Memory Lane 17

12th August 2024, Anonymous 

First days at St Nicholas GS for Boys, Tuesday Sept 6th 1955.

On this day at 9.30am 150 boys aged between 12 and 14 assembled on a brand new, sparkling black asphalted playground marked out in startling white lines of various court sports at St Nicholas Grammar school for boys which opened for the first time that day. We stood in small groups of friends who had transferred with us from the primary schools in the district of Ruislip-Northwood, having been selected to go there by way of the dreaded 11+ examination back in February of that year. All were dressed in brand new school uniforms bought from the appointed school outfitter Alton’s on Ruislip High Street.

Complete from head (navy and purple striped cap with distinctive badge) to shoe, black. Including white shirt, school tie and grey socks to within an inch of the knee and grey shorts which extended to one inch above the knee.

A school master dressed in a black academic gown complete with distinctive coloured hood (the first any of us had ever seen - absent a mortar board, it reminded me of Mr Quelch, the irascible school master at Greyfriars School in the Billy Bunter stories that I had so much enjoyed) worn down the back appeared at the entrance steps to the school buildings. He blew his whistle and summoned us into this brand-new edifice. He was Mr Geoff Lee who we soon were to find out was the Sports & PE master. Geoff was to have a significant influence on our sporty colleagues, not so much on ‘un-sporty me’. In my first school Report card he wrote ‘Better at games than in the gym’ being the gentleman that I subsequently found he was he might otherwise have added ‘but not by much’.

We assembled in the Entrance Hall and were greeted by the Head master Mr. later Dr. R (Bob) F.E Watson. In turn masters came forward and read out names of those in their respective Forms. I was in the last group of 30 identified by Mr Banton who led us (1D) to a classroom door. He told us to enter the classroom and to sit in alphabetical, by surname, order. ‘Abrahams you will sit at the front desk of the first row as you enter’. This was the first time most of us had been addressed by surname, at our Primary school’s we were invariably called by our Christian (note not ‘first’) names. We shuffled into class & with a bit of juggling around found our seats. Mine was at the back of row 3. All this, from whistle to now had taken 45 minutes. Mr B then told us to introduce ourselves to the boys each side in front and behind. I so met Ken Gathergood, Pete Lawson, Rich Finer, Dave Backshall (Steve’s Dad) for the first time.

Everything we came across in the school was brand new. Classrooms, desks, chairs, blackboards even blackboard ‘rubbers’. The Wood and Metal work rooms were equipped with spotless work benches and tools, lathes, drilling machines and forges. There were specialist Geography, Music and Art rooms. The Physics labs on the 1st floor were complete with stools, sinks and gas taps for Bunsen burners. The Chemistry labs on the second floor were out of bounds for the first year as 150 boys and 12 masters rattled around in a building that would house nearly 700 by the time the school closed in 1975.

The Gym was equipped with climbing bars, beams, ropes, boxes, horses and all sorts of sports equipment we had never come across before. The first PT lesson was an eye opener to most of us as afterwards we had to strip right off for our first communal shower. Potential embarrassment for most was offset with delight when we discovered that the shower drains had been set slightly above the tiled floor resulting in a flood which soon engulfed the changing area.

Lunch was served to just about everyone. I can’t remember any dietary restrictions (probably there were some) in the Entrance/Dining hall. We sat on tables of 8, seven boys and a master. On my table Mr Peter (later Dr) Gosden (History) ruled. He stood to say grace, “Benedictus, Benedicat, per Jesum Christum Dominum Nostrum. AMEN”, every day for the 7 years I was at the school without me having a clue as to what it meant. On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary lunch in September 2005 I invited Peter to say grace and for the sake of ‘refreshing’ our memories to provide a translation which with a wry smile he did. Blessed one, may he bless, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. We had a two-course hot lunch including a weekly salad with hot boiled or jacket potatoes cost 7d (say 3p) per day. I remember that beef curry was a favourite meal. In the mid 1950’s it was rarely seen on domestic or restaurant menus.

Each morning the whole school assembled in the Main Hall. Masters sitting on the stage, boys cross legged on the floor. The Headmaster led a short religious service, a hymn (we all came to the school with a small English hymnal as part of our ‘uniform’), followed by some prayers.

The Roman Catholic & Jewish boys (no other exceptions on religious grounds were catered for, maybe there weren’t any among the 1955 intake) were then invited into the assembly and sat in front of the rest of us boys. The Headmaster then gave the ‘Notices of the day’ which included the results of inter school sports matches.

On Fridays at morning assembly the Headmaster and several of his colleagues gave solo performances on various instruments. Mr Watson was a very accomplished violinist, Mr James (Maths) amused us with his trombone. Mr Thomas (Chemistry) joined the staff in 1956 and could be relied upon to entertain us with his strong Welsh voice by singing from his wide repertoire. Before the end of the first year several boys who had been identified as being exceptionally talented musicians gave performances on the piano, violin and cello.

December 6th 1955, St Nicholas Day. After lunch the whole school processed on foot to Emanuel Church on Northwood’s ‘old’ High Street - it must be a good 2 miles from the school - for a special service and performance by the school choir. Again, just before the end of the Christmas term we all walked to the same church for a service of Nine Lessons & Carols.

(first published June 2024 in Newsletter 4)