Hi all
First the intro bit. I grew up in Forest Hill and Sydenham in the 60's and 70's. Between 1963 and 1972 we lived in the flats above the old Forest Hill Fire Station, Perry Vale (my old man was a Fireman). When the Fire station closed down we moved to Brasted Close, Sydenham. I went to Forest Hill Comprehensive school. I have many happy memories of living in the area particularly the Forset Hill swimming baths. I spent many long school holidays in there getting sore eyes!! I am now living in Rural Shropshire having left Sydenham back in the early 80's through work.
Now the help bit - I use to go to a Karate Club between 1973 and 1978'ish at the church hall in College Road, Dulwich (down Fountain Drive, off Crystal Palace Parade). It was run by a man called Burt (Bert) Cooper. I am trying to locate him if he is stil around. he will probably be in his late 50's or early 60's by now. Is he still teaching, does anyone know him or know of him? He had a few clubs in and around the Crystal Palace area. Any help would be very much appreciated.
An intro from a newbie and help needed
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catscratch
- Posts: 83
- Joined: 13 Jul 2008 12:44
- Location: se20
Ashby!!!!!
bloody Count Creep!!! on account of his crepe soled shoes, always belting you with a bunch of keys, brutal git, I remember him from the 1950s.
he was a certain shot with a board rubber too.
I remember two Teddy boys lads who came back after leaving and gave him a hiding once.
I believe he was a relation of Richmal Crompton, the writer of the Just William books.
Some teachers there were just brutal.
Mine was Francis, head of Harvey house, Boy could he get things wrong.
Talking of martial arts, did you come acros Brian Jacks?
He was a thug, He was the youngest to win some kind of judo award in the olympics back then.... It was announced in assembly, and the whole school booed....that went down well with the Head; Jacks was always strutting about with a coterie of lesser thugs, terrorising the other lads who dare not retaliate.
bloody Count Creep!!! on account of his crepe soled shoes, always belting you with a bunch of keys, brutal git, I remember him from the 1950s.
he was a certain shot with a board rubber too.
I remember two Teddy boys lads who came back after leaving and gave him a hiding once.
I believe he was a relation of Richmal Crompton, the writer of the Just William books.
Some teachers there were just brutal.
Mine was Francis, head of Harvey house, Boy could he get things wrong.
Talking of martial arts, did you come acros Brian Jacks?
He was a thug, He was the youngest to win some kind of judo award in the olympics back then.... It was announced in assembly, and the whole school booed....that went down well with the Head; Jacks was always strutting about with a coterie of lesser thugs, terrorising the other lads who dare not retaliate.
Brian Jacks was before my time. But I do remember the Head in assembly wishing him all the best for the olymics as an ex pupil. I guess that must have been 1976. I cant remember the teachers name but there was an old boy who taught maths who use to have a thick lump of wood. He called it his 'boy controller'.
Mr. Francis - was he the Head of Music?
Mr. Francis - was he the Head of Music?
I remember Mr Francis. Housemaster of Harvey and sports teacher.
He was probably the nastiest teacher when I was there.
In all interhouse events Harvey won more than their share because they were driven by fear of the beating they would get.
Fortunately I was in Brake. Mr Johnson then Mr Boone housemasters.
I did not have any problems with Ashby as I loved history
He was probably the nastiest teacher when I was there.
In all interhouse events Harvey won more than their share because they were driven by fear of the beating they would get.
Fortunately I was in Brake. Mr Johnson then Mr Boone housemasters.
I did not have any problems with Ashby as I loved history
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catscratch
- Posts: 83
- Joined: 13 Jul 2008 12:44
- Location: se20
Frances was sports mad, if you were good at sport you would get away with murder.
if you weren't [like me] he'd make your life a misery with petty persecutions, and your end of term marks would plummet.
I well rememeber one incident when he had failed to brow beat me into some after hours football, his response to my assertion that I did not give a flying **** about football or any other ball game was
"but what will you talk about when you leave school?"
For me that just about sums up the thinking behind comprehensive education in those days.
Once he put on my report
"this boy resents authority"
Hardly surprising considering he spent most of the term belting me.
if you weren't [like me] he'd make your life a misery with petty persecutions, and your end of term marks would plummet.
I well rememeber one incident when he had failed to brow beat me into some after hours football, his response to my assertion that I did not give a flying **** about football or any other ball game was
"but what will you talk about when you leave school?"
For me that just about sums up the thinking behind comprehensive education in those days.
Once he put on my report
"this boy resents authority"
Hardly surprising considering he spent most of the term belting me.
Yes must have been hell in Harvey if you were not good at sports. Harvey seemed to win most events , I wonder why.
Do you remember the awfull smelly coach trips down to Sidcup Bypass for sports. I felt coachsick most times. Hated cross country , being in Drake had to watch out for Taffy Davies , if he caught you walking and you were in Drake , trouble.
Do you remember a maths teacher called Mr Nage. He was Hungarian. Gave me my one and only E on a report simply because he caught me talking
Do you remember the awfull smelly coach trips down to Sidcup Bypass for sports. I felt coachsick most times. Hated cross country , being in Drake had to watch out for Taffy Davies , if he caught you walking and you were in Drake , trouble.
Do you remember a maths teacher called Mr Nage. He was Hungarian. Gave me my one and only E on a report simply because he caught me talking
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catscratch
- Posts: 83
- Joined: 13 Jul 2008 12:44
- Location: se20
yep, I remember those coach trips, and Taffy, little dark bloke if I have the right one.
Worst of all I remember the barely lukewarm showers, even after a freezing day in the mud. and that grotty changing room with the one dismal parafin heater.
Another of Francis passions was cross country running; fortuneatly I was bright enough to come in last after short circuiting the course to the last few hundred miles; the ones who came in first but clean always got caught out, needed to get your legs muddy too, just enough so you didnt need to get into the tepid showers.
Cricket was best, me and a couple others were so bad even the duffers team refused us, so we'd wiggle under the fence of the abandoned allotments next door and spend all afternoon stuffing ourselves with blackcurrants.
Worst of all I remember the barely lukewarm showers, even after a freezing day in the mud. and that grotty changing room with the one dismal parafin heater.
Another of Francis passions was cross country running; fortuneatly I was bright enough to come in last after short circuiting the course to the last few hundred miles; the ones who came in first but clean always got caught out, needed to get your legs muddy too, just enough so you didnt need to get into the tepid showers.
Cricket was best, me and a couple others were so bad even the duffers team refused us, so we'd wiggle under the fence of the abandoned allotments next door and spend all afternoon stuffing ourselves with blackcurrants.