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 appoinment 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, Barbera 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.

(Terry Carr)