Sinjuns Guestbook - January 2008 ~ December 2008

Class of 55, now living in glorious isolation. A happy 2008 for anyone who has any recollection.
Chris Lister <cd_lin_france@hotmail.com>
St Tropez, Provence France - Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 09:54:14 (PST)

Just to put the record straight: Brian Taylor was refering to my older brother Tony in his enrty back in September. When I joined in 1973 there were three Piotrowski's in the school. Obviously with myself in the 1st year, Mick was in the third and Tony in Lower sixth.
Dave Piotrowski <daveski028@aol.com>
Gravesend, Kent - Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 13:11:35 (PST)

Found this place through the Friends Reunited website. So this is where you're hiding!. Was at 'Sinjuns' from 73-77 when I was mercilessly taken away from London to the North for some ridiculous reason, (thx ma + pa).

I have a couple of memories, remember Miss Anacich? I was sitting watching her boobs bouncing around, I wasn't interested in the lesson (hardly ever was), then found my self saying out loud, "Giz a Flash". I was stunned, seemed everyone else was too, no one said a word and strangely Anacich didn't either.

An abiding memory from the showers, does Stuart Price read this stuff?. Anyway Stuart got a reputation on being umm, particularly well hung. What we didn't know at the time, Stuart was parading a hard on after the showers. What was all that about Stu?. Totally unconnected, I heard all about Ackers, didn't Paul Riley have an absolute tirade at him at some time?, whatever happened to Paul?

I saw Suhail Akhtar, almost 30 years ago now, after I came back to London , haven't seen him post on here. He around anywhere anyone knows about? I've read the posts here, I can't believe what you did to old salted peanut, maybe GB just didn't have a sense of humour?. I missed the toilet world record attempt, not sure I even heard about it. Fritz, Crook, Smoothy Steve Sparrow, DePiro... lots of memories, not all good, but still, made me smile. Hope you're all well. Maybe see ya some time. Take Care. Dennis
Dennis Main <dpmain2@googlemail.com>
London , Essex England - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 21:12:26 (PST)

Cheers.
Jimmy <jamesnicholls22@yahoo.com>
Arrington, TN USA - Friday, February 08, 2008 at 21:13:31 (PST)

Good to hear from you, Dennis.Sadly I don't remember you.
Vic Garrick <garrick497@aol.com>
London, - Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 14:25:09 (PST)

I attended Sinjuns from 1939 to 1943, I was in Godalming I wonder if there are any class mates left. I am now 81 years old.
Peter Elston <petels333@wmconnect.com>
Lake Saint Loui, Missouri USA - Friday, February 22, 2008 at 11:26:02 (PST)

I cant believe what I'm reading this is great and so good to see that so many old friends are stil out there. I am now in a Maximum Secure Prison but to anyone who knew me at school suprise, I work there has Head of Community Risk Management and not as an inmate. The comments on here have made me laugh and smile so keep it up guy's this is a great idea.
Ellwyn Dawkins <Dawkins.Ellwyn@HMPS.gsi.gov.uk>
Peterborough, Cambs England - Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 06:05:34 (PST)

I attended Swstj from 1932 to 1939 after which I had 6 years in the army during WW11 . happy days, still look at the long photograph of the entire school taken shortly before I left, worked thereafter all over the world prior to putting down roots in the USA.went back to Batersea shortly after the war , nobody there , Sad . good times were had by all, rgds to all
Bill Dyer <Castrol Can @ Aol>
Issaquah , Washington USA - Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 12:15:14 (PST)

Attended Sinjuns 1968-74. Decided to leave Easter 1974, before the school made the decision for me!! Would like to hear from anyone who remembers me.
Les Ward <lizles@talktalk.net>
Peterborough, Cambs England - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 04:44:49 (PST)

Don't see many entries from colleagues 1960-1967, where are you all? Would be pleased to share some memories.
Alan Brock <aandjbrock@btinternet.com>
West Sussex - Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 15:08:27 (PST)

I joined in 1949 and fled in 1956. My first form master was State (who was generally disliked) and, in the second form, Cox ("When I was in Barbados etc....) who was a popular eccentric. In the third form it was Laurenson ("Lulu"), a likeable Geordie; in the fourth Wadsworth ("Errol") whose wife (Louise) was the art mistress; in the fifth Jackson (inevitably "Jacko"); and in the 6th, Osbourne (Ozzy) who, I understand, composed the lyrics to the school song. My first Headmaster was Wharton (Jim) and the second Presswood ("Charlie", so called because, one evening after a school play performance, a parent asked him "Oy Charlie where's the bog?" This was commemorated when Semmons, the music master/organist, played variations on "Charlie is my darling" in the run up to morning assembly ~ for which, I gather, he was taken to task). With reference to Don Piears' note, the Abadi brothers, Maurice and Selim, who both spoke fluent French and didn't look like brothers at all, were Egyptian. I had heard that John Robertson was in Customs & Excise but we never met there.
Doug Franks <dougal87@yahoo.com>
Edenbridge, Kent England - Saturday, March 01, 2008 at 06:13:34 (PST)

Humble apologies. "Cox" was Cocks and "Osbourne" was, of course, Osborne. Anno Domini shreds the brain.
Doug Franks <dougal87@yahoo.com>
Edenbridge, Kent England - Sunday, March 02, 2008 at 01:27:09 (PST)

there from 78-83,sad to hear of mr. Smith`s passing.
Mark Brown <mib1066@yahoo.co.uk>
Earlsfield, London UK - Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 05:45:48 (PST)

I was at Battersea 72-74 but was off ill for most of the time! Happy days! I Remember Fritz (Can still recall him wishing me luck as I walked out on my last day with a few O'Levels!), Dave Muir, Harry Roberts, Graham Granville, Razz Meaden the history man, Alan Ackers, Mr DePiro, Terry Ritchie and loads of faces but age has robbed me of the names! I'm now Councillor for St Helier Ward in London Borough of Sutton
David Theobald <www.davidtheobald666@yahoo.co.uk>
Sutton, Surrey UK - Friday, March 14, 2008 at 03:56:19 (PST)

Attended the school 1953-1958, though not very often in the latter years. This entry prompted by the mention of Mr.Semmons, who was good for an afternoon off, when Terry Rother, and I would pop over to Battersea Bridge Road to feed his cat! Mr.Harris who ignored you mid morning in Batterseaq Park. Mr. Gutteridge ? stands out for his "fun" maths lessons, Connie for trying to get me into Latin, and Doc Cavell for an introduction to the manufacture of things that go bang. Does anyone remember the succession of Physics masters, each one nuttier than the last. There also seemed to be a number of masters who could be easily diverted, I cant remember his name but one elderly maths master could help pass a hot summers afternoonm, with guess a pictogram, for some strange reason one of a Christmas Pudding the clue for Nuneaton, sticks in my mind. What a waffle thats the problem with retirement.
Dave Lovejoy <dwlovejoy@hotmail.co.uk>
Wandsworth , - Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 15:43:37 (PST)

Sad to report that Tony Bird passed away recently - his Funeral will be at Lambeth Crematorium Blackshaw Road on Friday 18 April 2008 at 14.45 and afterwards at the Club House at the school Field
Colin Pinnell <colin.pinnell@btinternet.com>
London, - Friday, April 11, 2008 at 03:45:11 (PDT)

looking to find schoolfriends micheal graham,andrew south, billy evans,charles gillespie and possibly anyone else
Andrew pickersgill <15@yahoo.co.uk>
- Friday, April 18, 2008 at 04:29:31 (PDT)

looking to find michealgraham,andrew south,Albert ruff,billy evans,perry madden,steven long,gerard francis,
Andrew Pickersgill <15@yahoo.co.uk>
- Friday, April 18, 2008 at 04:32:35 (PDT)

I was at Sinjuns from 1961 to 1967, Bolingbroke House. I wasn't exactly a model pupil, but now I have to adnit that i learned a lot at Sinjuns, much of which has helped me in many of my endeavours. Boys in my form included Colin Stevens, John Marsh, Tommy Sanderson, Eugene Sweeney, Eber Kington and Jon Barnes. Teachers included the Trogg, Semmonds, Cox, Hogg, Short (the dirty bugger)and of course the head, Dr. Presswood. I have fond memories of him. Once (not for the first time), I was caught out throwing chalk at the blackboard during lessons with a student teacher from Africa, and was promptly sent to Presswoods study. I was shaking like a leaf, as we all know how a cane can get the old adrenaline going! Once inside his study, he told me to bend down across his desk and I waited for the familiar twang of the rod. When it came, I initially wondered why I had heard it but didn't feel anything. Was I immune? No, Dr. Presswood dutifully whacked his chair cushion six times, told me to look terrified and hurt, then go back to my class. What a great man he was. I am recalling this story for the very first time by the way, and I know that he would forgive me for spillimg the beans so many years later, if her were still with us. Is there anyone out there who attended the school at the same time and perhaps has some photos - I unfortunately do not have any. Hope to hear from some of you soon, Colin.
Colin Solman <colsolman@aol.com>
Hamburg, Hamburg Germany - Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 16:33:20 (PDT)

I was at Sinjuns from 1951 to 1955
KennethOsborne <kosborne200@shaw.ca>
Victoria, British Columbia Canada - Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 12:05:45 (PDT)

Hi Guys Some names i remember from 1951-1955 are Tony Maynard ,Sidney Gathercole Bob Germaine Roger Kendal. The Abadi Brothers,Lawson, Stinson and the Masters Mr Cox Mr Melbourne Mr State who had a piece of wood that was inscribed "The lord chief justice" which he could wack you with.Mr Roberts, Algieour French teacher poor man use to cry,I had the cane three seperate times so I know what Colin Coleman was missing when Mr Presswood pretended to give it to him.
Ken Osborne <kosborne200@shaw.ca>
Victoria, BC Canada - Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 12:35:27 (PDT)

i will like to know more about you my lovei will like to know more about you my lovei will like to know more about you my love
justkone <justkone4love@yahoo.com>
dakra, dakar sunagi - Friday, May 23, 2008 at 08:46:13 (PDT)

I'm an Old 'Charterhouse' Sinjun (Bolingbroke 1943-1951)and am trying to trace Ashley James (previously Axentios) and Ian Lightfoot, who lives(ed) in Worcester Park, Surrey. Ian made an entry back in May 2001 but I've only just found it and Ian's e-address is no longer in use. Can anyone help, please?
Graham Stanford-McBride <graham5mcbride@blueyonder.co.uk>
Bristol, England - Friday, June 13, 2008 at 12:36:46 (PDT)

vic <ghghgh@aol.com>
jjm , bjj jh - Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 15:16:08 (PDT)

Elwin Dorkins ............. Without doubt the fattest, dullest, disfigured, thick, fuckwit, that ever disgraced 'our school'. In the'prison service'. Wow! Yet still, yes still, thinks it's normal. No one.... Will be pleased to know your alive. May the prisoners (with breathing masks, obviously, get wind of your stench and bully you like you tried to do at school. Smaller kids that couldn't defend themselves. How dare you pretend you are normal. Do you remember when the whole school cornered you? We all do. Drop dead.

Very nice, keep up the good work!
John <jpooned@gmail.com>
Texas, Texas United States - Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 20:01:16 (PDT)

Have just spent a very pleasant hour going through some of the entries. Brought back some great memories of my years at the school, 1953-58. Would love to make contact with my old mucker, Tony Sharples. His father was Bob Sharples, the then Musical Director of the BBC. I visit the school 4 times a year to attend a "meeting," and you will be pleased to know that, despite many alterations inside, the Old Hall is the same as the day I left.... red stage curtains, dusty beams, house shields around the wall and the bacony front... such memories. Bob Tanners little lodge room has gone, but the old school bell and rope still hang outside where the door was! Chas Foulsham (Ex 5T)
Chas Foulsham <chasfoulsham@blueyonder.co.uk>
Cheam, Surrey England - Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 08:50:35 (PDT)

I attended 1974 to 1979, would love to hear from former class mates
Rajesh Chandra Joshi <rajesh@fsmail.net>
Kent UK - Monday, June 23, 2008 at 15:29:08 (PDT)

I attended Sinjuns from 1949 - 1953, Beachamp, and having read some of the guest book details it brought back memories of 'Statey' and his ghastley classes in woodwork, but I have to admit he was a good teacher of mathematics. I was won dering id any one knows of two buddies I had at Sinjuns: Adrian Goodyear and Ronnie Rix. Would be glad to hear from any one of those times.
Ted Pettit <batterseaboyted@cs.com>
Baltimore, MD 21228 USA - Friday, July 18, 2008 at 07:06:04 (PDT)

LOL at the Elwyn Dawkins comment below!! Elwyn you weren't that bad as I remember you - great drums at the end of term concert too!!
Jim <not@disclosed.com>
- Friday, July 18, 2008 at 09:00:54 (PDT)

"Be true to your schoool, ra ra rar, just like you would to your girl". Tisk - my problem is I've been married three times.
Brian Wilson <surfin@california>
- Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 14:22:22 (PDT)

So pleased to read that Sinjuns OB still going strong, from time to time I read about old friends in my brother John's copy of OB magazine. I attended Sinjuns, along with my brother from 1945-52; long may the website, magazine and the OB Masonic Lodge prosper.
D. Trevor Morgan <trev.morgan@blueyonder.co.uk>
Cheam, Surrey UK - Monday, July 21, 2008 at 14:40:37 (PDT)

I have had previous entries in the Guest Book without a response but if any of my contemporaries see this I should be pleased to hear from them. I was at the school from 1934 to 1941 finishiing up in Upper 6th Science
Joseph Sharpe <josharpe@tiscali.co.uk>
Northampton, Northants UK - Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 09:20:23 (PDT)

Is it true that Martin Amis went to Sinjuns? He wrote a terrible essay about being at a 'tough south London grammar school' (as if that wasn't a contradiction in terms) and ends it be saying how, when he left after a term, he stood on Battersea Bridge and threw his cap into the river (what a twerp) and felt pity for those schmucks back at the school facing their empty, dull, pointless lives while he was off to conquer the world. I met him once, when he was giving a reading at Oxford, and thought he was the most pompous little ass I'd ever come across. So please confirm or deny his status as an Old Sinjun... Richard Sympson, 1970-1977
Dick Sympson <sympson1@hotmail.co.uk>
London, UK - Tuesday, August 05, 2008 at 10:34:55 (PDT)

Dick, did you die age seven in 1977? Thats mad you missed most of the punk era
J Rushworth <Floisgod@hotmail.co.uk>
London, - Wednesday, August 06, 2008 at 07:58:45 (PDT)

John...You old punk rocker you.I remember US eating soul food in france when we were 13 listening to (plastic Bertrand)'Ca plein pour moi',PINK FLOYD ETC.Whishing we had been old enough to get involved when IT REALY KICKED OFF.
TREV <TREV...@hotmail.com>
nouchout, BATTERSEA MAURITANIA - Friday, August 08, 2008 at 16:15:09 (PDT)

Dick Doodah, Yes pompous fart Amis DID go to Sinjuns. His actual words are (ish) "Sinjuns was a violent school, with violent teachers and violent pupils". He says nowt about his cap. He was expelled, lucky sod.
someone <somewhere>
- Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 14:19:28 (PDT)

Thanks Someone, Somewhere (isn't that a Bernstein song?). But if you check out his essay he does mention chucking his cap into the river... I love that image of rebellious little Mart,the man who understands the language of the street, the writer who catches the argot of the underclass with such skill,publishing this stuff and yet completely unaware how ridiculous it makes him sound... A school as tough as Broadmoor, yet there he is with that cap...
Dick Sympson <sympson1@hotmail.co.uk>
London, UK - Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 04:08:07 (PDT)

Dick you are simply somehow??????
Martin Amis <martaim@hotmail.com>
this, that t'other - Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 14:11:37 (PDT)

I don't believe there was a Dick Sympson at Sinjuns from 1970-1977 because a) I was there at that time and can't remember him and b) Richard Sympson is the person to whom Lemuel Gulliver addresses his complaints about society at the start of Gulliver's Travels...
M. Amos <mtamos@gmail.com>
London, UK - Monday, August 25, 2008 at 03:26:50 (PDT)

At Sinjuns 1972 - 78. Getting in contact with old boys who might remember me. I'll be down at the Half Moon in Putney on November 23rd with a great band from Dorset that I am doing some shows with up here in Yorkshire. Check out their website: www.stateofundress.com It would be great to get together, enjoy some good music and have a few pints. Anyone interested? Please get in contact and pass the word on! Cheers, John
John Sharp <johnsharp@email.com>
Luddenden, W. Yorks England - Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 21:11:05 (PDT)

I was at Sinjuns from Sept 1950 to Dec 1955, and remember David Hedger. Does anyone know what happened to Les Graham, who was a ball boy at Chelsea? and Tony Read/Reid. I met them again by accident in early 1959 when I got on a bus in Alnwick to go and see Chelsea play Newcastle in the FA Cup, and there they were sitting at the back. They were at Edinburgh University at the time. Regarding teachers, I remember Mr Cocks (Maths) who had the habit of digressing to tales of his early life in Barbados. Don Taylour (Music) who lived just round the corner from me, and drove a red sports car. If I timed my journey right, I would get a lift to school! Who could forget Algy Haythorne, who at term end would draw little pictures on the blackboard, and we had to work out which towns they represented. Dr Cavell the senior Chemistry teacher, who along with Wal Jackson (Maths) were GCE examiners. When either were setting the exam papers, the school were issued with the alternative paper to prevent collusion.
Frank Bennett <frankbennett@blueyonder.co.uk>
Worcester Park, Surrey England - Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 19:09:17 (PDT)

Trev.I was also in france.At least Jon WAS there and quite a good laugh,sometimes.Remember the 'Pommier Pitch',Jon? I don't however recall Trev.
vic garrick
- Wednesday, October 08, 2008 at 12:29:33 (PDT)

I do remember the incident (tres clairement) to which you refer Victor, me old mate, think you may have a mild touch of alzheimers though coz I was a great laugh all of the time. As I'm sure my other freind "Trev" will agree.
J Rushworth <Floisgod@hotmail.com>
- Thursday, October 09, 2008 at 06:19:12 (PDT)

1948-55; just bought Frank Smallwood's book on the history of the school; it all comes back to me - Mr Wharton the Head, Chips smallwood, Algy Haythorne, Alfie Strip, Dr Nicholls the history teacher, who kept a notebook full of the names of pubs in historic locations in Britain, Vernon C Osborne who taught English in a really inspiring way, and so many others. Greetings to all Old Sinjuns.
David Carver
- Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 02:09:30 (PDT)

This is Zahid and I was at Sinjuns 1973-1980. Now living in the US, working in Finance. Still in contact with David Uttley.Would love to hear from anybody who was there at the time.
zahid mannan <zahid_mannan@hotmail.com>
- Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 09:34:55 (PST)

My last entry was in 2002. Have been trawling through 8 years of comments on this site. I was at Sinjuns from 1953 - 1960. I came across an entry for Roger Fellows back in 2000. have tried to contact him by email but the address has apparently changed. Does anyone know of his whereabouts?
Roy West <r.west4@sky.com>
Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset UK - Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 07:02:20 (PST)

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