Author: Mike Sinclair

ReBeing an 'army brat", as it were, my sister Susan and I were used to moving every year or so. In 1951 we moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia (the fifth move within Canada in seven years). A few years later, at the age of ten, there was the exciting news that our family would be moving to England. So, in the autumn of 1954 my father was "posted" to London for a four year position in the Canadian army. We arrived in Bray in late December, staying at the Hinds Head Hotel through the Christmas week. Over that holiday week a key decision was made by my parents for us to look for a house for rent in the village. During the four years we lived in the "Limes", the "Dower", and the "Little" houses in central Bray. This decision to reside in this attractive village close to Maidenhead was fortuitous for my schooling, but there were some bumps on the road along the way.

Just after Christmas I was enrolled at a secondary modern school in Maidenhead. This was to be a challenging time; as given my Canadian accent and the bullying that took place, the school environment was not pleasant. The few memories that I have include fights during recess, and sneaking out of the school to run to the bus stop at the train station (a fairly long run for a 10 year old, but mostly down hill). Tough, and somewhat older, students were waiting for me in the playground on a daily basis to give me a beating. On occasion, following fights during recess, the combatants (me included) were sent to the Headmaster's office for punishment. I recall the Headmaster asking me to stay alone after one disciplinary session. He congratulated me on standing up for myself, so there was some support. My mother and father must have noticed that I was not all that keen on going to school each day, as fairly quickly my first day at Winbury arrived. This change of schools was to be a "tipping point" in my life.

Due to the more advanced level of teaching in England compared to Canada, following a short test, I was put in a form with younger students (perhaps eight year olds). My first memory was playing with dinky toys at recess for a few minutes with the younger boys in the form. This was not too engaging, so I joined a football game with those that were my age or older. John Spicer must have noticed that being with younger boys might not be the best solution, so I was "promoted" within days (I think) to a form for 10 year olds. This swift change is perhaps an example of how John watched us all, and followed a flexible approach to academic progress. I presume he could see that in spite of my weak academic proficiency for my age, being with my peers would provide a better learning environment. This was to be the case, as upon leaving Winbury in 1958 to return to Canada I was placed in a grade higher than my age. Thus in four years at Winbury I covered the equivalent of five years of schoolwork in the Canadian system! So, my first conclusion is that Winbury under John's leadership provided an excellent academic education. It was however the broader issues of education that were perhaps the most important and I will focus on them for the rest of this essay.

Winbury instilled a lifelong love of: (1) learning, (2) outside adventures, and (3) sports. I will say a few words about each of these three themes.

The teachers, within my memories at least, were all eccentric personalities. Our Latin and history teacher was a retired judge who had spent many years in India. I recall asking for some help with a translation, and his response was to work on my own harder stating that "God helps those who help themselves". The French teacher was a French housewife who lived a few blocks from the school, and we walked down to her house for at least some of the lessons (in a pleasant warm sitting room). I recall the geography teacher being kind of a wild young Irish man with a strong accent (and short temper). He made geography exciting, even ensuring that we noted with nationalistic pride that most of the map of the world was pink, designating the British Commonwealth. Perhaps he was from Northern Ireland. When one of the teachers was absent, John often filled in. His classes were always a treat (reading plays and engaging us fully in literature and theatre). At times we would all get in the school bus and drive to a park within some wooded area, go for a ramble, and then sit in the shade whilst John read a novel, or some poetry. In fact I cannot recall liking poetry in any other context. To be in his warm company was so special. It would be great if others could add memories of the personalities of our teachers, as well as their names!

So learning at Winbury was fun. I recall that for awhile there was optional school on Saturday mornings (perhaps for introductory Greek) and many of us turned up!

Outdoor adventures were a second aspect of the Winbury experience. Just getting to our destination was an adventure in itself. The school bus was always in poor condition, with the petrol tank near empty. John would on occasion turn off the engine going downhill, in order to save a bit of the small amount of fluid left in the tank. He would also on occasion take us to a convenient open area, and let us wonder around for a bit, whilst he listened to the horse races (checking on a bet he had made earlier that day perhaps!). The camping trips were extraordinary and wonderful experiences. The long hikes on the sand dunes and moors were full of excitement. It is perhaps lucky that there were never any accidents, as we were full of energy and there were few adults to oversee our safety except for John. The scouts at Winbury were also full of adventures each week.

So the love of outdoor adventures was a second life long legacy of Winbury, at least for those of us who were lucky enough to have parental permission to fully participate in scouts and the camping trips.

The third theme, sports, was equally memorable: football and cricket as team sports, and swimming and athletics as individual sports. Football of course was a daily activity on the school grounds, which was an activity full of enthusiasm and involved all ages. Cricket was a priority for John, and I recall that he was rather talented in this sport. During the important test matches we gathered in his study to watch them on television (as was the case for Wimbledon week for tennis!). In both football and cricket I do not recall that winning the matches with other schools was a particularly big issue. It was about doing your best, and most importantly being a good sportsman. Another memory about losing so many games was the pleasure after the game when the cream buns and cakes were served. John hosted the best "after game teas", which made us popular with all of the other visiting schools. The individual sports were equally enjoyable, the swim meets and the "sports day". There was of course some team building in the latter event, as each "house" competed against the others (I was in Raleigh House, being the "House leader" in my final year). The "sports day" was perhaps the grand finale of the year, with John so well groomed in the company of the parents, and so very proud of all of his "boys".

So, more than five decades later, due to the Winbury experience, it is football (soccer), rugby, cricket and Wimbledon that I tend to follow; rather than Canadian football, baseball, and curling! One last memory on sports. John did try rugby a few times, and I recall tackling him when he decided to have a run at inside center. He fell like a cut tree, not expecting one of us to get him around the ankles! He laughed with great joy, and I was proud to have learned to tackle low in Canada prior to moving to England.

There were a few additional aspects of Winbury under the leadership of John that come to mind. He had great skills in ensuring that each boy was special in some way. When we all had to do some gardening, my intuition is that he had in mind that a few of us would shine in this activity. Theatre was another activity that was encouraged. The outdoor production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar was a treat. My memory is that I played Brutus. John also had a deft touch for discipline, making sure that he sustained the delicate balance between healthy play and joking and unacceptable behaviour. I recall going to his office for "six of the best", but cannot remember the reason. He told me to bend down in front of the radiator and then with a large running shoe gave me some hard shots on the behind. Each time my head hit the radiator (not all that hard I must admit), John said "be stalwart and do not budge". He also said that the punishment hurt him more than it hurt me, and I believed him!

I am sure that other memories will arise as I read other contributions, so I look forward to reading your reminiscences. I will end with a few words on my post-school friendship with John.

During my second year at Queens University (in Kingston, Ontario, Canada) in 1965, I had a brainwave of working in England during the long summer vacation (May until August). So I wrote a letter to John asking him if there were any opportunities in Maidenhead that he was aware of. A few weeks later a letter arrived with the exciting news that I could of course work at the school on tasks yet to be defined. The summer at Winbury as a 20/21 year old was just wonderful. I turned 21 on June 20th during that summer, celebrating at the Monkey Island Hotel on the Thames River along with a few childhood friends from Winbury.

The summer job was great fun and full of diversity: driving the school bus to pick up students and deliver them at the end of the day, cooking some of the meals in the evening for John and a couple of teachers who lived in, helping with the scouts, and occasional gardening chores for a couple of the parents of students. The best part was the opportunity to be John's friend, with a chance to share some time together in pubs with his girlfriend of the time (an attractive teacher who lived at Winbury). John arranged contacts with many of the "boys" from my time as a student at the school. I was amazed that he could recall who were friends with whom (for all of the classes over the many years). At the end of the summer John asked me to consider becoming a teacher at Winbury, and perhaps taking over some of the administrative roles as he slowed down. It was not to be, but his support during this early period of my university career was a blessing.

In 1967/8 I undertook the M.Sc. program in Oceanography at Southampton University. This gave me other opportunities to visit Winbury, sometimes with a girlfriend. He was always welcoming, and there was routinely an offer to stay overnight if necessary. Following further graduate studies in oceanography I was fortunate to have a job that took me to continental Europe on occasion, and thus the opportunity to visit Winbury every few years. I recall on one visit about 1988/89 John stated at the end of our day together that something was going wrong in my life. He had noticed a slight depression of sorts. It was a stressful time with my marriage not working out. I was amazed that he could pick up this change in behaviour of one of his "boys" during a short visit during which I was on my best behaviour! That occasion, I think, was the last time that we were together. He had been a pillar in my life from 1954 until about 1989 (35 years).

The reunion that was held in 2012 has re-kindled many fond memories of our years as students at Winbury, as well as my friendship with John as an adult. He was an exceptional man who has influenced all of us in so many ways. We are so lucky to have him as the headmaster during our early education, and as a mentor for "good sportsmanship".

I would like to thank Mike Crees and Mike Chapman for their generosity of spirit in bringing the "Old Winbury Boys" together to renew friendships and stimulate memories of our wonderful years in preparatory school. The day before the reunion Alan Langton, a close friend from our school years together (and my fortuitous contact with the reunion planning), took me for a wonderful drive around the countryside, including Bray (and a few pubs to stimulate our conversation and flow of memories!). The day after the reunion I returned to Bray, walking along the paths beside the Thames. This walk took me past the cricket pitch we played on as well as the sports field that the school purchased in the late 1950s. Nothing had changed after 50 years! The happy sounds of good fun with "Winbury Boys" arose again in my memories.

Mike Sinclair - 24/08/2012