I first went to Barrow Hills in September 1968 joining the first form (Year I) as a full boarder. Some of the boys were weekly boarders, but no day boys, and no girls! My parents lived in Chertsey, not so far away, but my father worked for the Foreign Office, and they expected to be posted abroad within the next year or so. My two older brothers had already been through the school, Robin (left in 1967) and Ashley (1964).
I remember the heartache felt during those first few weeks thinking about home, friends and family, the occasional tears at night in bed and the odd bed wetting. But I was not alone, most of the new boys were quite homesick for a while, which was some consolation. Father Dunstan (Rev Thill) was our Headmaster and I remember him coming into our dormitory one evening to see how we were settling in, and Fr Dunstan picking up my fluffy dog pyjama case and putting it on his bald head which made us all laugh. He was normally very stern, and we were all pretty scared of him!
I vaguely remember the first form’s classroom and our teacher, Miss Wall. I remember how the classrooms had partitions which, when opened out, created a large hall in which the whole school would sit to enjoy occasional guest speakers or get to watch films (especially on Feast Days and Sundays). I remember watching classics like ‘The Robe’, and ‘Ben Hur’.
I remember the points-based discipline system whereby you could lose marks for poor class work and conduct, memory work and written work (“In Class”) and for poor tidiness, punctuality and conduct (“Outside Class”). I think the scoring was: less than 10 points deducted during the week got you a pink card. Less than 20, a green card, then a buff card (which got you an automatic detention) and, in extreme cases, a white card which meant exclusion. Zero points gave you a red card, very rare.
At the end of term, the boys with the fewest accumulated points got to enjoy a Pink Card Tea Party. I remember boys waiting with anticipation (trepidation?) every Friday when the cards were issued. Pinks and greens were the norm, with a few buffs always creating some good gossip around the school as to “who” and “why”. I only ever remember one white card being given out and that was to a boy who kept running away! I remember Sunday mornings being letter writing and having our letters home checked before they were sealed to make sure we had enclosed our behaviour card for that week. All in all, a pretty effective motivation/reward system.
That first year was mostly about getting used to being away from home, counting the days until the next half-term or holiday break, coping with all the rules and timetables, and generally keeping one’s head down so as not to get in trouble (and lose points!). I remember some of the boys keeping pet rodents, especially mice and rats, in one of the out-buildings. Somehow, I was lucky to get my own pair of mice with their own cage, they were called Hector and Twix; I remember them well. And I remember taking them home for the summer holidays, much to my mother’s horror. They had to be kept in the garage and one day they mysteriously got out and ran away. I never did find out how!
Halfway through second form I was taken out of school because my father was posted to Madrid and my parents decided that I should go to an English school there together with my younger brother, Anton. In September 1971 my father drove us both back from Madrid to Barrow Hills via ferry to Portsmouth; Anton as a new boy in the first form and me re-joining into the fourth form. A few key memories of my time in the fourth form:
Initially feeling a bit lost after having been away so long, having to re-make friends. But I did have my little brother to keep an eye on, which probably helped. He was known as Little Croft and I was Big Croft!
I have fond memories of playing in the woods (left hand side of the driveway coming into the school) where we would build camps made from branches and leaves. Some of the structures were quite substantial and would fit several boys inside. Sometimes we were taken out onto the nearby commons to play war games, or just enjoy walks.
I remember the swimming pool, and being encouraged to swim during the Christmas term despite the cold water. I remember Kipper (Fr David) making us line up at one end of the pool and flicking each of us with a towel to make us dive in!
I remember the playground beside the new block, and how roller skating became popular. Somehow I had got my own skates and joined in, though not nearly as good as some of the boys who could do amazing manoeuvres. Once my skates caught on something and I fell, breaking one of my front teeth. Nothing serious but I do remember being taken to the local dentist to have it temporarily capped, and that it stayed chipped until I had it properly fixed about 20 years later.
I don’t remember much about actual lessons, though I did quite like Latin (not sure why) and I definitely enjoyed maths (winning the year’s maths prize). I also won the art prize, although I never understood why!
I remember piano lessons with Harry Taylor, the music teacher, and taking Grade 1. I kept it up for a couple of years into St George’s but then sadly gave it up because it wasn’t cool. I still have a piano today and enjoy the occasional tinker, just a shame I never took it seriously when I was young! I remember Mrs Taylor teaching us first aid, and having tea at their house afterwards. I still have my British Junior Red Cross certificate dated 4th June 1972.
We were always encouraged to try new activities. I remember doing horse riding on Sundays (which I loved), taking a small gardening plot which I shared with Rampton (we won 3rd prize), giving judo a good go, and joining the choir (I was given the job of giving out the music, but I was never actually encouraged to sing!). I don’t remember much about sports or PE, except during Easter term playing hockey at right wing which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I remember coming second in a running race at sports day! Small achievements that stayed with me.
I also don’t really remember particular friends at Barrow Hills although, like me, several boys went on to St George’s where we did develop proper friendships, the likes of JE (Melo) Triay and Neil O’Sullivan to name just two.
Overall, I have only fond memories of my time at Barrow Hills, nothing bad or sinister ever happened. It was a safe and supportive environment, even if it was quite strict. It instilled in me a good sense of independence, respect, accountability and camaraderie.
After Barrow Hills I went on to St George’s where I stayed until 7th form (ie: December 1978), leaving with A-levels in Maths, Economics & Politics and Geography, and a love of rugby and athletics. I went on to Kingston Polytechnic gaining a degree in ‘Business Studies’. I then joined an international shipping company (LEP) on a 2.5 year management training programme during which I did all my professional/institute exams. I loved the industry but soon realised it would never make me rich. So, I side-lined into IT joining BT as a consultant for a division selling IT systems into the logistics sector. Double the salary and no responsibilities!
A year later, in 1990, I moved to GE Information Services in a similar role, the business being subsequently spun off (as GXS) and then resold to a Canadian company called OpenText (OT). I stayed with GE/GXS/OT for the next 28 years enjoying a variety of roles in sales, marketing, operations and business planning. I got married, had four children, and even had time to complete an MBA (also at Kingston). Many of my roles involved international responsibility and travel but I was always UK-based, working out of London, Kingston and then Reading. I divorced in 2009, re-married in 2013 (inheriting three stepchildren) and then quit work in 2018 retiring down to the south coast. I had always enjoyed my job, and I worked hard. But at the age of 58, with all our children largely self-sufficient, I decided it was time to focus on my own quality of life and go live by the sea. Oh, the joy of being able to do what you want, when you want, and having the time and health to enjoy it ..!