I attended St Gerard's School, Clapham Common South Side, from 1968-73. As I recall some of my most productive hours back then were spent in the public bar of the Windmill Inn. Ah, far happier less complicated times.
The Windmill stood on Clapham Common, set back slightly from the main road, directly opposite the front of our school; and on hot summer's days many is the time my attention was drawn from 'Harry' Horn's waffle about the importance of chess and Dickens; or Jim Smith's over-enthusiastic take on some battle or other in this country's distance bloody past, and through the classroom windows across the A3 past a clump of trees to the frontage of the pub. So tantalisingly near; yet so unattainably distant.
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| The Windmill Inn Clapham Common |
Towards the end of the Fifth Year a few of us in the class, having already abandoned our school uniforms, used to pop into the bar at lunchtimes. Most of us were pub users anyway, had been for a while.
Funny really, just how quick we made that transition from snotty nosed school boys to young urbane men of the world. Not so very long before the pub had served another purpose for. When fractiousness exploded amongst us boys, the chilling words would be intoned: “Right, behind the Windmill after school, you’re dead”.
Oh, the expectations of those words. Two young Achilles’ pitting their martial prowess in hand to hand fighting? No. More like two scared lads. By the end of the school day they were wondering whether a note from their mums might excuse them from the imminent ritual. No chance. The attendant baying mob had paid to see blood; and blood they’d get.
Pushed together the crestfallen warriors would trade a few unimpressive slaps. One would then escalate events by putting the other in a neck-lock. Within seconds they’d be rolling around on the ground. This was the cue for crowd participation and they started to kick the remaining dignity from the fallen heroes.
Oh, the expectations of those words. Two young Achilles’ pitting their martial prowess in hand to hand fighting? No. More like two scared lads. By the end of the school day they were wondering whether a note from their mums might excuse them from the imminent ritual. No chance. The attendant baying mob had paid to see blood; and blood they’d get.
Pushed together the crestfallen warriors would trade a few unimpressive slaps. One would then escalate events by putting the other in a neck-lock. Within seconds they’d be rolling around on the ground. This was the cue for crowd participation and they started to kick the remaining dignity from the fallen heroes.
It was Richard Horn & Des Smith.
ReplyDeleteThe School was on the A24 not the A3, the A3 turned right from the Old Town towards Clapham Junction.
I too was there!!
Alan
I was there from 1962-69 and remember Des Smith as a pupil there before he went to teachers training college. Does anyone have any photo's of the school?
DeleteAndy
I too was there during the same time period. It was a poor education really. Ironically, I went onto several elite universities and ended up as a teacher and literacy consultant. I still dream of the old place, from time to time. One of the best teachers was a student teacher that we had great respect for, a Mr Smith. He was not a disciplinarian and never got wound up. He was all the better for it and we soon stopped mucking about. He was only there for a few months in the early 70s but he introduced us all kinds of ideas and took us out the zoo and a theatre to put on "The Long, The Short and The Tall". His experimental lessons stayed with me. I even tried out his "cops and robbers" lesson involving alibies up in Scotland, while going through my PGCE. The kids LOVED it; their regular teacher helped me teach the lesson as she become a solicitor for the gang of robbers and I, a the commissioner of police briefed my detectives. It was Smith's lesson all over again and it was the one that gave me the confidence that I could think. I met a few of the pupils years afterwards at Canary Wharf when they won an award for a student newspaper; they sent for me and we went to see "The Mouse Trap" and had dinner at their hotel. Their old teacher had accompanied them. And they told me that they still remembered "that lesson" as the best one they ever had, even if their memories of the student teacher that gave it had naturally dimmed. Much of what we learn at school is forgotten and lessons fade away - but Mr Smith (not to be confused with Desmond Smith) remains with me as a formative influence who also went onto influence students I taught years afterwards. Our thoughtfulness and actions have consequences and can resonate for decades afterwards. No doubt that student teacher from the early 70s will never read this, even if he still lives.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few typos above but it still has the gist of what I wanted to say.
ReplyDeleteI was there between 1958-1963. The staff were simply vicious. Canings daily. She inspections in the playground every morning. Pity the boys who had to walk across the common. Teachers of unworthy note...Mr Carling, Mr Price, Mr Elliot, Mrs (Ma)Davey, all wielded the cane. Mr Price (3a) actually smoked in the classroom. He told us we were an unworthy lot who would amount to no good. In modesty, I have done very well in life as, I am sure, have many of my classmates from that time. All I recall is prayers, the Angelus Bell, being caned for some minor infraction, then being caned by your class master (for letting him down) and then ditto for your House Master on a Friday afternoon after detention.
ReplyDeleteIt belonged in the dark ages and I do not regret having left at 15 being told I would regret it for life. However, again, in modesty, I have been hi
highly successful in life, became quite literary and artistic when I left, have been successful in business and my son obtained a double first at Oxford. My classmates were Leach, Farrelly, Wortham, Fitzgerald, Fache, Piatrowski, Gold, Wynne, Critchley, Willows, Foley et al.......
I too was there at that time...my group were Rory Farrelly, John Gold, Joe Willows, Dan Begley et al.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above inasmuch as the whole ethos was based on regimen, religion, discipline and punishment.
Others in the Class were Mountain, Morson, Cantwell, Harris, Kennedy from memory. The head boy was named Bennett and was a hero....
Mr Meheghan was the aged Head and his lackey was Mr Carling, a psychotic if ever there was one. I recall little if ever encouragement or praise. The Houses were Campion, Fisher, Becket and Moore.
I believe a school is as good as the staff and I recall three canings in one day, I could not write to do my homework. I was not a bad kid, maybe expressive but, did not really deserve the canings I received. In our first year we were being taught a science lesson when the teacher, a Mr Blake was interrupted by a boy from another class who had been asked to deliver a pile of text books. He had an expression on his face which the teacher di not like and was asked to change it...he did not really understood and the teacher said "right, lets see what the cane will do to change it...." The poor kid received 8 strokes before the nutcase ceased the punishment. I further recall a case of a classmate being caned wearing only gym shorts..the weal was so bad and the music teacher who administered it, A guy called Probert actually came to the classroom and the victim had to drop his trousers to show the teacher, a guy called Blake.....they both thought it funny????
These days that could be construed as criminal.....
Not sure how or why I find myself back at this page? just getting old I suspect :)
ReplyDeleteST G. not the best of schools with some less than adequate teachers but I suspect with some less than attentive students; myself amongst them.
Canings were my speciality whilst there but more a battle of wills between the teacher and the student I can remember a couple of teachers giving up caning me as they became aware that it made little impression on or difference to me.
Stay well guys
Alan
Hello all, just came across this page . I was at st Gerards from 67 to 73. I have recently started a Facebook group:page 'Memories of St Gerard's Boys School, 63 South Side, Clapham, SW4'
ReplyDeleteIt would be good to see you there and share more memories
Regards
Bill
Hi Bill, at St GS from 69 to 74. In Jack Coppens class 1972. Kev Butler
DeleteMy Brother Kenny Elliott (Elms Rd) and his Friend Keiran O'Connor (Cavendish Rd) went to St Gerards in the 60's, think they left in 66/67....They drank in the Windmill Pub too (often;)
ReplyDeleteAnyone remember them?
Remember Kenny, his younger brother, and Keiran very well. Kenny wrote the ITN News at Ten theme! I was a jazz organ player and worked with Kieran around bars and clubs in the 70's. Happy days. Pat Kirby.
DeleteI also went to St Gerards left in 1966, I have some old class photoes of my class and also one photo of the year above us, had a friend in that year, Although I got the cane once in each year, I dont remember it being that bad, I suppose it depended on how much you were prepared to learn. I went on to be an apprentice joiner and ended up Head of capital projects for a large estate and 2 degrees under my hat and Fellows of 2 profesional bodies. I still see some of my old class mates over a drink one even comes back from Aus when he can. We all talk of the good times, I think school is a lot deferent now. who remembers games at Morden playing fields, I always did cross cuntry running. Pete
DeleteI was in St Gerards for one year, around 1962, then my family moved to Ireland. Luckily Ireland did not have the 11+ so it was like getting a second chance. I think most of those teachers did the post war emergency training and probably little else. I did a little better than it was assumed I would do. A form teacher laughed when my father asked would I be able to do take A Levels. I'm now a professor emeritus. Just goes to show. For a few years after leaving university in Dublin I taught in Newham and a lot of the older teachers were like those in St Gerards, used the cane too much and not that good.
ReplyDeleteMichael, i'm sure I remember you, and recall you had a great sense of humour. Hope you will all join our Facebook page to keep in touch. Regards, Patrick Kirby.
Delete'Memories of St Gerard's Boys School, 63 South Side, Clapham, SW4'
I started at St Gerard`s in 1958, but was only there for just over a year, as my dad died and I went into a children`s home in Denham. A couple of teachers that have not been mentioned is Mr. (Jim) Malins, a sadist if ever there was one. We also had a Canadian teacher, Mr. Walsh, who talked so loud, he could clear the wax out of your ears from 50 feet. The only pupils names I can remember is Brian Magill and the kid I always hopped the wag frequently with, George Dabrowski.
ReplyDeleteDo any of you remember Mick Peirce. He was a good friend of mine and used to describe being beaten by the brothers? Not sure if it was st Gerard’s though it may have been the other catholic school?
ReplyDeleteI was at St. Gerrards from 1960 until 1964 when I left on my 15th birthday as you were then allowed. My brother attended clapham college on the west side of the common from 1961 until 1966 and was taught by the brothers which I think Bob is refering to. James 'Jim' Mallins was a fourth form teacher and also deputy head. He had a fondness for caning at every opportunity and would tell his victims @my room at 4 o'clock, but was so forgetful most of us didn't bother to show up. The other teachers I remember were Elliot, Hughes, Brown, Probert,Blake,Clifford,Mulligan and Trainor. They all liked to whack the kids around a bit which would probably get them in trouble these days but it was customary in a lot of schools at that time and widely accepted. I remember Mondays sports day when we all had to catch the tube to Morden and end up doing cross country through swamps of mud because the ground was waterlogged ( I strongly suspect it was more likely that the teachers could not be bothered to oversee any team games. This seemed vary odd as the school was situated feet from Clapham common. Mixed memories and with the sixties gathering momentum I had to do my thing. Bill Eyers.
ReplyDeleteAnybody remember pupil David Farley, think he probably started in 1958, he was my brother, would be grateful if anyone has school photos with him on it please.
ReplyDeleteHi All,
ReplyDeleteI was in St Gerards only for 3 years in Fisher House as I recall, from 1971 to 1973. My elder brother also attended St Gerards from 1967, in Becket house and finished sixth form shortly before we moved to Ireland.
I remember the 'Cane and Book' and the Slipper - which was a training shoe across the backside - we used to try and pad our trousers with copy book - by the discipline master - Mick Daly(?)
My best friend back then was Eamonn Daly (no relation to Mick) and the annoyance in the class was a guy called Perry (who was a bit like Draco Malfoy' with a protector called Larkin (who was actually a nice guy).
Used to love the tuck shop!
I was in Fisher house and was elected the head of house by the other boys.
DeleteJust remembered the discipine masters name : Coppens!
ReplyDeleteHi all, just seen more posts from the past couple of years . As previously mentioned I run a Facebook group ‘memories of St Gerard’s boys school Clapham’ . We currently have over 140 members from the 1950’s through to the 1970’s with lots of shared memories and photos . Ex pupils always welcome and if you are not on Facebook please contact me here for more information
ReplyDeleteI was a student at St Gerard's from 1963 to maybe 1968 (dates are a little vague) from all the posts above the only name that I recall is Mr Coppens. I do not not use facebook almost as a principle but, I would be OK joining to see if I could catch up with some long lost friends. Any info would be appreciated.
DeleteCould it be that you are referring to the science teacher called Cooper?
DeleteWould love to hear from my best friend while at St G. His name was Joe Curley and lived in Brixton. Joe's dad was a chef at a top London Hotel.
ReplyDeleteHello I attended St Gerard’s around 1967-74
ReplyDeleteSadly the memories I have of this school are that it was a fairly useless and barbaric place. Relentless corporal punishments and a wofully inadequate education. These points coupled by the low bar of career expectations that was set for pupils does not place the school high on my list as a shining example a successful educational establishment.It was however a classic example of a Vocational Education where we were expected to be plumbers and the like !( there is nothing wrong with crafts but there is is limiting peoples ambitions or abilities) Sadly I feel anyone who moved on to any higher education did so in spite of the School and not because of it.
I recall the Morden playing Field and the cross country running followed by the cold showers. The well equipped woodworking and metalworking studios.
I recall a Mr Cooper? the art teacher who’s desire to spank boys bottoms with such dedication and determination with his slipper -or if you were really lucky -without !! would be questioned in this day and age .
I recall an Irish Gentleman -who would roll into class in a state of inebriation after a liquid breakfast and sleep it off after telling us to “get on with something”
I recall a pupil -mentioned in this blog -being verbally demolished by him in front of the class ,for his dignity he shall remain anonymous – who said to this man “but you are supposed to be teaching us”.
It was not all bad and there was the shining life advice we were given by Mr Price the Deputy Head as he yielded his bamboo cane that we were not being punished for the crime - but for being caught. Words that I have kept close to my heart to this very day .
I remember an 2ndWW Propeller in one of the classrooms and whichever teacher had placed the thing there unfailingly tell us the adage that a man walks into a bar and asks for a Red Port to be told by the barman -sorry sir there is no Red Port left and this has stood me in good stead sailing ever since.
I remember going to purchase a flat in Islington only to have to door opened by an old Form Master “Mr Smith” says I reverting to being his pupil once more . In disbelief and some shock as his memories flood back “Ioannou-your still alive”
Broke my ankle last week so had lots of spare time to look up places from my early years. 60's/70's St Gerard's...Mr Coppens always using the slipper comes to mind along with trips to the "sports ground" in Morden and running the gauntlet past Henry Thornton school to get to Clapham Common to catch the number 37 bus home to Wandsworth. The school wasn't the best but managed to do well in life.
ReplyDeletewhere is mr blake now.I was very concerned about this man
ReplyDeleteDesmon smith was a great teacher who went on to be a successful head
ReplyDeleteThank You and that i have a neat proposal: House Renovation Designer Near Me contractors for home additions near me
ReplyDelete