Dear Roger,

Thank you for the chat we had over the phone the other day and your advice. I pen therefore a letter of my life, if there is anyone out there left who was at CBBS during the war years who would be interested.

My years at school were between 1940 and 1944 from Monkton Combe Preparatory School; not the best of years for the school or pupils – due to the war, Bath blitz, temporary kitchens on the car park in front of the Headmaster’s study, clothes rationing, gas masks, shortages of food and the good things of life. But in spite of it all we survived.

The staff, under the watchful eye of Dr Taylor, kept things going remarkably well. Latin and History were a nightmare under Dancy and James, my only encounters with Matthews were with the ‘dap’! Nevertheless I enjoyed French with Froggy Holden, English with Mr Burt, Art with Mr Whiticker and Science with Mr Hambleton.

In my class was Roger Bannister – a ‘bright lad’ who as a junior won the senior cross-country event, and Raymond Leppard who always played the piano at morning assembly.

You can rather gather I was not an academic at school but a ‘plodder’ and enjoyed rugby and athletics. Nevertheless I obtained 2 School Certificates enabling me to start on my career.

And do not forget the wartime working holidays organised by Mr Hambleton and others, collecting pit-props at Bovey Tracey and harvesting camps in Worcestershire – digging potatoes or if you were lucky, picking fruit, but do watch out for the land girls!

The Headmaster, Dr Taylor, organised on a Saturday night that the 5th and 6th forms from CBBS and CBGS should get together to learn decorum and to dance under the teaching of Madame A Carter. Being able to dance to Victor Sylvester strict tempo has served me in good stead ever since; having met Diana, D R Wakefield, there, we eventually got married in 1950 and have been together ever since.

I must mention my older brother J R Glass 1935-41 who was called up during the war, obtained his wings in Rhodesia and was killed in Italy flying spitfires.

Briefly my life was as follows:

Articled pupil with Mr Bevan-Jones in the Corporate Property Office, City of Bath for a year and passed the first examination of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Joined the Old Sulians RFC and had many matches with local clubs, not forgetting a little beer drinking under the control and supervision of John New.

Called up for National Service, Bodmin. Passed a W.O.S.B., trained at Newark and obtained a commission in R.E. Work Services finally serving 18 months in Malaya.

On return joined Nixey and Jordan Chartered Surveyors in Bath and studied for 3 years as an articled pupil to become an Associate of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Experience followed at Aldermaston A.W.R.E, Bristol and 3 years in Trinidad through the Crown Agents with the Works and Hydraulics Department.

Back to the UK and Birmingham. After working for two firms, managed to obtain a Partnership with A.G. Robottom and Partners eventually becoming a Fellow of the RICS, retiring in 1992.

All during this time I kept up my golf, having played before the war at Lansdown, Bath. Joined Moseley Golf Club eventually becoming Captain and President and have just been made an Honorary Member.
Played for the Worcestershire 2nd team and became Captain of the Worcestershire Seniors. I was also a member of the Chartered Surveyors Golfing Society, was Secretary and Captain of the Midlands section and eventually National Captain.
While a member of St Andrew’s Golf Club in Trinidad I represented Trinidad and Tobago in golf teams versus Jamaica and Barbados.
My wife and I have been members of Aberdovey Golf Club for 20 years where we have had many golfing holidays.

I was happy to become a Life Member of the OSA, reading the newsletters, sadly reading of the death of many of my contemporaries.

I do regret not having taken more of an active part in the affairs of the OSA but the distance between Birmingham and Bath is considerable and there is always a time limit on what one can do.

Having started this letter I am now obliged to finish it. I hope it is not too long-winded but no doubt you know how to precis!

Yours sincerely,

George P. Glass

January 2008

Dear Roger,

I’m writing this with my smart Old Su’s tie just removed after a session of adult English Lang. Classes. As I rarely wear a tie, the students wondered “why I was wearing a Barcelona F.C. tie?”. The colours coincide so I have to be careful where and when I wear it round here! Thanks for your regular newsletters and, as you asked for contributions in the last one, here are a few chosen comments that might safely be shared, abridged or whatever.
I arrived at CBBS with ex-St Mark’s School friends Mike Jenkins and John Glenn. I remember John in the St Mark’s football team starting from our penalty area and beating 20 players (our goalie at least didn’t get in his way) before slotting in the first of his many goals. Mike Jenkins was one of three staff sons in one class. Quiz question?? Well the others were Robin Barrett and Peter Radford. Suffice to say I enjoyed Art more than Chemistry but no hard feelings. The staff were in many cases larger than life characters, or at least seemed to be, none more than Alan Bennett. His occasional bark was much worse than his bite….. He once came into the Hall and caught me playing around with a double bass before a music class. Instead of ripping me off he said “Do you wanna learn to play that thing?” Thus started a lovely relationship and some great times in the School Orchestra with wonderful comments of Ben’s like the admonition to the cellist:-“ Don’t just tickle that bally thing between your legs!”
Many thanks to many staff, especially Roger Corrick, Ken Gelling, Tony Lawdham and Phil Turk with whom I had most contact.
After leaving in 68 I was off to Southampton to study Spanish and that has marked my life indelibly. As Manuel said to Basil Fawlty ‘Qué?’ I eventually started teaching Spanish and French in Ipswich and since football had always been a passion (Twerton Park every Saturday afternoon) when World Cup ESPAÑA came along I got an exchange post worked out near Madrid and was able to see England v Germany at the Bernabeu. But I fell for a Spanish Señorita and after marrying her and returning to Ipswich for 3 more years, we finally left for Spain in 1986.
Still teaching E.F.L, four children and 22 years later, we live in a nice part of the Madrid region near the mountains. If anyone fancies dropping in let me know! (Ask Phil Turk for directions)

Editor’s Note: Contact me for an address if you want to write to Derek. No e-mail yet.

I was looking over the Old Sulians pages and saw in the Archives another school photo, a little earlier than mine. I thought perhaps you might like to put these scans onto your site, just a chance that someone of my era might be looking back on those years too. My name is Ed Smith, I am in the scan which has the Bath Arms at the bottom, second row from the top, to the right of the black downpipe{as you view the picture}, wearing a light coloured jacket. Sincerely, Ed J Smith.

Gentlemen
I was fascinated to read your website when exploring news about CBBS for the first time in almost 40 years.. My vintage is 1962-1969 and the photographs on your site prompted some vivid memories! First was the series of images entitled Steve Wall reunion. I remember him as a young member of staff quite new to the school when I was in my ‘O’ level year. Indeed, in the summer of 1967, I was one of about nine pupils and adults who Steve led via a VW j4 van on a tour of several weeks through Europe. It was a fantastic, hectic and ‘character building trip’ and sparked my love of travel I am sure. Some of the memories are probably best not shared in an introductory message! I think that he took along an uncle and a friend of his. The names of the lads who went are not so easy to recall, although the name Duncan Waterman rings a bell.

The photo of the 1969 1st XV brings back memories too. I recognise David Hawkins – Head Boy in 1968/9. Chris Edgeley and Len Kedge are there too – the latter the younger of two brothers who shared the same nickname. All the other faces are obviously familiar but names escape me. A particular mate who played 1st team rugby was Richard Leonard. I did not spot him in that particular picture. My lot was with the 2nd XV with occasional promotions. We have long since lost touch. I was his Best Man in 1978. It would be interesting to know if any of the members have news.

I also recognise Mike Baker – did he teach Maths?- from the Steve Wall pictures. The name Pat Colbourne comes to me as a member of staff new to the PE Dept when I was part way through school. In his time, the school bought/rented a cottage in Ysradgynlais in South Wales. I occasionally went at weekends with Richard Leonard and Pat to work on renovations.

In my last year I was House Captain of Bennett’s House (White in colour). This was Allan Bennett the Head of Music for many years. I am sure I have a picture somewhere in the family archive of the school
orchestra in Bergen, Norway during one of its biennial tours. I played ‘cello. Other staff names include Vickery who taught French, Kirkpatrick, Maths and, of course, Leslie Scott the Headmaster who
retired at about the time I left school. He was a vehement opponent of comprehensive education – or perhaps, rather the alteration of CBBS as we all knew it in those days.

No more now; I just thought I would fire off a message whilst the mood was upon me! I teach in Kent and am currently on half-term. I shall send a cheque to join if I may.

I’ve really enjoyed this reflection on the past.

Sincerely

Andrew Nunn