Rock Around the Clock

Ken Edwards writes, Oct 01:

I came across your very interesting compilation by chance. But I couldn't resist replying.
I was at the old grammar school from 1953 to 1960. And well remember rushing to my form room in an old hut with George Bennet as form teacher on my first day. I sat next to a chap called George Toller and we remained friends for the five years up to School Certificate.
I think one of my most vivid memories was coming into school the day after Rock around the Clock had been banned from being shown in Taunton to join amazed and delighted crowds of boys gazing up at the open e-shaped roof with We want Rock around the Clock inscribed on it in huge green letters!
I had a great time in the sixth form from 58 to 60 with people like Mick Berry, John Branchflower, Clive Wainwright and Eric Beer and from the long-haired arts sixth, Tony Jappy. We used to dash down to La Ronde at lunchtime to meet the girls from Bishops Fox's.
I should have mentioned that I travelled from Minehead every day on the old West Somerset Railway. What terrors we Huishers were on that train. Dear old Don Wedlake used to do his best to avoid us and no doubt thankfully got out at Watchet with his eyes firmly turned away from our part of the train!!
In the third year I took up Chemistry as 'Bomber' Eel had only managed to give me 2 out of a hundred for Latin. Dear old Rutt took me on. He was deputy Head then and was always being called away from class and we were always impressed that he knew exactly where he was when he returned. Bob Pleass taught us physics and George Bennett inspired us with his maths teaching. Rupert Harewood (we used to mock his furry gown I remember) gave me a lifelong love of English Literatue and 'Froggy' Trevett tried with numerous games to interest us intelligent peasants in a foreign tongue.
The school drama was a great element in my life. I debued in a French Farce called the Pie and the Tart. I was the tart. I well remember a deeply embarrassing session in the old school library (a hut in the entrance playground which then doubled as the music room. Froggy tried to teach me to sing the opening song and could not believe I was tone deaf. He struggled manfully but eventually he regretfully agreed I would have to be dubbed.
Well one can go on and on. I wonder how many of class 1A 1953 are still out there? The only person I kept in touch with for a period was Clive Wainwright who enjoyed a distinguished career at the V&A in later life.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed your reminiscences. I returned to Huishs in 1961 after an unsuccessful attempt at a Chemistry Degree at Queen Mary College and had a great year being taught by Basher Hunt and Nat Allen. I will always remember Mr Rutt's kind support for my coming back to take some more A levels even though he despised the Economics that I eventually studied with much more success at the L.S.E.
Good luck with your efforts to recreate 'dear dead days'.

see also Ken's entry under 'Contacts'