24 Nov 2018 - Schooldays: Winns Avenue

Hi Daniel,
I have written twice over the last few years', however nothing printed. Third time lucky!!
I attended Winns Avenue School as a 5 year old in 1936.
The head mistress was a Miss Sarson. The other teachers' were Miss Brown, Miss Dooley, Miss Kimpton & Miss Crab..
I was evacuated in 1939 & returned to Winns Avenue in March 1942.
Some of the teachers' in the Junior & Senior schools' were a Mr. Bunting, Mr Speakman, Mr Grainger & there were two Mr Greens'.
Mr Speakman was quite renowned for his knowledge of nature, wildlife etc.
In 1945 all pupils' were turfed out of Winns Avenue and dispersed to various schools' throughout Walthamstow.
This action created a great deal of anger, and many parents' refused to allow there children to attend the schools' they were allocated to. This of course was strike action and attracted the attention of the local & national press.
Alas! we could not win, and over a period of many months' children dribbled back to the schools' they were assigned to.
I wonder if there is anyone still around from that era. I would love to know.

David MEDHURST Private Reply Public Reply

11 Jun 2018 - Chapel End School

Hello Daniel,

I have just been searching the web and found your Chapel End School web site.
I'm sorry I cannot remember you but I was at Chapel End leaving Summer 1959 (4SU). I am currently in UK (June 2018) staying with our son in Harlow for a few weeks but l live in South Africa since 1982. Mr Burton was my Head Master and Mr Gould was my class teacher.
I will be very interested in comparing notes on the school and chatting over our school life so I'm stop now and await your reply.
Kind regards

Derek HOWES Private Reply Public Reply

26 May 2018 - McEntee School

Would you have a photo of Mr Choat / Mr Choate please?

Anita MORSE Private Reply Public Reply

From Daniel: Any of our visitors can help?

20 Feb 2018 - William Morris School 1941-46

Some years ago now I wrote to you [see here] and received a response that I considered was very much less than enthusiastic.
As far as the current website is concerned, my observations are as follows:-
The pictures, etc., shown on the appropriate website seem to ignore the years before the 1960's as virtually non-existent.
There were students at the William Morris School long before that time and I attended from July 1942 until July 1946.
The first year of that time I spent at Bedford where the school had been evacuated due to the wartime conditions at that time.
I returned when Mr. G. Stallard, Headmaster, headed a team of fourteen teachers most of which had returned to teaching while younger staff were involved with World War Two.
I joined Form 4B with twenty-two other boys and a Form Master named Mr. Cyril Burton.
Mr. Burton suffered the somewhat dubious honour of being shot by a member of a junior form; he was not seriously wounded and recovered quickly; the boy was much disturbed however.
I have photographs of the teaching team and the members of Form 2B copies of which I originally sent to you but were never heard of again.

I have clear memories of the following:-

• Sitting on the stairs during air raids - there were no air raid shelters available at the school.
• Morning prayers sometimes and perhaps all too frequently in 1944 of the names of former students killed, wounded or missing. The killed were eventually added to the Roll of Honour in the main hall and I have wondered if this survived the destruction of the school in later years - can you comment on this?
• Mr. Stallard entering an on-going lesson and beckoning to one boy or another to accompany him to his study. This usually meant that bad news had arisen and a master not teaching was found to go with the boy to his home where he would learn of a father, brother and other relative and his being killed, wounded, prisoner-of-war or missing. Boys with relatives in the Services often said that their hearts were in their mouths at the sight of he Headmaster on these occasions.

In 1945/6 I left full time education and worked in the City of London until I was conscripted into the Royal Navy for eighteen months National Service.
It has always impressed me that the team of teachers at the William Morris were able to provide a high level of education to so many boys under such dire circumstances and I will always be grateful for their grand efforts.
Sincerely,

Frederick E.J. PEACH Private Reply Public Reply

30 Jan 2018 - Public Reply to Viv Harte
( 6 Jan 2017 - Warwick Secondary School )

I was at Warwick left at 15 in 1959 when did you leave. Regards

Pat CLARKE
née DEIGHTON Private Reply Public Reply

21 Jan 2018 - Public Reply to David Gardiner
( 6 Sep 2015 - Mission Grove School.)

Hi Daniel / David
I started school at Mission Grove in 1955 and went through both infants and Juniors. In 1961 went in the William Morris in Gainsford Road.
The headmistress at Mission Grove Infants was the wonderful Miss Philpot. As David mentioned Ms. Wakefield and Mr Potter Ms Witherwick were still there during my time. I recall Ms. Cliss actually passed away whilst in her classroom around that time.
Add to the teachers Ms. Pat Gurr and Ms Tuckwell, - both had a strong influence on my early life.

Terence ALLEN Private Reply Public Reply

3 Jan 2018 - Schooldays: McGuffie

I remember Mr Bull he taught maths and also tennis at Lloyd Park. Mrs Venn taught biology and she also lived next door to my Grandma in Kenilworth Avenue.
I can remember going to McGuffie and having to have my first term in Forest Road Infants school as two of rooms were unsafe owing to bThe drummer with Dante's Inferno was Eddie Bailey (21.2.46 to 25.5 12) and the guitarist on his left is Sean Deavin.omb damage.
I know I had a Mr Richards for a term and ended my school life with Miss Thripp. My name is Brenda Bonsor (née Fleming) I am 81 and live in Bournemouth Dorset. I attended McGuffie in 1947 to Christmas 1951.
Hope you get more feedback!

Brenda BONSOR Private Reply Public Reply

2 Jan 2018 - Schooldays: Chapel End

Hello there,

I am unable to get my email to function through your link. I would like to send greetings to a fellow schoolmate at Chapel End. He is Gerald (Gerry) Creasey who has uploaded some photos of the school classes of about my era. Can you help please. I was born in a Nursing Home at 19 Carisbrook Road, Walthamstow on 2/8/1935. I would like also to add myself to the list of former pupils as I was there from 1946 to 1949. I still remember most of the teachers, but some are not on your list of teachers for that period. No mention of the nasty former Head, Mr Hind, a grand master of the Stick as too were Mssrs Pettifer and Dixon. My hands are still suffering to this day. I do hope that Gerry is still around.
Best wishes,

Dennis SAUNDERS Private Reply Public Reply