Town & Country School Guestbook/Blog

Dear Norman,
I wanted to say hello and well done, and let you know that I really love and appreciate your website with memories of Town and Country School.
I was Jennifer Beacham then but I am Jenny Deadman now. I joined in about '64 and stayed for maybe three years until leaving after GCSE's.

The school saved me at the time. I had got suspended from my horrible all girls grammar school in Barnet for being a bit of a delinquent, and thank God Mrs Paul 'got me’, which nobody else did at the time. Ah Mrs Fehling, Mr Neville, Mrs Garrera, Mrs Paul, thank you. Not to mention the other kids, so great to see the photos and remember them.



And see me looking innocent [as if].

Please say hello to Joshua for me! Any news of Mayo? Amanda?
If you want to include this name change somewhere in an addendum I will be very happy, in case anyone wanted to get in touch.

Best wishes,
Jenny Deadman.
Living in Hove.

jenny<at>jcm.co.uk

Dear Norman,

It was an amazing surprise to hear from you after such a long time. And great that you managed to track me down despite the fact that I haven't used the name 'Peter' since that brief experiment with it at the Town and Country. It's clear now that you would have remembered my father and his art from the time you visited our home, and that a son called 'Noa Latham' would eventually have surfaced through searching 'John Latham'.

Fond memories have returned of our friendship and that visit. And a whole host of memories have been sparked from wandering through your extraordinary website, coming across all those names, anecdotes, photos and videos.

I must have arrived in Spring 1961 for a brief spell in Mrs Collins' class. Then stayed the next two years in Mrs Bevan and Mrs Salisbury's classes until Summer 1963.

My time there also coincided with a brief heterosexual phase in my life! I was in awe of Elizabeth Davis, a girl a year ahead of us. A memory came back of playing kiss chase in the playground and being accused by another boy of not running my fastest when Sara Berman was able to catch me. And I remember having other favourites in our class-Diana, Yiang, Doy.

I loved learning French with Mr Prousteau, listening to Miss Collins' stories, and the creative approach of the school. I remember a class project with each student picking a country and putting together a presentation on it. I chose Spain and one of the things I brought was a bright red satin cloth that I wore to represent a matador's costume. I remember Mrs Bevan or Mrs Sainsbury remarking that it would look better on Majid because of the colour of his skin--not something you'd be likely to hear teachers saying today. I seem to remember letting him wear it. Nice seeing that photo of him with Miss Bennett.

I remember having a good time at Hedgerley Wood but can't remember any conventional sports activities. For some reason I have no memory of any maths or science classes either, though we must have had them. I remember enjoying piano lessons with Mr Jolly but he must not have been involved in any class teaching as I don't see him on the website.

Not such a fond memory for me was the time Mrs Salisbury was ill and we had a succession of substitute teachers. My classmates enjoyed exercising their wit in making fun of these teachers and wresting control of the class. I found it distressing and felt I wasn't learning anything. At one point when things were particularly chaotic, I got up and left. I remember feeling very frightened as I went to see Mrs Paul, and after being told she was busy I just went home. My parents let me spend a few days away from school, going to museums. Things had calmed down by the time I returned, but I felt embarrassed and awkward.

Anyway, thanks again for getting in touch and alerting me to your website. It has reminded me of a nine and ten year old self that I've not thought about in a long time.

Cheers,
Noa

latham<at>ucalgary.ca

Peter (I mean Noa!), I trust you won't mind me adding a photo a good few years later standing with his artist father John Latham, who also I met when visiting him in at home in Holland Park way back in 1963.

2nd March 2023

Hello Norman,
I was there from ?1947-? I think 1952 when I moved on to South Hampstead High School. I’m now 80 and - rather amazingly - still (or rather again) in the house from which I walked up over Primrose Hill to school.
Recently I walked past and have taken some photos of the buildings as they are today. Posh flats, of course.

Are you in touch with anyone else my sort of age and in London? I’d love to meet up and reminisce.
‘Line (which is what I was - and still am - called. I shared a double desk with Caroline Mortimer.
The teacher said ‘oh dear, too many Carolines’ and CM said ‘I’ll be Caro’ and I said ‘I’ll be Line’. I see she died recently, and regret not having got in touch with her.)

When did one start school in those days? I was born in 1942, so guess I may have started at five. Let's say I went there in 1947. My mother walked me to and fro each day up over Primrose Hill, meeting me after school in the summer with a drink. (Since 1979 I have been back in the family home in Regent's Park Road, and sleeping in the bedroom I had then. Because I was an only child we have managed to keep this house in the family.)
Some isolated memories:

We did Greek mythology, not any 'religion'. The story of Theseus and the Minotaur got me excited about Crete. When, aged ten, I went on to Juniors of South Hampstead High School they were reading something called the Old Testament, and I had to draw a picture of Joseph's many-coloured coat. I had absolutely no idea at all what was going on. We learned some direct method French, the first sentences of which I can still remember: 'Ouf pouf, quel service. Le bus ne s’arrête jamais'.

I shared a double desk with Caroline Mortimer. The teacher said 'oh dear, too many Carolines' and CM said 'I'll be Caro' and I said 'I'll be Line' - which I've been ever since. I see she died recently, and regret not having got in touch with her. I came home from school very excited one day, because they had taught us 'how to clean a classroom'. 'Clever Alecs', said my rather anti-semitic mother, 'they get the school cleaned for free'. Religion and identity: In the playground one day my little friend Rachel said 'I'm a Jew; what are you?' I had no idea so asked my (agnostic) mother that evening after school. 'You're church of England' she replied. I knew a church was a building, so that didn't help at all. Did she try to explain anything else to me?? If so, I understood none of it.

Mr Gubbins taught maths - which included slapping one's hand with a ruler, reasonably gently. For being naughty?? Or unable to do sums? Do I remember queuing up in the basement for lunch, the order of the queue based on the results of a spelling test?? There was an 'orchestra' which was pretty wild percussion; we all bashed things. A boy called Keith Williams was always allowed to 'conduct'. I later learned that he was the son of Vaughan Williams.

Peter Fraenkel had a wonderful boxful of coloured bus tickets which I envied. We played 'dares' at break. A girl called Aisha was challenged to run round the playground with her knickers down round her ankles. She did. We were all impressed. At rest time, after lunch, we lay down in the big room on the ground floor. I had a green/cream checked blanket, which - amazingly, because of continuity in this house - I still have, rather mothy. Someone read us 'The Secret Garden', which was way beyond me.

I also remember someone (it must have been Mrs Paul) teaching us how to relax: 'Imagine all the muscles in your body are worked by little men, and they are all leaving, walking down your arms and out through your hands, down your legs and out through your feet……..'. I have used this since. It works. (I now recognise that she was using the Alexander Technique.) When asked where I was/had been to school I was rather embarrassed by the 'Town and County' bit. It sounded too like Beatrix Potter. I never went to anything 'country'. Just before I left did they start to introduce uniform? Any tartan?? I remember my father saying 'they look like a brigade of Scottish Irregulars' (which meant nothing to me then, and little now). Caroline Cooper February 2023

Dr Caroline Cooper + 44 (0)7931 856 905 - Primrose Hill London NW1 7SX - line<at>carolinecooper.net

Dear Norman: I was looking at the Town and Country list that you made, I think that was a wonderful thing to do. I wanted to ask you for Caroline (Cally) Kelley.
I was a student at Town and Country for about two years 1974 to 1976, Caroline was a dear friend of mine. If you can get some information so I can contact her I will really appreciated

Best Regards,

Dear Norman It is certainly very wonderful to see you and I am very sorry to not remember you really because you were I think a year over me.

That is I am sure a younger Alfred because I remember him telling me in upper 4th that he had been there forever and also that I wouldn’t be going to the place in the country because it was just for the youngsters.
That is my friend Peter Nissen. He got yelled at for being messy and Mr Neville could never read his writing. Mr Neville managed to make all the boys cry eventually.
He was definitely a good and kind man and a very dedicated teacher but really crazy. And he was a champion at yelling although he was I think easier on the girls.
I recognize Bruce Blair who was also American ? I remembered Georgina Pert now and also a Greek girl Aphrodite I think. I remember a very extremely nice older girl with long blonde hair who I believe was Melanie.

We were all inclined to mischief and I remember at least one cheating scandal. I have nothing but the happiest and best and most extremely positive memories of our wonderful School and all of the students and Teachers.

I was certainly never bullied by anyone. I remember Mr Tolstoy also I think he used to take us to the Park for Soccer and then Cricket in the Summer. Primrose Hill probably.
We had a very nice young lady for German I remember. I remember many of the same things assembly in the big old ballroom and that chocolate and sugar coconut desert. Bangers and mash on Friday.

It was certainly the best lunch there I remember and I used to I think tell Alfred they had pork in them. The symbol secret for that French secret word game. Alfred gave it to me. I am very immensely happy to have been so privileged to be there and at the very best time ever in history.

St Mary’s Town and Country School thank you very much always for everything and being the best School I was ever at. These are some photographs of me in our uniform from 1966

God Bless you all very much always

Your old alumni and friend

Mark Landis

Another article about Mark's exploits are here: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2010/11/01/jesuit-priest-donates-fraudulent-works

He later wrote the following:

Dear Norman Thank you very much again I have been studying our site some and I carefully watched the surviving parts of our documentary. I think I recognized Bruce Blair some but none of the other children. Mrs Paul was quite familiar to me also. The Mandy I remember from our form could not be Amanda Donahue of course. Alfred might remember because I remember him telling me he liked her very much. I remember going to her Birthday party. She was definitely the most popular girl in our form others must remember her. She went to the Bahamas over the Christmas Holidays I think. I remember her telling us all about it. I remember Georgina Pert quite well now and her surname because there was an anagram type game we played sometimes involving our surnames and I remember Terp coming up. Anyway her name is unforgettable to me for this reason. She was very nice and quiet and well behaved. I remember sitting next her on one or two outings on the bus. I am very certain about her and hopefully someone else will remember her.

I might vaguely remember Miss Bennett who taught English ? Miss Bennett was not in the video ? Was Mr Gayton a retired Army Officer ? He taugh History ? I certainly remember that shed and of course all the times sitting on the floor in the Ballroom. The picture of Mr Neville in Gallery 17 is just exactly as I remember him and will never forget. Mr Tolstoy was a very talented and dedicated young man I do remember. Melanie, Cathy and Claire look very alike in the pictures and I remember them being together a lot. The last part of the film was very beautiful I remember we sometimes did short plays. I remember writing a story as part of my entrance exam.

Anyway thank you very much immensely for everything you have done and for your friendship. I hope very much someone will remember my friend Georgina

Your old alumni and friend

Mark

27th May 2022

9th November 2021

iHi there I see my old friend Alistair Burns listed here, but not our comrade Tim Grimes, or myself, then known as Peter Sen-Gupta.

I was there from the end of 1959 to some time early in 1961, as far as I can remember. Alistair and I got caught shoplifting at John Barnes in Finchley Road on my 12th birthday.
[Norman's note: So did I, a Ski yogurt and a Mint Club!]
My form teacher was Mr Myerscough, who I believe later called himself Neville. I have also changed my identity. Congratulations on the website, a real labour of love.

Best wishes Peter McVeighs

Hi … great site I just came across . I was there the later years 1977-1980 .

I remember Elisabeth and Nicola Appleby, a girl called Emily, Lewis Daly, Steve Isherwood, Hiro, trips to Kenwood, and a small chemical explosion outside the science place I might have been involved with .

Tennis at Belsize Park … and cracking my head on history o level day that landed me in the Royal Free. By this time there was no country and no real sport , and Mrs Paul would serve lunch herself- odd .
Mrs Paul would splatter runny mashed potatoe on your plate and call it potatoe pureeeeee …outrageous hehe After a levels I moved to south Africa ---but am normally back in UK 2 to 3 times a year at least

Many Thanks,
Matthew Kretzmer mpk<at>worldonline.co.za

Hello - I came across this website on a search and can't believe I saw many familiar faces and names!

I attended in the 1970's as Marlo Gripp - now Marlo Rosenthal. I had a great experience at the school - did not know it had a Montessori-based curriculum back then.
I recall Monsieur Neville, Mrs. Blythe, Mrs. Bennett and a severe Maths teacher who had a last name that sounded like Mr. McMinimum.
Considering that they taught a most difficult age - intermediate and middle schoolers - I have to give them credit and courage.
I owe the teachers a lifelong love of languages, literature and creative writing.
I recall the excitement of sitting on the floor of the "assembly" and listening to the reading of written works by classmates, read aloud by Mrs. Bennett.
It was a fascinating and exciting time to live and learn in London; I now appreciate my parents for sending me there before we moved back to the United States.
When I get time, I'll have to see if I have any photos deep in the boxes that I can share. Well wishes to all,

Marlo Rosenthal

I’ve only just thought of googling this, and was amazed and delighted to find an active website. I’m 78, think I was at St M’s from 1947 to 1952 when I went to South Hampstead High School.

I remember Mrs Paul, French and German lessons; arithmetic with Mr Gubbins; rest times and being read ‘The Secret Garden’; Greek mythology.

Fellow pupils??? Aylsa Payne, Keith Vaughan-Williams, Peter ?Franklin, Caroline Mortimer, Rachel
Would love to be in touch with anyone else of my cohort.

Caroline

Dr Caroline Cooper 68 Regent’s Park Road Primrose Hill London NW1 7SX + 44 (0)7931 856 905

I was a boarder at St Mary's in1957 and came from Bulawayo in Southern Rhodesia.

I do remember fellow pupils names such as Peter Lessing who was Doris Lessings son.Wendy Adler daughter of Larry Adler
Paula Weinstein was in my class, Wendy Kravitz, Sumen Kosler.
I remember we had an English teacher Mr.Wood He put on Misummer Nights dream.I was the Wall

Brian Kingsley

CLICK HERE FOR Lulu's Photos full size -->>

There may be some more somewhere, if so will send them. Kind regards, Louise Glaser.

Lulu Hamilton (Louise Glaser) lleahsefad36<at>gmail.com

14th August 2020

I keep meaning to write to you as a former pupil ca 1952-1955.

I was amazed a couple of years ago to find my own essay on your web-site in Town and Country School Anthology 1956 - as I had left by then I was completely unaware it was published.

It's now on my website http://www.viviancook.uk/Writings/Shorts/DidUSayStop.htm as juvenilia.

Thank you for putting your site together! Your list of pupils does not have some of those I remember, nor do most of the accounts by ex-pupils fit my memory of that time - for instance Mrs Paul was very remote and descended from her first floor lair in regal fashion occasionally while Mr Paul was just the driver in the beret of the estate car that drove from Hampstead Garden Suburb down to Park Lane picking up pupils each morning: Miss Gardner was the dynamo that drove the school, Mrs Noyes the inspirational left-wing teacher who undoubtedly set me on a course that led to reading English at Oxford in 1960.

Pupils ca 1952-1955 Vivian Cook (academic), Linda Grade (sister of Michael), David Hyams, Guy Studholme, Carole Shelley (actress and Hollywood voice-over)

Teachers Mr Gubbins (Science), Miss Gardner (?acting? head teacher), Mrs Noyes (English), Caroline Nicholson (History, 50's TV celebrity)

Vivian Cook

vivian.cook<at>newcastle.ac.uk

20th February 2020

I was at St Mary’s T&C from about 1953 to 1958. My name is Janis Lesser - now Jan.

I remember the AKITA family: Kikuko elder girl; Kiwako younger girl and my special friend and Kimio their younger brother. They lived in Maresfield Gardens Swiss Cottage, number 1 I recall.

I remember that Jamie Acton -Bond and Michael Barnes were in my class , together with an American boy called Seth Mydans; a Colombian girl called Juanita ( can’t remember her surname) who lived on Hamilton Terrace, St John’s Wood.

Mrs Bevan taught me geography I think. I also remember Juliet Glaister, and Gita Gopal. I went to Hedgerley Wood with my class. These are the names that stand out in my memory. Many years later Miles Richardson was a neighbour and we reminisced about the school - although he is much younger than I am!! Of all the schools my parents shunted me around, my happiest times were at St Mary’s.

Despite my parents’ best efforts I finally managed to become a barrister and latterly a Tribunal Appeal Judge. I used to live in St John’s Wood very close to Lords and now live in a small village in north Gloucestershire. All the best Jan Lesser

Jan Lesser janlesser17<at>gmail.com

28th January 2020

Please add me to the alumni list. I see that my older brother is on the list already.
Even though I was very young attending St. Mary’s I have very vivid and good memories of the time I was there.
I still have my school uniform in a box in the attic!

Mvh Anne Gram Swensson Oslo Norway gswensso<at>online.no

22nd June 2019

On 9th May 2019, at 18:28,

James Frowe wrote:

Dear Norman, was just looking at the newest edition of the Alumni and noticed that The Whalen Twins have migrated to the Girls column. I knew them, but cannot remember their first names. Definitely not girls. Best Wishes and keep up the good work!

George Haller juhaller<at>bluewin.ch;

Therwil, Switzerland
14th March 2019

Hi Norman, I was at St Mary’s in the last term at Stanford Hall, before they left for St John’s Wood. I was the youngest child there aged 61/2. I don’t remember ever being taught anything, but was very happy..
Particularly being told stories about the Romans by Mr Paul. I was there with my brother Desmond. We had 4 meals per day, breakfast , lunch , tea and supper. .
We sat at a small table , with three other boys, looked after by an older girl. .
.
Every morning we gathered outside the school and we either walked or ran for ten minutes before breakfast. .
.
One of the other boys on our table was Mike Chassay a London architect, and my brother Desmond who is a Psychoanalyst, and now C.B.E...
Also a girl called Deborah Lyle, who said that her father made Syrup..
We lasted only another term at St John’s Wood, before we went to a different school..
All the best.
Sean Biddulph( ex GP).
Ps I am sure that the school left Stanford Hall in 1950, not 49 as in Wiki.
13th March 2019

A very popular and much loved pupil at Town and Country from the late 60s to the early 70s has died.

Shafique Omar, who was known as Shaf, came to the school in 1968 and quickly established himself as one of the most popular pupils, not only in his own class but in the entire senior school.

He was worldly wise beyond his years but also very kind, with a wicked sense of humour that endeared him to many people. Despite being a year younger than me I looked up to Shaf like a brother - he had all the required attributes - being a skillful footballer and cricketer who helped introduce many of us pop music fans to the then trendy underground sounds of psychedelic soul like The Temptations, Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield which made him stand out at parties.

After meeting up briefly in the early 80s we lost contact until 10 years ago when Shafi's friends turned up the biggest T&C reunion to date which had about 80 former pupils going back to the 40s, turn up at the Sir Richard Steele pub in Belsize Park.

It was a great occasion and many of Shafi got to meet up again with many of his other close former school friends such as Duk Krajkeman, Sharon Pinsker, Caroline Willing and Alfie Nathan.

Shafi's funeral took place in Barcelona on Sunday March 3.

This is a photo from the last reunion at the Richard Steeles with some of the class of 72
left to right: Shafi, Uday Gadre, Jim McGuire, Ann Whiteman and Mike Baess.

Yours

Mike

Stanford Hall after the war - Courtesy Viviane Neri (Küng)

Dear Norman,

From the attached brochure (Click to download as pdf) of St.Mary’s Town and Country school you can see that they settled at Stanford Hall after the war (but no date given, so it might be 1946 or 47 as the school was already there when Michael Kay Hall went there in 1948) and were definitely still there in June 1951 when I was there.

(I Was therefore there in M.K.Hall's last year but frankly cannot remember him) I attach a copy of the birthday telegramme I received there, clearly stamped by the Post office and addressed to me at "Stanford Park School Rugby."

Whether St.Mary’s was there another year until 1952 (when the owner came back and started renovating) , no one seems to know. I visited Stanford Hall on August 30th, a beautiful sunny day, and met Nicholas Fothergill, the nephew of the present owner, who runs the place. Had a tour with their usual guide and happened to meet the gentleman who is the curator or art restorer. He said that they had difficulty reconstituting the history of the house during and after the war. Apparently a military battalion was there at the beginning of the war (some men carved their names into the beams) but they don’t know which one.

Then the Nun’s school (Sacred Heart) until 1945, then, as they recently learnt, St. Mary’s. Apparently they thought St.Mary’s was the nun’s school because of the name. Another point was that there are 2 Stanford Halls, one in Leicestershire and one in Northhamptonshire, not too far from each other. So the I wrote they were sure I was mistaking theirs for the other one. If you Google the other you will see it does not look the same at all, so there is no mistaking it. Finding the brochure in my archives really helped and I am sending them a scan of it for their archives, along with a copy of my telegramme. I was also very happy to recognise my room, though today it of course has much nicer furniture in it, not those awful white metal hospital type beds.

I did remember that we had been told that there was a Hogarth painting in our room and we should be most careful not to touch or damage it. It was over the fireplace and as it was very big which is probably why they left it during the stay of the school. It is the portrait of the owner of Stanford Hall in the 1730’s with his wife. The place is really lovely and now can be used as a venue for closed groups (family or corporate) who want to celebrate or meet. What Michael Kay Hall says about St.Mary’s school, staff and students, corresponds completely to my memories of it (except that the building is not medieval but William and Mary). It also gave me an enduring love of the English language, England and its countryside, good self-discipline and values such as sticking up for one’s beliefs and being able to disagree politely with one’s teachers. (Quite shocking to my Swiss teachers when I returned as there the teacher was always right…) And there was a most creative, interesting group of students there.

The only foreigners in 1950-51 seem to have been a Pakistani teenage boy and myself. The first night at the school, every girl came past me and slapped me calling me a “Swiss cow in a pot”. What that was supposed to mean I am still wondering. Jean Bennett was a unique and inspiring teacher and several years later I spent one or two summers in her cottage in Rye, brushing up my English and increasing my knowledge of history and literature. I am sure this will add to the “history” of a very much loved school.

Best regards, Viviane Neri (Küng before marriage)

A Voice from your Past

Hello Norman,
Surprise, surprise -- another voice from the past -- but from a staff vantage point this time.

I was led to your site through one of our recent Docent Education Sessions on art heists, fakes etc. that included a reference to a bizarre art forgery perpetrated in North America by an eccentric, but talented, art donor who had been a pupil at "Town & Country School, a Swiss Cottage, London, progressive school." I recognized the name* but I won't get into that, only to say that I had taught at Town & Country when he attended.

I arrived in London in 1965 after 2 years as Assistante de Langue Anglaise in a Paris Lycée and as a student in a Sorbonne French degree program and applied for a T&C post teaching French. But when Mrs. Paul addressed me in German (my resume also referred to my 2 years as teacher and student in Kiel, Germany ) I responded in my best Deutsch (complete with Scottish accent, as has been pointed out by one of your correspondents) and was hired on the spot -- to teach German! I was informed that I would be enrolled at Saturday morning classes at adjacent Central School of Speech and Drama, courtesy of T & C, and would be introduced to the preferred mode of instruction, loosely related to The Alexander Technique. More importantly, I would be paid above The London Burnham Scale, so I was quite delighted. Since I was 'young', I would assist with tennis coaching and unspecified sports.

I never did figure out how the Alexander Technique fitted in to preparation for O-level German, but I was at least able to work on my lisp at Central.

I,too, vividly and warmly recall Mr. Neville as well as the tidbits he would let slip when it was our turn to escort a class to what were the then newly completed, considered ultra-modern Swiss Cottage Swimming Baths. Ignoring the noisy splashing around below the spectators' gallery, he coyly mentioned how he was carpeting his stairway in tartan (!) to the taste of his new young 'friend'. I was suitably surprised, not to mention taken-aback, when it was hinted that this friend was a rising star in the world of dance... Sadly, 'Rudy' (Could there be two such?) soon moved on, and to this day I feel Mr. Neville's pain. I also heard much Vatican gossip -- a strange contrast -- and occasionally my conversational Latin was put to the test! We never ever talked shop -- and I looked forward to swimming days immensely, unlike tennis, where my noted 'short stature' often led me to lob my demonstration serves into the net. But you kids never complained, being already, thankfully, more proficient than I and seemingly quite happy more or less doing your own thing.

I likewise recall the joys of the Regent's Park Extension. On more than one occasion, if the assigned male staffer was absent again, Mrs. Paul, an early feminist, deemed I should take up the whistle and referee the junior boys' football practice. I took care not to venture onto the muddy field but stuck to the sidelines, calling the occasional foul.

But I thought I had met my nemesis on yet another wet sports day when the bus duly dropped us off at the British Museum and my flock dispersed with the speed of light. Upon their return more or less dutifully an hour or so later, the head count revealed one missing! After scouring the premises, and having had the escapee hailed on the Museum loudspeaker etc., there was nothing for it but to leave. I trembled at the thought of confessing to Mrs. Paul but our well-experienced leader took it in her stride, assuring me that he had likely had an errand to do so I should give him another half-hour before calling his home. (Apparently, it didn't occur to her that possibly SHE should make that call!). But, sure enough, his parents reassured me that there he was and they seemed just as cheerfully unconcerned as our revered Headmistress. These days that would certainly cost me my head, at least in Canada to which I emigrated after my stint at Town and Country and where I remain to this day.

Nowadays I am a so-called 'retired' Public Relations Executive and occasional Consultant. But mostly I am a passionate volunteer (English/French) Docent and Public Tour Guide at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (i.e. busier than ever). My daughter is a Hematology Oncologist in Toronto, while my son-in-law runs a small suite of restaurants there (be sure to let me know if you plan to be in Toronto, or in Nova Scotia for that matter) and I have a 4-year old granddaughter and 2-year old grandson. Talk about 'Time's winged chariot'...

Unlike you students, I was considerably in awe of Count (was he really?) Tolstoy and couldn't pluck up the courage to ask him to sign my copy of War and Peace. (How was he related to Leo Tolstoy?) He too has made news from time to time. And I remember you as a cheerful, ostensibly co-operative pupil, Norman, when I agreed to record something ("anything" was what you said) on the tape you were preparing to send to a former colleague, another Scot, then in Singapore. Yet had I known I was to go down to online posterity with a recording of an obscure poem in the Scots tongue, I might have thought better of it. But at least it's proof positive, right there on Google, of my otherwise unremarkable time at that memorably unique institution -- Town and Country School.

I never taught German again (no doubt just as well...) but moved into the PR field and after early retirement taught ESL at an independent school in Halifax, Nova Scotia, followed by an eventful six years in Kingston, Jamaica, helping to develop and teach an ESL program for MBA students, on behalf of the University of the West Indies Latin American Caribbean Centre and I am still in touch with several of my wonderfully vivacious Haitian, Columbian and even Surinamese students. (UWI interprets Latin America somewhat widely...) One is a noted Haitian author, in the local patois as well as French and most have made good, as, apparently, have so many T&C former pupils. I note from your website that an above-average number of T&C 'graduates' also have or have had careers in the arts and have attained success and even fame (not to mention notoriety in the case that I noted...). Could this be the lingering influence of our dear Mrs. Paul and of these earlier schooldays intended, however erratic at times, to help develop the creative spirit (as in your own case, Norman)?

You were ahead of your time as regards media applications, and I am delighted that I was serendipitously guided to your site. And I am really not surprised to find that Town and Country School left a lasting impression on so many alumni/ae as it did on me. I come to the UK now and then to visit my brother and nieces and nephews in Camberley, Worthing and London so please let me know if you plan a future reunion within reach of those locations.

With warm recollections of an unforgettable school and its extraordinary staff and pupils,

Fay (McGonigal) Lee Teacher of German (although Scottish) 1965-67

PS. Although I recall the quiet, intelligent pupil*, a bit of a 'loner', who was later to dupe several distinguished art museums, I had no idea of his true talents. I believe Mrs. Paul might have approved.

PPS. Please feel free to share my email with former T&C adherents, with thanks. Norman, for the fascinating glimpses into the past that you have inspired.

23rd March 2017 - I am happy for you to post my email along with my email address. I'd love to hear from former pupils and staff:- fayplee@yahoo.co.uk

[Norman's Note: How delightful to hear from our Scottish-German teacher - 'Miss McGonigal' The passage of 50 years has eroded the teacher-pupil relationship somewhat, and so I am not guilty of subordination by calling you Fay! I have written to you, to ask if you have a photograph of yourself taken from around the period that we knew you. I have realised that amongst all the staff for which we have photographs, we are missing one of yourself, an ommision that I should like to put right!

Regarding the pupil* who duped hundreds of art experts in the United States, here is an external link to the story. It is well worth a read, being a remarkable story in itself.
THE FORGER'S STORY - Published in the Financial Times January 21st 2011 I do vaguely remember him, but he was in Upper Fourth, when I was in Sixth.

Further at the risk of embarassing Fay even more, here is a link to the 50 year old recording of her reciting "The Twa Corbies"]

Dear Norman, Thanks again for your excellent work on the T&C site! It's great to see that the pupils list was updated as recently as a few weeks ago.

Taking advantage of an invitation to give a couple of talks in London last month, I crossed the pond from the USA. On Saturday March 18, 2017, a sizeable fraction of the the n'er-do-well contingent from the 3rd and 4th forms at T&C in 1970-71 (that would be 46-47 years ago, but who's counting) had a mini-reunion at the Sir Richard Steele on Haverstock Hill.

T&C Gang of Five L to R we are Shafique Omar, Uday Gadre, Jim McGuire, Ann Connock (née Whiteman), and Mike Baess

Assembled at the pub, if I remember correctly...we stayed there for quite a while, and it would be impolite to monopolize a table without drinking beer...were Shafique Omar, Uday Gadre, Jim McGuire, Ann Connock (née Whiteman), and Mike Baess. Sheff, generous as always, treated me to dinner! Thanks Sheff. Joining us in spirit (by email) were Alex Alba (we knew her as Sandra Casimir) and Sharon Pinsker, as well as my sister Anne McGuire and brother Steve McGuire.

We talked over old times, asked about families, remembered old friends who are no longer with us including Leon Sweeden (we knew him as Pete Nissen) and Matthew Rees, marveled that we (and our chaperones) had survived the expedition to the Lake District, and shared memories of teachers like Mr. Neville, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Gayton, Mrs. Kennelly, Mr. McMennamin, and Mrs. Blythe.

We would love to expand the crew next time around! Do let us know via the website if a larger reunion is planned.

Thanks!! Cheers,
Jim McGuire T&C, 4th form 1970-71

Hello, I have beeen fascinated by all the memories of St Mary’s T&C you have managed to collect.
Thanks so much for them. It was an amazing school. I was at the school from 1953-6, a period from which you don’t seem to have many records.
I’m still in touch with two girls from those times - Rachel Ibbetson (now Paul) in California and Kip Hampton (now Birkinshaw) in York.

Without more ado, here are all the photos of T&CS I have. They would have been taken sometime between Summer 1954 and Summer 1956
[Norman's note: PLEASE CLICK HERE to view all the photos that Sara's sent, displayed with captions on a separate page}

All the very best and again, thank you for collecting together so much T&C memorabilia! ,

Sara Sharpe (now Pienaar), Cape Town .

28th November 2016

Hi Norman

I have just remembered another pupil from my fairly brief time (1958-59) at St Mary’s.

You already have Peter White, who was a weekly boarder, listed. He had a younger sister (about my age – 12 at the time -
I guess) who was Anne White. She was of course also a weekly boarder. I think they came from Hanwell but that is a totally unreliable memory!

Also a little anecdote about Laure Huntziger, a French girl aged around 15 or 16 (they seemed so big at the time!) from Alsace-Lorraine who boarded for the year 1958-59. She shared a room on the middle floor of the boarding house at Glenloch Road with Susan Hitches and Beattie Evans, and had had a somewhat conservative Catholic upbringing. Beattie, who was I think just 13 at the time, did not in general accept that boys under 16 or 17 existed.

She made a minor exception for me, however, because I could do her homework – particularly maths – for her. So from time to time I was summonsed to the big girls’ room to help Beattie with her homework. On one – and as it proved the last – occasion Beattie was un peu deshabillee when I arrived at their door. To be more specific she was in her bra and pants. When I hesitated at the door she said “What’s the matter, haven’t you seen a girl in her underwear before?”.

The honest answer would have been “No, except for my sisters” but that seemed a bit lame so I replied “Yes, of course” and went into the room. We then did Beattie’s maths homework under circumstances that would haunt me for many a day. They also seemed to haunt Laure Huntziger because she went straight downstairs to Matron – Mrs Weston at the time, as I recall – and complained about the obscenity and immorality that was taking place in her room. Mrs Weston, who was a very sensible lady for whom I had the greatest respect, then called me down to her sitting room and told me that while it was all very silly I should not go into the big girls’ room again – at least till Laure Huntziger had returned to France.

Alas I moved on from St Mary’s at the same time that Laure went home so I never did see the delectable Beattie au (semi) naturel again. And in any case the love of my life at age 12 was Susan Hitches, not Beattie (nor even Angela Pleasence, whom I regarded even then as a demi-godess).

Robert Venning

18th November 2016

Hi Norman... great job on putting together a website of a very special school. My name is Eyal Gutman and I attended the school for a short period in 1976/7. Forth form I believe. unique experiences... Back in Israel now... would be great if you could add my details to the list. Will check the Attic for some school memorabilia and send over if found.

Regards Eyal egutman<at>brack-capital.com

16th November 2016

Hi Norman - I'm an FP from T&C too. Please ad me to the list too. It was 1969 to 1971. Thanks Callum Moy

Callum Moy 07825 918723

15h November 2016

Dear Norman,

I write to you from a little village in Catalonia, where I retired 15
years ago.

Having nothing better to do this afternoon, it suddenly struck me that I
might conceivably find T&G on the web. I've been very interested in what
I've found, not least your labour of love putting the record together.

I was at the school before you were born. We had been living in
Buckingham during the war, as my father was working at Bletchley Park.
Then, I guess in 1946, we moved to London and went to live with my
grandmother at 29 Downside Crescent, just on the other side of
Haverstock Hill.

I think I must have been at the school, in Eton Avenue, for the year
1945/6, i.e. when I was 5/6. But my recollections are extremely hazy.
All I know is that I persuaded my parents to take me away because I
thought I wasn't being tauight enough - I take it that the school didn't
believe in pushing pupils. Anyhow, I then went on to a tiny school in
Lyndhurst Road, run by an old lady who had taught an aunt of mine many
years before, and I ended up at New End School, where I took the 11+ and
got into the City of London School. From there I went to Oxford and did
French and Spanish.

Anyhow, although my memories of T&G are extremely misty, you now at
least have another name to add to your list.

With all good wishes,

Henry Ettinghausen. ettinghausen<at>telefonica.net

15th November 2016

Norman's Note: Thanks for writing Henry. There are some others from your era who have been in contact too
At the age of 6 you persuaded your parents to take you away because you thought you were not being tauight enough? Wow you must have been a very discerning six year old!!

Subject: Letter Found - House in East Sussex

Dear Norman

We recently found this letter when we had some work done to our bathroom ceiling, unfortunately I am unable to provide you any names but thought that you might be interested in reading it.

If you find out any information on it we would be very interested in hearing from you.

Regards
Rachel Cook.

2nd September 2016

Norman's Note: What a curious puzzle! Does any ex-T&Cer have any clues as to who sent this and to whom? There are very few clues, and no date. The Heading "From the Headmaster" suggests pre 1960????
Does the name read 'Karin' perhaps this jogs your memory?

Malcolm Kirkland here.
I attended SMTCS in 61/62, I think.

I was the kid from Bermuda. Memorable days in Swiss Cottage.
Remember Kathy Evans (father worked at CAN embassy), Morrow, Ridgeway and Graves.
Many memories for this island boy including different school shoes for inside and out.

Best,
Malcolm Kirkland malcolmkirkland<at>gmail.com

21st April 2016

Hello Norman,
Are you OK?
The school Website seems to have gone very quiet for quite some time,

Here are my recently discovered (abysmal!) T & C school term reports which you may find amusing.....
I went to T&C after being expelled from Sussex House Prep School in Chelsea,was then expelled from T&C,
then went to Millfield boarding school in Somerset where I was also expelled....
an eventful school career you could say!! I remember reading something on the website about how Mr.Neville (who I always thought a creep)
changed his name from Myerscough because of some newspaper headline sex scandal......
I wasn`t able to find on the website any precise details,
but would be fascinated to know what happened (!!?)
Regards,
Michael Hollamby
T&C 1976-1978

30th March 2016

Norman's Note: My knowledge of the Myerscogh scandal is very limited, being an innocent 12 year old at the time, though I recall him visibly squirming when I directly asked him why on earth he had changed his name - The reason he gave me was "Children didn't know how to spell my old name" his nose turning a shade of purple as it always did when stressed or angry. From that time onwards, he would always wear sunglasses when out and about, such as attending swimming or football on Regents Park, making him look somewhat like a spy.
I have given an exclusive page for your T&C reports, Michael, thanks for being so cool about publishing this blemish on your otherwise perfect childhood.

4th February 1916

Norman's note: I went to put your name in, and voila! You were in there all along Undine, under Bowmaker.

Hi Norman

I was at St Marys Town and Country between 1959 and 1963 and my older sister, Susan Palmer, and my two younger siblings Alexandra (Nan) Palmer and Christopher Palmer were also there. I love your website which I just discovered, and it brought floods of memories, those assemblies, choir with Mr Myerscough and Hedgerley Wood. I went to Camden School for A levels but did my Os there.

Please add me to your mailing list if you organise any reunions. I live in Australia but would definitely come back for one.

I was friends with Sabina Grimes. Also Pam Davies, Jamie Boyd, son or Arthur Boyd, was there with me, and also a descendant of Augustus Johns, I think her name was Fenella Johns - she was extremely gorgeous.

My little sister was friends with Madeline Tringham and my propther was friends with a Piper kid, can't remember the name.

Also my best friend was Judy Johnson who was a ballet student and I believe she went on to do ballet. She took me on a ban the baomb march - we all used to wear the logo on a badge on our blazer lapels.

I have written a memoir of St Mary's, attached as a word doco, and I would love you to put it on the blog.
Reina and I both played guitar and sang - in harmony. It was fun.
I have enjoyed looking at the photos and reading about the school. It's a great website.

Regards

Patsy (Patty Palmer)

Patricia Short - patsyshort@ozemail.com.au
Australia - September 23rd 2014

Note from Norman: Thanks for your email Patti. I took the liberty of adding in the last part of the prayer which Mr Myerscough/Neville may have included later.
Regarding Myerscough's change of name, which suprised us all (as did the sudden appearance of his toupé!). To his apparent discomfort, I asked him the question "why?" directly, his explanation was an unconvincing "Because the children do not know how to spell it". The real reason being an exposé in a tabloid newspaper, explained in more detail elsewhere in these pages.

Hi there Norman

Your email below was forwarded to me by a close neighbour, Peter Fraenkel, who wondered if I might be interested in attending the reunion. Believe it or not, we discovered some time ago at a neighbourhood party that we had both been at St Mary’s T&C, although his stay had been brief and he had left before I had joined. One of life’s coincidences – we now live across the road from each other!

It has finally galvanised me into action! I discovered your marvellous site some time ago when my daughter told me to look myself up on google – and there I was gazing back at myself through the years. Very odd feeling!

I was at T&C from around 1953 until scraping through ‘O’ levels at the age of 15 and going on to A Level college with Reina James. I knew it as a boarder, then a weekly boarder and finally a ‘day girl’. A time full of memories, stories and friends. Much rummaging may yet produce a couple of photos for your albums – I think I might even have one of 6 year olds in a ‘music and movement’ class!

What an extraordinary place it was, sometimes quite wonderful. It certainly had its ups and downs – like any schooling experience surely. Looking back I believe we were very privileged to have been there when we were. Not because it was necessarily the best place for high academic achievement and I’m sure it may not have suited everyone, although I don’t think many people suffered too much in the long term. But because of the rich tapestry it introduced us to - people, places, beliefs, cultures, the arts ( a little limited on the sciences!), the tactile and the intangible, dreams and possibilities. It may not always have taught me what to learn, but it did teach me to want to learn and for that I’ve always been grateful.

Anyway, enough waffle! Do please put me down as an interested possibility for the reunion. Re availability - Sunday is probably the best day for me as we often work on Saturdays (family business now!). August is pretty clear at the moment but I’m guessing that, with summer holidays still in the equation, October will be an easier month for meeting. So 5th, 19th or 26th October would be great for me.

Fingers crossed, I hope to see some old friends and share some new stories!

All the best and I look forward to meeting you.

Juliet (Glaister) Ealing, West London

Julier Glaister - julietglaister@dsl.pipex.com
UK - February 25th 2014

Note from Norman: Thanks for your email Juliet. As you have probably seen, although there was interest in a reunion at Hedgerley, it was not of enough size to go ahead this year. I will see if more interest is shown in the coming years, as long as the offer is still open from Anuradha and Peter

Hello Norman, I am Lillian, Harry Trigg is my brother. He was just telling me about the possibility of a reunion this year. Definitely count me in. It does not matter when as I am retired. I have attached a picture of me, but I look very much different from 50 years (yikes 50???) ago. Please let me know if you need any money for a deposit and also I would be interested in places to stay over the weekend as I think Harry and I will look into Hellfire Caves again. Funny, I remember picking gooseberries in the woods. Good memories. Did you know that I jumped from the roof into the pool. Got confined to quarters for that one ;) Looking forward to hearing from you and also I will contact Martin Bridger, George Haller, and Richard Weiner and let them know. Toodles for now Lillian in Victoria BC Canada

Dear Norman,

I might be able to make it, although the chances are less than 50%. The problem is that I'm in the USA and have some travel scheduled round about then. I am definitely unavailable August 30/31. For what it's worth, September might be a bit less touristy and cheaper than August for those of us flying across the pond. However, please don't take this much into account because the chances I will make it are somewhat slim.

I was just in the UK giving some talks Nov 1-11, 2013, and while in London I met up with two of my T&C classmates, Mike Baess and Shafique Omar, at The Stag in Hampstead . Mike and I were in 4th form in 1970-71; Sheff was in 3rd form. We were good buddies that year and it felt so easy and natural hanging out with them that it felt like 40 days rather than 40 years had passed.

I had walked past the old school a few days before meeting up with Mike and Sheff



and discovered that it's been converted into condos (if I indeed have the right building.....).
Photos attached! Is the new glassy area where the old catwalk was between buildings?



I remember the catwalk being to the right of the main building when you faced it, whereas the new glassy area appears to be to the left of the main building.
Best wishes, Jim

James McGuire - jmcguire@wesleyan.edu
USA - January 30th 2014

[Norman's Note: Yes there was an open catwalk between no 38 and 40 where we would sometimes loiter, which is now a grand glass entrance. Perhaps your confusion stems from your thinking of it, from the perspective of the junior school (40) rather than from the senior (38)?]

Hola Norman,

Very warm greetings to you from here on the Spanish Costa Blanca where I have recently discovered your website all about the Town and Country School. I am friends on Facebook with another former pupil called Gregory Matoorah and he mentioned the school there, where I then found a link to your excellent website.

I was a pupil at the school from 1977 until 1980 and I then left to attend two local tutorial colleges until I reached 16, followed by a college in Shoreditch and later a university degree at the old City of London Polytechnic. In 1980 the school was heading downhill and that is why I was moved away. I lived with my parents from late 1976 until 1996 in Belsize Park so I used to walk to school. The science lab mentioned in Glenloch Road was very close to my former home. As I lived in the area I saw the school close and then the conversion into apartments that are mentioned on the website. These days apartments like that can go for around one million pounds - madness!

The old school magazine posted on the website was fun to see as I contributed to it - the article about actor Richard Wilson was my work. I interviewed him as he then lived in Tudor Close which was my home road. At that time he starred in Only When I Laugh and his later fame as Victor Meldew was still years in the future. I have his book on my bookshelves here in Spain which I read a few years ago, and only last month I watched some of his old performances in Only When I Laugh. I also recall interviewing the actor Richard Barkworth for the school magazine. He lived in Hampstead. My Mother contributed the advert for her old employer (an optician in Belsize Park) mentioned in the magazine.

[Norman's Note: This neighbourhood is very familiar to me and my contemporaries too, because 36 Glenloch Road was the boarding house during my time, (I recall the elegant entrance to Tudor Close). Every day, regardless of weather and including the London smogs which still occured in the early sixties, we walked to and from the school via Glenilla Road, Belsize Park Gardens, Lambolle Place to Eton Avenue, so the location is etched on my mind.]

I do not really remember many old pupils although seeing the old magazine reminded me about boys called Ian, Hiro from Japan, Chris and Jonathan. I remember that Chris lived in Kentish Town and I once worked with Ian doing gardening a few years after leaving the school! I seem to remember having a fight in Eton Avenue with Jonathan which I won - my only other fight was then against a mugger in the mid 1980"s in a dark side street in Peckham! As to teachers I also recall Mr. Neville and the German teacher Mr. Griffiths who was an ex Army man - a bit like the officers you see in comedies like It Ain't Half Hot Mum! I also recall a French teacher who was forced to leave the school when some pupils apparently found a gay porn magazine in his briefcase! Mrs. Paul was certainly very eccentric by that stage and there were stories told that young children were told by her to be good or they would be kidnapped by aliens!

Please do feel free to include my contact details in your database and you can certainly post this message on the school guestbook if you like. I would also be interested in any old school reunions held next Summer although if I am back in England it may be during next Autumn and Winter, and I might well be back here amongst the orange trees by the sea in the Summer months.

Many thanks for putting together this very enjoyable and interesting website which I will read with interest as it expands in the future. Hope to meet you and some other ex pupils in the future face to face, and in the meantime do feel free to join my network of friends and contacts on Facebook and Linked In if you are registered there.

All the very best from Spain.

Marc Leggett

Marc Leggett -marcleggett@compuserve.com
Spain. - July 7th 2013

Jonathan Weiss - chintamani@mac.com
UK - July 1st 2013

Jim McGuire - jmcguire@wesleyan.edu
Wesleyan University Middletown, CT, USA - May 21st 2013

Norman's Note: Jim has sent several photos, but since there is not enough room within this guestbook for all the images he has provided, I have linked his comments to photo gallery 21

Dear Norman,

I hope you are well, and thank you for the marvellous website which I still look at from time to time.

Here are more photos of St Mary's pupils and staff from 1947-1948, at Stanford Hall, sent to me by Michael K. Hall, who does not have email.
Michael was a friend of mine at Stanford Hall, and contacted me earlier this year. He lives near Pembroke in Wales.
He sent me a long letter and said to put the photos up on the website. The people are named in the file names.
I remember them all except for Wendy Burk. I shall send you more, paintings by Michael. Mr (Leslie) Fairchild was an influential and popular member of staff at the time - I remember he introduced school sports and cricket.

You will see that Anthony Roland (Tony to me) from the same era is now on the Wikipedia web encyclopedia.

I remember everybody there except Wendy Burk, who was Michael's girlfriend. Twinkle the pony is there - my sister Val sent you some photos of her already. Sally Walker and Tony Roland were friends of mine. There is Zuleika Dobson (named after the character in Max Beerbohm's book, no doubt), and Henry Hartley, and John Cameron, and Mr Fairchild.

I am in contact with Tony (Anthony Roland) right now, building up a Wikipedia entry for him on the web (see). He lives in Battle, Sussex. He has done extraordinary and important work with his films on art. He sent me a pack of copies of newspaper cuttings.

All the best,
John Morrison

John Morrison - johngrmorrison@hotmail.com
UK - April 21st & May 5th 2013

Norman's Note: John has sent several letters, but since there is not enough room within this guestbook for all the images he has provided, I have linked his comments to a Picture Gallery 20 all photos are there

Dear Norman

I'm so delighted to find your website.
My name is Yumiko Ishida (Sasaki) and I was at school from 1969 to 1970.
So short time, but I still have a lots of wonderful memories.
Everybody was so nice to me while I just came from Japan and could hardly speak English.
I remember Pola, Amonda, Adriana, Gail (I read her mail on your website), and also,
I can remember unique science teacher(sorry, forgot the name)
Also, there are three Japanese girls,Yumiko, Makiko, Mari, are still my friends in Japan.

Best regards
Yumiko Sasaki

Yumiko Sasaki - claude0628@ever.ocn.ne.jp
Japan - March 17th 2013

Hi Norman,

Is there going to be another Town & Country School reunion, in the not too distant future?

Hope everything is going well for you.

All the Best,

Biba Ashmore.


Biba Ashmore - ashmorebiba@tiscali.co.uk
UK - February 20th 2013

Norman's Note: Hi Biba, I am looking at the possibility of special reunion in 2014 - watch out for more news on this idea and why I call it special!

Dear Norman
This is Demetri Belegris 1966 and again 1970-74, played goalkeeper against Harewood house when we won 2-0 with Mike Baes
Have been on the site and all I can say is Great Job !!.

I saw you had reunions - I missed them all sadly, as I now live in Athens, but would like to know if another is planned for 2013.
let me know if and when the next one is planned (hopefully July as August is difficult with work) as i will make every effort to attend.

keep up the good work

Demetris

Demetris Belegris - belegris@gmail.com
UK - November 17th, 2012

Hi,
I've just been through all the photo galleries and haven't found my year; we were Adrienne Ball, Sharon Fox, Peter Lucas, Stephanie Knapp and myself Ruth (then) Bradley - any ideas where to look for photos?

By the way, I think I was there from 1965 or 6 until 1967

Best

Ruth

Ruth Novaczek - nova15@btinternet.com
UK - October 25th, 2012

Dear Mr. Norman

Yesterday I send you 17 pictures from 1974 by e-mail, did it succeed ?

[Norman says: Yes! thanks Kumiko, they can be all found in Gallery 19]

I wrote my friends name too. I always thank you about what you did for us.

Thank you so much !

Have a nice day !


Kumiko Takahashi

Kumiko Takahashi - k.taka0317@nifty.com
Japan - August 31st, 2012

Acount of 11 year old Michael Kay Hall's attendence at
ST MARY'S SCHOOL, STANFORD PARK, NR RUGBY, LEICS. between 1948 & 1951.

In 1948 Dad took me in his old Morris 10 through the mediaeval village of Swinford and 2 miles further east along the edge of the vast Stanford Park abundent with oaks, elms, ash etc in completely unspoiled, beautiful countryside. Then left through the gigantic wrought iron gates, up the long south gravel drive directly towards the imposing, grand Stanford Hall, a C16 mediaeval mansion, previously home of Lord Bray and the Cave family, rich in pre-reformation history, priest escapes, tunnels etc. Then left through the gigantic wrought iron gateds, up one of many long south gravel drives directly toeards the imposing Hall. Four storeys high, tall windows, double external ballustraded stairways, gravel sweeps, avenues of elms in all directions, serpentine to one side, river, lake and islands to the other.

Then right, infront of the mansion towards the impressive stable and administrative block-quadrangle and beneath one of two impressive entrance archways into the cobbled courtyard. The sound of rooks cawing, and water birds, coots,duck etc. This was the classroom and boys' dormitory block. Also stables, workshops,gym etc.

Across the gravel sweep into the Hall, along long wooden passages,tall ceilings, grandeur, chandeliers, oak library, ballroom- the lot! The kitchens, laundry in basement, dining room and heads' accomodation, ballroom etc on first floor, girls' dormitories above.

The headmistress, Mrs Elizabeth Paul (EP) and headmaster Mr 'Higgy' Paul showed us into the principal east living rooms overlooking the serpentine and vast parkland/ estate, forests etc. grazed by sheep and their riding ponies.

Mum and Dad were obveously most impressed; Mum's family's progressive ideas obveously satisfied, co-ed,11-18year old's,languages, art, mucic, riding scouts, swimming, fishing, no corporal punishment (non-co-operatives just expelled.) Visiting music, art and therapy experts from London (where they ran another school).

EP showed us a gigantic stack of most impressive pupils' paintings in powder paints. (I managed to retrieve mine before I left in 1951).

My terror, sadness and wrench when Mum and Dad dropped off my wooden tuck box (containing whole cakes in tins and other goodies which my dozen dormitory mates shared on special occasions),my striped horse-blanket, a pile of Illustrated London News and my fawn cloth suitcase -was terrible.

I loved the sight of that old Morris 10 as it came and went along that long drive, most half terms, collections and deliveries during school holidays.

Then started very sincere friendships- we were all part of an enlarged family, together all the time. My stammer didn't last long under those circumstances. Too much going on. The staff, especially Jean Bennet, Len Fairchild and Higgy were firm kind, caring and to the best of their ability, gave us the broadest education possible. There were obveously many underlying problems with some of the children. A fairly large proportion were Jewish. (I was most interested to read the early history of St Mary's.)

EP appeared to be Middle-Eastern, probably Jewish, Black hair, vaselined face, capable of sternness but could smile attractively. Fairly well covered, tall and buxom. Apparently French accent, fluent therein and German. Was she a French Jew who had escaped ? Reportedly she ran a school in Berlin before the war..

Higgy was German, diminuitive, handsome, cultured, composed piano music, pronounced facial features, furrows, very sharp deep-set eyes. Lacked confidence. Kind and humourous. Loved telling us Greek mythology in German lessons. I wish I knew what happened to them.

Jean Bennett was Mother to us all, oversaw matron (who looked after the girls in the main Hall - a charming Lady, local with a broad accent) and dealt with domestic matters overall. She was tall, upright, smoked like a chimney, sharp as a razor, copiously capacious in her ability to listen, sort out childrens' problems, firm when green soaping our scalps to remove the nits, and concerned when we were in the sick bay. She had a modest room in the stable block where we boys were. It stank of her Cairn terrier which was usually beneath her left arm on 'patrol' telling us to turn off "Dick Barton, special agent !" when it finished after lights out at 8.30' ish.

My first girl friend, Sally Walker- then Wendy Burk (daughter of the American Ambassador) were my first intense romances; Evelyn Masson-Forrestier was a very special fried, she was a fantastic horse-rider and we climbed elm trees together.. On Sunday evenings Harry Walker from Swinford taught us old-time etc dancing in the lavish ballroom from gramaphone records, which was most romantic.

Len Fairchild took us for workshop, scouts, boxing, gym - I think Maths etc. Special friends were John Cameron, Robert Bacharach, Elon Salmon, Heinz Hertsberg (Henry Hartley) and many more (I have in an old address book, also photo's.)

Sad, it is to know that we are all old now. (most of this was written 20 years ago.) I attended one reunion at Ann Fry's in London; it disappointed me because we had all moved on..

We were privileged to have lived in such a beautiful and tranquil place under such circumstances; our experiences were endless and provided us with an enviable broad, if not academic 'education' in a family atmosphere of about 65 pupils plus staff.

I have often concluded that deprived children particularly would greatly benefit from such Institutions.

I would love to hear from any old friends.

Michael Kay Hall

Michael Kay Hall - c/o:- christinehall18@mypostoffice.co.uk
UK - August 27th, 2012

[Norman's Note] Michael, thanks for taking the trouble to send us such a long interesting account of your experiences, I agree a lot of time has passed us by yet although I started at the school ten years later than you, I also remember the smell of Jean Bennet's little dog, Peter! If you search you will find a photo of him, yet I will not try to respond to your questions directly, but the answers, especially about Mrs Paul, and Higgy, can be found within these pages, if you are prepared to search, best starting point is HERE

Dear Norman

I was a pupil at Town & Country from 1966 -1973

My name was Gail Castle

I went down memory lane last night looking at all the old faces and names from my school days . I live in France thankfully I don't have French without reading I use to hate that class Mr Neville use to scare me half to death. Were you at school with Janet Goldsmith ? She is a cousin of mine I haven't seen her for years . Seeing the photos of all my old class mates is really very nostalgic .

Unfortunately I don't have any old photos but I do remember the teachers and all children in the photos Sharon Pinsker sent in ,she was my best friend at school. Are you in contact with anyone ?

I would love to get in contact with Jenny Williams, Anne Whiteman, Sabrina Crewe and Sharon Pinsker I now live in Paris and can be contacted on my gailraibin hotmail address. I hope to hear from you.

Kind regards

Gail
Sent from my iPad

Gail - gailraibin@hotmail.com
Paris - August 23rd, 2012

[Norman's Note] . I have responded to you directly, and this posting may also bring results

I am Gail's sister, and I have been trying to find away to find people Gail and I went to T & C School with for years .

Gail lives in Paris and I live in LA .

She emailed me before to tell me about this amazing website of memory lane. It was more a holiday camp than school. I would so love to get in touch with some people. I remember Mike Baess giving me the song Have you Seen Her when i said the relationship was over age 11.

It has been really great reading the various stories from those years . Years later i did the interiors for one of the apts there which was partly the assembly room . Please email me at the above if you get a spare minute

Kind regards

Dawn Castle

Dawn Castle - dawndeyong@aol.co.uk
LA USA- August 24th, 2012

[Norman's Note] Dawn I have replied to your questions directly, thanks for writing

Hello, we are now the very happy owners of Flat 8 - the apartment in 38-40 Eton Ave which includes the round porthole window.

At our recent building garden party someone spoke of the history of the school so I have been reading it with fascination.

I am so pleased that Paul Robison had children at this school - if indeed the Paul Robeson you write about is the same one - the American Opera Singer. He was an extraordinary man...and was the first person to sing at the Sydney Opera House - to the workers on the site as it was being built...I am from Sydney so there is a sort of symmetry about my living here.

It is a wonderful building with gorgeous gardens and a lovely group of residents. While the Pauls' may be sad that it is no longer a school, they would be like the current residents I think. Thank you so much for creating this website... the wonders of the internet!!

Can anyone tell me why there is a round window in our apartment? What was that area that it had this round window I often wonder?

Thank you,
Julie Taylor Mills

Julie Taylor Mills - j.taylormills@virginmedia.com
NW3 - May 29th, 2012

[Norman's Note] Julie, I can confirm that the Paul Robeson refered to in Priscilla Wilder's account is indeed the famous singer, one of so many famous people of every field of art, whose children went to that remarkable school. Now I wonder if there are any architechtural experts who can answer your question regarding the curious porthole windows that feature in number 38. Certainly the top floor would have housed the domestics in Victorian days. Perhaps the porthole was one of their windows? Actually aren't there two of differing sizes up there? During my time, the servant bells were still in place on each side on every fireplace, with the fully working wood and glass bell and indicator box in the basement kitchen.

Personally, I was always fascinated by the alcove at ground level in the room to the right of the main door of number 38 as you face it from the street, which in our day was the music/assembly room. It actually protrudes on the outside, and can be seen in the alley that is formed between No 38 and No 36. The Football team photograph is taken inside this alcove which can be seen if you wind down the guestbook to an email dated November 26, 2007 by clicking here

Thanks for taking the trouble to write in, please consider yourself an honorary member of the school!

Hi, I was fascinated to see your comprehensive list of pupils at t & c.
I'm listed as Ruth Bradley, and I'm now known as Ruth Novaczek, please add this to the details and I hope more ex-students will add to the details of this amazing school
Best wishes,

Ruth

ruth novaczek - nova15@btinternet.com
UK -April 19th, 2012

What fun! I was at the school for a year in 1965 when my father was taking a course.

I came from Ottawa, which seemed the dullest place in the world after a year in London.

I remember some of the names and, as it seems to have done for everyone, memories flooded back upon visiting your site.
The year was the most memorable year in my education, in and out of school. Didn't you go on the trip to Tangier, Madeira and Vigo?
I also remember a day trip to Caen, field hockey and football next to the zoo and semolina with rosehip syrup or something equally foreign to a Canadian.

Enough.

Thank you,

Janet Milligan
Toronto

Janet Milligan - janetlouisemilligan@gmail.com
Toronto Canada -April 7th, 2012

[Norman Comments: Janet, It's a delight to hear from you, which I am sure is echoed by many visitors to this page. Yes I was also on that extraordinary cruise to Madeira, Tangier & Vigo onboard the MV Devonia back in April of 1965. I have long lost the 'log book' we each had to keep, but still have some of the trinkets bought on the quayside in Tangier.

I am still amazed to this day, that as a naïve 13 year old, I was allowed to wonder through the alleys and kasbah of Tangier totally unaccompanied, with only the instructions to return to the ship before it left port!

Regarding the trip to Caen, (are you sure it wasn't Boulogne?) the idea was partly to teach us about french cuisine, yet we were served a selection of german sausages and Mr Neville was not at all pleased which he made clear to the restaurant in question, though we did all get to drink wine. I am sure John O'Sullivan will not mind me telling the story of how he considerately had bought his father a bottle of dutyfree whisky. On the return trip, I noticed it was only half full, and suggested to him that it was hardly the done thing to give someone a half drunk bottle. Every resouceful, he finished off the rest, though was in need of assistance, on reaching british soil once again.

Of course criticism of school food is a universal phenomenon, though the Town & Country offerings, take some beating! - (sorry Anne!). Your recollection of semolina and rosehip syrup does the food more justice than deserved. I recall that the 'syrup' was actually the cheapest jam you could possibly buy, namely Mitre Brand 'mixed fruit jam' a product marketed by Kearley & Tongue a very down-market catering supplier who was responsible for much of T&Cs food inventory, including the most appallingly pathetic sausages I have ever encountered! Still we survived to tell the tale. Hey my comments have turned out longer than your initial email, so If you have any photos, memorabilia or stories of your time at Eton Avenue, even if they evoke some of the more gruesome memories such as mentioned, do send them, this massive page of contributions really does captures the spirit of the place.]

Dear Norman,
How exciting, I have been walking down memory lane since my dear friend Anna, told me about your site!
I noticed the entry by Amanda adding her friend Deborah.

My gosh, these lovely girls were my class mates and I remember their cute faces like it was yesterday!
Other names, Jenny, Alison, Jim, of course there are more.
I will find some photo's to post...stay tuned! My heart longs for those sweet times.

Connie Russell

Connie Russell - c.russell59@hotmail.com
UK -April 3rd, 2012

Dear Norman,

Love your website about the Town & Country School.

Attached is the school magazine from about May/June 1980

which you can add to the site if you like.

Please don't mention my name however.

Best wishes

Name Provided

J*
UK -March 11th, 2012

While looking through my cabinets I found something :-)
Brings back memories.

Carl Petter (St. Mary's T&C 70-71)

Carl Petter Swensson
Norway - September 9th, 2011

Hi Norman

I have just come across your web site. Congratulations! Thank you for doing all the work. This is sincerely meant.
My name is Peter Wood – I do appear on your list.
I live in Shoreham-by-Sea these days.
Let me know if you are having a reunion. I would love to come.
One name you are missing there was an Anthony Ruda (pronounced ruder)
Anyway please include my email address. I relish abuse!

Regards
Peter aka woody
Peter Wood - akawoody@ntlworld.com
West Sussex - September 9th, 2011

Hi,

Just thought I would drop you an E-Mail to say you are missing a very close friend of mine who went to T&C so I would be grateful if you could add her name Deborah Wawrik. Well done on website it makes for fascinating reading. By the way I am the great Footballer.!!

Kind Regards
Amanda Aron.[Correct spelling]

Amanda Aron - amanda@medicine-man.net
UK - July 19th, 2011

Hi Norman my maiden name is Nina scaroulis I was at Town & country from the age of 4 in 1972 till the age of 11 ( 1st form ) in 1979

I have very very clear memories from Town & Country , Mrs Beaven of course Mrs Paul Mr Neville I was there when he died he was my form Teacher .

Names that I remember are John Samonas , Peter Kakouris, Joel House , Rita Patel, Nila Patel, Tanya Murrat, Solon solomonides,
Diana Swan, Shelley Pitt ( sister of Lisa Pitt ) Sarah Welford, Keith Soul , Diana Soul, Eri Kittagucchi, these come to Mind at the moment oh and Glyn Teel.

So good to find your page brings back alot of memories I will get in touch with you soon again.

I now live in Athens Greece Ia ma married with two sons.

Thanks

Nina Scaroulis Pateras


Nina Scaroulis Pateras - nppateras@hotmail.com
Athens - Greece - July 12th, 2011

Dear Norman

I'm Elisabeth Davis (Liz) and I think i've been in contact with you before but I've only just come upon the T&C website proper and I cannot describe my pleasure in going through it. As you can see, it's terribly late at night, and the reason is i simply could not close my laptop until I'd seen every picture and read most of what was written.

How extraordinary our school was, to have had such a durable impression on so many people over the years. I wonder if any of Town & Country's devotees would ever wish to arrange a reunion? Of course there'd be lots of ex-students from quite different epochs, but still...

As it is so late, I can't dig around in whatever photos or memories I have right at the moment, but i promise I will soon.

There are so many people I remember, and your website has awoken even more memories. I thank you from my heart.

I was at T&C, both junior and senior houses, from 1958 to 1965, when I took my O Levels and went on to South Hampstead High school to take my A's - wow, what a cold shower of reality that was!

Please upload this email to the website if you feel it's appropriate.

With warm affection, Liz (I am commonly known now and for many years by my family's name for me - Bozsi - umlaut over the 'o'; but I don't mind in the least being called Liz!)

Elisabeth Davis (Liz) - scubabudgie@gmail.com
UK - July 9th, 2011

Hi Norman

I was so delighted to find this website - it reminded my of the happy years I spent at Eton Avenue from 1950 - 1957.

I have so many memories - Mrs Paul, Jean Bennett and the cottage at Beckley, the time the Christmas tree caught fire, dissecting a pigeon in french, playing netball at Russells in Haverstock Hill (did we walk there...?) and so on and so on.

There are so many, I'm afraid they'll have to wait for another day - perhaps when I look out some of those old photos I have. I haven't been able to stop myself reminiscing though, since I found the site and have thought of quite a few names to add to your pupil lists. I am listed already but my name is spelt wrongly - I am Stella Ryser (not Stella Riser) and my email address is stellaryser@aol.com. I can also be found on Facebook. I now live just south of Cambridge and am married and have two grown-up sons, and 2 grandsons, by the way.

There were also the Japanese family, the Akitas, who lived at 2 Maresfield Gardens: Kimio = Kimyo Akita, Kikooka = Kikuko Akita and Kiwako = Kiwako Akita. They returned to Japan about 1959 but I am still in touch with Kikuko and met her when she came over about 15 years ago. We had a stroll down Eton Avenue to revisit old times. One of Kikuko's sons is an animator on The Simpsons.

Then there were the Weinstein girls: Paula, the youngest (in my class), Lisa and Dina, the oldest Their mother was Hannah and they lived at Cadogan Square just behind Harrods and at Foxwarren Park near Cobham. The grounds there were used as a set for Robon Hood and Sir Lancelot which Hannah Weinstein produced. We used to go to stay and had great fun playing with all the props etc. Hannah also produced William Tell and The Buccaneers with Robert Shaw.

Like many of the American children at SMTC at the time, their parents were fleeing McCarthyism in the US. That was one of the wonderful things for me about the school - I learnt so much about the world from other pupils - almost as much as I learnt in lessons. We used to have debates on political issues in class - it would have been about 1955 when we were about 10. Because of their experiences, so many children were very politically aware, even at that age. It was one of the great virtues of the school that it could harness that and let us all benefit from their experiences.

Other girls not on your list who I remember were: Elizabeth (Auty) Ford Dorothy Keller (German) Dorothy Kiwi (German) Simone Valy (French - from Villeurbanne) Wendy Adler (Larry Adler's daughter) Maila Stivens (from Tasmania) Carol Berger Daniella Borchard (Israeli) Mary Goldsmith Jennifer Reitlinger Judy Garnham (American) Mary Lou Paterson (American) Wendy Kravatz (American) Rowena ? Felicity ?

And some more boys for your list: Fergus Cameron Michael Beaver Peter Austin Crispin Marshal Peter Hoenig

Thanks so much for this website - I love it, and hope that I'll be able to add to it again soon, even though I've ended up writing much more than I intended!

All the best
Stella Ryser (Lopez)

Stella Ryser (Lopez) - stellaryser@aol.com
Cambridge, UK - June 30th, 2011

Dear Norman Barrington,

I have just come across your website and suddenly it's 3 o'clock in the morning - I just can't stop looking at the photographs and reading about the school.

Esther Bateman and Bridgette Callendar were matrons when I was at Glenloch Road, too. I remember making prorridge in the morning for everyone - we took turns in stiring.

I must try to put my memories of T&C in order and get them written down and hope to send them to you before too long. I have all my school reports somwhere. Perhaps Mr Sylvain was still teaching there when you started at the school. Harisson Birtwhistle taught music and singing for a short while.

The Anthology of 1956 is in my bookshelf, in it there is a little story by me, much encouraged by Jean Bennett. Sent to the school in 1953 as a weekly border age 9, I left, still boarding, when I was 16. There are photographs to be found and memories to write down.

How do you want copies of photographs sent to you? I can email texts. With all good wishes
Susan Beringer (Susan Hitches)

Susan Beringer - susanberinger@hotmail.com
UK - May 26, 2011

I was there yesterday. And forty years ago. At 38-40 Eton Avenue.

My name is Carl P. Swensson. I'm Norwegian. My family moved to London for a year 1970-71. We lived at Berkeley Court and I went to St. Mary´s Town & Country School, as did my sister.

My memories from St. Mary´s Town & Country School are somewhat flakey. I was 7 and had just had two days in Norwegian primary school before moving, so I was an illiterate alien landed in an English 3rd. grade where the other pupils could read and write. But through the year I managed to learn to read and write English.

I was in London for business a few days this week and after work I had the chance to take the tube to Swiss Cottage and walk up Eton Avenue. It was odd to see it yesterday. The picture is from then. (I apologise for the poor phone picture).

Thanks for keeping the website. Carl
Carl Petter Swensson
Norway - May 10, 2011

Dear Norman

Please add me to the pupil list:
I was at T&C 1958-59 and then again for 1 term in 1961.
Thanks!
Andrew Ranicki

Andrew Ranicki - andrew.ranicki@gmail.com
UK - April 13, 2011

Dear Norman I have a friend who is a former pupil of St Mary's ( 1946-50 )
He does not have access to email or internet, but has some photographs and other memorabillia which may be of interest and which he is keen to share.
Here are his details if you feel able to contact him: [Norman's note:- contact details supplied with thanks - I shall follow up]

Best wishes Michael Booth
Michael Booth
UK - March 16, 2011

Dear Norman,

Hans Doderlein,
Elliot Hayman
Michele Eley
Samantha Harris
I was there from 1973-76. Friends with Andrina baldwin,Carol Sacks. Dont know where they are. Get back got to run to work

Hans Doderlein - hans1962@att.net
USA? - Frebruary 14, 2011

Dear Norman,

Hi, my name is Rasik Rajguru, I was former pupil at St Mary's Town and Country School from 1971 -1975.

I came across your site by accident while reminiscing about my school crushes and what they would be doing now. So on the off chance I typed Marlo Gripp on google and your website popped up along with other names like Mike Baess, Michelle Hager.

I know she went to Virgina, America around 1974/5. I don't believe she knew I had a crush. As I was very shy about such things at that time.

I notice that her name is not on your pupil list. neither is mine. I also have a few more name missing from the list and name few that that I was with who are on your list whenI was there. Also there are some teachers ot on the list of teachers.I will list them below. Please forgive me if my spelling is a bit off.

In 1974 the fourth and fifth forms were combined into one fifth forn and our O Level Examining Board was changed resulting in a completely different syllabus to prepare on , and three teachers had left to be replaced by one. A major upheaval for the fifth formers.

Barbara Scott Kennily - Science Teacher
Jill Sieff - Geography (I think she was South African, was there until 1974)
Mrs South German
Mr Rothwell

Pupils I shared class on your list
Anna Papadopous from 1971 - 1975
Amanda Aron 1971 - 1975
Julie Berger 1971 -

Other pupil names not on your list with whom i shared classes with from 1971 -
Rosalind and Juliet Nelson (non identical Australian twins) 1973 went to Ashton boarding school.
Marlo Gripp went to Virginia, USA
Deborah Warwick (Anna P's best friend both always top in French and German)
Mari Kawata
Lynn Sultana
Cordelia ?
Lucy ?
Jeffrey Isbitt
Douglas Hastie
Donald Walters
Hamid Mokfi
Haseeb Bhatti

Other Pupils on your list in other forms to mine who were there when I was.
Sophie Kolokotrone
Michelle Hager
Mike Baess
David Ballheimer
Mark Samuelson
Nicholas Willing had a sister there also
Clark Berger
As for me, I am now based in Porbandar, Gujarat India. for the last three years if anyone wants to contact me they are more than welcome they can check my website www.health-guru.com.

I do need to change the contact details on there as they are out of date but the email is still good.

I would like to recall a memorable event 1973, because it was totally out of character of what we were really like I believe where we were playing football the ball got kicked over and we were of course banned from climbing over the wall to get it. One of the pupils noticed the cement between the two trees used as goa ts was crumbling and must kicked it in anger it must have broken off. Then everybody joined as a laugh including one fifth former who was a brown belt in karate with our combined efforts we managed to make a small hole for the smallest pupil to climb through to retrieve the ball.

Next day at morning assembly. Mrs Paul had inspected the damage as nobody owned up we were all banned from using the play ground for two weeks while the damage was repaired and our fees would be increases accordingly to pay for it.

A comment was don;t you know it is against the rules to go over the wall to get the ball.

What made it memorable was that after -
With the reply Nobody went over the wall and there is nothing in the rule book about going through the wall or something to that effect with wide spread suppression of laughter. Needless to say Mrs Paul was not amused.

I hope some of the info have provided has helped.
Best wishes
Rasik

Rasik Rajguru - rasikrajguru@yahoo.co.uk
Gujarat India - December 2, 2010

Dear Norman, I found your fantastic site quite by chance. It certainly is a true labour of love.You must have been very happy there.

I'm a trifle more ambivalent about my time there, But I will always be grateful to Mr. Phillip Neville for being a truly inspirational teacher.

I remember being deeply saddened to hear of his death only a few years after I had moved on. I have bumped into a only a few of our ex-pupils over the years and that was mainly in the decade after I left. I did do a film called 'Foreign Bodies' with Amanda Donahue, who was in the same year as me, in the mid eighties. I'm still acting and my elder brother is still a graphic artist.

Thanks again for diverting my attention for a couple of hours.

Kind Regards MILES RICHARDSON

Miles Richardson in Wikipedia
Spotlight Actors 2011/2012

MILES RICHARDSON - milesrichardson@hotmail.co.uk
UK - November 4, 2010

Hi Norman!

Just like you, I knew Elisabeth and Henry personally, since I spend about 20 weekends together with them in Hedgerley Wood during the summer half in year 1961. My duty was to cut the lawns and doing the gardening (cutting the hedge of the Public Footpath passing through the property) for exchange of their hospitality. We had chicken on every weekend. In-spite of preparing it very well I could not eat chicken for three years afterwards.

I had about three riding lessons which I liked very much. We were collected to the Radnage Riding School with a hard sprung Land Rover.
The elegant Lady riding instructor called me Charles and told me to keep the heels down. For some reason she did not like to call me by my Christian name. I remember I was quite upset as Elisabeth did not want me to continue the riding lessons.

So it is very likely we met in Hegerley Wood an of course at school and at my few evening visits to the boarding house. Later on I was not allowed to the boarding house, as the children were getting to excited, as I was told. There were two young (about thirty) sympathetic ladies running the boarding house.
[Norman's Note:- Bridget Calender & Esther Bateman] The first four month I was in the form together with the Walton twins. As I picked up the language, I was moved to a form of somewhat elder pupils. Off course I saw and liked your photos of Hegerley Wood.

I also remember very well the always friendly and cheerful Mrs. A. (Ancebury or the like) the Irish cook and her daughter at Eton Avenue 40.
We, a teacher who had formerly been a monk and me, had breakfast every morning in the school kitchen.

During the summer holidays Mrs. Elisabeth Paul went regularly to the island of Ischia in Italy and Mr. Heinz (Henry) Paul came to Darmstadt to stay with his sister. On one of Heinz visits to my father, he invited me to St. Mary's Town and Country School tor learn the English language. Vaguely I remember, the family of Heinz sister had build a house and he gave some money to have a room in it. I never have been to the place, so I have no address.

This is all I got on papers from that happy half year


Nowadays there are about 20 families with the name Paul in Darmstadt, so I could not find out who is related to Heinz. As I mentioned, Heinz sister was married and had children, hence her surname changed. Concerning the misspelled name on the gate of Hedgerley Wood: Heinz told me some time after the uprising in Hungary there were refugees staying in Hedgerley Wood. This people did improvements to the house as putting a bathroom under the loft. Probably with little knowledge of the English language they put on the letters to the gate.

As far that I know, Elisabeth and Heinz had a school in Berlin and went to London of the reason you suppose. Sorry, I am not able to shed more light on the mystery. Heinz told me once, as I did stay during the week with him in Eaton Avenue 38, he was a POW during the war. The camp was a good one, there were al sorts of lessons and a theatre group. I suggest with all the Germans there, he could learn the pronunciation of the English language only after leaving the camp. If you have more questions, you reckon I can answer, please let ma know. With best regards Karl Rothamel

Karl Rothamel - karl.rothamel@t-online.de
Germany - November 1, 2010

Hi Norman,
I send you 2 not-very-good-but-they're-all-I-have pictures:

A picture of Kumiko (who has just sent a message in the guestbook), Faye Hart and Paula (?)
It was taken at Town and Country in 1974.


Shakespeare pageant in Mrs Beven's class.
Those who know her might recognise Claire, and on the right, that's me sitting at the table.
Miles Richardson (he was always good at acting) is standing there, but you can't see his face.

I'm so happy to be in contact with Kumiko again through your guestbook Norman.
Thank-you,
Rajni Lallah

Rajni Lallah - raj8@intnet.mu
Mauritius - October 30, 2010

Hello Norman

Thank you so much for the website.
I 'm from Japan and I was at the school from about 1971 to 1974.
I have lots of wonderful memories.
Last week, from your website I found my friend Rajni and I succeed to make a contact with her. Your website helped me to find my important friend who lives in opposite side of the earth ( she lives in Mauritius and I live in Japan)

I remember Jackie Pratt and Faye Hart. Where are you ??? You were so nice to me. I also remember Kelli Moriarty, Julia Herman, Julia Peters.

Thanks again,

Kumiko Naruse ( now Takahashi)

Kumiko Naruse ( now Takahashi) - k.taka0317@nifty.com
Japan - October 20, 2010

Hi,

I have had a couple of sleepless nights reminiscing after scrolling through your wonderfully put together website.
From what I can remember I was there around 1969-71 and have fond memories of the place.
My academic skills did not improve much at the school but I did have fun times there.
Football was my passion, love and life. I am the boy in the photo of the football team in your guestbook (back left ) know as Stevie (I am still a Man U fan).
I cannot remember all the faces on the photo. I think that is only because most of the team were in the classes above me.
I would have been around 11/12 at the time and can remember playing some big games against Hereward House school.
These games were taken very seriously at the time and I do remember a good victory we had against them.
The playground was my training ground and I always looked forward to playing there at lunch time.

From my class I think I can remember Rolland Perrin whom I played a lot of football with at Regents Park and also carpet football (subbuteo) at his home in Baker St.
Julian Benka-Burns? who I used to hang out with lived near me at Warwick Ave and he eventually followed me to Holland Park school.
Tommy Thomas Tomacek was an interesting character. We would swap postage stamps and he always got the better deal.
I can remember an American or Canadian boy (Jason?) who lived on the corner of Swiss Cottage who I played tennis with on a grass court not so far away. He also helped build a great log hideout as one of our projects on our away trip to Hedgerlywood. Our group was the best, I was lucky I was in his team as he was a born leader!
Lynn Bolton was in my class and her brother Gary in the class above was a useful football player who encouraged me.
We did have some other very nice girls there but I cannot remember their names, as I said earlier football was my life!

This memory is rather sketchy and I don’t want to drop Matthew Rees in it, but I think he gave me a few tips on how one could go truanting.
I must say my knowledge on London sightseeing was all the better for it and had a good time until I decided to take my mate Julian with me and we got caught.
The English teacher who found out threatened to tell our parents if we did not memorize a long poem in very difficult English which I never understood.

Matthew also mentioned that the trick to stop the local skin head gangs from catching him and beating him up was to drop a few coins on the ground just as they got near him so they would stop to pick them up and he would keep on going.
The cross country run at Hampstead Heath was a gruelling event but I enjoyed the tennis near Belsize Park and swimming at Swiss Cottage.
I think I can recall seeing the Apollo landing on the moon in the hall on a black and white TV.

I am now living on a hobby farm in Australia with my wife (married 31 years), and four of our youngest children, ages 5-12. Our daughter who is 28, and has been married for three years made me a grandfather three weeks ago. My eldest son is 21, and has also flown the nest.

I would be happy to keep in touch, my email is halmai@bigpond.com

Thank you Norman for your efforts.
Best wishes to everyone.
Stephen Halmai
Stephen Halmai - halmai@bigpond.com
Australia, October 12, 2010

Looks like that was great fun. I love the end of the day drawing.
Please keep me posted with regard to future reunions, shall be in London in the spring.
Brilliant website, excellent work, take care, best wishes,
Patty (briefly there 63-64) Patty Hannock
tél (supplied)
138 Avenue Parmentier, 75011 Paris
3 rue de l'Ecole de Médecine, 34000 Montpellier


Patty Hannock - phannock@gmail.com
Montpellier France- , October 10, 2010

Hello Norman!

Thank you for the pleasant web site on St. Mary's Town & Country School.

As Heinz Paul and my father were friends from school days on, I have 14 photos of him, single and within groups,
but only the two of Elisabeth Selver.

As my father noted “Dr. Elisabeth Selver” on the rear of the photo, it is likely Elisabeth and Paul
were not married then.

Both photos were taken on the 15th of September 1931 at about 5pm, near Darmstadt, Germany.

Pictured are Dr. Elisabeth Selver, Heinz Paul and my father Dr. Ludwig Rothamel.
Please click link to see Karl's photographs

With best regards
Karl Rothamel

Karl Rothamel - karl.rothamel@t-online.de
Germany - Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 12:31:00 (CET)

Hello Norman,
I come from Mauritius and was at T and C between 1971 and 1975.
I have really fond memories of the school. I do have a few photos of the school and friends of mine there.
I'll send you them when I find the time to scan them. I'm now a composer, pianist and teacher in Mauritius.
I'm also active politically. I can still remember Gina Beck (who doesn't who was at school at the time).
A few of the names sound familiar. My sister was there for a brief period too.
Thank you for this web site. It stopped my from sleeping one night and made me re-live many a memory....
Cheers,
Rajni Lallah


Rajni Lallah - raj8@intnet.mu
Mauritius - Monday, September 20, 2010 at 16:58:30 (CET)

Dear Norman,

Going thru the site of SMTC I see that Joshua became a prof of art?
Whatever happened to him, What ever happened to Giles?
I am composing chapter 2 (1962 – 70)of the 40 year gap since we saw each other last and will be mailing to U
Any news on the brothers Gabriel and Marcel Arnell?
Angelica Huston (can U believe she was the ex of Joshua??? I can’t)

What a good idea the reunion - Wish I could be there (pink floyd memories of sid)
I was thinking... Make a DVD of the event and use web cam for people like me from afar to record or participate
Make T-shirts and caps And get a photo book or CD

Love U and miss U
Am keeping U close to my heart

Maj (Tabatabai)

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Majid's Anecdotes:

Dr Meyer

This was a beauty
At 9, having been torn from my country, culture, family, and friends, I arrived in London at the age of six unable to even speak english
My mother, who had me when she was 16 was in university at the U of California in Santa Barbara, and her younger brother was studying medicine at Oxford , St Catherines, and was my guardian at 18 whilst I WAS at SMTC.

Well anyway as you know well I was very unhappy, and Mrs Paul realized we had $’s as did most of the foreigners and borders at school
Well she convinced my mother in California that it would be a good idea for me to visit a shrink at 3 pounds every half hour to become more stable.
So twice a week I would walk all the way down the fincheley rd to see this woman Dr Meyer (Austrian I suspect) who would offer me the best tea and biscuits I ever had in London the give me a new toy to play with for the rest of our time. She never talked to me And that would cost my mother 24 pounds a month
Just to put things in perspective, as Enzo Ferrari said the e type jag was the most beautiful car ever made and at this time only cost 800 Pounds
The tea and biscuits easily cost half a Jag in 1961

Same story for Prof Glass (Piano Teacher)
The other half of the Jag
Dreadful accent and put me off the Piano until I got into Jazz at 16

Jean Bennett

Extraordinary woman, Had taught at Rugby. Was a disciple of Neil at Summer hill.
The only part of the SMTC that I adored along with Hedgerley.

Again an interesting anecdote for you Norman...
I arrived several years before you I think, and this took place before we became brothers
(how marvelous, what were the odds that the Persian, direct descendent of the prophet Mohammed and the lighting engineer from Wolfamstowe, would become brothers in the madhouse opera that was Eton Ave)

Well anyway I arrive at school and I was 6, as I didn’t speak English they put me in Kindergarten.
Imagine what I was feeling and could not express
I had been told I was going to London where everyone was very civilized and advanced and all the time I was trying to understand why all these English were so short, and that all they asked me to do was sit in a sand pit and play with toys
Dam right I needed the shrink Dr Meyer???

Well for the next 6 years at school I managed to catch up on everything but English
Thanks to this extraordinary Jean Bennet I learnt to write so well that I was able to become a straight A student in the U.S at university and managed to get a masters and PhD at the LSE, by writing so well that the bull passed for knowledge.
I loved Jean so much. Her three cats. Granny had come in from the wild when she moved into her cottage, it took her one year of leaving a saucer of milk everyday outside in the garden and each time bringing the saucer closer to the cottage, until one day she brought her kittens one by one to the doorway.
Two of the kittens were adopted by her, one was an enormous tom cat (Thomas), huge, and colored as if he was wearing black tie, gorgeous, my best friend, the other was called pansies', like the flower.

Both would stay out hunting all night and come back in the early hours and sleep deep under my sheets purring all night.
Fantastic ! The autumn visits to her cottage were spent collecting hops for the beer
Never did I enjoy autumn so much except for my stays in New England.
Then there was the fox hunting, so dangerous for a little boy and so much adrenaline
Jean made my weekends an English thousand and one nights not to forget the orchards with such incredible apples and fruits.
Many years later once I had graduated from Tufts university in Boston and was doing my MA at the LSE I went to visit her
We were all privileged to know her.
Janine will understand me

Un abrazo
My brother - Love you
And pass it on

Maj

Majid T Yazdi (Tabatabai)
Peru - Wednesday, July 03, 2010 at 08:10:17 (CET)

[Norman Comments: Harry, thanks for this superb account of your life and times. I am certain we were both in Miss Collins and Mrs Bevans classes together. I agree that "Fattypuff" was an entirely affectionate nickname for Anthony, as was the book from which it came. There are hints, for me, of synchronicity as I used to frequently play Cheech and Chong tracks on the radio as a DJ in the 70s! Their humour fitted my type of program perfectly. I hope you can send the photos when your brother finds time. I will add them to the growing collection in the galleries.]

Norman's note: Thanks very much John and Val for all these photographs, I should mention that although Val's photos are taken in NW3, for convenience I have included all the pictures mentioned here on the same page for Stanford Hall - just click a link.

We have so much talent it seems from T & C. Some names from my Autograph book, they may appear on other sites but anyway - Elizabeth Wright, Gillian White, Bridgid Hays, Karen Lewis, Rosemary Thomas, Rochella Brown, Helen Craig, Edith Thierry Mieg, Joan Askins, Sonia ? Camilla? Virginia Caffrey, Caroline Grigson. Roy Bigwood, Barry Turner, Mike Askins. Greetings. Liz

Elizabeth Colton <lbanjek@googlemail.com> (Now Liz Kinsley)
UK - Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 14:26:37 (CET)

Quite by chance, I googled this morning and turned up such a wealth of memories. My own name features in the staff list as I taught mostly mathematics at Stanford hall 1946/7.

My husband was Peter Pollock and my brother Mick Gamble. I do still have regular contact with Jill Pole(nee Kennard) and Jeffrey Bernhard and various snips of news have filtered through about one or two other ex-pupils.

I am now 84 years of age and live in Cheltenham Glos.
Lovely to make contact,
yours, Margaret.
Margaret Pollock <margaret.cudnall@btinternet.com>
Cheltenham, UK - Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 14:26:37 (CET)

Photo kindly provided by Jacqui Mills (Margaret’s elder daughter)

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Season's greetings and Happy New Year to all ex-T&Cers everywhere.
Mike
Mike Baess <Mike.Baess@uk.tesco.com>
UK - Friday, January 01, 2010 at 12:23:32 (CET)

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Dear all,

This is to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a wonderful year ahead.

Also to thank you for your support and kindness to me this year.

If you have a few moments, please click on  this link to my new website
Melanie Hughes
UK - Thursday, Decemebr 24, 2009 at 15:02:42 (CET)

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Hello
My name is Margaret Baker but formerly Margaret Walters. I attended the school when I was 4 years old for two years before going to the City of London. For one of those years my teacher was Miss Warmsley, and this would have been in 1956/57.
My cousin Carol Williams, was also in my class as she is the same age as me. Her married name is Carol Faro and her email address is carofarrel@hotmail.com. She now lives in Australia. However Carol remained at the school until she was 16, so I’m sure would have a far better recollection of people in the class than me.
I do remember that Mrs Paul was the head, and that there was a boy in the class called Steven Cauliver. Not sure if that’s the right spelling or not. There was also a boy called Anthony, who was always in trouble with Miss Walmsley!!!
Norman's Note: Would that be Anthony Dessaur - a rather chubby boy?
Sorry, that’s the best I can do for now, however I will email Carol and see if she has more detail of the class. My home email is maggiebaker@btinternet.com.
Regards
Margaret
Margaret Walters <maggiebaker@btinternet.com>
UK - Monday, December 07, 2009 at 17:05:36 (CET)

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I greatly enjoyed my year or so teaching English at St. Mary's Town School.
Three main memories:
1/ The glorious singing at several assemblies by one senior girl of "Dido's Lament"
2/ Julian Chagrin's acting in "The Pardoner's Tale"
3/ The nice little girl who presented me with a little blue vase from her collection - I still have it on display..
.
All the very best. .
Harry Royall
Harry Royall <hroyall@talktalk.net>
UK - Monday, December 07, 2009 at 17:01:03 (CET)

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I was a pupil at the Town and Country School from 1954 to 1957. I remember being taught to write properly by Miss Green, a Canadian, and, of course, French by Monsieur Prusteau. He would refer to us as "Mes petits singes", and (as it seemed to me at the time) would regularly fall off his Lambretta on the way to school. He also directed me in a French version of "Cinderella" in which I played (oh god!) Prince Charming. I was four at the time, and delivered my lines with my chin on my chest, and almost completely paralyzed with embarrassment.

I spent one rather confused and unhappy weekend at Hedgerly Wood. One abiding memory is of waking up in the night needing a pee. I groped in the dark to where I thought the door to the outside was, and proceeded to do my business into what I thought was the garden. It turned out to be into another room... in which other children were sleeping.

Looking back, I wish I had stayed on to complete my schooling at the Town and Country. The emphasis on, for instance, art, was magnificent, and I spent many happy lessons drawing in wax crayons (I later went on to art school). However, my father decided that I needed a 'proper' English Public School, and sent me to Colet Court and St. Pauls. I think he was wrong.

With very best wishes,
Jonathan Weiss

PS: Having looked through most of your great website, I came across Alison Tudor-Heart's two photos. of a gathering at Hedgerley Wood - including, I think, me sitting directly in front of the fire. So my dates of 1954 to 1957 don't seem to be quite right! Incidentally, I vaguely remember Alison.

Another PS! I recognize the boy sitting next to me in Alison Tudor- Heart's photo as Ronald Almeroth, who was my 'best friend' of the time. Anyway, thank you for this wonderful website.
Jonathan Weiss <chintamani@mac.com>
UK - Monday, September 28, 2009 at 19:30:49 (CEST)

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Hi Norman

John Ker and I met up with Theo [Lemos], Melanie "King", Alfred Nathan and his wife (not an ex T&C pupil), Mike Baess, Diana Krajkeman and Lindy Rappaport at the Sir Richard Steele pub on Haverstock Hill last night (Friday 7th)

Here are some pics. Melanie has some of the boarding house era she says she will send you to scan and put on the site. She mentioned a border callled Timothy - do you remember him. She said he was very delicate I don't remember him do you ? [Norman's Comment] He is Timothy Bloomfield and was a weekly border at 31 Glenloch Road Pre Fire, and on the T&C football team with a photograph in gallery 9

She also rembered Neville coming to school one day very upset and tearful because his partner had died - do you recall that episode? [Norman's Comment] Yes I do, though not the year, and at the time I was too young to understand the details

You must come to a mega-reunion I'm sure there would be a great opportunity to hear tons of gossip and information

John O'Sullivan
John O'Sullivan
Haywards Heath, UK - Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 13:39:51 (CEST)

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Dear Norman,

Was thrilled to stumble upon your site the other day, and since then have gone back several times and taken a longer look. Kudos on your dedication and devotion to the task of memorializing our old school! Very exciting to see! You've done a great job on it.

I have many memories of the place, but unfortunately not a single photograph from that year, so I was very glad to see the photos on your site. I remember the stairway at the top of which our classroom was, and I think I saw a glimpse of it in one of the photos. I definitely remember the views of the front and back of the school and was glad to see them again after all the years.

Our family lived in East Finchley and we would take two public busses every morning to get to school (transferring at Golder’s Green for a bus to Swiss Cottage); we were often late for Assembly, to our intense embarrassment. I seem to remember that Mrs. Paul reprimanded us several (even many) times.

It seems to me that once a week at Assembly Mrs. Paul (?) would read an outstanding or unusual composition of one of the pupils, I believe without mentioning the name of the writer (were we all given the same topic, regardless of form?), and we would wait with bated breath to see whether ours would be the one. Mine was chosen one of the first weeks of the year. I was so thrilled to hear my work read aloud that it set me on a course of trying to write the very best essay I possibly could, to win the honor again (and I think I did, several more times over the year), which set me on a lifetime course of writing.

I recall sitting in the dining room downstairs (was it in the basement, or slightly below ground level, so that we could see or hear the children on the playground outside?). I remember the whole class (were there about 20 of us?) sitting around the rectangular wooded table, which seemed huge, and being served several courses. (So different from and more personal than American school cafeterias, where we would get our food on a tray and sit at long, narrow tables in a large hall filled with such tables and numerous children.) Every day of the week had its set menu; there was no choice. One day was shepherd’s pie, the name of which used to puzzle me no end (why shepherd and why pie?) and the desert for one day was chocolate pudding with coconut shavings on top (mentioned by another visitor to the site as well), which I detested. Every week on that day it was a topic of conversation, how Ruth could possibly not like that desert, and who would get to eat a second helping.

I assume we also had some kind of uniform for sports classes, which I can't recall at all (we went very occasionally to some very modernistic-looking building for gymnastics classes; I remember lots of light-colored, polished wood) but I do remember the white tennis shoes we had for those classes. Apparently we were told they had to be kept clean and white, and so one or several of the pupils at school set up a kind of business: they would whiten our tennis shoes for, I think, 2p or 3p a pair. My sister told me about it and we both thought it was a good deal. We were surprised when we got our shoes back after the first treatment: we assumed they would be washed, they had simply been painted with white paint! I still remember the sight of them.

Thank you, Norman, for your great site, clearly a labor (or rather, labour) of love.

Ruth Epstein Ben-Mayor, Israel

Ruth Epstein Ben-Mayor
Israel - Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 13:23:27 (CEST)
P.S. Do you know of any other pupils in Israel? Maybe we could start a club if you could give me their e-mails (or even just their names and towns of residence). Thanks!

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Dear Norman

You may remember that I wrote to you last year having found your website? I now have photocopies of the photographs from august 1959 when I was at the "country" house before I started at the school in sept.1959. There are just two photos, one with lots of us in what looks like the main sitting room of the house, (I think they might have called it a "drawing room"(!)..... a very small me with very blonde hair looking perhaps a bit like a fairy! ...on someone's knee! and another of three of us on the "see-saw" in the garden.

They are nice photographs I think. Unfortunately the originals are in my late mother's album which is not to be fragmented until after her partner's death so I just have these photocopies for now but they are ok I think.

I’m afraid I’m not clever enough to know how to scan these to you via PC but I am happy to post them if you want them for your collection. but you will need to let me have an address to send them to. [Norman Says: Yes Alison I will, and thanks for sending in the scans]

By the way I still think your website is wonderful! I haven't visited since last year when I wrote to you and I am most impressed that you keep it updated. Do you give notice on the website of forthcoming reunions? I am living in New Cross SE14 now and would be very interested to go to a reunion.

Anyway, let me know if you want the photographs.

Kind regards

Alison Tudor Hart
Alison Tudor Hart <alisonbfield123@aol.com>
Lonndon SE14, UK - Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 13:14:50 (CEST)

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I went on a guided walk of Hampstead today and the school was mentioned as we walked along Wedderburn Road. My sister and I attended albeit briefly when it was in Eton Avenue. I often wondered what happened to the school as I would pass the building when I was a GP in Hampstead and did home visits !

So today I finally looked it up on the web and was very pleasently surprised to find so much information. My memories of the time at the school do not include other children alas - perhaps because I was only there for a short time, but I remember vividly discussing the launch of the sputnick, staying late one afternoon to watch a larva/puppa hatch into a buterfly and lastly being one of 2 or 3 children to attend during a flu epidemic.

Sylvia Laqueur 1956/7 aged 10
my sister was Shlomit - aged 7/8
Sylvia Laqueur <sylvia.graham@hotmail.co.uk>
London, UK - Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 12:27:23 (CEST)

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Hi Norman

Remember me from 1967/68. I just spent the afternoon with Theo and would like to have my details included on the site. My email is billbird7@btinternet.com and I live in Worcester and am an orthopaedic shoemaker in the Cotswolds and in London W1.

My website is www.billbird.co.uk

I would like to be included in any ideas for reunions. It would be great to meet up next time you're down this way.

All the best, Bill Bird
Bill Bird <billbird7@btinternet.com>
Worcester, UK - Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 14:33:14 (CEST)

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Dear Norman,

Thanks to your website I have got into contact with some old Saint Mary-ites. I met Alisha Sufit last week at a gig and we have a lot in common, music and art, and knowing several staff. And have been in phone contact with Elizabeth Colton and John Ravilious, and also Ben Jacoby.

One name you could correct CHRISTOPHER WEATHERBEE please change to CHRISTOPHER WEATHERSBEE (definitely has a S, and I knew him)

Please can you insert my email johngrmorrison@hotmail.com as I would be pleased to contact others.

It was Mrs Paul's interest in the Alexander Technique that got me into St Marys, as my mother Dr Dorothy Morrison was one of Alexander's students' and gave evidence at the Alexander libel case in South Africa.

Thanks again Norman.

Regards
John
John Morrison <johngrmorrison@hotmail.com>
UK - Monday, June 01, 2009 at 15:19:27 (CEST)

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Norman,

I was dumbfounded when, upon doing a Google, your page popped up with a reference to "Robert Hilliker" and St. Mary's T&C. I was indeed the young boy with the back of his head to the camera in the picture

This does take me back. Things I remember vividly are:

Mr. Nevill and the bloody German song:
C-A-F-F-E-E, trink nicht so viel Kaffee. Nicht für Kinder ist der Türkentrank, schwächt die Nerven macht dich blaß und krank. Sei du kein Muselmann, der das nicht lassen kann.

I was at St. Mary's in 1972 before I got shipped off to boarding school in Bury St. Edmunds.
I remember playing football in my regular school shoes and freezing my bloody feet off. Rupert (or possibly his brother) sitting in the window sill watching the other kids play (what a beautiful soul he was). Cried on the day we were told he had died.

My best friend was David Stuart-Murray. He loved the Moody Blues and would go on for hours if given half a chance. I actually looked him up in 1982 when I was back in London from college in American. Won't discuss what we had both learned to do with some proficiency during our time together, but music was very much a part of his life and he was a very skilled guitarist. Not seen him since. Memories flooding back now but all in bits and pieces with no timelines. I was only at T&C for a short time in 1972 but it is indelible on my mind. I remember the interview process, by Mrs Paul, to gain admittance to the school...commands in French and then odd little ditties that seemed to make no sense at all.

I am shocked that Karen Freund even remembered my name. So now I am a grey'ing haired 47 year old father of 2 (boy 23 & girl 8...don't ask...lol)

I live in Houston Texas where I landed in 1983, after college, to take my place in the Oil & Gas business (roller coaster ride would be too kind).

I now am VP Business Development for a leading Information Technology company.

Well enough. All the best and if this email has happened to land on a friendly ear, I would love to maintain a dialogue.

Peace,
Robert
Robert Hilliker <rhillk@yahoo.com>
Houston, USA - Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 11:21:22 (CEST)

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Hi Norman,

Is there going to be a reunion of T&C pupils this year? If so any idea of the time & location.

Website is fabulous, I am surprised more of my old friends have not located the site. Perhaps old is the key word! Anyway I would like to correspond with Keith Mulliner.

Many thanks, and looking forward to hearing from you.
Eric Jacobson.
Eric Jacobson <ericrjames@talktalk.net>
UK - Friday, April 17, 2009 at 12:42:26 (CEST)

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Hi Norman,

Mel Hughes (now Mannon) told me about this site and I am delighted to have explored it from top to bottom. Can't 'do' Outlook Express for some reason (probably inherent stupidity) so hope contacting you through my yahoo address will be ok. Please feel free to put out my e mail address on that list thing and I would be grateful to be informed of any up-coming reunions.

How totally mind-blowing to see pics of Theo Lemos and read an account by Vincent Young, the 2 loves of my younger life!!! Get in touch! Please.

love Melanie King (now Armstrong)
Melanie King <melaniearmstronguk@yahoo.co.uk>
UK - Friday, April 17, 2009 at 12:40:01 (CEST)

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Hi Norman,

I hadn't thought of my period at Town and Country almost since the time I left. Your site is amazing...I spent so much more time in other schools yet there is far less info and without a doubt far less passion is written about them; an excellent labour of love and with so many fans! I did wander up Eton Avenue a few years ago when I worked in the area, without remembering the house numbers but trying to find the school or at least the buildings but seemingly no trace, now I know why. Next time I am in Swiss Cottage I will have a look at 38 - 40.

I went to T&C for a year when I was about 10, so that makes it 1967 or there abouts. The reason I Googled the school was because I was recounting a story to my kids. The gist was that Gary Bolton was a keen ornithologist and at 10 I thought that was pretty cool. Not wishing to copy him directly I decided to take up ichthyology (incidentally my fascination with fish stopped when I left T&C!). Other fellow pupils included Hirohito Hiashi (excuse spelling) we were great mates, I think his father was based in the Japanese embassy in London and he left the school before me. I also remember Mick ? (Man City's number one fan) and Mike ? (who supported ManU), Johann from South Africa, (I note the name Schalwyk on the list of pupils but I am not sure if it's him) he did have a sister at the school and on your list you also include Rita. There was a guy whose first name I can't remember but I am pretty sure his surname was Downs. His French was excellent although I don't think he was a great fan of Mr Neville.

I wasn't into sport particularly although I was obliged to play cricket and I did go swimming at the baths in Swiss Cottage. I am ashamed to admit that I used to cheat at cross country when running across Primrose Hill by taking short cuts. I can't remember the name of my co conspirator, perhaps if he reads this the memories will flood back.

Teacher wise I remember Mrs Paul and yes she was balmy then despite being very elegant, a german Lady Bracknell is how I think of her. Mr Paul was always floating about. Philip Neville (I knew him after he had changed his name and hadn't known that he had changed it until reading it on this site...so why did he change his name?) I also knew him with the brown toupe complimented by the grey sideburns. He discarded the "rug" during a school holiday so somebody must have given him some advice...oh and I also recall the misery of Les Miserables. Mr Meulemann, the maths teacher who I thought was very cool and much less stuffy than the other teachers. I can't remember the name of the other staff but i wonder if anyone can remind me of the names of the ladies that taught us English Lit and English language.

Anyway enough for now, it's been great writing this stuff down amazing how the memories come back, despite being a bit patchy. I hope to hear news from my colleagues and wonder if anybody remembers me (Andy Crown mentions a "bookish guy with glasses called Max" is it me or Max Peacock?)

BTW have you planned a 2009 reunion?

Best wishes and congratulations on creating a very special website.

Max WEINER
Max Weiner <max@picturemedia.co.uk>
UK - Friday, April 03, 2009 at 12:20:57 (CEST)

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Dear Norman,

My name is Eric Jacobson. I was at the T & C from about 1952 to 1958. I was absolutely amazed and delighted to find the site. I have looked for the school before, but without success. I have already emailed Daniela Bouchard, and received a reply, very exciting! To think it must be about 55 years since I last saw her.

Names I remember.
Daniela Bouchard Ailsa Payne David Hyams Caroline Mortimer. Is she a step daughter of John Mortimer? Angala Pleasence John Hall Rachel Ibbetson Naomi Jacobi Caroline Tranter John Stevenson? Susan Coddington USA Diana Weinstein USA John Bloomfield? Adrian Andrews, boarder from Kettering Freda Lipton Valentino Serra Italy A French chap name escapes me Linda Grade daughter of Leslie Grade. Probably sister of Michael Grade Keith Mullinar from Richmond Julian Chagrin Carol shelley Robena Burns

Staff
Mr Brown maths. Very tall and slim. I’m sure his wife taught as well. History I think Mrs Noyse John Silkin Robin Wood Mr Prousteau Mr Graham Mrs Gardener Mrs Chagrin Anne Smythe

“The Strike”.

I can’t recall the reason for it but I’m sure it was a matter of perceived injustice. The only person I can remember was Caroline Mortimer. I think she was a spokes person. We all sat at our desks, refusing to budge. Eventually Mr Graham became involved. He managed to talk us round, but it took a long time. He seemed very nervous the papers in his hand were quivering. Any memories?

The Visit.

We had a visit one day from an Indian Gentleman who looked, and dressed just like Ghandi. I don’t know what religion he represented, but in his talk he said they never refer to themselves as I, Just by their own name. It was considered arrogant to say I did this or that. This has stuck with me, and I get very irritated when, particularly, politicians, Say I am going to do this or that. Anybody remember him.

The test

On my first interview with Mrs Paul, I was shown into her first floor front office, come sitting room, with my parents. After a while I was asked to go into another room while my parents had a private interview with her. On the way home my parents told me that the door to her office had three or four handles or catches, only one of which was in use. The fact that I picked the correct one first off was an indication of my powers of observation. Is anybody else aware of being tested in this way?

Women’s work

Valentino Serra was a great member of our community. However there was one problem. When it came to the rota for cleaning and sweeping the classroom after hours, he would not enter into any form of “housework”. He was threatened with various punishments, but was adamant. He said it is “women’s work”. I wonder if he is still saying the same thing today!

Punctuality

I had an, after hours, extra lesson in French with Mr Prousteau, who fingers were yellow and he stank of Gauloises cigarettes. He was late. After a couple of minutes I made a dash for freedom. Next day I was summoned to Mr Grahams office. Although he had, obviously, got the wrong end of the stick, his words made a lasting impression on me. He said you should rather die than be late for an appointment. I know this made me into a stickler for punctuality all my life. I better not be late for the next reunion meeting!

Hedgerley wood

I remember many stays at Hedgerley wood shortly after they purchased the property. Walking along the lane to the pub at bledlow ridge. Under age but no one seemed to worry. We were permitted to be amazingly free and easy. There was a very nice lady visitor, who had a convertible Morris Minor. She allowed Adrian Andrews and me to drive the car up and down the long winding drive while she was there. Adrian called it “sptrintzling”

These experiences probably made me much warier about acceding to my own children’s freedoms and use of my cars.

Rock around the clock

Somehow a group of us dressed in “teddy boy” clothes and performed “Rock around the clock” in front of an audience, including Mrs Paul. David Hyams, John Hall, and others I can’t recall were involved. It was not my scene, being rather shy, but I went along with it to keep in with the lads. I was acutely embarrassed by the whole thing. Anybody remember?

Some of the many memories, I shall try to recall more. In the meantime I would be interested in any recollections of these events! Any of the names I mentioned, if you are out there please contact me.

Eric Jacobson
Eric Jacobson <ericrjames@talktalk.net>
UK - Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 15:29:35 (CET)

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Hi Norman,

My sister Cas (Caroline Willing) told me about this website. It's been fascinating looking through it. I was at the school (I think) from 64-69. I left aged nine, so I have almost a better memory of my sister's friends (Diana, Robin Rowe, Matthew etc) than I do of my own. They seemed incredibly glamorous and sophisticated to me at the time. I probably made a nuisance of myself trying to stand close to them at any opportunity.

As for my contemporaries - I remember Tom, and Tommy Thomas Thomascyk (sorry I bet that's spelt wrong and there are probably too many 'toms' in there), Fiona Hill who loved horses, Dawn and Gail Castle, Janine Wingate, and a number of others - not least my absolute best friend aged eight, Julia Maurice, who went off back to the states at about that time. I also had my first crush (aged seven) on a dark haired boy called Hughie. I never spoke to him but he'd run around the playground making airplane noises. I would watch in awe...

I broke my wrist in that same playground whilst skipping with someone (?) when only about six - the teachers were so used to hearing my tantrums and crying fits that they didn't believe I'd hurt myself for what felt like ages.

Tom - well done for posting those amazing photos of the Elizabethan banquet which I remember SO well. In fact I still have the dress. My daughter wore it to a school thing a few years ago, when she was the same age. It seemed like the most important day ever. I got to be Lady Drake, and Tommy Tomascyk was Francis Drake.

I remember a lot of singing in assembly, being lectured to by Mr Neville, being frightened of Mrs. Paul, weekly spelling tests, and being read to when very little by the brilliant Nicolai Tolstoy. There was also a particularly memorable occasion when I was meant to have memorised Ariel's 'full fathom five' speech from The Tempest. I stood up, full of confidence, and suddenly realised I hadn't memorised it at all. I didn't know it! I was asked to sit back down - Ironic that I actually became an actor.

As if going full circle, I did an M.A. only last year in screenwriting and playwrighting at Central school of Speech and Drama, which happens to be... in Eton Avenue, NW3.

All the very best
Victoria (Willing)
Victoria Willing
UK - Monday, February 23, 2009 at 18:15:39 (CET)

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Hi Norman,

Stumbled on your website while googling Diana Krajkeman. Something I've done occasionally over the last few years with no joy. What a weird feeling it was to come across a picture of me in pink mini dress posing with Duc and Robin et all.

I was there from 64 to 71 boarding on and off from 67 onwards.. I think I may have boarded with John O'sullivan (memory banks mostly erased around those years) Although I do remember being the only boarder in Mrs Paul's house the year before I left..

I saw Duc and Alfred (Nathan) about 20 years ago but lost touch. Would you be kind enough to pass my email on to those two?

What an amazing amount of work you've put in to the website. You must have been very happy there.

xx
Cas
Cas Willing <caswilling@mac.com>
UK - Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 13:52:36 (CET)

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Hello,

I wonder if you could help?

When I was 6 or 7 I went to the country part of town and country school which I remember in huge detail This was in 1946/7.I had been prior to this at the Swiss Cottage part although it may be that I went to the Country part first.

This school has left me with so many memories. I would be happy to describe these.. for example the grand frontage and surroundings of the most beautiful stately home building of the country school and its layout and matron....I remember singing All things Bright and Beautiful in a most beautiful long ballroom long windows pictures,gilding....utterly empty except for the grand piano and so many things. Might anyone be interested?

One of the very difficult things for me was ididnt know where I was . I recall walking to the boundary and longingly wondering where i as i looked up and down the empty road. I often was wondering and thinking was my mummy?

If anyone can give the address of the school (Country) and or a photograph that would be marvelous!

Thank you,

Ann (was Ariel) Froshaug
Ann (was Ariel) Froshaug <a.froshaug@btinternet.com>
UK - Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 14:07:35 (CET)

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Hi there, [MORE ADDED 9th Feb - see below]

Let me be the 700th person to thank you so much for putting together your website! My name is Andy Crown. I'm an American, but attended St Mary's T&C for the one year that my family lived in London. It was the school year of '69 - '70 and I was in 3rd Form. It was a tremendous year, and a great age for an adventure. I learned a lot about London, the world, girls, food, culture, skinheads. I made a lot of friends, and I learned french, german and soccer. But academically, at least, I can't say I picked up much of anything else.

Half of our class was made up of short term foreign transplants like myself, many of whom were just there for that one year. If memory serves, there were 13 pupils in the class, only three of whom were girls. And because we were at such a rambunctious age (the boys, that is) it seemed that the girls would come up with any excuse not to come to school, as a result of which on any given day there was likely to be only one or two of them present which, I'm sure, made the experience all the more horrific.

Let's see, there was me, my best friend Oliver Perrin (who had several siblings at the school), Andy Collier (another yank) Sebastian Crewe, Michael Baess (Mick then - who lived near the school, I think), Gary Bolton (who lived near me in Highgate), Mark Pfeffer (likely the only jewish skinhead in Swiss Cottage) and a bookish kid with glasses whose name i think was Max. Either I can't remember two of the boys or I'm wrong about the class size. And the girls were Yamiko Aoki (from Japan), a South African girl named Rita (who had an older brother at the school) and Sophie something or other (who I believe was from Greece). They sat in the back row, as far away from the pandemonium as possible. All three lovely, all unfairly traumatized.

The Faculty was somewhat inconsistent, to be kind.

That year we had, I believe, three successive German teachers for a very simple simple reason. Our Form drove the first two to quit. I specifically remember at least one of them storming out of our classroom while muttering in German (likely after being pummeled with chalkboard erasers when her back was turned) never to be seen again.

We had a tall, porcine History teacher with pink skin and white hair, whose name I can't recall. He had fought in The Great War and I believe it was Mick Baess who was particularly adept at getting him off the subject of our lessons with a simple question, "Sir, tell us what you did in the war again?" That was good for 15 minutes anytime. He enacted his revenge though. For a big man, he had an unusually stealthy ability to tiptoe to the back of the class with his enormous history textbook tightly grasped, and then sneak up behind anyone who was misbehaving, say talking in class, and thump them on the back of the head with that opus, just a butterfly's wingbeat short of a full- on concussion. If you had any brains left, it was certainly the last time you were guilty of that particular infraction. Not that I would know, of course.

I seem to remember there were two teachers who were fired outright during the course of the year. One was the Scottish Science teacher, McDermott??, a somewhat hot-tempered guy, who had apparently beaten up our junior-skinhead Mark. It may even have been on that odd walk we regularly made to the science labs. Another was our Maths teacher (Mr. Mueleman?). He was tall with receding hairline. I mostly remember his last day. If he shared with us his infraction, I don't recall, but he was close to tears as he spoke with us more intimately than he ever had before. I do remember he told us some rather off-color jokes that day.

I had to be tutored weekly in German and French, which I did with Oliver at the house of a woman named Mrs Karger who lived just around the corner from the EMI studios on Abbey Road. In fact, that was the year that the Beatles album came out, so that was pretty cool.

Mrs. Paul taught us Bible, or Religion, or whatever it was and she expected us to be very stoic in our absorption. Unfortunately, it was the dawning of an era, and we were just reaching an age that almost demanded the questioning of such dogmatic approaches. Those classes weren't always pretty.

I really liked Mrs. Blythe, the English teacher. The Geography teacher, Mr. Johnston? (also the football coach, I think) was not overtly warm, but an absolute classic. Mr Neville was, of course, a prince**.

Random Memories

One of my most vivid memories of the school was sitting down in the cafeteria spooning some form or other of gruel into my mouth only to look up and see one of the kitchen ladies gingerly transporting a plate of smoked salmon sandwiches up the steps for Her Highness. Sadly, my only memory of a specific dish is not a good one -- Shepherd's Pie. In theory it would be a dish that I'd enjoy but, even today, seeing it on a menu brings back a rush of images. Of leaden potatoes blanketing a soup of water and suet with bits of ground gristle and bone floating around. I truly apologize for that image. Maybe Mrs. Paul fed it to me while administering the Ludovico Technique and I just don't remember it.

The 3rd Form room was precariously located at the fulcrum of the school. The room was in one building, but it also had a back door to that creaky skywalk to the main building. If someone were disposed to, oh I don't know, dropping water balloons out of the window onto innocent schoolmates playing out back, whichever building a faculty member chose to race up the stairway in full fury, one could run down the stairs of the other building and melt into the crowd. I hope you understand I'm speaking only theoretically here.

I remember constant football in the back garden atop the gravel, walled in like caged beasts. I shudder no to think what it must have been like for innocent bystanders just trying to walk through. Speaking of that, I still recall the lump in the throat whenever Mahmoud would line up that ferocious shot of his and you were in the way.

I just now thought of one Saturday afternoon near Sebastian's house playing football in Regent's Park. Sebastian, Andy, Oliver and probably Gary and Mick and I were set upon by a gang of skinheads. We tore off and just made it onto a moving bus. All except Oliver who didn't quite make it. We reconnected with him later that day and he seemed to be pretty much intact. I think they got the ball though.

Well, that's all I can come up with right now, rummaging through the cobwebs. I can't believe it's just coming on 40 years ago!! I sure hope my thoughts don't come across as negative in any way. That's not my intention at all. It was probably the greatest year of my childhood. And I wouldn't trade a single one of those memories for anything in the world. Well, maybe that thump on the back of the skull.

I live in Southern California now. If anyone wants to get in touch, please do: andy (at) crowntown (dot) com

Best to all!!

Andy Crown
Andy Crown <andy (at) crowntown (dot) com>
USA - Tuesday, February 03, 2009 at 13:18:21 (CET)

[Norman's Note: Lovely to hear from you Andy, Although I left in '68 I identify with all you say! Your description of Mr Johnston as 'not overtly warm, but an absolute classic' is spot on. One question though, what do you mean by "Mr Neville was, of course, a prince." That may be an Americanism which we Brits might not understand? He is certainly the one that most people have something to say about. ]

Thanks for getting back to me Norman! In the days since I sent you the email, I worried that my memories and characterizations were a tad too
critical. Not that they weren't heartfelt, only that I hoped I wouldn't offend you, the person who obviously displayed so much love
in crafting this fabulous website. My only real regret is in not being more effusive in my praise for your fine efforts. It would be hard to
overstate the astounding rush of warm feelings I've derived reading through the pages. It reminded me of an old line of Charlie Chaplin's.
Roughly paraphrasing here, "People always glorify their days in vaudeville. It's not true, vaudeville was terrible. The pay was lousy,
the work was hard, the dressing rooms cold, the audiences unappreciative. It's not vaudeville we miss, it's our youth." Well I
thank you for bringing back to me a magical little sliver of my youth that had largely faded from memory.

It's funny that you mention that sentence about Mr. Neville. Ironically, that was one place I do remember pulling my punches. I
guess in deference to any sensitive feelings, I didn't want to come right out and say he was a **self-aggrandizing poofter. I figured
'prince' would bring to mind his effeteness and queeniness. Clearly that was WAY too subtle! Please feel free to quietly remove that
sentence any time you might find yourself working on the site. Or replace it with something I've said here (yuk yuk).

Thanks again for your labor of love. (Oops, I mean labour of love) I'll keep checking back and if my memory is jogged further, I'll send
you an update.

Have a pint for me. And maybe a Cadbury's Flake, some yorkshire pudding or maybe a nice curry. Just stay away from Shepherd's Pie!

Best,

Andy

Dear Norman, I have just discovered your town and country website. It is an incredible archive and I am still reeling from it! Well done, both Mike and I ( Michael Mannan - ) are so glad you have done this. It was such a weird and defining place to spend your youth!

Bizarre, crazy, sometimes traumatic, sometimes inspired, we feel it shaped us almost more than anything else.

Mike and I met through Mel King in 1968 and have been together (more or less!) ever since. We married in 1978 and have a daughter, Ilona. I don’t really know where to begin. There are so many things I would like to ask you.

How are you? What are you doing now? Hope things are good for you and yours.

I may be able to help with more info re Mrs Paul. I stayed in touch with Ilse (Mrs Karger) until her death in 1993. And I know people who knew them both. You know the Swiss Cottage mafia. I will keep trying to find out more about Mrs Paul. Nothing so far, but I am involved with a film project about various German-Jewish refugees who ended up in London and so am meeting a lot of old ladies in Swiss Cottage! Much Kaffee und Kuchen later………. Will contact you as soon as I find anything out. Do you happen to remember a doctor, GP I think, who lived at 13 Eton Avenue and was called Ernst Cohn? He may have been Mrs Paul’s GP, not sure yet.

I was an actress for 20 years and then became a screenwriter. Mike went to Oxford, did his PhD and post doc research (physics).

I met Biba Ashmore in Hampstead in about 1972/3 – I was at the Central School of Speech and Drama then and she was an art school, St Martins I think. But I lost touch with her after that – I was in rep all over the place for ages and didn’t have a base in London then. I would love to hear of her again. I also met Nicolette Ismay during that time when she was at the Slade doing fine art. We met a few times then and then lost touch. I met her again fleetingly at Chalk Farm tube in the early 80s – she was painting and I was in a play about Gladstone for Yorkshire TV, she was on her way somewhere and I was late for rehearsals so we didn’t talk for long, but I think she was living in Stockwell then ??? and had a baby son called Toby. We may well have met at this party you mention, Norman, I lived in Belsize Square whilst I was at Central and then on and off when I was in London, and after about 1979 Mike and I lived in Primrose Hill

Still a bit shocked but very glad to have found this site.

With love,

Melanie Hughes & Michael Mannan

Melanie Hughes & Michael Mannan <humann@mannan.eu>
London, UK - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 22:03:17 (CEST)

PS from Michael Please do feel free to put our email in the guest book. Actually, I do see you already have (he he), very Norman if I might say so (this is Mike by the way). We are both very pleased that there is something somewhere for T&C and that it didn’t just vanish forever. Maybe Mel and I can find some photos and we’ll send these when we do.

Some more names for your pupils list:

Nick Partos (friend of Patti Palmer)

Sally Baker

Olivia Payne-Johnson

Mario Katibak

Catherine Milroy

Lindy Green

Hiroki Mori

Rachel Rotman

Jenny Cox

All mid-sixties pupils in the upper school.

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Hi Norman,

In my previous guestbook entry I promised to scan some photos of a school pageant for you. That was five years ago but anyway here they are! It was an Elizabethan Feast with the pupils cast as various luminaries from that era of history. I'm attaching six of them which cover just about everyone who was in the class.

In order they feature: Myself and Jason Brown;
Fiona Hill and Adrian Selby;
Janine Wingate, mystery person behind fan talks to Denise ?, Konrad ?;
Jason Brown, Suzanne ?;
Lyn ?, Kristine Blair, Shafique Omar;
myself (with disturbing beard), victoria willing (the back of her head anyway), tomi tomas tomacek.

I've just returned to Melbourne after four very busy years running a theatre company in Perth. With a bit of time on my hands I went back for a look at your site. I'm impressed by the accumulating material on the guest book. For some reason though, no one else from my class seems to have stumbled on the website yet. Perhaps they have but were from the 'traumatised' faction of ex-TCers.

By the way, my sister's name is in the list of pupils but not mine. I was there from '63 to '69.

Cheers, Tom Gutteridge
Melbourne, Australia
Tom Gutteridge <tandango@optusnet.com.au>
Melbourne, Australia - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 21:57:12 (CEST)

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I went to T&C for 2 terms beginning Sept 1964.
I had finished 6th grade in the US where I was born- we were in London for a year. I was about 11 and was the youngest in the class, I think.
The oldest was a Japanese girl- we were friends. ( there were sisters Kyoko and Yokiko- one in my class and one in my younger sister's class)
I remember the names
Anjelica Huston
Judith Lock
which one of your correspondents mentioned(Sabah Zilouf)

I remember:
my classroom was adjacent to the entrance of the building- opposite the auditorium, an incredible geography teacher, playing a very small part in Beauty and the Beast, the set lunches- every Monday liver and mashed potatoes, etc., learning enough math in two terms to keep me bored for the next 2 years of school, standing up when a teacher entered - till what year was that the custom?
Who were the teachers in the senior school that year?

Debbie Epstein
Debbie Epstein (Rahav) <debbiekatzrin@yahoo.com>
UK - Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 11:20:34 (CEST)

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My dear friend Norman - Great to be back in contact again

I shall send excerpts so as not to bore you and to be able to give some chronological coherence to the last 43 years since I saw you last.
Feel free to use whatever you want for the web site or edit as you wish.

The discovery and establishment of contact: 2008:
Last Saturday night I suddenly thought about Gabriel Arnell and Kublai Malek and punched the names into Google.
I fell upon your site and could not believe it. I had spent years trying to forget T&C, and now it was there again in front of me ?!
At first I wanted to see about you and then I realized you were behind it all. Incredible!
Well done a great job of reconstruction.

My views on St Mary's are very similar to John Paul Jones of whom I have vivid memories.
I was very unhappy there. I arrived before you in 1958 (aged six) and left in December 1965 (in full rebellion and close to being a delinquent).
Reading thru your site I realized that the life we led as boarders was completely different than that of the day kids.
For me it was some type of three dimensional Hogwarts with foul food and incomprehensible rules.
Do you remember the punishments of standing on chairs in the landing with books in outstretched hands ? The eternal lines? The number of times I was suspended? The fireworks in the dorm curtains etc.

I loved the weekends in the country. I remember you teaching me about electricity? The battery with cable and the smallest possible light bulb.
The never ending feasts in the bedrooms at midnight. The business of selling sweets and ending up eating them all.
On your list of names you might want to add Kublai Malek.

Tell me more about Paul Vaughn, I can’t seem to place him although I know we were friends.

The man in the photo with me and Jean Bennett was my uncle Hossein, who was studying medicine
at Oxford at the time, and who was my legal guardian in the UK.
I think it was he who found the school of St Mary’s.
He went on to be part of the first team to do a kidney transplant in the UK.
The Americans recruited him first to St Louis and then to North Carolina to run Kidney transplant centers.
They gave him US citizenship and he did very well and ended up living in Florida (Ft Lauderdale).

Its good to be with you again Norman, I shall continue with chapter 2 (1966 –1974) shortly.

Keep well

Majid

Majid T Yazdi (Majid Tabatabai) <majid@mymconsult.com>
Lima, Peru - Monday, July 14, 2008 at 14:16:52 (CEST)

PS: the fotos are of my second wife (Monica and kids)
my daughter Jade (first wedding) who will be 20 in August is studying art at St Martins in London.

---

 

The contents brought back memories and the names of my school day contemporaries, both of which I thought long, long lost.

I have laughed out loud at some of the guest book postings and have been delighted to have rediscovered an old friend, Ben Trisk. There are other names mentioned and one in particular pops up a few times, that of Reina James. To those who asked what became of her, click onto this link to discover more: http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/generalfiction/story/0,,2113260,00.html

I remember French without 'Learning' as some of us would sneeringly call it and vaguely recall the tape recorder. The completely over the top Philip Mysercough/Neville was someone with whom I got on, but in hindsight can see that he was an appalling bully who took out all his insecurities on his young charges.

I was unaware of his News of the World outing. The redoubtable Mrs Paul must have been particularly liberal minded for the time to have allowed him to continue at the school.

He must have been particularly sensitive about it all. I was in charge of the lighting at one his Christmas concert specials, which, at the time were staged at the Rudolf Steiner Theatre just off Baker Street. Calling down from the lighting gallery to the stage, where he was strutting his stuff, I made the mistake of using his old name and received a booming broadside to remind me that his name was MR NEVILLE!

Another Christmas play, Amahl and the Night Visitors, saw me step into one of the leading roles at the last minute when the pupil chosen for the part had to pull out for some reason or other. I'd had the task of chief prompt during the rehearsals and seemed to know all the parts. I played opposite another of my friends Tony Vaughan. His brother Paul features in one of the photographs on the site.

Other memories triggered by your site is of another friend, Charles Kenton, who was a boarder and the son of the actor Godfrey Kenton, who regularly featured in radio plays. I can still see Charles rising majestically to score a brilliantly headed goal in one of our aimless football games on the Hampstead Heath extension. I also recall Ben Trisk playing tennis in a tournament and using the lob to great effect. Our weekly efforts with the old wooden rackets and worn tennis balls at the courts just behind Belsize Park station, must have been hugely frustrating to a talented player such as Ben.

God this is all so sentimental and making me feel ancient!

Keep up the good work and thank you.
Best wishes
Geoffrey Bowden
Geoffrey Bowden <geoffrey.bowden@btopenworld.com>
UK - Monday, June 16, 2008 at 14:16:52 (CEST)

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Hi Norman,

I found your website while taking a break and thinking about the old days. I wasa quite surprised to find it actually! I went through all the photos in the gallery, but none had a picture of me.

I was there for 1971-73, moving there from Switzerland and left when we were posted to the US. I recognize some of the names, like Lisa Prudhoe, Fariba and Farina, and Mandy, who crushed my chalk when it fell out of my hand (she wasn't very nice).

Other names I remember were Duncan ?, Richard Lever, and Peter Rothschild. Anyway, good show.

Cheers.

Kevin Hill.
Kevin Hill <kmahill@umich.edu>
UK - Friday, June 13, 2008 at 15:38:59 (CEST)

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Hi Norman,

I came upon your website dedicated to Town and Country purely by chance – my son had heard some very sad news about one of his school friends and I entered Town and Country on Google. When I read all the entries and saw the photos I really couldn’t believe my eyes.

I was at T & C from 1964 to 1969. My name is Beverley Cohen (Duboff) and I must say I don’t have many fond memories of the School. Mrs Paul was a very strange lady indeed (that is being polite!). I remember having to recite pages of French poetry (La cigalle ayant chante) The only teacher I really liked was Miss Bennett. She encouraged me and I think it is she who got me interested in the theatre and books.

It is easy to criticise the school now – who knows how I would gave got on at another school? But I don’t think we were taught to aim high and to be confident and it took me a long time to be able to do that.

When I left school I took A levels and a secretarial course and then I worked in the theatrical and publishing world until I got married in 1977. I now have 2 grown up sons, Mark who is 27 and Richard age 25. They are both Chartered Surveyors like Kenny, my husband. We live in Stanmore Middlesex.

I have worked on and off since I got married but the only work I do at the moment is on my golf! My family all play the game and last year I was Lady Captain of my golf club Potters Bar.

I was thrilled to read that Karen Miller remembered me and that Carol Williams now lives in Australia – she has had an interesting time. I did see Carol for a while after leaving school but we lost touch in the early 70s.

I do still see Lynn Swaine (Steele) and she’s still as bubbly as she was in that photo in the playground, except she’s now a grandmother!! I also see Hilary Kaye (Isaacs) and she’s also a grandmother!

Thanks for all your hard work on the website. It brought back some interesting memories.

Regards

Beverley Cohen (Duboff)
Beverley Cohen (Duboff) <bkco33@hotmail.com>
London, UK - Monday, June 02, 2008 at 12:21:43 (CEST)

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Hi Norman

I have visited your website several times over the past few years and been amazed at the warmth you display for T&C. My memories are mixed, but the overriding one is misery. I hated the place. I hated the boarding house (even the words 'boarding house' make me feel a little nauseous). I hated the tarmac playground and the side gate with the trellis panel (remember?). And more... And that is probably why I have never contacted you, thinking that you must be deranged, at the very least, to have such fond memories. I went there from age 5 - 11, first as a boarder, and how you could speak so kindly of this bunch of mad bastards who had such power over small children was a mystery to me.

The Pauls were, as one contributor (Ernie?) comments, autocratic and remote - that Mrs P was later described as mentally ill came as no surprise, I could have told them that at age 5. Mr Neville was a particularly unpleasant pervert. He had some very unsavoury practices which today would be seen as child abuse and probably require him to resign or, preferably, be banged up. And Mr Prousto (?) was little better. Of course I remember some individuals as being kind and warm, but not many - and mainly the women.

Despite the above, I am not a twisted, rancorous old git, rubbing my palms together in demented self-loathing staring at a wall and muttering under my breath about the wrongs done to me by the world at large (well, not all the time). Like you, I have had a varied career, mostly in the entertainment industry. Now I am too old and wise to spend my life on tour, and too bored to order toilets, generators and fencing for festivals, and now spend my time trying to stop those people who still do these things from killing themselves and each other - and get paid a damn site better. Oh yes, and quite a happy bloke really - for a health and safety consultant, that is.

I remember you with some affection, a bright and inventive type, always entertaining and only as 'good' as you needed to be to get by. Maybe that was the difference, I always got caught and punished, often for things I hadn't done, and rather than shut up and keep my head down, I'd protest my innocence until I managed to infringe another arcane piece of etiquette (usually "talking back to my elders and betters") and get into trouble all over again. I have a very clear memory of you pinning a crumpled sheet of silver paper to the inside of your desk lid and poking a wire, connected to the silver foil via a battery, through a hole in the lid and scraping it about to create static and interfere with the radio reception of those dreadful BBC schools programmes. I don't remember if it worked, but it seems vaguely ironic that you went on to a 'career' where immense effort was expended improving wireless reception. It is only with mild regret that I confess to being a Radio London listener (Caroline was a bit naff within my circle of friends) and thus not hearing you which I think would have been quite cool - though I expect London had ceased broadcasting by the time you got to Caroline and I had probably stopped listening to the pirates...

Anyway, thought I'd finally get in touch to say you have done an excellent job archiving T&C - whether it will be read as a celebration of great schooldays or a dire warning of the potential dangers of off-beam educational establishments given free reign depends on the experience of the reader. Anyway, well done.

A few bits from the past to add to your collection - but no photos I'm afraid:

Names that drift in and out of focus...
Harry Trigg - American?
Dorothy ? (Doy)
Alexis (Flexy)
Lindy Green (last seen in The Bell, Belsize Park 1970's)
Nicholas Paul Butler
The coffee shop was called Beverly Bean it was opposite the Finchley Road baths and was redeveloped as a Sainsbuy's - I spent a lot of time in the area in the late 60s and 70's and would tell friends that I leaned to swim in Sainsbury's which we thought hilarious - but we were stoned most of the time.

Anyway it's a beautiful sunny Sunday down here in SW France and I must go tend the estate as the grass grows faster than I can cut the damn stuff down, and if I don't do it now it will be up to the eaves by the time I get back from bringing some sanity and order to the Glastonbury festival (spoilsport!)

All best
Richard Paul-Jones
PS You can remove PJ, I only acquired the nickname in 1963 (after T&C) but it is a limitation of Friends Reunited who ask for a nickname in your profile, and then assume you had it since birth.
Richard Paul-Jones
Richard Paul-Jones <rpj@safeevents.org>
Blagnac , France - Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 21:18:24 (CEST)

Norman's Note - Richard, thanks for writing, you say I "must be deranged, at the very least, to have such fond memories" and you could easily be right - after all this website is simply a labour of love! but notice how many other glowing memories the site has accumulated. Strangley, I can easily agree with your summary of T&C, and yet amongst all that dysfunction and madness, I feel it did me a great deal of good, perhaps partly because of it! Yet your comments are just as valid as any of the others, and your description is prefectly recognisable. Thank you for deciding to write after all.
P.S. My foil experiments 'jamming' the BBC that you recall, must have been an early indication of my disapproval of their monopoly of the airwaves?

---

Norman

I hope the attached pictures will give everyone in them some fond memories. These are six more pictures I found from the years 58 to 61 when I was at the old school.

One of the pictures I have labelled Timothy Grimes but it might have been Michael Bunting who was being strangled by John Walton?

If anyone can name the others who I have failed to name in any of the photos please let Norman know so he can keep an accurate historic record.

Happy Easter
Martin Bridger
Martin Bridger
UK - Monday, March 24, 2008 at 15:24:28 (CET)

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Dear Norman

I have just had the extraordinary experience of seeing what I presume is your web site on the Town and Country School. I was there from 1961 until 1964 when I returned to South Africa. I am regularly in London and some years ago set out to find the school only to learn that it no longer existed. It was , for me, extraordinarily formative and encouraged so much intellectual curiosity among my friends and myself that I often wonder what its secret was.

I am an investment banker working primarily in the international mining industry for my own account. I would dearly like to know more about you and to make contact with some of the people who were at school at that time.

I have seen on your website numerous references to a boy named Joshua Thomas. He had a brother who was a friend of mine by the name of Giles. I recall that the boys lived with their father somewhere in Belsize Park. Of interest is that Sylvia Plath lived in the apartment below them and Mr Thomas was friendly with her and consoled her after Ted Hughes walked out. I think it was he who was first on the scene after she committed suicide.

Another boy with whom I was friendly at that time was Nicholas Partos – not on your list. He was very bright and I often wonder what became of him. He lived with his mother in Reddington Gardens (Redfern Gardens) in Earls Court. I note that two other boys are not on your list whom I recall. The one was Martin Deutscher (his father Isaac Deutscher was a renowned Sovietologist and at one time the Editor of the New Statesman, and Paul Allum). The only school friend from those days that I keep in contact with is Juliet Glaister. She now lives in Ealing. I was very close to the family.

Do you have any recollection of a young boy, I think a year below me, who was the godson of Yehudi Menhuin – also called Yehudi, I think. I remember the Dragon boy, ultimate cool as someone remarked on your website and also a pretty girl by the name of Pamela Mason. I believe that she was related to the actor James Mason. Reina James was another friend of mine in those years. She had a South African connection. Her father, Sid James was a famous comedy actor who was born in Johannesburg.

Geoffrey Bowden was on your list. I was very friendly with him and would love to know where he is now – if you have a contact address. Oddly, I remember Lilian Trig. I see that she lives in Canada and she was a Candian girl whose father was on secondment to London if memory serves.

I have always wondered about a marvellous French teacher that we had. His name was Myerscough but at the commencement of a new term he announced that he was now Philip Neville and he remained like that for the rest of my stay at Town & Country.

David Cheetham taught me English. He had been at Stoneyhurst and his approach was very public school. I often puzzle about why he taught at Town & Country at all. I was a great fan of his and got on famously with him because he loved sport and I was very sporty – far too sporty for T&C. I recall getting time off from school on Tuesday and Thurday afternoons so that I could go down to Queens Club to play tennis.

I had some splendid teachers who gave me wonderful insights and sparked my intellectual curiosity more than one would normally expect out of a 14/15 year old schoolboy. Other than David Cheetham and Philip Neville, tow who come to mind were Mrs Belloni (an outstanding History teacher although your reference to her is as a junior school teacher) and Helen Fehling who also taught English.Mrs Haak never managed to teach me much German but she had great legs and that was sufficient to grab my attention.

Just as a point of personal background, I am married (for the second time) to Helen Maisels, whose father Isie Maisels QC was a great barrister who led the Defence Team in the South African Treason Trial. Nelson Mandela was one of the accused in that trial. All the accused were found not guilty in 1961 and Mandela and Isie remained close right up to the time of Isie’s death in 1994. We have one son, Simon, who goes to St Johns College, in Johannesburg and we will likely move to London in the second half of next year so that Simon can do his A levels at one of the Public Schools close to London. Simon will go to University in the UK. My son from my first marriage lives and works in New York.

I hope that you find this helpful and once again my applause on your website. It is a wonderful vehicle for connecting old friends.

Kind regards

Benjamin Trisk
Benjamin Trisk <venture@pixie.co.za>
Johannesburg, South Africa - Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 13:17:39 (CET)

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Hi Norman,

I went to both the Town and the Country School from about 1947 or 48 until 1952.

My name started out as Jennifer Jacobs, then became Jennifer (Jenny) Greene. My sister, Lindy Greene attended the town school starting in 1959.

During my years there I remember some names of schoolmates: Zulieka Dobson (Zooey), Susan Bisham-Holmes, Sally and Molly Branch, Sally and Jackie Turner, Neil Crawford, Kip Hampton, a Swiss girl named Vivian (?) and another girl named Harriet (whose last name I have also forgotten) among them. These were mostly at the country school (Stanford). And I remember a girl named Sandy with red hair and a horse named Lavender! Might you know the whereabouts of any of these people?

Miss Bennett was my favourite teacher.

Unfortunately, when my parents moved us to Canada in the winter of 1952 they were in arrears on my school bills, so I was not allowed to tell anyone I was leaving and therefore lost touch with everyone. (They did pay up on returning to England in 1959 and enrolling my younger sister).

I have many complicated memories of my boarding school years. It was hard to be out alone in the world at such a young age, but if one must, St. Mary's was the most benign of places to be alone in.

It's lovely to see this web site, thank you for doing it.

Jenny
Jenny Kastner <jennynews@sympatico.ca>
Toronto , Canada - Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 21:25:39 (CET)

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Hi Norman, I was totally shocked – surprised – blown away – whatever, to fined your web site. I'd love to make contact with Jennifer Staffy Peter Neomey Rachel Ibittson Sean Sears John Hall Eric etc. I have lots of Photos of cottage kids and plays we produced, parties, plus Jean, bless her, Robin Wood, Caroline Mortimer. Do get in touch. Sorry about layout and spelling can’t work this blessed computer. Yours Daniela Borchard
Daniela Borchard <danbor@netvision.net.il>
ISRAEL - Monday, February 04, 2008 at 17:20:14 (CET)

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Hi, what a great website! I have very fond memories of the school (73-76). I heard recently that Mrs Paul was once an eminent psychiatrist. I'm not sure whether this is true, but it certainly figures as she had a tendency to analyse both pupils and parents. She once told a friend of mine that she was an unloved child!

Pls can you add me to your list of pupils.

Many thanks,

Undine Bowmaker
Undine Bowmaker <ur@ur9297.plus.com>
UK - Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 18:45:19 (CET)

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I was a young pupil at St. Mary's school. Don't remember the London part, but do remember some of Devonshire. Learned to read from AAMilne book: When we were young, or some such, with poems.

I was born in Vienna, and left with my brother in Dec. 38 to go to a family in London. He is 5 years older, and went to a different school (and therefore was separated from him at evacuation). I was about seven years old. Remember learning french, and arithmetic playing at a toy market in the schoolroom.

Also remember working at the beach, where I got chilblains (frostbite) from inadequate footwear. Remember staying in a ?nurse's big soft comfortable bed with a hot water bottle, and the large comforting woman sitting in a rocking chair beside a small table with a lamp, reading. Think we regularly wore knitted bed socks to bed.

Liked Mrs. Paul also. Think it was Mr. Paul who worked at exercises with me for my flat feet: tearing up paper strips with my toes and walking with them curled around paper, or pencils.

We did hear bible lessons, and I was very interested in them. First time I knew of such stories. Think I liked hearing about Jesus because I felt somewhat deserted and ignored by parents and elders.

Do remember knitting scarves. That was when I learned to knit. Older girls made squares for blankets. Remember soldiers visiting us to show us how to don gasmasks. Remember the views of green fields, separated with hedges like patchwork, when we went on walks. And clambering through hedges, and over wooden styles. Do not remember the beach though. Think we went to visit a farmhouse, and had tea. (Visited England in the 90s and a cottage kitchen with blue decorated plates on the wall seemed very familiar).

I did not do as well with food and eating, I guess. I was considered quite underweight for my age when I arrived in school in New York (April 1940).

I do remember feeding pigs, and not wanting to eat pork. But think I also remember working in a vegetable garden. We had rides on a horse one day, I still was suffering from frostbite, but got a ride side saddle with the help of Mr. Paul, wrapped in a quilt. Other children had bikes to ride.

I wore braids, had dark hair and brown eyes. My nickname was Bibi. I was at St. Mary's from its evacuation until ?March 1940.

My daughter found your website. I am now 76 years old, living in Massachusetts.

Sincerely, Phoebe Joseph
Phoebe Joseph
Massachusetts, USA - Monday, January 21, 2008 at 16:50:34 (CET)

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Hi, Norman,

As the clouds of time pass, I'm stunned to find this site and well done!

I live in Norfolk nowadays and in a moment of nostalgia I took a look at Eton Avenue when in London to find the School closed.

I'm Matthew Rees and I was at Town and Country from about 1964(?) until 1971. I say suppose because I thought I moved from the Junior School up to the Senior School next door in Eton Avenue. I then made a vague attempt to pass my 11 Plus. I think I had been to four perhaps five School's prior to this and it was now arranged for me to come to Swiss Cottage every day whilst I lived at the bottom of Holland Park.

The first year I would be dropped off and collected, it was the clever thing to do in those days as many Women didn't work was to pull a coat on to cover the nightgown below and pretty much throw the child from the moving car. My wonderful Mother was always just a little late and I generally missed Assembly. Subsequently I would have to make a Central Line Journey through to Baker Street and then northwards on the Bakerloo to Swiss Cottage. I remained Late! To day I have a nervousness of large groups of silent yet expectant people. I suspect it must originate from this time.

My first memories are of the young Nikolai Tolstoy reading us a type of Tolkien Fairy tale once if not more times a week. Of Course I didn't know who he was until twenty years later. I swiftly started to drop this nugget into conversations about my schooling. I think it in some way absolved me of doing pretty much no School work at all during my career at T&C and I hoped it might indicate that I had in some way been touched by his intellectual power.

I don't quite know how we managed it but the School day seemed to be directed pretty much entirely to highly skilled and sometimes violent games of Football in what was after all only a concreted suburban garden.

In the summer the class room after Breaks must of been full of sweating and exhausted Children. Their minds still full of visions of stirring deeds on the Football Grounds of Old Trafford, Gunnersbury and White Hart Lane. God knows how anything got done.

This enclosed 'pitch' had various hazards including a small wooden cabin, usually full of the Girls. In addition a slope down into a basement area that gave access to a dingy dining room and possibly changing rooms.

This lower area was inhabited by the chain smoking Mr Neville (I never was clear what his role was but it involved watching us change for Football and something of an artistic nature) and the portly Mr Gayton(history). I once caught poor Mr Gayton with a sweetly struck volley which knocked the poor man sideways. He fell to the ground and a small amount of blood seeped from the back of his head. This is it, I thought, but the generous and liberal nature of this School came through and I pretty much got away with it scot free. The poor Mr Gayton who was now blowing like a Hippo was taken to Hospital. I think the game ended due to lack of time due to the inconvenience but started as usual the next break.

As I grew older it was clear that this brick lined and watery passage also had uses for other types of socialising other than Football but I wasn't really clear of those until 'Girls' became important. The older 6th form could be glimpsed in tight close intimate activity that wouldn't become clear until I was is in my last year perhaps. The pleasure of casting off one's naivity. Some of my fellow schoolmates whether in my class or not would have been,(apologise for my spelling, never did improve) Shafiq Ali, Lived near me off Ladbroke, Westbourne Grove, Alex Priest,Mahmoud, Ali Nafis, Isaac Moliyan, Kevin Matthewson, Johan Schacelpec( S.A Very good all round sportsman) the amazing Gary Bolton who had a deformed back and played great football. I have a vague memory that he had an operation and was transformed from bent to tall and elegant pretty much overnight. A guy whose name I can't remember who played football in the playground who had a quite nature but hummed classical music as he dribbled the ball at his feet. Mike Baess, who lived round the corner from the school and scored one of the best goals I've ever seen from, well, it seemed like 40 Yards. Alfie Nathan, Julien.

We were blessed with a School of beautiful and lovely girls, Caroline Willing, Robin Rowe, Lindy Rappaport, Anne Wild, Diana K(In my early kissing days I bit her lip during our go at 'Spin The Bottle' Sorry Diana, I still blush) Stella.

I will have forgotten many and I'm sorry. I can only hope all has gone well for these happy clever and talented people. I remember this part of my life with great fondness. All of these people are welcome to contact me and those I haven't mentioned must.

This school has left me with an inquisitive and searching mind, I read constantly and I have a positive and energetic manner. I don't know a lot but I can find out. What more could you ask for from your School.

Matthew
Matthew Rees <matthew@stiffkey.net>
Norfolk, UK - Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 19:30:28 (CET)

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Hi Norman

Have wondered on and off what happened to St Mary's T & C School and discovered your website - congratulations! My brother Chris and I were there for a year 53/54 but it made such an impression on me like so many of us. Chris and I were driven from Hammersmith to Eton Ave every day by our Mum- she had been a single mother for 6 years - she remarried - she bought a car - heard about the school somewhere and decided to take us there. I think the commuting was unusual in those days - but I could be wrong.

I see that there are pictures of some of the class I was in put up by Alicia Surfit. The picture of the table with the creative artwork pouring out really brought back memories - freedom to splash the paint about! Attached is a picture of a 'Nativity' play we were all in - I seem to remember it being a variation of 'Jason and the Argonauts' but could be mistaken. I am sitting at the front with a tennis racket press converted into a lyre.

I was given the photograph by Seth Mydans whose father who was a professional photographer- where are you Seth?

Why did the school so excite us? My own thinking for what its worth is

1. Small classes
2. Mixed boys and girls
3. Subjects taught by different teachers, even to juniors.
4. Classmates from different backgrounds
5. Teaching style - use of stories etc

The last point is hardest to say since we are looking back as adults. I remember having to learn lines from Shakespeare of Ceasar's wife pleading to him. We were treated as adults yet had masses of time for dressing up and creative play eg jungle gym etc.

I never went to another school with more than 3 of the above 5 features, and I went to a lot of schools.

It would be good to meet up if there are reunions planned.

Rick

Richard Ronald
Ronald Associates

Ronald Associates <richard@ronaldassociates.com>
Hemel Hempstead, UK - Monday, December 31, 2007 at 21:20:29 (CET)

[Norman's Note 1: During my period at T&C there was a general decline in standards and yet it still had similar impact in our decade. Maybe you should add the teachers themselves, to your list. Often they would also be artists and writers - examples from my time; Mrs Gorara and Count Tolstoy, or eccentrics with wild imaginations - examples; Mrs Paul herself, and of course Mr Edward Myerscough AKA Philip Neville - need I say more!?, or wonderfully warm and inspirational individuals - many would nominate Miss Jean Bennet but also I would add, in a different way, Kenneth Johnson.]

[Norman's Note 2: Richard kindly provided us with a high quality (high resolution) copy of the photo above, although of course it's impractical to show it directly, due to size restrictions, you can download the super copy here. (Right Click and 'save target as..') I would imagine this would especially apeal to those in the picture, since it can produce excellent prints]

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Norman

What a brilliant site you started, I just hope more old pupils will Google themselves and find it and make contact. I was delighted to hear from both George (Juerg) Haller and Lillian Trigg.

1958 -1961 When I wrote to you in June, I promised to send some photographs which I said would follow. I hadn't quite planned that they should take me this long. Attached is a compressed Zip file containing seventeen photos. Some of the names of pupils have slipped my memory, I am hoping that others of that time will be able to fill in my gaps.

I have found the negatives for another ten which I will get printed unless I can find the prints. They are of George (Juerg) Haller being beaten up (posed for the photo) by Timothy Grimes (I think), also pictures of Gerald Davies, Donald Atkins, John Walton, Robin Nueberg playing cricket watched by teacher - David Cheetham.

Sorry, I don't have any photos of Esther Bateman or Bridget Callendar the matrons at 31 Glenloch Road. I remember Peter White, Donald Atkins, Michael Bunting but I am sorry to say I don't have any recollection of Charlie Kenton or Angelica Houston.

With all my very best wishes for 2008

Martin Bridger
Martin Bridger <martin.bridger@tesco.net >
UK - Monday, December 31, 2007 at 16:16:48 (CET)

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Hi Norm, Wow, what a lot of memories that picture [see entry below] stirred up.

The photo was definitely taken in autumn 1969 as some of the team only arrived at the school in September of that year.

In those days we were just getting a good team together and were starting to get better results against our old enemy Harewood House.

The peak years would come between 1970 and 1972 when we had such strong players that we would soundly thrash Harewood almost everytime we played them.

Anyway, l to r in Back: Stevie (Man Utd fan who had a German surname), the Mighty Mao, Julian Esterson, Matthew 'Reecey' Rees, Alex Priest, Isaac Molayam, Alfie 'what's it all about' Nathan and Johann Schalkwyk. Front l to r: Oliver Perrin (now a famous pianist), yours truly, Andy Collier, Russell 'The Actor' Collins, Gary 'GB' Bolton and Shaffique 'Shef' Omar.

All the best and keep the good work up Mike
Mike Baess <mikebaess@hotmail.com>
UK - Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 15:48:59 (CET)

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Hello Norman,

I came across this picture of the football team, while I was rummaging through boxes.

I have no idea why I have a picture of the football team. Judging by the people in the picture I think it must be from about 1969 or 1970.

My memory fails me on the names of some of the team but I can identify a few. I hope someone will recognize some of the other faces.

Back: Stevie Halmai (Man U fan), the Mighty Mao, Julian Esterson, Matthew 'Reecey' Rees, Alex Priest, Isaac Molayam, Alfie 'what's it all about' Nathan & Johann Schalkwyk.
Front: Oliver Perrin (now a famous pianist), yours truly, Andy Collier, Russell 'The Actor' Collins, Gary 'GB' Bolton and Shaffique 'Shef' Omar.

Thanks for posting this, Norman.

Diana Krajkeman
Diana Krajkeman <robertsd@bsd405.org>
UK - Monday, November 26, 2007 at 18:48:04 (CET)

[Norman's Note: I have inserted Mike B's list of names from his email above.
Remarkably, this photo framed by the alcove, in the music/assembly room clearly shows where
the painting of a river shown in full view in picture gallery 11 used to hang, a question many of us were wondering about!]

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Hello

I am in a bit of a state of shock. I googled my name and up popped SMTCS with my name attached. I attended the school from 1958 till 1962 and have fond and interesting memories of the place, people and the kids. It is very late here -Victoria BC Canada but I will write again as I wish to add to the stories and remberances.

Does anyone know where Pamela Thompson is?? I know that Dennis Dragon is in California and so is his sister Carmen.

It was wonderful seeing pictures of George Haller and Michael Schmidt and others.

Where in the world are you living and is there a way to contact any of the others except by email?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Cheerio Lillian Trigg
Lillian Trigg <thelilco@hotmail.com>
Victoria BC , Canada - Monday, November 19, 2007 at 14:23:07 (CET)

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Norman,

How strange and wonderful to stumble upon this site. It would have never happened had a friend not been looking for another school on the east coast of the US with a similar name, St. Marys...etc,which prompted a conversation that led to finding this site.

My brother, Jason Acosta (deceased),and I attended T&C in '69-'71, and both had very fond memories of this school and its cast of characters. After reading through the list of entries in the guest book it really brought back the memories, like the chocolate pudding, bangers and mash, the dreaded jelly and custard. I recall trying to find the school around 1990 and could not locate it, and could not find out what had happened until reading the articles you had posted on this site.

All the names mentioned brought back the memories, Matthew, Sheffi, Mic, Gary, Alex, Lindy,Gail, Sebastian...etc..

I remember doing a film while at the school, obviously, Victor Hugo's' "Les Miserable's" starring Sabrina Crewe as Cossette, orchestrated/directed by Mr. Neville himself. A copy of this must be languishing somewhere, definitely one not to be missed. And the question of the time," where did Mrs. Paul always find that tissue to wipe her nose, and where did she return it to after use???"

I have recalled a few names to add to the alumni list. The Perrins, Roger, Margot, Oliver, Roland and their youngest sister (name?) already noted about Roland's career. The Roegs, Waldo (I think attended), Nicholas and Lucien, whose father is the film director "Nick Roeg", Lucien starred in "Walkabout" butt naked with Jenny Agutter. The Williams, Jenny, Mark and Joseph, whose father is the prolific composer John Williams (Star Wars, ET, Superman, Harry Potter...etc..etc) Jenny went on to become an attorney, Mark, a drummer for Toto and Air Supply, as well as many other bands and recordings, now resides in Utah with his family and studio. Joe also went on to sing for Toto and many film scores including The Lion King, resides and writes music in LA.

As for myself, many years of travel as an audio engineer for studio, live shows, film and TV. Now residing in California and Florida, in-between all the travel, just writing and producing music nowadays.

I do remember quite a few of my classmates and the staff, notably,Sharon Pinsker and her sisters, who would arrive daily in the Bentley. Gail Castle (who taught me how to french kiss) Angus Cameron(another name to add) whom I kept touch with up until the mid 80's.A fellow American named Andy ?? Would be great to hear from a few of these people and see what has transpired after all of these years, truly a magical school in its time, THANK YOU for putting together this website.

P.S. The only photo I have is one of my brother and I ,in uniform, waiting for the coach to arrive.

Gregg Acosta, aka "Josh"
JOSHUA
Josh Hemingway <joshyn2go@hotmail.com>
Joshua Tree, CA, USA - Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 18:22:10 (CET)

[Norman's Note: Josh, a rather mundane answer to your question regarding Mrs Paul's apparently magic tissue; I recall she simply stuffed it back up her sleeve, but none-the-less, your memory of such detail as her perpetual nose wiping is impressive!.. Another ex T&Cer reminded me about how she would keep every one waiting at the start of morning assembly and then walk slooowly in with great aires as though royalty, wearing her Dr Schol's sandals, and with very waxy toes peeping out, (close proximity to us sitting on floor) - lowering herself carefully (following strict Alexander Technique) onto her 'throne' actually a very rickety plywood chair, which no one else would ever dare to sit on... I could go on, but such details certainly stay with you]

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Dear Norman

I have found this snap of Jean Bennett she sent to my sister Val about 1950.

I believe she is outside a Swiss chalet.

There was a request for Mrs Paul's maiden name on the Wanted page of the St Mary's Town and Country School website.
My sister Val has told me that Mrs Paul's mother was Mrs Selver. Val and I were at the Country School about 1947.

Regards
John
John Morrison < johngrmorrison@hotmail.com>
UK - Friday, October 12, 2007 at 00:56:38 (CEST)

[Norman's Comment; Thank you John, for sending in this photo for all to enjoy seeing. Jean just radiates warmth as always.
You mention that you and Val were there in '47 whilst I started in '61 - quite a long time between us, yet you, the readers of these pages,
and I are all linked by having known this turned on lady.]

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Hello Norman

My name is John Rolph and I believe that I must have been the longest serving pupil at St Mary's T&C. I started at Stanford Hall in May 1949, tranferred to Eton Avenue in 1951 and left in August 1959.

I have written to John Morrison about my time at Stanford. I could name quite a few pupils during my time at Eton Avenue. Among my contempories were Angela pleasence and oliver cotton who went on to became quite famous. if you would like a longer list, please let me know and I will try and get the "little grey cells" working.

Best wishes

John Rolph [Name & Address Supplied]
John Rolph <johnrolph@uwclub.net>
Towcester, UK - Friday, October 12, 2007 at 00:50:56 (CEST)

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Hi Norman

I attended the Town & Country School in 1963-1964. I believe that we were in the same class during that academic year. It was nostalgic for me to see your web site with all the pictures of our class mates.

In case you don't remember me very well, I arrived at the school in September 1963 and could hardly speak a word of English at the time.
I sat next to Vincent Young throughout most of that time. I remember you, of course, I also remember Joshua Thomas, Anjelica Huston, Brian (the American), Simon Pentel, John Ker, Gabriel, Peter Wood, Judith Lock (the headmaster's daughter, I think), an oriental girl (can't remember her name though) and Majid.

It would be good to hear from you.

Best wishes
Sabah Zilouf
Sabah Zilouf <szilouf@hotmail.com>
UK - Tuesday, October 09, 2007 at 14:40:23 (CEST)

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Hi Norman,

It's a shame there are no contact details for Cathy, Melanie or Ilona. I did see Janine some years ago, and I must contact her again.

Re Memorabilia, etc, I don't think I have any photos, but if any turn up, I certainly will send them to you.

Re anecdotes, well I'm afraid they are mainly negative, as I absolutely hated the place - the staff, not the kids. The only teacher I liked was Miss Bennett, the English teacher, oh, and Count Tolstoy was ok, for his brief time there.

Vivid memories I have are:
Yes, Melanie on the diving board. Amazing, she was.
All of us behaving in a rather suspect manner in the sweet shop on the way back from the library/swimming pool, i.e. coming out with more sweets than we'd paid for.
Mrs. Paul not allowing Hattie Jaques' daughter (can't remember her name) to read poetry for a tv programme [Six Sides of a Square BBC2] about the school because she was wearing a brace, and didn't look right !!

That 'orrible maths teacher [Mr Kimmel] bawling at me in class, and saying he'd throw me out by my hair, and me surprising myself by shouting back with what sounded at the time like a cool line - that "I wouldn't touch you with a sterilised plastic bargepole". Funny what you remember isn't it?

And did I imagine it or did Mrs. Paul make us go up to her bedroom to say goodnight to her each night? Creepy.

I also remember one or two rather alcoholic houseparent types, who were charged with our care, eating endless marmite on toast for breakfast, and tormenting the boys in their dorm by dangling things from our bedroom window !!

Best wishes,
Claire Armon-Jones (Green)
Claire Green <PBastow@aol.com>
UK - Tuesday, October 09, 2007 at 14:36:01 (CEST)

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Hi Norman,
It's been almost three years since I discovered your T&C website and posted a message to the guestbook, and yet still no one has written in to admit that I was the long-lost love of his life, had he only had the nerve to tell me so all those years ago... heavy sigh.

Anyway, I've noticed you're requesting a photo of the school logo from the blazer on your "Wanted!" page, and, believe it or not, my 35-year-old blazer is upstairs in a closet (I think I have my mother to thank for its still being around).

If you're still looking for a photo, let me know, and I'll get out the ol' camera.

I've also located several photos I took in the yard towards the end of my time at the school in 1974 - incredibly blurry and not very enlightening, but if you'd like them, I'll send copies along of those as well.

I remember the names of the people in them... I think.

Best regards,
Karen Freund - (T&C Upper Forms 1-2, 1972-1974)
Karen Freund <kfreund@mindspring.com>
Algonquin, IL, USA - Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 21:32:32 (CEST)

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Hello Norman,

How extraordinary to be emailing you !! My name is Claire Armon-Jones (was Claire Green) and I was at St. Mary's at the same time as you, I think. I was there aprox. 1964 - 6.

I stumbled across your web site a few days ago and was quite amazed to see it. My contemporaries were people such as Ilona Lazar, Cathy Anderson, Melanie King, Joshua Thomas?, Mayo Elstob, etc.

It was really fascinating (and wierd) coming across all those photos. I just wanted to say 'Hi' and 'thanks for doing this website' and to ask whether you have any contact details for the people above. I have often wondered about them over the years.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Claire Armon-Jones. Email: as above - pbastow@aol.com
Claire Armon-Jones <pbastow@aol.com>
UK - Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 14:39:33 (CEST)

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Dear Norman,

There are many members of staff who deserve to be added to your list. Here are a quick dozen:

Mr Brown (Geography)
Mme Chagrin (Maths)
Miss Margaret Dodds (Reception class)
Miss Rosamund Gardner (Mrs Paul's deputy for many years)
Mr Graham (Succeeded Miss Gardner as deputy head)
Mr Gubbin (Maths)
Mrs Elizabeth Isaacs (English)
Mrs Caroline Nicholson (History, Drama, Netball)
Mrs Margaret Noyes (English)
Mr John Silkin (Poetry and brought out the Anthology)
Mr Nicholas Walter (History)
Mr Robin Wood (English)

Many other gifted and very original painters, writers and academics often did a term or perhaps a year at Town and Country. Mrs Paul seemed to attract unusual people.

The more you add, the more readily people's memories will be triggered by the names.

Many thanks for this from Naomi
Naomi Stadlen <stadlen@aol.com>
UK - Friday, September 14, 2007 at 13:54:04 (CEST)

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Dear Norman,

I came across the T&C site by chance and was only there briefly – not even sure of the dates. BUT was very interested to see the pic that Christine Boudier sent (no. 11 I think) where I appear in the left corner. I (and especially my husband) would love to know if the original photo was cropped and whether it has the whole of my face? I have almosy no pictures from that time as we moved around a great deal.

MANY thanks,

Jill Slotover
Jill Kravitz <jill@slotover.cix.co.uk>
UK - Friday, September 14, 2007 at 13:43:59 (CEST)

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Hello Norman

This is something I said I would never do! - Make contact with anyone from T & C. But having read other pupils experiences, on your most excellent site, with memories as dreadful as some of mine, perhaps I should risk it.

Just by accident I stumbled across your website tonight. I was a pupil at T & C between 1958 to 1961. I am one of the two "louts" Peter Heller refers too and says cuffed a Whalen twin; of which I have no memory of either them or the alleged offence but Donald Atkins of course I remember.

Along with:
Peter & George Heller - got photos of you two in the playground
Angela Pleasance
Sarah, John & Adam Walton - used to live in Richmond Surrey in a terraced house with bay windows on every floor which looked just like a lighthouse. Their mum used to make wonderful home made bread.
Sarah Neuberg - have a great photo of you in the playground
Donald Atkins - last heard of living on the East Coast - sailing Stella out of Burnham on Crouch. Ann Cruickshank
Gloria Harris
Michael Schmidt - photos of Michael on a School trip to Southend on Sea (I think) or Margate. messing about on the beach.
Peter White - boarder
Selma Feiner
Lillian Trigg - Great photos on Primrose Hill
Pamela Thompson - Great photos on Primrose Hill
Joanna McEvoy
Erica Matlow
Beatty Evans - photos sitting on the iron stairs
Han (?)
Michael Bunting
Gerald Davies - photos of Gerry in the playground
Reina James - daughter of Sid James a brilliant actor.
Juliet Glaister
Adrian Rivers - a boarder
Timothy Grimes
.......and I remember Bridget the matron - I will remember the other matrons in time.

I have lots of photos from those days. I will dig them out and send them to you.

Football games in Regents Park with Mr Sylvan sitting in his shooting stick; ( which I managed to break whilst sitting on it and taking the micky by trying to imitate him.

When it was raining and too wet for Mr Sylvan to sit and watch us play football. He used to instruct the coach driver to take us to the British Museum. Where on arrival we, would be 'first' off the coach and on our best behaviour, dutifully walk into the museum up the stairs (now out of sight) along the top gallery, down the stairs at the other end, out of the doors, across the road and into a coffee bar where we would stay until it was time to board the coach again.

I was a 'weekly' boarder, at 31 Glenlock Road, so never went to the house in the 'country' at weekends. I was also the son of a psychoanalyst and got sent to see one, five times a week - because at that time no-one had heard of or understood dyslexia.

I will put the photographs together with some more memories and drop you another line. Anyway it's late and I'm off to bed as I've got work in the morning. Oh yes, I'm married with two children, currently at university and we live near Southampton.

Best wishes
Martin Bridger
"Born in the First Half of the Last Century"


Martin Bridger <martin.bridger@tesco.net>
Southampton, UK - Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 12:23:07 (CEST)

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HI, I just came across the T and C. website. I was at the school from about 1956 to 1960 and have such fond memories of it. I came from a very academic school and T and C was like a breath of fresh air. Not having to wear full uniform, wearing bright coloured tights to school, my mother scoured London to get them for me. I remember my first teacher there Mrs Smith who kept horrible insects in the classroom of which I was terrified. I sat next to Lucinda Huxley. I remember Alicia (sufit) as being a wonderful artist. I also rmember Michael Schmidt, Donald Atkins, Anne Cruickshank. Gloria Harris, who I still sometimes see and a girl from New Zealand called Robin Neuberg. We became very close friends, though lost touch and I believe she now lives in Spain.

My love of poetry, english literature and music all came from that school. Taught by teachers like Jean Bennett, together with Peter of course, who could be surprised. My Myerscough for History and the Sylvain's for French and Maths I think. We used to watch Mr. Sylvain very closely as he used to have this habit, when sitting down, of shaking his leg up and down. This we concluded was because he visited a lot of prostitutes and had obviously been with them the night before.!!

I remember Mrs. Paul giving our class a lesson on how to be tolerant of other religions and beliefs and making each of us recite a prayer from our different faiths. I also remember Angela Pleasance, the daughter of Donald Pleasance being at the school and a high percentage of American and Canadian children.

I learn't very little at the school except about people but I certainly had a good time.

Selma Feiner (now Shrank)
Selma Feiner <SHRANKS@aol.com>
UK - Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at 11:52:10 (CEST)

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Hi Norman,

I just wanted to send a quick note of thanks to you for starting the Town and Country web site.

It is because of the web site that I reconnected with a good friend, Alex Priest, whose letter I found on your site. He had seen the pictures that you posted for me and when I came home to London for a visit this April we met and spent a day visiting the houses, 38-40 Eton Ave. and walking down memory lane.

I really get much enjoyment from the history, letters and pictures that you have, especially the one that you recently took on the front step of the house with the flash back.

Thanks again, Diana Krajkeman.
Diana Krajkeman <RobertsD@bsd405.org>
UK - Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 13:35:19 (CEST)

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Dear Norman

First of all thanks that you have taken the trouble to compile this fascinating site about T+C - a remarkable school-from sublime to disastrous.

I was at Eton Avenue as day boy from 57-58 to 1961 and my brother George also was there then, give or take a year more or less. After that we went to Haberdashers’ Aske’s in Elstree. There stark reality in the shape of academic performance destroyed the pink blossom and jasmin world of NW3
George and Peter Haller in the playground
Re pupils:
Some unlisted ones I remember: Leslie Taussig, local boy who bopped me once in the changing rooms (or was it other way round ?).
Michael Schmidt, whose parents ran an hotel in Chelsea.
Son of famous conductor Carmen Dragon, who we just called dragon, and who was so cool and uncommunicative that we reckoned he was understudy for Kookie in “77 Sunset Strip”
Spencer was unobtrusive lad who was said to be of Marks and Spencer dynasty.

Even though I passed the requisite number of O levels at T+C, my academic performance was lousy because us boys not in love with Myerscough or Nash were caught breathless by a bevy of schoolgirl beauties - enough to put us off learning. The best lookers were actually in my brother’s class. The following names spring to mind – in no order merit or discrimination at all (honest).
Lillian Trigg
Pamela Thompson (both Canadian)
Joanna McEvoy
Erica Matlow
Lesley Goldstein
Senior girl called Celia, who used to snog with Rodney on back seat of coach taking us to museum on sports washout days.

A unique feature in my time was that there was a clean-up roster which meant that once or twice a term we had to sweep the classroom floor, wipe the blackboard, dust the desks etc after school - it was delightful if you had to help someone like Beatty Evans with her broom. (actually it was just a matter of pining all the time) but I am not surprised that recent research shows that girls do better academically in girls’ schools - and I don’t know what co-education does for boys.

Re teachers:
I never liked Mrs Paul, and never consciously registered hubby. Someone on the site says Mrs P had a thing about psychology-too true;
After school there was always a lot of jostling to get out, and I remember seeing one of the louts (Martin Bridger or Donald Atkins) cuffing a Whalen twin who was in his way - I roared with laughter, and in the avenue ran the gauntlet of the yobbos from the neighbouring Kynaston “busy bee” school who liked to bar our way to the bus stop in Swiss Cottage.
Next morning I was summoned to Mrs Paul in her queer office - not an idea why... “Peter vhy did you laugh vhen Whalen was slapped yesterday ?” The delivery, pose, and accent was just like in the old Pinewood war films when the German officer says to the plucky Brit :”for you ze war is over”.
However to put the record straight, the good lady praised me on my last day at T+C by saying “Peter, you haff discovered ze joy of hard work”

Enough has been written about Myerscough/Neville.
The Sylvans (but pronounced “Sylvaine) had spent most of their careers as teachers in Egypt, and had had to leave because of the Suez Crisis.
My art teacher was Mr Polowski (that’s how we pronounced it)
The gutsiest and most capable teacher in my view was David Cheetham. Unlike many of the schoolkids who reeked of wealth, and were picked up outside school by flash motors, with or without chauffeurs, the teachers always looked like something out of Dickens - and I remember Cheetham (went on to become a quack?) drove an antediluvian, or at least prewar Rover banger.

And I can corroborate all the evidence about the chocolate pud with grated coconut. Getting second helpings was quite easy, on one occasion the rat-arsed Sylvan had his back turned, and I got a THIRD helping off Anne.

Be glad to have my e-mail address on site, and I think re-unions could be formalised one day (at Haberdashers they have Decade dinners), a first step might be to get everybody’s e-mail.

Greetings
Peter Haller
Peter Haller <petehaller@freesurf.ch>
Switzerland - Monday, April 23, 2007 at 18:48:54 (CEST)

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Hi, Norman:

Thanks so much for the website commemorating St. Mary's Town and Country School.
Every so often, I wake up sweating in the middle of the night, with 'flashbacks' of Mr. Neville, red-faced and screaming at me for missing a Latin declension, or [horrors!] singing out of key on choir--from which I was eventually booted for that very infraction. I was there as the 'lone Yank,' from 1966-1968. I even made it on to the school soccer team as goalie in some of those infamous matches against Herwood [sp?] House, and had 'flashbacks' of those as well--so feared were they--thanks to the patient coaching of Mr. Johnson. In his geography class, I first heard the word 'ecology.'

I remember: Mr. Neville [who could forget him? That horrible toupee always comically askew], giving strange talks about Krishna and Arjuna on the Battlefield from the Bhagavad-Gita during assembly and closing with remarks about ' the inner man and the outer man becoming one,' sounding more like a Hindu mystic than a Latin and maths teacher in a British grammar school. I was poor at Latin, maths and on-key singing, all subjects dear to his heart and, although I think he secretly liked me, he was forever screaming at me in class, waving his wristwatch 2 inches from my nose, his bright red nose ready to burst, yelling, ' Ya can't.....ya can't.......ya can't! ' when I would have difficulty telling time in Latin.

I remember Ms Bevin, our 5th form [?] home room teacher, introducing us to Henry the VIII and his many wives.

I remember 'Miss' Jean Bennett, who quietly encouraged us to write essays and was probably the first inspiration I had for writing.

I remember Mr. Meuleman for Science........I don't know why, but my memories of him are bizarre, but I could never quite put my finger on why. Without wanting to cast any aspersions, because I could be wrong, but with the hindsight of maturity and years, I seem to recall a sort of suppressed 'gayness' among some of the male teachers. My last day of school, he spent a lot time trying to tickle me. Whatever, right? I'm not judging anyone.

Of the students, I remember: Michael Baess, who once turned bright red and gasped out loud in Creative Writing class when Sebastian Crewe said the word 'vagina' as part of his description of a child birth film he had seen recently. Also Peter Lucas, whom I assumed from what others have said on your Guest Sign In has died. What happened, do you know? I also remember a highly intelligent and absolutely astonishing forward on our soccer team, with magic feet, named Gary Bolton, who had the 'gift of gab' and was a notorious 'ladies man,' scoring with the girls long before many of the rest of us were. He was also a 'hunchback,' who stayed over at my house at least once over night, where we discussed our human bone collection--that's a story for another time, perhaps!

I have such fond memories of that place........me and David Phillips, son of a dentist, who could frequently be heard bemoaning the 'scum' on his teeth, passing the soccer ball back and forth in the yard before class. Sneaking out of school during lunch period with Sebastian Crewe to 'score' Cadbury's chocolate bars and rush back before out absence would be noted. I have vague memories and Sebastian and his sister Sabrina, dropping the names of British autocracy around a lot........something about their distant relative 'Lord Mountbatten,' a mystery I never solved for myself, because his mother was American. She must have married into it, eh?

Note: this was just before the '60s Revolution' hit the school and I never saw any drugs used there, but I'm sure some of that changed after I left. Still, students were humming songs from the Beach Boy's 'Pet Sounds' album that had just been released........I remember David Phillips could always be heard humming "I'm pickin' up good vibrations....she's givin' me excitations..." Miss Bevins was always admonishing him for 'rolling about,' a term I was never quite able to define for myself, but I think it had to do with his later weight gain and proclivity for doing The Twist in class.

We left shortly after RFK was assassinated, in 1968. I recall that a bit of anti-Americanism had crept into the hitherto Yank-friendly school atmosphere, as it was world-wide, due to the Vietnam War debacle, and I remember getting into some scrapes in the yard with both males and females [the name Ruth Bradley comes to mind, for some reason] over 'America getting what it deserved' with the RFK and MLK assassinations.

A couple of months before I left, one or two other Yank students had begun to trickle in, the only one I remember was a pretty blond by the name of Maria [Sonnett?], whom I fell madly in love with and we used to steal kisses down in the basement area, out of the way of prying eyes, until, that is, the day I lent out my new B&W Polaroid camera, and as she and I 'came up for air,' so to speak, we found ourselves facing a camera flash going off--caught in the act, by my own camera! Unfortunately, none of those pictures have survived the years [old B&W Polaroids don't 'keep' well], or I would have gladly submitted them. I got Maria's Stateside address and wrote her after leaving the UK, but alas, never heard back from her. Rats! She's probably a freakin' grandmother by now!

My father had been a civilian working for the USAF in Ruislip Air Force base outside of London and, in late 1969, got transferred to Saigon, Vietnam, and due to a lapse in US regulations at the time, my mother and I [I have no siblings] were allowed to accompany him to Vietnam, for another, even stranger year there as US civilians in a war zone. Again: a story for another time, perhaps.

But, thank you, Norman, so much, for going to all the trouble of putting up that website devoted to the magical years we all spent at St. Mary's.

Unfortunately, being quite bad with names in general, I do not remember you. If you have any recollection of me, I'd love to hear about it! Is there any way of getting in touch with any of the above mentioned students? I would love to correspond with some of them........ Any word on what happened to people such as Sebastian Crewe, Gary Bolton or Mike Baess? I didn't see any email listings for them.

Anyway, thanks again for what you have done......you have brought gladness to all our hearts!

PS: I am a Technical Support Manager for HP, now living in San Diego, California, with my 'lady friend' and dive buddy whom I go SCUBA diving with on our boat every week.

Sincerely,

Michael Bear
Mike Bear <scubapro.bear@gmail.com>
USA - San Diego -Friday, March 9th, 2007 at 11:40:12 (CET)

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What a magnificent job you have done compiling the T&CS website, which I have only recently discovered.

I was there as a boarder 1956-1961. Here are a few names of pupils you can add to your list: Elizabeth (?) James, Susan McEvoy, Peter Sen-Gupta, Peter White, Donald Adkins, ? Bridges (?), Adrian Rivers, Timothy Grimes, John Walton and David King.

Among the teachers distinctly remember Mr Myerscough, for whom fact and fiction were never clearly separated . He once told us he and his aunt caught a priceless Greek statue while fishing in the Aegean. And once that his butler had disappeared with the silver.

I do not know why he changed his name to Neville, and would be intrigued to find out. Mr Myerscough was fond of conducting imaginary orchestras, but came unstuck when he failed to notice that the boy operating the gramophone had inadvertently played a 33 rpm record at 45 rpm.

For a short time we were taught musical appreciation by Harrison Birtwhistle, but none of us was able to understand him. Were you at the school at the time of the Glenloch Road Sex Scandal, involving Bridget the Matron and [name supplied]?

I can't think of much more information to give you, but if I can remember any more I will let you know.

Michael Bunting
Michael Bunting
UK - Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 21:50:32 (CET)
(Norman's Note: I do remember your name, although I arrived the same year you left. I missed out on hearing about that particular scandal, however more were to follow! Regarding the name change, Mr Myerscough was allegedly featured in a News of the World exposé on a gay sex scandal. Following the name change, I recall that he'd usually wear dark glasses in public, such as supervising football on Regent's Park, however this could also have been part of his fact and fiction confusion)

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Dear Norman… another note, this time after exploring your Caroline website … It dawned on me that whilst at uni (Bristol - Drama & English, 1972-75) i often listened to you, without ever making the connection (with St; Mary's T & C). Incredible. What a fantastic website, ahhhh radio.

Do you know anything about that steel monstrosity- Sealand? I heard it was to be bought for an absurd sum of money, to be used as a hacker's paradise/ empire/ whatever.

About Mr. Neville. Of course not virtuous.( I did say it was late). The Nureyev stories went on to become legend with my teachers, My maths teacher at the next school would drop tantalising if obscure remarks about Rudy and his friends. He made Youth and Music membership mandatory- meaning oohs and ahhs for both Rudy N's dancing AND (his true obsession) Maria C's singing.

Years later my own little sproglett danced aged 8 and a half under Rudolf's direction in Don Quichotte at Palais Garnier! She now lives in London.

Yes I remember the portrait, tiled floors, bearded fat face. The mural fascinated - and depressed - me, I remember thinking, that's it, no way will I ever become a painter. It remained vivid for ages, popped up in my mind years later when studying Eisenstein, the Film Sense, storyboards.

As I said, I'll burrow iinto the old boxes and find those reports - I suspect some things are in my mum's boxes but, it's been decades and decades so… Wasn't there a gentle, whimsical girl in lower fifth called Olivia? Couldn't find trace of her.

Best wishes, Patty
Patty Hannock <phannock@wanadoo.fr>
France - Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 16:41:29 (CET)

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Dear Norman,

Just reading the famous website again. Such a fascinating wealth of detail!

I remember Mr Paul telling me the town he came from in Germany was Damstaat. (Spelling?) He commented that everyone there was musical. Even the butcher's boy would whistle Bach tunes as he went about his delivery rounds!

Wonder if there are records of the Paul's in Germany? There must be census and electoral rolls. (Unless everything was destroyed in war time.) GenesReunited is a great website for tracing families. We know Elizabeth Paul's maiden name was Selver.

My email address is valvanette@telefonica.net. The one I had in your Guestbook is now out of date.

Keep the site going! We love the memories!

Best wishes Yours Val Reed (Morrison)
Val Reed (Morrison) <valvanette@telefonica.net>
- Wednesday, February 07, 2007 at 11:44:41 (CET)

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Hello Norman, it's awfully late so this will be quick, but how enchanting to find a record of that curious year, (marked me forever), at St Mary's T & C 1963-1964: so… two brief corrections. (I promise to return later, read EVERYTHING etc.)

a) not Patti Hannah but Patty Hannock, half American half English via Switzerland, I was there for a year

b) Mr. Neville, who seems to have been for you a paragon of virtue, or wit, or whatever - is in my mind ever synonymous with a certain priggish intolerance and self satisfaction. He had me, at 11 years old, stand on my chair for 45 minutes saying "missile missile missile) (I'd popped the unfortunate American pronunciation 'mistle").

In any case, in France now as you can see from the email address, depuis 27 ans, work in theatre & film, and am of course curious about this oh so curious school so à bientôt ( I shall do my best to dig up photos from that year).

Shall send school reports (stashed in a a box somewhere )

do you remember that incredible drawing (by Josh I think?) of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow, it went right the way round the assembly room, from a long shot perspective, men ttrailing through the snow, to a closeup on a broken button.

bye!
xxPatty
Patty Hannock <phannock@wanadoo.fr>
France - Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 14:05:39 (CET)

(Norman's Note: I would have never described Mr Neville as a 'paragon of virtue', nor indeed would The News of the World!
He was all the things you say, but also very talented in a way which was an education in itself. I can remember being terrified of his anger, when his nose would turn red and double in size should he hear someone singing out of tune. Yet I felt sorry for him with his delusions of grandeur - "Rudie (Nureyev) bought me tea at the cafe royale, because it's my birthday"... and loved his high camp act as a duo with Mr Nash. One thing for sure, he made a lasting impression on us!.
On Joshua's artwork, I wish someone had photographed the mural, perhaps you also remember his Henry 8th portrait, which I personally hated!)

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Hi Norman

Your T and C website is a welcome discovery. I was there in the 4th form, 1953 - 54, a visitor from the U.S. The year previous, I had been at Barrow Hill LCC school, and St. Mary's was a welcome change. Some of the names on your site are familiar; certainly Paula Weinstein was in my class, and a girl named Alexis.

My most fond memory is of my wonderful teacher that year. I was certain her name was Miss Smith, but do not see any mention of her from others, so perhaps her last name changed, or perhaps her stay there was as brief as mine.

I currently work at the National Academy of Science in Washington DC, where I manage several small research programs.

One final memory is of Willy and his singing classes. Though I couldn't carry a tune, I did retain-

We the spirits of the air
That of human things take care,
Out of pity now descend
To forewarn what woes attend.
Greatness clogg'd with scorn decays,
With the slave no empire stays.

(You go way down in the bass for "Greatness..."). This turns out to be from the Indian Queen, Henry Purcell and John Dryden.

Best regards,

Jon Williams
Jon Williams <jliam@starpower.net>
Washington DC, USA - Thursday, January 04, 2007 at 13:28:28 (CET)

(Norman's Note: Jon I have added more of your remembered lyrics here)

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My mother has just seen your contact photos on Friends Reunited as I guided her through the site. Her name is Rosemarie Lea and she left the school in 1956. She recalls the school as multicultural, religiously diverse and of lasting importance regarding attitudes towards others. .

She attended the school from age 12 to 16 when she left. Remembers singing alot in assembly with Mr.Williams (Willy), recalls lots of enjoyable artwork with Mr Anthony Underhill (Australian).

recognised Jean Bennett from the photo as a fantastic essay teacher who brought her dog to school and she has never lost the love for writing ever since. My mother is still extremely artisitic, went to art school and has taught me lots about art. .

Now retired, after running a coffee bar in Edinburgh, landscape gardening and interior decorating, raising six children, two sets of twins and two singletons, to a Welsh cottage..

Would love to hear from anybody who left around a similar time, especially Gillian Booth and Francis (Kip) Hampton. Can be contacted through my email ad.

Rachel Campbell (daughter)
Rosemarie Lea <r.hudson53@ntlworld.com>
Wales - Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 00:49:10 (CET)

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I’m so pleased to have found this site.. My name’s Alex Priest and I was at T & C between around 1968 and 1970..

I recall the place with slightly hazy nostalgia and remember the period as an exciting and mainly happy time in my life. I also remember some friends from those days with great fondness: Matthew Rees - my best mate both in and out of school; Alfred Nathan, Mike Baess, Pete Nissen, Sheff Omar, “Mao”, Peter Robshaw, the lovely but unfortunately nicknamed Diana “Di Di Duckface”, Lindy Rappaport, Robin Rowe, Caroline Willing, Andy Lubin and many others.

There are even some pics of me from Diana Krajkeman’s collection ! I remember her being a good mate – I emailed the address for her on the page but got a bounce – do you happen to have her current email address, or would you forward mine on to her ?!

I particularly remember taking part as a goalkeeper in the continual football games in the playground. There were some good players – Matthew Rees, Pete Nissen, Mike Baess, Sheff and Mao sping to mind. After some “heroic” performances in the playground - I was never afraid to get a kick in the head, but only because I was as daft as a brush and wanted to impress the girls - I was eventually invited to join the team. Sometimes we won big, against “the Pinkies” (was that Hereward House ?), but mostly we were hammered by better teams with older players (King Alfred’s). I remember with humiliation players from the KAS team commiserating with me after beating us 11-0, saying that without me “you would have lost 20-0”. Not much comfort, frankly...

The only blot on these nostalgic memories is that my mother made me go to extra French and German lessons at the weekends with old Mrs Karger – I could have done without that at the time, but at least I am now able to order beer with a flourish and swear fluently in both languages !.

I’m now 50, and having had a career as a professional musician for many years I finally settled down and now commute to London every day from the Cotswolds to work as an IT Manager for Ipsos MORI, the opinion polling organisation. It would be great to hear from anyone who knew me at T & C. Finally, many thanks to Norman for creating this extraordinary site..

Warm regards,.

Alex..

PS:please add my email address to my space on the pupils page. It would be great to hear from some of my old friends from T & C. I’d particularly like to hear from Mike Baess, Peter Nissen and Alfred Nathan – if you have any of their contact details I’d be very grateful to receive them. My best friend, both in and out of school, was Matthew Rees. I saw him briefly in the 80’s – he was working as a journalist at the BBC. I’ve lost contact with him again since then.

I’ve noticed there’s someone missing from the pupils list – Peter Robshaw, who was a good mate of mine in around the 1969-1970 period. He lived in Rickmansworth at the time.

I’m trying to remember if you were there when I arrived – I gather you left in ’68 but I can’t remember whether I started in 68 or 69. Norman's Note: I left T&C in July 1968 (see picture of me with Theo Lemos & Bill Bird at front entrance)
Alex Priest <alex.priest@ipsos-mori.com>
UK - Sunday, November 05, 2006 at 15:32:20 (CET)

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Dear Mr. B, Thank you so much for doing this. My brothers and I went to the school for one year (70-71), while my father was on sabbatical from Portland, Oregon.

Paul Wild, no e, and not Peter, was 11, Phillip Wild was in the fourth form and I was in the fifth with Diana Krajkeman et al. Johan Schalkwyk or Schalkvyk from South Africa was there. I remember him saying that apartheid would slowly disappear over the next 50 years.

I have four photos from our Lake District trip including Oude, Mr. Hopkins, Matthew Rees, Mic Baess (sp?), Ana Rogers, Stella (?) Mr. Johnson, Marc Samuels, Jim and Steve McGuire, Max Peacock, Shafique Omar, Caroline Willing, Diana K, Margot Case, Anne McGuire, and Reitha (?) Schalkwyk. I don't remember studying that year.

Mrs. Paul was already strange. She wanted to put my brother in the 5th form because he was bigger than I was. She taught only one passage for bible studies, something about Paul on the road to somewhere, as it would be more useful to know one thing well, than many thinly. Good memories of the above people, also the Pinsker sisters, Ali Nafis, Hooshang (Isaac) Molayem,Alfred Nathan, Simon Leroy, Lindy Rappoport, and Gary Bolton who spent a lot of time in hospital that year getting his back straightened.

Also Elton John and Neal Diamond. That year was a high point in the Wild kids' lives, definitely. London was a big place to roam, and our parents gave us a lot of freedom because it was so much safer than home. Please add my name and address to your list.
Thanks. Anne Wild (Mozell)
Anne Wild (Mozell) <ammozell@aol.com>
Salem Oregon, USA - Friday, September 01, 2006 at 17:47:58 (CEST)

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Hello Norman,
the girl aphrodite is my big sister ---we attended T&C as a family my brother andrew,my other sister sophia and myself anthony.All kolokotronis.Unfortunatrly I remember very little about my time there and as for remembering peoples names that is asking too much!!!!!
What I do remember is being introduced to the merits of CHELSEA FC.Whoever that boy was that convinced me that Chelsea were better than Spurs didnt realise how much heartache he caused for all these years untill now!!!
Good luck with your site
Tony K
Tony Kolokotronis <hathor1@tiscali.co.uk>
UK - Sunday, May 14, 2006 at 23:51:48 (CEST)

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Dear Norman,

I was just told of this web site, and I need to get to work, so I shall quickly add something to the guestbook for now.

I'm 40 now and joined the school as a senior, about 1977 '78. I stayed for two years and 1 1/2 term. I look back today, and regret leaving, but you can not change the past, and from all accounts the school was in some decline.

I wanted to go on and play football with another school in Finchley, not far from where Mrs. Paul eventually died. Similarly my family were having financial problems, but this could not of effected my decision to leave as she offered a bursary, for me to stay.

I have fond memories of her, and Mr. Neville, despite what I have heard, either from the time, and today. I was also attending at the time that Mr. Neville died. He was very good to me, so I was upset. As were many of the girls, who could not continue with German that morning.

He was smoking a lot, and It was observed that he may not live another ten years, as one boy commented during tea at Ken Wood house. We used to go there during "wet games".

Further to the page about the football team, whilst I was there we desperately wanted to have our own team, and play other schools. First Mr. Finch took training, then the Geography teacher, a young post graduate whose name I can't remember, and finally a professional coach, But this ended after one session. I don¹t think he knew what he was doing.

I think we played King Alfred's, and I believe we lost. We certainly wanted to play them, but I'm not exactly sure we did play them.

Thanks for putting the site on line, good luck with it. If I find anything else, like photos etc, I will send them on.

Kind regards Brian Monaghan. (77-80)
Brian Monaghan <brian@fume.co.uk>
UK - Friday, April 07, 2006 at 14:21:28 (CEST)

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After some idle lunchtime surfing I've just come across your magnificent pictures of Hedgerley Wood on your web site!,

Many thanks for making them public - they've awoken many powerful memories for me. My father (Eric) built the house, and I lived there until about 1953 (age 6), when my father died, and my mother and I moved to the West Country.

There's not a lot of difference between the view from the drive, and the way I remember it from 1953. The pagoda wasn't there, and I think the hut beyond the kitchen was smaller.

My bedroom window was the one obliquely above the outside door facing the drive - the room had a large platform in it (over the staircase) and you could climb up a ladder from there up to the 'lookout' - which was also a bedroom.

I remember flying up that ladder once to take refuge from some cows that once came onto the veranda downstairs when I was in the house on my own!

The 'upper middle lawn' wasn't there in my day - that was mainly woodland, some garages, a holiday hut in the woods, a rusty old car and a large redundant horsebox (the latter items constituted my playground!). The 'swimming pool' used to provide our (rain)water supply.

Wonderful. Many thanks for the memories!

Best wishes, and thanks again!

John
John Anderson
UK - Monday, April 03, 2006 at 15:07:37 (CEST)

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1st April 2006

Dear Norman,

How are you? As one old boy to another, I’m impressed by the school website which is remarkably well documented and easily navigable too. Well done. Top of the class!

Do you remember when we last saw each other in the playground; July 1966, I think it was, and I promised to send these photos as soon as they were ready? Well, here they are at last. Sorry for the delay but it has taken longer than expected to get them developed. If it hadn’t been for the extra sixpence Boots were charging for their optional Pronto-Print service, they might have reached you sooner.

Since they already appear in your photo gallery, no doubt you will recognise these pictures of Melanie King, John O’ Sullivan, Joshua Thomas, and of course our own Webmaster shown, in one typical pose (!) hanging upside-down, appropriately enough perhaps. Paul Vaughn and Majid (together) were caught off-guard, studying the illustrated edition of La Fontaine’s Batman - they said it was afterwards..? Upon reflection, all at the time were posing though unwittingly, for Posterity!!

My time at T&C began when I joined Mrs Salisbury’s class of ’63 and ended in the summer of 1966, and in common with other ex-pupils, my memories of those days are vivid. In particular, life as a boarder when we shared the boys’ dormitory along with several others, and when at one time Anna Grimes was briefly but memorably, our House-Mother, at the tender age of 17 years old, I believe.

A few random fragments of school life that I recall to add to the collective montage of memories are: music classes with Mr Neville spent, in part, listening to Les Swingle Singers doing Jazz Sebastian Bach: successfully learning numbers in German through playing Bingo, with Ms Haak: less successfully learning French despite watching regular episodes of Notre Ville on TV. , numerous slide shows of La Fontaine’s fables, AND constant conjugation of verbs in bewildering variations of form and tense: - Subjunctive, Infinitive, Imperfect, Pluperfect, Past Historic, Past Imperfect, Future Improbable, et al: oh, and not forgetting Tiki & Taki, les deux petits ours!

Outside of the classroom, as boarders we quite often visited the local library where John O’ Sullivan and I would read all of the available books by Ian Fleming and Arthur Conan Doyle with great enthusiasm, and we swam regularly in the new and excellent pools which were situated in the same building complex. I can still see Melanie King diving fearlessly from the high board, straight and slim in her red bathing suit, while we watched somewhat in awe from the shallow end.

Incidentally, two names missing from the ex-pupils’ register are, David Benalisha (?) whom I remember singing in a school concert or play, a song from which I only recall this one haunting refrain: “Angels ever bright and fair, take o’ take me to your care,” (‘twas very moving) and Lal-a-gee, pronounced in that way, I think, though my spelling is suspect, and her surname I’m afraid I have forgotten altogether.

I hope these photos will reach you safely through the medium of cyber-space which is rather an alien environment to me, at least. As a precaution I shall mark this e-mail ‘Do Not Bend ‘in bold letters!

All the best,

Vincent
Vincent Young
UK - Saturday, April 01, 2006 at 12:05:18 (CEST)

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Although Mrs Paul's administration left rather a lot to be desired, I enjoyed my brief period teaching at Town and Country.
Later I introduced Mrs Paul and some of the pupils (I'm sure no one there will have any difficulty recognizing anyone!) into a novel
THE FOUNDING OF EVIL HOLD SCHOOL.

I hope all my old friends there have prospered since.

Nikolai Tolstoy

P.S. Does anyone else remember the day when Mrs Paul opened a cupboard at assembly, to reveal Mr Paul hiding inside?
Nikolai Tolstoy
UK - Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 22:05:35 (CET)

[Norman replies with this email:] Dear Mr Tolstoy (or should I still say Sir!)
Perhaps you might not remember me but we were inmates at the same time, you taught me English/History for a short while.
How delighted I was to read your short and sweet email, I hope you enjoy trawling through my collection of bits 'n' pieces from T&C.
Did you notice the short recording of yourself reading from Evil Hold.
The Website is a labour of love, but I have been stunned by the feedback. T&C seems to have produced a real kind of 'family'.

I do vaguely remember Mr Paul in a cupboard, but then there were so many weird, nay surreal, goings-on. Anyone know why!?
Even you managed to incur her wrath, I recall, by bringing your duelling pistols to school!

You probably guess the next bit... Please, please can you write some more for us, maybe some 'staff room' anecdotes? Anything!
Thanks again for writing, I have followed your exploits ever since T&C, including various court cases,
and I, like anyone else who knew you from back then, wish you all happiness.

yours, Norman Barrington

Mr Tolstoy replies:

Dear Norman,

I am delighted to hear from you, as I still have vivid memories of Town and Country, as well as fond recollections of all of you youngsters.
I have forgotten most of the staff, with whom in fact I had little to do, except for the bizarre-looking Mr Neville with his orange toupée.

Yes, I was amazed to hear my voice reading something from "Evil Hold", but I can see now
that somebody was tape-recording me while reading it in class (I presume).
Sadly the book has long been out of print, and I think is now quite rare.
Although I suppose with sufficient effort one ought to be able to get it on the Internet,
which I find a wonderful though expensive resource.

I put Mrs Paul (or "Paul-bag", as I recall some of the less reverent of her pupils referring to her) into "Evil Hold",
and attach a copy of the surprizingly accurate illustration which appeared in the book.
The dialogue where she first meets Mr Dredge-Strangler is in part taken from my own interview when I first came to apply for the job.
Most people would probably find this hard to believe, but not anyone who like you knew the unredeemed glories of Town and Country.

I can't at present remember any really amusing anecdotes, though I do recall the school itself and all you lively boys and girls vividly.
But now one scene springs into my mind. Mrs Paul insisted that one of my English class is put on a little play
(rather ambitious, when one comes to think of it) of scenes from Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables".
To my acute embarrassment, she insisted at one point that I should walk onto the "stage" holding the hand of a little boy -
I suppose something like this must appear in the book. She declared that this entry looked "very sweet",
although I imagine the boy felt as I did that it was rather weird.

In my copy of "Evil Hold" here, I have the cutting of an article from a newspaper several years ago
which described the closing down of the school.
As poor Mrs Paul was completely barmy even when I was there, I am not surprized.

I put some of the girls whom I taught into the story, though I think it was some lingering fear
(prescient, as it turned out!) of libel which led me to change their surnames.
The two I remember were Cathy Anderson and Karen Miller, but others may recognize themselves from their Christian names.

I was so pleased to hear from you, and would be happy for you to include my e-mail address. I should say that I can't always be guaranteed
to be swift to reply, as I am so behind with my work that at times I find I have to neglect everything else.
But I would be really pleased to hear from more of you whom I knew in those distant cheerful days.

With best wishes,

Nikolai (alias "Sir")
Nikolai Tolstoy <tolstoy@enterprise.net>
UK - Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 10:05:35 (CET)

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Norman,

I just came across your website & was fascinated to read Priscilla Wilder (Eaves) account of Yarkhill. I was there for a short period- circa 1945?- with my parents ("the Wares" mentioned by Priscilla) & brother & have many very vivid memories of that time, although I must have been younger than Priscilla. Because of this, I would be interested to make contact with her if that was possible?

Hoping you can help me,,

Jill Ware
Jill Ware <gillian_ware@mac.com>
UK - Saturday, March 18, 2006 at 15:06:03 (CET)

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Hi Norman,

Great to read about the legendary T and C chocolate pudding. I, too, remember it being a highlight of the week. Hats off to Geoff Collier for reminding us all about it and for you trying to replicate it at home. Geoff's email made me think about the other T and C food at lunchtime.

If memory serves me well on Mondays we had dreaded stew followed by cake so hard it could loosen your fillings plus custard; Tuesdays it was some kind of meat with baked potatoes and cheese with semolina for dessert; Wednesdays it was egg and cheese flan with rice pudding and a dollop of strawberry jam; Thursdays it was liver, bacon and mash with onion gravy followed by jelly and custard and on Fridays, before games, we had dreaded fish fingers with mash again and fruit salad.

These were the days before schoolkids would get pies, fish and chips or ice cream at lunch in the 80s and 90s. Oh how we longed for that type of unhealthy fodder back then. And now, thanks to Jamie Oliver, it's gone back to the type of fare we were given.

By the time we reached the Fifth Form some of us opted out of school lunches and were allowed out at lunchtime and would make special treks to the Cook Inn take away in Belsize Village from where we would bring back orders of chips or pies for other pupils. Does anyone else remember any other great lunchtime delicacies?

regards

Mike
Mike Baess
UK - Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 20:08:05 (CET)

Norman Comments:- I can add a couple more items; On Thursday, the regular cook, Anne had a day off and in the evening, boarders were always treated to weiner schnitzel which seems to be the only thing Freda, the Thurs cook could make.

The hard cake you mention always had strange greasy patches in it which tasted salty.

Along similar lines to the choc pudding, was a seriously lumpy semolina with a cinnamon powder/sugar mix sprinkled on top. The cinnamon/sugar ratio varied wildly, so it was russian roulette as to whether the pudding was eatable

When jelly was made, several flavours were mixed together creating a reddish generic jelly. Frequently, we would raid the pantry at breaktime, stealing Jelly blocks which we then ate, like giant fruit pastilles - but unbelievably chewy, however most were thrown onto the ceiling where they would stick semi-permanently, like swords of Damocles, dropping off again weeks later with hilarious results. An American called Charlie and myself were also fond of stealing unsoaked prunes, which at least were probably good for you.

One of the tables in the dining room had a drawer in one end, kids would put bits of uneatable food in this draw. and quite a collection in various states of decay and putrefaction was building, however someone had put a full 1/3rd pint bottle of milk in the drawer sideways but still with foil cap. After a few days it soured then pushed it's cap off. Mr Shell (History/English) was eating his meal when he sensed his leg getting wet. Smartly pulling the draw open, to see why, he revealed all the mumified food sloshing around in the curds and whey, whilst the flow through the drawer onto his lap turned into a veritable deluge... to the amusement of all present, of course - Anyone else got some good stories?

---

Wow! I just got the link to your T&C site from my brother. I was there for only 1 year, 1969-1970, but the year made quite an impression on me.

It wasn't the happiest year of my life, but one gets sentimental with old age. I was in the 5th form at the time, along with Mahmoud El-Tabi, who was corresponded with you, Windham Jones & Francis Langfield (my two best friends there), Julian. Let's see, who else? There was a fellow name Gregory, another fellow named Roger who was an American with a Scottish accent (his sister was Margot, I think, there were several of his family there). There was a sad-eyed girl named Rowena and another (round faced, curly hair, if I remember her correctly) named Angela. Some other sloe-eyed girl who's name escaped me, but I seem to recall her having gotten kicked out some point for getting pregant (so the rumour went). I remember lovely Robin of the red hair in 4th form, as does Mao apparently (she was another American actually). Mao's favorite expression: "Keep your pants on!".

Windy Jones, Francis & I used to get 10 or 20 bob together on a Friday night, by a bottle of sherry and get drunk. I remember falling into the serpentine one time (Jone's apartment was near).

Other memories? French tutoring with Mrs. Karger (quite nice, actually). I remember conjugating endless verbs. Mr. Gatton, older and fat, I seem to remember lectures on Trevithick's railways (important stuff, shows how important it is to keep one's nose to the grindstone when in school). He could be distracted by his favorite topics when we were bored-one was how the cities should all be built on stilts to alleviate traffic problems.

Mr. Johnson I couldn't stand. We used to call him jaggers, if I remember correctly. "Laddies! Laddies!". Mrs. Blythe-anal but well-intended. Didn't the scottish fellow (Mcdermmot) get the boot for coming on to one of the girls whilst in his cups? And of course, Mr. Neville with whom I used to get into theological and philosophical arguments (he was quite religious, I seem to recall). And the grand dame herself, Mrs. Paul, let me bring in a long Coltrane record to play at morning assembly to enlighten the young lads and lassies (I was a member of the London Youth Jazz Orchestra that year, perhaps the highpoint of my career).

What else? Chocolate pudding with sugar and coconut sprinkled into it in the dungeons of the lunchroom, my idea of heaven on earth. Ah but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now. Geoff Collier
Geoff Collier <brainstorm@sc.rr.com>
USA - Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 12:00:42 (CET)

Norman Comments:- However we were all very fond of Mr Johnson, he seemed to be such an unintended comedian to us, with his fascination with the likes of U shaped valleys and terminal morraines. For some reason we all called him Karate, and it seemed to stick. He took us for hikes across Box Hill in Surrey and on one occasion I recall someone lobbing a hard boiled egg at him, so they probably fell into your camp.
I still try to emulate the choc pud with coconut/sugar it's that thick dark skin that forms in the areas of the surface that are unproteced by the coconut coating that throws up the challenge. So you must east a little coconut with every spoon but not run out before the chocolate pud does! Oops I sound a bit compulsive, I assure you I am not. Thanks again for writing, and hey mr tambourine man, play a song for me.

---

Norman

I happened on your website. Quite a shock. In any case, I was at the school for one year, 1969-70, with my brother, Geoffrey Lincoln Collier. The email of my brother is: brainstorm@sc.rr.com

I knew Sebastian Crewe quite well (and stayed in touch for a while) and Mick Baess. I have since lived in London in the 80s and in China most recently. (My brother and I still jokingly quote from Victor Hugo and I became a french major in college as a result of St. Mary's.)

My father, James Lincoln Collier, is a children's book writer. You will be amused to know he wrote a book called "Murder at St. Baskets" that was very loosely based on St. Mary's.

Do you have a contact for Oliver Perrin? I, too, am a jazz musician, drummer.

Andy Collier

PO Box 536 1100 Village Lane Orient, N.Y. 11957
Andrew Collier <orientgreenport@hotmail.com>
Orient, N.Y., USA - Sunday, March 12, 2006 at 19:50:40 (CET)

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Christine couldn't send me an email, so she phoned and kindly gave over fifty new names for the pupils list.
She has kindly sent some photos of her era Taken in 1955/56
Christine joined the T&C in 1953 and left in 1962, if you would like to contact her, then email me and I will pass it on to her.
Thank you Christine for providing these updates.
Christine Boudier <nb@normanb.net>
Enfield, UK - Tuesday, November 08, 2005 at 22:42:14 (CET)

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For some reason I’ve been thinking about T&C a lot lately, which prompted me to look for a website. Thank you so much for creating this. Judging by the pictures, I believe we were in the same class, but I regret to say I don’t quite remember you. Perhaps you can jog my memory.

I was sorry to read about the demise of the school. As you said, it was a very special place.

I was at T&C from 1964 to 1966. I almost stayed on, but my dad turned down another project that wouldl have kept us in England two more years. At the time, I was eager to get home as well. Now I look back on those two years as the most formative of my life.

I visited the school in 1970, and Julian Esterson was still there. I was always curious abou that. Learning our class' O-Levels were held up a year explains a lot.

Among the sillier memories was an episode with Tolstoy and a set of antique dueling pistols. I happened to have some caps from a toy gun that fit perfectly. The good Count and I faced off in the Upper School yard during lunch. Unfortunately, Mrs. Paul was watching from a window . . .

I also remember among Mr. Shell's obessive behaviors was his intense dislike for a dirty blackboard. There was a small piece of wood that held the blackboard in place. I think it was Cameron who came up with the idea to apply a large amount of chalk very close to the peg. When Mr. Shell entered, he immediately cleaned the offending marks with wide, swift strokes of the eraser. Cameron's scheme succeeded! As soon as Mr.Shell turned around, the blackboard tilted forward, coming to rest on his head. In the end, he "stepped forward smartly" (as he put it ), and the blackboard crashed to the floor,much to our general amusement.

If I can think of anything else, I'll pass it along. I hope you keep up the website. It is a thing of beauty and is very much appreciated.

Thanks again,

Ed
Ed Flavin <emflavin@sbcglobal.net>
USA - Tuesday, October 04, 2005 at 13:37:45 (CEST)

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Dear Norman

I was at the school from about 1947 to 1953 - mostly at the "Town" but I had a term or two at the "Country" in about 1948 or was it 1949? My memories are fairly vague - I remember the school summer outing to somewhere near Little Bardfield in Essex probably in the summer of 1953.

I remember Janet Nelson (who lived across the road in Daleham Gardens NW3) - we walked to school together. Keith Mulliner and Sven Hammerling were good friends at that time. Toby Allenwho was a year older, went to the same secondary school as me subsequently and we are still in touch. If I strain my brain a bit I might think of a few others and will possibly add another message if I can think of anything worthwhile to add.

So far as the teachers are concerned I remember Mr & Mrs Paul, Miss Gardener (spelling ?), Mr Gubbins and... ? More brain straining needed to come up with other names. I will read your website more fully and that may trigger some more memories.

Thanks for taking the trouble to organise this - very nostalgic!

Peter Fraenkel
Peter Fraenkel <peterfraenkel@compuserve.com>
Ealing, London , UK - Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 18:05:20 (CEST)

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I was at Town and Country from 1967 - 1969 and some of that time I weekly boarded. I can't remember an awful about it as I moved schools every couple of years as my father was in the Navy. I remember Rita Schalkwyk, Arabella Weir and a girl called Ann whose parents owned a shop called Chic.
I remember playing British Bulldog and flatteneing all the boys as I was a strapping lass.
Now living in Dorset and have husbad Nick and two children Monte and Hebe.

Bella
Bella Neate-Clegg <bella.hellcorner@btinternet.com>
Dorset, UK - Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at 23:46:56 (CEST)

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I started kindergarten at T&C in 1957 and left in 1969. In 1959 ( I think) Mrs Paul had a psychologist person conduct intelligence tests with some of the junior classes – by some fluke I scored quite highly and my parents were offered a full scholarship for me. So that was that for 12 years! A few years later a contemporary was also given a scholarship ( I won’t say who as I haven’t asked them if they’d mind) and when our class was playing up or there was trouble in the school we would be called for and threatened to have our scholarships revoked which was pretty unfair as our parents could not afford to have kept us there.

I was three when I started at kindergarten our teacher was a Miss Collins.
She was absolutely lovely, youngish and very pretty and she always wore embroidered blouses and full pleated skirts that made her waist look tiny. She was very soft spoken and gentle and everyone loved her. We used to sing a lot of songs, especially ones that involved a dance or doing actions to the words. There is one I remember really well it went -

“ I've been to London, I've been to Dover
I've traveled this wide world all over.
Over, over, three times over
Drink all you have to drink and turn the glasses over”.
Sailing east, sailing west
Sailing over the ocean,
Better watch out when the boat begins to rock
Or you'll lose your girl in the ocean”.
It was a great class favorite and we had to pair up boy and girl – the girls had to pretend they were falling off the ship and the boys had to rescue them ( sometimes not, depending on who got paired with who).

The other songs I remember are :-The Drummer and the Cook.
O Soldier, Soldier Will You Marry Me (with your musket fife and drum). Aiken Drum.
Il était une bergère et ron et ron petit patapon &
Sur le pont d'Avignon
– gosh as I write more keep flooding back but that’s enough.

Mid morning we had our regulation 1/3 of a pint of milk which we had to drink – no excuses. With great forethought this was always kept by the radiator in the hall outside and used to be tepid to hot by the time we got it. In summer it was also kept in the hall where it was nicely heated by the sun. I have had an absolute revulsion of warm milk since!

In the afternoons after lunch we had to have our “sleeps”. We struggled to put up little cot beds and dutifully lay on them –a lot of the children actually did go to sleep – notwithstanding me trying to conduct whispered conversations with them. In the end Miss Collins gave in and allowed me to read during these sessions – reading was my passion then and I couldn’t get enough. Miss Collins used to borrow “readers” from Mrs Robb’s class for me for these times as I’d gone way past the picture book stuff she was using.

Then we all moved up a class to Mrs Robb. Mrs Robb changed her name halfway through the year back to Miss Walmsley ( she has been widowed) which was very confusing. She would have been in her late 50’s and dyed her hair an astonishing bright red and she was a bit of a tyrant. She had one of those 3 yard rulers that hinge in two places and a very good aim. You would be chatting away quietly in a civilised manner to your neighbour when - whoosh the ruler would snack down about a hairsbreadth from your fingers – never once did I see her actually connect but it was enough to guarantee good behaviour for the rest of the day. She had a wonderful old wind up trumpet gramophone and a huge stock of musical seventy eights which she would put on and then we had to stretch up like a tree or rush about like the wind – pretend to be a seed busting out of a pod etc – all very Isadora Duncan- ish !

My worst memory of Mrs Robb involved a lunch time incident. At junior school you had to eat what you were given – I hated brussel-sprouts especially the school ones which were like soggy lumps of cotton wool. I swear Mrs A had it in for me because I always asked for just one and she would give me three or four. Anyway I came up with a plan.

My mother took me shopping to buy new underwear and I begged her for knickers that had a sizeable pocket in them. Tuesday (or whatever day we had the horrid things) came round and I wore my new knickers. Mrs A, as usual gave me a big serve of the sprouts and laughing to myself I secreted the damn things in my new knickers when I thought no one was looking. At the end of the course before pudding Mrs Robb as usual checked to see we had all eaten up and I clearly remember smirking and congratulating myself on my brilliant wheeze .

That is until she speared me with her terrifying gaze and said “Carol Williams I do not think you are finished “ –then she picked me up and stood me on the table, lifted my skirt revealing my knickers and a pocket full of dripping green sludge for all to see. I don’t think I have ever been so embarrassed in my whole life – in front of the boys too- I was mortified!. Then she calmly held up my plate and emptied the contents of my pocket onto it, sat me back on the bench with the plate in front of me and told me I would not have any pudding, indeed I would not be allowed back to class until I had eaten the mess on my plate.

I sat there all afternoon with Mrs A keeping an eye on me. I was actually sick at one point (in the bathroom- not on my plate) and I was terrified that when my Uncle came to pick us up from school that Mrs Robb would make me stay there all night, sitting in the dark and staring at the ugly goo on my plate. She didn’t and I was allowed to go home but I never ate any of the dreadful things. I still have a “bit of a thing” about brussel sprouts- funny that!

Actually, except for that awful incident (I think she must have had a really bad day or something) she could be a very nice kind person, I know this because I used to go away every summer for two weeks holiday with my aunt and cousin – usually Brighton or Bournemouth and this time for some reason, at the last moment my Aunt was delayed. The Hotel Splendide was booked, the Brighton Belle tickets had been purchased so Mrs Robb was asked if she would accompany Margaret and I and stay a few days until my Aunt could get away to join us. She was a completely different person out of school and we really enjoyed her company.

Mr Prosteau was our French teacher and a great highlight of that year was the production of Cendrillon (Cinderella). I was an ugly sister but I learnt the whole play by heart just in case Cinderella or the fairy Godmother got ill – they didn’t! My cousin Margaret was the other ugly sister but I can’t remember who Cinderella was. We put on a proper production and all the Mums and Dads were invited, my aunt and another cousin came to watch – very nerve wracking it was too!

After that was Miss Priest with the unforgettable bosom and uncanny resemblance to a mole. She was a quietly spoken and I think a very shy person. She certainly didn’t have the same impact on me as Miss Collins or Mrs Robb. She wasn’t very good at controlling the class and it was often pandemonium with much yelling, fighting and chatter – Mrs Bevan used to storm in sometimes (we were all very obedient when she was around – terrifying women) and regain calm but it wouldn’t last. I went into the staff room once after one fairly awful episode and found her crying – I don’t think she was made of the stuff required for survival at T&C) The major memory I have of her class was learning very, very long poems by heart such as The Pied Piper of Hamlin much of which I still recall Anyway that’s enough - good grief I could go on and on.

As you said in your email – I wonder what the point of all these things stored in our heads actually is! Well that’s one of life’s sweet mysteries innit !

I have had fun and yes pick out any bits you like (just make sure you don’t use anything I’ve said which could be construed as rude – I wouldn’t want to offend anyone). As one goes through the memory process its easy to remember peoples mis-behaviour or even cruelty sometimes but I’ve purposely not gone down that track – its unimportant now and completely irrelevant ( tempting sometimes though!).



On a trip to Hedgerley Wood, Jeanne Orden made up the following which we sang with great gusto and has for some incomprehensible reason stuck in my head.
“We go to Town and Country school
we sit all day on a rotten stool
we learn the junk and then we flunk and then we get suspended.
The water comes from a dirty well
its bad enough to make you swell
in my bed I found a tick
its about enough to make you sick” etc.
Anyway I know I’m leaping about all over the place but if I don’t get this done now it might not happen for a long time.
Before I forget, I have listened to the audio recordings – wow what a blast from the past they were. The Christmas Carol 1965 is the Coventry Carol ( Lully lullay thou little tiny child - by by lully lullay) and I’m pretty sure Kat and I were singing on that one. The other (Musical round) is London’s Burning and ditto as before. Adeste Fidelo is the latin “ O Come All ye faithful”

I also remember us singing Lullay My Liking ( my dear son my sweeting, lully my dear heart, mine own dear darling). You sang a solo verse in this – “Angels bright they sang that night and said unto that child” etc). I remember these so clearly as I used to sing them to my children when they were small and at Christmas when I first came to Australia and was homesick. I have a fairly comprehensive memory of most of the songs we sung at music – it was just about my favourite class – Neville and the pulse in his temple and going purple not withstanding!

I also remember Mr Nash’s famous composition :-
“ I love the little Shetland ponies that trot around the circus ring. I like the way they kick their heels up when they do the Highland fling. I like to watch the lion tamers and see the man on the trapeze but the little Shetland ponies thrill me more than all of these” etc.

Lovely to hear all those familiar voices too – John Ker, Theo, Joshua etc although of course they were “ seniors” to us.

Re - Nick Tolstoy – it will be a miracle if you are able to get a copy of The Treasure of Evil Hold School and if you do I want one too! I tried for years to find it but without success. It was read on Jackanory at one time, in episodes and in its entirety which may be a help.

About 12 years ago I was listening to the radio in Melbourne one morning when who should be interviewed but Tolstoy himself. He was over here promoting his favourite cause – that of the plight of political prisoners. I was so knocked out I phoned the radio station and they gave a him a message from me – that night he phoned and we talked for an hour before he had to go to a dinner and he flew back to the UK next morning. Anyway with all the reminiscences I asked him about getting hold of a copy of the book - he hadn’t even got a copy of his own!

I have attached a list of names which I remember, which aren’t on your list. You have Katie Riddley on yours I remember a Katie Ridley – contemporary with Prudence? and Angelica Houston. The one I’m thinking of committed suicide during the summer holidays while at school, she was pregnant and jumped out of a window or off a balcony – caused quite a sensation.

You also have a Peter Teichman – if it is the one in our class I think it was spelt Titchman ( or simular) - well that’s what we used to call him behind his back!

I do have very happy memories of Beckley and Jean Bennett – she had a tame fox called Pip who I was fascinated by and old Peter of course. Even in my time getting to the cottage was a bit of an adventure getting dropped off at the pub etc. Jean was a real inspiration and really encouraged me in my writing. I owe it to her that I won a prize in an Evening Standard competition! Years later in Melbourne I took up the pen again and managed to get a few bits published but didn’t have the staying power to continue.

Hedgerley Wood was fun too – I remember one visit when we had to follow clues from Princess Risborough ( I think). My group was hopeless and we got lost. I got terrible blisters on my feet and couldn’t walk so Bix Qinn – ( god bless him, a lovely bloke ) carried me piggy back for miles. That Saturday night we had a midnight feast and toasted marshmallows in a big fire and on the Sunday before we left we had strawberries, cream and cake – I can still taste them – heaven!

After leaving T&C I went to Chiswick polytechnic for A’levels and left home at the same time. I used to work at the Wedgwood Centre in Oxford St on Thursdays and Saturdays and in Carnaby St on Sundays to supplement my grant. I did a bit of this and that until I was 20 when I got a job working for a non profit Housing Association in London and have spent most of my life since working in the non profit housing sector.

I have two children – Alex (boy) 26 in October and Gemma 23 also in October.
I came to Australia 21 years ago and lived first in Perth (Western Australia) and then in Melbourne (Victoria).
I have been married 3 times, remain on good terms with my two ex’s and think I will definitely keep this one.

Damien ( No 3) and I took a year off 3 years ago to travel extensively around out-back Australia ( bush camping – it was great fun) and to decide where we would like to move to as Alex had already left home and Gem was only there in between long stretches at her boyfriends place and we were ready for a change. We really liked the idea of Alice Springs – its small, out-back, in the middle of a desert and there is plenty of employment. So May 2004, after selling up we bought a crappy old caravan and came to Alice where 15 months on we are still living in a caravan park and having a ball. We did take 3 months off to go and house sit my cousins place in Queensland which was lovely and now were back.

Damien is an ex IT specialist and is working as a bank teller ( 30 hours a week) and I have done a variety of jobs from working with intellectually handicapped to being a “check out chick” in a $2.00 shop. We neither of us wanted to continue in “front line” type jobs so it’s worked out very well.

We have no idea how much longer we will stay or where we will go to next – probably somewhere closer to Melbourne but warmer – Adelaide or Brisbane maybe so we can be closer to the kids and D’s family. Also all our possessions are in storage in Melbourne (including all my T&C stuff) so we will have to settle eventually.

Do keep in touch – please feel free to put my email address on the web site – I would love to hear from any other contemporaries – as Mr Johnston used to say I love gas bagging! Wouldn’t he be impressed though – I’ve travelled through all the deserts of Australia and a lot of Africa - I even know their names - at school I couldn’t tell whether the Sahara was in the Artic, Africa or Australia!

I will stop now before I embarrass myself further. Perhaps later on I’ll send you some more as I progressed through the school ( well maybe).

Anyway I have enjoyed myself tremendously putting all this down and thanks for the opportunity – it’s obviously been cluttering up my head for years – so that’s why I never became rich and famous!
Caro
Carol Williams (Now Caro Farrell) <carofarrell@hotmail.com>
Alice Springs, Australia - Monday, August 29, 2005 at 17:16:36 (CEST)

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Hello Norman,
I liked your site. You can add me to the list of pupils. I was at the school from 69-71. I went on to St Pauls Girls after that, then York and Bristol Universities to do BSc DPhil and finally Medicine. So I suppose Mrs Pauls ideas didnt exactly put me off studying!
I would like to contact Margot Case if you have her e-mail?
Many thanks,
Anita Jamal
Anita Jamal <anitajamal@yahoo.co.uk>
UK - Thursday, August 25, 2005 at 21:16:41 (CEST)

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Norman,

Two anecdotes,

In Middle V, when Mrs.Paul came to the end of the Scipture lesson she said, with a dramatic flourish,"By the grace of God I go" got up out of her chair, caught her foot on the back of it and promptly fell over. There was a sharp intake of breath in the class but nobody moved. Some kind soul(whom I cannot recall did help her up. And she slowly limped out of the door and which point we all broke up into hysterical laughter. Slowly her head came back round the door and she said "zis is not funny"

The other one I remember was when Mrs.Paul was giving a German lesson, evidently you were day dreaming, so she suddenly said "Norman! Vot is english for "Mit Vergnugen"! You fumbled for some convincing response when John O'sullivan whispered in your ear "with cream" You, thinking your life was saved, repeated "with cream!". She was not amused at all, since the correct response would have been "with pleasure", she thought that you were trying to be funny!

If I remember any more I shall send them.

Julian
Julian Esterson
London, UK - Monday, August 22, 2005 at 22:46:21 (CEST)

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Thanks Norman for the virtual tour of T & C. Katya Coupland –– Karen (maiden name) Miller – though my nickname ‘Katya’ stuck. I went to T & C in 1962 aged nine, as a weekly border and stayed until I was 16. I was looking up Jean Bennett - who (as Alicia Sufit also mentioned) I regarded as a second mother - experiences in the Cottage and long conversations with Jean still informing my life in many respects – and got a link to your site. I often went to the cottage in the holidays and think of her very fondly. I remember long conversations covering everything from ‘prems’ – premature babies she used to look after – to philosophy and the stars. Her strong convictions helped steer me through some very choppy waters.

Jean’s tea recipe (I asked her) was one third Earl Grey, one part Lapsang Souchong and one part Ceylon – with a little sugar (latterly) and milk though I don’t think she was religious about the proportions. I still drink Earl Grey – bags – the proper Jean mix is too much of a hassle. There was a picture of an ossified looking George Bernard Shaw over the door leading from the sitting room to the kitchen which went straight up to the thatch and was festooned with swags of ancient spider web. In the big bedroom there were pictures (water colours/prints?) of scenes of the Lake district (I think) – framed with worn blue-green velvet, but you may remember better… And there was a rope to hang on to on your way up the perilously steep stairs. I still grow some of the plants she had in her garden and think of her when I smell them: santolina, lavender … I was in the sitting room with her one stormy evening and she had the Third programme with someone warbling away when a huge flash of lightening went through the wireless - with us sitting not feet from it. There was a huge crack, then silence and then the thin strains of the warbling voice once again. They don’t make radios like that any more.

You and I were borders together in Glenloch Road Norman and I remember you putting a rubber hand in the coal bunker and trying to frighten us. We played along. Then we met up briefly in the seventies - you were just about to go to Scotland I believe and I remember thinking how incredibly cool you were and wondered where the ink-stained giggling nerd had gone.

In response to your questions I spent hours remembering names: names for your pupil list – apologies if I missed them – Bix (?) American black guy, Michelle Petrie (American whose father was a doctor and who told Carol Williams and me that you got pregnant by holding hands or even fancying someone). We pretended not to, but actually believed her. Anthony Gross, Beverly Dubof (?). My path crossed with Vicki Berger and Susan Bocking who had gone to T & C much earlier and I still see Susan. Katrina’s last name was Rigby and there was Yukiko Kyoto or maybe I invented that one…Jane Burton whose home was filled with clouds of fruit flies (her mother studied genetics) and who was very popular with the boys... And was it Pam (?) who had some story of Terence Stamp discovering her as a pinball wizard. Nicolette Ismay – brilliant painter also a pupil and Joanna Lewis – a thin shy girl with glasses and braces.

Teachers: Miss McGonagall (spelling?) – did you have her - who had an enormous bee hive to make up for her lack of stature and earnestly taught us German with a Scottish accent and a lisp. Mrs Bevan was a great inspiration to me with tales of having gone up/down the river Amazon (which I would do if I weren’t afraid of spiders). I remember her with big African jewellery and big fly away teeth. Why oh why am I doing this – I should be working. Mary Garrara (spelling?) who taught art while I was in the seniors. Peter Freeth who also taught art later ran an etching class in Camden which I went to for years in the 80s 90s having forgiven him for intimating that my record sleeve design was crap when I was 15 (he may have been right).

Memories: of Mrs Paul’s macrobiotic lunches going upstairs when we ate Mrs.A’s gruel and of sessions with her more than once in Mrs Paul’s Buddha-lined study where she shook her head despairingly at me and pursed her lips. She had a rather waxy-embalmed looking skin and was clearly of great age even then and I remember her sharing some of her beauty (!) secrets with us girls…Of a Christmas performance at Rudolf Steiner Hall – a hideous dramatic creation with music by Mr Neville and Mr Nash where I sang ‘Peanuts peanuts I have lots for grown ups and for tiny tots’ (Mrs Paul took my skirt off and made me perform in my knickers for another scene). My ambitions to become an actress died that night. The absolute highlight was Joshua Thomas bounding Nuriev-like across the stage for no plot line that I can remember.

That’s more than enough.

Katya
Karen Miller
UK - Wednesday, August 03, 2005 at 20:39:48 (CEST)

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Hi. Jehane Markham passed on your fascinating link - it brought back many memories. I was only there for 2 years from 1964 till my GCSE the following year but my brother Jonathan was there for a further 2 years. He was friends with Hideaki (tho I don't think they kept in touch) and Jon now lives in the States.

I was only a day student & never went to the country - in fact my over-riding memory is one of being unable to sit through one of Mr Snell's lessons without hysterical laughter. Poor teachers! I also particularly am grateful to Mrs Fehling for a lasting love of literature & to the school for introducing me to the people who were to change my life.

Lynn Horsford
Lynn Horsford
UK - Monday, July 11, 2005 at 22:17:36 (CEST)

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As the controller of the TC website you should know that in the film Aces High, made in 1976 you can see a Town and Country scarf. In case you do not know this film it is about British pilots during the first world war and it is generally considered a good action film. Towards the beginning of the film the young actor Peter Firth is seen flying his biplane wearing the T&C scarf. I was 17 when i saw this film in the cinema and i noticed the scarf immediately. Tom
Tom Tomaszczyk <Tom.Tomaszczyk@arup.com>
UK - Monday, March 28, 2005 at 23:11:52 (CEST)

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I was 13 (in 1946) when I began as a pupil at St Mary's in Eton Avenue. My name was Valerie Morrison then. My special friend was Daisy Glade. I have photos of us both in an Irish play. I loved and was loved by both Elizabeth Paul and her dear husband 'Higgie'. Also remember the Deputy Head, Rosamund Gardener and the music teacher Mr Williams.

I envied the pupils who went to the Country section at Stanford Hall, near Ruby. Persuaded my parents to let me go. Loved it! Staff members who were special to me were Margaret Pollack, (Maths) who had a beautiful singing voice. Jean Bennett, who came on holidays with us - with her little dog, Kim. Aileen, the inspiring Art Teacher, who went for a holiday to a kibbutz in Israel. My special friend was Jill Kennedy. My brother, John Morrison went to the school too. His special friend was Tony Rowland - son of an auctioneer.

I have some photos - mainly of the horses. Margaret Lewis was the riding teacher, and allowed each of us seniors to look after a particular horse. Mine was a palomino Shantung Star. Maybe none of this info is new to you. Fun remembering though!

AN ACCIDENT AT STANFORD HALL - and AFTER

One day Paul Belcher was playing with a bow and arrow. His arrow got stuck in a huge tree. . A group of children gathered under it, looking up to see where the arrow was stuck. Suddenly it fell into a little girl's eye. (Anne Profaze) It was not Paul's fault. It was an accident.

Years later my husband and I were driving in Wales, and stopped at a country pub for lunch. The Proprietor's name over the door startled me. 'Profaze' is a very unusual name.

The dining room had a beautiful series of appliqué pictures around the walls, illustrating the Canterbury Tales. I asked the lady who served us; "Who did these?" "My daughter, Anne" she said. If Paul knew that, I think it might be healing for him.

Pupils - 1947-1950 Elizabeth (Lizzie) Colton and her brother Robbie was the best horse-riders at Stanford Hall in the late 1940's. John de Villiers. Michael Sutton,

Staff - Mr and Mrs Gibson. Their Staffordshire Bull Terrier got excited when children were outside playing, and bit! When it headed for twin five year old girls, I tried to catch it and got bitten myself! The Gibsons did get rid of the dog.

Val Reed
Val Reed (nee Morrison) <valvanette@mercuryin.es>
SPAIN - Monday, January 31, 2005 at 20:11:30 (CET)

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Dear Norman,

I hope you had a great Christmas, and wish you a happy new year! Since I last wrote to you - through your wonderful website - I've met up with some old classmates from the 50s, some of whom came for a reunion tea at my house in Crouch End recently. I've written a description of the event - It would be great if you could post it on the website and it might even attract more people from that era, who may be interested.

I should add - we cannot thank you enough for reuniting us!!

I hope you have a good 2005,

best wishes,

Alisha (Alicia) Sufit

www.alishasufit.com,

Alisha (Alicia) Sufit <Magicalia@aol.com>
London, UK - Saturday, January 01, 2005 at 16:24:50 (CET)

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Hi Norman,

I have been trying to find out whatever happened to T&C for years now and have just come across your site. My family moved from the US to London in 1972, and I entered Senior Form 1, stayed through Form 2, and then in 1974 my family moved on to Yugoslavia (my father was with the Voice of America at the time). My younger brother Merrill Freund was in the Junior School during those years.

I always wondered what had become of the school and am so grateful to have found your site!

Names of other pupils I remember from those years include... Amanda Donohoe, Debra Leci, Abbe Hart (I'm pretty sure her name was spelled Abbe), Ishbel Poole, Laura Rifkin, Hayedeh Mokfi, Farinaz Darugar, Fariba Darugar, Robert Schubert, Lisa Prudhoe, David Stewart-Murray, Erez Lilienthal, Julia Zitterstein, Philippa Baldwin (I'm surprising myself at the length of this list...) - probably if I checked back at my old diaries from those days I'd find more. Mr. Nash and Mr. Neville doing Gilbert & Sullivan and tossing a rubber chicken at some point... writing with Miss Bennett... French Without Reading, my God, I'd forgotten that... tutoring with Mrs. Karger in French and German to catch up with everyone else... having to go see Mrs. Paul because I wore a blue short-sleeved jumper with white stripes across the chest (the stripes were the problem)... arguing with Mrs. Paul during Bible class that Cain had gotten a raw deal... winning 25 p. from Mr. MacMenamin in a maths contest (and bringing him back a small bottle of whiskey from a trip to Scotland)... learning to write with a fountain pen (we hadn't done that in the States)... Ich Kann Deutsch Lesen (not anymore)... catching a batted cricket ball in the yard (my greatest athletic achievement!)... conkers in the yard... jelly with custard... those terrible bacon rashers... Spam and beans (hadn't had that in the States, either!)... Primrose Hill... mud in the hockey boots... so many memories.

Anyway, I hope more people discover the site and add things to it (I wish especially I could see the inside of the school again - I always hoped someday I would). I've lost touch with everyone I knew back then, sadly, but I do remember so much - much more than I realized when I started writing this message.

Oh... about me. I ended up continuing the language study I started at T&C and wound up as a Russian translator. I'm now combining translating with cabinetmaking (having married a cabinetmaker five years ago and started working in his shop). I'm a New Yorker who's now living in Illinois, and I've only been back to London once in all the years since I left in 1974. During those few short days in 1989 I tried to go to Swiss Cottage to try to find the school, but had no luck (the tube station was closed for repairs, and I didn't have time to try to find another way). As it is, I now see it would have been too late. Does anyone know what's become of the buildings?

Best regards,

Karen L. Freund

now living in Algonquin, IL
Karen L. Freund <kfreund@aya.yale.edu>
Algonquin, IL, USA - Thursday, December 23, 2004 at 22:43:16 (CET)

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Dear Norman,

My younger brother, Ben Jacoby, has just introduced me to the St Mary's Town and Country site, and I am so grateful to you for making a start on piecing together the story of our extraordinary school.

I was Naomi Hazel Jacoby, and was at the school from 1947 to 1958, when I graduated to North London Collegiate. It was an enormous cultural shock, a bit like Stefany Tomalin describes about her own change to South Hampstead High.

No one seems to have mentioned Mr Graham. As I remember, Rosamond Gardner, the acting head of Town and Country, left, and in her last Callover she announced her engagement to the maths teacher, Mr Gubbin. They were both middle-aged, and the romance of it enchanted us. But I think they broke up soon after the announcement. Mr Graham was engaged to replace Miss Gardner, and ran the school for several years in the 1950s. He was an extraordinary man and left, I think when I did, around 1958.

I also remember two articles in the Ham and High tracing the demise of the school. I think they ought to be added to your site. The second article mentioned that Mrs Paul was then in a nursing-home in Woodside Park. I was very shaken, as I thought this was an undignified end for my ex-headmistress. I telephoned round, found where she was, and went to visit. There she sat, slumped in an armchair in a communal room, while a nurse admonished her: 'Eh-LIZ-a-beth! You left the covers off your bed!'

I told her my name, and she said she remembered me, but it was obvious that she wasn't sure. She told me repeatedly that the nurses didn't understand about her bed. She had diamonds on it and she was afraid someone would steal them. I wondered if this were a symbolic description of her position. Her understanding of the present seemed a bit shakey, so I decided to focus on her childhood. She became really animated then, and remembered all kinds of landmarks and anecdotes. Somewhere I must have notes on all she told me. I meant to visit again, but kept putting it off because I felt so tearful and powerless to do anything positive to improve her circumstances.

I read the Ham and High every week, but never read about her death. She affected so many of our lives, yet she herself must have died alone and forgotten. There does not seem to be a photo of her on the site*.

With many thanks,
Naomi
Naomi Stadlen
UK - Tuesday, December 07, 2004 at 00:10:19 (CET)

[*Norman's Note:- Good point! - it's a glaring ommision too, although there is one taken from a distance at Hedgerley. So does anyone have a photo of Mrs Paul, especially a portait, that they could scan or donate for the site Please?

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Hello! I've just been introduced to your wonderful website. Just to say that 2 of my 3 brothers and I were at the school from 1945 to 1956 - roughly. I left aged 11 in 1954. How amazing to see photos of my class!! with me in it.

I remember quite a few of the faces there. I would LOVE to know how some of you are from those days. The stories I could tell... And the DREAMS I still have about the place.

Frances Hitchcock as was - now Hudson, though married now to an Emmerson... and commonly known as Frankie. I even answer to Fran.
Frankie Hudson <frankie.h@emmersond.freeserve.co.uk>
UK - Saturday, December 04, 2004 at 13:14:21 (CET)

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Dear Norman,

I was very fascinated by your website for the school, and was pleased to spot both a photograph of myself (!) and my name on the ex-pupil list. One thing though, my maiden name is spelt incorrectly, it should read “Findon”. I was at the school from 1951 till 1957, and was in the same class as Alicia Suffit. I am in touch with Stefany Tomalin and Jennifer Risner who were in the same class as Alicia and me. We all used to go to Jean Bennett’s cottage of which I have very fond memories. I would be grateful if you could post my e-mail address next to my name. Well done for going to all the trouble, it means that some of us can go on a little nostalgia trip! The photos are particularly interesting.

Best wishes Alexis Pfeiffer
Alexis Pfeiffer (Findon) <arpfeiffer@tiscali.co.uk>
UK - Thursday, November 18, 2004 at 12:34:01 (CET)

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Hello Norman

Its fascinating to see what's appeared -since I wrote something, you posted another couple of bunches of photos. I've remembered some more stuff too: The years I was there must have been '50-53, as i remember being there for the Coronation. We all got a commemorative spoon in a box. The kindergarten teacher was either called "Miss Dodds" or "Annie". She wore a pinafore. Some of the children wet their underwear and there were days when pairs of pants were draped across the fender in front of the fireplace which must have had a live fire because sometimes they got scorched!! Because of Mrs Paul I got a brilliant grounding in spoken (and sung) French, starting in Kindergarten, which has been a great asset. I remember we each had a blanket, spread it out and slept after lunch for "Rest" every day. I also recollect that on Fridays we did "Baking". that meant each child got some flour, sugar, margarine, and flavouring such as cocoa or cinnamon, in a white china christmas-pudding type bowl which we mixed with a wooden spoon, and we each had a rectangle of greaseproof paper and we rolled and shaped interesting bicuits which were lined up on baking trays and went into the oven together. We could take them home, but they often got eaten on the way. I also remember "Potato printing" It was fascinating to read on Ernest Weiss's pages, an account by someone who must have been there a few years before I was, that the children were marched in a crocodile down Merton Rise to Primrose Hill for games, and she even mentioned walking past "the little door where a witch lived"! Until recently, that very house with that very door in the side still existed and I passed on the folklore to my own children whenever we drove past, (it was painted green for years), but it has now been removed and Merton Rise is bisected by blocks of flats, etc.

To reach the "Garden"(=playground) we used an iron fire escape/outside stairs from the entrance hall level via a "balcony".

To the credit of St. Mary's, children could attend for a short time and still feel included. I remember someone called Monica whose parents went back to Germany with her. After I suppose a couple of terms she reappeared and I was amazed that she had (temporarily) forgotten english! but we resumed our friendship and it may have been at her house that I was introduced to the delights of sweetened condensed milk.

Another in the "Whatever happened to" department: Leon Desborough who lived in Harben Road.

Curiously Craig Sams appears in the class which had some of my friends and companions. Maybe he arrived after I left, because I dont remember him, though for nearly 20 years his business was very close to my Bead Shop in the same block in Portobello Road! Likewise I know Peter Adler but never realised that according to one of the online reminiscences: "the children of Larry Adler the harmonica player" were pupils.

Also remembered dimly: American girl called "Abby" Judith Fry Nicky Hubbard

reminded by the other reminiscences of: Yoko Suga,

A question that interests me now as a result of finding your doorway into my past and also talking to my son, can be put briefly like this: My only really happy schooldays were those early ones. Later I passed the exams and got a scholarship to South Hampstead High School which were about 8 years of unhappiness pressure sarcasm and competitive egos. (My mother never understood this). So why do I find myself still valuing the academic education of SHHS and the "O" levels etc, more than the rich, humanly rewarding time building up personal and social confidence, etc. etc. which was the result of those years at T&C? My son, now a successful designer, who also had a nightmarishly miserable time after the age of 11 at a boarding school and quit after less than 2 years, finishing his schooling at a Steiner school, told me to my astonishment that though it was nice, friendly, not so stressful at the Steiner school, nevertheless he still appreciates the short but stimulating time he spent at the public school where socially it was horrible but the facilities were "State-of-the-Art".

I'd still like to think that its the positive school time that moulds a future independant thinking and feeling person who can cope in this world. Certainly now I'd put that first when choosing a school for kids.

I have contact with Susie Huxley (now Susie Ray), Alexis (nee Findon), the Brandts, Michael Bieber,

Yes I'd like to hear more from others so you can put up my Email address by my name on the pupils list.

I've written 3 books about Beads, and still avidly research and lecture on the topic. Yes it is a huge subject and just beginning to be recognized in the worlds of Archaeology as well as Desgn, Costume, religion, Technology, trade and barter, etc.

Stefany Tomalin
Stefany Tomalin <StefanyTomalinBeads@compuserve.com>
UK - Thursday, September 23, 2004 at 22:01:20 (CEST)

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Dear Norman,

In an idle moment recently it occurred to me to do a search on my old school...and I was rewarded with your wonderful site. Names and faces are coming vaguely into my mind as I read the collection of reminiscences. I was there with my brother, Nicholas Casimir, two years below me, 1969-70. I was in the same year as Amanda Poole, Diana Fortinberry (sp?), Sabrina Crewe and, according to your site, many others whose names I cannot properly recall but which seem awfully familiar, Greg (from Rhode Island?), Virginia Solomon, Isabel Neate, one of the Pinsker sisters, Polly Newcombe, Sheff Omar??. Other names are also very familiar but I'm not sure if we were in the same year.

I enjoyed the school, especially socially, although looking back I'm not sure it was that good academically (except for French of course). My strongest memories are of a chain-smoking Mr Neville and his love of German songs, playing hockey in Regent's Park, liver and onions in the darkest lunchroom I have ever known, nearly dying of muscle soreness on the Lake District trip, one break when a football hit the history teacher (Mr Gayton? whose teaching method consisted entirely of drawing pictures on the blackboard which we then copied) and knocked him unconscious, Mrs. Paul's dark and mysterious study, the Nuffield science series on the human body(!), walking to Swiss Cottage swimming baths to swim or do gym, a truly wonderful English teacher, a fear-inspiring walk to my classroom across the bridge connecting the two buildings several times a day, that skipping game we girls played with an elastic around our ankles, some crushes on older boys...many memories.

From St Mary's my brother and I went on to boarding school, St Christopher's, Letchworth, Herts. Sabrina and Sebastian Crewe joined us there. I am now living in Washington DC. My husband, who is Spanish, works for the World Bank, and I teach ESL part time. We have two teenage daughters, both older than I was at St Mary's. I would love to receive emails from people whose memories are better than mine!

(A word on my name: at St Mary's I was Sandra Casimir, at the next school I was Alex Casimir (Alex and Sandra both come from Alexandra, my full name, and changing my nickname seemed a cool thing to do at the time), and now I am Alex Alba, my married name.)

My very best to all my old school mates, Sandra Casimir/Alex Alba
Sandra Casimir <alex.alba@verizon.net>
Washington DC, USA - Thursday, September 23, 2004 at 21:54:39 (CEST)

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Hi I'm Stefany Tomalin

Found the "Town & Country" site by chance.. When I get a few quiet hours I'll write some recollections. I was born in '45, and attended from kindergarten up to the age of 7 but these were the happy school years! I also went to Jean Bennett's cottage in the summer and other holidays.

Right now, a list of names some of which you dont have on your list yet- (but its possible I've remembered some non-pupils as well)

I'd really like to know what became of:
A very naughty boy called Dermot!
Keith Hitchcock
Crispin Rogers
Johnny Duchin
Paul Joannides -birthday 1 day later than mine.
Jamey ??
A girl from a kibbutz called Daniella
Susannah Huxley
Carol Berger sister of Vicky
David Risner (brother of Jennifer, not Mark, that was their father)
Anne Rigby
Judy Brandt
Naomi and Ben Jacoby
Judy Pearce
Sarah and ??younger brother Shepheard
?Estorick
?Fry

Mr Gubbins arithmetic teacher who hit people with a ruler. Uncle Willy who is remembered for the "Galloping tune" if nothing else!
I remember the classes were called "Kindergarten", "Ones" "Twos" "Threes", etc. Morning assembly was "Call-over". and I remember the "Jungle Jim".
I'm the one with the long pigtails in one of Alicia Sufit's photographs taken at Jean Bennett's cottage. Me, Alexis Findon, and Stella Ryser were the "3 Big Girls" at school.(In the sense of quality, not size of course) Michael Bieber used to chase us and pull hair. I am in touch with him and of course he is not like that now...
I think a high proportion of the T&C kids in the late '40s early '50s were children of the eccentric and left-wing jewish immigrant families who discovered Hampstead, many were artists, actors, writers, and also unconventional doctors, analysts etc.
Will write again and hope to hear more from others!
Stefany
Stefany Tomalin <StefanyTomalinBeads@compuserve.com>
UK - Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 11:15:33 (CEST)

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Hello Norman -
I hadn't thought about Town and Country for years then suddenly it occurred to me today to look for it on the web. Congratulations on the site. All of a sudden it's brought back to me what wonderful, unique, eccentric years those were. I don't think I've ever come across such a diversity of people in one place, and believe me, I've travelled. More importantly T & C taught me what plimsolls were, and introduced me to semolina pudding with a blob of jam.
I was at T & C in 1973 (first term) and the whole of 1974, in second and third form. My father was working at Australia House and after our stint I went back to boarding school in Canberra - a definite step down creatively, if possibly a slight improvement academically!

I remember Mr McMenaman (spelling??) the maths teacher, a wry Scot, once telling us we would soon forget most of our fellow pupils. He was probably right but I'm amazed how many names (and faces without names) are coming back as I think about it. My best friends were Vilas Roberts (another Aussie) and David Haas. Where the hell are you? I also remember Miles and Jeremy Richardson - Miles used to come back to my place and hook into the scotch, but our friendship ended irrevocably when my mother caught us being naughty - can't remember what the big crime was but you can be pretty sure Miles commissioned it. Other names of my fellow students that are coming back - Toby Russell (son of Ken), Hayedah Mokveh (from Iran), Hamid who was possibly Hayedah's elder brother, David Bulheimer, Erez Lilienthal from Israel, who once nearly stabbed me (by accident) on the tube, Karen Kyberz, the lovely von Bibra sisters from Melbourne - Sonia and, sorry can't remember the names of the other two. Duncan Atwell, Seven Spiro, Clark Berger, Bobby Schubert, Kelly Moriarty (American), a couple of Japanese brothers called Hiroshi and Artie... Everyone had a crush on Gina, except for me I guess - I was besotted with Jayne Chubb, who joined in 74 I think.

From the teachers I remember Mr Neville, of course, and Bernard Prousteau, who tutored me in French with his brilliant method. 'Peindre d'abord une cage...' rings a bell, and there was a word identification game called the Little Green Man. I believe he died, back in the 70s, as did Mr Neville. Mrs Paul thought I was some sort of genius and actually kissed me before I left the school - would be interested to know if she handed this treatment out to everyone?? I also remember Mr Nash, the eminence grise of the music classes, Mrs Scott-Kennerly the science teacher in her flared pants suits, Mrs Petzel the German teacher, and Mrs Bennett (I think) who taught creative writing and liked my stories, clever woman. There was also Mrs Sieff, the coolly alluring South African geography teacher, and Mr Rothwell, who taught English and history, scarily. And an English teacher before him, another brilliant educator - can't remember his name but remember his blow-by-blow grammatical dissection of 'Jason sailed in search of the Golden Fleece.' Oh yes and another English and history teacher, Mr Brown, who also had some interesting ideas and was a nice guy.

These days I'm a photojournalist, currently based in Delhi. My pictures sometimes appear in the Times, the Guardian, the Telegraph, the Daily Mail and Time. I published a book, years ago, 'The Five Foot Road', with HarperCollins, which regrettably is out of print.

I'm not in touch with anyone from the school but would be interested to hear from anyone who remembers a tall pale Australian who was good at French and English and rubbish at sport.
Angus McDonald
Angus McDonald <himalayabout@yahoo.com.au>
Delhi, India - Friday, September 10, 2004 at 21:38:23 (CEST)

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Dear Norman,
An internet search for "Baess" and "Nissen" led me to your fantastic, amazing website! Mic (for that was his name then) Baess and I were in the fourth form together in 1970-71, the only year I spent at T&C, and re-connected in 1977, when I spent a few months in London while taking a year off from college. It was on this latter occasion that I first met Peter Nissen, who became a great friend too. We had a number of adventures in those few months in 1977, mostly involving playing or listening to of extremely loud rock music (e.g., the Stranglers). Maybe that trip to the Stonehenge Summer Solstice festival explains why they can't seem to remember me (I had to drive them back to London in a dilapidated van, on the wrong side of the road, for reasons they have probably repressed). My brother Steve McGuire and my sister Anne McGuire also went to Town and Country. They were in first and third form respectively in 1970-1971.

I'm now a college professor at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, USA, where I teach political science and specialize in Latin American politics. I wrote a book called Peronism without Peron (Stanford, 1997), and have just finished another called "Politics, Policy, and Mortality Decline in East Asia and Latin America" (not yet out).

Besides Mic I remember fondly from our fourth form class Sophie Belegris, Gary Bolton (nice guy and great soccer player), Margot Case (went to Lake District with a group of us led by Mr. Johnston), Uday Gadre (among my closest friends), Alex (Ox) De Groot (from Belgium but con madre peruana), Mark Samuel (nice guy who liked Irish castles), Ranjan Sanjay (from Gujarat), Peter Wilde (from USA), and Jenny Williams (from USA). From my sister's third form I remember the great Shafique Omar, Greg Acosta (from USA), the lovely Sandra Casimir, the also lovely Amanda Poole, and the also, also lovely Sabrina Crewe (wow, what a class!!). From my brother's first form I remember Marlo Gripp (forgive me but I believe she is misidentified as male on your list).

Let me add my name to the many who harbor deep affection for the late Mr. Neville. Thanks to his great teaching I actually learned some French. Other teachers who made an impression on me in various ways were Mr. Johnston (Geography), Mrs. Kennelly (Science), and Mr. McMennemon (sp?, Math).

In my year at Town and Country I learned not much academically (except French) but an enormous amount about life, and I treasure the memories of the fine folks I befriended that year. I would love to hear from any of you mentioned in this note, or for that matter anyone who remembers me or my brother or sister. I would be especially interested in contact info for Mic Baess and Peter Nissen so I can catch up a bit on the past 25 years and kick their butts for not mentioning me among their classmates. Well, sorry I went on so long, got to get back to work.

Fondly, Jim McGuire
Jim McGuire <jmcguire@wesleyan.edu>
Middletown, CT, USA - Wednesday, August 25, 2004 at 00:01:16 (CEST)

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Hi Norman, Came across your site today. Really brought back some memories and I had wondered what had happened to the school after visiting Eton Avenue a few years ago.
I was there with my sister for a short while. I left as soon as I finished the juniors but my sister was three years older than me and stayed in the Senior school for a short while after. She knew Lisa Pitt , who I see is listed on the site. They were in the same class together. I was in the same class as her sister, Shelley.
Anyway, if you would like to add me and my sister to your pupil list, please feel free
Here are the details: Stefano Da Tos Alessandra Da Tos If anyone is interested in contacting either of us, my email is stefanod@cwcom.net
Thanks for putting in the effort with the site. Kind Regards Stef
Stefano Da Tos <stefanod@cwcom.net >
- Thursday, August 12, 2004 at 11:51:18 (CEST)

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Dear Norman, I am totally fascinated by your site. Gulp!! What memories! I adored Jean Bennett, who was such an exceptional person and teacher. Peter, her dog, was like some grumpy consort who had been magically changed into canine form. I used to go down to Jean's thatched cottage in Beckley, near Rye, Sussex (not Kent, by the way) and spend idyllic holiday times there. I hit on your site trying to research Miss 'Trasvinsky' the ballet mistress, whose accompanist was her mother, Madame T. They let me do Russian ballet exams, the examiner being Madame Nicolaeva Legat, who was a frequent visitor and friend of Nijinsky in the 50s. I'll write to you soon, as I have interesting photos of pupils in classroom from the time - Lucinda Huxley, Christopher Burns, Sarah Walton, Vicki Burgess, Gloria Harris, Harvey (American?) Seth Meyer, Gered Mankowitz (sp?) Michael Beeber (sp?) etc. Some more senior names are John Maizels, Mark Latimer Sufit and so on. My mother, Mary Sufit, taught at the school during the time I was there, 1952 - 1956, so brief, but so deep. My parents had a cottage called Sunley Bank, right next door to Hedgreley Wood, strangely! kind regards, Alicia (Alisha) Sufit
Alicia (Alisha) Sufit <info@alishasufit.com>
London, UK - Tuesday, August 03, 2004 at 01:57:54 (CEST)

[Norman's Note:- Alicia has since sent a number of interesting photos, and anecdotes Click Here to see them

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Hello I'm Peter Muir I was at the school 1967/68/69 i remember Mr Neville very well just thought i would add my name to the list since school i started up my own business a recording studio in London - married to Linda with two beautifull daughters Sandy & Beth, and well done Norman. p.s. will there be a reunion?
PETER MUIR <PPMUIR53@YAHOO.COM>
LONDON, UK - Saturday, May 29, 2004 at 21:07:55 (CEST)

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Unlike my brother Matthew I did not get the cane. We were only in the school for approx 1½ years and nearing the end of my stay I used to have a grey vespa motor scooter. I can't say it was the best school I ever went to but the folks were okay. The headteacher was a character from what I remember! Now aged 52 and married for 28 years I have two children, one married and one starting her first job in would you believe sunny Finchley Road area. I doubt if anyone would remember me as our stay was flying one.
Mark Laming <marklaming@aol.com>
Bournemouth, UK - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at 23:22:52 (CEST)

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Hi folks great site always wondered what happened to town and country school, I was a pupil in the 70s for 4 years with my brother Mark Laming whos name is in the pupils list cant find mine though? (NB It is now!) Had some great years, even got the cane from Mrs Paul.
In your pupils list you have the name Jed? I know he was american and was at the school for two years, I think his surname was Chambers. On independece day jed brought in to the school a pole with the american flag attached on it he took it into the playground and in the middle of the playground was a drain he removed the cover and planted the flag in it and then saluted before he was marched off to Mrs Pauls office. What ever happened to Mr Neville?
I hope to hear from you, please contact me..
Matthew Laming <matthewlaming@yahoo.com>
Roscommon , Ireland - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at 21:38:20 (CEST)

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I was at The Hall School in Buckland Crescent and Crossfield Road from 1933 to 1940. We lived in Eton Court, a block of flats on a corner in Eton Avenue. Have you come across anyone from that time and those places? I've much enjoyed your website. Michael Wolff
Michael Wolff <mwolff@english.umass.edu>
- Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 23:39:16 (CEST)

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Dear Norman,

As a former pupil at the T & C School from 1959 to 1963 I found your site very interesting. I have a few old photos from my time there which may be of interest to you. We must have been at the school at the same time, but you must have been in somwhat younger than me and I do not recognise the pupils in your collection of photos. However, quite a number of those in Ernie's webpage were in my class.

I enjoyed listening to your recordings of Mr Myerscough/Neville's music lessons! I also well remember Mr Nash, with the short white socks! I sent an email to Robin Neuberg, with whom I was in the same class, but I didn't get any reply so far. I could add some more names to your list of pupils if you are interested. Do you have any email or other addresses of these former pupils. To avoid confusion I should point out that through out my childhood in England (1947? - 1969) I was known as George, but in Switzerland I have gone back to using my real name Juerg. Whatever happend to to all these pupils at the T & C from the 'Swinging Sixties'? Do you have contact with any of them?I lost all contact when I left T & C for Haberdashers' Aske's in Elstee in 1963.
Look forward to hearing from you,

Best Wishes,
George Haller
Juerg (George) Haller
Switzerland - Monday, May 03, 2004 at 11:19:43 (CEST)

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I was called Ruth Bradley when I went to Town and Country in 1965-6 I think, Mrs. Bevan was our class teacher. I stumbled across this site after talking with a friend about a trip we all made to the Hellfire caves and did a search on Hedgerley. I remember Adrienne Ball who was my best friend, and Stephanie Knapp, Sharon Fox, Anthony Kolokotroni, Mike Bear, most of whom weren't mentioned on the site, and i've lost touch. I was sad to hear about Peter Lucas. I wasn't at Town and Country for long, a year I think, then I went to Holland Park Comprehensive. I'm now a video artist and living in London.
Ruth
London, UK - Sunday, April 04, 2004 at 15:33:23 (CEST)

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I remember being at T&C in 1971 - left Hereward house. I knew David Haas and Gina Beck and Dawn Castle. Its nice to look back and see some people I knew in those good ol' days. I remember I played a prank with a friend, lighting matches and was accused of wanting to burn down the school. I was given detention and a day off from school. I remember Mr. Neville and his singing classes aswell as having to learn the french poem "Peindre d'abord an ouiseau avec un...." My sister Sophie Kolokotroni used to attend the school aswell. Nice to reflect on times past....
Andrew Kolokotroni <andrew_kolo@juno.com>
Bergen County, USA - Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 20:01:23 (CET)

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At the start of a new year, best wishes to all past visitors/ex-t&c people and to all those yet to come - Your Webmaster
Norman Barrington <nb@normanb.net>
UK - Thursday, January 01, 2004 at 01:25:04 (CET)

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I was thrilled to come across these sites about T&C. I started there in 1966 and left in 1971. I do actually have a few pictures of my time there but am not sure how to get them to you.

I don't have any pictures of the teachers except Mr. Johnson who was the geography teacher while I was there. Mr. Neville was by far my favourit teacher however I was terrified of him on some level.

He was quite sick during my first year and I seem to remember he was gone for about 6 weeks but I always looked forward to his class even though I really struggled with Latin. I remember Mr. McDermott, the science teacher and also having to walk to the science lab around the corner. I can't remember the name of the history teacher but he was a big man!...

Looking at the pictures of you and Theo I do remember you but since I was so much younger I'm sure you don't remember me. Please let me know how to submit my photos. I have a bag full...Diana (Di-Di-Duck Face - a very unfortunate nick name)
Diana Roberts (Krajkeman) <Krajky@msn.com>
Bellevue, WA, US - Saturday, September 20, 2003 at 18:42:49 (CEST)

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Hello Norman

I greatly enjoyed visiting your web site, listening to Mr Neville warbling in Latin brought back a lot of memories and proves that time travel (of a sort) is truly possible.

I was transported the assembly room watching Mr Neville and Mr Nash performing during "singing". The object of the class momentarily forgotten as they expressed their love for each other publicly in the only way they could. I remember the sting of Mr McMennemum's ruler slapping the palm of my hand (I do not recall my crime) and Mrs Kennerly reduced to tears by class bad girl Dawn Castle.

I felt the heartache of my hopeless crush on Gina Beck (and the South African Geography teacher whose name escapes me). I remembered laughing at Clark Berger's Donald Duck impressions and all too frequent Spanish guitar playing, the death of Rupert Atwell, and my first spliff in the girl's toilet (Thanks Annie and Lynne!).

It was a curious and strangely magical school - I'm not sure I learnt very much, but it certainly left a lasting impression on me.

Jeremy Richardson
(Town & Country 1972-76, now a graphic designer)
Jeremy Richardson <jeremy@jaded.demon.co.uk>
London SW11, UK - Sunday, September 14, 2003 at 19:11:06 (CEST)

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Hi Norman, Great site. I often wonder what's happened to old classmates and friends from my Town and Country days. I was at the school from 62-73 and remember you clearly from the mid to late 60s.

I have lots of wonderful memories from my time at the school, and some of the earliest were those week long breaks at Hedgerley Wood, staying in tents and roasting marshmallows during a nighttime BBQ. I remember having a huge crush on a classmate Diana Lock who also won the hearts of two other pupils, Robert Maxwell and Pete Lucas who sadly died in the 80s after being landlord of The Nag's Head in Heath Street, Hampstead.

My teachers in the junior school were Mrs Robb, Miss Priest, Miss Mennell (I think she was only there for a year or two), and Mrs Bevan - a fearsome Welsh woman who resembled Shirley Bassey and who would cuff you with her hefty gold ring if you were naughty. (I got wacked quite a bit, an early sign of rebellion).

I never found T and C that good academically but it sure inspired a wonderful, unregimented way of thinking that bode me well for my future endeavours. Most of my time was spent in the playground taking part in absolute death or glory football games, honing skills for the highpoint of the week which was the game on Hampstead Heath Extension. I have a great memory of playing in a game in which my good friend Peter Nissen was the goalie and we lost 13-2 to our arch rivals Hereward House. In the early 70s we got the better of them and regularly trounced them with Sheffi Omar, Gary Bolton, Dimitri Belegris and myself in the side!!

Looking back on those days I think those who were at the school in the 60s and early 70s were lucky to have grown at perhaps the best time of the 20th century. There was so much going on in terms of great music, sport and world history in the making such as Vietnam, the Apollo moonshots, supersonic booms over the school, the Aberfan disaster etc.

A few other pupils you may wish to add to your list are Caroline Willing, Uday Gadre, Graham Grumi, Rochelle Minson, Marlo Gripp, Anna Papadopolous, Johan and Rita Schalwyk, David Bulheimer, Rena Selby, Dave and James Phillips, Alex de Groot (Ox), Sharon Marks, the Faith sisters - Alex, Penny and Sarah, Luisa Fernandes, Amanda Aron (a great footballer), Peter White, Phillip Rice, Jonathan Chapland, Isaac and Angela Molayem (who were from Israel), Lewis and Linda Dodd, Oliver Perrin (now a famous jazz pianist), Amanda and Cordelia Donahoe (yes, that Amanda Donohoe), John Collier (the window to watch), Susan Collier (no relation), and an Australian teacher called Mrs Blythe, and an absolutely gorgeous Californian girl called Maria Sonnet who was there for a year in 1969 and gave me a copy of Fleetwood Mac's Man of the World single for my birthday.

Until about 15 years ago I watch in contact with Sheff Omar who was studying to become a doctor and Uday Gadre who had become the manager of a bank. I've remained friends with Pete Nissen and the legendary Simon Turner and I've also bumped into Sharon Pinsker and Ann Whiteman in the late 70s. I'm now going to dig through my archives and try and find any old photos. I definitely have a pic of the Junior School football team in 1967.

Pete's account of robbing the locker at Swiss Cottage baths brought some funny memories back and I remember the inquiry when we were all called before Mrs Paul, Mr Neville and other teachers and trying not to snigger. It could have been an unused scene from the film If. Anyway, keep up the great work and I'll have a look at my archives.

regards

Mike
Mike Baess
London, UK - Friday, August 22, 2003 at 13:08:36 (CEST)

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Hi Norman Mike Baess, who's still my best buddy, just rang to let me know about the T&C site and it's sort of blown my head a bit. Someone might remember when I was done for ripping off the sixpenny bits in the lockers at Swiss Cottage swimming pool armed with a hammer and chisel and giving most of them away to everyone else in the classI (for which I was suspended by Dr Paul) and possibly the time that I let in thirteen goals for the school football team. Not majorly positive contributions to the history of the school but there you go, it takes all sorts. One of my most meaningful memories was of Mrs (or was it Miss) Bennett telling us about some guy who'd died prematurely, at the age of nineteen, a diver, I think, but had still had a complete and meaningful life because of what he'd achieved in that limited time, I think he may have been working with Jacques Cousteau who, I seem to remember was a favourite of hers. - that story had a big influence on my future attitude to life Another poignant moment was the death of Bobby Kennedy which I remember hearing about in the playground.

Anyway, thought I'd help fill in a few missing names - as far as I can remember these guys were all in my year (with Lindy Rappaport) or the year before. There's me Peter Nissen, Michael(?) Kisolevsky. Michael Baer, Sheila Patel, Sheila Lock, Bruce Blair, Matthew ReeS (not Reece), Alfred NathaN (not Natham), Danny Bani-Israeli, Pete Lucas (Died), Diana Krajkeman, Tom Norris(Canadian), Sharon Marks.

Good to hear about you Norman, I'm sure I remember you, you were two classes up from me; I was there from 66-68. I've always wanted to know one thing though, did Mr Neville wear a rug?

Cheers Pete Nissen
Peter Nissen
UK - Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 20:40:56 (CEST)

[Norman's comments] - I remember the 6d escapade well. I was amongst those who helped themselves, but when we realised there was going to be a major inquisition that afternoon we swapped our tanners for larger money with Theo Lemos who was known to collect sixpences and therefore could be the only legitimate owner of so many! (I kid you not!)

I also recall that when our class's turn came to be questioned it was Mrs Paul and Miss Fehling who arrived in force. Although I had traded most of my tanners with Theo for larger change, I still had one sixpence in my pocket. Mrs Fehling got me to show her my change and when she saw the sixpence, she pointed at it and shrieked "There's a sixpence!!"... I calmly replied that it was not unusual to have a sixpence in ones change and luckily she calmed down muttering something like 'I s'pose so' and moved on to the next pupil.

On reflection, I don't think she could have been a very bright woman, though keen on Literature, and you couldn't 'mess' with her in class. Actually whenever I see a film with Joyce Grenfell, I am reminded of old Miss Fehling; "jolly hokeysticks" an' all.
But I digress! - So I got away with my haul of locker cash, though some less fortunate boy was caught with a heap in his socks! (He had been walking strangely!) He had to take them out and hand them over in front of the whole class.

Neville did have a rug, I remember him bald at the end of one term and suddenly at the start of the next he had hair again! During a downpour at regents park during football his real hair at the sides were flattened, whilst his toupé made of best quality nylon stayed perched precariously on top like a thatched roof.
He had that not amused look, when his nose would turn red and swell up.

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Hi Norman,

I just had a flash of memory. I remember M. Prouteau climbing up one of the horse chestnut trees that grew over the fence in order to pick conkers for us. He fell off and broke his arm, poor man, and I think we all laughed... thought it was one of his tricks, until he started to cry!!! He was a large lad, as I remember, and what a special teacher.

Another thing I remember, which you may know more about, was a TV program that was done on progressive schools. I think they had Preshill and a couple of other funny little schools like ours. I remember they caught me stuffing my face with some goop or other in the dining hall! I can picture the nanosecond of me, with two pigtails and a look of surprise, before it passed on to someone else.

One more for the road. One of my good freinds was Diana Fortinbury (Fortenberry??? no idea how it was spelled), who lived in the Duke of Bedford's house in Regent Circle. Gorgeous place with Wedgewood-style white on powder blue cameo busts of every member of the family (Duke of Bedford's family, I presume) on the cupboard doors in the palacial main bedroom. Anyway, I don't know what Diana's Dad did, but I suspect he was either with the American Embassy, or a major US company, because I happened to be spending the day with Diana when JFK was assassinated. We were actually watching it live in the little downstairs den. A room with walls completely covered with framed paintings (all sizes, styles and qualities) of which one space was filled by a black and white TV. You know how everyone remembers where they were when Kennedy was shot, well, my memory is a blurr of screaming, phone calls, white faces, tears, people tearing around in a shocked frenzy, and me... forgotten in the middle of it... curling up on the couch in the den. My Dad was sent for and came to collect me... he was also a diplomat, so the two dad's had a serious and anguished conversation in the hall before I was ushered out. It is so vivid, I think I could probably story-board it for a film!
Anyway... no doubt more will pour out in time!
Thanks for unplugging the memories

Cheers! Ginny
Virginia Solomon <vsolomon@netspace.net.au>
Australia - Thursday, July 31, 2003 at 22:49:41 (CEST)

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Hi Norman

Just read the demise of T&C and it brought tears to my eyes. It is a shame that the school which meant so much to the students found such a sorry end.

I must commend you for your efforts to bring back all the memories, some sad but mostly happy ones. Listening to your recordings of Neville and Mrs. A took me back 30 years.

My name is Demetris Belegris brother of Sophie Belegris. We both began in the junior school in 1966 and took our O'levels there in 1974 and 73 respectively. I wonder if any others from my years have contacted you so as to keep some contact with the past. An idea might be to arrange a reunion if for no other reason but to see what we all look like 30 years on.

I went back to the school in the mid 90s only to see that it was now a conversion into flats and I always wondered whatever happened. Now I know, sad but Victor Hugo is to blame.

Do keep up the good work and I will be visiting your site regularly to see that I was not erased from history.

Regards and best wishes to all T&C alumni
Demetris Belegris <dbelegris@hotmail.com>
Athens, Greece - Monday, July 28, 2003 at 16:50:41 (CEST)

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Hi Norman, What a fascinating site. St Mary's Town and Country School truly is a wonderful and worthy subject for commemoration. There is no doubt that the school had a powerful and positive impact on me and my sister - Tom Gutteridge and Virginia (Ginny) Gutteridge (now Virginia Solomon).

We were there from 1963-69 while our father was at Australia House as Head of Trade Publicity. The creative atmosphere and liberating educational ideas stay strongly in my mind: performing pageants in history (I remember a particularly elaborate Elizabethan feast), Mr Nash's songs at assembly, "The Tie Game" - Mr Prousteau's circuit-breaker when French lessons became bogged down, and of course Hedgerley Wood - that Arcadian world of discovery, adventure and excitement.

I would have been at least two years behind you at T & C and I was also ridiculously young - I started in the Prep year at 3 1/2! I can't remember who I had in my first year (clearly I really was an infant. My mother never fails to regale people with my first report which began "Tom bumbles about in an aura of good will") but my first real teacher was Miss Priest (and 'yes' my mammaries... memories of her are distinctly coloured by her particular endowments). From then on I actually can't remember who my form teacher was - my memories tend to get mixed up with Ginny's and my parents' versions of things.

Strangely enough I am currently working with another ex-T & Cer, Kirsten Von Bibra. We both now live in Melbourne, Australia, and even spookier, both of us are directors of theatre, opera and other media. Personally, I blame Mrs Paul!

I thought I would share one particular story with you because it relates to the tragic decline of the school and Mrs Paul. In late 1979/early 1980, my sister, Ginny and I met up in London after travelling for a while. We hadn't been back since we left in the late sixties and we decided to pay a visit to our Alma Mater.

We arrived on a cold winter morning at those familiar steps and rang the bell. After a while a woman answered the door who turned out to be Mrs 'A' who by then had graduated from cook to teacher. She told us that the school had deteriorated badly over the past few years and that there were only a couple of dozen pupils left. She then offered to take us up to see Mrs Paul. She would love to see us, Mrs A said.

We climbed up those steep wooden stairs and I realised that I had never been up so high, so close to Mrs Paul's 'seat of power' while I was a pupil. I felt slightly nervous. We were shown into a very dark room, and there sat Mrs Paul, piles of white hair pinned to her head, back straight and eyes piercing. We explained who we were and why we had come but it was clear to us quite soon that Mrs Paul was not fully connected to reality. She listened to us in silence and then began to tell us of her life. She was visited, she said, by angels. They came to her to sooth her. They included the poet, Verlaine, and Mr Neville (we had not realised he was dead). She spoke some more about the school but I wasn't really listening. I was thinking how sad it was that she should be sitting there with her wonderful school collapsing around her.

I don't remember what Ginny and I talked about as we left. Mrs Paul and her angels were both ridiculously funny and painfully sad, but I can't remember if we laughed or cried or both.

Some more names from my year: Janine Wingate, Victoria Willing, Jason Brown, Tom Diamond (brother of Emma), Tomi Tomas Tomacek (!), Noah Tucker, Christine Blair, Derek Cotton (he and I were 'allowed' to swim for 5 minutes longer than others in the freezing Hedgerley Wood pool because we were Antipodeans!) and others whose names have escaped me.

I'm pretty sure we've got a few photos of T & C times. We've certainly got some of the Elizabethan feast I mentioned (including embarassing ones of Jason Brown and me in tights posturing frightfully). Ginny's got a scanner so I'll see if I can persuade her to email some of them.

Thanks for the site and good luck with your archival efforts

Regards, Tom G
Tom Gutteridge <tandango@optusnet.com.au>
Melbourne, Australia - Friday, July 18, 2003 at 13:53:06 (CEST)

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How did you find me, a pupil way back in 1953-1956 and put my email on your website? Fascinating stuff. I remember the day that muesli was first served up at lunch, back in 1954. Frau Bohm, our German teacher, was an enthusiast. It was real Bircher Benner muesli too, soaked overnight to allow the development of lactic enzymes and thus make it more digestible. Long before anyone put it in packets. My classmates included Jasper Selwyn, Peter Friedman, John Rolf, a girl called Usha, and the Weinstein sisters, Lisa, Paula and Donna, whose mother produced the Robin Hood TV series. My favourite teacher was Mrs. Noyes (Noyesy behind her back) and my naughtiest moment was putting a drawing pin on her chair, which achieved the desired result. We would go to summer camp at a farm near Thaxted. We'd play hares and hounds in the countryside, go for walks to Finchingfield and nurse a bottle of Tizer for several days, kept in the sleeping bag. I also remember playing football and the goalie, once exhausted from defending, would hold up the ball and shout 'quis?' to which aspiring candidates would shout 'ego' and the first one to shout got to be goalie. Like one of your other correspondents, I found that subsequent school was pretty effortless - I'd learned stuff at T&C that stood me in good stead throughout my subsequent American high school education. The muesli rubbed off - I started up Whole Earth Foods in 1967 with my brother Gregory (from the junior side of the school) and more recently founded Green & Black's chocolate and am now also the chair of the Soil Association. Poor old Mrs. Paul - such an uninspiring ending to such a successful balancing of progressive methods with good, solid academic grounding. Regards Craig Sams (now living in Hastings)
Craig Sams <craig@craigsams.com>
Hastings, UK - Sunday, June 08, 2003 at 16:23:35 (CEST)

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Dear Norman,I stumbled on your fantastic web site and took a walk down memory lane! Boydid you bring back old memories.I was a student at Town & Country from 1968 - 1970 - although I don'tremember your name I'm sure I would know you if I saw you.My name is Mahmoud El Tabei (aka as Mao) - I'm an Egyptian. I was verydisappointed to not find my name on your list - its like dropping me fromhistory! I used to go to class with Julian Esterson (he was a great mate ofmine - can you put me in touch with him). I was also in class with WyndhamJones and we were also great friends. Let me add to your list some names:- Francis Langfield (we were in class together)- Robin Rowe (she was an American red head one class below me -boy did Ihave a crush on her)- Angela Newmark (she was in class with me and I aslo had a crush on her)- Sally Field- Mark LamingThat's all I remember.Take care and thanks for the fantastic web site.Mahmoud
Mahmoud El-Tabei <mahmoud.el-tabei@newzealandmilk.com>
New Zealand - Tuesday, May 20, 2003 at 15:54:35 (CEST)

[Norman's Note:- I left in 68 so we may have met like passing ships. Sorry about the omission of your name on the illustrious list which I have now sorted]

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Dear Norman,Have been meaning to write to you for a long time to tell you how fantastic we ( my sisters Barbara and Suzanne) think it is that you have taken the time and trouble to design and create such an imaginative site, paying tribute to what we all remember affectionately as an extraordinary and very eccentric school!! I 'm sure Mrs. Paul and Mr. Neville would have been extremely touched and amused by all the anecdotes and recordings....I think you will have made them very proud indeed!!!I do have a few photos featuring splashing around in the pool at Hedgerly Wood, geography walks and the "golden ball" on the way to the Hell Fire Caves, football inthe playgruond Eton Avenue and a trip to the Lake District .Also some fuzzy group shots and a couple of less fuzzy head shots so wondered if I entrusted these valuable relics to you, you might want to include them on my behalf? Meanwhile I have a few names to add to your list... Mr McMennemum....Maths teacher Peter Freeth (now very well established R.A.).... Art teacher Mrs Kennerly........Science teacher Ali Nafis Sebastian Crewe Alex Priest Matthew Reece Simon Leroy Wyndham Jones (Winnie) Mark Samuels Neil Fader Greg Acosta Alfred Natham Gary Bolton Binny (?) Jed (?) Rupert (sadly deceased) Philip Wilde Jenny Williams Anne Wilde Lindy Rappaport Sophia Kolakotroni Elizabeth White Virginia Gutteridge (Ginnie) Oh yes, and while you are there, Shafique Omar was definately a boy back then , so should be in the other column !!
Sharon Pinsker <sharonpinsker@email.com>
UK - Sunday, May 18, 2003 at 20:20:38 (CEST)

[Norman's Note:- Thanks for the kind comments I would be delighted to add your pictures, the more the better, especially from different years. I have added your new names for which I also thank you. I hope others will follow suit in due course!]

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Dear NormanI was wondering if you remembered Reina James, who was a great friend of Juliet Glaister, as well as of mine, and I would really love to find out where they are, and what they’re doing.

I reverted to the first name by which all my family called me; I was only Liz at school. It’s pronounced Berji (as in ‘version’), but of course I don’t mind at all if you continue to use Liz!

I was moved to tears, yes actual ones! – by so many things on your website, the mixture of farce and pathos in Mrs Paul’s determination (I too chuckled at the Victor Hugo recitings!) and sad decline, the photos, the school uniform list (wonder if anybody has the girl’s list), Hedgerley Wood, and lots more. It’s really great.

– I look forward to hearing the recordings so much.
Very warm regards,
Bözsi/Liz
Bözsi/Liz Davis <bozsi@bozsi.co.uk>
UK - Thursday, April 24, 2003 at 18:05:16 (CEST)

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Mr Nash is still to be seen walking his dog on Hampstead Heath and still looking amazingly young - or am I just catching up with him!
Ann Whiteman <ann_connock@hotmail.com>
London, UK - Monday, March 03, 2003 at 20:57:21 (MET)

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I was sorry to hear about Mr. Neville's death, even with a near-thirty year delay. I still remember the characteristic glee with which he told us about thelease on the flat he had obtained from the Church Commissioners.characteristic.
Andrew Ranicki <aar@maths.ed.ac.uk>
Edinburgh, UK - Sunday, March 02, 2003 at 00:07:16 (MET)

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I first arrived in T & C for the year 1958-1959, straightout of Poland. I didn't know any English, and found learning French (from M. Prusteaux) in English particularly hard going. I cannot remember any fellow pupils, but some ofthe teachers, Mrs. Paul of course, and the charismatic chain smoking Myerscough/Neville, and Mrs. Bevan. I returned again for the summer term of 1961, by which time I had at least learnt English. If anyone remembers me from long ago, I would behappy to hear from them! Also, please let me know if you know of the current whereabouts of Myerscough/Neville --assuming the cigarettes didn't do him in.
Andrew Ranicki <aar@maths.ed.ac.uk>
Edinburgh, UK - Monday, February 24, 2003 at 00:39:05 (MET)

[Norman's Note:- I am afraid that your assumption is correct, Andrew. The fact is that Mr Neville died in the mid 70's (not sure of the exact date) from a smoking related illness.]

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Wow. What a trip back to memory lane. I was a pupil at T&C from 1968 to 1970 when i was in the junior school. I was there from the ages of 8 to ten. I spent one year with Miss Priest and the other with Mrs. Thornton. My next year would have been with Mrs. Bevan ( whose class was right at the top of the building) but I moved on to another school in the locality, North Bridge House School. Even though I was very young in my T&C time, I have always remembered it as an incredible place, partly perhaps because of the era in London and partly perhaps because the whole place was the essence of Mrs. Paul.The classmates I remember were Sinty Stemp (we are still friends after all these years - she now works at Jean Muir Limited in London), Clark Berger, Topper Quinn, Toby Baker, Suzanne Pinsca, Lucian Rhodes, Clare Gluck, Dawn Castle, Caroline Hatter and Carl Sultana.The photos of the school playground bring back a host of hidden memories. It was an unusual playground with the way it was divided up. Our French teacher, Mr. Bruno used to take us to the playground for learning numbers in french. The boys would be lined up on one wall, the girls against another. We were all allocated numbers. Mr. Bruno would call out a number and one boy and one girl who had that number would try and pick up a tie fromk the middle of teh playground and bring it back without being touched.Mr. Neville's classes were memorable for the variety of ideas and sounds he got us to make. I remember once he assigned us each a colour of the rainbow and we then had to make individual sounds.I remember the smell associated with going down to the basement for lunch and Mrs. A serving the food.The most memorable times for me were always with a trip to Hedgerley Wood. I must have gone there about six times. During one stay, I remember watching live on an old black and white TV the coronation of the Prince of Wales. What else - the smell of the bonfires, the walks along the paths picking berries, the tiny swimming pool that was always freezing.Only once in my life have I met an old T&Cer. That was here in Sydney, Australia two years ago. His name was Andrew Cotton and was about three to four year older than me. His father was the ambassador for New Zealand in London then. I can get his contact details if anyone is interested.Thank you, Norman, for putting up and maintaining this site. T&C deserves to have its unique memory preserved and you have done a wonderful job in bringing back a flood of otherwise forgotten memories and images.Jason Nyilas
Jason Nyilas <jasonnyilas@hotmail.com>
sydney, Australia - Tuesday, February 11, 2003 at 03:28:56 (MET)

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Dear Norman,
Both Judy Mikes (who I still see regularly) and I, would love to get back in contact with Pam Taylor.
Also, on the list of teachers, where was Mr Bantock? (he of the brown velvet or was it cord jacket?)
Best wishes, Stephanie (Sullivan)
Stephanie (Sullivan) Portway <raquel@bun.com>
UK - Sunday, December 08, 2002 at 22:27:33 (MET)

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Hello there Norman....do you remember me Sandy Dale? This is brilliant! I remember you in the science lab...didn't you once try to blow it up or something!!

You obviously remember Judy Lock and her dad. She was my best friend. I think I have a photo of you somewhere, after a walk in Regents Park. I am still in touch with Judy - how could I not be - she is so lovely! I shall pass on your e-mail address to her.

I too am married with three children. Natalie 29, Daniel 23 and Joshua who is 10. Yes I know I must have been mad, but I'd do it all again! I work as a Counsellor in private practice. I have been doing this for 13 years!

My education was pretty chequered, being changed from school to school. I remember you as a very sweet gentle boy, a little quirky maybe, and I remember being in awe of your cheekiness!!

Hope you still are all those things.

Best wishes and happy to see your name

Sandy x (Wick)
Sandra Dale <sandy_wick@hotmail.com>
UK - Friday, November 22, 2002 at 00:02:09 (MET)

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Hello Norman

I don't know if I knew you when I was a student at St. Mary's but it blew me away to see my name on your student list along with many of the students who were my friends at the time. I did notice that you did not have my brother Gerald (Gerry) Davies on your list who was a year or two ahead of me. I also was friends with Sabina Grimes and Theresa Lieber who also are not on your list.

The pictures of the school and the articles etc. on your website brought tears to my eyes. I have not seen or heard of the school since we left to return to Canada. I heard of Friends Reunited from a British friend here at my office and put my name on the list not expecting it to grow as rapidly as it has or to find your great website.

Is there any discussion of a school reunion at some time? Have you heard from anyone about Miss Bunting who was my teacher for nearly 3 years?

I sent your website to my brother, he was good friends with John Walton. I remember quite a few people that weren't on your list. Some were people who remained after I left and others left before I did. There were always anumber of people from "the colonies" like us attending the school. Here are a few other names: Theresa Lieber, Sally Mumford, Barbara Levy, Steven Penkowski ( was a good artist and returned to the US a year or two before I left), Daniel Unger who left to live in Israel while I was in Ms Bevan's class, Yasuko Hashimoto who went back to Japan, Patti Palmer who was also a Canadian and played the harp, Richard who's name I can't remember -he had a brace on his leg from polio - maybe you can remember him. Are any of these familiar to you?

Something I participated in that you may or may not remember happening was an opera. A few people from my class made up an opera which we performedfirst at Hedgerley Wood around the bonfire for a number of classes and then for the school for a lot of classes. Patti Palmer played the witch and I played the male romantic lead!! I think it was Barbara Levy who played thefemale romantic lead. Anyway, it created quite a big splash at the school at the time or maybe only in my mind!! A funny link to that opera was this. Ihad a ballet dress which I had had for years because I took ballet and used it in various little recitals. Before we came to England I gave lessons to a girl named Mavis Staines who later became the principal for the National Ballet of Canada. Anyway that dress is the dress Patti Palmer wore in the opera. Isn't it strange what you remember?

Do you remember the time we had pet rabbits which we kept in cages in the school yard- what a disaster that was..

Thanks again and keep up the good work. I think I have a couple of old pictures of my brother and I in our school uniforms which I will try to digout and send to you. I must go and tax someone now! (I work for Revenue)

Bye for now Pam Pratt (Davies)
Pam Pratt <Pamela.Pratt@ccra-adrc.gc.ca>
Canada - Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 15:23:53 (MET)

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Norman I went to St Mary's (No 40) between about 1962 and 1968. My name then was Polly Hogg, my best friend was Emma Diamond and I also remember Mark Finlayson. There was another girl, who's name escapes me at the moment, who's father owned the Chic clothes shops in Hampstead. He used to collect her from school in his car which had the registration CH 1C! We were there from approx age 5 to 11. If I think of anyone else I will let you know. I remember Mrs Bevan who took us for English and Miss Priest for obvious reasons! We also had a fantastic German teacher. I always wish I had been able to stay on past 11 because the educational standards in the school I moved to were not a patch on St Mary's. Unfortunately I do not have any photos from my time at the school but it was really great to see the ones you have posted on the site. It was really strange seeing them, especially the ones of Hedgerley Wood. One thing I do remember was coming joint runner up in a writing competition (something to do with Camden) for a story I wrote called, I am six inches tall and I live in a box! I remember being filmed in the assembly hall (I think it was the BBC) reading the story. I often think that I will try and find out about it when I have more time on my hands. Keep up the great work. All the best Polly (now Boulter)
Polly Hogg <pboulter@btconnect.com>
UK - Tuesday, November 05, 2002 at 23:19:55 (MET)

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I would like to add my mother's details to your site (she is sitting beside me and you can use this e-mail address for contact details). My mother is listed as Robin (?) on your site of pupils. She was at St Mary's between 1958 and 1963. Her name is ROBIN NEUBERG, she is now Robin White, and lives in Vall de Alcala, Spain. You can hyperlink to my e-mail if you wish (I'm her son Tristán who lives in London). Robin would LOVE TO FIND OUT where her best friend at school is now... this is REINA JAMES who is listed on your site. She would love to get in touch. You can also add to the site some names that are missing from the pupils....Gloria Harris, Ann Cruickshank, Selma Feiner, John Walton, Joanna (?surname), Joanne (?surname), Juliet Glaister, Gerald (?surname). Robin White (pp. Tristán White) PS You can also add staff: MR & MRS SYLVAIN (could be Sylvane), He taught French and Science, She was Robin's form teacher MR PAPALOPHAGOS (that's how it's pronounced anyway) was an ART TEACHER from Poland, and played the piano for Mr Myerscough (who became Mr Neville).
ROBIN NEUBERG (now WHITE) almondtreeREMOVEFORNOSPAM@gmail.com
Vall de Alcala, Spain - Tuesday, October 01, 2002 at 20:38:44 (BST)

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Welcome to the new guestbook for this site, please feel free to leave your comments, memories or, if you wish, contacts address/email etc.
Norman Barrington (Webmaster) <nb@normanb.net>
Peterhead, Scotland - Tuesday, July 09, 2002 at 00:03:14 (BST)

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