Tuesday, May 10, 2011

They can because they think they can


My class photo in my 1st Year. I am sitting on the ground front right. The pained look is because Joe Turner, now a script writer on Coronation Street, is digging his feet into me.
I mostly enjoyed school. I have lots of good memories, which I won’t bore you with right now (maybe another time!), but I can at least give you an idea of what it was like.

I went to the Priory Grammar School for Boys, so in effect my future path through life was directed by managing to pass the eleven plus entrance exam at the ripe old age of 10.  Had I failed, I would have gone to the Secondary Modern down the road, whose lower academic expectations would quite frankly have allowed me to indulge my natural laziness. That wasn’t really an option at the Priory. Nothing overt, no pressure; it was more subtle than that. There was almost a culture of learning which was passed down over the years, if I can be a bit pompous for a moment.

The grammar school was slowly being modernised when I arrived, thanks mainly to the advent of a new head teacher, who happened to be my friend’s Dad. Even so there was still a hangover from the previous regime, which for years had attempted to model the Priory on the rather more illustrious public school across the River Severn.  So when I turned up in my brand new uniform (minus the cap which had been snatched from my head and thrown in the river by my brother’s mates) I was entering an establishment which still put Latin and Greek before modern languages, had a Latin motto on the school crest (“Possunt quia posse videntur” – “they can because they think they can”), where football was only ever of the rugby union variety, where teachers were referred to as masters, and you stood up if one entered the room.  In class we sat in rows according to alphabetical order and were called by our surnames only. This may all have contributed to its excellence as a school I suppose, but as we stopped imitating the ‘Nellies’ (our remarkably tame nickname for the public school boys), there was no diminution in academic achievement.

Teachers were given nicknames of course, but with the exception of one who alternated between “Rubberneck” and “Bastard Jack”, they were for the most part affectionate. I certainly had the feeling that the majority of the teaching staff were well meaning and dedicated to their work.  So even the Chemistry teacher known as “Hitler” was a thoroughly decent man and only so called because of an unfortunate combination of dark hair and moustache (come to think of it, he actually looked more like Charlie Chaplin in ‘The Great Dictator’).
There were some memorable characters; an RE teacher who told patently untrue stories about his exploits in the war, and a German teacher who would tell us in a Scouse accent to “learrn yer verrbs ”. He also once told me that the German adjective ‘o-beinig’ means ‘bow legged’ “or as we say in Liverpool, ‘couldn’t catch a pig in an alley’”.

There is no denying it was a good school, and within a year or so of arriving the new regime made a few changes to relax things a little, while still maintaining an emphasis on academic achievement. The majority of us passed most, if not all, of our O-Levels, stayed on in the VI Form for A-Levels and then went off to university.  The VI Form brought privileges; we were no longer required to wear uniform (although the arguments just switched to how faded your jeans were allowed to be), we could leave the premises in school time if we had a free period, or else make use of our own ‘common room’.
Rose tinted spectacles? Probably. I certainly had a few school mates who hated it and couldn’t wait to leave but I suppose that’s the beauty of looking back. You can choose to remember the good stuff. 
Six years later outside the VI Form Common Room. We had been to the pub. I'm sitting behind the guy with the white scarf with what might well be a fag in my hand!

43 comments:

  1. I think we must have had similar schooling, I remember the Latin:) One question - do you think every school had one teacher who was nicknamed Hitler, our school had one of those too!

    Great post...

    Lesley xx

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  2. ‘couldn’t catch a pig in an alley’ we called that "couldn’t catch a pig in a poke". I don't think our teachers could wait to get us out, unless you were in the top 10% of the top set of the top course they weren't interested. I think it was one of the biggest comprehensives in the country.

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  3. I recognise one of two of the people in that bottom pic - hell, I think I fancied one of them...

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  4. I went to Priory, 4 years under the old and 2 in the new regime. I know which I preferred. Some fond memories but didn't take as much notice as I should so very dimmed ones now. 'Hitler' was known to us as 'Little Hitler' and taught Physics. Awesome chap - ended up singing with him in a local mixed voice choir later in life.

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    1. I know the name but not my year. What year did you start?

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  5. Thrown out of Shrewsbury School and sent to priory as punishment. Have never met so many plebs who refer to lunch as 'diner'. How common is that??

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  6. Those guys were in my year. I can name about half of them. Who are you nick?

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  7. Those guys were in my year. I can name about half of them. Who are you nick?

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  8. Oh yes, and Whitiker the P.E. Teacher nicked my watch!

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  9. The Git, Froggy Hall, CWEP, Vince Priestly, What memories!

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  10. The Git, Froggy Hall, CWEP, Vince Priestly, What memories!

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  11. Hi...I was searching for the latin school motto and came about your blog. I remember those nicknames and we must have been there at the same time as I remember the lad and his dad 'the head' ...and that muppet of a deputy head 'Stevens' was it...who affectionately called me a little shite..fond memories indeed ;0) And was it 'old joe' the RE teacher who ramble on for the whole lesson if the appropriate questions were asked (on purpose of course!).
    All the best
    Gary Perkins

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  12. Spoke with Roger Jervis today for the first time in nearly 39 years. I am the tall kid in the middle of the back row with the big mop of hair. Having said that we all had a mop of hair back then... unlike now! Eamon Rogers.

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  13. Does anyone know what happened to Graham 'Freaky' Smith? Taught English. Still see some ex-teachers about town including Bugsy Bannerman, Granville Stacey {both English teachers - GS taught Latin too}and Keith Underhill {Art}

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    1. Ok I'm 'unknown' {see above}. I'm also Steve 'Merc' Merchant. Was 'dungeoned' in Sept 1967, ended up in class 1B {form master Granville Stacey} and happily ejected in June 1974. My schooldays? Good first 2 years, pretty shit middle 2 but great final 2

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  14. Ahh....dear old Peter 'Bert' Proctor, taught RE and a bit of Geography. Ran the CCF...LtCol.
    Don't forget Chris Woodhead, taught English, went on to be head of OFSTED. Sadly died young a few years ago.
    NELLIES......haven't heard that for ages.
    Remember Dr. Learhy little Austrian? Chap, taught Latin, scared me to death!

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    1. Brian Downes! We were in the same year and, I think same form in the VIth Year- Gwill Williams Head of Geography was our form master. Didn't you go into the fire service????

      This post was written by my little brother, Nick, and I only discovered the blog today!

      Dave Williamd

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  15. Ah Steve Merchant.....I remember......bit of a legend!

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  16. Good to read memories of Priory. I joined in '59 and left in "67. Member of Priory House. Great choir with Vince Priestly, reasonable Rugby, good school and house plays. Did Senior Training instead of CCF, Spent many Friday afternoons in the Dark Room pretending to do photography but really playing Bridge. Managed to do some school work but it took a bit of a back seat.

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  17. How could you all forget Batty Bland flying in on his bicycle with gown flowing behind him. Oh and those wonderful Morris the Bakers Ice Buns from the tuck shop, 1penny each I seem to remember
    Martyn Hopkinson 1960 to 1963 ( Moved to London)

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    1. Batty Bland (square the front,square the back, hey diddle-diddle,twice in the middle) always late and often conducted whole
      Maths lesson with his bicycle clips on. Another favourite line usually in mid-winter - "Alright, who's made a smell? WINDOWS!"
      Doc Loehry,a vicious ear twister who on day one gave us all a Latin name. Ego sum Mannius. Halcyon days!
      Mike James 1957-1963

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  18. Yes remember the Tuck Shop and the above named teachers, Dog end Jones hasn't been mentioned and also Billington and his Binary Maths system. Only now can I see the relevance of it. Found an old report from the 2nd year where another teacher Chamberlain had written 'Barely Satisfactory'.
    I left after dismal O level results but have had a highly successful career in the Police where some of the Maths Gregson had drilled into me came in useful in my Serious Fraud experience.

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    1. It was 'Beaky Billington' and 'Ozzy Chamberlain'. Both taught Maths. Other teachers - Scruff Cosser, Ma and Pa Evans, Jock Scott the scarey Deputy Head, Spindle Richardson (Latin). I'd best not go on....

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  19. That would be "Marty" Chamberlain, maths teacher who ahd an interesting history as a technician helping develop the modern tv CR tube. "Scruff" Cosser? "Spindle" Richards, (latin), Anyone remember "Diddy" Steve the geordie pacifist, (my form tutor in about 1975). "SLAJ" Jones, (tiny welshman, taught geography?). "Oggie" the hippy french teacher who got me into Prog rock. Roger Calvert, the foppish english teacher. Mr Scott, head of 6th form, maths teacher? John Nicolls, History? "Throwup", timid french teacher who ran the chess class? Mr Quoreshi, Physics? Mrs Heywood, head dinner lady?

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  20. Crikey, seeing Graham Barkley`s name in another post led me to this one, died in 9/11 hijackings, was in my year at Priory, remember every name in A Dinnells post above or is it Dinnell`s, also how about Mr Milner I remember seeing him hurling bouncers down a cricket pitch at Mr Quoreshi`s head or Scratchy Quoreshi as he was known. Hadyn Jenkins and his `undulating uplands` also a Geog teacher, I see A.Bannerman occasionaly, bless Oggy Hanson French was the only o level I could be bothered to pass. John Hope Hislop, Alan Dennis, anybody remeber a Mr Trwoga?

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  21. have a look on Facebook, there are two "old Boys" pages from the 1970's.

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  22. A trip down memory lane , I was there 1960- 69. Inspired by Fred Hampson to gointo teaching. Also remember 'Cliff' Richards (Latin/Humanities) Batty, Froggy, Dogend, Jock Scott, Josh Bolland, Tinker Evans and his wife, Rubberneck Powell,Chris Warne, CWEP,Rev Bert Procter, 'Sludge Guts' Nick Dunn, Jim Coates, Roger Buckley,Ian Cossor plus other entertaining staff. Under Vince Priestley we had a great choir but I remember him hurling an exam desk at us in rehearsals!
    Pupil contemporaries included Cig Sellers, Kevin Done, Steve Ackroyd, Graham Bellinger, Rod Boucher, Nigel Deaves,Mike Hall, Pete Hunt, Ian Ferguson, Sam Meredith....memory fading now!
    Anyone still out there?

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    1. Wow - Andy Lamb no less. You may not remember me (John Shotton) but you gave me a chance to play in the First Team on a couple of occasions when you were captain and in the Upper Sixth as it were and I was only in the Fourth Year. I have never forgotten that as it gave me a load of confidence and made a major contribution to me developing as a cricketer. I remember your great batting ability and also your brother Steve who bowled with venom. I also remember the band you had but cannot for the life of me remember the name. Jog my memory. The people you mention were/are much older than me but I do remember Steve Ackroyd, a class batsman who as I recall was Tom Graveney's nephew.

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    2. Andy. Imagine. Several hours after I wrote this I remembered the name of your band. it was TOAD right?

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  23. Sorry ...last post was from Andy Lamb at Priory 1960 -69

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  24. I remember putting together a small sketch that was performed in front of the whole school. I played the part of jock Scott and along with some of the lads I was able to utter some of his famous lines "write it in blood" "write it on your shirt", the polygons are dead parrots joke and many more tasty morsels. This was performed as jock Scott looked on with a stern face. Shouting things out from the top of Claremont bank or westcots unfortunate accident we're not mentioned.

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    1. This can only be Steve Hutchings! I remember that skit. I also remember being envious of the applause and the acclaim because it went down so well. Especially with me being a Monty Python fan. Luckily the yearning for greaspaint, lights and adulation lasted about 5 minutes!

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  25. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2254368184892631/

    A Facebook Group created for anyone who attended PBGS at any time.

    Bring all your memories to this group.

    Roger Jervis 1971-1978

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  26. A little latter than most posting here I attended '77-'84.
    The school was changing into the Sixth form college at the time
    so we were the last intake, nobody below us as we went up the years. But we did have girls to distract us in the last
    couple of years--i still blame that for my poor A level results.
    I recall Scruff Cosser and his black dog, the RE teacher
    telling war stories and old man Chamberlins maths lessons.
    Granville Stacey was my form tutor and then Mr Malcohm.
    Saw Hope Hislop and slaj Jones around for a while after but
    not recently? Still see Keith Underhill regularly.
    Rugby and cross country up at Meole Brace and cricket at port hill still able to give me nightmares. That cricket pavillion
    should have been condemed !

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    1. Above post by Steve Brayne, friends with Mark Crisp,
      Ian Beaman,Andy Massy, Dave Tisdale and bless him
      Neil"maggot"Kelly who sadly took his own life just after
      we left.

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    2. SB-- I also have memories of football with a tennis ball
      in the yard over looking the Severn, the Long Mynd hut,
      singing in the choir and a trip to Paris.
      Other names that spring to mind are Robby Fox of Fox News
      agents in Claremont street, Andy"nobby"Evans Ian Churms
      Nick Cox Chris Maund the Jones twins, Grayham Breeze
      and Andy Blizzard.
      I remember Mr Twogas drama class and think there was a
      teacher called "Piggy" Scott that had something to do
      with the CCF?

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    3. I am one of the Jones twins we left Shrewsbury and moved to Stoke on Trent as a result of my father's job. There was a third Jones in the class whose father had a farm and let the class camp in his fields. I can't remember the staff members who supervised us but can remember the motley collection of tents and having a good time.I remember the Red Pig trying to teach us French, threatening us with a left hook while shaking his right hand. Mr Gittleson left having had trouble controlling the class and went to the Convent school where the girls were forewarned and gave him even more problems and the choir I still like Aida

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  27. I attended the school between 1953 and 1960 - beat that! I have mixed memories, early years bad, later years good. By 1960 the quality of teaching had improved greatly and I like many of my generation was the first to go to university. It would be nice to hear from any contemporaries who come across this. The only contact with whom I am still in touch is Paul Shaw, who still lives in Shrewsbury,
    Trevor Rowley

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  28. I attended the school between 1953 and 1960 - beat that! I have mixed memories, early years bad, later years good. By 1960 the quality of teaching had improved greatly and I like many of my generation was the first to go to university. It would be nice to hear from any contemporaries who come across this. The only contact with whom I am still in touch is Paul Shaw, who still lives in Shrewsbury,
    Trevor Rowley

    ReplyDelete
  29. I attended the school between 1953 and 1960 - beat that! I have mixed memories, early years bad, later years good. By 1960 the quality of teaching had improved greatly and I like many of my generation was the first to go to university. It would be nice to hear from any contemporaries who come across this. The only contact with whom I am still in touch is Paul Shaw, who still lives in Shrewsbury,
    Trevor Rowley

    ReplyDelete
  30. I attended the school between 1953 and 1960 - beat that! I have mixed memories, early years bad, later years good. By 1960 the quality of teaching had improved greatly and I like many of my generation was the first to go to university. It would be nice to hear from any contemporaries who come across this. The only contact with whom I am still in touch is Paul Shaw, who still lives in Shrewsbury,
    Trevor Rowley

    ReplyDelete
  31. I joined in 1959 and left after a year in the Sixth to continue my education at the College of Further Education on London Road for 2 years. The standard in teaching between the two was incomparable. The Priory during my time there tried to be something it would never achieve. If you didn't get the right teacher in the formative years there was no chance of attaining the qualifications for the future career aspirations.
    In today's society certain teachers would be in establishments at Her Majesty's pleasure. I will not name names, but those of us who suffered as a whim of their character traits know who I mean.
    The good teachers were Mr's Ashton, Caws, Hall, Francis, Painter, Wilson and Fisher. There was a high proportion of turnover amongst the good teachers who found the Peckett era too much for any career development they envisaged.
    Thankfully I managed to have varied and fulfilled life after leaving the Priory Boys. All due to the grown up attitude that I experienced at the College of FE.


    All due to


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