Bath Tec School

Is That You ?

5/22/2009 1:13:19 PM
Conroy, good to see you joined us, I'm assuming that's the Mr Knapp we all knew so well in the P's circa 59 - 64. Well old bean how about a pic so we can all have a good laugh, or say my looking well isn't he. I'm sure you'll soon get used to the general mickey taking and other abuse that we all suffer from time to time on here, as well as the general reminiscing. Be nice if you take a few mins to tell us what you've been up to in the interim years.
 

Comments

- 5/22/2009 3:59:44 PM
Well, well, well. Is that the Conroy Knapp that lived at Calne and travelled to school by train? Used to have permission to arrive late and leave early. Consequently he never did any of his detentions and I believe held the all time record for detentions beating me, Bill and Tony!!!
 
Welcome aboard old friend.
 
Cheers
 
Steve
- 5/23/2009 12:05:22 AM
I always though Conroy came from Westbury. There that should encourage him to reply and set us straight. The last I remember of Conroy was him holding Spike Millican firmly by the throat whilst politely asking for the return of his cycling news, which Spike had rather thoughtlesly confiscated on our last day at school. Perhaps I dreamt it, wishful thinking eh?
- 5/23/2009 8:21:29 AM
Hi Stu
 
Do you know what, I was going to put Westbury and at the last minute put Calne. Let's hope Mr. Knapp will write and put us right!!!
To be honest in them days Westbury or Calne were a million miles away!!!
 
Cannot rercall the Milliken incident. I think we were to busy trying to get the Head Prefect who was barricaded in the Gym - or is that also just wishful thinking?
 
Such a lot of memories, just wish I could remember them!!!!
 
Wonder if Bill has taken his Sou'Wester off yet?!
 
Steve
- 5/23/2009 9:06:09 AM
Morning Steve
 
Kinda strange isn't it there are thing which seem so strong in your memory, but you're the only one that remembers them, I wonder sometimes if we don't all construct our own private mythologies, you've got me thinking now Re Conroy v Spike, did it happen? You mentioning Head Boy got me thinking as well, weasel faced git if I remember, and didn't he ahve a Austin 7 which got turned onto its roof in the top car park, or is that another of my private mythologies.
 
I don't know why so many of us in our year got detention, they might as well have just put on an extra hour of lessons for our year there always seemed to be so many of us in detention, we must have been the only paperboys in Bath whose rounda started after 5pm. my customers always got the late edition of the Chronicle.
 
The weathers improved a bit might even be able to take the overcoat off today, I haven't heard of any of the S Devon lifeboats being launched over the past few days, so Bill's probably not had to play at being the ancient mariner, "The Boy stood on the burning camper van", and all that.
 
I feel shot this morning, I've decided it's not the gig, it's the drive home afterwards, 100 miles of daft buggers going away for the weekend, got no idea of how to drive on a motorway, ( i.e. 100mph in the outside lane ), usually coming back from Bristol late at night's a breeze, last night was murder I had to come across Exmoor to avoid it.
 
No the Colostomy Hall not changed, they've built a new foyer which as yet is unopened and bigger than the actual concert hall but inside you'd recognise it from 40 years ago, we had great seats last night, not that you wanted to sit down, right behind the mixing desk so had an uninterupted view.
 
Must go, working today, and the rest of the weekend, I'll get me own back and charge any holidaymakers that want to launch double I think.
 
Rock n' Roll,  Stu
- 5/23/2009 10:16:35 AM
Come to think of it Steve there were a few lads living in that direction as well as Conroy, "Tosh" Marony, and Chris Hart lived at Trowbridge.
I have tried many times to track down Chris Hart but with no luck, Chris Handscombe,Mick Little and myself used to visit Chris at Trowbridge when he lived with his parents and had many days out on the bikes one of which I remember very well, we had been visting Bath and I was on the back of Micks BSA- A7 ,Chris Hart was on the back of a Triumph that was part owned by us all, ridden by Chris Handscombe, we came under the railway bridge in town to head up to the Bear Flat, as we turned the bend a guy in a Ford Consul tried to force Chris over to the wall ,his girlfriend in the pasenger seat thought this was funny and made the mistake of laughing at Chris Hart, he lashed out with his steel capped  boot and dented the car door with his heel.
The guy then stopped , got out to check the damage and finding a nice dent in the door decided to chase us, the old Triumph was,nt that fast and he managed to catch up by the end of the Bear flat where we turned off up Bloomfield hill, Chris went on ahead while Mick held the guy off by swerving from side to side and not letting him by, after a while when we thought Chris was well away Mick opened up the BSA and left him for dead, that was the last we saw of the Consul.
Chris Hart was always up for a dare and one day down at Limply Stoke canal we were on the aquaduct that crossed the river and railway line when one of us dared him to hang from the parapet over the edge above the river, he climbed over the side and lowered himself down hanging by his fingers then calmly pulled himself back up to the parapet.
The weather is great today in Frome hope all you lads are in good health and enjoying life.
- 5/23/2009 11:43:41 AM
Hi Tony, there's a Christopher Hart listed as living at West Ashton just to the south of Trowbridge, never managed to make contact myself to find out if there's any connection, oh! age groups right as well, electoral role info. Tosh Moroney was until recently a senior traffic policeman with Wiltshire Police force based in Trowbridge, he's listed on Friend Reunited at Headlands School, Swindon wher his family moved when he left the Tec, again I've not managed to make contact.
Your recollections of motor biking days reminded me of an occasion when we were about 18 when a few of us met up at the Viaduct at the bottom of Brassknocker Hill, I think Chris Handscomb might have been there but what I remember most was coming home, Nick Gibbs was riding his 500 Matchless and John Dicks, Brian Trunks and I were in John's old Riley RMA, following Nick at speed through Claverton village Nick slowed slightly only to have Dicko shunt his back mudguard, Nick shot off up the road like a rocket, we were still laughing when John rolled the car at the Dry Arch corner at Bathampton, strangely I haven't seen Bri Trunks or Nick Gibbs since. Haven't been in contact with John either for a number of years now, I believe he lives in the Nailsea area and is probably retired from Avon and Somerset police by now, if anyone knows of his whereabouts I would like to get in touch.
 
Stu
- 5/23/2009 3:17:03 PM
I remember Nick, he used to live at Claverton right at the very top of Brassnocker and off to the left a bit, his older brother was into ham radio in a big way with massive ariels in the back garden.
Nick and I built some model cars powered by model aircraft engines complete with a propeller at the rear, OK in a straight line, funny how things come back when the memory is triggered, talking of which do you remember having a tandem Steve
- 5/23/2009 4:28:49 PM
Hi Tony
 
I think I remember Chris Hart but cannot recall Mahoney. Chris was tall, quiet spoken fellow?  I think the tandem you refer to was owned by  Trevor Bond who lived at the top of Rush Hill. One of my most frightening experiences in life was coming down Rush Hill on the back of that tandem!!! Brown trousers time!
 
Why do these guys become members and then do not enter into our banal banter and help jog our memories? Come on guys, let's have a contribution!!
 
Hottest day of year today and temperature reached 36.1C. Could be a hot summer!
 
Cheers
 
Steve
- 5/23/2009 11:42:58 PM
Hi Guys .... Well,
Slapton .. Shapton .. Crapton sands .. the rope gave way .. the sou` westerlies blew us up the coast to Exeter .. we baled the water out of the camper .. regrouped in a layby and tackled the A379 to Dawlish .. got to Star Cross .. swung right straight into this C. & C.C. CL site.  We had huddled over the laptop for 4 hours on Monday to locate this Haven of Sun with help from the Met Office web site .. we requsted Sun with little breeze when we booked the pitch .. they delivered accordingly.
 
Made it back in one piece after a HOT 4 days spent on a picturesque 2 acre woodland site ..we sought sanctuary among the 80ft trees bordering the site .. containing a large house with a holiday let  bungalow half way up the driveway .. a very private sheltered  site complete with ( at no extra cost) a dozen free range chickens and geese (all a-laying)  .. we were invaded at breakfast / lunch/ dinner by the wild life .. queued up in an orderly line .. 4 white ..3 black hens .. 1 brown cockrell .. 1 VERY LOUD brown cockrell .. who pecks and "spurs" your legs with his claws if you get too close to his "girls"
 
We had the place to ourselves until friday night then 5 more units arrived and made it look untidy .. shame .. I Wore out a pair of walking boots and an orthotic insert .. also quite burnt on a few extremities  .. if only to prove that I have actually been on holiday and enjoyed the pain. .. went to an open air concert in Exmouth this afternoon (ferry trip) .. off again in two weeks or so for another week of sun sun sun.
 
Conroy .. Hello again .. I`m sure it was Westbury that you came from with Chrissy Hart from Trowbridge .. "Tosh" Morony came from Melksham all on the same train? .. put us out of our misery please! .. all this biking talk .. I can remember you having a push bike Steve  .. "cow horn" handle bars .. and we used to join up with Pete Waring, Brian Humpfries, Gerald White .. messed about for hours all over the old tip .. coal dump? at Locksbrook Road, next to the river. Chrome taped handlebars rings a bell or two as well.
 
Other half has gone to bed .. I`m too damn hot .. still on the Bacardi ..just gone midnight .. hope everyone is well .. catch you soon.
 
- 5/24/2009 3:51:18 PM
36degrees, I like it nice and warm but 36 is blistering stuff Steve, its hot enough today in Frome, must be into the low twenties, just right for the average englishman in his shorts, t-shirt and socks!!, clearing the garden yesterday and today so its off to the dump with a load of greenery from the hedges and lawn, my compost bin is full, hope you had a relaxing time Bill we are off to Blue Anchor Bay for a few days next weekend with the grandsons
- 5/24/2009 6:10:44 PM
Hi Tony
 
Yes, 36 and the sensor is never in direct sunlight! A bit cooler today, 33.7C, thank God for beer and fridges! Glad to hear you had a good time down in the Faulklands Bill. I do remember with fondness our 'Easy Rider' days on our customised cycles. We were dead cool. My bike was a Raleigh 'Blue Streak' with a ten gear derailleur (I think that's spelt right!!) but as you say we customised our bikes with the biggest cow-horn handlebars we could find. I am right that Bri Humphries went in the police and Pete Martin worked in the Camping shop opposite M & S, can't remember the name! What a sister Pete had, a real beauty. My old mate Gerald, with whom I travelled most of the UK trainspotting, went on to be a school teacher. you will recall he was Ray Jones' protege. Bit by bit it all comes back to me! Keep those memories of yours coming.
 
Just opened a bottle of vino and will probably fall into a stupor of happy memories.
 
Cheers for now
 
Steve
- 5/24/2009 7:41:55 PM
Hello Guys, My memory has been well and truly jogged about the coal tip at Locksbrook Road. I used to live at Fieldings Terrace on the main road on the other side of the river and when we were kids, I'm talking 1956 1960 we used to tear around there on scooters and old bikes and anything else we could tear around on.
 
Cow Horns !! I bought an old bike from Malcolm Crossley with cow horns and a fixed back wheel and...........as my Father pointed out after the said transaction, two bald tyres and then old Malcolm buggered off to Australia!!! A bit extreme, after all I wasn't all that mad, 2 tyres weren't that expensive.
 
Bill, did you make a fairly decent barbecue of that ruddy cockerel? I'm sure I would have !!
 
Steve, I too also wonder why blokes join here and then say nothing. As Stu and Tony said some time ago, we'll just keep waffling. I don't have as much waffling juice as Stu but all I can do is my best. 36 degrees?? We had 20 in Bristol today and my drawers were dripping I can tell you. Have you ever listened to Ojos de Brujos, as you are in the foreign ? Not heavy rock but an odd sort of flamenco and many other influences. I love them.
 
Rich
 
 
- 5/26/2009 3:03:19 PM
Steve

it was Westbury and I did do some detentions, but at Weymouth House in the1st year, when I didn't have an early pass. The extra stop to Oldfield Park made all the difference!

I will update my profile, but briefly when I left in 1966 I went to work for Cadbury's in Birmingham. I got into IT there in about 1982 and have been involved with PCs ever since. I currently sell document management software.

I will find a recent photo so you can have a laugh.


Regards to all

Conroy
- 5/26/2009 3:12:40 PM
Hi Conroy,
I got your foirst name wrong when I made up the list with Tony Eccles about who we could remember .. I knew for certain you came in from Westbury ... I have a few choice memories of a certain chemistry? physics? lesson ... was it you who left all the bunsen burners on in the Chemistry Lab? .. Hope that the dreaded P.C. is not making your hair fal out too much ..Ha Ha .. did my head in for many years .. thank goodness I just use them for fun now .. not for work / income generation etc .also .hope you enjoy good health
- 5/27/2009 10:05:40 AM
Hi Bill

yes it was me with the bunsen burners, I did like to play with them. 

My health is good, I don't exercise as much as I should (or used to) but I am still reasonably fit, I have a couple of lurcher dogs that keep me active walking twice a day for an hour or so. The rest of the time I seem to be either driving my car or my/someones computer.

It's funny how memories come back to you when you have a trigger, I had forgotten Chrissie Hart, but then reading his name many things came back to me about him, he was a daredevil! I can remember him wanting to play chicken on the railway at Avoncliffe, nobody else would so he did it on his own!

I had an appointment in Bath a few months ago, to see the old school I drove to Brougham Hayes, the building was there but it appeared to be a building site, does anyone know what is happening to it?

Regards to all


Conroy


- 5/27/2009 10:18:26 AM
That's triggered another memory Conroy, Avoncliff, and another prime watering hole, the Cross Guns, as fondly remembered from 40+ years ago, not the fashionable place it is now but had a clientele of two men and a dog. If I remember correctly the landlord had one/two daughters who didn't seem to get out much, except to behind the woodshed. Bloody hell a tragic thought just struck me, I hope that one wasn't one of those mythalogical dreams of wishful thinking.
- 5/27/2009 2:58:00 PM
See what your joining us has done Conroy, everybody's rushing to add stuff to their personal pages, next thing we know Steve'll had added something to his, to be honest he's got plenty of space. Yes you've guessed it, still raining here can hardly see the beach, topped up me tan at the weekend so it's needs time to fade.
Didn't know you were a Moody's fan Tony, went to Plymouth to see them last year, to be honest was a little dissapointed, we thought that they were just going through the motions, only started to catch fire with "Higher and Higher", then fizzled out.
A short outing this week, the Coach and Horses at Appledore for Chris Millington, you won't have heard of him but have a listen to a preview of his stuff on mySpace music.
Oh well must go and see what other crap I can shove onto my page.
 
Stu