You may think you're done with the past but the past isn't done with you!
Self-portrait from Stefan Bremner-Morris
REGISTER AND LINK UP WITH OLD SCHOOL FRIENDS AGAIN VIA THIS SITE
(See further down for details)
AND CHECK THE CALENDAR AT THE FOOT OF THIS PAGE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
Come on in!
Don't be late!
This is one detention
You'll be pleased to take.
A WARM WELCOME, fellow Cheyneansand passers-by, to the SloaneGrammar 1919-1970 Old Cheyneans and Friends web site.
Mark Foulshamhas created this site for everyone who attended Sloane,or simply has aSloane Schoolconnection, to share and enjoy.Feel free just to browse or, if you feel you qualify to join us, make full use of the site by becoming a registered Classmate. Click on the CONTACT US link in the column to your left for full registering instructions.
Before you do anything, please 'whitelist' postmaster@classcreator.net to ensure you receive my e-mail responses and your e-mail provider doesn't class mail from this site as SPAM. This usually means adding postmaster@classcreator.net to your 'Allow' list. Check with your e-mail provider if you're unsure about how to do this.
I'll also be happy to send a personal invitation to anyone else with a Sloane School connection who you think might like to join us. Just enter their e-mail address in the MISSING CLASSMATES box to your right and click SEND INVITE.
It is hoped, in some small way, to be able to have similar objectives to those stated for the first issue of The Cheynean of December 1926 -
"To record faithfully the major activities of the School, to promote and foster a corporate spirit in the School, to excite a greater keenness both in the games and in other phases of its social life, and to serve as a link between present members of the School and the Old Cheyneans".
Once you've registered, you might like to send a message to someone else on the site. You can use the Message Centre page to do this but, if you're expecting a swift reply, it might be worthwhile checking what part of the world they're living in these days. Use this World Time map to help. Click on World Time, then on the black button for the part of the world they live in, then on the city closest to where they live and the time on the clock will change to whatever time of day it is wherever they are -
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Sloane in 1908 and much as it looks today
The Sloane building would have been 100 years old in 2008, although it didn't actually start life as a boys' school until after the First World War, during which it served as a hospital. It still stands and many memories are, no doubt, ingrained in its walls along with the odd name and ribald comment. Take the time to visit it while you can as work is in progress to convert the Fulham Road elevation and that playground into upmarket apartments. This is a combined Manhattan Loft Corporation Ltd, Trevor Osborne Property Group and Kensington and Chelsea College development that had seen a few Council refusals of planning permission and many local resident objections.The number of proposed apartments was lowered significantly and the Council wanted provision for "affordable housing" as well. Original plans, going back a number of years, had wanted the whole Sloane building (Grade II Listed,1910) to be redeveloped into residential with a new college being built between the Sloane and Carlyle buildings because, as the developers put it, " the existing building cannot meet the requirements of the College" and a "secure the long term future of the College's educational use at Hortensia Road". According to the blurb, the first phase at "Chelsea Apartments" will number 24 private 1-3 bedroom apartments, plus one "stunning penthouse", with 4 bedrooms and 12 affordable / key worker apartments for the Dominion Housing Association that will be a "striking addition to a quarter of London where high style and innovation have always been valued". As well as the six storeys above ground there will also be provision, in three basement levels, for plant and 67 car parking spaces. It's a "development in a great tradition" and the architecture "has a purity and elegance that is thoroughly contemporary but with a blend of materials that ensures a real sense of place". What are they like! The second phase still appears to be under wraps. Originally, it was going to comprise renovation and conversion of the existing college building into a further 34 residential units, but, confusingly, the latest information on their website says the architects Dixon Jones's design "will complement its baroque Grade II listed neighbour, Kensington and Chelsea College" and that, "Dixon Jones have worked closely with the college, English Heritage, and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, to make Chelsea Apartments part of the fabric of this exciting location. Chelsea Apartments is the first phase of a radical masterplan that will also provide an outstanding new education facility for the college." Grade II listed buildings can be altered, extended, or even demolished, but only with Local Authority consent, so it may be that the building is considered historically or architecturally interesting enough for it's fabric to remain untouched. Some consideration may have been given to it having been the first purpose-built secondary school in London, and it is certainly one of only 3% of all ages of listed buildings that was built in the 20th century. Work is expected to be completed by 2010 but if you decide to visit now you should find the Kensington and Chelsea College staff, currently occupying the building, very accommodating and more than helpful if you explain your school connection and that you wouldn't mind having a look around to rekindle old memories.
Sadly, Sloane Grammar School for Boys only lasted 51 years, from 1919-1970. Should the building survive in the form we all remember, there is still a chance that some of us will be around in 2019 to make use of the building to celebrate what would have been its centenary as a boys' school, had the school remained in existence.
Should any of you be interested, or even in a position to buy one, detailed floorplans of the proposed flats can be viewed at www.thechelseaapartments.co.uk .
HOW THE FINISHED ARTICLE SHOULD LOOK -
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FRONT PAGE NEWS !
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08/02/2010
'Grand' Reunion in Texas!
In the words of Phil Burnham, "the entire alumni of Old Cheyneans residing in Alberta, Canada and Texas, USA, met for drinks and dinner at the Red Lion pub in Houston, Texas, on January 25th". As you'll see from the photo Phil sent me, the 'entire alumni' consists of himself and Mick Jarvis. Despite everyone eligible turning up, they did manage to sqeeze everyone into the photo using a wide-angled lens. The snow has been as deep as ever in Alberta recently, but in Texas Phil was able to enjoy his rounds of golf in temperatures in the late 60s to mid-70s.
Phil's son is getting married in Cancun, Mexico, in April, after which, finances permitting, he hopes to visit the old country sometime in late May. Mick may also be in the country at that time so it seems as good an excuse as any for us all to meet for another brew or two. I'll arrange something once I know definite dates.
Phil Burnham & Mick Jarvis in Houston, January, 2010
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08/02/2010
I've been contacted by Neil Smith of RAF 51 Squadron History Association. He had been researching the crash of Wellington Bomber R1374 in 1941, when his Internet searches involving the pilot's name, Frederick Henry Savage, led him to our website. Frederick's name appears on our In Memory page and Neil was keen to learn more.
I told him all I know and, in return, I have asked him to let me know of anything else he discovers about Frederick. He has already added to what I knew by telling me that the plane was brought down near Loire Atlantique, in France, where, next year, they are planning a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the crash.
06/02/2010:
Donation Thanks
My grateful thanks go out to Don Smith whose kind donation was received today. The timing was perfect in light of the recent repairs my computer has had to undergo.
16/01/2010:
Donation Thanks
Many, many thanks to Classmate Roger Read for his kind donation which dropped through my letterbox today. It was tucked inside a copy of Roger's book, Womlit's Rag, which I'm looking forward to reading. If you fancy doing the same, more details can be found on the 'Old Boys' Business' page, where you'll see a positive review from someone who bought it off of the 'Amazon' website, one of many places I'm sure you'll be able to find it.
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11/01/2010: Goverment Plans for a Phone Line Stealth Tax:-
I wasn't aware of this, or maybe I just lost it in the mire of all the other rubbish this Government churns out, but I've been alerted to thee news that this year, every single phone line that comes into your property will be subject to a 50p tax, whethe you use it or not. It is aimed at creating more revenue for additional Broadband roll out, so, in effect, those of us with a phone line will be subsidising what the Government sees as the 'right' for everyone to have access to Broadband. It would be wonderful if everyone had Broadband access, but it isn't vital that they do. Why should we pay for a non-vital service? I can think of a number of other things that I'd rather they concentrated on - without me paying more for it, of course.
If you'd like to add your name to the petition against this stealth tax, click on the link below. In the main, these petitions tend to have little effect but I'm adding my name to this one to voice my disgust at the way this Government continues to treat us:
If you fancy a little music as you browse the site . . . . .
Our dancers, below, will carry on doing their own thing, oblivious to music genre and pace, lost in their own little world forever, but you can listen to whatever they're dancing to by clicking on a time of your choice below. A jukebox will appear in its own window. The music may start immediately but, if not, use the jukebox scroll bar to choose a song, then click on the PLAY arrow on the jukebox. Be patient as it sometimes takes a while to load. Minimise the jukebox window if you want to continue listening as you browse the site. Don't forget to close the window when you finish.
AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE "WHAT'S HAPPENING' CALENDAR FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE, OR TO SCROLL DOWN ALL PAGES AS THERE'S MORE TO SEE!
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*1968 and 1970 School Group Photo availability:- *
Copies of the panoramic school group photos of 1968 and 1970 are now available at a cost of £5 per photo, plus £2 postage and packing whatever the quantity in each postage tube. This is the price for posting in the UK; the cost for posting elsewhere will vary but I'll let you know how much before I send them off. If you're interested e-mail me with you're requirements and when they're ready I'll get back to you to tell you the full cost which you can then either pay through the site Donate button or by cheque in my name, Mark Foulsham, to my address, which you'll find on my Profile. If you do use the Donate button, PayPal take a commission so I'll have to add that to the cost.
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DONATIONS
I couldn't resist sharing this cartoon with you. It was Stefan Bremner-Morris's response to my e-mail about site donations. I hasten to add that he also made a financial contribution via the Donatebutton you'll find in the right-hand column of this page. Other generous donations, which will go a long way to keeping this site running and improving it, have come in from Vernon Burgess, Kinley Davies, Dave Parkin, Steve Christie, Neil Stacey, Pete Kosciolek, Henry Rogers, Phil Burnham, Trevor Davis, Sean Morris, Paul O'Shea, Geoff Hall, Martin Ferber and Phil Yerby. Thanks guys!
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Personal Ads:
The personal ads you'll see here over time are genuine and taken from the London Review of Books personal ads section. It was started in 1998, intending to bring together people of similar literary and cultural tastes and has resulted in a funny and clever collection. I'll publish a different one each week and hope you enjoy them as much as I do and, if you ever spot any yourself,worthy of inclusion here, please let me have them and, so as not to give everyone the impression that you spend all your time looking at the personal ads, I'll withold your name on request! -
" If dreams were eagles, I would fly, but they ain't, and that's the reason why. Spend New Year singing into your hairbrush with the Goombay Dance Band and me, bitter, publishing marketing executive (Female 33), too drunk at the office party to keep all my slobber behind my teeth. Golden star that leads to paradise. 'Like a river's running to the ocean I'll come back to you four thousand miles' (words from 'Seven Tears', 1982 Goombay Dance Band single). Box no. 6308."
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I thought it would be nice to reproduce here a poem, written when he was in the 5th year, by one time Sloane Schoolboy, A R Doubledee. It's a decent effort and probably shows that, aImost fifty years later, nothing has changed much. If, by having gone to school in Chelsea, we consider ourselves to have been 'Chelsea' men, then this could apply to us -
The Weirdies
The Chelsea man is excessively queer,
He only drinks coffee and doesn't like beer.
He's always "chatting" the girls, and yet
This seems to make him "one of the set".
His unkempt chin and uncut hair
Go with his feet which are usually bare.
If he wears shoes, they've never got soles,
And he's usually found in Bohemian holes.
His outsize sweater is generally black
Contrasting well with his shorty mac.
He wears his clothing merely to show
That he can keep up with the boys of Soho.
To find a girl he doesn't look far,
But into the nearest coffee bar,
Where he's sure to meet a Bohemian "yob".
They're all from Chelsea - what a mob!
The girls with hair right down their backs
Wear irregular clothes that look like sacks.
They walk about wearing father's sweater:
I really don't see why he should let 'er.
Their gaudy clothes of reds and greens
Match up with the style of their men-friends' jeans.
Now that's how it goes with the latest style:
Girls on their faces make-up pile,
The men wear anything they can find -
I shouldn't stare, I should just act blind!
A.R. Doubledee (5b)
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This second poem appears in Guy Boas's 1963 book A Teacher's Story. It is attributed to an unknown Sloane junior boy, but LesGrimes thinks it may have been by a Classmate of his called Davies, and was written around 1949. Given today's current climate it seemed appropriate to publish it here:-
Teddy Boys
Six silly boys,
Six silly knives,
Two silly boys,
Acting as spies.
Three brave bobbies
Investigate a noise,
Go into a lobby,
See two silly boys.
One brave bobby
Stabbed by a boy,
Lying in lobby,
Knife's no toy.
Six silly boys,
Up in court,
Death for the boys,
Being caught.
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All Forthcoming Events, And The Ones You Missed, Can Be Seen On The Calendar Below:-
Apologies for the adverts but it's cheaper for me if I allow them.
Click on an event to learn more about it and on a gun to go backwards or forwards in time.
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