I also remember that Terry Carr (Johnstons 55-61) was the Senior Boy i/c - my boss as it were. There was quite a year hierachy at school as I remember: boys two or three years above one lived in an elevated stratum of importance, and sometimes self-importance. Some could be snooty and even bullying towards younger boys. Terry was anything but. I remember us working well together; he was really nice to the younger me. We catalogued new equipment; sorted it out, maintained older stuff as far as possible; prepared equipment for whatever matches were coming up. Sometimes we went out onto the field and punted a ball about. I quite enjoyed this responsibility, but cannot remember how long it lasted, or who preceeded or succeeded me. I felt useful .... and it was a pleasure working with Terry. I hope to find a photo of the Sports Store later, but I think it has now been demolished. I was reminded about all this by a post he made in the old Guestbook in 2013. I never saw Terry after WHS, and sadly, he died in 2015. Below are a post he contributed in 2002 about the naming of houses. with a comment by Jo Briggs and a second post from 2013. Terry Carr - 2002: "The original Housemaster was Leslie Johnston followed by Iain Richard Richardson aka Butch. He was my original Housemaster after having left the 'Headmasters House' of the first form. Unfortunately, I didn't like Butch, nor he me. Anyway, I think it was it 1958 that he left and Bob 'Rommel' Rowlands took over. This man was, again in my opinion, an absolute star. Hard? yes, but very fair and with considerable regard and affection for the boys under his control. Doc Lewis, who taught physics, was the Assistant Housemaster at this time. Bob Cromarty succeeded Lewis as Assistant Housemaster and it was around 1961 that Jimmy Hyde came on the scene in Johnstons and he then took over as Housemaster when Bob Rowlands left Woolverstone to take up an appointment somewhere in the west country. Bob was, I believe, killed in a car crash several years later, and I remember feeling a great sense of loss on hearing this. He was exceedingly kind and understanding to me when I went through a particularly dark period whilst at school and his influence on my life has been immense. His charming wife, Barbara, died a short while ago. I believe there was a period when she was our Matron in Johnstons, and not surprisingly, everyone loved her to bits. Under Bob, Johnstons were the first house (I think) to stage House Concerts and Barbecues, something which would have been unthinkable under Butch Richardson, and I believe these continued under Jimmy Hyde. I didn't know Jimmy Hyde that well, but what I did know of him I am sure he was a marvellous successor to Bob Rowlands." Jonathan Briggs - 2015: "Unfortunately, Terry died in 2015. Several of we Old Boys attended his funeral, which was attended by over 100 people, in fact standing room only. He was held in very high regard for his work in the community." Terry Carr - 2013: "Chris, have to say great job with this site. However, as is often the case, I can only identify with Woolverstone as it was in my day as a pupil, and for several years after I had left, as an Old Woolverstonian. To clarify, in my opinion, Woolverstone as a secondary school was I suspect until the 'comprehensive' age, absolutely magnificent - although I hasten to add, not perfect. It was run very firmly on militaristic lines in the early days (having been a former Naval College) and with the ethos of a minor Public School. I believe the edict of the education was free, but the boarding was fee-paying, according to parental income, a forerunner of Mrs. Thatcher's Assisted Places scheme. To witness its demise and subsequent closure and sale was, certainly for us earlier pupils, exceedingly sad, and I for one, found the closing ceremony very emotional. Enough for now, or I will end up writing a book. Keep up the good work, Chris." |