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Alan Earwaker went to Loxford County Secondary in Eton Road, Ilford, together with two good friends, Barry Hill and Stewart Smith, from 1959 to 1964.
Our science teacher was John White, and I remember well he nearly blew himself up using phosphorous --- trying to make special effects for the school play one year. I was working on parts for the school play for him at the back of the school lab when it happened.
I remember rushing to get other members of staff from other rooms to help, the lab being filled with smoke and poor Mr. White being rushed to hospital. But he was OK, just slightly singed. A very remarkable man who fed my interest in science. His lessons were a joy.
Much of my success in life was because of the start he provided. He also taught some of us how to strip down an old Austin A30, rebuild it and then taught us to drive around the playground -- until someone drove the car into the cycle sheds. We were banned from driving after that.
The man who ran about in a bubble car was Mr Nurith, our science master.
What about Jimmy Ruff, our English teacher, who used to write holding a biro in clenched fist between his first and second fingers. Jimmy Ruff was probably the coolest teacher there.
We would occasionally see him at the Paper Makers Arms in the days we went there to play darts. He had a good attitude and knew how to communicate with his pupils.
Used to have a slipper in the bottom drawer of his desk that somebody purloined, (not guilty!) Had a cane called Archibald -- thin bamboo and shaped like a walking stick.
What about the chess tournaments which Jimmy Ruff and Ernie Peckett used to run each year. Do you remember Ruff was a misspent cricketer? First day at Loxford. First form teacher. The immortal words he uttered 'Good morning, my name is Ruff. Ruff by name and Ruff by nature'.
I do remember the first manned space flight when he brought in the 'wireless' and during his English lesson we listened to Alan Sheppard's sub orbital 20min flight! Happy days.
I recollect he used to make fun of the pupils by putting make-up on them. There was one boy who was regularly called to the front and made-up, unfortunately he died in a fire in Manor Park and the whole year
attended the church on the corner of Britannia Road. It may not of happened if the teachers had not held a staff meeting and sent us home early.
In English, Mr. Liddiard was in charge of the library. He also ran the debating society. I managed to be librarian: the only way to get one's hands on the books.
Did you know that during the war (1939-45) Mr Liddiard was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in charge of a motor torpedo boat!!! Before then I saw Liddiard as a Thespian on a stage spouting Shakespeare, not sitting behind a machine gun killing the enemy!
English Literature teacher, he taught in the library. The two things I can always remember about him: he wore a bow-tie and a waist coat, but what struck me more was he was out of place in the school.
Continued ...............
Alan Earwaker, 2002
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