The Hill and Beyond

On this page we're recreating the spirit of the magazine called The Hill and Beyond. This was published for many years by the KHA and, as many of you will recall, it contained news of old KHS pupils, upcoming events and generally kept people in touch.

Thanks to my exam results when I left I gained a place at St Luke's College Exeter Teacher Training. Graduating from college I went on to teach Mathematics at Worth Abbey for five years. I married my school friend Mike Francis's wife's sister, Mike also a school prefect (seen in this photo seated second in from the left) was my best man. I then took a two year post in Barbados as Headmaster of the Junior School of Mapp's College!  Played rugby for Barbados so gained an International honour.

Returning to UK I taught at Shebbear College for the next nine years, where George Kingsnorth, (who was Durham Housemaster and Head of English at KHS), was Headmaster. I also did an Open University degree course, I ran all the Outdoor Pursuits while at Shebbear College. I then moved to Kings College, Taunton where I taught Mathematics and coached Rugby and Hockey until I retired in December 2008. Latterly I ran the CCF as a Lt. Colonel, (rather larger than Kingham with 290 cadets and 3 sections) I was also Chairman of the Somerset Schools CCF Committee.

I have two adult children, from my first marriage. I divorced in 1986 and married the San sister at King's and now have 2 step children also adults and I have 3.5 grand children. I still love sport, though now as a spectator, both hips being replaced, (thanks to running a few marathons). Both my wife and I are committed Christians and are very involved in Music Ministry in our Church, and to do some overseas voluntary work in retirement.

The Sheffield Boys

In this photo that's me seated on the far right as you view the photo with Tom Bowker our housemaster seated in the centre others in the photo are all former Sheffield house members.

Kingham Hill and Tom Bowker had more than a little influence in my life from Maths to CCF and Christian faith and the ethos of Kingham and example of Teddie Cooper and all the staff and pupils have been in my thoughts a great deal over the years. 

It has been great to actually meet so many recently at our reunion June 2009.

The others (standing left to right as you look ) Tony Thompson, Peter Morris, Richard Greenwell, John Timmins, Philip Hildesley, (Who are you) and then Jon Rudman.

It all started in the summer of 1960. My home was central London just a few minutes walk from the West End. I was a townie right through. My mother told me we were all going for a picnic in the country and taking a long time friend of the family. That was fine by me after all some nice goodies to eat and after all it was only for a day. A few days later the car was duly loaded and we set off to the country. I saw KHS for the first time, as it transpired this long time friend had her sons at the school. We were soon off the hill and found a nice spot to picnic in the sun. A massive spread of goodies and treats and fizzy drinks that seldom if ever adorned our table at home was duly laid out on the blanket. Woof and it had gone. I was stunned if it was edible it had gone in a flash of a moment. At the time I thought little of it, but I should have recognised the warning signs..

To read the rest of Iain's recollection please click here.

To read the rest of Pete's fascinatingly moving and humorous life story please click here.

Miss Horsefield, his sister, was one of my first teachers.   We had a map of Ireland,- she explained something about the country and told us to fill in the towns, rivers and so forth. I located Dublin on an island out at sea. Miss Horsefield tried to correct my slip. I still see her somewhat bemused look - how could she ever get across to this odd newcomer?

After the war John Woollan was the headmaster. During the mid-morning break we had a run round the rugby field (unless it was raining hard) then we drank a carton of milk with a thick topping of cream.   The carton was a waxed pre-tetra pak container. One day there was a carton with a hole above the milk level which could only be the work of a rodent.   Alarm.   John Woollan came along, gave us a short talk - I imagine about the docile nature of local mice - opened the carton and drank the milk down to the last drop.   No more alarm.

On another occasion we were all seated for an exam, everyone seemed to have a cough or at least a sore  throat.   Mr Woollan asked if anyone needed medical attention or a cough lozenge.  No takers.   So no coughing or throat clearing would be called for. The exam was enjoyed in silence.

I was glad to leave the Hill in 1951 and didn't get to appreciate my school years, and the school itself, until the 1970s  when I joined the teaching world here in Spain. (State secondary high schools).  There's a lot to be said for a student to be responsible for sweeping, washing, helping with kitchen chores.  And sewing buttons, darning socks, shining shoes.  And organized letter writing.    And digging drainage ditches in the cricket (or was it the rugby?) field after the final exams in my last summer.

And a few questions.  Whatever made them sell off Plymouth? How about the orchard?    And Stratford? And the farm land? There must be other survivors of the 40s/50s. Try to track them down!     
Larry Sharpe was at KHS between 1940-1951
Posted: November 2007

A note added in postscript from John Glover. "I have a vivid memory of the Rev. Horsefield with his interesting moustache which I think hid a mild deformity of the upper lip (hare-lip?). He returned to the school on one occasion after John Woollan was the Warden and gave a sermon with the text 'Its not what you want: its what you want to want'. Must have made an impression on me!".

I returned to the school a few times in the fifties and sixties, and was always made welcome by Francis and Gladys Meerendonk. I recall one time in the early sixties I happened by with my new wife Anita , we had afternoon tea with Gladys. She always remembered her old boys.

Godfrey Nicholson sheds light on our mystery photo 002 I can offer help over the photo of Teddie Cooper. [Shown on our Contacts page. Ed.] It shows the prefects of his final year as Warden, and thus must have been taken in the summer of 1977. Back row L-R: Geoffrey Davis (Norwich), Ian Black (Bradford), Ossie (Osmond) Stuart (Durham), Graham Reed (Greenwich), Nick Holmes (Durham). Front Row: David Nock (Norwich - Head Boy), Teddie Cooper, David Walsh (Clyde).

Not too long after this photo, Ossie Stuart suffered a broken neck in the gym while doing a simple exercise. It has left him paralysed, but did not prevent him from completing his university studies. David Walsh went to Warwick University and has since worked as a Government Adviser. Can't help you over the others!
Posted: August 2007

We used to return to school a week early(!) - which in itself was a strange feeling as there would be none of the usual hustle and bustle - in fact the whole place seemed strangely dead and quiet. Then we would set off in coaches to the 'camp'.  The 'camp' wasn't always static - I remember that one year we were on two multi-berth cruisers on the Norfolk Broads. (piccy can be supplied if required).  But my most memorable camp was in 1959 in the Quantock Hills in Somerset at Great Wood Camp.  This camp was run by Reg Durrant the art master, assisted by students from our sister foundation at Oak Hill.

Summer camp 1959 Click to enlarge

The camp consisted of a woodland clearing with a stream running along one side - over which there was the inevitable hanging rope on which we swung - and often fell - into the water below!  

We lived in wooden huts scattered around the site, and slept in iron bunk beds.   I also remember that there was a week-long competition for the hut with the most inventive and well-constructed external amenities - we built a 'washing line' out of poles,  and a 'boot holder' - but someone must have done better because we never won!   Tidiness of the hut also counted - perhaps it was for that reason that we lost!

Teddie Cooper would come and visit for a day or two and join in some of the 'fun' - organised games and walks outside,  and if wet,  games,  singing and assemblies in the 'main hut' - which was then the inevitable Nissan Hut which also housed the kitchen.  

John Woollen was the Warden, as the Headmaster was called in those days. Anyone would think it was a borstal!  I can't say I remember Bill Parker, unfortunately.

Of course in those days there were no girls in sight and soccer was not a school sport. We did have great Rugby and Cricket teams, and swimming was a very low key sport. When Basil Benson joined the school he introduced Basketball and he managed to persuade Teddie Cooper, who was Head by then, that it would be in the interest of the school for some of us to see the Harlem Globetrotters who were appearing at Wembley! Oh happy days!

I see your were at Sheffield House. When I was in senior school, the Housemaster at Sheffield was Phelps followed by Gooding. Merrendonk, who features on your web site, was of course at Bradford, and Bowman at Clyde. Wilkinson was a splendid chaplain and Stewart Brindley was a terrific music teacher. I would say that, of all the many influences on my life, during my mostly happy and fulfilling schooldays at Kingham Hill, Stewart Brindley was up there with the best for opening up the whole wonderful world of music and not just serious music. I played the double bass in a band comprising Brindley (piano), Curl ( The Phys-Ed teacher on cornet) and Woollen (drums) at a couple of old boys functions. Happy days indeed.

With regards to life in Oz, I have lived here since 1962 and seen it grow into a country of some significance and not just in the sporting arena. We are very sympathetic to the dreadful time with flooding you are experiencing (and not all that far from the School apparently) because we get our fair share of flooding (and bush fires and tornados! )in this country. We are expecting a federal election in October and the polls are predicting a change of government. I'm not so sure! Meanwhile, the State of Western Australia is powering ahead, largely due to the mineral boom. Congratulations once again on your great effort in keeping the spirit of Kingham Hill alive.
Posted: August 2007