Staff Tributes
This is a NEW section for CSTS Alumni to submit a few words on those teachers whom they felt had influenced and inspired them.
Anyone browsing the website can read this page.
Note: this page is directly accessible by CSTS Alumni - to add or edit their own 'Tributes' online.
Or, if you have a few words of tribute to any former member of CSTS Staff, please contact Tim Ecott HERE with details.
Here are all 5 entries in the Alumni Tributes file, starting with the most recent entry (Scroll Down for oldest):
| Date and Time Tribute Posted: | 29/06/19 at 11:35:10 |
| Pupil Name: | Andrew Batchelor |
| Pupil Info: | Joined CSTS 1969, form 1Q, Mr Jupp |
| Tribute To: | Mr Piper |
| Tribute: | I had a lot of respect for Mr Piper, he was quite strict but fair & had a dry sense of humour. He gave us good advice, especially when there was some bullying going on from former Secondary Modern lads who didn't really want to be there! Normally they would have left but due to the raising of the school leaving age they had to stay another year. He always stuck up for us. He had a saying "Don't look at me, I'm not the Mona Lisa, only the moaner". |
| Date and Time Tribute Posted: | 09/12/18 at 17:00:58 |
| Pupil Name: | Tim Ecott |
| Pupil Info: | Joined CSTS in Sept. 1961 Form 1A, Mr. Arnott |
| Tribute To: | Mr Bill Carnell |
| Tribute: | Bill Carnell was a major influence on me and my taste in music. Formative at the time, but which I retain to this day. Everything from the MJQ, Ornette Coleman to Stravinsky - and Pink Floyd to Joni Mitchell.....eclectic I think you might admit. Before Bill Carnell arrived we had the dullest of music teachers. One who insisted we sing tedious Maori songs over and over and over again. Bill Carnell's arrival was a breath of fresh air - more like a whirlwind - which shaped our musical tastes and capabilities for the rest of our lives. Sadly, I never could play any musical instrument - or read music. This despite all his efforts. So I ended up in the choir at such (then) auspicious locations as the Fairfield Halls. I remember 'Carmina Burana' well. Thank you Bill, I really appreciate all your efforts. |
| Date and Time Tribute Posted: | Mon Apr 15 10:05:27 2018 |
| Pupil Name: | Graham Bachtold |
| Pupil Info: | Joined 1961 - preferred Mr Richards & Mr Spencer |
| Tribute To: | Mr Duffield (Duffy) |
| Tribute: | Mr Duffield was an inspirational chemistry teacher and quite amusing at times, often at his own expense. With a greater knowledge now of the effects of war on individuals it is plain he had suffered badly during his period of capture in North Korea but he gave his best to us. He had his quiet periods when he was best left alone and he had his idiosyncratic periods when he would have us stand to attention and then bid us to leave his classroom in a de-anti-alphabetical sequence causing him some merriment as we milled around trying to work it out. He allowed some of us into the mysteries of rocket fuel with which we launched quite a few rockets. I recall him with amusement and gratitude. |
| Date and Time Tribute Posted: | Mon Apr 15 10:05:27 2018 |
| Pupil Name: | Graham Bachtold |
| Pupil Info: | Joined 1961 - preferred Mr Richards & Mr Spencer |
| Tribute To: | Mr. Richards |
| Tribute: | He instilled in me a love of the English language and encouraged me to write. I still occasionally put words together in a good order in short stories and poems mainly for my own amusement and I also write stories for my grand-children. Mr Richards excused me from some of his lessons so I could go and sit in the library to read science fiction stories and I still get immersed in them today. When frustrated he would lapse into Welsh and it was wonderful to hear him vent his spleen in his native language. I never went back to the school after my "O" levels to thank him for his efforts on my part. I am very grateful to him. Thank you, Mr Richards. |
| Date and Time Tribute Posted: | Mon Apr 15 10:05:27 2018 |
| Pupil Name: | Graham Bachtold |
| Pupil Info: | Joined 1961 - preferred Mr Richards & Mr Spencer |
| Tribute To: | Mr. Spencer |
| Tribute: | For some reason Mr Spencer rewarded my home-works with 10/10 every week for the duration of my period at CSTS with the exception of the first few weeks of 1961. He must have seen some talent in me and I flourished. I became quite proud of my work and some items of mine were exhibited at the Fairfield Halls as part of a general exhibition of school work. He was quietly spoken and I cannot recall him giving me any real direction in what I did - I just submitted my homework which he must have liked a great deal. Who doesn't like getting top marks every week?. I thought there were other talents in the CSTS better than me but despite this I went to Croydon Art School for a while when I left CSTS but dropped out within a year and got my first job in a chemistry laboratory. Within months I was programming an early computer system - an NCR-Elliott 4100. I rarely dabble with my paints but I prefer carving the odd stone block, just as I am shown on the CSTS site. Thank you, Mr Spencer, for supporting me in my art works. |