Memories from Paul Courtney
I was at Trinity from 1966-71 when I departed for Leicester where after many
years in Wales I now live. I forget many names but I remember David Bunker and
Gill Palmer who was a fantastic maths teacher - I would never have got a decent
maths grade without her. I have met Andy Boddington a few times since as he was
an archaeologist like myself for a while (last time was in 1992 in York) but he
has since left the profession. I met Sean Hayes when he were both doing PhDs at
Cardiff (His in geology- I think he went to work for BP). Gary Dudbridge married
someone who works with my wife in Leicester Museums and is the last person I
have come across. I occasionally visit Northampton, especially the records
office, for work but it has changed so much. My main regret as a total
francophile/belgophile is that my experience learning French was so bad - it
took me many years to get myself to night school doing French, German and
eventually Dutch.
Memories from P Osborne
I was at Trinity from 1969 to 1974 and can clearly remember Mr Casey, he was
a lovely bloke but far too soft to be a teacher! He had to put up with the usual
juvenile pranks which seemed hilarious at the time, matches slipped into
hollowed out chalk etc. I can recall one particular day when, at the end of one
lesson, we were all rushing down the stairs of the tower block when someone who
will remain nameless (you know who you are!!) decided it would be great fun to
push Mr Casey from behind! Down he went, landing in a heap and banging his head
on the wall. As a 14 or 15 year old it was funny at the time but in hindsight
obviously it was so stupid!! I hope he's still around and in good health, does
anyone know?
Memories from Dave Thorneycroft
(1958-1965)
I thoroughly enjoyed the new material on the web site. I missed seeing many
of my immediate classmates and friends at the first reunion so it was good to
see photographs of some of them though in different contexts.
I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments of Bob regarding Nobby Clarke. We
were the 1962/3 5th year group that Nobby had the bad luck to preside over and
get into some sort of shape for the summer O-levels. He never flinched from the
task in hand, much to our frustration at the time but with hindsight, the
fairness and consistency of his iron discipline, in the face of continual
challenge, was a model of professionalism. I am not proud of the fact that after
reflecting on a 35 year career in education I cannot recall a group in any of my
schools exhibiting worse behaviour than the 3C, 4C and 5C that I was a guilty
member of at Trinity!
Picture the Tech Drawing room, this may be difficult for the girls because of
those unenlightened times which made it a male preserve, rows of 5th formers
standing to attention at their tables and Nobby walking slowly round giving them
the intense scrutiny of a sergeant-major on parade. This was morning
registration uniform inspection! Length of hair, ties and colour of socks
seemed to be the preoccupation of staff at that time and Nobby took this
seriously. I am sure Tony Clarke, who had a fashionable mane of black
hair, won't mind me saying that the battles he had with Nobby over whether or
not it was touching his collar, were legendary and always to our entertainment.
I'll recount an amusing tale involving Nobby, the Tech Drawing room and 5C on
another occasion, but if Nobby is still with us I would like to say, Sir, that
your example of professionalism was as shining as your immaculate Morris Minor
car!
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