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Information along with your emails
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Updated
29 Nov 2008 17:22
Calling all Cray Valley
Photographers!
As there have been almost no contributions from
old boys to this site since Christmas last year, here is some
news from your editor.
UPDATE -029
It is with sincere personal sorrow that I have to
report the passing of my first form master John Gale on Tuesday
15th April 2008.
I am informed by David Holden that he passed away peacefully in
Devon and leaves his wife Catherine living at their farmhouse in
Longash on Dartmoor. The funeral was held in Plymouth on
Thursday 1st May 2008.
If you knew John please find a few moments to
leave your thoughts in
Visitor's Comments.
I had absolutely no idea quite how much this
website meant to so many of you and just how appreciative many
of you actually are. So, following dozens of well-wishing emails
and after a lengthy telephone conversation with our sponsor
Leslie Burrage, who will continue to contribute to the funding
of the site's maintenance, I have decided to continue with our
website for at least another year or so.
A recurrent theme in many of the emails I have
received this week was not only one of great appreciation
for what we have tried to achieve during the past six and a half
years but one of guilt! "We sometimes don't realise what we have
until it's gone" - "I could so easily have sent in material -
but didn't ever get around to it". Let's hope this little blip
in our short history will help to jog a few more old boys into
submitting material so that we can continue to add to this
unique online resource.
Please find a few moments to leave your thoughts
or comments in
Visitor's Comments.
With kind regards to all
Colin Cadle South Devon - 8th March 2008
www.colincadle.co.uk
Christmas Concert
(Excerpt 1961)
This the latest addition to the
Audio Gallery with intro by RA Mayo
Kindly donated by Graham Mitchell
'Reg' Mayo & Reg Wincott taken on 6th October 2003 by Adrian
Appley.
Listen to the first 8 Minutes
of Adrian Appley's interview with the late Reg Mayo
The complete 45 minute interview is included on the
Rook
CD ROM
Email
from Adrian Appley -
3rd November 2007
I have just had a quick look on the website and
think the "new" Roger Diamond photo is superb.Although he probably joined after I left and would not
have known him it was still good to see his photo.
Over the past 40 or so years I have seen many of
the American singers and even managed to meet some of them.
I well remember at
Cray Valley seeing the lads reading New Musical Express,Melody Maker and Disc and in particular seeing a full
front cover photo of Buddy Holly who became my hero just after
he died. Although I met the Crickets in the early 1960s I would
have loved to have seen Buddy.The other singer I really kick myself for not seeing when
he was alive was Jackie Wilson.Iblew the
opportunity when he toured London in the 1970s.He had one of the most powerful voices I have ever heard
and I have most of his recordings.
One of my classmates was a lad called David
Vincentand he was
so fanatical about Frankie Laine we called him Frankie. He
actually looked like him and he imported all his latest releases
from America.At the
time I thought he was a nutcase but since those days I have
worshipped the fine singer.I saw him twice in London theatres in the 1970s and
...yes, I met him as well !
The daft thing is that whilst at school I hated
rock 'n' roll but have more than made up for it since.Our electricity teacher was Mr. Trethowan and he let us
make crystal sets which we would listen to in bed with a long
aerial that would extend the length of the back garden.I have always been interested in electronics and worked
in the industry for over 30 years. Did you listen to Radio
Luxemburg ?One of
their disc jockeys, Tony Hall, read out a request for me and I
still have the recording.I have had recording equipment since Christmas 1960 when
I bought an Ekco [company E.K.Cole] tape recorder and have never
looked back.
Email
from Trevor Heywood -
25th October 2007
I have recently been reminded about the website
by
Andy Barnard having first been
informed by Ian Chalmers a few months earlier. I think the three
of us started in 1R September 1959. This initial contact with
Ian and Andy was through Friends Reunited - by the way does
anyone remember Alan Ford (Tank by nick name) again Alan started
in 1R 1959 but left about Easter time in 1961 due to his parents
moving to Esher, Surrey. I lost contact with Alan in the early
70's and would really like to meet up with him again.
How fantastic it was to see so many familiar
names and faces after all these years. The pictures of the 1961
U14's and 1963/4 First XV were real memory joggers! Some people
will probably remember me as "Jacques Heywood", Jacques (Jack by
default) was the name given to me by Anthony Rees our French
teacher at the time. Martin Carr also referred to me as "Weed"
but I never really understood why! Like many other school
leavers at the time I joined Westcombe Park and met up with
quite a few ex Cray Valleyans and of course Johnny Abrook. My
time at Cray Valley on the whole was a memorable one especially
when it came to competitive sport which is something I really
enjoyed and still do to this day. I had to make up for my early
academic failings with day release and night school but it was
all worth while in the end. I enjoyed a 36 year career in the
brewing industry with Whitbread PLC working and living in a
variety of locations in the UK including a notable overseas
secondment to Australia.
Andy Barnard reminded me that my father had taken
quite a lot of 8mm film of our athletic sports days which to my
surprise my father produced on our last family visit and the
film is now in my possession. Now I need to find out what to do
with it. Apart from the athletics there is some great footage
of JK presenting prizes and what an ambassador that man was for
our school.
My five years at CV is a memorable time to
reflect back on and in my opinion was a great starting point for
our lives and future careers, so many thanks for this website
and rekindling my interest.
I am now semi retired and Denise and I live in
the Vale of Usk, South Wales. Hopefully I will meet up with some
of you soon.
I have just seen England beat tournament hot
favourites Australia for a 3rd time in the Rugby World Cup. A
great victory and watching it I couldn't help thinking back to
Martin Carr's tough blood and guts attitude on the Rugby field.
Some of us who are not built like brick walls may not have liked
it at the time but I now realise that it was that no nonsense
attitude and desire for excellence instilled into young players
that has contributed to make the successful international side
we have today.
So hats off to Martin Carr who I understand is not
very well - I hope he enjoyed the game.
Best wishes to everyone who remembers me from
CVTHS (1962-66).
I have youngest daughter up for a quick visit and she was going
on about Facebook so I decided to look up the old school - and
there you are! It is a great website - many congrats. I have a
few bits and pieces from school so I will try and find them and
e-mail to you.
I think that the last time I saw you was at Biggin Hill? I had
just finished a pathetic attempt at a display with a Wessex 1.
Quick synopsis of life; - Enjoyed an interesting short service
commission with the RN. Went all over the world in a carrier,
then went onto RFAs and spent time in the Med. Finished up
instructing at Portland and came out in 69. Had married my
girlfriend from Biggin Hill (Marty) in 67 and fancied some
married life! However, after getting my CPL, I joined Bristows
and went unaccompanied to Nigeria!! Still, Marty joined me after
6 months and we stayed out there for a couple of years.
Stayed with Bristows until 1991 and spent most of the last 10
years with them driving various desks. Left them from Australia
and joined Bond Helicopters as a line pilot - which was great.
However, because I can't keep my trap shut, I entered management
again and after 2 takeovers decided to take my various pensions
and retire in 2002.
I work 2 days a week at a Transport Museum nearby -
photographing all their stored collection, cataloguing when
required and putting everything on their database. I have also
been asked to do the same thing at a National Trust castle, so I
am there 1 day a week. I try and go gliding one day a week but
weather has been poor this summer.
We have 4 children - 2 girls, 2 boys and they are spread around
a bit. Marty is a school teacher and retires next year.
Looking at your resume indicates that you have had a fun life
too. I'll keep in touch.
PS Do you remember 'Windy' Gale the Tech Drawing Master? He had
an Ariel Leader motorcycle. 3 years ago I spotted one just like
his for sale, couldn't resist it - and now enjoy the Classic
motorcycle scene up here. Photo attached of me, Bike and some
silverware taken last year! This at the front of our house
looking across to our local 'mountain'.
I was
sorry to read about Barrie Jackson who was a form mate of mine I
believe all the way through from 1R to 5U. He was also if I
remember correctly the leading light of school dramatics from
the 2nd or 3rd year. The one I really remember is his
performance in "Galileo" in I think 1964 (as Galileo) but he
also played significant roles in "Trial by Jury" and "Pirates of
Penzance" if my memory serves me correctly. As you know, my
father with Geoff Tullett handled the programme printing and I
will ask if he kept any of the work done.
Once I had found the site, I was looking for information on
Francis "When I was in France/Belgium/Germany" Richmond-Coggan.
I owe him a lot and have never really acknowledged it. I last
saw "Sam" Mayo in I think 1999 when he and Grace visited my late
mother (who was by then living with my wife and I). He was
instantly recognisable from both voice and appearance and
appeared little changed.
As far as personal news is concerned, my father now lives in
Yorkshire in happy retirement (now 86). His comment is that the
pills make him "rattle a bit if shaken" but is in good health
for his age. He is still drawing but is doing little painting
now I believe.
I live in south Essex and have done so since university
initially working for Ford (on European vehicle transportation)
and ultimately as the e-mail address shows for Royal Mail
(automation equipment performance and unit financial
performance) . I had a short period in between promoting the
Channel Tunnel to the British motor industry (such as it was)
and put the first commercial freight contract together for this
facility (Rover cars to Italy). I retire from Royal Mail in a
few months.
Email
from Ian Franks -
13th March 2007
Having read Steve Jackson’s memories,
I am prompted to offer some of my own.
I joined the school in 1964, finding
myself in form 1B and Maidstone house and have many memories, many
good – some not so favourable. These include:
PE/Games
– Yeuk, not a natural athlete, I was lucky to avoid Martin Carr
for most of my time, having Alan Eaton instead. I loathed PE and
athletics (not to mention the awful cross country) and switched
from rugby to hockey as soon as I could (in the 4th year
I think). Outside school I played for hockey Orpington IV team and
cricket for Carlton Cricketers. I never made a school hockey team
but did achieve a 1st XI cricket badge by playing one
game - the team was short for an away fixture one Saturday
and when Alan Eaton discovered I played for a club on Sundays, I
was in. We won so convincingly that I was not called upon to bat!
Interestingly, although I hated playing rugby, I now love watching
it and support Ospreys and Wales. Least said about our 2007 six
nations performance the better, but great memories of our 2005 Grand
Slam!
Mr Russell
–
A great person but totally unable to keep control
of a class or his teaching records. I remember seeing the same
sex education slide/film show several times as, when he asked,
we said we had not seen it before. Also, when in 5B we had room
13 (Mr Russell’s RE classroom) as our form room. One lunchtime
(as we were allowed to stay in), a lot of screws mysteriously
disappeared from the desks so that when the first class sat down
that afternoon they fell about – literally. 5B was banned from
staying in the building as a result.
Journey’s End school play
– Mark Head’s memories of this play in
which he played Capt Stanhope caused me to recall that I was a
member of the stage crew. The play was set in a World War I
trench and at one point an enemy shell lands and the doorway
collapses. We built the three-piece doorway in woodwork and
painted it. When it was time for it to collapse, two of us had
to stand behind the back wall and each push one of the uprights
over with a dowel rod. I also remember that during rehearsals
Mark Head objected to the use of swear words in the lines he had
to say. At the time he was a leading member of the school’s
Scripture Union.
Academic work
– I was never an over achiever. I had set
my sights on being a journalist and knew I needed 5 O-levels
including English Language. I left Cray Valley at the end of the
Lower Sixth, with my necessary O-levels, and became a reporter.
Years later, and now living on a smallholding in Snowdonia, I
was named Welsh Farming Journalist of the Year. These days you
need significantly higher qualifications to get into journalism!
Personally
– As Jill and I are about to become grand
parents for the first time (due late April), I look back on my
time at CVTHS with great nostalgia.
Guidelines for submitting
images to the site:-
If the images are intended for
the
photo galleries they only need to be at a resolution
of 72 ppi. Ideally they should be no larger than 600 pixels wide
or 600 pixels high and optimized for a webpage which means they
are not likely at that size to be larger than 100 kb.
To help me save time the format should be jpg but I will accept
anything such as tif or psd and convert it for you. If in any
doubt email me with your queries or just send it anyway and I
will sort it out. Most of the images sent in have been 'tweaked'
by either cropping unnecessary material (to keep the file size
down for easy loading into your browser) or by restoring the
image levels to make the picture clearer. Some of the images
have been sharpened or enhanced as well but none will ever be manipulated in
any way. What fun we could have if we did!
We
have installed a working site Search Page. There are at present
nearly 600 pages on the website and this is now your quickest way
of finding specific information. The same general rules apply to
our own search facility as they do for most Search Engines but you
will see a few tips on the page itself to help find what you are
looking for.
Why not try entering your own surname
to see how many references there are to you in the site?
Clive Hollis receiving
one of the Junior Sports trophies on behalf of Rochester House at
School Sports day - probably 1962. This information kindly supplied
by Andy Barnard who also recognises Tony Brimacombe who is immediately
above JCK's head.
Check out the
PRESS CUTTINGS ARCHIVE
On a personal note there's a few words
on what I've been up to since 1965
Click
here
