Brief Snippets

Brief Snippets
This is a section for those 'fleeting recollections' and other thoughts.
(Please note we will not place anything you say here, unless you tell us it is for inclusion)

A sense of Identity

School was what you did. But on arriving at the Elliott I found a strong sense of identity both with and through the school. I enjoyed learning and was a member of the school choir, Mr Morgan. School theatre Mr T. Edwards. Hopeless at sport. Forth last in the cross country run at Wimbledon Common.

I feel looking at the comments subsequently to my departure that the school underwent a sea change. The old ways and ideas being booted out. I left at fifteen for family reasons and never achieved my full? potential. Although much was lost through Mr Colloff's long illness. But we still have happy memories of the Elliott.

We had the London Philharmonic at the Granada Tooting. Went to the Old Vic for Shakespeare, Had sports day at Streatham sports ground. Sent ball boys to Wimbledon. Swimming at Wandsworth Baths. Entertained the Mums and Dads at Wandsworth Town Hall (Choir plus)

Not bad for a street tyke from the Henry Prince Estate.

James Parker
Pupil 1951-54,

More on Elliott Art

Joining the Art Dept in 1958, I was impressed to find a good reproduction of a famous painting in every classroom and, hanging in the Entrance foyer was an original oil painting, "Little Maisy sees Elijah" by Carel Weight (1908-1997) of especial interest to me, as I had attended his evening Life Drawing classes at Hammersmith.

There was also an original Oil, "Still Life" by John Bratby, which later lived in Room 169. These are both, at present, 'for safekeeping' in the Archive Room, I am told, which is a shame, as nobody can see them there, and they were put in the school as part of the educational heritage. With so much 'Security' evident now, I would have thought they might be displayed, perhaps in the Library or somewhere.

Over the years, various teachers tired of the picture in their room and these were swapped or discarded, many ending up in the Art rooms. I had the Breughel "Children's Games" among others in Room 166. The School also benefited from a circulating Library of Pictures for Schools, a scheme which was, sadly, discontinued further to the changes in the London Education Authority.

Edmund Hodges
Art Dept 1958-85

A few more Merton Road School Memories

Our uniform consisted if I remember rightly was School Cap with Elephant trunk down. Dark red and Black tie, later to be added stripe of Celt, Dane, Saxon Norman Whichever you were in. I cannot remember the colours, but one was light blue.

White Shirt Terribly itchy grey trousers normally short until you got to about third or fourth year then you could wear long. (We could not afford the long ones so I was kept in short trousers for a long while and when I finally got a long pair they got twisted up in my handlebars and ripped apart). Black shoes. Black Jacket with the elephant badge sewed onto the breast pocket long grey socks We were inspected on arrival by prefects to ensure you were dressed in the total School Uniform

The assembly was held every morning in the first School Hall and we always started with the School Hymn I think this was selected by Mr Morgan, a nice Hymn, but not to the usual music. I would be grateful if someone could tell me what the hymn was, although I recognise it whenever it is sung.

Alan Day
Pupil (1951-56)

Webmasters Note: In 1958 the colours were Red Norman, Green Saxon, Yellow Dane and most importantly Blue for Celts.

One Elliott memory I have is of the small but formidable Miss Cast.

The school was closed one sunny day, owing to a strike called by the NUT and only non-NUT members were in the building. Having been busy sorting things in my Art room half the morning I headed for a 'cuppa' in the Staff room and found Miss Cast on the landing over the chequered space, looking at the view towards Kew. As I approached her she sighed and exclaimed:-
"Isn't the School lovely without the children !"

Edmund Hodges
Art Dept 1958-85

From Canada

Since I left 'Elliott' in 1978 I moved to Canada where I presently live and hope to one day get back to the school and walk over every inch of it .Going to school there was some of the greatest times of my life and wish that I could turn the clock back for just one day to see all my old friends and some of the teachers that helped me become the person I am today, in particular my home room teacher, Mr. Terry Cole.

I've had several dreams of being back in school walking through the hallways and such and it always brings back wonderful memories for me. My dream one day is to retrace my steps from where I lived in Wandsworth and to walk to Elliott like I used to every day for nostalgic reasons.
I have been back to Wandsworth on two occasions but didn't have enough time to do all the things I wanted to at that time, one day I will.

From John Baillie 1974-78, now in Canada.

Hockey and a teacher romance at school

There was, I remember ,a P.E. Teacher called Miss Scott who took us for hockey when we used to go to play at Raynes Park. Our school team reached the finals in, I think , 1958/59 but we lost 1-0. Funnily enough, we always thought Miss Scott was our unlucky teacher and that Miss Zimmer was our lucky one. (So sorry to learn that she has passed on).

My colleagues in class 1s onwards couldn't understand what Miss Zimmer saw in Mr.Mckee (He was my Latin master then) but of course kids don't know about attraction at 11-12 yrs. of age do they, or at least not in 1956/7 we didn't!!! We knew that they were an 'item' even then and took great pleasure in watching them walk around the school grounds!!

From Mary Burnett nee Uphill

I attended Elliott 1961-68 and I recall a story from this period. Bernie Beach deputised as a housemaster for a while and had a number of boys brought to him for filling contraceptives with Helium. This took place in one of the labs and they were floating them out of the window.

He fixed the boys with a stare of disbelief and said "Don't be so bloody wasteful. Get Out!"

Steve Tolhurst 1961-68