I have happy memories of my years at Farnborough Grammar School, and I think
I got a lot out of my time there. Maybe I just fitted in.
I got on well enough with all the members of staff I came into contact with,
even the ones the subject of others’ unfavourable reminiscences. But then
I guess I tended to keep my head down and toe the line. Those of my peers
who were less compliant were sometimes subjected to harsh, even vindictive, treatment.
As do others, I have fond memories of ‘Nuncs’ who taught me Latin – kindliness
embodied. Interestingly his easy-going manner didn’t seem to get exploited
as a weakness. I also remember Mr Bullock (‘Beefy’) – a gifted teacher -
who instilled in me an interest in maths that endures to this day.
Latterly I was also taught maths by Dr. Duke. I believe he had a Doctor of
Science degree; quite how he came to be teaching in a school, I don’t know, but
the insights he imparted got me through the university entrance exam.
Although I ended up specialising in the sciences, I enjoyed modern languages
too. I was taught French by, among others, Mr. Sadler, a very nice man.
I heard later that he sadly suffered a serious nervous breakdown a year or two after I left.
Other memories: driving old bangers round the field in the CCF on Friday
afternoons; prefects dressing up to serve Christmas dinner to the younger
pupils; gazing out over the playing fields from upstairs classrooms on sultry
summer’s afternoons; debating society meetings held jointly with the girls from ACHS.
I don’t have a clear memory of my first day at FGS, but I do remember my last
day, the end of term, December 1967. Jerry Rudge and I went down to the
Thatched Cottage pub at lunchtime for a celebratory drink. At 4 o’clock,
as on so many previous afternoons, I cycled out of the school gates without a
backwards glance; it was only later in the evening it hit me that one of the
most significant periods in one’s life, one’s school days, had come to an end.
I Googled the FGS website after going to a Farnborough 6th Form College open day
in October 2014. I went to see how things had changed since my day.
The facilities and range of courses on offer are amazing. The original
Grammar School brick building is barely recognisable; sadly the grass
quadrangles have been built over. The atmosphere is very informal:
students and staff are on first name terms. One can only speculate as to
Dr. Bourne’s reaction had any of his pupils addressed him as ‘John’!
Robin Hamilton : February 2016