"I was there with you Chris Tubby Fossdene Primary (NOT to be confused with Fossd"

A review of Fossdene Primary School by Jeff written on Sunday 23rd of March 2025

Chris, You were in my class and I have a picture of you in a group. Some of our contemporaries were; Roman Rubyz ("I'm from Ukraine"), Alan Grinstead, Nigel Copps, Geoffrey Sanders, Tim Mallen, David Hodgson, John Barber, Richard Waple, Paul Rogers, David Howell, Alan Wall, Robert Pitcher, Freddie Lowery, A kid known as "Ginger", Richard (?) Park, John (?) Lee. I do not recall the names of the girls excepting June Gibbs ( prettiest girl on the planet), Maxine Grundy (most thoughtful and wonderfully articulate) and two girls whom were inseparable and laughed a lot Janet and Christine (I think). Boys didn't talk to girls and Vice Versa in that era.

I did pass my 11 plus and I think myself and my older brother were the only ones ever to interview and get to Shooters Hill Grammar School for boys from Fosso. Off to University, Engineering Degree then became a US Citizen in early 80's. I was never happy at any school. I think the most exciting thing at Fosso was when they changed the chalk blackboards to chalk green boards, For writing we had an ink well at top right of desks and metal nib pens (don't push too hard or the nibs crossed) and very well over used blotting paper. Then in short order we had those lever pens that sucked up ink and then leaky biros/bics began to appear. I was not part of any group I stood alone mostly but my friend was John Brockley, intelligent and an independent thinker but he luckily had the ability to join groups.

I share something with you, that being, I also got the cane from Headmaster Kemp.

In 1957 Mr. Kemp brought us all in to the second floor hall, we all sat cross legged on the parkay floor, and told us in quiet tones about the dreaded USSR launching sputnik.none of us comprehended what he was worried about it ( hey.we were 7 years old!). I will share a story about Mr Grebby, yes "Grubby Grebby" as he looked like the dustman. He would write questions across all three green chalk boards and he'd vanish for the rest of the day, At the end of our final year he marked half the entire class as "position in class; 8th". I was upset ( hey I was 10) at the time as it seemed lazy and insulting BUT much later thinking on it, here he was commuting by train from Gravesend everyday to Charlton, facing 43 working class kids, his only tools chalk and three boards and it was always dark grey skies full of smoke. Everything was black and white, no colors in anything, no grass and no trees unless you went to a park. The houses changed from burning coal to burning coalite the deep smogs cleared away and whom knew there are blue skies sometimes but not when we were at Fosso. In fact, despite the distance from the Thames we could sometimes smell the river! I'd never have passed 11 plus if my mother hadn't taught me at home but I do understand the pressure on the teachers.

To set a scene, at bottom of Victoria Way on the right became a block of flats, it was a bombsite when we were at school. The railway under Victoria way bridge had steam trains and black/grey smoke would billow across the road as a train passed under, then along came the third rail. I appreciate the school despite never enjoying it. One more story, a kid had a knife and scored a swastika in to the top of the desk, Mr Kemp was called, he was visibly VERY upset but contained it ( remember most of these guys had fought) and had the kid join the lines of the swastiska up and then it looked like a flag with a cross in it.he told the kid his parents must come in and fill it with plastic wood ( I had never heard of that) result was a flat polished surface with a flag on it. In case any reader doesn't remember the pressure of the 11 Plus exam (taken at age 10) which decided your entire future life " Secondary Modern" "Comprehensive" " Grammar School" try this one. we had 3 minutes and were 10 years old.in a scary exam. A farmer bought 3 Cows at a total cost 6 pounds 3 shillings and 6 pence. He then bought 2 sheep and 4 cows for a total cost of $10. Q. How much does a sheep cost? NOW don't forget 12 pennies in a shilling and 20 shillings in a pound. ( they spared us half pennies and farthings). So the pound is 240 pennies ( NOT 100) My answer one sheep cost 13 Shillings (S) and 8 pence (d). You cant use a calculator ( they didn't exist) and you have 3 minutes! Enjoy.plus check your answer. Just remember a teacher had to get the concepts to 43 kids.

I too went out of bounds. I recall sneaking up to third floor and seeing the exercise bars attached to walls, sneaking out by side gate and looking at the secondary school playground down the hill. Well Chris we both got through it.CHEERS from the US of A and as a PS I must say the Fossdene Primary of today in the websites seems cleaner, brighter, colorful, friendly and even welcoming KUDOS to the new teachers it has fully escaped the dark ages . :-).

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