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1961 Panoramic School Photograph
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This is the 1961 school photo.  No Currell is not at both ends on this one!  Click on the thumbnail to see a larger version.  It is an old photo and has been retouched as best I can.  The files are uncompressed jpeg format and are a little large. To return here after viewing the larger image use the back button on your browser.

Teachers today
Having seen two children through their education and now helping with two grandsons I can not help but make comparisons to my own education.  In some cases my family attended the same school as  my wife or I and comparisons then become unavoidable.  We currently suffer a severe teacher shortage and it is predicted to worsen.  Why?
 more, if you can bear it:

Walter Morley

His real name is Brés, his mother was French, hence his eligibility to play rugby for France.  He also played regularly for Rosslyn Park.  According to my source, "he was useless as a footballer - just flattened first years".  Now I didn't know this and I am indebted to John Calvert for the info. 

Now, apparently, our Ruth played Test Cricket for England.  I always liked her anyway, but had I known about the cricket well....

I did hear that she took up a job in the County Education Authority.  Something like a school inspector, but senior stuff.

Mary Moffat  

Is teaching and painting in Oregon USA.  She has lived in USA for more than 25 years.  Many of you will I am sure remember Mary well because of her  weird hairstyles and hair colouring.  I remember her as eccentric, extrovert and a lot of fun.  Mary and I went through a Mod phase at school.  She cut my hair one lunch-break.  Chunky Razor Cut style, just like the Small Faces!  She did it with a pair of nail scissors. After leaving school Mary was at one time crowned Hemel Hempstead Carnival Queen.  I remember seeing her picture in The Gazette and having a chuckle at the time. 

Ted Lowther
 Latin Master now retired and living in Berkhamsted.  (picture courtesy of Alan Pittman)  In the fifties and very early sixties it was an entry requirement for Oxbridge for students to have 'O' Level Latin or Greek.  A and B streams therefore were compelled to do Latin.  I was lucky as after 1st year Oxbridge changed the rules to accept a modern language as an alternative to the classics.  Latin therefore declined and I think 'Ted' taught some English as well. 

I understand from an alumni that he taught at Berkhamsted Boys School after leaving Apsley.  Alan Pittman tells me that he regularly speaks to 'Ted' on the phone from Toronto.  If any one wants his phone number I suggest you email Pittman.

Woodwork Smithy
John Gurney recalls

Mr. Smith the Woodwork teacher used to live in digs quite close to me in Boxmoor and he frequently gave me lifts into school. His car at the time was an old Bond three wheeler with a Villiers motorcycle engine driving the front wheel. To start the beast you lifted the bonnet and it had a motorcycle kick start to get it running, very basic but the unused bus fares used to come in handy for extra sweeties. I only took woodwork in the first year and we always had a double period lesson which always terminated at the end of the school day. Mr. Smith "Smiffy" (unmarried) was at the time deep in love with **censored**  (her name escapes me) and she would always be waiting outside the woodwork room to go in and see him after the lessons had finished for the day. Evil Bastards that we were we reckoned she was going in to help him practice his mortise and tenon joints or even his tongue and grooving and perhaps he was giving her lessons in French Polishing. Who Knows? but I'm pretty sure they got married soon afterwards.

Warners End

It's amazing what I get in my email now a days.  This is an aerial photograph of Warners End before it was built!   Just how sad are you?  Have you tried to name the roads?