Post by The Historian on Jun 19, 2016 15:15:43 GMT 1
Hi Guys, just discovered this site, June 2016.
I read with interest and agreement, the postings (above).
Nihil Sine Labore the school motto. Nothing without work. A good motto that has stood me in good stead over the years. A pity that it's no longer displayed as it was on the front wall of the school building by the road for all to see. It inspired me to try to do well, and I am sure it would have the same effect on youngsters today.
The teachers at Hawes Down came from a very different age. When they were young the received wisdom was 'spare the rod and spoil the child', etched still further into their minds by the harshness of military life that most of them had endured, not to mention the violence that was WW2: Mr Powell, for example was an ex POW and chain smoked all day long as a result. For many, teaching was a calling where they felt they had a duty to instill discipline in an otherwise unruly generation that had not experienced the guidance and 'grooming' of conscription. The '60's and the freedoms that the '60's ushered in must have seemed to them as an alien culture bereft of rules. Like missionaries, they must have felt we needed bringing back under control, for our own good.
Still, having said that, I do recall being caned or slippered for just about any- and every transgression of 'The Rules'. The only noteable exceptions being Mr Easterbrooke who took us for Games. He would hurl a board rubber made of solid beech at you instead! God knows how no-one was maimed! He did teach us cricket and football though, rain or shine. Later, in the showers all together in the all together, Mr Brent would announce times for his Running Club, The Kentish Harriers if I recall. I was too podgy and wheezy but implored him to start a cycling club....what eventually became of that idea I never knew
I clearly remember being given 'the bars' initiation in year one by the older boys by the steps outside the school bogs, but I was a hefty lad and they could not bend my arms and gave up!
Wonderful man Mr Short who took us for English, possibly the only human being there, after Mr Dawson the Headmaster and Mr Jones (science). Mr Short sold me an ancient black bike with rod brakes for 2s6p (25P), about £5 in comparison with today's prices. He would play violin during lessons on occasions, just for fun. A great man, his and Mr Jones' humanity stayed with me all my life.
Mr Jones took us through the scientific process of careful note taking, diagrams and observation. I'll never forget his lessons on atmospheric pressure whereby a metal gallon oil can seemingly crushes itself as the steam trapped inside condenses causing a partial vacuum that enables atmospheric pressure to do the rest. Utterly enthralling, I recall we all were hungry for his type of teaching that rested on explaining things rather than the rote teaching methods of maths and geography.
The strangest teacher has to be Mr Beachamp. Another thrower of board rubbers, he was my form teacher in my final year, 1963 and took us for Geography as well. Ancient teaching methods, I remember the endless job of tracing outlines of countries and colouring in the areas of tundra, tropical and temperate regions for a whole year.....and nothing else! With the exception of my pal John Kinns who was the only one gutsy enough to argue with him, we sat there like mice and were taught absolutely nothing of any value whatsoever! Ditto maths (Mr Chalk from Persia) (7 take away 8 can't be done, give it a ten and pay back one....eh?....why did nobody think to teach us place value...? ''Where did that one come from sir, I don't understand....?'' ''Just remember the rule boy, don't ask silly questions...'' ), ditto Gardening with Mr Green. (He had a Landrover, I recall). Gardening consisted of cleaning the forks and spades with sacking until they gleamed, ready for the following class to muddy up again digging a trench...( the purpose of which was never revealed to us.....)
I only vaguely remember Mr Myram, but was never taught by him. Mr Campbell was my teacher year 1 (lovely bloke), and Mr Bryant for metalwork where we filed...day in, day out until our piece of 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 3/16" plate was perfectly square, beveled and ready to drill two holes in for the hook, which we then riveted in place: a key-hook capable of holding a key weighing a hundredweight. Utterly overbuilt, we did at least learn how to use basic tools properly in the hope that we might make a live steam locomotive like the ones tantalising us from his display cabinet. Never got near them, I think they were Mr Bryant's own private project.
Mr Davies took us for Technical Drawing, and that really was interesting. For years I would draw anything technical in Isometric thanks to Mr Davies!
I too went on a fortnight's holiday on TS Foudroyant. We slept in hammocks that we had to take down each morning, then carefully lash in such a way that would create air pockets enabling them to float and become a makeshift life-support in the event of sinking. The ropes were called 'nettles' and were fastened each night to a ringbolt in the deck-beam above our heads using a bowline knot - possibly the most useful knot there is - and we would then swing ourselves up and into our hammock for the night. Brilliant stuff, we sailed to the isle of Wight in a whaler class sailing boat, all of us participating in controlling the main- and jib-sheets. we had to erect an emergency spinnaker sail using an oar and temporary lashing to get back against the tide, and then row as well. Needless to say we slept like logs we were so exhausted. Today, Health and Safety would have a fit!
Mr Brent or Mr Powell caned me pretty often for being late. I lived miles away in neighbouring Bromley and it was quite a cycle, especially suffering from asthma I found the journey pretty tough, especially in the snows we had back then. Cycling everywhere and anywhere, plus school swimming in the icy water at the Blue Circle Cement Co's open pool off Bromley common, or at other times at Beckenham Baths cured my asthma. No inhalers in them thar days. I do remember thinking that Mr Powell had a close resemblance to The Mekon from the Dan Dare comic though.
Lunchtime and my mates Johnathon Collier and John Halligan and I would slink off and spend our dinner money on meat pie, chips and brown sauce at the Kismet Cafe in the high street. With the growth in my interest in racing cycling in year 4 I'd cycle all the way to Badgers Mount during lunchtime, then cycle all the way back...just for the thrill of it....... But by year 4 we discovered the girls of Marion Vian, Beckenham Grammer and Gadsden. Cricket and football suddenly lost its appeal, but my bike sure came in handy....! Yes, happy days...despite the strange old teaching methods of well-meaning teachers.
If you select this link on the main site and follow the links on the left hand side menu for schools and groups 1&2 you will see photos of all the Hawes Down teachers you have mentioned www.beckenhamhistory.co.uk/flashNifties/gallery5.html