Greens Norton, Northamptonshire

St John's School

I remember the Sunday March to Tiffield Church from St John's School and return. I remember masters there - Betteridge, Faid, Wooley and the young lads 'lusting' after Headmaster's daughter!! The good teaching received there.
My 'friends' and our adventures on our 'Day Out', Sinnott jumping into the canal to give us an excuse for returning late to school ... whatever happened to them all??? 'Ricky' Richardson, 'Wiggy' Roberts and many others!! The friendly villagers. The 1st Tiffield Scout Troop at St Johns. My becoming Troop Leader. The trips to cinema in Towcester, Northampton. Cricket, football, played at school playing fields.  Memories I have carried through my life.  Returning from a 'Task' with RAF in late 1980s, I saw St John's empty, looking forlorn. No doubt a factory or housing estate now in 2008. What is Tiffield like now? Are there any persons 'Out There' who have similar memories?

I enjoyed my stay there, 1948/51. Then National Service called just as I returned home to Bristol. The 'Lads' came from far away to St Johns - Sussex, London, Oxford, S Wales. And Gibbs was later to live in Tetbury,  Gloucestershire. Did he settle there?? If so I pass through regularly to visit my daughter in Cirencester. He should be around 70 now, older perhaps. Where are you all now?  Some may not have 'happy' memories of Tiffield. I have happy ones, but is this through passing time?  Anyone r emember Tiffield and St John's - I am sure you do!

Memory of School

Mr Thurston, music master. Mr Meager, Major Meager's father, also music teacher, remember him as a very old man, another master, Mr Pepper, I believe at the end of term whilst going home had a car accident, collided into a bus in thick fog. Do you remember Wells pupil, also John Luston. Jeffrey Watts, Pen A Pen B. Morris I can remember at Chicherly Hall, when they were making good on a new tuck shop, just before opening we were all queuing for food when somebody threw a boot over the top, hitting Mr Smith the English teacher, he came out and blamed Morris for it who had nothing to do with it. Hope to hear from you,
John Pink

Old Boys

I can remember pupils attending: Malcolm Airey, Clive/Bill Needham, Christopher Strother, Antony Meager, Pinkerton, Baxter, Kimberley, George Wallace, Ward, Philip Lacey, my brothers Stephen and Mark Pink. I am John Pink. Staff I can remember are Major Meager, Mr Rhodes, Mr Smith, Mr Burr, Mr Thurston, Mr Ryan, Major Hyde-Upward. The Matrons Mrs Smith, Miss Brooks. Mr Smith, master. Philip Sproughton, Mr and MrsShelton who were responsible for maintenance. Other old boys are Robert Sewell, Castle, John Bugden, Michael Hayes, Dampney. I wonder how they are all getting on.

Whittlebury Lodge College

I was a pupil at Whittlebury College 1962-1964 . The school was run by Major Meager and his wife as a sort of "crammer" for those of us who needed to get more help for O and A levels.
The teachers were perhaps not the best in the county but did help many to get the O and A levels that were needed including myself but not all the subjects as I was expelled before I could take three more A levels. I was seen smoking a Woodbine in the coppice just north of the school and was reported by a prefect (who I did not get along with).
Lester Piggott's (the well known jockey) son was a junior at the school and his mother and father were particularly upset to find their fine young son had taken a puff or two of a Woodbine or similar!
Major Meager was quick to make a new rule that anyone caught smoking would be punished too the maximum extent!
I had been caned before by Major Meager and was not afraid! (The scars on my back and bottom have faded now but were visible well into my thirties.) I could take it!  I got expelled!!! The good of it all was that my father was not angry and instead supported me and helped me to get into Slough College instead where I surpassed my goals.
Other students who I remember well for different reasons were "Ginger", Alan Renault, Basil Rathbone, "String" the Art teacher, "Bunny" the school nurse, Major Meager's son who was also a pupil and taught me to drive in his Austin Seven (without doors) and only within the grounds, a very sweet girl from the village who I introduced as my cousin on Open Day! The Vicar who taught me some Latin and also confirmed me 8th March 1963.
I shall try too dig up some photos.