St Paul's Boys School, Penzance
24th July 1952
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The first Report is dated 16th December 1949.
Reports were folded and sealed, to be taken home to the parents, unseen by myself. This allowed my father to take responsibility in my learning curve. Along with Tommy Caless, I was always the youngster, basically struggling to keep up with others who were at times nearly a year older in the same class. Not only that, for one reason or another others chatted to me, I helped where needed, and I was blamed then for being disruptive (a situation that followed me in later years in the office). When I joined 'the club', G W Curnow was headmaster, my class teacher was C Jones. 'Potentially a good boy, capable of good work, but laziness is handicapping him'. The point was that I was always trying hard to catch up, so at times, to be blunt, it was beyond me, so gave up on occasion. I learned that I had to fight harder, to study harder and to be rather brazen. That had its drawbacks. Right from this early age, the Competitive sporting spirit was not in me ... 'Will not exert himself'. Early years also noted 9 times absent (in 6 months), mostly due to being beaten up and bullied, I stayed away.
In the 27th July 1950 Report Mr Jones writes that he has no expectation of my being a potential Grammar school entrant. Report 20th December 1950, with Form master was T Williams and he writes 'A very slow worker. Has obtained a much better Exam result than his term work would suggest possible.'
The bottom of the sheet had a tear off strip which HAD to be returned to the school with a signature to state it had been received sealed and read by the parent or guardian.
20th December 1950; Form Master Bernard T Hitchins. Mr G W Curnow still headmaster. They place a great deal of importance on the position in the class, but, I figured we can't all be 1st, so what is the point? I was learning and creating. I was happy. Mr Hitchins was a great guy, real sense of humour. That was the first time fun was made of
my surname, 'Forward be our Watchword, steps and voices joined'. The problem was for me, that even then I knew it did not mean 'towards the front'.
Never mind, the end result was that I went on and met my mentor and guide, T Craske Rising.
