I hate to disillusion anyone but Downer Grammar School actually began in 1950! I should know as I was there. At that time it was a new Grammar School and as the school buildings had not even commenced we were temporarily housed at Blackwell Secondary School for two years.  That was a shock to the system as I had never experienced the savage playground fights that occured on a daily basis for instance.  The foundation teachers in our first year as I remember were: Nancy Whyte (French), Sheila Caldwell (English), Daphne Forrest (Biology), Gerry Knight (Maths), Donald Gratton (Maths), and Alison Grant (History/Geography).  We wore the Blackwell uniform (brown) but were allowed the doubtful priviledge of having a 'D' incorporated in the school badge.  I would therefore suggest that Downer is actually 52 years old this year!  Hope to see many 1950 pupils on the 8th - no excuse now as I am coming all the way from NZ.

There's at least two coming from Oz as well!

You are absolutely right - I was there also, and I've tried to tell the organizers that it is indeed the FIFTY SECOND anniversary.  But......they don't listen!  As I remember it, Blackwell wore black uniforms, and ours were designed (!) in brown, right down to our flanelette knickers, that we stripped down to to play netball.  Don't remember you, but you mention some of the teachers I remember, although I think I had Gratton for French - didn't he have nose hairs, and spoke as though he had constant sinus problems? I think Caldwell was my home room teacher.  Did you know Keith Crate? - he lives in NZ also.  I sometimes get in touch with him, and I have conversed with Pat Harvey a couple of times.  Cheers - wish I could be at the reunion.

Christine you are 100% correct and you do bring back memories of the first term at the Blackwell site.  I remember the bit about the school uniform.  Mr Olfin, the Blackwell Headmaster, was very concerned about the problems of two schools under one roof.  He was right to be concerned.  In a sense we stood out like a sore thumb since only a small percentage of Blackwell pupils wore a school uniform.  His only concession was the "D" on the blazer and it was certainly brown.  Bullying was common in the first term.  However Mr Olfin did put a stop to it.  I have never had much time for bully's since.

I certainly remember all the teachers and would like to know what happened to them all.  I do believe that Nancy Whyte was teaching in New Zealand.  I remember bumping into her during a visit she made to the school when we were in our final year.  I would love to meet Don Gratton again if he is still alive.  He must be in his 80's at least.

This reunion is going to be just a little bit nostalgic.

While I assume you are correct about Downer starting in 1950, I guess the 50 years is since it started at Shaldon Road.  As I wasn't born till 1953 I feel rather unqualified to comment, except to say that you may well decide 4 x 13 is more important than 5 x 10 anyway. (3 x 17) + 1 sounds equally important to me.  Personally I feel that 1977 should have been the year to celebrate.  At 27 (3 cubed) years since inception, this sounds far more important! Lennie.

Gratton taught maths, not French [surely he could not have taught both?] -- I had him in the first form in 1962 but he left for some elelvated position in the Ministry of Education of something...   He appears in the 1954 lower school photo.

Coral you are quite right  re 52 We did wear brown and the suppliers Sopers of Harrow used to get into state with the D on the blazer badge

I have a photo taken outside one the Blackwell huts of the netball team with Beryl Jacobs as Captain all wearing the famous brown knickers

It was a traumatic journey for many of us I dont ever remember getting there on time.

Nancy Whyte was our room tutor and also taught French.

I remember our first school trip to Paris begining for me a life long love of France.  Sheila Caldwell taught English and influenced me enormously introducing me to EM Forster and to Keats.  I only went to Guys to nurse because Keats had been a medical student there.

Gratton and Knight were maths, Alison Grant History, J Davies Geography, Mcillivray Boys games our boys were mad on basketball Mrs Knight Girls games

There were others: Alan Tayler who helped with the school play and setting up of Compotus and organised theatre trips and on whom I had a tremendous crush. 

Most of the staff transfered to the new Downer site.  The first years were difficult with continuous building.  We flirted with the builders one of them turned up at home to my mothers horror but she quickly changed her mind when he turned out to be Harrow public school boy!  Mr Kibblethwaite alias 'Kipperfeet' our form master and also taught science, Oliver Lippett taught art and we visited galleries and exhibitions and was a real cultural influence in spite of his fag stained fingers

Not all stayed the course to O levels but we were a compact little group and it would be great to get in touch

I remember Keith Crate well.  He lived at the bottom end of Everton Drive, and Alfie Davy and I at the other end.  My brother John reckons we all went to Glebe Junior and thats another story!

A crush on Alan Taylor - the English teacher? - Yuk.  As a bloke I suppose I'm not really qualified to comment and then again, some girl at Downer ran off with a podgy middle-aged RI teacher so I probably never have understood women - my wife will confirm this point......

Bob

crush on Alan Tayler English teacher

Well we were young!!

Gratton went on to The BBC as TV producer.  I remember him enlisting some of the Downer pupils in a highly contrived "discussion group" for a TV programme.

Regards

Duncan Brodie

Fran - I hate to be pedantic but your group started Downer one year after us.  I recall we were a bit peeved about this class coming from Blackwell as it meant we were no longer the senior pupils. However you all were very nice and soon forgiven. Christine Baskerville

Yes you were there before us.  We were grafted on to Downer as part of some educational experiment - we had already had 2 years secondary education in other Harrow secondary schools.  Perhaps the culture shock wasn't so bad for us because of this!

Now you mention it I think you are right -- I just remember that he left formal teaching.  I'm sure his decision was coloured by the thought of having to face an uncomprehending Andy Forester for the next 5 years ...

Andy

With the reunion coming up Downer seems to be on my mind a lot.  I wonder if anyone in my year (1950-57) remembers a movie film made of a day in the life of Downer?  I think it was filmed by Gerry Knight (now deceased) for the purpose of posterity as we were the foundation year for the new Grammar School.  I recall we gave up a whole Saturday for the filming and included a scene of some poor soul being given a detention. I remember being filmed arriving at school on my bike.  I wonder where the film got to?  I am also trying to find my long photo of our year but so far no luck.  Has anyone got this too?

Fran - I remember you so well! Although I was only at Downer a couple of years (Mum and Dad DRAGGED me off to Canada in 1953) the friends I made there and the good times we had stuck with me forever.  Although I must admit my mind is a wee tad fuzzy these days.  I wish I could attend the reunion to catch up with everybody.  If anyone sees Beryl Jacobs, please ask her to contact me at coreilly@dccnet.com.

I would love to meet up perhaps we could do something when you are next over

Hopefully some of the others from our class might get in touch.

I had already booked to be in France so i can't make the official reunion.

Jenny Cade has recently been in touch and she is in touch with Lorna Weatherhead - so it's a start

Love and peace Fran