Yesterday I published an important historical research by Michael Burford, a former pupil of Montgomery Of Alamein School in Winchester.
When Michael Burford contacted me last week about his old school, and later told me that he has a collection of the school’s pictures and history, I knew that I have ‘struck gold’.
Michael contacted me after he had read Montgomery of Alamein School written by Brian Green, published in Chandler’s Ford Today on 12 June 2014.
Brian Green started teaching at the school in 1966.
“I was a teacher at the only school in the world called Montgomery of Alamein, in Winchester. Monty himself performed the naming ceremony.”
By Brian Green, former teacher of Montgomery Of Alamein School
Brian Green lives in Chandler’s Ford, and he was my fist link to Montgomery of Alamein School.
Michael contacted me to try to find out more from Brian Green. I passed on his request to Brian’s daughter Sarah, who has over the years helped type some of his father’s stories to the Parish magazines, and later to Chandler’s Ford Today.
Remember a cover lesson: “Describe a square”
Michael also shared one interesting story about Brian. He said that Brian only taught him once or twice, as ‘cover’.
“I didn’t actually know him, other than a familiar face around the school. The single lesson (impromptu / cover) I remember from him was ‘Describe a Square’. Although we were supposed to be top stream, none of us could!”
By Michael Burford, former pupil of Montgomery of Alamein School
Michael has sent me many important documents of the school. Here is a 2 page document on the History of Montgomery of Alamein School, written by former headteacher of the school, Mr Dennis Beacham.
Click to enlarge or download the pictures.
Michael sent me some newspaper clippings about the school. Here is one of the articles: “Sadly we can’t be Co-ed”, by Mr Beacham, former headteacher of Montgomery of Alamein School.
Click to enlarge or download the picture.
It is my privilege to be able to connect people, and contribute to the search of the history of Montgomery of Alamein School in Winchester through this website.
To help with the research of the history of Montgomery of Alamein School, please visit Montgomery of Alamein on Friends Reunited, and share any picture or story you have with the group.
Related posts:
- The Origin of Humanities Subjects at Montgomery Of Alamein School
- Montgomery of Alamein School In Winchester
- Montgomery Of Alamein School In Winchester: Astonishing Historical Pictures Revealed
- Humorous Memory: Montgomery Of Alamein School
Interesting article! I taught alongside Brian Green for a while, during two very happy years at Montgomery in the mid-1970s, and remember him well.
I was amused to see Dennis Beacham’s piece about regretting the single-sex nature of Montgomery and Danemark, especially as one of the staff responsibilities in the summer term was always “anti-fraternisation duty” on the playing field. Nobody minded the boys and the girls getting to know each other, but not TOO well!
Mr Beacham deserves a great deal of credit for many things about the way he ran the school, and one of the most important is probably something not many people think or talk about. He always used to say he thought he was probably the only Head in Hampshire who routinely did Bus Queue duty at the end of the afternoon, and I’m sure he was right in this. He was an intensely fair-minded man who took a very active part in the day-to-day running of the school, even in such mundane matters as this, or the famous incident of the graffiti in the senior boys’ toilets, and knew every boy in the entire school. It really was a privilege to work under him.
Please let Michael Burford know that I have some photos of Arthur Newton, whom he was asking after at the Hampshire Chronicle. I never had the chance to meet Arthur himself, but was married to his son some 20 years before losing him to cancer. Mr Burford may have my email address in order to contact me. – Janet, once you have given my email to Mr. Burford, may I ask that you delete it from your records.
Thank you.
I’ve only just discovered your post. Nothing has come into my email box. Would you try again, please. Very warm memories of Arthur, Nick and, of course, Pamela the pianist! Never met Elizabeth.