January 2024

26
Wanstead Village Directory
THE HIGH LIFE
In the third of a series of articles to mark Wanstead High School’s 100th
anniversary, former student Maurice Tucker (class of 1965) reflects on his
memories of dissecting a rat en route to becoming a geologist
I
cherish my memories of Wanstead High
School; the oak-panelled hall with all
the names, the labs, the huts, the fives
courts, the swimming pool, the traditions.
I realised from an early age (seven) that I
wanted to be a geologist, so I knew which
subjects to take (physics, chemistry and
biology). For me, Mike (Jake) Carr (biology)
was inspirational in my chosen path. We
loved him; the admiration stemmed from him
coming to school in leathers on his motorbike
from Epsom, always an encouraging and a
supportive teacher. I recall dissecting a rat and
catfish (oh, the smell!), and cutting the aorta
in a freshly killed rabbit in the A level biology
practical exam was extremely messy!
Other teachers who had an impact on me
were: Miss Alcock, with her corgi in the
classroom and she talking to it in Latin
(“sedate”); Mr Smethurst (history), my form
teacher for several years; and Mr Simpson
(chemistry), the mercury on the bench,
lighting the gas from the taps and pulling the
blinds down slowly behind his back!
I only recall one riot in the school – I can’t
remember what the problem was but in
assembly we all chanted: “WHS, WHS, what’s
the matter with WHS?” Maybe it was school
dinners!
Mr Cowan, the headmaster, sadly died during
my time at the school, and, being form
captain, I attended his funeral. A memorable
and sombre occasion for a 14-year-old.
I played rugby for five years, then hockey, and
played for Wanstead Hockey Club later; I also
played cricket and tennis for the school teams.
But it was a long walk every Wednesday
afternoon to the playing fields by the river.
And the cross-country runs around the three
lakes in Wanstead Park (well, a stroll around
one lake) were tedious. I was a Saxon, but we
were always being beaten by the Romans. My
brothers, Eric (1946–51) and Robin (1949–54),
both went to Wanstead as well (sadly, both
now deceased); Robin was a heart-throb to
the girls and a discus champion.
I am now a geologist, a carbonate
sedimentologist (now attached to the
University of Bristol). I still publish (the fourth
edition of my textbook Sedimentary Petrology
is just out) and undertake research, but only
on limestones, rocks that fizz, any age, any
place, all round the world. My latest topic is
Fossil Viruses: The New Frontier in Earth Sciences,
with a paper published in Nature magazine
last July!
Wanstead was a marvellous school – and I
am sure it still is. In my sixth-form class of
52 students, all went on to higher education
except for three. My close friends were John
Saville, Tony Dalton and Bob Greatorex.
Abeunt Studia in Mores.
Left to right: Maurice with
friend Tony Dalton and
biology teacher Mr Carr (1964)
For more information on Wanstead High
School, visit wansteadhigh.co.uk
To advertise, call 020 8819 6645 or visit wnstd.com