Bath Tec School

Round and Round

9/28/2009 2:50:59 PM
Hi all
 
"The wheels on the bus go round and round.........." - can't get this song out of my mind. Is Stu telepathic and trying to tell me something? The only bus I had a remote fondness for was the green single decker (No. 18) that would take me nearer home when I was pi**ed!!! It is going to take me a little while Stu to accept you have gone to the other side, the dark side in fact. You will not be creeping around Cartagena will you? I fear for your life if you tried to put a ticket on a Spanish car!!! They tend to park where they stop and put on hazards which it appears makes it alright!!
 
It is not all milk and honey here by the way. It started thunder, lightning and heavy rain 36 hours ago and it has just stopped but there is more forecast. Lot of flooding around but it's very warm though.
 
Warm welcome to new members, as you can tell we are all slightly mad but don't let that stop you contributing some sanity to the site.
 
Cheers for now
 
Steve

Comments

- 9/28/2009 7:08:15 PM
Dear All (thanks Stu for the welcome)
 
I have interesting memories of the mighty 33 bus that carted us (Jeff White, Alan Hale & Robert Ashley) from the wilds of Keynsham and deposited us at the far end of the pedestrian suspension bridge that led through Stothert and Pitts factory.
 
The bus was a fervent mass of sexual (im) "possibilities". 
 
 Trying to arrange to sit near the loveliest girl or have the only empty seat available next to one when the stop used by the object of ones desires came up. I have yearning even now for a vision of loveliness wearing a blue ribboned boater atop blond hair.....even sat next to her ONCE. I suppose she's over 60 too now.
 
 Of course we never once spoke to these girls from the High School, Convent or the place where they had blue blazers (any idea which school that was?) They were all too posh and out of our league.........not that Ian Weiss (lived in the big house opposite the Convent and had a telescope in the attic to watch the changing rooms) or Taxi Gardiner would have thought so...anyone remember them... the latter with a lisp that only the bravest of most foolish would allude to.
 
More often it was the obligatory paedophile who got on at the Windsor Hotel by the gasworks....looking exactly how a deviant should look , even down to the mac and v thick glasses. It was a game to try to land one of our number with him. He usually tried to approach our thighs via a hand 'neath his greasy mac. Strangely I don't rember feeling much of a victim...it was a laugh.
 
Isn't it great that age reduces all that yearning and all you have left is finding yerself looking at girls and wondering why!  Mind you I'm only speaking for meself.
 
There's loads more but enough already!!
 
Regards
 
 
Chris
 
- 9/29/2009 4:48:12 PM
Paedophiles, deviants, young girls, telescopes in attics, what was going through your mind young Chris, I dread to think and now lusting after a sixty year old respectfully married grandmother while us poor inocents lusted after steam locos, real or model, airfix kits of heavy bombers, fighters and destroyers, crystal sets, cream cakes and much more could be seen on our way from Weymouth House to woodwork classes at the old jail, its a wonder we ever got there with all the distractions on the way from the Modelers Den to Hanneys and Green Park Station.
  Hi Steve sorry to hear about your bad weather and I know what it is like to be caught in a Spanish downpour, Jan and I decided to walk to the supermarket from our campsite on the Costa del Sol one afternoon alongside a busy duel carriageway, perfect day, shorts, shirt and sandels off we set on a two kilometer walk, on the way back it suddenly turned black and started to rain and it stung  it was coming down so hard, we had no shelter, on the wrong side of a duel carriageway and within seconds we were soaked with no choice but to carry on, it was,nt as if the rain was warm, it was freezing, at least by the time we got back it had cleared and the sun was out again, isn,t about time Rich was back? and John must be busy as he hasn,t posted for some time
 Had some great weather for the time of year down in Devon but the days seem so short now that the nights are drawing  in.
- 9/30/2009 8:54:49 PM
Hi Guys.  Must apologise for my absence the past few days, settling into job and writing reports on a couple of problems with road idents and yellow line, exciting stuff, gotta earn some brownie points. I don't think Torrington's much like Cartagena Steve, occasional disgruntled builder and old ladies who panic when they see you, spent too long chatting after collecting their pension, great fun watching them run down the car park, sick swine that we are, weren't goping to book em anyway, I'm not allowed to yet.
 
Think summers finally over, started to turn decidedly chilly over the last few days, starting to look a little autumnal, most of the grockles have gone home and peace and quiet have returned to North Devon.
 
Many Congrats to you and your family Rich, definately the family patriach now then, must be a definate for the pipe and slippers now though, although I did notice quite a gleam in Cherilyn's eye, no doubt you'll soon be on pram pushing duties.
 
What can I say Chris, but definately looking forward to a few more revelations, I do somehow suspect that Tony wasn't quite so innocent as he'd like us to believe, and I do notice Mr Williams is strangely quiet on the subject, mind you if you read through some of our previous discussions you'll understand why, all I will say is "You didn't have a sister did you"?
 
Stu
- 9/30/2009 10:01:10 PM
It must be like having a gun and no bullets eh Stu, sorry Chris could,nt resist the leg pull, and as for Bill, he is out in the depths of Combe Haye and Midford sorting out the route of the Somerset Coal Canal with the aid of an altimeter and sat nav, once Bill is set on something he goes the whole hog and wont stop untill its sorted.
- 9/30/2009 11:41:08 PM
Hi Guys.
        I'm back from the emerald isle, so I am, at all, at all.
Now then, about these buses and solar panels, p'raps I should have known better, but when you get to our age
the memory goes as well, so wine women and song are more or less out!
I've just spent a happy half an hour trying to read and inwardly digest the happenings whilst I've been away, but finding it difficult to keep in touch. There is so much going on!
Stu you really should not cast aspertions about Anth's innocense, everyone knows he's as pure as the driven snow, nice boy from Frome I'd expect nothing else.
Fancy you going over to the dark side! I can see the reason for the haircut now, any infringement of the law and it'll be -
'Hey coochy coo you bin parked all day and like that. Book em Crocker'
And now I've gone and encouraged Bill to take an interest in the Somerset Coal Canal too!
Seriously though guys, thanks for the info on Solar and wind, very helpful.
Oh by the way Chris you were not thinking of the Art School were you? I think they wore blue and some of their girls were real crackers, but as you say far too sophisticated for us, out of our league completely! Damn I shouldn't have remembered that!
Bi for now guys.   More soon.
John.
- 9/30/2009 11:41:08 PM
Hi Guys.
        I'm back from the emerald isle, so I am, at all, at all.
Now then, about these buses and solar panels, p'raps I should have known better, but when you get to our age
the memory goes as well, so wine women and song are more or less out!
I've just spent a happy half an hour trying to read and inwardly digest the happenings whilst I've been away, but finding it difficult to keep in touch. There is so much going on!
Stu you really should not cast aspertions about Anth's innocense, everyone knows he's as pure as the driven snow, nice boy from Frome I'd expect nothing else.
Fancy you going over to the dark side! I can see the reason for the haircut now, any infringement of the law and it'll be -
'Hey coochy coo you bin parked all day and like that. Book em Crocker'
And now I've gone and encouraged Bill to take an interest in the Somerset Coal Canal too!
Seriously though guys, thanks for the info on Solar and wind, very helpful.
Oh by the way Chris you were not thinking of the Art School were you? I think they wore blue and some of their girls were real crackers, but as you say far too sophisticated for us, out of our league completely! Damn I shouldn't have remembered that!
Bi for now guys.   More soon.
John.
PS I didn't post this twice, for some reason it happened all on its own!
- 10/1/2009 11:51:18 AM
Hi Chris, John,
About the blazers .. Bath Art School at Primrose hill, Weston definately had dark blue badges. I was very close to one Faye R******d who lived on the London Road, she was a cracker, never forgot her .. but don`t look back Chris, they age , as we all do and the sheen of youth soon fades..I know, I knew that Sheen...Ha Ha.
 
Other Schools with Blue .. a few names from City of Bath Girls in Lower Oldfield Park come to mind, light blue badge if I recall, and really short skirts.. I expect most of us will remember rushing over to the left side of the bus and whistling etc as we went past the tennis courts on the way to Rugby or cricket at Bradford road .. heady days, wonder what the bus driver made of it all?
 
Bye for now......
- 10/1/2009 4:18:01 PM
Blue blazers!!
 
No Not art kids. The school was on London Rd at Walcot right hand side coming out of Bath.
 
Oooh the High School...  yes the bus used to lean over at an alarming angle as we passed...and the girls gathered at the windows!    ( what was the angle at which a bus was supposed to be able to survive a list?  (not the same as "the angle of dangle".... which was around for a while early 60's.... I suppose)
 
The head used to announce in assembuly on a regular basis and with weariness that the headmistress at the high school had complained YET AGAIN about our bus behaviour. Nothing changed tho'
 
What was the name of the miserable old head who gassed himself and wife. I rememeber all of us being called into the hall to be informed by Bill Hayman and "not to listen to gossip" .....any idea why he did it.
 
Blessyynngges alle
 
Chris
 
 
- 10/1/2009 6:41:56 PM
I think the school you may be thinking of Chris is Grosvenor High School, that was located on the London Rd. close (ish) to the A46 junction. The only other school with females on that side of the city that I can remember was the Diocesan originally located in Walcot Street, then relocated to the Larkhall/Fairfield Park area, but their uniforms were dark green, and if I remember correctly Oldfield Girls was dark blue, can't remember waht colour the Twerton girls wore, although I did know a few we never discussed school uniforms, I do remember one absolute cracker who lived in Shaws Way though and I'm taking the 5th. on that.
 
Nice to hear that you've returned safely from darkest North Somerset Bill, remember I warned you about cannibals in that area I was becoming quite worried by your continuing silence.
 
Jesus, Joseph and Mary it's good to hear that you've returned from the Emerald Isle John, I trust it didn't rain too much and that the porter was of sufficient quality and quantity, one word though concerning our Tony's suggested innocence, who was it brought up the subject of knickers and Frome car parks eh John? Only joking lads.
 
Concerning our ramblings about various subjects, music and most recently reminiscences about schoolgirls, I just came across an obit in a magazine to Ellie Greenwich co-writer of some of better known hits of our youth, "Be My Baby", "Baby I Love You", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Do Wah Diddy" and "River Deep Mountain High" to mention a few, I'd forgotten many of these but it brought back memories of dark corners at the old Bath Central Youth Club and a few that are unmentionable in polite company.
 
Steve, you may, or may not be interested but Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck are doing a gig at the London O2 on 13th. February next year, 08707355000 or www.bookingsdirect.com for info and tickets.
 
Stu
- 10/1/2009 9:22:40 PM
Hi all.
        Yes Stu, surprisingly it never rained once the entire time we were in Killarney, a whole ten days with no rain must be some kind of record. They usaually say if you can see the mountains its going to rain, and if you can't see 'em its already raining! But the porter was OK though. By the way I trust you are not suggesting that the knickers in the car park had anything to do with Anth, he must have been about fourteen at the time! Only joking guys.
      I think I may have mentioned before that we all got on best with the convent girls, I s'pose its probably because my best mate had two sisters that both attended that seat of learning which probably gave us a 'way in' as it were. I think I've said this before, but there was one that lived out Batheaston way, built like a Gazelle, and by that I don't mean that she had horns! Just for the benefit of the new boys.
Damn the memory playing tricks again! 
      By the way Chris we had a discussion some time back about the head that committed suicide along with his wife. Must have been at about the time you started at the school, or just after. His name was T. J. Nicolas he also lived out Batheaston way. Rumour had it that he was molesting school boys which is what drove him to commit the act, but who knows? Prior to his death he used to ride a scooter to school as did Harry Mower (Metalwork), I believe Harry is still with us but getting on a bit now. You also mention Bill Hayman, we were all a bit in awe of him, but as time passed we realised that behind it all he was a really nice bloke, a mean mathematician too! I could never understand why he was not made head after the demise of TJN.
      We also used to rush to one side of the bus on occasions. It was usually on the A4 between Bathford and Box, where the railway runs parallel to the road. Going home at night there was a semi fast train, first stop after Bath was Chippenham, by the time it got there it was just getting in its stride and usually overtook the bus easily. As it passed everyone rushed over to see which loco it was (Usually a Castle) and then wave at the kids that were on the train (The other tec kids got two fingers but the girls got a subdued wave) Why we imagined that the girls could not see the two fingers is beyond me, but that's kids for you!
      Got to go now guys.
          John.
PS By the way, another very good friend of mine at school was a guy called Jim Nixon and he married one! A convent girl, that is, not a train!
 
- 10/2/2009 6:38:27 PM
Stu, West Twerton Girls School wore dark green uniforms, drawers and all. Don't ask how I know but I knew a girl in Cleeve Green !!!
 
If I remember rightly the girls school gym was next to the tennis courts and we used to pray to the Almighty that the Bus Driver would miss his gear as we went by because you could then see through the top windows of the said Gymnasium. I am also glad to know that I'm not the only perv that went to the Tech, but have no knowledge of the dirty mac brigade. There was a rumour about going in the back of Tiani's ice cream van when I was a kid, but that was my parents' comments so who knows!
 
I don't think  I'm ready for pipe and slippers yet awhile Stu, and the gleam in my good lady wife's eye had nowt to do with me !!
 
I've still got quite a bit to catch up on so.........
 
 
Rich
- 10/2/2009 6:52:38 PM
Enjoyed your hols then Rich!
Have to say my favorites were the Dioscesan girls and West Twerton, not that I knew many of them, wrong side of town, all somewhat down to earth, know what I mean, nudge, nudge, probably why they seemed to end up working at Bayers or Chivers, you definitely didn't want to be sent to do a job in either of those places, or meet up with a bunch of them out on the town, then again --------------. The firm I worked for as an apprentice did all the electrical work at Ashwick Hall, then a Catholic approved school for girls, now that could be frightening, if you ever got caught talking to any of them it was instant dismissal, we also did the work for the remand home at Walcot Parade but that was a different story. Perv ? you bet, as for age one persons fiddle is someone else's Stradivarius.
 
Stu
- 10/2/2009 8:08:40 PM
Stu, I'll tell you another place you didn't want to work....The Regency Laundry... or maybe you did !!!!!
 
It's funny the things you remember when you're old and sad on here and I remember walking down Brougham Hayes every morning and saying" good morning" to two of the City of Bath girls, who were maybe two years ahead of me and thinking it was wonderful. They, on the other hand, probably thought "Here come those two twerps again" Never mind it got me through another day. I still have fantasies about the girl in the Baccy Jar shop just down the road from the school. What happened to her ?
 
Ah, well. Life goes on!!
- 10/2/2009 11:29:27 PM
Hi Guys.
Well I don't know! I'm still trying to get me head around how Rich discovered that West Twerton girls knickers matched the rest of the uniform. The mind boggles. And trhe stories of them being 'down to earth'. Still that's for him to know and us to find out about!
Exciting time you had as an apprentice Stu. Such goings on. Like your comment about the fiddle and Stradivarius, think I was more the fiddle, but the strings were broke.
       Speaking of apprentice experiences, which you were, before I moved up to Gloucester, when I was just out of my time I worked around Somerset quite a lot and spent some time working in shoe factories around the Glastonbury area. I thought I'd seen it all. Then I moved to the Gloucester area and one of my regulars became Morelands match factory and I realised how tame life in Somerset had been. At that time the MD of the factory was the last of the Moreland family to hold that post and he was known affectionately as Mr Sam (Samuel Moreland). Locally all the girls that worked in the match room were known as Sammy's Angels, need I say more! You took your life in your hands in there, but only if their forewoman was not about. She ruled with a hand of steel. Good job too.
      As an aside the boiler house there was a vary interesting place because they used quite a lot of LP steam out on the plant. As  I have no doubt you all know it is quite inefficient to generate low pressure so their boilers were multi fuel high pressure, from memory about 225 PSI. Multi fuel because they were actually oil fired, but they had a facility to hopper feed all the factory waste into the combustion, scrap splints, boxes, paper, card, wood bark, etc. The HP steam was used to drive a compound steam engine which in turn powered an alternator, with its output permanently connected to the mains. The output LP steam from the engine was used on the plant with the condensate being returned to the feed water tank to pre heat the boiler feed water.
     Cunning eh?
It was not until you got around these places that you realised how sophisticated some of them were, remember this was back in the sixties. Pittards, the leather dressers in Sherborne Road Yeovil had a similar set up. Sad to say both are now long gone. Morelands were bought out by Bryant and May and the factory subsequently closed. Pittards moved to Penn Mill Trading Estate, and the Sherborne Road factory demolished.
     Can I hear yawning there in the back! Sorry guys if I bored you, got a bit carried away.
      Bi for now.
         John.
 
- 10/4/2009 5:21:22 PM
Can someone confirm that  the school used the playing fields at Claverton Down for cricket in 63 and 64.  I'm also assuming that those same Claverton Down wickets are now underpinning Bath Uni or are they just close by?

I have vivid memories of a fully laden and elderly double-decker wheezing up Bathwick Hill at less than 10mph.  If the driver missed his gear change (as it sometimes did)  the bus would shudder to a stop whilst he would crash the box in a desperate attempt to find first.  The drum brakes on those buses invariable squealed and goodness only knows what would have happened had the thing started to roll backwards.  Bathwick Hill was wide enough to gain a fair turn of speed before hitting anything more solid than a passing Hillman Minx.

A couple of lads used to use the journey up Bathwick Hill as a breath holding challenge - rapid panting and a deep breath taken by St. Mary's was then held until a particular house or side entrance was passed. Each time the journey was taken the drive to apnea was pushed that little bit further..... - silly b.....s!  Was this a reaction to passing Bath Convent School? Were we that deviant?  Love was definitely unrequited but one could always hope.

Mike




- 10/4/2009 5:54:39 PM
Hi Mike, I can't confirm the cricket as I was in the Rugby team at Glasshouse, but we did always have our annual school sports day on the cinder track where the University is now. I do also remember playing rugger for the school against Oldfield Boys there, so whether that was Oldfield's home turf I don't know. You can be sure one of our members will know the answer..........but no holding your breath now while you wait !!!!!
 
Rich
- 10/4/2009 6:57:25 PM
'lo Mike an alle
 
yes, I believe that the cricket field is under the UNI along with that horrible cinder track and also the start of cross country running...so our whole sporting history is buried...apart from the rugby field which remains unchanged..even to the awful little changing rooms..
 
I once scored 3.5 tries courtesy of Mr Williams. He generously passed the ball to me on the wing so I took the tries. The o.5 was when I got cocky and tried to do one of those running placings of the ball and someone shoved me off as I put down. On that day only Mr W and I were moving as the rest of the teams were too cold. That was the high point of my sporting career at tha tec and probably since.
 
Incidentally was someone trying to trace Ian Tayler? If so I have info.
 
blessynngges
 
Chris
- 10/4/2009 7:11:26 PM
Chris, I think we'd all like to know about Ian Smiler Tayler, please tell.
 
Rich
- 10/4/2009 9:21:49 PM
Hello all,
I can confirm running ( or the nearest thing I could manage that looked similar ) at Norwood race track in 1959(ish), I can only remember the one occasion. Cricket as far as memory goes was played to the south east of the rugby pitches(s) at Combe Down.
 
The huts are long gone now, only one  relatively new portacabin remains as a memoriy of those marvelous wooden huts, and the cold showers they contained. Hut 1 nearest the path down into the field was the changing room, no washing facilities. no.2 hut the showers and toilets is where the portacabin is now. ( see old hasunts pictures and rugby folders to compare the images from 2003 and 1968ish I think).
 
It`s late again, and yes info about "smiler" Ian would be most welcome "dougie" Gray had some news a few years ago, but it petered out.
 
Somerset Coal Canal Caissons ... English Heritage have been informed today of their existence at a 2 locations. My site survey with the landowner is taking place tomorrow. If I had discovered them sooner, we would still have a complete chamber with mechanism intact. However, regrettably just three weeks ago the top 30ft including mechanism was dragged of the top of the hill it had sat on for 204 years by a digger in a bid to prevent the steep bank slipping into a the back of new barn being built.  The operator did not know what it was he tore down.
 
Had the owner known, he could have used a filled in tunnel close by (that he knows noting of despite living there for over 50 years) The tunnel matches EXACTLY with my measurements. 
 
The caisoon(s) stonework and two exit tennels are still on site. Bottom exit tunnel has sunk into soft soil by a depth of 12ft. The caisson drain channel is wholly intact for 90ft (hopefully). The bottom 20 ft or so of another caisoon lock is still at Combe hay..very, very  well camoflaged (sp). perhaps bringing one exit tunnel to combe hay will allow a full size item to be viewed again. Just neet to locate where the operator dumped the metal work. Out with the metal detedtor again !!!
 
 
There were at least 5, yes 5, caisson locks built in the system, with evidence of a possible 6th photographed by yours truly. You heard it first on here, also there is a historical copy of the communications to english heritage stored on Wikipedai (with locations removed).
 
I have contacted the Shropshire canal organisation and offered the same service to them, we shall see .. Gotta go, still searching for a picture I saw somewhere of the exit tunnel 10` 6` wide with horse, barge and operator drawn to scale. regards, Bill
- 10/4/2009 11:47:52 PM
Hi Bill and all.
Glad you are  ejoying the Somerset Coal Canal, Bill. Interesting that you have been able to find so much evidence and that so much of the original infrastructure still exists. Shame about the caisson lock though! As you probably know one of the well known features of the canal was the barge weigh station, I'm not exactly sure where it was, but it is very well documented, don't know if you've come across any evidence, it may have been totally removed during the construction of the railway. (Camerton branch).
I believe also there was a horse drawn plateway which belonged to the Canal Company, this served several collieries and joined the canal at Midford. It was purchased by the Somerset and Dorset and parts used as the course of their Bath extension. Does this suggest that Midford was the site of the weigh station?
Gotta go now.
John. 
- 10/7/2009 4:30:21 PM
'LOalle
 
Ian Tayler.....info......His older brother was a contemporary of mine in the 6th form....Rog Tayler who joined the tec in 63 to do A levels and was a very good crosss country runner. We have kept in touch ever since.
 
Anyway, Ian......he now lives in E Anglia in country house slendour according to Rog...at Stratton St andrew. He's retired after being Director of the E London Training and Enterprise Council...I have left  his brother to inform Ian of this site and all the lovely people who want to know how he made his "pile". Suggested that Rog might wish to join also.
 
Going down to Bath to see Nr 1 son and family in Weston (Bath not super-M ) this weekend. The lad is misspending his life editing a computer games called EDGE, I suppose those who play games may know of it...he says it's the market leader....but I suppose the one eyed man is king in the land of the blind! Why don't our offspring have proper jobs...but maybe they've got it right though.
 
alle the usual blessynnges
 
Chris
- 10/7/2009 9:32:02 PM
Hi all.
Been quiet these last few days, everyone asleep except Chris.
I guess Bill is still deliberating the facts about The Somerset Coal Canal. His results have been very interesting so far!
Know what you mean, Chris, about the offspring having proper jobs, but I guess they would claim to HAVE proper jobs, it's us wrinklies that didn't have 'em. How times change. I'm afraid the names you mention mean nothing to me, after my time. I left around 1961. I had one year at Brougham Hayes.
Chris, did you see my note regarding T.J. Nicolas following your question previously?
Incidentally do any of you that were at school during the Weymouth House days remember Martian Joe? Perhaps he was a figment of my imagination, could the memory be playing tricks again?
Regarding school sports days I'm afraid to say I can only remember one, and that was held on the ruby field near St Martin's Hospital, we must have been in the fourth year at the time. I seem to recall that three of us were given a lift up there from WH by Ray Jones in his new car, a Standard Pennant. Several of the teachers took cars up there on that occasion and that was where I found out that Wally Hammond was driving a Jowett Javelin. The most attention of all though went to the pupil that arrived on an Indian Chief motor cycle, unfortunately I can't remember who it was.
Getting late, must go.
Bi for now.
John.
 
- 10/8/2009 12:24:22 AM
Hi John and all, I must have been to the same sports day as you John because all I remember is having it on the rugby ground at the glasshouse, I started at the Tech in 59 so I must have been two years behind you and I was in the P stream.
I do remember Ray Jones Standard Pennant car though ,and very proud he was of it too, as very few of the teachers had cars, quite a few had scooters and push bikes.
Dugie Gray and myself, because of our size, were made to throw the shot put, javelin and discus and had to practice for a few weeks prior to the sports day.
Bill and I have been digging at Midford with little to show for our efforts other than sore backs but it is good to be out in the fresh air and we have found a few interesting things that were dumped well over a hundred years ago.
- 10/8/2009 9:39:58 AM
Hi Chris and all,
 
How this site jogs the memory! I had forgotten Roger Tayler until you mentioned him and then I remembered younger brother Gregory(who still has a Shadows album of mine from 1964) and also the lovely sister Marilyn. I'ts nice to know old Smiler has made his pile and is now Lord of all he surveys in East Anglia. That's a long way from his time playing drums in Twerton Village Hall and singing I'll follow the Sun with me !!!!
 
Thanks for the info, Chris. tell the bugger to get on here, I'm sure he's got some stories.

Rich
- 10/8/2009 10:26:21 AM
 
Loalleagin
 
 
Thanks John re dead T J Nicolas
 
I suppose the reasons had crossed my mind. I found him a forbidding and unsympathetic character. I wish Bill H had replaced him and not the equally brooding F T ( "Nuncky" ) Naylor whose humourlessness extended to a threat of expulsion without references when a few of us put up a flag outside his office...don't remember what was on the flag.
 
Yes John I arrived as the first intake at Brougham Hayes but was interviewed at WH after I passed 13+ & was rescued from my sec mod. It must have been an amazing change for those who had been  at WH.
 
Ray Jones was a character. DA haircut, winklepickers all curled up at the ends and drain-pipes  a bit like Max Wall in some ways and a winning way with certain boys.
 
Does anyone remember the terrifying neckless Dynes (? Dines) ....left in 63. He and his hangers on terrorised from about 60-63. The horror of having him and his henchmen sitting behind in assembuly and kicking what were once prize possessions through the soft seat for 30' or more doesn't bear retelling.
 
I'll keep on the Tayler case
 
Blessyynnges
 
Chris
 
- 10/8/2009 6:58:11 PM
Evening all, just thought I'd stick in a quick word or two before I disappear for three weeks, bags are packed and I'm leaving on a jet plane tomorrow morning, while I'm gone would someone be good enough to start a new thread please, otherwise I'll never find out what's been going on.
Ah! the glories of sports afternoons, not that I ever enjoyed them very much, being short sighted I wasn't any good at rugby, useless at cricket - limited spatal awareness combined with miniscule brain power, and cross country didn't suit my fat wobbly body, no the high light of sports afternoon at the Glasshouse was leering out of the bus window when it went past Hayesfield School, and trips to Norwood are best remembered for flying down Widcombe Hill on my bike on the way home, funny speed's never bothered me, the faster the better, just as long as I don't personally have to supply the means of propulsion, i.e. going downhill on a bike was great going up it a very different matter.
Nice to hear that Ian "Smiler" Tayler's done so well, if anyone manages to get in contact with him see if you can borrow a fiver for me, I'm going to be skint after this holiday, main reason for becoming a member of the local traffic gestapo. At the interview for the job I was asked why I wanted it, I was totally honest and said my Mrs. has got expensive tastes and likes foreign holidays, amazesme I got it, I've spent this week doing surveys of the car parks of Torridge District Council, me and my little white van have been here there and everywhere, (and back again). Very pleasant except it rained yesterday at Halwill Junction, you rail afficianados will recognise the name, oddly enough one of the roads that occupies part of the old lines is called Beeching Close.
Well ta. ta. for now the land of Suzy Wong and Shanghai Lil calls.
 
Stu
- 10/8/2009 9:02:25 PM
Hi Stu , hope you get this before you go, anyway have a great time and take plenty of photos and have a safe journey--this thread has got to be one of the longest yet, come on Steve start another!
- 10/8/2009 9:23:41 PM
Hi all.
First of all, have a good holiday in the orient, Stu.
Pass on my best wishes to the land of Chairman Mao. If you go to Tianamin Square think of me, I'll be really envious. Last time I was there was 86/87. As you know, I love the Country, but it's an acquired taste!
I think it's pretty well accepted Chris, that Bill Hayman would have made a super head, could never work that one out! Perhaps it was his choice. I feel reasssured to know that we were not the only ones to get a ride in Ray's car, although in spite of the fact that he was as camp as they come, I think he was completely harmless as long as he was aware that you were very hetero. I'm sure he had no doubt about our lot!
What's all this about digging Anth, didn't realise that you were a bit of an archaeologist. Do tell more! What were the artefacts?
Queer innit when I was at school I could not raise any enthusiasm for history, but as one ages the tendency has been to take more interest in our heritage and resultingly all the historic links. I guess it may be nostalgia related. Strange how we all seem to be involved in opning up the past to future generations in some way.
No comments about Martian Joe, does this mean that no one else came across him?
Must go now, things to do.
John.
- 10/11/2009 11:14:08 AM

Chris et al,

I'm glad you remembered the honourable Dines as well....thought I was the only one who recalled his nefarious ways (as per a very much earlier dispatch from rural Monmouthshire).  I guess you must have been present (if not a witness to) an incident at a Glasshouse rugby match when Mike Williams made up the numbers of one team whilst playing against a rabble 15 (which included Dines)on the other.   There must have been some needle going on between the two of them because Dines executed what can only be described as a perfect tackle on MW's shorts.  MW being a man who in those days had a reputation for not taking too many prisoners brought his heel up into the lower portion of Dines visage causing the said Dines to release his partially debagged quarry and allowing MW to score the nth try of the match. 

Now this may all be ramblings of a mind that is becoming more detached from reality by the day OR was it the one occasion when I saw summary justice being meted out with real gusto?

Mike

- 10/12/2009 8:11:46 PM

Dear All,

 

This morning I received a hand written letter from Mike Williams in response to our representation at Maureen’s funeral. I quote:

 

Dear Mike,

 

How good of you to attend the funeral and many, many thanks for the lovely messages which were read out.  Please thank the authors for me.

 

What good times those schooldays were.

 

Best wishes, 

 

Mike

- 10/12/2009 11:52:25 PM
Hi Mike.
Many thanks for pasting the message you received from Mike Williams. It's nice to know that our messages were of some little comfort to him.
Be in touch again soon.
John.
- 10/13/2009 9:48:14 AM
Many thanks Mike
 
I was very respectful of Mike Williams and like others lustful of Mrs Williams.
 
It's strange how the memory of people remains fixed at the time we knew them and it's difficult to conceive of teachers and others having aged or died. I felt very much the that when I heard that Ben Coard had died.
 
It was great that you were able to "represent" us
 
Regards
 
Chris
- 10/13/2009 10:05:22 AM
Hello all,
I`m off with our Anth shortly to do more observation, measurement & recording of levels and perspectives at Midford and Combe Hay. The artifacts:- I can hopefully (thanks to the aid of the experts on the road show) reveal that one is a wine bottle of the early Prince Regent / George IV period. This is not an artifact that relates to a typical boat man or navvy. It would be out of their budget. One other artifact found is a broke porcelain dish. Again, not an item used by boat men or navvies. I cannot reveal any more at this time as the others are needed to be dated, possibly as instruments of the period used for height surveying.
 
 Mike H, good to know our messages to Mike Williams were of comfort to him..thanks for the copy of the letter from him.  I`ll repeat what Anth said Stu, come back safely. I have invited Ian Tayler (not Taylor) from Pub Pals to this site. He joined Pub Pals recently (no details in his profile). John (stickey) is providing really useful info on the railways (last update this morning from him).  Anth should be here soon (I hope) it`s a lovely day, warm and very sunny. Catch you all later.
- 10/13/2009 11:29:24 PM
Hi All.
Glad to hear that Anth and Bill are enjoying the delights of Midford.
I'm no expert on transport in that area and I'm afraid my interests are rather railway biased, but I know enough to realise that they have almost certainly opened up a can of worms, taking into account railways, canal and tramways. The porcelain finds they have come across, contrary to Bill's  view that it could not have been related to canal people, it is possible. Canal folk had a tradition of investing any wealth they had in porcelain plates and dishes, a bit like a bank account as they always had something to trade when times were hard. Could be compared I suppose to the gypsy tradition of investing in gold ear rings etc.
Don't remember a lot about Mr Naylor as his reign had only just begun when I left, but do recall not being very impressed, although none of us actually crossed swords with him. Think he probably over reacted over the flag though, Mike. He would probably have had a heart attack if he'd been in charge three or four years earlier. I recall that one of the kids in the same year as us, but not in the P stream, tried to knife 'Killer Keating' on one occasion. Failed miserably apparently, old Killer knew how to look after himself!
Don't know if the name Spike Hughes means anything to you, but he was couple of years below us and had a reputation as a bit of a bugger. On one occasion he was suspended for some misdemenour and by coincidence several of our group, me included, were suspended at the same time for some totally unrelated matter. His mother blamed us for her sweet boy's suspension and never forgave us the imagined sin.
Good old days............
Have to go now.
G'night all.
John.
 
- 10/15/2009 12:04:04 AM
'Ullo, it's me again after a  l  o  n  g  layoff.  Read through the missed posts, enjoyed the bit about what pervs you all were (anyone remember Jennifer Harbutt, of "Plasticene" family fame, from the Convent?  I went out with her, just the once) and having more memories dusted off.
Was very sorry to hear of the loss of Mrs Williams; she was a lovely lady.  And yes, I remember the name "Dines" and the fear associated with it - nothing else, but perhaps that's for the best ....
I was told on starting at the Tech that "Killer" Keating used to be a wrestler - does anyone know if that's true?
Some of us believed we identified Mr. Nicholas' "victim", a chap in our form, but he wouldn't admit to anything so the suicide pact is STILL a mystery.
I found both Mr's Nicholas and Naylor OK.  The latter was a latent philosopher and used to enjoy discussion sessions about the world in general.  His secretary was very attractive, and I managed to grab a snog with her on the very last day of school, just before Mr. Naylor came out of his office & asked what we were waiting for!  Being first in the queue does have its advantages, I suppose, 'cos we all wandered off then. 
Hey, you guys working at Midford - watch our for Nicholas Cage at the castle.  He just might catch fire if you upset him ...
 
Churro for now,
Roddaz
- 10/15/2009 5:54:36 PM
Hi Bart and all,
I loved the story about the "quick snog" .. were you lucky or what ! These revalations are getting better as time goes on, aren`t they? I think I remember a little about "Killer Keating" indeed being a wrestler before his leg injury? Dynes? Dines had two (maybe three) hench men, I just kept well out the way, glasses included. At least we were lucky to have Anth Eccles & Douggie Gray in our class to "ward off evil" of a physical nature. 
 
John (stickey), I didn`t think of the similarity to the romanies, thinking only of the Boatman as as driver only, completely forgetting that it was a way of life (with the family in tow on long journeys) . I shall have to be more careful in jumping to conclusions without doing the research first. Yes, can of worms it is indeed! I thought I had it sorted until I saw the "Titfield Thunderbolt" film yesterday, the train popped out of a tunnel I had assigned to the "S & D", but then the eight arches I thought were S & D became visible in the background !. Were the eight arches S & D? . or just the North Somerset Mineral Railway from Bristol and Temple Cloud / Clutton? I am really boggled now, oh well, one day all will be clear no doubt. Can I borrow the 1948 blue book back for a bit this winter?
Catch you later on.
 
- 10/16/2009 12:53:45 AM
Hi Bill and all.
Interesting, the rumours about 'Killer', because even when I was in the lower school forms there was gossip that he was a past martial arts expert of some sort, most people reckoned judo, but he never confirmed it in any way. Snogging indeed! Whatever next, I'm afraid to say that I broke my duck with the certain young lady from Batheaston way, mentioned previously. Came as quite a surprise at the time! Those were the days, as far as I can remember........
I've been trying for the last hour or so to upload photos of Midford, but failing miserably. These may help in your quest for the truth, Tried Skydrive railways folder and failed, also tried to upload to one of my own albums and that failed as well. Anyhow, from the piccies it can be clearly seen that the Camerton branch of the GWR passed through the third arch from the Wellow end of the eight arch viaduct at Midford. Believe it or not the branch was also elevated on an embankment and a lane passed under this, the railway passing over it by means of a short steel girder bridge. I've two views of this, one from the Bath direction and one from the Wellow direction, also a map showing this layout and its relationship to the Coal Canal. Anyhow you are correct in assuming that the S and D ran along the top of the viaduct. By the way, don't necessarily believe everything you see on films, surprising the things a good editor can do. I must really have another look at 'Titfield' to refresh my memory.
Regarding the Canal people, yes they were quite nomadic, the boats were their homes as well. Often one of the kids would be driving the horse while father steered the boat, meantime, madam boatlady would be keeping the cabin ship shape etc. It was quite normal for the lady of the boat to collect quality china as an investment as I said before. They were very proud of their porcelain.
I shall continue to try and upload the photos, maybe change format etc. Could be I may find some more yet!
Gotta go now.
Regards to all.
John (Sticky)
    
- 10/16/2009 5:02:03 AM
Hi All,
Long time no comms from me, but nice to be able to add from the otherside of the world.  I can tell you from the depths of Australia that Andrew Short who posted the Mike Williams note yesterday and I were footballing team mates of one Howard Keating.  Andrew is in direct contact with Howard Keating (I believe) and he might be able to get Howard to tell you a bit of about his father's background for this site.  I think Howard was schooled at St Brendans in Bristol, I know he was a Mick like me.
 
Cheers,
Ken Eynon  
- 10/16/2009 6:13:54 AM
Hi all, Snogging ????? That's a mystery to me !!!
 
Rich
- 10/16/2009 9:11:10 AM
Can any of you lads pick out this Dines/Dynes out on the school photos ? I do remember the name and do also remember that there were some scool"thugs" but I just can't put a face to this particular oick. It's nice to here that he got his come uppance from Mike Williams.
 
I also came up against a master playing rugby when Tom Martland joined the school taking chemistry,I think. At the time I was an under 15 Bath player as well as the Tech first XV and in training Tom Martland decided to play with the opposition. He caught me once and, bearing in mind he was in the Bath first team at the time, that was the only time. It's amazing how fast you can run in a blind panic when being pursued by a full grown rugby player !!!!
 
Rich