AT TRINITY GRAMMAR SCHOOL,WOOD GREEN, N.22 IN THE 1950'S
The smell of the uniform new
A weedy first year in orange and dark blue
Warm welcome from Mr. Mackie in the gym
“Lord Behold us with thy Blessing” hymn.
Saturday morning cricket and football at White Hart Lane
You recall those after-match shandy days again.
Homework, leather satchel, pencil box, fountain pen and ink
Conway-Stewart, Platignum, bottles of Stephens and Quink
521 or 621 trolley bus to Bounds Green Road
2 1/2d tickets punched by the bell machine, full load
Of shouting school boys hanging off the bus
Jump off at the gates - can’t catch us!
In winter snow - ball fights v the Glendale Grammar Grubs
Bert Eustance and the School Chess Club
Football in the playground wearing thick “bumpers”
That lasted about a week; collecting BRS lorry numbers.
Turf cigarette cards; dinner queues round past the woodwork room
Grace before meals; table prefect made you correctly hold your spoon.
Bell goes, lift up desk-lids; exercise books Mr Kurt French grammar
Bell goes: charge-out to Mr Chick: chisel, saw and hammer.
Corridors always crowded with changing classes
Notice Board with results and GCE passes.
Winter - Christmas parties cross-country, “Pirates”, and dance
School - exchanges across to Roanne in France.
Break - the Tuck shop in the hall: Punch; Tiffin; and Five Boys
Peacock’s Hobbies Exhibition with Meccano toys.
Boxing gloves and 3 minute rounds
“Ally Pally” runs through the grounds.
I still recall the poetry and plays
They will be with me for the rest of my days.
Prefects reading at morning assembly teachers in gowns
Hands up -right answer! school memories of sights and sounds
“Lord dismiss us with thy blessing” at the end of term
The Trinity teachers were fair and firm
And taught us well with time to spare
Trinity – I’m glad that I was there.
Kemal J. Ghafur (Trinity 1951-1959)
