WHS "Janus"  - August 1996 -   Editor Roger Friend (Johnstons 58-63)   

The Newsletter of the Woolverstone Hall Old Boys Association


EDITORIAL
Barbara Lassiter, wife of Graham, is now on the Internet and whilst surfing it she discovered that there is a page for the Neil Pearson Fan Club, which mentions Woolverstone Hall. There is also a page for Ipswich High School, which includes a picture of the school. Several OWs are on the "net" and it is likely that many more will join over the next few years. As a novice I have no experience of this communication vehicle, but I am firmly of the opinion that now is a good time to sign WHOBA up to one of the service providers. What do you think?

The cost of sending mail electronically would reduce our postage costs and cut the need to produce so many hard copies of "Janus". However before going ahead and signing on, I would like to hear from any OWs that could give me information on service providers, the operating costs and those potential pitfalls to avoid. As there are many OW hi tec literate entrepreneurs it would not come as a surprise if there were services owned or run by them. If so I would be particularly interested in hearing from you. In the meantime, if you have an E-mail address please let me know what it is, so that I can start to compile a list.

CONTACT
Paul Masson (Berners 72/79) has been since 1990 Marketing Director of Viners, who globally manufacture 55% of the UK's cutlery. He did say that this stable phase in his life was preceded by far more volatile periods in the oil industry, advertising and management consultancy. Paul would be interested in contacting any OWs in retailing, either on the buying or supply side.

Jill Richardson, headmaster's widow, wrote saying that she loves receiving "Janus", not because she remembers many of the names other than Neil Pearson and Martin Offiah, but because it reminds her so much of the Woolvo humour - "cheeky and delightfully self mocking with hints of Faginism." Best of all she says is "that knock-kneed nag (or is it knock-kneed knag?), Woolverstone Hall. Please, please can we have more of her." Would it be a good idea, she went on to ask, for OWs to sponsor her and any of her offspring in future? Jill then offered to launch the first instalment! (I think you had better see matron for some medication, Jill - Ed) If anybody wishes to offer the second and/or subsequent installments, the syndicate secretary would love to hear from you.

John Martin (Berners 65/72) is director of a chemical distribution company in Basingstoke. He did a variety of commercial jobs until 1990 at ICI, which he joined after getting a history degree at St Andrews. He and his wife Gilly, also a history graduate from St Andrews, have two daughters. He is in contact with Patrick Rayner and Nigel Rice and would be delighted to hear from Jeremy Page, Phil Oxlade, Nick Lovell and Gary Taylor.

Peter Fishwick (Orwell 63/70) lives in Hong Kong, where he is the managing Director of a systems integration and outsourcing Canadian company, which operates throughout Asia. He moved to Hong Kong in January 1975 and joined the Royal Hong Kong Police, where he reached the rank of superintendent prior to his resignation in 1983. In 1980 he played rugby for Hong Kong in the Asian Rugby Tournament in Taiwan. He now relaxes playing golf off of a 9 handicap. Peter, did you come across any other OW policemen in HK? Eric Crowter (Johnstons 55/61) joined the force after leaving Woolverstone.

Nigel Rice (65/72) is an equity salesman with BZW. He took a year off after leaving Woolverstone to play and gain his private pilots licence, after which he read law and accounting at Kent University at Canterbury. On graduating he joined the Civil Service, before moving into stockbroking, which included a period at "pre Nick Leeson" Barings. He lives in Surrey with his wife and three sons and is keen to catch up with news of all those who passed through the portals of Woolverstone Hall.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Mick Boddy (Johnstons 59/64) phoned to say that Jack Bruce was married to Janice, the sister of Jonathon Godfrey (Johnstons 59/66). Hugh Hawkins (Orwell 59/66) confirmed that Jack, "lead singer of the greatest British rock band ever", had married Janice and lived in a Suffolk village, that he believes was called Pebmarsh. Hugh last saw Jonathon about 25 years ago in a London hospital, where he was very active in union politics. David Windle (Johnstons 58/65) went into greater detail after having confirmed the views of Mick and Hugh. He said that at the time Jack was playing for the Graham Bond Organisation, along with Ginger Baker. The band played at Ipswich at least once and David thinks he may have come to visit Jonathon. Where is Jonathon now?

Fred Moughton (Hansons 51/57) wrote with information on Paul McMaster (Hansons 51/56). He joined the merchant navy after leaving and according to reports in "Janus" he managed to see quite a bit of the world. The 1963 edition of "Janus" reported that he was in the Metropolitan Police and living in East Ham. Who has more up to date information?

Paul Ferris (Halls 62/70), who is a musician, managed to track down Neil "Noddy" Clayton, by a series of coincidences. Six years ago Paul was given a lift by a fellow player to a performance of Verdi's Requiem at Ely Cathedral. In conversation he said that having worked at HMS Ganges he knew the school well by sight from the main road and had been inside once and knew someone that taught English there. Neil had issued an invitation to him to attend a Woolverstone production of Carmina Burana in 1969, and it transpired that they were still in occasional touch. Nick Collins (Berners 62/69) has promised £ 50 to WHOBA in exchange for his address. Your cheque is awaited.

John Dawlings (64/71) wrote to say that there was a David Brooks in Orwell, who may have been the boy that Keith Farley-Pettman was trying to remember. John, who does not know what happened to him, said "the usual progression was borstal, unemployment and finally jail - an interesting variation on Eton, Cambridge and the Guards!"

QUESTIONS ASKED
John Martin (Berners 65/72) asks if any readers remember the time the school canoes were used on the playing field in front of the main building to spell out a phrase involving sex and travel? Does anyone feel that now is the right time to confess or would any OW like to grass on a mate? He also recalls the time that someone hung the biology class skeleton, dressed in a sailors uniform, from the crossbar of the rugby posts. Rumour has it that one of the domestic staff, that foggy morning, was scared witless (I think that's what he said! - Ed). Can anyone throw any light on that episode?

Fred Moughton (Hansons 51/57) watched the Wasps v Wigan final of the Middlesex Sevens and noticed that Martin Offiah played for the eventual winners and that there was an Adrian Thompson playing for Wasps. Was it our own Adrian? Meanwhile Martin Offiah recently appeared in a cameo role in television soap opera, Emmerdale, and has since featured in the news because of his signings to London Broncos and Bedford.

PRESS COVERAGE
Paul Cornish (Halls 70/77) sent a cutting from the May edition of Cambridgeshire Pride magazine. The article was written by David Shepherd, Regional Director of the Independent Schools Information Service, who stated "One of the finest school plays I ever saw was at Woolverstone Hall. It was "The Royal Hunt of the Sun", with a cast, if not of thousands, certainly of hundreds, and costumes out of the top drawer. Woolverstone Hall was a boys state school run by the ILEA on a lovely estate outside Ipswich. The qualification was coming from a deprived London borough. It was an excellent school, producing not only marvellous plays but good exam results and a rugby team that which injected terror into the hearts of all." Who remembers the Royal Hunt of the Sun and who took the lead roles? Furthermore, who remembers coming from a deprived London borough?

Tony Meager (50s) sent a photocopy of an article from a publication, which looks like "Janus". Tony said the article was written about the 1975/76 season, which included a picture of the Under 13s playing at Holbrook. The team included, according to the team notes written by AW, "the twin colossi of Jones and Stanton that scored forty tries that season." "What opposition these two were unable to batter aside, Offiah would run round at great speed." He also mentioned hooker Volpe, flanker Callow and full back Young, who starred in a season that saw seven wins from seven games, conceding only 24 points while amassing 318 points. The photograph shows the ball in the possession of a Michael Jackson lookalike during his afro haircut days. Can anyone put a name to him and supply the names of other team members?

MEMORIES
Hugh Hawkins (59/66) wrote to say that as an Orwellian he recalls Derek Thornbery's philosophy to music as "if a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly" and he asks if Derek remembers saying it. He went on to say that "the house orchestra included just about everybody, no matter how useless they were. This included Fatty Linden who sang much of the bass part an octave below what was written, in a kind of subterranean mumble. Then there was the cymballist who needed a very positive cue from Derek otherwise he would have got it hopelessly wrong." Hugh claims to have since done many things badly, but never worried about it. Fatty must have a first name. Does anyone know what it is and where he is now?

Charles Fisher, who left Woolverstone in July 1951 at the end of the London Nautical School period and now lives in Canada, has not seen the names of any OWs that he knew then. However he does feel close to all those that shared the Woolverstone Hall experience and his memories are still fresh and vibrant. Charles was glad to hear about the permanent display and sends his congratulations to those who made it happen. He still has a few of his reports on very cheap spirit duplicated forms and still chuckles at some the comments made. Do you want to share any of them with us, Charles?

Angela Bailey recalls that her first meeting with some boys "as these enormous young men were called" was at a 6th form tutorial in her parents sitting room. A group was sitting round drinking milky coffee and eating LCC tea biscuits (were the boys rations highjacked by the Head? - Ed) and listening to Dave Coe (Johnstons 55/62) relating his mother's exploits in winning an enormous prize at bingo. A shy Angela had just returned from boarding school in Belgium and could only understand one word in five but London sounded ncredibly glamorous and exciting to a fascinated and at the same time terrified 13 year old. What happened to Dave Coe and where is he now?

John Dawlings (64/71) writing from Oz, reminiscing about multiple sets of brothers, mentioned the Howells, who he thought had the distinction of having names that nobody could pronounce and which read like a Welsh rugby team. He went on to say that there was also "a small army of Templetons, all of whom broke every law known to mankind. The youngest, Dougal (Johnstons 62/69), was once described by George Bailey as having all the vices of his elder brothers and none of their virtues. Dougal went on to found a very popular magazine in Bristol by the name of Venue and is doing quite well. (Man or mag? - Ed) It just shows that crime does pay." Would a Templeton like to comment on this?

John also entered the Roman accent debate, saying that he had no doubt that half of them spoke with a broad Scots accent and the other half with an equally broad accent from "well north of Watford." Bob Cromarty and Bryan Middlebrook could do the accents erfectly! Bob Cromarty once translated the whole of Daisy, Daisy (hardly Homer - Ed) into Latin for John who still wonders how many Romans would have known that "birotae" was Latin for bicycle! On various drunken occasions John is still called upon to to do a rendition of it. It must be more cost effective than a bouncer at closing time!

DISPLAY
Fred Moughton has had long conversations with Ken Radford, resulting in him receiving a very interesting parcel of memorabilia. In addition to some items of uniform, it contained official letters of his acceptance at Woolverstone, personal letters and several other items from his days at school.

The uniform collection is growing, thanks to Ken, Richard Davies and several others. Fred has become a little confused over ties because during his time, there were two ties; a knitted one with horizontal stripes for juniors and a standard shaped tie with diagonal tripes for seniors. Fred believes there was a plain blue tie with a wolf's head for blues and has been told there were "half blues" who had another design. He went on to ask which tie prefects wore and whether there had been changes in tie styles during the life of the school. Does anyone care to write a definitive history on Woolverstone ties?

Graham Lassiter (Hansons 50s) has sent a parcel donated by Colin Burton (Johnstons 62/68). Amongst the goodies were school diaries from 1962 to 1966, a school address list from 1967 and programmes from musical and drama productions. Eric Coates (Corners 58/64) has donated his colours cap and Colin Ferris (Halls 62/70) has sent a 1969 school photo for copying. A 1956 photo has still not been traced. Jim Glanville (Hansons 50s) believes that the school copy was taken by an OW. Does anyone know who has the original or have you got a copy hidden away somewhere?

HALLING v SILVEY John Dawlings has joined in the Arnie Halling and Pete Silvey failure to agree. He said that he did not know Arnie but he remembers Pete and as a result he has no doubt that Mr Halling is telling the truth. As a naturalised Australian he feels fully qualified in conducting a kangaroo court and should the case ever come before him he would have "no hesitation in doing my duty." Does this now settle the matter or there other character witnesses?

RECORDS
Fred Moughton has been browsing through old copies of "Janus" and has discovered that Ian McCulloch made a record for Decca, but there was no mention of the title or whether it was a vocal or instrumental. Some of his contemporaries must know and may even have a copy. If so please send the information and/or the vinyl. Despite hearing over the years that many OWs have recorded popular and classical music, no one has written on this subject or sent any records since the appeal in the last edition of "Janus". Surely there ust be some artists out there that are not so modest!

MISSING
The last copy of "Janus" sent to Mark Grenyer (Hansons 56/63) was returned with the envelope bearing the legend "no longer at this address." His last known address was at Mapperley Park, Nottingham. Does anyone know where he is now?

Reports have come in that some OWs have not been receiving all copies of "Janus" and have only realised this, when mention is made of items from previous issues. As "Janus" has no planned copy date it is sent on an irregular basis. The more recent copies have produced in February and May. If you have not received both of them, please send details.

PRINTING
The plea for stationery, print and franking facilities prompted responses from Richard Marshall, Bill Salisbury and David Windle (Johnstons 58/65). David is a civil servant and thought that the taxpayer might have something to say! Bill felt that it was the catalyst he needed to purchase a photocopier for his business. Richard has a fully equipped office, which is conveniently situated close to my home, and I have accepted his offer of the use of his facilities. It is expected that the next issue of "Janus" will be sent from Richard's office.

SNIPPETS
Phillippe Oligario (Johnstons 80/85) would like to contact Mr Sillet and "Stretch" Poole to let them know what he is doing in the national windsurfing championships. Write with the information and everyone will know!

The Cement Garden written by Ian McEwan (Johnstons 59/66) was shown on Channel 4 in May. Peter Alexander (nee Carlile) is currently appearing in Buddy.

Harvey Angel (Hansons 64/71) is remembered by John Dawlings as the boy who "once kept a poppy from one Remembrance Day to the next to save forking out any more money. John can't believe he is unable to pay his subs! Harvey do you still have the poppy?

REUNION
A reunion at a central location could be arranged before the end of the year. In order that a suitable venue can be organised please send details of preferred timings, place and type of gathering. Should it be an informal evening drink in a pub room or a formal dinner? Should we have a memorial dinner for, say, Roy Hanson? Your views are awaited.

IN MEMORIAM

EVELYN BAILEY
Angela Bailey compared her late mother, Evelyn (see May edition), with John Percival, who she said were very similar people; energetic, driving, good company, extremely independent and both with a love of Woolverstone. For Evelyn, it was the opening scene for the last 35 years of her life. George got the job at an interview panel chaired by Mrs Chaplin. Angela wrote that he could not have been very optimistic about his chances because mother decided to stay at home. They had done several interviews together but the right job had not come up. When George accepted the job on the spot, Evelyn had not seen the place and had no idea what was in store. She had been a headmaster's wife in a busy town school; Woolverstone was definitely in a different league - an experiment in secondary education with a wonderful site and facilities. Angela thanked the OBA for the floral tribute at her mother's funeral.

MICHAEL WATTS
Michael was a man of intellect and talent, a choral scholar at St Johns Cambridge with a good voice and love of music, who succeeded Leslie Johnston as head of history and deputy head, a position he held until his appointment in 1968 as head of Yarm Grammar School. Those that worked with him or studied under him found him a man of gentle but firm authority, of true humility and generosity. There are OWs that have cause to thank him for stimulating their academic and intellectual ambitions, for providing a patient, listening ear and offering them a warm welcome in the Watts home. A former 6th form tutee described the home as having a "truly loving family atmosphere that we were all able to share."

He also had a fine sense of humour. Bryan Middlebrook, along with several others, shared with Michael the hilarity of those Whitehall farces directed by Neil Clayton. When asked if he would like to help with cricket, he volunteered for the 1st form non cricketers, saying "I'll have some fun with them." He did and so did they. At a staff v school chess match, he said, on seeing chess clocks and pads on which to record moves, "Crikey! I didn't think it was going to be a professional do."

It was no surprise that he was appointed to a headship but perhaps unexpected that it was "up north." He settled there and retired in 1980, from his second headship appointment at William Conyers Comprehensive, after which he trained for the ordained ministry in the Church of England. He was ordained deacon in 1982, priest in 1983 by the Bishop of Durham, John Habgood, and served the whole of his ministry in his home parish of St Peter, Stockton. He was noted for his caring pastoral ministry, his total giving of himself to the people of his parish, regardless of their religious affiliation.

The size of the congregation in St Peter's at his funeral mass on 8 July spoke of the love and respect in which he and his family are held and Bryan Middlebrook, who represented the "Woolverstone bit" of Michael's life, was proud to have been present. Michael died, fittingly surrounded by his wife Gill and their family, in the comforting knowledge that his eldest son David is to begin training for the ordained ministry in Durham.

IAN RICHARDSON
Mike Smith (Hansons 57/61) sent a newspaper cutting, reporting that Ian had passed away at the age of 71, having had a happy 11 year retirement in Dorset. He was a classics scholar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge who went on to have a distinguished career as a housemaster at Woolverstone, before moving to a headship in Santiago, Chile and then to Bancroft's School, in Essex. He organised the excavation of a Roman villa at Hadleigh and he also produced "The Mikado", with Ian McCullough in the title role. He had difficulties casting Yum Yum as the first two choices voices broke. Eventually Philip Bennett played the role.

During his retirement he has kept up his work as a magistrate and maintained his interest in education by holding governorships of two schools. He also busied himself with local activities - Dorset Relate, Blandford Choral Society, church organist, National Trust Educational volunteer and distributing Meals on Wheels. He is survived by his wife Bridget and three children.

ROY HANSON
Jill Mayer, daughter of Roy, wrote that he died on 1 June aged 85 having bravely battled on with a normal life for the past year despite weekly blood transfusions and a blood count that would have seen off many a younger man. Those that knew him will tell you that it says much for his determination and grit, having defied the doctors who gave him only a few days to live in September 1995. He passed away in the Woolverstone Wing of Ipswich Hospital, where a copy of the Michael Norman water colour of the main house now hangs, presented by Jill and carrying the inscription: "For the staff of Somersham Ward, in heartfelt appreciation of the care and love you gave my father, Roy Hanson, housemaster, Hansons House, Woolverstone Hall 1951-1972."

OPEN LETTER
Dear Roger and Old Woolverstonians

It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that my father, Roy Hanson, died on 1 June 1996 aged 85 years having battled on with a normal life for the past year despite weekly blood transfusions and a blood count that many younger men would have succumbed to long ago. It says much of his character that, through sheer determination and grit to say nothing of mind over matter, he defied his doctors who thought he had only days to live last September.

I was proud my father was a Founding Father and original House Master of Woolverstone Hall and having a House named after him always gave me a great sense of belonging. While running Hanson's House he designed his own house for his retirement, "The Wick", another of his proudest achievements - along with his ascent of Snowdon when he was 80!

I was four years old when we moved to Woolverstone Hall and have many fond and happy memories as a small child growing up among so many older "brothers" - the huge bonfire on Guy Fawkes night; the constant stream of wounded birds being brought to our front door to recover overnight by our boiler; the magical outdoor staging of "A Midsummer's Night's Dream" down on the Masters' Terraces with boys appearing and disappearing into the bushes; being allowed to watch some of you wood-working in Dad's original workshop down by the inspection pit; waiting for the convoy of coaches to arrive from London; learning to ride my bike round and round the Courtyard; and being lifted to stand on a chair at St Michael's Church so I could see above the sea of boys as we sang the carols at Christmas. But then my memories are probably so different from yours, after all mine are from "the inside"! My recollections also change radically when I became a teenager. It was decided that it would be more suitable for me to leave such male-dominated surroundings so, from 1957, as you all arrived on the first day of each term, my brother, David, and I were packed off with our trunks to a co-educational Quaker boarding school, returning home as you were all departing for the holidays. If we were lucky we sometimes managed to catch the end of term dance.

In the hope of gathering more information about my father's long association with the school I would be delighted if those of you with recollections of him and a few minutes to spare could send them to "Janus" e.g. was his nickname "Sandy"? And for my own patchy memory can anyone remember anything about a place on the extreme right of the main building, behind the Headmaster's house, called (I think) the Orangery?? I have vivid flashes of an enchanted and secret garden.

Finally, thank you from all the family to those who joined us at Dad's funeral and wrote such comforting letters to us.

Best wishes        Jill (Hanson) Mayer

EPILOGUE
No "Janus" is complete without an appeal for funds. If you have still not got round to signing a standing order mandate, please do so or send a cheque. The annual subscription is only £5.00.