emails to the editor

I've sent a copy of the cutting to Shelley (Dudeney) - the blonde in the bottom RH corner. We write at Christmas but haven't met up for over 30 years as she now lives in Devon .
 

Celia
 

Hi Ron,

Thanks for your e-mail and your web site. It never ceases to amaze me how we as humans always want to return to our roots (more on that later) and your site has certainly whisked away the cobwebs on some wonderful old memories. 

After Apsley I worked with Pete Veal for almost 2 years at the DuPont labs in Hemel and then emigrated to Canada in 1967. It was there that I met my wife, Helen, and produced (I know I had a hand in it somewhere) two girls, Nicole and Danielle. During our 11 year stay in and around Toronto I eventually changed industries and became an insurance adjuster with State Farm.

I remember waiting for my wife inside a mall in Toronto while she was getting ready to quit work when a familiar face walked past. It was Addy Poretta. 3,000 miles from home and I run into an old school chum. I heard from her  couldn't see over the pile most of the time. In 1978 we moved to South Orange County in Southern California and have been here ever since.

As time went on I went through the f****d at forty stage and divorced Helen to find a younger model. As luck would have it our divorce became final on our 25th anniversary. Since then I got married, divorced, married, and am going through my third divorce, which started in April of 2001. I was told that the only reason for all these marriages was that I must be addicted to wedding cake.

Anyway, the point of this diatribe and to get back to my original thought on returning to our roots, last year when I left my third wife (actually I was kicked out) Helen took me in for a few days to help me out. God, in his infinite wisdom, saw to it that we should pick up where we left off and we've been together since. Life isn't a bed of roses just yet, but I fell that we
are on the right road.

I hope that I haven't bored you, Ron, but you did ask me to fill you in on what been happening didn't you?

George

PS. I'm putting my plans together to join you in March for the next "reunion"

PPS. Forgive the spelling, I still speak English but unfortunately have to
write in American

Hi Ron,

The ancient Chinese would curse you by saying "may you have an interesting life." Believe me interesting isn't always the best way to go. I'd accept different, maybe even unconventional, but I guess I may be stuck with interesting.

There is a little known rule in the American psyche that says you have to explore all avenues that open themselves to you. In one way it's what has made this country the great world power that it is. Unfortunately the underlying problem becomes that we get dissatisfied with our house, our car, our job and yes even our wives, and we find ourselves looking for the newest, fastest, shiniest and youngest alternative. It's not the best way to live.

Enough preaching! By all means use whatever you need from my e-mails in your
web site. I hope someone is interested........LOL.

George

 

Dear Ron,

Thanks for the invitation. I regret to say I won't be able to attend though. Please give my regards to Pat Sage. I remember teaching her in the Lower Sixth together with Grizelda Marshal, Marilyn Birch, Barbara Stanley, Linda ? I particularly remember her and Barbara Stanley visiting Hans Seelig together with me and Pat brandishing her umbrella on the bus lest I should become too frisky ( There was no real need to, I must just have made too lively an impression.) Today Brian Boston is in Frankfurt. I would have picked him up , but I will have to teach at the Polytechnic (University of Applied Sciences) in the late afternoon. Brian said he would have to be back in Frankfurt tonight so we cannot make it. I am writing form the Bayernkolleg Schweinfurt 2.30 p.m. My picture is to be found on the homepage Bayernkolleg Schweinfurt, middle, somewhat to the left. This is the second year I have been elected as "Vertrauenslehrer" ( teacher of their confidence, liaison something like that) by the school. Please remember me to your erstwhile (!) classmates.

All the best, 
Gerald Jansche
 

From: Ron Moss
To: A.foreman@tesco.net
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 11:32 PM
Subject: Hello
Adrian – you old bugger! How are you? I got your address via someone or other on the friendsreuintedthingy. Have you thought of a re-union of your school band? Loads of people seem to be claiming they were in it. What was the real line up?

Ron Moss

To: Ron
From: Adrian Foreman
Date: November 2001
Hi Ron - how are things going in the CLEAN world! - i.e. in life after AGS? At the moment I'm sort of semi-retired, doing a little bit of bar-work here and there, and enjoying life to the full in Pembrokeshire, to where we moved some 18 months ago to avoid further participation in the rat-race.

What are you doing with yourself these days? It's great to hear from some of the old boys from what now seems to be entirely another world. I still occasionally hear from Dave Lowrence, who sends me the odd (some DECIDEDLY odd!) jokes on the Internet.

As to the composition of the School Band (you may not remember, but the not too interesting name of same was Caesar and the Conspirators!), the original line-up was Glyn Lovelock on lead and vocals, Vic Brown on rhythm, yours truly on bass and vocals, and Dave Lowrence on drums. We were later joined by George Ostaniewicz as lead singer. So anybody else who claims to have been part of the band possesses an imagination to rival that of Jeffrey Archer's!

Regards

Adrian


 

To: Ron
From: John Gurney
Date:  February 2002
Hi Ron
I've just got back from a months work in Perth Western Aus.  I have been looking at your website and Tonys and at the old photos. Apart from being able to put names to several of the question marks in the photo's, the old memories came flooding back so forgive me if I write them here just in case they go again. I hope they don't lower the tone too much.

Trevor Powell
Trevor had a party trick which involved drawing air in through his anus and being able to expel the air at will he was continually goaded to repeat this party piece during lessons. His favorite was Maths with the gorgeous Miss Dickinson (later Mrs Loader) and the poor girl used to go the colour of fresh salmon which all us cretins used to think was fun. Small minds eh!

Mr Bailey
Bill as he was nicknamed was an Irishman of vile temper who walked the classroom during our History lessons with a large book tucked under his arm and would smash said book on top of anyone's head for the smallest misdemeanor. As a "jobbing" teacher he also helped our during games lessons and always was in the showers after games and we lads, as you do, couldn't help noticing just how small his penis was (miniscule). Maybe that's why he was a brutal bastard.

Mrs Montieth & Mr Cromarty
Mrs M. became pregnant (we used to shout out "pudding" as she walked across the front of the main building going towards the canteen from open windows of classrooms on the third floor) it is alleged that Mr C. may have been the culprit and I think they both left, certainly before my final year at AGS. I would be interested to find out if she divorced her hubby and remarried Mr C. I must stress yet again that was purely a rumour !!!!

Green foolscap paper
I dread to think how many times I copied out the school Codes of Conduct or School Rules on that expensive green paper. Me being a comedian I usually took the blame for anything in the class even though I was completely innocent but teachers do not go back on decisions once made (loss of face and all that) so it was Gurney, Seven School Rules or whatever. To add insult to injury I got this punishment so many times in one term I was invited to morning coffee with VJ to receive four strokes from his trusty persuader for good measure.

Stone picking
During our first and second years the playing fields in view of the Chemistry block and from the main building had only just been leveled and graded and our punishment sessions, (a favorite with Jock Gray) were to arm yourselves with a bucket and go off picking up any small stones or flints prior to the fields settling and being seeded. This seemed to go on for ages but on reflection it can only have been for one summer as all the fields were in use by our second year.

As you can see I can still remember some of my chequered past and I'll e-mail more as I think of them

V B Rgds John Gurney
 

To: Mary
From: Ron
Date:  November 2001
Hi Mary
I knew I would come across you somewhere! I have been emailing various old pals from school and your name often comes up. You must have been very memorable at school. I was recalling in a mail to someone how you cut my hair in the form room one lunch time. I wanted to have chunky razor cut hair in line with my mod image. You claimed to be an expert and offered to cut my hair. I checked with Pat Field and Gerry who assured me you were expert. Bloody liars!

I suppose you are married with 6 children, a poodle and a conservatory by now. Tell all – full life story please.

Regards
Ron Moss

To: Ron
From: Mary
Date:  November 2001
Talk about a blast from the past. I knew as soon as I saw your name who is must be. Yes I do remember cutting your hair, for a Mars bar from the tuck shop I recall. I'd do anything for sugar. I'm still cutting hair, my own, my husband (#2) I cut number 1's as well, and my son's occasionally.

Love
Mary

To: Mary
From: Ron
Date:  November 2001
I remember you with affection from school and recall the fun we all had. Do you remember how you used to push in in front of me in the lunch queue and sexually harass me? Probably scarred me for life you know.

Ron

To: Ron
From: Mary
Date:  November 2001
I, moi? Sexually harass anyone. Surely you jest?!:) I did grow up with two brothers and no sisters, so that may explain my familiarity with the opposite sex. What exactly did I do? in that lunch line?

Love
Mary
 

click to enlarge

Keep up the good work

V. B. Regards John Gurney
 

Hi Ron
Thought you'd like to know. If you go into Google and search for 'apsley
grammar', you get the number 1 rating. I get about 4th.

Tony
 

Dear Ron,
I am an "Old Apsleian" and obtained this address from Friends United. (See graduates for 1963). I noticed that you are organizing a reunion and wondered whether you knew if anybody was maintaining a contact list of ex Apsley Grammar pupils. I have been in N.America since 1966 and have lost touch with just about everybody that I knew in Hemel Hempstead. Any suggestions on who might be maintaining an Alumni list would be sincerely appreciated. Also, would anyone of my age be at your reunion (I am guessing that I was a little ahead of you in graduating). Thanks.



Dear Ron,
It was very kind of you to respond so quickly. I must congratulate you on setting up such a wonderful web site. Long live the TOADS! I was obviously about 3 years ahead of you, finishing my 'A' Levels in Spring of 1963. I was booked to be at the schools 40th Anniversary in 1996 but, unfortunately, a death in the family caused me to miss it. I had hoped to reunite with some of my old mates at that time. I remember the Anniversary was being put together by a fellow who was, at the time, a teacher at Longdean School ( does Mike Kitchener sound right)? While I recognise some of the names from my year on the Friends Reunited site, I would not claim close friendship with any listed. Some of my best pals left in 1961 after 'O' Levels.

In my 6th Form years I had a fairly high profile and for some reason was known as "Syd". I was responsible for many of the school posters, was in the Dramatic Society, Chess Club, Choir and Debating Club. I was in Hatfield House. I also had the distinction of being canned on three occasions by VJ; the first for throwing a snowball at Mr. Cromarty (History) but having the misfortune to hit Mr. Gray (Senior Master) instead; the second occasion, was when I dropped a book down the stairwell and accidentally hit Ms. Millbank on the head! The third, which I think, qualifies me for pre-TOAD consideration, was for sneaking over to Leverstock Green for a couple of pints of Cider during lunch break with Dave Saville!
I vaguely recall a couple of the names you mention. I had a younger brother, Stanley Byrch, who graduated in 1973 and went on to get his Masters from Bristol. He runs his own Software Engineering firm in Surrey. I live in Tampa, Florida where I am still very active running a Cable TV and Broadband company. Though both parents are deceased, I do get to the UK fairly often and was most recently there this past May. I still like Cider and Best Bitter! Again, thank you Ron. If you come across any information on the following, let me know:- David Saville, Robert Plastow, Peter Fuller, Brenda Galvin, Carol Healing.
Cheers,
Bob Byrch

Hi Ron,
Yes, Dave Saville was the trumpet player. We had a Trad Jazz Band called the "Mahogany Hall Stompers" (I played the Banjo). We played the North London Jazz Club circuit, until I went into the Army. I heard that Dave led the John Dickinson Brass Band to the Albert Hall a few times and had a jazz band that played in Hemel for some years. Colin Tribe was also in our band (BBC Third Orchestra) and Peter Fuller played piano. Great times......lots of free beers!