Glastonbury School

I went to No.6 Glastonbury, right through from infants to seniors. I moved up to the boys' school in about 1942. The headmaster was Bill Trim, English was Mr. Prentice, woodwork was Mr.Paddon, science and physics was Mr.Hale, and the rest were women teachers until the end of the war when the men teachers started to return. One of the women teachers was a Miss Reech (I'm not sure about the spelling) and she was a cracker. All the older lads fancied her. She married Bill Trim's son, so that put a stop to all the fantasies. Seeing as we left school then at 14 I don't think we had a bad education, all things considered.

My mother, Irene (Rene) Hirsch went to this school when it was St. Helier No. 6 Central School from 1933 to 1935. I still have her leaving report! The Head Mistress was a B. Allen. My mother's family lived in Legion Court.

My father Les Gooch (see section on scouting) was a founder member of the school and remembers the school motto as being " built on honour". Dad's art teacher (I think) was one Mr Twilley later the head when I went to the school and the overseer of the bi-lateral model of secondary education that pre-dated comprehensive education. In fact for me an eleven plus failure, it was interesting to study Latin and French in a non-grammar school. Other 'failures' ended up at various universities!

I've been reading Beverley's article with interest and also the comments. My father was Mr Paddon the woodwork teacher. He died in 1962. Mentioning trips abroad, with Mr Twilley he took a party to Germany in May 1937. I have the newspaper report still and hope a local paper will publish it. Also pictures of the staff. My father arranged trips to London Docks with Mr Pool and there is one of the boys with a wooden shield on a boat. Also, of course, there are many photos of woodwork displays at the open evenings.

Does anyone remember my brother Robert (Bobby) Swanston who was tragically drowned in the summer of 1950 he attended Glastonbury School for Boys. I was 8 yrs old then and attended all the schools from infants to the Seniors Girls. We were a family of 8 and now there is just myself and one sister of 80 left. I do not remember anything about my brother so would welcome any comments.

Hello Jennifer I do remember your brother, I was in the same class and I was also in the Boys Brigade like Bobby, but I had left the Boys Brigade when this terrible tragedy happened. As you probably know it was while he was camping with the BB at Snowdonia that he lost his life. I shall never forget that awful time, it is a memory that has stayed with me till this day. I shall never forget your poor mother the day of the funeral and there was so many people in Glastonbury Road that day. I lived in Glastonbury Rd, further down nearly opposite the school. I remembered Bobby as a quiet lad but very likeble, I think he was well liked by the whole class.

I have just read some of the copy you have about St Heliers on the website. Which I found really interesting as I started school Easter 1939 at the infants school Glastonbury road, left the seniors December 1949. I did not live on the estate but just over the other side of the railway line.I knew several boys & can still remember several of their names also some of the staff at the school. I have not been along Glastonbury road since some time in the 1970s.We spent a lot of our time playing on the sports field but now you have got a large school built on the field. I have a lot memories of the war time when all the shelters were being built on the little field shared by the infants, junior & senior boys & girls. we were sent for lessons at any larger house nearer to where you lived for part time until the shelters were completed. We had to go to what used to be Thomsons Nurseries on Sutton Common Road.( corner of Barrington Drive) I think I best stop here as I could go on for quite some time. I moved up to Norwich in 1956 & still live in the county & enjoy it.

Ah Brian - you've stirred another fond memory. I had a summer holiday job at Thomsons Nursery - yard boy under the guidance of Clive Thomson, the youngest son I think. All the Thomson brothers were kind and decent people and several boys from the estate were given summer holiday jobs. Old Mr Thomson was quite an impressive man and one year he entrusted me to taking the geranium cuttings for his wonderful front garden. They all took except one cutting and Mr Thomson Snr made me feel like a million dollars. I'm in Australia now and I believe the nursery is gone with houses on there now but that job gave me such confidence. If any of the Thomson clan are reading this you should be justifiably proud of what your family did in those days.

I went to Glastonbury Road Infants School from 1947 to 1950. The Headmistress was Mrs Cook (or Crook?). One of the other teachers was Mrs Dare who used to bring her son to school on the back of her bike. I remember that they used to raise the Union Jack on its pole on Empire Day - the whole school was in the playground.

I was a pupil at Glastonbury 1957-1964 in the 'G' stream and well remember many of the staff mentioned above. Mr Paddon I remember as a kindly figure; we did woodwork only in the first year (or two? - can't remember) and they were first thing Monday morning, so that was a pleasant start to the week. I used to spend a lot of time melting and stirrng the glue, which had hardened, in a pot on a gas ring - it had a pleasant smell. We made a standard series of useful things - a bookstand and a shoebox among them, I remember. We spent a long time over mortice and tenon joints. I think I remember Mr Paddon had a moped. I went to his funeral as a member of a small party including WVT(willey) and Peter Price, (Head Boy and recently retired Bishop of Bath and Wells) Kevin Allen

My husband used to go to Glastonbury Rd School. His name is Malcolm Cowen. He was at the school from 1941 to 1946..Teachers in attendance were,Mr Trim Headmaster, Mr Twilly Dept. Head,Miss Baines, Mr Young, Mr Prentice, Miss Tyler, Mrs Thomas and Mr Paddon. My husband was in the sport of boxing. In the Olympic Squad 1952 Helsinki..Does anyone out there remember my husband...

I believe I was one of (the above) Kevin Allen's classmates in the G stream.  I too attended from 1957 to 1964.  I remember Mr Paddon as one of two woodwork teachers.  Also I recall Mr Twilley, Mr Boyce (Chemistry), Mr Saunders (History), Mr Poole (Geography) and Mr Sharpe (English) ...

Hullo Jennifer Swanston and Eric Plummer!  I was a sergeant in the 15th Mid Surrey BB Coy at Green lane Congregational Church in the mid-late 1940's. In the late summer of 1950 we went off to a camp in Llanberis, Snowdonia.  We were horrified when poor old Bobby got drowned, and our Minister (Congregational) who was running the camp, had to return to Morden, to attend Bobby's funeral. I have an old snapshot with Bobby in it, taken at an earlier, seaside camp.  And Eric- I seem to remember(?) that you- like me- turned very brown in the summer !?!)         Bill

I attended this school from 1956 until 1961. I remember it all very well. I was not particularly happy there, as I was not a good mixer, and sometimes there was bullying, but I was able to look after myself. I did little work in the first couple of years, until Harry Hawkins (the English teacher) took me aside and gave me a good talking to. He was the first teacher to show any personal interest in me, and I got off my butt and got my act together, and did some work. He was the best teacher there, although I now see that most of them were tired and some were burnt out. The headmaster, William Vernon Twilley, who had his favourites, and the rest just got in his way.. I clashed with him a number of times (they call it 'dumb insolence' in the Army),so it wasn't all him, but his main target was Lionel Reuben Rogers, a small boy who he would pick on regularly... I remember Mr.Poole (geography) Mr "Mouse Saunders" (history) Mr.Paddon (woodwork) who had emphysemia, 'Dinger' Bell (physics) Mr.Sanders (P.T.)RNVR, who used to keep a wooden drumstick in his sweats to 'encourage' anyone not trying....Mrs. Baines, who nobody messed with, Mr.'Slug'Boyce  (chemistry) who was so kind hearted that he would slipper naughty boys with the inner sole of a slipper, Mr.Tate, of the bristly mustache, who caught me smoking in class (just the once!) and Mr Crowhurst (maths) who would mumble away about algebra or somesuch for hours. I have particular happy memories of the French lady who taught us her language for 6 months in 1961, before returning back to Paris. (Twilley and I clashed over that, too!) I remember most of my classmates:  John Hoyes, Alan Cretchley, Chris Colvin,David Day,Peter Hodge,Malcom Witt, Dave Periera,David Fiddimore,John Kendal Bouch, Howard Boulton and Colin Shade, the school swot, who got 192 'O'levels at 12, or something like that. Twilley made him 'Head boy' which shows that education doesn't mean you are smart, or can give orders!  I musn't forget the famous David Rowlands, who left school 'early' , and is now a multi millionaire (see Private Eye passim). I could go on for pages, and will do if not stopped, but I'll close now. Thanks again to Mr. Hawkins, who made me think, and inspired me to have a few successes in my life.

I attended #6 School, Glastonbury Road from fall 1949 to leaving Easter 1954. I did meet the previous head mistress Miss B Allen at a sports day function but I cannot remember the name of the head mistress while I was there. I do remember Miss Levens who took us for music and English. She married Mr Haybittle who took us for geography and the boys half of the school for woodwork. School was split down the middle the boys and girls sides were kept very segregated. I had two older sisters who went there and they both had one of my teachers, a Miss Dempster. She was very old when I started. We tried to sit toward the back of the class as she used to spit when she talked.  Some of my class mates were Hilda Bruce, who lived really close to the school, She was one of my very good friends growing up..Connie Chipping, Rita Cull, Evelyn Bannister, Lily Thompson. Lily was a bit of a bully. Miss Jones is another teacher I liked, She taught history and also dramatics. I mustn't forget Miss Green who taught us French. I wish I could remember the science master as he was a hoot but I just can't think of his name. I hope somebody out there remembers some of these people. My maiden name was Atkins.

I lived on Rosehill Avenue up to 1967 when we moved - to Canada. I went to Glastonbury Public School and I recall Miss Markwell as the Teacher or maybe Principal at that time. Mr Moore was the Geography teacher.

Gillian Green. Howard Hawes. Graham Gillis ( sister Mandy and father Norman ) were the main group of friends I had.

I would like to reconnect after so many years and lost time.

Hi Jenifer Swanston,

I lived just around the corner from your house near the railway bridge in Love Lane. As a ten year old in 1950 I do remember your brother Bobby and believe it or not but I always think of his tragedy when thinking back to those boyhood days. Bobby never actually played with our gang on that corner but was more adventurous by joining the B.B. I do remember he was a likeable lad who kept himself to himself. 

In my minds eye I can still see him running through the corner council plot that every road had in those days on his way to the shops maybe, and also that terrible day when told he had drowned.

You were a friend of my sister Linda Vail and I believe you were both in the same class. In fact I still have a photograph of you and her in my back garden somewhere in my archives.

You bumped into my late mother some years ago at the doctors in Central Road. I was amazed that my mother did not think to exchange addresses with you as my sister Linda would love to hear from you.

I also remember you had an elder sister who was a nurse at St Helier's Hospital who nursed my father in-law during his final days, a lovely lady.

Hope this has been of interest.

Ray Vail

Veronica Cowen: I was only at Glastonbury senior school from 1952 to 1954 before transferring to Tweeddale school in (technical stream) in 1954. One day an 'old' boy of about 25? made a visit to see his old teachers. He was to my memory very tall, fair haired and I think a heavy weight. After he left the teacher told us he was Bibby Cowen an old boy of the school.

Whether this was the same Cowen I do not know but whoever he was he certainly made and impression on us lads seeing a real boxer in the flesh.

I went to Glastonbury Road school. The juniors and then the seniors from 1947 to 1954. I remember all the teachers, especially Miss Levens, later married Mr Haybittle another teacher. Also Mr Lambert who was my form teacher. I remember all the girls going up to the Congregational Church in Green Lane for the monthly service. I used to try to sit at the back, as Mr Maunder knew my Dad, who was choirmaster and I sang in the Choir, so I didn't want to be recognized. When I left school, I also worked at Lines Brothers in the offices, after completing the commercial course. I really enjoyed my time there. I worked there until I married in 1960 and left when we started our family. I feel the education I received was excellent, if you were prepared to work hard, as later when I returned to work, I was able to work in retail management and later for the NHS in a local surgery where I stayed until I retired and we moved to Mid Wales after living in Bracknell for 32years.

I still have all my school reports and my school prizes for examination results and handwork. 

I went to Glastonbury Senior School form 1968 to 1973. Happy memories, can't believe it was so long ago. I too wish I'd worked harder but it's not been too bad. Live on Dartmoor. No not in the prison.

I went to Glastonbury High School from 9th September 1969 - 1974. I still remember my first day lining up outside our new classroom in name order and then seated in name order. Our teacher was Mr Bullock. I think it was his first teaching job. Headmaster was Mr Oram and Deputy Head was Mr Saunders. PE teacher Mr Sanders, English teacher Mrs Wildash, French teacher Miss Kiniston - very attractive and all us boys fancied her. Music teacher Wally Whitmore, My Woodwork teacher Mr Pank. Mrs Baynes (Bessie) - she retired when I was there in a about 1971, Mr Finn(Jim), Mr Dale. Looking back my time there wasn't too bad. So wished I had of worked harder, which I was quite capable of doing, but I didn't. Didn't seem important to me then for some reason. 

I was at Glastonbury Road school about 1937/8-40. The head master was Mr Trim, Mr Pool (woodwork) Mr Pool (geo.) Mr Twilley (art). I would be grateful if someone might remember the Physics and Chemistry masters? My sister also attended about '33/34. Perhaps that is all too early.

Peter Smith in New Zealand. 

My father, Mr G.F. Lamb, joined the staff of the school in 1933, which was when it opened, I believe. He taught a range of subjects, and later assumed charge of English teaching throughout the school. He remained at the school until 1940, when he left to join a school in Petersfield. I still have his letter of appointment, and confirmation that his initial salary was the princely sum of £172 16s 0d per annum.

I attended Glastonbury Senior School from 1963 - 1969.I remember well the Staff. Mr.Twilley first, then Mr.Oram. Mr Saunders and Mr. Sanders of course. I also remember others like Mr. Homewood, Mr Cuzner, Mr. Ketteman, Mrs Baines, Mr.Pank, Mr. Braund, Mr. Sharpe, Miss Winney, Mr. Whitmore and of course Miss Kynaston! They were good times and I remember them like they were yesterday.

Well Alan Carrington was in my class along with Barry Day and Howard Boone among others. Until I left for NZ in 1959. I was not a happy camper at Glastonbury and was pleased to leave. I visited the school in 1964 with Twilley still headmaster who told me my class had been outstanding and I would also have been so once I stopped being lazy! I was in England to study medicine but could not cope with dreary London the Tube and cabbage smelling boarding houses. So headed back to the antipodes. Steve Beck

Hi. Does anyone remember any of the Emberson family that went to Glastonbury, I think during the 30'summer 40's. Peter, Anne,Brenda, Diana,Dennis or Michael? They lived in Hurst Court road. Would love to hear any memories?

I was at Glastonbury from 1961 to 1968. It was interesting to hear those teachers names after all these years and their nicknames too. I remember "Maxy" Poole, "Nesty" Crowhurst , "Abu" Blackman and the rather strange English teacher Holmwood who gave you lines if you used the word "got".

I was a student at Glastonbury Boys from 1960 to 1967.  I have fond memories of "Nesty" Crowhurst (maths teacher) who changed my whole future life for the better... and for Tony "Brumas" Sanders who instilled a lifelong love of sailing (at Thames Young mariners on games afternoon and for annual one week hols sailing on the Norfolk Broads. Inspiring teachers both. And there where others....

I was a pupil to 1970 and one of the class names were

Abbot - Campbell - Clayton - Davidson - Edwards - Entecott - Everist - Foreman - Gooch - Gribble - Harvey - Hudson - Kier - Maddox - Munns - Noble - Nunn - Oliver - Parker - Rawlston - Searle - Seaton - Vokes and Worsfold. I have a picture from 1969 with maths teacher Mr Crowhurst.

Feel free to contact me for a copy

I followed my brother Chris Webster to his school aged 11 in September 1965 and started in 1GP then moved to 2G. Remember Headmaster Mr Oram (we called him Maro). I used to impersonate him when the corridors were really noise and shout "EHHH Sunny!" Immediately the whole corridor went quiet for at least 2 minutes. I recall Mr Stoker who used to slipper the post in the changing room and ask "does anyone want their prize?" One day coming straight out of the shower I said "OK" and he slippered me on my bare bum, much to everyone's joy!

I attended Glastonbury Senior School from 1963 - 1967 the staff I can remember were Mr.Twilley, Head Master although I think he was replaced before I left, Mr Ketteman who was a form master and also taught history.. Mr. Sanders who took PE. I also remember others like Mr. Sharpe for English and Miss Winney for maths - I think she was replaced by Mr Crowhurst.

I cannot remember the teacher names for things like Physics, Chemistry, Woodwork or Metalwork although I know the class split into two groups to cover whatever you felt you were best suited. For French, the teacher only remained until around 1964 and then a young teacher took over....he was like a breath of fresh air even though I couldn’t stand French.

i think there were about 30 boys in the class - a few names spring to mind - Bossman, Clove, the Stuart twins Alec and James, Paul Ransom, Gooch, Maidwell-Dodd who got called Dodd but tended to tell the teacher it was "Maidwell-Dodd", and James Weir. 

I went to Glastonbury Road from about 1958 to 1965. I recall many of the teachers mentioned on here, and in addition Mr Ball (music) Mr Peters (Art) Mr Rayner (Science and also Divinity!), Mr. Purdue (French) and Mr. Fry (French too) Very fond memories of a summer holiday to Leysin Switzerland, on a night train through France, and also a month long camping holiday through France and Spain with Mr. Rayner and his wife, and about 8 other boys, all in one minibus. The year was 1963 the year of the Great Train Robbery. I used to cycle to school from near Morden tube station every day, using the back roads of the estate to lessen the hills!!

Really great reading the memories of former pupils.  I attended GHSfB between 1966 and 1970, 5 great years.  Started in 1GP and ended in 5G.  The teachers were a mixed bunch and I am sorry I never took the time to listen to all the advice they gave out.  Jim Dale, whom tried in vain to teach me english, was a great guy. As was Mr Crowhurst, who made maths interesting.  Miss Kynaston who taught us French was great, and I always remember the rumours circulating in the playground when she left in about 1968, when another young male teacher left at the same time. She was replaced by Jim Finn, who wanted to be one of the lads.  He was the only teacher who went to the pub with us; we were in the 5th year, and after our 'O' levels had finished he took us to the pub for a farewell drink.  He used to drive an old Morris Minor and one day arrived with the clutch slipping. I was in the fourth year at the time and told him I knew how to adjust the clutch on his car; so I missed the French lesson that morning adjusting his clutch.  It was always interesting at morning assembly to watch the deputy head, Mr Saunders, mouth the bible reading; did he really know the bible that well?  Mr Stoker introduced our crowd to basketball and we spent many an evening training for the games we played against other schools.  My best memory of my five years at Glastonbury?  Adrian Harris, Geoff Davis, and myself had been thrown out of French, again, and were wandering the corridors.  Oram and Sanders were walking up the stairs near the school office as we passed by.  "Stop Boys" came the shout; no chance.  We ran past Oram's office hearing "You go one way sir, I'll go the other"  Down past the chemistry labs we ran and Geoff said "quick, into the hall".  We ran in and Geoff removed a panel on the side of the stage and we all dived in, under the stage, pulling the panel closed behind us.  He had found out about the panel when assisting a teacher to store some things under the stage.  "Did you get them sir?" said Sanders as he entered the hall from the opposite end of the hall.  "No, didn't you?" we heard Oram respond.  It was so hard not to burst out laughing.  We stayed there until the bell for lunch rang, and made our way out of school, and up to the cafe at Rose Hill, which had become our venue for school dinners.  Others from my time at Glastonbury include Steve Pinnock, Derek Flanders, Richard Gay, Simon Norman, and Del Saunders.  Interestingly,  I still have my school report booklet from Glastonbury, which has some choice comments from some teachers.  Best time at Glastonbury?  Field trip to the Lake district as part of our Geography 'O' level study.  I know us oldies are said to see through rose tinted glasses when we recall our school days, but for me, Glastonbury was a great part of my life.  

I was in grammar stream from 1955/6 to 1961..and remember all those fellow pupils and masters mention by others..memories flooding back..most of them good...kept in touch with some class mates after leaving etc ,but eventually everyone moves on and drifts away after a few years...Have no real regrets..Nesty  the maths master was kind and helped me a lot to achieve maths O level pass etc.I left with 6 O level passes..no complaints...I was known as Chas then.Some called me Candle!?Still have my Paddon inspired foot stool!..no loose joints! NB. David Rowland owes me money for work done on his motorbike and Isetta bubble car...! Lives on Jersey with his statue, son and money etc. Heavy connection to Tory party I believe...!?Kind regards to all that were with me then...We getting old now!!??

Hi bods,I was here 1972-77.Form teacher was Winnie Wildash. Headmaster Wilf Oram, dept head Saunders.Sanders PE, Stemp, Bessie Baines, Jim Finn, Fearnly, Paul, Green, Marshall, Bullock Pank, Wally Whitmore. Physics teacher had a big ginger beard.

Fearnly used to launch blackboard rubbers at us with unerring accuracy, Baines and Marshall could deliver the slipper oh so painfully. Saunders loved to cane us in his office.

Remember 4th and 5th years went on strike one afternoon.They tried all manner of threats to get us to go back indoors from the play ground.

Did some great holidays to Spain and Xmas skiing in Italy. Many happy memories from my years there.

Could list a whole bundle of mates and fellow students but that would take too long.

I was at Glastonbury 1959-1967. Started in the A stream until I was 13, when nearly the whole class was ‘promoted’ to the G stream. I remember most of the teachers mentioned so far, but would add Mr. Illsley (science), Miss Ball (French). The latter married a Mr. Cannon, and we often wondered why no hyphenated surname! Two of my classmates were John Hewlett and Trevor White, both of whom later had careers in music (John’s Children, Sparks). I was nicknamed ‘Spindle’, shortened to ‘Spin’, because I was on the skinny side. 

I attended Glastonbury Road Boys' School from 1959 to 1967. In '59 the school was in transition - girl pupils were being moved up to their new school in Sutton Common Road and they still occupied two classrooms on the ground floor. This continued for a year or two before it became all boys. At the time the school was primarily a secondary school with a grammar stream. I failed the 11+ so went into the secondary class, 1a. At the end of my second year in 2a it was decided that a good number in my class were worthy of being put up into the grammar stream. However, it was probably thought we had missed out on some grammar learning so we stayed in a second year class , 2GP. I do not think there were any GP forms prior to this. I understood that the GP stood for Grammar Parallel. Hence, by the time I left after A levels I had spent an extra year at the school. The teachers I can recall are: Mr Twilley (head teacher until Mr Oram took over), Mr Saunders (Deputy Head), Mr Pank and Mr Padden (woodwork), Mr Blackman (metalwork), Mr Homewood (English and French), Mr Page-Ball (music), Mr Stone (RE), Mr Sanders (PE), Mr Boyce (chemistry), Mr Poole (Geography), Mr Ilsley (physics), Mr Rayner (science), Mr Crowshurst (maths), Mr Broughton (physics) and I think there was a French teacher Miss Ball who married and became Mrs Cannon.