School Memories

William Brett 1800? I believe my ancestor William Brett was the schoolmaster here in early 1800s. He seems to have been quite a character – often publishing adverts in the local paper…
I haven’t so far found William’s marriage to his wife Ann which I think would have been around 1820. His only son was called William Vaughan Brett so I wondered if that might have been Ann’s maiden name. I note there was a Vaughan family associated with running Eton at the time. William seems to have had all his children baptised at the Windsor church.

William placed ads to teach French to Ladies in his spare time… He was a writer to a solicitor. He was involved with the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and the Windsor Provident Society. Unfortunately he had habit of losing things he was responsible for including a theft from the school and the loss of the account books for the provident society. He seems to have fallen out of favour and published a heartfelt notice to those who cast stones at him… Then he had a seemingly abortive attempt at a coaching business aimed at ladies which seemingly carried the slur of ‘trade’. Then he seems to have managed a somewhat more settled existence when he got involved with John Nash…. The family must have had some money as his son had enough means to leave a will and his daughters were described as annuitants. One of his daughters, Clara had a baby out of wedlock and was sent to the workhouse where I believe she stayed with her baby until sponsored to leave by an older man. William retired to Wokingham where he died.
Lesley

Mr. E. R. Beasley 1877 came to the Royal Free School in 1877, under Mr. Whittington. Discipline was strict- “All late boys queued until after registers were called, then to the Headmaster’s desk for the cane. If caught with sweets- confiscated and thrown out of the window, and when playtime came a scramble to get out first and retrieve the sweets. There was a soup kitchen round the corner – boys taking ½d. and their own basin and spoon. I was up at 5.30 a.m. to fetch in the cows from Silver fields (now Alexandra Gardens) and milked two of them before morning school. I left school at the age of 11 after passing the Labour Examination.”

Mr. J. Wren (Leeds) 1879-85 “More than three-quarters of a century have passed since that day in 1879 when about twenty of us, having completed our term at the Infants’ School in Alexandra Road, marched in procession to the “Big School” near the Bachelors’ Acre to begin the advanced studies which were to be our lot for the ensuing six years or so. We were all put in Standard II, which at that time was being taught by Mr. Fred Wilson. On the wall hung a Tonic-Sol-Fa modulator bearing the words of the song “Butter-cups and Daises,” and beside it a large map of England, which gave me my first acquaintance with Geography. In due course we passed to Standard III in the main schoolroom, where we had Mr. Henry Ford for teacher. Next it was Standard IV under Mr. Godfrey. At the other end of the room Mr. Neal had Standard V, and beside it, near the front door, Mr. Plumridge had Standard VII, which only a few of us succeeded in reaching. At this time Mr. W. E. Lutwyche, who eventually became Head Master, was a pupil teacher. The Head Master in my time was Mr. William Whittington, whose father, of the same Christian name, had a printing and stationery business in Lower Peascod Street.

Mr Whittington played the organ for the hymns, which varied according to the seasons of the Church, and read the opening and closing prayers. He invariably led, unaccompanied, the marching songs with which we filed out of school.

We always held him in high regard, and in most respects he was an ideal “dominie” Singing was a feature of the school’s opening, and as a good number of the boys were in the choirs of the Parish Church and All Saints’, there were plenty to lead the singing. One of the school songs I remember began:

“King Alfred was a warrior bold,

A wise and learned wight.

He learned to read when twelve years old;

At twenty he could write.”

When Mr. Whittington died he was succeeded by Mr. R. G. Knight, who had been headmaster at Clewer St. Stephen, and for years it was a standing joke that while the British School had Mr. Day for headmaster, the “Royal” had Mr. Knight. Thus Windsor could claim to have the best instructed children in the country for they were taught by night and day.

A staunch supporter of our school was Miss Julia Gibbons, a charming lady of diminutive stature, whose annual “examination” in the three “R’s” occasioned as much interest, though hardly as much awe, as the annual visits of H.M. Inspectors, the latter including the Rev.C.C. DuPont, whose smiling bonhomie did much to alleviate the fear in which teachers and scholars alike might be expected to hold him. Miss Gibbons heard us read, gave us subjects for composition, and distributed cards on which simple arithmetical problems were printed, the last mentioned increasing in difficulty according to the age of the respective classes. She awarded prizes to those who had shown a good standard of proficiency and I count among my treasures even today the book I received with an inscription in her trembling handwriting stating that it was given to me by her.

A great event of the year was the annual “treat” in the summer, when we met at the School and marched in procession to Shaw Farm on the Old Windsor Road and disported in a meadow adjoining the Long Walk. Coal merchants and others lent their wagons to convey the younger children, and there was generally a drum and fife band to head the procession and play in the field during the afternoon. I sometimes find myself humming or whistling some of the tunes the band played. We had to carry our own mugs for tea. Each scholar had a perforated ticket, one half of which entitled him or her to a thick buttered roll and the other to a hunk of cake.

In those days we were not allowed out of the playground in playtime. All our recreation had to be within its walls Venturesome lads climbed the posts of what had many years earlier been a swing, and sat on the cross-beam from which the swing ropes had at some time been suspended. The Head master’s brick fronted rubbish hole became for some of us a fortress, which became the scene of many a conflict between besiegers and besieged. During the Egyptian Campaign in the Eighties this “fortress” became the headquarters of Arabi Pasha, and during the Soudan war those of the Mahdi and his henchman Osman Digna, whose encompasses hosts fought the invaders so strenuously that many of us had difficulty on reaching home in explaining why our clothing was not in the tidy condition in which it ought to have been!

As a journalist of sixty years’ experience, I look back on the years of the Egyptian Campaign with particular interest, for it was while in Standard V, at the age of eleven, that I wrote what may be regarded as my first literary article. In 1882, when the Life Guards, who had fought at Tel-el-Kebir, returned to Windsor, a general holiday was proclaimed in the town, and we of Standard V had to write for composition a description of the scene. It was a source of pride and encouragement to me to see my effusion passed from one teacher to another, and I have always regretted that, as it was written on a slate, which had to be cleaned for the next lesson, I was unable to preserve it. I have described a good many high occasions since then.

It was while in the upper standards that we made acquaintances with English literature. In standard V we recited “Mazeppa’s Death Ride,” by Byron, and in Standard VI we learned long passages from Shakespeare.

Mr. Whittington’s cane was a fairly thick one, which hung on a nail behind his desk. It took the place of one, which by apparent long and frequent usage had become frayed at the end, which made you feel it. Only once did I suffer the inconvenience of its sting. When we of the Sixth Standard were called out to answer for an offence committed by one of us, I incautiously nudged my neighbour and whispered, “Don’t answer.” The teacher overheard me and reported me to the Head, who acted towards me as he alone had the right to do. I have often recalled the incident and wondered whether he, in the realms of the Blest, (where he assuredly is) realises the virtue of Forgiveness. I certainly forgive him!

Looking back over 75 years I cannot but be grateful for the grounding in and a love for learning which has stood me well during my long and more or less successful journalistic career.”

Mr. WM. Garlick (old Windsor) who is 84 started at the school in 1880; and his grandson is here today. Mr Garlick walked in from Water Oakley and had to bring his dinner. He had to pay 2d. per week. He was allowed to go home at 3 p.m. during the winter months.

Mr.C.W.Angell (of Chalvey) 1882-87 sends greetings and recalls the following: “When I started at the school, Mr Knight was Headmaster, and among the Pupil Teachers were Mr. Lutwyche and Mr. Shorter (later Heads of the royal Free and of Clewer Green). The Boys had to pay 2d. per week unless they were on the Foundation, when they received clothes each year but had to clean the School. I obtained a Champagne Bible and a “Griffin “ Prize.

In 1887, on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, we marched to the home park for a feast. Queen Victoria came in a “pony and cart” to see the children.

We had an Annual “Treat” at Shaw Farm, and an outing to Burnham Beeches.

When the Guards (Camel Corps) left for Egypt we played truant – what a whacking we got!

The event which stands out most was the great fight with the British Schoolboys. It was a terrible fight, but we won. Later we were all punished by the two headmasters.

I have always been keen on football, although there was no school team in my day at the school. For 25 years (1905-30) I was trainer to the Windsor and Eton Football Club.”

Mrs. Ellen Nalder, nee Rosser (Windsor) 1892 writes: “I arrived at school at 7 a.m. to clean the classroom… I went home for breakfast and put on a clean tippet and apron, navy blue frock and a white straw hat and arrived back in school at 10 a.m.”

(Mrs. Nalder was evidently a member of the “Ladies School.”

Mr Bertram Cox (of Windsor) 1896 – 1902 recalls among other things the Boar War, and in particular the relief of Mafeking, when the school was given a holiday and there was a bonfire on the Acre.

“At Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee we assembled at the school, marched up to Sovereign’s Entrance and saw the Queen drive by, and then we were all given tea.”

Mr.Cox remembers the lessons – chiefly 3 R’s and singing – the games on the Acre and the fights with the British School Boys.

Mr. Jas. Ireland (Aylesford, Kent) at school 1896-1900, recalls the Diamond Jubilee; the school being beaten in the McCloskie Shield match the first time it was competed for; and the lady in Acre Passage who made toffee and sold to the boys for ½d. a piece. Mr. Ireland thinks parents should realise what a boom it is to have Medical and Dental treatment, as he suffered a great deal because neither of these services was available in his schooldays.

Sir Sidney Camm (Hawker Aircraft Co.) 1901-8 He recalls with gratitude the “sound learning” he received at the school, and speaks with affection of the Headmaster and staff.

( Sir Sidney w as the principle guest at the 1954 Speech Day. He gave three very fine framed photographs of his “Hawker Hunter” to the school.)

Mr. Fred Camm (London W.C.2) 1903-10 “My heartiest congratulations to the Windsor Royal Free Schools, which have sent forth Scholars into the University of Life and in to important positions in the Arts and Professions. They have filled them with distinction and merit. The schools have a record of which any school could be proud. I have the happiest recollections of my association with it, and gratitude for the tutelage I received.”

Mr. S. T. Streamer (Windsor) 1904 tells a story of ink splashing – and its sequel! He treasures a Certificate for Religious Knowledge signed by the Bishop of Oxford.

Mr. H. E. Packwood (Slough) 1904 – 40. Former Teacher  “The School in outward appearance is almost the same as it was half a century ago. Bachelors’ Acre was often a quagmire and could not be used as a playground. The school playground was not then asphalted and so was not much better.

Through the efforts of Sir William Shipley, the Acre was levelled and gravelled, and a rounders pitch was asphalted.

The various classrooms accommodated about 350 boys – over 60 in each class. Two new rooms were added, taking up part of the girls’ playground. There was no Handicraft and no games period.

Until the First World War children were elected to receive free clothing. Any boy whose parents were members of the Church could apply.

On Empire Day the whole of the schools assembled on the Acre, then marched down to the Home Park, headed by a band. Sports and tea kept everyone busy for the whole afternoon.

The most profound change in the History of the School was the re-organisation in 1930.”

Mr Packwood regrets the break in school life at eleven.

Mr. Fred Fuzzens, O.B.E. M.M., J.P. (Ex-Mayor and Alderman of Windsor) “Half a century has passed since I left a school which has produced some of the finest citizens of the Borough. Of course there have been changes. School meals, milk, medical examinations, school visits, etc., were never heard of 50 years ago. Do the present scholars, and their parents, appreciate all these things?”

Dr. H. S. Middleton (Organist of Trinity College, Cambridge) 1905-7, “I hold abiding memories of the teachers who were devoting their energies to moulding obdurate minds. Among the personalities I yet remember the Vicar of Windsor, the Rev. J. H. Ellison, is the most impressive. In the life of the school, the name most to be venerated was that of senior assistant, Mr. W. E. Lutwyche (later Headmaster). The Headmaster was Mr. Knight – his professional competence was never complete-his influence permeated the entire school.”

(Mr. H. S. Middleton was also on the staff 1909-11 after which he left to go to the Royal Academy of Music.)

Mr. L. W. S. Howard (Windsor) 1907 – 40 – Former Teacher“’Up the Nats!’ That was the cry I first heard when I joined the staff in 1907. It was the rallying shout on the football field, at swimming races, and during the snowball fights against the British School.

During the winter a soccer game was always played on the Acre at break, and baseball during the summer. Sport was well to the fore.

An event looked forward to was the Sunday School Treat, when, after a short service, the children were taken to Burnham Beeches in carts and vans.

It sounds strange to the modern child to hear that the whole school was marched to the Long Walk to see Gustav Hamil fly his aeroplane in early 1914.

Many whom I first taught are now grandfathers. One of my greatest pleasures is to meet an old boy of the School and to have a chat about old times. I wish you all God Speed and the best of health and happiness.”

Mrs. Mary Cooper (“Polly Swain”) N.7., won a Champagne Bible in 1908 and completed 11 years unbroken attendance. She remembers particularly “my enjoyment of the very few Holy Days when we went to All Saints’ Church and then had the remainder of the day as a holiday.”

Mr. N. S. G. Mallett (Tavistock). “I was Assistant Master under Mr. Knight during the Boer War. I well remember the happy times I had with my colleagues, Mr. Lutwyche and Mr. Le Fevre, and have always been grateful for the help which the former gave me.” Mr. Mallett says he will be 80 in December; but his handwriting is superb.

Mrs. E. Hutchinson (nee Morgan) 1911 –15 :“The girls for the “Ladies” and “Free” Schools were selected by a Committee. The each received a length of blue serge, boots, black stockings, tippets and aprons and greenish flannel petticoats. Some of these clothes were made in the school. During the summer the “Ladies’ School” wore butcher blue blouses and navy skirts.”

Mrs. Helen Davies (Windsor) 1911-17 was a member of the “Ladies’ School.” “I wore a special uniform including a straw boater hat which got very battered….and once I was given a large loaf to take home.” Mrs. Davies is very grateful for the education she received.

Miss D. Lewis (Windsor) 1916 – 32 (Former Teacher), sends greetings and good wishes for the future. She recalls the staff as a “happy team” and has very pleasant memories of the time she spent in the school.

Mr. E. G. Nalder (Windsor) 1922-42 describes himself as a “young old boy” and remembers with pleasure all the members of staff; and in particular how the top class was divided into three sections, including a group of “Students” who did quite advance work. The Acre was used much more in those days for Organised Games and Sports. (What a pity this cannot be so today owing to its very rough surface). It used to be “an ideal long distance track” according to Mr. Nalder. He is pleased to have three sons who attended the school”

Mr. T. A. Hallsey (Datchet) 1929 – 1940  Former Teacher writes of the new Gymnasium and Art block, which he says, “was dedicated by the Bishop of Buckingham in February 1940.”

“Gone, now, were the days of ‘Coats off, lads – P.E. in the yard.’ No more ‘drilling’ on the wider spaces of the Acre where teacher and pupil alike smarted slightly under the – at times – not very well concealed amusement of passing guardsman. But now – a fully equipped gym, with changing rooms and showers – a gym. Where courage and pride in bodily skill could be developed and where the remedial attention sometimes necessary could be easily given.

Above the gym. – the Art and Craft Room, light and spacious, where through practice and opportunity the boys could – even if their own work wasn’t particularly good- at least through endeavour realise the skill that must lie behind works of artistic merit and beauty. They were being helped at least to appreciate good things when they saw them.

The Royal Free was still on the royal Road of Progress.”

S/SGT. J Vickers (M.E.L.F.) 1939-42  “The school is very often in my thoughts, and the very happy, and needless to say, the inevitable unhappy times I spent there. But I must admit that the former more than cancel out the latter.”

Don Church 1940-1947 Spital Infants (St Leonards Road) was my first school in 1938 ?

Miss Meanwell the headmistress, was very kind and popular.

During 1940 I moved to the Royal Free Junior school on The Acre, Victoria Street, Windsor.

The teachers names I remember, Mrs Johnstone, (machine gun Jonny) rapid use of the cane, next year Mr Froome ( Headmaster) who seemed to spend a lot of time wandering round the school, rather than spending time teaching us. For my final year my teacher was Mr Barlow who had a temper and was quite strict but overall I liked his style of teaching. In 1944 having failed my 11 plus exam I moved downstairs to Royal Free Senior Modern School, my first teacher in the senior school was Mrs Bonson who in those days taught all subjects, but it was obvious her favourite subject was art, she made the subject very interesting to the whole class.

For my second year my teacher was Mrs Ansell, who was a good teacher, treating every subject in a very comprehensive way.

My final year at school was a disaster, in that I had several teachers whose names I do not remember, some were ex – RAF officers who had just been demobbed and they seemed to enjoy telling us what they did during the war.

During this time at school my headmaster was Norman Sykes (Bill), he was a  bully with the cane, which although I never received the cane from him, has left me with a fearful memory of him. However he did impress me one day, on assembly mornings at school he always had boys who could sing well, to lead the singing, and one morning he told us that the following Saturday he was playing the organ at Old Windsor Parish Church for a wedding, and he was short of boy sopranos, would we help out. About six of us cycled over there, and afterwards he gave us half a crown  2/6 (12 1/2 p) we were all very pleased because the going rate for choirboys was normally 1 shilling (5p) unfortunately  he never asked us over again. ! !

The war affected many things during my time at school, going to the bomb shelter several times during air raids and school closed because they had run out of coal for the open fireplaces, and to play football the whole class walked to the Home Park, no transport in those days.

As I was to leave the school at Easter time in 1947, I had pre-decided that I would make a point of remembering my last day at school. Two weeks before my leaving date, I heard by word of mouth, don’t go to school on Monday, because the school was being used as a centre for people who have been flooded out by the great River Thames overflow. Another week passed by, and the same message, do not go to school. So that was it, no goodbye from the school or anyone else, and no memory of my last day.

Unfortunately unlike many other ‘Old Boys’ I did not enjoy my time at the Royal Free School, but of course I wartime did not help.

Michael Tosh I attended the RFS from about 1943 to 1949, I have happy memories of association with other children, but not with the staff. when the male teachers started coming back from the war things improved. The head master Mr Sykes, nicknamed Old Bill was bit of a tyrant, on one occasion the boy sitting next to me was swiped around the head by Old Bill, the pencil he was holding passed through his palm protruding

out the other side like a bell tent. on another occasion I asked Old Bill “Please sir when do I sit the elven plus” his reply was to swipe me around the head and say” boy your so stupid we did not put your name down” Leaving school was one of the best days of my life.

Jim Wheeler 1944-48 I was a pupil at the RFJS, I remember that Mrs. Johnson (Johnstone?) was my 2nd year teacher. She was known as the “Tommy gun” because of the speed with which she whacked you with a ruler. My next teacher was Mr. Bevan . In year 4 I was with Mr. Barlow, who inspired me to become a teacher. (I retired as head teacher from Shinfield Junior School in1995.) Colonel Froome was the Headmaster and he walked around with a swagger stick under his arm. One day he gave me a notebook with Head Boy written on it and told me to write down the names of anybody misbehaving. I never used it and the whole idea died a natural death. While I was there, there was a big above ground water tank in the middle of the Acre . I guess it had something to do with the war. I remember George Cass, Dave Stone , Andre Stokes, who were contemporaries. Also, Shirley Holmes and her sister. One favourite playground game was British Bulldog, where someone stood with his back to the wall and another team member bent over and put his head between the first one’s knees; then the next one put his head between the second one’s knees and so on until the whole team was in place. The other team would then run one at a time and leap onto their backs and try to make them collapse. A highly dangerous game! Colonel Froome would regularly send me up to the General Post Office to post letters for him. He had a son serving in India and he gave me a letter to air mail to him, but I registered it by mistake. Black mark! During the war we were often asked to take a tin to school and were given chocolate powder to supplement our diet. I believe it came from Canada . Even as young children we had to use the exterior fire escape to access our classrooms, which provided very little protection from falling. The senior school was downstairs until the 1944 Education Act ruled that the secondary children should be in a separate building. My father had a greengrocery shop in Oxford Rd. , which was demolished to make way for the Edward Square development. I am now living in Maine , North America , and would be pleased to hear from anyone who was contemporary with me. You have my permission to publish my email address: jwheeler@uninets.net

Sheila Caldwell nee McManus 1945-1949 I attended RFSJ for all my primary years. The teachers I remember are Headmaster Col Froome, Miss Shepherd, Mr Evans, Mr Barlow. Bill Haydn was there, he taught us the descant recorder, and Mr Mills played the piano for us. One friend I made at the school was Anne-Marie Parsons, who had recently come to England after being a prisoner of war in the Philippines. Amazingly we are friends to this day, despite the fact that I have lived in Sydney, Australia, since 1962. My two younger sisters also went to RFPS for their schooling.

Mr. W. J. Russell (Sunninghill) 1945-50 writes and tells of the beginning of the school garden, and how he used to wheel soil from Park Street to the school every dinner hour.

Ray Skelly Mr Pugsley taught science during my days at the school (ive still got the science exercise book covered in brown paper. He was a strict teacher and a good man. I seem to remember when he was in the army he boxed and sparred with the late Freddie Mills. Mr Greenhowe (geography) Mr Williams Mr Steele (bit of a bully) Miss Ansell in her new classroom up the alley with the garden round it. I think she tried to teach me algebra!!! Bill Sykes took us for music. He died while I was at the school and was succeeded by Mr Read. His son who attended the school for a while stuck a chisel in my forehead during one of Mr Bastows classes. Oh dear!! Mr Halliwell was my first teacher in the B stream , a kind man. I was sat next to one of my best friends Dickie Davies (Bernado boy)

Dickie Davies (April ’48 – July ’50)I am new to the Royal Free website; my brother referred me to it when he discovered I had a mention from 1949, Ray Skelly referred to me as his best friend. I can only hope he is still with us to let him know I really appreciate the mention. It carries some weight, you know, to be remembered some 70-plus years later along with the likes of Miss Ansell whom we had to call “Ma’am” and Mr Bastow the woodwork master.

My lasting memory with Ray comes from an art class when we had to draw the figure of a man. My art ability stretches to match-stick figures and that’s it, so I passed my paper to Ray, sitting behind me. His method of drawing amounted to using a series of various size parenthesis, resulting in every figure looking like a version of Popeye, it also made his artwork rather distinctive!

When I handed my paper in, I was called to the front of the class and accused of not having done the drawing myself. I insisted I did and was then sent to the headmaster’s study for lying.

My Sykes, the head, had a fearsome reputation for his enthusiasm to cane boys. I expected the worst. I was surprised to find he was sympathetic so I presumed he couldn’t draw either or maybe he thought all Barnardo boys were orphans and therefore life was hard enough without the need of a caning to make it worse. I left his study feeling I had made a friend. When I attended his music lessons, I joined in the singing of his regular “Nymphs and Shepherds” with a greater enthusiasm.

I left the school at the start of the summer holidays in 1950 and was later transferred from the Barnardo home of New Lodge, Windsor, to a training school in Hertford where I did my apprenticeship to become a printer. I have always been proud of having been a student at the Royal Free.

Nigel Mead 1952-1957 Nigel moved to New Zealand in 1958 but would love to hear from anybody who is from his era at The Acre. He remembers a total eclipse about 1954, which he missed due to a bloody nose. Anniversary of 250 years in 1955. Going to school after being off sick for three months and being told it was 11 plus exam day – which he passed!

Larry Shaw 1954-1957 I was a pupil at the Royal Free School from 1954 to approx. mid 1957, I would have been an infant but seem to remember was at The Acre? Larry (Laurence) Shaw, Didcot Oxon.

Mr Jim Smith 195?-1955 I was originally in the primary school The headmaster was Mr Frewen (I’ve probably spelt it incorrectly). He was almost a Robertson Hare look-alike, but a lovely person. Mr Pugsley took over for my last year in the primary school.  I had the following teachers in the primary school:- Mr Pringle I think Mr Kelsey, but I’m not quite sure if I’ve got this name correct. Mr Barlow, Class 4a, I was in this class for two years, they obviously made a mistake with my birthday.

 In the secondary school I had the following teachers:- Mr Wilson, 1a, (Great person, ex RAF) Mr Conway, 2a I remember the sports teacher (Mr Davies) very well; he played football (centre forward) for Windsor & Eton and also played amateur for Wales.  From Mr Conway’s class I was transferred to the Windsor Grammar School in 1955, but I was only there for just over a term because I moved to a different part of the country.

Things I remember clearly are as follows:-  The day that Mr Sykes the previous secondary school headmaster was found dead in his office early one morning.  The time when the huge annual 5th Nov bonfire on the acre was set on fire over night by drunken Coldstream Guards, and all the kids standing outside the barracks with their placards (Hang the Coldstream Guards) protesting at them. Giles even did a cartoon on the event.  I remember when a lot of us kids went along to the Great Western Hotel to get the autograph of Sugar Ray Robinson when he was over here to fight Randolph Turpin. He signed autographs for everyone. I also clearly remember when Sir Sydney Camm (inventor of the Hurricane and Hawker Hunter etc) attended the secondary school speech day; I even received some prizes from him on that day.  I also have many fond memories of the sports days and cross-country, football etc. I was one of the many Dr Barnardo boys (New Lodge) who attended the Royal Free.

F.T.P 1951-1955  Yes, I am an old boy of the RF…and many memories have I of the Acre, having left 50 years ago . Those memories are still there and will remain with me always.. A point of view regards the lectern. I can remember when it was first used by Mr. Read and it was made by Mr  Bastow in the schools (then woodwork room) I liken Mr Bastow to Mr chips, always the deputy head but never the headmaster.

I can remember the gardens in Sun Passage well, for every test at the end of term I came first.. my name was put in cement on the low wall as was others, but time has done its work and the cement facing has come off, i did check about a year ago, but it appears to have all gone.

My 4 years spent at the Acre was uneventful, except for one instance, when there was a spate of pea shooters going the rounds, with little rolls of wet paper as ammunition. I went one better, from the woodwork class, I ‘collared’  a pocket full of tacks and used them as ammo. One day , instead of blowing, I drew a deep breath and swallowed a few tacks. Mr Read gave me a sandwich which contained cotton wool (honest), but that didn’t work so i was taken to hospital, X-rayed and it was confirmed I had swallowed a couple after a bout three days in hospital I was sent home having lost the tacks through natural wastage, and then I had to go to school to face the wrath of Mr Read, and boy, was I put through the mangle. He never let me forget that episode.

The RF was a good school, staffed by dedicated teachers, some I can remember names and a couple I can picture in my mind, but time has dulled me a little.

Just a little snippet of information, that might be of interest. During my working years , I was working for a site clearing firm and I had the privilege of clearing the site for the ‘new’ RF…but it is the ‘old ‘ RF that has memories for me, and though I spend much of my time in Thailand now, when I come home to visit my family, I try to get down to Windsor and if I can , I visit the Acre and sit on the banks and just ‘go back in time’.

Hi from Mike Hearn I was resident at the rf from 1955 to 60. So hello to my old friends whom I hope are still around, Derek Prime Norman Latchford Brian Pratt(New Zealand) John Baldwin so many years ago

Some memories not so good as i remember killer Conway and his infamous Crowpeck and was once nearly knocked out by his massive hand descending on my skull so pleased to hear he got his comeuppance in the end a real bully of a teacher. I also remember the classroom riot of 1958 when Sam Smart was accosted by someone when books went flying and all hell broke   loose and i don’t think poor old George Reid our head knew anything about it. I also remember the disgusting open air urinals dreaded on a wet day so many more memories to come will be in touch and please get in touch with me if any of my friends get this.

I have often wondered whether many people realise the narrow road. School produced a pupil who saved Great Britain from invasion in World War 2.
By his design of the hurricane fighter. The Spitfire of course played its great part But it was the hurricane that shot down most enemy aircraft
So our old school can claim a great achievement that changed history itself

Also our notorious teacher John Conway a really good teacher but I fear something of a sadist. I often wonder what became of him, perhaps someone knows. Memories sometimes last a lifetime and now at the age of 81 (2024) it seems my memories of the Royal Free feel like 2 years ago

kindest regards.

Douglas E. Scott I was there (to quote Max Boyce) from 1958 – 1961, George W Reed was the headmaster, for our last year we had a Mr Conway (aka Killer). I’d like to say that I had happy memories but unfortunately I can’t, from being accused in front of the whole school at assembly one morning for something trivial & when the truth came out & I was innocent, no apology was forthcoming, There were many other things that happened to me at RFS that have left an indelible mark on my Psyche. I was a member of the schools camera club & can remember showing how to process black & white film.

Nigel Pitman 1958-1964 I attended Royal Free Infants in Alexandra Rd from 1958-61 and Juniors on Bachelors Acre from then until 1964. I found Graham Cheeseman’s memories prompted ones of my own that I had long forgotten, partly I guess because I was at the school with his brother Derek. Teachers of whom I have memories are Mrs Moody, a lovely matronly lady who was my first teacher and who lived in Hatch Lane. For reasons best known only to them my parents registered me for school late and even I became aware of the persistent and unnecessary lectures given to them, first by the head teacher, the formidable Miss Cook. For some weeks I was reminded of the transgression, seemingly at any given opportunity. Still, Mrs Moody was very kind, as was Miss Maudsley who I recall went for a year to Canada on a swap which brought a lady by the name of Miss Malberg. Dickie Bird and I used to swap PG Tips cards and he was always the best of the teachers i thought. Mr Donington was OK if you liked football but a good teacher and the head at the primary was Mr Evans whose second wife came to the school too. I must admit to never having liked him nor Bill Barlow who to me seemed to inhabit a parallel universe. He was only ever interested in the kids who were reasonably bright and I know a number of the class must have found school awful. One abiding memory was when the day he picked on someone for no good reason and a lad called Chris Blaby jumped in and called him for all sorts leaving Barlow to stamp off leaving the class unattended to report the matter to Mr Evans. I think he got the cane but had no regrets and Bill Barlow lost it from that point on.

 Dinners were so bad I often ate little or nothing which wasn’t great as I was the original skinny weed anyway. I still can’t look at or think about tapioca and semolina without feeling sick . People in my time at various points were Nick Macleod, Robert Ferris, Elizabeth Fry, Keith Riach, Mike Slagter, Brian Hatt, Diana Luscombe, Derek Cheeseman, Terry who lived in the castle as his dad was a herdsman. Odd that I can’t recall more but I lost touch with them all.

Best Regards Nigel Pitman

K.Michael Dixon 1958-1965 I started at the RF Senior School in 1958 coming from Dedworth Green Junior because both my Father, Cedric Dixon his brothers Ivanhoe and Harold and my Grandfather all went to RF. I was called Ken when I was younger but am Michael to stop any confusion.

I found it difficult coming from a mixed junior to an all-boys senior school. I remember that I came into 1a that was the unit away from the school near the passage to Peascod Street (Sun Passage )(we used to go to the bakery each day in Peascod Street and get a 1p (one penny’s or 6p worth of yesterdays cakes – T’ Cakes, Lardy Cakes etc) and I believe the teacher was Ben Harley (also used to teach Art in 4b above the Gym) could be wrong on the surname. He always shuffled around in open sandals with grey flannel trousers and a tweed jacket smoking a pipe. He was a very dear man and helped a lot in later years in the Art Class. The Acre playground was literally shingle.

 I found it difficult and ended up going from the ‘A’ stream to ‘B’ stream and the other teachers I remember, not in a necessarily happy order were:

George Reid Headmaster. Mr Heath (Maths) Mr Williams Gen and Tech Drawing? (I did not get on with this man and was, I feel, quite cruel) Mr Davies who was very sportive and after I left school lived in White Horse Road, Dedworth and I used to talk to regularly. Mr Williams and Mr Davies were both Welsh. ‘Killer’ Conway which, I believe, he obtained the name after hitting some kid with an ‘edge-on’ 1/4″ ruler and either hurt him very badly or worse (regularly hitting across the back of the hands edge on with the same ruler or piece of wood and he, I believe, had to leave the school. He was one of the Art teachers and was an ‘aggressive’ teacher. Mr Ben Harley (Art) Sam Smart who was, I believe, a Slough Councillor, certainly my mother (apparently tried chatting her up!!!)  knew him – he, had the nasty habit of hitting with a slipper across the back of the hands. Then there was the Science teacher, ‘?’ Roberts – son (?) (my Uncle a Professor apparently said that the teaching was terrible and he approached them, so my Mother says – can’t remember too much of him apart from the occasional experiment that went wrong. Also  Jim Bastow – Deputy Head (Wood Work – around the back of the Bicycle Sheds), I believe he had  a false eye, never made Head which after George Read was a shame as he was a dedicated man, he also did Technical Drawing, he lived, I believe in Imperial Road near Trevelyan School (my Father used to deliver to him and also to George Read who lived in Bolton Road, he is, incidentally buried a few graves away from my late Father). I have many memories of the area as my father was with John Wallis Dry Cleaners in 12 Peascod Street now the West Cornwall Pasty Shop… therefore I had a grounding of knocking on just about most of Windsor, Datchet, Old Windsor, Eton, Eton Wick, Dedworth out to Fifield as a kid with my dad.

We used to have to share the girls school in Osborne Road’s changing room under the girl’s school. The rooms were very ‘open’ as I recall with the ‘mark of Zorro’ on the walls. It was as though the windows were missing and we used the ‘cellar’s to change in for football, not my forte’. This was attended by both the teachers Williams and Davies, both Welsh – I did not get on with Williams but was reasonably ok with Davies.

We used to run the long distance run from the top of the Castle Gates in Park Street along the Long Walk to Queen’s Gate and across the fields to King’s Road and back to Sheet Street and back into the school via Bachelor’s Acre. I remember the boy ‘Coles’ a thin lad always came first and I still have the gravel in the palm of my hand after falling on the gravel by the Castle Gate by Park Street to this day! The School Secretary was a Mrs. Duckett who lived in a bungalow near the Nags Head at Oakley Green (her husband was the manager of Darville’s ‘Super Market’ at the Wolf – Dedworth) – she was the Secretary through my years 1958-1963. George Read left shortly after 1963 because I met him in the College Foyer at East Berks College in Trinity Place and he was lecturing after leaving the school and insisted that I called him George which I found difficult and continued to call him ‘Sir’. He helped me greatly with music and I’m not sure that the rest of the class would agree but I listened and have, subsequently had an alternative life-time of music in my hobby and work all through him.

I hope some of this helps and hope the School keeps some semblance of ever existing given today’s climate – Michael

Roger Aspen 1960 I was born in 1950 and educated from the start at Royal Free. I well remember from reading other recollections the 1960s. George Reed was my head teacher. Mr Ferguson was the wood work teacher & I have never forgot his attention to detail in making mortise and tenon joints and the smell of horse hoof glue bubbling away on a gas ring. I can’t remember his name but the art teacher was particularly sadistic. He made us climb on a chair to get ‘SAMMY’ the slipper from a high cupboard before he hit us with it. He was a very strange man. Isn’t is odd that a lot of memories from ex pupils mention punishments by teachers. We must have been a bad lot. Glad is does not happen today. I remember climbing the outside stairs after play with a huge pile of coal below. A class mate always in trouble threw a lump of coal at me and hit a girl called Flora Mc Donald in the face. We both got the cane from George Reed. I remember a class mate called Dave Hedges who kept in touch for quite a few years. I remember during a science lesson when the teacher went out he decided to sniff neat Ammonia and started frothing at the mouth. We both went on to East Berks college to learn aircraft engineering. He stuck at it but I couldn’t do the maths. It dawned on me that I and almost all my class couldn’t pass the 11 plus because we hadn’t been taught much of the subjects. We hadn’t even looked at algebra. I went on to be a policeman in central London for 30 years.
Sure more will come back to me

Sam Smart used to hit us with a slipper if he could find one as we were = always hiding them – a favourite spot was on top of the roller = blackboard.  When he rolled it down, the slipper would often fall on his = head much to our amusement.  He would go very red in the face and loose = his rag completely! Another teacher was Mr Davis or (Davies?), the Welsh guy, who used to = line up all those for the slipper who didn’t get more than 8 out of 10 = in weekly spelling tests! The headteacher whose name I can’t recall but taught us music, was = nicknamed “Fluff” I think.  Mr Harley (?) was the elderly Art teacher = whose stock phrase was “put more light and shade in your picture”.

Michael (Mick) Watson 1961-1964 I have just come across the Royal Free website and I have a few memories = of the old school at the Acre when I attended from 1961-1964.

I remember the long trek to the playing fields through all kinds of = weather and the appalling “changing rooms”.

The cross-country runs along the Long Walk were great and left me with a = love of running which I only gave up a few years ago and were partially = responsible for me going to train as a PE Teacher when I was 26.

Bullying was rife and the daily walk to the sweet shop in the High = Street was the opportunity for the bullies to stock up on free sweets = taken from other boys under duress or beaten up if they refused!

Recently I attended the Tangmere Military Museum in West Sussex, where there is a board commerorating the former Royal Free schoolboy Sidney Camm, the designer of aircraft including the Hawker Hurricane.
I have many memories of both staff and pupils from the early 1960’s.

The only pupils that I remember well from my time there were Michael = Shacklady, Roger Hartridge, Michael Ewing and Barry Gomm.

Chris E Denham 1963 I well remember my first day at Royal Free in Bachelors acre. It was a cold September morning in 1963, and we were all lined up outside  the inner quadrant waiting for the masters to appear and being led to our new classrooms. I was scared to death at the time, I remember Mr Eccles ( science and maths ) looking very foreboding in his masters cape, and feeling very relieved that my form teacher for that year was Mr Crosby.

 I passed through Ben Harleys, Mr Eccles, Mr Heath, and Jim Bastows classes over the years and have fond memories of Founders day, the smell of the old glue boiler in the woodwork shop where Mr Ferguson taught woodwork ( keep it flush boys ), and of course the school dinners. Mr Roy ( Mick ) who taught RE and Art, Mr Davis who was fond of writing on a slipper with chalk and then leaving his impression for all to see.

My favourite headmaster was George Read, I remember the choir practice on Friday mornings after assembly and I suppose he gave me the enthusiasm to further myself in music which continues to this day. Yes I have good memories of Royal Free, but a much different type of education to which my children experience today.

Edward Etchells My headmaster was Mr GR Read and other masters were AA Beck (science) Barlow (English) Waddington (?),history, Pugsley (woodwork?). My pals were Michael Seymour, David Barker,Roger Arndel etc. I sang in school choir and also parish choir.Was a keen cross-country runner. Recall asking the art master (can’t remember name) how men and women “did it” (as a dare)and as a result of this our class had a special lesson on sex! Heady stuff in those days.

Lyndon Evans – Do you remember how George Read used to stick the arm of his glasses in his ear, take it out and suck the end. Yuk! I can remember Bastow – woodwork and tech. drawing (had a glass eye) and Eccles – Science

Maurice Rolfe I can remember him as well. He used to throw lumps of wood at boys who weren’t paying attention when he was talking

Stephen Buckley He was wood work teacher in 1963 had me making black board pegs for the whole school

Michael (Ken) Dixon OMG I’d forgotten that – he did. BTW George Read is buried in Windsor Cemetery (Spital) Clewer Hill Road end on first junction into the old cemetery 2 along from my late father. He lived in Bolton Road and my father used to deliver Dry Cleaning to him & his wife. (John Wallis Dry Cleaners)

Frederick Wagner reading your details of Mr. Bastow really brought back memories..very suprised to know that he was still teaching in 66 (gawd, what a long time ago).. I left in 1955 and he was ancient then.. but what a shame though, for he was always the Deputy head , never the headmaster..Did Mr. Read move to the new school as head?
My story is this , a pea shooter craze was sweeping the school, but I went one better, for from the woodwork room I ‘nicked’ a handful of small tacks(nails) and fired them from the peashooter, quite deadly..but on one occasion, instead of blowing, and forgetting I had a mouthful of these tacks, I drew in a great lungful of air and promptly swallowed the lot..Oh what a do I caused..Mr read was making me eat’cotton wool’ sandwiches one after the other. Then a trip to hospital for X-ray and then a stay for a few days till they passed through..Return to school was a nightmare and boy, did I get it in the neck from ‘ol Ready’..He never let me forget that

Margaret Scott – Does anybody remember “Killer” Conway, he taught class 4b in what was the school dining room upstairs above the gym.

Michael Ken Dixon – Clearly Remember him – he used a 1/4″ thick ruler to hit the back of the head edge on – my memory. The Class up above the Gym was also 4B – also the Art Room – also – Meals if I remember correctly. The Windsor Skyline above the Picture Rail in the Art Room was painted by Brian Sibley who was (last heard) still living in Bude, North Cornwall (married to Linda Devonport). More info should you need it.

Further Note: See ‘Old School’ below – I & Stephen Buckley shared the same class way back then – he may also have further memories about ‘Killer Conway’ – this has brought up memories I’d buried deep inside from those ‘unholy’ days. Ben Harley took over the Art as I remember – he lived in Slough, smoked a pipe, wore Sandals – a very nice gentle man whilst George Read (Headmaster – lived 84 Bolton Road) brilliant with Music and helped me a lot, the Dep Head Jas Bastow (Lived 33 Imperial Road) – think he had one eye was very quick with the slipper on the hand or ruler!!! In my time there was also (Alan) Davies – Welsh – Sports ? (Lived ? (50) White Horse Road) Note: there were in 1974 3 Davies Families in White Horse Road Dedworth (50 – 88 – 69) – Heath – English / Sam Smart (Lived Slough – Also a Slough Town Councillor (good with the Slipper on the hand) – Science – can’t recall name – Mrs Darville – School Secretary (Lived just before Nags Head Pub – Oakley Green) – the reason I know some of the addresses my late father had a Dry Cleaning business in Windsor/OldWindsor/EtonWick/Eton/Datchet & surrounding areas and he served some of the above.
Note: Linda Davenport in above not Devonport I believe is the correct spelling – I went to East Berks College with her and I and my, then, family moved to Marhamchurch nr Bude, North Cornwall where we met up during the 1970’s. Hope the above helps and triggers some memories I’ve forgotten.

James Griffiths 1963-1969 I’ve just found website of royal free i was pupil there from 1963 till 1969 and was one of the pupils who helped the move from Batchelors acre to Bourne Avenue  I have some good memories of the school and was very sad when I had to leave in 69 due to family moving to s. wales

David Martin 1968 Cross Country Champion two years running 1968-1969

Sheona Rainger (Gillespie) The pantomimes!

Oh this is bringing it all back. Singing in the Choir with Mrs. Wilson really getting into Jerusalem. I remember being the only one who knew the 2nd verse to Good King Wenceslas and she made me sing it all on my own… at least I got a credit out of it.

I still sing Ding Dong The Witch is Dead and my kids are amazed I know the words. So am I! And I was Abanazer (Ave a banana) in our panto… boo hiss!

I’ve still got the goose we made in needlework with Mrs. Evans. Mrs Linklater was possibly the best teacher I ever had, despite always being the last one sitting down when we did the times tables in 2A.

And who could forget sitting there covering our exam books with brown paper? They followed us up through the years, and I was glad to see the back of mine. Those practice 11+ exams when they slipped the real one in without telling us were nerve wracking.

Oh and the ignominy of being in the egg and spoon race on sports day because I wasn’t good enough for anything else. Those really were the days!

I was thinking about names and I remember Belinda Bye, Bronwen Thomas, Nicola Kent, Maurice (sorry, forgot your surname), Christan Riu, Niel Murray, Steven Payne, Susanne Sibley, Jane Oliver… probably I’d come up with a few more. Mrs Wooley in 3a making the scenery for the panto in the classroom, Mr Evans scared me half to death, I used to run down those deadly back steps.

Finally, does anyone remember the power bestowed on the monitors… anyone who dared to talk as we filed into school after break was in deep trouble.

Jackie Fox (Hunt) Swimming, Milk and Coal Heaps

Being driven by a very old coach for swimming somewhere in Ascot. There was often a layer of ice to be broken, and we had to jump in and sink or swim – no choice at all! It always seemed to be freezing.

Also, the school milk. In winter, it froze, and would be brought in to sit on top of the huge fire where it gently melted and went distinctly lumpy and sour. We still had to drink it, unless you were lucky enough to sit next to Colin Horsley (?) who would save the day and swap bottles if you were lucky enough not to get caught. If you are still about, Colin, you never knew how grateful I was!

What about climbing up to the top of the coal mound? Even if you made it to the top un-noticed, one look at your socks was a dead giveaway, and the dreaded cane/ruler was never far away.

How about Mr Barlow, the deadliest shot with a lump of chalk I ever did see. And if you dared to duck, the rubber that followed was too big to evade! Does anyone else remember him eating the daffodils on St. Davids Day?

Carolyn Wiggins (Osgood)Teacher memories, Mrs O’Brien – Larger than life character with bleached blonde backcombed hair(for those that remember those days a real Dusty Springfield look-a-like).Had fashionable tights(then!) with things like beetles and ladybirds up the sides, which always fascinated me as it was the first thing you saw when you were small and sitting down!!! Mr Barlow – Had a huge old fashioned desk you needed a ladder to get up to! Very old style teacher who taught me so much, things I still remember and really value. Lovely man if you respected him but an absolute tyrant if you didn’t. Could teach any subject he chose and do it well, he could sing, play the piano, paint, draw write excellent poetry. Last of the really great teachers. Also as a Welshman ate daffodils on St David’s Day which he insisted was his right!!!

Mr Evans – What a great man. I was very wary of him but he could be very kind behind the steel exterior. He had gold teeth that glinted in the sunlight. Mrs Evans was so different to him, so quiet in her needlework classes. The school was a really great one under his headship.

Mark Vandersluis

Teachers:-
1A – Mrs O’Brien
2A – Miss Sutton
3A – Mr Bird, Very friendly and professional
4A – Mr Barlow
Head – Mr Evans
Secretary – Mrs Evans (his wife)

Alex Dunsmore (Crewe) Skiving in the staff room

I remember being lumbered with cleaning duties when we got to 4a.
Part of the duties was to tidy the staff room after break and lunch.
The teachers often left tea in the pot and the biscuit tin was on the table- many times when I was supposed to be cleaning I’ve helped myself to a quick cup of luke warm tea and a couple of biscuits followed by a quick trip to the only decent loo in the school- sheer bliss after those horrid toilet blocks where you took your life in your hands just using that crispy toilet paper- yuck!!

Barry Reeves 1970 Ho I was a pupil at both bachelors acre and also the new school up to around 1970

Graham Cheesman 19?? – 19?? My Junior School memories:
Class 1a – Miss Maudsley – very nice lady.  She had the whole class write to me when I was rushed to hospital with a burst appendix.
Class 2a – Miss Atma – a really outstanding Scottish(?) goddess whose tight pencil-skirts, rustling stocking tops and high-heeled shoes still evoke whatever 8 year-old boys needed evoking.  Unruly pupils were soon moved to the front row where the boys took turns at dropping our pencil and attempting the swift glance up her legs during the slow retrieval process.  I recall being entrusted to unlock the tall cupboards in the classroom, before registration and assembly.  It was my habit to swing Tarzan-like from one shelf to the next, unlocking the doors – moving a chair around was far less fun until the day I slipped (wet sensible shoes) and fell, managing to break my fall and Miss A’s propped-open wet umbrella.  In panic I tried pushing and pulling the tangled wet mess of skeletal wire framework and torn material, rendering future repair impossible.  My pathetic confession and guilty plea amused the whole class except her and me. The fact that I could have broken all my bones carried scant concern by comparison with the premature demise of a new umbrella – yes must have been Scottish.  We (!) agreed to meet after school to review the matter.  I think that a Royal Charter dating back to 1705 decreed that there would always be strict discipline at the school, and canings in front of the class or at assembly were not uncommon.  Needless to say I was rather concerned throughout the day about the possible results of the review.  My mates helped no end by conjuring up extreme scenarios that somehow amused them.  After school I was told to sit and wait for her return from the “Staff Room”.  The clicking heels announced her return and we talked.  I thought that an over the knee spanking from her was by far the better choice than a caning from Mr. Evans.  He managed to make dust fly from one’s pants as each stroke landed.  Anyway I had anticipated an exciting hands on thighs and bottom barrage.  The added arsenal of the long and heavy black-board ruler never occurred to me but it soon burnt into my butt and my memory – it was still a young deviant’s dream and a topic for minor exaggeration on the next day’s report of the blissful closeness and arousing pleasure/pain experience.  I was a hero of the girls and envied by the boys.   I was so relieved that the matter was not reported to my parents who had their similar problem-resolution methods.
Mr. “Dicky” Bird taught us to play the recorder – an extremely expensive instrument that had to be lavishly cared for.  I tried but found it easier to imitate playing by moving the fingers but not blowing – probably history’s first unrecognized “air guitar/lipsynch” inventor.  Who knew?
3A – Mr. Donnington – great teacher – I think his son was a pupil, how weird.  His classroom was at ground level, entered from the front of the school while the rest of the classrooms were upstairs.  The stairs were so worn away you could almost ski down them.  The headmasters office off the stairwell reduced the opportunity for dare-devil mayhem.  We used to go to Slough Swimming Pool in a hired coach regardless of the weather and it was an open air pool.  Some pretty fearless and stupid masochists were developed at that ice-bath.  I got a certificate for swimming the width of the pool underwater.  It hadn’t been planned that way, I just couldn’t do the staying on the surface bit.  Mr. D was probably the best teacher because he made things real.  I won a fabulous Rowney water-painting set in a metal case for painting a Christmas card.  I loved those paints.
Class 4A – Oh my heavens – Mr. W.P. Barlow.  He had the manner and appeal of a rhinoceros and was a very scary legend in his lifetime.  He had one of those high desks from which vantage point every pupil was in easy sight and he would leap off his chair and come charging down the row to hit the poor sod who he thought was talking or whatever.  None of us ever knew who “you there” was and we were relieved when it was someone else.  He had perfected the slapping the head tempo to match the words of reprimand liturgy.  Escape was impossible and cowering only exacerbated his need to control.  I won a Champagne Bible for a divinity exam which I probably still have.  I used to hand out the Bibles for scripture lessons because my desk was closest to the shelf.  So close in fact that I was able to check my exam answers!!  I still carry that guilt – perhaps this heinous sin might now be purged??  Friday afternoon’s were the best part of the week.  We spent the entire time drawing on a piece of paper pinned to a drawing board.  We could draw whatever we liked from doodles to patterns.  He ruled from on high and nobody knew what he was doing but he used to wander round and check that you were being artistic rather than artful.
Fellow class members:  Martin Fawcett (Fido), Stephen Todd (who I believe was killed by an IRA bomb whilst on duty outside Harrods(?), Jenny Webb (goddess in training and still a good friend), Peter Gardiner, Roger Hathaway, Rober Penicud, Richard Berry, Michael Fay and so many others who might turn up at future hypnosis sessions??
Other miscellaneous memories – walking 15 miles uphill in the rain to play soccer in the mud in the good old days when all boot studs had nails that were exactly too long to fit without blood-letting.
Getting off the bus (441) at Imperial Road (to meet the Brigidine Convent girls) and save a ha’penny bus fare to buy 2 oz of sweets at the sweet shop around the corner from the Acre.
The Acre was a place where you skinned your knees daily on the gravel or played marbles, conkers and other kids’ games but the November 5th bonfire was the best – especially when soldiers from the nearby barracks tossed in a few thunder flashes!
Stopping at Denny’s/Marshall’s (??) cake shop in Peascod Street to buy yesterday’s cream buns or those buns that were wrapped around in layers that you could unwind as you scoffed them before school.
playing at charging through the line of senior boys lining up for the second lunch sitting, only to be collared and hoisted up to face level with the dreaded :Killer” Conway who then bent me over his arm and pounded my bottom to the delight of all in the line-up.  I think he might have been the senior school art master who ‘s students painted the neatest mural of the shops and houses of Windsor, around the top edge of the wall around the dining room.
School dinners served by fearsome cooks who decided how much of everything you needed.  Good desserts, jam tart, lemon curd tart, spotted dick, and custard.
Playing in the graveyard around the top edge of the Acre which was strictly out of bounds but hey “Who Dares Wins”.
Playing who could piss the highest in the primitive outdoor toilet, trying to piss through the gap between the wall and the roof.
Creeping up the back stairs to Billy Barlow’s classroom to spy through the window into the staff room.  Yes, pretty dumb but those were the days of dare or die.
Neat bike racks which entailed sliding the tyres into a rising drain-like open frame so the bike was nearly vertical.
Planting a garden in the front of the school by the gate – one of Mr. Donnington’s projects.
Taking a brave shortcut through Caley’s to the bus stop by the Guildhall instead of the narrow alley and Peascod Street.
School was fun and the teaching was very good.  A lot of us split-up after the 11+ exam sent us to segregated schools but the sixties brought us back together when everything was safe: sex, scooters, motorbikes, drinking and related stimulants.

Best wishes and great happiness to all who knew me as Graham Cheeseman

David Gilmore Does anybody remember the attempt at the world record 5 a side football we had a go at in the early 70,s Everybody was dead keen to start with but as the hours passed by into the early morning fewer people were keen to go out in the gym hall and replace the sleepy people on the pitch. I do remember though the records playing through the night to keep us focused. The main one I recall was Jimi Hendrix and Voodoo Chile.

Nicholas Leverton 1970 Hi I was very lucky to go to all 3 Royal Free Schools in Windsor Infants Alexandra Road 1970 Head Mistress was Mrs Davis,,1973 Juniors Bachelors Acre Head Master was Mr Evans and 1976 senior Boys Bourne Avenue Head master Later to be combined with The princess Margaret girls school.
IN 1972 at Royal Free bachelors Acre I was given a champagne bible for achievement by the late Mrs Mellor who is mentioned in the history of the school, I have fond memories of the schools and and was shocked when the schools closed.

Steven Curran I was a pupil at the little school – The Royal Free School – in the early 70s. Bachelor’s Acre – which, I seem to remember, we called the threepenny bit – was our beloved playground, and I have many happy memories of playing there. Each trip back now is very nostalgic.

Though much of the original school appears to have been demolished, and the main buildings are now flats, I am keen to research the history of the school.

Georgina Payne (Taylor) Do you remember when Norman Isley dropped the phosphorous on the floor of the science lab and the whole school had to be evacuated as the lab went up in flames?! Alan Gunn you’ll remember!- 1972?

Peter Berresford ? – 1972 Good morning, having just had an idle thought as to what happened to the old RFOBA, I was somewhat surprised to see a photo (from the Windsor & Etonian express?) with me in the middle of the picture (sliced in half by the grid 21/22!) I think it was taken as the school had just opened in Bourne Avenue. I was one of the first pupils who started senior school the year it moved to Bourne avenue in brand new premises (complete with new green roller boards…) and can just about recall some of the faces, after all it was a long time ago…. Its bringing back quite a few memories…. Best regards Peter Berresford (left in 1972 I think!)

Stuart Crane Roger Wakeham Art teachers are always the coolest in school. Roger had the Morgan, we could not understand how a teacher could afford one of those.

Charlotte Clements Would love to catch up with people I shared my school years with at PMRF. I left after I levers in 1982 (I’ll double check my o level results certs if need be. Ms Sprague was the biology teacher, Mr Mort was the physics teacher, Kerry Bateman was a laively friend of mine and I spent many an hour in the music block .BCAG on all the music door practice rooms. He was amazing. Would love to swap memories. Take care,

Graham Simpson 1984 I am going to the re-union & thought you might like some bit of information for those ex-pupils. A note for the pupils of Royal Free, when I left the school in 1984 there was a tradition of a ceremony where they handed us an Observer book with a dedication label stuck inside the book. Most of us got all our mates to sign the book & wandering if anyone else remembers this tradition. Maybe they still have their book. Good way to remember those forgotten names in our past memories. Looking for mine now to see what names I have forgotten.

Daniel Hayward 19??-2000 I went to the Princess Margaret Royal Free School just before it closed. I was in the last year that took GCSE’s at the school in Windsor. I was also involved in designing what was going to become the school’s website. There was a team of about 6 people that were involved in designing and maintaining the website during lunchtimes and after school hours. I personally spent the majority of my time building the site for the school and was awarded and appreciated for my efforts. PMRF Web

The school closed at the end of the school year starting 1999 so it actually closed in 2000, I’ll also take a picture of the tankard’s that we were presented with as leaving gifts from the school when it closed. Thought you might be able to find somewhere for it on the site. I have a few friends that I’m still in touch with from school and I’ll definitely spread the word about the site and the re-unions that are being held. The more people the better!