Our teachers were TOP of the class

They are people who tend to make a big impression on our lives and we never forget them. Derek James pays tribute to our teachers.

- Derek James

EXCUSE ME SIR!

PLEASE MISS!

Yes, came the reply and that was followed by a question and an answer.

Or there was the occasional warning: “Stop talking and pay attention, James”.

I often wonder why I can’t remember who I met and what happened last week while memories of teachers from the 1950s and 1960s appear to be more vivid than ever.

And that seems to be the case with others of a certain age I mention it to, whoever they are! My best friend from school – I was at Earsham Hall, near Bungay – recently turned up from Australia. We hadn’t seen each other for a long, long time but it was if we had only recently left school.

What about that time Captain Smith did …. And how about Major Galloway when he … Do you remember when Mr Osbourne … Those were the days of life in a rough and tough boarding school attended by boys from across the world. We grew up very quickly.

But what about your school and the teachers who made a difference to your life? From our primary school to secondary modern, grammar, high school and college.

And there were also far more private schools dotted across Norfolk and Suffolk in those days. For the girls there was Sutherland House in Cromer, Lonsdale School in Norwich, and Felixstowe College in Suffolk. All fine schools.

In Norwich, Bracondale was a popular boy’s school. John Edrich, one of the best cricketers in the land, and who went on to play many tests for England, went there. He was described as a “right little tinker”.