Vol.4: Old Raineian's Newsletters 2000-2009

Old Raineians’ Association Newletters Volume IV: 2000 - 2009

Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road Bethnal Green London E2 9LY Tel: 020 8981 1231 Fax: 020 8983 0153

Sandra Johnson 9 Goddington Lane Orpington Kent BR6 9DR Tel: 01689 826854 Fax: 01689 873115

Tony Fuller 81 Rosewood Avenue Elm Park Essex RM12 5LD Tel: 01708 473821

Bill Richards 26 Shandy Street Stepney London E1 4LX Tel: 020 7790 9235

Gwynneth Jackson Glevum Kirkby Malzeard Nr Ripon North Yorks HG4 3RS Tel: 01765 658825

FEBRUARY 2000

W

e weren’t sure how the Old Raineians’ Association would be able to reflect on the death of Wallie. In the end it was thought that it was best left to the members of the Association, a number of whom had a great affinity with Wallie as a teacher not only during their days at Raine’s, but also after they left the School.

It is hoped to publish a special edition of the Newsletter with your memories of Wallie Spooner. Please write to me as soon as possible to enable us to begin.

The following is the last article I received from Wallie, just

be in Dominican Monasteries. Duncan Potts wonders too!

The Wareing Trophy and the other trophies given for sport etc. should be in the trophy cabinet at the present school. Mr Cain, a jeweller round the corner from the school, inscribed them.

I remember having them all photographed for insurance purposes.

Terry Hemmings (50-57) recalled the field trips with Lee Matthews etc. Terry and Val’s parents were active in the Parents’ Association. This was another good form, especially at making smoke bombs e.g. Alan Pratt and Mr Goode’s end-of-term greeting!

WALTER MARSHALL SPOONER 13TH MAY 1914 - 1ST JANUARY 2000 RAINE’S FOUNDATION SCHOOL 1946 - 1979 after he had read the last Newsletter and I felt Wallie would like it to be published.

“Read Geoff Gillon’s piece about ‘gifted’ people at Raine’s and I believe that, during my time at the school, 1946 to 1979, all the pupils were gifted otherwise they would not have been at Raine’s! If I had to name the two outstanding academically then it would be Gillian Malpas from the girls and Gareth Moore from the boys.

Gareth’s contemporaries were the best form it was my privilege to teach, starting with the Adlington twins, Alan and John. A number of them went on to Oxbridge and most to universities, many gaining PhDs. Barford, Barlow, Harris (English Universities Swimming Captain – Cambridge), O’Sullivan – a grand bunch. But where are they now? They cannot all

Frank Clarke’s (31-35) comments were evocative of my early days at the school, immediately after the war. Many of the staff Frank knew were my colleagues and in due course I succeeded A W Davies as the last Senior Master. Does he (or anyone else – ed.) remember Archie Dagger (Head); Arthur Davies (Maths); Wilfred Davies (Physics); Frank Luton (Physics); ‘Fussy’ Browning (Chemistry); Henry Wilkins (Chemistry); George Tyler (Maths); Alec Aldridge (French); Don Lyons (German); ‘Nobby’ Clark (Music); Jim Shivas (English); ‘Biffer’ Broughton; Teddy Horne (English / History); Bob Turnage (PE); Charlie Nay (Woodwork). Just pre-war, Engledow (French); Fred Phillips (Maths); Wilson (History). Also there was Jim Russell (Lab Technician) and Albert T?? (Secretary).”

Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road Bethnal Green London E2 9LY Tel: 020 8981 1231 Fax: 020 8983 0153

Sandra Johnson 9 Goddington Lane Orpington Kent BR6 9DR Tel: 01689 826854 Fax: 01689 873115

Tony Fuller 81 Rosewood Avenue Elm Park Essex RM12 5LD Tel: 01708 473821

Bill Richards 26 Shandy Street Stepney London E1 4LX Tel: 020 7790 9235

Gwynneth Jackson Glevum Kirkby Malzeard Nr Ripon North Yorks HG4 3RS Tel: 01765 658825

SEPTEMBER 2000

I

t is hoped that this will be the first Newsletter to be sent by e-mail to the members who requested it. As I write this we have had difficulties because of the size of the document and it may have to be sent to everyone by nornal post. This was something Freddie Dawkins (62-67) did warn us about, but we will be producing three Newsletters a year thus reducing the size, hopefully, to enable it to be transmitted in the future without any problems.

While we are on the subject of the Web, just a reminder that any news can be e-mailed to us at admin@rainesoc.com. Of course this is plus the normal means of post, fax, etc.

NEW MEMBERS

A

gain my search using the CD-ROM has proved to be fruitful with the majority of the new members joining because of the mail shot.

• Martyn Armitage (58-63) joined after I contacted him and sent the following: “Thank you for your letter which after nearly 37 years came as a bit of a (pleasant) surprise!

For the first five years after leaving Raine’s I had several clerical jobs before entering IT as a trainee programmer with Peak Freans at Bermondsey. I’m still in that profession today, working for an American Bank in its Bishopgate branch.

I have been married for 29 years and have two sons, Ian (27) and Alan (24). By chance I have bumped into several old boys: Henry (‘Stan’) Stanley whilst working at the GLC; John Wilton at a Peak Freans social club disco; Brian Grinhey as an opponent in a football match and Dave Wheeler who I saw in the City one lunch time. I may have also met Richard Mansfield in Woolwich High

Street but my memory is not too sure about this. All these encounters were 25-30 years ago!

I do have many fond memories of those school days. About seven years ago I visited the old school building in Arbour Square during one lunch break. Of course it is now part of Tower Hamlets College but nobody seemed to mind or challenge me as I wandered over the building. It hadn't changed at all, apart from Stepney's answer to the Berlin Wall being missing; you know those huge dividing doors that separated us from those dishy girls. (Sadly the doors, said to be the largest in Europe, have now been taken down and the hall, plus the surrounding rooms, are now a library – ed.)

Most of my best school friends in those days centred around the rugby team: Peter Cox, Brian Grinhey, Colin Brown, Dave Wheeler and John Wilton (cricket). However I can picture and remember a few others, too many to write down here.

Also a few teachers come to mind, for good or bad reasons: Alec Aldridge (French),

and Searle (Art), Messrs Wiles and Roden (chemistry / physics) and more.

I remember in my first year in Raine’s sitting in awe at the speed and accuracy that dear old Alec Aldridge could throw a blackboard duster from the front of the class at the boy messing about at the back, missing him by a whisker. Also in the same year when Dr Loughborough organised a collection for our form master, Mr Butterfield, to buy him his university hood. He was choked and moved to tears (almost as sad as ‘Goodbye Mr Chips’).

I was sad to hear the news of Wallie Spooner dying. As I have had barely any contact with my contemporaries since leaving in 1963 I never realised that Wally devoted most of his teaching career to Raines.

It was another case of ‘if only ...’ for me; if only I had joined the ORA sooner I may have had the opportunity to have talked to Wallie.

He probably wouldn’t have remembered me after so long (you would be surprised how good his memory was for putting names to faces no matter the period of time - ed.) but

NEXT REUNION The next reunion is on Friday 24th November 2000 in the English Martyrs Club in Chamber Street, which is not too far from Tower Hill Station. You will be advised of the the time, etc., in the near future, but for now could you please pencil this date in your diary and do try to come along.

We look forward to seeing you on that evening.

Wallie Spooner (geography), Donny Lyons (German), Rusty Ironmonger and George Howard (PE), Revds Loughborough and Clinic (RE), Jim Shivas (English), Ray Simmons (German), Miss Ringer (biology), Big Bill Whittaker (TD), Messrs Edwards

of course he is, and will remain, fresh in my memories.

As I dropped geography in the third form I can only remember Wallie teaching us in the first year. In the end of year exams I managed to come top of all the year in ge-

PAGE 2

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER ography with 95% (it was all downhill after that though!) and I remember Wallie handing back to us the exam papers. I asked him in all innocence what should we do with the papers; Wallie’s reply was “If I were you Armitage I would frame yours." A lovely man.

On a lighter note I have some more recollections that may be of interest; some of this may be repetitive to you and I may have some of the names wrong but here goes.

I was fairly competent in most sports at school and did represent Raine's at rugby and athletics. However two sports got the better of me, swimming and boxing.

The very first swimming lesson in the first year sticks in my mind. We caught the little green LCC bus to Mile End Baths and after quickly changing into our swimming trunks Rusty Ironmonger got us all to line up along one edge of the baths. He then shouted out “On the whistle I want you all to swim one width." He blew his whistle and after

about15 to 30 seconds most of the class were over one side of the pool and the sorry remainder, including myself were still standing nervously on the other side waiting the wrath of Rusty. Yes, shame of shame, the NONSWIMMERS! Rusty said to me “Not you Armitage?” but I had to nod in the affirmative. My elder brother Alan, from the third form, was school and Eastern Counties breaststroke champion and Rusty was obviously expecting similar things from me.

However after the initial fright Rusty was quite kind to us and left us alone most of the time in the shallow end kicking along with a float in our hands.

Rusty was also very strict on the amount of time we could take in getting changed. I remember in the lesson preceding swimming we would deftly start to undo our shirt buttons ready for a quick change and coming out from the baths most of us were in some stage of undress.

KHALED AHMED RAINE’S FOUNDATION SCHOOL 1992-1997 Working for the community in London’s East End

K

HALED AHMED, who died aged 18 in a road accident in East Smithfield near the Tower of London, was determined to change people’s idea of what it meant to be a British Bengali. He believed that the cultural contribution of Bengalis to British life has yet to be recognised and appreciated.

He took pride in having been born in the Royal London Hospital and cheerfully asserted “You can’t get more British than that.” He relished living in Garnet Street, Wapping, with its echoes of television’s Alf Garnett.

When the Prince of Wales visited Wapping to see an exhibition of photographs taken and processed by a group of Bengali boys in 1997, he remarked that they would make a good book. The group recruited Khaled to help launch that book, ‘New Perspectives’, in 1998. Typically he decided that the launch should reflect the fusion of Bengali-British characteristics that influence British life. Fashion, food and music were the fields he identified. It was due to his enthusiasm that a fashion show was presented in Wiltons, a Victorian music hall off Cable Street.

The spring and autumn collection of fashions from Mike Hemingway’s Red or Dead were loaned and presented with Khaled as master of ceremonies. He introduced the book, the fashion show, a photographic exhibition with traditional food, traditional music and a fusion of bangla and garage music that is popular from America to the Mediterranean and has East London as one of its centres.

Khaled worked for the local health authority as a peer educator on anti-drugs projects. He was recognised as a youth worker by several clubs and could host an evening of awards for the Borough Youth Service with as much skill and accomplishment as any professional. A local youth parliament helped to develop the natural skill

Boxing was a nightmare; in PE you could hear the low groan go around the gym when Rusty brought in the tubs containing the boxing gloves (this was again in my first year). When it came round to the House boxing championships we (lB) were having a lesson in our form class just off the main hall. An older boy came in and asked the teacher (lucky for him I can’t remember who) if he could take any names of Taylor boys who wanted to enter the boxing. Of course all being intelligent chaps none of us put our hands up. The teacher, who I remember was in Taylor House asked all boys in Taylor to stand up; he then said to the boy to take all our names as entrants.

As I was about the smallest boy in my year I came in the ‘extremely light’ division, of which there weren’t many of us. As I said boxing was as popular as halitosis in a crowded lift, so when it came round to the days of the house tournament bouts several

for talking that enabled him to conduct telephone market research for one of the leading companies in the field, working at night while at college at day.

He was the leader of a group invited in 1998 to meet the Bangladesh British Chamber of Commerce and Members of Parliament and members of the Government. He was also leader of the team chosen to make presentations at the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Conference at Wembley last month.

Khaled had worked with his local community trust from the age of 16 and had just become first chairman of a new charity, Youthbank, in Tower Hamlets. This is a new project by which young people make grants to other young people who have ideas which will benefit the community. The project is backed by the Prince’s Trust and is beginning in Northern Ireland, the Highlands, Wales, Bradford, Newcastle, Birmingham and Bristol.

Twice Khaled greeted members all of these centres when they came to London, but he was always keen to remind them that the Tower Hamlets branch had run a pilot scheme for over a year. He could claim it to be the first in Britain to be active and the name Youthbank was Khaled’s own concept.

Floodlights for an evening football pitch which also illuminated a dark corner of an estate path was its first grant.

To travel through East London with Khaled was an education in a society under siege. Almost every corner reminded him of how someone had been threatened or attacked or had witnessed violence. “Abdul was knifed there, we were chased up here”: his East End was a map of confrontation, just as some people navigate by pubs or street names.

A trendy, fashionable and stylish youth, Khaled was also a good Muslim, constant in his prayers and increasingly so in recent months.

Khaled Ahmed, youth worker was born on April 19, 1981. He died in a road accident on April 3 aged 18.

(Obituary From The Times)

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER boys were suddenly off ‘sick’. This left me in the dangerous position of reaching the finals without throwing a punch and even worse than that a chance to represent the school in the Eastern Counties if by some fluke I were to win! What horrors this conjured up with some those bruising secondary schools around in the area.

My opponent was to be John Mitchell from form 1R who was the school rugby team hooker and I think he had voluntarily entered the competition; all bad news for me.

The only good thing was that he was in Taylor House too. Come the day of the finals as many of the school as possible were crowded in the gym and along the corridor baying for blood (a bit of poetic licence there). The ring was a single rope attached to the pillars and Rusty was the ref. John and I touched gloves and I spent the next three one minute rounds walking backwards whilst John was throwing punches like a prototype Prince Naseem. At one point I had both arms in front of my head and body taking most of the punches and backing away; as I was so small I walked right under the rope and out of the ring with John, head down swinging away, following. This got a great laugh from Rusty who kindly directed us back into the ring. I also got some intra-round advice from my corner via my brother who passed the message "Throw your right!" but there was no way I was going to move it from in front of my chin where it was protecting me from the ignominy of a knockout. Anyway the judges must have had their easiest decision of the afternoon and John was duly pronounced the winner.

After that year boxing was dropped, thank God." • Dennis Barretta (65-70) said he had plenty of memories but would have to talk to other members to make sure they are not dreams as the years have made his memory a "little fuzzy".

• Gary Bronziet (66-73) lives in the Gants Hill area and has two sons, Daniel (15) and David (9). "I am still in touch with several of my contemporaries, including Jack Lowe, Frank Ford and John Gamble. Unfortunately, I have to report that Gwenda Wiseman, who you mentioned in your letter, and who happens to be my first cousin, passed away recently after a long fight against MS. I left Westfield College in 1974, since which time I have been employed in the computer industry. I spent several years with British Airways programming their flight operations control systems.

From 1977 – 1980 I lived in Toronto, Canada working for Bell Canada and then Air Canada. Returning to the UK in 1980 I

worked in the UK headquarters of a well known American Software company.

I formed my own software company (Cogito) with several partners in 1989 and we are still going strong. We were going to call the company "Cogito ergo and son" but didn’t think many people would get it!"

• Steve Catchpole (61-66). "As promised I am writing to fill in my time between leaving school until now, although apart from a month in Aussie in 1981 and a month in Kiwi in 1989, it is not very interesting.

When I left Raine’s I started work for a Covent Garden Importer as a customs clerk and in 1971 began to work for an air conditioning company. I left in 1976 as all the future work was around the country and I was not keen to work away from home. I joined Royal Mail and I am still working for them.

Apart from the names you mentioned I can remember Angelo Paladino, Terry Simpson, Barry Goddard, Tina Hurst, Pat Sharp, Barry Sharp, Geraldine Fitzgerald and was there a Dave McNeil (read on – ed.) and an Ann Blyth?”

PAGE 3 (Green) which was particularly noted for its sporting achievements then. Some of the names I remember as my contemporaries: Ken Stapley, John Smith (tall, lean), John Smith (Ginger), Norman Masters, Alan Springer, Dennis Geary, Edward Kellard, Jim Davidson (Boxer).

Some of the teachers I remember:- Biffo Broughton (real good sort) History, Armstrong?, Armatige? sports master brilliant and hero (do you mean Ironmonger?- ed.), Doc Forrester French teacher - sadly abused by students.Very weak but kind.

My career after school went something along these lines: 1957 Toolmaker; 1958 Teleprinter bookies tickertape mechanic; 1960 Shipping clerk; 1961 London fireman Burdett Road, Whitechapel, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch; 1966 Leading Fireman Sub. Officer, Oxon Fire Service; 1969 Station Officer Barrow in Furness Fire Service; 1974 Assistant Divisional Officer Cumbria Fire Service; 1977 Divisional Commander Cumbria Fire Service in charge of Southern half of Cumbria including a large portion of

• Glenn Cole (67-74) is currently IT Manager at the City of London School, which is an independent boys school next to the New Millennium Bridge (but not as wobbly I trust! - ed.)

“I finally married in October 1999 and we have just (27 July) had a daughter, Lucy Rebecca.

I commute from Bedfordshire in to the City by scooter and Thameslink.

Memories of Raine’s are vivid and too many to 5C HARDMEN mention (just be selective L to R: John Smith, Ken Stapley, Dennis Geary, and put pen to paper - ed.)

Roger Exley, Alan Springer, Norman Masters but I did play in a band with Terry Chimes. This was before he joined The Clash and just after I the Lake District (a far cry from Burdett left Raine’s. I remember all the contempo- Road); 1991 Retired from Fire Service joined Health Authority as hospital fire officer at raries you listed.”

Lancaster; 1998 Retired From Health Service • Roger Exley (52-57). “Thank you for now enjoying a good active life in Lancaster.

I am now remarried after Alma Cannock your letter which was very pleasing to receive. Yes, I am the Roger Exley who at- (53-57) and I divorced in 1997. I have 5 tended the school from 1952 to 1957. It children by Alma and we have 9 Grandseems such along time ago. Talk about blasts children. My present wife Jennifer has one from the past. I’m afraid, although I enjoyed married son and two grandchildren. I will be my 5 years at the school and was especially 60 next April but still, thank God, very fit adept at sports including swimming, athletics and involved in cycling, swimming and gym and rugby, my academic achievements activities.

Although I left Raines without any amounted to nil GCEs but very many sporting certificates many of which I still formal qualifications I have a lot to thank the school for and will always remember my retain.

I was a proud member of Mann House time there with fondness and affection.

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER

PAGE 4

guage by living for several weeks in a foreign family.

Miss Miller had a number of friends abroad and this, together with her attachment to her own family with its numerous nephews iss Pat Miller came to Raine’s Girls’ School in the late and nieces, meant that she took special trouble over matching ex1950s as Head of the Modern Languages Department. She change pupils and host families, so that they were happy in their quickly established herself with colleagues and girls alike, temporary homes. She also helped a lot in arranging a programme of as one of the most trusted visits for our foreign guests and valued members of the while they were staying over staff, giving her time and here. energy generously to school On the amalgamation activities, and showing of the girls’ and boys’ genuine concern for indischools, Miss Miller chose viduals. to move; first to the Old A Roman Catholic Palace School in Croydon herself, she supported and then to the Francis wholeheartedly the Christian Holland School near Sloane ethos of the school and Square, making her mark in helped to strengthen its links both places. After retiring with St Dunstan's Church. she worked for CAFOD She had a gift for languages before moving to Alton and under her wise guidance (Hants) where she did a lot French and German became of voluntary work for the popular subjects in the curRed Cross. Wherever Pat riculum. Pat loved France went she made friends and and must have been pleased helped people, always in a that during her frequent visquiet, unassuming and its to that country, she was self-effacing way. Her unoften taken as a native. One expected and untimely 5A - 1957 of her most important death last October (1999) achievements was the ardeprived us all of a true Row 5: Pat Wade, Sylvia Day, Toni Cohen, Valerie Rose, Barbara Rogrove, ranging of exchange visits friend who enriched life by Pat Guichard between Raine’s girls and taking a serious view of it - a Row 4: Valerie Jacobs, Joan McPherson, Pat Barratt, Grace Garratt, Barbara their counterparts in Gerview which was lightened Evans, Anne Lampey, Carolo Peak many and France. Many of Row 3: Brenda Hudson, Susan Hodgekinson, Miss Par Miller, Sandra Hamand deepened by a strong mond, Susan Ackland our senior pupils won local sense of humour.

Row 2: Sylvia Dolton, Pat Robinson, Christine Hoe, Tahlie Ligo, Margaret authority awards for such Christine Smith (Hoe) Smith visits and became really Row 1: Pat Palmer, Sandra Shear, Anne Hollingsworth, Marjorie Robbins fluent in their chosen lan-

PAT MILLER

M

(Even my caning on one occasion did me no harm - I deserved it.) I attach some copy photographs which may be of interest and have made some effort to indicate the people I remember by name including myself. I have other stories to tell but don’t want to bore you now. Best wishes for the growing association.”

• Alan Free (53-58) thanked me for my letter, which triggered off some wonderful memories.

Names like Stephen Foster, Ronny Striebig and Jonathan Webster have been resurrected from my ageing memory cells.

"I remember my first days as a small asthmatic refugee from Peabody Buildings in London's East End entering a strange world of blazers, houses, masters who shouted, assemblies and asking if one could go forth. I think I was the shortest in the school right up to the fourth year. The culture shock was tremendous and it was only then that I realised that my family was poor. Those of us from similar backgrounds tended to stick

together. Sadly, at the time, I was ashamed of my background. Now I look back on it with pride.

When I left to seek my fortune I was deposited in a solicitor’s office where I put my Raine’s education to good use, licking stamps and making tea. After 13 happy years, not always licking stamps and making tea, I left the Law to try my luck in the insurance broking field. I am still there, working for the world’s second largest broker, having been head hunted from the largest. I control the financial security of the group world-wide, outside the Americas.

About 15 years ago, as a nervous individual. I joined the Association of Speakers’ Clubs. That event changed my life. I am now President of the City of London Speakers’ Club, having represented them in three National Speech Contests, being placed second on two occasions and third in the other.

I have travelled the world lecturing for the company and enjoy after dinner speaking.

My fondest memory in this regard is making

an after dinner speech in the House of Commons Dining Hall proposing the health of the then salmonella siren, Edwina Currie.

I have been married for almost 37 years and have two children, Alison and Andrew.

Needless to say I have enjoyed, for the most part, a good life, which marriage, ASC and Raine’s have all made essential contributions and all under the palm of ‘God’s all guiding hand’”.

• Tino Giglio-Vigna (66-74) used to travel daily - for the first few years with his sister Yvonne (65-70) – from Soho on the no.

15 bus to Arbour Square.

“At the time I never reflected on whether it was worth the fairly long journey but I know now that it was.

I remember the quality of the teaching, the discipline and the friendliness. If I were to pick a teacher who best represented the spirit of the place I would choose Father Burrows who was an enthusiastic, tough teacher but concerned about our progress.

I did a Law Degree and postgraduate

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER work after which I lectured at Warwick University for a few years. I now practice as a solicitor in Camden Town. One of my recent colleagues, who set up her own practice in E1, is Helen Godson, an Old Raineian.”

• Cyril Glasser (53-60) recognised some of the names I sent him. Cyril sent his entry from the Who’s Who 2000.

• Tony Gurling (67-72). “I am presuming that my brother, Steve’s (61-66) memory is OK because he can remember a Bill Richards at the school in his time (spot on Steve - ed.).

He was there five years ahead of me and has recently reached the ripe old age of fifty.

Anyway, on to me. What a complete surprise it was getting your letter, and I must apologise for the delay in replying. This is my busiest year ever I am pleased to say.

I have fond memories of the school, in particular my games teacher Mr Long. I’d love to know how he is. I have in the past driven past the school, noticing that it is now a college and begrudgingly accepting the fact that times change, hopefully for the better. I mean you only have to go to the Isle of Dogs were I used to play as a kid to see the most extreme example.

A brief, very brief resume of my life since ‘72 follows: After getting my O level results I borrowed £50 from my mother, went up West and bought a suit and a new pen. The next week after many interviews I started in the insurance industry at Lloyds of London. This lasted three glorious years when suddenly two new barmaids were in our regular lunch time drinking emporium. Two girls from Finland, and three months later I packed in my job and off we went to Finland.

I was there for two years on and off, then came back to London. After a year back in the city working for the GLC as a time study officer we couldn’t stand the life any more, Finland was and still is, so idyllic. So we moved to a small village in the middle of Norfolk far from civilisation. To get a mortgage I had to have a job so the owner of the bungalow we wanted to buy got me a job in his butchers shop. Six months later he left and I was made assistant manager. A year further on and I was made manager of the North Walsham branch.

In 1981 we moved to our present address, just five miles from North Walsham.

After three years I bought the village butchers shop in our little village of Bacton and rural life was then total. This lasted six years and the next stage was a move back into the insurance industry when I joined the Prudential. After a further six years of damn good country living I got sacked and a whole

new chapter began.

I came back to London for a year as a despatch rider, coming home at the weekends. Then I pulled myself together and got a job in insurance again, in Saudi Arabia, after a failed attempt at setting up my own insurance brokers. This lasted a year, too bloody hot for me so I came back.

It was only then, in 1994, that I got into the building trade. I went back to London. (I keep doing that don’t I!) Brother Steve said, "I can get you some work on the site I'm on."

He was foreman for a big firm working in Regent Street and thereabouts. And here I met all manner of ‘trades people’ earning good money. So I got onto the painting team.

After six months I’d had enough of travelling from Woodford to Oxford Circus (aptly named that place, Circus) and came back to Norfolk initially working for a local firm.

Then, as my first advert came out in the good old Yellow Pages, started on my own. I now employ four painters and a carpenter/ bricklayer. I sub out plumbing and electrical works and if you like I could build you a designer house.

I firmly believe that what I saw in my late father, a good honest hard working man, coupled with a damn good education for which I am eternally grateful, has installed in me the work ethic that I hope my only daughter will pick up. My Finnish wife certainly has it. After many years in the banking world she went back to university for a degree then did two more years to qualify as a social worker which she has been doing for three years now. Enough enough.

Yes I am really interested in the Association and have enclosed the form and payment. I am really interested to learn of some of my contemporaries. One name you told me of, John Chappel was a mate, we played rugby together and was in my form. Do you have any knowledge of Michelle Waterman, Peter Inns, Susan the fast runner whose surname I can’t remember. Would it be possible to send me a list of the people in my class at that time? I have photographs but can’t remember any more names. We must meet and I look forward to hearing from you again soon.”

• Sharon Key (Moulton, 73-79) was in Foundation House along with Lynn Dawson, Peter and Melanie Corrigan, etc.

She is now working in schools as a sign language translator, thus catching up on everything she missed at school. Sharon has two children and received this membership as a birthday gift from Lynn Dawson.

• Susan Maxen (Conway 56-61). “After leaving Raine’s in December 1961 I worked

PAGE 5 for the LCC as a clerical officer until 1965.

When the London Boroughs were created I moved to Barking’s Children’s Department.

In 1974 I joined Barnardo’s at their Head Office as the Finance Officer, Child Care.

This September I take early retirement after 26½ years.

I am married with a daughter of 23 who has just graduated and my husband has an accounting practice in Gants Hill. We live in Chigwell but Sharon and Tracey aren’t next door!

I’m still in contact with Eunice Bernstein who was a year above me and I wonder where other pals in my year are now e.g.

Marian Gomms, Linda Davis, Sandra Williams, Elaine Johnson and Lesley C Jessop who was my boyfriend!

I still recall Mrs Weingarten saying, "What have you done to ensure you were born to your parents?" so never look down on others and help those less fortunate than yourself.

I didn’t persevere with my A level maths with Miss Mangold but evidently some seeds were sown as I have enjoyed working with figures for 30 years!

I look forward to meeting some former school pals again.

• Dave McNeil (61-67). “It was interesting to read through the newsletter and pick out remembered names and many memories of school were triggered (much to the annoyance of my better half!)

You asked about others that I may be able to remember, especially Howard Toby.

I did see him for a while, and was best man at his wedding. But I have been fairly peripatetic in my work and where I live so we lost contact. I believe he is living in Chatham I’m sure if I dig far enough amongst old papers I’ll locate a scrap of paper with his name and address on it - leave it with me. I do still see Doreen Roberts (Spike as was), in fact with her husband Andy we spent an enjoyable weekend in Sussex just last weekend at a football club reunion. She lives in Sidcup, Kent. I mentioned that I had at last got around to filling in the form and sending it to you, so I’ll try to persuade her to join as well.

I was a member of “The Plain Facts” who were a ‘pop’ band of sorts populated by pupils; we never did make it into the big wide world, well not as a pop band anyway.

There was another band at school about the same time, I can’t remember their name by I believe it was fronted by a lad called Angelo Palladino. Anyway the far more important group (of course) was the one in which I was the drummer - The Plain Facts. The singer and driving force was Tom Watkins (who

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER

PAGE 6

went on to manage Bros, Pet Shop Boys, was Law. That’s funny I said there used to be Lewisham Council - Barry Quirk (I have Dusty Springfield and others, and become a a Maurizio Moore in my year at school who tried twice but without any success – ed.). millionaire). We used to rehearse in Tom’s went on to study Law at university. Sure We would like to know what has happened to front room in his Mum’s house in Black- enough he turned out to be the same person the school now and of course what has heath. Last I heard of Tom he was living in and although we haven’t yet met it transpires happened to so many people we used to Hastings, I think. On lead guitar was Paul he is living not too far from me. Maybe you know? e.g. Miss Jackson.”

Barry is Senior Group Town Planner at Challenger but I’m afraid the rest of the band could track him down the way you did me?”

Bexley Council and Sue works in Learning deserts me at the moment.

I went on to ‘do a bit’ of music went I • Keith Pusey (67-72) was another who Support at Sedgehill School Hearing Imleft school, nothing grand but a few years thanked me for contacting him after so long. paired Unit in Lewisham. (Perhaps you may “I have very happy memories of the have more luck with Barry Quirk – ed.) They pushing the drums around the semi-pro and eventually professional circuit and the odd school. I have often passed by the school and have two children aged 18 and 14. poorly paid tour. Good fun though!! I had was sad to find that it is now a college.

When I was at school I remember Mr • Peter Rowell (also known as ‘Sid’ my own shop and studio in New Cross, SE London (quite near the old Millwall stadium) Broughton and the fearsome Mr Spooner. 64-69) was impressed I managed to find him for a while, naffly called ‘Route 66’. Then I When I was sent to Mr Broughton for being after 31 years!

“I remember most of my contemporaries had a reality check - and became a civil naughty, the punishment was the cane, which servant. And apart from the odd tour of duty he administered with the choice of either soft mentioned in your letter. I also remember in Africa for the Foreign Office, that’s what I and sweet or long and lingering – you can Rev Burrows, Mr Eames, Mr Spooner, Mr Russell, Mr Rosenbloom, Mr still am. I am currently the Parry. Other pupils that come National Communication TRYING TO TRACE AN OLD RAINEIAN to mind are Stephen Bennett, Manager for the NHS ExecuHarold Taylor (at Raine’s 28-34) would be glad to know of John Pegg, Richard Booner, tives Directorate of Counter Fraud Services in Whitehall.

Eileen (or Aileen) Ranger (as she then was), who was an Gerald Flood, Christine I do still play sport, yes exact contemporary. They were good friends at school and Janeway, Christopher Jones and others I can picture but even at my age. I play rugby for some years afterwards. whose names escape me. every weekend for my local She was a good actress and played the part of Lady I haven’t made vast club, Fullerians in Watford. I Teazle in the school’s 1934 production of Sheridan’s amounts of money but life has started playing when both of my sons (I have two daughters School for Scandal. Her family lived in Poplar, just off St mostly been happy. I have been married now to Jayne for as well, one of which also Leonard’s Row and her father was a docker. over 11 years. I have lived in plays rugby) started playing If anybody has any information about this ex-Raineian London, Kent, Yorkshire, for the club and were fed up or her family, please contact on Harold 01323 491415.

Germany, a short time in with my chants of “you don’t Holland and both North and wanna do it like that, you wanna do it like this”. So money and mouth guess my choice. Were as Mr Spooner South Wales. I served six years in the army coincided and now I am a regular in the 4th would hit you as hard as he could with the (Corps of Royal Engineers), worked for the Government for a while and a few multinaslipper. team.

I was in Foundation House and re- tional companies. Nowadays I work for That's it for now, I am sure the reminiscing will continue and I will unlock other member taking part in games, basketball, CORUS (British Steel as was) as an Elecmemories (like the Green Brothers, Stephen cricket, rugby, etc., at Fairlop under the trical Technologist.

As a hobby I am learning Welsh and I Rose, Steve Gurling) and those awful trips on supervision of the games master Mr Long. the Central Line to Fairlop. Or Barry Smith He sometimes had the help of a great hero of have been a member of MENSA since 1998.

Please extend a hello to anybody who who I think played football for a reasonable mine, the late Harry Cripps, a legend at my may remember me. It would be nice to hear team, or even Paul Went - not an Old team, Millwall.

I was married at 19 and I am looking from them if they feel like dropping me a Raineian - who you may remember played cricket with us for East London and went on forward to celebrating 25 happy years to- line. Also if anyone is down this way give to play centre half for Charlton (still a team I gether in April. I have two lovely girls, both me a ring to arrange a meet. support). But enough, always leave them I am proud to say at grammar school (a chip wanting more!! I’ll write again if more of the old block?) and doing very well. I took • Martin Samuels (59-64). "It wasn’t memories kick in, look forward to seeing you an apprenticeship in heating and ventilation until the fortuitous reception of a copy of the and subsequently formed my own company September 1999 Newsletter (through my one day.” sister’s friend) that I knew of the existence of 13 years ago (still going).

After leaving school I continued to play the Old Raineians' Association. I read with • Richard Pepper (58-65). “First many thanks for all the trouble you have gone to in sports such as football, cricket and badmin- fascination the names of many of my old ton until I broke my ankle three years ago. I peers and teachers and was especially detrying to contact me.

Although I have bumped into several now stick to gentler pursuits such as lighted with the reminiscences of Ernie Tarling, who now lives in New Zealand. He ‘Old Boys’ over the years I haven’t kept in swimming.” mentioned an incident involving me and an touch with any of them. However my wife was telling me last year about a visiting • Barry (64-72) and Susan Quigley outside broadcast unit when co-education lecturer to Anglia Polytechnic University (Day, 66-73) again remembered most of the was imminent. I’m afraid that I cannot recall this incident Ernie - honestly! where she is an Administrator. She said his people mentioned in my letter.

I learned of the passing of Wallie “What about the Chief Executive of name was Maurice Moore and his subject

PAGE 7

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER

WALLIE SPOONER

T

wo Old Raineians arrived at the old school in Wapping. They had not had contact with the school since leaving it in the fifties. Beginning to regret an impulsive act made after hearing about this reunion on Capital Radio1 they now felt uncomfortable seeing the sea of unknown faces. Suddenly they saw a face they recognised: “Do you remember us, Sir?” they asked the ex-member of staff not expecting a positive response. Sir not only recognised them both, but could tell them which form they had been in, remembered their abilities and what he had written on their reports. He went on to ask after his former pupils’ families and of their progress in life. The two old boys were amazed, delighted and even more devoted to their former teacher than they had been whilst at school. Attending this reunion had been worthwhile, just to see the look of astonishment on their faces. Greeting another former pupil he asked after his brothers, sister and cousin (who had been in the then separate girls’ school) and the parents. Of course that retired teacher was Wallie Spooner.

Wallie made us all feel special. He cared, really cared, about all the pupils and staff who have ever passed through those well-loved portals. To him it did not matter if we achieved great academic heights or sporting success - what mattered was that we did the best we could, and lived according to the school motto, doing our duty to God and man. Wallie’s interest in his pupils stretched beyond the boundaries of the classroom, he cared about the person, took an interest in each pupil’s family and life outside school.

Wallie was always modest about the effect he has had upon so many people. Whilst he made little of his own achievements and ill-health, he was effusive about the acts of others. He held Gwynneth Jackson, Sandra and Alan Johnson and Richard Tillbrook in such high regard, his letters were full of praise for them. He was genuinely surprised by the love and concern his former pupils

Spooner with some sadness, even though I did not know him particularly well. He was one of the many personalities who, to me, represented a very significant era and part of the past has died with him. I remember him saying in one geography lesson that only two things meander - rivers and drunks! I must admit to the offence of plagiarism, having used this witticism, accompanied by appropriate demonstrative movements, during my own teaching career.

The earliest humorous memory I have of the school was when our first form teacher (Mr Simpson or Spencer) asked who took us for chemistry. Being aware of the existence of teachers’ nicknames at the time, I replied innocently "Dr Zonk, Sir." The resultant silence was deafening! I’m rather pleased that Dr Lambert was not in the room at the time.

Does anyone remember Mr Russell, who taught French? He was an extremely friendly chap who was always ready to laugh, even at himself. On one occasion he removed his jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves during a lesson.

The immediate response from one of the many class wits was "Russell’s Muscles".

Mr Russell was foremost in the ensuing hilarity. I think it

showed for him. Two months after he moved into the nursing home he wrote to me, “(I am) being surfeited with love from Raineians, they’re marvellous but I am startled...but who am I to complain of such love and affection - all sorts of bods have been in from late the 40s to end of the 70s - quite incredible.” In August of the same year he wrote, "I've nothing to do except realise what a wonderful school I was connected with...yesterday brought the 57th letter, phone call or visit from Raineians since I came here!!! An affection beyond anything I could have given over the years and never cease to wonder at because I know I shall take it with me in due course.”

When Wallie realised that his health had deteriorated and that he was never going to make a full recovery he started to plan his own funeral service. Wallie wrote to tell me that he wanted the thanksgiving service to be “almost a greeting to old Henry...” And so it was, with a mixture of great sadness, love and a hint of Wallie’s sense of humour that many old Raineians joined Wallie’s family this January at a service which had been arranged, with meticulous care and attention to detail, by Wallie almost two years earlier.

For me Wallie became an honorary uncle or perhaps godfather.

As the rugby season comes to a close, as my sons’ rugby boots get their last (and perhaps first) clean of the season, as Richmond, our rugby club in common, returns to some success as an amateur side, as I gather titbits of news about international players, and as we travel through the highs and lows of family life, I want to share this with Wallie - I cannot. I am left to reflect on the words of comfort in the Scott Holland poem Wallie chose for me to read at his funeral service: the poet begs us to enjoy the fact that we had shared jokes, worked and played together, for “whatever we were to each other; that we still are”.

I shall miss Wallie, I thank God that I had the honour of knowing him. Adieu, dear friend.

was Mr Russell who, during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, explained to us in graphic detail the results of a medium-sized nuclear missile hitting the middle of London.

John Roden was an inspiration during rugby sessions at Fairlop. I am far from being one of those people who were born to sporting greatness. On one games afternoon we were practising scrummaging and Mr Roden told me to push as though there was a cliff behind me. As hard as I tried, I would have been over that cliff in no time. Needless to say, Dagger House looked elsewhere for its sports representatives.

While typing this, other memories come flooding back. Cliff Theobold telling me a temporarily incomprehensible joke - it dawned on me 3 or 4 days later and I could not prevent myself laughing during a lesson; Michael Bradburn’s enthusiasm and joy when West Ham won the Cup; the towering figure of Jeff Tynan playing football in the yard; the exhausting ascent to the roof every now and then; the lunchtime beer lolly from the van by the boys’ gate; the singing of the school song during assembly - I can still remember most of the first verse; the quiet delivery of Mr Calvert during maths; hearing rumours from the other side of the wall about

Lesley Jensen (Tear) some of the girls swooning over Mr Cell, the young art teacher… The list goes on.

I would like to hear from anybody who wishes to renew old Acquaintance. Please write. Bill has my address."

• Ray Santi (63-70) sent a brief history since he left (“encouraged to do so”) school.

Ray worked in the City for a short time and then became a delivery driver for a firm of wholesale grocers. He moved to Harlow, got married in 1974 and worked at Tesco as an internal auditor. After leaving there Ray got divorced in 1977 and then went to Newcastle Poly (78-79). After working in business in the North East he worked for a firm of accountants in Sunderland and got married in 1986. Ray joined the Vaux Group in 1987 as Accountant for the Wines and Spirits Division.

After divorce in 1990 he became Chief Accountant for the Pubs Division 1991 followed by Finance Director in 1999, the year he got married (“Hat-trick!!!”). Unfortunately he was made redundant this year following a take-over.

Ray is looking to return to Essex with his wife, also an accountant, who moved to the NE after the wedding.

PAGE 8

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER Albert Lofaro and Charlie Penate both spoke to Ray recently. Albert met David Johnstone who is a refrigeration engineer.

Albert was a partner in the Pomodoro Restaurant, but he sold up and bought Salvo Jure opposite his old one in Spitalfields. Charlie has earned and lost a fortune and is busy building it up again!

Ray remembers the clique in ‘Biffers’ office i.e. Biffer Broughton, Wally Spooner and Johnny Roden. Mr Gallup’s slippering style which was very painful to be on the receiving end of. Smoking in the toilets.

Gavin Adlington coming top at everything (well at least amongst the boys). Getting orders from prefects all the time. Being useless at school.

Camberley ‘billet lady’ until her death some ten years ago.

In 1944, the threat of air attack over, or so it was thought, we moved back to London and my third Raine’s stop, Arbour Square.

With the arrival of V1s followed by V2s many lessons were interrupted, in the case of the first by moves to the supposed safety of the gym. In the second case we were treated to explosions without warning. How bizarre it seems today. How would I have felt if my children had gone to school in those circumstances? I had to transfer to Hackney Downs (Grocers) in 1946 as after the Matriculation Exam in 1946 I was the only one who wanted to do an Arts Sixth Form. As a result of this I have been in touch with both Old Raineians and Old Grocers all my life and for me the highlight of the year 2000 is a trip from my home in Canada to take part in a reunion dinner marking a 50th Anniversary of our friendship of four lifelong friends two Grocers, one Raine’s and myself.

Like everyone else I have many memo-

• Paul Stannard (66-73). “Marvellous to hear from you and to see the names of some of my peer group in your letter. Frank Ford and I were great pals at Raine’s and Terry Everson and I went to St Lukes Primary School together. I still have an old school photo of the whole school taken, I think, in 1969.

DIARY DATES It would be great to meet up again and I would also like to meet some of the staff from my time at Following are some dates to Raine’s.”

• Laurence Trister (58-63) asks was a teacher’s bubble car really carried up onto the roof? Or was it his imagination? (Can any one enlighten us? – ed.)

• Margaret Wellington (Nurthen, 60-66) is still in touch with Margaret Howard and Ingrid Carlton. Margaret has been married for 30 years and has two children, Daniel 26 and Ruth 24.

pencil in your diary regarding future Old Raineians’ reunions: Saturday 17th February 2001 Cheese and Wine Party Saturday 19th May 2001 AGM and Summer Reunion Saturday 30th June 2001 Barbecue and Family Day

• Morris Wernick (41-46) is now living in Ontario, Canada.

“There are not too many Raine’s Old Boys who can claim to have gone to classes in three Raine’s Schools in three different towns. Like a few others of my generation, I can claim that distinction. I was evacuated from London in 1939 to Egham, and having obtained a Junior County Scholarship I joined Raine’s. It was then billeted on Strodes Grammar School still, I learned on a recent visit, functioning in Egham. About 1942 the school moved to a large private house in Camberley, and of course I moved with it. Thus, a Nissen hut in the garden of ‘Beechleigh’ on Brackendale Road, was the site of my First Form activities. It will come as no surprise to anyone reading this, to be told that those past years can reach forward far into the future. I stayed in touch with my

ries of Raine’s but the ones that are strongest are my recollections of some splendid teachers. Those who taught in the evacuated school were, I now realise, working in almost absurd conditions, i.e. chemistry lessons in a Nissen Hut! These were of course, the teachers too old for military service supplemented by, a Raine’s boys first, women teachers. What a superb job they did despite what must have been the disruption of their own lives. On my return to London I was taught French by Mr. Aldridge, who the Raineian of 1945 informs me, was a pilot in the First World War. He returned to teaching in 1945 from the RAF after being badly wounded in an air raid during what we now know as the Battle of the Bulge. I cannot recall, of the many excellent teachers that I had in both schools, anyone who taught with more energy and verve. He seemed deter-

mined to make you share his love and knowledge of the language and he succeeded.

Finally, I have, I hope included an appeal which I intend to send to every Old Boys’ and Old Girls’ Association that I can reach. I am grateful to Bill Richards for his ready co-operation in a project which if successful will add a part to the history of schools which have gone and apparently may continue to go into history.

I am appealing for submissions for a possible book. If this venture were to succeed, it would be a collection of short accounts by former students of their experiences in Grammar and County High Schools.

For literally thousands of men and women, those schools provided a ladder by which their education enabled them to move up from the most modest economic and social background to success of every kind. I define success as being the kind of futures for which they and their parents hoped and made sacrifices for. I am referring specifically to those schools situated in working class areas and drawing mainly on those areas. In my own experience of North-East London, schools such as Hackney Downs, Raine’s, Skinners, Laura Place, Parmiters and many others were such places.

I know that the history of these schools has been, or will be written. My idea is to try to produce an oral history account by the former students themselves of how the opportunity to attend these schools changed their lives. Has this been done before?

I foresee submissions around the 800 word range, or less, which will have the theme, as a friend excellently put it for me, an account, “Not of what I did there but what I got there.” I realise that the two can often shade together, heavily in some instances.

I am sending this request to every school that my limited resources will enable me to reach, and I ask for help, not only for submissions but for names and addresses particularly of Old Boy and Old Girl Associations who would be willing to reprint this notice in Newsletters, as well as suggestions for promising Internet Outlets.

•

David Barford (59-66).

• Madeline Barrington-Amat rington, 65-70).

•

Joyce Bishop (Foley, 71-76).

•

Brad Clark (62-68).

•

Sylvia Finch (Hyde, 61-67).

•

Lawrence Hart (54-59).

•

John Kirvan (53-60).

(Bar-

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER OTHER NEWS – 1

now working in glass, metal and ceramics.

(Any news of younger sisters Leda and Elize?)

From Gwynneth Jackson

B

est wishes to people who have moved house, including Joanne Day (Marshall, 74-81) and Iris Tomlinson (Lyddon, 72-80).

One disadvantage of the new alternative E-mail Newsletter is that often my comments written on the top of the letter brought some response, but please will those Raineians still keep in touch and contact me.

• Remaining on my Callminder is a message asking if I was the Miss Jackson who taught music. I think the caller was Nabigi Mer - have I got the name right? (yes, although not a member - ed.) - the answer is “yes”.

• At the time of Wallie’s death I wrote to Rosemary Lawton who was in the geography department pre Gareth Parry (does any one know where he is? - ed.) and Christine Crump (Stacey). She responded by saying she had not seen him for 33 years and working life with him was very short, but covered a dramatic time in the history of Raine’s (amalgamation of boys’ and girls’ schools).

• Christine Smith’s (Hoe, 53-58) husband John (52-59) is a member of the Old Raineian Lodge along with George Osborne and John Matthews. Mr Roden (Physics department) had been missing at a spring meeting owing to illness.

• Roy Matthews (elder brother of John) played rugby for England Schoolboys and Harlequins and became a Pilot Officer in the RAF. • John Blundell (Art department) had his memory jogged by Lynn Warner's (Baker) letter. He remembered her lunch time activities and discussions and Jane Durrell as a talented artist and athlete (I still have her original poster for our ‘Pirates of Penzance’ performances!). John has lost contact with Kathy Burke and wonders is anyone knows her whereabouts.

He ‘bumped into’ Leon Finn, well established in the legal profession as well as having a book published. So has John - a guide book to St Mary Cray - copies are available if you are a resident or interested in the area.

• More recently John has seen Annette Bugansky, formerly active in fashion and dressmaking, who has been attending a course at St Martin’s School of Art and is

• Eddie Marsan, who appeared in various Raine’s productions, makes frequent appearances on TV. • Miss Mangold had been in touch with Marjorie Robbins, who had enclosed a photo of herself and Jocelyn Oatley taken in Aix-en-Provence.

She had also heard from Hazel Kempton (Pitchford) and then Hazel and Ann Telford (Steele) had visited her.

• Congratulations to David Spencer (75-82) on reaching Everest’s South Summit during his participation in an expedition early this summer.

On 15 May 2000 David was part of the first team to try to reach the summit. He departed Camp 4 (at 8000 m) at 11.00pm and climbed the south face of Everest up to the ‘balcony’ (8400 m), arriving there at 3.30am.

From there, he continued up the south-east ridge that leads directly to the summit, where progress was slowed by a sherpa team in front of him who were fixing ropes, a safety feature required for stopping a person tumbling down some 4000 m in the event of a fall.

At 9.00am, he reached the south summit of Everest at 8751 m, a point that is higher than any other mountain in the world (including K2), but still some 97 m lower that the true summit of Everest. At this point, the sherpa team ran out of rope for the final fixing of the Hillary step. It appears that one of the Nepalese sherpas misunderstood the instruction “bring the rope to the balcony where we will begin fixing” and instead he brought the rope to the balcony and left it there!

At the south summit, the choice had to be made of climbing the Hillary Step without any protection, or turning around. “I was so close to the top, but thought it wiser to turn around at that point - one misplaced step and I would have been gone. Strangely, I am not too disappointed about the events that day. I know that if the rope was there, the summit was attainable - I had enough oxygen in my tank and felt surprisingly good up there. But I felt that the risk of an unprotected climb for the final 97 m was not worth it.”

David is still living in Norway where he has just finished working for an oil company called Saga Petroleum ASA. He was recently elected as a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and has gained professional recognition as a Chartered Chemist, Chartered Physicist, European Physicist and as a Certified Petroleum

PAGE 9 Geologist. He was recently elected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa. In the past year, he was awarded a Licentiateship of the City & Guilds of London Institute in Science Laboratory Technology and granted a European Commission TMR (Training and Mobility of Researchers) Award.

Plans are underway for a move away from Norway in the next few months.

OTHER NEWS – 2 From Bill Richards

U

nfortunately, as with the last Newsletter, I start this section with the sad news of Old Raineians who have

died.

At the end of March this year John Dixon (27-31) died. Our condoleces to John’s family.

Belated condolences to the families of Ian Stewart (60-65) and Dave Elliott (61-66) who both passed away in 1998.

• As Len Kendler (37-44) “survived longer than expected” he sent us another £5.00 to help with the postage. Thank you Len. • Humph Long has finally decided to retire completely from Raine’s after working part-time since 1992. I inderstand that he will still be involved in basketball .

Humph started at Raine’s in 1963 and therefore will be known to a number of you reading this article. If you have any stories about or just wish to say thank you to Humph, please do write.

• Lynn Dawson (Bryant, 73-80), living in St Albans, sent the following: “I have finally got around to writing something for the newsletter, having spent the last year or so reeling from the arrival of Jonathan Patrick Dawson, now almost 18 months. I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the last reunion - I bought a ticket, and then Jonathan was ill with pneumonia so I couldn’t attend.

I was very sad to hear about Wallie Spooner, whom I remember well. My sister, Pat Bryant, remembers him as one of the only teachers she wasn’t scared of and asked me to pass on her condolences.

There were a couple of items in the last newsletter, which brought a smile. I appreciated the little bit about the school song.

Somebody asked if it was still used, and commented that they couldn’t remember the words. Neither can I, but is there anybody out

PAGE 10

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER

BARBECUE

I

n advance of the ORA summer barbecue the committee spent many months searching all over the country and sampling smoked meats from every barbecue they could find. Their passion was almost religious in nature - their trips like “pilgrimages” to the most hallowed “shrines of barbecue!” Their understanding of the holy trinity is “Smoke, Meat and Sauce” and the exhilarating aromas wafting from ribs fresh from the smoker, “heavenly!”

With each trip, they learned more and more about barbecue sauces, and would return home to their kitchens for repeated testing and refining of their taste senses. They spent countless hours crushing and grinding fresh herbs and spices until…they were ready! Come the big day, scores of Old Raineians turned out for a sumptuous barbecue of sausages and burgers and Heinz sauce (what happened to the research?).

Of course other members of the committee volunteered to do the same research for the liquid refreshments. You could see that this secondary research was successful by the quality of the orange juice served on the day! After stringent sampling during the barbecue our esteemed editor vows to carry on the research to keep the high standards of the alcohol drinks for the next function!! But seriously folks the recent summer barbecue and family day was a huge success with a turnout of over 70 people.

The barbecue was preceded by the thanksgiving service for Wallie Spooner in the hall of Raines School, the readings were by “Since upon the throne of England first was hailed the name of Fred Fred, with great big yawns of boredom Went to sleep on a Slumberland bed Fred was sleeping Water was seeping From the ceiling, on his head Fred was drownded Raine’s was founded” That’s the story of poor Fred.”

This masterpiece was the work of one Sharon Moulton (now going under the alias of Sharon Key, but don’t let that fool you), myself, and I suspect one or two others. It was composed during a rehearsal for prize giving at Queen Mary College, in an attempt to keep ourselves from going insane with boredom. There were other verses, but I’m afraid they got a bit vulgar later on, so I’ve tactfully forgotten the words.

Does anybody else remember those

Lesley Tear and Clive Baugh (both of whom also read at the funeral service in January) and Tony Fuller. It was well attended and included Wallie’s daughter and family who found it very moving. We then moved into the covered courtyard where despite the unpredictable weather, a huge barbecue was set up.

Delicious food was expertly cooked and when the fire died down the children were able to toast some marshmallows on sticks.

There were a number of activities to keep the children occupied with a lucky dip, tombola, raffle, balloons, face painting as well as access to the playground and table tennis. For the adults there were plants, tombola, raffle and a well stocked bar. For one adult there was also the face painting. Many thought that Bill Richards should never wash off the paint as it was a great improvement on his ‘natural’ look! Tony Fuller also arranged for a display of books, photos, memorabilia, etc., which proved to be very popular.

It was nice to meet new members who mingled with the regular attendees and everyone went home with armfuls of prizes and marshmallow stuck to the smiles on their faces. Many thanks to all that donated items for stalls which enabled the ORA to add around £250 to the funds.

Our appreciations go to Sandra Johnson and Claire Burrows for organising the event and also to other members and their spouses, children, friends, etc., who helped. Special thanks go to Martin Bellis and George Lewzey for helping to barbecue the food.

unending rehearsals, or have we all blocked them from our minds? More to the point, and I address this to all teachers, headmasters and other former sadists out there - why did we have them? Why did we all have to spend the best part of a day sitting around getting instructions on how to walk up on a stage and get a prize? It was only after reading the Newsletter that I started thinking about it and realising just how bizarre it was!

Did they think we’d get lost on the way to the stage? The joke of it was that on the day itself there were always dozens of staff and prefects acting as ushers and sheep dogs anyway. You’d have had to be Houdini to slip through that net!

I also have a recollection, at one of those rehearsals, of Mr Nice trying to persuade Sharon, Melanie Foord, Ruth Graham and I that it would be a useful exercise to calculate how many baked beans you could fit into a bathtub. It’s a symptom of how

bored we all were, that I think we even tried.

Mr Nice, if you’re out there, in all my years in a variety of jobs, I have never, ever, needed to know how many baked beans you can fit into a bath tub, okay?

I also read the bit about Hazel Paul hitting 40, and I don’t believe it. I still see Hazel Paul as a somewhat giggly 18 year old Yum Yum in the Mikado, whose wig kept slipping off, and she cannot possibly be 40!

I also loved Lyn Warner’s bit about the early days at the school. I too remember being taught how to sit in assembly by Miss Lowes, and the horrendous navy blue knickers. It’s marvellous to know that there was somebody out there who did wear them everyday, because I only wore them on PE days. I think I figured that as long as I obeyed instructions and sat properly in assembly, nobody on stage was going to see them!

Finally, I appreciated your little bit

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER about people who are still not members. The above mentioned Sharon Key is one of these, and despite repeated nagging, she still nabs my newsletters and sniggers over the contents without joining. I have decided, therefore, that this year’s birthday gift to Sharon will be life membership of the Old Raineians’ Association.”

• You may remember that I was asking for the name of the pub that was next to the boys’ entrance in Arbour Square. Thankfully Tony Fuller has found out that it was called the ‘Star and Garter’. If anyone has any other information on this please send it to me e.g.

Does anybody remember drinking in there, using the cricket nets behind the pub, etc.

• Duncan Edmonston (58-65) has asked if the Association would be producing any modern memorabilia such as rugby shirts, T-shirts, etc. If anybody else is interested please let us know and if the demand is large enough we will look into the feasibility.

• Mildred Gordon (34-39) telephoned to say that she had be given the Freedom of the Borough of Tower Hamlets on Tuesday 28th March in York Hall (300 hundred guests so too many for the Town Hall). She was one of four receiving this honour, another being Lord Shore of Stepney (past MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney). The honour was given for ‘Eminent services to the Community’.

Mildred retired finally at the age of 74 when her constituency ended with the boundary changes. She is an active executive member (Patron) of The Greater London Pensioners Forum. Mildred also represents the National Assembly of Women on the UK coalition against poverty, which is a big umbrella organisation of 160 voluntary groups.

Mildred is also on the Tower Hamlets Education and Business Partnership executive. When an MP Mildred supplied a trophy and started The Mildred Gordon Public Speaking Competition for secondary schools. It is now in its fourth year; with more schools taking part each year and Mildred helps judge in the finals, which this year was held in Canary Wharf. Last year’s winners, two girls from the Mulberry School went as delegates to the UN Youth Council (?) where they spoke. Mildred said, "So this is Tower Hamlets kids who used to not open their mouth!" Once children compete in this competition they begin to compete in broader competition, i.e., London and National.

They gain self-confidence and are excellent.

It was Mildred’s hope that it would help the children to be articulate; to have confidence to talk up in public and to compete outside the East End, and it’s working.

Everyone has co-operated and the cup goes from school to school every year to whoever wins. The Mayor gives a lovely enamelled plaque, which the school keeps. Each finalist gets a book token and the current MP invites the first three winners to lunch in Parliament, which Mildred attends.

This competition is open to all and those who get through to the heats are given an afternoon of training in presentation by the Education and Business Partnership. It also encourages teachers to develop children's articulation.

PAGE 11 get the Newsletter out to us is really appreciated. Since I ‘rejoined’ Raine’s through the ORA I have had the great pleasure of being in touch with Mrs Weingarten and Miss Mangold (my only regret is that I didn’t manage to get to visit Mrs Weingarten before she died), plus renewed contact with Alan Thoroughgood, one of my contemporaries.

On clearing out a cupboard the other day I came across a few old photos from my school days and thought some of the Newsletter readers might be interested. One is of the school hockey team - I’m not sure of the year, but probably 1961/62. The photo taken on the small balcony at the rear of the school in Arbour Square is from 1961 and the girl out of uniform was my German exchange pupil.

I still keep in touch with her, as we met again in Tübingen while I was studying German there.

I left Raine’s a year or so before the school became mixed so never personally

• One of the members who sent his news by e-mail was John Williams (81-83): “I attended Raine’s for two years from 1981 to 1983 after spending the previous five years at Parmiter’s Grammar School. I became Head Boy for the 1982/3 academic year. I then went onto Brunel University to do a four year engineering honours degree.

After graduation in 1987, I joined BT’s Radio Structuring Engineering Team based in London.

In 1997, after 10 years I moved into the ATM Project Team (in London) within BT, where I currently work. I have responsiHOCKEY 1961-1962 bility for designL to R: ?, Jocelyn Oatley, Jane Broadbent, ?, ?, ?, Christine ing and building Pattrick, Rosemary Collins, Kay Jefferson, ?, Christine Lane (?) the optical fibre network which supports Internet, voice, data and video experienced the various male teachers menproducts which are currently experiencing tioned in the newsletters, but as we managed to get to know the boys in spite of the ‘iron exponential growth in demand.” curtain’ Roderick Rees mentioned in the last • Iris Tomlinson (Lyddon 72-80) was Newsletter, the names were familiar to us another who replied to confirm a change of through the episodes they relayed to us girls. address and mentioned she would like to I suppose to impress us and of course we make contact with Melanie Corrigan (Ford) were always duly impressed by their stories and Lynn Dawson (Bryant). Hopefully this of getting the slipper and not to mention the has now happened as I wrote to both of them various fire-alarm and stink-bomb episodes.

Even the ‘iron curtain’ couldn’t prevent us at the end of July.

Iris also said to mention to Gemma from being able to participate in those well McGill (O’Connor) that Geoff Perry never remembered experiences.

You wondered, Roderick, whether we became a vet - instead he is a hard pushed GP. felt the same about you boys as you say you • As well as writing, from Norway, felt about us - and of course the answer is we Christine Østensen Goksøyr (Pattrick, did. We didn’t very often get a glimpse of 55-62) also sent a donation of £100 for which you and you must forgive me that though I we are most thankful. Christine was Head was “on the other side” during the very same years you gazed through those glass doors, I Girl, 1961/2.

“Thanks for another Newsletter - I ex- have no recollection of you, as the timetables pect many before me have told you that the were arranged so that we weren’t leaving the many hours you and your team must put in to classrooms at the same time and we started

PAGE 12

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER and finished school at different times. I seem to remember that the boys finished after us as I have vague memories of waiting for a boyfriend in Arbour Square and sitting on one of the benches in the gardens giggling together with one of my friends when the gardener walked past. He was an exceptionally stout fellow - my worn out mind refuses to send his name to the surface, but I know we had a name for him, as we did for most of the characters in our daily school life.

I remember too the excitement of the mixed dances we had together with the boys’ school - we girls planned our outfits down to the smallest detail for months in advance to impress you boys. I can still remember the dresses I made for the occasions, inspired by various film-star fashions, to be as unlike our school uniforms as possible (one was a bottle-green satin with an orange rose at the belt - do you remember me now, Roderick I must have impressed you in that outfit!) I remember that one of the boys (John Smith) had a band and played at one of the dances he lived in Ilford, as I did - but I can’t remember what music we had otherwise. Nik

I’d love to hear from any old students who were at school from 1927 to 1933.

There may even be some boys of that time.

As an East Ham student I travelled on the same buses with a number of other Raineians.

If there are any relatives of Miss Doris M Grafton, I have several letters from her which I kept because she wrote such beautiful, interesting letters.

Does any one know anything about Winnie Wilkinson or Pearl Schreiber?”

• Did anyone see Mark Rossi (68-75) and his sister Angela (69-76) on Channel 4’s ‘Deal on Wheels’ on 11 April?

• Some time ago Eddie Chambers wrote in and gave a list of his class mates. Malcolm Pit-Keathley (48-55, Head Boy) can add to that if Eddie is interested (let me know - ed.)

• Kap Varma (68-75) has developed his own website at http://www.go.to/varma.

• Melvyn Mott (53-58) wrote to say he is spending a lot of time in the Middle East these days and can return to mail that is out of date. Therefore the idea of the Newsletter by e-mail is an excellent idea.

• Susanne Lane (Chumbley 59-65) is thinking of going to live in Spain. Would like to know if any Old Raineians have tried it and what advice would they give e.g. don’t do it, go for it, etc.

• Maurice Buzzard (49-54) said how BALCONY 1961 much he enjoyed the Summer Reunion at Back Row: ?, ?, Nina Bailey, Jocelyn Oatley, ?, ?

Raine Street: Front Row: Kay Jefferson, Rosemary Collins, Pauline Joel, “I was particu?, Brigitte from Germany, Christine Pattrick larly pleased to meet Waller wrote of one ‘ball’ but I’m sure it Terry Green was in my class way back! We must have been an annual event, because I had much to talk over from the distant past and we swapped many pleasant memories remember so many outfits!

I remember the faces so well but can’t and stories from our youth.

However, we both wondered if any of put a name to all them in the photos - perhaps someone else can? (If you can please write - your readers could enlighten us with news. ed.) I do remember that Kay Jefferson, who We were in the ‘A’ form from 1949 until 1954 and our form master was ‘Nobby’ is in both photos, emigrated to Australia.”

Clarke. Names that spring to mind to mind • Ann Tauber (Wilkinson, 27-33), lives include Alan Joseph, Ken Warren, Pete Martin, David Polden or anyone from those in California: “I have a photograph of the girls’ stu- years. (1949 is one of the years on my list to dent body of 1935, taken in the girls’ play- ‘search’ after this Newsletter is finished - ed.)

I look forward to any news and the next ground at Arbour Square.

reunion.”

• Michele Bustin (Phillips, 59-65, Head Girl) sent an e-mail from Israel: “Although I’m far away I have been getting the Newsletters regularly. It’s fun but sometimes sad reading news of people from the past. (Recently, the death of Mr Spooner who I remember well.)

Unfortunately, I haven’t been in England at any of the reunion dates. However, after having told Rosemary Cox (Michele, can you persuade her to join? - ed.) about the Association, she did make it to a reunion and wrote to me about it.”

Finally, two requests regarding the Committee. Is there anyone interested in joining the Committee which meets, at the most, once a month, near Charing Cross. If you live too far away but you are still interested in helping, we are also looking for regional representatives. Please contact Sandra Johnson if either appeals to you.

Sandra is also looking for somebody who may be interested in a quantity of used stamps that she has. Perhaps you may know of some good cause that collects them.

I look forward to seeing you at any of the future functions and don’t forget to send news abou yourselves or anyone else you may be in touch with. Also if you know of someone who is not a member please try to persuade them to join. Don’t forget the e-mail number - admin@rainesoc.com.

Bill Richards

Old Raineians’ Association

NEWSLETTER E-mail: admin@rainesoc.com Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road Bethnal Green London E2 9LY Tel: 020 8981 1231 Fax: 020 8983 0153

Sandra Johnson 9 Goddington Lane Orpington Kent BR6 9DR Tel: 01689 826854 Fax: 01689 873115

Tony Fuller 81 Rosewood Avenue Elm Park Essex RM12 5LD Tel: 01708 473821

Bill Richards 26 Shandy Street Stepney London E1 4LX Tel: 020 7790 9235

Gwynneth Jackson Glevum Kirkby Malzeard Nr Ripon North Yorks HG4 3RS Tel: 01765 658825

JANUARY 2001

B

elated Happy New Year to you all.

Sadly the end of last year was a sad time with the news that three former teachers of the school had passed away: Basil Dowling, English (see page 3); Ione Hoskins, Commerce and Irene Munn (56-65), PE. The obituary on Mr Dowling was published in The Independent in early September and was sent to John Blundell just before Christmas. Unfortunately our ‘grapevine’ let us down this time as this was the first time we had heard the news.

Miss Hoskins died suddenly on 14 November 2000 and was cremated at Aldershot. Again my thanks to John Blundell for supplying the information. If you have any memories regarding any of these teachers please do send them to us.

Before we get into the news I would like to pass on my apologies to Miss Joan Mangold. In the last Newsletter I said that the article about Miss Pat Miller was sent

by Christine Smith. It should have been credited to Miss Mangold. Again my apologies, but also my appreciation in supplying your memories of Miss Miller.

My thanks also to Christine who supplied the photograph.

If you enjoy receiving memories and news of your contemporaries, remenber they would also like to hear your recollections and news. Please get writing and send whatever comes to mind, by post, fax or e-mail (admin@rainesoc.com or wilf_richards@hotmail.com).

NEW MEMBERS • Graham Berry (54-61) wrote to the school asking for information on the Old Raineians’ Association and reunions.

“I remember the first day at school in

1954, when we had to sit a test that re- blue, and then going absolutely crazy when sulted in being streamed into the A, B and I instinctively raised an arm to block it. He C classes. Michael Bishop sat next to me accused me of trying to break his arm, and and he asked me what I hoped to do as a then followed it up with a class lecture of career. I said that my dad wanted me to be how not to… a draughtsman, but he said unequivocally I think the erstwhile footballers tried that he wanted to be a doctor. I think both to make up for their deprivation on the aspirations were ultimately fulfilled. playing field by kicking about the playThe girls and boys were separated by ground an off-cut of wood from Jock that screen in the assembly hall and a wall Cameron’s workshop. Johnny Harris, in the playground. The only contact be- David Arter, John Holt and myself must tween us seemed to be if you were a thespian type and took part in the drama productions.

For games we either went by GreyGreen coaches to Sidcup or to Fairlop, 6.30pm onwards starting with a long trudge to Bethnal Raine’s Foundation School Green tube station. My sporting memories are Approach Road, Bethnal Green not so happy as we had to play rugby and I £3 per ticket desperately wanted to (incl. Cheese; cash bar for drinks) play football, but was commandeered to play for Winterton in the Smart casual or old school uniform inter-house competitions as a front row prop. At cricket I got smashed in the face have kicked seven bells out of our black fielding at slip. Naturally that put me off a chisel-toed shoes! bit, and in boxing, when I stupidly volIn the sixth form, during the holidays, unteered to have a go, I was pummelled to Ron Striebig and I went off to earn some near death by the tall lean champion to be money by doing fruit picking in an agri- Cranfield! cultural camp in March, Cambridgeshire.

Aubrey Ironmonger hardly gave us the We soon got bored with that and spent chance to dry ourselves after gym, before most of the time road running.

I was given three shillings a day for being ushered out of the changing rooms half dressed and still damp. I remember my school dinners, but regularly used to him throwing a punch at me out of the starve. I would spend the money instead

Cheese and Wine Party Saturday 17 February, 2001

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER

PAGE 2

up the Mile End Road where you could as to the contents of your letter. I joined Nepal and Israel to visit ancient sites of buy second-hand jukebox records for the the Old Raineians as a life member just interest. price of a lunch! I still treasure my Buddy after leaving school, also at a cost of £20 I have a great interest in family hisHolly 45s to this day! (goes to show that the present cost is very tory, instigated by my grandfather, who Some additional teachers’ names to good value - ed) and for many years re- recited an oral family history with mothose recalled by Martyn Armitage were ceived a newsletter. I had been wondering notonous regularity to my cousins and me, Messrs Goode, Harding, Sinton, Bawden, why I hadn’t received any news from the as children. I have spent the last 20 years Dobson and Cameron. Mr Bawden was a Association for some years, but as the attempting to construct family trees for history teacher, but probably remembered newsletters had arrived in fits and starts in mine and Neil’s families, with some most as being the one with the slipper! He the past I assumed the ‘fit’ was just ex- success. was a short ginger-headed man with a tended! Obviously, at some point my deOur daughter, Diana, is a geneticist, strong arm, and it was a regular occurrence tails have been lost - maybe in the move and has had a few papers published in for him to whack the whole class if a from Arbour Square. relevant scientific publications. She has culprit didn’t repent! Jock was a mild I notice you do not mention a couple just returned from an 18-month backman, but occasionally went ballistic if you of my contemporaries, whom I know were packing trip round the world. Our son, carried a chisel in the wrong manner. also life members (let me know their Keith, has been managing pubs, and is I had my first pint of Mann’s brown names, etc., and I will try to trace them - looking to find one to lease or buy. ale for 11d in the local corner pub. Jake’s ed). I must conclude that some of the As my contemporaries may rememsweet shop in Commercial Road ber, I was involved in a serious was like a honeypot for us all, with car accident during the third year For those of you who are on the such delicacies as Percy Dalton at Raine’s, which left me with peanuts and broken bars of hononly a hoarse whisper for a Internet why not visit the Associaeycomb. It cost 9d to watch voice, and restricted breathing. tion’s website. If you have any Chelsea. How ridiculous the fifth The breathing is still resuggestions about the site please do form boys looked with caps on! stricted and getting more so as Michael Bishop and Alan the scar tissue ages, and the let us know. The address is: Thorougood were head and deputy voice hasn’t changed - it’s still a head boys. They seemed to excel whisper! Walking any distance in everything; study, sport and is now very difficult, however, I fraternising with the girls next still manage to get a lot out of door!

Those schooldays were, life (my husband and I travel nevertheless, very happy ones on reflection. Association’s records have gone missing. quite a lot and I do what I can and stop I did go on to be a sort of draughtsThis apart, I would certainly be in- when I can’t cope). As a holder of an man, joining a land surveying firm in the terested in receiving news about contem- orange disabled badge, I do still get city with Tony Fletcher. From there I went poraries and the progress of the school. around, by car - I find public transport into highway engineering which I conFollowing is a brief outline of my life somewhat difficult these days. However, I tinued until I gained early retirement when since leaving school, should this be of manage to enjoy life, so long as I pace Avon County Council was dissolved in interest. myself.

1996.

1958-1964 Attended Raine’s; 1964-5 Reading the contents of the NewsletSome of my other classmates were: Attended Pitman’s College, Southampton ter has prompted my memory somewhat. I, John Bedding, Simon Whitmore, John Row; 1965-6 Worked in the City; 1966-73 too, remember the tediousness of prizeBerry, Fred Corse, Malcolm Bush, Mark Worked locally for various solicitors; 1967 giving days, but the worst part was not Baker, Michael Block, Geoff Silence, Spent 3 months holiday with American being on top form for the evening after a Derek Misell, Derek Chambers, Andrew penfriend; 1969 Got engaged; 1970 Mar- day of mind-bogglingly boring rehearsals!

Devereux, Messrs Norris, Martin and Ak- ried Neil Blaydon; 1973 Daughter Diana My one enduring memory of these events bar. born; 1976 Son Keith born; 1977 Moved to was receiving my prize for passing my ‘O’ I fondly remember both the school Germany as Neil took a job in Heidelberg; levels. Not only had I and another song and the motto which took me a long 1980 I returned home with children; 1981 classmate, Maureen Hull, been amongst time to appreciate the ethos behind them.” Neil returned home; 1985-9 Started the few pupils with the highest number of cooking with WRVS meals-on-wheels passes (against all expectations), but we • Angela Blaydon (Rita Fisher, 58-64) service on a part-time basis; 1989 Joined received our prizes from that great poet joined the Association, although she had Leatherhead Food Research Association and subsequently Poet Laureate, Sir John joined as a life member just after leaving full-time. Now manager of typesetting, Betjeman. What a delightful man he was, school. graphics and post sections; 1996 Obtained with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and “Many thanks for your letter. Yes, I BSc(Hons) Upper Second degree in Bio- what seemed like an individual conversaam the Rita Fisher you refer to, but have logical Sciences. tion for every prize-winner. A memory been known by my second name, Angela, Neil and I have a great interest in that will stay with me all my life. by all and sundry since leaving school, just ancient and mediaeval history and arI also remember the stink-bomb inso that you are not confused. chaeology, and have travelled to many cidences, and a vague recollection of water I must confess I was rather surprised places including Turkey, China, India, bombs from the roof?!

www.rainesoc.com

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER

PAGE 3

BASIL DOWLING BASIL DOWLING was a New Zealand poet who settled and taught in Britain. He was a warm and attractive personality, an accomplished and sensitive poet, and a sympathetic and inspiring teacher.

Born in 1910 at his father’s sheep station in Southbridge, near Canterbury, New Zealand, he was the youngest of five brothers who all attended St Andrew’s College, Christchurch, at the same time thereby establishing a record. His father, Thomas T. Dowling died when Basil was nine years old, and his mother four years later.

In 1932 he graduated in history at Canterbury University College, subsequently studying at Knox College, Dunedin, and coming to Britain in 1936 to pursue a postgraduate course in Theology at Westminster College, Cambridge. On his return to New Zealand two years later, be was ordained as a Presbyterian minister and officiated at Seatoun Church, Wellington. But with the advent of war in 1939 he registered as a conscientious objector and his pacifist stance led to his leaving the church, to spend the remainder of the war years working on a market garden in Christchurch.

From 1947 until 1951 he held the positions of Reference and then Deputy Librarian at Otago University, and in the following year moved to Britain to begin a career in teaching, first at Downside Preparatory School in Surrey, and from 1954 at Raine’s Foundation Grammar School, east London, where, in succession to James Shivers, he was Head of English until his retirement in 1975.

With his wife, Margaret, whom he had married in 1938, he lived first at Highgate, north London, and then made his home at Rye, East Sussex, where he became involved in activities such as the town art gallery and the Rye Singers - music always being of particular interest to him. He revisited New Zealand briefly for a family reunion in 1979.

The writing of poetry was the main concern of Basil Dowling’s life, and the. chief vehicle for the expression of his character influenced by the poetry of Hardy, Yeats, Edward Thomas, Robert Frost and Andrew Young, with whom he had a very rewarding friendship, he became acquainted with James Courage, D’Arcy Cresswell and Charles Brasch (amongst New Zealand writers), and Patric Dickinson and others in the artistic I would love to get in touch again with some of my contemporaries.

Would anyone know the whereabouts of Maureen Hull (she used to live in Seven Kings), Ann Byers (Gants Hill) or Eve Hereford (parents lived in Faversham, Kent, but her father was the manager of the Montague Hotel by the British Museum)? Eve married and became Eve Thomas (?Thompson) and the last contact was when she rang my home in Leatherhead the morning of my wedding when I was at the hairdressers.

So I never did get to speak to her and since then have not heard anything. That was in 1970! I am still in touch with Judith Walford (nee Harris), and she is still in touch with Linda Freeman.

community at Rye. Many of his poems appeared in the early years of the literary periodical Landfall, founded in 1947 by Denis Glover and Charles Brasch, which printed some of the best work of at least two generations of New Zealand writers. Of his eight books, beginning with A Day’s Journey (1941), the first three were published by the Caxton Press, Christchurch. His further five volumes, including Bedlam: a mid-century satire (1972) and The Stream (1979), a narrative reminiscence of his childhood, were printed by the Nag’s Head Press, also of Christchurch.

His verse, always limpid and imaginative, and couched in traditional forms and metres, developed steadily in power and in quality of observation to culminate in a final collection entitled Windfalls, which appeared in 1983. While remaining constant to his native background, he became increasingly aware of social and political issues of his time, ever true to his profoundly humane and radical views. He has left a body of carefully constructed poetry, full of sanity and wisdom, which achieves the dimension of verbal “magic” for which he aimed.

He read his poem “The Early Days” at a recital of Commonwealth literature at the Royal Court Theatre in London, and it has also been broadcast on Radio 3. Perhaps his most memorable piece is “Travelling Light” (included in his penultimate collection. The Unreturning Native, 1973) with its final injunction for the equally needed “light to travel by”. His poems have appeared in many anthologies - some produced for teaching purposes published not only in Britain, New Zealand and Australia, but also in the United States, India and Scandinavia.

He was a keen follower of cricket, and took particular pleasure in the career of his nephew, Graham Dowling, the former New Zealand Test captain. Basil Dowling is survived by his wife, by his son Christopher (Director of Public Services at the Imperial War Museum) and daughters Virginia and Imogen.

R. J. Barttelot Basil Cairns Dowling, poet and schoolmaster; born Southbridge, New Zealand 29 April 1910; married 1938 Margaret Wilson (one son, two daughters); died Rye, East Sussex 24 July 2000.

I am looking forward to the next Newsletter."

• John Fearn (39-45) was one of the war evacuees: “At last, I have got around to writing, primarily to send the long overdue application for life membership, but also to throw some light on what must have appeared to be somewhat eccentric behaviour during the last reunion.

My attendance was complicated by a number of additional factors. My only experience of Raine’s Foundation was at the evacuation locations and its present whereabouts could only be comprehended in terms of either Parmiters or North East

London Emergency Secondary School.

Bethnal Green being the domicile of my maternal ancestors, naturally my interest had an additional focus on visiting the probable former sites of their previous existence - Old Bethnal Green Road and St Jude’s Place (now buried! beneath a residential estate). Finally the existence, within a ¼ mile of the present Raine’s, of Ede House. This was the Section House for single Met Policemen of which I was a former resident for the last four years of my service with that Force.

One feature of the reunion that I enjoyed enormously was the memorial service for Wallie Spooner. It was conducted in a very tasteful manner. Per-

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER sonally I could have continued in the Assembly Hall to listen to others present giving their own testimony to their previous experience of both Wallie and other staff now sadly departed.

The migration to the venue for the barbecue left me somewhat bereft because, not knowing any present, save recent encounter with yourselves and monopoly in that direction would be a definite ‘no no!’, I settled for punting off to engage in an inspection of the focus of interest in the vicinity. This proved both enjoyable, yet somewhat exhausting. This also enabled me to view the present Junior Department.

Ironically Ede House has been given over to a hostel for the homeless and others in need of cheap accommodation. This information was provided by a group of ethnic residents whom I accosted on their leaving the premises.

They looked askance when I vouchsafed the information concerning the property’s former incarnation.

Upon my return to the reunion I was brought up to the present in a very abrupt way. Rather than the days of my studentship at Camberley, where the doors of Beechleigh were permanently unlocked, save when the premises were vacated after school and the extra-mural activities had been completed, Raine’s 2000 was firmly locked and secured. Remembering that the gate to the playground was opened to allow cars to be parked, I went to investigate gaining admission via that route. Alas it too was locked and whilst one could hear the reunion, no person was within sight to hail to gain readmission. Fortunately after a while a departing reunitee leaving early allowed my access. There was a temptation to climb over the fence, but the presence of a waiting bus outside the Chest Hospital scotched that notion.

My subsequent sitting detached and isolated on the wooden bench on the periphery was not aloofness but uncertainty.

The sudden mobilisation from the cloakroom to the barbecue location left me somewhat stranded and as I had neither made the requisite membership donation nor subscribed to the reunion refreshment levy, I was uncertain as to what procedure to follow.

In the event having brought a packed lunch with me, with the aid of the facilities to recharge my Thermos in the Admin Office Annex, I enjoyed my food, watching the proceedings at a distance. This was the nearest to my school days when taking

PAGE 4 MARTYRS FOR THE SCHOOL

O

ver 80 people were at the English Martyrs' Club for the annual reunion in November and "a good time was had by all" - some photos (censored) are on the ORA website, www.rainesoc.com.

(There are also some further on in the Newsletter) The very lively reunion was held in a private room with bar - in fact, there was over 20 people still at the bar at 1.00am. The hot food provided was excellent and ample. As always, there was a good mixture of different age groups and of regular reunion attendees and first-timers. The committee were congratulated, on the night and subsequently by telephone, on the splendid evening and it was agreed that the 2001 reunion should be held at the same venue.

If you missed this reunion then you missed one of the better ones.

However, you can make up for it next year. What more can you ask forprivate room, private bar, good food and plenty of it and good company?

A group from the 1959 boys' intake were there after being 'rounded up' by Geoff Gillon. Lots of memories were exchanged. Barrie Sharp told of his visit to see Ernie Tarling in New Zealand.

Alan Choat e-mailed Geoff to say it was a pleasure to meet so many contemporaries, even though some were not immediately recognisable.

The whole evening, however, seemed busy and unfortunately he didn't get the chance to 'chew the fat' with many of them. The 'crystal clear recollections' Alan heard were certainly extremely impressive, but he only seemed to recall mucking about, dodging Maths and getting whacked. The next event, due to Alan's "even older age", may allow him to recall the distant past more clearly.

Alan hopes that the 'County Members', Allan Leach and Barrie Sharp enjoyed the London hospitality as opposed to subjecting themselves to the vagaries of our current rail system, as Alan did eventually, on his way home to Cambridgeshire. He went on to say "the Boys all looked well, good luck to them all."

Ray Choat (62-67), Alan's brother was also present and was keen to contact Terry Plummer.

With Alan mentioning the 'County Members' the committee would like to thank all those who attended, but especially those who had extended journeys. Some people travelled from such diverse places as Cheshire, Wales, Leicestershire and Warwickshire as well as London and the Home Counties. Again David De'ath was over from South Africa, for the third successive year. a sandwich to eat between the end of school and the commencement of Mr Donny Lyons Music Appreciation ‘class’, we had recourse to Beechleigh’s kitchen to brew up. It was an interesting experience accosting fellow reunitees to enquire as to their sojourning time. I was most successful either when entering or leaving the ‘loo’. It was then I realised just how antiquated I was.

Remembering that my time was the

era when the sons of Jewish refugees ejected by Adolf were taking full advantage of the educational opportunities provided by our Grammar School regime and the girls being evacuated to Hurstpierpoint, I found the absence of Jewish Old Boys and the presence of the opposite sex somewhat disconcerting.

Generally I found the day an exciting experience and am keen to keep going, despite being an anachronism!”

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER • Allan Leach (59-65) joined after attending the November Reunion.

“I was really pleased to be able to attend the November ‘hajj’ and I would like to thank all of those involved for organising a very successful event. I really enjoyed meeting friends and colleagues for the first time in thirty-four years and I sincerely hope to see them again.

Quite naturally our discussions focused upon the Old School. The general consensus seems to be that Raine’s had left us reasonably literate and numerate. We had (except for Carlos Goumal who really could have no excuse) a command of foreign languages no better than John F. Kennedy (and look what happened to him).

What else could be included in our legacy?

A strong sense of corporate identity; most of us can remember most of the first verse of the School Song. Loyalty was strictly hierarchical: School, House, Form.

A competitive streak; we remember our peers by House if not by name. We remember them through their sporting rather than academic prowess: who were the props, who opened the batting. Gareth Moore was the exception as he excelled in all subjects but professed no interest in sport whatsoever.

A sense of (in)justice; we can recall those occasions on which we believe that we were treated unfairly or harshly rather than the times that we were given the benefit of any doubt. We are also less than proud of those occasions when we did not prevent the persecution of the innocent.

Why did we not have the courage to do so?

Probably because we were afraid that we would become the next victim (a somewhat pathetic excuse).

So our legacy is an eclectic mix of academic and personal skills: literacy, numeracy and senses of loyalty, justice and shame.

We have, I believe, a tendency to look at the past with a mixture of regret for what was and what might have been, and relief that things were not quite as bad as they could have been. The future is, to some extent at least, what we make of it but without the sound foundations of our heritage our future would be shaky indeed.

It was not my intention for this epistle to be as maudlin as it may appear so with your indulgence I would like to offer a few awards: Best cuppa - Hugh (Tug) Wilson’s mum; Best Saturday fry-up - Robert William’s mum; Most interesting cuisine Ack Sotiri’s mum.

Finally a special award to John Bishop’s mum who kept me together during the summer of 66.”

• Lynne Mallery (Newman, 60-66) was, as with Angie Blaydon, one of my successes with the married ladies! Just to explain. I went back to old Newsletters and collected the married names of the girls and then did the search against the CD-ROM. “I have no particular recollections at the present time, but I do keep in touch with Linda Irving, Janet Newton and Linda Smith. Other names come to mind are Diane Shreibhand, Ellen Salmon (in Canada?), Francis Mott, Margaret Irvine, Maureen Tarr, Gillian Kartoon, Margaret Nurthen.

PAGE 5 a little Bed & Breakfast in Southend (special rates for reunions!). My son is just finishing his PhD at Queen Mary & Westfield. I have a lifelong friend who was also at Raine’s (member? name? - ed) who is a few years older than me and therefore has her own stories.

• James Skipper (58-63) apologised for taking so long to join after I had written to him but he had been working abroad.

• Helene Briskman (Hart, 56-63) another of the ‘married ladies’ successes.

• Alan Choat (59-65) sent an e-mail which is in the November Reunion section.

•

Stephen Davidson (70-75).

• Phyllis Popplewell (Hobbs, 27-39) ‘renewed’ her membership as she had not received Newsletters for some time.

•

Susan Force (Laver, 65-72).

•

Robert Jacks (70-75).

• Betty Schwartz (Isaaman, 59-65) joined after a phone call from Jackie Stern (Oakley).

“A few months ago I received a phone message, out of the blue, from a person called Jackie. Curiosity got the better of me and I phoned the number. It was the first contact in 36 years from an old Raineian classmate and the first of many subsequent e-nails at work to arrange reunions with two other class friends, Jean (Jacques) and Sandra (Kanter?).

We have now had three outings (up to September), the first at my home, the second alfresco in Leigh-on-Sea and the third at Sandra’s home - which incidentally was a gourmet’s delight!

I have many anecdotes to tell since my ex mother-in-law, Queenie Krisman, now aged 91, was an Old Raineian Scholarship girl. I used to attend the reunions held in Buckhurst Hill by Emily Parsons. My mother, too, won a scholarship to attend Raine’s. Her family was so poor that my mother tore up the letter stating that the uniform would be £1. She knew that her mother would have gone without to see that she was educated well and to my mum (aged 10), £1 was a fortune.

There’s so much to tell about my life but suffice to say my experiences as a PA to Chairman, mother, foster-parent, assistant nurse and editor have all given me an insight into human behaviour. At present I work, part-time, as submissions editor for Hodder & Stoughton and my husband has

•

Wayne Massett (70-75)

OTHER NEWS – 1 From Gwynneth Jackson

M

y first year as Senior Voluntary Warden in one area of the Dales National Park has been successful, although as a member of the Village Parish Council, we did not manage to solve the drainage problems in the vicinity!

It was good to see so many people at the Reunion. Every time is different and this time the predominate era was the pre amalgamation of the Boys’ and Girls’ schools. This was mainly due, I believe, to Geoff Gillon’s (59-64) influence.

• Barbara Donovan (Page, 67-74) was pleased to see Gary Palmer at the reunion.

Her son was away in Holland with his judo instructor, Laurie Dalton (68-76), who we are glad to say is back in circulation after a spell of bad health.

• Susan Wyburn (Brahame, 61-68) had written recently with news of her family, so it was nice to see her sister Linda (why not become a member? - ed), with Eileen Scuffell (Gurney, 64-71), her contemporary at the Reunion.

• During my brief visit to the 'Big City' I also saw Miss Joan Mangold (Headmistress, 55-64), who is considering vis-

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER iting China in 2001. She wondered if Tony Fuller would be interested in some photographs, magazines, etc. for the school history archives?

• Mrs Angela Pearce (ex staff, 79-97) had passed on a Newsletter to Father Burrows in which Tino Giglio-Vigna had reminisced about him and he responded to Tino, via myself. Father Burrows now has the care of a parish in Ipswich.

• I had an interesting letter from Deena Osborne (Gardiner, 72-77) who is a mother of two teenagers and teaches in an East Ham primary school. The previous summer they had gone to Rhodes on holiday. Staying in the same hotel as John Barrett, who is a friend of Malcolm Simpson who was in the same production of 'Charley's Aunt' as Deena. John is married with three children and now takes Deena's son to football matches.

Deena says how she was encouraged

by Anne Johnson and Wallie Spooner, who, recognising that she possessed a strong voice, invited her to read in assemblies. Having done this she found she was not afraid of giving presentations to large audiences during her degree course.

Steve Johnson, through the often intense discussions held in class, developed her analytical skills. Deena is grateful to these people who influenced and encouraged her.

ately Debra felt at ease. Jonathan Harvey lives in Barking, has two children and keeps in touch with Andrew Bassett.

Debra gave me news of Anne Henderson, who has two children and Lesley Cox, who has remarried and lives in Stanford-le-Hope with four sons. Does anyone know the whereabouts of Anita and Wendy Selby?

• After receiving his last Newsletter by e-mail ‘Reff’ Reffold (ex staff, 69-91) brought me up to date with his doings. He now lives in a shop house in the centre of Songkla and had recently opened a coffee shop cum restaurant named ‘Mrs Browns’.

It is open from 7.00 a.m. to midnight when, he says, they turn into pumpkins! The plan is to open a guest house in the two upper storeys and eventually to have a roof garden and a bar. Well done Reff, but I think I’ll keep my catering activities to

Deena used to hear from Sandra Matthews, who married and moved to Barbados, but has lost contact (I may be able to help - ed).

She also wanted to get in contact with Alison Harvey.

Not having Alison's address I phoned her sister Debra, now a mother of three sons and living in Horley.

Alison has four children and is working for a degree in nursing. Their father (also an Old Raineian) is retired, but doing supply teaching. Wallie had taught him and when he took Debra for her interview for Raine's, he recognised him and immedi-

providing sandwiches at village functions.

He also enclosed a cutting from the Bangkok Post about Kirkby Malzeard cricket team that had been taking part in a multinational tournament. He commented that “your villagers seem to put themselves about somewhat”. Yes, and we’ve also got a website!

PAGE 6 OTHER NEWS – 2 From Bill Richards

W

ere you one of the many who stayed up to enjoy the Sydney Olympics, although you may have been bleary eyed in the mornings! If you were interested in the Triple Jump you may have witnessed one of the athletes with brightly coloured hair. Phillips Idowu (90-97) qualified for the final round of jumps with a personal best.

Athletes who have achieved a personal best at the Games qualified for a cash award, with an equivalent sum of £1020 going to Raine’s. I am sure you will join with me in sending our congratulations to Phillips in finishing in sixth place and send him our best wishes in his career as a professional athlete.

• Geoff Gillon (59-64) was pleased that Martin Samuels (59-64) “had surfaced”.

Martin had been asked after by some of his contemporaries, not all of them members.

Geoff went on to say: “Probably the most famous incident concerns Martin’s extreme annoyance to Jim? Snowdon during poetry when Alan Choat was at the front of the classroom reading aloud and couldn’t be heard at the back because of Martin’s constant questioning to Mr Snowdon about last night’s television programmes. Mr Snowdon, in exasperation, remarked that the tube had gone (they did in those days!) on his set whereupon Martin chanted a jingle from an ad “Zubes are good for your tubes”. That was it - all hell broke loose and Mr I am surprised that he doesn’t recall the outside broadcast incident. I remember it well and I might be able to refresh his memory when I get to talk to him.”

Geoff also passed on e-mails he had received from contemporaries.

Peter Martin was hoping to be at the reunion but unfortunately he had a prior

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER engagement. He and his wife were going to Paris that weekend to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. Peter felt that if he did not go to Paris he would not be celebrating the 31st anniversary!!

Peter continued: “Incidentally, did you see Alan (Choat) on ‘Weakest Link’ some time in October? He survived to about the half way point and I think he is scheduled for another TV quiz some time.

I completed the London Marathon successfully in 4’ 17” (how did I miss you for sponsorship?!) and have since done the North Run last October. Funny really, I never liked running in those Fairlop days.

I am really sorry that I can’t make the 24th (well you will have to get your priorities right!! - ed). I was really looking forward, after all these years, to seeing old (older too now!) faces. Please do remember me to those whom the authorities let out (they didn’t - most of them escaped!

- ed) for the day and who know me.

Thanks Geoff, for doing the keeping in touch bit.”

Geoff has contacted or traced very many from his year intake.

“It all started from my efforts with my primary/junior school reunion a few years back. Not only did I trace a thousand or so former pupils from as far back as 1937, I managed to find every child with whom I shared a class from the age of 5 to 11. It was this that finally brought me to the computer age. Over 60 children were found and most turned up to see their childhood friends for the first time in 40 years. Now that was perhaps the most emotional day of our lives. We had not only studied together, we grew up together playing child hood games along the way.

One ‘girl’ wept as she exclaimed that she would remember that day in the same way as her wedding day. There was talk at one time of making a documentary on BBC 2 about it all. It was also suggested that I should write an article for the Reader’s Digest, but then I went back to work!

I am still involved with the follow up to that reunion as I feed all the material to my former classmate who runs our website (go to the William Torbitt section at http://home.btclick.com/imagine.it). It was mentioned to the ORA that I would be pleased to undertake a trial exercise in tracing former Raine’s pupils and from that success, Bill bought the same system to carry it on.”

• Another of his contemporaries that Geoff heard from was Alan Adlington (59-67).

After leaving Raine's Alan went to Cambridge University where he studied Maths. It was really hard and he ended up with a third. He says he probably fell asleep too often! He also ended his old and began his new spiritual journey at an evangelical sermon among loads of clever middle class Christians.

At the end of his second year Alan married Jean Philpott and this, plus the above meant that sport had to 'take a back seat'. After leaving University he decided to go into teaching because of the consequence of the first two items above.

Alan's first post was at St. Albans School which was Direct Grant and is now independent. He spent seven years of mixing at a class above the old East End Grammar and loved all the fun of being a young teacher. This included sport, music and the intellectuals among the staff. Alan joined a choir and sang but eventually socialist ideas sent me back to the state sector and he landed in Cheshunt School "as a quite unsuitable Head of Maths".

They had a son, Robert, but sadly Jean fell ill with Lupus and died in 1982.

The school gradually slipped down the local league and ended up bottom, although Alan kept trying to improve, but found it really difficult to get people to come and teach maths. He is still fairly heavily involved in the local church, which takes up a lot of time and energy.

Alan remarried and had two more children. He went on to say: "Having never been ambitious I woke up and realised that I was not now a natural choice for promotion. Too much time trying to improve myself through reading, studying theological matters. I did four units of the Cambridge Diploma in Religious Studies, which is degree level, as a correspondence course with the London Bible College) and I am a culture vulture.

Of course I am more idle than good for me on matters I don't like.

Here I am with a life hidden with Christ in God…… (that's a quote by the way) and a good family. I read for hours to the children, Lord of the Rings out loud to all three in turn. My wife teaches year 2/3 (she was Head of Biology before having children) and is a real worker who likes gardening.

There are regular visits to Covent Garden for opera and ballet (cheap seats

PAGE 7 only) and playing basket ball every Friday night at school. By the way, schools really are a lot rougher than they used to be.

Children: Robert lives in Reading and works with computer control boards and electronics; Elisabeth did well in her GCSEs; A*s in English, English Literature, drama and history then A's and a couple of Bs. Now she is studying RE, history, English and politics. She has just edited and mostly written a school newspaper that owes a lot of its style to Private Eye; John keeps all his teachers happy with his quiet work, except his form teacher who is not quite happy with his dress style. He plays basketball, football, cricket and tennis for the school.

Finally sat in the Orchestra stall at Covent Garden by arranging a school trip to see a sponsored performance for schools. Most of the pupils were really impressed by the ballet, seeing the power and grace so close; so unlike what some expected."

• Sadly, again, I have to announce the death of another member of the Association. George Vine (25-31) died on 28 July 2000. Arthur was a Past Master of the Old Raineian Lodge (58-59). Our condolences go to his family.

• Jaime Cosgrove (90-96) is trying to trace the whereabouts of one of her contemporaries, Hayley White. If anyone knows Hayley please ask her to contact me as Jaime has now moved since her days at Raine’s.

• Emily Galbraith, our ‘senior Member’, sends her love to those who remember her and was disappointed she could not attend the reunion.

• Now living in retirement Norman Holland (45-51) decided to send his memories.

“My introduction to Raine’s was a terrifying one. At the age of four I was allowed to accompany my brother, Alfred, then in his second year at Raine’s, on the wartime evacuation from Arbour Square to Brighton on September 1st 1939. I was, of course, very unhappy to be away from my parents, and showed it in my appalling behaviour, (so I’m told, but who would believe it?). During the three months there we were evicted and rehoused four times in succession! No other homes would take us, so Alf and I were repatriated to our

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER home in Peabody Buildings, Shadwell, very near to the old Raine’s building.

Because of this, Alf had to leave Raine’s at that time, and following periods of work and private study, went on to St. Chad’s College, University of Durham, studying classics, theology and philosophy. He was ordained priest in 1953, serving first in the parish church of West Hackney, in Stoke Newington. He went to Australia in 1955, as rector of St. Columba’s in Scarborough, Perth, and in 1970 was appointed Assistant Bishop of Perth. In 1978 he was appointed Bishop of Newcastle, New South Wales, and retired to Canberra in 1992.

I became a Raineian in 1945, having been the only one of my class at Nicholas Gibson Junior School to pass the 11 plus exam! Needless to say, I was very lonely and shy for a long time. Three teachers stand out in my memory: 1) ‘Dusty’ Traille, a successor to Mr. Ashley in the PE Department, and a revelation to us all with his modern approach to the teaching of athletics and gymnastics.

2) Jim Shivas, for whom I had particular regard. His teaching of English grammar and punctuation has been of great benefit to me throughout my life.

3) Wally Spooner was my geography teacher for my last five years, and a great influence. His comments on my Geography were, in December 1949 “Little effort and even less result”; July 1950 “Just does not know where to start”; July 1951 “Has worked well, and deserves a success in this subject”. These comments showed how his teaching changed me - I did succeed! He had a commanding, though almost fatherly way of dealing with a class of yobs, and in his later years became a great friend. I will miss him.

I think it was in 1948 that Donny Lyons took a group to the Lake District during the summer holidays. In his list of requirements was the necessity for a pair of strong walking boots. I did not have any, but I found a pair of my father’s old white canvas cricket boots, which I thought, in my naivety, would be suitable. After I had dyed them with black shoe dye, I thought they looked quite smart! However, the Lake District is notorious for being rather wet, and there was no change to this during our visit. After a very short period, the dye was diluted, and my socks and feet had

taken on a strange grey/blue colour, to everyone’s amusement. The soles of the boots very soon became separated from the uppers, and fell apart! These boots were not made for walking! I finished the rest of the tour in my flat-soled gym shoes (unlike the padded trainers of today), and had permanently wet and sore feet!

Another requirement was a good waterproof raincoat. Most of us had only a school gabardine raincoat, so we spent most of our pocket money buying 1st World War full-length oilskin gas capes (with pouch in the back for a haversack) from the local Army surplus store in Ambleside. We looked a very strange sight!

I think it was close to the top of Mt Helvellyn that we crossed a narrow ridge known as ‘Striding Edge’, where a plaque had been erected to commemorate a horse and rider who had once attempted to cross, unsuccessfully. We crossed very carefully!

A year later we made another trip to the Lake District, and the following year we visited North Wales, and walked to the top of Mt. Snowdon. We were more prepared for these later walks in terms of

WEBSITE

PAGE 8 1951, the year they were introduced. I did, and was awarded the school’s first prize for efficiency.

I began my working career in 1951, when I was appointed to the position of junior clerk (office dogsbody) with Jardine Matheson, a Hong Kong based company, in the Lombard Street office in the City of London.

National Service requested my attendance in October 1952, and I served with the Royal Irish Fusiliers in Berlin in 1953, and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Kenya prior to my demobilisation in October 1954.

In 1956 I married Lilian (Clover), my girlfriend since childhood, and we now have four sons and six lovely grandchildren.

By then I had rejoined Jardine Matheson and managed to work my way into the Tea Department. Initially I was a washer-up of tea tasting pots, upgrading slowly to become a tea-taster and valuer, and manager of the tea sales room.

The tea department closed in 1980 (not as a result of my management), and after 9 months of unemployment I founded my own one-man business, Quality Teas, supplying customers world-wide with top quality teas from the world’s best producing countries.

In 1989 I spent two stimulating and informative weeks in India, visiting first Calcutta, then Darjeeling where I had a very enjoyable lunch with the daughter of Sherpa Tensing and several managers of the tea estates in the district. She spoke of her father’s achievement of being the first man to stand on top of Mt. Everest, in the 1952-53 British Everest expedition led by Sir John Hunt.

I was made an honorary member of the Himalayan Mountain Institute, and saw the world’s highest mountains from the bungalow of the tea estate manager with whom I stayed. I also picked tea with the ladies on the estates, and helped in the production afterwards: what an experience!

On my return I prepared a series of talks and slide presentations on the subject of tea: these proved popular, and I am also on the lists of approved speakers for several organisations.

In my spare time I studied and became a qualified teacher of swimming, diving and aquafit (aerobics in water), and taught these subjects for over 30 years.

www.rainesoc.com equipment!

However, when we made a five-day cycling trip, stopping at Oxford, Bath, Winchester, Brighton, and back to London (about 60 miles each day), I was again unprepared. It was on the second day that I lost a pedal, and finished the ride as a one-legged cyclist! Fortunately I was able to have it repaired at the next stopping place.

Academically, I went downhill in my school career. I concentrated totally on sports - gymnastics (top of the school 1950), athletics (represented East London at javelin in the all-London schools finals at the White City in 1950), Rugby, swimming, lifesaving and boxing. Wallie’s comments on my scholastic ability then were quite correct, for in my last year I realised that careers were not built upon sporting prowess, as they can be now, or fluency in Yiddish swearwords. I dedicated myself to getting my ‘O’ levels in

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER I returned to Raine’s in 1985 on a sudden whim as I was passing the building on my way to central London. It was only two weeks after the school had moved to its present site in Bethnal Green, and just a few members of office staff were there. I wallowed in a gluttony of nostalgia as I wandered around that wonderful building as I relived my youth in all the places that had so many memories for me. A surprise, however, was the contraceptive machine in the boys’ toilet - that wasn’t there in 1945! I was sad to see the beautiful wood panelled walls in the main hall had been painted pale blue - who was responsible for that?

My rejuvenation was suddenly brought back to reality in the after school chess club, held in my old form room on the roof, when a senior boy asked if I remembered a boy named Alan Trew (my junior at school), who is his father!!

I could fill several more pages with my memories and experiences at Raine’s, but for some of them I would probably be sued, or worse, so I’ll save them for my verbal recollections at the reunions!

I sold my tea business last year, 1999, when I reached the age of 65. We moved from our home for 41 years in Ilford, Essex, to our lovely bungalow in Bishopatone, near Seaford, in East Sussex in March 2000.

My all-round education at Raine’s has been of enormous benefit to me in my life and work, and I will always be grateful for the opportunities it gave me, and for the dedication and influence of the teachers there, and for so many memories.

If any of my colleagues (I have the school photo of 1950 and remember most of their names), would like to contact me, my address and phone number are available from Bill Richards.”

• Margaret Wellington (Nurthen, 60-66) was unable to attend the November reunion but wanted to pass on her best to anyone who remembers her. This especially applies to the Adlington family who

she knew well whilst at school and for a time afterwards. Next time she hopes to bring Ingrid Robinson (Carlton) who would be keen to come along.

When she is able Margaret has promised to send some old photos and she also has two of the ‘long’ school photos.

She still has her school scarf and Nightingale House badge.

• Talking of school photos. I have a number of requests for copies of the school photos from the early 80s. Can anyone help?

• After receiving the September Newsletter Freddie Dawkins (62-67) e-mailed the following: “Just a technical question for anyone using a Mac, the newsletter and some other pdf files I receive will not print out on my HP printer. Has anyone else had the PostScript error message which prevents

PAGE 9 printing?

Regarding Humph Long. I remember him as one of the really good teachers during my time at Raine’s. He always used to make a joke about whatever exercise or sport we were attempting and always encouraged those of us who were not super-fit or talented, to take part and enjoy the activity.

One wet afternoon at Fairlop being allowed to play soccer rather than rugby. The ball fell to me on the left wing and I stretched my legs and ran towards to goal, cutting in from the wing. Humph came charging up behind me, took the ball off my toes and shot for goal. Why so strange? Well he was suppose to be refereeing!!

The shot went wide and I was robbed of a, possible, moment of glory. Humph turned round to me and said something like “Oh well, better luck next time, eh, Dawkins?”

Humph was a great bloke (and still is - ed) and on another occasion, again at Fairlop, we had the dreaded cross country run (please don’t remind me; it only starts off the nightmares again! - ed). Paul Dadson was with me (I can’t recall the others in our small, conspiratorial group) and we successfully managed to avoid some of the run. When we thought the coast was clear, we streamed back into Fairlop past Humph as he ticked us off on his clipboard. He knew we were cheating but just smiled as we jogged past and quipped something like “Mmm. So it’s the Olympics for you lot next year, is it?” Nothing more was said but the following week, Humph jogged around the course - just behind us!

I can remember the excitement when, I think it was in my first year, the first trampoline was brought into the gym. We

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER were amazed at the apparatus and what we could do. Humph encouraged every one of us to learn how to knee drop, back drop, etc. It was great fun.

So, thanks Humph. Due, I’m sure, to a lot of your encouragement and enthusiasm, I started a career in journalism which began with sports reporting. The fun I had at Raine’s in your lessons gave me a lifelong enthusiasm for sport and started me off on a professional career too.”

Whether it was just laziness that held me back in my teenage years, or whether there were deeper reasons why I left Raine’s before giving myself the chance to fulfil the abilities I was supposed to have had, I can never know. At this stage of life, it hardly matters any more (apart from idle speculation as to how much more I might have earned during a career fronted by a degree instead of five average O levels).

Reading an ORA newsletter always raises such reflections for me, as it • Another one who e-mailed after re- probably does for many, though it is fasceiving the Newsletter was Roy Catley cinating to learn how Raineians have (60-66): fanned out across the globe and ended up “Congratulations on both the quality making unpredictable and sometimes arcane contributions to the life of communities in so many different places.

DIARY DATES It was chance, or in many cases probably just the fact of Following are some dates you may where we happened to live, wish to enter into your diary re- that brought most of us together who shared the same garding future Old Raineians’ school years, the time of our lives when the first serious functions: and long-lasting social relationships begin. Much of my Saturday 19th May 2001 memories of those years are hazy and distorted by the AGM and Summer Reunion passage of time or gone altogether, while others are still sharp and clear.

Saturday 30th June 2001 One lasting belief which Barbecue and Family Day my time at Raine’s left me is that single-sex education as a concept is quite wrong. It imposes an artificial and unand content of the September Newsletter. natural set of rules and values on the inIt turned out to be a very good product and dividual at a time when healthy social an interesting read. development in circumstances reflecting I think I said in a letter to you a few the composition of society as a whole is years ago that I did not enjoy much of my crucial to the rounding out of the inditime at Raine’s, probably due as much to vidual personality. my own failure to mature socially during I think with the benefit of hindsight I those years as to any other cause. Never- would identify this aspect of life at Raine’s theless I am grateful for the friends I still as the single most disadvantageous to me have now whom I originally met there. in terms of personal development. It I have no doubt that Raine’s was a tended to foster the competitive at the first class school, and that the vast majority expense of the co-operative, emphasising of teachers did their best to set students on the conventional values of tribal conflict the right road for each of them as indi- (the four houses - Mann, Dagger, Taylor viduals. In my case, I reckon that I never and Winterton) rather than doing more to really found that road until now, when I am open young minds to the possibilities of enjoying the freedom of early retirement social change. Perhaps it is not altogether and the chance which that has given me to surprising considering that the Cold War undertake an OU degree. (I know there are was at its height at the time (Berlin Wall; plenty of people who do one while holding Bay of Pigs), but it was not long after that down full-time jobs, but I had other fish to that the Sixties social revolution really began to roll and attitudes changed radifry)

PAGE 10 cally.

I remember doing most of my growing up, or at least the social learning part of it, in amateur dramatics in the mid 70s. There is nothing like rehearsing until nearly four in the morning, walking home watching the sun come up and then getting up again at seven to go to the day job.

Perhaps I should say after all that I was lucky to share the experience of growing up during the Sixties when so much was changing: living, as the Chinese say, in interesting times. Anyway I hope this little wander down Memory Lane has not left you completely horizontal. I am grateful for the good things I got from Raine’s - the wonderful and humane teaching of Basil Dowling for example. I forgive the bad why mention it? And I acknowledge my imperfect part in it all.”

With that we come to the end of another Newsletter. I trust that you found something of interest and remember, if any memories do come to mind please do write to us.

Bill Richards

Old Raineians’ Association

NEWSLETTER E-mail: admin@rainesoc.com Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road Bethnal Green London E2 9LY Tel: 020 8981 1231 Fax: 020 8983 0153

Alan & Sandra Johnson 9 Goddington Lane Orpington Kent BR6 9DR Tel: 01689 826854 Fax: 01689 873115

Tony Fuller 81 Rosewood Avenue Elm Park Essex RM12 5LD Tel: 01708 473821

Bill Richards 26 Shandy Street Stepney London E1 4LX Tel: 020 7790 9235

Gwynneth Jackson Glevum Kirkby Malzeard Nr Ripon North Yorks HG4 3RS Tel: 01765 658825

MAY 2001

A

s I finish producing this edition of the Newsletter, the sun is shining and all the signs are that we are going to have the summer we are wishing for. When the Newsletter reaches you I hope we still have the fine weather and that it stays around for the B-B-Q on the 30 June. Enclosed is an application form, if you missed it first time around, so please do try to come as last year was an enjoyable event.

As ever the news and memories are

member some of the names mentioned in your letter and have extremely happy memories of school life.

One of my first recollections of Raine’s school in 1950 was pride in the transformation caused by wearing the smart school uniform with distinctive badge and school cap complete with house colour band on the back (mine being yellow for Winterton House). The second was the semi-detached girls Grammar school next to us (totally forbidden terri-

Summer B-B-Q and Family Day Saturday 30 June 2001 3.00pm onwards Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road, Bethnal Green Adults £3.00, Children £1.50 varied and if they strike a chord with you please do write and tell us by post, fax or e-mail. If you have an e-mail please let us know so we can send the Newsletter as an attachment. This method not only saves the Association money but also valuable time involved in folding, stamping, etc.

NEW MEMBERS Arnold Coffer (50-55) was surprised to receive my letter 46 years after leaving school (better late than never! - ed.).

“The memory has become dim on the names of many classmates but I do re-

tory) and the understanding of ‘iron curtains’ between the two schools!

However, all of this would have to come second to the powerful image of our Headmaster, Dr Gerald Shutt who had left the quieter pastures of Surrey (Whitgift School) to take over an east London Grammar. To an 11 year old, Dr Shutt appeared a giant of a man (well over 6½ feet in height) and a very formidable character, being on the one hand very fair and reasonable in his Headmastership but coupling this with a firm disciplinarian approach to school life. Hopefully, one only ever saw Dr Shutt twice per year

when he visited every classroom to discuss winter or summer school reports very publicly and individually with all th concerned quivering ‘victims’. In 1955, Dr Shutt left the school and his post was deputised by Mr Luton.

In 1950, our first contact with academia was through our ‘Form Master’ and English teacher Mr Butterfield. He was a stern but extremely able staff member (I believe he was a Yorkshireman). Regardless of ability, everyone had their sideburns ‘tweaked’ at some time or other, either for attention lapse or minor to gross errors in their class work! Mr Butterfield had a cast iron exterior but occasionally, he would allow his fine sense of humour to shine through.

We were amused and impressed by our woodwork and technical drawing teacher, ‘Charlie’ Nay, who instructed us in the art of making table lamps and watch-stands. To this very day, I can still hear him shouting, “A place for everything and everything in its place”, concerning tool order in our individual woodworking tool cupboards! (Lessons which I wished I had applied later in life to various garages in various houses over the years!)

Although being keen to come to grips with the French language, this was always countered by the fear of getting a blue cross for error in homework which earned ‘one on the rear drum’ with the slipper from our French teacher (‘Donny’ Lyons).

Although I can’t recall his name, I remember the PE instructor’s desire to make us Olympian hurdlers. I felt we were doomed to forever practice hurdle racing in the gym to the exclusion of all else (although it probably wasn’t quite as bad as that!). This same instructor organised

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER

PAGE 2

down at Victoria Park along side Bow Boys.

During February half-term Raine's were invited to the Wasps his is a new feature for the Newsletter in which I hope to training ground for trials to a RFU sevens squad coached by the bring you up to date with activities currently going on in Wasps and ex-Samoan player Trevor Leota. Out of the fifteen schools, which sent teams, five Raine's boys were chosen for a the school: ten-man squad. Although the team was not very successful in the Basketball Three teams made it to the regional play-offs for the national competition the experience and knowledge they gained was inlast 16 stage, or directly through to the national phase in the under valuable. This was clearly visible in our last match of the season against Bow Boys in which Raine's dominated the game and the 16, under 15 and under 14 sections.

The U16s beat: Bow Boys 67-48; The Archbishop Lanfranc score line (W42-12). With the season coming to an end we are School, Croydon 98-45; Gravesend Grammar School for Boys already looking ahead at next years season with the school entered into the Daily Mail Cup and the new borough league.”

80-60.

We have just heard that 7 of the boys have been chosen to In the last 16 competition the results were: Newsome High School 83-55; Bohunt Community School, Liphook 63-77; Great train with the Barbarians in the near future - ed.

Girls’ and boys’ PE are no longer two separate departments Baddow, Chelmsford 72-58.

In the final Raine’s beat Blue Coat School, Merseyside 58-52. but are taught together sometimes in mixed classes. Who reRaine`s team: Toby Oyeninde, Joshua Oladimeji, Adrian members the days when only Humph Long and Anne Lowes Pettigrew, Richard Pettigrew, Liam Johnson, Alroy Burke, Ashley seemed to be the only two full-time PE teachers, with several James,Owen Holness, Adeola Akim, Gary Wallace and Okigbo others ‘volunteering’ (roped in more like it!) to help with afternoon PE lessons. It is now taught as a GCSE and is an exIkenga.

The U15s beat: Trinity School, Belvedere 87-38; Tasis aminable subject, consequently the department has expanded to four full-time teachers.

England, Egham 67-40; Gravesend 86-35.

Although there is a lack of information on the girls’ In the last 16 competition the team managed to reach the final achievements this, I hope, will be rectified in the next Newsletter but were beaten ‘at the final hurdle’.

The U14s beat: Cornwallis School, Maidstone 92-22; as Laura Warburton, who is responsible for girls’ PE, has said she Archbishop Lanfranc 86-20; Bow Boys 97-39 but, as with the will write some items about the girls’ accomplishments. There is a girls’ football team and there are athletic competitions coming U15s, they were beaten in the final.

The standard of play by all three teams was very high with up so hopefully there will be some news from these events. some members of the U14 team playing in higher age range teams, Other news Again Sev Herbert has put on another drama production, whilst still maintaining a high standard, despite the age handicap.

Two boys in particular, Adrian Pettigrew and Joshua Oladimeji, called The Passion, which involved tying somebody to a cross!!

(Things certainly have changed over the years - I think he dropped stood out as good team players.

Adrian not only excels at basketball but is also on the books some litter!!).

Various parts of the school have undergone major repairs: the for Chelsea football club and holds the English record for the U13 high jump clearing 1.70m and has since improved to 1.82m. He roof over the music room, at the lower school, has been repaired; a mezzanine floor put into the upper school art room so that 6th. has also managed 11.2s over 80m hurdles.

Joshua has covered 200m in 24.2s, has been picked as a formers (now years 12 and 13) can display their work; rooms trialist for the English developmental team and plays for the East adapted, also at the upper school, for music practice. Hopefully London Royals Basketball Club. More detailed reports of the the science labs at the lower school will be completely revamped basketball matches can be found at www.schoolsnet.com then during the summer holidays.

Recently, at both sites, picnic benches have been put into the click on sport then basketball. playgrounds, just in time for our B-B-Q on 30 June. These were Rugby (By Justin Childs member of the PE department) “This has been a season of success for Raine's with the re- bought with money that the pupils had raised in a sponsored walk, introduction of rugby into the lower school. They started the the money divided between the school and the London Chest season slowly with a narrow defeat against Eastbury in Barking Hospital, the upper school’s ‘neighbour’.

I hope in future there will be more to report on, such as dates but have gone from strength to strength, ending the season with 8 wins, 2 defeats and 1 draw. This success has been clearly rec- of school plays in case anyone wishes to see them. ognized with seven of boys being selected to represent the borough in the Tower Hamlets squad. The enthusiasm for the sport Tony Groves has also grown with over twenty-five boys training every weekend

TONY’S CURRENT’S

T

our swimming period at a local bath for first thing Monday mornings. Being then a puny non-swimmer, I would make every effort not to enter the pool (whose only source of heat appeared to radiate from a single candle power!) on cold, frosty mornings. Placing a large sticking plaster on leg or arm and pleading ‘infection’ often avoided the cold plunge into icy wa-

ters! I remember the thrill when I eventually climbed into the pool and swam my very first ever length with my classmates generously cheering me on!

We had a Belgian chemistry teacher, Monsieur Lambert for the first two school years. M. Lambert had a finger injury which was rumoured to have occurred during the last war when he was interro-

gated by the Gestapo and refused to divulge important secret information; well, that was the story we liked to believe! M. Lambert produced a very impressive demonstration on one occasion during a chemistry practical where he had set up apparatus producing hydrogen gas on one side of a bench and oxygen on the other.

The objective was to show that combus-

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER tion of hydrogen and oxygen together produced water. He carefully aligned the hydrogen and oxygen outlet tubes together and applied a lighted match to ignite the gases. The flame burned for a few seconds, water droplets condensed and were collected as combustion products when, suddenly, a tremendous explosion occurred. This demolished the entire apparatus and covered those of us in the front row and beyond with various component parts of the experiment. We were very impressed with this and with the patchy green dye effect in our hair which persisted for a few weeks after the event!

Other memories are of Mr Mardell who took a great deal of trouble after school hours with a small group of hopeless mathematicians (including yours truly then). I can still remember the joy of at last actually being capable of solving quadratic equations!

Mr Aldrich guided us through poetry reading and other areas of literature while ‘Nobby’ Clarke’s good humour and sense of fun encouraged us in music appreciation, particularly in the contexts of classical music and the life and times of great composers. I believe Mr Clarke composed the school anthem.

We eventually acquired another superb chemistry teacher (and Form Master), Mr Dobson, who was an excellent tennis coach and was able to improve my service and backhand skills. Mr Shadbolt was a dedicated geography (also possibly history?) teacher and we were always delighted when he occasionally revealed a glimpse of his wartime experiences in the army. Other memories are of wet and muddy winter cross-country running around the old airfield at Fairlop in Essex and muddy rugby practices on Wednesday sports afternoons at New Eltham; the high point of the athletics year being Sports Day at a Leyton venue.

School outings appeared to be few and far between although I do recall being taken to see the ‘Climbing of Everest’ film at a Stepney Green ABC cinema. In 1954, we were whisked along to the docks area of the Thames to wave at the Queen and Prince Phillip who were returning home up the Thames on Britannia following a post-coronation tour.

Apart from the passage of time eroding memory of teachers’ names, the most annoying lapse of memory is in the area of classmate names, I now remember very few of them. We were impressed with the

PAGE 3

exploits of one boy (was it Arthur Bloomfield?) who gave chase and brought down a man who had just stolen a ration book from a lady, using a splendid rugby tackle to retrieve the ration book.

Julius Lambert was adept at packing the rear of his trousers with ‘insulation’ to avoid adverse effects from any deserved slipper punishment. I also remember a lad (Hadley) with high ability in maths and physics who was determined to become an astronomer and l have often wondered

research appointment specialising in hormonal control of breast cancer at the research institute of a major national cancer charity. This proved to be an exhilarating experience, allowing me to participate with many international scientific collaborators. After a successful and rewarding period of innovative research, I was appointed Head of my own cancer research unit where work horizons expanded to include mechanisms of control and novel therapies in lung cancer and

CHEESE AND WINE EVENING

T

hose who turned up for the evening had an enjoyable time (see photos on page 10). Claire Burrows laid on a sumptuous spread of cheeses, breads, savouries and fruits, and there was plenty of wine, beer and soft drinks to keep everyone happy. Display boards with photographs of past events (shown also on our website) brought back happy memories, as did the photograph albums and numerous past newsletters. Thanks to those who donated the raffle prizes and who bought tickets.

It was particularly nice to meet David Spencer after reading so much about him over the years in the Newsletter and hopefully we will see a lot more of him now he is to be based back in the UK. Many of the regulars were there giving their usual support so many thanks to them for making it such an enjoyable evening.

Thanks also to Jane Gale and Samantha Wilcox for coming along. They enjoyed themselves and promised to round up some of their contemporaries for the next 'do'.

(So start ringing around girls for the BBQ!).

Thanks particularly to Claire Burrows and her family who were kept busy all evening, Stephen taking charge of the bar, Emily helping with the food, new baby Isabelle giving out cuddles, and her mother-in-law helping where needed.

For those who were not there - You missed a good evening!

Sandra Johnson whether he reached that objective.

I left the school in the summer of 1955 having achieved a most unimpressive GCE result, believing time spent on aeromodelling and reading science fiction was preferable to studying the curriculum for the exams! Fortunately for me, this attitude was rapidly reversed within 6 months of leaving school, undoubtedly as a result of the ‘Raine’s inheritance’!

Having reformed my outlook, put my nose more heavily to the academic grindstone, and previously completed a compulsory commitment (by invitation!) to the Royal Air Force (attended Air Navigation and Control School), and obtained the relevant ‘pieces of paper’, I entered the exciting field of new drug development after joining an international American pharmaceutical company.

This was eventually followed by a period of work and postgraduate research on human drug metabolism at the London Hospital Medical College (now the Royal London).

In 1973, I was fortunate to be offered a

topics related to disease spread (metastasis). The 27 years spent in cancer research could not have provided me with more job satisfaction!

In the summer of last year, I requested retirement (just 4 years early) so that I/we could develop entirely different aspects of life away from professional commitments which had been so totally absorbing (including the daily 50 mile commute each way to London from Hampshire), although I am still able to participate when required as a specialist consultant.

I married Linda (we met at College) in 1962 and we have three children (all boys).

The eldest is tenured Associate Professor in Pulmonary Diseases at the Academic Hospital in Utrecht; middle son (a qualified Geologist) an IT Manager and youngest son is a computer whiz-kid and graduate Software Engineer.

We had lived in Hampshire for 25 years before moving to our new home, recently built in Dorset last year and just a mile from the coast. While I hope to

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER maintain some professional contacts, retirement leisure time will now be spent travelling, improving on French language (conversation), attending sailing school and completing my current training course to qualify as an Adviser with the town’s Citizens Advice Bureau. Along with this, I am about to come to grips with controlling a large radio-controlled model aeroplane!!”

• Roy Dole (49-54) memories included two similar to those mentioned by Arnold Coffer.

“My memories are: (1) Nobby Clarke, my form master, a very kindly and helpful man; (2) Our Headmaster, Gerald Shutt, who appeared to be at least 8ft tall, with a voice like thunder; (3) PT which served me well in the armed forces.

If only schools like Raine’s existed today, we would have no education problems.”

• Zane Grant (49-54) said it was nice to hear from us as he thought we were no longer in existence.

He remembers “Wallie Spooner as our form teacher and Mr Butterworth, who came into our class room for the first time and slammed a slipper on the desk. He soon had our attention! I remember a trip to France and seeing the France v England rugby match. I may have some photos of this. (Any chance of getting some copies done? - ed.)

I still have a school photo from 1978 and I look at occasionally to see how many faces and names I can remember.

I left school and went to work in the City as a Marine Insurance broker in Lloyds of London. I left the insurance world (after nine years) and then worked for Nat West Bank for five years. I have been a Licensed Taxi Driver since 1993.

I am married with two children aged 13 and 11.”

• Edward (John) Lyes (49-54) replied in two parts.

“After leaving the school I went first to Meredith and Drew in the Highway and then British Drug House in City Road as a laboratory assistant. During this time I was given day release and together with evening classes this allowed me to add to my GCEs. I ended up with A level Botany, Zoology and Chemistry. This enabled me to leave full-time work and enrol onto the BSc Sp Zoo degree course at Sir John Cass College and I graduated in 1962 with 2:2 Hons.

From here I went to Forest Hill

WEBSITE

PAGE 4 My main interests are the family; genealogy; gardening and DIY.” After John joined I sent him January’s Newsletter which triggered some memories.

“Well, the one name that stood out was Wallie Spooner. Undoubtedly the most liked member of staff at the school while my cohort was there. For the last couple of years he was not only my geography but also my form master (4b and 5b), in a room at the corner of the balcony and one of the class rooms on the roof.

This latter room had, for a short time, one great advantage - we could see into the girls’ class room. This was accomplished through a series of fanlight windows which were almost a floor level, whereas we had to climb a few stairs to our form room.

The prized desk in the form room was the one nearest to the door. This allowed, when the door was propped open during hot weather, glances, signals,etc., to the girls in the classes below. Obviously we were too much for the delicate young ladies because, when we came back after one weekend all the windows had been painted over! So no more trysts.

But back to Wallie. He took over from our former form master who I think was Mr Mirrnaigne (?), who left to go on to greater things. Or maybe we just wore him out. Looking back we must have been quite a handful. I can recall, after a particularly fractious period, Wallie addressing us after lunch in a very strong manner. For him this was unusual. The phrase he used, which I can still recall, was “I know your b***s are getting hair on but….” You can appreciate that being spoken to in this manner by a teacher really pinned our ears back. I don’t recall what else was said during the address, but the opening phrase certainly made an impression on all of us.

Wallie also took us for rugby which meant the lengthy trek to the underground station and the long journey to Fairlop.

One year Wallie organised a school journey to the Isle of Arran at Easter. If my memory serves me correctly this was the first one organised while I was there. A great time! Overnight coach trip and then the ferry across to the island followed by a weeks walking.

The other members of staff I recall were: Miss Ringer (biology).

Mr Butterfield (English), who came back after one Christmas break with a new

www.rainesoc.com

• David Grout (72-78) was another surprised to see that the Association is still running and “also to see some names of former fellow pupils that bring back great memories.”

“My early memories of school are the first few days and my first form teacher, Fernley Copping. In class 1F I recall that he would always remind us of passages from the Bible and if a child, or the whole class, had misbehaved he would call us “sinners”.

As I was a fairly sporty child I remember our PE teacher, Humphrey Long a big, happy man with shiny bald head!

(Some things never change - ed.)

I also remember a physics teacher (Italian I think) called Dr Ciocci, 5ft nothing, who used to race round the class room like a whirlwind and Mr Reffold (French) who liked to put the far of God into everybody.

School, as an assistant master, to teach biology, eventually being promoted to being in charge of the biology section. I then moved to Norwood Technical College in 1968, followed by South London College and Lambeth College, which I left in 1989. During this period the teaching was mainly biological A levels initially but moved on to courses for day release students studying at the college. In my last years I was almost fully occupied on City & Guilds Horticulture courses. Together with this teaching programme, obtaining promotion to Principal Lecturer, I was overall in charge of the administration of the biology, chemistry and horticulture sections of the college.

Leaving full-time teaching in 1989 I spent a few years helping with special needs at a local boys school until finally retiring in 1999. I married Pat in 1962 with Allan being born in 1970 and Liz in 1974, both of whom have now ‘flown the nest’.

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER briefcase on which were the initials FB in gold - very apposite!

Dusty Traille (PE) who was astonished, when he arrived, that there was very little equipment. So he set about making some. A set of hurdles knocked up in Mr Nash’s woodwork shop. These were used extensively in the PE lessons.

Dr Lambert (chemistry) who took us in hand in the 4th form and was a very good teacher and much respected. A Belgian I think and again he bought quite a bit of chemical apparatus for the school.

He took over from Mr Dobson who had been taking us for chemistry, but who also took us for tennis during the sports afternoon - but I can’t remember where.

There was a maths teacher, Mr Swain, who taught the top form. We were always very grateful that we didn’t have him. All his classes started with ten mental arithmetic questions, followed by immediate marking. For each wrong answer, straight to the front for one from the slipper!!

The Head when I was there was Dr Shutt, a very tall, gaunt looking gentleman who went in for public flogging on the hall stage in front of the assembled school.

This was in the 1950s and him a JP - so much for justice! He left just after we did.

I recall the last Prize Day when we went back to get our O level certificates.

One of the results announced was a degree in geography obtained by Wallie Spooner.

He had been attending evening classes after doing a full-time teaching job. When the announcement was made there was thunderous applause from all the boys present. Poor old Dr Shutt was quite taken aback by it - one could almost say astonished - by the depth and magnitude of the goodwill, etc., that the boys felt for Wallie.

They certainly felt none for him.

I have tried to put together a class list, but this is as far as I can get with my failing memory: Patrick Castles, Michael Robinson, Alan Spencer, Keith Lardner, Brian Newburry, Terry Tyler, Chris Russell, ‘Willy’ Waterman, Ronald Lee, Frank Katz, Richard Blacker, Alan Jacobs, Clive Milligan, Robert Lewis, Brian Evans, George Nicholls, Brian Harris, Stanley Robinson, Royce Young. There are more but at the moment I can’t recall them.

The other memory in the Newsletter that I also share is Jacobs sweet shop in Commercial Road. This was a regular lunch time stop for goodies especially once rationing ended and we didn’t need the coupons any more. Oh! those bad old

days.”

• Gillian Mantle (Armstrong, 58-65) joined after her address was passed to me

by Kaye Saunders (see further on in this section).

“Kaye Saunders (Prince) told me that you had contacted her, and I’m so glad she gave you my name. Receiving the latest Old Raineians’ newsletter was a wonderful surprise, especially since it included a letter from Angela Blaydon (Fisher) one of my contemporaries. I have never been interested in joining old girls’ associations - being content to leave the past where it was, but I suppose one must reach a ‘certain age’ when one begins to mourn for one’s youth, and I seem to have reached it!

I immediately dug out my old schoolgirl diaries, which cover my last three years at Raine’s. Spending several hours reading through them has unleashed a million memories, even though I don’t seem to have said very much about what went on in class, except to complain frequently about the amount of homework and the unfairness of various exams. I do record the occasion of a general science class taken by Miss Raines, on the subject of eclipses, where her moon kept dropping off its string and the sun kept blowing out.

Miss Braitch (music) features often, largely because I was her form prefect for a while and the choir seems to have been always practising for something, usually in my free periods.

Most of my time as a prefect appears to have been spent collecting names of late comers and chasing people outside at break time - both of which I mention frequently. I also spent a lot of time with various boys in the park and walking to Stepney Green station with them after school. After the schools became coeducational, in my last year, there is even more mention of boys. There were frequent invitations to and from the sixth form boys for coffee (and even once or twice to the pub) and we were always the ones left with the washing up!

Strangely, names I haven’t thought about since leaving school have suddenly come flooding back. What amazes me even more is that surnames keep coming back too. Jane Cooper, who was head girl, Sandra Briden, Sharon Samuels, Valerie Woods, Frances Daniels are only a few.

And teachers. Wasn’t it said in an advertisement recently that you always remember a good teacher? I was sorry to

PAGE 5 hear of the death of Miss Miller. I wasn’t a star pupil in French, but she taught us thoroughly, and I think my French is better than my children’s, even now.

Miss Munn’s death was also mentioned. To her I owe a lifelong enjoyment of Scottish dancing - though I didn’t enjoy Wednesday afternoon hockey at Fairlop. I prayed regularly for rain. Miss Turner was responsible for revealing to me the pleasure of Shakespeare, and Miss Bailey.

Latin may not be a fashionable subject now but I am grateful almost daily that I had the chance to study it.

When I left school, I went on with Maggie Griffiths to do nurse training, up the road at the London Hospital, where she married the Church Army captain she had known since school days, and I met and married a Scottish theology student. This will come as little surprise to the first formers who used to ask me if I was going to be a nun, after my frequent involvement in House and School prayers.

We spent several years in Scotland in various parishes and chaplaincies before coming back to England, finally ending up in Brighton for the time being. John commutes almost daily to London, where he is involved in the induction and training of bishops. I have stayed in nursing.

After midwifery training in Edinburgh, and having two of our own, I am now a specialist practitioner in general practice nursing. Our daughter is now 22.

After finishing her degree in philosophy at Stoke-on-Trent, (strangely, at the same time that Kaye Prince’s son Matthew was there too) she has just returned after a year travelling the world. It has been a tremendous benefit to her in many ways and I am really envious, I feel my generation has really missed out there. Now she is enjoying life in the big city, working temporarily at the Natural History Museum until something permanent comes along.

Our son is 18 and facing those awful A levels this year, before hopefully going on to a BSc in computer science. I have thoroughly enjoyed digging up all these memories, and I hope they may stir up a few more in other people. I Shall forward news about the Old Raineians to one or two others I am still in contact with- maybe they will soon be in touch too.”

• Gillian McDonough (Curtis, 59-65) was the first to join via our website having printed the application form and posted it to me.

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER • Joyce Medley (Pilgrim, 45-50) was one whose address was given to me by Norman Holland.

“After school I worked in Hackney Libraries for 11 years and a further 10 years for Stepney Library Service. I moved to Newbury Park 1969.

I meet two of my class mates twice a year, Audrey True (Marshall) and Dorothy Varley (Livermore). Unfortunately another friend, Maureen Carter (Cassidy) died in 1998. We used to go to St Peters Youth Club in Wapping and remember the boy and girl statues very well.

Some other girls who were at Raine’s at the same time were Mary Bevan, Sylvia Meader, Sheila Gamble, Maureen Jacques, Angela Cohen and Ann Groves.

I was most surprised to receive the Newsletter as I was under the impression that Raine’s no longer existed let alone the Association.”

• Frank Pegler (50-55) was pleased to join the Association.

“I met up with Tom Cornell some time ago through business and I guess he passed on my details. I am not sure about the names of others you mentioned but Biggs and Walton ring a bell. Anyway keep the Newsletters coming and I will attend the next function.

At Christmas I took early retirement but I am still active as a consultant. I can even claim to be a student now as I am on Havering College computer course which keeps me out of mischief two days a week.

Sorry I don’t really have much to pass on for your Newsletter. I guess I can claim to have had a reasonable career. After National Service I worked in the City for Ellerman Lines and upon being taken over

by Andrew Weir, I met up with Tom and we found ourselves working for about the only shipping line left in the City. In fact AWS is the largest Container Line in the British Fleet after P&O. During my time I have worked a lot overseas being Chairman of Companies in Sweden and Portugal. I am still a Director of a subsidiary of AWS. Rememberin the times and let’s face it the 50s were tough, Raine’s did give me a start, and one regret is that my early married life had to be spent with little money and trying to get started after National Service was not easy.

Well, we celebrated our Ruby Wedding in 1999. My wife Beryl and I have one daughter who is a top city lawyer having gone to the rival school of Coopers

PAGE 6

after they moved out to Upminster. My sister also went to Raines but she is not very well.

I saw in the Daily Telegraph last week the Raynes School of Bow still has a Rugby Team...any connection or do they have my problem of spelling? (Yes is the answer in both cases and it happens quite often I am afraid - ed.)

The name Arnold Coffer (see earlier ed.) is well known to myself and my wife as, although we lost track after leaving school, Arnold was in the same junior class before Raine’s as my wife. In fact he would have known her family in Bow as he lived near them. I may have known Dennis Schaffer but memories fade.”

• Kaye Saunders (Prince, 58-65) was another of my “married ladies” (see page

only fifteen stops on the Underground and the other side of London! I was up at the crack of dawn to catch the 7.20 a.m. from Latimer Road to Mile End (no school runs in those days, thankfully - ed.). Life improved the following year when the family moved to Newbury Park and I managed an extra 10 minutes in bed.

The school building, in Arbour Square, was quite impressive, with the little statues on either side over the gates.

Inside I remember up to the fifth floor, then down to the first, then up to the fourth, for lessons - a real fitness regime, probably to make up for the minute playground. Of course we didn’t miss out on games, playing netball at Shadwell, down by the river. I presume this is a very upmarket, developed area now (well the prices are upmarket - ed.). At that time it was a walk

BBQ REMINDER

W

e will be running some stalls at the BBQ and would like to know if anyone has any suggestions on which type of stalls would be popular. We would also like to hear from anyone who would like to use one of the stalls to sell their own handicrafts, plants, etc.

The Family BBQ is for everyone, so bring your parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles, children and even your friends. It's a great opportunity to have a get-together in a relaxed setting with something for young and old! The School has a covered area outside, so come whatever the weather.

When sending your application for tickets (and please do that now so that we can get numbers for the catering), please state whether girls or boys when ordering children's places and put their age so that we have the right sort of gifts in the lucky dip.

We also need some volunteers to man the BBQ, and any donations of raffle prizes would be gratefully accepted.

Please, please come along. Last year was very successful and those who attended had a great time, so get those applications off as soon as possible!

Sandra Johnson 5, January 2001 Newsletter - ed.)

“My thanks for your research into tracking me down.

‘Being a post-war boom-baby was always going to present problems’ - so they said. Hence when I passed the 11+, finding a suitable school was not easy. My parents rejected the offer of a place at the new 1000 pupil Comprehensive at Notting Hill. They chose Raine’s Foundation Grammar School for Girls, in Stepney -

through tenement blocks and rag-trade factories.

The weekly games afternoon was held at Fairlop, where we played hockey and tennis, in all weathers, including the ‘can’t see the ball’ smogs of that era.

I also remember the folding wooden and glass screen across the main school hall, separating the girls from the boys, until the great amalgamation in 1964. I have several newspaper cuttings concern-

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER EILEEN MUNN

E

ileen Munn, was a small person with enormous energy and end enthusiasm. I am sure she inspired many girls to excel or at least do their best in whatever activity they engaged. Her own exemplary determination to win was passed on to our school teams who, I remember did very well under her coaching. Who could forget her going like the clappers on the last leg of the swimming matches between the staff and the VI form in the annual galas?

She entered with enthusiasm into all the school activities including Sunday afternoon ‘connoisseur’ outings; theatre trips; YHA; backpacking holidays and the fortnight in Sistrans with the highlight of the Oberammergau Passion Play.

Also, who remembers the hind legs of the camel in the staff’s surprising ‘Aladdin’. Eileen was indeed a fun-loving person who had a great affection for her pupils and a deep, serious understanding of life.

Joy Turner English Department - Girls’ School ing this. No doubt my parents protested along with many others, but it did give us the chance to do woodwork in the 6th form and we had some fairly interesting discussions in Current Affairs.

On leaving school I trained to be an Occupational Therapist and have worked for several years, both with psychiatric and elderly patients. Nowadays life revolves around caring for my own elderlies and helping run the family farm.

I have been married to Brian for 7 years and we have an arable farm in the heart of Northampton - very different from my early days in London. I enjoy all aspects of home life in the country, walking the dogs, gardening, sewing, playing the piano, trying to keep my two (fairly grown-up children) in tow.

I believe life is a continual learning process, so at Raine’s I must have made a start in “learning to do my duty to God and Man”; only time will tell if I got it right.”

• Dennis Schaffer (50-54) joined after receiving the 1950 mail shot.

“I am the same person who attended Raine’s all those years ago, another world away, in fact. When I left school I worked as a trainee pastry cook (my uncle’s bakery) for a short time and then in a handbag factory. From there I became a tailor’s cutter until I went into the army for National Service (I told you it was a different world). When I left the army I became a taxi driver (black cab) which I still do 40 year on.

My form master was Mr Butterfield, who also taught us English and emphasised the verbs by hitting a pupil on the back of the head five or six times, telling the class that each hit was the verb (a doing

word). The PE teacher was ‘Dusty’ Traille who told us constantly that we were all gutter snipes. Try to get away with that today. Mr Broughton was a big Welshman who took us for rugby.

Then there was Dr Lambert who was Belgian I believe. A very strict man always angry with us for no reason. Anyway he was a science teacher and in one lesson he was showing us an experiment which suddenly exploded in his face. Although shocked he was unhurt. This made him even angrier, trying to blame us for doing the experiment wrong when we were just sitting at our desks watching. Oh happy days.”

• Audrey True (Marshall, 45-51) was another of Norman Holland’s contacts.

“I sometimes think it was a miracle I ever got to Raine’s at all. Leaving Shadwell, London during the ‘doodlebug’ days my brother and I were sent to Yorkshire to stay with grandparents. During this time my father arranged for the scholarship papers to be sent to Leeds (how, during wartime, with all the red tape involved I’ll never know). Consequently I remember being taken to Leeds University and sitting the scholarship alone in a vast hall with just the invigilator keeping a beady eye on me. I shall always be grateful to my father for this.

In September 1945, Arbour Square seemed magnificent to us war kids, although very few facilities were available.

We were bussed to playing fields in Brentwood - a very slow journey in those days. There was also a bus journey every week for cookery lessons at Fairclough Street School, near Aldgate, where I can remember being taught to make pancakes

PAGE 7 and iron a shirt.

Things changed a lot during my six years at the school. Our year was the last to sit the old ‘school certificate with exemption from matriculation’, where you had to have five credits in certain subjects including maths English and one foreign language with passes in at least two others to get your ‘matric’. Quite a tall order but most of us succeeded.

The house system in the girls’ school was originated amidst mush excitement and discussion.

Four of us who were great friends at school, Joyce Pilgrim, Dot Livermore and Maureen Cassidy have held our own twice yearly reunion with some other old friends of those days. Sadly, Maureen died of cancer three years ago and is very much missed.

I can remember a number of the girls in our form who it would be lovely to hear about. They are: Sheila Gamble, Sylvia Meader, Betty Halser, Lily Fassenfelt, Jean Fredericks, Doris Slack, Ettie Crowe, Angela Cohen, Evelyn Berger, Mary Bevan, Beryl Eddison and so on.”

• Dorothy Varley (Livermore, 45-51) was the last of Norman Holland’s contacts.

“My first year at Raine’s began in September 1945 at age 10. I was too young to have taken the scholarship and entered through an entrance exam. When my original class took the matric I was again too young, at 15 and had to stay on in Upper 5A for the year 1950-51 to take the first year of O levels.

On leaving school I went to Pitman’s College in Southampton Row for a year studying shorthand typing, book keeping, etc. I then worked for a firm of Chartered accountants in the city until April 1962 when I married and moved to Rochford in Essex.

After having a family, I returned to work in 1972 working part-time in the Treasurer’s Department of Southend Borough Council. I retired last year.

I regularly meet up twice a year in London with friends of years ago. Two of them went to Raine’s, Joyce Medley (Pilgrim) and Audrey True (Marshall).

Some other names I remember but have no idea of their whereabouts are Anne Groves, Angela Cohen, Ettie Crowe and Mary Bevan. My cousin, Robert Coombes (1942-47 I believe) went to Raine’s Boys School but sadly is now deceased.

Some teachers names I remember are:

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER Miss Foot (geography); Miss Grafton (French); Miss Kennerley (PE); Mrs Weingarten (history); Miss Whitehead and Miss Haugh (Headmistress).”

•

Jack Godfrey (54-60)

•

Steven Isitt (75-81)

•

Geoffrey Petto (64-70)

•

Michael Rasser (49-54)

vincing some members of the group that a sparrow was a baby pigeon?

• We hope Robert and Jackie Connolly have a better 2001 than 2000.

• Gerry Calvert is still in Forest Hill; do come along to a reunion, Gerry, folk always ask about you!

• John Blundell is as busy as ever, artistically, and in his local Community.

OTHER NEWS – 1 From Gwynneth Jackson

• Margaret Paish is enjoying having two grandchildren, but found time for holidays in Jordan, Florida and Italy last year. She had been visited by a former Raines member of staff, and had been to Fountains Abbey, but, unfortunately not when I was on a warden duty.

PAGE 8 • Ching Fun Wong (Lee) spent Christmas in Hong Kong, visiting relatives with her husband and 2 young sons. Her sister Grace lives in Reading and has a young son.

• Melanie and Peter Corrigan had enjoyed the reunion, but were sorry not to see Iris Lyddon there. Iris visited me in early March and experienced the restrictions and precautions in force in the Foot and Mouth crisis.

• Barry Jones (History Dept) went to the talk given by Tony Fuller at the Ragged School Museum and found it very interesting. He was pleased to see John Blundell there.

ichard Tillbrook had visited John • Zippy Auerbach always keeps in touch and Julie Chappell and Tony and and she still teaches in Watford.

Maria Mole. I hear that Maria has been leaving home at the crack of dawn for • Jack Lowe almost got to the last re- • Debra Reid (Harvey) has a busy time her teaching job, owing to with her 3 young sons. the traffic problems caused by the closure of • Frankie Henry OLD RAINEIANS’ COMMITTEE Richmond Park during the (Music Dept) still teaches Foot and Mouth outbreak. cello at Raines and must e are looking for new members to join the now be the longest serving • Bob and Frances committee. Meetings are held every other member of the music deSimmonds, living near month, near Trafalgar Square, where future partment. I also hear from Cambridge have a Sue Bishop, who taught events are discussed and planned, etc. daughter at Durham Uniclarinet for many years.

The committee are always looking for ways to improve versity (having spent a gap year house building the Association. Therefore, if you feel you would like to • Lynn Dawson for a voluntary organisaadd your voice and ideas to these meetings why not join? I (Bryant) is expecting a tion in Fiji) and a son now am sure that there are a number of you out there with second child, whilst sister in the Lower 6th who thoughts of how the Old Raineians’ Association should be Pat is a doting aunt. spent part of last summer run. This is your chance to show us! in Australia playing in an • Anita Merker International Hockey If any of you are interested please contact one of us (Smith)lives near Basingcompetition in the Olymstoke, her family is grown listed on the front page. pic Stadium. up now, so she says she and her husband may go skiing!

• Colin Nice (Maths Dept) has a son at union, but for a last-minute business Southampton University, (where Colin commitment. He is now working in the • Mike Hazell lives in Bristol and is studied) and a daughter at Gravesend coinage division of his Canadian Company Training Manager for Zurich Insurance Girls’ Grammar, where Mike Holmes which he describes as an “eye-opener”. based in Cheltenham. He has a son and a (Geography Dept) is Senior Teacher. daughter.

Mike, who met Colin at a school concert, • Alan Russell (Languages Dept) was has 2 sons and he and family also keep in very sorry to hear of Basil Dowling’s • Charmaine Kerridge has 2 young touch with Janis Fuller and Graham Willett. death, which he had read about in a New children and is giving piano lessons.

Zealand Tourist Board News-sheet, sent to • When I came south for the November him by his brother who lives ‘down-under’. • Barbara and Tommy Thompson esReunion, I stayed with friends in East caped the Bognor flooding. Tommy Horsley, and reading through the Village • Viv and Rosalind Nicholas are now played the organ for Pam Macdonald’s magazine, found an article on the local bird both enjoying retirement, (who doesn’t?) wedding in October, so met up with sevpopulation (feathered variety) written by and planning to spend time sailing, skiing eral present and former members of staff.

Roger Beck (Languages Dept). Do any of and travelling. Viv is also keeping a hand those who were on the hostelling trips in education through consultancy and • Joanne Day (Marshall) is expecting to remember Roger and Alan Barnes con- training. become a Mum later this year. Carla

R

W

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER (Marshall) and Fred Stratford have a second daughter.

• Maxine Lourden (Gibbons) had a daughter last summer.

commute between his job in Portsmouth and Mumbai in India, where he helps to run a project for Indian Street children.

• Mary (McCurry) has one child and was expecting another.

• Clive Baugh now commutes daily to Sunbury, 105 mile round-trip, record time for one-way, 55minutes, longest time 2l0 minutes! The whole family are ardent skiers, but they weren’t joined by the Wallis and Tinkler clans as has been a regular habit for several years. However they did spend a camping holiday in the south of France with the Wallis family (Diane Tinkler).Tinkler).

• Ann Lowes (PE Dept) has been in better health and manages to do charity

• Vivienne and Martin Durne fortunately live on high ground near Uckfield, so were

• Elizabeth Simpson is now living in Kent.

• Maggie Bell still lives near York (and we still haven’t met up!).

PAGE 9 been spent in Wharfedale, advising people where they can and can’t go in the present situation. We all know the tourist industry is suffering but until the outbreak is really under control, precautions cannot be relaxed. Most people are very understanding but we’ve had one or two awkward ‘customers’, including some ‘locals’. Small world though, a visitor I chatted to yesterday spoke of seeing herons in Hackney and was amazed when I said “In Vicky Park?”

OTHER NEWS – 2 From Bill Richards

I

work for the Children’s Society, Tear Fund, running tabletop and car-boot sales, coffee mornings, Summer Fete, Christmas Market, etc. Also many people in the district drop in and discuss their family problems with her.

• Gavin and Peggy Adlington continue to lead their hectic life style. They were spending Christmas in New Zealand with friends from their time in Malawi and expecting to become grandparents in January.

• Madge and John Darch have now been resident in Nottingham almost 2 years.

One son is at Newcastle University, the next about to take A-Levels and the youngest in the Lower 6th. How time flies! Madge will soon be embarking on her summer period of exam marking, when she goes into enforced hibernation.

•

Alan Waters (EWO) continues to

unaffected by the worst of the flooding in Sussex.

• Alan Liddiard is a Guide at Exeter Cathedral and, despite the Foot and Mouth outbreak, has had many groups of German tourists. He enclosed a photograph of a school outing to Canterbury Cathedral in the summer of 1939, which includes the Rev George Loughborough and a resident Canon of Canterbury, Canon Crumm, also a good friend of Raines. Identifying the boys after over 60 years proved to be an impossible task.

• Mr Paul Stanney wrote to say that the year 2000 was, for him, pleasant but uneventful.

• I have recently spent holidays in Switzerland and Germany, (can’t compete with Miss Mangold and her adventurous globe-trotting - I’ve just received a card from her from China!) but much time has

start this section with a letter I received after sending out one of my mail shots.

It made me stop and think that all was not ideal at Raine’s. Could it be that the majority of us look at our time at the school through ‘rose-tinted glasses’ and, perhaps, were blind to the faults? I make no apology for quoting this letter but will not name the sender.

“With reference to the attached I did attend Raine’s between 74-79 and whilst I applaud the work you are doing I am afraid I do not want to become a member. My years at Raine’s must rate as one of the worst periods of my life. Being the target of teachers jokes in front of class, slapped across the face by a history teacher and several slippers from Mr Spooner are just some of my memories that I would rather forget. It is a chapter of my life in the past and I do not wish to relive it with people who were there at the time.

I am sure the association gives a lot of pleasure to many people and keep up the good work. I have passed the application form onto another former pupil and they can contact you direct.

I would like to wish you well.”

I would be interested to hear if any one has any comments regarding the above.

• Sadly, in response to my request for memories of Basil Dowling, only Duncan Pott (59-66) replied.

“Thanks for the latest issue of the Newsletter.

I was sorry to hear of the passing of Basil Dowling and the obituary produced in the Newsletter. Basil Dowling was my form master in 2A from September 1960 to July 1961. I remember during that period, I think it must have been in the spring /

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER

summer of 1961, that Basil was quite seriously injured one games day at Fairlop. I recall that apparently somebody had thrown a discus and that Basil was struck on the head by it. His injuries must have been quite serious because he was off school for quite some time and we (2A) had a temporary form master, but I can’t remember who.

However what I do remember is that Raymond Harris, a fellow pupil in 2A, and I were ‘volunteered’ / ‘chosen’ to go to Basil’s house in Highgate with the best wishes for his recovery. I can’t recall if we

• David Spencer (75-82) has relocated back to the UK after 15 years of living abroad (Switzerland, USA, Norway, South Africa) and was able to attend his first ORA function in February since 1987! He recently received the Freedom of the City of London at the Guildhall and was admitted to the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers. He was also recently certified as an Independent Professional Earth Scientist (CIPES), and was elected a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain (FMinSoc) and a Fellow of The Institute of Continuing

took a present from the class, but I do remember that it was a hot day and Raymond and I were invited through the back garden, where we sat and had glasses of homemade, chilled, fresh lemonade. Basil was still bandaged around his head. He introduced us to his wife and daughters and made us very welcome We stayed for an hour or so, though I can’t remember much more, except that Basil Dowling was a kind and gentle man.

Professional Development (FICPD).

Over the past year, David has given many lectures in Europe and USA on his attempt, in spring 2000, to climb Mount Everest (reaching the south summit before running out of rope). He has been interviewed by BBC Radio 4, as well as interviewed / profiled in numerous articles and newspapers concerning the hazards and environmental considerations of high altitude climbing. David has just completed the Thames Path Walk (180

PAGE 10 miles/288 km in 7 Days).

Currently working on his family history, David recently found out that his mother (Veronica C. Bonanno) had attended Raines Foundation Grammar School from 1948-1949.

Although evacuated to Ammanford in Wales during World War II, she had won a scholarship to study at a Welsh Grammar school. When Veronica returned to London, she was then accepted into an equivalent Grammar school (Raine’s Foundation). Veronica’s only recollection of someone at Raines Foundation, at that time, is Edith Vogel.

His sister Susan (at Raines from 1977-1982) is currently living in Croydon and works in Holborn. David has recently met up with friends who were at Raines including John Coster, Carole Day, Karl Schwarz and Neil Wilson. David can be contacted at das@davidspencer.com.

• Lana Busby (55–58) contacted us by way of David Hart (60-65).

“Last year I joined a company in the city of London and worked with a lady called Marian Hart. One day chatting about things in general I discovered that her husband, Dave, went to the same school as me! – Raine’. Marian told me that Dave was an Old Raineian member and received newsletters at regular intervals. She promised to bring one in for me to read.

Marian brought one in and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Later, she and I attended a colleague’s birthday party, where I met her husband, Dave. He asked me to write something about my “Time at Raines” or “Life after Raines” as it is good to hear from girls who had attended Raines over the years. Well, I can’t say I’ve done anything extraordinary, not for printing anyway! I thought I’d remember a few people and incidents at school, who knows, some of them may read it in the newsletter. It’s quite a coincidence, but the first newsletter that I read featured an article about Mrs Weingarten’s passing. She was my first form-teacher at Raine’s (1W, 55-56). I stayed at Raine’s until December 1958, just after my 15th birthday and started work in January 1959 @ £4 and 10 shillings (£4.50) a week.

I didn’t really like school - Raine’s seemed so strict and I wasn’t very academic - so I couldn’t wait to leave. Maybe that’s why I was allowed to leave earlier than the compulsory leaving age of 16.

The girls in my first year all stayed to-

OLD RAINEIANS’ NEWSLETTER gether right through the years before reaching leaving age, with a different form-teacher each year. As I mentioned, Mrs Weingarten (1W), Miss Jenkins (2J), Miss Hone (3H) and Mrs Thomas (4T).

Mrs Weingarten taught history and she told us that her husband was a concert pianist - quite grand to us girls - even though, at the time, we had not known his work as we were all heavily into ‘Rock & Roll’, Bill Haley and Elvis.

Miss Jenkins was very young compared to most of the other teachers, so we related to her more. She taught us English and we all thought her very pretty. She also wore very modern and stylish clothes; I can particularly remember her in a pink suit (funny how certain things stick in your mind). Miss Hone taught English Literature and drama. I can remember being in a school play, the part was Geoffrey something or other, about some medieval characters. My one and only line was “My liege, my thanks” addressed on bended knee to some king.

Mrs Thomas taught French (one of my best subjects and I always got good marks!). She made French fun and I remember she always used to sit on her desk or on one of the front row desks and gather us round to teach us. She often spoke about France as well which made the lessons interesting.

I was often in trouble at school and was sent to see Miss Mangold a number of times, usually about my uniform. The uniforms were so expensive then, but my mum insisted I had all four of the summer dresses and a Panama hat that I hated (and not worn very often!).

The dresses were striped in blue, red, green and brown. The winter uniform was navy with blue shirts and velour “pudding basin” hats. Everything had to be bought from ‘Henry Taylors’ in Walthamstow - no diversions!

The dresses, I remember, were £2.10 shillings each, a lot in those days. The hats, after a time, lost their original shape as most of the girls pushed and pulled them into the most diverse shapes so that they didn’t look ‘square’ to other schools. If we were caught without them on our heads outside school we had to do ‘lines’ or ‘detention’.

I didn’t have a navy overcoat, only a blazer. When it was really cold one year I wore my duffel coat, but was reprimanded and sent to Miss Mangold. I had to freeze, I suppose, when I walked from Mile End to

Arbour Square.

Another time I went to our weekly ‘games lesson’ at Fairlop. I only had orange shorts (from my holiday) to wear and Miss Munn, the PE teacher, told me off and said I would have to play hockey in my navy knickers, to which I answered “I’m not running around in my knickers at my age” (14 at the time!), so I had to stay in the changing rooms and report to Miss Mangold.

Our group often had ‘detention or lines’ as we were up to mischief! There was an old wooden table at the top end of the playground and we commandeered it – no one else ever sat on it when we were around! All we did was talk about boys, records and ‘girls’ things’.

My best friend was Ann Hutt (Bethnal Green) so we were a pair. Pauline Hughes (Shadwell) paired with Maureen O’Connor (Stepney) and Sandra Higgins (Poplar?) paired with Brenda Critchett (?).

There were also the Tarlton twins, Sandra & Ann (East Ham), Annette Foley (Poplar) and Joyce Burnett (East Ham). This was our main group. Others in our year were Pauline Joel (Chingford), Helen Lazarus (Ilford?), Christine Patrick (?), Eunice Bernstein (?), Carol Feldman (Bow), Mavis Murray (?), Elizabeth Coker (Limehouse), Ann Robertson (Manor Park) and a girl called Doreen, whose surname I can’t remember.

As I left school earlier than the others I drifted away from everyone and lost touch, but in the early 60s I was working with a man called John Heathcote, again talking about schools etc., it turned out that his brother was married to Sandra Tarlton.

He told me that, at that time, Sandra still lived in East Ham, but her sister, Ann, had gone to America and married a golf pro (if my memory serves me right!). Later I was working with an employment agency and Pauline Hughes walked in. She had moved to Kent and had two daughters. I think Pauline told me that Christine Patrick had stayed on at school and become Headprefect, as for the rest - who knows?

In general the teachers were nice, but to us, at the time, a lot of them seemed old.

Raine’s was held in high esteem then and my mum was proud to think that I had passed my 11 plus to get in there. I tried hard at first but I could never get my head around maths, algebra, etc., (where were you Carol Vorderman?).

No matter how much Miss Whitehead tried, I used to get disgusting marks in

PAGE 11 tests, etc., the same in science with 8/100 in one exam! Her accent was very strong and the only thing I remember about science was lighting the Bunsen burner. I suppose with the school being quite strict and the teaching intense (well it was to me then) I didn’t apply myself – but I still think the methods of teaching and discipline gave good grounding in all subjects (no options at 14 as there is now). I notice the difference when my own daughter was at school (mid 70s & 80s).

The only thing I hated at school was homework – so much of it. Up to 5 subjects a night sometimes with each to last at least 20 minutes, which of course always took me longer. This led, of course, to some of us exchanging or copying homework (with the odd extra mistake, etc.) i.e., my French and maths, especially in my last year.

Because of the amount of homework in my first year at Raine’s, I had to give up piano lessons (I used to practice every evening at my Nan’s house), I just didn’t have the time and something I now regret.

In those days I also had some household chores to do after school, as my mum worked full-time (not so common at that time, most of my mates mums were at home all day).

One of my step-cousins also went to Raine’s, his name is Melvin Furze but he left during my first year. Two Raine’s girls, Ellen & Pat, kept following him home (he lived next door to me). Ellen really fancied him and they eventually married and moved to Kent. One of my neighbours now was a Raine’s boy, John Lacey, he was at school around 1960.

Well that’s all from my Raines memory lane, maybe a few names are recognised, it seems ages since my schooldays, especially when my retirement is not so far away. But I do look at that time with some happy memories and although I did not realise at the time, I am glad that I went to a well-respected school.”

Once again we come to the end of another packed edition of the Newsletter.

My apologies to Alan Johnson and others, whose contributions I have had to omit due to lack of space, but will endeavour to include them in the next ‘run’.

Please keep sending your news and memories and if you know of anyone you can sign up to join the Association please let us know.

Bill Richards

Old Raineians’ Association

NEWSLETTER E-mail: admin@rainesoc.com

Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road Bethnal Green London E2 9LY Tel: 020 8981 1231 Fax: 020 8983 0153

Richard Harris 197Abbott Road London E14 0NE 020 7987 3378

Alan & Sandra Johnson 9 Goddington Lane Orpington Kent BR6 9DR Tel: 01689 826854 Fax: 01689 873115

Bill Richards 26 Shandy Street Stepney London E1 4LX Tel: 020 7790 9235

Gwynneth Jackson Glevum Kirkby Malzeard Nr Ripon North Yorks HG4 3RS Tel: 01765 658825

JANUARY 2002

F

irst of all I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year and that you are fully recovered from the celebrations whether it be from too much drink and/or lack of sleep.

Talking of drink, the November Reunion at the English Martyrs was a great success, with 200 people attending, although we could have filled a venue for 300 such was the demand for tickets.

Thank you to all of those that attended and helped to swell the Association’s ‘coffers’.

I would also like to give my apologies for the delay in producing this Newsletter.

The last edition was in May 2001 and I was in the process of working on the September issue when my computer suddenly ‘died’ without warning and went to that great scrap yard in the sky! As he/she (not to be sexist!!) carried a donor card, the monitor, RAM, etc., were given to the school and, hopefully, have improved the quality of life for some other elderly computers. I am now on the Internet at home, therefore you can contact me direct at Wilf_Richards@hotmail.com if you have any memories, thoughts, complaints (unlikely I hope), etc.

As usual this edition of the Newsletter is full of recollections, etc. plus a new section written by David Spencer called Famous Raineians. There is also an article

by Christine Crump about Ione Hoskins and a piece about Basil Dowling from Alan Russell. So read on.

NEW MEMBERS • Francis Andrews (Allingham, 6065) left Raine’s to attend Tottenham Technical College from 1965 to 1967 and gained her Nursery Nurses Examination

Board Certificate after placement at Fore • David Browne (57-63) would like to Street Day Nursery. Whilst working as a renew contact with school friends in the nursery nurse she married Kelvin, hospital sixth form from 1962-3 and hear about engineer, in 1969, which resulted in them their fortunes! moving about the country. They have two “For myself I’ve worked in television grown children, Sarah aged 30, who is for most of my life; at Thames TV, Yorkteaching in Germany and Matthew aged shire TV and the IBA. Now I’m teaching 26, who runs a pub, ‘The Pheasant’, in film and television production on a specialSalisbury.

Francis remembers: Sheila Cable, Lesley Albion, Janet Edmed, Beatris Yentis, Rose Robert, Susan Gibbs, Linda Garrard, Bronwen Griffiths, Ingrid Carlton, Janet Dorris, John Bacon, Sharon Burridge, Suzanne Madden among the pupils and Viola Venue: To Be Confirmed Compton, the elocution teacher. She remembers Miss Mangold “vividly”.

Please make a note in your diary Also remembered are the school plays, especially ‘The Emperors Nightingale’. The top hat Fran- ist degree in theatre, film and television at cis was wearing kept falling off every time St John’s University College in York. I’d love to make contact with other Old she bowed!

Francis said she “certainly maintained Raineians in the world of theatre, film and the discipline and sense of responsibility television.” instilled in me at Raine’s, to help me through my college days and on into adult- • Lance Burns (Lance Newman, 64hood”.

72) remembers “Mr Spooner and his ‘slipper’, which was used to administer • Malcolm Baugh (72-79) corporal punishment (those were the days!).

I also remember taking part in the slowest • Carl Bridgeman (67-74) contacted mile race ever at East London Stadium, on the Association by e-mailing the Sports Day. We all decided to jog round Headteacher of Raine’s, Mr Hollingum. in the slowest time possible to slow handHe has lived in the Isle of Wight since claps. This did not go down well with Mr 1974 and has lost contact with everyone Broughton, although the last lap was pretty who he attended school with. Carl “would quick. I have since noticed the tactic being appreciate being able to open this window employed at the Olympic Games. to my past.”

I married an American and we have a

Next Reunion

Friday 17 May 2002

PAGE 2

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER 9 year old son and a 9 month old daughter.

We have lived in Reading for the last 22 years.“ •

Joseph Church (69-75)

•

John Coster (77-84)

•

Stephen Coughlin (69-74)

• Maureen Davies (Lyons, 46-50).

“Miss Kennedy was my PE teacher. When we used to play hockey at Dytchley’s, near Brentwood, I never dreamed I would be living in the property next to the hockey field (Gilstead Hall). I also felt so sick on the bus each time we travelled to Dytchley’s, it seemed such a long way and used to take hours. Now I can drive to Stepney in about an hour.

I would like to get in touch with anyone who remembers me. Like most of us I have led a very eventful life and at the moment own a very successful Pub/ Restaurant.”

• Ken Ellis (73-78) recalls two quite memorable moments for him. “1. Receiving a lecture from Dr Cioci when I failed to deliver my physics homework on time.

His comment was “I may be the smallest teacher but when someone doesn’t do their homework I am the biggest b*****d in the school.” 2. I had trouble saying the words three and thirty – these came across as free and firty. During one lunchtime session Mr Reffold had me out side the staff room saying over and over again “Thirty Thousand feathers on a thrush’s throat”. To this day I still say free instead of three!” (I am not alone then, fankfully – ed.)

• Railton Frith (59-67) who joined and sent this to Geoff Gillon.

“Thanks for all that info! You have mentioned most of the fellow pupils I remember, and I am also aware that you did not get all that together without a great deal of work - superb.

One person I do remember that I would really like to contact again was a fellow swimmer (although he was always a class above me!), Ray Harris. I lost contact when he changed swimming clubs roughly speaking at the same time as he left Raine’s. Do you know anything of him?

(Can anyone help? - ed.)

As you obviously have taken a great deal of trouble in getting the records straight I ought to mention that my name is now Railton Frith (known as Ray) - I

changed my name from St Denis-Kelly to Frith some 30 years ago following some research into my family tree - but that's another story! It would have been difficult to trace me without Friends Reunited.

I have lived in Cornwall for over 20 years now and I can’t remember when I last went to London, and since early retirement I have set up my own internet book dealing business as well as running a bookshop. We work 7 days a week at present and it is unlikely to change until we have achieved what we set out to do, so it is unlikely that I will be able to attend the reunion, particularly bearing in mind the distance.

I am happy to say that you are welcome to send any/all/none of the information above/below including my e-mail address (Recollections is the name of the shop) to anyone who may be interested.

Sad to hear about Raymond House - I do remember him.

Finally - on a real point of nostalgia more than anything else I remember the geography field trips in the sixth form, which gave me the chance to climb my first mountain - Ben Cruachan - I don’t remember any of the geography but I came down that mountain knowing that I had found the great passion in my life and I have been a climber ever since. I was never really happy at school and couldn’t wait to leave but I will always be grateful to Raine’s for that.”

• Andrew Fullerton (70-77) is married with two children (boy of 7 and girl of 9).

After school he took a degree in Politics and qualified as a chartered accountant.

He is currently taking a career break after 10 years as a venture capitalist working in Scandinavia and Germany. Moved with the family to Dusseldorf, Germany in August, 2001.

• Fardad Gharebaghi (75-81) who says the highlight of his years at Raine’s was the final party after completion of A levels in 1981.

•

John High (58-64)

• Paul Jackson (69-76) lives in a village called High Halstow near Rochester, Kent, with his partner Shaz.

“I have been previously married and divorced and have daughters of 18 and 17.

Shaz and I also have a 13 year old foster daughter and two foster sons of 9 and 6.

We run our own sports/film memorabilia

business and life is very good. I always have a laugh and do not take life seriously.

In that respect I’ve never changed and so may it continue. I would love to either chat occasionally to old Raineians and/or meet up and renew acquaintances.”

•

Terry Mahony (77-82)

•

Bernard Major (English teacher, 81-86)

• Margaret Metzger (Green, 58-63) sent the following: “Whilst on the Internet one night I thought I would see if Raine’s had a web site and was really excited when I found the site and discovered there was an Old Raineian’s Association. I now live in rural Herefordshire and have sort of embarked on an exercise to “find my roots”. Unfortunately, I have not kept in touch with anyone from my schooldays, and so when I read the newsletter which was sent to me soon afterwards, I was really pleased to recognise some of the names which were mentioned.

I started at Raines in 1958 and my first impressions were of this huge building and internally, lots of wood panelling. I also remember being absolutely terrified of most of the teachers who all seemed to me to be so very old and very strict.

(Apologies to any of my old teachers who may read this!). I also remember my school uniform, which my parents were so incredibly proud of, but quite honestly, I hated!

Everything seemed to be about two sizes too big when I started at the school and I had to wear these ugly black lace up shoes!

I also hated the velour hat that we had to wear in the winter and the Panama one in the summer. Both my hats eventually ended up with a permanent crease down the middle. This came from folding them in half and stuffing them into my briefcase as soon I was out of the vicinity of school.

Failure to wear one’s hat met with severe penalties as I found out to my cost on many occasions! I also remember quite vividly the ‘iron curtain’ that separated the girls from the boys.

I eventually settled in and have generally good memories of my five years there.

I was particularly friendly with Christine Mainstone who left at 15. I kept in touch with her for a few years but as often happens we lost contact. It was good to read the articles from Gillian Armstrong and Kaye Prince, who were two of my contemporaries. I found I could share a lot of their memories. I also remember old

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 3

FAMOUS RAINEIANS PHILLIPS IDOWU

P

hillips Olaosebikan Idowu was born on 30 December, 1978 in Hackney, London. He attended Raine’s Foundation School from 1990-1997 and is a world class international athlete, currently ranked as Britain’s No 3 triplejumper. Phillips represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Olympic Games in Sydney (2000) and the recent World Championships in Edmonton (2001).

Phillips had been a top basketball and an American football player at Raine’s Foundation School. He progressed rapidly towards world-class status as a triple jumper, and got there in 2000 when he was ranked eighth in the world after a brilliant season capped by his sixth place at the Olympic Games. Phillips achieved a personal best of 16.41 metres in 1999 and in 2000 jumped 16.71 at the Bedford International Games before joining the elite world triple jumpers over 17.00m with a win in Budapest in 17.05. He won his first senior title with 16.87 at the AAAs and confirmed his brilliant potential at the Olympic Games, when qualifying for the final with a personal best 17.12 and then took sixth place with 17.08 in his first senior international appearance for Britain.

From 13.90 in 1995 he progressed to 15.09 in his first competition in 1996 and then to 15.53 for 2nd at the English Schools. A year later he showed his ability to produce his best in major competitions: 15.54 to win the Southern Juniors, a win at 15.69 for GB Juniors v Germany, 15.86 for the AAA U20 and 16.22 for the English Schools titles, and another personal best, 16.34 for fourth at the European Juniors. In 1998 he won the British Universities title for Brunel and upped his personal best to 16.35 when second in the Southern, and in 1999 improved to 16.41 and was consistently over 16m. Phillips was close to his best when jumping 16.39 for 5th at the 1999 European U23 Championships. He has also showed long jumping potential, with 7.62 in June 2000 in his first serious competition at the event, and then 7.83 for second at Ljubljana.

In 2001, Phillips did not compete indoors, but started in friends like Jane Cooper, Sharon Samuels, Sandra Briden, Brenda Milton and Vivienne Coleman. There must be many more but their names unfortunately escape me at the moment. I remember the teachers of the subjects that I obviously enjoyed namely; Miss Turner (English), Miss Miller (French), Miss Griffith (German) and I also remember Miss Bailey (Latin).

Latin was not my favourite subject but nobody who was taught by Miss Bailey could ever forget her! Nobody could also forget our Headmistress, Miss Mangold.

I was amazed to hear from the newsletter that she has recently been travelling in

good form at the British League meeting at Copthall with 16.32 triple jump and a personal best 10.81 for 100m. He won the triple jump at Loughborough with 16.89 and then leapt to new personal best when winning at the European Clubs’ Cup with 17.33 at Haniá, then a world-leading mark. Jonathan Edwards took over as world leader, but needed to be at his best to jump 17.66 after Phillips produced 17.38 (wind +2.6) to take the lead in the Norwich Union Challenge at Glasgow. He was third at the AAAs with 16.88 and at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix with 17.05. He finished ninth with a jump of 16.60 at the recent World Championships in Edmonton.

Phillips is well known for the numerous colours he dyes his hair: pillar box red, yellow (when he jumped to the top of this year’s world rankings with 17.33 metres in Greece), blue, blonde with red love hearts; in fact everything from emerald green to violent purple. His hair dye sponsors have 36 colours in their range, five developed especially for him.

Recently, so many were asking what colour he would try next that he dyed a question mark into his hair.

There is one colour in his sponsor’s range he will not consider and that is silver.

“No way would I touch that,” said Phillips “I’m waiting for gold” which he had planned to premier on the winner’s podium at the World Championships in Edmonton.

Phillips, a 6ft 4in Londoner, confesses happily to manipulating the market. “A year or two ago I wasn’t jumping more than 17 metres like the best in the world, so I had to get attention some other way.”

It worked for him. Phillips now has a shoe deal with an Italian company and the new hair dye contract. He will also appear, when the competitive season ends, on cat-walks in Paris and Milan.

Phillips Idowu is a Famous Raineian to watch out for - the gold medal at next years Commonwealth Games, for example, is surely within his grasp.

And as for the colour of your hair, well don’t forget that Raineian blue Phillips!

China!

I left Raines in the summer of 1963. I was due to go back in September into the Sixth Form to study German, French and English. I unfortunately decided in the long summer holiday that I wanted to be independent and school was no longer for me. My parents’ pleas didn’t do any good as I had made my mind up and I was a very headstrong 16 year old! My parents had to go and discuss the situation with Miss Mangold who told them that it was a mistake to allow me to leave and that I would become bored in no time at all.

Of course, Miss Mangold was abso-

David Spencer lutely right! About six weeks after starting work at Coutts Bank in the city, I became quite bored and wished I were back at school. Of course, it was too late and I had to stick to my decision to be independent! All was not lost however, as I stayed at Coutts for about two years and then changed jobs fairly frequently until I became Company Secretary at Tumbull and Asser Ltd. in Jermyn Street. My last position in London, from 1976 to 1988, was Finance Director at Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc. in St. James’.

I met my husband William, an American of German extraction, in London and

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER we married in 1979. I decided to leave Russell Reynolds so I could spend more time with my two sons then aged 7 and 4.

It seemed to me that I was the one losing out; working in London and missing my children grow up.

We decided about 11 years ago to move to Herefordshire and I must say rural life is so different to life in London or the South. A few years ago, I decided that I had had enough of being at home and being a housewife and so embarked on an exercise to try and get back into the finance field. Unfortunately, Hereford is not quite like London and so my search was quite fruitless. I consequently decided to change career direction and I now work as Coordinator of Mobile Day Centres for Age Concern Hereford. This involves a lot of contact with people and travel around the County.

In retrospect, I look back on my years at Raines with fondness and as giving me an incredibly good start in life. I believe these years taught me how to think objectively and to have a certain discipline, which have held me in good stead over the years.”

•

Rumé Miah (83-88)

• Valerie Moore (Clay, 63-68). “At last I have got around to joining the Old Raineians’ Association. I was a late starter when it came to children, so whereas many of my contemporaries are taking life a bit easier and are probably grandparents I am still rushing around to cubs, football, youth club, golf and netball with a ten year old.

I originally lived in Bow and it seemed such a long journey for an 11 year old to make to Stepney. Two or three buses on busy roads and a long walk at either end carrying a briefcase weighed down with homework and trying to keep my boater firmly on my head. I married one of the prefect’s brothers, which was a bit daunting when I first went home to meet the family.

Thirty years on we remain best friends although the marriage only lasted eight of them. I met and married my second husband due to the 1987 hurricane (it’s a long story). He is the owner of a TV aerial company in Braintree, Essex, which is where we live.

My memories of Raine’s are happy ones and I am still in contact with Mary Murrell, Christine Hurst and Pauline Sampson and between us we have made a huge list of names we can remember: Lynn Harley, Ann Jones, Anne Ellis, Eunice

Raburn, Mandy Moyson, Rosemary Cross, Marylin Tovey, Lesley Shaw, Lorraine Clark, Pat Smith, Lorraine Lingwood, Ruth Boon, Lorraine Knight, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Fiona Mason, Lesley Jenkins, Cheryl Newton and Kenny Dyer, Tommy Nunn and Stephen Richardson.

Teachers we weren’t too good in remembering; only Miss Mangold, Miss Bradley, Miss Braitch, Miss Davey, Miss Coy, Mr Roden and Mr Stanney.

I was quite shocked when I found my old school report that I was actually Form Captain while in class 3B – I must have done something right. It was during this year I was awarded a trip up the River Thames with the River Police and then lunch at Scotland Yard. I can’t remember who I chose to go with me (your lawyer?

– ed.) but if you’re out there let me know please.

I can remember where I was when President Kennedy was assassinated. We were in the school hall waiting for the coach to take us to Fairlop. It wasn’t too long after that we began to make the journey by tube and then the fun really began!!

Many times we would come out of school and head for the home of Kenny Jones, drummer in the Small Faces. Poor boy, there would be about fifty screaming school girls outside his house waiting to catch a glimpse of him. I wonder if he remembers us?!!

I am looking forward to being able to come to one of your reunions next year as my year group will be reaching their fiftieth year.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to recall memories that had been waiting to be shared with old school friends.”

•

Christine Murphy (MacDonald, 77-83)

• Steven Murphy (71-78) is working in the City of London. He is married to Gill O’Brien, who was at Raine's and they have three daughters. Still in touch with John Neighbour and occasionally with Lisa Helm (Holder) and Kevin Harvey.

• Leon Rabstaff (49-54) was pleased to be contacted via the FriendsReunited site. “I was born in Edinburgh, my father being a Scot and my mother was born and bred in Stepney. We lived in Scotland until 1949, when I entered the first form half way through the academic year.

At that time Dr Dagger was headmaster, the other teachers I remember were Mr Shadbolt (maths), Mr Aldridge (French),

PAGE 4 Mr Broughton (history) and Mr Spooner (geography). I can’t remember the names of the English teacher (other than his son became well known in television), the Biology mistress (Miss Ringer – ed.) or PT master – each of them left a lasting impression. We were fortunate to have such high calibre dedicated teachers.

Dr Dagger retired shortly after I arrived and was succeeded by Dr Shutt. They were so very different, Dr Dagger a soft spoken man with a gentle smile, whereas Dr Shutt, who stood well over six foot high, was extremely imposing and somewhat ‘menacing’ in his long flowing gown.

I only had the cane once and it was Dr Shutt dishing out the punishment – a memory I’ll never forget. There are probably quite a few other ex-pupils with similar memories.

My education at Raine’s stood me in good stead. I qualified as a chartered accountant in 1960, did my national service in the RAF (1960-62) having been called up on returning from my honeymoon.

After ten years in the private sector I joined the Department of Trade and Industry. I retired in 1997. During my years at the DTI I enjoyed a wide variety of work and in my final five years I headed a department responsible for assisting UK companies attend overseas fairs and missions. This involved me travelling extensively, particularly in the Far East and North America.

Currently I am working for a local firm of accountants on a part-time basis. My wife and I celebrated our 40th anniversary last year. We have one daughter and one grandson, who is 8.

Well that’s it; I hope I haven’t rambled too much. Naturally if there are any other members who were in my year, I’d like to hear from them, especially Stanley Wood.”

• Margaret Richardson (Fisher, 57-63) .

“I have been married for 33 years to Alan Richardson and we have two daughters, Heather who is 29 and Sally who is 27. I now work part time from home as a piano teacher, and we live in Billericay.

I keep in touch with four old school friends, but should love to hear from any others.”

• Geoff Ridgway (44-49) rejoined after a number of years on the ‘missing’ list.

“In 1944 I moved to rejoin my parents in Stepney (my father was an Inspector at Arbour Square Police Station), from being evacuated in Hertfordshire, for it was considered by them that it was safe to live in

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 5

IONE HOSKINS

A

s I am writing this on Remembrance Day, a few days before the first anniversary of Miss Hoskins’ death, it seems appropriate that we who knew her might share some of that enriching and enjoyable experience with her fondly remembered past pupils at Raine’s.

She was, I think, born into an ancient Italian banking family in Florence, though mother was British. En route to her infant baptism in the Michael Angelo font of the cathedral, she could have crossed the Ponte Vecchio, from where came the family jewels and beneath one of her more illustrious or infamous ancestors, immortalised as a gargoyle in the duomo façade.

She enjoyed an excellent academic and cultural education.

Ione enjoyed family life with two sisters and a brother and could have married but preferred, at the time, good friendship and her career in publishing. Eventually she cared for her parents until they died.

Her Catholic faith, reflected on, practised and cherished led her to ‘try her vocation’ with a religious order who combined a contemplative life with studying, writing or teaching. In her view a prerequisite was to give away all she had. Therefore, when after some time it was evident this was not the right path for her, she appears to have adjusted to a life of genteel poverty with a considerable resourcefulness and panache – thanks in some measure, she might say, to the banking genes and ‘the faith’. What she had she shared – time, skills, resources, etc. - what she received she enjoyed enormously.

She would certainly have ranked her life at Raine’s highly.

Responsible for the Secretarial Sixth, her students must have had a hitherto unimagined Swiss-finishing school experience. On one occasion her ‘gals’ had an educational visit to her Barbican flat – action research into business entertaining. One of my form, unused to such style (as indeed I was myself) helped herself on arrival to an apples from the fruit bowl before sitting on the floor to eat it. I remember well Ione’s sincere apology for failing to offer the fruit sooner or provide enough comfortable chairs, hoping to put her guest at ease and dilute any embarrassment.

Stuffy she was not, enjoying with the rest of us the occasions for hilarity, occasionally enjoyed by the third floor staff of Arbour Square with the irreplaceable Miss Gossman. The Governors’ tea episode, for example, caringly prepared by 5G, where grated soap somehow appeared as a filling in the cheese sandwiches.

Father Clynick would come on plea bargaining missions, for Ione also taught RE, to the Catholic pupils. Dear Fr Clynick had London. How wrong they were, for the weekend my sister Daphne, another Raine’s pupil, and I moved back, the first German V1 rocket, the Doodlebug, fell in Mile End, the first of many to fall in Stepney, to be followed later by the more devastating V2 rockets.

Although I did not gain a scholarship to Raine’s, and my parents were at first expected to pay for my education there, the 1944 Education Act soon meant that I could be educated free.

On my first day I was put in form 2B with Donny Lyons as Form Master, and

tried for years to raise the academic standard and standing of his subject. An exam mark of 70% was a grade of excellence. It was of some concern that the average for the RC group rarely fell to such a level, many scoring 100%. Ione was as immovable as the rock of Peter, politely refusing to take off marks if the meaning of Resurrection and Pentecost were understood, if not the spelling. Even the diplomatic skills of Mr Stanney were unable to fuse the schism. Ione never avoided necessary conflict but confided to me later how delighted she was when that nice Mr Hudson got the Head of Science job, because then he could take over her RE class.

Retirement from Raine’s meant an end to residential life in London; home became a Sussex cottage, until no longer feasible, then residential accommodation.

Ione adored her monthly bus pass trips to town, visits from her pupils, nieces and old friends like the Blundells. She was a master (mistress?) of the ancient art of letter writing, always replying to yours with disarming courtesy and speed. When declining health prevented her from going far, or anywhere at all, she was well served by her earlier established’ contemplative rhythm’ of life. Days were still full of prayer, reading, reflection, the Sacraments – when a minister could come, enjoyment, courtesy of the zimmer, to see the flowers in the conservatory, the beauty of the changing seasons via her window.

She faced increasing frailty and tried to make sense of pain honestly and courageously. Her delight with cards and gifts when she was hospitalised in ‘our wonderful NHS’ were genuine.

And there was more to be done. In the last years of her life, her late eighties, she was still able to offer English conversation classes to a Spanish student going back to his mission in Korea.

She joined Amnesty International and the Howard League for penal reform. Via the diplomatic bag she corresponded with James Mawdsley serving 17 years in a Rangoon prison for distributing human rights literature in Burma. Ione also supported his mother with her letters and prayers, and lobbied government from her room. Shortly before she died her joy was immense when ‘dear James’ was released.

For me she was a valued friend and wonderful role model, particularly in the last stage of her life. Observably zimmer bound and dependent, she continued to grow and develop to the end and connected to the outside world with interest and service.

told that I was in Taylor House, the best house in the school, which of course I firmly believe to be true! Two other things I remember of that first day were being given the School Hymn Book and told to learn the School Song, and being told that if we needed to go to the toilet we should put up our hands and ask to go forth.

I had not been at Raine’s more than a few weeks when I was threatened with expulsion. One day a boy produced some white powder on his hand, and foolishly I and another boy blew on it. It turned out to have been sneezing powder, and soon

Christine Crump (nee Stacey) all the class were sneezing. For this minor indiscretion the three of us were led to the Headmaster, Mr Dagger, who told us what low animal life we were, and saying that if anything like it happened again he would have us expelled. He then went through the process of selecting a suitable cane by swishing several through the air, and when he was satisfied, he made us bend over in turn in the middle of his study, and proceeded to cane us very hard on our backsides. As well as being very painful, it also hurt my dignity, and I determined there and then never again to fall foul of

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER REUNION

A

s I mentioned at the start of the Newsletter, the Reunion at the English Martyrs Club was a great success. There were some comments that it was crowded and that the acoustics, due to the low ceiling, made it difficult to hear a group discussion. Our problem was that we changed the venue from our original choice. The same venue as last year had originally been chosen, in another part of the English Martyrs, which could take 110-120 people and had been enjoyed by all who had attended the previous year. The problem was that the demand for tickets obviously went way over that number and we had to find a larger location.

Thankfully Mimi, who runs the English Martyrs, offered ‘The Crypt’, which we gratefully accepted.

Overall, other than the slight problems above, everyone appeared to enjoy the evening, in some cases meeting contemporaries they had not seen since leaving the school. It was nice to see former members of staff attending such as Gwynneth Jackson (music), Barry Jones (history), Humph Long (PE) and Bernard Major (English). I am sure they enjoyed talking to their ‘pupils’.

Our thanks go to Mimi and her staff for helping everyone to enjoy the evening, especially the excellent food and to David Spencer in spending so much time in e-mailing, individually, everyone who was on the Friends Reunited site at that time, telling them about the reunion. Thanks also to Bernard Mayor for the photographs which can be found at www.geocities.com/englishdept_2000/raines/77.

Following are two of the comments we received about the evening: “I felt as if I had gone back in time to the school canteen. A sea of familiar faces, some just the same, some almost unrecognisable, some older, some a little greyer, but all smiling and as happy as I was to be there. I had looked forward to the reunion with a mixture of excitement and fear, who would I see? Who would be there? Would anyone recognise me? What would we all take about after all this time???

As I entered the club my stomach was churning, but I immediately saw people from my year group and we all screeched with excitement to see each other for the fist time in almost 20 years. I talked so much to so many people that I only had time for two drinks, I completely forget to eat any of the wonderful buffet and it took me almost an hour to cross the room to get to the ladies, as I kept seeing more old friends!!!

I had a great time reminiscing and being reminded of things I had forgotten! I haven’t laughed so much in ages!! People from my year group included Mandy Coakley, Joanne Barnes, John Coster, Greg Ross, Diane Renham, Christine Macdonald, Susan Alabaster, Jane Muncer, Corrine Diable, Alan Oliver, Duncan Hockley, Simon Carrington and Tim Jennings. We have all vowed to see each other again at the next reunion, as 2002 will mark the 20th year since we left school and we are keen to find as many of our other year group as possible to join us. Thanks to all the organisers for a wonderful evening. See you in May!!”

Susan Carpel (77-82) “I just wanted to drop you a line to say how much I enjoyed the reunion last Friday. I have subscribed to the society in the past but have never felt ‘ripe’ for a reunion. On this occasion I just happened to meet someone after 20 years and there I was!

There were many faces from my year and, indeed, my most favourite teacher the lovely Mr Major!

I have thought a lot about how much work you all put into the society and wonder if you get as much out of it as we participants do. I am very pleased that you do carry on and thank you all for a lovely evening and a great night of nostalgia. (more, more - ed.)

Sandra Mallett (77-82) Thank you for attending and see you at the next reunion.

PAGE 6 the school authority. I must have succeeded, for ultimately I was made a school prefect on my last year at the school, the only boy in my form to achieve that distinction.

The names of many of my teachers now escape me, but I especially remember Butch Gee for German, who spent every lunchtime in the local pub, and was not really fit to teach in the afternoon, Charlie Nay for woodwork and technical drawing, later on Donny Lyons for German, who used to bend us over a desk and apply a huge tennis slipper enthusiastically to our bottoms to encourage us to do better, though I failed to see the connection between bottom and brain! Mr Aldridge taught French, Nobby Clark took us for English and music, Wally Spooner for geography, Biffer Broughton for history (a very boring teacher, but a wonderful rugby player, who gave up the chance to have a trial to play for Wales in order to have an interview at Raine’s), Miss Ringer (Biology Bertha) for biology, and Dr Wilkins for chemistry. For chemistry we also had Mr Roberts, and when he first came to teach he looked no older than many of the boys he was teaching.

Sport was well provided for at the school, with an excellent gymnasium in the basement, inter-house handball matches in the playground, and Wednesday afternoon rugger matches in the winter, for which we had to travel by underground and bus to Chiswick, and cricket in the summer for which we had to travel to Walthamstow.

Weekly swimming sessions were held at the Mile End Municipal Baths, where very competitive swimming galas were held each year. Taylor House always won, I recall. For athletics we went to Victoria Park, where inter-house races were held, and later on we went to Walthamstow for the annual athletics meeting. I must admit that I was better at sport than I was at academic lessons. I was pleased to have been selected to play in the school rugger and cricket teams, and even to represent the school at long jump and relay at the North London Grammar School Championships at the White City Stadium.

Looking back now more than 50 years, I recall the faces of many fellow pupils, and wonder how many of them are still around. I also remember the morning assemblies, the house meetings, the whole class trying to count how many times Charlie Nay said the word ‘lad’ in a lesson. Fifty was about par for the course, the years passing pleasantly enough, and even some boys getting good examination results, though not me I regret to say. And, of course, the deepening relationships with some of the girls from the other side of the partition. In my case firstly Pat

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 7

BASIL DOWLING

A

fter reading the obituary on Basil in a previous Newsletter I have thought about him a number of times, trying to retrieve any recollections that might be worth my passing on to other Old Raineians.

I was appointed to teach French and German at Raine’s, the boys’ school of course, in May 1961. This was my first teaching post. I stayed for seven happy years. In over thirty years you forget a great deal, and what chiefly remain are my general impressions of Basil the man, but just about no particular incidents.

A week or two after being appointed I was invited to call in, to be shown around the place and told more about the job by the Head of French, Peter Harrison. (Remember him, anyone? Tall, dark-haired, a dominating personality.)

He made a point of introducing me to two or three of the staff, and one of these, significantly, was Basil.

I looked in again some weeks later, and by then Basil had suffered the accident, recounted

by Duncan Pott in the last Newsletter, of having his head split open by a discus. He was still off work, the staff were most upset, and it was clear to me how very fond of Basil everybody was. (I just about remember you, Duncan, and Raymond Harris. Wasn’t Raymond something of a swimmer?)

Though I could be wrong, I believe that this injury affected Basil permanently, putting rather a brake on things and leaving him prone to headaches and on medication. But he was not the Dudlyke, and then Norma Bollom, the daughter of the local Methodist Minister – hence my introduction to that Church. It was a school rule that caps had to be worn when entering and leaving the school, but when we started ‘dating’ Raine’s girls, then caps were soon off our heads and in our pockets.

When the time came to leave Raine’s, it was with little regret, as I went to join an insurance company in the City, with whom I stayed for 43 years. That must be something of a record, as also was the fact that during my five years at the school I was never absent, not even for half a day.

On leaving the school I was encouraged

by Donny Lyons to join the ORA, and I remained a member for many years, being at one time a vice-president of the association. My only claim to fame was that for many years I acted as Master of Ceremonies for school dances and socials, variously at Toynbee Hall, Aldgate, at the annual dinner and dance at the Criterian Restaurant in the West End and of course also in the School Hall.

So now, it is with real pleasure that I

man to make a fuss.

Duncan’s words get to the heart of Basil’s character: “he was a kind and gentle man.” I can add that Basil was rather quiet and very sensitive, though he greatly enjoyed the company of others. I can still see his sparkling eyes, and the gentle smile that would appear as he quietly passed on some wry little comment. He had a good sense of humour. He was not a forceful character, but I retain an impression of great integrity and of rock-like strength that would be there when needed. (As the obituary mentioned, he stood firm as a pacifist in the 1939-45 war. That took guts.)

I think he must have been one of those teachers who have a gift for encouraging individual pupils and cultivating in them seeds of talents, which they never knew they had. My guess is that hundreds, maybe thousands of pupils remain grateful to him. I have a few regrets in life, and one is not having got to know him a lot better.

One day I heard Basil whistling a catchy little line of music. I asked him what it was and he told me it was from the last movement of Beethoven's Waldstein sonata. From time to time now, at the end of the evening, I pick a record to play, and it may turn out to be the Waldstein. Of course when I hear that theme it brings back Basil Dowling. The theme is lyrical, delicate, full of fun, determined to battle through and not be put down.

have again rejoined the association, and I hope that as time goes by other boys and girls from my time at the school will make contact, perhaps, through the Old Raineians or www.friendsreunited.co.uk.”

•

Ronald Rowe (62-67)

•

Bronwen Stratton (Richards, 66-72)

• Paul Szucs (73-80) had the following ‘notes’ on the Friends Reunited site.

“Went on to get BSc Physics Loughborough University, including year out with Siemens R&D in Germany. Three wonderful years in Poole, Dorset followed (often wish I’d stayed there). Then a quite impetuous move to Nürnberg, Germany in 1987 to get into software development, pure beer and better money. Marriage to my Czech princess in 1991, subsequent birth of our son, Robbie, meant I was more or less stranded. Moved to Stuttgart area in 1993, to do R&D for Sony, keeping the mind agile developing and managing technology and gadgets.

On the way I have made up for earlier

Alan Russell frailty with cycle racing, shotokan, football, guitar and karaoke (specialty Elton John and Elvis - I blame my appearances in school plays). Anyway, maybe Mr Long and Mr Crump would be satisfied now.

Looking back, and ignoring the wails of derision I’m sure are coming from some of you, I really appreciate the efforts of Mrs Auerbach, Dr Ciocci, Mr Nice, Mr Calvert, Mr Perrett, ‘Clint’ Eastman, Miss Jackson et al at Raine’s, and especially Mr Cohen and Mr Lee at Harry Gosling, for a damn good education and starter for the big world.

Oh yeah, vague memories also linger of Tap nights, the Thomas Neale, piling down the pub (in school uniform) after prize giving, exploding ‘replacement’ light-bulbs, fire extinguishers on the Central Line (tut, tut. Wasn’t me, honest), obscene drawings on classroom seats on the girls’ side (me? no way) and the such like. ha ha.”

• Moira Tate (75-81) has a daughter, Chelsea, aged 2 and works for a finance company.

PAGE 8

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER •

Kerry Vrahimi (83-88)

• Anna Watling (Lukoszek, 64-71) is another who ‘found’ us via the Friends Reunited site. “The Friends Reunited web site is brilliant. Tell Tony Groves I remember him (if his year’s were 1964-1971). I have totally lost touch with my Old Raineians’, so it was lovely to see names of people I remembered.

I left Raines in 1971 after a not very brilliant A level result. I worked in the Cardiothoracic Institute (attached to the Brompton Hospital) and furthered my qualifications by doing day release courses and ended up with an HNC in applied Biology. I mostly lived in west London.

In 1980 I married Peter Watling and have a son Sam (18) and a daughter Sophie (16).

We now live in Kingston, Surrey.

I have very fond memories of old school mates and would love to hear from them: Margaret Purdy, Janet and James Gilbey, Denise Bowman (Edwards), Maggie Magill, Joan Barry, Linda Kain, Christine Janeway, Susan Hibbard, Carole Lane, Janice Collier, Hilary Gates, Angela Smith, Bos Sissons, Barry Quigley, Stephen Bennet (Ben), Stephen Cook, Antony Groves (Prof), Richard Atkinson, David De'Ath, Richard Boorer, Anthony Trodd and Derek Faulkener.

•

Hakan Zeki (83-90)

OTHER NEWS - 1 From Gwynneth Jackson

I

am glad I ventured south of the Watford Gap for the Barbecue, to meet Old Raineians, some of their children and even grandchildren! I always find it hard to believe that Sandra and Alan Johnson are grandparents!

• Barbara Donovan (Page) came with her older son, the younger one was laid low with chickenpox. Clive Baugh’s daughter, running the Lucky Dip, was unrecognisable from the babe in Carrycot who stayed at my house when the family were en route to Scotland. Claire Burrows daughters were also much in evidence, helping in various ways.

• It was also good to see some younger Old Raineians, a group who left. in 1991, including Sakina Mer, Alfred Desire and Kalu Agbeze. It transpired that Sakina’s

brother, Nabigi, was in the same year as David and quite a large group of them worked at Safeways. Are there any more of you out there? Sakin is a geologist working for a company in Victoria.

Rita mentioned and says that if anyone plans a reunion, please invite her.

• I was really pleased to see David Spencer after a lapse of two years, and am delighted he has become a Committee Member.

I’m sure some of his contemporaries will be drawn into the net.

• Janis Fuller and her young daughter were here last week. We managed to enjoy some Yorkshire scenery, hospitality and humour, despite some downpours and Foot

WEBSITE

www.rainesoc.moonfruit.com

• Martin Bellis reminded me of my administrations to a tender part of his anatomy when on a Field Trip in Lyme Regis. (Nowadays I’d be accused of improper behaviour!)

The last Newsletter brought a few responses: • Richard Tillbrook wonders why there has been no report of Wally Spooner’s Memorial Service. The pre-war Canterbury photo reminded him of a 1961 first year trip there. He has fond memories of Basil Dowling, the first master to call him Dick Tillbrook, nobody before or since.

• Alan Russell also wrote and his tribute to Basil Dowling appears in this edition.

He believes it is important to maintain contact with people and institutions that basically belong firmly in one’s past.

• Ching Fun Wong (Lee) manages to be a solicitor and mother to two young sons - but it doesn’t leave much time for keeping in touch with friends.

• Helen Kostis is still working for a Greek shipping firm and recently celebrated her 40th birthday as will the rest of that 5L form I tried to keep in order!

• I didn’t see Miss Joan Mangold when I was down in June as she was about to go to Austria on holiday. Earlier this year she was in Sicily, with a lovely view of Etna from her hotel room - I think she will be glad she was there before its recent eruptions. She then flew to China for a wellorganised tour of many of the sights. An indefatigable traveller!

Miss Mangold had enjoyed reading Rita Fisher’s contribution in the January newsletter. She remembered all the girls

and Mouth restrictions. No, the outbreak is not over (or under control). As I write (August 2001) the road to Bolton Abbey was closed as animals were being slaughtered and a National Park Ranger woke this morning to find it happening in the field behind his house. It has not been a happy time for country dwellers; everyone’s lives have been affected in some way. It will take a long time for things to return to normality and that will not be the same as pre-February 2001!

OTHER NEWS - 2 From David Spencer

T

his Newsletter begins a new series called ‘Famous Raineians’, which are profiles of Old Raineians who are or have been in the public eye or particularly successful in a their field. As you may have seen the first to be profiled is Phillips Idowu, a world-class international athlete.

The next edition will contain a profile of an actor, director, playwright and author.

He is familiar through villainous appearances in films such as Rambo, Octopussy and War and Remembrance. He was born in Stepney in 1937 and is regarded by many as the greatest living theatre practitioner.

Who is he? To find out who this Famous Raineian is please read the next Newsletter.

• Someone, unfortunately, who is not a Famous Raineian, is Helen Mirren. It was rumoured in the February 1996 Newsletter that the actress went to Raine’s. Well, by coincidence, I just found out that a friend of mine (lucky friend!! – ed.) lives next door to Ms Mirren, although about to move to Wapping (there again, not so lucky –

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 9

TONY’S CURRENTS

S

ince the last newsletter there is not a great deal to report, mainly because this is the last half term of the academic year and everything is in the winding down mode. However by the time you read this we will be winding up (if not wound up) again. Six members of staff left at the end of summer: Anne Sweetman ,the librarian ,who has been with us for 11 years retired, Ms. Kleinlerer, Head of Modern Languages is to pursue further academic studies, Mr Sykes, Head of IT, who takes over a larger department at Woolwich Polytechnic School, Mr Herbert to become Head of Drama in a school in Bangkok, Mr Jeffery is moving to a school in Exeter and Ms. De Vries who is, I believe, traveling the world during the next year.

Bill Allen, an actor in the play Bouncers came to the school in early June to give a talk to Sev Herbert’s English and Drama GCSE groups. Also members of the school orchestra were involved in some concerts. Sean Reed and two other members of staff took a group of thirty pupils on an activity week in Devon which everybody thoroughly enjoyed and Ros Kleinlerer with the help of several members of staff took years 7 and 8 on separate day trips to France which were again greatly enjoyed by all those that went. Sports Day (yes it still exists) was held in July at the Mile End Stadium.

Following, as promised, is an article about girls’ athletics by Laura Warburton (Girls PE)

their category making the overall win of the championships even sweeter. From this event the Tower Hamlets team was chosen to compete at The London Schools competition. A team comprising mainly of Raine’s students competed superbly at the Linford Christie Stadium. The following students achieved first to third places or Finals positions.

Steevie Pittman, Becky Poulter, Sarbina Douglas, Amy Harris (Year 7), Chekaila McCollins, Eni Owen Amadasun and Caryl Whittaker (Year 8).

The majority of the students in these athletics competitions give up their time and effort to attend after school training sessions each week. I would like to thank all the competitors for their

GIRLS ATHLETICS REPORT The summer of 2001 was an extremely successful athletics season for the girls at Raine’s. Often in the shadow of the English Schools’ Under 16 Basketball outstanding achievement of the boy’s athletics teams, this year Champions 2001 the girl’s teams shone in a league of there own.

The year began with the TSB cup for our year 7 and 8 team.

The competition involves 12 competitors having to compete in extremely supportive attitude to Athletics this year and hope that one track and one field event each. The Raine’s team gained first our success continues for years to come. place in the first round and in the second round achieved fourth We now have the following trophies on display in the school’s place. This is an unbelievable result considering we were the foyer. only mixed gender, non-independent school at the competition.

East London Schools’ Athletic Association Junior Boys.

Next year we hope to make it to the National final, (third round).

Tower Hamlets Schools’ Championship Girls (double borThe next event on the calendar was The Borough Championough champions 2000, 2001) ships. The girls were there to defend last years win, however the English Schools’ Basketball Association. ease with which they won and the attitude and conduct of the competitors on the day was outstanding. Every age group won Tony Groves ed.) . I can now quash the rumour – she never went to Raine’s. (Pity as we are lacking females of fame. Can our readers nominate some? – ed.)

• Paul Diamond (36-44) contacted me via the Friends Reunited site.

“Thank you for your e-mail regarding the ORA. Unfortunately at 76 and with a wonky heart I don’t think I’m fit enough to attend riotous meetings of the Association and I think it doubtful if any of my contemporaries are in a much better state.

Oddly enough at the same time as I received your e-mail I got another from an

old schoolmate. Cyril Hilsum was the middle of three brothers who were at Raine’s and joined at the same time as me - 12 September 1936 - a date which 65 years later is etched on my memory. He has apparently had a very prestigious academic career both as a university professor and as an adviser to the government and to the EU. Another OR who I have seen in recent years is Ralph Harvey (Hertzberg) who runs a successful antiques business with his wife.

An even older OR than me was my mother’s youngest brother Julius Ginswick

who left the school in 1935. In the upper sixth he was the school rugby captain.

Julius went on to LSE and served right through the war finishing as a captain in the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry. After the war he emigrated with his family to Australia and retired as Professor of British Constitution at the University of Sydney some years ago. He died last year aged 83.

You ask for reminiscences about the school. Here’s one for starters. In 1939 the music society had two lectures on swing music from Sid Phillips an OR who had become the leader of a top broadcast-

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER ing dance band. He presented the school with a very expensive RGD auto change gramophone and asked that one meeting of the society in the year should be devoted to his sort of music and the idea of the Sid Phillips Lecture was accepted.

A few months later the war began and we were evacuated, first to Brighton then to Camberley in Surrey. The gramophone was sent to Beechleigh, the big house that we used as a school, and in 1942 or 1943 the music society began again. It was run

by J D Shivas, ‘Nobby’ Clark and ‘Donny’ Lyons who gave us a constant diet of Wagner! Young people in those days were even madder about American culture than they are today and we were all avid jazz fans. Some of us even played instruments - very badly. We asked that the promise of a Sid Phillips Lecture be honoured. Of course none of the masters was capable of dealing with the subject and we were asked who could give it. I had the largest collection of jazz 78s and all my friends’ fingers pointed to me. I gave two lectures illustrated by my record collection finishing with a rousing plea for the school to have what in those days was called a ‘Rhythm Club’. Mr Shivas promised to put it to the headmaster. He had apparently enjoyed my efforts and likened Jimmy Lunceford’s ‘Blues in the Night’ to a favourite piece

by Vaughn Williams.

Nothing happened for several weeks and eventually I was told that the Head wanted to see me. I met him on the stairs at the end of a school day when they were full of people hurrying home. Archibald Wilkinson Dagger said “Ah Diamond, this Rhythm Club you want to start, what exactly does it do?” I began to explain that we wanted to play jazz records and start a school jazz band but I couldn't finish. The Head’s eyebrows rose, his cheeks flushed with anger. “Jazz? Jazz? I thought you meant rhythm of speech and rhythm of movement not this bastard music that you knock out” and he stamped off. Several boys heard the exchange and I gained a certain prestige for angering the headmaster so severely that he was moved to suggest that I was the offspring of unmarried parents. I never got on particularly well with Archibald Wilkinson Dagger after that but luckily I left the school soon afterwards.

Best wishes to the ORA.” • Probably well known to a number of people is Tony Newton (73-78) who is in a rock band called Dirty Deeds and has recorded two albums and is about to start

the third. Dirty Deeds have done a world tour with Iron Maiden in 1998 and toured Europe, Japan and USA with other wellknown acts.

OTHER NEWS - 3 From Bill Richards

H

arry Roberts (50-56) contacted us from Canada. He is a retired teacher and living in Toronto.

“Somebody has to tell the story of the best boys in the girls’ school.

In the January of 1949, at nine years old and on the coat tails of my cousin Jo (who shares a birthday as it happens) I was accepted in to the kindergarten of Raine's Foundation School. There I found Norman Hadley, Lenny Herbert, whose parents had a pub just west of the Troxy, Keith Lardner and a guy called Eddy, who lived in the flats opposite the ‘lying-in-home’. (He was to turn up ten years later sitting in on drums with a Raine’s based jazz band - but that’s umpteen other stories away!) This was in the girls’ school where we were quite out numbered and out voted, but we made a comfortable clique and carried on.

I don’t recall feeling in any way odd about the situation. We stitched a pot holder with “Mother” embossed on it; knitted a dish cloth from string and made a case for note paper - skills I’ve been glad of since.

Academia doesn’t appear in my memory, but I can still see and know the joy of being read to every day (something I have done to every class that I have taught).

The names of Miss Farmer, Miss Lemon and Miss Gatsby seem to fit this time but I’m unsure if the first two were from another school.

Putting on plays I do remember. They were conceived, written, produced, directed, urged and goaded by Ann Mitchell, who, so help me, appeared on the TV in my Toronto room as Dolly in ‘Widows’.

(After 45 rears I was still in a panic that I hadn’t learnt my lines.)

We got in to the usual sort of scrapes: we tight-roped down the railings from the gate to the gym, got up on the bike shed and walked around the wall and made the workmen’s tar into balls and stuck them as far up the school wall we could throw them. For this we were sent to Miss Haugh.

She was probably as nice and kind as a fairly remote figure can be, but she scared the bejazus out of us. The office, the desk, the academic gown, the steely eyes through

PAGE 10 the specs - “and now show me the other side of your hands”. A row of pitch black hands were presented - game over!

Some of the fifth year girls were quite kind and tolerant. I recall a tall girl with glasses and bobbed blond hair named Shirley (?) and her tall friend with a worried look and a mass of dark curls. But then, to us, they were all like giraffes, especially when we ran from one to another trying to catch a net-ball. They gave us sweets and biscuits, but I will love them forever for the conkers that filled their satchels after they had been to hockey, tumbling and shiny new, more than we could imagine existed.

They also told us outrageous whoppers (quite straight faced, serious and matter-offact) about birth and babies. That certainly conflicted with anything that anyone tried to tell me at a less receptive and impressionable age.

Then we took the scholarship exam with some passing and some not. I still remember the tears and despair of those who didn’t pass. We moved on to the other side of the wall and kindergarten was no more. How long, I wonder, was it in existence? It certainly was an anomaly and unique.

Other memories include, to our envy, someone reaching over a cubicle wall to flush the loo under an unsuspecting friend; Mrs Weingarten bringing in classical concerts to demonstrate how beautiful music is and learning about the can and token that were drawn by the leaving girls for dowry in Victorian times.”

• Some sad news. There has been a great loss recently in the entertainment world. The wonderful Larry LaPrise, the man who wrote the ‘Hokey Cokey’ (once in the running to be used as the School Song), died recently at the ripe old age of 83. The most traumatic part for the family was getting him in the coffin. They put his left leg in - and things just started to go downhill from there.

• Kenneth Lancer (47-54) is among a number of ex-pupils who seem to ‘lose’ us.

“When I left Raine’s I was able to take a lifetime membership of the ORA at a cost of five shillings. I then lost contact I did try a few times! - until now. I am delighted to have found you all again.

My memories of those school years are quite vivid and far too many to include in this newsletter. I entered the school with Mr Taylor as its Head (not Dagger? - ed.).

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER He was a kindly and gentle man - quite different from his soon to be appointed successor, Dr Shutt. My house was soon renamed Taylor (red).

Coming from Ashfield Street Primary School, Raine’s was initially awesome.

On my first day I had to draw the school badge and motto “come in and do your duty to God and man” and underwent a screening test following which I was placed in form 2a. There was a 2a, b and c - there was no Form 1, the reason for which I never found out (can anyone help?

- ed). One of the first things we were taught was that when we wanted to use the toilet we had to put up our hand and say “please may I go forth”.

These earlier years are somewhat blurred but certainly ‘Nobby’ Clarke made a great impression upon me. He took us for English and Music and his kindness stays with me to this day. Mr Clarke made us all sing a scale (do-ray-me etc.) and as a result I was placed in the school choir which I grew to love. He played the piano at assembly throughout my entire stay.

We were given the school hymn book on day one which we kept forever (it got a bit dog-eared after 7 years or so!). I am Jewish, and to the school’s great credit I never experienced any anti-Semitism throughout my stay. No offence was ever taken over ‘prayers’ - they were largely non-domination. Later on I remember attending Jewish Assembly. When the Orthodox boys left early on a Friday afternoon (in winter) I was naturally delighted to become one of them. All Jewish holidays were observed and we were allowed to take these days off without any problems.

The school uniform complete with badge and cap filled me with pride and at the age of eleven I felt very privileged.

Early on we were told that the girls’ school was totally out of bounds. A huge folding partition separated the two halls that was removed on very special days such as prize-giving. At the end of the year we were shown our reports and we addressed the envelopes ourselves, which were then posted to our homes. I still have every report, which I shall go through in due course. These may stimulate the ageing brain cells into memories of those early days at Raine’s. However, enough for the moment - more to follow.”

• Someone has inquired about the Clapper brothers. Can anybody help? The name rings a bell and I remember they were very good athletes. When there was

any trouble they were always the first to get away. After all – nobody could run like the Clappers!!

• Terry Hemming (50-58) e-mailed the following from South Africa.

“I have just finished reading the May 2001 Newsletter which was passed on to me by Colin Biggs. Found it very informative. Looking at a 1955 Form V photo, this is a list of the guys who started in 1950 and were still there in 1955; Colin Biggs, Brian Bousfield, Malcolm Boyce, Fred Curle, Mike Futter, Simon Godfrey, Terry Hemming (myself), Colin Hunter, Keith Jack, Peter Johnson, Len Lee, John Matthews, Brian Nodroum, Alan Pratt, Barry Rittman, Harry Roberts, Irving Silver, Maurice Stevens, Mike Williams and Joe Yallop. Bill Christer went to Australia in about Form 3 or 4. There must have been others, but their names escape me.

Being an average, uninspired student, I stayed on into the Sixth Form, not knowing what else to do. Probably wanted to emulate my father, who also was an old boy and a microbiologist. Anyway, after two A level attempts, I did National Service in the RAMC. Met Alan Pratt and Leon Samuels while at the Training Depot. I had a pleasant last 20 months of National Service at the QARANC Depot at Liphook - a very small unit, with not much bull dust.

In 1961, I left England and joined the Northern Rhodesia Police, got married in 1963 and because of a shortage of married accommodation, joined Mufulira Copper Mines. Worked underground in various supervisory positions, before being made redundant in 1966. I then returned to the UK, spending a year in the Cheshire Constabulary before returning to Africa.

Travelling to Rhodesia, I joined the BSA Police, where I served for 11 years, before joining The Rhodesian Bata Shoe Company as Personnel Manager. In 1982, I transferred to South Africa, where I started a new career as a Credit Manager, finishing up at Smith & Nephew, from where I retired in August 1998 on ill health grounds.

Essentially, I have lived outside Britain for the last 40 years, having moved down from Zambia into Zimbabwe and then into South Africa. My wife and I live just outside Durban in Pinetown, we have a married son and grandchildren in Pinetown and a married daughter and grandchildren in California.

Having been tied up in my own affairs

PAGE 11 for all my working life, I lost contact with friends made along the way, something that I regret. Just out of interest, Colin Biggs contact me last year (2000) as result of a letter I sent to the Newsletter some time earlier. On that occasion, the Newsletter was passed on to me by my sister Valerie (also an Old Girl 1951-1958), who was teaching in Kings Lynn (subsequently retired).

I will check the web site, for an Application Form to join the Association, but the South African/Pound exchange rate may be an inhibiting factor.”

• Martyn Armitage (58-63) was enquiring about some of the teachers. He would appreciate any information on the following: ‘Biffo’ Broughton – history; Mr Harrison – history; Jim Shivas – English; Mr Harding – maths; Mr Calvert – maths; Miss Ringer – biology; Mr Harrison – French; Mr Sell – art and Mr Howard - PE • Eileen Candler (60-65) contacted Geoff Gillon and is interested in getting in touch with anyone who may have known her brother, Ramon (Ray) Candler (5662), who died four years ago.

“My brother was quite well known for being a hit with the girls and they all knew him as Candy! Ray was very good at sports so you may well find something about him during those years. I think he once helped to publish the school magazine too, although my recollections are hazy. A four year age gap is big at age so I was just a baby when he was already almost grown up. Thanks for taking the time to help, I shall look forward to any information you might find.”

I trust that you have enjoyed the latest edition of the Newsletter. Do keep sending your memories or any thing that may be of interest. Although David Spencer has some ‘Famous Raineins’ to come please contact us if any names come to mind.

Earlier Paul Diamond mentioned that Sid Phillips, the bandleader, was an ex pupil of Raine’s. Has any one any more information to confirm when he was at school.

Finally may I suggest you visit our web site. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised regarding the content. The committee would like to thank Carl Bridgeman for all his work on the site and the other projects his has undertaken. As they say “watch this space”.

Bill Richards

Old Raineians’ Association

NEWSLETTER E-mail: admin@oldraineians.com

Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road Bethnal Green London E2 9LY Tel: 020 8981 1231 Fax: 020 8983 0153

Alan & Sandra Johnson ‘Rounds’ Warren Road Chelsfield Village Kent BR6 6EP Tel: 01689 826854 Fax: 01689 873115

Tony Groves 52 Bankhurst Road Catford London SE6 4XN Tel: 020 8690 1643

Bill Richards 26 Shandy Street Stepney London E1 4LX Tel: 020 7790 9235

Gwynneth Jackson Glevum Main Street Kirkby Malzeard Nr Ripon North Yorks HG4 3RS Tel: 01765 658825

JANUARY 2005

F

irst of all I would like to wish managed all those years without one; everyone a happy and healthy now I find it’s part and parcel of my New Year. It only seems like life.

Your Association Needs You yesterday that we were preparing for Next, they persuaded me to start and/or panicking about the New The Committee is the smallest in years and writing my autobiography. There Millennium and here we are entering were two main reasons for this: firstnew members are desperately needed. its sixth year! (Unbelievably that ly, to have a record of my families ‘white elephant’, The Millennium history as my grandparents were imCalling all volunteers Dome, is still standing and wasting migrants and the children wanted to Please contact us if you are willing to join. money – the one bug of the New have a record of their roots. SecondOur details are on the top of all NewsletMillennium?) ly, my life was so different to theirs Following is the usual mixture of because of a very poor (money wise) ters or e-mail to admin@oldraineians.com news, with an excellent article from upbringing and my war time experiRichard Tillbrook. Also included is an item Terry Hollingsworth, Bobby Raybould and ences and National Service. that was originally in the Raineian, the George Anderson. Whilst others outside of It was whilst I was researching details school magazine, from 30 years ago. I hope school but were still Raineians, Alan Gra- of the school’s time in Brighton that I came this will trigger some memories as it men- nard, Alan Garman, Steve Simmons, Bobby across a piece about the memorial that the tions staff, trips, plays, etc.

Gasman, Barry Clayman and Vic and Rich- ORs were sponsoring for Kenneth Carter ard Mason. (All of these lived in the Arbour and this led me to your goodselves.

NEW MEMBERS Square area.) Unfortunately Alan Saunders I was at Raine’s, apart from a short time and Ted Jarvis are no longer with us. Alan at the beginning of the war, from 1938 to 1945. I have very clear memories of • Bob Ayres (45-50) wrote to Alan John- was my Best Man at my wedding.

Some of those at our get together may Brighton and Camberley and I have one or son. already have knowledge of Don Ward, Getwo sports team photos with names.

“Many thanks for the Newsletters and off Ridgeway, Leslie Lagsding, Alan Childs My name in those days was Langdorf application form to join the Old Raineians. and Martin Kamina. and scholastically I did not particularly Please find enclosed the completed form As you may be aware there are lots of distinguish myself but sports achievements together with a cheque covering my memnames on the Friends Reunited Web Site was a different matter. bership and the cost of a copy of the History from where Les Lagsding got my details to I would be quite happy to send you more of Raine’s. I saw a copy at a small gathering contact me. details of my recollections (we look forward of ex Raineians that met in Brentwood I look forward to receiving the book and to reading them – ed) but meanwhile I am (Essex) to have lunch and to talk over old for future contact with the Old Raineians.” returning the membership form.

If you find times. Most of them I had not seen since I this letter of interest you may publish it.” left school in 1950. I, like you, also married an Old Raineian, and have been married for • Sydney Langford (38-45) joined after NEWS 48 years. My brother Pat and my wife’s contacting us by email. sister, Irene Poole, also went to Raine’s.

“I was very pleased to receive the memMy brother and I lived at No 42 Arbour bership form and various newsletters regardmong those who contacted us was Square, which is the first house on the right ing The Old Raineians Association from Richard Tillbrook (61-68) who of the boys’ part of the school building. (It Claire Burrows. was kind enough to send us his was a single sex school in our days).

It is quite a story in itself how I got memories.

My friends at school were Alan Saunders reunited with you all. Firstly my grandchil“It never really occurred to me as I read, (who became Head Boy), Johnny Mitchell dren persuaded me to join the human race with great interest, the various articles George Wright, Ted Jarvis, Eddie Ayers, and get a computer. It’s amazing how we Continued on page 2

HELP!!

A

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2005 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 2

printed in ORA Newsletter that I too have I confess that I haven’t seen any of them past, it is important to pay tribute to those become quite an old, old boy. Though not since we left school but it is friends and friendships now. I hasten to add that I quite a ‘Wasser’, I passed the ‘half Wasser’ good teachers who get you through school enjoyed the friendship of many other scholstage some eighteen years ago. (Those who life and I’d like to mention them here. My ars over the years, especially when we all regularly attended ORA Dinners at the went into the Sixth Form and they Great Eastern Hotel, The Volunteer were (are) just as important and many and other venues in the 60s-80s will of them have gained frequent menremember these expressions.) tions in ORA news and histories over My journey at Raine’s began in the years.

1961. I recall, to my embarrassment The staff on my first day, as I (though actually with gratitude), that recall, were Mr Landau for History mum travelled on the Underground and English; Mr Torode for Maths; and buses with me on that first day Mr Neuf for Chemistry; Mr Roden for and kissed me goodbye at the gate.

Physics (absolutely terrifying!) with It was the only occasion when she did his ‘Board of Education’ but a very so. As I moved down the slope into good teacher; Mr Shivas, and a strange the boys’ yard a terrifying man (as he American man for English (all I can appeared to me) shouted “Get down recall is him constantly telling us how the slope new boys and line up”. It to spell Mississippi); Mr Spencer for was Grundy (I never knew his ChrisWoodwork; Mr Gray for Technical tian name [Lawrence – ed]), the Head Drawing; Mr Sell for Art; Mr Howard Boy. Then Prefects were definitely for PE; Fr Loughborough and Fr Hein charge and not to be messed with! riot for RE and Mr Harris for French.

I was quickly marshalled into a Later on Mr Allison (Geography); Mr line when a whistle went. Eventually Dowling; Mr Calvert (certainly the we ‘first year’ were taken to the hall. best Maths teacher of them all); Miss In those days it still had the sliding Beryl (History who married Mr Niscreen across and the decor was dark cholas). I still have the most terrible brown wood panels and cream paint. guilt complex that we were so unkind Mr Roden (Head of Physics) seemed to Miss Beryl once as we had never to be ‘in charge’ of us first years had a lady teacher before and I think because he addressed us. We did meet we were a little rude. She forgave us.

The History of Raine’s Schools (282 page A4 booklet) Mr Lyons eventually. I was ushered Then there was Mr Conchie is now available from Alan Johnson (address on first into Mr Harrington’s Form and we met (Physics and a great laugh); Dr Lompage) for £15.00 + £2.50 P & P. Cheques should be in one of the rooms in the hall as our made out to the Old Raineians’ Association. All profits baire (who spoke with a very strange Form Room for the year. The desks accent and we called him Dr Zonk); go to a worthy cause - the ORA! were joined to the benches upon which Mr Harding (who was also quite terwe sat and the benches were for two. Hence, first pal was a boy called Nick Vardill (of rifying in the early days and nicknamed if your neighbour decided to sit down you course he called me Tillbrook and I called Chicken); Mr Long took over from Mr sat down as well because the plank on which him Vardill – that was the way it was). Howard and, so far as I was concerned, PE we sat would force you into the seated Nick's dad was a teacher at Stepney Green took a definite upward turn. Humph was position. In latter weeks this became a School and much loved there. They even (is) a great man and did marvellous things source of amusement to boys who would named a house after him there. The Vardills for us ‘East End boys’. use their heel to force the plank down and lived in Ilford which was very posh then.

Of course Raine’s wouldn’t have been make you sit when you should be standing Nick left school at the end of the fifth year Raine’s without Mr Spooner and Mr because a Master had entered the room. All and I never saw him again. He was in Mann Broughton, both men totally dedicated to our worldly belongings were kept in the House, I was in School (Dagger as it was the school and, though they kept a stiff upper desks and most of our ordinary lessons took then), David McDonald was in Winterton lip, to us. It was a great privilege for me place in this room. This was before the days and, I always thought very clever. He lived that Wally asked me to give a sermon at his of children going to where the teacher was in Surrey Docks as did Bob Simmons. funeral. Other teachers who influenced my (except for specialist subjects).

Geoff Clarke was in Taylor (Foundation) life at Raine’s were Mr Eames (and for a For a week I hated Raine’s and cried at and his dad owned a Gas Show Room in while, his dad) in the Woodwork Departhome practically every night, it was so New Cross Road. Barry Goddard was in ment; Fr Burrows (whom I still see in my different from my Junior school and right Dagger and he lived in Eltham and had a priestly circles); Miss Jackson who, of across London, almost a foreign country to ridiculous journey to school each day. Barry course, improved my love of singing etc., a South Londoner. Soon, however, I came Smith was the only boy who came from the but more especially increased my love of to love it and have never regretted being same school as me in the Elephant and the country and I spent many a happy weeksent to Raine’s.

Castle. He was in Dagger house as well but end on climbing and walking holidays with I don’t think I have ever heard any of I don’t know what became of him. We were her; Mr Nicholas who was the first to intromy original and longest lasting friends of all great friends, as were many others over duce a real choir at Raine’s and a concert those days mentioned in the Newsletter and the years, and though that was all in the Continued on page 3

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2005 NEWSLETTER in the Girls’ Gym; Mr Russell (Prof); Mr Russell (Jim); Mr White (Schoolkeeper, and a man of great pride and tradition, always properly dressed) and, of course, Mr Stanney who steered us through the amalgamation of boys’ and girls’ schools and presided over the school for many years.

He was a gentleman and a man of great dignity (I guess he still is).

There are two other Masters whom I wish to make special mention of in my own journey. The first is Fr Clynick, mentioned recently in dispatches. It was through Fr Clynick that I came to faith and I often quote the encounter which led to it when I am preaching and being asked how I became a ‘proper’ Christian. He was, undoubtedly, a very difficult man in many ways but he was totally dedicated to the East End people and to us at Raine’s. RE lessons were not inspiring but his holiness certainly was.

When he taught us naughty 5T boys on the top floor he was so exhausted by the time he climbed all those stairs that he invariably had a nap and let us get on with it! Nevertheless, I learnt so much from him and when I went to St Mary’s Cable Street to Mass it was like heaven and I have never faltered or looked back since.

The other great man is often overlooked because he really came and went as a Master and that was Bill (Wic) Everett. His greatest influence was as the School Scout Master and he never actually taught me at school. He was another man who was totally dedicated to the school and to the Troop. The Scout Troop was very important in the school and we all put our uniforms on in school on Founder’s day and even presented the flags at St George’s in the East during the Founder’s Day services. Hundreds of boys must have benefited from his leadership and his teaching. Certainly to my own knowledge hundreds of us learnt about duty, responsibility and looking after ourselves in

the ‘wild’.

My Church newspaper carries a series called ‘There were giants in the land’ which tells the story of priests in poor East End parishes who made a huge difference to the

lives of the people. What better start in life could I and my generation have had than to have been educated and nurtured by these ‘giants’ in our school.

There is so much more I could say and

I should be at my word processor for days if I tried to write it all down but I wanted to pay this small tribute to those who cared for me and who were my friends in our school where we were encouraged to “Come in and learn our Duty to God and Man””.

• Roger Exley (52-57) sent some photos from the mid-fifties, two of which are included on this page. In the athletics group

PAGE 3 Roger can be seen in the second row, third from the right (as you look at the photo) and in the rugby team he can be seen standing next to ‘Rusty’ Ironmonger on the right of the photo. Roger cannot remember many of the names in the two teams – can you? No prizes for naming the the two teachers as ‘Biffo’ Broughton and Aubrey Ironmonger. If the faces do ‘ring a bell’ do contact us and add any memories that may come to mind about the characters or the sports involved.

• Following Pearl Pipe’s news on Ryan Davenport in the last Newsletter, David Spencer (75-83) sent the following update.

“Ryan Davenport (9398) has appeared in many TV dramas and at the moment is on screen nightly in ‘Family Affairs’. He plays a character called Justin Mackenzie and has been in this Channel 5 Soap Opera since June 2003. To get you up to date with Ryan’s role as Justin, here is the story: Local dimwit Justin is the junior partner in the MacKenzie & Sons family building firm, and son of the Mayor of Charnham, Doug. Despite not being the brightest bulb in the box, Justin has a heart of gold and has recently adapted well to the challenge of fatherhood, having witnessed girlfriend Kelly give birth to his daughter, Susan.

Despite once fancying himself as a bit of a ladies man, Kelly and the baby are now everything to Justin and he finds life without them difficult to imagine.

With Doug’s mayoral duties taking up a lot of his time, Justin is also finding himself taking on more responsibilities within the building firm. The jury’s still out on whether or not this is such a great idea, but if his stunning ‘work’ on Les Boulter’s oven is anything to go by, he should certainly keep clear of anything involving gas!

At home, everything is going entirely to Continued on page 4

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2005 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 4

maybe still is (yes – ed), adjacent to Albert • The Reunion at the end of November Gardens not Square. It destroyed the entire was not the success it was hoped it would, street and caused much loss of life. It fell although enjoyed by those who attended. at midnight and the clock at the old Mater- One of those was Tony Groves (64-72), nity Hospital in Commercial Road stopped. President of the Association.

“Dear all, thank you for your support How do I know this? Well I was one of the concerning the reunion, especially to Jo few survivors in Havering Street and was • David also sent the following: Roberts for organising it. For those who “The website Friends Reunited buried for six hours until rescued at six am were unable to attend you (www.friendsreunited.co. will be pleased to know that uk) looked at the 22,000 the evening turned out to be secondary schools it has one of those classic events listed on its site and calcuOn Thursday 6th May, 2004, numerous Raine’s Evacuees that only the ORA are able lated how many ex-pupils from World War II descended on Egham to thank the local to come up with. It was on have got back in touch a par with the square dancwith other former pupils community for taking care of them. ing evening we had all those through the site. The The day’s events included a plaque commemoration, a years ago. We had most number crunching produced a ‘friendliness rat- headstone dedication and an Evacuee Reunion. There was people dancing with Mick ing’ for each school. also a ceremonial planting of a shrub donated by the Old Jagger impressions, air guitarists and so on. **** Raine’s Foundation Raineians' Association. (name withheld to save emGrammar came in at 155th place out of 22,000 The events of that day were recorded and a copy of the video barrassment, although remember there is another schools in the School or DVD is now available. The Video costs £9 and the DVD Newsletter to come, so that Friendship League Tables costs £5. Both include postage & packing. The film was envelope with the for 2004, rating them as made by Orpington Video and Film Makers (www.ovfm.org). ‘donation’ better arrive one of the friendliest schools in the country. The DVD would be particularly good value as it will have soon! – ed) and myself even managed to fall in a heap Raines currently has 2,220 both ‘The boy who didn’t come home’ and another film ‘The on the floor surrounded by former pupils registered on day the children waved goodbye’ under a cover title the ORA dancers. We even Friends Reunited and 59% managed to get Tommy of the pupils send out an ‘Remembering the children of war’.

Nunn dancing. Comments average of 2.67 messages Cheques/postal orders should be made out to ‘Evacuees ranged from, “a fantastic each....a Friendliness RatReunion Association’ (or ERA for short) and sent to: venue”; “great music”; ing of 35.2%.” “thanks to the committee for I remember catching a Jean Slattery organising it”; “when’s the boy and girl behind the 10 Cloverdale Gardens next one?”. bike shed indulging in an Most were surprised at Sidcup impromptu ‘biology lesthe lack of numbers but the son’. I thought it was Kent DA15 8QL consensus was they had about time I announced Email: slattery@scramble.demon.co.uk missed out on a fantastic their names to the unsusevening, and would be quite pecting world. They were upset that they chose not to come. Roy . . . . Unfortunately the rest of this is in the the next morning.

I was off school for some months and Smith did extremely well in getting at least 0.33 of the third message on Friends Reuthis I feel did hamper my subsequent edu- £80.00 on the raffle and this was before he nited!! – ed. cation at Raine’s. It was always a matter did a final round of persuading people to • Norman Kindler (44-49) wrote after of catching up with the others. I loved my part with their cash. This reunion was a time at the school in spite of the war and great success despite the lack of numbers, reading the last Newsletter.

“As a life member of the Association, set backs and I too have my hymn book, the loss of the £300.00 deposit and a hostile this is my first foray into the world of ‘letters cap and tie also rescued from the debris. host. Success should not just be measured to the editor’ but the item from Bernard Alas my reports and other incriminating in the amount of profit at the end of the day Harris in the October issue prompted me to evidence have long gone. However I cannot but also on the pleasure, fun and feeling of complain. I am alive and I think I have led happiness that the reunion had on us all. do so.

While I do not remember Bernard, he a good and interesting life, but that’s another Well done to everyone and thank you for your support.” was almost right when he mentioned the V2 story (tell us it – ed).

Janet Nunn (Britton, 64-70) echoed My very best wishes to you all at the rocket. This rocket was in fact the last but one to fall on London in 1944 but did not Association who are doing a wonderful job Tony’s comments: “Just wanted to say how much I and fall in Albert Square. He must have been in keeping it all going and hope you do so watching East Enders when he wrote it! for many years to come. If any of my old Tommy liked the venue – what a great pub!

No offence Bernard! That monster actually classmates are around, good health and God How disappointing that more people Continued on page 5 dropped on Havering Street which was, bless you.” plan.

It’s anyone’s guess how long Charnham’s only non-dysfunctional family will last.

Ryan’s other guest starring roles include Night and Day and The Bill (2001).”

The boy who didn’t come home

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2005 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 5

EDDIE SUMMERS

I

n the October Newsletter Ronald Merrett included an extract from a book written by Eddie Summers. Following is more information on Eddie.

Eddie Summers was born Israel Seratsky on 26 May 1932 in London’s East End, the eleventh of thirteen children. His parents Golda and Moishe were Russian Jewish immigrants who arrived in England in 1912. Eddie (then Issy) attended the Robert Montefiore School from where he was evacuated during World War Two. He later joined Raine’s Foundation School in 1942 leaving in 1946, at fourteen, to work in the clothing trade and at eighteen was conscripted into the RAF on National Service.

After demobilisation he took various managerial positions before going into retailing, and is currently employed as a Sales Agent. As a life-long member of his club, Oxford and St George’s, he is still very active, writing comedy sketches and playlets for the play-reading group, as well as compiling and chairing quizzes. In the years 1993-1994 he made several radio broadcasts for Michael Freedland on the programme ‘You Don't Have to be Jewish’. Eddie Summers has been married since 1958, lives with his wife Jackie in Hertfordshire and has two sons, Laurence and Danny and two grandsons, Richie and Sean. In 2004, Eddie Summers published a book ‘Enough, Already!: Mainly Jewish, Mainly Funny, Mainly Me’ (Clio Publishing, Southampton, ISBN: 0954265017, available through www.amazon.co.uk). The item was titled ‘Recollections of a Fourth Former’. This nostalgic and humorous anthology of articles, stories, comedic wordplay, personal recollections, social commentary and playlets traces many aspects of the author’s life as a second generation English Jew. Eddie recalls with gusto the eccentricities and atmosphere of London’s Jewish East End, Petticoat Lane and Stamford Hill, the experience of National Service from 1950-52, the advent of Bingo, Butlin’s Holiday Camps, Jewish youth football, picture palaces, Jewish courtship and weddings, and the lost world of the Yiddish language. The author has evolved and created his own wonderful comedic landscape over the last five decades. Zany, pithy, tender, the book includes pearls such as ‘Finkelfeffer, Where are You?’, ‘Hymie Takes a Hint’, ‘Claret and Blue Jew’, ‘Weekend Pass’, and ‘The Immortal Utterings of Moishe Seratsky’.

On a more serious note, however, are the stories about the author’s brother who never returned from an RAF bombing mission in 1944, and his father whose life was saved by a Cossack officer in 1903.

A Glossary of Yiddish words and phrases is included in the book.

Eddie himself writes about the book: “Over the years family and friends (isn’t it always?) have urged me to write a book, or at least,

weren’t there; I know how much work must go into organising such an event. I think maybe having it on a Saturday evening wasn’t so good for most people, but obviously a night when it’s open to the general public wouldn’t work either. It’s good that you still have the enthusiasm to try and arrange new and different venues. Maybe the next one will be better attended. Still, I enjoyed my little boogie with Eileen Gurney and a few others from my year!”

to collate the many pieces I have written dating back to the late 1940s when I was a teenager. These were of strong Jewish appeal and in humorous vein. I have usually dismissed these suggestions with replies such as “Well, maybe when I retire and have the time”, or “Who’s going to read it except people I know?” But of course these are just get-outs. You can make the time and effort if the will is there. And if nobody reads the book outside of your inner circle (there’s a London Underground joke in there somewhere!), so what?

You’ve achieved something you never thought would happen.

I am part of a large Jewish family, where comedy and fun was a way of life. The house was always filled with laughter. Clowning, wisecracks, impersonations, Dad’s broken English, sparkling wit, misuse of words, dialects and accents – the hilarity while growing up was constant. Brothers Alf and Bernie in particular, who have appeared in shows, plays and broadcasts are accomplished comedians.

They still delight audiences at my Club, now based in North London, but first founded in the parish of St Georges-in-the-East in Whitechapel in London, by the great East End Jewish social worker and reformer, Sir Basil Henriques, in 1914, five months before the outbreak of the Great War. In 1941 my whole family moved from London’s East End to Stamford Hill in North London. The Jewish departure from Whitechapel, Stepney, Bow and Bethnal Green to the suburbs was just beginning, reaching its peak in the 1950s, petering out in the 1960s. Stamford Hill was considered a big step up from tenementland, boasting trees, avenues, large spacious houses, grand cinemas and Springfield Park. To East End inhabitants of the period this was luxury! In my own writings I have been greatly influenced and inspired by Groucho Marx, SJ Perelman, Robert Benchley, Stephen Leacock and the zany humour of those classic Goon Shows of the 1950s. It is from these wonderfully gifted humorists that I have striven to create a style of my own. If I have succeeded in this aim it is due to my passion for humour in most of its forms (especially comedic wordplay), love of the written word, and being Jewish!

Why the main title, Enough Already? The immigrant Jewish population that came to England in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century not only brought with them their brilliantly colourful Yiddish language but in the process of learning English devised phrases which are uniquely expressive.

Although my articles appeared mainly in Jewish publications such as Jewish Youth, Menorah and Fratres and were intended to be funny there is a serious side to my work too. This is shown towards the end of the anthology.”

David A. Spencer (75-82)

(Newman, 60-66) “Foiled again! Every time I resolve to attend a reunion, something gets in the way – but this time, I’m happy to ‘pass’ on the invitation. As I write, my daughter is in the High Dependency Unit at the Neurological Hospital in Queen Square (London), having had a brain tumour removed. Although it was completely successful and she may be transferred back to the surgical ward in the next day or so, I am reluctant at this time to commit to being anywhere other than at • Some had to miss the function due una- home or the hospital, or in transit between voidable situations. One was Lynn Mallery the two.

However, please remember me to anyone who recalls me from ‘60 to ‘66. Miss Mangold was Head Mistress, Mrs Weingarten taught French (followed by Miss Griffin). When I was in the fifth form (I think), the school started a mixed intake into the first year (it was 1964 – ed). I was in the Secretarial Sixth Form with just six other pupils and the teacher was Miss Rayner (who lived virtually round the corner, off Commercial Road, near the Rotherhithe Tunnel entrance).

If anyone does remember me and wants Continued on page 6

PAGE 6

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2005 NEWSLETTER

SCHOOL NEWS 1973 - 1974

E

very year a few familiar faces disappear from the school and a number of new ones take their place. The staff are no exception to this rule. At the end of the Christmas term three members of staff left Raine’s: Father Burrows, who had served the school for nine years, six of them as Head of History, and who is now in charge of the parish of St. Clement’s, King Square; Mrs. Chisholm, to whom we extend our belated congratulations on the birth of a daughter; and Miss Clarke, who receives our best wishes on her marriage and her subsequent removal to Saint Athan. In July, Mr. Copping ended his versatile career at Raine’s and moved to the Stationers’ Company School as Head of the Religious Education Department. We wish him well in his new school and in his marriage.

Mrs Bamford, Mr Coomber, Mrs Owen-Conway, Frau Eikenbusch and Mlle Pejean also left us at the end of the academic year. On the ‘credit’ side, Mrs Geddes and Mr Hart joined the Modern Languages and History Departments respectively earlier this year; Miss Firth joined the Physics Department, and in September, Mr Darch, Mrs Gilchrist, Mr Perrett and Mr Wallis joined us. We wish all these members of staff success and happiness in their new posts, whether at Raine’s or elsewhere.

Our congratulations go to Mr Crump, who became Head of the History Department on Father Burrow’s departure, and our good wishes to Miss Groner, who was married in August and returned in September as Mrs Auerbach.

It was with sadness that the school learnt of the death of Mr Frank Hirtes, early in January. Mr Hirtes was an old boy of the school and a member of the Governing Body for many years.

In the course of the year, many pupils have distinguished themselves in different spheres. Particularly worthy of commendation are Gary James, who became the Junior English Champion over 800 metres, and Helen Beeson and Karen Winter who won ILEA Modern Languages Travelling Awards. Jack Lowe, who won one of these awards last year, deserves our warmest congratulations on his obtaining a place at Oriel College, Oxford, where he will read French and German.

The school year has been punctuated by various festivals and functions. Harvest Thanksgiving was celebrated on October 12th in the school hall, which was decorated with gifts of groceries provided by pupils. The Reverend Ellis Slack gave the address and the Choir sang “Thou visitest the earth”. Speech Day followed on October 18th. Lady Prudence Louden distributed the prizes and trophies and once again the Choir supplied various musical items. At the Remembrance Service a lesson was read by Mr B Lambert, the President of the ORA, and the Choir gave a rendering of “I heard a voice”.

Carols by candlelight were sung at Saint George-in-the-East, where the Founder’s Day service also took place, on May 3rd. On that occasion, the Reverend Canon C.E. Young, an ex-Governor, preached the sermon. The music provided included “Jesu joy of man’s desiring” and “The trumpet shall sound”. A special Ascension Day assembly was held at the school, with pupils playing a major part in the conducting of the service.

The secular side of music and drama has certainly not been;

to get in touch, please feel free to pass on my e-mail address.

Very many thanks for keeping me in touch and my very best wishes for a successful (and well-attended!) evening on the 27th.” (We trust that your daughter continues to improve in health – ed)

neglected in the past twelve months. In December, two highly successful performances of “The Pirates of Penzance” were given by the Senior School, and just before the Spring Bank Holiday the Sixth Form treated us to a Maytime Revue. House-play competitions were held, as usual, in the Christmas and Spring terms, and in July, to round off the year’s dramatic activities, the Junior School presented “The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew” by Robert Bolt.

Members of the school have also enjoyed visits to various musical and theatrical productions this year. Third to sixth-formers have attended several concerts, operas and ballets of which “Cinderella” and “The Sleeping Beauty” were particularly impressive. A party of fourth-formers saw a performance of “Macbeth” at the Shaw Theatre, while fifth-formers were taken to see “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Look Back in Anger” at the Young Vic. The English ‘A’ Level groups have been to a number of the productions of the National Theatre Company, by courtesy of the Education Authority.

It is pleasing to note that the Sixth Form in general have developed a keen interest in the theatre, the newly formed Theatre-Going Society having attended five evening performances m the course of the year.

Other school visits have included day trips to Hatfield House, Whipsnade, Winchester Cathedral, Marwell Zoological Park, Boulogne and Dover Castle for the juniors. Groups of senior pupils have attended various lectures, including the Annual Ford Lecture delivered by Lord Hill, visited Windsor Safari Park, the Wellcome Museum of Parasitology, the Science Museum and craft and engineering exhibitions at Shoreditch and Paddington Colleges. The Secretarial Sixth have, as usual, visited a number of business concerns in the City in the course of their studies.

Longer excursions and visits were also organised for various groups. In March, a group of sixth-formers went caving in the South West; Youth Hostelling holidays in Somerset and in the Ardennes were organised for the fifth, fourth and third forms; fifth and sixthformers camped and climbed in Wales in October, May and July; the annual skiing holiday in Austria took place at Christmas time, and thirty-five pupils flew to Greece at Easter.

‘Working parties’ also travelled to Lyme Regis in March and St. Agnes, Cornwall, in May to undertake Geographical Geological and Biological field work. A new departure was the organisation of junior Geography field trips for the third and fourth years, who studied selected areas of Derbyshire and South Wales respectively.

The school year has also seen much fund-raising activity, entertainment of OAPs, the appearance on television of two sixth-formers and the school chaplain, taking part in a Religious Knowledge competition, not to mention jousting at the Tower of London! Once again we did well out of the Royal Family in November when the school enjoyed an extra day’s holiday to celebrate Princess Anne’s wedding.

Our thanks must be expressed to the Parents’ Association for their untiring efforts on our behalf and for the generosity which they show towards the school.

M L (Miss Lewis, English Department?)

From the Raineian 1974 (Published October 1974)

Alan Thouroughgood (54-61) had the usual problem of getting a cab home to Florida!

“The usual apologies for Susanne and me. I’m sure it will a great evening and please say “Hi” to those we know.

We had a very interesting 6 weeks

through August and September and now know what hurricanes are all about. But the memory tends to be short and the weather now reminds us of why we live in Florida.

Continued on page 8

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2005 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 7

COAT OF ARMS

I

n the June 2004 Newsletter, I mentioned that the coat of arms used by the school has never belonged to the school, or even to Henry Raine himself. As a Trustee of the School, I brought this up and the Trustees agreed that it would be appropriate to correct this matter and, at that meeting, authorised a petition to be made to the College of Arms to have the Coat of Arms properly registered and recognised as belonging to Raine’s.

Just before Christmas, Roger Hadow (Clerk to the Trust), John Matthews (an Old Raineian and Member of the Raineian Lodge) and I had a meeting at the College of Arms with William Hunt, Windsor Herald of Arms.

William Hunt is one of the Officers of Arms known as the ‘Heralds in Ordinary’.

He is one of 13 Officers of Arms, a member of the Royal Household directly appointed by the Sovereign on the recommendation of the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk.

Today’s Heralds are some of the country's finest genealogists and William is always seen participating in some of our country's most ancient and prestigious ceremonies, including, in past years, the State Opening of Parliament and the recent State Funerals.

William’s yearly income of £17.80 was granted by James I and it seems that no monarch since has remembered to give him a pay rise! Fortunately, he is allowed to charge professional fees for the work he undertakes although the Heralds also have to meet the cost of the upkeep of the College and the security of the records themselves.

It began by drawing up a Petition to His Grace the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England, requesting a Warrant to the Kings of Arms. For this Petition, we had to provide the date of Foundation of the Raine’s Trust (Deed of Trust – 22 June, 1736), the Act under which the Trust was constituted (An Act of Parliament that received Royal Assent on 1st August, 1780) and details of how the Trust is governed (eleven Trustees led by a Chairman with a Clerk). The results of this petition should be known early in 2005, although we are obviously optimistic!

We also began the detailed task of analysing every record and photograph that we could find that shows or describes Raine’s Coat of Arms. We had to agree, as only one such version is to appear on the Letters Patent.

Evidence has already shown that the blazon or description of Henry Raine’s arms was “azure, a chevron engrailed between three eagles heads argent in their ‘beques’ an acorn slipped proper”. However, looking at the old photographs of the banner of the school (that

used to be behind the stage in the Old Arbour Square building) shows that the eagles were in fact griffins. Which one should we choose?

Another interesting sideline on this is that, at the Visitation of Yorkshire in 1665-6, the family of “Raynes of Apleton in the Streete” requested that their Coat of Arms be accepted.

Their blazon: “Azure, a chevron engrailed between three cranes’ heads erased Argent, each holding in the beak an oak-branch, leaves Vert, acorns Or” shows a very similar Coat of Arms as the school uses today. But “No proofe made of these Armes” was listed under the picture from 13 August 1666,

meaning that the application for Arms was rejected. This is intriguing. What was the relationship between the “Raynes of Apleton in the Streete” and Henry Raine? Did he (or his father) descend from this line but alter the coat of arms (cranes became eagles or griffins) to show their uniqueness? A clear word play on ‘Raynes and Cranes’ is obvious although no formal application procedure has since been unearthed to show this. William Hunt has spent hours looking at all the birds’ heads in the records of the College of Arms – a job taking many hours – and has currently drawn a blank. Hence, there is still no formal record of any Raine’s Arms.

Next came the colours of the Arms. The royal and light blue colours of Raine’s are currently heraldically acceptable and there does appear to be evidence that the engrailing of the chevron was in gold. The crest has to be totally unique for the King of Arms to grant this to Raine’s and it is very likely that the one that is used at present, an upstanding

griffin, has been used before. However, after much discussion, if the griffin held “an acorn slipped proper” then it is likely that we would be unique in this way. Finally, there was the subject of the mantling, typically the main colours of the coat of Arms themselves (royal blue, light blue, white and gold). It was obvious that if we used only the blues, they would look undistinguished on a black blazer background. Hence, we settled for the royal blue and gold.

We now await a draft sketch before proceeding any further with this. Only with this accepted draft will we be able to realise if we have managed to do what Henry Raine didn’t; that is pass the scrutiny of the Kings of Arms and have our Arms recognised once and for all. We also requested that the motto of the school “Come in and learn your duty to God and Man” be placed below the arms.

A grant of coat of arms can only be made to one corporate body. In this respect, the Raine’s Trust, the School, the ORA or the Raineian Lodge could make the application for the Coat of Arms and allow its use to the other three institutions. All present at the meeting felt that Raine’s Foundation School Trust was the most obvious choice of body to be granted the Arms as this was set up in the Will of Henry Raine to look after the School. Also, the Trust has recognised that this is something of great importance to the School, the ORA and the Lodge and has agreed to fully fund the petition.

We discussed the Letters Patent, the formal document that will be signed and sealed by the Kings of Arms, and will be presented to Raine’s within a year. Its presentation will be highly enhanced by the generous offer and contribution of John Matthews to have it hand painted and specially framed.

It was a successful, but exhausting meeting. We all left with the feeling that after 286 years, we were trying to correct something that we all passionately believed in.

No longer will that letter of 1895 with those unforgettable words “The arms of Henry Raine are of Private Adventure, I fear” be valid. No longer will the Coat of Arms seen on Henry Raine’s grave in St George-in-theEast, be deemed to be ‘made up’. . . and no longer will the school risk the possibility of being told to remove the arms from the notice boards, blazers and letter headings, because someone else has registered them. I am sure Henry Raine would appreciate that the Trust he set up in his Will, had many years later, corrected something that he had not managed to do.

David A. Spencer (75-82)

OLD RAINEIANS’ JANUARY 2005 NEWSLETTER • Members, such as Bob Ayres (45-50, see New Members), were still complimenting Alan Johnson on the book: “Dear Alan, many thanks for sending me the booklet, it is making some interesting reading and bringing back many nostalgic thoughts. For your information, I can put names to two of the team members on page 225. In the back row, next to Mr Lyons, is Brian Chambers, who was unfortunately killed whilst flying when serving in the RAF. Sitting next to me in the front row, is Steve Simmons. By the way Rogers first name is Stanley. Thanks once again for your great work in the Old Raineians. I only wish I had known about it sooner. There’s not much you can do when you are 71 and set in the ways of the local community. I’m lucky though, as I still play competitive cricket, with both my sons, and grandsons.”

Sidney Lazarus MBE (39-44) was another: “Many thanks for sending me a copy of the ‘Henry Raine & the History of the School’. I am finding it fascinating to read – may I add (and I have never used ‘kiddology’ in my professions or otherwise) that if you think it is rather ‘amateurish’, I just wonder where a professional would have done a better job. I am NOT so sure.

As far as being worth the money is concerned – to my way of thinking – it is of the greatest value, and all I can add is that it is a sad day that you are leaving the committee.

I do appreciate (though somewhat surprised) that I got a mention in it, but at least I am ‘just above’ Jack Rodin who was one of my best friends there when I lived in Stepney and while we were away!!”

Kenneth Warren (49-52) was pleased to receive a copy of the book: “What a delightful surprise! I received a copy of your Raine’s history book, which is my old school. My sister, Iris Prizeman (nee Warren), sent your book. Iris was head girl at Raine’s when I started 1st form.

Reading some parts of the book that applied to my years there, and seeing photos from yesteryear was very touching and I’m sure many old Raineians, like me, will thoroughly enjoy your production. You are to be congratulated for such a wonderful effort.

I left England for California in 1963. It was a very good move for me and my young family. Thanks so much in part, because of the education I received at Raine’s and my further education at the London School of Art. I have been a graphic designer for most of my adult life and have been fortunate to be able to switch to computer graph-

ics in the last 15 years.

Don’t you often wonder what happened to those old class mates of yours? I know I do, I only know one or two. My oldest friend Brian, whose wife was at Raine’s at the same time as me, were with us for Christmas last year. Is there any way to connect to old classmates? Let me know if there is a list available of class members and possibly Email addresses.

Thanks again for a great book!”

• Sue Morton (Yeates, 75-82) sent the following email to Alan Johnson: “After getting my newsletter today it reminded me of an argument my husband David and I had a couple of weeks ago.

Both being Raineians we shocked our children at still knowing the school song – probably due to Miss Jackson drumming it into us. However we could only remember the first verse and then argued over whether there were two or three verses. (In fact there are four – ed) I wonder if you could sort out this domestic for us as the song is now buzzing round my brain.

Has anyone still got a copy of the words?

Thanks for your help.”

Alan replied, sending the words by email. He also took the opportunity of sending a copy to all the email members.

Some of you responded.

Yetta Ferguson (Levy, 60-67) has the song pinned to her notice board at home.

“It has been there since the last reunion I was able to get to, which sadly was also Wally Spooner’s last.”

Janet King (Hayter 59-66) remembered it well.

“We had a music teacher called Miss Braitch whose job it was to make us cockney girls say “never was a better motto”. Of course it came out as “neva wasa betta motta” (remembering to swallow the “ts” in the best East End fashion).

Your comments on geology and the article on remembering Father Clynick also brought back memories. I was the only one in my A level year doing scripture and therefore had private tuition from Father Clynick which resulted in my grade A. I sat one of my scripture papers in the science lab with those doing geology practical and was far more interested in the rocks they were studying than my own paper.”

Susan Fleming (Berry, 91-98) was another who remembers: “I have to say I can remember every word as my first music lesson at Raine’s our home work was to learn the school song

PAGE 8 and Miss Jackson (music teacher) went round checking we had learnt it by heart the following week. Never will it be forgotten.”

As I close this edition of the Newsletter I am pleased that it covers the decades from the 40s to the 70s. Of course this is reflected in the make up of the membership, but it would be nice to include more recent memories, especially from the 80s.

As you may remember this will be my penultimate edition of the Newsletter and so that only leaves you one of the regular publications to get in your news, memories etc. to me to help make it a memorable ‘final’ (unless, that is, someone volunteers to ‘take the reins’) edition. Who knows, if enough of you write in, I may have to postpone my ‘retirement’ for an edition or two.

During proof reading of this newsletter Alan Johnson remembered – if his memory serves him well – Everett the Scout Master (see Richard Tilbrook’s article) telling everybody that he was also a part-time actor and one of his claims to fame was being in ‘The Blue Lamp’ and he his the policeman near the end who shouts down the stairs “we’ve got him Sir”.

Also, whilst the second-last V2 fell in Stepney (see Norman Kindler letter), the last one fell in Court Road, Orpington and destroyed the house opposite Alan’s present home in Chelsfield Village (it’s a small world - nothing to do with Walt Disney !!).

If anything in this newsletter stirs any memories please let us know – send anything to admin@oldraineians.com or write to Bill Richards at the School.”

Finally, I will leave you with a couple of extracts from Del Trotter’s report from Dockside Secondary Modern when he was 13 (going on 30!?): In French “Derek has a firm grasp of the basics but is prone to use phrases at completely the wrong moment and believes he is much better at the language than he actually is. Once he realises there is more to learning French than attracting members of the opposite sex with phrases such as Je suis frontieres and remembers Bonjour means hello and not goodbye he has the ability to become quite fluent.”

Also “Derek has an enthusiastic approach to History but does tend to get dates and events confused. It was not Stan Laurel who said ‘Kiss me Hardy’ and there was more to Henry VIII’s beheading of his wives than the fact he was “getting a bit of grief from the enemy”. Probably can’t do better.”

Can you?

Bill Richards

Old Raineians’ Association

NEWSLETTER E-mail: admin@oldraineians.com Tony Groves 52 Bankhurst Road Catford London SE6 4XN Tel: 020 8690 1643

Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road Bethnal Green London E2 9LY Tel: 020 8981 1231 Fax: 020 8983 0153

Gwynneth Jackson Glevum Main Street Kirkby Malzeard Nr Ripon North Yorks HG4 3RS Tel: 01765 658825

JUNE 2005

A

s I write this I am hoping that this will not be the last Newsletter.

Time will only tell if someone will come forward to take over from me as editor.

I must say I am confident of somebody ‘taking over the reins’ (excuse the pun – ed.).

NEW MEMBER

S

adly we have had only one application from a new member since the last Newsletter. This is where you can help. If you know of any old raineians who are not members of the Association do try to persuade them to join.

• Gareth Parry (ex-staff, 66-68). Gareth contacted me after seeing the ORA website and asked to become a member and attend reunions. He remembers teaching Richard Tillbrook and Alan Johnson, past Presidents of the Association, among others.

“Thanks for your letter; it was wonderful to see the names of former pupil, colleagues and friends after such a long period of time.

I was pleased to recall and identify so many names in the Newsletter, even though I was only at the school for two years or so.

I taught Geography and Geology at the school and it was like ‘playing at home’ since there were so many Welsh teachers on the staff – Viv Nicholas I knew from university days at Swansea. I have very warm memories of the pupils in the East End and found everyone very friendly and welcoming. I particularly enjoyed the humour of the pupils, which I have missed over the years.

I have no bad memories of the school, apart from the ‘wee bad rip’ who tried to lock me in my classroom one lunchtime! I

will not name the guilty party, though I saw her name in the Newsletter (come on, own up, who was it? – ed.).

I would normally receive information from John Williams (History) at Christmas but it didn’t arrive for some reason last year.

I visit London regularly and have taken the odd nostalgic visit back to Stepney and Mile End – I can’t, however, say that I’ve been back to the playing fields at Fairlop!

I have one daughter, Angharad, who works as a barrister in Essex Street, close to the pub in Chancery Lane, where you have held a reunion.

I look forward to seeing you all in the future.”

lington (64-71) live at East Hanningfield, though Gavin seems to spend much of his time working in the Soviet Union, and former Yugoslavia. Peggy is teaching music in school three days a week, and has launched a bashing, scraping and shaking school ‘orchestra’. She reached her half-century this year, and enjoyed several celebratory events, so now feels able to face the next fifty!

• Barbara and Tommy Thompson are enjoying retirement in Bognor. Tommy is still a church organist and, together with others, visits churches and cathedrals to see and play the organs.

• Susan Wyburn (Brahame, 61-78) and her husband have a thriving business; her From Gwynneth Jackson sister was at the last reunion. (Sorry I couldn’t be there, and I am in Scotland wynneth still manages to find time when the May one takes place.) to send her news despite a busy schedule.

• Sarah Dudley (Cooper, 67-74) has moved to Lincolnshire and Barbara Dono• Joy Turner, Head of English in the van (Page, 67-74) is now in Newark Girls’ school, now living in Exeter, has (Northward movement!) had one replacement knee, and is awaiting a second. Despite discomfort, she attends • Mr Stanney is well and enjoying remany concerts, as well as theatre perform- tirement, though he says his garden grows ances and ballet. (Are there any members larger every year! of ‘The Connaisseurs’, the group she formed to visit places of interest as well • Anita Merker (Smith) living in Hampshire, travelled out to Australia to see her as performances?) son, who has been roaming the world for almost three years.

• Ann Lowes (PE, 64-90) has also not been well, suffering bouts of bronchitis, as well as knee trouble, but she enjoys her • Zippy Auerbach is now teaching in what she describes as a so-civilised girls’ involvement with her Church, and reguprivate school. Her twins are both at unilarly meets up with some friends of long versity. standing.

OTHER NEWS – 1

G

• Peggy (Sayers, 65-72) and Gavin Ad-

• Hazel Fosbraey (Paul) teaches in a

PAGE 2

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2005 NEWSLETTER village school in Wiltshire, but ‘seems’ to have acquired the SENCO, Art coordinator, and Teacher-Governor jobs. Her children range between 10 and 16.

• Jack Lowe (66-73) missed the last reunion, but had enjoyed seeing Gary Bronzeit. Sylvia Barry and others at a previous one – he is visiting Yorkshire this summer, so maybe he’ll call!

• Alan Russell (French, 61-68) always sends Christmas greetings on one of his own most attractive photos.

• Miss Joan Mangold (55-64) has continued her tireless travelling, but unfortunately has broken bones in a hip recently, and then the steel plate has cracked, so she is again in hospital. We wish her a good recovery.

• All the Chappell family now live in East Anglia (more migration). Barry plays in a Big Band; Geoff and Lorraine celebrated their Silver Wedding in Dubai; John is still keeping Latin alive, and has taken school parties skiing in Bulgaria, and to play cricket in Barbados.

• Marie Crawley (Conway, 66-72) is another who hit the big 50 last year and I remember her as a first year wearing one of those, – dare I say it – awful blue pinafore dresses. She seemed to extend the celebrations to include skiing in France, and weeks in each of Cornwall, Cyprus, and Gran Canaria!

• Lesley Jensen (Tear, 62-69) has also had hip surgery, but has recently enjoyed a super holiday in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

entangled with musical activities at the village school, with a choir and at church. I spend much time out and about in the Dales and organising the rota of duties for a team of almost 60 volunteers in the Wharfedale area and teaching some of them how to map read and use a compass.

I was on the lane last weekend where the school minibus got a puncture because one group went astray, and had to be searched for only to be located poring over a map outside the inn opposite the Youth Hostel from where they had set out some hours earlier – no members of staff named.

I am often in places where I have been with members of Raine’s and have fond memories, with many laughs.

OTHER NEWS – 2 From David Spencer

D

avid found the following on the • Gerry Calvert (Maths) seems to make BBC website regarding Michael a habit of bumping into John Blundell and Zeffertt (41-48). his wife in places as diverse as Boots in 1945 saw the East End’s once vibrant Croydon, and a sandwich bar near St MarJewish community resettle in the suburbs tin-in-the-Fields. He also met up with and overseas.

Michael Zeffertt remembers Zippy Auerbach and Tom Billington and • Grace Zhu (Lee) has two sons and what it was like.

Michael Zeffertt grew up their spouses. lives in Reading. Her sister Ching also in the East End of London until he left has two boys and she has returned to work during the Blitz for the safety of Birming• Viv Nicholas (Geology, 64-71) was part-time in a City solicitors. ham. going to India in December, and skiing in His father was minister at the largest • Edward Croom has finally retired, and March. synagogue in the East End putting him at is slowly adjusting to a life of leisure. the heart of the vibrant Jewish community How many ‘classic examples’ did he point • Sue Bishop and Nigel Hiscock that was in its last days during the war. (former peripatetic music teachers) both out on field trips?

After the war this community drifted work in Sutton, and Sue also teaches at St away and settled in the suburbs. Many • Margaret Paish (Norman, 46-53) had Paul’s School and in Ashtead. moved to Israel. a copy of the Raine’s book for a ChristMichael’s memories of the time are of • Colin Nice (Maths, 73-80) says retiremas present and was looking forward to darkness, from the blackout and the smog. ment is moving closer – his daughter is reading it. (You’ll enjoy it!)

Of being terrified at night of the V1 and V2 hoping to go to Leeds University, so he rockets that rained down on London without may even reach my neck of the woods!

• Barry Jones (History, 79-93) was even the comfort of the air raid siren.

He encounters Mike Holmes occasionally, (downsizing) to Leyton Sixth Form ColThey were supersonic, dropping out of and Janis Fuller and Graham Willett go lege in January – we hope you enjoy it! the stratosphere with the V1s giving a chugskiing with the Holmes family with their ging sound until they cut out, meaning you daughter Bethan.

• Mike Hazell lives in Bristol, and is had ten seconds before you knew if you now working for Siemens. were ‘a goner’ or not.

• Pearl Pipe stayed with me recently, Life was hard but because it was hard enjoying some Yorkshire scenery and • Christine and Ken Crump commute for everyone it was easier to bear: “It didn’t weather. between Kent and Spain. seem like hardship, and for working class • Peter Corrigan (73-79) has been in the people the rations were an improvement”, • Charmaine Simon (Kerridge) is ensays Michael. legal profession for 25 years (where does joying teaching music, and bringing up Like many children Michael was retime fly to?). two children. evacuated in the last months of the war and he was very glad to escape the rockets or • Rosemary Stoggall (Lawton) enjoys • Jackie (Farmer, 68-74) and Robert doodlebugs as they were known. life at Plymouth, and on the sea, and has Connolly (68-75) hadn’t travelled far last It was there that he celebrated VE Day grandchildren. year, but are looking for warmer climes and was conscious of going to bed feeling this year. safer.

“Life was gloomy then but spirits I continue to enjoy my life in the village, • Helen Kostis (72-79) is another visitor ‘down-under’. She still works for a Greek shipping firm. Her brother Kosta and his wife live in the house next door.

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2005 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 3

“Terry” 09/10/1937 – 03/02/2005

T

erry Alfred Green was a highly infectious character who was loved by everyone he came in contact with. This was reflected by the fact that nearly 300 people attended his funeral, with diverse backgrounds, and the fact that some of his friends had travelled from Canada, Australia and South Africa just to be there.

When Terry left Raine’s, he went to work in the offices of the Port of London Authority until the London docks closed down and then did the knowledge to become a London Taxi Driver.

When he was 18 he was called up to do his two years national service. Somehow he managed to convince the army that he was weak, underweight and undernourished and so was sent to a special camp for six months to be built up a bit, after which he was posted to the Royal Army Medical Corps based on Salisbury Plain. The remainder of his military service and his personal contribution to the defence of this country are unclear, but the best that can be said is that for most of the time he was more or less on our side.

However, it needs to be made clear that Terry was not averse to taking the odd liberty here and there. There were regular favours required and often hidden agendas, but such was the personality of the man that you found yourself not only cooperating but enjoying doing so.

Terry loved to sing; he had a fine baritone voice and seemed to know the words of every song ever written. He was equally at home in clubs, pubs, bars or the showers at Victoria Park Harriers.

He had a song for every occasion but his singing of Zulu Warrior at the PLA Rugby Club while Dame Trevor Moss stripped off is legendary. He was an international artist too and his singing in a French bar on one occasion gave them one more reason for keeping us out of the Common Market.

lifted for a time”, Michael admits, “there was full employment and we knew we were at a turning point and that the future would be brighter.”

He stayed at school until he was 19 and because of the raising of the school leaving age more of his neighbours in Stepney were able to join him. Luckily being from a wealthy family meant he was free to stay on after 15. Even that age limit, which was only introduced in 1945, seemed an imposition to many East End children. They were expecting to start work and often their families were furious to hear they had to stay on at school, depriving the family of an extra wage.

Michael's school was 60 per cent Jewish, mainly an immigration community. His own father was from Poland.

One abiding memory of 1945 was the scenes of the liberation of Belsen that were screened all over London. Without television (off air because the signals might have attracted bombers) people got their news at the cinema. It became a collective experience and people sobbed in the cinemas as

To the casual observer, Terry was an all round sportsman and adventurer. He dabbled in rugby, golf, fishing, rowing, camping and jogging. He was a county class rugby player and on the pitch was known as ‘Terry The Treader.’ He wore size 12½ boots with which he did as much damage to his own players as those of the opposition. But whatever the activity, he always managed to turn the occasion into a reason for having a few beers, plenty of food and of course a few songs.

He drove an elderly London Taxi, which seemed to defy all the legislation that Ken Livingston could throw at it. He took the principal of ‘if it aint broke don’t fix it’ to ridiculous lengths and wouldn’t touch anything on the cab until it broke, fell off, leaked or caught fire. He would then get a close friend to do him a favour and fix it.

Terry was a handsome man who women found very attractive and there were a few ladies there on the day that would vouch for that. Quite recently an elderly neighbour who is in her 80s fell madly in love with him and even suggested that they move in together. She went on to explain that although she might be a bit past her best, sex would be available now and again should he require it. Now I can’t be absolutely certain but I suspect that’s one liberty that Terry didn’t take.

Terry’s simple philosophy was to enjoy life to the full and he certainly did that, but at the same time, remained a devoted father and respected family man.

Everyone who knew him will miss Terry Green for one special reason or another and our world will be a duller place without him. However, the next world will certainly be more entertaining when he gets there.

Albert Rowley

they saw what the Nazi’s had been doing.

The initial optimism of the time faded in the late ‘40s but the changes were permanent. As Michael said: “Of course things reverted to how they had been and the dreams of the socialist state were smothered in excessive bureaucracy but the NHS brought huge changes and the war left us with increased social mobility. Men returned from the forces determined not to be pushed around.”

Mostly he remembers the lighting up of London. For many children who had grown up in the dark this was a momentous event, even frightening for the really young ones.

“That was a time when London was a very different place. South of the river was a foreign place to us then.” (Still is for the true East Ender! – ed) Perhaps not so many things have changed!

War in the East End: “It didn’t seem like hardship, and for working class people the rations were an improvement.”

On the aftermath of the war: “Life was gloomy then but spirits lifted for a time.

There was full employment and we knew

we were at a turning point and that the future would be brighter.”

• HRH the Duke of Edinburgh sees shrub presented by the Old Raineians’ Association.

On 6 May, 2004, the Old Raineians Association, as part of the ‘Memorial Day and WW2 Evacuees Reunion’, presented a shrub in the Memorial Garden of Strodes College. The Spring 2005 edition of the Old Strodians Newsletter contains an article about the visit on 20th May, 2004 by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh KG KT who visited Strodes as part of the college’s Tercentenary Celebrations. The report says that: “The HRH visited the Memorial Garden to see a new fountain presented by the Old Strodians’ Lodge and the Willow Sculpture and shrub presented by the Old Raineians’ Association as part of the 6th May ‘Memorial Day and WW2 Evacuees Reunion’.

• Ex-Raines PE Teacher Humphrey Long appeared at the Help the Aged Living Legends Award Ceremony at the

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2005 NEWSLETTER Dorchester Hotel where he was up for the Achievement in Sport Award. This National Award Ceremony was attended by numerous celebrities including Cherie Blair, Cilla Black, Lionel Blair – and yes, even a few Old Raineians (Claire Burrows, Bill Richards, David Spencer) – plus Humph's children and his wife. It was a fantastic lunch, greatly enjoyed by all. Humph received the Runner Up Award in the Achievement in Sport – a fantastic achievement.

Following on from the success of this, Humphrey Long appeared on the ITV Paul O’Grady show where he received a Community Award that read: “This is certify that Humphrey Long has been awarded a Paul O’Grady Community Award for Outstanding Service in the Community signed Paul O’Grady”. He also received a cheque to help run his East London Royals Basketball Team.

And, still at the age of 72, Humph has just coached two teams to winning the National Basketball Championships again. He recently added other coaching successes with the under-13 and the under-14 East London Royal Basketball teams. This is another successful coaching season for the Humphrey Long. This year no other club had more than two teams through to the National Finals – he had coached four through to the final championships, winning two of them. He has now won 38 national championships in 25 years.

• From the East End Life: Local boy Anwar Uddin (93-98) has been voted Player of the Season at Conference football club Dagenham & Redbridge.

The former Raine’s Foundation pupil has been a vital cog in the Dagenham and Redbridge defence this season, helping them to a mid-table finish in what is effectively the fifth tier of English football.

“I’m delighted to have won these awards especially because it is the club, my fellow players and supporters who have voted for me,” said Anwar, who lives in Stepney.

“I hope to continue playing great football and in doing so open up more doors for Asians in the profession.”

Anwar joined the Daggers last season, having begun his career at West Ham where he developed in the same youth team as Chelsea’s Joe Cole and Tottenham’s Michael Carrick.

While Anwar found first-team opportunities limited at Upton Park he moved to Sheffield Wednesday where he was made captain after just a few reserve games.

Unfortunately a bad groin injury curtailed his progress for a year but after spells at Bristol Rovers, Telford and Hereford Anwar has now established himself at the Essex club, scoring the goal of the season against Aldershot.

His form has also led to a call-up into a non-league representative XI to play against an FA XI. Meanwhile there is speculation that Conference champions Barnet are interested in signing him up for next season as they prepare for life back in the Football League.

OTHER NEWS – 3 From Bill Richards

O

ne of the new members from the January Newsletter, Sydney Langford (38-45), sent some other recollections: “Further to my letter published in the January issue I would, as promised, like to pen some of my recollections of my very happy school years at Raine’s. This may well appear in the last edition of the Newsletter. Having just rediscovered you I sincerely hope this is not the case and someone out there will take up the challenge who has had some experience of what is needed.

Late summer 1938, aged eleven years and one month, walking up the Commercial Road from Salmon Lane, Limehouse, where I was living with my family above a laundry which my mother managed, dressed in my new blazer and wearing my new school cap.

Passing George Cohens, the 600 Group Yards, Stepney East Station (now Limehouse Station – ed), Rotherhithe Tunnel and the good old Troxy Cinema with Bobby Pagan, as usual, on the organ.

Enjoying my school dinners – I was always the first to sit down and the last to get up. What an appetite I had in those days! After 67 years I have gone back to baby portions.

Hearing the fables about Charlie Nay, the woodwork teacher in the basement, who was supposedly very likely to throw chisels at misbehaving pupils and leaving them stuck in the wall.

Watching the girls self consciously preening themselves on the other side of the hall.

Playing a form of table football on the large tables in the science laboratory using small coins and a ruler to slide them with.

Was this the forerunner of Subbuteo?

Queuing up at Stepney Green Station prior to going to the school playing fields

PAGE 4 which were either Fairlop or Loughton (can’t remember which) where I was introduced to the world of rugby, football, cricket and athletics by Mr Broughton.

Being in awe of the imposing presence of Mr Wilkinson-Daggar.

Finding my level, at the time in the B form where I more than held my own.

Not having the chance to say goodbye to my friends as evacuation started at the end of the school holiday and I was sent with my sister on a short and abortive attempt to stay with some relatives in South Wales.

Rejoining the school in Brighton on the coldest day of the year and being dropped by the taxi at the wrong side of the Varndean playing fields and ending up seeing the billeting officer frozen stiff.

Being found accommodation with a charming elderly couple in Patcham and, although I was only with them for a short time, they treated me like their own flesh and blood.

Walking up the hill to Varndean School every day where, as far as I can remember, we fitted in very well with the locals.

The panic that ensued with the capitulation of France and the need to move evacuees and locals away from the dangerous south coast region.

Arriving in Camberley and being allocated accommodation with my sister and Victor Gittleson and his brother to the mansion home of Sir Percy and Lady Helene Newsome at ‘Kingsclear’. The house had 32 rooms, 20 acres of grounds and the necessary quota of butler, housemaids, cooks, kitchen maids and gardeners with whom we ate all our meals and, of course, had to use the rear entrance. Quite a contrast, as can be imagined, from the slums of the East End of London.

Walking along Brackendale Road to ‘Beechleigh’ before I got a bicycle, which I rode there. Stopping on the way home on the dark evenings to have a crafty ‘spit and drag’ using whatever cigarettes we could get; usually Walters or Cooltipt. Players and Senior Service were impossible to get.

The camaraderie that existed at Beechleigh which was due, I am sure, to the intimate nature of the very small classrooms.

The level crossing gates in Camberley High Street next to the station and next to Portesberry Road where my sister and I were moved to after about a year because the staff at Kingsclear said they had too much to do.

Becoming captain of the rugby team and being Victor Ludorum on at least two occasions on sports day.

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2005 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 5

Riding on my bicycle to the Camberley nise the missing cricketer please let us know 1969 graduating from Otago University recreation ground where our sports pitches – ed). with a degree in Physical Education and were with three rugby balls strapped to my Some of the teachers I remember were then from Secondary Teachers College in back which I had well and truly dubbined Mr Broughton, Mr Shivas, Mr Wilson, Mr 1972 (I also attained my NZ citizenship). the night before. Our footballs were made Browning, Mr Lyons and Mr Bence.

I taught PE and Health Education for 18 of leather; none of this years in three NZ Secondmodern nonsense of plasary Schools. I lectured at tic, and were they heavy!

Otago University in 1981 You really knew it if you as a Teaching Fellow and got caught in the nether have also lectured at regions by one.

Waikato University, NorthPlaying soccer for the land and Bay of Plenty Polschool in the morning and ytechnics in the areas of rugby in the afternoon.

Sports Science and Exercise How did we manage it?

Prescription. For two years Just the thought of it now during this time I was Natires me out! tional Director of Coaching Using the facilities of for NZ Athletics (85-86). the Sandhurst Military colI have worked in profeslege cinder running track sional rugby since 1994 and being coached by C B with the All Blacks, NZ 7s, Holmes, who was at the NZ Under 21s plus Northtime the holder of the land and Bay of Plenty proCricket July 1945 100yds record for the Brit- Row 1: Mullish; Simon; Rosen; Dennis (Capt); ???; Albert; Langdorf vincial teams as well as the ish Empire and was a phys- Row 2: Charkin; Tucker; Mr Bence; Hilsum; Edwards Wellington Hurricanes for ical instructor in the army. four years in the Super 12 Losing a rugby match against an army Eventually managing to get my Higher competition as Fitness Trainer. team by 13-12 because I missed a conver- Schools Certificate by getting two passes If you watched the Lion’s opening game sion from in front of the posts. and two subsidiary passes. on Saturday 4 June you may have had a Moving in with our mother and father Leaving school and playing a few games glimpse of me on the sideline or on the field who moved to Camberley and we were a of rugby with the Old Raineians’ team. with the Bay of Plenty team (the dark fella family again.

After a few months being drafted into with the shaved head – unless I’m wearing The school transferring a cap). back to Arbour Square I have worked with over even though the occasional 16 different sporting codes V2 rocket was still falling at international level and on the London area. have attended three OlymCommuting to London pics and four Commonfrom Camberley five times wealth Games and travelled a week and six times if we to over 20 countries in the had a match on the Saturroles of coach, trainer and day. My route was Southteam chaplain. ern Railway to Waterloo; I also set up and directed City Line train to Bank a Christian Sports Ministry station and then a no. 15 (Sports Outreach NZ) in bus to Arbour Square.

1989 and am still actively My two best friends at involved with sports minisschool: Leslie Dennis who try today. qualified eventually as a I am still a very proud doctor and emigrated to Raineian and have always Rugby July 1945 Canada and Jack Goldstein Row 3: Edwards; Muswell; Miller; Simon; Dennis; Keen; Lines had great memories of the (later Garland) who be- Row 2: Charkin; Langdorf (Capt); Mr Lyons; Greenacre; Greenspan school and would love to came an accountant. speak about my times at Row 1: Tucker; Graham; Rosen; Albert; Hilsum Other names I rememRaine’s, but more imporber, some of whom I continued my associ- the RAF to do two years and three months tantly about achieving your best and realisation with at the Oxford & St Georges Club National Service as a PT Instructor.” ing your true potential. This will allow me were L Chinman, L Muscovitch, L Woolf, the opportunity to realise one of my dreams and the Shoop twins. This is apart from the • Keith Roberts (60-67, formerly Dylko) ie to come to London (16 years since my names from the photos of the two sports was visiting the UK and volunteered to do last visit) and speak at my old school.” teams from 1945 seen on this page (we are an assembly at the school. missing one name so if anyone can recog“I moved to New Zealand in January • Martin Armitage (58-63) got his

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2005 NEWSLETTER memory working after a previous Newsletter: “Many thanks for all the work you have put into the production of the Newsletter over the years. I can’t let you ‘retire’ without sending one last memory, jogged by the article (in last October’s issue) by Ronald Merrett. This mentioned Miss Ringer, the Biology mistress, and her deadpan expression.

As far as my memory goes, this was a fair description of ‘Biology Bertha’. However there was one occasion I recall when she did act out of character. We were having a lesson on the human digestive system and Miss Ringer was describing the colon and mentioned the appendix and the fact that it had no function in humans. She went on to say that digestive ‘debris’ could accumulate in there and asked the class what this may be. One pupil (JC) put his hand up and gave the answer “nuts and bolts”. Although Miss Ringer did not quite burst out in fits of laughter she did, in the words of Ken Dodd “exercise her chuckle muscles”. She told him that she meant things undigested or indigestible particles of food but JC (who is JC? – ed), not one for damage limitation, followed up by saying “but if one did swallow nuts and bolts, wouldn’t this be where they would end up?”

I also recall that Miss Ringer had a comical way of pronouncing “woody perennial” which involved rapid movement of her lower jaw – funny what things stick in your mind!”

• Susanne Lane (Chumbley. 59-66) wrote to tell us of a strange late night ‘habit’: “Was anybody listening to radio 4 on the 31st of March at midnight (must get a life). Those who weren’t missed a great program on the popularity of Enid Blyton in India “Blyton in Bombay”. During this little gem a very jolly lady with a 40-a-day laugh chatted about her grandma in Leyton and her pen-friend in India. The Lady’s name was Christine Nunn. Could this be OUR Christine Nunn? If so I would love to send her my congratulation on a wonderful contribution to the program. The eloquence of all those who took part was extremely entertaining. Thanks Christine for a good start to April.”

• Harry Webb (42-46) faxed from New York regarding the V2s mentioned by both Norman Kindler and Alan Johnson in The January Newsletter: “The penultimate V2 fell on Bethnal

Green (in fact that part of Vallance Road was and is in Stepney – ed) on 27 March 1945, not 1944 as stated by Norman. It was Adolf’s last hellish gasp trans-channel. The reason I am so certain of this is that this V2 took the whole window structure – frame, glass and lintel – from my bedroom wall and deposited across the headboard of my bed and smack on where I was sleeping.

Or had been until my mum’s calling out from another room had gotten me out of the ‘pit’.

The rocket had landed on the back of Hughes Mansions in Vallance Road (named after Mary Hughes and her dad who were

PAGE 6

48 injured. The majority of the casualties were Jewish families, and in some instances entire families were killed.

Miriam Moses, the warden of Brady Girls’ Club, was among those who assisted in the rescue. Renee Oliver, who lived in an adjacent block, recalls a lonely man wandering around the ruins at night for weeks calling for Annie. Was he looking for Annie Freedman, who went out to buy a loaf of bread for breakfast, and never returned?

As Alan Johnson mentioned the last rocket landed on Orpington, Kent on the same day, killing housewife Mrs Ivy Millichip, the last of 60,595 British civilians who died as a result of enemy action during the Henry Raine and The History Second World War. of Raine’s Schools Even in the midst of all this Londoners This 250+ page will be availaretained their sense of humour. A Cockney ble for sale at future reunions. If housewife, after being dug out of her rocketmembers would like a copy it blasted home was asked about the whereabouts of her husband. “He’s in the Army would be appreciated if they could at the front. The rotten coward!” was her inform the ORA in advance so prompt and sharp reply. that we have sufficient copies.

One last thing. Hughes Mansions were in fact named after Judge Thomas Hughes, well known social activists with, ironically, the author of ‘Tom Brown’s Schooldays’ a huge display of anti-war pictures visible and the father of Mary Hughes. in their home across the street).

One then Raineian, Morris ‘Shakey’ • Alan Thoroughgood (54-61) went in Berkowitz (43-46, living at 16 Hughes Man- search of his copy of one of the photos sions! - ed), was under the debris for some- from the last Newsletter: thing between three and five days (YES “Greetings from Florida.

DAYS). He was then in the London HosInteresting to see Roger Exley’s photo pital until Derby Day that year with two or of the athletics team in the latest edition. I three of us around his bed while he told us, have the same one and for some strange with the authority of his ‘wireless’ head reason had written all the names on the phones; “it’s Dante, Dante, the favourite – back.. he’s won it!” Sadly 134 of Shakey’s neighSitting left to right: Kellard; Rider; Ron bours never got to know that.”

Striebig; Ager On Sunday 26 March 1995, a wellKneeling left to right: Halliday; Futter; thronged Fiftieth Anniversary Commemo- Hadley; Fred Curle; Roger Exley; Kyle; rative was held at the London Thames Gate- Peeling way Forum, site of the former Brady Girls’ Third row left to right: Mike Bishop; Club.”

Alan Butler; White; Arnold; Arscott; Tom At this point I think I better step in to Cornell; Oag clear up any misunderstandings.

Back row left to right: Bob Mansfield; I believe that when Norman Kindler Alan Thoroughgood; Cranfield; Davison; stated; “This rocket was in fact the last but Cohen; Cottage; Smith one to fall in 1944. . .” he meant in the year The masters are the men who most of 1944 and not the war. Perhaps Norman responsible for starting my great love of could let us know. sport, rugby in particular. They are of While I ‘have the floor’ I might as well course, as Roger remembers; Biff expand on the Hughes Mansion tragedy.

Broughton and Aubrey Ironmonger.”

The rocket, the last to fall on London, struck at approximately 7.25 am and rescue • John Smith (52-59) also contacted us crews worked through the day and night after reading the about Roger Exley: recovering bodies, some of which were “Thank you for the last Newsletter. I found on the roof of the near by St Peter’s remember Roger very well. A good all Hospital. The final toll was 134 dead and round athlete, excellent swimmer – espe-

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2005 NEWSLETTER cially breaststroke – and a good young man.

I am the front row right in the rugby photograph. I’m not sure that even with a better print of the shot I would be able to put names to other faces, but who knows? Please give my very best regards to Roger.”

• Maurice Buzzard (49-54) was sad to hear about Terry Green: “On my regular visits to the Reunion evenings, I have met my old mate Terry Green, so I was very upset to hear of his sad death and I send my sympathy to his family.

Also I read in the last Newsletter, a letter from Kenneth Warren from his home in California. Ken was a classmate both Terry and myself and I would welcome contact from him.”

• Norman Sargent (49-55) saw an advert in a local paper: “Hello Raine’s School; as an old Raineian from the Arbour Square days I was pleased to see my old school still in the front line of teaching. Your advertisement appears in my local paper (Stratford & Newham Express).

I attended Raine’s school from 1949 to 1955. The last year spent in the 6th form.

Having won the Woodwork prize (I made the oak lectern which was used every day at assembly) I left after 6 happy years, when Dr Shutt was headmaster, to begin work as a trainee church organ builder for 5 years. Then a junior design and development engineer at Selmer Electronics Ltd. After 5 years I moved to Watkins Electric Music (WEM) as chief engineer with designing all things in musical electronics. Having left WEM after 5 years I started up my own servicing company, Electronic Musical Developments, which is still in business. The very sound maths and physics learnt during my time at Raine’s helped my career considerably.

My only disappointment now is seeing the old Arbour Square building not housing Raine’s School and its interior hardly recognizable.

I still have two panoramic photographs taken July 1950 and July 1953.”

• Trevor Morgan (48-52) sent his memories of school: “Thanks for sending the copy of the newsletter for January. I found it very interesting – especially the follow up of the Raine’s emblem – nice to see that it will be

‘official’.

I was at the school from 1948, just before Dr Dagger left and was succeeded by Gerald Shutt. My form teacher was initially Wally Spooner who also took Geography. Other teachers were J.V.Emms (Art), ‘Cecil’ Gee (French) and Joe ‘Wacker’ Swain (known for his slipper work!!).

Others who I can only identify by their initials on my reports were C.A.N. (Technical Drawing), A.H.A. (PT), who was superseded by H.W.L. responsible for teaching many of us to swim for the first time and me gaining my mile and lifesaving certificates (I have been a qualified scuba diver for many years).

I was not a good pupil, much to my later regret, as I was – to quote Dr Dagger – “a thoroughly mischievous boy”, resulting in my receiving 23 (!!!) ink entries in the report book. However, I did learn how to typeset under Mr Emms and became a compositor on leaving school.

I was useless at games, being blind in one eye and unable to judge distances so stuck to swimming. We had 34 in our class in those days so I suppose 10th is not so bad really (always 3rd in Art – wonder who were the other two?)

I left the school in 1952 at the age of 15 but had to return until the end of term

(actually had a job printing too!!).

I have heard from Mike Harrap and Ken Warren who were at Raine’s in the same period but would love to hear from any others from the ‘B’ crowd, e.g. Harry Cohen or Mike Bass to name two.”

• As a follow on from David Spencer’s article about Anwar Uddin, another ‘Old Boy’ was in the papers. John Martin (92-97) played for the winners of the FA Trophy, Grays Athletic, in the final at Villa Park. John (right) was heavily involved in the game as can be seen from these quotes from the match report on the club’s website.

“John Martin got on the end of Brennan’s long ball controlled it using his

PAGE 7 chest, and then unleashed a brilliant leftfooted volley but Smith produced an excellent finger tip save to deny the energetic midfielder.”

“John Martin continued to play well.” “ . . . and a defensive muddle enabled the striker to knock the ball into the path of the on-rushing John Martin who with total composure slotted the ball past Smith.”

“Not surprisingly Hucknall keeper Greg Smith, who had kept his side in the match many times, was named Man of the Match although surely John Martin and Lee Matthews must have been in the running.”

The game went into a penalty shootout, with John scoring his penalty chance, to go with his goal in normal time.

• Ronald Merrett (43-48) was another who contacted us after the last Newsletter: “I was most pleased to receive your January 2005 newsletter, particularly because of the prominence given to my friend Eddie Summers, but also as a number of your contributors are of approximately my era.

I can tell Bob Ayres that I see Richard Mason occasionally, as he lives quite near my abode: His brother Vic died some years ago. Also regrettably I must inform him that Steve Simmons died when he was about only 30 years of age, by which time he was a married man with four children. Alan Granard, I believe, became well known for his quality voice in choir circles.

As a member of the Oxford & St Georges club I was friendly with Norman Kindler, and was most interested to learn of his wartime escape (which evidently at the time he kept quite quiet about!) The club is going strong in north London now, and I retain my membership but visit the premises only sporadically as it is a long journey from Orpington.

Mr Spooner was a ‘new’ boy to the staff in my time at the school, and I remember how enlivening he made his geography lessons. Dicky Dalton was my form master and he took us for geography too, taking our class on one memorable day to hunt for the source of the Thames: Can’t remember clearly but I don’t think we found it! Mr Broughton gave us history lessons, and I recall there were certain heated arguments in class between some of the left wing inclined lads and him. WH Davies always had his “madamazonga” with him (length of rubber tubing) with which he would strike a table when wishing to emphasize matters

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2005 NEWSLETTER in physics lessons. And Mrs Weingarten gave me a congratulatory slim book in original language describing one of Arsene Lupin’s exploits. She it was who first fired in me a love of the French language, and the most likeable Alec Aldridge continued that education in his spirited way.

I shall always remember our English master Nobby Clark’s wonderful classic piano playing during certain lunch-time breaks, and Mr Wilkin’s expertise at chemistry, at which subject I confess I was not a brilliant student. Mr AH Davis was a passionate pastmaster at explaining the intricacies of mathematics and I recall having quite a penchant for tackling quadratic equations!

Donny Lyons was partly responsible for my distinction in German at matriculation, and Mr Shivas will always be remembered at least for his passionate renderings of poeti-

cal works: A quietly kind man.

Charlie Nay taught us woodwork and the like, but all his efforts didn’t help me; I just had a natural mind blockage where that subject was concerned: I never was a practical fellow. There were other tutors, of course, but the passage of time has dimmed some of my recollections so that, while I can envisage them, their names do not readily follow.

I can say honestly that I was enthralled by my school life at Raine’s, and am sorry that family circumstances did not allow me education beyond matriculation. But that’s all water under the bridge, and it is how one conducts one’s life in later years that matters, and helps to promote by example likemindedness (it is to be hoped) in others.

I thought the Wetherspoons venue for the Winter Reunion an excellent idea, the

PAGE 8 food laid on most appetizing, and drinks at the bar reasonably priced. It didn’t take me long to find the spot, but I was a little disappointed at the lack of numbers. Still conversations were struck up and the evening passed happily. Many thanks to the arrangers! A la prochaine. . . .

I look forward to the next newsletter, and sincerely hope it will not be the last one.”

On that last point I suggest you ‘watch this space’ as there may be someone to take over In other words keep the memories, etc. coming and if there is enough interest shown then there will be other issues to follow.

As has been said many times before; it’s up to you.

Bill Richards

THE TWO RAINEIANS It’s goodbye from me and it’s goodbye from him

H

ello! It’s wonderful to be back with another Newsletter, isn’t it, Alan?

Indeed it is Bill. In a packed Newsletter, I shall be writing about a man who goes in for meditation, because he thinks it’s better than sitting around doing nothing and we’ll be hearing from an out-of-work contortionist who can no longer make ends meet.

We’ll also be talking about a car designer who’s crossed Toyota with Quasimodo and come up with The Hatchback of Notre Dame.

But first the news: Local police have reported that an elephant has done a ton on the Whitechapel Road. Drivers are warned to take care and treat it as a roundabout.

The House of Commons was sealed off today after police chased an escaped lunatic through the front door during Prime Minister’s question time. A spokesman at Scotland Yard said it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

West Mersea police announced tonight that they wish to interview a man wearing high heels and frilly knickers. The Chief Constable said they must wear their normal uniforms.

The toilet was stolen from Arbour Square Police Station last week. Police are investigating, but at the moment have nothing to go on.

The Prime Minister held a meeting with the Cabinet today. He also spoke to the bookcase and argued with the chest of drawers.

Many old music hall fans were present at the funeral today of Fred ‘Chuckles’ Jenkins, Britain’s oldest and unfunniest comedian.

In tribute, the vicar read out one of Fred’s jokes, and the congregation had two minutes silence.

Latest on the bullion robbery: At Wansforth Police Station, a man who’s as deaf as a post, and doesn’t speak English, with a terrible stutter, bad breath and squeaky shoes, is not helping the police with their inquiries one little bit.

A large hole has suddenly appeared in the M25. Police are looking into it.

Shirley Bassey has just had a single come out – one of the straps broke on her dress.

Here is a message for seven honeymoon couples in a hotel in Peebles: breakfast was served three days ago.

A row developed today over Sussex County Council’s new library catalogue for 1978. It lists the BR timetable under fiction.

Finally, it was revealed in a government survey published today that the Prime Minister is doing the work of two men: Laurel and Hardy.

Alan: “It’s goodbye from me.”

Bill: “And it’s goodbye from him.”

Both: “Goodbye.”

And, sadly, it really is goodbye as Bill Richards (right) will cease to be the editor, producer, director, photocopier and post room for the newsletter after this edition and Alan Johnson (left) has resigned from the ORA committee after many years (too many years he wails in the background).

Both Bill and Alan have been former ORA Presidents, Alan on more than one occasion, and have been on the committee during the rise of the ORA from the ashes over the last 20 years. So, members, it’s over to you.

Old Raineians’ Association

NEWSLETTER Website: www.oldraineians.com E-mail: admin@oldraineians.com Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road Bethnal Green London E2 LYN Tel: 020 8981 1231 Fax: 020 8983 0153

Claire Burrows Alexander Coach House Vines Lane Hildenborough Kent TN11 9LT Tel: 01732 833906

Tony Groves 52 Bankhurst Road Catford London SE6 4XN Tel: 020 8690 1643

Brian Chaperlin 257 Wickham Chase West Wickham Kent BR4 0BJ Tel: 020 8776 1847

Gwynneth Jackson Glevum Main Street Kirkby Malzeard Nr Ripon North Yorks HG4 3RS Tel: 01765 658825

JUNE 2006

A

t last, welcome to what I hope is the first of many newsletters to be produced by me. It has been a tough job, trying to follow in Bill Richards footsteps, but I hope that I have come close to doing so. Thank you Bill for all those excellent past newsletters and for choosing me from the vast numbers clamouring to take on the job; it’s the first time that anyone from Winterton has willingly passed anything on to someone from Dagger (School)! There is plenty of news in this edition, but I would like to encourage you all to dig deep into your memories and send me as much copy as you can, both about your time at Raine’s and afterwards, for the next edition.

I know that the newsletters are welcomed by you all and that to many of you they represent the Association, but in my spare time, I also look after the web site and I would like you all to take a look at it from time to time, to check out what is happening in the Association, in between the newsletters. You might be pleasantly surprised! There’s plenty of interest, with more being added and as I write this, we are not far short of 30,000 hits (and it’s not all me - ed)! Check out the photographs, they’re always good for a laugh.

Many thanks are due to Carl Bridgeman, who managed the web site before I took over and who passed on his considerable knowledge to me.

and postage costs - and you get a nicely presented edition! So, if you have an e-mail address, but haven’t given it to us, please do and if you have one, please remember to let us know if you change it.

NEW MEMBERS

I am pleased to be able to welcome six new · Kathleen Williamson, nee Fassenmembers so far this year, but I hope that more felt (68-74) joined after I picked up on a will join soon message that she had posted on the message board on Friends Reunited about the Associ· Mike Bradburn (59-64) joins us ation. Kathleen remembers supporting the from Norfolk, after a great night out at the school basketball teams and their famous November reunion! coach, Mr Long! She was in the secretarial sixth and recalls being taught to touch type · Stanley Pessok (40-47) joined after by Miss Hoskins, to the sound of Strauss in coming across our web site. Stanley now the background! lives in the USA. He writes: ‘I joined Raine’s when it was evacuated to Camberley, Surrey, Kathleen did not pursue a secretarial where it occupied a large private mansion career, but went into nursing, spending some within its own grounds. Its generous garden time in Africa. She is now a nursing sister and rural context provided opportunities for for the Army. Kathleen is in touch with extra-curricular activities never contemplated Cheryl Cole, now living in Australia and in Arbour Square. remembers Kathleen Crundwell, Margaret

Around 1944, a skeleton staff re-opened the school at Arbour Square and I transferred When the war ended, in 1945, Raine’s returned to London in toto. It was there that I completed fifth and sixth forms. During my sojourn at Raine’s, A. Wilkinson Dagger was the headmaster. Sometime during this period nd finally, my main job is looking the school became the Raine’s Foundation after the membership records. I Grammar School’. try to keep them updated, but if Stanley was in Mann House and became you know of an Old Raineian who hasn’t heard from the Association for a while, get Deputy Head Boy, later joining the RAF for them to drop me a line, as it might be that his national service. He studied Physics at their contact details are not up to date. I hope Kings College, emigrating to Canada in 1953, that as many of you as possible will migrate shortly after graduating. In 1955 he moved to e-mail for future contact from the Associ- to the USA, with his wife Loretta, whom he ation, as this saves considerably on production had married in Canada. He has been all over

A

the USA, with his work in the electronics industry and eventually set up his own business. Stanley retired in 2004 and now spends his time travelling, taking photographs and writing. (I hope that he’ll do some writing for us and send some of his school memories and tell us more about his life since leaving Raine’s - ed)

Tompkins and Jackie Farmer. Kathleen sent a photograph taken on the sea front at Tenby during a school trip with Miss Jackson and Mr Beck, back in 1970 or 71 and I have posted it on the web site under the heading ‘Where are they now’. Does anybody recognise themselves? Write in and tell me and if you have any similar photographs that would look good on the Internet, send them in. · Kenneth Warren (49-53) is another member living on the other side of the ‘pond’.

He was quite a sportsman at Raine’s, playing rugby and breaking swimming records. His sister Iris was Head Girl and his Mum was the school cook. (I should keep that quiet if I were you Ken! - ed)

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2006 NEWSLETTER Ken is a semi-retired graphic designer, who In 1963 I decided on the USA and came has been living in California for 42 years! to California. I was almost immediately hired by the San Francisco Chronicle and within Ken writes: ‘I was in England on holiday, six months was running the advertising typepartly a visit to memory lane, but also to see setting department on the night shift. The old friends who I’ve had since my early teens. education that I received at Raine’s and the I see that a reunion was held at Poplar Rowing apprenticeship in typography in London really Club, which was one of my stops. The club- set my future on the right track. I’m still in house was fairly busy when I called in on a the printing/advertising industry, even though Saturday, but they were very welcoming when I had to further educate myself when computI told them that I was a member there in 1950. ers took over from the old methods of typogIt was then called Poplar, Blackwall & District raphy. As recently as two years ago I went Rowing Club and the old building, now re- to a local college for further training in some placed by the new clubhouse was nothing but software that I needed for my graphic design a tin shed, where we stored our boats. I did business. (Two more potential members out enjoy rowing, even though in those days if there - ed) you fell into the Thames you had to go to hospital and have your stomach pumped.

Evenings I would train train for the next · Jill Kirby, nee Rood (69-76) joins regatta by rowing from the club at the Island from Essex. Jill has yet to tell us about her Gardens to Tower Bridge and back. I must time at Raine’s and what she’s been doing have had the invincible attitude of youth, now since. But she is a regular at the reunions! when I see how fast the current is in the river I know how foolhardy I was. My best friend · Leonard Ornellas (30-39) (Yes that in those days was Brian Gould. He worked is 9 years - read on! - ed) joins us from Devon, on the river as a waterman and his father after his daughter, Jackie tracked down the skippered a tug. Brian went on to row for Association via the gallery of famous Old England and he is now back on the river, Raineians on David Spencer’s web site captaining the Woolwich Ferry. His wife, (www.DavidASpencer.com). (There is now Patricia Baldock was at Raine’s at the same a link to the relevant pages on the ORA web time as me. site, under History - ed) I have very fond memories of my years at Raine’s, I think that I was the only boy in my immediate area on the Isle of Dogs to attend Raine’s and my school uniform was worn proudly, even though the local lads did try to tease me about it on my way to school every day. I did manage to get into a fair bit of trouble at Raine’s and remember getting six of the best from the Headmaster (who was? - ed) for destroying a sink in the chemistry lab. Me and another boy (who was? ed) mixed just the right amount of acids to destroy the sink! In addition to our tender behinds, we had to clean the labs after school for a month and the worst punishment; no playing on the school rugby team for a month.

Jackie wrote to David, ‘My father, Leonard Ornellas attended Raine’s School between 1930 and 1939, and still talks with affection of his time there (I think he even still has some of his old school reports!). I came across the excellent Famous Old Raineians section on your web site, and printed several pages from it to show him. We noticed that a few people were included due to being decorated during WWII - and I just thought I'd let you know that my father also received the DFC. The award was made in January 1945, and the citation said that he had ' flown on numerous operational sorties, and displayed fine fighting spirit, keenness and devotion to duty.' I've attached a press cutting containing the citation, and which also mentions that he attended Raine’s School; It would be wonderful if you could include my father's name the next time you update the site - he doesn't know I've written to you, but I know he would be very proud to see his name among the other 'Famous Old Raineians'! (Leonard is now included amongst the ‘Famous Old Raineians’ - ed)

Whilst at Raine’s I applied for an apprenticeship as a compositor in the London Master Printers Federation. I was one of the few applicants accepted from a large group of young men and at age 16 started to serve a six year apprenticeship at W.W.Sprague Printing Company. After finishing my apprenticeship I earned my London City & Guilds Certificate. This opened many opportunities for me around the world. I had job offers Leonard himself wrote later, ‘ My first from Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Canada experience of Raine’s was joining the Kinderand the United States. garten in 1930, when I was 7 years old. My

PAGE 2 father was working as a Relieving Officer for the Guardians of the Poor in Stepney, and because he had to be on night duty occasionally he was required to live in the district; our home then was close to Stepney Station. (The office where my father worked was near Vallance Road, and through his job he knew Mary Hughes, who has been mentioned in previous issues of the Newsletter. I have a copy of her father’s book (Tom Brown’s Schooldays), given by her to my father, which has a long inscription in her handwriting, referring to me as “the ‘olive-branch’ of my valued friend and fellow-server”, and containing a (rather rambling) anecdote about her father’s visit to speech day at Rugby School when he was 72 years old.)

Raine’s Kindergarten, which was co-ed, was on the ‘girls’ side’ of the partition in the main school. The headmistress was Miss Haugh, and we in the kindergarten were in the tender clutches of Big Miss Twells and Little Miss Twells – two maiden sisters, one of whom was very tall, and other very short.

We also had another teacher, called Miss Thornton. (I’m pretty sure the teacher on the attached photograph, taken in about 1930, was Miss Thornton.)

We all loved being in the kindergarten.

It was a cosy little group, and all the parents knew each other, because they used to take us to school. I remember a boy called Alec Butler, and two sets of twins – Stuart and Estelle Brown, and the Bennett twins, both boys.

In 1933 the time came for me to transfer to the ‘boys’ side’ of the partition and join the main school. At around about that time my father changed employers, working for the LCC in Wanstead, and we moved to Redbridge, buying a brand-new house for £830. There was a good school (Wanstead High) about half a mile from where we lived – but such was the reputation of Raine's that my parents decided to keep me there, even though it meant I had quite a journey to school.

I used to go on the 96 bus, which was a busy commuter route serving the City. .

Because I got on it at the terminus I always got a seat, but it used to get very full as we got further into London. I always sat upstairs (although my mother for some reason had told me not to do so) – for the very good reason that they didn’t allow standing upstairs. Of course, if I'd been downstairs and a lady had got on the bus, I'd have been expected to get up and let her have my seat!

From the Mile End Road, where I got off, I'd have quite a walk, through Stepney Green, past Arbour Square Police Station and the local tuck shop. As I got closer to the school

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2006 NEWSLETTER coming the other way were the contingent He also threw into his teaching valuable from East Ham, who used to arrive by tram. I lessons on general philosophy, and the meanthink Raine’s had some sort of arrangement ing of life. In fact, many years after I'd left with a school there, and we took quite a lot of school, when I was running the sub-post office their pupils. in Woolacombe, Devon, I met Leslie Groves, I can remember the layout of the school who had been in my class, and had become fairly well. On the lower floor was the gymnasium, which ran the whole length of the school, and was also used by the girls’ school (though not, of course, at the same time as the boys).

The woodwork shop and the mechanics lab were at the side of a raised walkway at the side of the gym. Geography was taught in a separate room right on the roof of the building, which had obviously been added later. We used to have to go up the steps to the top of the school, then out into the open, and from there into the geography room.

I also remember our wonderful sports ground. We used to walk to Stepney Green Station and get on the District Line to Becontree; there was RAINE’S KINDERGARTEN 1930 a concessionary fare for the school of Leonard Ornellas is third from the left, in about 2d return. It was a magnificent middle row spacious ground with a pavilion and showers, a great asset for the school, a Methodist Minister in Devon – and A H and the envy of all the other schools. We had Davies’ lessons on philosophy were one of about 3 rugby pitches, and there were always the things we talked about. (On the subject lots of sporting events going on at the same of Woolacombe - long before I met her, my time. wife was being taught at the local school there Without exception the members of staff by a Mr Bidgood, who was a cousin of our had the respect of the pupils. There were very Henry Bidgood, who wrote the Raine’s few behavioural problems, and very little use School Song.) of the cane. In fact, I can only remember one Other members of staff I recall include occasion during my time there– and that was Mr Gee – a German teacher whose fearsome for something relatively minor, like being late appearance (big red face, bristling ginger consistently, or not doing homework. If my moustache) I still recall with trepidation. This memory serves me right, the culprit was a boy may be because, unlike maths, I did not take called McCabe, one of the ‘East Ham contin- easily to German. In fact I still have a school gent’. report somewhere in which he gave his verdict The headmaster at the time was Mr on my performance in the subject – Wilkinson-Dagger, and I can remember most ‘amazingly weak’! of my other teachers. By far the most memOur gym master was Mr Broughton, who orable of these was Mr A H Davies. Not only played rugby for London Welsh. Another was he an excellent maths teacher, obtaining good sportsman among the staff was Mr very good exam results for his pupils, but he Bence, who taught History and Economics was full of short cuts, memory aids, and and who, in spite of a permanent limp, was mental arithmetic wrinkles, which have stayed a very good cricketer. I remember him excelwith me throughout my life - I can still re- ling in matches where the staff played against member how to prove Pythagoras in six lines. the Old Boys.

I also have A H Davies to thank, at least in Charlie Nay taught woodwork, and in the part, for the fact that I achieved top marks in mechanics lab was Joogs Andrews, of undemy end-of-course exams when training as an served fearsome reputation – everyone always RAF navigator in Canada during the Second dreaded going to him for lessons, but I don’t World War – which in turn led to my gaining think he was particularly frightening in reality. a commission. More prosaically, I can still Others I remember include: Mr Curtis occasionally beat Carol Vorderman to the (Deputy Headmaster, also taught English); solution of the maths problems when watching Mr Shivas (another English teacher, who Countdown on TV! taught us the joys of Shakespeare); Mr W H

PAGE 3 Davies (Physics, which in those days was called Heat, Light and Sound); Mr Wilkinson (Chemistry); and Mr Hayward (Geography) I left school in July 1939, and after passing a competitive exam started my first job with the London County Council, for the princely salary of £72 per annum, on the 4th September, the day after war broke out.

I have very happy memories of my schooldays. We were all very proud to wear our uniform – we actually felt a bit superior when we were wearing it in, because the school really had a good reputation, and we felt very lucky to be at Raine’s, which I felt gave us a good education and fitted us for life’.

(Some of Leonard’s teachers were still at the school when I joined, almost thirty years later. That’s certainly doing your duty to God and Man. -ed.).

the

OTHER NEWS

· Jim Everton (Biology) has written from deepest Norfolk. He is busy with all kinds of things that he is involved in from supporting the local cricket club, to serving as a magistrate (keeping the black cap to hand, just in case Jim? -ed). As there haven’t been any newsletters for a year, Jim was worried that he had been overlooked, but I was able to reassure him that certainly wasn’t the case!

We hope to see Jim at a reunion sometime, despite his protestations that he can’t face travelling nowadays. · Tom Bennett (30-35) wrote to thank Alan Johnson for the book on the History of Raine’s and said that not only was he very impressed with it, but so were his family and that it would be making it’s way to Australia for further reviews by his family! Like many of us from the Arbour Square days, Tom regrets that the school is no longer there. (But it does continue to serve the children of the East End, unlike some I could mention - ed). · Gwynneth Jackson (Music) writes: ‘The “Frozen North” actually has been white and frozen from time to time this winter, even icicles were hanging from gutters early in March, but the threatened “hardest winter since 1963” has not happened! In addition to my role of co-coordinating a team of 68 volunteers in the Wharfedale area of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, pianist for a choir

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2006 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 4

Joyce Curtis It is with sadness that I have to inform you of the passing of one of our longstanding and committed members, Joyce Curtis (Roberts). Joyce was with us at the November reunion, but became ill shortly afterwards and passed away in April. Deepest sympathies were expressed to Joyce’s husband Les and her family on behalf of the Association and a floral tribute sent to her funeral. Les has kindly written the following piece about Joyce, for us.

Joyce Curtis, nee Roberts (At Raine’s 1952 - 1957) Died 8 April 2006 Joyce was the second of her siblings after Harry (1950 - 1955) to attend Raine's, followed by Ted (1958 - 1964), John (1966- 1971) and Jane (1969 - 1974). She was born in Somerton, Somerset in 1941 where her family had been evacuated from Poplar but she converted to became a real eastender on her return at the end of the War, and spent the rest of her life in the east end. She enjoyed all her years at Raine's, in the days when the sexes were segregated, and on leaving immediately joined the John Lewis Partnership, where she worked continually until her illness, with one break of 12 years to bring up her two children. Although she had broken the unwritten Raine's law when in 1962 she married Les from Cooper’s Company School, they shared their happy marriage to the end. Their daughter Lindsey (1981 - 1986) also attended Raine's.

Joyce tried to get to as many ORA meetings as possible and particularly remembered the House Of Lords evening hosted by Mildred Gordon MP, as well as the Poplar Rowing Club get-togethers. She had been very involved with the running of the Rowing Club’s annual regatta over some 25 years and was proud that both her son Ian and her brother John rowed for their country. and at the village school, Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council and odd “dogsbody” jobs at the village hall, also helping us to do well in “Yorkshire in Bloom” competition, I have just become treasurer of the local group of parishes (looking after the money on many a field trip or school trip, will doubtless stand me in good stead (and you always got a refund!)’. (All this and seeing and keeping in touch with all those Old Raineians - ed) Just recently, Gwynneth has been visited

by Richard Tillbrook (61-68), taking a break from his ecclesiastical duties. (You are indelibly engraved in my memory as the ‘Milk Monitor’ Richard! - ed).

Gwynneth sees Madge and John Darch fairly often. At present they live in Nottingham, but John has recently gained an appointment near Blackburn, so Gwynneth hopes to see them more often. Alan Russell (French) sent Gwynneth a Christmas card and the pictured scene was just above where the Darches have a holiday cottage. Mr Stanney and his wife are well and continuing to enjoy their life in Devon.

Joy Turner (English) is having trouble walking, but still manages to get to the theatre and concerts. Rosemary Lawton (Geography) is now living in Plymouth and wrote to tell of the death of Ann North (History); Gwynneth is now Rosemary’s last remaining link with Raine’s.

Viv Nicholas (Geology) has been keeping up his skiing and has also been on a roundthe-world-trip, including visiting the Antipodes, where he experienced the vastness of glaciers, the adrenalin rush of sky-diving and the incredible beauty of the seas around the

Great Barrier Reef. (Bet none of them were as thrilling as getting to the summit of Ben Nevis with those Raineians in 1969 Viv! - ed).

Barry Jones is at Leyton Sixth Form College and he hears from Ray Hart and Bob Philpotts, who are both well. Barry bumped into Kalu Agbeze (83-90), who still has his heart set on becoming a full-time pilot. Zippy Auerbach is still teaching; her twins are now both at university.

A Lab Boy at Raine’s

ger and the name Lewis. Whether these masters were Slogger and Lewis or one had both names I am not at all sure.

The lab steward was a man in his 20’s called ‘Russell’, presumably his surname. The custom in those days was to address men by their surnames. Russell had seen active wartime service as a Chindit in Burma. He was imbued with the army ethos of cleanliness and made sure that I kept the labs sparkling!

There being five labs and a similar number of working days this made it easy to organise a routine of polishing benches, cleaning bottles and sinks. Fume cupboards were cleaned by climbing into them, being careful not to knock over the Kipp’s apparatus.

Weights were also cleaned with liberal quantities of metal polish. One can only guess what this did to the true weight.

Bill Richards was recently contacted by Dennis Wang, through a mutual friend.

Dennis, who worked at Raine’s as a laboratory technician in the 1940’s was given a copy of one of the newsletters edited by Bill and this prompted him to write the following piece which I am very pleased to be able to publish Part of my duties was to distribute apparatus here. amongst pupils doing practical chemistry.

This proved to be invaluable for my own By chance I recently came across a copy of chemistry education, for example, if I were the Old Raineians’ Association Newsletter, asked about the preparation of hydrogen I which prompted me to write about my expecould not only mentally picture the necesriences as a lab boy at Raine’s school. sary glassware and chemicals, but a dozen, or so, sets of them.

At the age of 14 I started work at Raine’s in January 1947. At that time the school was I was at Raine’s for 15 months and left in the in Arbour Square and the science departspring of 1948. My academic career was ment comprised of two chemistry and two pursued through evening classes. Finally, physics labs and a lecture room. The head with the help of a LCC award, I spent seven of chemistry was Dr Wilkinson who had years at University College London where I written a school chemistry textbook. There gained a bachelors, a masters and a doctoral was a younger master called Mr Roberts. I degrees. In all that time I never failed a recall that there were two physics masters chemistry exam and I like to think that I owe whom I associate with the nick-name Slog-

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2006 NEWSLETTER it in no small measure to my early experiences at Raine’s.

Denis Wang ( I worked as a lab technician at the school for a while -one of many- and I have already given Dennis an insight into what I remember of Jim Russell, who was still at the school into the 1980’s - correct me if I’m wrong, If any of you have memories that you’d like to share, please let me have them. From what Dennis says, Jim hadn’t changed much! - ed).

The ‘Swinging’ 60’s You’ll remember that I mentioned earlier, the gallery of famous Old Raineians on David Spencer’s web site (well, you will if you have been paying attention! -ed). David was contacted by an Old Raineian who has made a career for himself as a professional musician.

Douglas Anthony Thompson (formerly Dodds), is known professionally as Tony Rivers and he attended Raine's Foundation Grammar School for Boys from Sept 1952 until Dec 1956.

Born in Shildon, Co. Durham on 21st December 1940, he attended Shaftesbury Avenue Primary School, East Ham from 19451951. He is a professional musician, singer and backing vocalist who has worked with many of the most famous names in the pop music world. After leaving Raine's, he worked as messenger boy in the City of London, and briefly in the 'Rag trade' in Leman St. In 1961, he joined a local band from Barking and Dagenham called The Cutaways, and soon changed the band’s name to 'Tony Rivers and The Castaways'. He then turned professional, touring the UK many times, firstly playing in pubs and clubs and eventually graduating to universities, colleges and then cabaret. He signed a management contract with Brian Epstein's company Nems Enterprises in early to mid 60's, alongside The Beatles and many other famous groups of the day. He went on to sign a new management contract with Robert Stigwood (manager of the Bee Gees) and Brian Epstein when they merged companies. Epstein subsequently died and 'Tony Rivers and The Castaways' were managed by Stigwood alone. Towards the end of the 60's, the band felt that a name change was necessary, they became 'Harmony Grass' and immediately had a top 20 hit with 'Move In A Little Closer Baby'.

Tony left Harmony Grass in the early 70's and went on to become a session singer, working on original songs he was writing

(including songs recorded by Jackie Wilson and Frankie Valli) and also gaining studio experience singing on those budget albums (sold in Woolworth’s!) ‘TOP OF THE POPS’.

These albums recently became the subject of an unlikely BBC TV documentary about their appeal and success! In 1974, Tony Rivers sang the theme for a TV series that lasted for many years that was also recently voted the 4th most popular UK TV theme (Can you guess it?). In 1975 Tony started to work with Cliff Richard in the studios of Abbey Road, singing on and arranging the harmonies on Miss You Nights and Devil Woman (a top ten hit in UK and no.5 in USA). He joined Cliff's 'live' band in 1976 and toured the world many times, singing backing vocals. He has played the London Palladium on many occasions, as well as the Royal Albert Hall with, on one special occasion, the London Symphony Orchestra, augmented by the Cliff Richard band, to record a 'live' album, 'Dressed For The Occasion'. Cliff Richard was recently named the top selling UK artist, ever.

In 1985, Elton John asked Tony to join his band for the world’s biggest concert, Live Aid. Tony sang with Elton and George Michael, to about 80,000 people in Wembley Stadium and one and a half billion watching on television, around the world. By this time Tony was also recording and touring with Shaking Stevens who had many hits throughout the 80's. Shaking Stevens was recently named as the top selling artist of the 80's in UK. Tony has sung on some of the biggest record successes for both Cliff Richard and Shaking Stevens, including 'Daddie's Home' which reached number 2 for Cliff Richard and Shaking Stevens Christmas 'classic', 'Merry Xmas Everyone'.

Other artists Tony Rivers has worked with, including on records and TV, are Al Stewart (Year Of The Cat album), Lulu, INXS (Australian rock legends), The Who, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Small Faces, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Roger Daltrey, Billy Connolly, John Hurt, Mike Batt (The Barbican and Royal Albert Hall with The Hunting Of The Snark). Tony was recently in the UK charts again with St. Etienne and their single 'Side Streets' taken from their album 'Tales From Turnpike House' on which Tony appears and co-arranges all the harmony vocals with his son Anthony. Tony Rivers is currently living in Oliva, Valencia, Spain.

He has an excellent web site at www.tonyrivers.com which contains lots more information on his musical career. (I hope that Tony will join the Association and perhaps we’ll get to hear him sing at one of our reunions -ed).

PAGE 5

AGM The Association’s Annual General Meeting took place on Friday 12th May at the Emperor Wine Bar, Vine Street, EC3N 2PX. Compared to last year, the event was very well attended and it was good to see some ‘new’ faces in attendance. Tony Groves, the outgoing President, opened the meeting and gave a short speech, outlining what had happened over the past year and highlighting the difficulties in running the Association, particularly with a very small number of committee members.

Apologies for absence were given and the minutes of the last AGM read, followed by matters arising from them. There were no significant matters for discussion and the meeting moved on to the election of the committee. Claire Burrows was elected President and all of the existing committee stood for re-election to their respective posts. Sandra Johnson was elected onto the committee as was Frances Dolman, who is now the Association’s Secretary. The committee is now as follows: Claire Burrows (President), Frances Dolman (Secretary), Clive Baugh (Treasurer), Brian Chaperlin (Membership Secretary), Sandra Johnson, Tony Groves and Roy Smith.

Tony then handed over the Presidency to Claire Burrows, who was the Association’s Secretary. Claire introduced herself (not that it was needed!) and asked the Treasurer to speak about his report. The accounts are available for anyone to see and currently they show a healthy balance. I then gave my report, as Membership Secretary, outlining what I had been doing, not only in respect of the membership records, but also the web site and newsletter. My report is also available, if anyone would like to read it. There were some questions from the floor, mostly enquiring about how we could ensure the continued success of the Association. Whilst the committee will do all that it can in this respect, success is largely dependent upon the membership continuing to support the committee in its various endeavours. The committee welcomes any feedback on what it is doing.

Thanks are due to Tony Groves for the past three years that he has spent holding the reins as President (no pun intended). I know that Claire Burrows is keen to build on the foundations laid by her predecessors and to move forward, as she says ‘to keep the Association active and interesting’. The committee meets at least six times a year (though

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2006 NEWSLETTER not usually more than twelve times) in Central London and if anyone is interested in joining us for a drink or becoming involved please contact a committee member. We're always glad to see new faces and would welcome any contribution to our work. Committee meetings are detailed on the web site - just go to the calendar section. You can also use the web site to contact the Committee and

please check it periodically for the latest news and especially the photos. Those taken at the AGM can now be seen on it and shortly, there might be some of the ’Raine’s Walk’ done on the 25th June! Look at what you’re missing and resolve to get involved with at least one of our activities. We really won’t try to get you to do more than you want to, but we’re sure that once you try what we have

PAGE 6 to offer you’ll be certain to come back for more! There’s a report on our last reunion later in this newsletter and we’ve already started preparations for the next reunion in November. We have included a flyer with this newsletter - please don’t put away (or worse still, throw it away), but book your ticket to a great night out straight away and avoid any disappointment!!

In the June 2004 and January 2005 newsletters, I brought up a little known fact that the current Coat of Arms used by the school has never belonged to the school, nor even to Henry Raine himself. The Trustees of the Raine's School Foundation agreed that it would be appropriate to correct this matter and authorised a petition to be made to the College of Arms to have the Coat of Arms properly registered and recognised as belonging to Raine's. The Raine's School Foundation Trust agreed to fully fund the petition.

'Before/Old'

'After/New'.

Note that the Mantling and Gentleman’s Helmet do not appear in the sketch on the right , but they are included in the Letters Patent

We were pleased to hear that, in January, 2005, the College of Arms approved the Petition and a Warrant was issued by the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, to the Garter King of Arms to proceed with the Grant of Arms. Thus began the long process of having the Coat of Arms drawn up. The Grant of Arms to Raine's had to be unique and heraldically acceptable to the College of Arms. This was not, in fact, easy. In essence, we had to match an illegal coat of arms that was clearly not heraldically correct with a new coat of arms that has to be heraldically correct - yet they both needed to look more or less the same! There are also many versions of the Coat of Arms that the school has used over its long history - which one was correct?

Over the course of 2005, there have been numerous discussions, letters and emails between the Trust and the College of Arms about tinctures and metals (the official names for the colours that appear on a Coat of Arms), the thickness of borders, fimbriation of the chevron and, especially, the sprigs being held by the griffins heads (in the shield). Should they have stems? What colour is the stem? Are they 'acorns' or 'leaves' on the stems of the sprigs? And then there was the Crest. The upright griffin had already been taken by another Coat of Arms, so we added a Sprig, to be held by the griffin, in the crest. Would anyone notice? [As far as I can see, this is the only discernible visual difference between the old (illegal) and the new (legal) Coat of Arms, but I bet you would not have noticed this unless it was pointed out to you!]. Sketch after sketch was produced and the 'before/old' compared with the 'after/new'. We aimed to make a heraldically correct coat of arms look as far as possible like the incorrect precursor. Could it be done?

Finally in December 2005, The Raine's Foundation Trust accepted the sketch, a slightly reworded blazon and agreed that the Armorial Bearings now be granted by Letters Patent under the hands and seal of Garter King of Arms and the Windsor Herald of Arms. The Coat of Arms saga is thus now almost over - the Letters Patent, framed and hand painted (thanks to the generous offer and contribution of John Matthews and the Raine's Lodge), is expected to be presented to the school in April-May, 2006. It is hoped that the Raine's Foundation School Trust will grant permission for the Raine's Foundation School, The Old Raineians' Association and The Raineian Lodge No. 5763 to use the Coat of Arms so it will, at last, be completely legitimate. All being well, no one will ever now be any the wiser that we have managed to correct a small oversight regarding our school founder, Henry Raine!

David A. Spencer (1975-1982)

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2006 NEWSLETTER circumstances’ (come on, you’re not that old - ed) and mostly comprise blokes from Les’s SPORT FOR ALL old form. Les has very kindly written to Claire Burrows recently and sent in two photographs Earlier this year we were contacted by Mr taken in 1949 (the year Les left Raine’s) of David Ryan, who found the Association the Rugby and Cricket teams and I had hoped through the web site. He had an interesting to reproduce these on the following pages, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not tale for us and I’ll let him tell it: get sufficiently good copies. Les says that he another photograph, of the athletics team, Raine’s Cricket Team 1934 has which includes some boys from the lower years. I hope that Les will send me copies To All, of all three that I can publish in the next

PAGE 7

Humphrey Long wins the inaugural "Community Sports Coach Award"

The Annual Sports Coach UK Coaching Awards took place on Wednesday 7 December 2005 and were held at the prestigious Dorchester Hotel in London. The event was deemed to be the most successful and enjoyable yet.

HRH Princess Anne attended as guest of honour and presented the awards to all the winners. Steve Rider was comI am currently decorating the pere for the event and Adrian hall of our bungalow and I had to Moorehouse delivered the Apremove several photographs and preciation of Coaching. paintings from the walls and alEx-Raine's PE teacher though the attached has been with Humphrey Long won the inaumy wife and me for several years gural "Community Sports I never had the inclination to folCoach Award" for his services low up any of the background to Basketball. He was presented information. I had a quick browse the Award by HRH Princess of the internet yesterday evening Anne. and came across the Old The Sports Coach UK Raineians’ Association. The atCoaching Awards recognise intached photograph may be of inspirational coaches at all levels terest to you if you are still an who have made outstanding active association. contributions to their profesMy Wife's Uncle was Kenneth sion.

F. Maton, Head boy of Raine's The Community Sports in 1934 as well as Cricket Team Coach Award was based on four Raine’s Cricket Team 1934 Captain, unfortunately he died criteria; Contribution of the Back Row L to R quite a few years ago now having coach to getting more people Captain R G Turnage, G Joseph, J Ginswick, S Boardman, G Amiel retired to Tavistock in Devon. He starting, staying and/or sucH Cassman, D Levermore, D Jewson, Mr J M Bense. was Deputy Headmaster at Samuel ceeding in sport through high Pepys School in London for many quality coaching.

This looks Front Row L to R years and was active for much of for the evidence of the impact J Pressman, K F Maton (Captain), Mr W A W Dagger, this time at Honor Oak Cricket that the coach has had in relaJ W Mercer (Vice Captain), A Smith, S Murrel (Scorer).

Club. When he retired to Tavistock tion to the above. Evidence he was a very keen member of the may relate to the impact of the Tavistock Bowls Club for many years and newsletter. I also hope that Les and his mates coach on access to competitive opportunities was the Club Secretary. will consider joining the ORA and that we or their work with volunteers involved in We also have a list of names with the will at least see some of them at one of our photograph. The names are hand written future reunions - one of them is already a coaching. This evidence should be supported under the photograph and difficult to read, so regular - but, which one? (The hallowed with facts and figures where possible.

Widening access to sport through high some may not be absolutely correct. portal at Arbour Square must be the next most quality coaching; This looks for evidence of Regards, photographed, after ‘No10’ - ed). Les has the impact that the coach has had on widening David Ryan & Angela Ryan listed the names of the Old Boys that he is in access to sport(s) within the community with p.s. My wife's mother is Joan Davey (nee touch with and they are: low participation groups. For example, this Maton) Kenneth's younger sister, she was R Ayres, F Alutto, L Banks, B Block, H may include increasing the number of girls also at Raine’s and is still alive at 85, but very Brockington, A Brockwell, M Camina, C frail.

Coster, G Dworkin, A Franks, M Fishman, taking/receiving coaching in a traditionally F Gallagher, F Gregory, A Hersh, N Hol- male dominated sport.

Innovation - Evidence of how the coach One of our members, James Keen, now land, T Hollingsworth, R Holloway, J Keen, lives in Mallorca, but he remains a visitor to C King, R Mason, R Merrett, H Newson, L has used innovative ideas to promote, develop the U.K. And is one of a number of Old Phillips, D Ravenscroft, J Reed, G Ridgway, or enhance their coaching.

Personal Development - Evidence of what Raineians from the late 40’s that meet up B Sims, J Stuchfield, T Thorneycroft, J Truthe coach has done to develop as a coach. from time to time. Les Lagsding is the man by, D Ward and W Warren. behind the meetings and the research that lead Is there anybody that you recognise amongst This could be through attending workshops, working with other coaches or other ways in to them. The meetings are held in Brentwood, them? Do let us know. which they have demonstrated a real commitas Les says, ‘at a time suited to our age and

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2006 NEWSLETTER ment to on-going development. The Nominee must also hold a recognised national governing body coaching qualification.

Four shortlisted candidates were present at the lunch and each were previewed by a video of them coaching. Much mention of Raine's Foundation School was made both in the video and the speech naming Humph as the Award winner. This award is unquestionably one of the highest that Humph has earned.

It was an honour to share that day with him.

Previously, Humph was nominated as an ‘unsung hero’ for Sport Month in August 2005, an event that was part of the Year of the Volunteer initiative, organised by Community Service Volunteers, Volunteering England and the Home Office, and just before that he was given a Help the Aged Living Legend award for his volunteer work. Humph still works with the East London Royals basketball team.

Still on the subject of sport, Phillips Idowu, who is an Old Raineian won the Triple David A. Spencer Jump gold medal in this year’s CommonThe photograph on this page shows Humph wealth Games, with his first jump in the final. receiving his award from The Princess Roy- His jump of 17.45metres was also the season’s al. Full details of all the Awards can be seen best. at: Phillips was one of Humph’s basketball http://www.sportscoachuk.org/awards/2005 players at the school and Humph introduced Index.htm him to the Triple Jump, recognising that he and at: had the potential to do well in the sport. http://www.sportscoachuk.org/awards/2005 AwardsoftheYear.htm This is the latest of a long line of achievements for Humphrey, who has dedicated his life to sport for East End youngsters and basketball in particular. He seems to have been showered with awards in the past year or two.

He was named as one for the Regional Category Champions representing the East of England in The Year of the Volunteer 2005 Awards. Launched by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Home Secretary, the Government designated 2005 the Year of the Volunteer. The year was not just a celebration of volunteering but a call to action. It aimed to engage more people as volunteers, raise the profile of volunteering and open more opportunities in the public and voluntary sector.

Humph was one of the original 2,005 Medal Recipients who was awarded the Year of the Volunteer Award medal for his work with the East London Royals Basketball Club.

The Award was for "Commitment" of over 50 years Voluntary service to sports and especially his 26 years service to the East London Royals Basketball Club. The prestigious toned bronze alloy medal was produced by the Royal Mint especially for the 2005 celebratory year.

Humph attended the Regional Year of the Volunteer Award Ceremonies for the East of England on 3 November at The Shire Hall, Chelmsford, Essex and, as a Regional Category Champion, was invited to the National Award Ceremony at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London on 22nd January 2006.

Simone Callender, who was in the same class as Phillips at Raine’s is a world class Judo athlete and she won a bronze medal in the same Commonwealth Games. Well done to both of them!

It’s not only the younger members of the Old Raineians that excel at sport. Eddy Dodwell sent in a piece about a classmate of his, Tony Babot. Tony now lives in Israel and is a keen bowls player. After he moved to Israel, Tony lived in a Kibbutz for a while, married and joined the army, serving as a paratrooper - as Eddy said, not bad for someone who hated P.E. and Games! Below is an excerpt from the report on Tony’s latest sporting effort: ‘Worthy of special mention was Jerusalem's effort in winning the fours for the Jessel and Cynthia Mendelsson Trophy. Well skipped by Tony Babot and with consistent cohesive play by his team members, Motti Dreyfus, Beryl Koseff and Haim Deri, the Jerusalem foursome had excellent preliminary round wins against Ra'anana and Ramat Gan

PAGE 8 before facing off in the final against Ra'anana's "Green" team of Gerald Sacks, Ivan Kantor, Len Grobler and Mel Trevis.

At 17-17 for the last end, Jerusalem claimed the two winning shots with closer draws to the jack to claim the trophy. Jerusalem's joy was doubled when Tony Babot was awarded the "Sportsman of the Tournament" Trophy’.

(Victor Ludorum at last Tony.

I hope that we can persuade you to join the Association and to tell us something about your time in Israel - ed ).

MORE NEWS

· Annie Tauber, nee Wilkinson, (27-33) sent her best wishes and apologies to those of us at the AGM. She is now too frail to travel from her home in California, although she would like to make it back to the U.K. one more time. · Bernard Harris (4045)wrote to Alan Johnson about the Cricket XI photograph in the last June newsletter and identified himself as the team member signified as ???? in the photograph. Bernard went on to say that he well remembers the other players and that he still sees something of M. Rosen. Bernard considered himself fortunate to play in the cricket team and to have this fact recorded in his hand written reference from the headmaster, Mr A Wilkinson-Dagger, as this was considered a great asset and could help considerably with getting a job in an organisation where team games were played, like a bank, or the civil service. Bernard says that his discussion with the headmaster about the reference lead him to discover that the head was human after all and not a God, as had been suspected! · Wayne Burtt (57-65) contacted the Association, as he hadn’t heard anything from us for some time and thought that he had been overlooked (which I’m afraid to say, he had).

However, he’s now back in the fold and living near Adelaide in an eco friendly house designed by his wife. He’s still teaching, but is proposing to start a micro brewery with his wife. He is currently mourning the impending closure of Young’s brewery in Wandsworth (Aren’t we all -ed)

OLD RAINEIANS’ JUNE 2006 NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER REUNION I know that it’s along time ago, but on Friday 18th November we held a very successful reunion at the Ragged School Museum in Copperfield Road, by Mile End Park and the East London Stadium. Our guests were the Headmaster and his wife and Humphrey Long. As is usual at our events, a good time was had by one and all, this time including the very helpful museum staff!

This was an action packed evening, with opportunities to have a guided tour of the museum, be entertained by a magician, as well as drink, eat and chat to your friends.

The former East End Barnardo School was the perfect venue to show Raine’s memorabilia, including the icing figures from the 250th anniversary cake and the Founders Chair. The original painting of the Arbour Square building by artist Eddy Dodwell (1958-65) was displayed and one of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of Eddy’s portrait of Humph Long to the man himself. For those of you who missed the event, I have included a copy of the painting and there is no mistaking who it is of. But, can you recognise any of the other people in it?

Special thanks must go to Headmaster Paul Hollingum for giving us access to the memorabilia, Eleanor Clark of the Museum for allowing us to stage the exhibition, Eddy Dodwell, Lynne Mallery & others for donating raffle prizes and of course, the committee for organising the evening.

The committee also used the evening as an opportunity to present gifts to Sandra and Alan Johnson in recognition of all the hard work and tireless effort that they have put into the Old Raineians’ Association for many years. At this point, both had resigned from the committee, but I am very pleased to say that Sandra has since rejoined ! Below is a piece that Sandra very kindly wrote for the newsletter.

years. The atmosphere was incredible with so many people to catch up with, so much memorabilia to see, a tour of the museum added in for good measure and of course the magician - what a stroke of genius!

Congratulations must go especially to

The Winning Bowls Team, with Tony Babot on the left Claire Burrows for the brilliant idea of holding the reunion there in the first place, for the hard work and time put in organising it, in liaising with the Ragged School and the

headmaster, Paul Hollingum, and then to manage to get all the memorabilia together The Winter Reunion at the Ragged and displayed so well on the night, including School Museum – what a brilliant night! the Founders Chair! There were photo Certainly one of the best reunions for many boards displayed and also food and drink for

PAGE 9 the 5000!! Brian Chaperlin must also take much of the credit because once the venue was organised it was Brian who gave much of his time in helping Claire ‘get the show on the road’! Also thanks go to those members of the committee who helped on the night.

The reunion was very enjoyable with past pupils from a vast range of years, many who know others from varying years purely from meeting them over the years at previous reunions, so a great reason to go along.

There were also a couple of surprise presentations, one being to Humph Long in appreciation of his many years of hard work at Raine’s, a portrait of Humph painted by Eddy Dodwell. The painting was superb, not only because it looked just like Humph but also surrounding the actual portrait were other paintings reminding Humph of his years at Raine’s with things like the Fairlop train, past headmasters, etc.

The other surprise presentation was to myself and Alan which was very much a surprise, we were given wonderful gifts in thanks for our work for the Association, so a big thank you from both of us to those involved in organising that.

Sandra Johnson I hope that gives you food for thought,as we approach this year’s reunion, details of which are included with this newsletter. I really hope that many of you will join us and should you need further encouragement, please look at the huge collection of photographs that we have on the web site!

W

ell, that’s it almost done. I hope that you have enjoyed reading this newsletter and that you feel that it has been worth the wait! It has been a huge learning curve for me, but I have already begun to prepare the next edition, which should be out following the November reunion. So, please keep sending items in for inclusion in that and don’t forget to let us know if your contact details change, especially if you have an e-mail address that we can use in the future.

Brian Chaperlin (Editor)

Old Raineians’ Association

NEWSLETTER Website: www.oldraineians.com E-mail: admin@oldraineians.com Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road Bethnal Green London E2 9LY Tel: 020 8981 1231 Fax: 020 8983 0153

Claire Burrows Alexander Coach House Vines Lane Hildenborough Kent TN11 9LT Tel: 01732 833906

Tony Groves 52 Bankhurst Road Catford London SE6 4XN Tel: 020 8690 1643

Brian Chaperlin 257 Wickham Chase West Wickham Kent BR4 0BJ Tel: 020 8776 1847

Gwynneth Jackson Glevum Main Street Kirkby Malzeard Nr Ripon North Yorks HG4 3RS Tel: 01765 658825

APRIL 2007

A

nd just when you thought , ‘I haven’t heard from the Old Raineians for a while’. There is lots of news in this edition, so without further ado...................

NEW MEMBERS

acquainted with Dr Barnardo, whose first school and refuge for children was where we held our 2005 reunion (now known as the Ragged School Museum)! I’m sure that many of us know of the good work that the Salvation Army do. For my part, I am very familiar with the organisation, as members of my family are also officers in it..

More are mentioned later in the newsletter!

Andrew Holland, (59-65) joins us.

Andrew studied art at school under Mr Sell, (who many of you who were at school in the late ‘50’s and early ‘60s will remember) and went on to become a furniture designer and maker, eventually working with Mr Sell at one time, after Mr Sell had left Raine’s and started his own business, designing and making furniture. Andrew has not been well lately and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Mrs Joanne Reid (nee Willbourne), (87-94) also joins us and Joanne writes ‘ I loved my time at Raine’s, especially the Upper School where I had the chance to be involved in some singing and dancing in two school musicals (Ted ‘n’ Rosie and the one after that). I also did some of the choreography. After Raine’s I went to London University (Royal Holloway College), to study English and I carried on singing - being the lead singer of the Christian Union band.

I still love dancing too and occasionally dance and sing in my current job. I am a Salvation Army Officer now (like a vicar, only less posh!) - which basically means that I run a church and community centre in Ealing, along with my husband of five years, Matt Reid. We have a daughter, Zoe, who was two on December 22nd’.

Annual General Meeting of the

Old Raineians’ Association Friday 11th May 2007 6.30pm for 7.00pm To be held at Raine’s Foundation School Approach Road Bethnal Green London E2 LY Drinks afterwards in The Approach Tavern

All members welcome Please RSVP if you are coming

Mr Cecil Yipp, (38-43) has written in to join the Association . He writes, ‘Surfing the net recently, I discovered in your list of famous O.Rs the write-up about Cyril Hilsum (36-43) and it reminded me of the Second War years when the three Hilsum brothers were in the school group that was evacuated in 1939 Like Henry Raine, William Booth had strong first to Brighton and then, after Dunkirk, reloEast End links and I believe that he was

cated to Camberley in Surrey. ( The list of famous O.Rs is actually on David Spencer’s website and we are very grateful to David for setting this up and maintaining it. It has been the source of many enquiries about the ORA and has led to a number of people joining the Association - ed). I enclose herewith a copy of a photograph taken in 1943 of what would be the Lower Sixth form starting in September of that year. I have marked on one copy the names I remember and although we are well past our sell by dates, some of these may still be on your books. (Some are and I have been in touch with Cecil about them - ed). In actual fact, I left school that summer to start an engineering career in Rugby and eventually became the Chief Electrical/Overseas Project Engineer for Blue Circle Inc., now of course, Lafarge. After retiring from BCI, I spent ten years as a consultant with the DTI/Research Councils TCS scheme, engaged on technology transfer from academia to industry. During this time I met Cyril Hilsum at one of the schemes annual Technology Transfer conferences in London, which I believe he was attending in his role of GEC’s Director of Research. In my time at the school, it was, of course, a boys only establishment, but during the war we did have Miss Freeman, our French tutor, as Mr ‘Piffle’ Wilson was called up to serve in the Forces. Dr W Dagger was our resident Headmaster, Mr Davies, Assistant Head and the other names that I recall are Mr Wilkins, Chemistry and Donny Lyons, German. I suppose with time I could ramble on with bits of memories of those years, but I have doubts of the amount of interest they would generate today’. (I have already been in touch with Cecil, to let him know that the newsletter thrives on ramblings and I hope that it won’t be too long before he lets me have some of his memories of Raine’s during the war years. Many staff members survived long after - ed).

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER

A THANK YOU

D

ear Brian, I hope you will publish this letter as I want others to know of and appreciate the work done behind the scenes by our President, Claire Burrows, the ORA Committee and your good self. I came from a working class family, like others who attended the school, where money for luxuries was scarce. Consequently, I could not afford to buy either of the school photo’s taken during my stay at the school. Now in later years I really wished I had a copy to look back on. Last summer I was up in London to watch the Lord’s Test Match. A date that coincided with the Association’s AGM, held in the City. I had always had the urge to attend a reunion, but I lacked the courage to go along alone.; This time I decided to stop off at the meeting, which to my surprise also turned out to be asocial gathering as well. My intention was to attend the AGM, see if it was possible to somehow get copies made of old school ‘photos and slip quietly away. However, I was made so welcome by the Committee that I decided to stay on for a while, had a few beers and an enjoyable evening. Subsequently you kindly sent me a CD copy of the 1961 school ‘photo, which was most gratefully received. My brother, Alan Armitage also attended the school (1956-61) and for the first time we both went along to last winter’s reunion. We had a really good time and I was pleased to see Eddy Dodwell (58-65) there, who was in my year. Eddy showed us the school ‘photos that Claire had brought along, one of them being the 1958 year that had both me and my brother in it. Eddy mentioned that he was going to scan all of these ‘photos and promised to send me and my brother copies, which he kindly did. As you know, Eddy is a fine artist and has done several paintings for the ORA, but for those who haven’t seen his work on other subjects, just ‘Google’ “Eddy Dodwell” to view several of the sites that he has set up. So, what all this rambling is trying to say is ‘Thank you’, to you, Claire, the Committee and Eddy for taking the time and trouble to help me in my quest. Also, for all you out there who haven’t attended a reunion before, I say come along if possible and support your Committee.

You will be made most welcome, Yours sincerely, Martyn Armitage.

all pre 1968 school photo’ negatives have been lost or destroyed and the Managing Director of Panora, the company that took the ‘photos has lodged those negatives that he had with the Documentary Photography Archive of the Greater Manchester County Record Office.

(Check out this link: http://www.gmcro.co.uk/photography/DPA/de posits.htm). We are trying to build a collection of photographs that we can digitally scan and reproduce and so far we have those for the boys taken in 1950, 1955, 1958, 1961 and 1964.

The girls of 1963 and the mixed of 1966 and 1969. In addition, we have a photograph of the boys school staff, taken on the roof at Arbour Square, probably in the late 50s or early 60s. We have many other photographs on disc and which have been donated to us by various people, including Wally Spooner, John Blundell and Sandra & Alan Johnson. Eventually, we hope to be able to make these available on our website - ed).

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS

O

n the subject of school photographs, I made contact with Malcolm Mann (54-57), who joins us, through Friends Reunited and he very kindly donated the 1955 school photograph. Shortly after joining Raine’s, Malcolm’s family moved to Putney and he commuted to Arbour Square for a while, but eventually transferred to Elliott, a school nearer to his home. Malcolm remembers many of his school friends from those days, as well as some of the staff. Names that he mentioned to me include, Dr Shutter (the Headmaster), Alec Aldridge (his first year Form Master), Dr Lambert (Chemistry, noted for his accent and ‘catch phrases’....”Aber Donc” and “vere ist mein glasses” (He was called Dr Zonc in my first year, which I suppose was a corruption of “Aber Donc”? - ed). Dr Forster (German), Wally Spooner (Geography and wielder of a mean gym slipper) (as many a schoolboy’s backside could testify! - ed). Rusty Iremonger (PT and wing forward for Rosslyn Park RFC), Paul Tulk, RI. Amongst the boys that Malcolm remembers are, Ronald Went, Mike Cole, Richard Bignall (?), Malcolm Bush, David Arter, Richard Bates, Ronald Randall, Mike Berry, Derrick Chambers, David (?) Gower (surely not ‘The’ ? - ed), and the surnames, Perkins, Chamberlin and Cohen.

(It was very good to see Martyn at the AGM (If any of Malcolm’s contemporaries are out and to meet him again, with Alan and their there, please let us know - ed). wives at the reunion. I have found out that

PAGE 2 I similarly made contact with Tony Tobin (56-63) and he sent me the photographs for 1958 and 1961, together with the staff photograph taken on the roof at Arbour Square. It turns out that Tony is closely associated with my part of the world (Peckham) and that his family had a sweet making business in the area, where he worked at one time. I hope that Tony will tell us more in due course and that we’ll be able to include another item in a future newsletter about him. We hope to build up a unique collection of photographs associated with the school and memorabilia generally. So, if you have any photographs or other items that you would be willing either to loan us or to donate to us, we’ll be very happy to receive them.

CLASS REUNIONS

T

he following was received from Gloria McEvoy (nee Babot 55-59) married to Peter (57-62). Gloria’s brother Tony Babot (57-65) featured in the last newsletter.

A group of friends from the 1955-62 years meet every year in London, at the Tower Thistle Hotel, St Katherine’s Dock, London E1W 1LD and this year they are meeting on 12th May at 12.00 noon, with lunch at 1.00pm. They are keen to meet up with others from those days and if you are interested in joining them, please contact Maggie Anderson (nee Goodey) at maggieanderson101@mac.com Gloria writes, ‘As usual, Suzanne Harrad (Quinton) (55-61) traveled down from Gloucester with her husband Ron (also an old Rainean) (55-60). Suzanne and I had arranged to meet at Dagenham East Station, a mid-way point between my bungalow in Romford and her mother-in-law's bungalow in Rainham. My husband Pete (yet another old Rainean - this gets a bit incestuous, doesn't it?) dropped me at the station, only to find it closed because of engineering works.

Neither Suzanne nor I know that area very well, but one of the workmen said that the next nearest station that was open was Barking. Luckily Pete and Ron hadn't yet driven off, so Ron said that he'd take us there, not realising that Barking has changed an awful lot since he'd last visited it over thirty years ago.

We drove around and around a one-way system for ages, none of us recognising any of the old landmarks which seemed to have completely disappeared. We'd begun to think we might have to give up on the re-

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER union when suddenly Ron spotted Barking Station, more by luck than judgement!

years they'd been at Raine’s and then which forms they'd been in - only to discover that they had been in the same year and the mysInstead of being able to travel direct to Tow- tery woman was - Gloria Davies! They er Hill, because of the engineering works we couldn't believe they'd just met up again after had to make our way to Fenchurch Street, over forty years and that they lived so close to but eventually arrived at the Tower Thistle each other. Carole immediately invited Gloria Hotel, the scene of our past five or so reto our Class Reunion which was by then only unions. I really think gremlins were at work two weeks away, and Gloria immediately acthough, trying to stop us from arriving, as cepted. If that wasn't meant to be then I don't they’d even changed the name of the hotel know what is? to something unpronounceable, which didn't help when we asked for directions to it from Gloria and Stan bought a house in France sevFenchurch Street! eral years ago to renovate and use for holidays, and so Gloria brought photos of it for us We found that some of the girls had arrived to see. She also brought photographs of her before us, and we were greeted as usual with wedding, and I was somewhat bemused to see much hugging and kissing. Glad to know a younger much slimmer me in one of them! that we were still recognisable, even though About half the size, actually. a whole year had passed since we'd last seen Oh well! Don't know if she should have been them - must have found a way to halt the invited her after all - ha ha! ageing process thus far.

Carole had brought several photos, including Present were Beverley (Cuthbertson), Car- one of herself as bridesmaid at Vicky Morris' ole (Gore), Pauline (Joel), Maggie wedding. Wonder where Vicky is now? As (Walling), Pat (Hayes), Annette (Ashcroft), before, if anyone is in touch with her we'd Maddy (Challis), Barbara (Smith) (not love to see her again. strictly in our year but joined it in the Sixth Form I believe, as she wanted to stay on for We were all intrigued to hear from Barbara an extra year - mad fool!), Suzanne that she had tried to get into medical school (Quinton), myself, Gloria (Babot) and - a from Raine’s. At her interview with one of newcomer to our Reunions - Gloria the prestigious medical schools in London (Davies). I do hope I haven't forgotten any- Barbara was told that she was wasting her body. time as she was a woman (!) and also that Raine’s had no history of entering women for It was great to meet up with Gloria Davies the medical profession, so was told to go again after 40-odd years. Pete and I had at- away and forget it. Sadly Barbara then gave tended her wedding to Stan 42 years ago but up her thoughts of becoming a doctor, and had lost touch shortly after that. Pat Ellis although she has had an illustrious professionwas also at Gloria's wedding but we have al career anyway, I still think with her paalso lost touch with her, and all of us at the tience and kindness she would have made a reunion wondered how Pat was. The last I wonderful doctor. heard she was working for the GLC in County Hall ( I met her there several times We spent ages looking at the various photos for a great lunch in their canteen), but have each of us had brought, and wondered where heard nothing since. If anyone knows the rest of our classmates were, as we'd love where Pat is now, please get in touch with to have even more at our reunion each year. I the Newsletter so that we can invite her to heard that Jane Broadbent was still in touch our next reunion. with Christine Pattrick (55-62) so I emailed Jane asking for news of her, but no luck so It was amazing how Gloria had come to be far. Christine Pattrick was Head Girl after I at our reunion though. She lives in Hullleft I believe. We don't do too badly in attenbridge in Essex, quite near to Carole, aldance at our reunions though, we have an avthough they didn't know that. Carole went erage of 10-12 Old Raineians at each one, on a coach trip to London with a friend, but which isn't bad, considering that some of our as there were only single seats left on the class now live in Canada, Australia, New Zeacoach, she had to sit next to a woman she land and the States so can't really make it, didn't know. The coach was bowling and some are on holiday, etc. each year but through London and Carole and the woman make it when they can. were chatting to each when the coach drove past the old Raine’s building in Arbour Those of us who do come, come from GloucSquare. That's my old school, said the ester, Somerset, Essex, Sussex, Surrey and so woman. Amazed, Carole said that it was on, so it's great that we all make the effort to her old old school too. They discussed the meet up again each year. I think the glorious

PAGE 3 buffet and great service at the hotel helps!

We did break away one year to try another venue, but it wasn't half as good as the Thistle and so we eagerly returned to the splendour it offers.

A letter was produced from Ann Bush, who has lived in Australia with her family for many years, and it was passed around for everyone to read how Ann's getting on out there. Everyone asked me for news of Kay Jefferson, as Kay and I keep in touch by email now that she too lives with her family in Oz. Her and Ann both live in Sydney.

Kay did come to visit me a few years ago, but unfortunately wasn't able to time it so that she came to the reunion, which was a great pity as everyone would have loved to see her again.

Each year we hope that Joy Turner, our wonderful English teacher from Raine’s, will be able to attend, but sadly Joy has been unable to because of leg operations. She is now hopefully back to strength and one day I'm sure will leave her Devon home to come up and be with us again as we are all eagerly awaiting a chance to meet up with her once more. Every time Joy's name is mentioned we all agree that she was one of the most inspiring teachers any of us ever had at Raine’s, and gave all of us our great love of English. Personally I believe there were some good teachers and some bad teachers, but Joy was outstanding in her kindness and her dedication. That reminds me, it's my turn to write to Joy so I'd better do that as soon as I finish this email.

Well I'd better close now, I hope I've reported our reunion as accurately as possible, but I'm sure the others will soon let me know if I haven't. Thanks very much for printing the article about my brother, Tony Babot, in the last issue, I enjoyed reading it and seeing Tony's photo. Even though he's my younger brother he looks much older than me with that white beard, ha ha! Remind me never to grow one!’

Following on from this, Suzanne Harrad has been in touch with me, because she and her husband Ron are going on a Norwegian cruise in June, to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary and Suzanne wanted to know if I could put her in touch with Christine Pattrick, who she knows is a member of the Association.. I told Suzanne that I could pass on her details to Christine and hope that Christine contacted her, but whilst composing the e-mail, I decided to search the internet for Christine’s Norwegian surname, Ostensen Goksoyr and I discovered a website for a camping business in Runde, Nor-

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER way and which seemed to be connected with Christine. I passed the details on to Suzanne and I am happy to report that she has been able to contact Christine and arrange to meet her. Another job well done! Runde is an island off the Norwegian coast, important for it’s wildlife, particularly birds. You can find out more at http://www.insel-runde.de/hp_runde2/ frames/frame30.htm but I should warn you that the language is German.

not just in school but outside as well. Infraction of the rules led to 'entries' being made in the 'punishment book'. A minor infraction earned a 'pencil entry' which would be erased after three months of acceptable behaviour. A seri-

PAGE 4 to get it.

About the same time as I changed schools, I also changed my digs from a large house on Gordon Road (?) where a newly married couple practiced veterinary medicine to a much smaller house on nearby Belmont Road where a kindly retired couple became the next in a long string of foster parents. Presumably, my former roommate, whose name I am unable to recall, relocated at the same time but to where t about the same time that Gloto I do not know. In the new lodgings I ria got in touch, I also heard had my own room but took my meals from Maggie Anderson (nee with Mr and Mrs. ? Sunday breakfast Goodey 55-62), Maggie wrote,‘ I am in was a major meal in this household, contact with Joan Mangold who started giving me my first introduction to the her headship at Raine’s the same Year “full English breakfast” made famous as we all started in form 1T with Miss by the bed-and breakfast crowd. RationTurner. Last summer three of us ing necessitated a less ambitious serving (Margaret Walling, Nina Bailey and Left to right: Maggie Walling, Barbara Smith, Annette than that depicted in the typical brochure me) met Joan in Richmond where she Ashcroft, Beverley Cuthbertson, Gloria Babot (standing), but all the essential ingredients were now lives and had a lovely lunch with Maddy Challis, Suzanne Quinton, Pauline Joel, Gloria present: fried egg, bacon, sausage, fried Davies, Pat Hayes and Carole Gore. her at Pembroke House in Richmond tomatoes and fried bread, altogether Park. We then went back to her house frowned on today. The couple seemed for afternoon tea before making our way ous infraction, or two minor infractions within pleased to have a youngster around the house home after a pleasant day reminiscing about a three-month period, earned an 'ink entry' but not pleased enough that I didn't have to our experiences and friends at Raine’s. We which could not be erased and would be noted move again, this time to the house next door were all quite amazed at how accurately Joan on the student's annual report. Most students and another pleasant middle-aged couple. was able to recall her pupils from so long ago and remember so much about All such moves were arranged through them and their families. We continue to Raine’s Billeting Officer “Doc” Wilkins, keep in touch, usually at Christmas who with H.S. (“Fussy”) Browning, time and also send each other postcards taught so many of us chemistry. The of our travels.

Billeting Officer’s job was unrewarding at best and outright depressing at worst.

Although he had authority to commandeer lodgings, it would have been fruitless to use it; unwilling foster-parents sooner or later found a way to disqualify themselves. Mostly, he had to appeal to patriotism or compassion because govStanley Pessok ernment compensation was not itself at Raines much of an inducement except to poorer 1941 - 1947 households and, ipso facto, unattractive Left to right: Gloria Babot (front), Annette Ashcroft, billets. Sometimes it was the appeal of Gloria Davies, Barbara Smith, Pauline Joel, Maggie having someone on hand that could ith my transfer from Frimley Walling, Carole Gore, Beverley Cuthbertson, Suzanne “help around the house”. Even when and Camberley County Quinton. Pat Hayes and Maddy Challis had by then pleas and appeals succeeded, as with (coeducational secondary) been abducted by aliens - no, sorry, they had probably those who felt it was their bounden duty, School to Raine’s in 1941came many left early for their journies home. families, especially those without chilchanges. At Raine’s, all the students dren became weary of the responsibility were boys, putting an end to classroom ro- today would think that was little more than a and asked for relief. mances. It would not surprise me if old Henry slap on the wrist but, if one had parents like Raine had insisted on gender separation with mine who placed a high premium on academ- Because there were so many reasons to just that thought in mind! In this new educa- ics, an adverse behavioural report was much change an evacuee’s billet it became policy tional milieu, the curriculum included several to be avoided. Serious misbehaviour would not to tell the child or its parents why a change new subjects: French, German, Chemistry, earn the dreaded corporal punishment; I earned was necessary. Changes happened and parPhysics and Biology among them. Further- two separate canings, one on my behind and ents were simply informed of their child’s more, teaching was more intense, greater the other on my hands - totally undeserved, of new address. academic and behavioural discipline being course and for reasons I can no longer recall. the order of the day: tests were more frequent, In addition, the school took Air Raid Precau- Beechleigh, the house Raine’s occupied was homework had to be completed on time and tions very seriously and any student who failed a large residence on the edge of Camberley. mature behaviour was expected at all times, to bring his gas mask to school was sent home To get to it, I could have dutifully walk the

A

WARTIME MEMORIES

W

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER paved roads but for city kids (like most of us) it was quicker, and infinitely more interesting, to go through the woods. Biology being newly within my academic purview, I was always on the look out for novel, to me, creatures that I could present to my Biology teacher, Miss Ringer. Depending on the route I followed, my catch might be an unknown insect, an unusual aquatic animal, an unfamiliar frog (perhaps it was a toad), even a snake which, on being captured by its nether appendage, shed several inches of tail in an abortive attempt to escape.

The house was surrounded by extensive grounds and students were encouraged to join the nonce Raine’s Gardening Club. Each member was assigned a small section of the back garden to cultivate as he wished. One of the staff, I wish I could remember who it was, showed us how to prepare the ground (double tilling), sow the seed (shallow furrows) and nurture common vegetables (weed, water, winnow). Runner beans did quite well as did radishes but everything else failed to progress from the seedling stage to edible maturity. Nonetheless, the experience stood me in good stead because, at the recommendation of my teacher/gardening instructor, I was hired by a lady living in a nearby house to work her garden at sixpence per hour, a paltry sum but the work was not at all demanding being limited to weeding and generally keeping an established garden tidy.

I was also one of about a score of students hired to harvest potatoes at a nearby farm.

Ploughed to the surface, the potatoes could be easily collected in a bucket, any excess soil being rubbed off by hand, elbow or buttocks. When full, buckets were emptied into a waiting horse-drawn cart. Even though we were all Raineians, the only name I can recall is Adrian Cooper. I remember him because, for each trip to the cart, he only half-filled his bucket, such a measure being thenceforth known as an 'Adibucket'. After the potatoes had been harvested, the ground had to be prepared for the next crop, a task known locally as 'muck spreading'. The farmer carted manure from his stables and set it out in piles around the field whence it was spread by pitchfork, the idea being to stand on the pile and toss forkfuls of manure in a more or less even layer over the field. The best that could be said of the job was that standing in a pile of fermenting manure kept one's feet cosy warm on an otherwise cold day. And it beat following a horse and cart around London streets with a shovel and pail!

My brother Harvey was also at Raine’s but two years ahead of me. His interest lay in animal rather than vegetable husbandry. My guess is that he found out there was money to

be made in the fur game by breeding rabbits for their pelts because he built cages in the Beechleigh garden to house rabbits he acquired from who remembers where. These were not the kind of rabbits that, according to a popular song of the time, run, run, run when the farmer is out for some fun, fun, fun with his gun, gun, gun. These were aristocrats with posh names like Flemish Giant, Chinchilla and Belgian Hare and, it had to be admitted, they were fine looking animals, especially the Chinchilla.

But Harvey was not the only keeper of animals at the ‘Raine’s Farm’; in adjacent cages another student kept ferrets. Now, if ever there was a situation fraught with predictable disaster this was surely it – as everyone knows, ferrets and rabbits are genetically-programmed to be unrelenting enemies! It happened sooner rather than later – fancy rabbits came face-to-face with savage ferret and, if they weren’t frightened to death, there were methodically dispatched by a coup de ferret grâce! Harvey was, in turn, doleful, shaken, incensed and combative but there was nothing to be done; the ferrets did only what came naturally. He came away sadder and wiser but definitely averse to have anything further to do with raising animals (although he was never unkind to them).

PAGE 5 the confident voice of that unflappable warden leading us to a place of safety that only he knew. It seemed like hours that we walked past the remains of collapsed buildings and still burning incendiary bombs lying on the streets yet it can only have been minutes until we arrived at an undamaged shelter where we would spend the rest of that horrendous night.

It was not until dawn that the steady wail of the 'all-clear' announced the end of the bombardment and we emerged into a now silent world of blackened, still smouldering buildings. Fire hoses snaked in all directions and obviously exhausted fire-fighters pointed to where we could safely walk as we made our way home. With stomach-churning trepidation, we rounded the curve in the road to observe that our house had, thankfully, been spared.

We had just experienced Germany’s ferocious attempt to destroy London by a perfect firestorm.

By 1943, the war was turning in favour of the Allies and bombing raids diminished in both frequency and intensity. Raine’s offered students the option of returning home permanently and attending classes in Arbour Square, an idea I eagerly embraced. My parDuring the sojourn in Camberley, I made occa- ents, believing that the worst was over, agreed sional trips home where, with unfailingly im- that we should return to London in December peccable timing, I encountered some of the of 1943 when the current term ended. worst air raids on London causing a hasty, if reluctant, return to Camberley. Especially So it was that in January 1944, I attended memorable is the time my family was bombed classes at Raine’s in Arbour Square for the out of its assigned shelter in the basement of a first time; in those days it was called Raine’s giant warehouse. While its occupants slept, Tutorial Classes and was operated under the refusing to be aroused by yet another air raid, aegis of The London County Council. I was this multi-storied, brick warehouse which had placed in form 5A with other students of like faithfully served London’s docks for more than age. With staff split between two establisha century, was reduced to rubble by an outsized ments, the curriculum depended on what bomb. Suddenly everybody was awake grop- teachers were available. In my case, I had to ing in the darkness and choking from the dust. drop Biology (taught in Camberley by Miss A previously rehearsed role call quickly estab- Ringer), Scripture (previously taught by lished that everybody was OK and, in a matter “Slogger” Luton actually a physics teacher) of minutes, an Air Raid Warden found his way and substitute History, Mechanical Drawing into the basement and yelled for everyone to and Mechanics. get out immediately because the basement was I had not taken History since July, 1942 and about to collapse. Holding hands in single file, here I was taking history again from the same we were led, blinded and stumbling, to the teacher, Mr. Bence (known to his students as outside only to be confronted with towering “Bugger” Bence); I liked neither him nor his infernos in every direction, smoking piles of subject -- and he didn’t like me! One mornrubble everywhere and falling debris shower- ing, waiting for him to arrive, I was absenting the unwary with sparks not seen since Guy mindedly chewing gum. When he came in, I Fawkes Day. The warden had us walk, one was the first person he saw and he roared: behind the other, staying close to whatever “Are you chewing gum?” Without waiting for walls were still standing, all the time looking a reply or apology, he chased me out of the upwards to avoid falling wreckage. The crack- room and kept me out until the period was ling of the fires seemed to come from every- over. Thereafter, whenever he saw me he just where; anti-aircraft guns were firing at scowled. Small wonder I didn’t take to history whatever the searchlights captured in their and dropped it as soon as I could! beams; and the 'crump' of bombs could be heard in the not sufficiently far distance. Sur- Mechanical drawing was taught by “Charlie” rounded by chaos, nothing eased our fears save Nay in combination with woodwork. I must

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER admit that we students did not treat Mr. Nay with the respect he deserved. Making him lose his temper during woodworking class was definitely not a good idea because he was known to throw mallets, even chisels, at his tormentors. His mechanical drawing classes were less hazardous – after all, the worst he could do was to throw a pencil or T-square. I was sorry to drop Biology. Miss Ringer did a fine job of introducing us to what today is called Life Sciences. Scripture, on the other hand, I was happy to forego.

Henry Raine wanted his protégées to have a rounded education and Raine’s School responded generously. In addition to academic and vocational education, Raineians were encouraged to partake of extracurricular/extra-mural activities. Under Raine’s auspices, I attended many rehearsals of the London Symphony Orchestra after first being briefed (by “Nobby” Clark) on the programme. It was the result of one such briefing that I first understood what “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” was all about and I have enjoyed it ever since. (Remember Walt Disney’s “Fantasia”?) There were numerous other field trips but, at this remove, I can recall only the trips to a newspaper, the Royal Mint and the Royal Academy of Science and Letters. At the newspaper, I think it was the Daily Express (does it still exist?), I was fascinated by the linotype machines. The operator of one machine made a line of type from each of our names; he made two such ‘slugs’ of my name which I still have. Similarly at the Mint, while we were watching a machine producing half-crowns, the operator handed each of us a freshly minted coin to examine but I do not have that sample because, much to our dismay, we had to hand them back! The visit to the Royal Academy was an altogether different experience. In those days, and maybe still today, the Academy presented an annual show specifically for science students.

These excursions into the arts and sciences were a welcome distraction from the realities of war-time living but the war was far from over. The prospect of an invasion had receded but bombing raids continued. Conveniently, a brick and concrete shelter was built behind our house on land previously occupied by apartments now destroyed. The family routinely spent the night there although my I would sometimes sleep in my own bed, making my way to the shelter only if a warning sounded.

Air raid shelters, including this one, were not conducive to good health. For one thing, ventilation was very poor and occupants slept in close proximity; any infection quickly became widespread. For another, one

could not choose one’s shelter mates and anyone who was careless in his or her personal hygiene became a source of parasitic infestation to others. Head lice, fleas, bed bugs and scabies were common afflictions of shelter users in spite of efforts by the local government to control them. Scabies was so prevalent it became known as ‘Shelter Rash’. For relief, one went to a cleansing station to receive a thorough, and painful, scrubbing with a loofah followed by a painstaking application of an insecticide to each infection site using an artist’s paintbrush. (One had to strip for this procedure and, if one were lucky, it was performed by a same-gender nurse. I was not lucky and to the pain and suffering was added acute embarrassment.) Over time, with air raids abating, shelters quickly became an unpleasant memory. That plus living at home and going to school in Arbour Square, gave life some semblance of normalcy.

By 1944, Germany’s war-making infrastructure was being pummelled by nightly air raids; Germany was looking into the jaws of ignominious defeat. Hitler’s response was to renew the aerial bombardment of London with even greater intensity than hitherto prompting another round of evacuation. This time I was sent to Liverpool but not with Raine’s.

In June of 1944, the Allied forces invaded Europe distracting the 'Luftwaffe' from its destructive bombing runs. In addition, the Royal Air Force, no longer the few to which the many owed so much (to paraphrase Churchill’s famous speech), was regularly decimating any German bombers approaching England. London became quiet once more and I was home again after only a couple of months as a ‘Liverpuddlian’. That year was clearly the beginning of the end of the war in Europe. Desperate, Hitler played his last cards: the V1 and V2.

Although British Intelligence knew that something was going on, Germany's so-called 'Victory Weapons' were a surprise against which no defences had been developed. When the first V1 fell on London in late 1944, nobody could comprehend what was happening it was obviously a bomb but no alert had been sounded. It was later reported that a strangelooking airplane appeared in the sky and the bizarre noise it was making stopped just before it dove into the ground and exploded. Those strange looking airplanes with their even stranger noise were quickly nicknamed “doodlebugs” or “buzz bombs” by linguistically innovative Londoners and became very familiar over the ensuing weeks and months.

Only obliteration of their launch sites could alleviate the psychological and physical affects they had on London’s population and, eventu-

PAGE 6 ally, Allied forces overran them ending the V1 bombardment.

While there were some, albeit imperfect, countermeasures to the V1, there was no defence against the V2. Their launch sites lay deep inside Europe and only Germany's defeat would end their destructive and debilitating affect. By the time that happened, 1050 V2's had fallen on London. The V2, called a rocket then but today would be called a ballistic missile, carried about 2 tons of explosive, more than twice as much as the V1. It fell at supersonic speed thus giving no warning sound. Instead one heard an explosion followed by the sound of its arrival.

On May 7th. 1945 all bombardment stopped.

Germany had capitulated and the war in Europe was over. May 8th 1945 was declared VE (Victory in Europe) day although war with Japan continued to rage in the Pacific for another three months until two atomic bombs and the threat of more forced Japan to surrender. The surrender was signed on August 14th and that day was celebrated as VJ Day. Coincident with the end of hostilities, I started in the sixth form at Raine’s now named the Raine’s Foundation Grammar School for Boys where the next two years were devoted exclusively to Physics (Luton), Chemistry (Wilkins) and Mathematics (“George” Tyler and someone I remember only by his intials – JNP) relieved only by instruction in English (Clark) and French (JRH [?] and Aldridge).

During that period I served as Prefect, Deputy Head Boy and Secretary of Mann House.

In July of 1947 I left Raine’s and went on to, first the RAF and then Kings College. I don’t particularly remember my emotions at the time – I was probably relieved and elated.

Now, I remember Raine’s with pride and affection and still, on the many occasions that it occurs to me, thank my teachers for the superb education I received there. And thanks, too, to Headmaster A. Wilkinson Dagger for maintaining a sense of normalcy though those unsettling, even perilous, years.

Thank you Stanley for taking the time to write this article and for allowing us to share your memories. Stanley sent me a photo’ taken at the school when he was in the sixth form, either in ‘46 or ‘47, he’s not sure which.. He has named those that he can remember.

Perhaps someone can help with the missing names. Stanley was not sure where in the school the photograph was taken, but when I saw it, I recognised the location almost immediately. See if you can . The answer is at the end of the newsletter. - ed .

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 7

THE LABS II

How did we pay for all of this? Well at Christmas the 6th form went Carol You might recall the article in the last singing at the underground stations on newsletter by Dennis Wang about his a couple of evenings after school. We time at Raine’s as a laboratory techniwent to Mile End and Aldgate East and cian. Malcolm Pit-Keathley very in those days it often snowed which kindly took the time to write to me was great; people were a lot more genwith his memories about those memerous when the festive snow fell! Not bers of staff mentioned by Dennis. all of this money went to pay for the Malcolm wrote,’Dennis Wang refers outing and party though, about half of to various members of staff. 'Taffy' it went to Oxfam. As I’m writing this Roberts was the very fair skinned , I’m struggling to understand how we young looking fellow who tangled could possibly have raised enough Raine’s sixth form 1946 or 47, with the lout, Pollain. An assistant money to pay for these events, maybe Chemistry master in '47 but he didn't Left to right. Back row: Bradshaw, Jerry Sandler, we did a little more fundraising during stay long. Dr.Wilkins (not Wilkinson ‘Sharky’ Solomons, unknown, Stanley Pessock. the year.

- ed) did indeed write a chemistry Front row: Ivor Dainow (Head Boy), Cyril text-book - it was a fat hardback Sherrill, David Nedvetsky, unknown, Muswell We also took part in other events in the bound in pale blue. There were, in community. I can remember working fact, three Physics masters. lives of the older members of the local commuin the Laundry cupboard at what was then the W.L.Davies, who carried a piece of electric nity.

Sandra wrote, ’I often reminisce about Royal London Hospital.

We also went to the 'cab-tyre' called, 'Alfonso'; he retired somemy years at Raine’s; they were good times and East London Methodist Mission in Commerwhere about '49 or '50. 'Slogger' Luton (not we were certainly taught to understand and cial Road, there was a sheltered housing comLewis -ed) who was the Head of the Physics respect our motto, “Come in and Learn your plex there and we visited and chatted to the department later and went on for years. He duty to God and Man”.

Interestingly, after residents, I still remember to this day, talking was an excellent teacher; deputy head from about '49. He had one 'sleepy' eye-lid that starting to draft this document, I read the cur- to an elderly lady who could remember the gave him an almost menacing look but he rent headmaster’s introduction on the schools’ opening of the Church where I later married. was scrupulously fairand kindly without be- website. He talks of Raine’s long tradition of (I too can remember the good work that the ing soft. He shook us all when he wizzed up service to the local community. So please let school did in those days and I hope that it still one of the ropes in the gym. He was by then me tell you a little of how this was fulfilled continues with the school today - ed). silver haired and the wrong side of sixty. I when I was at Raine’s believe he served in India during the war.

'Fraid I can't remember exactly when he The sixth form back in the sixties took their died. Lewis was a science teacher, he may role of social responsibility very seriously and have been the replacement for W.L.Davies. twice a year organised events for the elderly Our paths never crossed so I don't remember people who lived in the area surrounding the him clearly. He was another 'passing sprite'. school in Arbour Square.

I was taught by, 'Slogger' and 'Billy' Wilkins Alan Thoroughgood (54-61), one of our - and, of course, 'Biology Bertha' - Miss On a summer’s day in June, a group of fifty overseas members, who is a regular visitor th Ringer. Someone else who gets a mention elderly people, accompanied by 6 formers, back home, paid a visit to Arbour Square and earlier in the mag. A.H.Davis. He was an would board a coach and set off for a day by has sent me some interesting photographs of excellent maths. teacher. Rather strict, a bit the sea at Clacton. Once there we headed for a the building as it is now. I’m sorry to say that crusty but fair. The two men, W.L.Davies restaurant where we had a very nice lunch. there are too many to print here, but I will and A.H.Davis were contemporaries and it is Then there was time for a stroll on the front or endeavour to get them onto our website. I easy at this distance in time to confuse their the pier, needed to do this to walk off the lunch. have reproduced one photograph, of the boy’s names. As men they were quite different. Then before boarding the coach for the return gymnasium, now the refectory! Alan wrote, Davis was always very smart while Davies' trip to London, it was back to the restaurant for ‘We usually make two trips back to England creases were a little less knife edge - but they tea. For many of these folk it was probably each year, primarily to visit my mother at her belonged to the old school, you didn't mess their only trip to the coast during the year. nursing home in Poole. But then there are the about with either of them’. (Still, a remark- Some of them were not so nimble on their feet other ritualistic things that just have to be able memory Dennis. Jim Russell died in but there was always a helping hand available done. Checking our house in Farnham, Surrey 1984, after a long illness. Any more memo- to help them along. and seeing friends in the White Hart, Everries? Please get in touch with me - ed). sley, Camberley Rugby Club, Farnham Golf The other annual event was a Christmas party Club etc., all fall into the schedule. for fifty elderly people. This was held at school on the day after school had broken up and the Almost invariably, we spend the last couple table was set in the hall for a sit down banquet. of days with Susanne’s oldest friend near I remember, with the help of my mum, making Victoria. A great base for whatever we need fifty crepe paper hats for the occasion. We did to do in London, and if Sue has stayed at provide some entertainment but I really am home in Florida, I usually like to spend some Sandra Colley (nee Siseman 61-68) wrote to struggling to remember what form it took!! time wandering down memory lane and visitme about her memories of Raine’s and how The guests were each sent home with a bag of ing places that featured during my formative the school played an important role in the groceries and goodies. years.

ARBOUR SQUARE REVISITED

MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER So it was that two years ago I decided to jump on the District Line and, after getting off at Stepney Green, took what had been the daily walk to Arbour Square 45 years ago. A lot has changed! The Charrington Anchor brewery on Mile End Road is now Halfords etc, behind the original wall and gate. The terraced houses on streets to the south of Redmans Road are now a park, which, I curious to see, has been called Stepney Green. I thought the original was the garden behind iron railings just behind Mile End Road? Sad to see the old Arbour Square police station and court boarded up. But the school building and gardens opposite looked as impressive as they had always been.

From Arbour Square I walked on, crossing Commercial Road and down to Cable Street and King Edward Memorial Park. Time then to drop into the Prospect of Whitby for a pint…..or two! No real change to the pub with its zinc-topped bar, but the view east from the terrace has a very different skyline.

Then onward along Wapping High Street and more change. Seems to be a really nice place to live these days, but good to see that tastefully refurbished original houses and dockside buildings have created such a desirable ambiance.

Having walked this far I decided to trek all the way back to Victoria taking in St. Katherine’s Dock and The Tower, before crossing the river to The Globe, New Tate and London Eye. Then back over the river at Westminster Bridge to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. That walk from the Tower to Westminster is one I recommend to American friends planning a trip to London. So much to see without going underground.

My last visit in May this year was another solo flight, Susanne staying at home to look after things here. So, having completed all the other chores, I was free to think about another trip to the East End. I arranged to meet Bill Richards at the school’s new(ish) home in the old Parmiter’s building in Bethnal Green, and then go on to Arbour Square with the intention of having a look round. As many of you will know, Arbour Square is now Tower Hamlets College and Janet Taylor there was a very helpful contact.

As soon as I walked through the front door in Bethnal Green I saw familiar objects from Arbour Square. The bust of Henry Raine has pride of place flanked by the original statues from above the boys’ and girls’ entrances.

And the plaque with the school motto is mounted above them all.

Bill took me on a tour of the building showing me the various boards that had once filled the walls in the great hall of Arbour Square.

It was good to see that they had been preserved and brought to their new home. Bill had warned me that there would not be much in the way of other memorabilia to see, so we decided to explore the contents o some of the cardboard boxes he has kept safely in a locked cupboard.

They in fact contained a variety of interesting stuff from old house competition trophies to school magazines and play programmes. We even found hand written results sheets from 60’s and 70’s athletics finals including the last one I had been involved in at Eton Manor in 1961. Seems I did quite well and won the long jump (19ft 9ins), high jump (5ft 7 1/2 ins, new record) and triple jump (40ft 7ins new record).

Mike Bishop, who I still keep in touch with, beat Mike Varah in the 880 yards and Barry Rees (a pretty decent wing forward) took the O16 100 yards. In those days the house names were Dagger (blue), Winterton (yellow), Mann (green) and of course Taylor (red). But I see that there are new names now.

From The Approach, Bethnal Green it’s an easy walk down Globe Road, across Mile End Road and then through the back streets to Arbour Square. What was that pub some of us used to go to (we were 18 so it was legal) when we were in the Upper 6th? I suspect it’s now a fast food establishment, but the old Truman's plaque can be seen high up on the fascia. Maybe someone like Michael Martin would remember? The police station was still boarded up and looking sad.

I had been warned that I would see a change to the frontage of the school and there was. The steps up to the front door have been replaced with steps down to a reception area in the basement. So it didn’t take long for me to see that the old boys’ gym is now a nicely appointed cafeteria.

PAGE 8 view towards the Isle of Dogs is a little more spectacular now.

I finished my visit in the nicely laid out garden that has replaced the playgrounds. No wall and gate and there is a brick outbuilding over where the cricket nets would have been.

An entrance from the garden into the cafeteria (gym) has been made, and I also noticed that the boys’ toilet have been bricked up. Gone are the old railings.

I had thoroughly enjoyed my trip down memory lane and had many thoughts; most of them good, about what had taken place in that building all those years ago. It had been 45 years since I had last walked through the front door.

The date was the 5th May, which was, of course, the Monday before West Ham were to lose to Liverpool in that wonderful Cup Final.

It was always great to play rugby for Raine’s on a Saturday morning, and then spend the afternoon watching the Hammers at the Boleyn Ground. Despite my great love of rugby football, I have always taken every opportunity to watch West Ham. And so it was that I found myself heading east instead of west from Stepney Green station to Upton Park.

Once more lots of changes of scenery on the way and Green Street has a very different feel.

The rebuilt ground is unrecognisable from the old one with its antiquated Chicken Run on the east side. After taking some photos and a quick visit to the club shop to get a commemorative baseball cap, it really was time to head back to Victoria.

It had been a great day that had brought back many fond memories and recognition of how much the East End has changed. It seems no time since the days of trolley buses and cobble stones along Commercial Road, steam trains on the line from Fenchurch Street through Stepney East and the excuses for being late from those who lived on the Isle of Dogs. "Caught a bridger Sir" I can hear Johnny Woodhall, a no mean scholar, say. I won’t interpret.

There have, of course, been other alterations, most of them on the lower floors. The main hall is now a library and I wondered what might have happened to those huge two storey high folding screens. Study areas at a mezzanine level with stairs to them have been built below the old balcony. The latter is now enclosed on the sections to the back stairs at both Maybe some of you old boys and girls would like to do something similar. But be warned ends. access to Arbour Square is dependent on what On the floors above the room configuration is is going on in the building so a prior arrangemuch the same. The wood block flooring along ment with Tower Hamlets would be advisthe corridors remains, but the staged seating in able. what was the lecture room has gone. Most of the rooms are equipped, as you would expect Time to end so that we can get to the beach in a modern place of further education. Com- before the afternoon thunderstorms that are puters everywhere, but at least the boys’ chem- normal here for this time of the year. No istry lab is still being used as such, as is the art hurricanes are likely in the near future thank goodness, but there are still a couple of room.

The roof area, where so many team photos months of the season to go……….(It was a were taken in the old days, is much as it was, quiet year for hurricanes last year, let’s hope puddles on the walkways included. But the for more of the same this year - ed)

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER

REUNION 2006

block of council flats erected on the site. But, what a delightful surprise, it was Sheppard House, named after my godfather! Brian took a photo’ of me outside, beside the name plate - one of a number that he took for me. I’m very grateful to somebody, somewhere, presumably on Tower Hamlets Council.

Eric’s not forgotten. I suppose the old Crossley gas engine went for scrap, a pity, it should have gone to a museum.

A

t last, after many protestations about time, distance, expense, etc I was talked into coming by Claire, who laid on everything, to make it easy. Coming from Pembrokeshire in very west Wales involves a long coach journey, seven hours. It is on the whole preferable to the train which has a habit of expiring at Swansea on the return journey. However, on this occasion we got off to a bad start since ten minutes after the appointed departure The time a mini-bus arrived, to be greeted with horrified looks by the intending passengers and cries of ‘Surely we’re not going to London in that?!’ Apparently we were to pick up a proper coach in Carmarthen after spending an hour on the way picking up other passengers in villages roundabout.

After a half hour wait in a very cold and windy bus station in Carmarthen, a proper coach did appear and off we went, by this time about an hour late. Luckily, by the time we reached the M4 it was clear of accidents with no obstructing roadworks, although cones were much in evidence. Forcing his way through the appalling West London traffic the driver managed to make his way to Victoria, arriving about 45 minutes late, where I was greeted by a rather chilled but nevertheless welcoming Brian Chaperlin and escorted off to the Civil Service Club. In my working life I frequented many many B&Bs, but none quite as nice as that , full en-suite with all mod.cons, including back up extra heating if required.

PAGE 9

Finally, we adjourned to the Town of Ramsgate at Wapping Old Stairs, which would have been familiar to my boy’s gymnasium, as never before! maternal great-grandfather, a waterman and lighterman. For all I know, others might have ended up at ExecuFrightful Hun, you will know that is Yorkshire tion Dock, further along. A pleasant end to man ‘Butch’ to the life. ‘Der Kuhe!!! Boy! my East End tour, not for those at Execution It’s Die Kuhe, the most conspicuously femine Dock. I think that needs rephrasing! animal there is!’ I have some affection for To complete a superb weekend, I stayed at ‘Butch’ as on joining Raine’s in ‘38 I had no Claire’s home, met her husband Stephen, two German whatsoever and after several sober of her daughters, delightful and then Brian luch time sessions he got me up to scratch good was good enough to collect and take me to enough to get a School Cert credit. Who else? Victoria to catch the coach home on Sunday.

‘Biffer’ Broughton, P.E. I never could get over that damned box. Up ropes, yes, change Having been to the 250th anniversary service over to another one if you like. Mr Dolby who in St Paul’s, I’m seriously considering hangintroduced us to the delights of Fletcher’s ing on for the 300th one. I’ll only be 94. In Trolley, provided by Jim Russell. Enough, the meantime, perhaps another re-union or enough! two?

Next, a super hot buffet. Not too much indulgence, or recourse to Rennies would be necessary in the night. I moved around a bit but at 81 years there weren’t many of my contemporaries. I did have a long chat in a smaller room with some other people, including Malcolm and Myrtle Pit-Keathley and another London Pride, by which time, 22.00 I was bushed and Having stretched my aching limbs and got ready for bed. A big day and country hours, over my sore bottom (coach seats are a bit you see. hard and now I know to what turning the other cheek really refers), I went down to the Breakfast at 9.00 next morning with Claire, bar where I was immediately provided with Brian and Karen and Carl Bridgeman and then a pint by Claire. WE had previously met in we two off with Brian to cover ‘The Walk’. reception where she was absolutely unmis- (Claire looking decidedly the worse for wear takeable. I was talking to Michael Robinson - keep your head close to the window! - ed). for quite a time, to whom I was able to ensure All the old schools, Henry Raine’s tomb, much my eligibility by referring to Jim Shivas (who graffiti (is that the only way they can make had another nickname!) (Do tell - ed), ‘Doc’ their mark on the world, useless creatures?), Wilkins, ‘Slogger’ Luton (why ‘Slogger’? St Georges-in-the-East, where my paternal Anyone know? Mistake for ‘Flogger’? surely grandfather and grandmother were married. not), ‘Piffle’ Wilson, ‘Butch’ Lee. Ah! Dear The Ragged School. And most satisfying to old boozy ‘Butch’. I remember him in Cam- me, St Peter’s Close, Bethnal Green. My berley, ‘40 to ‘41, cycling carefully along godfather, Eric Sheppard had a small boot with a crate of beer bottles very firmly at- machinist business, a one-man-band, whom I tached to the carrier. ‘Fussy’ Browning (You used to help a bit in the holidays. We went to must be decent!). Also, if you are acquainted have a look to see if anything was left, but all with the First World war caricatures of the had been swept away, as I had expected and a

I’m glad that John enjoyed his weekend with us. I can’t promise that we’ll do the same for all of you, but you will be welcome at the reunions and at the AGMs. The reunions are important because of the opportunity for many ages to come together and celebrate our times at Raine’s and to discover that we have much in common. Henry Raine was a brewer and we ought to raise a glass or two in his memory!

The reunions also enable us to raise funds, as we have no regular income from subscriptions, so that we can continue to publish the newsletter and where possible, support the school. Claire has already been working hard to secure a venue for this year’s reunion and we hope to be able to announce details shortly.

It is likely to be a place familiar to many of you! The reunion at the Civil Service Club was very well attended and it proved to be a very convenient venue, but the Committee will continue to try and provide new and exciting venues, in the hope that many of you will return to join us, whilst others will be encouraged to come along , either for the first, or after a period of abscence. I’m happy to report that Claire recovered when we got to the Town of Ramsgate - ‘Hair of the Dog’.

A true Old Raineian! - ed

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER

C

hris Donovan will be known to many of you, especially if you are a regular at our reunions, as he was.

This picture shows him in familiar pose!

Sadly, Chris became ill and despite a valiant fight against the illness that racked his body, he returned to the place from where he had come. I say that, because Chris was a Pagan, with profound beliefs. Paul Jackson has written the following, moving tribute to his old school friend.

CHRIS DONOVAN Tribute to a Jolly Boy and an Old Raineian

C

hris Donovan and myself, Paul Jackson, used to walk home from school together most afternoons. We were both Bermondsey boys and used Rotherhithe Underground Station. Our dads had also been boyhood mates many years before !

During the walks Chris would genuinely laugh at my funny jokes and almost convincingly fake laugh at my crappy jokes.

Other than those walks home Chris and I never really connected outside of school hours. We left in ‘76 and didn’t clap eyes on each other for another 25 years until at a school reunion. We just picked up where we left off and Chris continued the aforementioned pattern of laughing whilst in my company. Chris was often economical with words, which made his own razor sharp wit even funnier when he chose to interject.

This friendly relationship carried on for a couple of years that way.

Barrie Stradling was first to tell me when Chris was diagnosed with a brain tumour. I was shocked like everybody else as subconsciously I had assumed that everything monumental due to happen to any of us Old Raineians had already happened in that 25 year gap. For me it was slightly surreal that this strange phenomenon we know as “life” carries on regardless. I had naively thought that this was a new chapter for all of us leavers in 74,75 and 76, and it was almost like starting afresh with people who were old mates from a bygone era. You knew them well enough to exchange a torrent of sarcastic abuse and yet knew nothing about these “adults” and the lives they had made for themselves over a quarter of a century.

looking good and Chris fought courageously.

Only the Donovans know the despair and devastation that must have caused each time. Chris didn’t seem to be afraid to die, but more importantly, he wasn’t afraid to live. Out of this adversity the Jolly Boys were born. A kind of ORA splinter group if you will. At the time approaching the summer of 2006 the outlook was pretty positive and some of us felt like rallying round to strengthen Chris’s resolve. It took months to rearrange our diaries in order to spend a weekend away in Hampshire. The number was eventually whittled to six…..myself, Chris, Barrie Stradling, Paul White, John Newman and Colin Briden. For varying reasons we were the ones who seemed to want it the most. We had a fantastic time and it was a shot in the arm for Chris. I was again struck by the man’s complete lack of self pity.

Together with Paul, Chris Donovan this talented musician, played guitar whilst the rest of The Jolly Boys screamed their nuts off (in tune I might add.. well ok, sort of !)around the campfire. The six were well and truly bonded by the time JB I ended.

Now that I was reacquainted with Chris I was compelled to write him a card offering my support for whatever it was worth.

Chris, ever the gentleman, phoned me to thank me as well as the other Old Raineians who had done the same. He was very positive after the tumour was removed and I was impressed by his attitude to the ongoing treatment he would have to face. SucJBII took place in Dublin later in 2006 and cessive treatments failed after initially

PAGE 10 we all crashed chez Chris the night before flying out after downing copious amounts of alcohol at Chris’ local. The next morning Chris was feeling like The Grim Reaper had already come a knocking and yet with typical spirit actually apologised to the rest of us for being “a bit girly” about not being fit for the trip….can you believe that ? In fact he flew out later in the day once medication had kicked in and again we were in awe of Mr Donovan. I have to point out at this stage that we are also in awe of Mrs Marion Donovan, who throughout this time has understated and downplayed her role of magnificent wife and magnificent mother to their children Nathan 12 and Lily 7. Personally, I choose my mates carefully, but the job was done for me by Chris, with my brand new mate Marion.

Dublin was equally as great as Hampshire had been for the Jolly Boys. We all shared the same hostel room….no need to elaborate further, except to say that Colin Briden (Top Tips Jolly) knows helpful stuff ! By now Chris’ peripheral vision had deteriorated and his legs were failing him, so Marion had given express instructions on how to look after him….mmmmm….all the best laid plans eh ? We had been drinking solidly all day and Whitey ( Night Moves Jolly) had told Chris (Jolly Come Lately) that the best thing to do was “keep an eye on our baldies in front and you can’t go wrong”….and he didn’t go wrong….for about 50 yards until the drunken gibberish and slight confusion between us, ensued. I forget who it was who actually screamed “where the ******* hell is Chris ?” but the last time I saw grown men doing a silly dance in circles they called themselves Morris Dancers and not Jolly Boys. After a couple of minutes we found Chris under a street light staring forlornly at the strange other bald guys he’d mistakenly followed. I myself (Biker Jolly) now have the guts to admit that at that precise moment I was more concerned with what Marion was going to do to us lot than anything else. Chris thought it was hysterical once he knew that he was back in the safe bosom of his Jolly Boys (or Wolly Boys depending on your point of view).

Back home we took turns doing what we could to support our mate, and again at this point I have to mention that Paul White, despite his own considerable trauma at the time, went above and beyond the call of duty to support his guitar buddy. I‘ve known Paul for 44 years and he is a great friend in the truest sense of the word and Chris knew this fact well. Marion and myself managed to get Chris along to the last reunion and he really enjoyed it. He was

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER

PAGE 11

prone to nodding off at this point and was often seemingly out of the game, until raising his head swiftly to take the opportunity to interrupt with a perfectly timed quip.

Another shattering incident precipitated JB III.A new spell of adversity lay just around the corner for The Jolly Boys. Barrie Stradling (Man In Black Jolly) was left for dead by a hit and run driver and was in a deep coma for weeks. Barrie clung to life by a thread. We couldn’t believe this series of events. Chris now had to contend with Barrie’s plight as well as his own desperate situation ,but still managed to visit him in hospital a couple of times. Barrie’s predicament knocked Chris bandy so this was true grit displayed by Chris.

Thankfully, Barrie is out of hospital now and continues on his own road to recovery and will hopefully one day fully appreciate the effort put in by one of his oldest pals. People like Chris just step up to the plate don’t they ? JB III started with us all including Marion, gathered around Barrie’s hospital bed initially, then we all buggered off to celebrate Paul’s 49th with a meal leaving Barrie jealously pondering the thought of consuming mountains of grub and gallons of alcohol, which skills he and Chris held 3rd degree black belts in.

Chris wanted to see Iron Maiden in concert at Earl’s Court in December, so myself and John (Buzzsaw Jolly) obliged by getting him there. Once parked, I got Chris in and out of the Disabled toilet and promptly broke the handle off his wheelchair brake. Quick as a flash and aware of Chris’ limited vision I slipped it into my pocket mumbling something about not telling Marion, and the steward geezers being able “ to chock you up” once plotted. Chris did what he always did with me going back to when we were 11 years old and adopted the laugh once more. I can’t say for certain whether it was genuine or Chris’ polite laugh…..I’d have taken either one. It turned into an epic journey that night through pea soup fog, but Chris was buzzing and stayed awake for most of the journey home even though he was totally shattered. I appreciated the fact that Chris had fought extreme fatigue in order not to appear impolite and kip whilst I drove blinded by the atrocious weather.

Chris Donovan eventually lost his fight on 11th February 2007 against one of the worst enemies known to man….cancer. Not many would have given a better account of themselves in such an uneven contest. Chris’ final farewell was by way of Pagan burial. His belief system is not too far removed from my own. The ceremony was excruciatingly sad and enormously uplifting both at the same time. Lily showed her dad’s true grit and performed a perfect recorder recital, and Nathan had steeled himself to compile video footage of his dad, that’s character in the making. Marion was as dignified as ever, as were Eileen and Jim, Chris’ lovely parents experiencing what no parent should go through. Paul spoke eloquently about the legacy Chris had left him and us Jollies, and John performed a beautiful reading with trembling emotion. Colin and myself just braced ourselves. We listened to some of Chris’ favourite music and got lost in thought about him. One of Chris’ final wishes was to have The Jolly Boys escort him on a bier to his resting place and then lower him in. This remains the single biggest honour anybody has ever given me and I take this opportunity to publicly thank the Donovan Family on behalf of myself and The Jolly Boys, for allowing us to carry out that wish for Chris. I wrote in his book that Chris was, is and will forever be a class act. Marion, Nathan, Lily and Eileen and Jim also fall into that category. Numerous Old Raineians said farewell to Chris on the 19th February and they all felt proud of one of their own.

Chris will be the custodian of an oak tree planted near him. He will nourish and nurture it consistent with his Pagan belief of the natural life cycle. Chris probably envisaged that people visiting him in future would imagine that they could hear on the wind, slightly muted Donovanesque guitar riffs, as he was open to that train of thought…..who’s to say ?

It’s strange really, a tenuous friendship forged in boyhood, forgotten about for 25 years, resurrected and then strengthened by grown men, only to be snatched away by an insidious killer. If a clairvoyant was to have predicted how that friendship would pan out, and laughed whilst telling us, and I had slapped her….I would have been guilty of “striking a happy medium”……….ssshhh…. I think I can hear Jolly Come Lately laughing politely at his mate’s crappy joke.

W

ith due deference to Harry Hill and those of you that are fans of his particular brand of humour will know what I mean!.

2005. Eddy is a very accomplished artist and he has his own website, the address of which is http://www.eddydodwell.co.uk Take a look at Eddy’s website, I’m sure that you’ll find it interesting and you’ll be amazed at the detail incorporated into many of his paintings. You might even take a fancy to one of them, or be bold enough to ask him to paint something specifically for you.

Bob’s linked photographic site ‘Sublime Photography’ which concentrates on the East End of London and includes much of Bob’s work from the 1980s to the present day.

It includes some very interesting panoramas as well as a number of ‘Then and Now’ comparisons. Bob’s web address is http://www.underexposed.org.uk. When you reach the home page, click on ‘Links’ and then select ‘Sublime Photography’. I am sure that you will find Bob’s photographs interesting and agree with me that he is clearly a very accomplished photographer.

Another Old Raineian with his own website is Bob Stuart (75-82). Bob is a photographer, with a particular interest in the Indie music scene. His website contains many photographs of various Indie bands, but what might be of more interest to many of us ‘Old’ Raineians is

Finally, for those of you who have never visited our website, please go to http://www.oldraineians.com and take a look at it. We try to keep it up to date and it contains all the information that you need about the Association and the Committee!

MOST INTERESTING WEB SITE OF THE WEEK

At the beginning of the newsletter, I mentioned that David Spencer (75-83)’s website contained details of famous Old Raineians.

For those of you that have not yet visited David’s site, his web address is http://www.davidaspencer.com and the famous Old Raineians can be found by adding /oldraineians/famousraineians.html Many of you will have seen the paintings done by Eddy Dodwell (58-65) of the Arbour Square building and a montage for Humphrey Long, which was presented to him at the Ragged School reunion in November

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER

MEMORIES OF RAINE’S IN THE LATE 50s

W

e have already heard from Martyn Armitage and now it’s time for his older brother, Alan Armitage (5661) to share his memories of the school with us. When he joined the Association recently, Alan wrote to me,’ I joined Raine’s in 1956 not knowing what to expect. As it turned out I don't think I could have chosen a better school. I was allocated to class 1A, Alec Aldridge being my form master. Anyone in that class will tell you how quick you had to be to get your desk top up before the wooden blackboard duster thrown by Alec caught you on the head. I don't see that being acceptable behaviour these days, but then it was all part of the fun. Alec was our French teacher and refused to speak English; this was very difficult for a wet behind the ears little boy from Woolwich. It paid off though as I still use my schoolboy French when travelling to France.

I was placed in Taylor House, the best, and made my first contact with that well known double act Thoroughgood & Bishop. There wasn't anything that they didn't excel at and were a good example for all of us to look up to, as was Tommy Mathews when it came to swimming.

The first big change that I found when it came to sports was that football was forbidden; Rugby being the sport that we all had to take up. In Aubrey (Rusty) Iremonger we had a great teacher, I can still remember having to spend my lunch hours in the gym chasing after rugby balls that Rusty was kicking all over the place. Nor will I ever forget my first actual game at Fairlop playing fields. I was told that I was to be the full back and that I was the last line of defence when the opposition was attacking. The only problem here was that we were fifteen little eleven-year-old boys and our opponents were the teachers. It was absolutely throwing it down with rain and we were standing in about an inch of mud; and out of the gloom running straight at me with the rugby ball was Rusty. You can imagine what happened next; a 7 stone boy against a 16 stone man was no contest. I can still feel the bruises now. But it was a good introduction and I went on to really enjoy the game.

Academically I was average but I did take to the sports. I represented both house and school at rugby, swimming, athletics and basket ball from the 1st year through to the 5th

PAGE 12

year, when in 1961 I had to leave to get a job pidity and money that are required to support as we needed the money. a team for over three decades. It is Millwall as a Sixties-style kitchen-sink drama, full of I remember quite a few of my old friends, grim, bleak locations, down-to-earth industrial Chas Pullen, Tony Fitzgerald, Mickey Warlanguage and violence, but without the sex. ren, Mickey Thomas, John Flemming, Jim Truly football for the working class common Mellings, Vince Coleman, Barry Tibbet, Pat man - and you do not get more working class Carey and Tony Ashford who sadly died rethan Millwall. After all how many other teams cently. mention beer and jellied eels in their club When I left Raine’s I joined the Woolwich song? It includes personal memories from the Building Society as an investment clerk; then Old Den days through to today's modern New moved to Thomas Cook as a foreign exchange Den era and features a guide to the real joys cashier and finally, in 1967, I joined the IT of away travel from London to points North, department of Lloyds Bank. I stayed here until South, East and West. Cataloguing the good 1992 when I took early retirement; I had lost and bad times, the characters, chants, wit, interest by then and took the opportunity to wisdom and mentality of a Millwall crowd get out while the offer was still on the table. I and the strange things encountered on the way. had worked my way up from computer opera- It is an emotional rollercoaster with all the tor to middle management, but just found it joys and pains that you could wish for from impossible to work for people who couldn't, following a football team. It covers the modand didn't, want to understand computers. ern era, ranging from the lows of life in Whilst working at the Bank I was able to gain Division Two, to the joy of winning the Dientry to the London Marathon on three occasions, the last one when I was 50yrs old. I vision Two Championship in 2000/1, to the finished them all with times of 4hrs 25 mins, low of losing a Division One Play-Off and 4hrs 55 mins and 5hrs O8 mins receptively. the subsequent riot in 2001/2 and the fraught This is something I am very proud of as it season that followed in 2002/3, through to enabled me to raise a lot of money for local personal recollections from 2003/4, a season that was to turn into one of the most exciting charities. in the club's history, culminating in the heights I have been married to my wife Liz for 35 of an FA Cup Final and qualification for years and have two children, Gary & Heath- Europe for the first time ever. Barrie Stradling er, and four grandchildren Anabel, Isabella, is in his forties and has been following MillAmelia and Thomas. We live in a village, wall nationwide for too long to see sense now!

Tatsfield, which is on the Surrey/Kent Bor- Millwall is for life - as they say the first 38 ders, although we lived in Shirley, Surrey years are the worst! before we moved for 18 yrs.

DAVID HENRY KEEN 1947 - 2006

I think that's about enough of me for now, but if you have any one from my time at Raine’s (1956-1961) it would be great to hear from them. (If there are any of Alan’s contemporaries out there, please get in touch. I hope that Alan Thoroughgood will be pleased to With the premature death on Easter Day (16 know that he was held in such high esteem at April) of David Keen, the UK geology community have lost a leading Quaternary geoloschool! - ed) gist. David was born in Hitchin on 26 January 1947, although his family hailed from SE London and he was brought up in Catford, attending Raine's Foundation Grammar Paul Jackson has mentioned Barrie in his School in Stepney (1958-66). He took joint tribute to Chris Donovan. Barrie has been honours in geography and geology at Bedford involved in a serious accident (hit and run) College (1969), staying on for his PhD in 1975 and is on a long road to recovery. We all on the Pleistocene of the English Channel wish him well for a full recovery. Barrie is (supervised by Christopher Green). This a talented man, with interests in music and brought him into contact with workers in publishing. He is also a life long Millwall fan France and the Channel Islands; he maintained and has written a book called "I Was Born collaborative links across the channel throughUnder The Cold Blow Lane" (ISBN: 1 903158 out his career, leading British excursions to 55 9, £8.95, 2004). 'I Was Born Under The France and those of French societies in the Cold Blow Lane' is one man's experience of other direction. a lifetime following Millwall home and away. David Keen's academic career began as reIt shows the love, devotion, blind faith, stu- search fellow in geology at Queen Mary Col-

BARRIE STRADLING

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER lege (1972-75). He then moved to geography at what became Coventry University (he occupied all grades from lecturer to professor, 1975-2002) and ended up in archaeology at Birmingham, where he had been since 2002.

His special expertise was as a palaeontologist of the Mollusca. Our understanding of the Quaternary evolved considerably during the course of that career. David was one of several who, from the late 1970s onwards, promoted an interpretation in which much greater complexity of climatic change was envisaged, with five glacial-interglacial cycles in the last half million years. This became quite a controversy, with David always on the side of innovation - based on the molluscs that he painstakingly washed from various Quaternary sediments. Happily, he lived to see his views vindicated. As his career developed, he worked in North America and China, in the latter case studying the snails to be found in the huge thicknesses of Chinese loess. His former students tell of someone who always had time to give advice and encouragement - something he generously extended to colleagues as well.

PAGE 13

David Spencer for providing the information on Barrie and David. For those of you who don’t know, David is currently living and working in the West Indies and as a result, he has had to relinquish his position as a governor of the school. Despite the distance, David continues to take an active interest in the Association and is an invaluable source of material for the newsletter - ed)

on the telephone recently to Rev. Dudley Heryett who taught R.E. at Raines up until 1964. Derek saw his name on a notice board outside St Peters Church, Canterbury and rang him for a chat. He is well and sounded quite vigorous, despite his 89 years. He still apparently takes the odd service as an honorary curate at St Peters and lives in retirement in Canterbury.

OTHER NEWS

Andrew Fullerton (70-77) e-mailed me with details of his new contact details and included the following information; He has been living in Germany for five years and has recently married for the second time (his wife is English!) increasing his number of children to 2+2. He has reconciled himself to a hightax/non-service economy and has bought a house near the Rhein in Düsseldorf so it looks like he is there to stay. He works for a private equity investment fund and spends his working week confusing the investment banking community in Frankfurt with his own variation of their native language. He would be amused to hear from anyone who remembers him and if you “Google” him you will get his company’s website and email address.

After the last newsletter was sent out, I received a number of ‘phone calls and e-mails from well wishers (keep ‘em coming). I have not been a good respondent, I know, but I have had to devote a lot of time to work, which is why this newsletter has been so long in the making. It’s all been to no avail, as I am now in the process of being made redundant. The good news is that I can now devote more time to my Association responsibilities and the next newsletter should arrive a lot quicker than this one has! Because of events, I have had to leave out some articles that I have been sent, but I promise that these will be included in the next When the small but influential Quaternary newsletter, so don’t despair and keep the news Gwynneth Jackson (ex-staff 60-89) is keepgroup at Coventry was disbanded as the new coming. ing very busy in North Yorkshire, but she still century began, David found himself an imfinds time to correspond with a great many portant new role as Director of the 'National I had a long chat with Mark Dryer (43-48), people. Here is some of the news that GwynIce Age Network', overseen by English Her- who now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia and neth has gleaned for us, itage and funded by the Aggregates Levy he told me that he has a framed copy of the ‘I am glad that I came down for the November Sustainability Fund. This coincided with his 1947 boy’s school photo’.

Reunion, it was held at a good venue and was new position at Birmingham, where he had made a notable impact before his tenure was Harry Webb (42-46) was another ex-pat to call a very pleasant evening. I was particularly so abruptly curtailed. His contribution to the me, this time from New York. I mentioned pleased to see Steve Johnson, Bernie Major, subject includes periods as Secretary (1986- that he has a famous namesake (aka Cliff Peggy Adlington, Laurie Dalton, as well as 1990) and President (2002-2005) of the Qua- Richard), at which point Harry told me that he Lesley Jensen, with whom I'd travelled up ternary Research Association and an extraor- has printed on his business cards, ‘Harry from Kingston, after spending an hour explordinarily long period as Editor (1991-2002) Webb..............formerly Cliff Richard (!)’ and ing the mysteries of Kingston's one-way sysof the Proceedings of the Geologists' Associ- he faxed me a copy, just to prove it. Harry tem, searching for the car park where I was to ation (he received the Foulerton Award from told me that Cliff is not well known in the USA leave my car. The town in no way resembled what I knew when I lived in nearby Ewell! the GA in 2003). Keen was European Editor (no surprise there then!)

Lesley is currently resident in Kingston,but of Quaternary Science Reviews (from 2002) and also chaired the NERC Radiocarbon Derek Smith (59-64) enquired about the news- the search is on for another residence.

Laboratory Steering Committee (1999-2003). letter (the last one!). Derek has been abroad for a while and we did not have his latest Mid March,and after a mild winter,with a few He leaves a legacy of over a hundred publi- contact details. He told us that he is, still brief spells of sunshine with frost,there is a cations, including half a dozen serving as a senior Coastguard officer, once blizzard raging outside. I am NOT tempted authored/edited books and more than sixty again based at the Dover Maritime Rescue to go for a walk! Miss Joan Mangold, former articles in major journals, with more of both Coordination Centre. He and his wife spent Head of the Girls' School,and now a nonageto appear posthumously. He co-authored the two and a half years in Canada on a secondment narian, has recently had a holiday in SW England and (forthcoming) East to the Canadian Search and Rescue Secretariat Cyprus,but with disappointing weather.

Anglia/Midlands GCR volumes, the latter to in Ottawa and returned in autumn 2005. He Frances and Bob Simmonds were spending be published in 2007. His large collection of has been occupied lately assisting in the oper- Christmas with their daughter in Inverness, mollusc specimens will find its way to the ation to sort out the large container ship their son graduated from Oxford last year with National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. He which was stranded at Branscombe in Devon. a Double First! The daughter of Janis Fuller leaves Susan, his wife of 35 years, his son His main task is to be the international liaison and Graham Willett,now at secondary school, Edmund, daughter Rosalind, as well as his officer for the Coastguard so he does a fair bit has met up with children of Liz Hill (Deputy father, brother and sister. (I am indebted to of travelling.. Derek also told us that he spoke Head) and Tracey Robinson (sorry Tracey, I

OLD RAINEIANS’ APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER can't remember your married name) (Tatsuzawa -ed). Colin Nice’s daughter is now at Leeds University, so I hope he might venture another 30 miles,and visit me. Neil Wilson works for Connexions.

John Chappell hoped I was in rude health (not quite sure what he meant by that) and busy directing tourists and musicians in North Yorkshire. The answer on both counts is "Yes!” Various choir concerts, productions at the village school and most recently, ‘Aladdin’ with a cast aged 4 years and upwards. John's son is now at Exeter University,his daughter continuing the musical tradition on piano and trumpet,whilst John himself still organises classics events in his school, Hadran's Wall, London, lectures and a visit to Greece this coming October, and as he says, ‘loving it!’ Barry Jones, is enjoying his new post at Leyton and occasionally gets former Raine’s pupils.

He walked the North Downs Way last year.

Anita Merker (Smith) says she cannot believe that Miss Mangold is now 90,and can still picture her when she started at Raine’s almost 40 years ago. Anita has spent several spells in their house in Spain,and looks forward to retirement to spend longer there--her eldest daughter is getting married in September. Ken Crump enjoys being retired,and looks after Christine who is still working.

They see Gerry Calvert occasionally (Does anyone hear from Ray Reffold?). Edward Croom was in hospital before Christmas, I hope he is recovering well. Roger Beck spends a great deal of time involved with RSPB. Rosemary Lawton and her husband have been enjoying sailing. Her eldest daughter is now 40! I believe Rosemary realised she was pregnant while on a field Trip with Wally Spooner!

Viv Nicholas so enjoyed his first round-theworld trip,he is hoping to do another one in 2008. e also visited Andalucia and shortly before Christmas, Chicago. While at home in England, he went to the First Night of the Proms and spoke to John Chimes in the interval and after the concert, congratulating him on his stylish playing,and John responded with "Well it's all due to you!" Yes, who else remembers rehearsing "Prince Igor" down in the Girls' Gym? I recall Ray Gregory hitting a cymbal so hard,he smashed it - no mean feat! (but Ray didn't become a member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the age of 20) I heard John being interviewed on the radio, during the interval of one of last year's Proms too. Well done John!

Gerlinde Leinwetter (Bennett) keeps in touch from Vienna. Her daughter works for a local

radio station. Mr.Stanney comments that time gallops along. He is an expectant Great grandfather, but he and his wife are, like Johnny Walker,"still going strong!". Jackie and Robert Connolly, Nepal trekkers, have returned to the delights of our Lake District (I spend a few days there every Autumn,and sometimes pop over for a day, to visit friends and have a walk) Clive Baugh wrote with the sad news of his father's death. He was a stalwart on the Parents' Association Committee, together with Mr Harrison, Mr Rossi, Mrs Cooper and Mr Rodmell. If I went along begging for money for some project or other (including a contribution towards John Chimes' first evening suit, when he became a member of the London Schools' Symphony Orchestra) Mr Rossi always shouted, ‘Go on, give her the money!’ A grand bunch of parents! Among other larger items with contributions from the PTA were the first school minibus and table tennis in the sixth-form centre.

PAGE 14

THE END? Having watched some of yesterday’s Marathon, I know how those runners feel! And I’ve yet to print and distribute this (thankfully, with help from some of the Committee). I cannot emphasise enough how much it would help us (Association and Committee), if you will provide your e-mail contact details and keep us up to date with them. I have not been able to include everything that I wanted to in this edition, but I will be back soon with more.

In the meantime, please keep the news, your memories and stories coming.

There has been change at the school and a new Headmaster has recently been appointed, Gordon Clubb, MA M.Ed . We wish Gordon well in his post and look forward to meeting him at our events. We hope that together we can build on the relationship that already exists between the School and the Association. I Marie Crawley (Conway) is now working for hope that Gordon will write a piece for the the Metropolitan police, she skied in Les Arcs next newsletter and I’ve got Claire working on last April,but thinks she is losing her nerve with that! advancing years! (Don't give up yet Marie, I Finally, I’d like to leave you with this e-mail, kept going for 10 years after retiring!) Susan received from the daughter of an Old Brahame, now Wyburn was going ski-ing for Raineian. It says more than I can about the the first time in February (and she's a bit older School and the Association. than you Marie!) Sarah Cooper, living in Grimsby, is a grandma again. .She'd like to get “I don't know if I am happy or sad to have in touch with Barbara Donovan (Page), who found this site today! My father, Thomas spent a short time with me last October, when Richards, went to Raine's Foundation School we looked at slides and photos of a hostelling and was very proud of the fact. He matriculattrip in Derbyshire with Roger Beck. We had ed in 1928 and I have found his Certificate and quite a job putting names to some faces. After Matriculation Medal among his things since she'd gone, I found my notebook with all prep- his recent death. arations, routes, menus and accounts. The He cleared most of his things away before group were fed on 40p per day. 16 chops cost coming to live with us a year and a half ago £1.15p!! The children of both Ching & Grace and the fact that he kept these two things is a Lee are carrying on their parents' musical tradi- testimony to how much they meant to him. I tion. so wish I had known of the Old Raineians , as he would have loved to have been a part of it Richard Tillbrook was sorry to be unable to I am sure. attend the reunion.

Jack Lowe ,in the 'booming’ base metal business, has been to My sister-in-law and I intend to try to visit the China and Singapore during the year. In Feb- school one day if this is possible. We want to ruary his family was going ski-ing with Gary see the school that encouraged his love of Bronzeit and family to the Dolomites. Frank learning which never died. He continued to Ford has re-married, an American and appar- study for fun and only a few years ago he did ently 'commutes' regularly. John Gamble lives some intensive study on Alexander the great in what Jack describes as 'The wilds of Essex’ and he gave a talk on it many times, without and is married to Jack's wife's best friend. notes! He died in June (2006) at nearly 94 and Michael Cable also lives in Essex. Debra Reid was a wonderful man (true I am biased).

(Harvey)got in touch after quite a lapse. She and Iris Pattison (Lyddon) meet at various church functions in the Reigate area. Debra's clarinet came out of cold storage at a Carol service (good). She has lost touch with Jim Everton and wonders if anyone has his rural retreat address?

I'm not sure why I am telling you about him other than the fact that I am very proud of him and he was very proud of his school.

Thanks for reading this “ Gillian......an Old Raineian's daughter (Stanley’s photo was taken on the roof at Arbour Square - ed)

ORA Reunion 2007 The ORA Winter Reunion 2007 at our beloved Arbour Square, much anticipated and certainly the best reunion since the last one! What a turnout - almost 200 Old Raineians, spanning the 20's to the 90's, all crammed into what was the boy's gym. Thank you to everyone who came along to support the Association. There was a display of memorabilia and an exhibition of paintings by Eddy Dodwell, including the much seen "Arbour Square 2002" as well as a power point show of the ongoing restoration work at St George's in the East and of course the magician who kept everyone so well entertained.

The Director of Estates, Sylvia Merton and Ginnette Ambrosiona conducted tours around the building and it proved so popular that mem-

Spring 2008 ORA Reunion 2007 cont.

The Director of Estates, Sylvia Merton and Ginette Ambrosiona conducted tours around the building and it proved so popular that members were turned away due to overcrowding. The changes caused much discussion adding to the incredible atmosphere although the upper part of the building is almost as we remember it, appearing even larger with the absence of lockers in the corridors and the roof unchanged.

It was good to see ex and current staff including Humphrey Long, Gwynneth Jackson, Bernard Major, Miss Auerbach & Anthony Groves. The current head of Raines, Mr Gordon Clubb came as our guest and speaker.

Thanks must go to the caterers who laid on a lovely buffet, to Brian Chaperlin who organised the bar, to the bar staff (family of committee member Brian Chaperlin) and the staff at Arbour Square, in particular Ginette for helping the function to run so smoothly.

Claire Burrows And finally, congratulations to Claire Burrows who spent many months securing the venue and ensuring it was the success it was. The committee presented her with a bouquet of flowers on the night with our heart felt thanks for her continued enthusiasm and hard work. Thanks also go to those on the committee who helped.

It was so nice to meet Marie Hamilton,who travelled all the way from Norfolk with her family to attend her first reunion. Marie,one of our oldest members has penned a few words: SEPTEMBER 1928 Even though there was a list to choose from my parents decided that I should attend Raines Foundation School, Arbour Square, although at that time I very much doubt as to whether they knew of the school’s historical background.

At the school after new pupils had been shown to their form rooms, their mothers had an interview with Miss Grier, our Headmistress. She told them about the regulation school blouse which would cost 15/- each and that they could only be purchased through the school suppliers (the sax-blue colour being exclusive). Also needed were 3 box pleat gym slips in dark navy, black stockings, and an elastic belt with snake clasp in navy and sax blue. Mothers were also told that upon arriving at school we were to change from our outdoor shoes into plimsoles, this was a ‘must’ as the floor of the Great Hall was French Polished. We also had to have navy blue knickers and were told that there would be no changing for sport, that no cardigan should be worn if the weather was cold and any extra woolly must go under the blouse. It was also made clear that our blazer may be worn but usually that took the place of a top coat. The school blazer that could be bought from the school tailor was extremely thick and heavy and so very warm and cost £5. One could also buy school badges for the blazer pocket and for also for the hat. When I arrived home that afternoon I found that I had to tell my mother that the price of the blouse was 16/- and not 15/-, the material was poplin, not cotton, and that it should last longer. In 1928 after years of depression and still struggling through the General Strike 2

Spring 2008 SEPTEMBER 1928 cont. one shilling made a big difference.I think that the first change was the style of hat. The felt hat was out and we had a choice of either a Navy blue velvet beret with a silk or corded tassle which was 2/- , maybe more I forget or a Blue velvet crown hat with stitched brim, this was a little dearer. In the summer a panama with hat band and badge would be worn and the year that I left winter head gear was a black velour panama shape.. Looking at the school photo of 1933 it will be noticed that several of the girls are wearing cotton dress – this was decided for the girl’s summer uniform but still no sport gear!!!!

Miss Grier was our Headmistress when I became a pupil at the school. She was tall, stately one could not help but admire her; she was authority personified, we were her family. Many activities were followed after school hours, visiting museums etc. The cottages at Woburn Sands were still being used enabling girls to have a holiday. Various schemes to raise funds were encouraged, however, as the place was not used during the winter months it therefore becoming a liability and the project came to an end. We had a Tuck Shop (profits were for the cottages), the shop carried on, though where the profit went I do not know.

Helping other poorer schools was getting rather difficult what with the high rate of unemployment and the General Strike. Things must have been getting very low as in 1930/31 certificates were given instead of book prizes. I believe that the holiday project was started by Miss Grier, she seeing a much needed holiday for her girls so many of them never having been in the countryside. Miss Grier also realised that her girls needed to learn how to run a home and consequently the purchase of the cottage next door to the Girl’s school was made and became the Domestic Science Cottage. This was made very good use of with Senior Girls entertaining staff and during the General Strike teachers and scholars slept there as there was no transport available for a number of weeks.

Each girl was placed in one of the houses, I think that there were four – Stuart, Colet, Red and Green. An older girl would be appointed as School Mother to a new girl, this would encourage helping one another to overcome any age barriers etc. We were a mixed crowd but I never experienced any racial discrimination amongst the girls. There was quite a competitive spirit between the houses both in sport and academics but we would get to know each other at Christmas parties, always of course inviting members of staff. At these get togethers, we usually were able ‘to let our hair down’.

Soon after commencing the school year, Miss Grier came into the class room to give us a talk, whatever lesson we were having was shelved and the presiding teacher left (I guess that this had all been arranged) Miss Grier told us much of the story of the Founder and the Lottery, this was interesting history and makes one think of what one person can do – Sanctified Common Sense – many lives that have been uplifted – “COME IN AND LEARN YOUR DUTY TO GOD AND MAN”.

Miss Foxon was my Form Mistress at this time and she also talked much of the School’s history. The first time that Miss Grier came into the class room she told us about an occasion when one afternoon she was sitting in her office when she heard some girls in the school playground literally yelling across to one another, in fact she gave us a demonstration of what she heard and we were all horrified. The result of this was that she made up her mind that her girls were going to be taught how to speak not only correctly but quietly, this incident I guess happened some years before my time as a pupil. When Miss Grier retired, a full length oil painting was placed on the balcony wall, the roof garden side.

Miss Haugh was now Head Mistress having been Miss Grier’s Assistant. Miss Tregear, our new assistant, and life at the school went on as usual. The lower roof garden was cultivated by the Girl’s School, money was collected and a green house was purchased but this happened when I had left the school. One of the facilities missing was Playing Fields. I remember we held a Sports Day once in a field on the Isle of Dogs.

How we journeyed there I have no idea, however the L.C.C. sanctioned the use of fields by East London Schools, there was much clearance of houses in the area surrounding Stepney – the L.C.C. extending their borders into Dagenham & Beacontree (some of the Girls moved out of the area but were able to travel back to the school). I remember we had a new gym mistress Miss Defty, she informed us of this new facility mentioning that showers were also provided. Question: What does one wear taking a shower?? This was something new!! I guess Miss Defty was flabbergasted – it was decided that we would wear a bathing costume. Classes chosen walked from Arbour Square to Stepney Green underground station then to Barking

SEPTEMBER 1928 cont where we alighted and then boarded a Steam Train to Gale Street. Not long after Gale Street was renamed Becontree and now no changing trains as this District Line went now as far as Upminster. Visits to Playing Fields was on Friday’s and all scholars had a sandwich lunch and the school closed at 2.30 p.m. (This early closing was to enable the Jewish Fraternity to commence their Sabbath Day, Sunset Friday to Sunset Saturday). Some years ago I mentioned Gale Street as a railway station and was informed that for many years this was called ‘Paraffin Junction’ as it was the last station to be lit by paraffin lamps on this line. The question has been asked about School meals laid on for the girls that had a journey to the school, living outside the Borough of Stepney, cost 9d per meal, 4 days Monday to Thursday, so costing 3 shillings Friday being early session (finishing at 2.30pm) all the school brought sandwiches, the staff however had a cooked meal. Cookery being one of our subjects the form concerned would make the dessert for that days meal maybe a Cottage Pudding, College pudding or Eve’s pudding (I still have these recipes although they look very tatty now). Once we were very ambitious making Norwegian Soufflé (certainly not when back home too costly). My first year I had these dinners but my circumstances altered and I took packed lunch.

As a School we were very interested in supporting the League of Nations. It is quite possible that many of us scholars wondered whether the League was as strong as had been intended. The vast majority were very much aware of the threatening war clouds, many of the girls had French and German correspondents very sad.

Leaving school and finding employment was not a pleasant task, several agencies to apply to, never knowing which decision to make. One agency that we were told about, Headmistresses Association who specialised for Grammar School Girls – I found not very satisfying. There was an Old Girls Association but there was little or no encouragement to join, why I do not know. I remember attending a couple of times on Saturday afternoons. Miss Foxon was retiring so this was special to us all, she planned to visit her sister in South Africa. The year was 1939, her visit of months thanks to the war became years, and it was at this re-union that Miss Haugh told us that Mr Dagger was concerned about the fact that none of the girls joined the O.R.A. association. I spoke up and said “The reason is that we do not know anything about O.R.A. is that only if a girl marries an Old Raineian or has a brother in the school does she find out about the Association”.

While I was at the school I seem to recollect the screen dividing the Great Hall was pulled back at lease once a month so that the 0.R.A. could run a dance Friday evening (very exclusive members only) during the winter. I was informed that this had to be discontinued due to gate crashers. I managed to get to the yearly Old Girls’ Association meetings together with Margery Smith but only after Margery was ‘demobbed’ that she took the special course, teaching. Our friendship lasted till her death in 1960, her brother Harry was an Old Boy. Margery was quite good at languages German and French she was called up into the Navy as an Officer and she gave me to understanding of M.I.5. After the war she met Miss Wheeler whilst on her training to be a teacher.I remember one of the meetings when we were invited to view the New Girls’ Gymnasium (the cottage that was used for Domestic Science had had a face-lift) and whilst viewing this area a young lady ran by just holding up against herself a large towel on the way to a cubicle., I thought to myself ‘problem solved’. What does one wear under the Shower?? The gymnasium itself was great bright and cosy. Great improvement to the school and it was ours, the Girls’. I guess the year was 1937 and it was a Saturday afternoon. With all the upheaval it is a wonder that the school has survived. Further changes were in the pipeline. Next door to the Boys’ was a Public House and this with alterations became the Girls’ Dining Room and in 1960 The Girls Association used this room. It was possibly in the 70’s when I joined the O.R.A. even became a Life Member at the meeting held in the Sixth Form Centre. Another alteration this building has was the shed in the Girls playground, I guess that the school personnel was getting too large for the building. After the School came back to Arbour Square I attended the Old Girls Association and I remember that Miss Haugh told us of changes in Education. As Head Mistress she had always been able to appoint her staff but not in the future, she also explained the support pillars that had been placed under the balcony, it was decided to have this done as a safety measure., these pillars were from the balcony through the Great Hall floor into the split basement underneath. The whole of the school pupils would sit on the balcony on Speech Day 1913 – 1946. SAFETY. During the years I have met a few Old Raineians. Grace Moore lived a matter of yards from me (she was niece of Miss Moore, Miss Haugh’s secretary). Betty Lawson married George Canning O.R.A. There was an O.R.A. Dinner at the school and I met Helen Bishop nee Bennet – President early 70’s was it the last time

SEPTEMBER 1928 cont before the New Look alterations? Emily Parsons kept tabs on some of us and we had tea with her one memorable afternoon June 24th 1978, when I arrived (I was first) was telling her about the massacre in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and of Missionaries that I know, Helen Bishop was also there.

Many contacts were lost during the 1939-1945 war years. People were so scattered, some never returning for various reasons to their home roots. Many girls I met in various places, like just after an air raid I met Lily Gunter. In the History of Raines I was puzzled by the School Memories, P. Popplewell an East Ham girl how was it that I could not remember her – looking up copy of 1933 school photograph (original belonging to Lilly Higgins nee Fleming) Phyllis Payne, I think I am right. Gwen Kidd and Lilly belonged to the same Church in Hornchurch and many an afternoon Lilly and I spent reminiscing; these days are very much in the past now I guess that there are very few of us left.

I am glad that I have been able to see the New Look School BUT was saddened that the school has lost its majestic atmosphere, I am told that it is progress, whilst touring the school I mentioned that the oak panelling had been painted over and somebody said Marie Hamilton that it was vandalism – maybe they were right.

Marie was not the only member who travelled from afar.

Jim Keen, 1944 - 49, was possibly the last School House captain prior to the change to Dagger. He worked for Briggs Motor Bodies prior to RAF National Service in 1950 and played soccer for Maintenance Command and RAF Amateur Team having previously been signed byArsenal as amateur. He returned to BMB/Ford on demob eventually becoming responsible for provision and installation of equipment & furnishings for the Design Studios & Workshops and similar work for the Research Engineering Centre in Germany. He qualified as a FA Coach, playing 2 Amateur Cup semi-finals and won medals in London & Essex Senior Cups. He played numerous games for Arsenal teams but never signed professional due to the poor pay to players at the time. After 38 years service to BMB/Ford he moved to Majorca where he plays golf and tennis.

Jim Keen

John Clark 1938 - 41 drove up from the wilds of Pembrokeshire, Wales and gave us invaluable help in setting up before the masses arrived. He personally dressed the mannequins in the costumes that were made for the 250th anniversary, kindly loaned by the School. The octogenarian commented that it was a long time since he had his hands up a schoolgirls skirt!

More memories from John in the next issue.

Humphrey Long, fit and popular as ever (especially with the girls),a regular attendee at reunions, aka Tower Hamlets' Mr Basketball, was handed a Lifetime Achievement Award for 50 years of service to the sport recently.

But, unselfish as ever, Humphrey used his moment in the spotlight to warn of the "major problems" which he believes are affecting basketball in London.

The basketball authorities would be wise to take note - after over half-a-century of involvement in the game and as the sport's most successful coach in the country, Humphrey certainly knows what he's talking about.

Humphrey, currently coach of Whitechapel-based East London Royals, told the Advertiser: There are major problems in London basketball with regards to maintaining a basketball club.There are financial problems but most importantly there are no London players in international teams, nor are there any on the horizon.

There is a big growth in basketball clubs springing up in the capital but it means the talent is diluted and spread too thinly all over London.At the moment there's the incentive for players to join clubs without proper coaches, who won't improve them as basketball players.I'm fighting against the tide; I'm doing a King Canute. And although we have got some good teams, it doesn't look as if this can go on much longer.

Last year, Humphrey told me that drastic changes needed to be made if Great Britain are to have any chance of success at the 2012 Olympic Games. He said at the time: Basketball became a backwater sport in this country a while ago. At the moment, Great Britain are struggling. Money towards funding is being held back and that will affect them, although how badly remains to be seen. But we need to get our house in order.

Basketball is still a low-profile sport which needs an injection of money, an injection of publicity and an injection of talent.Humphrey, believes the answer is fairly simple though, stating: "The solution is to get more qualified coaches in school.In east London at the moment, there are no coaches in school who can really run a basketball team and turn them into international players, like I did at Raine's Foundation.

The kids are keen enough but they've got no one to teach them how to play the game properly. If they're not coached properly, they're not going to turn into international players.

Humphrey, began his basketball career in 1955 at Daneford School, now known as Bethnal Green College of Technology.He then moved on to Morpeth School, winning his first London Championship in 1960.

Prior to his switch to Morpeth, Humphrey had been a founder member of the London Schools Basketball Association in 1957. He stayed with the Association until 1989, holding down roles at one time or another as secretary, treasurer and coach. During his time there, London won 25 England Schools Championships.

In 1963, Humphrey left Morpeth for Raine's Foundation School, where he stayed until 2001, winning 13 national schools championships and helping 20 players go on to become England internationals.

1980 saw Humphrey launch East London Royals. 42 National Championships have been won by Royals since, while 50 players have gone on to star in international basketball.On top of this, Humphrey was also England coach from 1970 to 2000, taking teams to six European basketball tournaments. He is the only member of the United Kingdom Coaching Hall of Fame representing basketball.

Humphrey was clearly a deserving winner of his lifetime achievement award - although he insisted he had no clue he would be receiving it.

He said: I was invited to an association meeting in Coventry but had no idea I was getting the award. It was a bit of a surprise but I'm very proud.

Humphrey admits he got into basketball quite by accident, explaining: I did two years national service where I did basketball as training for the rugby team. Afterwards, I got a job as a PE teacher at Daneford School.

All they had there in terms of sports facilities was a small hall with a couple of basketball rings. I then went on a course run by Mick Jagger's dad, Joe. He was a great bloke and a real pioneer of the game. Everything he did, I jotted down and then put my kids through the same thing for the rest of the week. I've never looked back.

Much has changed in the sport, says Humphrey, since he took it up - apart from one thing. It's changed technically in all sorts of ways, he said. The only thing that hasn't changed is the low profile of the game at national level. The kids in inner London love playing basketball and it's a shame that it isn't given more recognition. The players still tend to come from the same ethnic backgrounds. But our club has players from Africa, Eastern Europe and the Philippines.

East London Royals run five teams and train at Whitechapel Sports Centre on Wednesday evenings.

6

Anwar's Royal honour Stepney-born football star Anwar Uddin admits he thought he was the victim of a prank from his Dagenham & Redbridge teammates when he recieved a prestigious invite to Windsor Castle. But it was no joke - the Daggers defender was among a select group of British Asians invited to a black-tie dinner at Windsor Castle with HRH The Prince of Wales.

His Royal Highness hosted the dinner on Thursday, November 15, as testimony to the 'enormous contribution made to this country in many fields by members of the British Asian community and their major role in shaping modern Britain.'

Uddin, 26, became the first British Asian to captain an English Football League club when he led Dagenham & Redbridge out in a fixture at Stockport County on August 11.

The Prince of Wales founded the British Asian Trust which supports community projects in the UK and organises and promotes sustainable development in South Asia.The initial impetus for the Trust arose from the Future Friendship Cup - the first official one-day international cricket match between India and Pakistan in the UK for charitable purposes.But east Londoner Uddin, who started his career at West Ham alongside the likes of Joe Cole and Michael Carrick, said the honour had come as quite a shock and one which he wasn't sure he should initially take seriously.

He said: Naturally I'm delighted but it came as a total surprise. At first I didn't believe it and knowing what jokers my teammates are, I was expecting someone like Jeremy Beadle to jump out of the woodwork at any moment ! It was a great experience for myself and my family, who were delighted. He added: It just goes to show where football can take you in life - even to meet members of the Royal Family.

Uddin, who still lives in Stepney Green, attended Raine's Foundation School in Bethnal Green as a youngster and played in the same Hackney & Tower Hamlets District side as Ashley Cole and Ledley King.

Uddin had the choice of trials with Tottenham, Wimbledon and West Ham, penning schoolboy terms with the latter after a youth tournament in Ireland.Uddin played in all the preliminary rounds of the Hammers' FA Youth Cup win six years ago but was left out of the final line-up, losing his place to Stevland Angus for the two-legged win over Coventry City. The following year Uddin was a mainstay of the successful West Ham side that won the FA Premier Academy Shield, beating an Arsenal outfit that contained Ashley Cole, Steve Sidwell, James Harper and Jay Bothroyd.With first-team opportunities looking limited, Uddin left West Ham in his third year as an apprentice for a short stint at Sheffield Wednesday, before spells at Bristol Rovers, Hereford and Telford.He joined Dagenham & Redbridge in July 2004 and last season skippered them to the Nationwide Conference title as they finished 14 points clear of second-placed Oxford United to earn their first spell in league football.

Andrew Pettigrew’s dream hopes ended Last January’s transfer deadline moves ended the hopes of 21-year-old Adrian Pettigrew's dream of making it with Chelsea. The six foot plus defender and former England youth international was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer for the lesser title aspirations of League 2 outfit Rotherham United.Pettigrew, from Stoke Newington, spent five years on Chelsea's books, the last two as a full-time professional. He was a regular in the Blues' reserve side, captaining them on many an occasion, Signed straight from school at the Raine's Foundation School, Bethnal Green, Pettigrew has enjoyed two loan spells at Brentford and Wycombe Wanderers in the past year. His time with the Bees at Griffin Park was the more successful of the two, making 14 appearances for them, 11 in League Two.He also had a spell on loan at Wycombe, but made just one appearance for the Chairboys and was recalled by Chelsea before his month at Wycombe was up. Now he has completed a full-time move to Rotherham. An all-round athlete during his schooldays, Pettigrew played basketball for the East London Royals basketball club and led them to an English National Championship.He was chosen for the England under 14 basketball squad and also won athletics honours, being a London champion at the hurdles, high jump and part of a 4x100m relay team.Pettigrew was chosen for the England under 16 football squad, when just 14 and had a host of clubs queueing up for him Arsenal and Charlton courted his signature, but it was Chelsea he chose. He had a week's trial with Charlton, but didn't enjoy it.He had been associated with Chelsea since being in year eight at school and had come through their Academy. But last autumn his love affair with the Blues ended.

Phillips Idowu Phillips Idowu, the Hackney born and raised triple jumper propelled himself among the world's elite athletes by winning Britain's only gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia, recently.

Idowu, from the De Beauvoir area of Hackney, attended Raine's Foundation Secondary School, Bethnal Green before going on to become a famous athlete.He started his athletics career in the borough with Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets AC before switching to the higher profile Belgrave Harriers, in Battersea, south London.

The triple jump competition at the World Indoor Championships was effectively over from the moment that Idowu landed to register his second jump of 17.75 metres.That leap was a British indoor record and put him fifth on the all-time list, five places above the previous record-holder Jonathan Edwards, who had held the national record with a jump of 17.64m.Although he has frequently disappointed in major competitions, Idowu put together a very consistent series of jumps in Valencia to add the World Indoor crown to his Commonwealth title that he won two years ago and the European indoor title he clinched last year, when he beat British teammate Nathan Douglas.His winning leap was only eight centimetres short of the world record indoors. set by Cuba's Aliecer Urrutia 11 years ago and equalled by Olympic champion Christian Olsson four years ago.Idowu was behind after the first round of jumps to Cuban Arnie Giralt, who had leaped 17.43 in the opening round.But after his monster effort of 17.75, Idowu kept up the consistency with further leaps of 17.56 and 17.45 and was never headed again.

Ironically, he received his gold medal from his former Great Britain teammate and Britain's former triple-jumping great Jonathan Edwards, who said afterwards: "There is no reason why Phillips can't win the Olympic gold now, in Beijing later this year.

He has always had the talent.''

Idowu finished sixth at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where Edwards won gold, but four years later, the Hackney athlete was back in a very disappointing 12th place and only recorded a sixth place at last year's World Championships.

With current Olympic champion Olsson, from Sweden, recovering from a hamstring injury, Idowu is being spoken of as favourite for the gold in China, but sensibly defused excitement among the British media.

"There are still quite a few good people who weren't at these championships, who are obviously preparing for the outdoor season. I'd like to stay in the background until its absolutely necessary, but there are many more medals out there I'd like to win. I know it's not done yet.''

Phillips Idowu With Idowu's outstanding effort the highlight, Britain finished with five medals from the Championships, in a fine fourth place overall.

In terms of placings in finals, Britain came third, headed only by the might of the United States and Russia.

VE Day by Old Raineian D.Hyams I had spent the last few months of the war down in Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, where I had been evacuated with my London school (Raine's Foundation, Stepney). Some of us would be invited into Matron's sitting room in the evening to listen to broadcasts on progress of the final days of the war. Churchill's speeches always seemed very thrilling. We had no sense of history in the making when the war in Europe came to an end.

Most of the children didn't want to go back to London. It would be the end of freedom and independence.

We had all done pretty much as we liked in our spare time. All we had to do was turn up for meals, do our chores and be in by curfew.

May 8th and 9th were declared national holidays, and I came back to London for a day or two. My father took my sister and me to Trafalgar Square to see all the celebrations. The crowds were unbelievable. People were hanging from lampposts, many debagged and partly undressed; some women were waving items of underwear! My father held on to us tightly. My sister, who was 20 and very pretty, was nearly dragged off several times by soldiers. It was exciting yet frightening. Many people were very drunk but we didn't see any violence or punch-ups.

The Mall was packed from end to end. The Royal family were to appear on the balcony. Dad managed to get us to the comparative calm of St James's Park. The grass was a sea of 'courting couples'. My father was quite shaken and put his hand over my eyes. I was twelve years old and it was quite an eye opener.

We had to walk most of the way home as the few buses that were running couldn't get through. My father was still very shaken and needed a drink but a lot of the pubs were shut. We did manage to get him a small bottle of beer from an off licence and that cheered him up a bit. My sister Peggy and I agreed that we had had a great time and wouldn't have missed it for anything. Next day my sister's arm was black and blue where she had been grabbed. Dad made a beeline for the pub. We censored the 'juicy bits' from our story when we described things to Mum.On VJ Day, in August, I went to a friend's street party that was very lively.

Two women nearly had a fight over who made the best sandwiches.

In September, I was back at school in London looking forward to a happy and peaceful future with no wars ever again !

Sad News Michael Varah (1957-1964) Long-serving and personable chief probation officer who worked for numerous UK charities At the time of his resignation in 2004, Michael Varah was the UK's longest serving Chief Officer in the (then) National Probation Service, having devoted 35 years to the criminal justice system.He was a man of compassion, integrity and humour, and it was to his credit that, during his tenure, Surrey was the third highest performer out of the 42 probation services in the UK; and had achieved the highest score on the European excellence model, and the highest level of sentencer satisfaction in the south-east.Always a strategic thinker, Varah established close links with other agencies, particularly the police, with whom information was shared to prevent further offending. He consistently lobbied MPs and the Home Office, and at the same time was able to engage effectively and empathetically with offenders.

Varah - pioneeringly - sent 32 serious offenders from Surrey on Community Service Orders to Romania to renovate a children's hospital. Two years later, none of the 32 offenders had reoffended and nine (having completed their orders) had returned to work in Romania as volunteer plumbers, electricians and builders.

Michael Varah cont.

His appointment as Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey and his nomination as High Sheriff of that county for 200809 reflected the esteem in which he was held.

George Peter Michael Varah was born in Holy Trinity Vicarage, Blackburn in 1944, the eldest of triplet boys. His father was Dr Chad Varah, CH, CBE, founder of The Samaritans, and his mother was Susan Varah, OBE, World President of the Mothers Union. He was educated at Raine's Foundation Grammar School for Boys in Stepney and Loughborough College. He excelled at sports and Loughborough had some of the best sports coaches in the country.

In 1965 he won a coveted place on the Great Britain athletics team. The following year, at the inaugural meeting at Crystal Palace, he ran second leg for the much lauded British 4 x 800 metre relay team that smashed the existing world record by 2.4 seconds. He held the British Indoor Athletics 800 metre record and represented his country in many international athletic meets - including the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica and the Tokyo World Student Games.

In 1968 he was appointed Master in Charge of Athletics at Rugby School. Following his retirement from international athletics, he continued to teach but developed his interest in social justice by working two nights a week as a facilitator at Onley Borstal, running group discussions. The satisfaction of this challenge encouraged him to a complete career change into Probation, via a post-graduate course at Leicester University. Simultaneously, he and his friend Jim Higgins founded The Mayday Trust.

Working first as a basic grade Probation Officer, he was quickly promoted to run Community Service in Warwickshire before moving to the West Midlands Service as assistant chief. When in 1988 he was appointed Chief Probation Officer in Surrey, it was then the quickest and the highest percentage promotional rise from basic grade officer to Chief in the recorded history of the Probation Service.

During his years in Surrey, he founded the independent Surrey Springboard Trust, with the aim of creating opportunities for ex-offenders and those leaving prison who needed a high level of support to turn their lives around and put their offending behaviour behind them. Over a period of six years the trust employed about 30 staff and offered a range of activities, running a commercial division which employed ex-offenders on decorating, gardening and woodwork projects.

A team of staff continues to work at Highdown Prison in Surrey, advising inmates on employment and accommodation issues. Varah raised some ÂŁ4.5million to ensure its survival. It was typical of the man to put so much personal commitment, energy and hours of work - on top of his day job - to help others get the stake in society that circumstance had denied them.

Varah worked tirelessly for a number of charities. He became chairman of Crimestoppers in 2004, and weeks before his death was appointed the new president of the Surrey Care Trust. For the past two years he had served as a trustee of Samaritans. He was also passionate about his work as a national trustee of Victim Support.

In 2005 he was elected to the panel of the employment tribunals and travelled across Surrey from his home in the Surrey Hills to Croydon weekly to sit alongside the Chair as the employers representative on dismissal, discrimination and employment claims. His wife Sally (nĂŠe Rowat), daughter and son will continue his legacy through The Michael Varah Memorial Fund, which will support his own chosen charities.

Michael Varah, probation officer and athlete, was born on October 19, 1944. He died of viral double pneumonia on April 2, aged 62 Alfred Maizels 1928-34 A brilliant economist promoting trade and development, author and international civil servant, born January 17 1917; died May 10 2006 - Attended Raine's Foundation School from 1928-1934 .Alfred Maizels, who has died aged 89, was one of Britain's most distinguished economists. He made major contributions to the international literature on trade and development, was a formative influence on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) and was held in great esteem by policy-makers and officials in the developing world.A permanent intergovernmental body, Unctad was established in 1964 to maximise the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries and help them integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis. Its first secretary general, the Argentinian RaĂşl Prebisch, persuaded Maizels to join the organisation in 1966, and he developed its basic approach to commodity policy,

Alfred Maizels cont. including the idea of a central or common fund for stabilising commodity prices.In the 1968 American Economic Review he had launched a powerful attack on the neo-liberal view that commodity price fluctuations did not harm developing countries. He demonstrated the contrary, arguing that intervention in the commodity markets was both possible and desirable if developing countries were to diversify their economies and trigger a process of sustained growth.The common fund was Unctad's flagship project for the New International Economic Order (NIEO), the declaration adopted by the UN general assembly in 1974, which ultimately failed, largely because western industrial countries were unwilling to contemplate measures that might raise commodity prices and, more generally, because in the 1970s they were increasingly reluctant to interfere with market forces. The 1989 common fund for commodities was the eventual outcome of these battles, but it was a pale reflection of Maizels' proposals. Professor Gerry Helleiner recalls him saying that the objections of the OECD countries to the NIEO reflected their fear of losing their ability to shape the global economy, something they would never willingly relinquish.Maizels was director of economic policy evaluation and coordination at Unctad between 1974 and 1980. His belief in the importance of evidencebased policy proposals was reflected in his promotion of sound research, both within the organisation and elsewhere. He invited distinguished outsiders - by no means all of them sympathetic to Unctad's views - to criticise its work and suggest alternative approaches. He was never a spin-doctor.On Maizel's departure from the UN body, he was offered a succession of research fellowships in London, Helsinki and Oxford, and in 2004 he was appointed professorial research fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

His Commodities in Crisis (1992) is widely regarded as the definitive work on the subject, and he was one of the first to warn of the dangers for developing countries of excessive competition and income losses in the markets for labour-intensive manufactures.Maizels was born in Whitechapel, in London's East End. His father was a Jewish tailor who had arrived from Poland in 1905; his mother a seamstress who helped with the book-keeping and administration. They married in 1910. Alfred went to Raine's Foundation school, Bethnal Green, and the London School of Economics, graduating with first-class honours in 1937 and carrying off the Farr medal and prize in statistics. He also met there the sociologist Joan Sidey, whom he married in 1942. In early 1941 Maizels joined Brian Reddaway and Evan Durbin at the Board of Trade, where, in a remarkably short time, they designed the clothing rationing scheme, regarded as the most successful of its kind and a striking example of how welfare considerations could be upheld despite the privations of wartime.

Maizels admitted that they had been given a head start by British Intelligence, which had got hold of a copy of the German plan.

In 1950 he was seconded to the UN in Geneva, where he took over from the economist WW Rostow a major study of the European timber industry, then a crucial sector in the European recovery programme. The result was an outstanding piece of work that laid the basis for cooperation among timber producers that continues to this day.Returning to London, Maizels found the Board of Trade worrying about the possible impact of industrialisation in the developing (then largely colonial) world on Britain's position in the world economy.

This led to his secondment to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research in 1955 and to his magisterial Industrial Growth and World Trade (1963), a detailed, empirical and historical analysis of the changing structure of world trade in industrial goods in response to industrialisation and rising per capita incomes.He showed that the industrialisation of primary-producing countries was generally accompanied by increased imports from the developed countries, but he stressed that the relationship was a complex, interactive one in which macroeconomic policies and other factors, such as technology, played a crucial role.

Whether adjustment would occur easily - and whether virtuous circles of trade and growth would be triggered - depended on a lot more than trade liberalisation. His second book, Exports and Economic Growth of Developing Countries, appeared in 1968 to complimentary reviews, but by then he had been invited to Geneva again, this time for Unctad.Maizels was an extremely modest man, but ministers and diplomats from developing countries admired his integrity and judgment, recognising that his work was driven by a concern for social justice and compassion for the poor and disadvantaged. He was unfailingly kind and courteous to his colleagues and everyone he met, but he also possessed a rare gift, once described by Charles Dickens as "the ability to see the world clearly with kind eyes".

Joan survives him, as do two sons, a daughter and a sister.

Leonard Ornellas 1930-39 Leonard Ornellas attended Raines between 1930 - 1939. He joined the ORA in 2006 after his daughter Jackie Weaver came across David Spencer's website and contacted him with regard to the Famous Old Raineians section. Her father had been awarded the DFC in January 1945 and the citation said that he had "flown on numerous operational sorties and displayed fine fighting spirit, keenness and devotion to duty".

He passed away peacefully after developing heart problems on Aug 31st 2007.

His renewed connection with the school, albeit late in his life,and becoming a Famous Old Raineian himself gave him much pleasure and pride.

Mrs Audrey True (Marshall) Born Sept 3rd 1934 and died on Sept 23rd 2007 after a long & courageous fight against cancer. Her funeral was held at Eltham Cemetary on Oct 3rd 2007. She leaves a husband, two daughters, a son and four grandchildren. This sad news was sent to us by her dear friend, Joyce Medley I met my friend when we were both at Raines in 1945. She left in 1951 and did secretarial work. In 1957 Audrey married John. Audrey had many interests and gardening was her particular love. She even became a "silver surfer" ! They moved to Kent in 1962 and celebrated their Golden Wedding last year.

Lost and Found Aubrey ‘ Rusty’ Ironmonger. 1955-62 discovered alive and well ! More in our next issue.

Ex pupil memories welcome to accompany this proposed article.

Scarf ,found after the Arbour Square Reunion, please contact the Committee.

New Members Anthony Mulrennan (1969) has been a regular non-member at reunions for years, finally joined the Association recently.

Greg Commons (1975).

Gerlinde Leinwetter (Bennett),from Vienna and came especially for the reunion at ArbourSquare.

Thanks to all contributors including Dr David Spencer, Gordon Clubb, Committee Members and everyone else for their articles, photographs and memories.

We depend on your letters and photos and we look forward to hearing from anyone with an interesting story from their time at Raines. Please contact us, details below.

Committee members addresses : Claire Burrows

Brian Chaperlin

President (ess)

Membership Secretary

Alexander Coach House

257 Wickham Chase

Vines Lane

West Wickham

Hildenborough

Kent BR4 0BJ

Kent TN11 9LT Gwynneth Jackson

Eddy Dodwell Webmaster Email : eddy@eddydodwell.co.uk Other Committee members are : Clive Baugh Treasurer Frances Dolman Secretary

Sandra Johnson

Glevum

Rounds

Main Street

Warren Road

Kirby Malzeard

Roy Smith President Elect

Chelsfield Village

N Yorks HG4 3RS

Tony Groves

Kent BR6 6EP

ORA Reunion 2007 The ORA Winter Reunion 2007 at our beloved Arbour Square, much anticipated and certainly the best reunion since the last one!

What a turnout - almost 200 Old Raineians, spanning the 20's to the 90's, all crammed into what was the boy's gym. Thank you to everyone who came along to support the Association. There was a display of memorabilia and an exhibition of paintings by Eddy Dodwell, including the much seen "Arbour Square 2002" as well as a power point show of the ongoing restoration work at St George's in the East and of course the magician who kept everyone so well entertained.

Spring 2009 CHERRY ANN BRIGGS (WOOLVERTON) – 1954-1960 On leaving school, I worked in the City, working my way up from clerk, to shorthand-typist and then a secretary for a senior partner in a firm of solicitors. I married in 1965 and moved to Sutton, Surrey, where I worked locally until my husband died in 1985. Having had an early background in dance (I was on the stage at 3 years of age until I attended Raine’s) I attended local classes for tap, modern dance and Keep Fit, where I later trained as a leader.

Being more of a performer than a teacher, I found teaching was not really for me, and so when I joined Ernst & Whinney (later Ernst & Young) in London in 1983, it was somewhat of a relief that time did not allow for taking a class.

Working in London again after so long was wonderful and I was able to indulge in going to the theatre, ballet, concerts and attend lectures.

I moved down to Hove in 1996 to live with my partner, Derek and later gave up working in London as the commuting was a bit tedious and time consuming. As Derek was a member of a local amateur theatre group, I would tag along but then decided to become a member myself. I then expressed an interest in costumes and now find myself responsible for the Wardrobe and ‘dressing’ the productions. The other year, I was elected on to the Committee where I am the Secretary. The shorthand has been resurrected, but is very rusty! I also liaise with other local amateur societies and exchange publicity. There are so many good amateur societies about that there is never a lack of a theatre to attend. Also, Brighton has so much to offer in the way of art and culture. Being a Regency City, I have joined the Regency society where we have monthly lectures, and the AGM is held in the Music Room of the Royal Pavilion, which is a bonus. I have also joined the Hove Civic society and the Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society, again attending monthly lectures. To keep the little grey cells alive and active, I attend a course each year, which usually entails some written work for assessment. At the moment I am studying Art and the Impressionists.

About once a month I go to London to meet friends, either for the theatre, 2

Spring 2009

I look back on my days at Raine’s with affection, and still have my badge taken from my hat as a permanent memento.

Cherry Wolverton and Sylvie reminisce at The original GIRLS entrance.

Thanks to Cherry also for the 1955 School Panorama on the website

New Members David Powell 1958 -63

Events This year’s Winter Reunion to be advised.

The Committee is proposing to attempt the ORA Walk again, hopefully in May or June. If anyone is interested, please contact any Committee member for details.

3

Thanks to all our contributors and Committee members for their articles Photographs and memories.

We depend on your letters and photos and look forward to hearing from anyone with an interesting story from their time at Raines.

Please contact us, details below Committee Members addresses : Roy Smith President Sandra Johnson Rounds Warren Road Chelsfield Village Kent BR6 6EP 01689 826854 Brian Chaperlin Membership Secretary 257 Wickham Chase West Wickham Kent BR4 0BJ Clive Baugh Treasurer Tony Groves

Claire Burrows Alexander Coach House Vines Lane Hildenborough Kent TN11 9LT 01732 833906 Gwynneth Jackson Glevum Main Street Kirby Malzeard N Yorks HG4 3RS Eddy Dodwell eddy@eddydodwell.co.uk Frances Dolman Secretary