Brian Davis
I read with some sadness about the death of Stan Frankland. I knew him in three stages of my life. As a child, seeing him serving in Symonds Sweet shop in Oxlow Lane, Dagenham. Then, when I was in Albion Road Primary School in 1947 he took over the football team for a while. Then, when I started teaching at Mayfield in 1963, he was a colleague. I shall always remember his keen attitude and his infectious smile and laughter.
I was amazed to read Harold Cutting’s letter. I was a colleague from 1963 till 1971. His stories about Spitfires in the Second World War were legendary. I used to go into his lab and have chats about photography and his Leica 111g. Also, he would lead the annual continental holiday for the boys each summer. I shall always remember him.
Does any one remember Bill Chalk? He ran the special needs department. He was a keen Labour Party activist and wrote a well-known series of readers and workbooks based upon his own brand of phonetics called the Booster Readers. He lived in Wickford in the sixties.
Brian, I just read your comment regarding Mr.Frankland.
I liked that fella, he seemed a decent guy (unlike the other one you mentioned)
Mr Frankland was one of the form teachers in my year (but not my class)
In 1974 two of his pupils were my closest mates (Barry King & Adrian McCarthy)
I also recall him being keen on & helping out with P.E sports, outdoors.
Along with Mr.Ashford, they ran that ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ award thing !
Lastly, I’m interested to see what you’d written, regarding ‘annual holiday’
Back in April 1973 our school had a trip to the South of France (French Riviera)
Cutting was there & organised a trip to a ‘Perfume Factory’ (of all things, Jeeez)
I assume your wording of ‘Annual Continental’ covered up until you left, 1971 ?
I say that, as it was 1973 (for us) & I do not recall one being offered thereafter, except
Mayfield organised just one more (Germany, R.Rhine, August 1973), but the last I recall.