Memory Lane Memories of SHSB/WHSB

[Crowstone Crevette]

Just been reading all of this. I was at Chalkwell Primary and about 40 of the 46 in the top stream passed their 11 plus and only 4 of the boys went to Southend High and that included me. Didn't want to play rugby. One of the other boys was Andrew Douglas the younger brother of Graeme who went on to play with the Kursaal Flyers and Eddie and the Hot Rods

Graeme Douglas was my Science teacher (Chemistry ?) when I was a first year at Belfairs. He left to join the Kursaal Fliers full time. I didn't realise that he went on to play with Eddie and the Hot Rods. Paul Gray, bass guitarist for The Rods, lived next to my family home in Thames Close, Leigh.

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

As a West Stander, I didn't see Gary there, but I did used to chat with Alastair Sutherland who was a fixture in the West when I was going there with my Dad from the mid-90s onwards. Saw that he sadly passed away at only 57 a few years back.

OMG i played football with him for Collegians. He didn't drive then, so quite often gave him lifts to matches. Thats terrible! At the time he was with Brian (?) Johnson's daughter. Brian was a stalwalt of the Club. Always had a fag rather than a segment of orange at half time!!!

 

[Cultist of Sooty]

Was at SHSB in the early 70's. Our metalwork teacher was, as I recall, an England International at Hockey. He got sent off on one occasion - made us so proud!!

We also had an unofficial rugby team for a year or two, practising at lunchtime and still beat WHSB with a makeshift team (not me - I wasn't good enough to get in the team).

I never played rugby at WHSB. We played bloody hockey all the time. Mr Waters took us for games lessons, and he loved hockey.

I played American football for Southend Sabres youth team, and then switched to rugby after that because Sabres didn't have a senior team at the time.

I knew so little about rugby when I first started that I had to have basic stuff explained to me during my first game. Like that you needed to touch the ball down to the ground to score a try.

 

[barton west]

They made us play hockey when I was there, and I HATE hockey with a passion!

And it's all your fault?

From Hell's heart I stab at thee!


And I don't think that's an over-reaction at all. ;)

Unintended consequences.
My ‘umble apologies, Sooty.

 

[Blue Yonder]

Mr Brooking was desperate for us to play rugby - couldn’t stand the sport. Mr Strickland was the hockey enthusiast.

I think the England International hockey player was called French (John maybe ?).

 

[Zeuss]

Was at SHSB in the early 70's. Our metalwork teacher was, as I recall, an England International at Hockey. He got sent off on one occasion - made us so proud!!

We also had an unofficial rugby team for a year or two, practising at lunchtime and still beat WHSB with a makeshift team (not me - I wasn't good enough to get in the team).

Back in my day(60’s), “Bunny” Fretton was the hockey fanatic — whenever a regular got left out of the school football team years 1 to 3,he’d pester them to play in the junior hockey team. It happened to me …..no chance !

 

[Eighties Blue]

I think the England International hockey player was called French (John maybe ?).

We all referred to him as 'Johnny' French.

 

[Bar na bas]

I think the England International hockey player was called French (John maybe ?).

It was indeed John French. He had two major honours in 1972. Marking my first year metalwork assignments and representing Great Britain at the Summer Olympics. Neither ended in glory, sadly… GB finished sixth and the less said about my metalwork, the better.

John French (field hockey) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Home - The Hockey Museum

hockeymuseum.net

Funny the levels of nostalgia prompted by any mention of Southend High School for Boys… Garry Nelson was in the year below me, incidentally..

 

[wakes123]

Yeah Gaz was my teacher for economics. Haven’t seen him for ages.

I went to SHSB 2000 - 2007 and both Mr Cornall and Mr Sutherland were still there. Mr Cornall was a bit of a legend.

 

[Barry.C]

Metalwork teachers were the strangest breed. One liked to tie a metal brush to the end of a 3 foot metal bending ruler to bash you with it. It kind of hummed in the air, like a boomerang swishing, at one time I imagined he whistled tie me kangaroo down at the same time

Those were the days, I think times have changed a bit now

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Was at SHSB in the early 70's. Our metalwork teacher was, as I recall, an England International at Hockey. He got sent off on one occasion - made us so proud!!

We also had an unofficial rugby team for a year or two, practising at lunchtime and still beat WHSB with a makeshift team (not me - I wasn't good enough to get in the team).

In my year , 71 start, we had Brian Kreyling, uncle of the consortium Kreyling.
Year 72 start had Garry Nelson.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Funny the levels of nostalgia prompted by any mention of Southend High School for Boys… Garry Nelson was in the year below me, incidentally..

Blimey, we were in same year! I was Tuscan and B streamer.

Headmaster Eddie's son, John was our year at Westcliff and a good mate.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

I was one of a number of rebels who absolutely refused to play rugby. We simply didn’t fancy facing a horde (fifteen) of heathens bearing down on us trying to kill us. The rebellion spread and the Camp was forced to introduce hockey, which, though a poor substitute for football, I was happy to play. My ankles are still bruised.

Fortunately,when I got to WHS (in the 6th form) rugby was no longer compulsory so I could play football,Only ever played one game of rugby in my life at EHS (when the games master decided we should.Dunno why).

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Mr Brooking was desperate for us to play rugby - couldn’t stand the sport. Mr Strickland was the hockey enthusiast.

I was talking with John Strickland last week at the newsagent, Cookcoo Corner. He is in his early 80s but very well for it, still playing 18 holes of golf regularly.

 

[Cockle43]

Did you ever have Gary Cornall as a teacher? Taught Economics and Politics.
I saw him often in the East Stand bar at half time but haven’t seen him for the last couple of years.
Think he may have retired so not sure if he left the area. Or stopped going as it was dire - always that possibility!

Gary Cornall retired at end of Summer term 2022.
Now regularly found in a corner at the Golden Lion at Rochford with a pint and a good book. Passed time of day with him this afternoon.
Nice chap, he taught both of my sons at SHSB.