Hello
With the upcoming 2017 election, I was researching information on Harrow MPs last week and came across the Downer Grammar School website.
I was there 1971-1976, so was there through its difficult transition from a proud and vibrant Grammar school to a time when it rather depressingly lost its way, as I think one of your contributors (Gill Winstanley) points out.
I think Gillian Winstanely was Head Girl (or senior prefect) in the cross-over period between Downer Grammar and its rebranding as Canons High.
It’s a pity the school only existed for 25 or so years, but it was a pleasure to read the background stories and comments. On a personal note attending Downer was a wonderfully happy and positive experience which certainly helped me develop characteristics; sense of fairness, tolerance, determination, work ethic and positive outlook.
The external pictures of different locations around the school (taken in such lovely weather) were exactly as I remembered them and brought back many happy memories.
The trip down memory lane was complete with the school photo of teachers and students. My thanks to the contributor who provided it. To see the staff and pupils together was amazing. I vaguely remember the day the photo was taken, but vividly recall the characters and personal dramas of some of those featured.
At the time the photograph was taken, I would have been in Form 2b, (perhaps 3b) and my brother Victor, a year younger was I think in Form 1a (or 2a). Being good at sports, I quickly made a lot of friends across the whole school. Think I can put quite a few more names to faces from the 1973 photo.
My brother is still in contact with a few friends from his Downer days so if, there is a mailing list please add my name to it. I'd be especially interested to know if any future Downer reunions are held.
Thanks again for the work you have done running the website.
Kind regards
Jerry Batson
Thanks for the reply.
Yes I came across the Tiscali version. The link you sent is much better :)
By all means feel free to use comments from my email(s) edited or otherwise for the website.
It’s amazing that even after all this time my impressions of Downer Grammar from first day to last are still vivid and strong. I think this is in no small way due to the fact that the school had such a great atmosphere and ethos, no doubt due to the influence of Mr Becker and the rest of the teaching and support staff. Please pass on my special thanks to your mate Ean for the brilliant photos.
I always thought the teachers were amazing, patient and supportive, and taught with passion, professionalism and pride – and of course a genuine sense of fun and good humour. Seem to remember laughing an awful lot!
Very pleased to hear about Debbie Johns, she was our form teacher (1b/2b),
a lovely lady and extremely likeable, as were pretty much all of the female teaching staff.
I wonder if any of the later pupils remember school trips to Boulogne, or the annual five-a-side football tournaments held in the 1970s.
The five-a-side football competition was a great chance to get together with mates who usually played in the school football team and take on other years’ teams – or better still a chance to cause physical damage to teachers in the name of sport. Unfortunately they usually gave as good as they got, their line-up usually included Mr Williams, Mr Vickers (PE teacher and semi-pro footballer), Justin Portillo, and Mr Whittington, and I think Mr Irwin (Maths), good with crosses and angles.
Your fine work has really set me off organising thoughts and recollections of those happy times, on teachers and putting names to the faces on the 1973 photo. Can I pop them in an email to you (which I’d prefer) or is it better to upload/add them via the website?
Will be in touch again shortly
All the best
Jerry