FGS is being extensively modified to take advantage of faster internet connections and mobile viewing. Click here for details. Many pages remain in an intermediate state and some links are broken.

Farnborough Grammar School

Prospect Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire

Telephone : Farnborough 539

Robin Hamilton (Memories) - 1960 to 1967



Return to Source page




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


Go to the top of this page
Return to Source page