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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 8 'The Elusive Smith' My Dear Hon. Editor 14th August 2013 dwest@iinet.net.au Tel. 0417928028 My good pal Doug West, living in Perth WA for the last thirty years, wishes to know if anyone can shed any light upon the Old Stationer named below: GERRY SMITH started at Stationers' in 1953 almost certainly continued into the 6th form. Big bloke, 6ft tall and sported a crew cut. Good sportsman and main outside school sport was Ice Hockey at Harringay. Joined and enjoyed CCF. Has never been an OSA member. Best Wishes Alan There is no doubt that Gerry Smith stayed on to the Sixth Form. Magazine Vol.XLVII No.3 December 1960 gives his achievements as being awarded a State Scholarship in Summer 1960 in Applied Mathematics and Chemistry; one of eleven in the U6 awarded a State Scholarship that year – the highest achievement by any year, I believe, for the number of State Scholarships. The names of the other high achievers for this qualification were: R.D.Andrews (m,am); R.Brown (el,gn); A.Cooper (m,c); P.W.Critten (el,l); R.Harris (m,am); G.A. Mears (m,am); R.J.S.Muir (l,f ); A.F.Nafzger (h,l); E. Secemski (m,am); G.A.Smith (am,c); B.M.Wehrfritz (m,am). Two of these were not of the 1953-60 year group, so there were actually nine of this year group, as Robert Harris was in the Lower Sixth gaining a State Scholarship – a remarkable achievement and George Mears was in the third year sixth. Overall in this year group, 1953-1960, more than a third gained two or more Advanced Levels; and probably there were only approximately 35-40 pupils in the sixth form, as a number of able pupils in this year group who could have stayed on to the sixth forrm, left at the end of the fifth form to enter the professions with five or more O levels. To date of this 1953-1960 year group, Ralph Batchelor; Robert Brown, Anthony Cooper, David Cox; Pierre Essaye; Keith Fielder; John Geering; Alan Green; Wyndham Griffiths; Michael Hasler; James Hayman; David Metcalf; Alan Nafzger; Peter Redman; Anthony Richards; Ernest Russell; Chris Seabrook; Ian Snelling; Brian Stovey; Geoff Tapping; Tony Taylor; Richie Tyley, are one of the larger year groups of members, with 22 members of the Old Stationers' Association. It Article from 'Drive' AA Magazine, new year 1969 is interesting that this group is yet to have a Reunion, considering its tremendous success on the Football Field at Winchmore Hill between 1953 and 1960 and its brilliant Academic Record at Stationers'! There are often requests from offspring for details of parents or grandparents whom they know to have died but have become interested 26
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 8 in finding out about their families. One of the more recent requests was by Nic Sansom for details of his father John Frank Sansom born in 1926 and therefore arrived at Stationers' circa 1937. In recent time our archivist David Turner has been busy answering queries of such a kind. The magazines that exist from about 1914 to about 1954 have been almost continuous, even termly, in including a section on 'Welcome' and 'Farewell' even during wartime apart from the odd issue in 1939-1942. However, some bright spark on the editorial board, circa 1955, decided that the list of new pupils was not important and decided not to include them. Perusing the December magazines from 1955 to 1960 there is not one list of pupils for the new entry in the September of those years, a tradition that had been always a significant part of the magazines for over forty years! Shame on that misguided individual or was it a collective decision; but an individual must have proposed the idea!! Finding out a quick answer as to when a former pupil was at Stationers', the 'Welcome' and 'Farewell' lists were, and still are the most used and therefore the most important parts of the magazines. Only recently we had a request for information by C.J.Kershaw about his father J.B.Kershaw, born on 12.8.1900. Well, it is not too difficult to work out that CJK joined Stationers' in 1911 or thereabouts and left in about 1916. No magazines available till 1914, but except for the 'Welcome' list they would not have been significant in tracking down this lad. However, if any Stationer excelled at sport, football, athletics, cricket or swimming and or if not, appeared on an academic list particularly in the fourth and fifth years, not too many stayed on to the sixth in those days, their names are etched on the hallowed pages of the School Magazine. Such is the case of John Brian Kershaw, who had an illustrious career in the field of sport, who was 'Victor Ludorum' obviously excelling in athletics in his time at Stationers', and a first eleven footballer. There are many references to him in magazines of 1915 and 1916. “I have the plaque exactly as the stained glass shown on your website, so I know he went to Stationers'. The plaque is for 'SPORTS Championship 1916 J.B.KERSHAW'. I will photograph the plaque'. Are there any pupil records available of J.B.Kershaw?” Regards C.J.Kershaw. Ed. TWo oLD STATioNERS' FAMiLiES uNiTED... BY MARRiAGE! In what is not without precedent (*see footnote), the families of Old Stationers John Macara (1928-1938) and Andrew Forrow (1960-1967) were this year brought together by the marriage of John's granddaughter, Beccy, and Andy's son, Duncan. The wedding took place in a civil ceremony conducted at Devonshire Square in the City of London on September 14th2013. For those who know the City, the venue is one of many restored warehouse buildings to be found, down New Street or Cutler Street, between Liverpool Street station on Bishopsgate and the historic Spitalfields Market. The Wedding Venue Devonshire Square has fascinating history. In 1768, the East India Company bought land on New Street for warehousing. Its first building stored raw silk, piece goods and textiles from Bengal. Further parcels of land were acquired and more warehouses constructed right up until 1820. By then, the famous old trading company owned most of the area and property that the Devonshire Square Estate occupies today. When the East India Company's trade monopoly to China ended in the 1830s, the complex of warehouses was sold to the St Katharine Dock Company. The most valuable goods were stashed in the Cutler Street warehouses, where the forbidding fortress-like walls and the fireproof construction afforded excellent protection. Ostrich feathers, chinaware, oriental carpets, cigars, tortoiseshell, silks, mother of pearl, clocks, watches, cameras, drugs, spices, musical instruments, perfumes, tea and other-prized artefacts were stored here. (All sorts of useful commodities for Old Stationers' gatherings we expect) At one time, Cutler Street was the premier tea warehouse for the Port of London Authority. But by the 1950s, most of the tea business had been moved to the London Dock, and the space was given over to casks of wine, port and sherry. (Again, highly regarded by most Old Stationers!) The Happy Couple The lovely Bride was born in Buckinghamshire and attended Chesham High School for Girls before enjoying her University education at the University of Sheffield. Her Degree has led her to her current position as Research Manager for a leading educational charity, the Hansard Society, which works in the UK and around the world to promote democracy and strengthen' parliaments. This is where Beccy organises events and projects to increase the understanding of political institutions, especially among young people. 27
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