County High School Dagenham

A Memory of Dagenham.

I was there from 1948-1955. Remember many staff: "Slugger" Watson -brilliant languages teacher, Mr. Day, Mr. Dakin, Mr Shepherd, Mr. Grainger -never got on with him, Mr. Davis, Mr. Pugh, Peter Cork -who I remained in contact with until his death in 2012. I played at his memorial concert in Folkestone. I did A level music with Dudley Moore and we sometimes performed together in concerts, house festivals and at Kingsley Hall. Interesting how many pupils emigrated to Canada, Australia and USA. What a different life they must have found to post-war Dagenham. Dudley went off to Oxford in 1955 and I went to play in Coldstream Guards Band for 3 years before becoming a teacher -music, of course. Now at 81, i still look back and wonder what happened to all the contemps. Charlie Law, Peter Setrem ( he became a languages teacher in Forest Hill), John Whitwell (met up with him,am still in contact. He is retired vicar) Roy Bannister, John Megson, Joan Cowie, Barbara Graver, Mavis Kemp...etc. Brian Astell (Bas)


Added 16 May 2018

#660444

Comments & Feedback

Only just found this I was at DCH from1952 and I remember all those teachers Mr Deakin Mr Pugh when in first year Dudley Moore was head boy(big crush) I had a particular friend Brenda Springall who I would love to contact again my Name is Ann Kitts WAS Snell
I remember Watson too, my first teacher for German. I can remember thinking he looked like an SS officer - the colour of his clothes and strict look, but still a good bloke. Colin Newberry fachfrisch@gmail.com, 1957-1964
Great hear from Old Dagonians.Ann Snell will possibly remember my brothesr Allen or John -we were all together at one time. Slugger was a very good teacher - wonder what he did in the war with his knowledge of languages.He worked for a degree at London university while teaching -I know from experience how tough that is. RIP to all those committed staff.
2020, at 3:56 pm
tony.lake commented:
Tony Lake:
I was at DCHS 1954 - 1960 and most of the teachers mentioned in earlier comments were there.
I joined the school just as my sister was leaving.
Fortunately I have the school photo from 1960 and a couple of other teachers including Mr Buxton - Maths and Spike Hawthorne - Woodwork are also there.
Great school, great teachers, excellent sport facilities and great memories including those of Mr Pugh and his ATC holidays and Mr Cook on his Geography tours.
2020, at 3:56 pm
tony.lake commented:
Tony Lake:
I was at DCHS 1954 - 1960 and most of the teachers mentioned in earlier comments were there.
I joined the school just as my sister was leaving.
Fortunately I have the school photo from 1960 and a couple of other teachers including Mr Buxton - Maths and Spike Hawthorne - Woodwork are also there.
Great school, great teachers, excellent sport facilities and great memories including those of Mr Pugh and his ATC holidays and Mr Cook on his Geography tours.
2020, at 3:56 pm
tony.lake commented:
Tony Lake:
I was at DCHS 1954 - 1960 and most of the teachers mentioned in earlier comments were there.
I joined the school just as my sister was leaving.
Fortunately I have the school photo from 1960 and a couple of other teachers including Mr Buxton - Maths and Spike Hawthorne - Woodwork are also there.
Great school, great teachers, excellent sport facilities and great memories including those of Mr Pugh and his ATC holidays and Mr Cook on his Geography tours.
I was at DCHS from 1958-1965. My immediate buddies were John Buckley, Jim Oates and Ian Woodward. I remember the day of Mr Pugh's funeral as the cortege drove past the school and we all stood outside to pay our respects. Apart from the teachers' names mentioned above, does anyone remember Mr Ranzetta,(Latin) and "Monsieur et Madame" Hinche (French)? My main teacher was Duncan Watson for both German and French. Anecdote: Once a visiting French schoolboy complimented Mr Watson (I never heard the name Slugger!) and asked what he taught - he replied that he was the Maths teacher! :-) The French boy said he spoke good French for a Maths teacher :-) Watson shared that story in class- he was a good bloke.

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