Kent School Association

I am sitting on a boat somewhere in the Irish sea and need some confirmation that I not the only survivor of the early days of Kent circa 1963. Whats the latest gossip.

Hi Alan, I'm still around and have contact to Cindy Howard (now Amorese) who is also of our "Pioneer" Era. She was in 2 A in 63, 3AB in 64 and stayed in Kent until 1967. She lives in New Jersey USA, She came from Virginia, USA and was one of the few American pupils we had. Have you a list of the teachers/staff in general which she could look up? She has found Des' mail address and wants to contact him too. Isn't the Irish Sea a little "rough?" Can well understand Trout or Salmon Fishing although my rods haven't seen a lake since 7 years odd now. We haven't any real Salmon waters in Germany only the trout streams which are either owned by fishing clubs or strictly private. Trout "ponds" for the hobby angler (those without the Fishing Licence.) I usually went on Carp with medium to heavy gear. Heaviest Carp around 30 lbs. from the Unterbacher See near Düsseldorf. I had a few more heart problems and another Stent was implanted, a blocked one reopened. That last year saw me in and out of hospital - a year I can well forget - seems I had a heart attack. Nice to hear from you Alan.

Hi Alan I'm still trying to figure out when you were on Malta. I'm sure I was there 59 and early 60. definitely 9th and perhaps 10th birthday. Had a look at tigne (Sliema) where I think the School was. Everything has changed there. found our house oposite St. Lukes Hospital but the fields of once are now filled with housing.. Pieta Creek with the typical Maltese Fishing Boats now luxury yachts. A bit off the subject, I know.

I was there from 59 to 61 and my class teacher was a gorgon by the name of Miss Bennet. The last time I was there the school at Tigne was a play school but I believe now that it has been demolished as part of the whole redevelopment of the barracks which I have to say is a crying shame. I can also remeber when Silema Creek was so full of ships that it was difficult to throw a stone into the water without hitting one- those were the days when we had a navy and men were men and pansy was the name of a flower.

Nice to hear from you again Jurgen.

All the best - speak again soon.

Alan

I think we left Malta 61 too. I was then in Essen, Krefeld followed a short spell primary and then Windsor Boys', Queens lower and Kent School.

Jurgen in your e mail you asked which teachers I could recall. Well here goes. Miss Hallen my form mistress and english teacher. Mr Arnald - woodwork. Miss Murphey - domestic science. Miss Lakeland not sure what she taught but she looked nice! Mr Davies - geography & maths I think. Mr Cork or Cook maths. Your mate Lacklinson PE and generally being awkward. Miss Atkinson art/handicraft. I am not sure who tried and failed to teach us french - I ask you whos bright idea was that, I seem to think Mr Davies had a hand in that. The last one but by no means least was good old Mr Ford - Headmaster. Was the dep head someone called Afleck or am I getting my schools mixed up.
Well I have used up some more of my diminishing grey cells thinking about that lot.
TTFN
Alan

French was normally Mr. Worral, perhaps Mr. Davies did substitue now and then. Art was Miss Gilmour (our 3 C). The woodwork teacher I think Barry, was completely sports too. Lost a race against him. Table Tennis was one of his hobbies, which we played fequently above the "dining room". Mr. Cork was Maths.

Alan, Dep Head was Mr. Myhill, at least until 1965. All started 63 with Mr. Ford and dep Miss Hutchinson, then dep Mr. Myhill. I still have my old report so I'll try to decipher those signatures. let you know in the run of the week.
Jürgen

Damn it Jurgen your right I remember Myhill - Aflick was Torrells school in Essex - another story - another school. I can vaguely recall Worrel but I can't recall who was daft enough to try and teach us french - stupid language anyway. Oops entante cordial has just flown ou the window. The lady who taught me art was a smallish lady with wire rimmed glasses who was great at encouraging us to do all kinds of projects that never seemed to get finished.
Who was the science teacher? I do remember a rather lot of throwing up by the girls during disection of frogs and fish. Also the liberal playing with mercury which is a big no no now. While I am still in this Famous Grouse fuelled flash back any readers remember the napalm in a fairy liquid episode in the playground - still got the recipe. A little ditty that I recall was created at Kent. " Say what you will, school diners make you ill, Davy Crocket died of shepherds pie, all school din dins come from pig bins, out of town" sung to the tune of "out of town".
Sorry nurse says its time for bed and medication.
Speak soon Jurgen

TTFN

One final thing . Doesn't anybody remember Miss Lakeland? Or was it all a dream?
Good night
Alan

I vaguely remember Miss Perkins being engaged perhaps she married 64 and so changed her name. Miss Gilmour was rather thin an I think she wore glasses. A scotish lady with a distinct accent. Can't understand why Art isn'ton the report for 64 the other 63 all A. Valery Perkins. I know I had Miss Gilmour though in 64 along with Miss Perkins. Did a hunting scene for a frieze in 64 for her on the jump like. Charcoal and chalk.

Science was Mr. Woodall, for sure. I also remember a welsh Mr. Wiliams but think that was Catterick (Hipswell County Modern) but you are speaking of Biology. Can't immagine any of our Ladies brutal enough for frog decapitation or disection of fish. I can see the mess that was made. One reason why I got the model of the eye through rather than disection of cows' eyes for the examxs in Lytchett Minster.
If the scalpel isn't more than ultra razor sharp forget it. Cutting around fish would be something for the domestic science lady (Murray?)

no, miss Murphy