Slim
Another Coventry kid
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931 of 1450
Wed 19th Oct 2016 1:25pm
Agreed, Bags, when you say "I know a lot of people didn't have a lot of time for Keith McGawley but he was always sound with me. I only really knew him in my final two years and he always spoke to and treated me as a young adult as opposed to a kid."
The more so, considering I was useless at and hated games and PE. He realised we're not all cast in the same mould. Whereas with some of the roughie-toughies who were good at games and PE, and you'd thus assume be favoured, he had no qualms about whacking them over the palms with a cricket stump after school, after they'd mucked about in one of his PE lessons. |
Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Midland Red
Thread starter
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932 of 1450
Wed 19th Oct 2016 4:34pm
I was worse than hopeless at PE, which I know irked LKMcG, but he restrained from taking it out on me as he knew I was a lost cause. |
Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Beesman
Cornwall
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933 of 1450
Wed 19th Oct 2016 11:40pm
After reading the comments of Slim and Bags maybe I remember Bob Griffiths from games rather than PE. After all it is over 40 years ago!
On the subject of Keith McGawley, I always found him to be OK as long as you tried your best. What he couldn't abide was a student not realising his full potential. An example of this situation occurred in my year in around the Fourth form. We had a lad who was a brilliant rugby winger. He had reached the level of an England trialist. The lad decided however, that he was more interested in girls than rugby. He refused the chance of an England trial. K McG was apoplectic! I'll never forget him bawling at this lad before games in front of about 60 boys. His final punishment was to place the lad amongst the 'rabbits' for games, namely the boys who didn't know the difference between a rugby ball and a cricket ball. A bit like having Bobby Moore in your Sunday football team.
Luckily my interest in the fairer sex was not frowned upon as I was shocking at rugby! |
Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Slim
Another Coventry kid
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934 of 1450
Thu 20th Oct 2016 10:02am
At a certain age, I had another distraction - motor bikes. One of my motor-bike-mad mates was a sixth former in the year above, a bit of a yob, or so he like to make out (the term greaser had by now taken over from rocker). I think he summed up the school's position on games on a Wednesday afternoon very well: "I wanted to do motor bike scrambling, but they wouldn't let me!". |
Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Beesman
Cornwall
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935 of 1450
Thu 20th Oct 2016 9:30pm
Good point Slim. I was also motorbike mad when at Henry's. I had a BSA C15 250cc which I came to school on during my final 18 months at school. The only other morbikes I remember are a Triumph Bonneville that a 6th former a couple of years older than me used to ride to school regularly. ( can't remember his name.)
The other one was a big old bike (Matchless, AJS or maybe even Vincent!!) that was ridden to work by 'Clem' Middleton, a relatively new, bearded biology master. He was a decent bloke too, a more modern thinking teacher as opposed to the general stuffy types who were much in evidence during that era. |
Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Last of the Inkers
Windsor
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936 of 1450
Thu 20th Oct 2016 10:39pm
Returning to ponderings concerning the gymnasium photograph. I was wondering whether it was accorded much prominence in the edition of the Coventry Evening Telegraph in which it was originally published. Personally, I think there would be something seriously wrong if it wasn't on page three.
I have long been of the opinion that the school, by its modus operandi, was preparing us for military service. The contents of this photograph would seem to support that view. It is apparent to me that this particular group are being provided with Commando training, what with descent by rope, climbing, vaulting and all the rest. It seems to be working - because the two lads climbing the ropes, in the left of the picture, are definitely going commando.
As regards the two pupils hanging upside down on the bars, it is not unreasonable to speculate that they have been captured by the Commando Group, probably when loafing around by the tuck shop, and are enduring a 'softening up' punishment prior to interrogation. The mind boggles as to what the fellow in the middle of them is up to. Perhaps he has already cracked, coughed up more than his Name, Form and House and is hanging his head in shame. Yes, let's say that.
Behind these three, the county cricket player is conducting an armpit hair examination. This was fairly commonplace in 1950s grammar schools. Douglas Jardine, England captain during the infamous Bodyline series of 1932/33, had a theory that Donald Bradman's extraordinary batting feats were as a result of hirsute underams and he became obsessed by this notion. Supporters of his theory took themselves off around the country in search of an Englishman who might subsequently match the achievements of the Don. Unfortunately for Jardine, it was later dismissed as being yet another of his hair-brained ideas.
You can easily spot the smartest of the bunch. He is the one on the middle level of the climbing frame - with his back to the camera.
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Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Last of the Inkers
Windsor
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937 of 1450
Fri 21st Oct 2016 2:40am
I've had a moment of clarity. A sudden awakening from slumber, so to speak. Here is what was going on.
"Health and vitality is the order of the day as fortunate pupils test out the marvellous equipment at the new gymnasium that was recently opened at Henry VIII School. The boys gleefully exhibited their physical prowess on ropes, frames and vault, leaping and climbing with commendable strength and agility. The teacher watched carefully and provided valuable instruction as the pupils completed a circuit that tested all their muscles, flexibility and stamina. Ropes were ascended with ease and structures of all types proved to be of no obstacle to these lads, who moved around at a fast speed, whilst at all times considerate of each other and the necessity for safety. The vaulting box proved to be the most popular item of use. Various techniques were used to clear the obstacle with room to spare and the moves were completed with aplomb and grace.
It is clear to see that both this current crop and future generations will combine the health of body, mind and spirit at King Henry VIII School, under the vigilant and helpful tutelage of their teachers."
That's more like it! |
Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Midland Red
Thread starter
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938 of 1450
Fri 21st Oct 2016 8:57am
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Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Slim
Another Coventry kid
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939 of 1450
Fri 21st Oct 2016 4:17pm
On 21st Oct 2016 2:40am, Last of the Inkers said:
" The boys gleefully exhibited their physical prowess on ropes, frames and vault, leaping and climbing with commendable strength and agility. The teacher watched carefully and provided valuable instruction as the pupils completed a circuit that tested all their muscles, flexibility and stamina. Ropes were ascended with ease and structures of all types proved to be of no obstacle to these lads, who moved around at a fast speed, whilst at all times considerate of each other and the necessity for safety."
Correction: Some of the boys, or most of the boys. I was not one of the group referred to!
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Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Midland Red
Thread starter
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940 of 1450
Tue 25th Oct 2016 6:12pm
Coventry Standard - Saturday 7 September 1940
LIGHTING OFFENCES.
For having displayed lights during the black-out the following Coventry defendants were fined . . .
. . . The headmaster of King Henry VIII School, Coventry, Alfred Albert Charles Burton, was summoned on Wednesday for having displayed a light at the school on August 16. P.c.Southam said it was an exceptionally bright light. The cleaners were in, and the defendant said that it was overlooked and "it was not put for fun." Mr. F.C. Kenderdine, for the defendant, said the headmaster failed to notice the light had been left on. Fine of £3 was imposed. |
Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Roger T
Torksey
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941 of 1450
Tue 25th Oct 2016 8:36pm
On 25th Oct 2016 6:12pm, Midland Red said:
Coventry Standard - Saturday 7 September 1940
LIGHTING OFFENCES.
For having displayed lights during the black-out the following Coventry defendants were fined . . .
. . . The headmaster of King Henry VIII School, Coventry, Alfred Albert Charles Burton, was summoned on Wednesday for having displayed a light at the school on August 16. P.c.Southam said it was an exceptionally bright light. The cleaners were in, and the defendant said that it was overlooked and "it was not put for fun." Mr. F.C. Kenderdine, for the defendant, said the headmaster failed to notice the light had been left on. Fine of £3 was imposed.
That`s priceless MR.
It`s that remark "it was not put up for fun" I guess when he was told off about it, he came "all headmasterly" rather resenting an upstart lowly PC bothering the great man with a trifling matter and it sounds as though he attempted to treat it "casually" - reminds me of Norman Stanley Fletcher in Porridge and his casual attitude to prison sentencing.
Our family doctors were Tom and Richard Kenderdine - from Earlsdon, I wonder if they were related to Mr. F.C. Kenderdine.
I`ll bet the £3 fine and defence fees came out of school funds.
[Mods note: Discussion regarding the Kenderdines moved to "Doctors and Surgeons" thread] |
Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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3TA
nowhere
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942 of 1450
Wed 16th Nov 2016 8:30pm
My KHVIII Memories
I was there from 69 to 75
I entered with joy and full of aspirations, later I left ......
The one positive thing that place taught me is that respect is earned and not automatically received because of your position.
I mainly kept my head down but did rebel. With another I rode my motorbike into the 6th form centre, sorry I can't remember your name but you had a Honda 250 and I think you were in Sherwins.
My saddest memory was when my closest friend died. The first I heard of it was in assembly, I looked to my right to the seat on the balcony that he would no longer sit in and after assembly carried on with my lessons. I was too numb to ask about the funeral. Another friend of his had to.
I suspect I left without leaving a ripple, although some time later I was invited to attend a reunion. I didn't go, my children would have been at the age I was when I entered that establishment and I suspected it was a recruitment drive. However, perhaps the real reason was that if I had seen certain teachers there I would have descended to their level or maybe even lower.
I have to admit that there were some bright enlightened lights of teachers there, even some of the older ones, but they were vastly overshadowed by the overpowering darkness of that establishment.
I could go on at great length but it would just come across as moaning so I'll finish by saying that the Lanch threw me a lifeline and taught me what education should be. In spite of that schools best efforts I came out of it stronger and have had a happy life.
RIP John Rowe |
Schools and Education -
King Henry VIII Grammar School
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Slim
Another Coventry kid
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943 of 1450
Thu 17th Nov 2016 11:22am
Hi 3TA, and welcome.
Although I was about a whole school generation before you, we had much in common:
The one positive thing that place taught me is that respect is earned and not automatically received because of your position |