I would like to thank Gwen Groves for sending me the photograph below. It was taken in 1952 and is of her class, at Coalbrookdale High School. If I remember correctly (no promises!) it was "3rd Year Modern". I knew her at school as Gwen Darrow but I was in "3rd Year Latin" (just swank, 'cos I was no good at Latin!) so don't appear in this picture. I've never seen, however, a photograph of my class so, if anybody has one I'll pay whatever they ask - as long as it's less than a penny. I'm no cheapskate - just careful. Click on the image to get a large picture.
The people shown are:
Back Row - Charlie Williams, Robert Comerford, Gillian Nicklin, Gwen Dallow, Robert Pierce, John McWean.
Middle Row - Robert Chalkley, Richard Ward, David (Dave) McCurry, Olive Heighway, June Ketley, Catherine Forgham, Joyce Cooke, Richard (Robert?) Sudlow, Terry Burton, David Smith
Front Row - Joan Ellis, June Stephan, Margaret Pace, Barabara Duckett, Norman Grant (my arch enemy and mathematics teacher!), Beryl Rowlands, Mary Parker, Susan Griffiths, Judith Yorke.
Sitting, in front of Norman Grant, is John Hulse
All faces are familiar to me, and the names, but I don't remember much about the people themselves, mostly because memories dim over the years. I do have strong memories of some in the photograph; a few are special and one particularly so.
Norman Grant used to tease me to a point where I was so embarrassed that I hated maths and would do anything to avoid his lessons, which was a pity because, as it turned out, I was very good at the subject and, at the GCE exam, answered, correctly, every question. I'm sorry, is that my trumpet I hear blowing? Well, why not! I love, and loved, maths and it was very important to me in my career. Luckily for me, because of a serious illness, I couldn't attend school for my final year so had to have lessons at home, given to me by Mrs Lyons, the headmaster's wife and she was brilliant! She was a real teacher, full of an enthusiasm for the subject that I caught and have never let go.
John Hulse and I worked in the Design Office, of Rolls-Royce, along Whitchurch Road, Shrewsbury. He was killed in a tragic road accident but I forget what year. He was brilliant at drawing and was well thought of. I remember the morning that I was told of the accident but I still waited, not really believing, expecting him to turn up as usual - he never did.
June Stephan was at Madeley Wood school with me and passed at the same time that I did.
Terry Burton. Ah, now there's a sad story but this isn't the place to tell it.
