WAITING FOR YOUR STORIES

We stumbled out of bed into our dressing gowns and tumbled out of the dorm. to stare aghast at the old hall blazing away. Even from that distance at Roding House we could feel the heat on that cool clear night. Tom Gardner, Dick Newman and Mr. Wheeler shepherded us all to the new Gym where the excitement was virtually uncontrollable as we crammed around the open fire-escape door to the right of the stage to get a view of that incredible spectacle.

I still have some amazing photographs of that night but they are in my parents attic in West Sussex and I'm based in Johannesburg.

I remember Brian "Whiff" Freer very well. Do you remember on Wednesday evenings we were allowed to listen to the gramophone play the one-or-two records we managed to club together and buy for the house? We could listen to Telstar and Little Eva's Do The Locomotion and that was it!

Sometimes Whiff would read a story to us. Do you remember how fit he was? He could jump up, spin around and land sitting on a top bunk from a standing position with the greatest of ease. Do you remember Flag Night!!!

Loved all your nostalgia, it brings back so many wonderful memories of my days at Elmbridge.

I especially remember being out of bounds on a regular basis during Sunday morning church. Le Shirley was out on the prowl and I think he saw me down by the canal. I flew across that canal and dived into a hedge in the field on the other side. "Leash" came very close to my position, I felt certain he would hear my heart that was pounding away.... I could hear it quite clearly!! However, he just turned around and walked away. I couldn't believe my luck.

The climb a tree idea worked well for me as too. Escaping the older boys by hiding in a tree was particularly rewarding, they would be scrabbling around below cursing my ability to vanish into thin air. The down-side of this skill was that it made them even more determined to beat me up when they were eventually able to trap me.

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Roger Bradley Remembers

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Yes, I do have fond memories of Elmbridge including those infamous April Fools Day pranks. Such as;

Moving all the Masters Dining Room contents onto the lawn outside before breakfast, Placing the "To The Library" sign ontop of the Gym roof and Moving the Young Farmer Club - Masters landrover precariously over the school swimming pool (on planks)

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Roger Francis Remembers

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I am an Essex boy through and through - which seems rather odd when you consider my first few months of life were spent in Kettering! (My mother was evacuated to the town in Northamptonshire in '41.)

I attended Elmbridge for two years, leaving in 1955 after passing the 13 plus. I am sorry to tell you this, but my last term was spent in Roding Dorm - bunk sharing with Dicker. My "house" was Scott (colour yellow if I remember correctly), the "house" that never appeared to win anything.

Remember having to write home every Sunday evening? It was considered by the school, our duty to compose some form of correspondance to our parents. The letters were "inspected" by the masters under the guise of checking the grammar and spelling etc. We all believed that it was for some other purpose - to ensure that we were not complaining or moaning about our situation!

After all, we were sure that NCC stood for Nazi Concentration Camp!! The bulletins were handed out once a month to be sent home with our letters.

Like you I have very fond memories of that period in my life - remember Auket and Barrett the Fairlop dormitory prefects? They were allowed to give us the slipper if (in their eyes) we misbehaved and, adding insult to injury, they used our slippers! You may also recall that when they left school Watson and Contantine took their place.

I lost contact with all my old Elmbridge school pals shortly after I left in '55. Something I soon regreted.

My career, following my move to the grammar school (Dagenham County High), was scholastically unspectacular although I did manage a collection of "O" and "A" level passes. On the sport front I was far more successful and - apart from the usual school football and cricket selections - represented Essex at four successive Inter-Counties Athletic Championships. (Captain of the team in 1959.)

On leaving school, in 1960, I joined Ordnance Survey as a trainee surveyor and apart from a 3 year stint abroad, with an oil exploration company (1966 - 69), have I have remained with the Department to the present day. (I retire in September this year.) I have managed to reach the dizzy heights of middle management!! Forty years in four lines!

My work for Ordnance Survey has kept me travelling about much of the Country, but mainly concentrated in the South East and South Midlands of England. For last fifteen years, however, my home has been in a small village in North Buckinghamshire - Nash.

My job is in a fairly high tech industry, with each of my surveyors handling data on numerous types of computers. The survey industry has changed considerably over the last decade or so! I do, however, emphasise the fact that I manage the people, not the equipment!! (This is my way of saying that my skills are somewhat limited in the world of computers compared with many, but I have been working with them since 1969.) My wife considers herself to be a "PC Widow" in bad weather and a "Garden Widow" when the climate is a little more friendly.

My contact with Ilford ended almost 40 years ago when nagging injuries stopped my "career" in athletics - I was a member of Ilford AC. The injuries were my own fault, I preferred the socialising to the training! (Didn't we all?)

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JOHN SAVAGE A TIME TRIP FROM THERE TO HERE

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1956

When I left Elmbridge at the age of 15, I went to work at Plessey's in Ilford. This job lasted about a year, during this time I came to realise that an electronic career was not for me. My next destination was the North Thames Gas Board, as a service technician, which I found much more to my liking. Because I was born in December 1940 this made me eligible as one of the last group of boys to be called up for National Service, well if I was going into the forces then maybe I should sign up for the R.A.F and make that a career choice, my friend Tony Newham had already done this. It was at this point that my parents informed me that they were considering emigrating to Canada and would I hold back on making any firm decisions till they could discuss this with me. Well after a lot of discussion it was decided we would all apply to emigrate to Canada.

1958

I arrived in Toronto Canada in July 1958, I was interviewed for a job as a Steamfitter apprentice and started work in August, with Comstock International a heating, air conditioning and process piping company, I worked with them for 28 years then left in 1986 to take up a position with the Royal Bank at a data center as an opperations and maintenance technician. In 1999 the bank sold all its property and I stayed with the new owners at the same location.

1965

I was married to Beverley in May 1965 and our son Jeff was born May 1967 followed in 1976 by our daughter Jennifer. We purchased our first house in 1972 in Scarborough, one of the suburbs of Toronto. In 1992 we sold the house and bought a 50 acre farm north west of Kitchener Ontario.

2005

We sold the Farm and bought a house in town (Palmerston). In February I retired and am enjoying my hobies. (Model Trains HO)

This is a very brief description of what has happened to me since leaving school.

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ROGER BRADLEY A TIME TRIP FROM THERE TO HERE

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John, after arriving in Adelaide, South Australia in June ’65 (15 years old) I started work as an office boy for Commercial Union Insurance Company. In June 1969 I received my call-up papers for National Service and served two years in Sydney with an Army Aviation posting (light planes and choppers)

This was all during the Vietnam Campaign but fortunately I did not have to do service overseas. I was very lucky with my posting and was promoted to Corporal before being discharged in April 1972, when I returned to my old job in the Insurance Industry.

After doing 22 years service with underwriters I took the plunge and joined a local insurance broker in 1987 as a Commercial Manager. To cut short a long story I now own that Insurance Brokerage which employs nine people

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PETER MURNANE WRITES

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I have just visited your web site for the first time and it has brought back many fond memories. I was at Elmbridge from 1953 to 1956. I enclose a copy of School Bulletin # 46 to add to your collection but this appears to be at least one page short. I have all other bulletins through to # 55. I also have all my school reports which make interseting reading.

I too was in the scouts and remember taking over the air raid shelters just as you described.

Did you ever belong to the Young Farmers Club? I remember being on Pig Swill cooking duty which was a great job on a cold winter afternoon. We collected the waste food from the back of the Kitchens and took it back to the farm where there was a shed(?) with a wood fired boiler which we sat round and made toast and baked spuds with items we retrieved from the pigs food. Oh happy days.

I also remember that my first real estate transaction was to buy one of the "Camps" for ten shillings. A lot of money in those days. As you look down the field with the canal on your left it was th camp dug out well to the right under a hawthorn bush.

Incidentally I was on the trip to London Airport which you described. I remember it well and still think about it having now travelled many thousands of miles by air all over the world mainly on business but often for pleasure.

I have been living in Australia since 1985 but have been fortunate to get back to the Auld Dart at least once a year.

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GRAHAM RADFORD WRITES

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I was at Elmbridge in the early mid fifties and went in to abbey then I think forrest. My close friends were Roger Little, Garth Almond, Terry Summers, Malcolm Simmons, Robin Went etc. I think it is exactly 50 years ago this year and your name rings a bell but I can't place you. I live in Kingston Ontario with my son, I am single and have two more married sons and 5 grandchildren. Unfortunately I had to retire from teaching as I am terminally ill with an inoperable heart condition that keeps me house bound a lot of the time, but I do spend the winters in England and in Spain next winter if all goes well. I used to be a great fan of the cross country runs and came in in the first few usually and was under 14 hockey captain. I hated Bert Blowers as I found him to be a bully and liked Lisper, Nipper and the rest were ok. I was in an art class once when tony Hughes I think his name was gave Boston that was the art teachers nickname a good fight as he kept picking on him it was quite a show and Tony got expelled. I used to go down to Brighton with some of the lads instead of going home for the short break and even stayed out all night at a girl friends farm who I got to know through the young farmers club. Well as you well know there are many stories and the time served me well, I hope the photograph did not scare you too much it will be hard to get a likeness after all this time ,I do not have any from that era.

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Mesage from Adrian Sebborn

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Hi John,

For anybody who wishes to know. I was at Elmbridge from 1965-1970. I was in Abbey and a prefect in my last year. From there I went on to Palmer's College in Grays and from there to Westminster College, Oxford. There I met an American girl, Jane, who was over on an exchange program. We were married shortly after I graduated. I've lived in the USA since then. Although I live in Williamstown, Massachusetts, I teach computer programming and networking in Bennington, Vermont.

My younger brother, Philip, (Abbey, 1969-74) is living in Mayland.

Please feel free to provide or publish my email address for anyone who wants it.

adrian@adelphia.net

Thanks,
Adrian

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Mesage from Paul Beale

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I came across your web site recently, searching for information on the Old Boys Association. My name is Paul Beale I attended Elmbridge at Fyfield from 1980 to 1985. I was in Fairlop House our head teacher was Roger Cryer.

When I left Elmbridge I immediately began employment as a trainee general insurance broker, after 2 years moved onto London working for a larger brokerage for another 2 years. I then moved over to the Life, Pensions and Investment business working for a leading UK insurance company as a Financial Advisor.

January '93 I left the UK to work for an International Financial Planning Brokerage, opening a new office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates as an Offshore Financial Planner; my 2 years in Dubai were measured with much success as the top sales consultant for the Middle East and 3rd Worldwide.

Feb 95 I left Dubai and moved to Jakarta, Indonesia working for another Company. After one year, I decided to establish my own brokerage, with my head office in Jakarta, Indonesia. Here in Jakarta I met my wife in 1996, we were engaged in 1997 and married July 1998. Our first daughter; Vanessa was born in Sept 1999, and second daughter Vivian born on 13th Feb 03 (just three days old as I write this email). My wife and I own our Company Global Management Services, we provide Independent Financial Advice exclusively for expatriates and high net worth international investors. I can honestly say that my days at Elmbridge will never be forgotten and especially those friends in my classes during those five wonderful years.

I truly believe that Elmbridge gave me the foundation to success; as I learnt to stand on my own feet, fight for what I wanted, and learn to cope under enormous pressure. Despite leaving with only two O'levels and 8 CSE's I plan to retire at the age of 40, at which time I will immigrate to Australia. Occasionally I visit the UK and would welcome emails from my old mates at school. Please send me your emails to

pabeale@attglobal.net

Lastly Elmbridge Fyfield & Cranley is listed on the following webpage: www.OldSchoolMates.co.uk - here you can also find some of our former friends. Regards Paul Beale, Jakarta, Indonesia, 15th February 03.

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Mesage from Douglas Tamplin

It was through a chance meeting with another founder pupil Dick Johnson about a month ago that prompted us to pursue the matter of Elmbridge Camp School. Over the years I have often wondered what had become of other lads who were at the School with me. I am terrible at remembering names,faces I am not too bad with, but names that is something else!

I believe Dick has already been in touch with you and sent compilation of his memories, I'm afraid my grey matter does not extend to fine detail and the attachment I have sent leaves a lot of gaps in a near 2 year 'internment' at the school.

I remember 'scrumping' apples from the orchard to the right of the school gates going out, they were the biggest apples I had ever seen! Then there was the canal where in the beginning we had a crafty swim plus the ropes from the trees where we used to swing across the canal.

Many things I should remember I suppose have just gone for once I took the Civil Service Exam in 1943 and then passed it I went into the Royal Navy, did my apprenticeship for Shipwright Artificer everything before became a blur! I was in the Navy until? the end of 1957 when I joined Gestetner Duplicators Ltd until I retired in 1987. So there you have most? of my life's story in a nutshell---hope I haven't bored you!

All the best, Doug

See Dougs Memories and photos on the "Doug Tamplins Memories" page

Click here for Dougs Memories

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Colin James 1948 to 1950 Remembers

Hello John Thanks for your message. Yes I suppose there was a hint of chief guard about Mr Day - I seem to remember he had quite an austere look about him. I don't think I've any photographs, but, somewhere, I have a couple of old papers - perhaps about the Pioneers and maybe a soccer fixture list. If I can find them I'll send you copies.

As far as stories go there is one that immediately springs to mind. You will no doubt recall 'the marsh', that bit of low lying land at the bottom of the playing field and next to the canal? Well beyond that was a farm field and one year the farmer grew turnips. When he came to harvest them there was a noticeable lack of roots for several yards into the field beyond the school boundary! I'm not suggesting, of course, that we were undernourished, but I and many others regularly raided the field to supplement our diet! We must have been seen because the riot act being was read at an assembly and all points beyond the school boundaries were put strictly out of bounds! I have the distinct impression that the teaching staff thought it a bit of a hoot, but of course they followed the party line. No doubt some compensation had to be paid. I can remember eating those sweet young turnips; though I wonder how we cleaned them. Perhaps peeled with a penknife or washed in the canal or stream What price now re food hygiene and health & safety !

Regards

Colin James

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Message from Stephen Sparrow

I left Elmbridge in 1977 and studied mechanical engineering at Colchester Tech. Had a couple of casual jobs then re trained as a car mechanic. Moved to Chelmsford looking for work in the early '80s and employed by large main dealer. Married Mandy in 1986 and had two children - Joanne and Daniel. Left the motor trade in 1987 and joined Marconi Research as a engineering technician, eventually becoming a supervisor of the Optical Research production areas. Made redundant in 1999, and started a successful Painting and Decorating business which allows Mandy and I plenty of leisure time for sailing on the east coast and travelling.

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Mesage from Mike Oxborough

What a pleasant surprise to hear from you so soon after my message. The world is so small now with technology as it is.

The story of my days at Elmbridge are pretty vague, certainly of the many friends I made at the time. It was in 1946 that I came to be there, although I have no idea of how I came to be chosen. I am the 7th child from a family of 10 children I do remember though that going there with me from Harwich was another lad by the name of Ivan Farthing, but he and I didn't keep in touch after leaving there.He is with me on the Photograph which I sent to the Elmbridge website several years ago. If you look at the picture I am extreme right front row with Ivan sitting next to me

There are a few memories that stick out in my mind, one in particular was when myself and another lad, probably on a saturday afternoon and out for a bit of fun, setting fire to some bushes and gorse and trying desperately to extingish them by filling our plimsolls with water from the canal which was of course impossible. We panicked and ran back to Elmbridge and watched it from a distance, petrified. Thankfully there was no repercussions and we remained unpunished. The Long term outcome of this is that I in my later years and for my sins, spent almost 32 years in the retained fire service in Suffolk retiring in 1990. and from my full time employment as a Printing engineer in 1995.

Regarding your interest in the surname Oxborough. There are numerous ways of spelling it but they aren't all direct descendents. Incidently there is a village in west Norfolk around 40 miles from here spelt in the same way as mine but it has a magnificent moated house named Oxburgh Hall which is owned by the National Trust. We have of course visited it and I have had great pleasure in signing the visitors book! The name itself it not uncommon in this area.

There are obviously more reminisences but not on the academic side I'm afraid. After taking my 11 plus at Elmbridge in 1948 and leaving I then studied for a while at Colchester Technical Institute before leaving the area for Beccles

Mike is in the front row extreme right of the picture

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Mesage from Steve Reynolds

1957-1962

Did not know that this web site existed until recently, and what a mind jerker.

Just a quick history of me and what I have been up to over the last few years, 47 to be exact. As a good Elmbridge Boy I maintained the adventurism in my life, firstly I met a girl as soon as I left Elmbridge, who also loved adventure. We married and had two children Heidi and Craig. I worked in F.W Woolworth as a trainee Manager until June1971. On my promotion as deputy manager Basildon Essex, I announced that I was emigrating to New Zealand to go Farming. It had always been a ambition of mine to be a Farmer, and now the opportunity had arisen I had to take up the offer, work, lease and own the Sheep property named “ Arotai ” .Maori for “ Distance Views”

What an adventure, Ingrid and I worked Arotai and during most of the week I went shearing Sheep, which I did for 5 years. During this time Ingrid trained as A.B. Tech. and became the best in the district. So we had become a 100% rural N.Z. family.

Due to my knowledge and acceptance as a Local N.Z. Farmer I was asked and became a local Stock and Station Agent working for the area Co-op (F.C.D.C. Farmer Co-op Distributing Company) and I still had the Farm. By this time the farm had diversified into Cattle and Crops. It was the cropping side of the industry that I tended to go down, and in 1979 I was asked to join Dupont N.Z (Bio Chem. Division) as a Technical Marketing agent for the lower half of New Zealand North Island.

In 1982 I accepted a transfer with Dupont to Australia, based in Victoria .We had by then an addition to the family, a son Dane. With my N.Z. connections I left Dupont and became the Sales / Marketing manager for a new N.Z animal health company (Nutratech Australia P.L .) This was an assignment to start a new company in Australia which gave me the opportunity to travel Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands using my knowledge in Agriculture. Apart from Sailing I developed a passion for Scuba Diving and went diving when ever I travelled.

As in most cases your sport turns into a life style and work, with my new found interest the family moved to North Queensland and opened a Back Packers and Dive Lodge ( TRUE BLUE DIVE AND BACK PACKERS ). Most of the time I was on the water driving boats. The family by then were getting married and headed for the mining industry. Western Australia seemed to be the place to go and in 1999 Ingrid, Dane and I went to WA. By now I had considerable marine qualifications and in WA I have taken up Training and Assessing the public for their boating Licenses. This is working for the W.A dept. Marine Safety (D.P.I)

I am semi retired, an open heart operation has slowed me down a bit but I am still assessing.I have 7 Grand Children and the oldest now are in the Mining Industry.

Being and old Essex boy that went to Elmbridge, my life has never been boring and by the way this is a brief out line of my life so far, it would take too long to fill in all the Gaps.

If there are some old school mates that would like to get in touch Email arotai@iinet .net.an or write to Steve Reynolds, 1a Carrabeen Place, Halls Head, MANDURAH, W.A 6210

I am on the far right next to me Ray Silk , in the Blue Swetter is Chris Harbridge and behind him with his hand on Chris's shoulder is Green wood. By the way we all ended up in the School Football Team 1962 of which I Captained. Regards

Steve Reynolds

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