OLD MA I DSTON I AK

SOOIETY

NEWSLETTER — SUMMER

BOM SECRETARY PRESIDENT BOM TREASURES

Bernard Jfee But/ Veedon Roger Bravo

157 Vlllington Street 82 Reculver Walk

Kaidstone Senacre

Kent ME15 8ED KaldstdneKent MB15 8QT

Tel: (0622) 765268 Tel: (0622) 765844

The introductory words to a newsletter are perhaps the hardest to find

as they are invariably the first to be gazed upon by the reader.

There cannot be many members left who have not heard af Dr Pettit's

Impending retirement at the end of the present summer tern. Vhilst the

last day of tern nay be a few weeks off yet departure from the

Headmaster's residence is not until 31st August...somebody has to ensure

that all the examination results are inspected and sent out to the

hundreds of nervous candidates.

After twenty years at the helm af K. G.S. the pressures of modern

education have no doubt been a major influence in Dr Pettit's decision

to leave now. Local papers have quoted him as saying part of the problem

stems fron the national curriculum and opting out both of which have

turned schools into a political football. However, rather than repeat

media stories it is hoped that a special review can be included in the

next edition.

The Connaittee would like to shown its own appreciation af Dr Pettit's

contribution to school life and his support of the Old Maidstanian

Society. A separate letter is included with further details but a chance

to say farewell has been organised for Saturday 11th July at the School

starting at 7.30pm.

It is pleasing to report that David Chater (1972) has recovered from his

injuires received when shot by a sniper in Yugoslavia and is now back

giving more on the spat stories far I.T.I.

The Inclusion of news about two 0.H.s who are presently being detained

at Her Majesty's pleasure brought same reaction from members. Host

seemed to think that such news should be excluded as it cast a shadow

over the usual high standards set by Maidstonians. The editor will take

note of the comments and exercise discretion.

2

F*. A. J. IR . Cin 1OV3 >

About a year after his arrival at Maidstone Grammar School,

Dr Pettit gave an interview for the 'Haidstonian' magazine.

Repeated here are some of the comments he made which

certainly make Interesting reading twenty years on.•.

Vhat were your first impressions of the School when you entered It?

My first impression on returning from Higeria was a sense of relief.

Sere was an established, well-organised school with a highly responsible

staff. There was no need for ne to supervise the errection of extensive

new buildings, no need to bargain for guinea-corn in the local market,

no need to organise bed-bug campaigns in the boarding hostel on Saturday

mornings, no need to diagnose cerebral aeningitis in the niddle of the

night, and no need to resolve endless inter-tribal conflicts. By

contrast here was a respect for tradition and for scholarship within a

humane enviroment.

And haw has your impression aatured?

One becomes aware of the deficiencies of the buildings. For reasons of

national financial exigency I fear that many of the developments I

should welcome are more likely to be achieved as a result of

improvisation in minor works programmes rather than by major capital

programmes.

Academically, the image of the School has been projected by the

minority of pace-makers and by generally good examination statistics.

Yet, I an now more aware of the large majority of boys of modest ability

who can make a valuable contribution to society and achieve a worthwhile

career. I think it essential that we give them due recognition without

questioning the significance of Oxbridge scholarships.

To what extent do you thin* that the School will be affected by the

new system of education which has been adapted in Maidstone?

Any change - however desirable - will have its critics; no system of

human organisation is perfect. I am not prepared to say whether in the

long run the scheme will be for the better or for worse.

In this School it will mean certain changes, including some

restructuring of our Third Year. Ve shall receive boys at a less

malleable age from a variety of backgrounds, where different teaching

methods have been employed and where staffing difficulties have varied.

One does not anticipate that all boys will have reached the same

standard in some cumulative subjects, so changes in the approach to the

Third Form curriculum may be necessary - especially Modern Languages.

I'm not here suggesting that we are going to suffer as a result of the

scheme. Far one reason the scheme Itself demands a far greater degree of

competition between schools, which can only be healthy. Secondly, I

think I think there can be a feed-back to us and possibly sane of aur

awn teaching techniques nay become nore provocative and stimulating as a

consequence of methods employed in the high schools.

The other area where I suspect that there nay be a significant

development is in the Sixth Form. If boys of a wider ability range

transfer to us for a five-year course, we are under an obligation to

provide relevant education for them in the Sixth Form: a three 'A' level

couree may not be appropriate for all. Some boys will take what I

propose to call a 'Professional Course' which will supplement one or two

'A' level courses with '0' level subjects and a range of general

studies. The latter would aim to give boys a greater civic and social

awareness and to prepare them to adjust to employnent in industry,

commerce and the professions. This may well involve time spent out of

school acquiring the flavour of industrial organisation in several local

firms.

In other words, there will be changes; there will be difficulties;

there can also be opportunities for interesting and stimulating

developments. Providing that the scheme is operated by all schools in

the spirit in which it was drafted, Maidstone Grammar School will

continue to evolve as a worthy servant of the town and district.

Vhat changes have you in mind for the School - other than those made

necessary by changes in Maidstone's education system?

I hope that the emphasis - I won't say "change" - we shall notice will

be a relationship in which there is responsible co-operation between

tutors and students, teachers and pupils. "Pastoral care" is a

fashionable tern, but is nothing new; perhaps in a large school we have

to institutionalise the provision for pastoral care by extending the

role of the "year masters". Clearly there have to be rules and clearly

if soneone flagrantly breaks rules, there have to be sanctions, but I

should have hoped that most boys would respond to reasonableness and

contribute to the corporate community of the School - to accept the

guidelines for conduct (which are, in fact, the Rules) on the basis of

responsible co-operation. This is the relationship I should welcome, but

I well know that it will always be placed in Jeopardy by the "bolshy"

attitude of individuals. I shall then expect the co-operation of

parents.

Do you think that the co-educational system is better than the single-

sex system - or do you think rte are better as we are?

I was agnostic on this point. I started teaching in a boys' school and

then deliberately moved to a mixed school which had quite a different

educational ethos. Bow I think that the mixed school facilitated more

natural social relationships between the sexes and I doubt whether it

made any significant difference to the academic standards achieved.

However, it did lead - I am convinced of this - to a greater

polarisation between arts and sciences than in single-sex schools: the

majority of the boys turned to the sciences and the girls to the arts.

That's obviously undesirable.

I must confess some surprise that when parental choice is written into

the scheme for reorganisation of secondary education in the Kaidstone

District, parents of the upper school pupils lack the choice between

mixed and single-sex schools. Saturally, I understand the financial

problems of adapting buildings. However, given the fact that the upper

schools are single-sex, it's my desire that we should develop natural

social contacts, whether it's in a Sixth Form discotheque, a school

play, a musical production, the Sailing Club, or through other approved

activities.

Many changes have occured to the educational system most

being brought about by different Ministers of Education.

These have escalated in the past few years and nobody could

fail to have seen the numerous television debates or media

articles. Those with children at school will know the day to

day problems and O.K.'s in the teaching profession will be

all to well aware of the changes brought about by Messrs.

Joseph and Baker.

A successor to Dr Pettit has been appointed by the

Governors. He is Hell Turrell, age 45, and presently

Headmaster at a comprehensive school in Stoke-on-Trent. More

details In the next edition.

MEMBERSHIP*

The following rates are applicable to those Did Haidstonians wishing to

take up a life membership of the Society:

Opto 30 years old £45

31 to 50 years of age £30

Over 50 years old *15

(Those who have already taken up Life Membership are not required to

make any further contribution).

SUBSCR I T>T I CD1ST

The Ordinary Subscription rate is now £3.00 per annum.

Part of this sum is placed to the award Fund to help with

applications for financial assistance - these monies

supplement the income already received from various small

investments.

<If you pay by standing order then it would be appreciated

if the mandate could be amended with your bankers).

THE HISTORY OF MI. O.

Part Four. . .

Vith the change to a modern building, specially erected to be a

Boarding and Day School, we seen to leave the atmosphere of the past,

and enter on a progress which has led to the School we are familiar with

today. The first change cane in 1882 Hhen a new schene for the school's

administration was set up by Orders in Council to enable it to comply

with the provisions of the recent Endowed Schools Act of 1869. The

Scheme allowed Boarders as well as Day boys, the fees for the latter

being fixed at 6 guineas to 12 guineas a year, and the payment of the

Headmaster's salary was put on a new and business-like footing. Hor need

he be in Holy Orders, though the first layman to preside over the School

was It Valter Cross, appointed in 1913. There was to be a formal

entrance test, and the curriculum was widened to include at least one

modern language and Katural Science; Greek became an extra, though Latin

remained. A new Governing body was set up of thirteen members,

consisting of the Mayor of Maidstone, ex-officio, nine Representative

Governors and three Co-optative Governors. The Representative Governors

were to be appointed as follows:

(1) By the School Board of Kaidstone

(2) By the Justices of the Peace for the County of Kent

(3) By the Town Council, so long as the municipal corporation

continued to pay a yearly sum of not less than *100.

There was to be an annual examination by Examiners appointed by the

Governors, and a report sent to the Charity Commissioners, who remained

as overseers of all School endowments generally until superseded by the

Board of Education, which came into effective existence in 1902.

In 1886 came the next expansion. It was decided, again by Orders in

Council, that part of the endowments known as 'the Estates Proper held

by the Warden and Commonalty of the Hew Bridge at Rochester' should be

applied to educational purposes. So far as Maldstone was concerned two

grants were made: a sum of £6,500 established the Girl's Grammar School,

our sister foundation, and a further sum of £3,500 passed to our own

Grammar School. So cane into being the Kaidstone Grammar School for

Girls, sharing with us the same Governing Body now increased from 13 to

15 members by adding two appointed by the Vardens and Assistants of the

lew Bridge at Rochester. From its inception the fortunes of the two

schools have been closely linked: the Girl's School and our awn have

formed virtually one Foundation, and together have shared in the

educational progress of the town. So close indeed has the association

been that it might be said at tines the two Schools have walked side by

side along the paths of learning.

From the grant made to us, a sum of £500 in 31 Consols was set up, as

the 'Contributory Parishes' Boys' Scholarship Fund, to maintain

Scholarships called Parish Scholarships, for boys selected from 44

parishes which had contributed to the lew Bridge, and which were

enumerated in a special schedule. These Scholarships were to go to boys

who had been three years in any Public Elementary School, selected by an

entrance examination. The parishes named were grouped round Maidstone,

the only outlying one being Vesterhan.

Then in 1895 a new Charity Contnission scheme provided that there

should be added to the existing Governing Body two Representative

Governors to be appointed by the Kent County Council, the first two to

be appointed being George Marshall and Charles Vhitehead. Thus began that

wise and sympathetic guidance by the Kent County Council to which the

School owes much. Its outlook was broadened and its vision extended. An

annual grant of £100 was made by Kent from 1895 to 1905 to extend the

teaching of Science, and after 1905 this grant was substantially

increased. In return for this financial assistance Scholarships were set

up for boys not over 13 years of age who had been pupils at an

elementary school for two years and who resided within a Rural District

of the County, and the first Scholar to be so assisted was a boy from

Vest Mailing, George H. Carman.

Further changes cane in 1905 in consequence of the Board of Education

taking over the functions of the old Charity Comaissioners. It was now

decided that the Bluecoat Charity Schools Endowments should be

amalgamated with the Girls' Gramnar School and our own. These Bluecoat

Schools, founded by Dr Martha Godden in 1717, had been originally in the

High Street, but were now situated in Knightrider Street. From these

endowments Bluecoat Scholarships consisting of tuition fees and £5 to

£10 yearly maintenance grants, if necessary, were to be set up in the

two Schools, one half of the boys and girls selected to come from

Elementary Schools. The awards were made annually until 1928.

The Governing Body was increased to twenty, one of whoa was to be a

vraaan, and one from London University. The Curriculum was widened to

embrace all subjects proper in Public Secondary Schools and the School

was to be examined by a University every two years or by an Inspector ofthe Board of Education. lo Boarders were permitted in the Girls' School,

but the Boys1 School still remained both a Boarding and a Day School.

While these external changes flowed over the School, its internal life

steadily expanded. The House system started in 1899 with the three

houses with which we were for long familiar ~ School, East Borough and

Vest Borough. In the same year a physics laboratory was established in

what was called "Webb's Cottage1 at the bottom of the.playground, and

above it six years later came the first workshop. The Gymnasium had been

built by public subscription in 1902, the same year that saw unveiledthe memorial windows to those Old Maidstonians who died in the Second

Boer Var. The windows were eventually transferred from Tonbridge Road,and are now in the Big Hall of the present School. The Cadet Corps was

inaugurated in 1906 and two years later it became the Officers' Training

Corps. To this year also we owe the School Song, written by the ReverendA. C. Duffleld, the Headmaster, and set to music by Dr Henniker. In 1913the Junior School came into existence and by 1914 the total number of

boys in the School had gone up from 97 to 139.

7

THE DAVID SMITH MEMORIAL FUND

Many people were shocked to bear of David Smith's sudden death on a

railway line near Harrogate in Yorkshire last September. He was 39 and

had joined the School in 1977 after graduating fron St. Peter's College,

Oxford, with honours. The number of letters received by the School

bearing fond memory to his English teaching over fourteen years are

evidence too of a desire that something should be done to try to prevent

such a tragedy happening again.

The David Smith Memorial Fund has been set up with the aim to assist

teachers and pupils to cope with problems which threaten to overwhelm

them, by providing professional counselling or other support as

appropriate and as funds allow. Charitable status has been sought for

the fund. The trustees appointed at present are Tony Vebb, Deputy Head,

Graham Valker, representing the staff, and Bruce Rylands, representing

the Old Kaidstonians.

Contributions to the fund can be made at any time and monies should be

sent to:

Graham Valker

Kaidstone Grammar School

Barton Road

Kaidstone

Kent ME15 7BT

(Cheques should be payable to: David Smith Memorial Fund)

EEG HUGHES moved from M.G.S. 18 years ago to Tenterden where

he has more recently been manager and. deputy head teacher at

the Homewood School. He was born in North Vales and was

Director of Music at M.G.S. for a number of years. His other

duties included being organist at All Saints and many O.M.'s

will recall the chairs and orchestras that he arranged.

Retirement comes in the form of taking on a foui—acre farm

at Ebony on the Isle of Oxney where part is sheep rearing

and the other growing Bramley apples. Help cosies from his

wife Peggy and, hopefully, their son and daughter.

8ON THE STAGE

Charles de Salis (1923-29) has written about the very

successful M.G.S. Shakespeare plays that were performed from

1921 to 1926.

"These were produced by Mr Teversham the chemistry master.

We were always proud of the fact that these productions were

always reviewed in the Daily Telegraph by W. A. Darlington,

the theatre critic and author of the popular comedy, Alf's

Button. I j oined the cast as Miranda in the Tempest

production of 1924, and received the dubious commendation

that i had 'come up to scratch gallantly on occasions'. Mr

Darlington's praise was reserved for Ariel (R. D. d'e

Meredith) and the same actor1s Rosalind and Lady Macbeth in

subsquent years,

In reply to a letter I sent to Mr Darlington in 1976, an

his 86th birthday, he wrote:

"Dear Miranda,

..-The occasion when we first met is still very clear in

my memory. I can close ray eyes and see the Ariel (a

marvellous piece of casting rather than a conscious

performance on the boy's part), and while I can't pretend to

be able to do that wi th Miranda I do remember writing the

sentence you quote.

Those Haidstone performances were ray first experience (as

a critic) of schoolboy acting, and It became a special

interest of mine, with the result that i gave Lawrence

01ivier his first theatrical notice when he appeared

anonymously as Katherine in the Taming of the Shrew in a

boy's performance at Stratford."

The Reverend R. D. Meredith, Vicar of Dymchurch, was of

course in later years known for his amateur productions of

Russell Thorndike's Dr Syn plays in his parish.

There was no production in 1927, because Mr Teversham

sadly had to leave the School through illness. But in 1928

the <self-appointed) cast decided to put on The Rivals and

persuaded the reluctant G. B. Phi 1ips to produce it. I have

no idea why R. D. Meredith was reduced to the role of

prompter: possibly he had been ill. The others in the cast

were:

Sir Anthony Absolute C. S. Pipe

Captain Absolute P, A, Howe

Faulkland C. E. de Sails

Acres G. H. Beeching

Sir Lucius 0'Trigger D. A. Bain

Fag L. I. Godden

David H. W. G. Dutton

Thomas C. E. Eastman

Mrs Malaprop P. K. Wilkinson

Lydia Languish G. R. Wicks

Julia J. M. W. McLaughlin

Lucy N. H. J. Bradley

Boy R. A. J. Howlett

Servant R. Ratter

O3F* OLD BOYS

lews about old boys cones from many sources. Some of it is provided by

the person himself whilst other Information comes from friends and

conteaporaries.

R. D. BEALE (I960) lives in Cheltenham and is Deputy

Headmaster of one of the first schools to go Grant

Xaintalned.

SHAUN CHIDDENTION C1983) joined the Eoyal Air Force on

leaving the school. He has recently gained a place with the

Red Arrows Display Team.

IAIN EVAMS <1988) now works for General Accident in

Southampton having graduated from that town's university

with a 2:2 in Mathematics with Acturial Studies.

MICHAEL EVANS (1991) is at Southampton University studying

Psychology.

CHRIS FOSTER (1962) recently made a return visit to

Maidstone and in particular to Weeks where he worked as an

engineering geologist. He emigrated to Canada about two

years ago and worked alongside a school contemporary, JOBS'

VICKERSTIFFE.

MARTIN GIBBONS <1980> still works at the Maidstone Branch of

Lloyds Bank where he is now Principal of the Securities

Section. On 18th January he became the proud father of a

son, David, which is the family's third child.

CHARLES GOODSICH <1966> has changed offices again with Gulf

Air. From mid-May he has moved from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to

Jakarta in Indonesia.

VILLIAM S. A. HALL (1935) writes to say that he has retired

to Pevensey Bay in East Sussex after 43 years service with

the National Westminster Bank. He recalls the late Charles

Holyman who taught him during the period 1930/35 and readily

admits that he was not one of the master's favourite pupils.

He received his First XI cricket cap in 1935 and mentions

that his son, JAMES HALL, got his colours in 1961. Both

father and son have captained the O.M. cricket team against

the school; Is this a record he asks?

10

1

CLIFFORD HART (1986) graduated from Heading University with

a degree in Land Management. He now works for the American

Bank J. P. Morgan as a Financial Futures Trader on the

London International Financial Futures Exchange (L. I.F.F.E. )

dealing mainly in Euro-Deutschmarks, Swiss Francs and £. C. U.

futures.

BILL HAVES (c!956) is believed to a missionary in Borneo.

AMDRBV LARMAN <1970) continues as a litigation partner with

Barnard 4 Company, solicitors, in Bristol.

DAVID MASON (1976) is presently working in Egypt.

FRED PEASCE (1970> was a contemporary of ANDREW LARHAF andit was he who spotted a book by Fred. Apparantely he has hada number of books on 'green' Issues published and is also on

the editorial staff of the "Hew Scientist".

RONALD PRIOR (1970) runs his own solicitors' office in

Gravesend.

DAVID SIMMS (19S7> spent three years at Aberystwyth and a

year in Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Germany, before emerging last

summer with a 2:1 in German and Irish. He Is now at the

University of Kent doing an M.Sc. in Computer Science with athesis on machine translation from German into English.

BRYAN VSLCOME (1954) is a former Treasurer of the Societyand was President la 1983. He was made redundant by Kent

County Council after 37 years service last August. Althoughthis brought mixed feelings he is now enjoying working for

himself and trades as 'Welcome Personnel Consultancy

Services', specialising in employee relations matters.

PETER VHITEHEAD (1970) remains in contact with ABDREV LARXAFand is, Indeed, godfather his son. About now he Is to departfor the Cote d1Lvoire where he is to become our Ambassador.

AISTITXJAL

Hext year's Supper will take place on Saturday 27th Xarch,

1993, at the School. Please make a note in your diary now.

Ticket details will be included in the January newsletter.

11

of old

All O.K. 's have neaories of their school days and the Society is also

pleased to reproduce letters from oeabers, and non-members, tfhlch others

nay find interesting. Perhaps sane of the incidents Kill bring back your

own recollections of days at M.G.S.

The following letter has been received from ALAN CHAPKAM ttho was at the

school front 1936 to 1943.

"Whim I started at B.G.S. Ralph Kemp Has my inrm -master, English and

Latin toucher. From him and a Mr Sawlings (he left after the first term

- not ay doing) we learnt an the first day we were The Grammar School,

being of old foundation and only the 'new' Girls Grammar need nodify the

title. That is was gramuAB, that a nathenatical word was parallEL and

that we would suffer if we did not learn the facts at once! The

abdication of Edward VIII occured in the first term and many scurrilous

ditties abounded about it.

"I lived in East Mailing then and with the Vest Mailing and Borough

Green/Vrothaa contingent forned a lively crowd playing carriage football

in the single or double compartments in the old stean trains. Later the

war scares came and we saw in the then buildings in Stone Street before

the cinema air-raid precautions displayed. The war came when we were in

the Upper Fourth and we went once a week; the trains were erratic and we

had to use the underground shelters especially when we got back to

fulltime education. The Battle of Britain came and it was back to a part

time period of lessons due to the irregular rail service.

"The death of Mr Morton ruined our Latin group. Ve liked him a lot and

his demised resulted in five different masters over the next 16 months

until School Certificate each using a different set of texts. Ve played

records on the French gramaphone - 'In the Mood' still brings sad

memories of our group who were killed or injured in the war. I knew 15

of those whose names are on the Memorial Board - one a cousin and

another a form colleague.

"My Sixth Form studies were Pure Maths with "Uncle Bill1 Manning,

Applied Maths with George Keast, Physics with Tom Gutteridge and

Chemistry with Mr Matthews. The latter was not the choice of him or me.

I wanted History but in those days one bad to be either Arts or Science.

■The change from Voolgar to Claydon as Headmaster took a time with

'Beta' Phillips being overlooked. I left the school and went to

Goldsmith's College, evacuated to Nottingham, to train as a teacher and

did service with the R.A.F, in the Bluwenty Air Squadron. Both these

fields continued side by side with large chunks of the vacations spent

on aircrew training. By the time full-time aircrew training took place

we had to sign on if we wanted to stay as aircrew. I did not and

switched to the Education branch.

"In 1947 I took up a post at Temple School, Strood. I helped introduce

rugby into this secondary school and helped run cricket though I am a

duffer at the latter. Later I found promotion blocked because of a lack

1 2

of a degree so I studied part-tine far three years and obtained a B.Sc.

In Jfaths and Physics. By the time I completed the course I was at the

Chatham Boys Tech.

"I obtained some promotion there but on finding that the Headjaaster

(now dead) was double crossing three of us on different promises, I

applied for and became Head of Haths at Rochester Girls School. Three

years later at the age of 41 I married a civil servant and later we had

two daughters who are now 19 and 21. At one time I could draw both the

Old Age Pension and Child Allowance!

"Vhen I retired I was 'phoned by both K.G.S. and Skinners School to

stand in as deputy bead of maths whilst other senior members were called

to Jury Service/Illness or short course training. Unfortunately, I then

went ill and after a wait had to have a double operation on ay back.

"I have had an active Hasonic life and on one occasion sat In the

chair of the Grandmaster in the Xasonlc H.Q. in London. I would be

interested to hear fron any other 0.1. masons or, Indeed, from any of my

fellow train travellers; my class numbers were:

1936/37 3B

1937/38 4A

1938/39 04A

1939/40 RBMJVB A

1940/41 5A

1941/42 6<1)

1942/43 6(2)"

O.M.'s wishing to contact Alan can write to him at:

8 Foalhurst Close, Tanbridge, Kent TI10 4HA

or telephone him on:

0732 - 350147

TIES

The Honorary Treasurer has a supply of both styles of Old.

Jtaidstonian tie and these can be ordered using the back page

of this newsletter.

The crested version costs £A.00 each whilst the striped

garment costs *3.50 - both prices include postage.

13

O!B I TUAR I

It Is with regret tliat the Society records the death of two

more people with a long association to the School:

Edith Herbert was Headmaster's secretary during Mr Claydon's

tine at M.G.S. She passed away at the age of 88 on 28th

February.

Alan A. Hewman (1925) passed away on 3rd March. He was

President of the Society in 1963 and 1964 and often supplied

information for this newsletter.

A letter from PETER G. REDMAH C1939) mentions the sudden

death of RICHARD ARTHUR HOKAH on 25th April, who was

formerly Chaplain of Blrkenhead School.

"... He was the middle one of the three Homen (note the

plural which was current In the 'thirties). Hlder brother

Philip J. L. was School Captain In about 1935. He became a

very senior Civil Servant and died some three years ago.

Richard, as Is seen, went Into the church, while Tom the

third went into the Paymaster Branch of the Royal Havy and

retired as Admiral Superintendent at Chatham Dockyard. Still

going strong, it is thought.

"I remember them well - they were very well up the school

at the time of my arrival in 1933. Father was a Banking Type

and they lived in west Mailing. Their school time was

concurrent with that of the four Beechings."

NEWSLETTER

The newsletter is compiled by Roger Brown and all items forInclusion in future editions should be sent to him at the

treasurer's address.

The newsletter is printed by the office staff at MaidstoneGrammar School and the Society are greatly appreciative of

their help and support.