Miss. Smith
The image from Stephen Batey shows Miss. Smith in 1967. Thank you, Stephen.
Can anyone let me know what happened to Miss Smith after 1968 when I left? She was my inspiration, and I have many happy memories of her lessons, albeit with a healthy amount of fear!
Ron Dyson
Hi Dave,
Miss Smith had a scheme when reports were due. She read every report, certainly for all the girls. For every error missed by the form teacher she charged a halfpenny. If the report was totally correct she paid sixpence. I don't believe she was out of pocket.
Terry McCroakam
Dear Sheila,
I wanted to write a few words about Miss. Smith the Deputy Head, without whose aid and wise experience the school could not have run so smoothly. Initially I was a little intimidated by this quite formidable lady. She ruled with a mixture of gentleness, kindness, and exceptional caring attitude. It may not have seemed so for the girls for she had an eagle eye, spotting the exceptions to the school uniform code. If the skirt length was above the knee she had the offenders into her room to provide a firm rebuke and reminder to their parents. My abiding memory of Miss. Smith was her patrolling in the corridors of the school, never in the same place at early morning school, breaks and dinner hours. Whenever I passed her I would momentarily think of my dishevelled tie, my clothes covered in chalk dust and my unpolished shoes in case she might mention them to me privately. Unconsciously I smartened up after about 3 months; I think mainly to set an example, as most of the male staff did. The ladies were always neat and immaculately dressed. It is always interesting to know that Miss. Smith's remonstrations were inevitably successful and most girls returned to conform at least for a few weeks because I do not think they wanted to land up in her room again for a further ticking off. In my thoughts Miss. Smith had a reputation that was worse than that of my drill sergeant whilst I was on national service in Worcester. But she was more understanding than the drill sergeant was, and very forgiving. She always backed RWH in any new projects that he wished to put forward because he was a man of great insight and imagination.
Ken Sale, HGS Staff 1955-61
Dear Dave,
I remember fondly Miss Smith, as one of my French teachers. Although as stated she was in appearance a frail lady, she was a true lady in the sense of the word.
I once remember a small incident, when, as she was coming up behind me, I held the door open for her. She smiled and said thank you as she walked through the doorway. She then asked my name, to which I told her, using my surname first, as all boys at the school did.
I thought nothing of this until my parents went to a teachers meeting on an evening, to discuss our progress. On asking my mother whose offspring they were to discuss, when my mother mentioned my name, she smiled and said "Oh Hall, what a Polite boy." It certainly surprised my mother, and me also!!!
I failed my French O level, (as I could not remember what the word "Demain" meant, in the paragraph we had to translate. To this day I now remember it means -Tomorrow!!. Of all the teachers I had, I felt that I had let Miss Smith down, so, on leaving school, I went out and bought French books and tapes, and taught myself to speak French. It must be some testimony to her, that French people now say that I speak French like a frenchman!! (Not bad for a Yorkshire Lad!)
I will always remember Miss Smith with a fondness and affection. She was, as previously stated, a true lady.
Mark Hall, HGS 1964-71
| Miss Smith She had a fearsome reputation and insisted that she was addressed by her name. You had to say, "Yes, Miss. Smith, no, Miss. Smith", and woe betide you if you forgot and tried to end a sentence without the obligatory "Miss. Smith". We were not allowed off the school premises unless we had a "permit". | |
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In order to obtain a permit you had to queue outside Miss. Smith's room before the start of school and provide proof of your need to obtain one. "I have a dentist's appointment, Miss Smith. Yes, Miss Smith. No, Miss Smith. Thank you, Miss Smith." It was on one such occasion that she amazed me. I was only in the second year and had gone to ask for a permit. She not only knew my name but she congratulated me on how well I'd done in the end of year French exam. She had never taught me and I don't think she had ever spoken to me before, so how did she know? At that time she only taught French to the Upper school so I came out of her room walking on air. Many of the teachers in those days used to wear their academic gowns around school. Everyone else's was black but Miss Smith's was dark green. Linda Redmile 1964-71
Miss Smith never taught me and I don't think we ever spoke. When I was in the Sixth Form she would always smile pleasantly whenever we passed on the corridor. She exuded control and discipline. I did not know it at the time but I was learning from her things which I would use in my own teaching career. Dave McKenzie 1955-62 | |