ERIC Beardsworth's account (LET, January 28) of the old Accrington Grammar School brought back many fond memories.

As a near-contemporary of his, having gone there in 1959, I remembered all the teachers he referred to, apart from one.

His mention of 'Sam' Wignall brought back one vivid memory.

'Sam' had sent me to the office for something or other. On entering, I was confronted by the head's fearsome secretary Miss Davies, if I remember correctly. The head was in the office, too.

After I'd asked for whatever it was, she inquired who it was for. Such was our reliance on nicknames 'Sam' was the only name that came to mind.

'Mr Wignall,' the correct form of address for us boys, had completely escaped me. I stood there for what seemed ages as the sweat started pouring down my neck. The head looked up and stared at this quivering fourth-former before him.

After what seemed a long, long time I blurted out 'Mr Wignall.' I took what I had gone for and escaped.

Another teacher not mentioned was 'Jock' Bentley, the sports master - certainly, my personal favourite. We were once playing a game called commando cricket in the school playground. A ball is bowled and the batsman has to hit it using a rounders bat. The slightest touch of the ball with the bat and you must run around an obstacle at right-angles to the wicket.

The usual obstacle was Mr Bentley sitting on a chair. On this occasion, I caught the ball slightingly and set off as fast as I could, grabbing the back of 'Jock's' chair to swing round it quicker. With horror I realised the chair had started to tilt and over went 'Jock' on to his back.

We all stopped dead, waiting for the inevitable, but what came was a great, guffawing laugh followed by "Well, help me up then!"

Finally, your article referred to 'Pinky' White as Deputy Head. Certainly, until about 1965, 'Pug' Portno, the French teacher, was Deputy to 'Ben.' I have a school photograph hanging up at home with 'Pug' sitting immediately next to 'Ben' Johnson and 'Pop' Cordingly (woodwork teacher) next in the pecking order.

This, in 1960. I have another one taken in 1963 which shows 'Pinky'" White has moved up the hierarchy and now sits three seats away from 'Ben.' Did he make it to sit next to 'Ben' before Eric Beardsworth left in 1968?

GEOFF RILEY, Walden Road, Sewards End, Saffron Walden, Essex.

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