July 1946

 Here is a photograph of the boys of Brentwood School, taken in July 1946.  I was in Upper 4, and recognize, even after all these years, several of my contemporaries.  There are Gordon Hardy and Ian Horan, my special friends, who I have kept in touch with until their recent death.  So there is no-one left for discussions of those days, thinking of the masters who impressed me, taught me so much and made me what I am today humanly speaking.  The fearful Hector Higgs (Latin) 'Get up on your hind legs laddie' - to translate a passage of Latin in front of the class, that is.  No future confrontation I endured in my career in Industry, (and there were many!) struck me with such fear!  There was M, Jacottay (French) 'I give you five verbs'  Etre, Aller, Pouvoir etc.  I still remember something of them!  There was Wally Waldron (Geography) who was said to have been tortured during the First World War, and was likely to push you into your desk and shut the lid on your head if you displeased him!  And so I could go on!  Looking at the photograph, I can still recognize Thorogood, Alleyn, Houghton even now.   They were happy days, and I was privileged to have such an education, due to the not insignificant sacrifices of my parents.