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Memory of Edgware School:
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I joined the old school in
the Edgware Road which was cramped, to the extent
that some of our lessons were taken at the Truth
Hall with Woodwork at a school in Colindale.
Lunchtimes were spent wandering around Edgware as
the playgrounds were crowded. The move to Spur Road
was a great improvement, not only were there
spacious, modern buildings but also a field which
we could use in the summer, although I remember one
such summer when lightening struck the oak in the
centre of the field, spliting it in two. Cross
country was mandatory which usually meant a run up
Brockley Hill and across a few muddy fields. Up
until the 5th Year, school was the usual full day
of lessons finishing at 4pm when we all use to
congregate at the Coffee Bar in Edgware Station
Forecourt until about 5pm before cycling home start
homework. The 6th year was different - our form
room was the stage as no other classroom was
available and we did not have a full day of set
lessons which meant on fine days, homework/revision
was done in the park or at Mill Hill swimming
pool!. I remember in the 3rd year at the old school
which had that smell of stale food
mixed with disinfectant and
floor polish, I was called before Mr Cook,
the
headmaster, for letting a
stink bomb off in an ink well during one of
Mr
Lewisohn's english lessons. I
remember him being of a gentle nature and passed
the giving of sentence to his deputy, Mr. Hodgkins.
Mr Hodgkins reminded me of a weasel and I am sure
he had a sadistic steak as he seemed to enjoy
giving out canings which stung for a few day's
after.
The Math's teacher at the old
school also had a sadistic streak. He would
pace
up and down the gangway
between the desks during lessons and if he caught
you not paying attention would twist your
sideboards. In another class, if you were heard
talking whilst the teacher was writing on the
blackboard, he would swing round and throw the
wooden blackboard rubber in the general direction
of the sound.
Despite all this, which was
probably of our own making, I really enjoyed my
time at Edgware. The older teachers, who had been
there many years kept their distance & enforced
discipline whilst the younger one's genuinely
gave
encouragement and, in the 5th
& 6th years, treated us more as
equals.
A few of the classmates I
remember are John Vicary, Malcolm Gowlett, Alan
(Fats) Homes, Keith Bolton, Arthur Woollard, Jackie
Yates, Sally Short, & John
Bowles.
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