Bexley Lane School

My name is Clive Steer and all my my memories of Alma Road and later Bexley Lane were positive. I think I started at Alma Road in 1956 and remember Peg-leg Jones who took us for music. I also have fond memories of Knacker Clarke. From what I remember he said he was Head master there during the WW2 but remained there in a non-teaching roll. He had been an Officer in the Artillery during WW1 and told hairy stories about going into no-mans land to spot where the shells fell. His subject was science which was also my main interest and he gave me inspiration for experimenting. After a couple of years I went up to Bexley Lane. Mr Law took us for carpentry, Mr Shadwell for RI, Alan Stone for English, Strong-man Carter for PE which I was never interested in. I've still got my school reports for the years at Bexley Lane in class 4G so should check out who my form tutors were. Mr Shadwell was an interesting character who I got to know better as later in life his son and I became friends and I ended up dating his daughter for a couple of years. I recently learned from his son that during WW2 he had served at Bletchley Park. I remember that Dad Law organised boys from Bexley Lane to join girls from Alma road in dancing classes at Alma Road. I found this a good way of meeting girls and we were invited to join them for the Christmas party for the prefects and librarians. For all the dance classes the girls were in school uniform but for the party they all were dressed up in high heels, stockings and flared dresses complete with make up. Mind blowing at that age. I remember Abbey the Head Prefect who had a better car than many of the teachers. Can't think why he wasn't at a Eton or such like. I stayed and worked in the area until 1989 when I moved to Sussex. I enjoyed my time there and it gave me the education I needed to have a successful career in Electronics and I still meet up with old school friend from time to time.

I'm Christopher (Chris) Osborn and I started at Alma Road school in 1961 having failed my 11+ exam and coming from Longlands County Primary school.

LOWER SCHOOL (Alma Road)

Mr E.J. Rankin MC MA (Hons) was then headmaster with Mr Jones as deputy. I recall the following teachers: Mr McCaulliffe (Class 1A), Mr Dunmall (Class 2A), Mr Hawker (Geography / Games), Mr Roberts (History/ Games), Mr Stone, later Mr Cook (French), Mr Jones (Music-singing), Mr Bentley (Music-recorders), Mr Carter (PE), Mr. Lawe (Woodwork), Mr White (Metalwork), Mr Glass (Biology). Alas I cannot recall the name of the teacher who took us for Physics.
Dear old Mr Clark was an ancient supernumerary who occasionally took us for metalwork or if a master was absent.
He encouraged the boys to do interesting projects at lunchtimes such as making prisms and crystal radio sets. He had his own little room which was packed with interesting gear.
For a while we had an attractive young lady who took us for Art but whose name escapes me.

UPPER SCHOOL (Bexley Lane)

After the mandatory two years at Alma Road I transferred to the Upper School at Bexley Lane.
Mr Rankin left the school c 1964 and was replaced by his erstwhile deputy My Jones with a Mr Atwell coming in as deputy head.
The teachers that I recall were: Mr Cannon (Class 3G, Geography), Mr Shadwell (Class 4G, Maths and RI), Mr Thomas (Class 5G, English), Mr Jones (Music and later History), Mr Carter (Physics), Mr Cook (French), Mr Setchell (Eng Drawing), Mr Carter (PE), Mr McGuire (Art, Games), MM White and Griffiths (Metalwork), Mr Lawe (Woodwork).

Being in the 'G' stream - for 'GCE' - I took 3 subjects at 'O' level in the 5th year: Maths, Physics and Engineering Drawing. As I stayed on into the 6th year I did a further 6 subjects: English Language, English Literature, French, Geography and History. A few of us also took Art.

I left in 1967 and have only fond memories of the school and staff.
Almost all of the teachers were firm, fair and conscientious in giving us a good education and start in our working careers.