Author: Jon Dew

A long time ago!

The dates are a little vague now, but I remember my first school was The Grove in Slough. I lived in Langley most of my life until 1976. When at Winbury, I recall having a long walk from Langley Village to the A4 at what was then the William IV public house, where each morning and evening I was transported to and from home by the school minibus, picking up other victims on the way. On most days it was driven by, and this is a guess, John Spicer's brother, Dennis? He was a good laugh.

Jimmy Swanston was one of my best mates at school, coming from The Grove in the same year. He lived in Colnbrook at Tan House Farm. I learned to drive a car there on one of their fields in some old banger. I spent many a weekend there with him and his Brother Nick.

Memories of Winbury?

I have a few....

Exams - The school was then on it's old site in a private and unmade road. John Spicer lived in the large house next door. I recall taking the 13+ exam in his house. I don't think I passed (can't recall for sure)?

British Bulldog - A regular in the playground and was one of my favourites. Many an afternoon I went home with bleeding knees!

School uniform - bit of a problem here. Pink braiding was never one of the inmates favourites, and becoming a prefect entailed even a further stigma, that of a wholly pink cap! Well that went straight into my satchel as soon as I went out of the gates!

Free milk - Yes we all enjoyed the milk fights with those triangular containers that would burst upon impact… great fun!

Latin - The Latin teacher was kind… but never did grasp the language, sorry chap.

BMC Mini - A teacher (Nick?) Farrell had a mini Cooper S… bees knees! He was a popular chap.

Austin 7 - What a super car Noddy had. I'm assured it were an Austin Seven Sports but to me it was a Lotus 7… then available in kit form for £605. He did a lot of work to that car and I remember him showing me the rather sparse interior that he'd just 're-upholstered'.

What a super car Noddy had. I'm assured it were an Austin Seven Sports but to me it was a Lotus 7… then available in kit form for £605. He did a lot of work to that car and I remember him showing me the rather sparse interior that he'd just 're-upholstered'

Singing - used to love singing and I remember being sent to Eton College for some sort of scholarship test. Apparently I didn't sing too well on the day due to nerves… sorry mum!

French Teacher - sure she used to tuck her boobs into her belt. Lovely lady though!

Bad teacher - Reynolds was her name. She was sneaky. Had a display outside the classrooms in the playground with a note to say 'Do not touch'. Of course I did. Little did I know she had the classroom door ajar… perfectly lined up on the subject table! I was sent up to the headmaster for a caning. I don't think she ever found out that John simply said don't be so silly next time, and let me off. I remember he had a smile on his face when I left his study!

My little business - I don't know how this started, but every other lunchtime I used to sneak down into Maidenhead town and into a small off-licence. Quite a nerve in those days I guess… anyway no alcohol was involved, just a bag of cola cubes! I used to sell these in the playground (with a small profit to cover my expenses of course) and they were terrific… I made a lot of friends in the years both below and above me selling these little things.

The Nursery - I recall making friends with a small lad some years younger than me soon after I joined the school. He wasn't settling down too well and he missed his mum and dad. At nursery break I was allowed to lie in the nursery next to him whilst they had their morning nap. When he drifted off (which didn't take long) I left him to it.

The school play - Don't recall what year, but I still have a photo of me dressed up in some sort of historical outfit. I didn't have a big part in the play, but I did have fun dressing up! Click here to view

Sports Day - I recall maybe only two older and larger scholars (Noddy & Longlegs?) on one sports day. The 400 metres was a foregone conclusion between these two. I though aha, they are going to run a strategic race, and the only chance I would have would be to run flat out all the way. It worked. They came up steaming behind me but left it too late. I won the Victor Ludorum at one Sports day, but not sure if it was this one.

I enjoyed my time at Winbury, as I did at all my school days.

Jon Dew - 24/01/2013