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Mayfield Old Boys’ Association — 10 Comments

  1. I was not aware of the association, but some of the names tickled my memory: Mr (maths-teacher) Ivey with his thick crepe-soled shoes;
    Mr (head teacher/master) Hicks, who occasionally administered a little well deserved corporal punishment- and Alan Cherry, who together with myself and a few others, became one of the first to be made a prefect. Alan of course went on to become arguably the most successful of the old boys, founding the Countryside Property group giant; became a university vice chancellor and was honoured with a CBE for his many services to the building industry. We exchanged letters a few years before he died.
    Mr Goldwin was our English/art teacher who started the very first school mag. and embarrassed me by insisting I became Editor. It quickly became evident that, judging by its content, I was singularly unfit to do. so. To make matters worse, it was churned out by hand on a Roneo duplicator; ugh. I departed in 1948, although the events were unconnected. Out of the blue, committee member Bob Mumford got in touch with me by e-mail a while ago, but equally suddenly, disappeared from my radar. I guess unexplained loss of contact these days is not surprising, given the vast age of those of us still hanging on. Les Tyler

  2. Thanks for your comment, Les. What you’ve said is most interesting. You will notice that I’ve now added scans of the other pages carrying this information. Perhaps the names on these will trigger more memories.

  3. Hello Tony, thank you for posting the scans from the Mayfield Magazine. I must confess that I had forgotten about it but the scans have taken the dust off some of my memory about our attempts to have an Old Boys Association. As far as I can recall it did not last, and I am not sure whether it was wound up or what. I seem to remember having a chess section and Gordon Linzey and I played, not very successfully against other schools. I remember several of the names including Alan Cherry, Tony Dunn, Colin Bantick, Mr Goldwin, Mr Hicks and of course the unforgettable teacher of 4A Mr Ivey. I started my National Service at Aldershot in January 1952 and I was not aware of the Association being in existence when I was demobbed in 1954. I read the comments from Les Tyler, an old class mate, and like him I do not know how we lost touch but I will certainly be contacting him. Regards Bob Mumford

  4. Hi Tony, I had no idea that there was an Old Boys Association. Interestingly, your wonderful efforts in putting together ‘Mayfield Memories’ has allowed many of us ex-pupils, both male and female, not only to re-establish old contacts but to discover many other other snippets of information and history, otherwise unknown to us.
    Keep up the good work.
    Best wishes,
    Ernie Barrett

  5. Like you, Ernie, I had no idea there was an Old Boys Association and I haven’t yet found anyone from our era that did. I do, however, remember keeping wicket for the school team that took on a masters side in the summer of 1952 (see issue 9, December 1951) which included a number of guest players in the masters team. These could have been old boys and the masters were the guests. The match was memorable for me as, with only a few overs having been bowled the batsman just got a thin edge to a fizzer from Keith Bantick and the ball hit me squarely in the mouth splitting the inside of my top lip. I can still feel the scar with my tongue as I’m writing this. Incredibly, the ball dropped into my gloves and the three slips appealed in unison. The batsman was given out and I spent the rest of the match biting on a rolled up handkerchief provided by Stan Frankland. Happy days!

  6. Hi Tony, I am afraid the Association was set up after I had left Mayfield in 1946 but I still remember Mr Hicks, Mr Ivey and a Miss Pocock. Mr Ivey was my form teacher and a good one he was too teaching the class of war time pupils. As I went into the RAF (1953-1955) after my apprenticeship I lost contact with many friends at school. I went on to become a Design Consultant in Engineering thanks to the persistence of the Mayfield teachers.

  7. Hi Tony,

    Believe it or not, I remember that cricket match. In particular, I recall that Mr. Cutting appeared resplendent in a multi-striped jacket and it was announced that he had once played in the minor counties cricket league.
    He took to the crease with great anticipation from all the boys…only to be bowled out very early into his innings. I cannot remember his actual score but it could have been a ‘duck’.
    I also remember your smack in the mouth.
    Ahhh; Happy memories!!
    Ernie

  8. Can anyone remember a class-mate of mine who had two names. It would have been at the very end of the 40’s. Initially he was known as John Corps and later became Fisher, presumably following a parental change. He was an outstandingly talented artist and a really lovely guy. He, I and another chum named Peter King frequently visited galleries in town and pursued a mutual interest in art.
    Two of us went on to use our interest professionally, with Peter becoming a principal in a Brentwood ad. agency. Sadly he died a year or two ago having moved to Maldon to be near his grandchildren. If anyone has news of, or can recall John (or Peter) I would dearly love to hear from them. Les Tyler

  9. Hi All
    A bit belatedly I refer to the above fizzer from my uncle Keith Bantick who did incidentally go on to play a bit of club cricket for the Red Triangle Cricket club. Another uncle Colin Bantick is also listed on the Old Boys Committee on 1950. I also attended Mayfield from 1964-1970 and remember Mr Hicks was still head and Mr Ivey (bouncer) took Maths. I remember Mr Cutting the Science Teacher and Stan Frankland one of the Sports Teachers. I recall Mr Pusey who we wickedly called BBP if anyone remembers what that stood for. Anyway, have to go and pick up my son from Weston Coalville Cricket club. By the way Keith and Colin are still fit and well.

  10. Hi Tony,
    I do remember the Mayfield Old Boys Association but never had any involvement. I do remember you as we were in the same class. I left Mayfield in 1953 when I was in Form 4C. I only discovered “Mayfield Memories” recently. Thank you so much for all the work you have put into the site as it has given me much pleasure and only wish I had stumbled on it years ago. Better late than never. My name does not seem to be on the 1953 Leavers list probably due to my being very quiet in those days. How things have changed!
    My sincere best wishes to you.

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