King Henry VIII Grammar School

I remember the quite frequent stink bombs that were set off pre morning assembly. From memory the assembly hall did not have a lot of windows that could be opened easily, so I think that there were deferrals of morning assembly from time to time? Peter Jones was my economics teacher, he really did not like me a lot but he loathed Philpot more. I see now Peter is club member of the year at my old Kenilworth Cricket Club, I remember he used to live in Kenilworth. Fossil (FLS, Scotford) was my first history teacher, and Pope Harris taught us English I think it was. Used to hand out sweets in class and one time left the classroom via a window, think he stayed at home for a bit of a rest shortly after that! To be fair we had him for English O level and we were the first set in the history of the school to all pass. Knighthood! My good friend Alastair was, and is, a music fanatic. In those days we all used to bring a vinyl album to school and lend it to a mate. Lots of kids brought Elton John, Slade, Bowie and the like but Al was leading edge, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, but stuff we had never heard of also. One time he brought a Rick Derringer album in, it was brilliant, and of course ELP. Top of the Pops was big on a Thursday night, Roxy Music were big, and while Al watched that show he also watched The Old Grey Whistle Test, which lost most of us. Monty Python was big also, and the day after a show in the playground it would be The Ministry of Silly Walks, quotations from last nights show over and over again, the Spanish Inquisition, and all that. "Your wife a go-er is she?" There was that Graham Goodie (Goody?) show also, which I found bizarre, The Goodies, Goodie Goodie Yum Yum, but many people liked it. Frankie Howard and Up Pompeii!, Steptoe and Son I loved, and Batman was a cult following. I know, times are all over the place but all while I was at KHVIII. News at Ten with Angela Rippon, and Chris Tarrant on BBC Birmingham, "now folks, it's telly selly time" - advertisements, and Blue Peter and Crackerjack! Crombies, Ben Shermans, tonic trousers and jackets and coats, segs in your shoes, brogues, platforms, wet look shoes, Oxford bags, all kinds of different fashions for different folks. I wore my Dads old great coat from WWII often in the winter, super warm with chamois leather pockets ! I used to carry my sports kit and book in his old parachute bag, it certainly would hold a lot. We used military style rucksacks not back packs in those days - you could buy them at the Army/Navy store close to Sweeney Todd the hairdressers in Coventry. All reminds me we used to paint them with anything we liked, and pick open some of the fabric to make them each look unique. Lots of ban the bomb logos in those days, Led Zeppelin, funky hippyish stuff! and hippie women too!

If anyone is interested, there is a new book out by an Old Coventrian - LINK It's the true story of Royal Navy submarines in the Cold War. I admit to this being a shameless plug because the author is in fact my brother. But I wouldn't be plugging it if it wasn't any good. He has written several books on Naval History and is highly respected in his field.

From the days when boys would be boys, and boys would also be girls (since there were none at KHVIII)

The thing about Saturday detention was that you had to get up early, put on school uniform, trail across town (2 buses for me), sit around bored (and possibly freezing cold), then trail home again, having wasted half a day of the precious weekend. However, I can exclusively reveal that being in 'Saturday' every week becomes a habit, and loses most of its punitive value. The teachers had a sort of rota of who supervised the detention, and I sometimes felt that they realised that their weekend was getting just as wasted as mine was, and even that they had realised that I was just being automatically put in detention out of spite, and that it was having no effect on me, other than increasing my determination to rebel! As a point of information, in my time there, the detention in room 10 on Tuesday night for one hour was known as a 'Tuesday' - not very original, I know. I also pretty much had a season ticket for Tuesday, but again, it had lost its effect somewhere along the way; there were ways of making it amusing, if you knew how!

I didn't know Jack Wrench was musically inclined. I remember one of Jack Wrench's maths lessons in the early years. A boy from another class had joined us, as he was unfit to take part in his own PE class. I think it was called "unfit timetable" or something - you sat in with another class, and quietly got on with private study/homework. So this lad was sitting there, doing his own work, with his textbook out on the desk (I think it was a scripture textbook). As per the school rules, quite correctly when all said and done, minding his own business... know what I mean? innit? etc. Jack W had given the rest of us some maths problem to tackle, then started a tour of the classroom. He was normally even tempered, but on seeing this boy doing something other than maths, and incorrectly assuming that he was in our maths class, he went berserk. Snatching the textbook, he growled "I'll teach you to bring scripture books into my lesson. I like ripping textbooks up". In front of an astonished class, he then set about ripping the book to shreds, finally hurling it to the floor and stamping on the remains. He added "You'll just have to tell Mr Shaw you've lost your textbook, boy, and pay for a new one out of your own money". One of the brass-necked kids in our class put his hand up and said "But, Sir, he's not in this class... he's doing unfit timetable!" Jack Wrench quietly went out and obtained another second hand text book from the book store by the cage, then handed it to the poor lad. He muttered something quietly to him, then carried on with the maths lesson as if nothing had happened. "Wilful damage to school property" was a serious offence if I remember correctly.

I read the Gondoliers programme with great interest. It conjures up all sorts of images. I can just imagine Ernie Kolisch and Alfie Crocker as House Managers. As you arrived, you would be greeted with either "Go over zere where I tell you, and sit up straight!" Or alternatively "Sit down and keep quiet, yer barm pots!" Customer service, 1959 style.

I remember on my first day at senior school being sat in room 7 to meet our new form master. "My name is Jack," he said "Jack Wrench. That's what the boys call me." It was only later that I thought he probably used that line because otherwise he'd have been known as Monkey ~ which he was to a few of us.

Hi everyone, I just came across this site while browsing. Can I claim to be the longest almost continuous former student and member of the school's support staff? I first set foot in the school in August 1955 as a member of the initial form 2 alpha, and now in 2013 still have connections through the retirees group. As a pupil in 1950's and 60's I took the easy option when I left of joining the support staff as a trainee Laboratory Assistant when the then new Science Block was opened. After a spell away with Warwickshire County Council, rejoined in 1977 as Senior Laboratory Technician. I finally retired in 2009, but still keep in touch through the OC's and Retirees group. I find the stories in these posts fascinating, as I well remember all names and faces of boys (and girls) and the hundreds of teaching staff who have passed through the school. From the Herbert Walker/C.B Shore era to the present Jason Slack period. I well remember looking after Jason's laboratory teaching requirements when he was in the Physics Department and now he has returned as headmaster. Recently helping with Jeff Vent's house clearing, and hoping to continue with the Archive Group, reminds me of his Paris Trips, and Guernsey camps. Besides the job I was supposed to be doing I was involved in so many other activities. Biology Field Trips, School plays (John Blackman's musicals, what the audience must have thought!), Staff cricket, minibus driving, even a skiing trip once when the school needed an extra adult to make up the party. I remember the Howard Cork, John Crocker era in the Science Department, through to the present day. The morning when we turned up after the fire in the school hall... being asked to run down to the station to get a copy of 'That Magazine' for the top brass when the Debee Ashby incident broke. The awkward science staff who never knew what they wanted for their lessons until about 10 minutes before. The unsung heroes who kept the school ticking over, caretaker George Grimes who somehow kept the ancient boilers going in the bad winters, Michael Hartnett who who gave so much extra time to the school and its staff. Miss French, Mrs Gardner, Mrs Kimberley, Mrs Brooks, Pam Thomas, and the admin staff who kept the school running smoothly behind the scenes. Happy days. I started to write a book when I retired, I got though two chapters and stopped. Maybe I should finish it. Who remembers 'Norman' in the labs...? Hope so, it was me!

I certainly remember 'Norman' as physics technician during my tenure there. His office was at the rear of 'P1' (I think - correct me if I'm wrong!), and how he could produce anything seemingly out of a hat for a physics demonstration. The teacher who didn't appear in the list above was Mr (Dave) Barclay, who (very ably) taught across the entire range from 'General Science' all the way to 'A'-level physics. I think that given time I could recall Norman's second name, as we had been directed to refer to him respectfully using this...not that we did!!

I don't want to break anyone's cover online, but the lab technician I remember was a Mr L****. Is this the same chap, I wonder?

I can clear that one up (I'm Norman!)... Roy Lucas was the school's only lab steward/technician in the late 1950's but when the (then) new science block was opened in 1960 two lads from the school were recruited as trainee lab assistants to cope with the large increase in workload covering the extra labs which had been built. I was one of them. Originally there were the old single Chem, Physics, Biology and General Science laboratory rooms which had been rebuilt following the wartime bomb damage. Two new Biology laboratories were buillt under the new library block in 1957, and the new science block opened with 2 senior Chem labs, a junior Chem lab, 2 senior Physics labs and a Lecture Room. Later of course the present "New Lab Block" was built about 1996(ish!), with a bridge link to join with the older building. At the last count there are 14 laboratories and lecture rooms as well as extra preparation and store rooms. There are currently 6 laboratory staff. In the last decade even more accommodation has been converted to cope with the IT revolution with a staff of 4. Roy Lucas sadly is no longer with us, having moved back home to Princethorpe College in his later years. Me? I'm Norman Styles, known as Nobby, Norman, Mr Styles, Normski depending on whoever was around at the time.

Hi, Norman, I did give some thought to what your second name was, and I did remember (though it's easy for me to say that now that the answer has been revealed!). I myself helped out in the science labs on a voluntary basis, lunchtimes and in the holidays. Mostly I used to help in Biology (obviously you remember Audrey, the tech there), even though my main interest in science was chemistry. I was even permitted (in the holidays) to enter the hallowed tea-break with the tech staff - maybe you remember - it was you who made the tea, as I recall!. It has just ocurred to me that people reading the forum might be confused by my revealing this, since some of my previous posts showed my rebellious side, but I think this shows that I was misunderstood as a youth, and that a strategy of ignoring me might have borne more fruit than the strategy of attempting to break my will (which didn't work!). The other techie I recall (still struggling with her name) worked in Chemistry, and came to work on a huge motorcycle with sidecar.

Magical posts. "Norman" does seem to have the inside scoop on us all! Norman if you helped clear out JBVs house, then you were truly blessed. Jeff was a magical man, like no other I have met in the teaching industry. Iconic as we all know, steel trap memory, tremendous disposition, a man I shall never forget, such a wonderful teacher, coach and mentor. Not sure they make them like JBV any more. Room 203? for French lessons. Does anyone remember the "I've lost the ruddy cork!" story? I can see George Grimes right now, in his overalls carrying that bucket and mop across the playground, I can see his face, his image, the way he walked and carried himself, everything about him and where he lived within the school. A solid hard working guy. Miss French! Remember her vividly of course. Was John Crocker "Alfie" Crocker? if it is the same guy he was fabulous. After he retired he attended many cricket matches and I often sat down and spoke with him like I had never before, he was a very very nice man, and not the white coated scientist I only saw at school. On my first day in the science lab he was explaining the table of elements and some simple combinations therein, we came across something and my eyes glazed over, he said "Dodd if you do not understand this now, you will never understand anything". He was spot on and chemistry abandoned me and I it regrettably : ) Thanks for the great posts!

Hi everyone again. The lab staff lady member with the motor bike was Roz, who was much more efficient than the bike. It was some sort of hybrid, a mix of about 5 models. and was forever going back to its seller. She wasn't there that long, followed by another lady who had a long association with the school, retiring not much sooner than me. But I must be discrete, some of these characters are still around! I had the pleasure (?) to both be a pupil to certain teachers and subsequently becoming their back up staff. John Crocker, Doug Wylie, Neil Steers were all teachers when I started to work in the labs. I tended to do a lot of the Physics, with HHC, ARC, Alan Grimsley, Derek Morris to name but few (poor Derek caused a problem when one Friday evening after school he messed up setting a mercury barometer, tipping about 3 kg of mercury all over the floor. Guess who had to get it the suction pump out to clean up. I just hope no-one ever suffered mercury poisioning in the aftermath, the stuff must have been in all the cracks in the floor for years. No Health and Safety in those days). Roy Lucas was always looking after the Biologists, DRH (David Hughes) and Dave Fryer. I was driving then, so had to go to the butchers in Kenilworth to get the hearts, lungs, eyeballs etc... and yes a flagon of blood too. George Grimes had a daughter Georgina, and a son Peter. Peter is now an experienced junior school teacher, and Georgina became a nurse and ward sister, and then my better half as we became close friends and more for many years. Sadly she died suddenly 5 years ago after a night shift at the children's ward at Walsgrave. George stayed around until his late 70's, also with us on the lab staff, but passed away too only weeks after retiring. I still meet his wife Audrey for a morning coffee at Morrisons! Clearing JBV's house had been fun, we had numerous retirees with us, Peter Jones, Pete Lockyer, Hywel Owen, Alan Hodgkins, Sheila Wolf, Chris Holland and many more. There is now an Archive Room built onto the library which is part of the JBV legacy and an archive group still sifting through all the items from Jeff's house. I'm pleased that a lot of the school's history and memories etc. are now being seriously collated because there was a danger that present generations would have let it all fade away. Well, I could go on and on and on... the Biology department had a reputation for somewhat dubious personalities. A nameless teacher who started in August caused a few problems by not teaching the correct syllabus, and was asked to leave by the next Easter and murdered his wife that summer. True. Another single guy who had a doubtful interest in fostering children and wrote a book on the subject, but disgraced himself on the Year 11 activities week when camping overnight at Coombe Abbey. But no more... let sleeping dogs... Ok so next episode coming up soon... I'm off to football now, well somebody has to go to Northampton.

I must admit that the mental image of the school top brass leafing through a copy of 'Men Only' that poor old Normski was sent out to buy is delightful! Debbie was in my class and the school handled the situation terribly in my opinion. She obviously had lost interest at school and was more interested in her modelling than her school work. IIRC she came bottom in all the exams we sat at the end of the fourth year not through stupidity, but through disinterest and there were certainly modelling photos of her in circulation long before her infamous exposure. The school should really have seen this one coming from a mile off, but didn't. I understand that she had been previously warned about how her modelling could cause potential embarrassment for the school and its reputation, apparently without the top brass realising that she didn't give a fig for either the school or it's reputation. Hopefully, they learned a lesson, that not all problems go away if you bury your head in the sand. For me, it was a strange experience to be on my Styvechale paper round during the dark mornings of January and February 1984 and seeing on page 3 of 'The Sun' the girl who a couple of weeks previously had been sitting next to me in Rocky Holland's History lessons (and mightily bored and disinterested she was, too). Afterwards, there was a concerted attempt to portray Debbie as a brainless airhead, but the reality was that she was an intelligent, sweet and caring girl who simply got bored with King Henry's (and she wasn't the only one). I can't believe it was thirty years ago.