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With 2006 marking the 20th Anniversary of
the sad passing of
John Christopher Lowe, the school's third
headmaster, we invited Alumni to compare reactions to the many teachers who
had influenced them positively during their time at John Ruskin school. We
asked them to send us their Top Ten List of Favourite JRGS Teachers.
Mike Marsh (JRGS 1949-55)
 adds:
Today
I think I would struggle to name and comment on 10 of the staff;
names, yes, but comments, no, not at this distance in time.For me, the most memorable teacher of all was Mr. Chinnock (pictured left) - I don't even know his first name unless I look it up - who taught us woodwork, which I was later to follow by doing the same. I remember him as a genial, gentle man and, yes, a gentleman. He was very quiet, patient and a skilled craftsman imparting to us a feel and love for tools and timber which in my case definitely rubbed off. I even used one of his pet phrases in my own classes - "Come round my bench." And I thought of him every time I said it! Mr. Alexander was another memorable and favourite teacher; one of the few to succeed with me. Firm, dedicated and able to impart a love of mathematics and number. I  had several different English teachers, but I think that Mr.
Griffiths had the most impact on me to impart a love of the
language. Quietly spoken and another dedicated teacher.Similarly. Mr. Fisher (pictured left) tried very hard to teach me French but it was to be another 40 years or so before I was able to pick up from where he left off! How I wish I had worked harder with him in his classes, it might have been easier for me today. He was a good teacher though for all that. I did have Mr. Peacock for geography all through the school although Mr. Brooks, I believe, took me in the earlier years. Although I enjoyed geography and recognised Mr. Peacock as a good teacher of that subject, I was not able to partake in his expeditions which I feel I missed out on. I can remember being the monitor taking weather readings at Shirley during weekends and holidays; the weather station was on the flat roof outside the geography room Terry Weight (JRGS 1959-65) adds: 1. Alan Murray won first place easily for his teaching and enthusiasm for history; I still love reading history books and still recall much of what he taught me or I read because of him. He was a good form master too. 2. Anthony Davey saved my school life in 1963. I was in the 3M (form master: Mr. Murray) that suddenly became the fast-track class. Others will remember the chaos that resulted from not having done this from the start. I was not placed in the group to do physics GCSE early, which would have reduced my choices and progress for A-Level. I subsequently got an A grade in physics A-Level. Mr. Davey promoted the case for a few of us to do the O-Level early and off his own back gave us extra lessons after school to catch up the curriculum. What an example! 3. Anthony Charles Field taught English with energy and fun. I was so disappointed when he left (in about 1962 is my memory, not as per the website) - how much better my English results were with him and would have been had he been there for the next few years. Surely every one remembers "Fred" and the fun we had with jokes about him and with him. 4. Ronald Pearce - what an energy, what a motivator (even if he was not lovable at the time) and what a great Maths teacher!!
5. Neville Graham deserves a strong
positive mention. He spent many hours at week-ends and evening enabling
us to play football
6. George Pearman was a great Chemistry teacher. I enjoyed his classes so much I nearly did A-Level Chemistry even though four A-Levels would probably have been too many for me, and my chemistry was probably not good enough. Did he ever swallow that piece of chalk? Don't know but he could take a joke! 7. Kenneth Cripps (pictured left) put my Maths on a strong basis for university that enabled me to be successful there and since. 8-10. There are certainly others who deserve a mention but these seven still have strong positive and special memories. I would like to stop there.
Anne Smith (Senior Mistress, Deputy
Head and Principal, 1970-99) adds: 1. Alan Murray - I don't know anyone, teacher or pupil, who did not admire and respect him, not only as a teacher but for inaugurating the 15 Society.
2. M 3. Vincent Gee - Great teacher of the appreciation of art, not just of art. Cultured but sufficiently acerbic with it. 4. Walter McElroy (pictured right) - 110% committed; incredibly talented and cultured as - perhaps - only intellectual Americans are. Hid his lights under a bushel if doing so meant that colleagues would do chores for him. (We knew it but did them all the same!)
6. Dennis Green - Dedicated his teaching life to JR. Prejudiced, intolerant and cared for the pupils and that they only had one chance. 7. Brian Cook - Wild-haired professor - but committed to giving pupils the experience he had enjoyed of his subject. 8. Tony Davey - I knew him later as a friend not as a teacher - but after he had retired from full-time teaching he was employed for years part-time at Trinity, who knew a good thing when they saw one.
9. Kenneth Maggs - Never repined at
changing times - for example, the death of classics - but adapted
10. John Lowe (pictured left) - Appeared overbearing at times but actually shy and unconfident. Opposed to girls and comprehensive education, he was actually very kind and caring towards less able pupils, and the lower ability girls loved him. That's 10! I hope someone adds Charles Smith to their list. He was very respected in Schools' County Cricket circles, as I discovered as the mother of an England under-16 cricketer. All photographs ©Panora Ltd, London EC1. Please send any messages and memorabilia to webmaster. ©2025 JRGS Alumni Society. All Rights Reserved. Last revised: 03.01.25 |
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and other sports. He was a good PE teacher whose
classes I was always happy to attend.