Diss Grammar School

Formerly — The Old Dyssean Society's Website
www.old-dyssean-society.org

The society is no longer in existence but this website
is allied to the Diss Grammar School Facebook group.
  

This page is loooooonnnnggggg .....

Use your browser's FIND/SEARCH facility to look up a name – this is usually 'ctrl+f'.

The anecdotes are generally posted anonymously. 
 
N.B: Comments may have been made when attidudes, school and social expectations, and behaviour were different from the current day.

Dates key:
1960–1970  1960–  –1960    –1960-	a known date span   a known start date   a known finish date   a known year but unknown start and finsh       ... and combinations thereof ...

---

Firstly, simple lists of taechers' and others' data sorted by: Last name Years of service * * – the dates may be approximate.

Secondly, a link to ALL the images of teachers and staff stored on Google Photos.

Thirdly, a full list of information collected by the ODS and others, scroll down ... ... or go to the END and scroll up.

• Mr Ernest E Thompson 1914-16
• Mr Charles Hugh Gray 1919-39
• Mr Gilbert H Fairs 1940-46
• Mr John Herbert Babington 1947-51
• Mr Eric Pursehouse 1951-60
• Mr Anthony C Norfolk 1960-77
• Miss Rosemary Palmer 1977 to closure

Francis Taylor and
Rear-Admiral Alfred Hugh Taylor

Francis Taylor

Rear Admiral Alfred Hugh Taylor
The original portarit is in Diss Corn Hall.

Francis Taylor donated the land for the original school in 1908.

Rear-Admiral Alfred Hugh Taylor, C.B., O.B.E., R.N. (24 October, 1886 – 16 August, 1972) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

He was a school governor of DS/DGS for many years.

Mr Ernest E Thompson

Headmaster

1914-16

Anecdote – Ernest Thompson  RIP  :

One of Diss Secondary Schools earliest headmasters, from 1914 to 1916.
Killed in WWI in France 16th Oct 1918.   He was a second lieutenant.
See Diss Express and Commonweath War Graves Commision CWGC.
CWGC in memorium (.pdf).

(Thanks to Sally Lee for the research).

Click on image to enlarge.

Mr Charles Hugh Gray

Headmaster

1919-39

Anecdote – Charles Hugh Gray (d: Jan 1963  RIP  ) :

Info from Penny Harley, Archivist, Robert Gordon College, Aberdeen, via Andrew Farrier a great nephew of this headmaster.

Address: 46 Seaview Terrace (or sometimes referred to as View Terrace)
later 80 Union Grove
then 22 Chattan Place
Entered RGC Sept 1889 aged 11
Left Dec 1896
Classes IId, IIId, IVd, IVa, Classical 1, Cl 2, Cl 3, VII 3
Record He appears on the Prize and Merit List as follows:
1891-2 Algebra
1892-3 Geometry
1894-5 Greek, History, Geography, Trigonometry
1895-6 History, Geography, Latin, Algebra, Trig, Arithmetic, Dynamics

He entered the competition for a bursary and was one of 34 boys awarded a "Foundation by Presentation". This meant that he received free schooling for 4 years.

The family had to provide certain financial information so that he could be considered for a Foundation:

Born Cults 25.12.1878
Parent Mrs Louisa Gray
Present school Church of Scotland Normal School
Grandson of a Burgess of Guild of the City of Aberdeen
Father (William Gray, formerly Commission Agent) insane
has £110 invested, also possesses shares, value £4, none of which is presently available
Total earnings of family: 13/6 per week
Children at home 6 (3 male and 3 female) - of whom 3 are not earning. Ages 7 to 17

As well as the prospective pupils sitting an entrance exam, the Governors considered all the particulars of the family. When they had drawn up a short list they would visit the boys in their homes.

There's more to come, watch this space.

Mr Wray

Props

Temp Head, d/Head, Chemistry, Physics

-1939-

Mrs Rosalie Evans

Head Mistress, English Lit

-1920s-

Mr Gilbert H Fairs

Beefy

Headmaster

1940-46

Acknowledements to the British Newspaper Archive (BNA)

Thanks to Philip Clarke
(DGS 1970-1977) for his help

Mr John Herbert Babington
GC OBE

Headmaster

1947-51

Mr Eric Pursehouse

1931 and 1949

Money-bag Mansion

Headmaster, Maths, Geography

1929-60

Anecdote – Eric Pursehouse: (b:1899 d:1964  RIP  )

"Money-Bag Mansion"

A comment by Eric on a boys school report (maths) "He has ability which he is determined not to develop.

"Diss is fatherless by this man's dying:
And not Diss only; over the whole earth
Men thrive and work in whose lives he gave birth
To logic of wisdom, scorn of lying
The world condones, that cowardice, those tasks
Done less well than in one's power to do;
Scorn of self gain; mean-ness that always asks
More than it gives; he did not fear the new,
But served and taught and live the sound, the food,
Looking for all these in all things, in all men,
All children; himself a maker, made them
Becom creative, talented, he would
Laugh his great laugh, sing finely, carve a stool,
But work patiently; be himself, our school."

- S G Thicknes

 

Phillip Clarke writes - "The Grammarian" (something else that my father rescued from DGS around 1985-1987) and in it the headmaster writes "As December 18th approaches, and with it my retirement, my mind naturally looks back over the years to September 17th 1929 when I first joined the School staff". The magazines editorial says "We say goodbye to Mr Pursehouse this term."

Mr Anthony C Norfolk

Alfie, Alf

Headmaster, English,   Current Affairs

1960-77

Anecdote – Alfie Norfolk:

"Mr Norfolk replaced Mr Pursehouse as headmaster in, I think, about 1960 when we were in the First Form. He was just Mr A Norfolk, no one knew his Christian name (we were allowed to say that in those days), so someone said it was probably Alfie and it just stuck." Wxxxs ...you're about as much use as a carburretor on a tea urn, now get out of my sight' ... ""Mrs Ives and Alfie gave me a telling off for disgracing the uniform - my crime eating chips in the street in uniform!!! Ah the good old days.""Best comment I had was from Alfie Norfolk, my brother and I had both left school a while and were walking through Diss one day when Alfie passed us saying "You boys, why aren't you at school?" Ian managed to blurt out that he'd left two years ago !"

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

'Unerring tube" — Amexander Pope.

         
Mr A C Norfolk was with the 'Chindits" in the army during WWII.
Click an image to enlarge and get more information.

Miss Rosmary Palmer

Rosie

Head, d/Head (girls)

-1975-

Anecdote – Rosie Palmer:

"I got into Miss Palmers' bad books too. Those days when you could pay 50p and wear what you wanted (home clothes) to school for the day. My god what was I thinking? Turned up looking like a Marc Bolan groupie reject and she sent me home! I dont blame her looking back."

Mrs Hilda Patterson

Hilda, Ma Hoots, Hatpin

"Hoots", Hilda and Hoots were both Scots, hence their nicknames.

d/Head, Chemistry

-1948-68

Anecdote – Hilda Patterson:

"The first lesson on the first day at DGS was chemistry with Hilda, she kept talking about 'suit' and I really did not understand till much later when I realised that she was talking about was soot (Norfick v Scottish y'ken).  Never did get the hang of chemical formulae either."

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mr Reg G Patterson:

1949 and 1961

Hoots, Reggie

"Hoots", Hilda and Hoots were both Scots, hence their nicknames.

Chemistry also ATC,
Diss 1070 squadron

Miss Catherine Downing/Mrs Ives

French (d/Head (girls 1939))

-1939-

Anecdote – Mrs Ives:

"If she was nasty, she was nasty to everyone, she did not pick and choose.  I am told she was sympathetic towards me due to my poor eyesight, can't say I noticed it myself."

"Ahh! Mrs Ives luckily she retired when I was in the 2nd year !!!"

"Mrs Ives and Alfie gave me a telling off for disgracing the uniform - my crime was eating chips in the street in uniform!!!  Ah the good old days."

"Prestidigitateur — 'Press - tee - dee - zhee - ta - ter', conjurer."

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mr Geoffrey Daniels
 RIP  8th Nov 2015

Dewberry (dubrie), Harpic

Dubrie, Dubry or Dewberry (Norfolk/Suffolk accent thing).
I've been informed that a dewberry is a drop on the end of your nose.

Harpic, 'Clean round the bend', after a well advertised toilet cleaner of the era, coined by Eric Nocoli.

Divinity, History, helped with games

1958-1974?

Anecdote – Mr Daniels:

"Eye GS had just merged with Diss GS and Dewberry was reading the register on the first day for his class (5th formers) - '... Nicoli, Pratt' - at which point someone is reputed to have called out 'Dewberry, Cnut' or some such other angle-saxon King."

2nd July 2012 - Mr Daniels still alive at 89. Living in Bexhill on Sea. Ordained deacon in C of E 1973 and then priest 1974. Moved to teach in Sussex in 1974. Daughter Elizabeth, was at DGS."

"8th November 2015 - Elizabeth Daniels reported that her father Geoffrey Daniels died yesterday, 8th Nov 2015, in Sussex,  he was 92.  A priest for 40 years  RIP  "

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mr Reginald Alfred Wright
   RIP Oct 2019
    Obit

Reg or Reggie

He hated being referred to as Reggie?

PE, Art, Geography

1954-1983

Anecdote – Reggie Wright:

"I knew he was old when he taught us in the late 1970's but maybe there is something in exercise being good for you!  Well done, Reggie!"

"A good man who showed me (female) how to run with spikes!"

"He wasn't my favourite teacher by any means, I don't think it was him, I just didn't like sports, especially ball-games and as for boxing ... "

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mr James Govier

Art

1965-1972

Anecdote – James Govier  RIP  (b: Aug 1910 d: Dec 1974):

"See Eye Grammar Qld Students' Assoc site.

"I (female) got locked in the art room cupboard with him once and poor chap was terrified.
Mind you in my innocence I didn‘t see how it would look to others.“

Mr Andrew Stratfold

Inverted Fred on the beach at Dinard, Normandie, France, click to enlarge. School trip 1966(?). The teacher to the right is Miss Pacoe.
(Photo - Pauline Rush 63-70)

Jock, Fred

French

1965-

Anecdote – Fred Stratfold:

"I used to sit at the back left of the class in French and Mr S Often lobbed the board rubber
at me, one time I skillfully dodged it and it broke the side window... I got the blame for
that too.... Alfie Norfolk said I shouldn't have moved."

"Fred Stratfold what a legend, Opened my mouth to say something in French just as he was
throwing a piece of chalk at IanH which I promptly swallowed! Don't know who was more
shocked him, me or Ian!"

"I got into Mr Stratfolds bad books one year... whilst travelling up to Yorkshire to see my
dad I left my suitcase at Norwich station around 1976. Caused a massive bomb scare (IRA was
very active at that time) and closed the station for hours. Stratfold's son was coming back
from Uni and was delayed by HOURS. He knew it was me who caused it, oh how the blackboard
rubber flew after that! LOL! I'm pretty nimble, SO he never got me with it hahaha. Tears
later I saw him at the NEC, he was selling candles, I was buying... that was interesting!"

" - he also made us sing the Spelling of 'vieille‘."
# "Yeah v - i - e - i - double 1 - eeeeee“

Here's Andrew "Fred"
telling his story:

Mr Richard Parker

 RIP 

RAB, Hairy, Fiddle, The Crab

Biology

Anecdote – Mr Richard Parker:

“...and I'm no longer cowering behind a bunsen burner on a stool to kill anyones buttocks...
hOping that he doesn't pick me to answer a question!"

"Nice, tidy, single file queue."

“This bloke made me a biologist, Ms McGuire made me love it."

"Mr Parker had a camper van? Cool dude! He was a real character - I liked that."

"Yes it [the camPer van] was green. Claude [a skeleton] got to go camping in South Devon one
year and got confiscated as he was freaking out the kids on the campsite." “yeah sitting
upright in the passenger seat, arm propped on the window sill one time too....."

"... called everyone "Specimen" and always carried a bit of fern poking out his breast
pocket. I used to volunteer as a lab helper in lunchbreak and remember discovering a box
labelled "broken elastic bands" in the lab cupboard."

"He was actually a good teacher and knew his subject inside out. Every lesson included
practical experiments too! That lab of his was a real treasure trove!"

Mr Robert Lewis

Bob

Geography, games help

Anecdote – Bob Lewis:

"Hanging valley's - Dee-ferential dee—nudation, differential denudation."

"Mr Lewis was a fantastic teacher. He made it all seem so eeeesy!“

" 'Is your loaf underdone?‘ Mr Lewis's witty pun when I gave a wrong answer in geography
class."

" ...best geography quotation of all time — 'Warm wet winters with wet west winds‘ still
comes in handy when discussing the mediterranean weather.“

Miss Ann Fewkes

History

-1971?

Anecdote – Ann Fewkes:

"One of the best - she made history interesting. She was also my Brown Owl, Guide Captain,
Sunday School Teacher and had a genuine interest in young people. Miss Fewkes certainly
influenced my early life."

"I actually used to get ‘A‘s for history with Miss Fewkes. Something virtually unheard of
for one of the class thickos so she must have been a good teacher."

Miss E Smith

Boodikka (NOT Boudicea), Granny, Old ma Smith

'Boudica" or Boudicca, she drummed into us that it was 'Bo-dikka' not 'Boo-da-see-a'.

English, History

1960s

Anecdote – Miss E Smith:

"I had worked hard on my first-ever English essay. As Miss Smith was handing back our corrected execise books, she stoppped by my desk and enquired, not unkindly: 'Pauline, are you sure you wrote this yourself?' Despite this unpromisiong start to my career, I went on to study languages, train as a journalist, and to spend several decades earning a living from writing in some shape or form."

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mrs Wolpin (Woplin ?)

Whoppers

History

?1971-

Miss Constance Watson

Connie

History, English lit, Geography

1958-

Anecdote – Connie Watson:

" ... some of us rather rudely wondered how much of it she was teaching from personal
experience."

“Connie Watson ... bonkers !!“

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N” l, 1962:

Miss Margaret Pascoe

Maggie

The teacher to the right is Miss Pacoe, to the left, inverted, is Mr Stratfold on the beach at Dinard, Normandie, France, click to enlarge. School trip 1966(?).
(Photo - Pauline Rush 63-70)

PE, Games

1960s

Anecdote – Maggie Pascoe:

“... loathed me too - feeling was mutual. Still shudder at the memory of the showers and
being forced to go back through if we were too quick.“

Mr James Killick

Jimmy

Groundsman / Caretaker

1957-

Mr Colin Mills

 RIP 

Budgie

"Budgie", anyone ?, c'mon old Eye people.

maths

1965-

Anecdote – Colin Mills:

"Thought Mr Mills was a genuinely nice man, but he couldn't quite get me to understand algebra."

Mr Dave Dwerryhouse

Chemistry

Mrs Annette McGuire/Vaux

Biology, Maths

Mr Anthony (Tony) McGuire

Woodwork

Mr Challoner

Chirpy

Art

Anecdote – Mr Challoner:

"Art was the worst, couldn't draw for a toffee but soon discovered that anything with a massey ferguson tractor in it got a decent grade with Mr Challoner!"

Mr Hirons

Physics

-1975-

Anecdote – :

"think he gave up on me I never could get all that gravity stuff...“

"He was a really fun - he did have a cool Harley after all!“

Mr John Blagden

Bloggs

Maths, Physics, School Trips

1959-70s

Anecdote – John Blagden:

“... and Mrs B arranged a fabulous trip to Switzeland in the mid 1960s. Train to
Dover, then ferry, then train throught France to Switzerland then narrow
guage railway to ‘Disentis'. We then learned to ski and drink rum-punch.“
“ Skiing in the Dolomites on Monte Zoncolan with Mr 85 Mrs Blagdon and Mr
Stratfold. Circa 1979. It took an hour on cable cars, chairs and button lifts to
reach the peak and all day to ski back down! Had a fantastic time taking breaks
in all the huts on the way down for coffee and cake. The Grappa blew my head
off. Mr Blagdon‘s son was there too (can't remember his name but a nice guy) I
was stunned when he told me his Dad used to be a jet fighter pilot, flying
Vampires. Rather different from the guy I knew as a teacher, driving to school
in his Reliant 5 wheeler...“

“We had Mr Blagdon for maths and I appreciate he was a genius but he never
shared any information with me - maths just completely phased me."

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mrs Jill Blagden

Domestic Science, School Trips

1959-1963

Anecdote – Jill Blagden:

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mr Jones

French

Anecdote – Mr Jones:

“... if brains were dynamite boy, you wouldn‘t have a enough to blow your hat off.“

“Told us wonderful anecdotes about his years Spent in Canada. Superb teacher
given me a lifelong love of Maths.“ {we don‘thave too many of these anecdotes yet).

“He also told us about fitting chains to tyres so they could get traction in the
snow, not exceptional stories I know. But there was nothing better than
getting a teacher to go off tOpic in order to avoid doing any work!“

Mrs Goodwin

French

Miss Irving

Music

Madame Mayhew

French

1976 (?)

Mr Thompson

French, German, Music

1970s

Mr Norman Hart

Sooty

"Sooty", reasons ...
° 1 - he had quite dark skin,
° 2 - he went about like he had some old bloke's hand up his a**e."

Geography, Careers

Mr Peter W Knight

Physics, Maths

1960/70s

Anecdote – Peter Knight:

"An excellent teacner who inspired me sufficiently to read Physics at
University."

"I remember waiting to go into Pete Knights' physics class and
explaining his theory that atoms were 4 dimensional. I thought “This will be
too much for Pete“; I was right m he retreated into his cubby hole to drink
some meths after XXXX proposed his theory to the entire class."

"... Mr Knight, who always licked his chalky fingers and looked like he had
rabies."

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mrs Irene Howard

Domestic Science, Food Nutrition, Needlework

Mrs Dylis Wynn-Jones
 RIP 

Dylis

English

1959-78

Anecdote – Dylis Wynn-Jones:

"Miss Fewkes told me she had no idea of Mrs Wynn-Jones' christian name even though they were in the same school for around five years. All the female staff, even in the staff room, called each other Miss or Mrs whatever! Another world."

"And yes, I did get a good grade in English - to my complete surprise... my highest (O-level) grade, in fact.   She musta larnt me better than wot I thort!"

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mr Godfrey Batley

Caretaker, Woodwork

Mr Robert Aberdein

Oboe

"Oboe", he played the cello (classics) and clarinet (jazz) during woodwork lessons.

Woodwork, Technical Drawing, Art

-1948-70s

Anecdote – Robert Aberdein:

"Despite my poor eyesight (Nystagmus) Oboe taught me so much about technical drawing which I furthered into engineering drawing at Norwich City College (The Tech)."

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mrs Hunt

English

Mr Graham Ramm

Penguin, SFG

Technical Drawing

-1975-

Mr Hill

Larry Grayson

"Larry", his voice had a slight tremolo, after Larry Adler the harmonica player.

History

-1978-

???

Mr Dave Harris

English

Anecdote – Dave Harris:

" - a genius who loved to challenge us to ask him any word in the dictionary and he would (always) provide the meaning?"

Mr Roger Deakin UEA Archive

 RIP  Obit:

Freaky, Coostics

"Coostics", before he arrived music at DGS was piano and violin, he brought it the acoustic guitar.

English, Music

1974-78

Anecdote – Roger Deakin:

"Was the most inspirational teacher; I had him for English A level and he changed my life."

"Great teacher, great choice of books in lit.  Really opened our heads up by debate.  Don't think I would have gone on to study law if it wasn't for his input in language for me.  Bless him."

Mrs Holton

Sweaty Betty

Music

-1970s-

Anecdote – Mrs Holton:

" ... only thing I remember about Mrs Holton was a small dark haired, monotone voiced lady barely visible at the front of the class ... "

Mr J C Jones

Casey

Maths, Physics, Geography

-1970s-

Mrs Irene Barker

English

Anecdote – Irene Barker:

"Mrs Barker's English lessons were something else... she actually treated us like adults, although you wouldn't wanna mess with her! Scary lady! I do recall her teaching us more about Troilus & Cressida in 3 lessons than others had taught us in a whole year for A levels."

"Mrs Barker really let me down. She told us we could write a story about 'anything we liked', so I did a Stephen King-esque piece.  Mrs B held it up to the class as a 'piece of filth', which to be honest I took as a compliment.  She then took it to Rosie Palmer and they called my parents in.  I expected much more of her :-( "

Mr Burrell

English

Are these two the same ... ?

Mr Ken J Barrell
(pron Burrrelle)

Harry

Divinity (RE), Histiry, English

1971-2004

Anecdote – Ken Barrell:

"He taught General Studies in 6th Form. I couldn't stand his voice (it was too soft and used to make me sleepy!), so I opted out of General Studies and took O Level Art instead!"

"He apparently bored a class rigid by getting a guitar out and singing various songs! I must admit I liked him, a good teacher."

Mrs Norfolk

She taught German in the 'Turret Room'.

German

1968-69

Miss Jane Thorpe

Domestic Science

1963-

Anecdote – Jane Thorpe:

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Miss Irving

French

Miss Jill Lambert

PE (Hockey), Divinity

Miss Susan Fuller

English

-1977-

Anecdote – Miss Fuller:

"She married Mr Mathieson."

Mr MacPherson

English ?

Mrs Grover

Geography

Mrs Christine Clark(e)

PE

1960s-70s

Mrs Westover

Latin

Mr Batchelor

Woodwork

Mr J C Barnes

Barny

French and Latin

1959-

Anecdote – J Barnes:

"Mr Barnes married Miss Watkins."

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Miss Sheene

-1931-

Miss Watkins/Mrs Barnes

PE, girls

1962-

Anecdote – Miss Watkins:

"Miss Watkins married Mr Barnes and we were constantly getting her name wrong."

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962

Mr David MacMullen

Mac

English Lit, Latin, New Testament Greek, Music, Maths

1921-48

Miss Hilda Crammond

History

1934-

Miss Sybilla Gratiana Thicknesse

Gracie, Camel

"Camel", her brand of cigarette.

History, Divinity

1951-58

Mr Clifton Day

Clifton bears resonsibility for the School Song.

Music

-1920s-

Miss Doreen Wallace / Mrs Rash

English

1919-22

Anecdote – Doreen Wallace:

"Doreen Wallace — Norfolk Women in History."

Miss Warburton

Domestic Science

-1920s-

Miss Dixon

Matron for boarders at Uplands, Walcott Rd, Diss.

-1920s-

Miss Mabel Cole

French

1946-53

Mr Benjamin Sasada
 RIP  (d: Jan 2017)

Taught at 'Uplands', 6th form college. (?)

1970s
?

Mrs F E Sharp

French

-1955

Mr Norman Charlton-Burdon

English, Music

1954-

Anecdote – Norman Charlton-Burdon:

Organist at Wymondham Abbey, 1955-56.

Mr E D Lusted

Pip

English,  Latin

1952-

Miss M E Davis

Biddy

English

1954-58

Miss Johnson

Domestic Science

-1957

Mr C A Cornwell

Charlie

Maths, Choir

1947-60

Mr Michael Browne

Mickey, Larry

Nigel Barber tells me it was after Larry The Lanb's voice.

Maths, Physics

1955-61

Mr H I Jones

Geography

1959-

Anecdote – H Jones:

From The Dyssean Vol 8, N° 1, 1962:

Mr Hills

History

-1977-

Miss Curnock / Ellis

RE, Geography

-1977-

Anecdote – Miss Curnock:

"Lovely Miss Curnock, I always remember her cloggs, she was a big fashion hit next to Mr Stratfold's flowing black gown!"

"She was one of the first people I saw to have the trendy perm that ABBA were sporting at the time."

Ms Button

Librarian

1978

Mrs Jean Ray

 RIP  (Jan 2016) Obit:

School Secretary and Tuckshop

1960/70s

Anecdote – Jean Ray:

"Jean Ray was the first Mayor of Diss."

"Mrs Ray, who was elected to the former Diss Urban District Council in 1969, was a town councillor from 1974-1999. She had twice served as chairman before the title of mayor was adopted in 1988-89, She was also secretary to three headmasters during 25 years at Diss Grammar School."

Mr Ian Mathieson

Willie Baxter

(as he resembled the character from the Scott's Porridge Oats TV ads).

English Lang & Lit

-1975-

Anecdote – Mr Mathieson:

"He married Miss Susan Fuller."

"When Mr Mathieson first arrived at the school we had him for English Lang and Lit.  His opening words were 'We're not going to waste two years on English Language. I'll start teaching it two weeks before the O level exams, and I guarantee you'll all pass". He did and we all did, and it gave us extra time in Eng Lit, which again helped us all. Top teaching!"

Mr John 'F C' Smith

Caretaker

-1979-

Stanley Carlton

Bus driver - Simonds

-1960s-

Anecdote – Stanley Carlton:

Diss to Long Stratton (and later Fritton and Hardwick).

Dennis Simonds

Bus driver - Simonds

Jock

Bus driver - Simonds

Ted

Bus driver - Chenery

John

Bus driver - Haywards of Eye

John Farrow

Bus driver - Chenery

Herman

Bus driver

Bob Ruddock

Bus driver

Old Bob

Bus driver

Mr Gooch

Bus driver (Bressingham bus)

Brian 'Barney' Womack

Bus driver - Turner & Butchers

Sid Sharp

Caretaker

-1970s-

Mr Kirk

French

-1970s-

Miss Graves

PE

-1939-

Miss Nunn/Moore

Biology, Domestic Science

-1939-

Anecdote – Miss Nunn:

"I liked Miss Nunn, I sat in front of our fifth form lessons for biology.
She taught sitting on top of the front desk ... "

Mr Eric Moore

Maths

-1939-WWII-47

Mr George Edwards

Wiggy

Groundsman

1919-57

Anecdote – :

Wiggy was a well liked character according to the Old Dyssean Magazine.

See 'The Dyssean' 1957, Vol 3, N° 1, pg 16 on his retirment.

Miss Constance Folkard

History, Art

1946-54

Mrs Hare

Cookery

1957

Miss Taylor

1040s

Miss E Davies

History, Art

1954-

Mrs Sheare

French

-1930s-

Miss Rosemary Morton
  RIP  (2000)

Music

-1962-

Dolly Porter

Cook

-1950s-60s-

Miss Wright

Franch

-1951-

Mr Wrathnell

-1951-

Mr Brown

1951

Mrs Leigh

Leapy

Mr Cuthbert P Cook

English

1949-52

Miss Sweeney

French

1975

Andrew Hines

Head Groundsman

-1975-

Miss Uttley

French

-1976-

Miss Winifred Martin

French, German

1970-

Fraulein Schit

German assistant

-1969-

Mr K Jones

Chemistry

1968-

Mrs Lockwood

Domestic Science

-1968

Mrs Angell

Domestic Science

1968-

Mr L R Bee (part time)

Maths, Physics

1963-

Mlle Nourisson

French Assistant

1963

Mlle Vuillermet

French Assistant

-1958

Mr Ireland

Physics

-1954

Mrs Williams

Part time, games

-1959-

Miss Pilgrim

Games

-1959

Brian ?

Groundsman

-1970-

Anecdote – :

Brian, the groundsman, who was at DGS during the 1970s. One day, somebody spray-painted an expletive onto an external wall, so he was asked to remove it.   Brian went to the Woodwork Room to borrow some sanding blocks, and then he set to work.   He carefully removed the paint by going over each of the four letters one at a time, thereby permanently etching the said word into the brickwork!

                                                     
"Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini"