Braintree County High School
I own a picture of the students of BCHS taken in 1947. Such a view has many many names and connections. There is the headmaster Dr. Cordingly [he of the famous stick]. Here is the vicar Hartley Brook's daughter. My old girl friend Shirley, and members of my class including Billy Cranfield, Ron Whittaker, David Woodward, Valerie O'Neill and a crowd of others. There also is "Madame" Elliot who tried in vain to teach me french. I visited the school a couple of years ago to discover to my distress, that it was no more. Perhaps some of those I have named will contact me. I am a physician in Oakland California USA...yes me, the most unruly nuisance of a kid back then...Malcolm Stewart-Morris.
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RE: RE: Braintree County High School
Hi Malcolm,
I too went to BCHS in 1947. I started off in 1F and was then in 2J. The names you mentioned were also in my class but I think it was from 2J onwards. Other names that come to mind are Jeff Elliston, Colin Easter (deceased), Fizzy Foster, Harris, Lois Wood, Delia Trigg, Jill Spink and Katherline Tucker among others. No doubt you remember the Army Cadets with Percy Peasall. I too well remember Dr Cordingly as I received the treatment, much to my father's anger. I would love to see a copy of the school photograph. Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards
Roy Leach
Comment from ROY LEACH on Sunday, 5th July 2009.
RE: RE: Braintree County High School
Just a quick comment to Malcolm:
I also attended Braintree County High School but from 1969 to 1975. During that time it joined with Margaret Tabor Secondary to become the current Tabor High School (a vain sort of attempt at combining elements of the two names!). Although BCHS is no longer in being nor in either of its two main buildings (they are used for other purposes) only the former Margaret Tabor building - in Panfield Lane - is no more. The current school is at what was known as Gipsy Corner (further along Panfield Lane).
I don't know how long he was there for, but when I started I
saw 'Doc' Cordingley.
Comment from Mark Pierson on Saturday, 10th April 2010.
RE: RE: Braintree County High School
As I said in an email to Howard Egglestone who now lives in Devon, I feel that we shared an experience which was almost Victorian. Braintree was still the sleepy little Market Town that it had been when that Monarch reined, and the proximity of the two world wars prevented its evolution [more like devolution] from earlier times. The last time I visited, I bought a book called "Braintree then and now" and was reminded of my vintage by the realization that I was there "then"! I've frequently had a soft spot for Braintree but not as it has become today. Ah well, that's the story of growing older, although I refuse to grow plain "old" - it has a poor last chapter! Cheers, Malcolm S-M.
Comment from Malcolm Stewart-Morris on Tuesday, 19th October 2010.
RE: RE: Braintree County High School
As I said in an email to Howard Egglestone who now lives in Devon, I feel that we shared an experience which was almost Victorian. Braintree was still the sleepy little Market Town that it had been when that Monarch reined, and the proximity of the two world wars prevented its evolution [more like devolution] from earlier times. The last time I visited, I bought a book called "Braintree then and now" and was reminded of my vintage by the realization that I was there "then"! I've frequently had a soft spot for Braintree but not as it has become today. Ah well, that's the story of growing older, although I refuse to grow plain "old" - it has a poor last chapter! Cheers, Malcolm S-M.
Comment from Malcolm Stewart-Morris on Tuesday, 19th October 2010.
RE: RE: Braintree County High School
Roy Leach, my name is Tommy Tucker, I am Kathleen Tucker's elder brother. Kathleen (now Smith)lives in Felixstowe now. I went to the then Panfield Lane Secondary School.
Comment from Thomas Tucker on Thursday, 3rd February 2011.
RE: RE: Braintree County High School
Hello Malcolm, further to our chat on Skype this morning I have looked up the comments resulting from your earlier message which resulted in us finding each other after almost 60 years. I remember Roy Leach who was in our year but another class at BCHS, still have an annual email contact with Andrew Foster (aka Tubby ). Delia Trigg worked with my wife Ann at Bradburys of Lower New Street & Jill Spink married our friend's brother with whom we meet up for a meal on our trips back home from New Zealand. Small world isn't it. Cannot seem to get onto Roy Leach direct so hoping he may see this & forward a reply or possibly a few others.
Comment from Bill Cranfield on Sunday, 6th February 2011.
RE: RE: Braintree County High School
Hi Bill, this is the long way around conversing when we have a more direct route. However, I think I see the wisdom of making the conversation more public, since others of our ilk may see it and join in. If they do, here is a message for them "What ever happened to Ron Whitaker and David Woodward?" these two - both from Witham have vanished from my radar" - sixty years ago in fact! I heard Ron had "passed away" (presumably died, as opposed to being wafted into paradise) some time ago, but David is still MIA - a little help here somebody. Furthermore, since I may be at the Wimbledon fortnight this year, I would love to hear from others of the BCHS and just Braintree crowd who might remember me [or Bill Cranfield or Howard Egglestone of our circle. I used to ring bells at St Micheal's and "Eggle", it happens, became an all England class ringer - we both crossed paths with Lou Wiffen and Ron Suckling in that connection. THERE'S enough to attract some attention to this site. Thanks to the folks at Frith who make it all possible.
Malcolm S-M.
Comment from Malcolm Stewart-Morris on Monday, 7th February 2011.