Andrew Cairn School

 

Andrew Cairn's Secondary School for Boys was in Littlehampton West Sussex.

Link 

The school is now a Community School in new premises.  The internet shows the original school in derelict state

In September 1961 the school opened a Catering block with a teaching kitchen and restaurant.  14-year-old boys started a two year course which would enable them to attend the second year of a craft course at Portsmouth College of Technology. 

I covered the kitchen teaching with a 30-year-old Australian chef.  The restaurant was led by two other Portsmouth ex-students.  It was open three days per week.

There I was at the age of 20, without teaching experience or qualification.  No GCEs.

According to staffroom rules there were always two standby teachers to cover absences.  I found myself in awkward situations from time to time. 

I was given charge of a hockey match.  Never even seen a hockey ball until one ensured the loss of a big-toe nail.

If one of us was absent nobody was sent to cover. Funny how life turns out. 

pagetop

The staff remembered are:

Kenneth Hodges - Head

Ron Etherington - Deputy Head

John Jefferies - Head of English

Richard Haynes - Geography

Robin Edgar - English

 

------------------------------------------

Dennis Wells - Australian chef lecturer

Alan Williamson - Chef Lecturer Ex Portsmouth  College

Marie Middleton - Restaurant lecturer - ditto

Freddie Watts - ditto 

------------------------------------------

The pupils remembered are:

Colin Atkinson

Norman Dack

Alan Davies

James Daragh 

David Eaton

Peter Summerfield 

------------------------------------------------------------

Staff member Robin Edgar was my best man at my wedding to Teresa Alexander, Reception teacher at the Maud Allen School Girls' School next door. Teresa was in Robin's group of friends.

My late wife Teresa died of heart failure and dementia in 2017.  

pagetop