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AND
... This profile actually saves me time writing to all the
beautiful KGS friends who have contacted me since I started this
website in September 2001.
(Many thanks to all of you - and keep 'em coming)
FAQ "Hey Bob, what have you been up to since we last
saw each other?"
(Don't any of you realise - that was over 35 years ago?)
OK - here I go with a few of my memories from 1962 - 1967
After so many years, my recollections of the school are slowly
coming back. The things I remember most, after having my brain
jogged by so many former KGS comrades who have contacted
me since I started this website, are:
1.The school canteen. The food was surely very nutritious,
but I hated semolina and prunes. We used to take it in turns to
be the "table monitor" and collect the food in oblong
aluminium boxes. By the way, (this is quite personal but I'll
say it anyway), I used to be so embarrassed having to stand in
the dinner ticket queue every morning and instead of handing over
my "shillings", like the rest, had to give social coupons
because my father had buggered off. I often decided to skip meals.
2. The big oak tree, in the middle of the field, where
we boys used to sit in the shade and look at the girls. (More
about this tree elsewhere on the website - info and pictures from
biology teacher Miss Alexander)
3. The rugby matches, where we were packed into an ancient
coach and driven away to play against formidable school teams
(Lydney, Henbury, etc.). The matches were OK but the rugby songs
in the coach were the best.
4. Soundwell swimming baths. We used to travel with the
same old coaches for our swimming lessons and "Swimming Gala".
Lesley Norton from our class, swam like a fish and (I think) won
many prizes.
5. The teachers:
Mr. Ridley (HM), Miss Alexander (Biology), Miss Wycherley (latin),
Mr. Wintour (french), Mr Sammons - aka "Fish" - (chemistry),
Mr. Wilde (Jimmy the Welshman - sport), Mr. Hilton (music), Mr.Birch
(physics), Mr. Jack Dalziel (Sport, Deputy Head, etc).
PS.
Miss Alexander (who is now retired and also lives in Mallorca)
came to visit me in Palma in October 2001. It was great to see
her again, and she has lent me around 20 photos. They are now
all online. Please write to her - address on the contacs
page.
Mr. Dalziel used to catch me regularly committing some misdemeanour
and I regularly got "the dap" from him. This was in
his office, where I had to bend over a chair and receive between
3 and 6 very heavy wallops on my bottom (according to the severity
of my offence). Today people talk about punishment in schools.
This never did me any harm - the opposite - it taught me respect.
Thanks Mr. D.
6. My close school friends: Hi especially to: Bob Hallett,
Richard Shean, Clive Perry, Jimmy Burgess, Alan Morgan, (many
more as well)
7. My school girlfriends: I think I should leave this open
to opinion, we were all young in those days. But a special hello
(after all these years) to Liz Newell, Linda Kidd, Lesley Norton,
and the sadly departed Carol Arnold - (God bless you, Carol).
8. Talking
about Bob Hallett: My family used to live in 92 Middle Road,
Kingswood. This was a very steep hill leading down, to a T junction,
called (I think) Station Rd (or was it Gloucester Rd?). This was
on the Nr 14 bus route to New Cheltenham and at the bottom of
our hill was a house owned by the Hallett family. Bob Hallet was
at KGS at the same time as myself, and was my best mate. Early
one very icy winter morning, the double decker slid uncontrolled
down our street, careered through Hallett's garden wall and demolished
half of the front of the house.
Rumour has it that the man sitting upstairs in the front seat
of the bus (with a terrified look on his face) suddenly saw Bob
lying in bed and vice versa....
Time to continue (if you're still awake):
One of my great interests during the KGS schooldays in
the 60's was music, and I was especially influenced by the Beatles
at that time. Unfortunately my interest in the music lessons at
KGS left something to be desired.
Mr. Hilton tried his best but I was a hopeless case. I didn't
want to learn musical history and notes - I just wanted to play
an instrument. There was a large "wooden guitar looking thing"
in the classroom. I decided that it was a "double bass"
and started to learn Bill Haley riffs. Mr. Hilton was not amused.
I also remember him on one occasion standing right behind me at
the back of the classroom, next to the gramophone. He was listening
to Mozart or whatever with his eyes closed and swaying as always.
I started giggling and he spat on my neck. YUK !!
By the
way, does anybody remember our chemistry teacher "Fish"
taking out his handkerchief and shaking it violently before blowing
his nose? I know I used to duck, which didn't seem to please him
too much. - I'm sidetracking again ... so many memories are flooding
back but this is not intended to be a novel.
In
1967, "the school" decided that it would be better
for all concerned if I didn't continue my studies into the sixth
form. This had nothing to do with my academic standards, more
with my general attitude. I thought that this was a great decision
(and better than being expelled), so... I left.
At 16 I didn't
know what I wanted to do (except play the guitar), so I took my
parents' advice and went to Soundwell College, where I learned
to be a plumber - WOW!
Don't get me wrong
- there's nothing amiss with learning a trade, and as I was told
by numerous older relatives "You've always got something
to fall back on lad".
1972-75 - After
the usual rigmarole of getting engaged, getting married, buying
a house, working 6 days a week as a plumber (plus 4 nights a week
as a "semi-pro" musician), I decided that this was not
the life for me.
1976 - At the
ripe old age of 25, I took the plunge and joined a full-time cabaret
group called "Bollards" (Photo)
- End of marriage number one.
My musical career took
me through several countries, TV and radio shows (plus of course
the obligatory Butlins circuit) and I had the great pleasure of
working with so many well known acts including: Tommy Cooper,
Bob Monkhouse, Mike Reid, Les Dawson, Shakin' Stevens, Alvin Stardust,
Hot Chocolate, The Tremeloes, Searchers, Troggs, Swinging Blue
Jeans, ShowWaddyWaddy, etc. Fantastic times but I was always
an "almost made it"
1986 - I quit
the professional music scene and joined a local Bristol 50's Rock'n
Roll band "Chantilly Lace" - maybe some of you know
these old rockers!. Anyway, we did a tour of Germany and I ended
up staying in Frankfurt, where I met a lovely German girl called
Nina. I learnt to speak "Deutsch" (still the language
that Nina, my step-daughter Carolin, and I use at home).
1987 - My 60's
dream came true. I joined a German Beatles revival band called
"The Fab Four" (Photo).
This is a very strange name, as there were five of us, but the
Krauts didn't seem to mind or understand. We were quite successful
in Germany and I still have a lot of good friends there and contact
wizz zem.
1990 - Nina
finally agreed to marry me (don't ask me why, it wasn't my good
looks or my money).
1993 - We'd
had enough of the rat race in Germany and decided to move to Mallorca.
Sold our house close to Frankfurt, bought a mountain retreat here
in Spain and didn't know how we could earn a living. Almost 2
years holiday, 'till the bank manager didn't want to play any
more.
1995 - We realised
that Internet was an up-going trend and we set up the company
Mallorca Highway, an online travel agency. (We starved for the
first 3 years - at that time everybody here said "Inter-What?")
My only claim to fame since then is that Leapy "Little Arrows"
Lee has become a good friend and storyteller. (only joking Lee,
in case you read this)
1999 - Through
a coincidence, I contacted the Bristol Evening post, they published
a letter, and I received a reply from both Mike Bendrey (KOSA
NEWS) and Jill Fuentes (Miss Alexander), our former biology teacher
(she also lives in Mallorca and recently brought me a collection
of super KGS pics).
2001 - In June
I celebrated my 50th (Photo)
at my Finca in Mallorca with many musical friends from Germany.
September - Decided to do something online for "The Old School"
2002 April - Clive
Perry (from our class) called me from USA and we spent almost
2 hours talking on the phone about all of you - !!!.
2002 June - Jimmy
Burgess sent me an email on 24th June 2002. and reminded me
of my very first gig (with the school band "The Ripchords")
at Bethesda church hall in Staple Hill. I pretended to play lead
guitar, Richard Shean played drums, Terry Curr was rhythm guitar
and "Titch" Somerville was Mr. Bassman. Does anyone
remember that or have pics???. (PS. Roger Slade's group were much
better - but were unfortunately called "The Pracs")
2002 June - Germany
My past has once again caught up with me. I've just been talked
into performing again at a large open air concert close to Frankfurt
on 16th August 2002.
(PICS BELOW) Other good news - Roger Slade is coming to Mallorca
in August and we'll have a lot to talk about.
2002 August - Majorca
(Mallorca)
1. Roger Slade (pupil 1962-1969) came over to visit us in
Mallorca with his beautiful wife Lyn and we had a great time together
at our place and played some old guitar riffs.
Here are a couple of photos of myself with Rog (Photo
1) (Photo
2)
2. Did the German gig - . Here are 2 pics as well, if you're
interested (Photo
3) (Photo
4)
That's my profile
- What about yours? - Regards Bob Meaker
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