About this website
In May 2000
I stumbled across the web site of my old school when I accidentally
typed "Royal Grammar School High Wycombe" into Bill Gates's Search box.
The RGS web site looked quite interesting and I couldn't wait to
see if my name appeared on the list of "Famous Old Boys".
Sadly it didn't so I was resigned to sink back into anonymity once
more.
Even looking through the list of Old Boys' e-mail addresses didn't come
up with a single contemporary, let alone a famous one, so I resolved to
contact the "Web master" of the site and let him know that out here in
cyberspace there was still at least one person from my era interested
in having his existence recognised. However my innate inertia soon put
a stop to that resolution and so, as usual, I did nothing.
In October 2001, my discovery of the Friends Reunited
web site re-awakened my enthusiasm and inspired me to produce this website,
centred on my old rolledup copy of the 1956 School Photo
I am not sure really why I bothered to do it; just seeking a bit of glory
I suppose, but there you go.
I have since had many happy email conversations from "boys"
of my era. Sometimes I have been able to link up friends or relatives
of boys in the photo and when this happens it can be very rewarding.
The site has expanded somewhat following suggestions from others,
and now includes photographs from other years as well as some information
on the G & S operas performed at the time.
I have been offered much more recent photographs but have had to
refuse them as I have other things in life to as well as well as slaving
over a hot computer all day!
I therefore have restricted my site to boys who attended RGS at some time
during my own years at the school, namely 1951 to 1956.
Please note that I am not setting up in opposition to the official RGS
website nor Friendsreunited, both of which are excellent web sites. It’s
all just for a bit of fun.
Please also note that I have no wish
to embarrass or offend. If you see anything objectionable at all, please
email and I will remove it at once.
If anybody ever visits this site I would welcome an email just to say
you've been here and my efforts have not been totally in vain.
|
About me
Here is a short précis (a long time since I last used
that word so hope the spelling is OK)
My name is Tony Hare and I attended RGS 1951 to 1956.
I started at the RGS in 1951 after passing my 11 plus from Chalfont St
Peter C of E school. My first form was 2a in the old Uplyme huts. During
that first year we were taught Latin by the Headmaster, Mr Tucker (amo
amas amat, amamus amatis amant etc. Do they still teach Latin?)
Teachers I remember particularly are "Piljy" Jones, Maths master, (used
to drive a Morris Minor); "Holly" Hollingsworth, English master (If you
can't pass an exam in your own language you'll never pass an exam in anything);
"Wally" Barnes, French master, (a good bloke, I could never understand
how anyone could be so oafish as to drain all the petrol out of his motorbike);
"Gag" Grant Art master, (forever sharpening our pencils for us); "Patsy"
Pattinson Chemistry master, (God, how I wished I had paid more attention
so I could have passed the Chemistry exam).
Boys I remember particularly are David Icke (sadly drowned in a boating
accident), John Holdbrook, Ian Tomes, Teddy Payne, Rob Palmer, Billy Knowles,
Chandrubeksa. What of the rest? Is Alzheimer the only other name I can
think of?
After leaving school in 1956 with 6 "O" levels I worked as a Research
Apprentice at EMI in Hayes for 7 years finding out what high power klystrons
were all about, then at Cossor Electronics in Harlow for 3 years developing
SSR (radar) components.
I then moved to Paignton in Devon to work with STC Electron Tube Division
for 23 years, initially working on the development of Klystrons and Travelling
Wave Tubes for TV transmitters, ending up as Section Head of TWT Power
Supply development.
About 1990, tiring of the delights of middle management, I left STC to
join my second wife in her occupation as owner of a Gift
Shop. I thus enjoyed the independence of being self employed. My experience
with computers enabled us to take a small advantage from e-commerce on
the web. You can visit the remains of our web site at www.hometreasures.co.uk
although we have since retired and no longer operate the shop.
I have two daughters from my first marriage and two
stepsons from my second.
I am now happily retired and my wife and I enjoy walking the beautiful
Devon coasts and moors and taking several holidays each year.
It is now many years since I last had reason to visit Buckinghamshire.
I was very disappointed then to drive past the old school and see that
someone had built a factory entrance across the drive.
Can anyone answer the following questions for me?
1) Is the pavilion my parents had to buy bricks for (sixpence each?) still
standing?.
2 )Do they still sell Wagon Wheels in the Tuck Shop?
3) What happened to the crispy bacon we used to get before the war? and
What about the wood then? (old Goon Show gags)
Time to stop before senility gets a hold I think!! |
My Contemporaries
I ended my days at RGS in Form 5US with "Wally" Barnes as the
Form Master.
The entry from the Grey Book shows 5US as follows:-
|