The following reminiscences by Peter Brittain have been compiled,
with his permission, from some of his correspondence with 'Chandos Secondary Remembered' during July 2013.
I have been living with my family in South Africa for the last forty odd years since 1968.
I was a pupil at Chandos after failing the 11 plus and leaving Kenmore(???) Primary.
I have many happy memories of my years - 1945 to 1950 - at Chandos.
The war had just finished so the steel ceiling supports (as I recall they comprised steel plates 2 or 3 feet square
supporting the ceiling, themselves supported by steel columns inside the ground floor classrooms.
There were several per room.) were being taken down and the bomb shelters were being closed.
No more going around picking up still hot shrapnel or cannon casings - or the occasional Messerschmitt bits.
I remember a Mr Roberts - music. He introduced me to the great composers
- and a lifetime of musical pleasure - you got to his classroom coming through the door leading from the lower small playground
- going right up the stairs to the first landing and his door was on the right
- the room had pictures of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart all around the wall - plus a piano of course.
Under his tutelage and direction we put on a Gilbert and Sullivan sort of play on
the stage in the Assembly Hall called "Once aboard the Lugger" - I was in the chorus.
Up from Mr Roberts' music room there was an understairs room that stored
all the sports stuff - cricket bats and soccer balls - some of us would
spend hours oiling the bats and applying dubbin to the balls.
Sometimes some of the girls would help us - nothing unsavory of course - all in innocence.
I had a Mr Redicliff as a form master.
Mr Crawley as Gym master, a Mr Humphries who punished you by hitting across the back of your
fingernails with the edge of a wooden ruler - it still hurts… and Mr Whiting was head.
In my last year I was a prefect and vice head-boy.
In that exalted position I was invited to the girls' speech and sports days and from then on to many birthday parties.
It was a very good year.
As prefects, we were allowed to more or less choose the lessons we wanted to attend.
I was finishing a bedside cupboard for my mother's birthday and went to the woodwork
shop where a lesson for sprogs was in progress.
Big me, strolled up to the lathe and started turning the door handle.
Bent over making lots of chips fly all over the place, I felt
a hand on my arm gently move me away from the machine.
The teacher (can't remember his name - tall, fair haired bloke) then balled me out in no
uncertain terms because my tie was hanging loose and could have been caught in the lathe.
I left the workshop with my tail well and truly between my legs - I felt a real twit.
But I never made that mistake again.
The top playground had a line painted across it and we prefects were stationed to ensure boys and girls didn't cross it.
I recall we boys showed off shamelessly throwing a tennis ball from one side to the other side of the playground
and catching with exaggerated ease, flicking our hair back and trying our best to appear so nonchalant.
I was captain of the cricket team and we had a gym team as well.
Rounders was a popular game with the girls.
I had two paper rounds - one in the morning and another for the evening paper and recall Portland Crescent
leading off Clydesdale Ave - where we lived - as part of my route - about a 15 minute walk to school.
Ah me! Memories.
I suppose it was a very long time ago in one's lifetime, but happy memories cannot be taken from you.
I was offered a job in Canada, in Aus, in SA or stay in the UK.
At the time England was going through a torrid time with the unions and I got so fed
up with all the bulls--t that I figured it's a big world, let's experience some.
I've had no regrets.
We have done quite a lot of travelling - both business and pleasure and most of this before travelling was
made unpleasant by holiday makers.
We lived just outside Johannesburg for 22 years and were very busy business-wise and socially.
Was a member of Jaycees International there and here a member of Probus.
When we came to the seaside I did some engineering consultancy work for a while
but when that dried up got a job as Mr 'Audi Fleet' at a big dealership in Durban.
Although I'm not what anyone would call a 'car-man', I quite enjoyed the different
challenges that dealing with people offers.
I've been retired since 2000 - took up golf.
Was useless. Took up bowls and wasn't too bad but after about 6 years got bored.
So now I have my workshop where I perform miracles with wood and my computer
where I right letters to the press to annoy the lights out of the local council.
I also belong to a Durban Jazz club, our local woodworking club, the police forum,
the local pensioners organisation, the local photography club, local ratepayers and Probus.
All of which keeps me off the streets.
We now live in a small village on the coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal by the Indian Ocean
where its sub-tropical climate - especially during the winter - is perfect.
Although the summers can be very humid.
I have just celebrated my 78th birthday and, for some reason, have been remembering my school days.
It could be that with our Nelson Mandela slowly losing the battle it brings my own mortality more into focus.
I came back to the UK quite a few times on business over the years and once went to the school,
but it was July and of course closed - but luckily the school secretary happened along
and she kindly took me through.
I left my card with her and suggested that if anyone would like to correspond I would welcome the contact.
To my disappointment no-one did.
I do hope this note is well received and it would be wonderful if anyone who knew me could write back.
It would also be good to see how the old school operates today.
Peter Brittain
brittfamilysa@xsinet.co.za