Some recollections and tales from contributors over the years.....
Do you know of any records of the Scientific Society lectures that Ernie Huddart made sixth formers do? I think I did mine in 1970, and it included me bringing a motorbike engine into the physics lab on a trolley and me starting it up as a finale to my talk! Old Harry Wrenn came sauntering upstairs to see what all the racket was about! I was a little peeved that I was pipped to the winning post by Henry Wozniak, a brilliant Polish lad who did a talk on the Ion Engine.
Best regards, Tim Gleed-Owen 1964-70 I can remember the time Joe Whitely hid in coddy rowes desk for a whole maths period (he was only little) he bet everyone 5p he could, well he did and collected from us all,even coddy saw the funny side and contributed, with a smack round the head!!!!Robin Clarke
The new extensions and hall were built over the old prefabs (still in use) along with the conversion of old hall into library and opened in about 65. Memories a bit faint but think Mountbatten came in 65/66.The new hall & dining room heralded the arrival of chips on the menu for the first time. A welcome change to Fish Pie. – Brian Robinson.
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Saw Mr "Buzz" Temple at a film show in the Castle tonight, 10/02/03. Thought I recognised him, although it has been 38 years (God help me!!) since I last clapped eyes on him. He must have looked very similar, `cos I recognised him 99% straight away. Reference Mark Titcomb thoughts with regard to his nickname, I just had to ask him, did he get the name from his wartime occupation. He smiled and shook his head. He said he had been in the Fleet Air Arm during the war, but the name came from his over-emphasis of his French pronunciation, e.g. "lezzzzzzzz animaux" etc, etc., to guide us ignoramus`s (or is it ignoramii ??) through his pet subject. He said he retired in 1981, which possibly makes him mid 80`s now. Hope I look as good as he does if I manage to get that far !! Keith Brealey
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Dave 'Mary' Wilson taught English, and has only recently retired from Sir Christopher Hatton (the old Westfield and Breezehill Schools amalgamated) and John Hyde taught Biology as well as sport. A bit more useful? information..........I found out the other day that 'Killer' Goodman, although retired from full time teaching, still does some part time teaching at Wrenn School. R.P.'Rick' Buckby is currently Deputy Head at Sir Christopher Hatton School (the amalgamation of the old Westfield and Breezehill Schools). Martin Layton, and R.Armstrong still teach at Wrenn........I think they are the last of the old school masters still there. – Martin Percy
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We were in Room 21 (the old block room that overlooked the field) with "You too can have a body like Cloddy" - when a horse ran on the field. So someone (Keith Watts I think) shouts out "Please sir, there's a horse on the field. Cloddy ignores it, so this chorus begins to evolve "Please sir, there's a horse on the field". Eventually Cloddy turns around shouting "I don't care if there's a ruddy elephant" and at the same time swings at some innocent kid on the front row. On impact, Cloddy's watch breaks and the pieces scatter over the room. ....and the horse is still on the field. - Paul (Scroxton) Whiting
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I remember sitting in a History lesson in the 'new block' taken by 'Sandy' MacDonald when all of a sudden 'Mac' McDougal came barging in clutching his slipper 'William the Barstard'. "Excuse me, Mr MacDonald." "Certainly, Mr McDougal." Came the reply. Mac walked across the classroom and stood by the windows opposite the door. He shouted across to the classroom opposite where he was taking a lesson "Are you ready, Smith?" (I cannot remember the pupils name) "Yes Sir." replied the pupil bending over the masters desk at the front of McDougal's classroom. "Right." said McDougal and began to run full pelt out of our classroom across the corridor into his classroom. We heard an enormous 'WHACK' quickly followed by an equally loud "OUCH" after which McDougal came back and stood by the door and said "Thank you, Mr MacDonald." "Your welcome, Mr McDougal." And at that Mac shut the door and we carried on with the lesson. -Malcom Scarborough
David Frost and Mr Wrenn entered the hall through the fire exit doors adjacent to the stage, and before anyone could do anything, Smudge Southcombe, who was standing right next to David Frost, said "Hello, good evening and welcome." David Frost dissolved into laughter, but Mr Wrenns thoughts and comments were not recorded - Malcom Scarborough.
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Dave Wilson taught me English for 3 years, and it was a constant battle of wills between us. "Wieland, have you done your homework", "No sir", "Cricket pitch roller duty at lunchtime!". However, he got me up to B O'Level, when I was convinced I would fail. I also remember going to see Sweet Leaf, one of the best local bands going. Pete Wieland '71-'76
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Cheale was Ivor and organised all the school trips to Interlaken etc Taff Cameron 's favourite words as I recall was chlamydamonas and spyrogyra I left in 1980 and appear in Steve Larkins fantastic 6 th form photo I used to catch the 402 from Crow Hill at the Cross, Irthlingborough, but I always tried to get the 406 from Ringstead, Raunds and Stanwick - I waited in the doorway of the Midland Bank. Homeward bound I got off at the Rec and went down to home (Finedon Rd.) I will fill in the visitors book after giving a bit of thought !! Good work Chris Morris (Residing in St Albans)
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There is no reference to Sylvia, the secretary who came to help Nora and finished up landing the arch mysoginist, Johnny Hyde. Her nickname was 'Hotlips'. - Nick Tompkins
There was a poisonous English Teacher (sorry, Master) around in the early 60's called Oberman. Toby to his enemies... and also a particularly unpopular specimen called Isted (spelling?), nickname "Piggy"... Can't recognise them from any of the photos, though - Frank Chambers
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There was the boy who went to Miss Bavin, the formidable secretary to report that he had just swallowed a pencil. She calmly said, "OK, here's a replacement". And I remember one lunchtime Harry Wrenn spotting me at the end of the front corridor. He bellowed at me " Randall, fetch me Asson". " Pardon sir?" I replied rather feebly. He repeated the request more loudly " Fetch me asson, Randall". "sorry , sir , fetch you what?" "Asson" he yelled with obvious impatience. I did not have the courage to say I still didn't understand him. So I headed down to the kitchen and asked the head cook for a basin for the headmaster. "Why does he want one, is he feeling sick?", she asked rather puzzled. I could offer no explanation.Anyway, I scurried back up to the front corridor and along to the head's office clutching my basin. I knocked nervously on his door holding the basin in two hands.Harry Wrenn appeared and screeched" what's that Randall?" "The basin you asked for , sir". "No, I said Mason, the prefect, not a basin" - Alan Randall (from Rushden, left in 1965)
Mr Wrenn was always called “Charlie” in my time (the 50s). We knew he was Harold Albert, but that didn’t affect things. So its Charlie aka Harry. Mr Huddart was a Physics teacher. He forced us to cut out the pages of our text-book which referred to centrifugal and centripetal forces. He was called “Ernie”. Mr Sparrow was known by his first name “Tony” - he was a great first fifteen coach. Mr Sulch was called “Herbie” in my time. Actually, I suddenly remember that I was a master for a whole term once. That would be scraping the barrel! I’ll look back over my old pictures and odd magazines, if I can find them, so that I can find more gems. Did you know that Jeff Butterfield, who also played rugger for England was once a teacher. One of my old favourites was Danny Burrell, the French teacher who had a slipper called “SMINK” with the name in mirror writing, so if you were hit with it (which no one was) then it left the smink imprint on your backside. In those days we used to write using ink from inkwells in the desk. The joke was if anyone said ‘can I have some ink’ in Wellingborough dialect, he offered his slipper. – David Tall