Reflections: Peter Stechman [August 2016]
Any man’s death diminishes me, more so when that man is one of our own. Since we began in 2002 there have been several reports of old boys dying. Some were personal friends, some were those that we hadn’t seen or heard of in many years. Some we never even knew. But none of them was one of us.
Our school contained several hundred boys at any one time so no surprise that many good and bad stories exist. The social media that was Friends Reunited sparked a forum that we latched on to and have used for our enjoyment ever since. The Internet may have a lot to answer for, but it has made such things easier and possible for us.
Group emails circulated that told tales of little victories and of defeats, large and small. Anecdotes of wry humour, stories of comeuppance. They were all there. Some alluded to knowledge of secrets that will never see the light of day, and why should they? The passing years would never make them easier. No, what we shared was the common bond of childhood into young men.
And then you got the wild tales of one Peter Stechman, known to all as ‘Stech’. Just one ’T’ in the name, James, wrote he, telling me off for writing ‘Stetch. Sorry mate, I did not check my facts. Stech’s alter ego wrote emails like no other; wild, outrageous, hilarious, defamatory [to many of us who had to take it on the chin] and sometimes serious. We did have one or two conversations about what he could or should not write!
The man knew the Islington of our youth. He knew the people who lived there. He married his childhood sweetheart and they had two daughters. He was honest, generous, well-travelled and the fittest of us all. Ironic, that last comment. A lot of us walked around with paunches of various sizes, while he swam and danced and exercised! He was slim and well-built. He wrote blogs on the gigs he went to, always telling us how the women would fall over themselves to dance with him as he was such a good mover. He made it clear though, that he always went home to his dear wife, letting us know that he was only allowed out with her permission. The times he asked me to meet him at some venue or other, and me, always refusing. Wish I’d gone now. He made it clear in several early emails that none of us knew how long we had left and that we should get out and enjoy ourselves as much as we could. How prescient was that?
Stech died on Tuesday 9th August and those that knew him, will most certainly miss him. No man is an island.
James Sanderson
Any man’s death diminishes me, more so when that man is one of our own. Since we began in 2002 there have been several reports of old boys dying. Some were personal friends, some were those that we hadn’t seen or heard of in many years. Some we never even knew. But none of them was one of us.
Our school contained several hundred boys at any one time so no surprise that many good and bad stories exist. The social media that was Friends Reunited sparked a forum that we latched on to and have used for our enjoyment ever since. The Internet may have a lot to answer for, but it has made such things easier and possible for us.
Group emails circulated that told tales of little victories and of defeats, large and small. Anecdotes of wry humour, stories of comeuppance. They were all there. Some alluded to knowledge of secrets that will never see the light of day, and why should they? The passing years would never make them easier. No, what we shared was the common bond of childhood into young men.
And then you got the wild tales of one Peter Stechman, known to all as ‘Stech’. Just one ’T’ in the name, James, wrote he, telling me off for writing ‘Stetch. Sorry mate, I did not check my facts. Stech’s alter ego wrote emails like no other; wild, outrageous, hilarious, defamatory [to many of us who had to take it on the chin] and sometimes serious. We did have one or two conversations about what he could or should not write!
The man knew the Islington of our youth. He knew the people who lived there. He married his childhood sweetheart and they had two daughters. He was honest, generous, well-travelled and the fittest of us all. Ironic, that last comment. A lot of us walked around with paunches of various sizes, while he swam and danced and exercised! He was slim and well-built. He wrote blogs on the gigs he went to, always telling us how the women would fall over themselves to dance with him as he was such a good mover. He made it clear though, that he always went home to his dear wife, letting us know that he was only allowed out with her permission. The times he asked me to meet him at some venue or other, and me, always refusing. Wish I’d gone now. He made it clear in several early emails that none of us knew how long we had left and that we should get out and enjoy ourselves as much as we could. How prescient was that?
Stech died on Tuesday 9th August and those that knew him, will most certainly miss him. No man is an island.
James Sanderson
This page recognises staff members and former students of Barnsbury School for Boys who have passed away.
Norman J. Downton
Known to one and all as "Dodgy". Born: January, 1946, in Islington. Married: March quarter, 1966, to Susan J. Warren, Islington. Died: October 15, 2010, at home: 17459 Nth 31st Avenue. Phoenix, Arizona 85053, USA. Updated information supplied by Norman's sister, Vivien Downton-Spaul in December, 2018. 
Kenneth John Edwards
Robert (Rob) Drew (a good friend) Kenneth John Edwards and former Barnsburian, passed away three years ago (2012) still living in Islington just off New North Road. Ken started at the 'old college of knowledge' same year as me, 1959, and left in 1964 to join the Royal Navy where he served for 24 years, 22 of those on Polaris submarines. Ken retired from the Navy as a Charge Chief Petty Officer (SM), now known as Warrant Officer 2nd Class. He was in charge of the navigation systems of the sub and highly skilled. On leaving the Navy, he drove a cab in and around Dunfirmline until returning south and found a job in electronics. Sadly, at around 62 years of age, Ken developed an inoperable brain tumour and after a short period passed away. He has a daughter and son living in Plymouth from his first marriage and another daughter by a subsequent marriage living in Scotland. Richard Hatch
Born 1945. Known to one and all as "Dickey". Believed to be part of the 1957 school intake. Died circa July, 2016. We would be most grateful if anyone can shed further light on this. 
Peter James Stechman
13th May, 1947 – 9th August, 2016. Known to one and all as "Stech". Athlete, Humorist, Raconteur, Generous Friend and Good Old Barnsbury Boy Sometime around April 2011, Peter “Stech” Stechman coined the phrase, “Good Old Barnsbury Boys”, and the official abbreviation – GOBB – was born. For many years, Stech was part of the glue that kept the former Barnsbury School for Boys alumni together in a virtual and actual existence. A natural athlete, Stech excelled in sports; especially swimming, and possessed a strong physique. Jive dancing was his speciality and he knew all the best venues and bands. His hidden strength of a vivid, accurate and imaginative gift for expressing memoirs, jokes and storytelling entertained the GOBBs over the Internet as we looked back over our lives and, in particular, the “good old days” at school. Peter will be greatly missed by the GOBBs and, in the words of one of us … . “May Peter rest in peace, perhaps (one might hope) there's a special classroom in Heaven for all GOBBs.” Peter is survived by Wendy, his wife of almost 50 years, and his two daughters, Jill and Jane. John James Fairbanks
16th April 1948 - 29th November, 2017. John was part of the 1959 school intake, and graduated from 5AG in 1964. Among John’s many achievements, he played the euphonium in the school brass band under the direction of Mr. McHugh. John also had a flair for expressing his school recollections, such as the following: “When I first said to McHugh about wanting to join the band, he gave me a trumpet and asked me to blow. He then told me I wouldn't be any good for the trumpet as I didn't have the lip for it. He then told me to take home a tenor horn for a week to see if I could get a tune out of it. I was lucky because I could read music having played the recorder at Thornhill Primary. However, quite quickly McHugh moved me on to a euphonium - it seems I had the lip for oompahing!” In later life, John worked for the Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada. He married Anne, who survives him, together with many friends and family. John and Anne retired to Wadebridge, a civil parish and town in north Cornwall. John became ill on the 27th November, 2017, and passed away on the 29th. In a significant gesture of sympathy, there were many email messages sent by Good Old Barnsbury Boys offering their condolences to John’s family. 
David Proctor
Passed away 2013 After leaving Barnsbury Boys School, David moved to Ropsley in Lincolnshire with his parents where they retired after selling their confectionary business in Kings Cross. David worked for a local agricultural machinery manufacturer, but after a year or so being somewhat unimpressed with the possibilities of country life, he joined the Royal Engineers and became a blacksmith. Upon leaving the Royal Engineers after serving with the BOAR in Germany, he married Susan and worked at Elstree Forge, a business that he took over and ran till he retired. They had several homes after retirement one of which had belonged to the notorious Kray twins, though they probably didn’t realise this when they purchased it. They then moved to Cambridgeshire about 2008. Unfortunately, David suffered a fatal aortal rupture at home five years later. 
Michael “Mick” Donoghue
Passed away 1993 A Barnsbury boy from 1955 to 1960, and entered forms 1/2/3 Alpha. Mick graduated with two GCE ‘O’ level passes in 1960. Living in Hornsey Road, Mick stayed close to a few Old Boys over the years until his unfortunate death in 1993 as a result of mesothelioma. He was 49. He married Anita in 1965, and had two sons. Mick took over his father’s very successful electrical business in Hornsey Road, and then moved to Broxbourne in Hertfordshire. 
Keith Weller - Versatile footballer with a brief England career
11th June, 1946 - 12th November, 2004 Born in Islington, it was natural that the first football club to which Keith Weller, who died of cancer aged 58, would be attached was Arsenal. But they let the Barnsbury schoolboy player slip away to rivals Tottenham Hotspur, whom he joined in 1964 as a winger. During his three years there Weller never gained a regular place. It was only when he moved across London to Millwall, where he was converted into an inside-forward, that he showed his true talents. At 5ft 10in, building up gradually to a solid 12st, Weller showed fluency, skill and intelligence, scoring 41 goals in 135 games. In May 1970, he joined his third London club, Chelsea, for what was then the substantial fee of £100,000. But he never really settled at Stamford Bridge, and it was when, in September 1971, he moved again, for another £100,000, to Leicester City, that he fully emerged. He would play there, successfully and influentially, till 1979, eventually moving, as veteran British players tended to in those days, to America. There he joined the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and, subsequently, a string of other professional clubs, as player or coach. Weller's England career was brief, but by no means undistinguished. It took place in the interregnum which followed the dismissal as England manager of Sir Alf Ramsey. In May 1974, the job went temporarily to Joe Mercer, once a distinguished England left-half himself. In the space of one month, May 1974, he called on Weller four times, using him in all three home international matches, and a friendly against Argentina at Wembley. Keith was married with two daughters. The preceding details are courtesy of The Guardian newspaper © 16 Nov 2004 
Dominic Strinati Passed away September, 2019 Known to one and all as “Dom.” Photo appears in form 3C, Camden Road, June, 1961. Form master: Mr. Gough. A tribute from his son, Jonathon: “My father studied at Leicester University, where he received a First-Class Honours. He went on to become a lecturer in sociology at Leicester University for many years. He also wrote a couple of books; ‘An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture' and 'An Introduction to Studying Popular Culture’, which were very popular and appeared on many recommended reading lists for university students. He was also a very loving father and more recently an extremely proud grandfather.” His schoolmates’ anecdotes: “Such a shame about Dom Strinati. He was in my class in 1B, and I think 2B too. I was quite friendly with him in Eden Grove and met him at one of the early reunions … I have no idea whether Dom’s dad was an Italian POW or had been here before the war. What I do remember, however, is that his dad worked; as did many Italians; in the plaster model business. Dom often brought little figurines into school to show us.” – Paul Kenealy “I was saddened to hear the news that Dom Strinati has passed away. Although I did not know him very well, we were in the same class together - Form 3C. He, like many others, myself included, were seconded/volunteered to play rugby on games days. He was a forward and played in the thick of the action in the scrum; prop forward I think, whilst I was in sheltered territory out on the wing. He had a warm, friendly jovial disposition, and he was a team player. R.I.P. Dominic.” - Tony Canter “His old mates always enjoyed his company, intelligence and good humour; we were all proud of the Barnsbury boys' academic achievements.” - John Wilsher Quote from Dominic Strinati: "Postmodernism tries to come to terms with and understand a media-saturated society. The mass media, for example, were once thought of as holding up a mirror to, and thereby reflecting, a wider social reality. Now that reality is only definable in terms of surface reflection of the mirror" 
The Rev. John Hawkins, priest and GoBB
22 August 1945 – 3 August 2010 David Chapman (a close school friend) The Rev. John Hawkins was a GoBB. His photo can be seen on the Barnsbury Boys School website at School/School Photos: Form 5A, June 1961. Was he unique in being a GoBB who entered the priesthood? John and I met just after Easter 1949 when we commenced at Rotherfield Nursery School, graduating to the infants school and then moving together to Shepperton Junior School for Boys, before attending Barnsbury Secondary School for Boys in Eden Grove in the September 1956 intake. He was my earliest and longest standing friend. We joked that we had even slept together too: at nursery school, small camp beds were laid out after lunch where we were expected to have an after-lunch nap! John’s first home was in Rotherfield Street, near the junction with Shepperton Road, on the opposite side of Rotherfield School but slightly further down towards “the Cut.” I was always welcomed there. When these old Victorian houses were demolished, having been condemned as unfit for human habitation before the war, and subsequently made further unsafe by bomb blasts, he and his family moved to Canonbury Court. This was a newly built block of flats off Canonbury Road. Sadly, he had to find a new home for his well-loved cat, as pets were not allowed in council flats. He was heartbroken. John was the younger of two children and he adored his elder sister, Lydia. His lovely mum, Betty, died from heart failure in 1965 whilst John was away at College. His dad, Arthur, later remarried; an equally lovely woman, Mavis, and they were to adopt two children and went to live in Kent. Arthur died in 2009 and although John himself was gravely ill by then, he did manage to conduct his father’s funeral. Mavis died on Christmas Eve, 2017. John’s family and mine were unusual, even in those days, in that we attended church: John was a server at St. Silas’s, Penton Street, a church faithful to the Catholic tradition of the Church of England (smells and bells!); I was a chorister at St. Peter’s, St. Peter’s Street, a church faithful to the “low” Protestant tradition of the C of E (plain and simple). Very different ends of the religious spectrum! It was an unspoken secret that we never disclosed to our peers that we attended church as it was not “cool”, fearing scorn and mockery. But I guess it was these beliefs and values which cemented our friendship through adolescence and into adulthood. It was probably down to our family lifestyles that John and I never really felt we fitted into the school social life. Although we had our separate friendship groups at school, they were more acquaintances, and we rarely saw them outside of school and never had them back home. However, John and I seldom had a great deal of contact at school either since we were in different classes and I was keen to play football which John certainly was not! Nevertheless, we would often walk home together along Holloway Road, passing Highbury Corner roundabout and on down Canonbury Road before peeling off from each other; he to Canonbury Court, me to Bentham Court. John was left-handed and had one of the worst handwriting examples I have ever seen! It would take me hours to decipher his letters when we wrote to each other in later life. Remember snail mail? Mr Jolliffe, who taught history at Barnsbury, was a “little Hitler” regarding handwriting, and John was shouted at mercilessly but to no avail! John always felt he was unfairly placed in one of the bottom set classes on entry to Barnsbury, but when he left school in summer 1961, he graduated from top set 5A with three GCEs. He was also made prefect and was proud to wear the green badge with distinction! John and I, along with my younger brothers, went through cubs and scouts together, a troop set up by St. John the Baptist Church in Cleveland Road (now demolished). The church hall was situated in Elmore Street at the Essex Road end. John rose to the dizzy heights of patrol leader and enjoyed entertaining the troop with his magic tricks, of which he was immensely proficient and which he was to use to great effect in later life. A real sign of the times of those days was of course that we could and would walk through the streets of Islington with 7” and 9” sheath knives in broad daylight hanging from our scout belts in the style of western cowboys! John and I really enjoyed the summer camps at Longridge scout campsite alongside the Thames at Marlow; relishing the sailing and the rambles through the countryside. Without this annual week away, many of us would never have had a holiday away from bombed-out inner London. One of our first tasks on arrival at camp was to dig latrines and place a movable wooden shed over them. The sheds resembled sedan chairs and if anyone was unlucky enough to be caught s(h)itting in them, a group of us would pick the shed up by the four corner handles and carry them to the other end of the field. John came into his own at camp. He was very practical in total contrast to me. He made his own crystal radio set, which I found a complete mystery, and he discovered that there were naturally hollow vines growing which we could “smoke”, lighting up from the perpetually lit camp fire! He was a strong lad too, and was not overwhelmed by the rowing of a very large rowing boat which I think was called a whaler: eight-ten oars plus, and a coxswain. His vocation for the priesthood had been around and brewing for a number of years during his adolescence. John left Barnsbury School in 1961 and went to Kelham Theological College, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, where he spent a number of years studying and training for the priesthood. It was a disciplined and austere environment situated within a monastic community. On the first occasion I visited John there, I took a girlfriend with me but he had failed to mention that women were not allowed in the College and she had wait in the grounds whilst John showed me around the beautiful buildings! She was not best pleased. Kelham lost its theological college status in the early 1970s which meant that the monastic community was no longer viable, so was dispersed and relocated over the next few years. One of John’s close friends and fellow Kelham student, Michael Johnson, shares his memories below. Throughout John’s college days he and I would meet up to discuss theology and philosophy, our faith and beliefs, which developed as we matured and society changed. I was not surprised when for a period in later life he confessed to me that some of the situations he found himself in as a Priest challenged his faith in God. Following graduation, John left to take up a curacy in Coventry where he made an impact with his long hair, beard and motorbike. John was an unconventional priest, popular among young people and children. His use of magic tricks during sermons to emphasise a point was always well received. My own children were later to enjoy his company when he would visit bringing with him a homemade bagatelle (pinball to you lot!) and his magic tricks which, now in their fifties, they still recall with delight. At this juncture I am going to hand over to Rosemary, his wife, to take this obituary a little further. Rosemary writes (notes taken from a longer letter for this purpose): “I met John at St. Alban’s Church, Stoke Heath, Coventry, when he arrived to become our new curate. I was in the choir. I went with others to support him at his ordination in Coventry Cathedral. Little did I know that day, aged fifteen, I was witnessing my future husband making his vows! Whilst at Kelham he had become known as Jack which turned out to be rather fortunate as his first vicar was also called John. A couple of years later he and I were asked to become godparents to the latest addition to the vicarage; I was the baby-sitter-in-chief by then. This seemed to be the catalyst for our personal relationship because we went shopping for a Christening gift on Jack’s Honda motorbike. We enjoyed each other’s company and the rest, as they say, is history. We got engaged in 1974 and married in August, 1976 in Fletchampstead, Coventry, his next curacy. I qualified as a teacher the following year when he became the vicar of his first parish in Whitley, Coventry. We were in Northampton when he resumed his birth name John, and it was during several happy years there that our daughter and only child, Joy, was born. In 1990 John took up a post in Chesham, Bucks, which meant moving to a different diocese. In 1998, John was offered a post in Thorpe St. Andrew on the outskirts of Norwich, with a beautiful Norfolk church. We really felt this was the place we were meant to be, quickly settling into the life of the community and were both very happy albeit very busy. Sadly, this was to be our last parish, because in 2007 John was diagnosed with cancer. The prognosis was poor but as with everything else in his life he faced this final challenge with his usual stoicism, courage and commitment. He decided to live his remaining years as fully as he could, not wanting to leave his “beloved girls” any sooner than was necessary. We also had the love and support of the church community who continue to support me and Joy to this day. John was a priest to the very end, still ministering to his fellow patients in the hospice where he was being nursed and where he would spend his final days. I was privileged to be by his side when he breathed his last on 3rd August, 2010. It was a poignant moment after more than forty years together. He was a special, unique human being, kind, thoughtful and full of fun. A deep thinker he was nevertheless handy and practical, never happier than gardening, repairing things or with a paint brush in his hand. But he was equally at home sitting with the sick, the dying and the bereaved, always ready to listen and be alongside them in their hour of need. He was treasured by many and was a beloved husband, loving father, devoted priest and a loyal friend to many. Joy and I miss him so much.” His friend, Michael Johnson, writes (taken from a longer address at his funeral): “I first met John when as 16-year-old “fresh-faced” lads – straight out of school – on the same day in September, 1961, we entered the junior section of Kelham, a monastic community and training college for priests. The emphasis was on theological exploration and development and was not just something you found in books and lectures. The whole of life was “theological” so we were taught the importance of finding God through learning to get alongside and understand and care about others. This involved doing a range of practical and manual tasks to the glory of God whether it was scrubbing floors, playing football, offering of the monastic round of prayer and worship, all had to be viewed as “mission” to the glory of God. It was a strange and unusual way of life at the beginning of the ‘swinging sixties’ and not without its stresses and strains. Many fell by the wayside and couldn’t stand the pace, but Jack, as we knew him then, took to it like a duck to water. His commitment and desire to do well won him many friends and the respect and affection of his peers. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than with paint pot in hand, a fag in the corner of his mouth (and in later life the thought of a glass of whisky to complete the task) he’d paint the place from top to bottom. But all work and no play would have made our Jack, like any other, a dull boy, and so while some glorified God using their talents in sports or music, Jack demonstrated his more unusual pursuits like conjuring tricks and magic! These were gifts and skills which were to delight many a Sunday school audience! But how many magicians could hold their audience spellbound by chewing the odd razor blade or two as they did all the more familiar tricks of making things vanish and appear again out of a top hat? Two words say much about my friend Jack: courage and commitment. Like many of us he could be infuriatingly stubborn, but here was a man who was gloriously complex but never for a moment dull. Courage and determination mingled with an unassuming personality characterised Jack’s approach to life. He wasn’t one for pushing himself forward! Words like “promotion” did not have a place in his vocabulary. But fortunately, such deeds as giving mouth to mouth resuscitation to a child who had been rescued from a canal in Coventry, thereby saving the child’s life, did come to the Lord Mayor’s attention. I said earlier that many at Kelham fell by the wayside. There were just the two of us who were ordained in Coventry Cathedral that day in 1969. Before we were “done” they carted us off for a couple of days’ retreat, miles from anywhere. Jack got the flu 48 hours before the service at which he was due to sing the gospel of the Mass as the deacon candidate and so took to his bed! What trick did the magician pull out of his hat to get us through that one? No problem! Fortunately, there was a pub a mile away, to which he sent me for a bottle of whiskey with which we dosed each other for the next 48 hours. It was always his claim that he began his ministerial career with “a hell of a hangover for which I’ll always blame you, Johnson!” In the congregation that ordination day, unbeknown to him, was his future wife, Rosemary. Joy, their daughter, was the “joy” of his and Rosemary’s life. Jack was so proud of her. On one occasion he said to me “You know, Mike, this business of being a vicar is OK; and if you can pray for folk and help them a bit along the way, that’s good too. But for me, life’s first and foremost about supporting Rosemary and being a good dad!” Sadly, although he managed to see Joy attain her MA, John died before she received her doctorate (she now lectures at the University of East Anglia). But I believe he did know and does know of her achievement. And he’s talking about it now. Not in English, but in New Testament Greek! This was one of the subjects Jack embraced with enthusiasm at Kelham. He was good enough to tutor others in it as a vicar. Father Ralph, the brother at Kelham who first taught us, assured us that it’s the “language of heaven.” In a few minutes we shall put our hands together in prayer, but before that can I ask you to put your hands together in the more familiar and informal way…….in recognition and appreciation of Jack the man, one of nature’s gentlemen, whom we’ve been privileged to know and love…a truly great guy.” Amen to that! |
E. J. W. ("Bill") Bayliss. Maths teacher at Barnsbury Secondary School for Boys: died on October 26th, 2007, aged 90.
John Norman Godfrey
24th October, 1945 - 30th June, 2014. Out of the blue I received an email from Louise Jane Godfrey the daughter of John Godfrey telling me that he had died suddenly. Having traced me through our website, she thought that we might like a copy of John’s Form 4T photo (with names attached) for posterity. I wrote back offering all our condolences and thanking her for the photo; it was one of our missing ones. I reciprocated by sending her a photo of John from the Laycock school journey to the Isle of Wight in 1957. John Fairbanks Sorry to hear about John's death. He was lead trumpeter in the school band, and a good player. Also, am I dreaming, but was he in Mungo Jerry? Perhaps others can put me right. Paul Lomas There was a 'John Godfrey' who played guitar in Mungo Jerry. Chris Zindilis Sorry to hear about one of our GOBB'S passing away. Thanks for sending our condolences. Bill Pitt-Jones Wasn’t this the boy who played Bass in fatty Baldwins band that backed George Bean at the school dance? Paul Kenealy Correct on all counts. He was a year in front of me in the band. First trumpet alongside Peter Hayward. He played bass with George Bean & the Runners with Ray Baldwin on lead guitar. Played bass with Mungo Jerry but not sure after that. Johnny G left in '62 I believe. Peter Hayward stayed on as 1st trumpet, I played 2nd. I know Keith Morgan and Chris Bunting were also in the band then. I have a photo of the band somewhere, if I find it I’ll forward it on. Sad when you hear of a contemporary leaving the party early. RIP J G. John Fairbanks Mention is made of Georgie Bean (presumably the metalwork master). Didn't realise he was into pop - I remember he had a son Chris (I think) who was a pop "star". Georgie Bean anecdote. Various people having a smoke in the ground floor toilets at Camden Road opposite the gym during break time. Georgie walks in, completely ignores smoke, says "so this is the place where the knobs hang out; come on, outside you go." Another master would have sent us to the Bonk for smoking. George was one of the better, more human masters. Paul Kenealy John. Georges son was also called George. So it was George Bean junior and the Runners. Believe it or not he had a good voice and looks. He made a couple of records, probably Elvis-type covers. I believe he died young. Me and Billy Pitt-Jones used old George’s metalwork shop as a route to bunk off in the afternoons. Happy days. Barry Page Sorry to read the sad news of John Godfrey's passing. I knew him from the usual neighbourhood kids' intermingling and when he attended Laycock J.M. School. Thanks for sharing the BBS form 4T photo, which will be included on our website with the rest of the class pictures. I have attached a photo showing John with his classmates on the 1957 Isle of Wight school journey. If Louise hasn't seen it, please forward the image to her. Thanks, too, for sending the message of condolence. January 2016 Just received this email from Alan French. I just had to write to you about a book I am reading - 'Birth to Reunion' The Pieces of Mind story by John ( Ducksy ) Reardon (Wales ). John Reardon is a guitarist who helped form a band called Pieces of Mind. I have just this minute read in this book that a bass player in one of his bands was our own 'John Godfrey ' the author saying, "sadly John passed away in 2014". 
Brian Bond
Passed away 2017 - a tribute from his son, Ashley: Brian was born in Camden Town and was always into technology and building things, whether it was Meccano, amateur radio, astronomy or chemistry. He decided to learn the guitar, and built his own Fender lookalike, which by all accounts was a very good one. Brian met Gina in 1966 at a church youth centre in Camden Square, and they married in 1968. Also in the 1960s, Brian joined the GPO as part of the Post Office Telecommunications branch (now known as BT) as an apprentice. After finishing his apprenticeship, he worked for the telex and radio interference department where he was tasked to locate and close down pirate radio stations all over the West End and Westminster areas of London. It was his love of radio that he became a qualified teacher of Morse and amateur radio. Towards the end of the 1970s, Brian moved departments, and his new role meant working closely with the Ministry of Defence and the Metropolitan Police. He was sent all over the world on product approvals for trading systems. After retirement, Brian set up his repair business, including his speciality, Marshall amplifiers. As singers/bands still used this old type of technology, he was soon in demand. This would mean visiting such stars as Jay Kay or advising the late Amy Winehouse on her studio set up. Outside of work he loved astronomy, and very much enjoyed being at Hampstead observatory with his friends, going on camping jaunts around the country, and was actively involved with the British Amateur Astronomical Association. Comradeship and brotherhood was very important to Brian, and joining the Masons meant much to him. He treated everyone the same whether it was King Hussein of Jordan, or learning basic sign language just to speak to a couple who used the same local restaurant. He loved his family, especially his grandchildren, Louis and Sacha. He taught them respect and encouraged them in their learning skills. His extended family in Ireland also meant a lot to him and he enjoyed visiting at various family occasions. 
Barry Head
Passed away c1987 Barry was a respected Barnsbury boy, who graduated with four GCE ‘O’ level passes in 1960. In 1959, he was appointed a 5th Year Prefect. In the same year, he became involved with the school rugby teams, and wrote several reports and articles that were published in The Barnsburian school magazine. A fine example is his report on the visit of the school rugby team to Wales in the 1960 Summer edition. Following is the intro-duction of a typical report written by him. Later in life, Barry’s flair for writing enabled him to author two local history books: The Northwood Book, and The Northwood Book Volume II. SCHOOL RUGBY TEAM (1959) During the two seasons that the school team has been playing, there has been a noticeable and marked improvement in the standard of play and sportsmanship. This standard is now higher than ever, and the players more eager and keen to uphold the school's name. There is now a wide choice of players from which to choose a good team; whereas at the start of the first season that the team ever indulged in, to gather fifteen boys outside the school on a Saturday morning took Mr. Bone a great deal of tact and some gentle persuasion. However, the game has caught on and Barnsbury now runs four teams; these are drawn from the fifth and sixth years of the senior school to the second year of the junior school. I can only comment, however, on the senior team (the 'under sixteens'), as this is the team to which I devote most of my time. It is a team of wide and varied characters, ranging from diplomatic-like Gates to bull-like Michaelides. 
Roy Bird
Passed away March 20, 2008 Roy's family lived above the Fire Station in Shoreditch High Street, as his father was high up in the London Fire Brigade. Photo appears in form 3 Alpha, Eden Grove, 1956. Form master: Mr. Hinchliffe. 
Brian Cooke
Passed away 2018 Photo appears in 5th form, Eden Grove, 1956. Form master: Mr. Page. 
C. S. ("Bunny") Warren. Art and Science/Biology teacher at Barnsbury Secondary School for Boys from 1951 to 1955. On 20th. February 1992, Stanley Warren passed away at his home in Bridport, at the age of seventy-five.
Stanley Warren was a Far East POW, held in camps in Singapore for the duration of his captivity. In summer 1942, a few months into captivity at Changi POW camp, he was recovering from a debilitating bout of dysentery when one of the army padres, knowing Warren was a trained artist, asked if he would help to decorate the little chapel that the POW had created on the ground floor of the hospital block. St Luke's chapel's murals, known as the Changi murals. 
Colin Dent
Passed away April, 2020 Colin was an Islington boy throughout his life. His parents operated a news and confectionary shop in New North Road, and Colin was aways recognizable on a paper round with his mop of ginger hair. He attended Barnsbury Boys School and became self-employed. Colin took serious interest in all things Islington, and was a popular member of Facebook groups affiliated with the borough and its goings on. He also attended old school reunions, notably the one at the Compton Arms in 2015. Colin was 70 years old when he passed away. 
Terence Keith "Terry" Anderson
11 March 1944 – c. 24 January 1980 Tony Bernie (a close school friend) Terry Anderson's sporting achieve-ments put him in the very top league of Old Boys. Terry joined Barnsbury Boys School in 1956 after returning from Canada, where his parents and he had emigrated to in the early 1950s. He made an immediate impact being an outstanding athlete; most especially football and athletics. Terry achieved school, Islington and London appearances in football. In addition, he won a London cross country title. His ability was quickly noticed in 1959 by Arsenal FC where he was offered an apprenticeship. Later, he played as a winger in the Football League, most notably for Norwich City, where he made 236 league appearances between 1965 and 1974. He additionally played for Colchester United in two spells, Scunthorpe United and Crewe Alexandra and also played in the United States for the short-lived NASL team Baltimore Comets over two seasons. Following his retirement from playing, Terry became the landlord of the Castle Hotel in Caister-on-Sea in Norfolk and worked in a sports shop. 
George Haydon
Passed away 2019 Known to one and all as “Twizzle.” Peter Hales (a close school friend) George moved to London from Northampton and lived in King Henry’s Walk in 1960, so missed the first year at Barnsbury. It would have been 1960 when he started, as I started there in 1959. He moved into my form in the third year (3A1) and he was in 4AC and 5AC with me. He left in 1964 with me after ‘O’ levels. He later got a geography degree on day release from his civil service job at the Treasury. A very kind person, he was sports mad and became a football referee just outside the top four tiers. He told me about the day his was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and his first question to his doctor was, “Will be able to referee on Saturday?” His favourite footballer was the late, great Charlie George. The George Haydon Cup is a very special piece of silverware, as it was presented to him for services to refereeing in the London area. He also enjoyed his career as a cricket umpire. One of his claims to fame was playing cricket with John Major. As an MCC member and an Arsenal season ticket holder, you can imagine the lovely moments we enjoyed chatting, debating and watching sport together. I remember we both bunked off school during the deep freeze to watch a snow bound game at Highbury which kicked off at 3 p.m. mid-week: Arsenal v. Oxford. Also worth noting, as Dave Brearey recalls, was his sense of humour, even with Parkinson’s. I met him in London and he took a fall down the Underground escalator. He turned to me and said, with a big smile on his face, “Was that dive a 5 Pete?” Dave, myself and John Fairbanks all lived in the West Country with George, and we used to take him horse racing at Exeter fairly often as he was such a fan of that sport. We always lost, but George would come home with at least £50 profit! He moved to Harrogate about 5 years ago from Budleigh Salterton, Devon. As a postscript from our Barnsbury days, this little anecdote came to mind. “I hurt my leg playing football in the playground and didn't realise how serious it was - but because of the pain I went to the doctor that evening who in turn sent me to hospital to have it X-rayed, which I only did the following day. Lo and behold: I had been walking around with a broken leg! Back at school a few days later, the Bonk calls me into his office and asks me whether I was planning to sue the school! That hadn't occurred to me, and I said no ........ I blame George Haydon for tackling me!” 
Albert Wilson
Passed away 2015 at age 93 Submitted by his son, Les Wilson Photo appears with the Barnsbury Boys Central School football team, Eden Grove, Albert was the team's goalkeeper. 1938. Headmaster: Dr. Wardman. Teachers associated with the team were Mr. Moir and Mr. Zissel. |
