All kinds of things went
on in the music rooms. Quite frightening really. Roger Dale was the head of
the 'Media resources dept.' Being technical minded, I helped in this area
during breaks, lessons, and after school, fixing tape recorders, projectors
etc. I learned a lot there, how to make plates for Litho printing, stage
lighting, audio recording and so on. I remember one amusing time when we had
to take delivery of a large colour duplicator. Being around at the time, Roger
asked me to help the suppliers with getting the machine from their estate car.
I remember the car quite clearly; it was a new Mark 3 Cortina, metallic blue.
We got this massive printing machine into the lifts and I said that the car
should be parked in one of the spaces reserved for visitors, not left parked
under the overhang of the school, because kids sometimes throw things out of
the windows. However my advice was not taken. After all, I was a spotty lout,
what did I know. Well, we got the machine into the Media Resources room and
the two people from the supply company started to demonstrate the printer. Out
the corner of my eye, I saw something fly past the window and shortly after
heard a dull thud. I walked over to the window, looked down and saw that the
Cortina was now complete with a desk buried in the roof. When I mentioned this
to Roger, he told me to stop messing about. I remember the look on the faces
of the two owners of the car. Ho hum.
I used to repair teacher's TV sets in this dept. It helped my get my Tech.
Drawing O level. The TD head, sketched an answer for me in the middle of the
exam. I love history, now. I only wish that at school this subject were put
across in a way that pupils found it interesting. Single-handed, Mrs D**** (I
think that was her name) destroyed all interest in that subject by that awful
way it placed before us. I think she would have made a good plumber instead of
a history teacher.
Physics lessons were good. Here I had a chance to fill kids' school bags up
with gas from the Bunsen burner supplies. I then used to open the zip in the
bag to make a small air passage and light the other end of the holdall. When
the air-gas mixture got to the critical stage, the bag used to blow up. That
was fun. Other good stuff involved a chap called Martin Dennis (only person I
keep in touch with, highly intelligent, stayed on and got A levels, what ever
they were, got a degree and now has his own software company). Martin and I
found that by connecting wires into the mains sockets in the science labs and
connecting those wires to various bits of lab equipment, small explosions
would occur. Endless fun was had.
We were honoured one day by an unannounced visit by Mohamed Ali, Boxer. The
school was assembled and onto the stage walked this idol. He did his usual
poem about not being paid enough money to come to the school to give a talk He
then had a sparring match with the Schools senior prefect and went, not before
I got an autograph. See the autograph on the pics page!
One English teacher stood out from all the rest. He managed to keep classes of
uninterested pupils together and teach them. I still remember and use some of
his silly word puzzles. Sincere thanks to Tom Wilson wherever you are, for
providing me with what ever English skills I have. Other good teachers
included Dr. Mike Stevens, head of maths, Di Davis, Science, Gabriel Piveteau,
French. Ms. Fosalusa (spelling?) had the best legs in the whole school and was
the subject of many a fantasy. What ever happened to Janice Reman (American)?
She taught music and I recall being in love with her. I am sure the school was
good for those that wanted to work and for those that were deemed to have
special requirements. For the kind of kid that I was, someone who was bone
idle and had to be kicked into doing something, nothing really happened. I
struggled with my two O levels and hand full of CSEs and went into an
apprenticeship, studying at night school. Still ended up with a communications
company in Chertsey, so if anyone wants a high quality, well installed and
maintained system, give me a call 01932-579579.
*Seth Pittham was a pupil at THS from 1970 to
1976.
From Tony
Coon
I still remember my first day at THS with horror. I was held over the
Terrace Wall by my ankles until I had given my dinner money to the 5th Formers
who were demanding a joining fee from the new boy!
*Tony Coon was a pupil at THS (Brunel House) from
1970 to 1976.
From Mario
Sazio
The School was the only one I knew of that had four lifts, which had a
tendency to get stuck whenever I got in one and a lift attendant, who retired
about six months after I arrived. After getting stuck a few times I used the
stairs for the rest of my time at THS. I remember dashing up and down them
when the 'pips' used to sound for the end of class. While I was at the School
a music block was built (it stood between the main building and the gym block)
and was linked to the main building via a corridor above the school
playground, which we called 'the bridge'.
The swimming pool: this was before my time but while I was at the school it
was rumoured that the Head Master had consulted the School's 6th Form if they
wanted a pool or a statute. As their little joke, the 6th Form opted for a
statue...a very abstract piece of work which looked like an adult with a child
growing out of its back - we hated it!
The Mohammed Ali Visit: again before my time, Mohammed Ali - that
extraordinary boxer - visited the School in 1976. A friend who was at THS at
the time of the visit clearly remembers Mohammed Ali up on the stage of the
Great Hall sparring with a sixth former. The Hall was packed to bursting and
there were even kids from other schools who'd gate crashed the event.
*Mario Sazio was a pupil at THS 1979 to 1984
(Faraday House). He now works in London.
From Paul
McLean
I met Peter Chapman (a Teacher) in the pub in the middle of Clapham Common
about 5 years after I had left THS and he was teaching at Ernest Bevin. He
related to me a story concerning a former pupil that he met up with. Peter was
asked to help one of his friends remove some squatters from a flat, who
apparently had previously been quite aggressive. On arriving at the flat and
expecting some trouble, who should one of these squatters be, a certain Joe
Gray (1968-74), who Peter had taught and got on well with at TH. Now Joe was
possibly the biggest pupil ever to attend TH. At the age of 11, Joe was 6' 6'
tall and weighed in at about 17 stone, represented English Schools at Rugby
and won the English Schools Shot Putt title, he was awesome. Peter's first
reaction was Oh shit!, but on seeing Peter Chapman, Joe said 'Pete my old mate
come and sit down and have a drink and a fag'. They then spent the next couple
of hours reminiscing and the squatters left without any further incident (The
power of the old school tie).
*Paul McLean was a THS pupil in Wren House from
1968 to 1974. He represented the School at Football, Cricket,
Basketball and Athletics.
From Dave
Davies
I don't recall the idea that the sixth form voted for a statue instead of a
swimming pool as that would have been about the time I was in the sixth. I
don't think that we would have been that daft having been obliged to spend so
much time and effort raising money for the organ. I remember the paint
appearing, and I don't think the painter was ever identified - Thomas was
almost beside himself that morning with one of his more spectacular assembly
rages. The whole idea of a statue I think was Thomas', as it fitted in with
his public school concept, and the idea of him consulting the sixth form about
anything is foreign to my recollection of him. Joe Lovelace maybe would have,
but not Thomas.
*Dave Davies was part of the first full
intake of first year pupils in September 1957. He was a pupil at THS until
July 1964
From Tony
Bernard
The school Governor who helped with the Ali visit was, I think, a man called
Paul Stevens, who went on to start the Mohammed Ali awards scheme.
*Tony Bernard was a student at THS from 1974 to
1979.
From
Christopher Millbank
I can recall the monolith of a building well, and remember, as a Temple House
pupil, having to leg it up 8 floors to register. It kept me fit and although I
never met with any encouragement at THS I did go on to a brief but successful
spell with Belgrave Harriers athletic club: a decision prompted by my
overtaking my PE teacher with a mile to go of the Lambeth 'Peace Run' half
marathon.
I forget the teachers' names, but am glad of the encouragement of some,
particularly the English (literature) teacher during 76-77. (I think she was
American). I found the school tough as I was skinny and got bullied a fair
amount. Never-the-less I had many friends there, although I am not in touch
with any of them at the moment. I can say, with pride, that I was there when
Mohamed Ali came to visit. He is more of a hero to me now than even then.
However I bet nobody will recall my brief spell on stage being presented with
a prize for an essay on the 'Ides of March' !!!! I had previously been given a
book token to use before the big day and bought a book about R.L. Stevenson's
steam locomotive 'The Rocket'. The headmaster duly declared my prize as a book
about rockets. Already daunted, I stood more than a little embarrassed before
the whole school.
It is with less pride that I recall the many rumbles down the road with the
Strand Grammar School boys. I was not a participant, but avoided several
muggings in Elm Park because I was not a Strand boy! I hope the school's
inhabitants in what was essentially a social and educational zoo largely went
on to better things. When meeting my housemaster for the last time, to tell
him I had a job in an advertising agency he was pleased. I remember him to
this day telling me that the school was particularly good at getting pupils
into advertising and prison! Was he trying to tell me something?
*Christopher Millbank was in Temple House at THS from 1973 until 1980.
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