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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.
For Woodwork/Technical Drawing we had Mr. Hutchins, who was a very strong character with pock holes in his face. Remember the woodwork shop? They did not take too kindly to sawing a bit off a bench! Not too hot on finding rivets round the playground either.
Once saw him give the cane to 2 boys for having a slightly blue magazine under the desk, now in the 21st century he would have got 3 years for assault and the boys would get compensation.
Deputy Head Master in 1966, Technical Drawing and woodwork teacher also in charge of the School Prefects, of which I was one and later Head Prefect.
Mr Hutchins was part of the School, he joined the school in the 1930's. Although he was hard on boys he was a good master. When he caned a boy it was an art, the boy with hand out-stretched and Mr Hutchins adjusting the height with the cane, before moving back. Then he jumped
forward and wacked the cane down hard.
Metalwork was taken by Mr. Pickett, a sadistic burly guy. I recount him using a 6 foot metal ruler on the rear end of one class mate who promptly fainted afterwards. Imagine that happening in this day and age.
Ken Shave used to bash on the piano in assembly if fatty Little wasn't there.
I seem to recall that George Little the music teacher used to smoke about a trillion cigarettes a day and only had one lung. I remember when he used to get every boy up individually in class to sing the scales, and if you cocked it up you got a burst of abuse or a taste of the blackboard rubber.
If you ducked the blackboard rubber or half managed the scales you were in the choir, volunteer or not. Choir practise -- I was a staunch member of the school choir at treble, alto and eventually baritone.
George Little was the conductor, pianist, lyricist and chain smoker. I remember rehearsing Jericho in readiness for the school rendition at Ilford Town Hall. Baritones lead the intro with the line 'Joshua fit the battle' which was repeated about 6 or 7 times before extending to 'Joshua fit the battle of Jericho'.
However the baritones used to adjust this line to 'George has hit the bottle'. We never, (well not to my remembrance), ever extended this to the live performance at Ilford Town Hall!
What about the school plays? What about them? As a pupil with a reasonable singing voice I was regularly involved in the annual production that Mr Little and Mr Liddiard were heavily involved in producing.
They went on over 3 nights and, as I remember, the scenery was built by Mr Hutchins and painted by the art department. I remember him throwing weighty music books at you if you were not paying attention!
Great shot with the chalk if you weren't paying attention. Used to pull the most extraordinary faces while hammering out a piece on the piano.
Religious Education was administered by Alf Pace our R. E. teacher, with discussions on religion. He never used corporal punishment. He never needed to. Once he offered £5 to the first person who could find a mention of the 3 kings in the bible. There is no mention, but we read a lot of bible trying to win the £5.
A teacher who said he had 'never ever caned a boy'. Too right, he always sent us to Hutchins to do his dirty work! 'Holy Joe' Pace used to run the junior cricket team, of which I was a member.
He used to take the 2nd year cricket team and would buy us an ice cream every time we won. We only lost one game in 1972. He retired to the Isle of Wight and helped organise the IOW Steam Railway, taking school parties around the station. When I met him he remembered all the cricket team I played with. Great bloke!
Continued ...............
Alan Earwaker, 2002
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