Dartford West Boys School

I too went to Dartford West between !965 and 1970 and remember Mr. Palmer and Mr Holloway. I also remember Mr Breeze, Mr Preston and Mr Hart. Brilliant times and memories

I was there between 1964 and 1969. I remember Hart and Holloway. My form teacher was Derek Cannon, got sacked for embezzling money from the school holidays. Classmates were Geoffrey Skipper, Peter Burns, Peter Jackson, Paul Tiny, Robin ?, Jeffrey Archer (memorable 4 wacks of slipper which Cannon had difficulty delivering), Dave Richardson? (parents lived at lunatic asylum, used to ride his motorbike around the grounds)... Mixed memories of this school.

My name is Roger Dow by the way. Rd@psylab.com.

Other boys Robert Kemp, Richard Lane, Paul ? (named rubberneck by Burns, got caned on first day of first year for cutting across the field to get to school) Robin Archer (not Jeffrey).

Oh and Davis, French teacher, acting headmaster for most of the time I was there.

I was there for just over a year after the Grammar School decide they didn't like me very much but remember it very well. This was around 1974 and I was in Barry Palmer's class. He was certainly a character and we had plants all around the classroom,a fish tank and pirate station Radio North Sea International on the radio,he also pretty much ran the school as the Head was a very quite man not really up to the job of keeping the inmates under control. All kinds of things went on their,much of it criminal, a groundsman called Baz,(with a massive Afro) who Palmer hated,was selling dope. Palmer was obsessed witj boys wearing DMs,which were big at the time,and not wearing ties,which weren't.
Classmates I remember,Pete Baker,Julian Bourne,Malcolm Ellis,Pete McKnight,Mark Bourne , Tom Hicks and the "hippies" Bernie Scott,Steve Pittis,Carl Widdison,Derek Letchford and John Rogers (who did me the favour of putting me off drugs for life at an early age). Palmer's mate who's name I can't remember had the classroom next door and supposedly they used to go to Soho together to sample the nightlife. There was Mr Fagg,who was not the genial bloke he appeared as later events proved,a guy called Sutton known for his baggy trousers,"Abdul" the physics teacher,nice old guy,a lunatic Frenchman call Mr Leonard and a manic art teacher whose name again escapes me (it was nearly 50 years ago). Others I knew in different classes,Kim Outram who enjoyed success as a cartoonist and his pornographic Disney pictures,Tel Groombridge,Gareth Hughes,Anthony Grantham, Rob Leach,school bad boy and Palmer's nemesis who oddly later became an art teacher at the same school,Bill Bentley and his little mate,name forgotten again. Paul Catt ,Roger Tandy and Glen Cotteril,who was a big car enthusiast.A rough old school at the time but the lads were more feisty than bad ,the funniest bit looking back is that for reasons best known to themselves some poor soul had the job pf teaching a bunch or totally uninterested borderline feral kids double-entry book-keeping ,I doubt many accountants ever learned their trade there.

I think Davis was Headmaster when I was there,he threatened to kick me out about 3 months after I got there after being expelled from the Grammar School. Fred Holness was Deputy Head at that time.

Philip Paul, Robin Archer.

Philip Paul, Robin Archer.

I went to Dartford West from 1968 until 1973 before going on to Dartford Grammar. This was necessary as, at the time, I wanted to take "A" levels. However, the move was not a happy one and I only stayed at the Grammar for about six months! Actually, I always regarded the West as far, far superior! Whereas at the Grammar the teaching was lazy and indifferent, the West's teachers worked incredibly hard and seemed to have a real love for their profession and a real desire to encourage the boys. I fondly remember staying on most evenings until quite late as there were just SO many clubs and extra things to do! Dave Blendell (above - sorry, but I don't recall you) remembers the physics teacher "Abdul" nee Mr. Gordan Laurence. Years later, I was still in touch with this lovely man who also run the Science Club and Scripture Union out of hours. Mr. Laurence came to my old dad's funeral and sat with my wife and I afterwards. In a strange way, he helped me through this difficult day. Mr.Lawrence passed away himself on 24 January, 2002. Another teacher with whom I kept loosely in touch was my old Form Master during the Fifth Form, English Master Mr. "Morry" Morison. I can still remember his lesson on the difference between "will" and "shall". He must now have long passed away and be turning in his grave at the standard of English employed by me in this comment! I also remember Mr. "Lenny" Leonard. He went out to the car park most lunchtimes and used to clean his mustard-coloured Rover 2000 with his handkerchief!! I suppose that this is all the "stuff" which I missed so badly at the Grammar.

I was there 64 till 69, Remember a lot of you guys. Bob Kemp, Paul "tich" Tiny, Robin Archer, John Vickery, Micky Ellis, John Allen, Geof Eades, John Hindmarsh, Pete Burns, Mick White?
Anyone remember trips to Leysin in Switzerland and Lake Garda in Italy?
Im living in Perth Western Australia since 1996.
Regards to you all, thanks for the memories, Mark Stevens.

I was at Dartford West from '64/'68. Mr Hart was my form teacher. I remember Mr Appleby was Geography, Mr Cannon, History. I usually fell asleep in his boring lessons and had anything from chalk, slipper, board rubber thrown at me. I liked Mr Palmer but can't remember what he took. Mr Cross (aptly named) P.E. Mr Marcheant was Maths teacher and a very angry, aggressive man who hit me from behind in class, knocking me clear out of me seat crashing into my desk that went over. Horrible man, he retired thank goodness.. Mr Holness never took me but was strict as I recall. Mr Davis was old guard type head who wore a black cape and mortar board and always had his cane in hand at assembly. Mates in my class were Ray (Grass) DeGrussa, Nigel (dougal) Taylor, Mark (Budda) Williams, Denis Thomsett, Bobby Stevens and others who I sadly can't recall now. Made life long friend in Pat Sadler, who now lives in Upstate New York, USA. I went back to Dartford recently (2019). DWSS has gone now which I found to be quite sad, even though my school days were not the best of my life, substantial, indelible memories of school. Interestingly, the Girls school ( a mirror of the boys' ) is still there but not a school as such but an educational establishment of some kind. Good days? No not at all. Memorable? Definitely.

Hey it's Mark Bourne here, who is this please ? Mr Stacey was Palmers mate, he had the classroom behind ours. Remember Palmers wheel of misfortune ? Happy days.

Hi Mark,I remember you well.It was certainly a crazy place,hard to believe it was so long ago. I don't think many of the teachers would be allowed anywhere near kids these days,I'm sure a lot of them were there because no other school would take them. I remember Barry Palmer reading Lord of the Flies and doing all the voices,he was certainly passionate...as well as being unhinged. I remember him charging down the passageways screaming "YOU LADDIE" because he'd spotted someone not wearing a tie,quite a sight when he was in full flow as he was a good few stone overweight.

I'm sure I remember you Stuart,weren't you a mate of Gareth Hughes?
I agree with you about the teachers, I loved learning until I got to the Grammar where it was "sit down,shut up and read what's on the board". Maybe just me as it was and is a very successful school and a lot of my old classmates from there did very well for themselves but I hated it from day 1.

I'm sure you were part of the "packed lunch crew" Stuart,Barry Palmer used to tell us we were "weak" for not having school dinners,he might have had a point,if you could survive those you were some kind of hero.

I seem to remember that you sat next to Simon Gaughan Mark right in front of Palmer's desk. I was in touch with Carl Widdison when Friends Reunited was a thing and was surprised to learn that he had a long career in the Police,I'd never have seen that one coming. I remember a lad called Robert Dick who had a hard time as his ambition was to join the police. I remember Tom Hicks and his little mate David Evans,chalk and cheese but both nice lads. I've been all over the place since my brief spell at Dartford West but never forgot it,wasn't a great time in my life but good memories of the people I (briefly) knew at that school. Tom Hazelwood was another great lad,Dumbo Brittan,big Rob Lawrence nearly battered me once,not a good idea to call him what I did,even if I was only joking ;-) Crazy times but good times.

I remember the shout of "Bundle" when a fight kicked off,usually at the top of the field as far away from any Teachers as possible but they invariably broke it up/ There was a P.E. teacher who was a good guy,would tell lads to put some gloves on and sort it out in the gym with him keeping an eye on it,but I don't think anyone did. There was "the Singh club" which was basically all the Indian lads sitting in a circle at break time ,not that they ever got any hassle. I remember Dilraj Singh always wearing a smart suit and revealing to the guys in Business Studies,yes at West, that he was 21,we were all 13 or 14 at the time,not sure how that worked but he always seemed much older and that was the answer when someone eventually asked.Nice enough guy but the only Asian guy who really mixed was Roger Tandy. Anyone who had an older brother there was automatically "Mini" rather than their first name.

Hey Dave, Simon Gaughan, thats a name I havent heard for 50 years ! Yes right in front of Barry bless him. Great, passionate teacher, went on a few school holidays with him, always enjoyed them, knew where you stood with him. Few more names, Kimmy Outram, Ian Harle, Bob Leach, Graham Kelly ( mate of Tom Hazelwood ) Philip Kestrell, Gurmit Singh ? What you up to now mate ? Mark.

Hi Mark,remember all of those except Gurmit Singh,I remember Dilraj but not him.
Just sent you a message,which I hope you'll get,if you haven't had an e-mail notification click on "My Account" at the top of the page and you should see it. Great memories indeed.
I've only passed through Dartford once since I left,been around a bit but lived in Plymouth,Barry Palmer's home town,for the last 30 years. I remember our classroom,plants,a fish tank,pictures and he'd play the pirate radio station Radio North Sea International in class which he seemed fascinated with.

Tom Hart was my father. He was a pupil at Dartford West in its very early days, when Mr Shoesmith was Headmaster, but after a few months he transferred to the Grammar School. Before World War 2, he was training to be an optician, but after war service, he trained for teaching on the Emergency Scheme and then taught at Dartford West until he retired, ending up as Deputy Head. As Head of Maths he was very successful in teaching the top set for O level: one of his students, Keith Hedger, later became a school Inspector for Maths. My father was also very committed to schoolboy football and cricket, running teams in his younger days and being involved in North Kent regional competitions until his retirement. My parents retired to Bexhill in about 1982 and my father died there about ten years later. If it had not been for the need for many additional teachers following the 1944 Education Act, no one would have spotted my father as a potential teacher, but in fact he was a born teacher and really fell into his element.

Frank Bass I (Roger Dow) was also there 64-69 but only vaguely recall you? Reece was head when we arrived but Davis took over because he got ill? They both certainly believed in corporal punishment, in French I seem to remember Davis lining us up for 3 whacks if we had 3 or more mistakes in vocabulary homework each lesson. I've always been fairly good at French for some reason! I remember Peter Burns, Jeff Skipper, Paul Tiny, Philip Paul, Richard Lane, Jeffrey Archer, Peter Jackson, ?Allen...

Mark Stevens I (Roger Dow) do remember the trip to one of those places you mention, I thought it was Lugano or something like that? With Derek Cannon and presumably someone else? You were good at football?
There's a new site schoolmates dot Co dot UK that might be a better place for these kind of memories?

Yes, I think that you really DO remember me, Dave Blendell! I am sorry that it has taken me so long to respond. I forgot about this site until someone else very kindly messaged me through it earlier today! I was indeed a friend of Gareth Hughes. I lost touch with him, which is a shame as he was such a gentle and pleasant person. And, yes, I did bring in a packed lunch every day and share your recollections of Barry Palmer's comments about this!

I was there from 74 - 79, had a great time ! Old Baz Palmer and Woody the English teacher was still going strong. John Bogg in music and Brian Fagg .
By the way does anyone remember wha exam board we used ?
Mark Carter

I went to Dartford West between 1964 and 1969. Was in Derek Cannon's class most of that time. My class mates were Geoffrey Skipper, Peter Burns, Peter Jackson, Paul Tiny, Robin Archer, Roger Dow among others. Mr Palmer, Hart, Morrison among others were excellent teachers. I remember Mike Breeze photography club and a morning out to Farningham on our bicycles. Also our school trip to Lugano (mentioned by Roger I think)

Mark, I think we were in the same form.
Our form teacher would spent his weekends camped outside Cinemas in London pleading with people not to watch The Exorcist. Was his name Bacon ?
I can olny remember your name, Barry Clark & Dale Varty.
All the best.
Andrew Chapman

Had a brilliant time 78-83.Barry Palmer total legend. bacon I remember him steered well clear and the pe teachers grittan and one other deviant, ginger bloke. Fagg was my form teacher. Oops. Room 4 saved my life. Cheers Barry! Extraordinary teacher. Should be given an knighthood.

I was at Dartford West from 1972 to 1978. Michael Rhyne was my form teacher all the way through. I remember Barry Palmer well. He was an interesting character - great teacher. I also remember well Tom Hart, John Bogg, Colin Davies, Brian Fagg, Mr. Stone, Tucker (the woodwork master), Miss Goodenough (Religious Education), Andy Gritten and Mr. Holbourn (Technical Drawing who also ran the chess club). Holiness was Headmaster (or deputy) in my first year, then T. P. O‘Neil. They all made a big difference in my life, particularly Rhyne, Palmer, Hart, Holbourn and Bogg. I would love to know what happened to any of them. Among those in my class were Andrew Lunn, Collin Ashcroft, and Chris Wallis.

I was at Dartford west for the first and second year from1970 to 1972. Teachers l remember was mr huchins, mr white, mr hart, mr martin,mr holness. Mr fagg, mr tucker, mr palmer, mr izac the arts teacher. Mr lawrence science.mr porter sports. And mr sutton history. My time there remembers the bullying from the teachers. Mr davis was the head master at the time. Mr tucker and mr lawrence were always good to me as well as mr izac. But the sports teacher also taught english. There was a guy called mr marchent.you dare not cross him, he would grab you by the throat and pin you to the wall.

I was at Dartford west for the first and second year from1970 to 1972. Teachers l remember was mr huchins, mr white, mr hart, mr martin,mr holness. Mr fagg, mr tucker, mr palmer, mr izac the arts teacher. Mr lawrence science.mr porter sports. And mr sutton history. My time there remembers the bullying from the teachers. Mr davis was the head master at the time. Mr tucker and mr lawrence were always good to me as well as mr izac. But the sports teacher also taught english. There was a guy called mr marchent.you dare not cross him, he would grab you by the throat and pin you to the wall.