Woodlands School

When I was in Stringer House, Mark Abberley was in my year, and a Dave Abberley was the year below. I had no idea there was a third member of the family. (-: I do recall an incident, which was typical of Woodlands in those days. Mark, not normally a bully, was exploiting being a bigger kid. We'd called him 'Dibble' which he did not like one bit. So one day he was blocking my way at the entrance to Stringer, nothing serious, when he had the idea of involving younger brother Dave. Now, officially being a Scrubber (second year) I knew I'd never live it down if a 'Fuzzer' (first year) was seen to push me around, so I tried to bustle my way past. Dave then made the mistake of laying hands on me. In panic I threw one arm backward intending only to push him away, not realising I'd clenched my fist or that it would catch him right in the mouth! The end result was we all learned something. Mark, left me alone, Dave never touched me again, and I realised that, at Woodlands, violence sometimes was the answer.

Just spotted your other post, and worked out that you were at Woodlands in my last year there. Can't remember if Sue Underwood was still a teacher? A virtual goddess, at least in a school full of boys just discovering the marvellous creatures that are women. Then there was the time Jim Wilkinson (art teacher and top bloke) persuaded her to pose for a life drawing class..... and IT WASN'T MINE.

Does anyone remember Barry O'Shea from Woodlands 1961-1966?

No Mick, I was there 64-69 but I don't recall the name.

We were in Stringer House together and he lived in Lime Tree Ave.

I am Paul Abberley. No way would Mark bully anyone. He would have been responding to comments about my dad, Police. I got the same. If Mark or Dave had been bullied, you wouldn't have stuck a chance. A lie.

So you tried to bully Mark, calling him "dibble". Stop lying. A reference to my dad being in the Police.

Jock, was Jock Edney. English teacher, superb.

Firstly, I was there, you were not. Secondly, I clearly stated that Mark was NOT a bully, and what I described was simply schoolboy rough and tumble. Just a funny story, no more than that. No insult made or intended.

The mildly insulting nickname Dibble was typical of what happened to every kid at Woodlands. I was called far worse names, some of them by your brother! This was not bullying, nobody was being threatened or humiliated or intimidated. It was just schoolboys being the little shits that schoolboys are. No big deal.

On that we can agree. Jock Edney was a very good House Master. Ran a tight ship, so to speak. Just a pity that Clive 'Batman' Bentley was Deputy.

Hello, Please can we keep in mind the discipline that we agree to regards posting content & context. A private messenger facility is available, encrypted within the forum contact procedure, so avoiding arguments on our open forum. (This might need to be enabled by editing your profile.) The forum survives by participation, but arguments just frighten folk to switching off. Thank you.

My intention was only to tell a story I thought was funny. Next thing I know.... The last thing I want to do is argue with anyone or be called names. So I'll wish each and every fellow Woodland's Survivor well, and say goodbye.