OSA magazine Issue 90

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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 9 0Geering had recom-mended Le Colombier and Keith Knightkindly made all the arrangements . We were greeted on arrivalwith a glass of champagne Ernest Rapeneau and were constantlytopped up during the meal with some superb Sauvignon wines.Needless to say everyone was in good spirits and there was muchlaughter and exchanging of stories and memories of ourwonderful School.We have been organising annual reunionssince 2015 (60th anniversary) and plan to continue into thefuture so are considering our next venue for 2020.Photo above, clockwise: Adrian Andrusier, Geoff Gascoigne, RogerEdmondson, Mike Mote, Alan Hunt,Trevor Fenner, David Sheath,Mike Geering, Mike Stringer, Martin Burr, Michael Heath. KeithKnight, David Vicary, Peter Bonner, Brian Howlett.CLASS OF '63On Wednesday 23rd October 2019 at around midday fifteenOld Stationers from the Class of ’63 met at The Parcel Yard,King’s Cross, for their fifth reunion in recent years. Once again agood time was had by all.Although we did not welcome any new faces this year we werepleased to renew our acquain-tance with Tom Waples fromLeeds, an absentee from recent meetings. We attracted friendsfrom many parts of England.Geoff Edis travelled up fromTeignmouth, Chris Bell fromBradford-on-Avon, Tony Littlefrom Swindon, Clive Jacksonfrom Sussex, Nigel Dant fromReading, Keith Hacker downfrom Wellingborough andPeter Winter from Warrington.We have some contact withabout 45% of our year group,and it is a matter of regret thatthe majority either remainelusive or choose to be absent!Aided by a few well-chosenpints we rolled back the yearsand reminiscences werebounced back and forth acrossthe long bench table. TonyLittle grudgingly admitted thathe drove a scooter and sidecarin the Sixth Form and that hisnickname in the first form was“Shirley”. Geoff Edispretended to forget that, againin the first form, he got thePotters Bar contingent intotrouble by shouting at aHornsey High girl on PottersBar station in the hearing ofchemistry teacher Dr Andrews.An uncomfortable dressingdown followed later that day inDr Andrews’ Lab.We also remembered the lastday of that summer term whenthe leaving Sixth Formscientists had spread a chemicalwhich exploded on contact along the corridor leading to theHall. Blocking the route stood Jimmy Bean (aka Mr Grant,Head of Physics) who commanded us: “Go back, my children,the Hall’s been mined!”Clive Jackson impressed us with his memory of every woodworkproject we were set, in chronological order. Nigel Adams made aspeech full of backhanded compliments – although apparentlygenerous - thanking the organiser for his work in getting the grouptogether. In the course of his speech he only managed to insult theorganiser thrice (not bad for Nigel, pretty tame) thus ensuring hisexclusion from next year’s invitation (only joking, Nigel).There was further chatter ranging on subjects as diverse asgoalkeeping, Antarctic expeditions and the cost of divorce (NigelA again!). All too quickly the lunch was over. Some said farewell,others adjourned to Starbuck’s within St Pancras station tocontinue our inane ramblings and await trains. 2020 is thefiftieth anniversary of our leaving date and we determined tomeet again at the OSA Dinner in the Spring and again in theAutumn of 2020.Steve Bensley(clockwise from front in photo): Geoff Edis, Bob “Neddie” Segall, Tom Waples,Alan Burgess, Keith Hacker, Clive Jackson, Peter Winter, Tony Little, DaveClark, Nigel Dant, Chris Bell, Steve Bensley, Simon Gouldstone, Frank Clapp16
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 9 0and Nigel Adams.FROM THEARCHIVES(left)"Mudlarks" - OSFC 1stXI vAlexandra Park, Christmas 1950.A game arranged to help funds torebuild Barnet clubhouse.(bottom left)1st stage of new clubhouse atBarnet - 1951. It replaced twowooden buildings destroyed by firein 1950.(below)The wrecking ball strikes todemolish the school!EVACUATION MEMORIESDear Tony,paulineandalex@gmail.com18th October 2019RE: Stationers and WisbechThank for your recent letter and invitation to the dinner in theHall.Which I shall be very happy to accept.In answer to your questions I have enclosed a few morerecollections of the school’s evacuation.“I used to discuss these events with fellow evacuees but these allseem to have disappeared.Talking to other boys when we first arrived we found that thebillets varied enormously. One boy found himself in a largehouse where his hosts dressed for dinner every night and he atewith the maid in the kitchen. Others said they were sleepingthree to a bed and the food was not very good. Mostly howeverwere with caring people and became part of their families,corresponding with them long after we returned home.Being in the Fens we were surrounded by fruit and vegetablefarms. As many local men had been called up, labour was scarce,so we were able to earn pocket money by picking strawberriesand gooseberries. Strawberries were picked individually andcarefully, but with gooseberries you ran a gloved hand along thestem knocking fruit leaves and thorns into your basket. As youwere paid by weight your pickings were tipped into what wascalled “the blower”!. A man turned a handle which worked a fanto remove the leaves and other debris.On two occasions Army manoeuvres took place in town. AAguns were erected at both ends of the bridge and the town wasflooded with army vehicles. One of the masters (Mr Englefield)was in the Home Guard which also turned out to “defend” thetown. This was all very exciting for a young schoolboy.One of the fifth formers who was dating a local 6th form girlfound that her friend was going out with Mr Jones (one of ourmasters) and they made a foursome. Later Mr Jones was called17
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OSA magazine Issue 90

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