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Title MEMORIES OF JOHN WEXLER

Description
My family was evacuated from London, both parents were teachers. Mother, of French, whose school came to Hemel; Father, of Chemistry, at Hackney Tech. Institute, which was sent to Downham market and I went with him at age 9. From there I went first to King's Lynn Grammar School, then after the Germans invaded the Low Countries, way away to Highgate School in North Devon. In 1942 the school in it's wisdom decided the blitz was over and with impeccable timing returned to North London to receive it's salutation of Buzz Bombs (V-1's).

From home on the Manor Estate Apsley it was a 10 minute walk across the fields to the train station, 45 minutes to Euston, 15 minutes on the underground to Archway, another 10 on the bus up Highgate Hill. So with that adding up to something over 90 minutes each way, the buzz bombs were a handy prompt to make an end to the London Odyssey. So I came to HHGS at age 12 and entered 2nd form. Right from the start it was a transforming experience. Not just because it was my first ever school with girls in it, but chiefly because of it's teacher abilities far surpassing anything provided at my previous expensive private schools. We had Mr Harrison for English, Taffy Evans for french (and german?), Quarrie for chemistry, Miss Dale for history, Shackley for physics. There was also geography and maths, can't remember who taught them. The kids were great, friendly and welcoming, and I was assigned a girlfriend first day. In the boy's playground we had "Kingy" and 'Jimmy Knacker", two great games, I wonder if they are still current. Assembly every morning started with the Lord's prayer, followed by a hymn, announcements, and then an inspirational device of the then Princpal Screeton, playing a 78 rpm record of classical music. I can still remember a bunch of those pieces we learned. The long wartime lunch layouts down the back corridor have been mentioned by others. I'll just add one more memory not so familiar, but nevertheless notorious. In chemistry class on organic amines Mr Quarrie happened to inadvisedly mention the extraordinary vile odour of a substance called phenyl isocyanide, a reaction product of that group of chemicals being studied. Not long after class an incredibly foul smell seeped into that back corridor and wafted therefrom with revolting consequence sufficient to drive the entire school population out into the playing field. The culprits (not including me!!) were never identified.

Keywords evacuation, teachers at HHGS

Collection Hemel Hempstead School

Place Hemel Hempstead

Year 1942 - 1945

Conflict World War Two

File type html

Record ID number 147

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Title	MEMORIES OF JOHN WEXLER
Description	My family was evacuated from London, both parents were teachers. Mother, of French, whose school came to Hemel; Father, of Chemistry, at Hackney Tech. Institute, which was sent to Downham market and I went with him at age 9. From there I went first to King's Lynn Grammar School, then after the Germans invaded the Low Countries, way away to Highgate School in North Devon. In 1942 the school in it's wisdom decided the blitz was over and with impeccable timing returned to North London to receive it's salutation of Buzz Bombs (V-1's). From home on the Manor Estate Apsley it was a 10 minute walk across the fields to the train station, 45 minutes to Euston, 15 minutes on the underground to Archway, another 10 on the bus up Highgate Hill. So with that adding up to something over 90 minutes each way, the buzz bombs were a handy prompt to make an end to the London Odyssey. So I came to HHGS at age 12 and entered 2nd form. Right from the start it was a transforming experience. Not just because it was my first ever school with girls in it, but chiefly because of it's teacher abilities far surpassing anything provided at my previous expensive private schools. We had Mr Harrison for English, Taffy Evans for french (and german?), Quarrie for chemistry, Miss Dale for history, Shackley for physics. There was also geography and maths, can't remember who taught them. The kids were great, friendly and welcoming, and I was assigned a girlfriend first day. In the boy's playground we had "Kingy" and 'Jimmy Knacker", two great games, I wonder if they are still current. Assembly every morning started with the Lord's prayer, followed by a hymn, announcements, and then an inspirational device of the then Princpal Screeton, playing a 78 rpm record of classical music. I can still remember a bunch of those pieces we learned. The long wartime lunch layouts down the back corridor have been mentioned by others. I'll just add one more memory not so familiar, but nevertheless notorious. In chemistry class on organic amines Mr Quarrie happened to inadvisedly mention the extraordinary vile odour of a substance called phenyl isocyanide, a reaction product of that group of chemicals being studied. Not long after class an incredibly foul smell seeped into that back corridor and wafted therefrom with revolting consequence sufficient to drive the entire school population out into the playing field. The culprits (not including me!!) were never identified.
Keywords	evacuation, teachers at HHGS
Collection	Hemel Hempstead School
Place	Hemel Hempstead
Year	1942 - 1945
Conflict	World War Two
File type	html
Record ID number	147