In the Science block, on the left, we had Physics, Biology and Chemistry
classes. On the right of this picture is the Gymnasium where the dreaded
Mr Magdaleno held court, ruling with a rod of iron or rather quite a hard and
persuasive plimsole, which I had the misfortune of experiencing many times
across my nether regions!

“Maggie would order us up the horizontal wall bars, getting us to hang
from the top bar. Then he would tell us to turn round with our backs to the
bars, still holding on, and let go with our feet! For several minutes, until he
gave the word, we were effectively ‘crucified’ and finding it hard to breath!

Mr Tyler was the Chemistry Master at the time I was at the Paston School,
we all called him ‘Watt’ Tyler! I tried his best to make the subject interesting
but with all the endless chemical symbols we had to memorize, the less said
the better! However, some of the experiments made up for it...

“In Chemistry we conducted experiments making enough hydrogen gas in
a beehive jar so that, upon ignition, it would produce water. It worked all
right, but, due to our over-enthusiasm, the jar exploded into a hundred
fragments! Often when making up certain noxious concoctions the room
would be cleared within seconds!”

Then there was Physics with Bob Bennett, who was also an Officer in the
Air Force section of the Paston CCF. To me, Physics seemed to be all
theory and no action, although making static electricity made me jump!

“Mr Bennett tried to keep us interested; on one occasion he constructed a
television receiver out of some war-surplus equipment including a cathode
ray tube from a radar set. It should have received’ but didn’t, all we saw
was a round screen full of ‘snow’ – much the same as our telly at home at
that time!”

As for Biology – forget it – it certainly was not on my list of favourite
subjects, nor Mr Mattocks who always seemed to pick on me because of my
Norfolk dialect!

“‘That boy; yes, you sir,’ shouted John Mattocks singling me out with a
well-aimed piece of chalk, ‘What’s your name?’ Quite politely I replied that
it was ‘Gray’. ‘Graayee? Graayee?’ he mocked, whilst the rest of Form IB
fell about with laughter. No, not my favourite subject!”

The Gymnasium was also used for the Leavers’ Service at the end of
summer term; we would sing hymns and psalms, say prayers, listen to the
Headmaster give a speech on ‘the importance of grammar education and
society’ and finish with the closing hymn ‘Lord, dismiss us with Thy
blessing’. Then we could go home and enjoy the summer holiday!

“With one accord, the boys assembled,
Burst through the doors in disarray,
Shouting, laughing, clamouring for the summer,
Some to return another day.
But for us leavers, our tears unfurled,
Alone – in an unfamiliar world.”

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