Orlando

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Posts posted by Orlando

  2. Henry Mellish

    in All other Nottingham Schools Discussions

    Posted

    Oh come on Stan ! I thought maybe you'd been subjected to some traumatic  abuse to make you so jaundiced about the place. If that's the worst that happened, you got off lightly ! As for wanting to learn cricket, surely every boy played the game in 1961 ! You must have led a rather sheltered life up til then.  Anyway the policing at break times was the job of the prefects not the teachers so please don't blame them ! And anyway where were your mates ?

     

    It really is quite astonishing that a man of your years should not have been able to make his peace with the place. From the vantage point of mature years it may have been hoped that you would possibly realise a debt of gratitude was in order to an establishment that was largely responsible for getting you a string of O levels, a 6th form education and then, on your own admission, a job at the end of it all ! 

     

    Also citing Dannimac as part of the problem is really bad form especially after the nature of the memories being shared here. He really was a darling of a man and was universally liked, nay loved. I was privileged only to have had one physics lesson with him as cover for Ena Ben. The contrast in teaching styles was remarkable and he held a class of 12 year olds entranced as he calmly taught us about electrical currents embellishing the lesson by relating how the Algerian electricians he had come across in the war were able to fix all the equipment whilst still plugged into the mains as they'd become immune to the shocks ! 

     

    I wonder Loppy ? Did he ever tell you of his wartime experiences ? 

    • Upvote 3

  5. Henry Mellish

    in All other Nottingham Schools Discussions

    Posted

    England Program.JPG 

    I remember that a Mellish boy represented England schools at rugby back in 1978. This is the team sheet from the program of the England v. Wales game for that year. See at No. 5 "J A Taylor". This was probably the highest point of international representation for the school. Anyone at the school at the time remember him and whether his rugby career continued ?.    

  7. Henry Mellish

    in All other Nottingham Schools Discussions

    Posted

    Only just come back to this thread after long time away - good post Matt.

    Yes - Driscoll was nicknamed Schultz as he looked like a Nazi skinhead and had a Germanic accent although he taught French. Pig Hutchinson was so called because he was constantly clearing his throat, coughing and picking his nose. Sutherland was nicknamed Sooty cos of his compulsive nicotine habit and 'Pete' Henry as you say was universally liked as one of the more 'liberal' teachers although he failed to instil in me any understanding of the metaphysical poets. He left some time in 75 but touchingly sent us all a good-luck card prior to the A-level English exam.

    Latin was taught by Vic Gladwin who was only about 5 foot tall yet played rugby for Mellish Old Boys and delighted in the nickname of Mini-Man. The other Latin teacher was Hurst who had the nickname of Labby - possibly after Roman General Labienus and our delight in stressing the last 2 syllables of that name when translating aloud.

    I'm afraid I was of the peculiar mind set which quite liked Latin and remember Labby saying it was a qualification which was highly sought after by employers in the computer industry. Of course back in 1973 we knew nothing of computers but remembering this little snippet of info I applied to be a trainee computer programmer some 10 years later and I'm still at it today.

    • Upvote 1

  8. Henry Mellish

    in All other Nottingham Schools Discussions

    Posted

    I was at mellish from 68 to 75 and also remember Danny Mac although I think he retired before 1975 as Ena Bonsall was already head of Physics by 1972.

    Other notable teachers were Bates the mild mannered metal work teacher who we delighted in addressing formally as Master Bates and the unfortunately named mad maths teacher Mr Bottoms whose initials incredibly were "R.C." just in case we needed any help in remembering his nickname

  9. Henry Mellish

    in All other Nottingham Schools Discussions

    Posted

    Sorry Fynger, yes the lots gone and sorry again I mixed up my 2 daughters birthdates! it was probably 1977 when the girls arrived.

    Girls finally turned up in the 74/75 academic year of new intakes. This was also the 1st year of fully comprehensive intake after the eleven plus was completely phased out in Notts. This meant 45 eleven year old girls from Bulwell in a school of 500 grammar school boys from around the rest of the county. Must have been very frightening.

    • Upvote 1