|
 | |  | |
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.
In the playground all the students mixed together during playtime, this is where much excitement took place, games, fights, chases etc. Do you remember the school wall opposite the bicycle sheds that used to be used for a tennis ball game?
What was the name of the game? Used to throw it against the wall above a line and on the rebound you could catch it without bounce or maximum of one bounce. Three lives and you're out.
If you got the angle right you could clear the bike shed, put somebody on the roof of the toilet block or send somebody down to the gym. Talking about games, what about bulldog, across the playground, conkers in the winter. Must have been mad playing bulldog, it was like being attacked by a herd of whirling dervishes.
Talking about games, what about jacks and marbles? I used to have this whacking great ball bearing that I used to play marbles with. Used to crush the opposition's glass marbles.
Do you remember in the summer when it got really hot the tar roads used to bubble and you could peel the tar off and roll it into balls. Used to stick to the soles of your shoes as well.
One school playground activity was 'high Jimmy knacker'. Near the school was Loxford Park, here we would extend some of our PE lessons as well as our school fights.
One can't forget the tuck shop one penny a cigarette, used to sell the Domino cigarettes, 4 in a pack. You're never alone with a Strand, oh boy how corny! Up the Roding! What were the other Houses - Abbey, Manor and Forest.
Wonder how many first year's caps got thrown on the roof of the outdoor toilet block, tee hee! You sat in there at your peril. There were about 2 doors and 10 sit downs. Wind used to blow through there like a gale.
Annual School sports days took place in the summer at Cricklefield Sports Ground and there was the annual School Swimming Gala. The Annual Teacher v Pupil cricket match was a popular event too
The school houses were Abbey, Forest, Manor and Roding, and there was much competition for house points. Remember the School plays and Christmas plays and musicals (George Little at his best pounding the piano).
The school had prefects, who were under the control of the head prefect, who in turn was answerable to the Deputy Head. The Library was above the school hall and was well stocked with books. It was used by the school debating society and chess club.
In the early 1990's the school was demolished to make way for private housing, but the gym block remained and is now an Islamic community centre.
Alan completed his education at the City University, and his career took him to Kelvin Hughes at Hainault, West Ham College and East Surrey College.
Alan Earwaker, 2002
| |  | |  |
To add a comment you must first login or join for free, up in the top left corner.
|
|
