1966 Malcolm Staight
My dad went to Mayfield when it first opened, and he told me some tales about those early days. Mr. Cutting, who was fresh out of Teacher Training, put my dad in hospital playing rugby in the playground. He was being a bit flash running through the boys tackles, so they ganged up to get him, but my dad got floored and suffered a badly grazed face.
At a later date Mr. Cutting took over the very successful Mayfield School Soccer Team. When he changed all the players positions the team went on strike. New payers were drafted in but the team started losing 9 or 10 nil every week. The striking boys used to go along to the matches and watch. Eventually they were summoned by the Headmaster, Mr. Hack (not Mr. Hicks – he came later) and asked to explain the reason for their strike. They were all reinstated into their old positions and the team returned to winning form.
My dad had been one of the ringleaders of the strike, and when my older brother started at Mayfield in 1959, Mr. Cutting recognized the name. My dad later met up with him at a School Open Day and they had a good laugh about it.
Thanks to Mayfield Memories I was put in touch with Doug Shaw’s widow, Joyce, who was my form teacher at Chadwell Heath Junior School. At the end of August 2009 my wife and I visited her at her home in Sidmouth and took her out to lunch. I hadn’t seen her for 48 years and at 84 she was still very active and, surprisingly, full of many of the memories I had. It was clear she missed Doug very much, so I was pleased when she told me another ex-Mayfield and Chadwell pupil was to visit her a few days after me. The pupil was Peter Holland who lived in the same road as me in Chadwell Heath, and was a member of Doug’s school band. I would also add that Joyce was able to tell me what had happened to all my teachers at Chadwell Heath Junior School. So if any ex-Chadwell pupils want to know about Mr. Chesney, Miss Coleman and Mrs. McMurrey, I’ll be happy to let them know. Before leaving I showed Joyce my school report from 1959 in which she had written ‘Malcolm is a disturbing influence on the class’. We had a really good laugh about that.
I am looking forward to retiring at the end of 2012 from my job as Head Coach at Amersham Swimming Club. Amersham is a small club of just 220 members but, for the first time in its history, made the National League B final in 2011. The club has subsequently gained a place in the ‘B’ final for 2012. We have at present two swimmers who have qualified for the Olympic trials to be televised from the new Olympic pool during the first week in March. In November I took 12 of our top swimmers to train for five days in Cardiff. They have 3 or 4 swimmers who are likely to make the Olympic Team.
Hi Malcolm remember the name think we went to Chadwell Heath and Mayfield at the same time and possibly played football together. I played football with Paul Sutton but not as good as him and cricket at both schools. Saw the name Peter Holland remember that name as well. I was in 1A2 upto 5E2 leaving 1967. Been in contact with Bernard Steele and John Addis through Facebook plus Pat Lavery. Hope you are well as I am at the moment. Good to see old names on here, only just found the site. Keep well Paul Conley.
Hi Paul
I was a year in front of you at school but Paul Sutton played in the Chadwell school team alongside the likes of Dave McCauley,Terry Gale, Colin Webb, Norman Rhodes, Alec North, Graham Marshall and myself. Paul lived in small house that faced the Chadwell Infants School. I remember his older brother used to watch all our games. I seem to remember that he took a picture of the team at one match now that would bring back memories.
Paul lives in Maldon and I spoke to him on the phone three or four years ago. I also well remember John Addis and Pat Lavery. Pat was an outstanding distance runner and gymnast as documented on this site. Also Peter Holland lived, like me, in Brian Road. Likewise I remember your name but nothing more. Hope time has served you well. It’s a shock when you see some of your fellow pupils are no longer with you.
Hi Malcolm thanks for the reply. Yes I remember most of the names. Saw Dave McCauley years ago in the Cedars Club Chadwell Heath were he and his Dad were members, as me and my Dad were. Spoke to Terry Gale on Facebook, he lives in Collier Row. Paul is on Facebook as well and in contact with John Addis and a few others who meet up for drink and chat near Kelvedon Hatch. Speak later Paul.
Hello mate. Seems a long time since we spoke in the swimming pool in Lanzarote how are you and your family. I would love to hear from some of my classmates from 4b. Brian bowman, Martin Rolfe, Billy Parsons and so on. Do your brothers remember them? Look me up on FaceBook.
Hi Derek
For all the Mayfield Memories members, 10 days ago, on the last day of my holiday in Lanzarote I got chatting to Derek in the pool. It was then we found out we had both gone to the same junior and secondary schools and were both members of this site. Derek remembered many of the fellow pupils I knew and vise versa. He lived in Hall Road, Chadwell Heath, and I walked past his house for the six years at the infant and junior schools. It was a shame we didn’t realize our common background until so late in my holiday.
As you are about 3 years younger than me, Derek, I wondered if you knew people like John and Christopher Barham who lived in Brian Road or Peter Gardener who lived off Donald Drive, I think in Tendering Way.
My older brother, Paul, is 3 years older than me so unlikely to remember your mates. My younger brother, Gary, is 3 years younger than me and was the black sheep of the family. Having passed his 11 plus he went to Beal so would only remember Chadwell pupils.
Gary still lives in Chadell Heath in Jarrow road and was for over 20 years a Liberal Democrat Councillor for Chadwell until he decided to give it up 4 years ago. He has a Russian wife and his daughter attends a music academy in Russia and plays all the classical music on the Grand Piano. Not my scene but she is very good. I have only met her once when she visited the UK at about 7 or 8 to play in a few concerts over here.
Keep in touch – Malcolm
PS – Off to South Wales today to do 2 days Shark fishing off the south coast of Ireland.
Malcom, I used to live at 137 Brian Road and was good friends with your brother Paul, We used to go riding on our Honda 50’s. Many a day was spent in the road, playing football or hockey on skates. With George Baines, Chris Amos, John and Chris Barham and Barry Wood. Went past there a few years ago to see there was no way any games could be played due to the amount of traffic. Anyway it’s so nice to catch up with memories. I’ve been in touch with Paul, awhile ago, and gather he is based in Adelaide. My brother Alan is in Melbourne. It’s good to see Mayfield Memories is very active and rekindling old acquaintances. I currently live in Devon, on Dartmoor and retired from dairy farming. So now enjoying the good life.
Best wishes,
John
Hi John
Remember you well you also had a sister Jean and your parents were Scottish. Your dad used to drink in the Hawbush pub if I remember right. I also seem to remember your house was broken in to at night and your mum was sleeping downstairs can’t remember what happened next.
My younger brother Gary still lives in Chadwell Heath in Jarrow road on a corner house with, I think its, Bishops Ave. My parents were among the last of the original householders in our little bit of Brian Road. Mum passed away in 2006.
As you say my brother lives down under and is still, at 67, coaching swimming at the Playford Aquatics swimming club. But he’s decided this year to ease back and look at retirement. He has two grown up children. His oldest is a policeman and his daughter, Kerry, is a TV presenter on the ABC channel for a programme called Landline. She travels all over Australia doing farming stories like our countryfile. We saw her shown on the BBC, on Boxing day last year, when she was covering a story on plagues of mice affecting farms. As you are retired from that field may be worth ‘Googling’ her and you would be able to view some of her work.
Re: the names you mention, what great memories. Met Barry Wood about 10 years ago but havent been in touch with any of the others for years.
I retired last year as swimming coach at Amersham swimming club but my replacement has now moved on so I am covering as Head Coach for the next 2 months until new coach appointed.
Keep in touch I live in Egham Surrey close to Junction 13 on the M25.
Malcolm
Hi Malcolm. It has been some time since I last commented here. I have had three operations since we came back home from Lanzarote and the most recent was a cardiac double bypass. But I’m doing well and back at work on light duites. Such a shame no one comes on here who I knew at Hall Road, Chadwell Heath Infants/Juniors or Mayfield. But, hey, thats how it goes. Hope this finds you well and still doing your bit. ttfn
I vaguely remember the Howe family but Christian names escape me now. I lived at No 86 Hall road and knocked about with Bernard Merry, Barry Ayers, David Lucas and Danny Garwood.
Hi Derek
I Have just noticed your email from a year ago. Sorry to hear of your heart problems. My brother Paul had to have a bypass last year and as it was considered hereditary I had a check up and found I have a heart murmur.
Am awaiting further tests.
Life is good fishing and playing bowls every week. Two weeks ago I went up to Loughborough University for the day to see one of my ex swimmers that I coached. He was appointed last year in a promotion to GB national Coach. So I spent a day there and was able to watch Olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty training.
Whilst as a coach I was luck enough to coach swimmers onto GB teams at the Olympics, Para Olympics, World and European Championships and be the GB Open water coach at World and European Championships Peaty is not Justin a different league to any swimmers I have worked with. A man mountain who was pushing his body beyond normal. A very special talent.
Anyway that’s enough from me, hope you are still keeping well
Hi Malcolm it’s been a long time since we last saw each other but I’m glad l came across this site. It’s good to know you are keeping well and that so many other people we knew back in the day are still around. You mentioned Peter Holland who l knew quite well back then. His grandfather would sometimes drive Peter and I to Chadwell Heath School in his wonderfully well kept Ford Prefect. Albeit at a painfully sedate speed, but we appreciated it anyway. My brother Chris who you mentioned now lives in Norfolk, and l live in Rainham, Essex. I have a wife, two children and three grandchildren, so l haven’t been idle. Like you I retired a few years ago. It was sad to read about George Baines. l have a lot of fond memories of George. He was a great sportsman and a nice person. l spoke to Barry Wood some years ago. He still lived in Chadwell Heath at that time, though I haven’t kept in touch with him since. I remember John Shiell and Chris Amos who lived either side of me in Brian Road, also Ronnie Thomas who lived opposite George in the corner house. l believe they too moved to Norfolk. Wow, so many people and so many memories, it doesn’t even feel as if I’ve scratched the surface. Look forward to hearing from you Malcolm.
Hi John
Great to hear from you. Funny but was having a clear out a few weeks ago and found a picture from my back garden with my brother Paul, George You and me. Must have been about 1960.
My brother Gary still lives in Chadwell Heath in Jarrow Road. His house is on the corner with Bishops Ave on the Chadwell Heath Lane side so if you want to get in touch with me he would i am sure be happy to give you my phone number or just email me on mjstaight@hotmail.co.uk. So i know its you not junk mail just put either of your sisters names in as subject. Would love to chat.
Just before lockdown i was in Rainham visiting a family of ex swimmers i coached back in the 1970s.
Last I heard of your brother Chris was that he was doing work with Peter Gardener is that still so.
I have two children. Emma my oldest lives with her partner in Bracknell and my son Brad also has a house there but is single.
I had a good career 37 years as a Head Swimming Coach at 4 different clubs and was lucky enough to coach swimmers onto Olympic, Para Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams plus world and European Championship teams. A bit strange as i was the worst swimmer of the three brothers and far better with a ball to kick.
Last time i saw you put a new roof on the flat i was living in in the mid 1970s.
Get in touch
Malcolm
The past, they say, always bounces back at you. And here it is. Funny I was only thinking about Brian Road the other day and it crops up… I now live in Devon on a farm since 1974. It’s been rather hectic, but really enjoyable. Now retired with four Grandchildren to contend with. Barry Wood was a name mentioned as was Chris Amos. And what ever is the story about George? I was in London a few years ago and just happened to wander to Brian Road. There were so many parked cars. I couldn’t believe it. We used to play football in that road and hockey on skates. It can’t possibly happen now. Safety issues. Anyway they have my email address. Please get in touch. And if you are ever in Devon, pop in!!
Take care everybody.
John x