2) Reunion 2016 went off very successfully. Without exception everyone said how much they had enjoyed it. The 2 new venues were excellent and our thanks to Andrew Tillett and Nick Sweet for researching them; and to Nigel Dodds for arranging the visit to Sherborne House. Consensus of opinion was that we should continue reunions on an annual basis as long as there is sufficient interest. It would be so helpful however were those who wished to attend to put their names forward earlier.
3) Sadly Keith Lewis has passed on.
4) As I have used all my site space - until I can decide what to trim - there is no more room for photos. So please use Tim Midgley and Clifford Jones II Facebook page King's School Old Boys' Association for past reunion stuff 2016 onward.
22 September 2016 (UD16/08)
1) I have now added Jim Rowe to our throng.
2) Very nice letter from Ian Kjaer inviting any who knew him to visit him in Denmark and stay with him. Write me if you want a copy.
3) Clive Perkins on Ginger:
I remember that Dick's assistant that we called Ginger was named Douglas. He also rode a very flashy bicycle which had every available extra including a transistor radio. We today would describe this bike as a customised there was a lot of chrome and also a siren.
I recollect an occasion when I made a visit to Kings on a BSA motorbike he seemed very interested. Anecdote about my old BSA
4) Rosemary Mosey-Bunn:
Stan - Servery - wonderful person - came from Dartmoor, ...
6 September 2016 (UD16/07)
1) Looking at the rather short list of people intending to make the school reunion this year, it may well be the last one - so make an effort - don't put it off until the next time as there probably won't be a next time!
2) Bill StAubyn on the Big Freeze:
I recall this only too well! It was the winter of 1962 and I was on the detail to dig the main from the outside bogs to the bicycle shed. I was no friend to Games and I think that was my punishment! Sprained my ankle doing god knows what and I was quickly dished up by Nurse and returned to "active duty".
Clifford Jones adds:
I was in charge of the fire hose gang hence I got the highest community points that term. We had a car hit the ramps over the hose and water went everywhere. I did some of the digging with Dave Pullen etc for the trench to take the water pipe.
Angus McLellan:
I am sure it was Jan 1963. On the BBC a few days before we were due to return they were listing schools that were not opening for the new term. Sadly King's was not one of them. We caught the train from Paddington and were met by coach at Kingham.
The snow was as high as the coach as we went on the back roads to school. We were met with no water or heating and we had to take a bucket of water with us when we went to the toilet! That went on for some time.
Rosemary Mosey-Bunn:
JHM's 'main worry was that the overseas boys would not have school ready for them' if he did not attempt a fix.
3) Rosemary Mosey-Bunn on Dick O'Donnell:
"Dick" boasted a public school education, was middle aged and claimed to have a wife in Devon.
Rosemary adds:
"Kay, my eldest daughter, kept a pony in the stable block, with the help of some senior boys, but quite unknown to either Jim or myself." Rosemary says, "(My) memories of Kings are still more or less intact." [So if anyone has any questions, please speak up. Ed.]
Bill StAubyn:
He claimed that he was in the Para Regiment and was dropped in Arnhem. Had some bits and pieces he claimed were from there. I think he was assisted by a ginger haired man caled Reds. He seemed to friendly with Mr Rosser, who saw service in the RAF.
Dick was instrumental in my learning how to make "coke balls" along with Kara II and Peter Gupwell. The intent was to extend the coal supply during the 1962 weather event. I think Ginger was one scene as well. I think Dick he left in 1963.
Brian Bolton:
Thinks, this guy was a very interesting person. He was a non practicing doctor with a pretty cynical outlook on life and JHM in particular. (Can anyone verify this please.)
4) Memories of Stan who was in charge of kitchen and important as someone from whom to get extra food. We would do errands like moving heavy milk crates in return for leftovers from teachers meals, which were much better than food we would get! Anon.
5) Angus McLellan comments:
With regard to the photo sent by Roy Limbrick I believe it is a mixture of 4a and 4b. I think for Fairbairn it should be Blunt 1 and the chap in the centre I think is me!
30 July 2016 (UD16/06)
1) Rog Dennis (see 4 below) has sent me a photo of the back yard of KS facing the cottages and one of the wall facing to the Stable Block. Both with arrows pointing out interesting aspects. He also provides information as to the use of different parts of the Stable block. I have added him in as a Friend of KS on the Anecdotes page.
2) Handyman Dick O'Donnell was at KS 57-63 - at least, was he there when you were? I am trying to get his years. And do you have any stories? Ed.
3) Anthony Prestage:
Just following on from Rex's reminder of that very harsh winter of 62/63, Mosey gave me the task of unfreezing the pipe, being Head Boy who else would you ask! [I have it on good authority that JHM chose labourers at random. Ed] Luckily I had avoided rolling out the firehose to the hydrant in the village to fill the storage tank on the roof, this was delegated to the lower ranks - by the way so was the digging.
Not being an expert at unblocking pipes I decided to excavate the feed pipe under direction of Dick the maintenance guy, we found the pipe (we being Brian Saunders, David Pullen, Roy Tillet and myself) buried 4 feet below the surface. We filled the trench full of wood and lit a bonfire - all this did was burn the galvanising off the outside of the pipe. We also introduced saline solution in to the pipe and pressurised it at 150 psi (with a Mosey Exchange and Mart bargain pump) still no success it took two months before the pipe thawed out. Massive waste of time.
My memory in particular of that winter was being told to go and collect supplies from the gate on the A40 but the snow was that deep I had to reverse the Massey Ferguson tractor all the way up to the top road and meet some driver from Northleach who had the vital supplies.
I can just imagine all this happening nowadays but it really was character building stuff.
21 July 2016 (UD16/05)
1) Sadly I have heard that Freddy Bates has passed on (KS 1949-52).
2) Rex Lerego posts:
One topic I know will bring back lots of memories was the 'Big Freeze' (Winter 1962/1963) we were snowed in for weeks and to keep us busy, rather than sit in freezing cold classrooms learning nothing Mr. Mosey sent us out into the freezing open air to help with excavations up and repairs to the water main - where we learnt lots about digging! Comparisons with the Burma Railway, just Cold rather than Hot.
I don't actually remember if the whole school were involved in helping with the work or just 'specially selected boys' i.e. detention regulars. It could have been volunteers seeking 'community points' certainly Fewings was involved I remember him being top of the community points league.
Or it could have been just a bad dream! Just to ease my mind does anyone have any photographic evidence?
3) Roy Limbrick has added a photo of mix of Form 4a and 4b. C.1961
4) I am grateful to a son of Mr Dennis the Maths teacher who taught at KS. He has corrected a few points of note regarding his father and "Kippy" Reda. His father John "Royston" Dennis not Mike, taught Maths September 1957 and left in July 1959. Khalil “Kip” Reda (KS 59-60).
3 June 2016 (UD16/04)
1) Sadly, Dieter informs me that his brother Christopher Marx (KS 1947-1950) passed on 18th May, he was 86.
We are very grateful that Chris provided access to his film diary by a link on the website over the years. At time of writing still available on Chris's Personal page.
2) Thank you to those who have been in touch regarding the Reunion - please anyone else who has not written to me including those who live overseas, at least let me know if you might or will not be attending.
16 February 2016 (UD16/03)
1) Back in February 2015 the son of Arthur Ronald Greenland wrote to me to add information to a Kingsholme 1938 photo on the site and to identify his father on it right hand photo. Unfortunately I did not have space at that time. He says, of his father, he is, 'The dapper bespectacled young (yes!) man with tartan-looking socks in the front row, to the right of the gowned teacher, is my father,... born in Weston on August 13, 1922.'
He also sent pictures of the Kingsholme motto printed correctly and a pair of School cups. If anyone is interested he wrote more about the life of his father who died in 2000.
2) Please also note that the Reunion is Friday 30th September for those coming a day earlier; main events Saturday 1st October, departing Sunday 2nd October. Thanks to Roger Fowler for spotting a contradiction on the Reunion page - now corrected.
9 February 2016 (UD16/02)
1) Geoff Martin wrote to me:
...my Grandmother kept the Shop at Windrush from 1952 to 1956 I remember some of your KS Boys in the shop on Sundays. They were always a mystery to us village lads in their uniforms and plenty of money.I explained to him that many, like me, only had 1/6d per week pocket money!They must have been Senior Classes as they were usually on cycles in long trousers, some of them purchased packs of 5 Turf, mostly it was sweets and ice creams.
My Great Grand parents lived in Sherborne for a while before moving to Windrush in about 1925. My Father purchased the Old Forge, Windrush from Sherborne Estate for £400.00 in 1956.
1 January 2016 (UD16/01)
1) Let us start the New Year with a resolve to attend this year's Reunion.
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