Hi Stuart Thanks for your message and words of encouragement.

Impending Alzheimer's is the only explanation I can think of for forgetting your first name. It really is appalling and I apologise. It has to be said that I've really forgotten loads of other people's names too although I can recall faces and habits as though it was yesterday. I thought we were good friends too. In fact I had very few friends at Rowlinson. I always felt a bit isolated from most people until the 6th form when things got decidedly better. I don't think I was ever really happy at Rowlinson although I can look back quite fondly on some of the characters and the experiences. I was certainly much happier when I got to College. I think I can count people who were friends at school on one hand. Let's try.... You, Paul Mason, Ralph Lee, Malcolm Brammar, Paul Race and ... errrrr..... well that's one hand! And there was John Myers with whom I became friendly in the 6th form. We've kept in touch, Godparents to each others kids etc. I saw him about 3 weeks ago. Lives in North Nottinghamshire and talks of retiring soon. He's worked for Union Carbide for the last 25 years or more.

I recall Paul Garlick but was under the impression that he went off to train as an architect with Pete Race, but when I think about it, I'm confusing him with Paul Hibbert (or Hibberd). Was Paul Garlick tall with blonde hair?

I can't remember Brian Wood at all.

Your Kevin McCabe stories don't surprise me at all. He once beat me up for no reason at all and managed to make me appear the guilty party; so not only did I get a bloody nose, but also a couple of strokes from Yak's cane. What a ludicrous word "stroke" is in the context of being punished, particularly for something you didn't do! I'm really pleased that he's done well and not at all surprised that he should be involved with football. Do you remember his big mate, Ernie Villa. We always referred to the two of them as "Mac 'n' Ernie" which was a reference to a footballer called MacNearny (or similar spelling) who played for Sheff Wed at that time. Both Mac and Ernie sported the same hair styles although Ernies was much darker and slicked back. I always wanted a hairstyle like that, but my parents were incredibly old fashioned about such things. Sad about Paul Madley. I remember that he always seemed to wear grey shirts. I remember Bill Antcliff, too. How is it that you still recall his exact address? Who is Geoff Torr? he's a mystery to me I'm afraid. I remained friends with Ralph Lee for about 10 years. We went to each others weddings etc even had a holiday in Ibiza together (pre clubbing days) He not only became a teacher, but also a junior school headteacher at quite a young age. Then he met someone else and left his wife and either one or two children to fend for themselves. After that we lost touch. I think he moved out of the area.

I think I came into contact with Mick Bunting after Rowlinson. If it's who I think it is, his wife taught at Tapton House School in Chesterfield with my first wife and we saw them socially (squash and drinks and stuff). I knew that Pop Otley, John Brennan, Spike Godfrey and Percy Snowden were lecturers at Totley. Mick Bunting was right about Percy - a heart attack got him in the end. Jack Rowley died only a few years ago he had some debilitating illness which had him confined to bed for a long period before he died. I met up with Frank Kurley (maths & PE) recently, he saw Jack during the week that he died and said that he was in a poor way. Frank is in touch with many of the surviving staff and is contactable by email. He regularly goes walking with Brain Garnett (Plinting Pless) and a couple of others. He also sees Todge (Cyril Askham) they have a regular meeting each week or so. Frank was really helpful with finding stuff for the website - in fact without his help it would have been a non-starter. Sammy Startup died a few years ago he lived a few doors away from my in-laws and I saw him a couple of times before he died. Bob Etchells (english) died after we left the school - I think it was a heart attack too. He liked a drink, lived almost opposite the Wheatsheaf at Parkhead and drank there most nights, I'm told. I can remember Strawballs, unlike other people I've spoken to. Jack Rowley lived on Holmley Lane in Coal Aston, but I can't for the life of me remember a PE teacher or an English teacher who lived there.
Cheers
Peter

Peter.