COMMENTS :

Ivan (Spadger) Sparrow - 1957 to '60

I had “Chippy” for Woodwork – nice old chap – easy going, so long as you eventually got whatever you were doing “perfect” in the end – always helpful and encouraging – he knew his stuff and did his best to help you achieve your best. His “office” in the workshop, which he shared with Mr Barlow, always had that unique aroma of pinewood, bone glue, and tobacco smoke (I can’t remember which one, or whether it was both, that smoked – such “heady” days). I learned a lot from “Chippy” (and Mr Barlow) – techniques that have carried me through to this day and are still regularly used. Apart from his teaching me to understand the characteristics of different types of wood, how to make different joints and their applications, and how to hand sandpaper wood until it is smoother than a politician’s voice when trying to gain votes, he helped me make a number of articles – a hinged face mirror frame, a T-square, and a good English Oak coffee table (which is as good as new and still in use in my home in Western Australia, some 45 years after I made it).

Thank you “Chippy” – your labours were not in vain as far as I am concerned – I liked and enjoyed your woodwork lessons, but I still went on to pursue a mechanical engineering career.

John Warner - 1961 to '66

I found him to be possibly the best teacher in the school

Mike (Mick) Pusey - 1957 to '60

Mr Clark - another great bloke that taught me much. He used to balance the style of his sidekick Mr Barlow and they made a great team.