Hi Norman,
In my previous guestbook entry I promised to scan some photos of a
school pageant for you. That was five years ago but anyway here they
are! It was an Elizabethan Feast with the pupils cast as various
luminaries from that era of history. I'm attaching six of them which
cover just about everyone who was in the class.
In order they feature: Myself and Jason Brown;
Fiona Hill and Adrian Selby;
Janine Wingate, mystery person behind fan talks to Denise ?, Konrad ?;
Jason Brown, Suzanne ?;
Lyn ?, Kristine Blair, Shafique Omar;
myself (with disturbing beard), victoria willing (the back of her head anyway), tomi tomas tomacek.
I've just returned to Melbourne after four very busy years running a
theatre company in Perth. With a bit of time on my hands I went back for
a look at your site. I'm impressed by the accumulating material on the
guest book. For some reason though, no one else from my class seems to
have stumbled on the website yet. Perhaps they have but were from the
'traumatised' faction of ex-TCers.
By the way, my sister's name is in the list of pupils but not mine. I was there from '63 to '69.
Cheers, Tom Gutteridge
Melbourne, Australia
Tom Gutteridge <tandango@optusnet.com.au>
Melbourne, Australia - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 21:57:12 (CEST)
I went to T&C for 2 terms beginning Sept 1964.
I had finished 6th grade in the US where I was born- we were in London for a year. I was about 11 and was the youngest in the class, I think.
The oldest was a Japanese girl- we were friends. ( there were sisters Kyoko and Yokiko- one in my class and one in my younger sister's class)
I remember the names
Anjelica Huston
Judith Lock
which one of your correspondents mentioned(Sabah Zilouf)
I remember:
my classroom was adjacent to the entrance of the building- opposite the auditorium, an incredible geography teacher,
playing a very small part in Beauty and the Beast,
the set lunches- every Monday liver and mashed potatoes, etc., learning enough math in two terms to keep me bored for the next 2 years of school,
standing up when a teacher entered - till what year was that the custom?
Who were the teachers in the senior school that year?
Debbie Epstein
Debbie Epstein (Rahav) <debbiekatzrin@yahoo.com>
UK - Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 11:20:34 (CEST)
My dear friend Norman - Great to be back in contact
again
I shall send excerpts so as not to bore you and to be able to give some chronological
coherence to the last 43 years since I saw you last.
Feel free to use whatever you want for the web site or edit as you wish.
The discovery and establishment of contact:
2008:
Last Saturday night I suddenly thought about Gabriel Arnell and Kublai Malek
and punched the names into Google.
I fell upon your site and could not believe it. I had spent years trying to
forget T&C, and now it was there again in front of me ?!
At first I wanted to see about you and then I realized you were behind it all.
Incredible!
Well done a great job of reconstruction.
My views on St Mary's are very similar to John Paul Jones of whom I have vivid
memories.
I was very unhappy there. I arrived before you in 1958 (aged six) and left in
December 1965 (in full rebellion and close to being a delinquent).
Reading thru your site I realized that the life we led as boarders was completely
different than that of the day kids.
For me it was some type of three dimensional Hogwarts with foul food and incomprehensible
rules.
Do you remember the punishments of standing on chairs in the landing with books
in outstretched hands ? The eternal lines? The number of times I was suspended?
The fireworks in the dorm curtains etc.
I loved the weekends in the country. I remember you teaching me about electricity?
The battery with cable and the smallest possible light bulb.
The never ending feasts in the bedrooms at midnight. The business of selling
sweets and ending up eating them all.
On your list of names you might want to add Kublai Malek.
Tell me more about Paul Vaughn, I can’t seem to place him although I know we
were friends.
The man in the photo with me and Jean Bennett was my uncle Hossein, who was
studying medicine
at Oxford at the time, and who was my legal guardian in the UK.
I think it was he who found the school of St Mary’s.
He went on to
be part of the first team to do a kidney transplant in the UK.
The Americans recruited him first to St Louis and then to North Carolina to
run Kidney transplant centers.
They gave him US citizenship and he did very well and ended up living in Florida
(Ft Lauderdale).
Its good to be with you again Norman, I shall continue
with chapter 2 (1966 –1974) shortly.
Keep well
Majid
Majid T Yazdi (Majid Tabatabai) <majid@mymconsult.com>
Lima, Peru - Monday, July 14, 2008 at 14:16:52 (CEST)
PS: the fotos are of my second wife (Monica and kids)
my daughter Jade (first wedding) who will be 20 in August is studying art at
St Martins in London.
The contents brought back memories and the names of
my school day contemporaries, both of which I thought long, long lost.
I have laughed out loud at some of the guest book
postings and have been delighted to have rediscovered
an old friend, Ben Trisk. There are other names
mentioned and one in particular pops up a few times,
that of Reina James. To those who asked what became
of her, click onto this link to discover more:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/generalfiction/story/0,,2113260,00.html
I remember French without 'Learning' as some of us
would sneeringly call it and vaguely recall the tape
recorder. The completely over the top Philip
Mysercough/Neville was someone with whom I got on, but
in hindsight can see that he was an appalling bully
who took out all his insecurities on his young
charges.
I was unaware of his News of the World outing. The
redoubtable Mrs Paul must have been particularly
liberal minded for the time to have allowed him to
continue at the school.
He must have been particularly sensitive about it all.
I was in charge of the lighting at one his Christmas
concert specials, which, at the time were staged at
the Rudolf Steiner Theatre just off Baker Street.
Calling down from the lighting gallery to the stage,
where he was strutting his stuff, I made the mistake
of using his old name and received a booming broadside
to remind me that his name was MR NEVILLE!
Another Christmas play, Amahl and the Night Visitors,
saw me step into one of the leading roles at the last
minute when the pupil chosen for the part had to pull
out for some reason or other. I'd had the task of
chief prompt during the rehearsals and seemed to know
all the parts. I played opposite another of my
friends Tony Vaughan. His brother Paul features in one
of the photographs on the site.
Other memories triggered by your site is of another
friend, Charles Kenton, who was a boarder and the son
of the actor Godfrey Kenton, who regularly featured in
radio plays. I can still see Charles rising
majestically to score a brilliantly headed goal in one
of our aimless football games on the Hampstead Heath
extension. I also recall Ben Trisk playing tennis in a
tournament and using the lob to great effect. Our
weekly efforts with the old wooden rackets and worn
tennis balls at the courts just behind Belsize Park
station, must have been hugely frustrating to a
talented player such as Ben.
God this is all so sentimental and making me feel
ancient!
Keep up the good work and thank you.
Best wishes
Geoffrey Bowden
Geoffrey Bowden <geoffrey.bowden@btopenworld.com>
UK - Monday, June 16, 2008 at 14:16:52 (CEST)
Hi Norman,
I found your website while taking a break and thinking about the old
days. I wasa quite surprised to find it actually! I went through all
the photos in the gallery, but none had a picture of me.
I was there
for 1971-73, moving there from Switzerland and left when we were
posted to the US. I recognize some of the names, like Lisa Prudhoe,
Fariba and Farina, and Mandy, who crushed my chalk when it fell out of
my hand (she wasn't very nice).
Other names I remember were Duncan ?,
Richard Lever, and Peter Rothschild. Anyway, good show.
Cheers.
Kevin Hill.
Kevin Hill <kmahill@umich.edu>
UK - Friday, June 13, 2008 at 15:38:59 (CEST)
Hi Norman,
I came upon your website dedicated to Town and Country purely by chance – my son had heard some very sad news about one of his school friends and I entered Town and Country on Google. When I read all the entries and saw the photos I really couldn’t believe my eyes.
I was at T & C from 1964 to 1969. My name is Beverley Cohen (Duboff) and I must say I don’t have many fond memories of the School. Mrs Paul was a very strange lady indeed (that is being polite!). I remember having to recite pages of French poetry (La cigalle ayant chante) The only teacher I really liked was Miss Bennett. She encouraged me and I think it is she who got me interested in the theatre and books.
It is easy to criticise the school now – who knows how I would gave got on at another school? But I don’t think we were taught to aim high and to be confident and it took me a long time to be able to do that.
When I left school I took A levels and a secretarial course and then I worked in the theatrical and publishing world until I got married in 1977. I now have 2 grown up sons, Mark who is 27 and Richard age 25. They are both Chartered Surveyors like Kenny, my husband. We live in Stanmore Middlesex.
I have worked on and off since I got married but the only work I do at the moment is on my golf! My family all play the game and last year I was Lady Captain of my golf club Potters Bar.
I was thrilled to read that Karen Miller remembered me and that Carol Williams now lives in Australia – she has had an interesting time. I did see Carol for a while after leaving school but we lost touch in the early 70s.
I do still see Lynn Swaine (Steele) and she’s still as bubbly as she was in that photo in the playground, except she’s now a grandmother!! I also see Hilary Kaye (Isaacs) and she’s also a grandmother!
Thanks for all your hard work on the website. It brought back some interesting memories.
Regards
Beverley Cohen (Duboff)
Beverley Cohen (Duboff) <bkco33@hotmail.com>
London, UK - Monday, June 02, 2008 at 12:21:43 (CEST)
Hi Norman
I have visited your website several times over the past few years and
been amazed at the warmth you display for T&C. My memories are mixed,
but the overriding one is misery. I hated the place. I hated the
boarding house (even the words 'boarding house' make me feel a little
nauseous). I hated the tarmac playground and the side gate with the
trellis panel (remember?). And more... And that is probably why I
have never contacted you, thinking that you must be deranged, at the
very least, to have such fond memories. I went there from age 5 - 11,
first as a boarder, and how you could speak so kindly of this bunch
of mad bastards who had such power over small children was a mystery to me.
The Pauls were, as one contributor (Ernie?) comments, autocratic and
remote - that Mrs P was later described as mentally ill came as no
surprise, I could have told them that at age 5. Mr Neville was a
particularly unpleasant pervert. He had some very unsavoury practices
which today would be seen as child abuse and probably require him to
resign or, preferably, be banged up. And Mr Prousto (?) was little
better. Of course I remember some individuals as being kind and warm,
but not many - and mainly the women.
Despite the above, I am not a twisted, rancorous old git, rubbing my
palms together in demented self-loathing staring at a wall and
muttering under my breath about the wrongs done to me by the world at
large (well, not all the time). Like you, I have had a varied career,
mostly in the entertainment industry. Now I am too old and wise to
spend my life on tour, and too bored to order toilets, generators and
fencing for festivals, and now spend my time trying to stop those
people who still do these things from killing themselves and each
other - and get paid a damn site better. Oh yes, and quite a happy
bloke really - for a health and safety consultant, that is.
I remember you with some affection, a bright and inventive type,
always entertaining and only as 'good' as you needed to be to get by.
Maybe that was the difference, I always got caught and punished,
often for things I hadn't done, and rather than shut up and keep my
head down, I'd protest my innocence until I managed to infringe
another arcane piece of etiquette (usually "talking back to my elders
and betters") and get into trouble all over again. I have a very
clear memory of you pinning a crumpled sheet of silver paper to the
inside of your desk lid and poking a wire, connected to the silver
foil via a battery, through a hole in the lid and scraping it about
to create static and interfere with the radio reception of those
dreadful BBC schools programmes. I don't remember if it worked, but
it seems vaguely ironic that you went on to a 'career' where immense
effort was expended improving wireless reception. It is only with
mild regret that I confess to being a Radio London listener (Caroline
was a bit naff within my circle of friends) and thus not hearing you
which I think would have been quite cool - though I expect London had
ceased broadcasting by the time you got to Caroline and I had
probably stopped listening to the pirates...
Anyway, thought I'd finally get in touch to say you have done an
excellent job archiving T&C - whether it will be read as a
celebration of great schooldays or a dire warning of the potential
dangers of off-beam educational establishments given free reign
depends on the experience of the reader. Anyway, well done.
A few bits from the past to add to your collection - but no photos I'm afraid:
Names that drift in and out of focus...
Harry Trigg - American?
Dorothy ? (Doy)
Alexis (Flexy)
Lindy Green (last seen in The Bell, Belsize Park 1970's)
Nicholas Paul Butler
The coffee shop was called Beverly Bean it was opposite the Finchley
Road baths and was redeveloped as a Sainsbuy's - I spent a lot of
time in the area in the late 60s and 70's and would tell friends that
I leaned to swim in Sainsbury's which we thought hilarious - but we
were stoned most of the time.
Anyway it's a beautiful sunny Sunday down here in SW France and I
must go tend the estate as the grass grows faster than I can cut the
damn stuff down, and if I don't do it now it will be up to the eaves
by the time I get back from bringing some sanity and order to the
Glastonbury festival (spoilsport!)
All best
Richard Paul-Jones
PS You can remove PJ, I only acquired the nickname in 1963 (after
T&C) but it is a limitation of Friends Reunited who ask for a
nickname in your profile, and then assume you had it since birth.
Richard Paul-Jones
Richard Paul-Jones <rpj@safeevents.org>
Blagnac , France - Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 21:18:24 (CEST)
Norman's Note - Richard, thanks for writing, you say I "must be deranged, at the very least, to have such fond memories" and you could easily be right - after all this website is simply a labour of love! but notice how many other glowing memories the site has accumulated. Strangley, I can easily agree with your summary of T&C, and yet amongst all that dysfunction and madness, I feel it did me a great deal of good, perhaps partly because of it! Yet your comments are just as valid as any of the others, and your description is prefectly recognisable. Thank you for deciding to write after all.
P.S. My foil experiments 'jamming' the BBC that you recall, must have been an early indication of my disapproval of their monopoly of the airwaves?
Norman
I hope the attached pictures will give everyone
in them some fond memories. These are six more pictures
I found from the years 58 to 61 when I was at the old school.
One of the pictures I have labelled Timothy Grimes but it might have been Michael
Bunting who was being strangled by John Walton?
If anyone can name the others who I have failed to name in any of the photos please let Norman know so he can keep an accurate historic record.
Happy Easter
Martin Bridger
Martin Bridger
UK - Monday, March 24, 2008 at 15:24:28 (CET)
Dear Norman
I have just had the extraordinary experience of seeing what I presume is your web site on the Town and Country School. I was there from 1961 until 1964 when I returned to South Africa. I am regularly in London and some years ago set out to find the school only to learn that it no longer existed. It was , for me, extraordinarily formative and encouraged so much intellectual curiosity among my friends and myself that I often wonder what its secret was.
I am an investment banker working primarily in the international mining industry for my own account. I would dearly like to know more about you and to make contact with some of the people who were at school at that time.
I have seen on your website numerous references to a boy named Joshua Thomas. He had a brother who was a friend of mine by the name of Giles. I recall that the boys lived with their father somewhere in Belsize Park. Of interest is that Sylvia Plath lived in the apartment below them and Mr Thomas was friendly with her and consoled her after Ted Hughes walked out. I think it was he who was first on the scene after she committed suicide.
Another boy with whom I was friendly at that time was Nicholas Partos – not on your list. He was very bright and I often wonder what became of him. He lived with his mother in Reddington Gardens (Redfern Gardens) in Earls Court. I note that two other boys are not on your list whom I recall. The one was Martin Deutscher (his father Isaac Deutscher was a renowned Sovietologist and at one time the Editor of the New Statesman, and Paul Allum). The only school friend from those days that I keep in contact with is Juliet Glaister. She now lives in Ealing. I was very close to the family.
Do you have any recollection of a young boy, I think a year below me, who was the godson of Yehudi Menhuin – also called Yehudi, I think. I remember the Dragon boy, ultimate cool as someone remarked on your website and also a pretty girl by the name of Pamela Mason. I believe that she was related to the actor James Mason. Reina James was another friend of mine in those years. She had a South African connection. Her father, Sid James was a famous comedy actor who was born in Johannesburg.
Geoffrey Bowden was on your list. I was very friendly with him and would love to know where he is now – if you have a contact address. Oddly, I remember Lilian Trig. I see that she lives in Canada and she was a Candian girl whose father was on secondment to London if memory serves.
I have always wondered about a marvellous French teacher that we had. His name was Myerscough but at the commencement of a new term he announced that he was now Philip Neville and he remained like that for the rest of my stay at Town & Country.
David Cheetham taught me English. He had been at Stoneyhurst and his approach was very public school. I often puzzle about why he taught at Town & Country at all. I was a great fan of his and got on famously with him because he loved sport and I was very sporty – far too sporty for T&C. I recall getting time off from school on Tuesday and Thurday afternoons so that I could go down to Queens Club to play tennis.
I had some splendid teachers who gave me wonderful insights and sparked my intellectual curiosity more than one would normally expect out of a 14/15 year old schoolboy. Other than David Cheetham and Philip Neville, tow who come to mind were Mrs Belloni (an outstanding History teacher although your reference to her is as a junior school teacher) and Helen Fehling who also taught English.Mrs Haak never managed to teach me much German but she had great legs and that was sufficient to grab my attention.
Just as a point of personal background, I am married (for the second time) to Helen Maisels, whose father Isie Maisels QC was a great barrister who led the Defence Team in the South African Treason Trial. Nelson Mandela was one of the accused in that trial. All the accused were found not guilty in 1961 and Mandela and Isie remained close right up to the time of Isie’s death in 1994. We have one son, Simon, who goes to St Johns College, in Johannesburg and we will likely move to London in the second half of next year so that Simon can do his A levels at one of the Public Schools close to London. Simon will go to University in the UK. My son from my first marriage lives and works in New York.
I hope that you find this helpful and once again my applause on your website. It is a wonderful vehicle for connecting old friends.
Kind regards
Benjamin Trisk
Benjamin Trisk <venture@pixie.co.za>
Johannesburg, South Africa - Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 13:17:39 (CET)
Hi Norman,
I went to both the Town and the Country School from about 1947 or 48 until 1952.
My name started out as Jennifer Jacobs, then became Jennifer (Jenny) Greene. My sister, Lindy Greene attended the town school starting in 1959.
During my years there I remember some names of schoolmates: Zulieka Dobson (Zooey), Susan Bisham-Holmes, Sally and Molly Branch, Sally and Jackie Turner, Neil Crawford, Kip Hampton, a Swiss girl named Vivian (?) and another girl named Harriet (whose last name I have also forgotten) among them. These were mostly at the country school (Stanford). And I remember a girl named Sandy with red hair and a horse named Lavender! Might you know the whereabouts of any of these people?
Miss Bennett was my favourite teacher.
Unfortunately, when my parents moved us to Canada in the winter of 1952 they were in arrears on my school bills, so I was not allowed to tell anyone I was leaving and therefore lost touch with everyone. (They did pay up on returning to England in 1959 and enrolling my younger sister).
I have many complicated memories of my boarding school years. It was hard to be out alone in the world at such a young age, but if one must, St. Mary's was the most benign of places to be alone in.
It's lovely to see this web site, thank you for doing it.
Jenny
Jenny Kastner <jennynews@sympatico.ca>
Toronto , Canada - Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 21:25:39 (CET)
Hi Norman, I was totally shocked – surprised – blown away – whatever, to fined your web site. I'd love to make contact with Jennifer Staffy Peter Neomey Rachel Ibittson Sean Sears John Hall Eric etc. I have lots of Photos of cottage kids and plays we produced, parties, plus Jean, bless her, Robin Wood, Caroline Mortimer. Do get in touch. Sorry about layout and spelling can’t work this blessed computer. Yours Daniela Borchard
Daniela Borchard <danbor@netvision.net.il>
ISRAEL - Monday, February 04, 2008 at 17:20:14 (CET)
Hi, what a great website! I have very fond memories of the school (73-76). I heard recently that Mrs Paul was once an eminent psychiatrist. I'm not sure whether this is true, but it certainly figures as she had a tendency to analyse both pupils and parents. She once told a friend of mine that she was an unloved child!
Pls can you add me to your list of pupils.
Many thanks,
Undine Bowmaker
Undine Bowmaker <ur@ur9297.plus.com>
UK - Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 18:45:19 (CET)
I was a young pupil at St. Mary's school. Don't remember the London part, but do remember some of Devonshire.
Learned to read from AAMilne book: When we were young, or some such, with poems.
I was born in Vienna, and left with my brother in Dec. 38 to go to a family in London. He is 5 years older, and went to a different school (and therefore was separated from him at evacuation). I was about seven years old.
Remember learning french, and arithmetic playing at a toy market in the schoolroom.
Also remember working at the beach, where I got chilblains (frostbite) from inadequate footwear. Remember staying in a ?nurse's big soft comfortable bed with a hot water bottle, and the large comforting woman sitting in a rocking chair beside a small table with a lamp, reading. Think we regularly wore knitted bed socks to bed.
Liked Mrs. Paul also. Think it was Mr. Paul who worked at exercises with me for my flat feet: tearing up paper strips with my toes and walking with them curled around paper, or pencils.
We did hear bible lessons, and I was very interested in them. First time I knew of such stories. Think I liked hearing about Jesus because I felt somewhat deserted and ignored by parents and elders.
Do remember knitting scarves. That was when I learned to knit. Older girls made squares for blankets.
Remember soldiers visiting us to show us how to don gasmasks.
Remember the views of green fields, separated with hedges like patchwork, when we went on walks. And clambering through hedges, and over wooden styles. Do not remember the beach though. Think we went to visit a farmhouse, and had tea. (Visited England in the 90s and a cottage kitchen with blue decorated plates on the wall seemed very familiar).
I did not do as well with food and eating, I guess. I was considered quite underweight for my age when I arrived in school in New York (April 1940).
I do remember feeding pigs, and not wanting to eat pork. But think I also remember working in a vegetable garden.
We had rides on a horse one day, I still was suffering from frostbite, but got a ride side saddle with the help of Mr. Paul, wrapped in a quilt. Other children had bikes to ride.
I wore braids, had dark hair and brown eyes. My nickname was Bibi. I was at St. Mary's from its evacuation until ?March 1940.
My daughter found your website. I am now 76 years old, living in Massachusetts.
Sincerely, Phoebe Joseph
Phoebe Joseph
Massachusetts, USA - Monday, January 21, 2008 at 16:50:34 (CET)
Hi, Norman,
As the clouds of time pass, I'm stunned to find this site and well done!
I live in Norfolk nowadays and in a moment of nostalgia I took a look at Eton Avenue when in London to find the School closed.
I'm Matthew Rees and I was at Town and Country from about 1964(?) until 1971. I say suppose because I thought I moved from the Junior School up to the Senior School next door in Eton Avenue. I then made a vague attempt to pass my 11 Plus. I think I had been to four perhaps five School's prior to this and it was now arranged for me to come to Swiss Cottage every day whilst I lived at the bottom of Holland Park.
The first year I would be dropped off and collected, it was the clever thing to do in those days as many Women didn't work was to pull a coat on to cover the nightgown below and pretty much throw the child from the moving car. My wonderful Mother was always just a little late and I generally missed Assembly. Subsequently I would have to make a Central Line Journey through to Baker Street and then northwards on the Bakerloo to Swiss Cottage. I remained Late! To day I have a nervousness of large groups of silent yet expectant people. I suspect it must originate from this time.
My first memories are of the young Nikolai Tolstoy reading us a type of Tolkien Fairy tale once if not more times a week. Of Course I didn't know who he was until twenty years later. I swiftly started to drop this nugget into conversations about my schooling. I think it in some way absolved me of doing pretty much no School work at all during my career at T&C and I hoped it might indicate that I had in some way been touched by his intellectual power.
I don't quite know how we managed it but the School day seemed to be directed pretty much entirely to highly skilled and sometimes violent games of Football in what was after all only a concreted suburban garden.
In the summer the class room after Breaks must of been full of sweating and exhausted Children. Their minds still full of visions of stirring deeds on the Football Grounds of Old Trafford, Gunnersbury and White Hart Lane. God knows how anything got done.
This enclosed 'pitch' had various hazards including a small wooden cabin, usually full of the Girls. In addition a slope down into a basement area that gave access to a dingy dining room and possibly changing rooms.
This lower area was inhabited by the chain smoking Mr Neville (I never was clear what his role was but it involved watching us change for Football and something of an artistic nature) and the portly Mr Gayton(history).
I once caught poor Mr Gayton with a sweetly struck volley which knocked the poor man sideways. He fell to the ground and a small amount of blood seeped from the back of his head. This is it, I thought, but the generous and liberal nature of this School came through and I pretty much got away with it scot free. The poor Mr Gayton who was now blowing like a Hippo was taken to Hospital. I think the game ended due to lack of time due to the inconvenience but started as usual the next break.
As I grew older it was clear that this brick lined and watery passage also had uses for other types of socialising other than Football but I wasn't really clear of those until 'Girls' became important. The older 6th form could be glimpsed in tight close intimate activity that wouldn't become clear until I was is in my last year perhaps. The pleasure of casting off one's naivity.
Some of my fellow schoolmates whether in my class or not would have been,(apologise for my spelling, never did improve) Shafiq Ali, Lived near me off Ladbroke, Westbourne Grove, Alex Priest,Mahmoud, Ali Nafis, Isaac Moliyan, Kevin Matthewson, Johan Schacelpec( S.A Very good all round sportsman) the amazing Gary Bolton who had a deformed back and played great football. I have a vague memory that he had an operation and was transformed from bent to tall and elegant pretty much overnight. A guy whose name I can't remember who played football in the playground who had a quite nature but hummed classical music as he dribbled the ball at his feet. Mike Baess, who lived round the corner from the school and scored one of the best goals I've ever seen from, well, it seemed like 40 Yards. Alfie Nathan, Julien.
We were blessed with a School of beautiful and lovely girls, Caroline Willing, Robin Rowe, Lindy Rappaport, Anne Wild, Diana K(In my early kissing days I bit her lip during our go at 'Spin The Bottle' Sorry Diana, I still blush) Stella.
I will have forgotten many and I'm sorry. I can only hope all has gone well for these happy clever and talented people. I remember this part of my life with great fondness. All of these people are welcome to contact me and those I haven't mentioned must.
This school has left me with an inquisitive and searching mind, I read constantly and I have a positive and energetic manner. I don't know a lot but I can find out. What more could you ask for from your School.
Matthew
Matthew Rees <matthew@stiffkey.net>
Norfolk, UK - Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 19:30:28 (CET)
Hi Norman
Have wondered on and off what happened to St Mary's T & C School and discovered
your website - congratulations! My brother Chris and I were there for a year
53/54 but it made such an impression on me like so many of us. Chris and I were
driven from Hammersmith to Eton Ave every day by our Mum- she had been a single
mother for 6 years - she remarried - she bought a car - heard about the school
somewhere and decided to take us there. I think the commuting was unusual in
those days - but I could be wrong.
I see that there are pictures of some of the class I was in put up by Alicia
Surfit. The picture of the table with the creative artwork pouring out really
brought back memories - freedom to splash the paint about! Attached is a picture
of a 'Nativity' play we were all in - I seem to remember it being a variation
of 'Jason and the Argonauts' but could be mistaken. I am sitting at the front
with a tennis racket press converted into a lyre.
I was given the photograph by Seth Mydans whose father
who was a professional photographer- where are you Seth?
Why did the school so excite us? My own thinking for what its worth is
1. Small classes
2. Mixed boys and girls
3. Subjects taught by different teachers, even to juniors.
4. Classmates from different backgrounds
5. Teaching style - use of stories etc
The last point is hardest to say since we are looking back as adults. I remember
having to learn lines from Shakespeare of Ceasar's wife pleading to him. We
were treated as adults yet had masses of time for dressing up and creative play
eg jungle gym etc.
I never went to another school with more than 3 of the above 5 features, and
I went to a lot of schools.
It would be good to meet up if there are reunions planned.
Rick
Richard Ronald
Ronald Associates
Ronald Associates <richard@ronaldassociates.com>
Hemel Hempstead, UK - Monday, December 31, 2007 at 21:20:29 (CET)
[Norman's Note 1: During my period at T&C there
was a general decline in standards and yet it still had similar impact in our
decade. Maybe you should add the teachers themselves, to your list. Often they would also be artists and writers - examples from my time; Mrs Gorara and Count Tolstoy, or
eccentrics with wild imaginations - examples; Mrs Paul herself, and of course Mr Edward Myerscough
AKA Philip Neville - need I say more!?, or wonderfully warm and inspirational
individuals - many would nominate Miss Jean Bennet but also I would add,
in a different way, Kenneth Johnson.]
[Norman's Note 2: Richard kindly provided us with
a high quality (high resolution) copy of the photo above, although of course
it's impractical to show it directly, due to size restrictions, you can download
the super copy here. (Right Click and 'save target as..') I would imagine this would especially apeal to those
in the picture, since it can produce excellent prints]
Norman
What a brilliant site you started, I just hope more old pupils will Google themselves and find it and make contact. I was delighted to hear from both George (Juerg) Haller and Lillian Trigg.
1958 -1961
When I wrote to you in June, I promised to send some photographs which I said would follow. I hadn't quite planned that they should take me this long. Attached is a compressed Zip file containing seventeen photos. Some of the names of pupils have slipped my memory, I am hoping that others of that time will be able to fill in my gaps.
I have found the negatives for another ten which I will get printed unless I can find the prints. They are of George (Juerg) Haller being beaten up (posed for the photo) by Timothy Grimes (I think), also pictures of Gerald Davies, Donald Atkins, John Walton, Robin Nueberg playing cricket watched by teacher - David Cheetham.
Sorry, I don't have any photos of Esther Bateman or Bridget Callendar the matrons at 31 Glenloch Road. I remember Peter White, Donald Atkins, Michael Bunting but I am sorry to say I don't have any recollection of Charlie Kenton or Angelica Houston.
With all my very best wishes for 2008
Martin Bridger
Martin Bridger <martin.bridger@tesco.net >
UK - Monday, December 31, 2007 at 16:16:48 (CET)
Hi Norm, Wow, what a lot of memories that picture [see entry below] stirred
up.
The photo was definitely taken in autumn 1969 as some
of the team only arrived at the school in September of that year.
In those days we were just getting a good team together
and were starting to get better results against our old enemy Harewood House.
The peak years would come between 1970 and 1972 when
we had such strong players that we would soundly thrash Harewood almost everytime
we played them.
Anyway, l to r in Back: Stevie (Man Utd fan who had
a German surname), the Mighty Mao, Julian Esterson, Matthew 'Reecey' Rees, Alex
Priest, Isaac Molayam, Alfie 'what's it all about' Nathan and Johann Schalkwyk.
Front l to r: Oliver Perrin (now a famous pianist), yours truly, Andy Collier,
Russell 'The Actor' Collins, Gary 'GB' Bolton and Shaffique 'Shef' Omar.
All the best and keep the good work up Mike
Mike Baess <mikebaess@hotmail.com>
UK - Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 15:48:59 (CET)
Hello Norman,
I came across this picture of the football team, while I was rummaging through
boxes.
I have no idea why I have a picture of the football team. Judging by the people
in the picture I think it must be from about 1969 or 1970.
My memory fails me on the names of some of the team but I can identify a few.
I hope someone will recognize some of the other faces.
Back: Stevie (Man U fan with German surname), the
Mighty Mao, Julian Esterson, Matthew 'Reecey' Rees, Alex Priest, Isaac Molayam,
Alfie 'what's it all about' Nathan & Johann Schalkwyk.
Front: Oliver Perrin (now a famous pianist), yours truly, Andy Collier, Russell
'The Actor' Collins, Gary 'GB' Bolton and Shaffique 'Shef' Omar.
Thanks for posting this, Norman.
Diana Krajkeman
Diana Krajkeman <robertsd@bsd405.org>
UK - Monday, November 26, 2007 at 18:48:04 (CET)
[Norman's Note: I have inserted Mike B's list of names
from his email above.
Remarkably, this photo framed by the alcove, in the
music/assembly room clearly shows where
the painting of a river shown in full view in
picture gallery 11 used to hang, a question many of us were wondering about!]
Hello
I am in a bit of a state of shock. I googled my name and up popped SMTCS with
my name attached. I attended the school from 1958 till 1962 and have fond and
interesting memories of the place, people and the kids. It is very late here -Victoria
BC Canada but I will write again as I wish to add to the stories and remberances.
Does anyone know where Pamela Thompson is?? I know that Dennis Dragon is in California
and so is his sister Carmen.
It was wonderful seeing pictures of George Haller and Michael Schmidt and others.
Where in the world are you living and is there a way to contact any of the others
except by email?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cheerio Lillian Trigg
Lillian Trigg <thelilco@hotmail.com>
Victoria BC , Canada - Monday, November 19, 2007 at 14:23:07 (CET)
Norman,
How strange and wonderful to stumble upon this site. It would have never happened
had a friend not been looking for another school on the east coast of the US with
a similar name, St. Marys...etc,which prompted a conversation that led to finding
this site.
My brother, Jason Acosta (deceased),and I attended T&C in '69-'71, and both had
very fond memories of this school and its cast of characters. After reading through
the list of entries in the guest book it really brought back the memories, like
the chocolate pudding, bangers and mash, the dreaded jelly and custard. I recall
trying to find the school around 1990 and could not locate it, and could not find
out what had happened until reading the articles you had posted on this site.
All the names mentioned brought back the memories, Matthew, Sheffi, Mic, Gary,
Alex, Lindy,Gail, Sebastian...etc..
I remember doing a film while at the school, obviously,
Victor Hugo's' "Les Miserable's" starring Sabrina Crewe as Cossette, orchestrated/directed
by Mr. Neville himself. A copy of this must be languishing somewhere, definitely
one not to be missed. And the question of the time," where did Mrs. Paul always
find that tissue to wipe her nose, and where did she return it to after use???"
I have recalled a few names to add to the alumni list. The Perrins, Roger, Margot,
Oliver, Roland and their youngest sister (name?) already noted about Roland's
career. The Roegs, Waldo (I think attended), Nicholas and Lucien, whose father
is the film director "Nick Roeg", Lucien starred in "Walkabout" butt naked with
Jenny Agutter. The Williams, Jenny, Mark and Joseph, whose father is the prolific
composer John Williams (Star Wars, ET, Superman, Harry Potter...etc..etc) Jenny
went on to become an attorney, Mark, a drummer for Toto and Air Supply, as well
as many other bands and recordings, now resides in Utah with his family and
studio. Joe also went on to sing for Toto and many film scores including The
Lion King, resides and writes music in LA.
As for myself, many years of travel as an audio engineer for studio, live shows,
film and TV. Now residing in California and Florida, in-between all the travel,
just writing and producing music nowadays.
I do remember quite a few of my classmates and the staff, notably,Sharon Pinsker
and her sisters, who would arrive daily in the Bentley. Gail Castle (who taught
me how to french kiss) Angus Cameron(another name to add) whom I kept touch
with up until the mid 80's.A fellow American named Andy ?? Would be great to
hear from a few of these people and see what has transpired after all of these
years, truly a magical school in its time, THANK YOU for putting together this
website.
P.S. The only photo I have is one of my brother and I ,in uniform, waiting for
the coach to arrive.
Gregg Acosta, aka "Josh"
JOSHUA
Josh Hemingway <joshyn2go@hotmail.com>
Joshua Tree, CA, USA - Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 18:22:10 (CET)
[Norman's Note: Josh, a rather mundane answer to your
question regarding Mrs Paul's apparently magic tissue; I recall she simply stuffed
it back up her sleeve, but none-the-less, your memory of such detail as her
perpetual nose wiping is impressive!.. Another ex T&Cer reminded me about
how she would keep every one waiting at the start of morning assembly and then
walk slooowly in with great aires as though royalty, wearing her Dr Schol's
sandals, and with very waxy toes peeping out, (close proximity to us sitting
on floor) - lowering herself carefully (following strict Alexander Technique)
onto her 'throne' actually a very rickety plywood chair, which no one else would
ever dare to sit on... I could go on, but such details certainly stay with you]
Dear Norman
I have found this snap of Jean Bennett she sent to my sister Val about 1950.
I believe she is outside a Swiss chalet.
There was a request for Mrs Paul's maiden name on the Wanted page of the St
Mary's Town and Country School website.
My sister Val has told me that Mrs Paul's mother was Mrs Selver. Val and I were
at the Country School about 1947.
Regards
John
John Morrison < johngrmorrison@hotmail.com>
UK - Friday, October 12, 2007 at 00:56:38 (CEST)
[Norman's Comment; Thank you John, for sending in
this photo for all to enjoy seeing. Jean just radiates warmth as always.
You mention that you and Val were there in '47 whilst I started in '61 - quite a long time
between us, yet you, the readers of these pages,
and I are all linked by having known this turned on
lady.]
Hello Norman
My name is John Rolph and I believe that I must have been the longest serving pupil at St Mary's T&C. I started at Stanford Hall in May 1949, tranferred to Eton Avenue in 1951 and left in August 1959.
I have written to John Morrison about my time at Stanford. I could name quite a few pupils during my time at Eton Avenue. Among my contempories were Angela pleasence and oliver cotton who went on to became quite famous. if you would like a longer list, please let me know and I will try and get the "little grey cells" working.
Best wishes
John Rolph [Name & Address Supplied]
John Rolph <johnrolph@uwclub.net>
Towcester, UK - Friday, October 12, 2007 at 00:50:56 (CEST)
Hi Norman
I attended the Town & Country School in 1963-1964. I believe that we were in the same class during that academic year. It was nostalgic for me to see your web site with all the pictures of our class mates.
In case you don't remember me very well, I arrived at the school in September 1963 and could hardly speak a word of English at the time.
I sat next to Vincent Young throughout most of that time. I remember you, of course, I also remember Joshua Thomas, Anjelica Huston, Brian (the American), Simon Pentel, John Ker, Gabriel, Peter Wood, Judith Lock (the headmaster's daughter, I think), an oriental girl (can't remember her name though) and Majid.
It would be good to hear from you.
Best wishes
Sabah Zilouf
Sabah Zilouf <szilouf@hotmail.com>
UK - Tuesday, October 09, 2007 at 14:40:23 (CEST)
Hi Norman,
It's a shame there are no contact details for Cathy, Melanie or Ilona. I did see Janine some years ago, and I must contact her again.
Re Memorabilia, etc, I don't think I have any photos, but if any turn up, I certainly will send them to you.
Re anecdotes, well I'm afraid they are mainly negative, as I absolutely hated the place - the staff, not the kids. The only teacher I liked was Miss Bennett, the English teacher, oh, and Count Tolstoy was ok, for his brief time there.
Vivid memories I have are:
Yes, Melanie on the diving board. Amazing, she was.
All of us behaving in a rather suspect manner in the sweet shop on the way back from the library/swimming pool, i.e. coming out with more sweets than we'd paid for.
Mrs. Paul not allowing Hattie Jaques' daughter (can't remember her name) to read poetry for a tv programme [Six Sides of a Square BBC2] about the school because she was wearing a brace, and didn't look right !!
That 'orrible maths teacher [Mr Kimmel] bawling at me in class, and saying he'd throw me out by my hair, and me surprising myself by shouting back with what sounded at the time like a cool line - that "I wouldn't touch you with a sterilised plastic bargepole". Funny what you remember isn't it?
And did I imagine it or did Mrs. Paul make us go up to her bedroom to say goodnight to her each night? Creepy.
I also remember one or two rather alcoholic houseparent types, who were charged with our care, eating endless marmite on toast for breakfast, and tormenting the boys in their dorm by dangling things from our bedroom window !!
Best wishes,
Claire Armon-Jones (Green)
Claire Green <PBastow@aol.com>
UK - Tuesday, October 09, 2007 at 14:36:01 (CEST)
Hi Norman,
It's been almost three years since I discovered your T&C website and
posted a message to the guestbook, and yet still no one has written in
to admit that I was the long-lost love of his life, had he only had the
nerve to tell me so all those years ago... heavy sigh.
Anyway, I've noticed you're requesting a photo of the school
logo from the blazer on your "Wanted!" page, and, believe it or not, my 35-year-old
blazer is upstairs in a closet (I think I have my mother to thank for its still
being around).
If you're still looking for a photo, let me know, and
I'll get out the ol' camera.
I've also located several photos I took in the yard towards
the end of my time at the school in 1974 - incredibly blurry and not very enlightening,
but if you'd like them, I'll send copies along of those as well.
I remember the names of the people in
them... I think.
Best regards,
Karen Freund - (T&C Upper Forms 1-2, 1972-1974)
Karen Freund <kfreund@mindspring.com>
Algonquin, IL, USA - Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 21:32:32 (CEST)
Hello Norman,
How extraordinary to be emailing you !! My name is Claire Armon-Jones (was Claire Green) and I was at St. Mary's at the same time as you, I think. I was there aprox. 1964 - 6.
I stumbled across your web site a few days ago and was quite amazed to see it. My contemporaries were people such as Ilona Lazar, Cathy Anderson, Melanie King, Joshua Thomas?, Mayo Elstob, etc.
It was really fascinating (and wierd) coming across all those photos. I just wanted to say 'Hi' and 'thanks for doing this website' and to ask whether you have any contact details for the people above. I have often wondered about them over the years.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Claire Armon-Jones.
Email: as above - pbastow@aol.com
Claire Armon-Jones <pbastow@aol.com>
UK - Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 14:39:33 (CEST)
Dear Norman,
There are many members of staff who deserve to be added to your list. Here are a quick dozen:
Mr Brown (Geography)
Mme Chagrin (Maths)
Miss Margaret Dodds (Reception class)
Miss Rosamund Gardner (Mrs Paul's deputy for many years)
Mr Graham (Succeeded Miss Gardner as deputy head)
Mr Gubbin (Maths)
Mrs Elizabeth Isaacs (English)
Mrs Caroline Nicholson (History, Drama, Netball)
Mrs Margaret Noyes (English)
Mr John Silkin (Poetry and brought out the Anthology)
Mr Nicholas Walter (History)
Mr Robin Wood (English)
Many other gifted and very original painters, writers and academics often did a term or perhaps a year at Town and Country. Mrs Paul seemed to attract unusual people.
The more you add, the more readily people's memories will be triggered by the names.
Many thanks for this from Naomi
Naomi Stadlen <stadlen@aol.com>
UK - Friday, September 14, 2007 at 13:54:04 (CEST)
Dear Norman,
I came across the T&C site by chance and was only there briefly – not even sure of the dates. BUT was very interested to see the pic that Christine Boudier sent (no. 11 I think) where I appear in the left corner. I (and especially my husband) would love to know if the original photo was cropped and whether it has the whole of my face? I have almosy no pictures from that time as we moved around a great deal.
MANY thanks,
Jill Slotover
Jill Kravitz <jill@slotover.cix.co.uk>
UK - Friday, September 14, 2007 at 13:43:59 (CEST)
Hello Norman
This is something I said I would never do! - Make contact with anyone from T & C. But having read other pupils experiences, on your most excellent site, with memories as dreadful as some of mine, perhaps I should risk it.
Just by accident I stumbled across your website tonight. I was a pupil at T & C between 1958 to 1961.
I am one of the two "louts" Peter Heller refers too and says cuffed a Whalen twin; of which I have no memory of either them or the alleged offence but Donald Atkins of course I remember.
Along with:
Peter & George Heller - got photos of you two in the playground
Angela Pleasance
Sarah, John & Adam Walton - used to live in Richmond Surrey in a terraced house with bay windows on every floor which looked just like a lighthouse. Their mum used to make wonderful home made bread.
Sarah Neuberg - have a great photo of you in the playground
Donald Atkins - last heard of living on the East Coast - sailing Stella out of Burnham on Crouch.
Ann Cruickshank
Gloria Harris
Michael Schmidt - photos of Michael on a School trip to Southend on Sea (I think) or Margate. messing about on the beach.
Peter White - boarder
Selma Feiner
Lillian Trigg - Great photos on Primrose Hill
Pamela Thompson - Great photos on Primrose Hill
Joanna McEvoy
Erica Matlow
Beatty Evans - photos sitting on the iron stairs
Han (?)
Michael Bunting
Gerald Davies - photos of Gerry in the playground
Reina James - daughter of Sid James a brilliant actor.
Juliet Glaister
Adrian Rivers - a boarder
Timothy Grimes
.......and I remember Bridget the matron - I will remember the other matrons in time.
I have lots of photos from those days. I will dig them out and send them to you.
Football games in Regents Park with Mr Sylvan sitting in his shooting stick; ( which I managed to break whilst sitting on it and taking the micky by trying to imitate him.
When it was raining and too wet for Mr Sylvan to sit and watch us play football. He used to instruct the coach driver to take us to the British Museum. Where on arrival we, would be 'first' off the coach and on our best behaviour, dutifully walk into the museum up the stairs (now out of sight) along the top gallery, down the stairs at the other end, out of the doors, across the road and into a coffee bar where we would stay until it was time to board the coach again.
I was a 'weekly' boarder, at 31 Glenlock Road, so never went to the house in the 'country' at weekends.
I was also the son of a psychoanalyst and got sent to see one, five times a week - because at that time no-one had heard of or understood dyslexia.
I will put the photographs together with some more memories and drop you another line.
Anyway it's late and I'm off to bed as I've got work in the morning. Oh yes, I'm married with two children, currently at university and we live near Southampton.
Best wishes
Martin Bridger
"Born in the First Half of the Last Century"
Martin Bridger <martin.bridger@tesco.net>
Southampton, UK - Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 12:23:07 (CEST)
HI, I just came across the T and C. website. I was at the school from about 1956 to 1960 and have such fond memories of it. I came from a very academic school and T and C was like a breath of fresh air. Not having to wear full uniform, wearing bright coloured tights to school, my mother scoured London to get them for me. I remember my first teacher there Mrs Smith who kept horrible insects in the classroom of which I was terrified. I sat next to Lucinda Huxley. I remember Alicia (sufit) as being a wonderful artist. I also rmember Michael Schmidt, Donald Atkins, Anne Cruickshank. Gloria Harris, who I still sometimes see and a girl from New Zealand called Robin Neuberg. We became very close friends, though lost touch and I believe she now lives in Spain.
My love of poetry, english literature and music all came from that school. Taught by teachers like Jean Bennett, together with Peter of course, who could be surprised. My Myerscough for History and the Sylvain's for French and Maths I think. We used to watch Mr. Sylvain very closely as he used to have this habit, when sitting down, of shaking his leg up and down. This we concluded was because he visited a lot of prostitutes and had obviously been with them the night before.!!
I remember Mrs. Paul giving our class a lesson on how to be tolerant of other religions and beliefs and making each of us recite a prayer from our different faiths. I also remember Angela Pleasance, the daughter of Donald Pleasance being at the school and a high percentage of American and Canadian children.
I learn't very little at the school except about people but I certainly had a good time.
Selma Feiner (now Shrank)
Selma Feiner <SHRANKS@aol.com>
UK - Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at 11:52:10 (CEST)
Hi Norman,
I just wanted to send a quick note of thanks to you for starting the Town and Country web site.
It is because of the web site that I reconnected with a good friend, Alex Priest, whose letter I found on your site. He had seen the pictures that you posted for me and when I came home to London for a visit this April we met and spent a day visiting the houses, 38-40 Eton Ave. and walking down memory lane.
I really get much enjoyment from the history, letters and pictures that you have, especially the one that you recently took on the front step of the house with the flash back.
Thanks again, Diana Krajkeman.
Diana Krajkeman <RobertsD@bsd405.org>
UK - Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 13:35:19 (CEST)
Dear Norman
First of all thanks that you have taken the trouble to compile this fascinating
site about T+C - a remarkable school-from sublime to disastrous.
I was at Eton Avenue as day boy from 57-58 to 1961 and my brother George also
was there then, give or take a year more or less. After that we went to Haberdashers’
Aske’s in Elstree. There stark reality in the shape of academic performance destroyed
the pink blossom and jasmin world of NW3
George and Peter Haller in the playground
Re pupils:
Some unlisted ones I remember: Leslie Taussig, local boy who bopped me once in
the changing rooms (or was it other way round ?).
Michael Schmidt, whose parents ran an hotel in Chelsea.
Son of famous conductor Carmen Dragon, who we just called dragon, and who was
so cool and uncommunicative that we reckoned he was understudy for Kookie in “77
Sunset Strip”
Spencer was unobtrusive lad who was said to be of Marks and Spencer dynasty.
Even though I passed the requisite number of O levels at T+C, my academic performance
was lousy because us boys not in love with Myerscough or Nash were caught breathless
by a bevy of schoolgirl beauties - enough to put us off learning. The best lookers
were actually in my brother’s class. The following names spring to mind – in no
order merit or discrimination at all (honest).
Lillian Trigg
Pamela Thompson (both Canadian)
Joanna McEvoy
Erica Matlow
Lesley Goldstein
Senior girl called Celia, who used to snog with Rodney on back seat of coach taking
us to museum on sports washout days.
A unique feature in my time was that there was a clean-up roster which meant that
once or twice a term we had to sweep the classroom floor, wipe the blackboard,
dust the desks etc after school - it was delightful if you had to help someone
like Beatty Evans with her broom. (actually it was just a matter of pining all
the time) but I am not surprised that recent research shows that girls do better
academically in girls’ schools - and I don’t know what co-education does for boys.
Re teachers:
I never liked Mrs Paul, and never consciously registered hubby. Someone on the
site says Mrs P had a thing about psychology-too true;
After school there was always a lot of jostling to get out, and I remember seeing
one of the louts (Martin Bridger or Donald Atkins) cuffing a Whalen twin who was
in his way - I roared with laughter, and in the avenue ran the gauntlet of the
yobbos from the neighbouring Kynaston “busy bee” school who liked to bar our way
to the bus stop in Swiss Cottage.
Next morning I was summoned to Mrs Paul in her queer office - not an idea why...
“Peter vhy did you laugh vhen Whalen was slapped yesterday ?” The delivery, pose,
and accent was just like in the old Pinewood war films when the German officer
says to the plucky Brit :”for you ze war is over”.
However to put the record straight, the good lady praised me on my last day at
T+C by saying “Peter, you haff discovered ze joy of hard work”
Enough has been written about Myerscough/Neville.
The Sylvans (but pronounced “Sylvaine) had spent most of their careers as teachers
in Egypt, and had had to leave because of the Suez Crisis.
My art teacher was Mr Polowski (that’s how we pronounced it)
The gutsiest and most capable teacher in my view was David Cheetham. Unlike many
of the schoolkids who reeked of wealth, and were picked up outside school by flash
motors, with or without chauffeurs, the teachers always looked like something
out of Dickens - and I remember Cheetham (went on to become a quack?) drove an
antediluvian, or at least prewar Rover banger.
And I can corroborate all the evidence about the chocolate pud with grated coconut.
Getting second helpings was quite easy, on one occasion the rat-arsed Sylvan had
his back turned, and I got a THIRD helping off Anne.
Be glad to have my e-mail address on site, and I think re-unions could be formalised
one day (at Haberdashers they have Decade dinners), a first step might be to get
everybody’s e-mail.
Greetings
Peter Haller
Peter Haller <petehaller@freesurf.ch>
Switzerland - Monday, April 23, 2007 at 18:48:54 (CEST)
Hi, Norman:
Thanks so much for the website commemorating St. Mary's Town and Country School.
Every so often, I wake up sweating in the middle of the night, with 'flashbacks'
of Mr. Neville, red-faced and screaming at me for missing a Latin declension,
or [horrors!] singing out of key on choir--from which I was eventually booted
for that very infraction. I was there as the 'lone Yank,' from 1966-1968. I even
made it on to the school soccer team as goalie in some of those infamous matches
against Herwood [sp?] House, and had 'flashbacks' of those as well--so feared
were they--thanks to the patient coaching of Mr. Johnson. In his geography class,
I first heard the word 'ecology.'
I remember: Mr. Neville [who could forget him? That horrible toupee always comically
askew], giving strange talks about Krishna and Arjuna on the Battlefield from
the Bhagavad-Gita during assembly and closing with remarks about ' the inner man
and the outer man becoming one,' sounding more like a Hindu mystic than a Latin
and maths teacher in a British grammar school. I
was poor at Latin, maths and on-key singing, all subjects dear to his heart and,
although I think he secretly liked me, he was forever screaming at me in class,
waving his wristwatch 2 inches from my nose, his bright red nose ready to burst,
yelling, ' Ya can't.....ya can't.......ya can't! ' when I would have difficulty
telling time in Latin.
I remember Ms Bevin, our 5th form [?] home room teacher,
introducing us to Henry the VIII and his many wives.
I remember 'Miss' Jean Bennett, who quietly encouraged
us to write essays and was probably the first inspiration I had for writing.
I remember Mr. Meuleman for Science........I don't
know why, but my memories of him are bizarre, but I could never quite put my
finger on why. Without wanting to cast any aspersions, because I could be wrong,
but with the hindsight of maturity and years, I seem to recall a sort of suppressed
'gayness' among some of the male teachers. My last day of school, he spent a
lot time trying to tickle me. Whatever, right? I'm not judging anyone.
Of the students, I remember: Michael Baess, who once
turned bright red and gasped out loud in Creative Writing class when Sebastian
Crewe said the word 'vagina' as part of his description of a child birth film
he had seen recently. Also Peter Lucas, whom I assumed from what others have
said on your Guest Sign In has died. What happened, do you know? I
also remember a highly intelligent and absolutely astonishing forward on our
soccer team, with magic feet, named Gary Bolton, who had the 'gift of gab' and
was a notorious 'ladies man,' scoring with the girls long before many of the
rest of us were. He was also a 'hunchback,' who stayed over at my house at least
once over night, where we discussed our human bone collection--that's a story
for another time, perhaps!
I have such fond memories of that place........me
and David Phillips, son of a dentist, who could frequently be heard bemoaning
the 'scum' on his teeth, passing the soccer ball back and forth in the yard
before class. Sneaking out of school during lunch period with Sebastian Crewe
to 'score' Cadbury's chocolate bars and rush back before out absence would be
noted. I have vague memories and Sebastian
and his sister Sabrina, dropping the names of British autocracy around a lot........something
about their distant relative 'Lord Mountbatten,' a mystery I never solved for
myself, because his mother was American. She must have married into it, eh?
Note: this was just before the '60s Revolution' hit
the school and I never saw any drugs used there, but I'm sure some of that changed
after I left. Still, students were humming songs from the Beach Boy's 'Pet Sounds'
album that had just been released........I remember David Phillips could always
be heard humming "I'm pickin' up good vibrations....she's givin' me excitations..."
Miss Bevins was always admonishing him for 'rolling
about,' a term I was never quite able to define for myself, but I think it had
to do with his later weight gain and proclivity for doing The Twist in class.
We left shortly after RFK was assassinated, in 1968.
I recall that a bit of anti-Americanism had crept into the hitherto Yank-friendly
school atmosphere, as it was world-wide, due to the Vietnam War debacle, and
I remember getting into some scrapes in the yard with both males and females
[the name Ruth Bradley comes to mind, for some reason] over 'America getting
what it deserved' with the RFK and MLK assassinations.
A couple of months before I left, one or two other
Yank students had begun to trickle in, the only one I remember was a pretty
blond by the name of Maria [Sonnett?], whom I fell madly in love with and we
used to steal kisses down in the basement area, out of the way of prying eyes,
until, that is, the day I lent out my new B&W Polaroid camera, and as she
and I 'came up for air,' so to speak, we found ourselves facing a camera flash
going off--caught in the act, by my own camera! Unfortunately,
none of those pictures have survived the years [old B&W Polaroids don't
'keep' well], or I would have gladly submitted them. I got Maria's Stateside
address and wrote her after leaving the UK, but alas, never heard back from
her. Rats! She's probably a freakin' grandmother by now!
My father had been a civilian working for the USAF
in Ruislip Air Force base outside of London and, in late 1969, got transferred
to Saigon, Vietnam, and due to a lapse in US regulations at the time, my mother
and I [I have no siblings] were allowed to accompany him to Vietnam, for another,
even stranger year there as US civilians in a war zone. Again: a story for another
time, perhaps.
But, thank you, Norman, so much, for going to all
the trouble of putting up that website devoted to the magical years we all spent
at St. Mary's.
Unfortunately, being quite bad with names in general,
I do not remember you. If you have any recollection of me, I'd love to hear
about it! Is there any way of getting in touch with any of the above mentioned
students? I would love to correspond with some of them........ Any
word on what happened to people such as Sebastian Crewe, Gary Bolton or Mike
Baess? I didn't see any email listings for them.
Anyway, thanks again for what you have done......you
have brought gladness to all our hearts!
PS: I am a Technical Support Manager for HP, now living
in San Diego, California, with my 'lady friend' and dive buddy whom I go SCUBA
diving with on our boat every week.
Sincerely,
Michael Bear 
Mike Bear <scubapro.bear@gmail.com>
USA - San Diego -Friday, March 9th, 2007 at 11:40:12 (CET)
What a magnificent job you have done compiling the
T&CS website, which I have only recently discovered.
I was there as a boarder 1956-1961. Here are a few names of pupils you can add
to your list: Elizabeth (?) James, Susan McEvoy, Peter Sen-Gupta, Peter White,
Donald Adkins, ? Bridges (?), Adrian Rivers, Timothy Grimes, John Walton and
David King.
Among the teachers distinctly remember Mr Myerscough, for whom fact and fiction
were never clearly separated . He once told us he and his aunt caught a priceless
Greek statue while fishing in the Aegean. And once that his butler had disappeared
with the silver.
I do not know why he changed his name to Neville, and would be intrigued to
find out. Mr Myerscough was fond of conducting imaginary orchestras, but came
unstuck when he failed to notice that the boy operating the gramophone had inadvertently
played a 33 rpm record at 45 rpm.
For a short time we were taught musical appreciation by Harrison Birtwhistle,
but none of us was able to understand him. Were you at the school at the time
of the Glenloch Road Sex Scandal, involving Bridget the Matron and [name supplied]?
I can't think of much more information to give you, but if I can remember any
more I will let you know.
Michael Bunting
Michael Bunting
UK - Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 21:50:32 (CET)
(Norman's Note: I do remember your name, although I arrived the same year
you left. I missed out on hearing about that particular scandal, however more
were to follow! Regarding the name change, Mr Myerscough was allegedly featured
in a News of the World exposé on a gay sex scandal. Following the name change,
I recall that he'd usually wear dark glasses in public, such as supervising
football on Regent's Park, however this could also have been part of his fact
and fiction confusion)
Dear Norman… another note, this time after exploring your Caroline website
… It dawned on me that whilst at uni (Bristol - Drama & English, 1972-75) i often
listened to you, without ever making the connection (with St; Mary's T & C). Incredible.
What a fantastic website, ahhhh radio.
Do you know anything about that steel monstrosity- Sealand? I heard it was to
be bought for an absurd sum of money, to be used as a hacker's paradise/ empire/
whatever.
About Mr. Neville. Of course not virtuous.( I did say it was late). The Nureyev
stories went on to become legend with my teachers, My maths teacher at the next
school would drop tantalising if obscure remarks about Rudy and his friends. He
made Youth and Music membership mandatory- meaning oohs and ahhs for both Rudy
N's dancing AND (his true obsession) Maria C's singing.
Years later my own little sproglett danced aged 8 and a half under Rudolf's direction
in Don Quichotte at Palais Garnier! She now lives in London.
Yes I remember the portrait, tiled floors, bearded fat face. The mural fascinated
- and depressed - me, I remember thinking, that's it, no way will I ever become
a painter. It remained vivid for ages, popped up in my mind years later when studying
Eisenstein, the Film Sense, storyboards.
As I said, I'll burrow iinto the old boxes and find those reports - I suspect
some things are in my mum's boxes but, it's been decades and decades so… Wasn't
there a gentle, whimsical girl in lower fifth called Olivia? Couldn't find trace
of her.
Best wishes, Patty
Patty Hannock <phannock@wanadoo.fr>
France - Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 16:41:29 (CET)
Dear Norman,
Just reading the famous website again. Such a fascinating wealth of detail!
I remember Mr Paul telling me the town he came from in Germany was Damstaat. (Spelling?)
He commented that everyone there was musical. Even the butcher's boy would whistle
Bach tunes as he went about his delivery rounds!
Wonder if there are records of the Paul's in Germany? There must be census and
electoral rolls. (Unless everything was destroyed in war time.) GenesReunited
is a great website for tracing families. We know Elizabeth Paul's maiden name
was Selver.
My email address is valvanette@telefonica.net. The one I had in your Guestbook
is now out of date.
Keep the site going! We love the memories!
Best wishes Yours Val Reed (Morrison)
Val Reed (Morrison) <valvanette@telefonica.net>
- Wednesday, February 07, 2007 at 11:44:41 (CET)
Hello Norman, it's awfully late so this will be quick, but how enchanting to
find a record of that curious year, (marked me forever), at St Mary's T & C 1963-1964:
so… two brief corrections. (I promise to return later, read EVERYTHING etc.)
a) not Patti Hannah but Patty Hannock, half American half English via Switzerland,
I was there for a year
b) Mr. Neville, who seems to have been for you a paragon of virtue, or wit, or
whatever - is in my mind ever synonymous with a certain priggish intolerance and
self satisfaction. He had me, at 11 years old, stand on my chair for 45 minutes
saying "missile missile missile) (I'd popped the unfortunate American pronunciation
'mistle").
In any case, in France now as you can see from the email address, depuis 27 ans,
work in theatre & film, and am of course curious about this oh so curious school
so à bientôt ( I shall do my best to dig up photos from that year).
Shall send school reports (stashed in a a box somewhere )
do you remember that incredible drawing (by Josh I think?) of Napoleon's retreat
from Moscow, it went right the way round the assembly room, from a long shot perspective,
men ttrailing through the snow, to a closeup on a broken button.
bye!
xxPatty
Patty Hannock <phannock@wanadoo.fr>
France - Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 14:05:39 (CET)
(Norman's Note: I would have never described Mr Neville as a 'paragon of virtue',
nor indeed would The News of the World!
He was all the things you say, but also very talented in a way which was an education
in itself. I can remember being terrified of his anger, when his nose would turn
red and double in size should he hear someone singing out of tune. Yet I felt
sorry for him with his delusions of grandeur - "Rudie (Nureyev) bought me tea
at the cafe royale, because it's my birthday"... and loved his high camp act as
a duo with Mr Nash. One thing for sure, he made a lasting impression on us!.
On Joshua's artwork, I wish someone had photographed the mural, perhaps you also
remember his Henry 8th portrait, which I personally hated!)
Hi Norman
Your T and C website is a welcome discovery. I was there in the 4th form, 1953
- 54, a visitor from the U.S. The year previous, I had been at Barrow Hill LCC
school, and St. Mary's was a welcome change. Some of the names on your site are
familiar; certainly Paula Weinstein was in my class, and a girl named Alexis.
My most fond memory is of my wonderful teacher that year. I was certain her name
was Miss Smith, but do not see any mention of her from others, so perhaps her
last name changed, or perhaps her stay there was as brief as mine.
I currently work at the National Academy of Science in Washington DC, where I
manage several small research programs.
One final memory is of Willy and his singing classes. Though I couldn't carry
a tune, I did retain-
We the spirits of the air
That of human things take care,
Out of pity now descend
To forewarn what woes attend.
Greatness clogg'd with scorn decays,
With the slave no empire stays.
(You go way down in the bass for "Greatness..."). This turns out to be from the
Indian Queen, Henry Purcell and John Dryden.
Best regards,
Jon Williams
Jon Williams <jliam@starpower.net>
Washington DC, USA - Thursday, January 04, 2007 at 13:28:28 (CET)
(Norman's Note: Jon I have added more of your remembered lyrics
here)
My mother has just seen your contact photos on Friends Reunited as I guided
her through the site. Her name is Rosemarie Lea and she left the school in 1956.
She recalls the school as multicultural, religiously diverse and of lasting importance
regarding attitudes towards others. .
She attended the school from age 12 to 16 when she left. Remembers singing alot
in assembly with Mr.Williams (Willy), recalls lots of enjoyable artwork with Mr
Anthony Underhill (Australian).
recognised Jean Bennett from the photo as a fantastic essay teacher who brought
her dog to school and she has never lost the love for writing ever since. My mother
is still extremely artisitic, went to art school and has taught me lots about
art. .
Now retired, after running a coffee bar in Edinburgh, landscape gardening and
interior decorating, raising six children, two sets of twins and two singletons,
to a Welsh cottage..
Would love to hear from anybody who left around a similar time, especially Gillian
Booth and Francis (Kip) Hampton. Can be contacted through my email ad.
Rachel Campbell (daughter)
Rosemarie Lea <r.hudson53@ntlworld.com>
Wales - Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 00:49:10 (CET)
I’m so pleased to have found this site.. My name’s Alex Priest and I was at
T & C between around 1968 and 1970..
I recall the place with slightly hazy nostalgia and remember the period as an
exciting and mainly happy time in my life. I also remember some friends from those
days with great fondness: Matthew Rees - my best mate both in and out of school;
Alfred Nathan, Mike Baess, Pete Nissen, Sheff Omar, “Mao”, Peter Robshaw, the
lovely but unfortunately nicknamed Diana “Di Di Duckface”, Lindy Rappaport, Robin
Rowe, Caroline Willing, Andy Lubin and many others.
There are even some pics of me from Diana Krajkeman’s collection ! I remember
her being a good mate – I emailed the address for her on the page but got a bounce
– do you happen to have her current email address, or would you forward mine on
to her ?!
I particularly remember taking part as a goalkeeper in the continual football
games in the playground. There were some good players – Matthew Rees, Pete Nissen,
Mike Baess, Sheff and Mao sping to mind. After some “heroic” performances in the
playground - I was never afraid to get a kick in the head, but only because I
was as daft as a brush and wanted to impress the girls - I was eventually invited
to join the team. Sometimes we won big, against “the Pinkies” (was that Hereward
House ?), but mostly we were hammered by better teams with older players (King
Alfred’s). I remember with humiliation players from the KAS team commiserating
with me after beating us 11-0, saying that without me “you would have lost 20-0”.
Not much comfort, frankly...
The only blot on these nostalgic memories is that my mother made me go to extra
French and German lessons at the weekends with old Mrs Karger – I could have done
without that at the time, but at least I am now able to order beer with a flourish
and swear fluently in both languages !.
I’m now 50, and having had a career as a professional musician for many years
I finally settled down and now commute to London every day from the Cotswolds
to work as an IT Manager for Ipsos MORI, the opinion polling organisation. It
would be great to hear from anyone who knew me at T & C. Finally, many thanks
to Norman for creating this extraordinary site..
Warm regards,.
Alex..
PS:please add my email address to my space on the pupils page. It would be great
to hear from some of my old friends from T & C. I’d particularly like to hear
from Mike Baess, Peter Nissen and Alfred Nathan – if you have any of their contact
details I’d be very grateful to receive them. My best friend, both in and out
of school, was Matthew Rees. I saw him briefly in the 80’s – he was working as
a journalist at the BBC. I’ve lost contact with him again since then.
I’ve noticed there’s someone missing from the pupils list – Peter Robshaw, who
was a good mate of mine in around the 1969-1970 period. He lived in Rickmansworth
at the time.
I’m trying to remember if you were there when I arrived – I gather you left in
’68 but I can’t remember whether I started in 68 or 69. Norman's Note: I left
T&C in July 1968 (see picture of me with Theo Lemos & Bill Bird at front entrance)
Alex Priest <alex.priest@ipsos-mori.com>
UK - Sunday, November 05, 2006 at 15:32:20 (CET)
Dear Mr. B, Thank you so much for doing this. My brothers and I went to the
school for one year (70-71), while my father was on sabbatical from Portland,
Oregon.
Paul Wild, no e, and not Peter, was 11, Phillip Wild was in the fourth form and
I was in the fifth with Diana Krajkeman et al. Johan Schalkwyk or Schalkvyk from
South Africa was there. I remember him saying that apartheid would slowly disappear
over the next 50 years.
I have four photos from our Lake District trip including Oude, Mr. Hopkins, Matthew
Rees, Mic Baess (sp?), Ana Rogers, Stella (?) Mr. Johnson, Marc Samuels, Jim and
Steve McGuire, Max Peacock, Shafique Omar, Caroline Willing, Diana K, Margot Case,
Anne McGuire, and Reitha (?) Schalkwyk. I don't remember studying that year.
Mrs. Paul was already strange. She wanted to put my brother in the 5th form because
he was bigger than I was. She taught only one passage for bible studies, something
about Paul on the road to somewhere, as it would be more useful to know one thing
well, than many thinly. Good memories of the above people, also the Pinsker sisters,
Ali Nafis, Hooshang (Isaac) Molayem,Alfred Nathan, Simon Leroy, Lindy Rappoport,
and Gary Bolton who spent a lot of time in hospital that year getting his back
straightened.
Also Elton John and Neal Diamond. That year was a high point in the Wild kids'
lives, definitely. London was a big place to roam, and our parents gave us a lot
of freedom because it was so much safer than home. Please add my name and address
to your list.
Thanks. Anne Wild (Mozell)
Anne Wild (Mozell) <ammozell@aol.com>
Salem Oregon, USA - Friday, September 01, 2006 at 17:47:58 (CEST)
Hello Norman,
the girl aphrodite is my big sister ---we attended T&C as a family my brother
andrew,my other sister sophia and myself anthony.All kolokotronis.Unfortunatrly
I remember very little about my time there and as for remembering peoples names
that is asking too much!!!!!
What I do remember is being introduced to the merits of CHELSEA FC.Whoever that
boy was that convinced me that Chelsea were better than Spurs didnt realise how
much heartache he caused for all these years untill now!!!
Good luck with your site
Tony K
Tony Kolokotronis <hathor1@tiscali.co.uk>
UK - Sunday, May 14, 2006 at 23:51:48 (CEST)
Dear Norman,
I was just told of this web site, and I need to get to work, so I shall quickly
add something to the guestbook for now.
I'm 40 now and joined the school as a senior, about 1977 '78. I stayed for two
years and 1 1/2 term. I look back today, and regret leaving, but you can not change
the past, and from all accounts the school was in some decline.
I wanted to go on and play football with another school in Finchley, not far from
where Mrs. Paul eventually died. Similarly my family were having financial problems,
but this could not of effected my decision to leave as she offered a bursary,
for me to stay.
I have fond memories of her, and Mr. Neville, despite what I have heard, either
from the time, and today. I was also attending at the time that Mr. Neville died.
He was very good to me, so I was upset. As were many of the girls, who could not
continue with German that morning.
He was smoking a lot, and It was observed that he may not live another ten years,
as one boy commented during tea at Ken Wood house. We used to go there during
"wet games".
Further to the page about the football team, whilst I was there we desperately
wanted to have our own team, and play other schools. First Mr. Finch took training,
then the Geography teacher, a young post graduate whose name I can't remember,
and finally a professional coach, But this ended after one session. I don¹t think
he knew what he was doing.
I think we played King Alfred's, and I believe we lost. We certainly wanted to
play them, but I'm not exactly sure we did play them.
Thanks for putting the site on line, good luck with it. If I find anything else,
like photos etc, I will send them on.
Kind regards Brian Monaghan. (77-80)
Brian Monaghan <brian@fume.co.uk>
UK - Friday, April 07, 2006 at 14:21:28 (CEST)
After some idle lunchtime surfing I've just come across your magnificent pictures
of Hedgerley Wood on your web site!,
Many thanks for making them public - they've awoken many powerful memories for
me. My father (Eric) built the house, and I lived there until about 1953 (age
6), when my father died, and my mother and I moved to the West Country.
There's not a lot of difference between the view from the drive, and the way I
remember it from 1953. The pagoda wasn't there, and I think the hut beyond the
kitchen was smaller.
My bedroom window was the one obliquely above the outside door facing the drive
- the room had a large platform in it (over the staircase) and you could climb
up a ladder from there up to the 'lookout' - which was also a bedroom.
I remember flying up that ladder once to take refuge from some cows that once
came onto the veranda downstairs when I was in the house on my own!
The 'upper middle lawn' wasn't there in my day - that was mainly woodland, some
garages, a holiday hut in the woods, a rusty old car and a large redundant horsebox
(the latter items constituted my playground!). The 'swimming pool' used to provide
our (rain)water supply.
Wonderful. Many thanks for the memories!
Best wishes, and thanks again!
John
John Anderson
UK - Monday, April 03, 2006 at 15:07:37 (CEST)
1st April 2006
Dear Norman,
How are you? As one old boy to another, I’m impressed by the school website which
is remarkably well documented and easily navigable too. Well done. Top of the
class!
Do you remember when we last saw each other in the playground; July 1966, I think
it was, and I promised to send these photos as soon as
they were ready? Well, here they are at last. Sorry for the delay but it has taken
longer than expected to get them developed. If it hadn’t been for the extra sixpence
Boots were charging for their optional Pronto-Print service, they might have reached
you sooner.
Since they already appear in your photo gallery, no doubt
you will recognise these pictures of Melanie King, John O’ Sullivan, Joshua Thomas,
and of course our own Webmaster shown, in one typical pose (!) hanging upside-down,
appropriately enough perhaps. Paul Vaughn and Majid (together) were caught off-guard,
studying the illustrated edition of La Fontaine’s Batman - they said it was afterwards..?
Upon reflection, all at the time were posing though unwittingly, for Posterity!!
My time at T&C began when I joined Mrs Salisbury’s class of ’63 and ended in the
summer of 1966, and in common with other ex-pupils, my memories of those days
are vivid. In particular, life as a boarder when we shared the boys’ dormitory
along with several others, and when at one time Anna Grimes was briefly but memorably,
our House-Mother, at the tender age of 17 years old, I believe.
A few random fragments of school life that I recall to add to the collective montage
of memories are: music classes with Mr Neville spent, in part, listening to Les
Swingle Singers doing Jazz Sebastian Bach: successfully learning numbers in German
through playing Bingo, with Ms Haak: less successfully learning French despite
watching regular episodes of Notre Ville on TV. , numerous slide shows of La Fontaine’s
fables, AND constant conjugation of verbs in bewildering variations of form and
tense: - Subjunctive, Infinitive, Imperfect, Pluperfect, Past Historic, Past Imperfect,
Future Improbable, et al: oh, and not forgetting Tiki & Taki, les deux petits
ours!
Outside of the classroom, as boarders we quite often visited the local library
where John O’ Sullivan and I would read all of the available books by Ian Fleming
and Arthur Conan Doyle with great enthusiasm, and we swam regularly in the new
and excellent pools which were situated in the same building complex. I can still
see Melanie King diving fearlessly from the high board, straight and slim in her
red bathing suit, while we watched somewhat in awe from the shallow end.
Incidentally, two names missing from the ex-pupils’ register are, David Benalisha
(?) whom I remember singing in a school concert or play, a song from which I only
recall this one haunting refrain: “Angels ever bright and fair, take o’ take me
to your care,” (‘twas very moving) and Lal-a-gee, pronounced in that way, I think,
though my spelling is suspect, and her surname I’m afraid I have forgotten altogether.
I hope these photos will reach you safely through the medium of cyber-space which
is rather an alien environment to me, at least. As a precaution I shall mark this
e-mail ‘Do Not Bend ‘in bold letters!
All the best,
Vincent
Vincent Young
UK - Saturday, April 01, 2006 at 12:05:18 (CEST)
Although Mrs Paul's administration left rather a lot to be desired, I enjoyed
my brief period teaching at Town and Country.
Later I introduced Mrs Paul and some of the pupils (I'm sure no one there will
have any difficulty recognizing anyone!) into a novel
THE FOUNDING OF EVIL HOLD SCHOOL.
I hope all my old friends there have prospered since.
Nikolai Tolstoy
P.S. Does anyone else remember the day when Mrs Paul opened a cupboard at assembly,
to reveal Mr Paul hiding inside?
Nikolai Tolstoy
UK - Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 22:05:35 (CET)
[Norman replies with this email:] Dear Mr Tolstoy (or should I still say Sir!)
Perhaps you might not remember me but we were inmates at the same time, you taught
me English/History for a short while.
How delighted I was to read your short and sweet email, I hope you enjoy trawling
through my collection of bits 'n' pieces from T&C.
Did you notice the short recording of yourself reading from Evil Hold.
The Website is a labour of love, but I have been stunned by the feedback. T&C
seems to have produced a real kind of 'family'.
I do vaguely remember Mr Paul in a cupboard, but then there were so many weird,
nay surreal, goings-on. Anyone know why!?
Even you managed to incur her wrath, I recall, by bringing your duelling pistols
to school!
You probably guess the next bit... Please, please can you write some more for
us, maybe some 'staff room' anecdotes? Anything!
Thanks again for writing, I have followed your exploits ever since T&C, including
various court cases,
and I, like anyone else who knew you from back then, wish you all happiness.
yours, Norman Barrington
Mr Tolstoy replies:
Dear Norman,
I am delighted to hear from you, as I still have vivid memories of Town and Country,
as well as fond recollections of all of you youngsters.
I have forgotten most of the staff, with whom in fact I had little to do, except
for the bizarre-looking Mr Neville with his orange toupée.
Yes, I was amazed to hear my voice reading something from "Evil Hold", but I can
see now
that somebody was tape-recording me while reading it in class (I presume).
Sadly the book has long been out of print, and I think is now quite rare.
Although I suppose with sufficient effort one ought to be able to get it on the
Internet,
which I find a wonderful though expensive resource.
I put Mrs Paul (or "Paul-bag", as I recall some of the less reverent of her pupils
referring to her) into "Evil Hold",
and attach a copy of the surprizingly
accurate illustration which appeared in the book.
The dialogue where she first meets Mr Dredge-Strangler is in part taken from my
own interview when I first came to apply for the job.
Most people would probably find this hard to believe, but not anyone who like
you knew the unredeemed glories of Town and Country.
I can't at present remember any really amusing anecdotes, though I do recall the
school itself and all you lively boys and girls vividly.
But now one scene springs into my mind. Mrs Paul insisted that one of my English
class is put on a little play
(rather ambitious, when one comes to think of it) of scenes from Victor Hugo's
"Les Miserables".
To my acute embarrassment, she insisted at one point that I should walk onto the
"stage" holding the hand of a little boy -
I suppose something like this must appear in the book. She declared that this
entry looked "very sweet",
although I imagine the boy felt as I did that it was rather weird.
In my copy of "Evil Hold" here, I have the cutting of an article from a newspaper
several years ago
which described the closing down of the school.
As poor Mrs Paul was completely barmy even when I was there, I am not surprized.
I put some of the girls whom I taught into the story, though I think it was some
lingering fear
(prescient, as it turned out!) of libel which led me to change their surnames.
The two I remember were Cathy Anderson and Karen Miller, but others may recognize
themselves from their Christian names.
I was so pleased to hear from you, and would be happy for you to include my e-mail
address. I should say that I can't always be guaranteed
to be swift to reply, as I am so behind with my work that at times I find I have
to neglect everything else.
But I would be really pleased to hear from more of you whom I knew in those distant
cheerful days.
With best wishes,
Nikolai (alias "Sir")
Nikolai Tolstoy <tolstoy@enterprise.net>
UK - Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 10:05:35 (CET)
Norman,
I just came across your website & was fascinated to read Priscilla Wilder (Eaves)
account of Yarkhill. I was there for a short period- circa 1945?- with my parents
("the Wares" mentioned by Priscilla) & brother & have many very vivid memories
of that time, although I must have been younger than Priscilla. Because of this,
I would be interested to make contact with her if that was possible?
Hoping you can help me,,
Jill Ware
Jill Ware <gillian_ware@mac.com>
UK - Saturday, March 18, 2006 at 15:06:03 (CET)
Hi Norman,
Great to read about the legendary T and C chocolate pudding. I, too, remember
it being a highlight of the week. Hats off to Geoff Collier for reminding us all
about it and for you trying to replicate it at home. Geoff's email made me think
about the other T and C food at lunchtime.
If memory serves me well on Mondays we had dreaded stew followed by cake so hard
it could loosen your fillings plus custard; Tuesdays it was some kind of meat
with baked potatoes and cheese with semolina for dessert; Wednesdays it was egg
and cheese flan with rice pudding and a dollop of strawberry jam; Thursdays it
was liver, bacon and mash with onion gravy followed by jelly and custard and on
Fridays, before games, we had dreaded fish fingers with mash again and fruit salad.
These were the days before schoolkids would get pies, fish and chips or ice cream
at lunch in the 80s and 90s. Oh how we longed for that type of unhealthy fodder
back then. And now, thanks to Jamie Oliver, it's gone back to the type of fare
we were given.
By the time we reached the Fifth Form some of us opted out of school lunches and
were allowed out at lunchtime and would make special treks to the Cook Inn take
away in Belsize Village from where we would bring back orders of chips or pies
for other pupils. Does anyone else remember any other great lunchtime delicacies?
regards
Mike
Mike Baess
UK - Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 20:08:05 (CET)
Norman Comments:- I can add a couple more items; On Thursday, the regular cook,
Anne had a day off and in the evening, boarders were always treated to weiner
schnitzel which seems to be the only thing Freda, the Thurs cook could make.
The hard cake you mention always had strange greasy patches in it which tasted
salty.
Along similar lines to the choc pudding, was a seriously lumpy semolina with a
cinnamon powder/sugar mix sprinkled on top. The cinnamon/sugar ratio varied wildly,
so it was russian roulette as to whether the pudding was eatable
When jelly was made, several flavours were mixed together creating a reddish generic
jelly. Frequently, we would raid the pantry at breaktime, stealing Jelly blocks
which we then ate, like giant fruit pastilles - but unbelievably chewy, however
most were thrown onto the ceiling where they would stick semi-permanently, like
swords of Damocles, dropping off again weeks later with hilarious results. An
American called Charlie and myself were also fond of stealing unsoaked prunes,
which at least were probably good for you.
One of the tables in the dining room had a drawer in one end, kids would put bits
of uneatable food in this draw. and quite a collection in various states of decay
and putrefaction was building, however someone had put a full 1/3rd pint bottle
of milk in the drawer sideways but still with foil cap. After a few days it soured
then pushed it's cap off. Mr Shell (History/English) was eating his meal when
he sensed his leg getting wet. Smartly pulling the draw open, to see why, he revealed
all the mumified food sloshing around in the curds and whey, whilst the flow through
the drawer onto his lap turned into a veritable deluge... to the amusement of
all present, of course - Anyone else got some good stories?
Wow! I just got the link to your T&C site from my brother. I was there for
only 1 year, 1969-1970, but the year made quite an impression on me.
It wasn't the happiest year of my life, but one gets sentimental with old age.
I was in the 5th form at the time, along with Mahmoud El-Tabi, who was corresponded
with you, Windham Jones & Francis Langfield (my two best friends there), Julian.
Let's see, who else? There was a fellow name Gregory, another fellow named Roger
who was an American with a Scottish accent (his sister was Margot, I think, there
were several of his family there). There was a sad-eyed girl named Rowena and
another (round faced, curly hair, if I remember her correctly) named Angela. Some
other sloe-eyed girl who's name escaped me, but I seem to recall her having gotten
kicked out some point for getting pregant (so the rumour went). I remember lovely
Robin of the red hair in 4th form, as does Mao apparently (she was another American
actually). Mao's favorite expression: "Keep your pants on!".
Windy Jones, Francis & I used to get 10 or 20 bob together on a Friday night,
by a bottle of sherry and get drunk. I remember falling into the serpentine one
time (Jone's apartment was near).
Other memories? French tutoring with Mrs. Karger (quite nice, actually). I remember
conjugating endless verbs. Mr. Gatton, older and fat, I seem to remember lectures
on Trevithick's railways (important stuff, shows how important it is to keep one's
nose to the grindstone when in school). He could be distracted by his favorite
topics when we were bored-one was how the cities should all be built on stilts
to alleviate traffic problems.
Mr. Johnson I couldn't stand. We used to call him jaggers, if I remember correctly.
"Laddies! Laddies!". Mrs. Blythe-anal but well-intended. Didn't the scottish fellow
(Mcdermmot) get the boot for coming on to one of the girls whilst in his cups?
And of course, Mr. Neville with whom I used to get into theological and philosophical
arguments (he was quite religious, I seem to recall). And the grand dame herself,
Mrs. Paul, let me bring in a long Coltrane record to play at morning assembly
to enlighten the young lads and lassies (I was a member of the London Youth Jazz
Orchestra that year, perhaps the highpoint of my career).
What else? Chocolate pudding with sugar and coconut sprinkled into it in the dungeons
of the lunchroom, my idea of heaven on earth. Ah but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now. Geoff Collier
Geoff Collier <brainstorm@sc.rr.com>
USA - Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 12:00:42 (CET)
Norman Comments:- However we were all very fond of Mr Johnson, he seemed
to be such an unintended comedian to us, with his fascination with the likes of
U shaped valleys and terminal morraines. For some reason we all called him Karate,
and it seemed to stick. He took us for hikes across Box Hill in Surrey and on
one occasion I recall someone lobbing a hard boiled egg at him, so they probably
fell into your camp.
I still try to emulate the choc pud with coconut/sugar it's that thick dark skin
that forms in the areas of the surface that are unproteced by the coconut coating
that throws up the challenge. So you must east a little coconut with every spoon
but not run out before the chocolate pud does! Oops I sound a bit compulsive,
I assure you I am not. Thanks again for writing, and hey mr tambourine man, play
a song for me.
Norman
I happened on your website. Quite a shock. In any case, I was at the school for
one year, 1969-70, with my brother, Geoffrey Lincoln Collier. The email of my
brother is: brainstorm@sc.rr.com
I knew Sebastian Crewe quite well (and stayed in touch for a while) and Mick Baess.
I have since lived in London in the 80s and in China most recently. (My brother
and I still jokingly quote from Victor Hugo and I became a french major in college
as a result of St. Mary's.)
My father, James Lincoln Collier, is a children's book writer. You will be amused
to know he wrote a book called "Murder at St. Baskets" that was very loosely based
on St. Mary's.
Do you have a contact for Oliver Perrin? I, too, am a jazz musician, drummer.
Andy Collier
PO Box 536 1100 Village Lane Orient, N.Y. 11957
Andrew Collier <orientgreenport@hotmail.com>
Orient, N.Y., USA - Sunday, March 12, 2006 at 19:50:40 (CET)
Christine couldn't send me an email, so she phoned and kindly gave over fifty
new names for the pupils list.
She has kindly sent some photos of her era Taken in 1955/56
Christine joined the T&C in 1953 and left in 1962, if you would like to contact
her, then email me and I will pass it on to her.
Thank you Christine for providing these updates.
Christine Boudier <nb@normanb.net>
Enfield, UK - Tuesday, November 08, 2005 at 22:42:14 (CET)
For some reason I’ve been thinking about T&C a lot lately, which prompted me
to look for a website. Thank you so much for creating this. Judging by the pictures,
I believe we were in the same class, but I regret to say I don’t quite remember
you. Perhaps you can jog my memory.
I was sorry to read about the demise of the school. As you said, it was a very
special place.
I was at T&C from 1964 to 1966. I almost stayed on, but my dad turned down another
project that wouldl have kept us in England two more years. At the time, I was
eager to get home as well. Now I look back on those two years as the most formative
of my life.
I visited the school in 1970, and Julian Esterson was still there. I was always
curious abou that. Learning our class' O-Levels were held up a year explains a
lot.
Among the sillier memories was an episode with Tolstoy and a set of antique dueling
pistols. I happened to have some caps from a toy gun that fit perfectly. The good
Count and I faced off in the Upper School yard during lunch. Unfortunately, Mrs.
Paul was watching from a window . . .
I also remember among Mr. Shell's obessive behaviors was his intense dislike for
a dirty blackboard. There was a small piece of wood that held the blackboard in
place. I think it was Cameron who came up with the idea to apply a large amount
of chalk very close to the peg. When Mr. Shell entered, he immediately cleaned
the offending marks with wide, swift strokes of the eraser. Cameron's scheme succeeded!
As soon as Mr.Shell turned around, the blackboard tilted forward, coming to rest
on his head. In the end, he "stepped forward smartly" (as he put it ), and the
blackboard crashed to the floor,much to our general amusement.
If I can think of anything else, I'll pass it along. I hope you keep up the website.
It is a thing of beauty and is very much appreciated.
Thanks again,
Ed
Ed Flavin <emflavin@sbcglobal.net>
USA - Tuesday, October 04, 2005 at 13:37:45 (CEST)
Dear Norman
I was at the school from about 1947 to 1953 - mostly at the "Town" but I had a
term or two at the "Country" in about 1948 or was it 1949? My memories are fairly
vague - I remember the school summer outing to somewhere near Little Bardfield
in Essex probably in the summer of 1953.
I remember Janet Nelson (who lived across the road in Daleham Gardens NW3) - we
walked to school together. Keith Mulliner and Sven Hammerling were good friends
at that time. Toby Allenwho was a year older, went to the same secondary school
as me subsequently and we are still in touch. If I strain my brain a bit I might
think of a few others and will possibly add another message if I can think of
anything worthwhile to add.
So far as the teachers are concerned I remember Mr & Mrs Paul, Miss Gardener (spelling
?), Mr Gubbins and... ? More brain straining needed to come up with other names.
I will read your website more fully and that may trigger some more memories.
Thanks for taking the trouble to organise this - very nostalgic!
Peter Fraenkel
Peter Fraenkel <peterfraenkel@compuserve.com>
Ealing, London , UK - Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 18:05:20 (CEST)
I was at Town and Country from 1967 - 1969 and some of that time I weekly boarded.
I can't remember an awful about it as I moved schools every couple of years as
my father was in the Navy. I remember Rita Schalkwyk, Arabella Weir and a girl
called Ann whose parents owned a shop called Chic.
I remember playing British Bulldog and flatteneing all the boys as I was a strapping
lass.
Now living in Dorset and have husbad Nick and two children Monte and Hebe.
Bella
Bella Neate-Clegg <bella.hellcorner@btinternet.com>
Dorset, UK - Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at 23:46:56 (CEST)
I started kindergarten at T&C in 1957 and left in 1969. In 1959 ( I think)
Mrs Paul had a psychologist person conduct intelligence tests with some of the
junior classes – by some fluke I scored quite highly and my parents were offered
a full scholarship for me. So that was that for 12 years! A few years later a
contemporary was also given a scholarship ( I won’t say who as I haven’t asked
them if they’d mind) and when our class was playing up or there was trouble in
the school we would be called for and threatened to have our scholarships revoked
which was pretty unfair as our parents could not afford to have kept us there.
I was three when I started at kindergarten our teacher was a Miss Collins.
She was absolutely lovely, youngish and very pretty and she always wore embroidered
blouses and full pleated skirts that made her waist look tiny. She was very soft
spoken and gentle and everyone loved her. We used to sing a lot of songs, especially
ones that involved a dance or doing actions to the words. There is one I remember
really well it went -
“ I've been to London, I've been to Dover
I've traveled this wide world all over.
Over, over, three times over
Drink all you have to drink and turn the glasses over”.
Sailing east, sailing west
Sailing over the ocean,
Better watch out when the boat begins to rock
Or you'll lose your girl in the ocean”.
It was a great class favorite and we had to pair up boy and girl – the girls had
to pretend they were falling off the ship and the boys had to rescue them ( sometimes
not, depending on who got paired with who).
The other songs I remember are :-The Drummer and the Cook.
O Soldier, Soldier Will You Marry Me (with your musket fife and drum). Aiken Drum.
Il était une bergère et ron et ron petit patapon &
Sur le pont d'Avignon
– gosh as I write more keep flooding back but that’s enough.
Mid morning we had our regulation 1/3 of a pint of milk which we had to drink
– no excuses. With great forethought this was always kept by the radiator in the
hall outside and used to be tepid to hot by the time we got it. In summer it was
also kept in the hall where it was nicely heated by the sun. I have had an absolute
revulsion of warm milk since!
In the afternoons after lunch we had to have our “sleeps”. We struggled to put
up little cot beds and dutifully lay on them –a lot of the children actually did
go to sleep – notwithstanding me trying to conduct whispered conversations with
them. In the end Miss Collins gave in and allowed me to read during these sessions
– reading was my passion then and I couldn’t get enough. Miss Collins used to
borrow “readers” from Mrs Robb’s class for me for these times as I’d gone way
past the picture book stuff she was using.
Then we all moved up a class to Mrs Robb. Mrs Robb changed her name halfway through
the year back to Miss Walmsley ( she has been widowed) which was very confusing.
She would have been in her late 50’s and dyed her hair an astonishing bright red
and she was a bit of a tyrant. She had one of those 3 yard rulers that hinge in
two places and a very good aim. You would be chatting away quietly in a civilised
manner to your neighbour when - whoosh the ruler would snack down about a hairsbreadth
from your fingers – never once did I see her actually connect but it was enough
to guarantee good behaviour for the rest of the day. She had a wonderful old wind
up trumpet gramophone and a huge stock of musical seventy eights which she would
put on and then we had to stretch up like a tree or rush about like the wind –
pretend to be a seed busting out of a pod etc – all very Isadora Duncan- ish !
My worst memory of Mrs Robb involved a lunch time incident. At junior school you
had to eat what you were given – I hated brussel-sprouts especially the school
ones which were like soggy lumps of cotton wool. I swear Mrs A had it in for me
because I always asked for just one and she would give me three or four. Anyway
I came up with a plan.
My mother took me shopping to buy new underwear and I begged her for knickers
that had a sizeable pocket in them. Tuesday (or whatever day we had the horrid
things) came round and I wore my new knickers. Mrs A, as usual gave me a big serve
of the sprouts and laughing to myself I secreted the damn things in my new knickers
when I thought no one was looking. At the end of the course before pudding Mrs
Robb as usual checked to see we had all eaten up and I clearly remember smirking
and congratulating myself on my brilliant wheeze .
That is until she speared me with her terrifying gaze and said “Carol Williams
I do not think you are finished “ –then she picked me up and stood me on the table,
lifted my skirt revealing my knickers and a pocket full of dripping green sludge
for all to see. I don’t think I have ever been so embarrassed in my whole life
– in front of the boys too- I was mortified!. Then she calmly held up my plate
and emptied the contents of my pocket onto it, sat me back on the bench with the
plate in front of me and told me I would not have any pudding, indeed I would
not be allowed back to class until I had eaten the mess on my plate.
I sat there all afternoon with Mrs A keeping an eye on me. I was actually sick
at one point (in the bathroom- not on my plate) and I was terrified that when
my Uncle came to pick us up from school that Mrs Robb would make me stay there
all night, sitting in the dark and staring at the ugly goo on my plate. She didn’t
and I was allowed to go home but I never ate any of the dreadful things. I still
have a “bit of a thing” about brussel sprouts- funny that!
Actually, except for that awful incident (I think she must have had a really bad
day or something) she could be a very nice kind person, I know this because I
used to go away every summer for two weeks holiday with my aunt and cousin – usually
Brighton or Bournemouth and this time for some reason, at the last moment my Aunt
was delayed. The Hotel Splendide was booked, the Brighton Belle tickets had been
purchased so Mrs Robb was asked if she would accompany Margaret and I and stay
a few days until my Aunt could get away to join us. She was a completely different
person out of school and we really enjoyed her company.
Mr Prosteau was our French teacher and a great highlight of that year was the
production of Cendrillon (Cinderella). I was an ugly sister but I learnt the whole
play by heart just in case Cinderella or the fairy Godmother got ill – they didn’t!
My cousin Margaret was the other ugly sister but I can’t remember who Cinderella
was. We put on a proper production and all the Mums and Dads were invited, my
aunt and another cousin came to watch – very nerve wracking it was too!
After that was Miss Priest with the unforgettable bosom and uncanny resemblance
to a mole. She was a quietly spoken and I think a very shy person. She certainly
didn’t have the same impact on me as Miss Collins or Mrs Robb. She wasn’t very
good at controlling the class and it was often pandemonium with much yelling,
fighting and chatter – Mrs Bevan used to storm in sometimes (we were all very
obedient when she was around – terrifying women) and regain calm but it wouldn’t
last. I went into the staff room once after one fairly awful episode and found
her crying – I don’t think she was made of the stuff required for survival at
T&C) The major memory I have of her class was learning very, very long poems by
heart such as The Pied Piper of Hamlin much of which I still recall Anyway that’s
enough - good grief I could go on and on.
As you said in your email – I wonder what the point of all these things stored
in our heads actually is! Well that’s one of life’s sweet mysteries innit !
I have had fun and yes pick out any bits you like (just make sure you don’t use
anything I’ve said which could be construed as rude – I wouldn’t want to offend
anyone). As one goes through the memory process its easy to remember peoples mis-behaviour
or even cruelty sometimes but I’ve purposely not gone down that track – its unimportant
now and completely irrelevant ( tempting sometimes though!).
On a trip to Hedgerley Wood, Jeanne Orden made up the following which we sang
with great gusto and has for some incomprehensible reason stuck in my head.
“We go to Town and Country school
we sit all day on a rotten stool
we learn the junk and then we flunk and then we get suspended.
The water comes from a dirty well
its bad enough to make you swell
in my bed I found a tick
its about enough to make you sick” etc.
Anyway I know I’m leaping about all over the place but if I don’t get this done
now it might not happen for a long time.
Before I forget, I have listened to the audio recordings – wow what a blast from
the past they were. The Christmas Carol 1965 is the Coventry Carol ( Lully lullay
thou little tiny child - by by lully lullay) and I’m pretty sure Kat and I were
singing on that one. The other (Musical round) is London’s Burning and ditto as
before. Adeste Fidelo is the latin “ O Come All ye faithful”
I also remember us singing Lullay My Liking ( my dear son my sweeting, lully my
dear heart, mine own dear darling). You sang a solo verse in this – “Angels bright
they sang that night and said unto that child” etc). I remember these so clearly
as I used to sing them to my children when they were small and at Christmas when
I first came to Australia and was homesick. I have a fairly comprehensive memory
of most of the songs we sung at music – it was just about my favourite class –
Neville and the pulse in his temple and going purple not withstanding!
I also remember Mr Nash’s famous composition :-
“ I love the little Shetland ponies that trot around the circus ring. I like the
way they kick their heels up when they do the Highland fling. I like to watch
the lion tamers and see the man on the trapeze but the little Shetland ponies
thrill 