1 December 2018

Interesting to see the posts about teaching geology at WBS.  In my time at WGS it certainly wasn't available, but I had always been interested in the subject.  However, my art teacher, the wonderful Barry Cummings, kept all sorts of interesting items in his art room, including colour pull-outs from newspapers which included articles about the latest discoveries in mid-ocean ridges, etc - this was a time when the tectonic plate theory was in its infancy.  He also played us Tom Lehrer records, I was lucky enough later in life to acquire some of these myself and my children grew up with them (and also love them!)  

Eventually I went "back" to university and studied with the Open University in my "spare" time when working full time and bringing up my children as a widowed parent, and got a degree with the OU in Geosciences.  Never regretted that - met some lovely people through the Open University Geological Society, and found some fabulous places, as well as a hobby (gold panning).

I recently  moved from one area with fantastic geology (North Yorkshire) to an area with completely different but also fantastic geology (Moray Coast).  Doesn't take much to make a geologist happy!  Show us a road cutting and we are in our element ;-)

Pamela Ross (StJ63 - 68)

2 December 2018

Ah Pamela Tom Lehrer. That takes me back. I too still have some of his LP's. Just the time of year to hear his 'A Christmas Carol' which is probably even more relevant today than it was then. Of course he was a sums teacher too. All we have in common!!

Geoff Hern (M60 - 80)

3 December 2018

Some odd things you read on this site from time to time! I am a big Tom Lehrer fan and I was lucky enough to see him live. Whilst teaching at The Havel School in Berlin, I got tickets to the Tom Lehrer performance at the Wahldebuhne stadium. Tom opened the show with 'Poisoning Pigeons In The Park' and closed with his musical rendition of 'The Periodic Table'. A very funny and clever performer. He maintained his daytime job as a teacher of sums for big kids.

The other thing about Tom Lehrer is that his surname in Yiddish and in standard German means 'Teacher'. So, when living in Germany for 24years...I introduced myself as 'Ich bin Lehrer' and the populace expected a witty song! Rather a disappointment!

Colin Hawthorne (M74 - 79)

7 December 2018

I was a pupil at WIndsor  Sandringham house from 1955 to 1960. Our house master was Master Benfield.  Master Cutler was also at Sandringham. Both these staff members were highly respected by all the boys at Sandringham. I was also there during the flood and all the boys helped Master Benfield clear the water. I made many good friends while at Windsor and often times wonder they all ended up in the world. Brain Bradshaw went to live in the United States and some years ago I made contact with him. David Dunlop I meet while on a business trip to Ottawa where David was living. As for the many other Sandringham house students I would like to know where they are. Some names that come to mind are Hans Coulson, David Jones, Bill Birdling, Bill's sister Emily, Sandringham girls, Roger Ivy, David Beng, Michael (Battler) Britton, Gordon  Lawson, we are all in the late evening of our lives but have fond memories of great times at WIndsor school. I now live in Canada near Toronto in a town named Ajax named father HMS Ajax that fought in the battle of the river Plate? I trust all those I knew have had a happy and prosperous life. Please convey my thanks to Master Benfield and Master Cutler for their much appreciated guidance when I was young.

Patrick (Morris) Hickman (S55 - 60)

7 December 2018

Just to let the world know still alive and kicking-although the joints ache a bit when kicking!
It was round about now that we had all packed our bags and hoards of parents would descend on the school to pick up their "little loved ones" for the Christmas break.
Rather than be homesick in the first term, I decided that the second term, after Christmas was the best time to be homesick. But the daily visit to sister Malloy (Scottish I think) in sickbay above Edinburgh House, to take my "homesick" tablet did the trick - how naive one is at that age?
I realise that the site does not provide contact details for present and past members, but I still have photos of some of the students that actively comment on the Windsor site - is there any way of contacting them?
Wishing all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and 2019

Peter Leppard (M60 - 64)

If You want to contact anyone who has posted here then I can send them your email address - Bill

10 December 2018

The talk of WGS reminds me of the huge outdoor theatre. I spent 2 years at Hamm Primary from the age of 5 to 7 and loved playing in that area.   My village recently built a new primary school as the old purpose built 1960s building wasn't 'fit for purpose'.  I always wonder how that is so given my old schools include old army barracks (WBS), an ex-tank garage (Hamm Primary), and a Franciscan hospital/residential centre for disabled children, albeit with a very sad history, then a BMH (Kent School).

Michael Cutts (M77-79)

10 December 2018

Thank you Bill for your dedication to this site.  We are entering the Christmas period and the weather down here (Melbourne, Australia) is starting to warm up again.  We try to remain faithful to our roots and maintain the traditions we were brought up with, even though it doesn't feel much like Christmas.
This has always been my favourite time of year.  Whilst at WBS, my parents lived in Liege, Belgium, so we started our trek back for the holidays.  Train back to Cologne then car to Liege.  Hillsborough always had a Christmas tree in the Day Room and we had fun decorating it.  Boys always decorated their dorms, as well.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.  Hope you all have a fabulous time with your respective families, wherever you are in the world.

Dave Naylor (H64-67)

Thanks John & Merry Xmas to you too - Bill

11 December 2018

Merry Christmas to all WBS/WGS pupils and staff and have a very happy new year, hope all are well

Robert (Bob) Moore (C62-64)

14 December 2018

Wishing all ex inmates of WBS/WGS a  very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Daniel Shuttleworth (E63-66)