During my time at Mayfield I was more notorious for being interested in geology and palaeontology rather than sports and, egged on by Jacko our geography master, made it into the Ilford Recorder with an illustrated book I had written on the subject.

Subsequently this ‘nerd’ by some standards was elevated, together with Keith Piper, to Head Prefect. Howard Barnes became Head Boy and stayed on, when I left, in the rather small Sixth Form. I recognise some of the names on the website and would like to add Olsen Scott who met my sister shortly after leaving Mayfield and eventually became my brother-in-law. They now live in Kefalonia and I know that Olsen keeps in touch with a number of mates from his school days, among them Johnny Crow. Sorry to hear from Don Pusey about his brother Dennis. Whilst I was never a boy scout and spent most of my young social life in the ballroom tripping the light fandango I meet regularly with Tony Wright, who lives around the corner from me in Newbury Park. He is still active, along with his lads, in Baden Powell’s movement as well as being one of our church wardens. Some of the lads in the year after I left may remember one of my most embarrassing moments when, having left Mayfield and attending Southeast Essex Polytechnic, I spectacularly wrote off my precious and highly adorned scooter on the bend outside the school main entrance one icy February morning, rushing to take a mock exam.