Talk:Risinghill School

My recollections of  Rising Hill
I remember the day of that announcement by Deputy Head teacher Mr. Caldwell. He announced that the controversial Head teacher Mr. Duane had been dismissed and that further to this that the school  was  to  close. He was  close  to  tears and  his voice was  trembling as he said  “ ….you have been good pupils…”. I remember my own tears close to the surface and threatening to expose the true feelings hidden within upon hearing this announcement. Even though I had already decided that I was going to leave at the end of that summer term anyway, but still the feelings of being betrayed  by  the governing  body  who had made this unfair and unjust decision. My heart silently reached out to the teachers and fellow  pupils who had  all been “tarred with the same brush” and  made scapegoats, for whatever reason. And I  knew I would always remember this day as a day that brought  a sadness and  shame and  a continuing wondering of  “WHY?”  I mean I was THERE, at least for the final 2 years of  the  schools existence and  I  had experienced  nothing  but  fairness  and humanity from most – if not all of the teaching staff there – especially from a man who I will always remember for the rest of my life as a perfect gentleman and a man who should have been looked up to by everybody Mr. Duane. I remember his sadness and  my own feelings of sadness at  the way he was treated by that same governing body. This man should have been knighted not sacked were my feelings – and I know that just about every one of the pupils and teachers at that school would have agreed with me. There were many tears shed that day as proof of that statement. Even though my own would only be shed in the privacy of my own bedroom and for more reason than even the closure of Rising Hill. After all I was a boy – boys don’t cry – even though I had witnessed the tears of men I looked up to that very day! My experience at Rising Hill had begun a mere 2 years earlier. I had “won” a place at a new comprehensive/ technical school after being given “another chance” by passing  the 13+ (that still amazes me now!). Up until that time I had been mostly considered a poor scholar, not much good at anything, and not interested in most lessons – and not understanding others …. especially mathematics. I still hate maths! Luckily the age of electronic calculators and computers were dawning – but yet quite a few years off – my saviours! My main claim to having learned anything was to be able to write, spell and read well at quite a young age, and it is my belief that these are THE most important things any pupil should be able to do when they leave school, I  suppose along with the very basic idea of arithmetic…… I  still can’t get my head round long division to this day – but have I needed it? NO. Most people would be amazed by my telling them that I learned to read and spell mainly by  reading a steady and endless stream of American comics – Superman, Batman, Spider-man, etc,  etc. A thing that stayed with me until my late teens….. when I discovered  girls – or more truthfully – they more or less forced me to discover them. My entry into the world of  teen girls to me, at  the time of joining Rising Hill, was both terrifying and  full of hope and  then eventual disappointment at my own lack of  being  able to communicate the way  I really wanted  to – and as  I was to discover the way they wished me to communicate! Even now there are many regrets at the way in which I behaved as a young teenager even to the point that  I am still embarrassed by it today and would dearly love to meet every one of those girls – now women of course,  to try to explain the complexities going on in my mind at the times when  I  should have been so happy that  the attentions I was getting should have been reciprocated but were painfully refused and I’m sure I must have upset and confused a few of them greatly. I know that is how I felt myself, but was helpless to do anything about it! One of the earliest recollections I have is of one of the first – maybe even THE first day at Rising Hill. I remember the courtyard gatherings of friends who had very likely known each other for years and I remember feeling such a stranger in a new world – a world of both boys AND girls. I had come from an all boys school prior to that – which I can only describe as almost HELL! Laycock secondary at Highbury. It was one of the old type red brick building schools with large, high ceilinged class rooms and all male teachers, many of which today I would label as sadists. Many times I had received the cane or the “slipper” during these 2 years of hell – usually through no fault of my own. I mean is it really doing something wrong not to be able to answer  a mental arithmetic question fired at you across the class room by a  person one would label as nasty and his main intention is to make a spectacle of you? I had  bruises across the bones of my hands for days through this little 5ft. tyrant. Maybe he was one of the reasons I was such a mess? Other times of punishment would be the whole class would be treated to a collection of spankings from a plimpsole across the backside because one person had done something trivial and didn’t own up to it – so we all got it! Is that right?? I don’t think so – I think nowadays it would be treated as a crime! Many other occurrences happened at this school that made me glad to leave it far behind – and could be the reason I did so well at the second  chance with that 13+ - I was desperate to escape! Now I found myself in a much different atmosphere, it seemed from the outset that the pupils were treated like adults and a sense of respect – which in turn was generally returned in kind to the teachers. As well as this the classrooms were of the “modern” variety (at the time) with large windows and low ceilings. I remember being able to look out and see the then fairly new GPO tower in the distance – quite a wonder at the time. It was  soon  after  my  arrival  that  one  or  two of the other teenage  boys introduced themselves to me and were so friendly and seemed popular with both the girls and the boys. Somehow this is where I was to meet and be what I can only call “looked after” by a friendly, bubbly teen named Danny Tresedon (I can’t be sure of the proper spelling of this name). When he first walked up to me and just introduced himself to me I  remember being taken back by his warmth and friendliness. I was even  confused  as to why he should  take such an interest in the “new kid” – I still wonder. Anyway, he began to introduce me around to all of his friends and I soon began to feel a little more at ease with my new surroundings – I felt  I owed a lot to Danny for what he did for me in those early days. He just accepted me straight away as his friend – without knowing anything about me at all. I later  realised  that he just  thought I  was,  I suppose the word is “cool” – I think he made a big mistake there on first impressions. It may have been the look that I had been trying to nurture, of my hero Elvis Presley. I used to get my hair styled and blow-waved much like Elvis’ hair at a  then quite expensive 7/6d. I only wished that I had the confidence that  went along with the look! I remember him walking up to others and saying  “...ain’t he handsome!!” ME!! That would make me just shrivel up and die on the spot when any girls would giggle Anyway I do know that when he must have realised that I was not quite as “cool” as he first thought he still made me his friend and even on several occasions tried to encourage me to be “cool”. In fact I believe really that HE was the one who was the “cool” one because of all the girls he knew – and I discovered later had even dated at such a young age. One of the earliest girls I remember being introduced to was a very attractive blue eyed girl named  Linda Wakelin, she was with a few of her friends in a  group, one of which I remember being Jackie Herbert. I remember Linda seeing me with Danny and shouting out to me “who are yuh then?”….as girls do..!! – and I  remember her then laughing and seemingly getting embarrassed as I  looked over to her….. and then  going completely  red  with embarrassment myself with Danny saying to me “she must like you look at how red she’s gone. I wish I was the new boy right now.” With that he smacked me on the back and laughed loudly. I liked Danny a lot at that time, and I feel I  learned a lot from him, socially. One thing that really sticks in my mind was that he didn’t smoke at all. Just about every other kid at the time was – including me! I was impressed by that, even then. Really as far as Linda went I cannot remember any real further instances where we talked or had anything much to do with each other at all. I did often look her way and hope that maybe she might return the look – which I’m sure I caught her doing once or twice but that was about it. The Elvis that I wanted to be just never surfaced! The next memory I have is of the role call class a where we had to present ourselves before reporting to our relevant first lessons. This is where I was to meet a girl who would haunt me for the rest of my life. Upon entering the class- room – incidentally Danny was in the same role call room – my eyes fell upon a female teen creature that I could barely take my eyes off. Danny noticed my looking at her and said to me “just look at that – she’s perfect”. With that she noticed us both looking at her and a broad and devastating but slightly shy smile lit up her face. Danny whispered “Look at those teeth – absolutely perfect” and they were, white and even and perfectly shaped – and real! With the smile that came our way I once again probably just went bright red and did not know what to do with myself. Danny just led me straight over to her  and introduced me to Barbara Allen. The closer I got the more perfect she got – perfect skin and dark hair in a Dusty Springfield style that was all the rage. Her eyes were deep crystal  blue and  as  she said  hello I noticed   her eyes  burning  into my own. I could do no more than say a quick hello and then hasten to find a seat to sit in with Danny pulling my arm over to where he normally sat. During role call I remember every now and then my glancing over to look at Barbara. And once I caught her look at me just as I looked over – again she smiled. I remember thinking “I’m in love!” and I’m sure that I was – this must have been that love at first sight that I had heard of. To top even this I realised that she was even in the same class as me 3B (I think). Still after several days I had not had the courage to even speak to her – she must have wondered what the hell was the matter with me, I’m sure. Finally, one day upon entering the role call class there she was sitting in what had become MY regular seat! Danny grabbed my arm and said “she wants you to speak to her - look! Dave you have got to do it” Of course I was in sheer panic – and could do no more than scramble to another seat – SOMEBODY ELSES regular seat! From then on it was confusion and accusing glances from everyone as they realised who had messed everything up and most of the room had ended up in the seat of somebody else. ME! It’s probably quite funny now but at the time I was so embarrassed by the whole thing and my continued terror of just talking to a girl – who obviously wanted just  that. Of course I did eventually get to speak to Barbara and liked everything about her – she had a kind of American look, or so I thought. I think the main reason I got to speak to her eventually was through other people in the class that knew her and got  friendly with me – including a few of the other girls. Some names I remember are  Marsha Reynolds, Lillian Chapman (Lilly), Penny ..? Frank Turner, Alexander….? Ronald Kimm, Alan Bell, and another new pupil who started the same day as I did David Visor. It was he that I ended up sitting next to – right at the front of the class. Danny was in  a  different  class  to my own – possibly 3A, but I’m not sure. David and  I got  along well, he was, as I recall quite shy and  unassuming and  not  at all what I would call robustly built – he even wore the school uniform including the tie! That was something else different about Rising Hill, no strict dress code. Of course  we were encouraged to wear the school uniform but not forced to like so many schools of the day – and even today. He was fairly well spoken and  well mannered also – and I don’t ever recall him using any bad language. His upbringing was definitely a step up from  most of  the pupils at the school. We were to share a few social evenings and weekends at his house in Edmonton where I needed to catch a bus to get there. We spent most lunch breaks together – but not all. I often went over to Danny’s house  with  him which was a mere 5 min walk to the flats just over the road to the school – Linda Wakelin also lived in the same flats……. but of course I never went there! I was surprised to find out that Danny was quite an accomplished drummer – to my eyes at least. He had a snare drum fixed up in his bedroom and he could play a mean rendition of “Wipe-out” a recent record out at the time. I was really impressed and remember thinking this guy IS much cooler than I am. He had a great collection of all the recent singles that were appearing at the time and could drum along to any of them…. I think I would not have liked to live next door to him thinking back! Music at this time – the early sixties was obviously a large part of  any social  and  general  conversations between the teens and it gave me at least something I could join in on most discussions as my record collection was gradually getting bigger every week. We talked about every name imaginable – The Beatles especially were a major topic because they were just beginning to make a big name for themselves – and we all know what happened later. I would always make sure that Elvis got a good mention and was supported often even though most of his music was from movies of late. We even got permission to put up posters and pin-ups of our favourite stars – of course once again Elvis had a good showing. Another thing that began to happen that really “freaked me out” quite a lot was the unexpected attention I began to get from another girl that was a complete stranger to me. She was Turkish, and again very attractive. Her name was Naomi. She would always be waiting for me to arrive – she knew the entrance I arrived at and was nearly always there. It was almost on the verge of today’s stalking – but in a nice way. At first she would have her friend call out to me and try to get me to come over and talk – of course I never could. Eventually she would do her own calling out and almost chasing me  down the corridors as I tried to get to my role call class. She even managed somehow to obtain my home address and sent me a valentine card which I was most embarrassed to open in front to my mum, which of course led to a barrage of questions about who is she etc. and I had to explain that I really didn’t know!! A very strange situation I thought. This went on for months until one of the last efforts she made was she got her friend to actually come in after me – with her right behind her and she got a hold of my arm and used all her force to hang on to me. She began to plead with me “Dave! Dave! Please speak to me – you must, I’m crazy about you … “etc etc. It’s really quite embarrassing for me to relate this now but it’s the truth and I’m trying to put every memory that I can recall down here. I really wish  that Naomi could  read this sometime and I would want to offer my sincere apologies to her for  the way in  which I treated her. Added to that I want to say that I  really DID actually “fancy” her but again had no courage to back it up. I still remember those red knee high boots she wore. And then I was always afraid that Barbara would see all this going on – I still lived in hopes a miracle would happen! One day it almost did, I can’t remember  the exact thing  that  led  to it  but  for  some reason  I had a hold of Barbara’s hand – I think there was something going on about cold hands or hand sizes – something like that – anyway  I ended  up with  Barbara’s hand  in  mine and I was looking the other way – why I have no idea, but as  I looked back  at  her  she  was gazing up  into my eyes  and  then looking down at  her hand  in mine and smiling – SURELY trying to tell me something!! What did I do? Of course I immediately dropped her hand and went scarlet and my legs probably started shaking as well. WHAT A FOOL! If that wasn’t enough another time our small group were part of a larger group that had some free tickets that one of the teachers had obtained, to go to the BBC TV center to see a pop show called “Gadzooks!” On the bill were the Who and Donovan. Anyway, again for some reason our group ended up either walking or partly walking  home  from  this show. Lilly Chapman and Marsha Reynolds I remember were among this group as they were friends of Barbara’s and another boy I was hanging around with often was named Alexander (Alex). Well we had walked most of the way to near where Barbara’s home would be off in another direction so she began to say that she will have to depart in that direction now – and I  remember her eyes looking straight at me as she said it. And she said goodnight etc. as  she walked away. Lilly got a hold of my arm and said “Are you going to just let her walk home on her own? Walk home with her!” That is exactly what I should have done … but I didn’t, although I wanted to SO MUCH! Barbara if you ever read this – I still remember that you lived at ‘Parkside’!! (funny thing here – I just had a “wiggly” red line come up because ‘word’ did not recognize the word ‘Parkside’ – it suggested the word PARADISE – it could have been just that had I taken that walk alongside her!) It’s strange writing all these things down now – these memories are flooding back to me and are so vivid in my mind. It’s almost like it was just weeks ago – but of course we are more than 46 years down the line and all of us have changed – some of us may even not be with us anymore – I hope that isn’t true of any of the people that I have mentioned so far …… although I do know of one who isn’t that I will mention later as it  was a more recent event and discovery than needs to be mentioned now. Some weeks – maybe even a couple of months into my joining Rising Hill another girl appeared in my class that I had not seen before. And yes – another very attractive one. Her name was also Barbara – Barbara Vogel. I was to learn that she had lost her mother and  had, not been  to school since. It must  have been during  the  school holidays  as  she had not returned to school after the summer break – when  I  had arrived. She was a very pleasant, softly spoken girl and I was also to discover that both her and the other Barbara – MY Barbara (wish), had been the best of friends but were now not friends at all. I found it hard to understand how someone who was such a good friend to someone once could just ignore them – especially when they had suffered such a loss. I never found out what had happened between them. I really hoped that at some time in the future they managed to forget their differences and be best friends again. They were both such nice girls it was a shame that had to happen. I never really found that I had THE same type of feelings for Barbara Vogel as I had for Barbara Allen – but ALMOST. She was such a nice girl and  I’m sure made someone very happy. We did become friends though – that didn’t go down too well with the other Barbara! I remember her saying to me once “So you’re talking to her now are you?” and giving me that …. LOOK! I just wanted to be friends with everyone – and more than that wanted both Barbara’s to be friends again. It never happened to my knowledge – it’s a shame. Of course not everyone liked me! For some strange reason a particular boy hated me so much – I really don’t know why I had done nothing to him at all, I can really only put it down to jealousy and that he wanted to be part of the “hard nuts” that belonged to my class led by Ray Barber, who incidentally I got along fine with and he was not a bully at all – at least not to me. I will not mention  the boy’s name who wanted to become part of this “clan”  but I know that anyone remembering me would know  who it is. He obviously did not know ME at all! Finally, after  months of goading me and my confused and bewildered state in not knowing why he hated me it came to a head. One particular day he  kept on at me saying he was going to get me after a particular lesson that day – during which kept on saying how he was going to break my nose. I took not much notice after all I had listened to all of this before and ignored it. On this occasion though it seemed  he meant it as he had followed  me across the “playground” taunting and prodding me all the way. Eventually I had  to stop and I tried to talk reason with him, asking why he wanted to do this and that I had done nothing…. apart from being ME to provoke him in any way. I refused to get into any kind of fight with him – I don’t recall feeling scared of him, just not interested in any trouble for what I could see as no reason. He then said if I won’t fight him he’s going to hit me anyway I just said if it makes you feel any better go ahead. With that I remember him holding up his fist to land me a solid punch in the face. It landed on my cheek bone – but did no damage whatever, not even a bruise materialized after. Along with my feelings of a kind of sadness as to not understanding why all of this had happened,  a rage had begun to build in me and I swore to myself that he would get  repaid for that….. a thing that actually never happened …. from my hands anyway, and that never again would I allow anyone to do it again! One of the fears I did have was that he had befriended Ray Barber and his clan enough that if I had tried to fight back that I would have the rest of them to deal with as well. One day Ray pulled me aside and said to me that I had nothing fear by him and the others getting involved as  they didn’t like the boy in question anyway. He told  me this  after  he had  asked  me why  I did  nothing  when he hit me and I had explained my fears of his involvement – I also expressed my confusion as to why he didn’t like me. Ray said something like because he’s a – something or other! I thought about  what  he  had  said  but the problem never arose again. A few months later I almost cheered with joy … along with most of the rest of the class when this boy tried to take on a teacher! After months of gradually getting more and more cocky and big headed the day arrived when at a geography lesson he misbehaved so badly  that  the  teacher wanted him to remove himself from the class room, he decided that he was not going to do as the teacher had requested and the teacher tried to help him up from his chair to lead him out. Somehow – it all happened so fast – the boy ended up on the floor and his nose was bleeding and dripping everywhere, and he was almost sobbing. I felt my revenge had come without my having to do a thing! By the way that teacher was  the  same  one  as  would  make  that final announcement in around 18 months time – Mr. Caldwell – another fine and respected man who was looked up to and liked by all……except maybe one right now! All of this brings  to my mind a thing that had happened to me  at my  previous school – the all boys school. That was  FULL of  bullies. One particular boy there again took a special dislike to me, always pushing me around and threatening me – I’ll mention his name Barry Tame for reasons that will become apparent. Again one day the “showdown” came, and also  I could take no more when he had me cornered in the class-room during lunch time one day, we were alone. He was doing his usual pushing me and saying “I’m dying to have a fight with you” cornering me – that did it – something new appeared inside of me that I had never experienced before, a blind rage without fear, when I shouted “OK Tame then DIE!” with  that  I had my hands clenched into fists ready to do my best when the door to the class room opened  and  in  walked  Mr. Parry, our  teacher. We just  dropped  our  hands  and  pretended nothing was going on with him looking at us very suspiciously, he could  have been listening to all this from the other side of the door I thought. Anyway, from then on Barry Tame became my friend! That is why I did not mind mentioning his name. And he would transfer to Rising Hill also. I had even been present when he himself related this same tale once or twice as I have just  related and once said to me hold  your fist up – puzzled  I did. He put his next to mine – it was then he said that’s what made me change my mind about you – look at the size of your fist to mine and he laughed. – yes it was quite a bit bigger. That became a short  lived  happening – some of  the boys comparing the size of their fist to mine! This could also be one of the reasons I ended up with just a few other boys not liking me and wanting to maybe take advantage of my mostly unearned and small notoriety  as  “Bigfist!!”  I  very likely  had  Barry  to  blame  for  that. Around this same time one of he boys that was around at the time of these fist comparisons, somehow decided he wanted to take me on right there and then – again why I have no idea. But I remember thinking it quite funny and thought he was joking. It was then as I was laughing he swung his kit-bag at me and I ducked out of the way and began stepping backwards away from him – still laughing. He continued coming at me and looked like he was getting madder. There were  a few  posts  that held  up  the  rain cover  over  the  path  into  the main assembly hall and I remember grabbing his bag as it swung towards my head and it wound  around  the  post  a  few  times. He was getting  madder  and  I  was  still laughing. It was then that I don’t really know how it happened but he ended up on the floor on his back and screaming in pain, somehow he had fallen over and  I  hadn’t laid a finger  on him. But guess what, a few of  the older girls who had not seen the whole thing and had just come through the door and saw him lying and crying on the floor, and  I  guess  me still  laughing, started  calling  me  a BULLY! - ME!! I was relieved to find that he never returned to try again. I was only  involved  in  another couple of altercations that  I  needed  quick wits  and fast talk  to  get myself  out  of – one was  not  my  fault – unfortunately one  was entirely my own fault. The one which was not  my fault was  with a girl! At a lesson which was taking place upon the top floor of the school – I can’t remember the lesson – apparently she had been handed a note supposedly written by ME! I don’t know what the note said but it was not very nice. I  knew nothing about this note – and  still don’t  know who or why said  that I  had  written  it. Upon leaving the  class  I was tipped  off  by  someone  that  Susan Greenland was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs and was going to “get me” – oh no not again! I thought the best thing is stay put at the top of the stairs for a while until she goes – she didn’t. Eventually she would come most of the way up the stairs saying “scared to come down ain’t yah!” I guess I  was, but  not  for the reason she thought. I tried to reason with her telling her I didn’t write that  note – eventually  I persuaded her to let me write something so she could compare the writing, she agreed and decided upon looking at the scribbles on the different pages that  I was telling the truth – whew! No apologies though! Oh well! Susan and I remained friends after all of this – although no other outward signs of anything else ever materialized, there is a bit  of  a  story  involving  Susan  that  happened  in  my  first few days at Rising Hill. Somebody gave me the information  that  Susan  fancied  me (look I can’t help this!!) Anyway, one day upon opening my locker I found a note inside  that  someone  had pushed through the gaps, it read  “You have a secret admirer” that’s all. I asked  one or two of the others and was told it was probably Susan as she had mentioned that fact to one or two of the other girls ….. although I never knew for sure – so Susan if you ever read this – was it you? The  other  problem  I got  myself  into was  with  Ray  Barber - of  all  people. It developed at woodwork classes, we had been given the task of making a small stool. Nearing the completion of this stool over a  few weeks  I looked at  mine  and it was awful, all crooked and wobbly, well – I thought why not swap it with a better one? So I did, it  turned  out  to  be  Ray’s  and  upon seeing my awful wobbly one  that  had replaced  his perfect  and  probably  the best  one  there  he came over to me and said something like “so you think that’s yours do you?” then dropping my original one in front of me said “THIS is your one!”….. and he was not very happy. I thought I was going to get it right there and then, and I  deserved it. Anyway he snatched his  own perfect stool away and threatened me to never try that again. For a while I had to put up with a bit of generally good natured bullying – nothing serious, mainly from Ray’s best mate with Ray  laughing  in the background. I have  to say though that Ray had good reason to have hit me that day, I deserved it,  but he didn’t. He became a bigger person to me then because of it….. and it taught me a lesson! I never really got close to Ray Barber as such but I  kind  of liked him, and I think he kind of  liked  me  a little, I  was  certainly no threat to him, but that was it. One day upon entering an English class. I was to learn that the teacher had obtained tickets to go and see a film in the west end for the whole class – it  was the English teacher  Mrs. Duvall. The film was “West Side Story” and it was for  an afternoon performance. The details of how we got there are vague but I think it was by bus. Upon entering the cinema all of the girls all sat together in a long row and the boys all sat in the row behind. I managed to get to sit almost directly behind Barbara, and I could just see the side of her face, and I had visions of somehow getting closer to her during  this film. Anyone who has seen this film  knows  it is a modern version of  Romeo and Juliet – and that there are some very sad scenes along with  wonderful  music and  songs. Of the songs  featured  “Tonight”, “Something’s Coming”,  “One Hand, One Heart”,  and  to  me “Maria”   became  “Barbara”. I remember listening to the words and thinking these words are the words I’m thinking about being with Barbara and for those moments it was just her and myself alone in that  cinema, she would  never  know  that  I wanted  to  just reach forward and put my arms around her – I wish I had had the nerve! She would not turn around to me during the whole of the film but somehow I sensed, or maybe hoped, that she was thinking the same thoughts – a thing that I thought certain as the movie ended and we were getting ready to leave – she had tears in her eyes as  she looked at me as soon as she had turned around and I  just wanted to hold her close. Of course nothing would materialize once again because of my sheer terror of  being made a fool of ….. had I thought about it I was already THAT! Over the years I have listened to the music from “West Side Story” many times and it always draws me back to that day and makes me think of Barbara all over again – but she is never  far from  my mind  always anyway. I’ve often wondered if she has  ever thought of me whenever she hears that music as well. The film ended as sadly as our never to be romance! On another day trip – unknowingly I was to be heralded as a “hero” – at least by a couple of people! It was a day out as I recall that had been arranged by my “house”. I belonged to Milton (I think!) And I can’t remember if all the houses went on the same trip – but on this occasion I was not with Barbara but another – I think there were 3 girls and my friend David Visor …. I might be mistaken somewhere here! Anyway I’m not even sure of the location that we went to but I think it was somewhere on the South Downs, it was a kind of country ramble day out. All was fine on this walk in the wilds …. until our little group got lost! We had been at the front of the rambling “horde” – and were gradually getting further in front. We thought it best to slow down a bit and wait for the rest as we were not sure where we were going anyway. That was when we realised after backtracking a  short  distance  that  the rest of the ramble had turned off somewhere into the woods where we had gone too far ahead. A mild panic passed over our group and  I  decided  that I would take control of the situation and told everyone to calm down. This was my chance – I had been brought up on a steady diet of TV and  movie westerns  and  had  believed  I  had  learned  a  bit  about  “tracking” somebody. It was  a difficult  decision  to make  at first  to decide  where  the  main ramble had parted company with ourselves – on inspection of a few path ways I found a few sweet wrappers. and along that same route  a  few more, it was a bit of a long shot but it seemed feasible that this was the route that they had taken so off we went in that direction. We came to several places where the paths forked and again we had to stop and try to work out which way  they had gone. One of the paths led to an opening – this led onto an area of fairly long thick grass. Upon examination you could see a dark ‘shadow effect’ where the grasses had been trodden down by many feet. And they were facing in the direction that they would have been walking. I decided that  must have been our main party. Eventually we came to a very small village – in fact it seemed like just one shop as I  remember, a small grocery shop. Outside there was a lemonade lorry who  was making  a delivery  to  the shop. We went in and enquired if a large school party had passed this way. The lady replied yes – about an hour ago – that was when the listening lorry driver joined in and said “I saw a large group heading up to … “ (I can’t remember where). But it was a large country estate. He then added “I can take you up there if you like?” Of course we all said yes please and thanks a lot. We went outside and then discovered we would not all get into his cab – he could manage 4 (or was it 3?). Anyway – the other would have to climb up on top of the crates and lie flat for the short trip! We all  know  who  that would be - me! (This is something that would not happen nowadays with all the health and safety rules and regulations etc.) The driver helped me get a foothold and watched me as I scrambled up onto the rattling wooden crates of  bottles. He told me to hang on as best I could – was that necessary? The others  squeezed into  the small cab at the front – and they could see me through the back window, high up on the top of those crates. The journey began, a few times I felt sure I was about to come hurtling off of the top of that lorry and that would be the end of me! After around 10 minutes or so we began to climb a steep hill and I had to hang on at an angle, that was when I noticed we were entering what looked like a private road – it was. It led up to the country estate and there were the rest of the ramble party, some looked on in amazement to see how we had arrived, with me climbing down from the top of the lorry full of crates. The driver waved and we thanked him and off he went. The girls started  telling everyone that I had “saved” them and got them there safely – and for a day or so I heard the story retold several times. The funny thing was that the teachers in charge had not even realised we had gone missing! And when they heard the story  they  were  horrified  as  to  what  could  have happened –but of  course  they were lucky  they had  a “frontier hero” that  they could  count  on. Another story that features Ray Barber, was the day he was persuaded by a teacher to give a demonstration of a new dance craze. It was the “Hitch-hiker”. The class was near to end of term and the teacher concerned – Mrs. Duvall again, had thought it a nice idea to have a small party – we could bring in a few records and the class room was cleared slightly for dancing room. I can’t say how the subject arose but suddenly there was Ray and Mrs. Duvall out there on the floor as he was showing her how to do this dance – it ended up as a full demonstration as Ray “strutted his stuff” to “Glad all over” the Dave Clark Five which was at number one, in front of the whole class – with Mrs. Duvall picking up the idea and joining in – what I sight this was. As the music and the dance ended everybody cheered and clapped and I thought again … now THAT is how I want to be! Not afraid to be out in front  and to just not be so shy! But there would never have been any way that I could have done what I had just witnessed. Added to that I know that Ray WAS embarrassed because he had gone very red – but he still had the nerve to carry it out. True Grit! It was close to end of term when all of the pupils were being given choices as to what classes they wished to move on to. This was a thing I had never heard of before – actually being given a choice as to what you wanted to do instead of being told where we would be going. We also had the choice of dropping certain lessons if we did not wish to do them – I immediately dropped Maths! But we had to sign up for additional lessons in a subject to compensate – I chose Art, probably because it seemed an easy option than for any other reason. I would spend extra lessons over the next year studying for my GCE in Art. Also we had to choose the main class that we would wish to join that may lead to the type of job we would like to pursue upon leaving. I really had no idea and my main interest would be to try to find what I would think was the easiest class to be in once again – that and I wanted to stay in the same class  as  Barbara  Allen. Luckily I  found  out (somehow)  that  she  had  put  her name down for 4 C/T – meaning 4 Clerk / Typist. Barbara Vogel also joined the same class. I was going to learn how to run an office and to type and write letters for my final year at school. I had not seen Barbara for six weeks, all through the summer term – yes what  a waste! When I did I noticed that she had had her hair cut shorter and into a different style. I still liked it and she still looked so good to me and the hopes of something developing still hung over me. I now had several different class- mates, but the most striking thing was that the majority of the class were girls. I think there were just 6 or 7 boys including myself. It was in this class that I became good friends with a boy named Alexander, whom everyone called Alex and I mentioned briefly earlier but did not know him, so well. The girls liked him a  lot because of his un-threatening character, in fact his  behaviour  and manners were always  impeccable, and he never wore jeans always slacks and polished shoes. He was, in fact quite the “mod” the fashion craze that had been growing over the last couple of years. I had never really taken a lot of notice of the fashions and to be honest. I liked different aspects of both the “mods” and  the “rockers”. One day I would look more “mod” – next day more “rocker” – me being me again. Most of the school dress leaned towards the “mod” styles and a lot of competition seemed to take place – especially among the girls – nothing changes. Some of the girls would come to school cake in make-up with their eyes black with mascara and varied lip- sticks. This is one thing Barbara never over did – she always had a minimum of make-up, and she didn’t need any more. But I always enjoyed secretly watching her as she applied her lipstick – usually one of the paler pink colours that had emerged and had become very fashionable. One day she noticed me looking  and  blew me a kiss and I nearly  slid  under the  table in embarrassment. It is strange and I have no real idea why, but I don’t seem to remember as much about my final year as I do the previous year. I can remember the feeling of relief that I had opted out of several lessons in favour of Art class where I had intended to study for my GCE ‘O’ level. I also believe that I chose to take this particular study believing it to be the easiest of any choices I could make as I was fairly interested in Art, and I believed it may have been my only possible chance of leaving school at least with one GCE. In fact I am quite sure that even that belief at the time was at best misguided as although I was fairly good at drawing I really don’t think – looking back, that  I had the aptitude  to enhance my skill  or natural  abilities  any  further. Later on, after securing my first job in the commercial art world, I handed in my notice after just six weeks in this job as an “apprentice” after finding I was making tea and running all over London with art work for clients. It was on hearing of my intent to leave the job that the manager / owner of the business informed me that I had been chosen from over 20 applicants for the job in the first place and that he was soon to start sending me to college. Obviously he must have seen some abilities within me, but I had become disillusioned and had been offered another 10 shillings a week by another company dealing in commercial printing – taking my weekly wage to the grand sum of  £5 and 10s. a week. As I  mentioned I  was  to completely lose interest in any  form of  my own drawings or paintings after realizing my shortcomings as  a potential artist but always had a great appreciation of others, which stays with me to this day. The great advantage of taking the art lesson route at Risinghill meant that often the pupils were allowed off the school grounds to draw and sketch churches and other local interesting sites. Invariably this would mean going to a park or some other form of relaxation for the afternoon and then in the last 15 – 30 minutes making hurried sketches as evidence of an afternoon of study and artwork, my own  being very  bad – and my realisation of  it! As I’ve already mentioned – much of the memories of that second and final year have faded in my memory. Barbara seemed further away from me than ever. I think she had given up on me by then. I did notice sometimes a look of sadness and disappointment when she looked in my direction. I wonder if she ever noticed any sadness in MY eyes as I often gazed in her direction and it is something that I have had to live with for the rest of my life that I never had the courage to take things further – who knows my life could have turned out completely differently. Or things may have  taken their course and Barbara Allen would  have been  just  another girlfriend that I had met and parted with. I wish I’d had the courage then to find out. I later lost most of the fears of my teens with the female species and had many and varied relationships – but I NEVER forgot Barbara! Probably the biggest regret of my life. When school ended and everyone went their separate ways I don’t even think we even said goodbye – in fact I know we didn’t! As I would have always remembered that pain! As it was there was to be great pain for everyone when the decision was announced that the school would no longer exist as RISINGHILL. And the gasps that went throughout the school to learn that the highly respected, liked even loved, Mr. Duane had been sacked because of his refusal to use corporal punishment and his belief that his pupils be treated as adults. This was, I understand, one of the first if not THE first time a Head teacher would make such declarations – and he was made to make the ultimate sacrifice for his courage and beliefs, a belief that is now commonplace – but unfortunately has taken a completely wrong direction in not instilling respect into the youth of today as was still the case of Mr. Duane’s pioneering attitude which still lives with me today  – as  I am sure it does with  many others  who went  to the wonderful and  daring to be different RISINGHILL.

David E. Young.

Dyoung8486@aol.com if anyone would like to contact me.

—Preceding unsigned comment added by Daveac130 (talk • contribs) 09:56, 26 August 2010 (UTC)

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