Up t'inf

[Ajarn Philip]

Fume! Fury! Indignation!

Calm down, dear. Go and stroke a donkey.

[Jo]

Well, I remember that Miss Tucker told me that I was like the rotten apple in the barrel that would inevitably affect the others. Whatever did I do wrong, apart from ask questions?

But for all that, she invited dialogue, which DR did not.

Oh Lynn! "The rotten apple in the barrel". I'm feeling a wave of fury on your behalf!

Why did these women think that they should say such incredibly horrible things to us? No, don't answer that. When I remembered the rude brusque-and-blunt manner of DR, I always thought that never mind, she was gone after 1973 - too late for me, but at least Hertford would now have a good thoughtful kind woman in charge... but perhaps Miss Tucker wasn't as I had hoped.

Lynn, what were your major talents and abilities? Did you feel that any of the staff gave you the right encouragement?

Fume! Fury! Indignation!

Lynn was a superbly talented musician. She was also extremely bright and articulate, great fun, and had a very dry wit. Possibly Miss T and some of the staff found the whole package rather unnerving

Not that that excuses the comment, of course.

[Angela Woodford]

Fume! Fury! Indignation!

Calm down, dear. Go and stroke a donkey.

Perhaps the most insensitive remark you could make. Please don't call me "dear".

[englishangel]

You had better duck Philip, Munch might throw some of that stuff she has been digging into her back garden.

[chaosriddenyears]

Angela! Jo! How lovely of you to be so angry! And Ajarn "dear", I have two older brothers and two husbands (thankfully ex) who also always told me to stroke pets, cuddle babies and tidy cupboards if I ever got angry, so I don't hold it against you.

There were indeed teachers who were kind to me at Hertford and encouraged my talents. One time when I was really ill Miss Cordery brought the music shcool box record player into annexe where I was on my own and handed over the complete piano works of Debussy and Ravel, and thus awakened a passion for impressionist music - and Sister was so kind to me (like many rebellious people I was a very good patient) that I could hardly believe it.

Miss Hann and Miss Coles liked my questions and unorthodox opinions - and Mrs.Dawson - in 6th form art we studied French painting, but either the prints in the books were too poor or there were none at all to be found of the paintings we were supposed to study. So I said - both impatiently and flippantly - well, why don't we just go to Paris for a weekend and look at them?

And we did. An unforgettable weekend. Miss Gravett came too - she moaned about "not being able to eat poulet" - "I cant eat white meat". And with Paris all around her!

[Angela Woodford]

Well! This is reassuring! A trip to Paris on an art appreciation mission sounds like a vast improvement... even with a Miss Gravett unable to eat white meat! I wonder why a sports mistress had to be brought? Things at Hertford must have improved. They had to!

I believed, from reading the Old Blue, that Miss Tucker appreciated art and especially music; and I really did hope that she would bring a new spirit to Hertford.

Lynn, who were your contemporaries in 6's? This would clarify "your year" for me. My contemporaries in 5's were Trish'n'Parkin, Jeanne Flood and Fran Holmes. Fran was an especial friend, coming from my background of Evangelical South London. Do you remember them?

I was thinking about being up t'Imf, and remembering that when I was very feverish with mumps that huge old Sister Summers was kind in her way - she reverted to battleaxedom once I was feeling better. I enjoyed the snowy crispy crackliness of her uniform as she passed to and fro... When I started my training at St George's, it was tremendously confidence-boosting to unbend that starched apron and belt it on. I rather regret that nurses don't wear "proper" uniform now - although I completely appreciate that it was uncomfortable and impractical. Once I began crackling about in that uniform I really felt I could pass myself off as an efficient sensible multi-tasker... Even Miss Jukes might have a good word to say now, I thought!

I snapped at Philip. Sorry Philip, but if one feels indignant, it really is awful to be told not to be angry, called "dear" and encouraged to pet a creature instead... (Puts on Ann Widdecome expression...)

At Hertford, some of those mistresses went far, far out of line. We very rarely reacted with righteous anger - more likely with tears in private. In the LV1, Miss Wilson was horribly frank with a member of our form who had a dreadful greasy hair problem. Why did she not wash her hair? Brilliant - my friend who rose up in indignation and told Miss Wilson "We are allowed to wash our hair only once a week!"Excellent.

[Ajarn Philip]

I snapped at Philip. Sorry Philip, but if one feels indignant, it really is awful to be told not to be angry, called "dear" and encouraged to pet a creature instead... (Puts on Ann Widdecome expression...)

At Hertford, some of those mistresses went far, far out of line. We very rarely reacted with righteous anger - more likely with tears in private. In the LV1, Miss Wilson was horribly frank with a member of our form who had a dreadful greasy hair problem. Why did she not wash her hair? Brilliant - my friend who rose up in indignation and told Miss Wilson "We are allowed to wash our hair only once a week!"Excellent.

It was a joke, but an inappropriate one. I've read every word you've written and know that some of your demons still torment you from time to time, so I should've known better. Sincere apologies for requiring a slapped wrist.

Incidentally, I've always thought Anne Widdecome a lovely lady, and much sexier than Edwina 'Vindaloo coz I'm so hot' Slurry.

Hmm, now there's an idea for a new thread - sexy women (OK, and men) in British politics...

[CHAZ]

I snapped at Philip. Sorry Philip, but if one feels indignant, it really is awful to be told not to be angry, called "dear" and encouraged to pet a creature instead... (Puts on Ann Widdecome expression...)

At Hertford, some of those mistresses went far, far out of line. We very rarely reacted with righteous anger - more likely with tears in private. In the LV1, Miss Wilson was horribly frank with a member of our form who had a dreadful greasy hair problem. Why did she not wash her hair? Brilliant - my friend who rose up in indignation and told Miss Wilson "We are allowed to wash our hair only once a week!"Excellent.

It was a joke, but an inappropriate one. I've read every word you've written and know that some of your demons still torment you from time to time, so I should've known better. Sincere apologies for requiring a slapped wrist.

Incidentally, I've always thought Anne Widdecome a lovely lady, and much sexier than Edwina 'Vindaloo coz I'm so hot' Slurry.

Hmm, now there's an idea for a new thread - sexy women (OK, and men) in British politics...

There are none but on the world stage, we might have a better offering?

I nominate that French Rachida Dati..hot hot..

[chaosriddenyears]

My contempories in 6's were Maureen Connor, Esther Polonezer, Hilary Jones, Becky Ripley and Melanie Newbury.

Miss Tucker was very interested in art and music - I seem to remember she sang (or had sung) in - was it the Bach choir?
Mrs Dawson took up the Paris idea and it was approved by Miss Tucker and Miss Gravett came to help look after us I suppose. She really was very funny about "poulet", her face screwed up in disgust at the very thought! It was quite sensational that we were allowed a long weekend in Paris during school time and we had a marvellous time looking at the paintings and found them really breathtaking.

[Jo]

Angela, I remember Trish & Parkin, Fran, Jeanne, and also Judy Hughes of the flaming red hair, who I believe left at the end of the Vth form. Her father was a vicar in Berkhamstead.

I don't know if you are still in touch with Fran, but I contacted her a few years ago through Friends Reunited - when it was quite new and you joyously contacted everyone you had ever known because there weren't many people on there! She's been living in Australia for many years. Can't remember if she was married or had a family though. She grew up in Battersea I think.

Lynn, clever you for persuading the school to take you to Paris! I never thought of that, even though I did French A Level Mind you, I'm not sure I would have fancied going with Miss Riddiford or Mr Watson. Lovely Miss Marter (Mrs Roxburgh) did take us to the V&A but that's not quite the same!

Miss Tucker sang in the Bach Choir - in fact, if she doesn't still, then I think she did until quite recently. She sang in the choir for the CHA Carol Concert last Christmas.

[chaosriddenyears]

Er, well it wasn't actually cleverness Jo, just a flippant remark!

[MaryB]

[quote="Jo"]Angela, I remember Trish & Parkin, Fran, Jeanne, and also Judy Hughes of the flaming red hair, who I believe left at the end of the Vth form. Her father was a vicar in Berkhamstead.

Judy Hughes was my School Mother and (Sue) Parkin was my school sister in what turned out to be the very last year of 5s as a junior house. Trish (Dr Chudleigh), who is still a good friend, is now very eminent in the field of diagnostic ultrasound - she has been chair of the international body for it, written the definitive text book, and gives learned papers all over the world. And although I wasn't a Londoner then, I now live in the part of South London Munch is talking about. For some reason I remember that Fran lived in Wakehurst Rd, SW11, in what is now one of the most upmarket enclaves in S London (presumably it wasn't then)- I have a friend nearby and always think of F when I go there. (Just as I always think of Munch when I drive past "her road" in Streatham - who could forget a name like Criffel Avenue?)

Way off topic - sorry.

[Ajarn Philip]

And although I wasn't a Londoner then, I now live in the part of South London Munch is talking about. For some reason I remember that Fran lived in Wakehurst Rd, SW11, in what is now one of the most upmarket enclaves in S London (presumably it wasn't then)- I have a friend nearby and always think of F when I go there. (Just as I always think of Munch when I drive past "her road" in Streatham - who could forget a name like Criffel Avenue?)

Eee, constant reminders of how small a world it is. My family lived round the corner from Wakehurst in Webbs Road SW11 and I went to Belleville Rd Primary School.

[Jo]

Angela, I remember Trish & Parkin, Fran, Jeanne, and also Judy Hughes of the flaming red hair, who I believe left at the end of the Vth form. Her father was a vicar in Berkhamstead.

Judy Hughes was my School Mother and (Sue) Parkin was my school sister in what turned out to be the very last year of 5s as a junior house. Trish (Dr Chudleigh), who is still a good friend, is now very eminent in the field of diagnostic ultrasound - she has been chair of the international body for it, written the definitive text book, and gives learned papers all over the world. And although I wasn't a Londoner then, I now live in the part of South London Munch is talking about. For some reason I remember that Fran lived in Wakehurst Rd, SW11, in what is now one of the most upmarket enclaves in S London (presumably it wasn't then)- I have a friend nearby and always think of F when I go there. (Just as I always think of Munch when I drive past "her road" in Streatham - who could forget a name like Criffel Avenue?)

Way off topic - sorry.

No, it was a fascinating update, Mary. I always thought it was strange, and a bit sad, that people we had lived at such close quarters with went off into the big wide world and we lost touch almost immediately with what became of them. I am in contact with several people from my year, and caught up with a number of others a few years ago through Friends Reunited. And still more, recently, via Facebook. But it's always nice to know what other people that I remember clearly from 5s have got up to in all those intervening years.

[chaosriddenyears]

Angela, I remember Trish & Parkin, Fran, Jeanne, and also Judy Hughes of the flaming red hair, who I believe left at the end of the Vth form. Her father was a vicar in Berkhamstead.

Judy Hughes was my School Mother and (Sue) Parkin was my school sister in what turned out to be the very last year of 5s as a junior house. Trish (Dr Chudleigh), who is still a good friend, is now very eminent in the field of diagnostic ultrasound - she has been chair of the international body for it, written the definitive text book, and gives learned papers all over the world. And although I wasn't a Londoner then, I now live in the part of South London Munch is talking about. For some reason I remember that Fran lived in Wakehurst Rd, SW11, in what is now one of the most upmarket enclaves in S London (presumably it wasn't then)- I have a friend nearby and always think of F when I go there. (Just as I always think of Munch when I drive past "her road" in Streatham - who could forget a name like Criffel Avenue?)

Way off topic - sorry.

Do, do give their dates as well! I really remember these names but my memory is a bit hazy about my first year(s) at Hertford. I really like to hear (like Jo) that these girls went on to thrive and didn't sort of fall off the edge of a cliff after they left Hertford.