Ken Barnes.

[Prince_of_Ales]

Brian Watkins was the rugby guy

Originally Posted by jackwilliams

So it seems that many Local schools had their villains. That says much more about the teachers than the pupils. Perhaps the teachers were worried about losing control. Max Freudman was a lovely man but his idea of football coaching was 15 v 15 on the pitches just beyond the girls school. Mr Jenkins I seem to remember was the rugby guy and lads had a lot of time for him I think. OM was very good for both soccer and rugby. Mr Wilce did the cricket and he was a likeable man as well. I got on ok with Earny, probably because he was an old boy of the school at the same time as my dad. All in all I got through ok and I am pretty sure Ken Barnes' memory is safe. Best ball playing passer of a ball we have had.

[ted mcwhirter]

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Ales

Brian Watkins was the rugby guy

His cousin was Stuart Watkins who played for Wales in the sixties and scored that fantastic intercepted pass from his own 25 to score in the corner.

For the older GPS boys; do you remember the annual Christmas Rush? Earnie, Johnson, OM, Chisel and others would stand at the funnel at the top of the yard suitably armed and waiting for the charge to go past them delivering clouts and blows to those who ran through their cordon. I'm sure they enjoyed the ritual as much as we did.

[Corner Flag]

Originally Posted by Vorporix

I'm an 'Old Wrexhamian' and tend to agree with your comments.

Six of the best, given out with a smile on their face most of the time, for talking to your mate sets a great example!

As does the variety of 'weapons' used to dole out the punishment - cosh, pump, knotted bunsen hose, large rulers, and more!

There are better ways to make children behave in my humble opinion.

I went to Yale and left in 1967 and the amount of punishment doled out would never be accepted to day. The games master ,think his name was Peirce would cane you for not turning up for s rugby game and Brown the headmaster was always belting boys and girls (traditional bend over the desk style). Many other teachers were right bullies.
A few were fine and one I remember and is still alive is Ivor Jones the art master and Mr Bond the metalwork master. Never did me any real harm ...I think ?

[SE19 Exile]

Originally Posted by Corner Flag

I went to Yale and left in 1967 and the amount of punishment doled out would never be accepted to day. The games master ,think his name was Peirce would cane you for not turning up for s rugby game and Brown the headmaster was always belting boys and girls (traditional bend over the desk style). Many other teachers were right bullies.
A few were fine and one I remember and is still alive is Ivor Jones the art master and Mr Bond the metalwork master. Never did me any real harm ...I think ?

We had Ivor Jones at Bryn Offa, a very strict but looking back a very fair man. He was also my Head of Year and we sadly got more than acquainted during that year. You'd always hear him coming because he was singing "what a friend we have in Jesus".....
We also had the usual characters as PE teachers, Martin Dickhead Jones who was OK but had an old plimsoll he called Oscar that would be used to either threaten or actually used. There was also a woodwork teacher nicknamed Irish who would chuck chisels at you if you weren't paying attention. Happy days *cough*

[Vorporix]

[QUOTE=Prince_of_Ales;2105196]

Originally Posted by Redrobinman

I think Twigger may have been a Lancastrian./QUOTE]

Bloody hell Twigger would turn in his grave if read that!

One of his stock phrases was: "Leeds... centre of the Uuuuniverse!" Yorkshire through and through

Another of his favourites was "you think manual labour was a Spanish bullfighter lad"

Apparently the nickname 'Twigger' was through his constant use of the phrase 'have you twigged it now lad!'..........

[griff49]

No idea why trigger,but it was Bradford that was the centre of the universe.I loved his lessons as he was so eccentric,even when smelling of Border ales! Does anyone else remember when he started praying to Allah for some intelligent boys. Well some of us might have been and I did learn some Deutsch.I think he was probably a sad b........,but he has been remembered!

[Lesjonno]

Originally Posted by griff49

No idea why trigger,but it was Bradford that was the centre of the universe.I loved his lessons as he was so eccentric,even when smelling of Border ales! Does anyone else remember when he started praying to Allah for some intelligent boys. Well some of us might have been and I did learn some Deutsch.I think he was probably a sad b........,but he has been remembered!

As well as the Christmas rush, I remember hundreds of lads in the yard singing ‘Good King Twigger last looked out, from the Horse and Jockey...’ but I can’t remember the next line!

[Tony the Red]

I modelled my penalty taking on Ken Barnes who in his run up used to skip from foot to foot changing his balance to confuse the goalie, he always side footed the ball just inside the post so most goalies didn't stand a chance. Danny Harris got me playing Rugby, twiggers name was Hargreaves, I'm also old Wrexhamian but have lived in London for more than 45 years, and I hated Grove Park but accept it gave me a first rate education

[RED2309]

Originally Posted by southcoastexpress

But it was a great school.Pupils from all backgrounds were treated equally and most emerged learning the values of manners,discipline and respect which seem sadly out of fashion in this day and age.

It was not a great school unless you were considered 6th form material most teachers gave up on you with a few notable exceptions McGowan (Commerce) springs to mind.

To be honest there were some right physco's there masquerading as teachers.
Lemmy (GED) Hank (Geography) Randles (French) Wolfie (Deputy Head) besides others already mentioned.
Most didn't have enough intellect or enthusiasm to get you interested in a subject they tried to beat it into you!