Memories, Pampisford Road
Some interesting recollections of life at CSTS Pampisford Road:
Memory contributed by Mike Welby (ne Butcher). [Added April 2024]
I don’t know how I ever came to be at CSTS.
The 1944 Education Act proposed three tiers of education with Technical Schools specialising in mechanical, scientific and engineering skills for industry and science. Those of us selected for a technical education were arbitrarily deemed less "academic" and more "technical". I think that usually meant from the lower end of the 11+ 'selective' band.
In Croydon though, the boundary between Grammar and Technical seems to have been even more blurred; I distinctly remember both “Chas” Chapman and Mr. Ackland, headmaster of Selhurst GS interviewing me before I was offered a place at CSTS; and throughout my time there, boys would occasionally transfer to or from Selhurst and John Ruskin. In my memory a distinctly Grammar school-type ethos existed at Pampisford Road
What an earth persuaded my interviewers that I was at all “technical” will forever be a mystery. What I now know to be my dyscalculia (today a recognised "special educational need") eluded the interviewers but not the gimlet-eye of "Beaky" Fletcher. In Beaky’s view I was thick, lazy or stubborn, perhaps all three, and many was the occasion I was on the receiving end of his humiliating screaming verbal assault.
Throughout my five years at CSTS (1961-6) "Double Maths" was synonymous with "Hell on Earth".
For the same reason Physics (I think Messrs. Gent and Purdy) was a largely closed book and for good measure I included Chemistry (Messrs. Foxon and "Drac" Duffield) and Mechanics (Mr Parker) as two more subjects that I decided I couldn’t do.
Brian Large and Bill Carnell (Music) and Pete Arnott (French) were all defeated by my tin ear.
Lousy at sports (Don Wardle), indifferent at the craft subjects of Woodwork (Messrs Young and "Buck" Ryan), Metalwork (Bert Watson, Reg (?) Stroud) and Brickwork (Fred Sherington), CSTS didn’t seem, frankly, to have much to offer me.
(Fred also ran the Careers Department, actually a cupboard in the library, assisted for a time by Kevin McCarthy and me. When a boy enquired about a career in tailoring Fred gave him a copy of a booklet entitled "The Cloth and the Collar". I never found out if he knew all along it was actually guidance for those considering ordination!)
All those masters were decent, conscientious men. Credits each of them to their profession, all of them behaved with perfect propriety. I particularly remember Mr Purdy bravely representing the Staff in a Staff v Boys cricket match despite having only one lung.
Not surprisingly, I favoured the "Arts" subjects over technical ones so I was always grateful to the fussy "Jimpy" James (History), the laconic "Rubberneck" Len Gould (Geography), exotic Canadian Dan Ratcliffe and friendly Bill Naughton (Eng. Lit).
Highest in my esteem, however, was the eloquent Welshman "Pilch" Richards (English) who single-handedly rescued me from scholastic failure and remains to this day the teacher who changed my life.
I can hear him now “Ya!..You’re like a lot of kids”!.
Between them these men made much of my time at CSTS bearable and even pleasant.
My particular circle of friends in the early days included Kevin McCarthy, Peter Slack and Graham Bachtold, (who I see has contributed elsewhere). When Kevin and Graham acquired scooters my circle changed to Martin Walker, Vic Bateman, Igor Andronov and Greg Currie.
The passing of Martin and Vic saddened me greatly, and still does, even after all these years.
I remember one occasion when I, certainly with Vic but possibly also with one or more of Martin, Greg and Jim Wakeham went searching for food in the kitchens for some reason. We must have been in the 4th, maybe lower 5th year at the time, looked fairly adult and in those more relaxed days occasionally patronised the Purley Arms at lunchtime. Possibly we had missed lunch but at any rate, whilst exiting after failing to find anything to eat, we were apprehended by Buck Ryan.
Chas berated us whilst considering a suitable punishment. Buck urged mass expulsion but Chas fortunately showed more sense and decided these fully-grown, mature young men all deserved a six-of-the-best "whacking".
A first for all of us, and probably for him too. Chas was evidently, and literally, old school.
There was no sixth form for Arts subjects at CSTS and in 1966 Martin Walker and I left and enrolled at Croydon Technical College to study A Level History, English and Economics. Instead, we drove the tutors (and no doubt fellow students) to distraction with our refusal to take it at all seriously. We both lasted less than a year.
After a couple of years of generally unsatisfying jobs, I concluded a worthwhile career depended on qualifications and re-took 'A' levels at Redhill Technical College.
I also realised 'O' Level Maths was essential and, ironically, after learning the whole syllabus parrot fashion, and without understanding a single mathematical concept, passed with a Grade B, my best 'O' level grade.
It might have been sixty years ago but I’m still thrilled to be able to say "Up yours, Beaky!"
It also shows what a silly exam 'O' level Maths was.
After graduating from University College London with a reasonable degree in Psychology I spent the next thirty-five years in manufacturing industry and was lucky to work for extended periods in more interesting countries and cultures than I ever imagined possible, eventually retiring in 2005.
So, I have much to thank the gentleman at CSTS for. For me, however, the technical focus represented a limitation and events have shown that such schools weren’t an answer to the nation’s need for scientists and engineers anyway.
But I shall always warmly remember my clever fellow pupils, the friends I made and, with gratitude, the good men who tried to educate us.
Lastly, a big shout out to Igor Andronov and Tim Ecott who between them established and now maintain this portal. Grateful thanks to you both.
Memory contributed by Alan Judd. [Added February 2024]
My name is Alan Judd and I attended the CSTS in 1958, but transferred to Selhurst Grammar School in 1960. I was taught by Michael Ryan - who became a lifetime friend - as has the then music master Brian Large.
Arthur MacAdam was my form master. I have fond memories of the place and often wonder what happened to some of my form friends.
Michael Ryan came to all my concerts in our long friendship. I remember also his gin swigging, smoking mother Alice who was fantastic! His brother Terrence a dear!
Brian Large is now 85 and living in Manhattan with his partner Jack, who was his agent. He produced all the Three Tenors CDs - and videos and all of Placido Domingo’s work.
My career really started at the Royal Opera House. The music director at Selhurst Grammar also taught Brian there.
I remember with great affection Fred Sherrington, and Bill Fletcher as a terrific English Master - Good tenor too. My best friend Beverley Taylor’s mother was the cook there. We did good plays too. Good head - Chapman. I liked him.
Very interesting to see the photos posted. Good to see Norman Williams the maths master and Fred Sherrington without the trowel and mortar. Good picture too of Peter Arnott the French master.
It was always very amusing to run into Peter Arnott in the vestibule of the Granada cinema where Beverley Taylor and I went every Friday night.
He was usually hanging about with the same bloke who was quite clearly his boyfriend. It didn’t bother us. He was always terribly nice.
After becoming such friends with Michael Ryan all was ultimately revealed - that there was a clutch of gay masters on the staff at that time. All marvellous at their job and behaving completely properly at all times!!!!
Those were opera glasses which belonged to Bill Fletcher {check out THIS page]. He was a good tenor, and l went to see him several times in his Warlingham Opera Society productions with Michael Ryan.
Michael Ryan used to take some of us to the Royal Festival Hall for symphony concerts. Lovely to see that photo of Eric Spencer - super art master. The beard came later. I used to think his suits were so “cool” with slanted side pockets. He had a very nice wife who used to do our makeup for the drama productions.
Before Brian large came to do music we had a great Scottish chap called Doug Crossling - a terrific pianist. He had an evening job playing in a pub in the Old Kent Road. A few years later we used to go and see him there. He was marvellous at the keyboard and a hoot.
There was an horrible chap who used to teach maths. He was called Peter Fletcher - who ended up marrying the school secretary. He was great friends with Mr. MacAdam, but they fell out - actually over me and my transfer to Selhurst.
Memory contributed by Dean Sargeant. [Added September 2022]
Your refurbed website reminds me again of the old days at CSTS...
I am now 77 years old and my memory is not as good as it was by quite a margin.. It's interesting however to read names of long forgotten staff members etc etc. which provokes the thought processes.
I definitely left CSTS at the end of December 1960 so by a process of deduction I must have started there in January 1958. When I started I recall that the school had only been at Pampisford Road for a couple of years and has originally been in South Norwood.
An irony that has been with me all my working life is; we went to a Technical School, which was intended to churn out workers for the building trade. However, for some unknown reason a posh firm of Lincoln's Inn solicitors, Dawson & Co had given a 'cup' to the school to be presented annually for some sort of scholastic achievement. [added - it was awarded for Drama].
It seems also to have been the practice of Dawsons to take on 2 leavers as office boys each year. The objective was for them to enter the legal world of employment, not bricklaying (my best subject). How did that happen?
So in January 1961 I started work at Dawson & Co with another leaver, Ken Lindridge. Ken was only at Dawson's for a few months, he was not interested in matters legal. [His parents ran a pub in Southbridge Road, South Croydon] I stuck out Dawsons who's client's by and large were the Landed Gentry, not to mention Bernard Cribbins. [He was the first celebrity that I had ever met].
I spent the rest of my working life in the law.
In time, but not at Dawsons, I became a specialist in criminal law and for many years dealt with some of the biggest criminal cases in the UK and on occasions, abroad... in places like Spain, France, Canada, US and so on. Not to mention celebrity clients!
I would be very interested to know others got on after their CSTS days.
Memory contributed by Graham Bachtold. [Added July 2022]
I've just been looking through the site again and every time I explore there is more to find and enjoy. It's great that you're still getting material from former pupils.
I completely missed out on the school trips to Austria and Germany because of the expense. [see details of other school trips here] However, I recall taking a school trip to France. I can't recall when and neither can I recall the cost but I can remember paying for it by instalments.
It was my very first trip on a cross-channel ferry and I was sick for the entire journey. I had eaten quite a large Toblerone before the journey and it made for an unpleasant crossing. (On the journey back I munched my way through a whole load of French bread which settled my tummy.)
When we arrived in France we were all ushered onto a train and each given a packed lunch. We all had 2 hard-boiled eggs included. It was great fun lowering the large window between the seats and then throwing the eggs out as we passed through some stations. Naturally, we had removed the egg-shells first.
We had a great time in Paris - Montmartre, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, etc. We were allowed some watered-down red wine. At the top of the tower some small French coins were thrown off - all done without a care in the world and without thinking of any consequences.
I recall seeing some records being sold by The Beatles but they were singing in German so we didn't buy any.
I paid a few Francs for a caricature drawing of me. I recall having great fun but I can't remember any other pupils on that trip.
Memory contributed by Ken Gregory... [Added April 2021]
I came across the CSTS site by accident when looking for something else. I had no idea it existed and, being an old boy, was fascinated. I was at CSTS from 1957 to 1962, a member of the first 6th form.
I was also school captain for 18 months (1961-62) firstly because of the extension to take A levels, and secondly because the school moved from calendar years to academic years. Us "guinea pigs" therefore took our A levels 18 months after our O levels.
During my stay at the school the music teachers were Doug Crossling (who wrote the tune for the school song) and Brian Large. Brian had little interest in playing the piano for assembly, and deputised me to do it. I've never been a good music reader, and played the hymns by ear. I doubt that he ever knew that.
I never had the music though I did play the school song [listen here] for end of term and other appropriate times. Doug Crossling got me to play for the school choir (no orchestra in those days) for speech days at the civic hall, though he was well aware that my efforts were by ear. He was himself a brilliant "by ear" pianist who knew full well that I was bluffing most of the time!
I came across Brian Large again because when I left school I joined BBC engineering division. Brian also worked for BBC music department and our paths crossed now and again.
The Anxiousness of the Short Notice Actor - circa 1963. Contributed by Chas Moody [Added April 2021]
The 1963 school swimming gala at Scarbrook Road Baths was drawing to a close. I'd competed in a couple of events, had now changed and was ready to go home when I was approached by a couple of lads from another form, saying that some teachers wanted to see me urgently and would I go to a certain cafe near East Croydon Station. They assured me this wasn't a joke and it was important that I went, but they didn't know what it was about.
With some trepidation I found the cafe and saw Norman Williams, Peter Arnott and our English teacher, ironically a Canadian, D. Ratcliffe. (I never knew his first name but he was a nice chap), sitting at a table. They invited me to join them and offered me a coffee which I politely refused, being more concerned about this matter of such importance. They said that one of the actors in the school play had dropped out and they thought I was just the person to take his place. I was dumbstruck - Why me? My only involvement with a school play was three years before when I was in the second year and Eric Spencer had asked me to make a lino cut picture for the programme of The Taming of the Shrew. (My first, and only, attempt at a lino cut). I certainly had no interest in acting of any kind!
The play, 'I Killed the Count', was due to open in little over a week's time and I knew they had been rehearsing for weeks, as three of the cast were in my form, VH.
They wanted me to play the role of Martin, the fussy, rather pompous manager of Oxley Court, a minor London hotel where the murder took place. I wonder now whether they had some kind of type-casting in mind! I was assured it wasn't a large part, they would give me any help I needed and I could even have time off school if necessary. With such overwhelming odds I could hardly refuse and it just so happened they had the script booklet with the text of 'my' part underlined, with them!
I went home on the train studying the script, wondering what I had let myself in for. I found that 'my' character had five fairly short appearances on stage and most of the lines were in response to questions asked by others, so I hoped that would help me to remember what to say.
My parents were helpful and supportive, offering to read through the script with me and my father suggested I used the tape recorder he had recently bought from a work colleague to record the lines of the other actors, leaving gaps for the words of my character, which proved quite successful.
I didn't take any time off school and there was only the dress rehearsal before the play opened, at which I read my part directly from the script on stage. The teachers suggested I could do the same during the public performances and they would tell the audience beforehand that I was a last-minute stand in.
I thought that would detract from the performance and elected to go on stage without the script and with no announcement. By now I had realised that it wasn't just a question of learning the lines, you have to know when to come in, where to stand or move in relation to other characters and how to react. I think it's called Acting!
On the first night I was extremely nervous. I was still studying the script with the lines whizzing round in my head!
Time for my first entrance - I walked on - and my mind went completely blank - total silence, and not for effect either, I couldn't think of anything! Then I heard a couple of hushed words - a prompt, thank goodness! "I'm sorry, Inspector .........", and I was away! I don't think I forgot anything after that, although I may have 'busked' a few lines as I gained confidence.
I can't say it was an enjoyable experience, more a painful duty, although it might have been different had I been in the cast from the start. Afterwards, I received a very kind and complimentary letter from Mr.Ratcliffe [see here] thanking me for standing in, although I wondered at the time whether all the cast received similar letters!
I have only recently come across the photo of the cast [see here] and the copy of the script and realised that I only read and learned my own part at the time and knew hardly anything about the plot - or even who killed the Count.
After all these years, now I know!
"Rockets over Mayday Hospital" - circa 1964. Contributed by Tim Ecott.
I think it was at the behest of Igor Andronov (sorry Igor if it was not you) in 1964(ish). Myself, Igor and Graham Bachtold decided that it would be a good idea to build rockets. We were not wanting to build the firework type of rockets, but we had our sights set on something altogether more sophisticated. Staged rockets, rocket fuel, proper jet propulsion, considerable range...
However, the issue of rocket fuel left us in a quandary - what could we use??? To decide this, we asked the obvious expert - our Chemistry Master Mr. [Drac] Duffield. Instead of saying "Do not be stupid boys, go away, this idea is far too dangerous", he immediately began chalking various chemical formulas down on the Chemistry Lab. blackboard. He gave us details of chemical ingredients, mixture ratios, and what to do to "ignite" the mixture.
Armed with a chemicals "shopping list" I went on my own (aged about 14!) to Boots the Chemist in Thornton Heath - it was a REAL chemist then - and I bought the required ingredients to make rocket fuel. Nobody batted an eyelid.
First, we had to work out the ideal chemicals ratio for the fuel. To do this, we used my house for some fuelling tests. On Tuesday evenings (when my Dad was out), we tried some experiments to determine the most powerful mix. By filling small aluminium canisters, we made various different mixes and tried them out in the garden, set off using "Jetex" fuses. Some canisters exploded, scattering debris in all directions. Note: mixture too strong. Others produced clouds of noxious smelling gas, and little else. Note: mixture too weak. If we got it right, we had an intense purple flame and a loud rushing noise suggesting maximum power. This is what we were looking for. I recall the neighbours were not impressed with these goings on in the garden of number 21.
Subsequent Tuesdays, we made more of the right mix, and filled canisters of various sizes, including cigar tubes, to test the best launch method. Some test rockets went nowhere, others flew skywards rapidly, and we were very encouraged.
It so happened that the garden of my house backed on to the grounds of Mayday Hospital. Beyond the garden back fence was an area used as a flower nursery by the Hospital. Plenty of space here - a good 100 yards before the buildings of the Maternity Unit. So, we aimed our rockets into this area.
Using various bits of angled metal to launch the rockets over the back fence, we tried again to improve height and range, with varied success.
One launch Tuesday occasion I do remember very well. Being a Meccano fan, I built an over complicated launcher, with geared adjustment to set the launch angle and direction. Using this, the first test rocket was a large cigar tube single stage model. Fuelled up, it was placed on the launcher and the fuse was lit. We stood back, and were shortly engulfed in the foul smelling smoke we had seen in earlier tests. Through the smoke we could see a bright light from the rocket. Eventually the smoke cleared to reveal that this particular rocket went nowhere, and the intense flame had all but melted my magnificently engineered launch device. Oh well, never mind.
On other Tuesdays, more tests, which expanded into testing aluminium tubed multi staged rockets.
[Added by Graham Bachtold] On one of these test Tuesdays, the Police arrived, telling us that they had been alerted to the fact that flying devices were crash landing on the roof of the Maternity Unit. In hindsight, it would have been very obvious where they were coming from. They advised us that "We had better stop this immediately". I (Tim) do not remember this happening - and I am sure that if my mother knew of this she would have been mortified.
This brush with the law apparently led us to re-locate. Subsequent tests were carried out on Reigate Hill (for some reason). To do this, we all travelled there on the 166 bus with bags full of chemical rocket fuel, fuses, matches (I assume), and various bits of metal tubing. Again, no-one batted an eyelid.
Beyond the Reigate Hill launch day (photo), I do not recall further rocket development. Perhaps we got fed-up, or the risk of further attention from "The Bill" made us give up.
Great fun at the time.
"A Costly Swimming Gala" - circa 1966-67. Contributed by Igor Andronov.
I remember going to the Croydon Baths in a plain dark green council bus for our swimming lessons.
I also remember, when I was in the Sixth Form, attending a School Swimming Gala where I was performing as some sort of "official".
I had arrived on my motorbike (and sidecar) and parked at a parking meter just opposite the baths, you can just make out a white line of the first parking spot in the picture.
Realising that my meter time was up, I ran out, only to find a "motherly" Meter Maid just starting to write a ticket as I was over time...
"I have put pen to paper so now have to fill out the ticket" she said, although I do think she felt a bit sorry for me, a very apologetic and well mannered schoolboy in uniform worried about the magnitude of the fine.
She did say there was good news though, as I had a ticket, I could continue to park for the rest of the day with no extra charge...
Image courtesy Flikr, Roger Perris
"Life and Times at Pampisford Road" - circa 1959-66. Contributed by Richard Durden. [Added February 2016]
I was 19 when I left in 1966. Just after I had my first home computer in 2002 a neighbour suggested that I join Friends Reunited and through that I found a lot of stuff on CSTS and past pupils and staff. All that seems to have disappeared now. Also through FRU I found out about the reunion at Caterham which I attended (cannot believe that was 13 yrs ago). I was very pleased to meet there two former classmates, Tony Henson and Dave Winslet. Through FRU I was also able to get in touch with a former class mate, Les Beckley, who I went to Kingsley Road Junior Mixed primary school with from 1952 to 1958 and he came with me to CSTS with about 10 others. I lost touch with him for a bit but in the last couple of months have re-established contact with him. We had Norman Williams as a Form Master (1W thru 5W) from Sep 1958 until Jul 1963 when Norman left. Norman was very popular. He was a mate of Fred Sherrington (brickwork) and Peter Arnott (taught French) and they were often at The Royal Oak pub (Brighton Rd) together at lunch times. I went on a school trip to Belgium for a week in the summer of 1959. I guess it was the end of July or early August. It was a fairly small group but I remember that Peter Fletcher and Norman Williams were the masters in charge. Accompanying Fletcher was his wife who was formerly the school secretary. We were based at a small hotel (Pension Bonnie) in a side street of Middelkirke a small resort on the coast just west of Ostend.
I found in my loft recently a photo of Norman Williams that was taken on the beach there. It prompted me to try and find out what happened to him and work out how old he would be now. I remembered that he came from Neath in S. Wales and also that he had an address in Giants Grave Road. A few months ago I wrote to the address and my letter was returned by the new owner of the house with a note. They said that Norman had passed away but not that many years ago. If he was thirty when I was 15 then he could have been mid 80's when he died.
Norman Williams was a maths teacher. He was my Form Master (1 W thru V W) from Sep 1958 to Jul 1963 when he left. He and Fred Sherrington used to take a few boys for tennis including me but I never developed any particular skills in that sport. I see that Pete Arnott took over from Norman in the Tennis Club in 1964, Norman having departed. Norman also used to help behind the scenes with the school's drama productions. I'm only guessing regarding his age. The photo was July 1959 and I would have been 12. So, yes he could have been mid-twenties then. I was trying to work out how old he was about a year ago and whether it was worth trying to get in touch with him. So 25 in 1959 would have made him about 81yrs in 2015 but, according to the note I received he was already dead by then He was a good maths teacher and Form Master and had our respect. He had just the right amount of discipline and was also friendly but wouldn't let us get away with anything. Peter Fletcher (Beaky) on the other hand was just that bit stricter and not so approachable. When Norman left in Jul 1963 he got a well-deserved cheer at the end of term assembly. Don't know where he went after CSTS, maybe back to Wales. Whilst on the subject of teachers at the school and particularly music teachers - there was Crossling who I think co-wrote the School Song with Bill Fletcher (English teacher). So that must have been in the early years of my time there because I think Bill Fletcher left about 1958/9. Between him and (Bill?) Carnell, who I think is remembered by a lot of ex pupils, there was another music teacher for just a short time. What follows needs a bit of verification because I am not 100% certain it is correct (you know how your memory fades a bit over the years). I am fairly certain that the other music teacher went by the name of Brian Large and I had in my mind that when he left CSTS he took up a position at the BBC. If you Google Brian Large it throws up a Wikipedia entry for a guy of the same name and roughly the right age. If it is the same guy then he went on to achieve great things but, as I said, I am not sure that it is the same chap that taught music at CSTS. There was another teacher called Norman Beale. Must have been 1959/60 because he is not on the staff lists that you show for later years. He drove an old Bentley and probably looked older than he actually was because he had a handle-bar moustache, but he was probably about 30ish. I forget what subject he taught, but he was not a very good teacher to the extent that a lot of boys in our Form signed a petition and sent it to Chapman the head. Chapman didn't think much of it and made each of us apologise to Beale in person. Beale gave me a detention once for drumming my fingers on the desk because I was bored. That's the only detention I ever had. I have some School Diaries from my early years (59/60) somewhere but temporarily mislaid. When I find them I will scan and send over as I see you only have 1962 to 1965. Yes it is a pity there are not more photos of our school years. Probably to do with the cost of cameras and film in those days. Now in the digital age there would be hundreds, and all over the social media.
Just a few other memories -
The first speech day I attended (probably 1958 or 1959) was held in the Civic Hall Croydon, later demolished to make way for a British Home Stores. Subsequent Speech Days were of course held at Fairfield Halls and I received my A Level Certificates on the stage there in December 1966. I remember helping to dig the foundations in chalk for the new sports pavilion. The design of the pavilion was put out to competition which I believe was won by Peter Dolphin in my Form which was probably 5W at the time. Someone in the Guestbook mentioned swimming at Scarbrook Road Baths. I too remember the trips there. We used to turn up at the swimming baths straight from home first thing in the morning and then an old green single decker Council bus would take us up to the school. I still have my Prefects badge and tie and a few of the school diaries with lists of the boys and staff. I could scan the diaries if you think they would be of interest but I think you have quite a few of them anyway. I recently found the letter to my parents from Mr Chapman (Charlie) dated 1958 offering me a place at the school.
Finally just a bit about me -
I left CSTS July 1966 after A Levels. Intention was a degree in Estate Management at Nottingham Regional Poly (now Trent Uni). A Level grades not high enough so ended up (Oct 1966) working for Widnell and Trollope, a firm of Quantity Surveyors in Croydon High St., on a trainee scheme with day release at Croydon Technical College. After a year I moved to their London office and also changed to Brixton School of Building. Left W&T in 1981 and joined another London firm briefly then in 1982 joined G Maunsell and Partners (Consulting Civil Engineers) as a Senior QS in Penge then Elmers End. Maunsell were bought by an American firm (AECOM) in 2001 who also bought Oscar Faber in 2002. In Dec 2010 they moved the office to Croydon. So I spent my final 15 months working back in Croydon just in time for the riots in the summer of 2011. I retired at 65 in Feb 2012. Married and moved to Bromley in 1972. 2 Daughters 39 and 35. Five grandsons ranging from 2yrs to 15yrs. Still living in Bromley. Thanks again for a very informative website. Brilliant effort! It is nice to know that a few memories are kept alive even though the building is long gone. Please keep me informed if you hear of any moves to organise another reunion.
Kind regards,
Richard Durden, Bromley, Kent.
"The Best Record Shop in Town" - circa 1966-67. Tim Ecott. [Added March 2017]
; "Click to enlarge")
Towards the end of my time at CSTS, I remember going to "Regency Records" on Reeves Corner to listen to music and buy LP records.
I do not remember who introduced me to this shop, although it might well have been Vic Bateman. We both had a taste for modern jazz music, and Regency Records was a place where we could go after school to listen to it.
The shop was tiny, and typical of Record Shops in those days, with racks of LP records and one small "listening booth", lined with those acoustic tiles with small holes in.
The shop was run by a lovely couple - Stan and Mae.
They were always prepared to buy-in records for us to listen to, and would replace them without any fuss if there was any problem, such as a scratch etc.
Here, thanks to someone else on the Internet, are a couple of Regency Records images of yesteryear:
One photo shows the Regency Records shop frontage on the now defunct Reeves Corner (just left of centre, between the pedestrians). You can click on this image to enlarge it.
The other photo shows a Regency Records bag - I remember these.
I believe the shop lasted until the mid-seventies, possibly longer.
"A unique shop in Croydon in the 1960's". Contributed by Igor Andronov. [Added January 2019]
; "Click to enlarge")
By chance, I had this knife to use at dinner the other night while visiting our friends down in Devon.
I remember the brand - L.H. Turtle from the 60's when they were in Crown Hill, Croydon, they later moved to Park Street and are now sadly closed.
They had the most amazing hardware and ironmongery store, almost impossible to comprehend today. Forty to fifty staff hand selling everything imaginable - one of the staff was Cyril Parrish, the workshop technician at CSTS. He worked there on Saturdays.
Such a nice chap, I do remember him very fondly. He was one of the people that taught me that everyone, whatever their level in an organisation counts and needs to be valued as much as anybody else. Something I have never forgotten.
"Memories of John Piper" - circa 1966-67. Contributed by Tim Ecott. [Added January 2020]
When I entered CSTS in 1961, Mr. Chapman was the Headmaster, Mr. Piper was Deputy Headmaster, teaching Physics, taking over as headmaster some years later. What I do remember is that Mr. Piper was always louder than Mr. Chapman.
I remember a particular "Mr. Piper" incident:
For some reason, probably best left to history, several of us in the Sixth Form decided to form a rather 'unofficial' band; the 'Sixth Form Band'. Everyone wanted to be in a band at that time, but the sixth form band was different. The premise of this band was that we would sneak into the music room and 'borrow' the musical instruments there - the rule being that you could only choose an instrument that you had no idea how to play...
One day we started an impromptu performance of the only piece of music we could manage: "The Blue Danube". All seemed to be going well. You could just about make out the tune, and we were all having fun - until Mr. Piper burst in, all guns blazing and very loud. "What do you think you are doing - damaging these school instruments! Get out the lot of you!!!" he boomed, bringing our concert to an abrupt end. Out we all went with our tails between our legs. Mr. Piper probably gave us all a million lines each or some other punishment. It was, I think, our only performance.
Many years later, in February 2002 at a school reunion [pictures HERE], I recalled this incident to John, and to my amazement he said he remembered it too. He went on to say that, before bursting in on us he had been listening outside the room for some time, and could hardly contain his laughter, finding our unique rendition of Strauss hilarious. Apparently he had to spend a few moments preparing himself before getting the right authoritarian voice for his grand and loud entrance.
This goes to show that Mr. Piper had a softer side, and a sense of fun, that on this occasion was hidden behind an authority that we did not question.
"Memories of Roger Sperring". Contributed by Graham Bachtold. [Added December 2020]
I only had a few real friends at CSTS for the period 1961 to 1966. I confess that when I got my O-Level results I was keen to put distance between myself and the school, never thinking to stay on for retakes and A-Levels. Two particular friends were Roger Sperring and Kevin McCarthy and this was due to the fact we three drove motor-scooters. We all had Lambrettas - mine was an Li150, Kevin's was an LD125 and Roger's was a TV175 - the more powerful of the three.
Kevin's dad had resprayed his scooter in original colours and it gleamed. Mine had "This machine moves, mutilates and kills" painted on the leg-shields but Roger left his untouched. After school and some week-ends we would travel out together in convoy - Roger first then Kevin followed by me as tail-end Charlie. I followed where Roger led.
I spent many a happy time at Roger's house but I rarely saw his mother and sister and I never ever met his father. I can recall us both driving to Gravesend in the dark to get to a dance and then arriving very late. Other times found us going to the Top Rank Suite for the music and the hope of getting a dance with girls. Happy times. Roger was very tall and quite a large lad and seeing him on his scooter made me - sometimes - think of a big boy riding one of those small toy bicycles.
His parka made him seem enormous and his frame and attitude always got us both out of any potential confrontations with "rockers" on their motorbikes. In fact, we befriended some of them and I remember being driven down the Purley Way in the direction of Croydon at over 100 mph as pillion on the back of a 750cc motorbike and without a crash helmet!! Roger took a weekend job at a Lambretta garage near Thornton Heath and so my machine benefitted from some of the improvements to be had. My scooter was bored out to 175cc, it had a 6-speed gear-train and it had a fuel injector fitted as well plus a straight-through exhaust.
It sounded lovely. It made driving a very scary activity especially when the electrics packed up and I had only a torch strapped on top of the steering column. I had a number of crashes - MOTs were lax back then. Roger had a quiet sense of humour and he was dependable. I used to look up to him for his advice and I welcomed his friend-ship.
He seemed to be a gentle-giant and I think he joined a bank as their IT security officer. He was my best man at my wedding in 1971 [picture HERE], and I went to his house in Kent just the once after which I never met up with him again. While I had moved onto driving Minis Roger had a lovely Jaguar Mk.2 2.4 litre saloon, although he always seemed to be tinkering with it.
We exchanged Christmas cards over the years and then they stopped from him. It was not until I posted a request for him to contact me on the CSTS website that I learned he had died in May 2007.
RIP Roger.
Graham Bachtold. November 2020.
"Memories of Bert Watson". Contributed by Chas Moody. [Added December 2020]
I was in the tech drawing room above/adjacent to the workshops when Bert Watson pushed a piece of wood through the planing machine and took the top of his finger off. I'd never heard such a commotion. We thought all hell had broken loose! He was taken to hospital and returned later with a heavily bandaged finger.
[Added by Tim Ecott]I vaguely remember this, and the story that Bert Watson had asked whoever was in the woodwork shop at the time to search for the top of his finger in the pile of sawdust as the base of the planing machine. Apparently someone found it!
"Pampisford Road Memories 1960-65". Contributed by Mike Lewis. [Added March 2021]
I joined CSTS in September 1960 and at the roll call which was held on the first morning I was placed in IR with form Master Mr. Ryan. However, it didn't start well! There were two forms for the new first year, the other being IW with form Master Mr. James. It was only halfway through the first morning that Messrs. James and Ryan realised that the new intake contained a Lewis M, and a Lewis T. The inevitable had happened and it transpired that the wrong "Lewis" was in the wrong class! We were switched around and so I became a member of form IW and was assigned to Brunel House.
In subsequent years I was in IIW (Mr. James), IIIW and IVW (Mr.Foxon), and VR (Mr.Ryan).
It's fair to say that I was not a particularly talented pupil and I just seemed to rub along trying my best to keep out of trouble (not always successfully I might add). As a consequence my exam results were only ever adequate and never spectacular. In any event, after sitting "O" levels, I returned to CSTS in September 1965 and entered the lower 6th to study "A" levels. However, despite achieving the required sixth form entry qualifications (being passes in 5 "O" levels which had to include Maths, English and a Science), within a few days the Headmaster reneged on that rule and informed me that he judged my "O" level pass grades to be too low.
The only option that he gave me was to either go into the upper 5th and do resits, or leave. I wasn't prepared to do resits, and so I left.
I recall being very unhappy at these events. What "Chas" did to me still rankles today but it taught me a very valuable lesson. I discovered the hard way that you can't always trust people and you most certainly cannot always rely on them to act honourably. It was a lesson learned though and it has stood me in good stead on a number of occasions throughout my life.
Fortunately, within a couple of weeks of leaving CSTS I had secured a job as an apprentice with the largest (at that time) Civil/Structural Consulting Engineers in the country, I had enrolled on an ONC Structures course at Brixton School of Building, and I moved on. I am proud of the fact that my entire working life was in Structural Engineering, many years of which were spent successfully running my own practice.
I certainly wouldn't describe my experiences at CSTS as being the best years of my life, but neither were they particularly unhappy times. Several Masters gave me great encouragement. They had a profound influence on me and I have much to thank them for. Notable amongst them were Mr McAdam (Technical Drawing), and Mr Ryan (as a form Master, for teaching me Woodwork, and for his role in overseas School Trips). Other Masters include Mr Spencer (Art), Mr Duffield (Chemistry), and Messrs. Large and Carnell (Music).
"Pampisford Road Memories from 1960 onwards". Contributed by Chris Wakeling. [Added August 2023]
Transferred from Lanfranc Secondary Modern (Mitcham Road site then) on a 13+ scholarship joining Form 3S (Fred Sherringham) in September 1960.
Managed 4 GCE “O” Levels in the summer of ’63 and restarted in the Upper 5th in the September; had to leave late October as we moved to Yeovil in Somerset.
I was in Brunel House (that was the one that had the green “Facta non Verba” under the blazer badge).
I can still remember the names of former fellow form pupils:
Philip Brookes, Alan Bush (he joined us some time in ’62), Robert Charlton, Terence Cooper, Alan Foster, Ray Gunter, ???? Hastie (he was expelled in the first term!), ???? Lockwood, Keith Martin, Michael Peacock (lived up to his name, turned up at the start of one term with bright orange hair – got sent home immediately!), Brian Ridge, Alan Smith (Class “Captain”), Peter Prebble, Alan Stone, ???? Unwin, Barry David Watkin – so with me that’s 17 out of the 30.
Teachers:
Headmaster Mr ????, had the top joint missing on the middle finger of his right hand and always used it to point with; always wore his “cap & gown” to morning assembly.
Deputy Head Mr Piper – Taught Physics.
Mr Williams - taught English, which as he was Welsh we all thought highly amusing.
Mr Fletcher – taught Mathematics.
I can “see” but can’t name several others: PE, History, Mechanics (Applied Mathematics) and Geography – the latter always issued his disciplinary instructions with the phrase; “the Headmaster says…”
All of them undoubtedly long since departed this life.
More coming Soon................
Do you have any memories, anecdotes or stories to add about life at CSTS Pampisford Road?
If so, they could be added here. Please contact Tim Ecott HERE.