Ken Weetch
When I first started in Mayfield, it was in the September of 1960. It was my second teaching post the first having been in the Borough of Waltham Forest. My first class contained Roger Hawke, John Hornby, Eric Dilger and others. They were a good class and worked hard for me. I hope that they have subsequently done well in life. Mayfield was a good school, with strict discipline and high standards of behaviour.
I taught at Mayfield Boys’ School from 1960 to 1966. In this time I was head of the History Department; subsequently I became head of History at Hockerill Training College, Bishops Stortford. In 1974 I entered Parliament as MP for Ipswich where I served until 1987. After that I became a director of Advocacy Ltd, a London firm of Parliamentary Consultants. I am now retired.
Ken campaigning in Ipswich during the 1974 election
I remember Social and Economic History 1760 – 1914 that you taught us in the early 1960s. I left in 1965 and am still interested in History.
I was a pupil in the same class (2B2?) along with Roger Hawke, John Hornby, Tony Eveleigh and many others. I remember the lessons focussed on democracy and the House of Commons. Later understood the interest and the significance. We were fortunate to have you as a teacher.
I was a student teacher at Hockerill College. I remember you well, not just for your excellent lectures, but also for the fact that you gave me a glowing report! I am still a member of the Labour Party.
I remember Ken showing up on BBC Look East regularly when he was an MP for Ipswich, still in his trademark grey suit, white shirt and red tie. I had a photo of him on a beach in Denmark, taken during a school summer holiday, buried in the sand along with Mr’s Cutting and Summers. I considered sending a copy into Look East back then, with the sub-title ‘Ken, up to his neck in it again’ but never quite had the nerve. I lost the photo some years ago but recently met up with Malcolm Staight who coincidentally still possesses his own photo of that very incident. You should send it in Malcolm, to this website that is, not Look East.
Hi John
I will see if I can dig the photo out some time, might take a bit of searching. I have a fair number of photos from both the Denmark and a year later the Germany school trip.
Great memories
I remember you clearly as one of the best teachers at Mayfield Boys School. I was in classes 1A2, 2A2, 3X2, 4E2 and 5E2. You awoke a great love of history in me and, to this day, it still fascinates me as I participate in my hobby of Field Archaeology. Many of us were sorry to see you leave the school.
I remember Ken Weetch well. I knew him as a fellow teacher from 1963 to 1966. I remember his infectious laugh; he was never serious or glum for long! I took an extra qualification in History and he took pains to show me how write an historical essay. Thanks
I remember Ken Weetch as out history teacher at Mayfield Secondary Boys School during the early 1960s. It’s probably his influence that gave me the memory remembering dates! He was a good teacher and I should offer thanks for his patience.
I’ve not visited this site for some time now but very interested to read of your comments of Ken Weetch. I taught in the classroom next to his {1961-64}. A great inspirational teacher with a wonderful command of language, which I recall he displayed when as union reps for ‘Ilford’ we attended the NAS conference at Folkestone in the early 1960s. He held the conference spellbound with that wonderful rich Welsh voice as he articulated on the subject of ‘lunchtime supervision’ by teachers. A man of many talents, a particularly accomplished jazz pianist (I stood in for one of his gigs at ‘The Green Man’ on Blackheath, and also covered for him on a couple of occasions at Mayfield Girls school where he taught ‘Typewriting’ at evening class. My time at Mayfield, only 4 years, has lasting memories of a really good school, and totally committed staff at a time when the school was evolving and changing.
I remember Ken Weetch as the MP for Ipswich, I actually stood against him in 1979. He is a lovely guy and worked hard for the town and I have no doubt was a fine and fair teacher. Ken, having lost his wife Audrey to that awful Alzheimers some time back, moved to London staying with his family. There are very few politicians that I respect but Ken was certainly one of them. I might not have agreed with his politics and he certainly not with mine. Ken Weetch is still going strong and celebrated his 90th birthday a few days ago so from me on the Island of Capri to you in sunny East London I wish you health and happiness for many more years to come.