COMMENTS :

Ivan (Spadger) Sparrow - 1957 to '60

I am still of the opinion, based on my personal experiences, that his only motivation for being the school’s PTI was to use the opportunity to keep “himself” fit and healthy to do what he was passionate about – play rugby at the weekend. We were not a rugby school like the Royal Grammar School. We played soccer, cricket, fours, tennis (in later times), yet I never knew him to teach us any rules or techniques for any of those sports – perhaps he only saw himself as a PTI and not as a Sports Teacher. My understanding was that he came to the school from being a PTI in the Army, which could possibly explain why he treated us like raw recruits, made to stand to ‘attention” when being given a “dressing down”. He was not that tall but very fit and strong – not to be trifled with, and would give no allowances. At the age of six I sustained a very serious injury to my left elbow, and after reconstruction, I was left with an elbow that didn’t quite articulate as the right one did and my left bicep was not as strong as my right one. On top of that I was given the prognosis that should I damage that elbow in the future then it would not be reparable and would thus have to be amputated from that point. Although restricted in the movement and strength in my left arm,I continued to attempt to do all the normal things whilst growing up, but naturally I was very protective of my left arm. Although I was well over six feet and adequately built, this was all related to Mr Bissett when I started, but it was like water off a welsh duck’s back to him. If the assignment during a PT period was 20 push-ups and I did not achieve them in the given time, then he would add a further five to me as punishment. I was afforded the same treatment in “climbing the ropes”, which for me, due to the way in which my left arm bent was like trying to climb one-handed – but that was of no concern to Mr Bissett – he would still shout, what would now be called “abuse” at me. I was not the only one, as I can remember poor old “Gus”, who today would admit, he was not the slimmest of lads at the time, being shouted out to “keep running” when the chap was near breaking point. As a result of my further education since leaving the Tech and during my life-time, I am now able to analyse, in perspective and from personal experience and observation, the character of Mr Bissett and his educational attributes, but to be fair, I do not know if he had any training or qualification to carry out the duties he undertook to do – and as such I will say no more. Do you remember those dreaded words when going into the gym for a PT period “We’ll go for a little run”. A “little run” was across the Rye to the bottom of Marlow Hill, by Wycombe Abbey School, then up we went until (for me) some distant voice up front shouted “Time for a rest – ten squat jumps”, followed by “Off we go”, and then after reaching half-way up the hill the shout would come “Time for a rest – ten Bunny Hops” – but the worst was yet to come, because three quarters up the hill was opposite the girls High School, which was reserved for the best breather, for there the shout would be “Time for a rest – ten push-ups” (now, if you were a bloke creating your store of testosterone, this was not the place to be calling such a rest – especially if there were High School girls sitting on the grass mound having their packed lunch or just wanting a laugh (or evaluation of supreme manhood)), so after reserving the necessary strength for such an event as to make an impressive display of one’s physical ability, it would be over the top, down Dawes Hill (past the Yank Base), across the Rye, and back to the gym. All well and good if you were athletic and a good runner – but if not – it would mean, if the PT period was just before dinner time, you would have to change to uniform on the Stage in front of School (and when I was there, that included girls). Perhaps those who after leaving school and knew Mr Bissett during that time when he had no command or authority over them, he may have presented a totally different character and as such I can appreciate and understand. But for “Me” I gained nothing from his “Mastership” other than a enjoyment for “Pirates”.I have since been told that in his latter years he was an adept brewer and socialiser, but I have no personal knowledge of this, but look forward to reading others’ opinions formed during school-time. I decline to present any further explicit comment in respect to Mr Bissett, other than to say “I would have loved to have met you when” I” was in my prime, as you were then”.

John Warner - 1961 to '66

Having read Ivan's piece I think he has summed up Bissett very well

Mervyn Roberts - 1956 to '60

I’ve just thought of a time when we had to go on one of Bissett’s cross country runs - in the middle of winter. It was so cold the Dyke on the Rye had frozen over, and some of us decided to walk across it rather than run right round it.

After a couple of tries we decided against it, as the ice was too weak - but not before a couple of us had got wet feet.

John Warner - 1961 to '66

Mervyn’s comment on Mr Bissett reminded me that on one of the cross countries, I did indeed use the “Dyke” boating lake as a short cut by swimming/ wading across it. I thought my little prank had gone unnoticed by Alan Bissett as he didn’t say anything to me at the time.

However, after I had left the school, a boy in our village, who attended the Tech, told me that Mr Bissett had “named and shamed” me, as an example of what not to do on a cross country run. Infamy at last!