John Strickson and Miss Southall

Welcome to Shottery Alumnae. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

John Strickson and Miss Southall; My two favourite teachers!
Topic Started: Oct 13 2008, 02:15 PM (505 Views)
Carolyn Hill Emmett	Oct 13 2008, 02:15 PM Post #1
Newbie Posts: 1 Group: Members Member #9 Joined: October 13, 2008	Who can remember John Strickson striding across the lawn at the school, with the most peculiar but memorable gait? And who can remember Miss Southall, who inspired us all to love English so much? Her first name (I found out on the day I left, in 1970) was Evelyn. She once appeared in a school play as Evelyn Tent (evil intent) -- that lady was CLEVER! I was in Eliot House (does the school still have Eliot, Austen and Bronte as houses?) - because my sister, Jane Hill, was vice-head girl with Heather Innes -- and she belonged to Eliot House. I never got a minus mark, thank God, but I got one commended, once. I remember Pat Freeman getting a minus mark from Miss Lax (totally inappropriate name!) for forgetting to bring her cookng cap. I think -- my 'commended' was wiped out by Pat's minus mark? I was at Shottery from 1965 to 1970 ... we lived in The Lea, right next door to the school. Miss Tudor was always coming to find me to tell me that our tame hen, Betsy, was eating the rose bushes!



DIana Moy	Oct 19 2008, 04:46 PM Post #2
Newbie Posts: 1 Group: Members Member #16 Joined: October 19, 2008	Yes I remember John Strickson and Miss Southall. I was also in Elliot house. I remember Miss Lax who taught Home Economics and I still use my school excersise book of recipes. Whenever I open the oven I can hear her saying 'bend your knees'! I attended from 1962- 1967. I hope to come to the reunion. I have lost contact with all my friends so would love to see any of them. Edited by sarah parkinson, Oct 20 2008, 03:58 PM.



annefreer	Oct 21 2008, 07:40 PM Post #3
Newbie Posts: 2 Group: Members Member #22 Joined: October 21, 2008	Memories of Shottery by Anne Bishton 1969-1976 * having to kneel down whilst going into dinner, and having my skirt measured by the deputy head incase it was too short Miss Lax's red biro writing all over my cookery book, and never achieving 10/10 taking off my beret and letting my long hair down as soon as I was out of the school gate art trip to Florence Latin re-tests freezing cold showers in the PE block after hockey never really understanding French verbs with Miss Gill Mr Strickson teaching me about Peter and the Wolf my first day, and being seated in alphabetical order the boys grammar school offering us their swimming pool, but we weren't allowed to go visiting Kew Gardens reading 'The Hobbit' dissecting worms and bull's eyes phoning up friends to help with homework trying to find the secret door from the Manor house making my summer dress out of floral material my uniform always being two sizes too large because I would grow into it playing rounders roasting hot summer of 76 and trying to revise *lots of friends, fun and laughter



stellafiona	Jan 11 2009, 12:07 PM Post #4
Newbie Posts: 1 Group: Members Member #44 Joined: January 10, 2009	I too remember them both - Mr Strickson rolling his head like a madman as he played piano in assembly. I also went on the trip to Florence with Miss Jones. I was terrified of Miss Lax and the French teacher who always wore a gown - I can't remember her name now! I was an awful pupil - cheeky, disruptive and generally badly behaved! My daughter wanted to move to Shottery to do her A levels - I don't think they would have let her in if they knew who her mum was!!!! I managed to leave with barely a qualification - thankfully, Harriet is the opposite to me and got 12 A's at GCSE and is doing 5 A levels!! My best friend was Jane Black- does anyone know where she is now - I'd love to track her down? Stella (Black)



Jill Varnon Bagnall	Jan 27 2009, 07:09 PM Post #5
Newbie Posts: 1 Group: Members Member #31 Joined: October 27, 2008	Could never forget John Strickson, or Evelyn Southall. And Miss Gill was the French teacher in a gown - I didn't like her. Strickson & Southall were both great; gave me lasting love of their subjects. Watching Miss Southall's holiday slides of Greece etc - well it was kinda educational. And Miss Lax - well I did glean a commended from her in the 2nd year (Austen House) ! And made her eat her words: In the first year we were told to buy a simple pattern (straight cut, sleeveless just facings) and some cotton type material to make our first blouse! So I buy a pattern with set in sleeves a collar and slippery silky material (I was a bit cocky as I'd been making clothes for years). She hit the roof - but did let me get on with it - and had to admit I was right! BUT She had the last laugh the day she made me shout across the room when I was late 'cause I'd just had a brace fitted! : Who else do I remember? My science teachers of course, Johnny Bedford - we did embarrass him something rotten, and Mr Pilling ever the joker! Caroline, do you remember when he accused us of writing on the desks at the back of Chem lab, which we hadn't. He was lucky I ever forgave him! Happy days! Generally lol



Elizabeth Whateley(Cowell)	Sep 13 2009, 08:42 AM Post #6
Newbie Posts: 1 Group: Members Member #73 Joined: September 13, 2009	I too remember Mr Strickson-and the hair!!!!-for choir and of course the dreaded music in the 1st year and Miss Southall who really was an inspiration. I was at Shottery from 1965 to1972-what happy days.



« Previous Topic · Memories of Shottery · Next Topic »