List of Pupils

History & Staff

Welcome to the Memories of Tamar 

1970 - 1979

Please note: Based on Date of Leaving Tamar

Shaun Mallett

I just happened across the site when I did a Google search and Tamar popped up.  It was great to see some of the reminiscences of the old Tamaritans.  

The ones I can identify with the most are those of Kevin Hiscocks, I think we were in the same class, Tavy House with Mr Cox as our form teacher (I can’t remember if he followed us up through the years).  I also went into the RAF but I can’t recall seeing Kev on my travels though, despite getting around a fair bit.  

Usually, I could be seen running around with Kevin Tucker and most people knew me as Shamus.  Kev and I were pretty inseparable as I recall, certainly in the 2-5^th years anyway, we were kindred spirits after both being given a particularly brutal caning by the Geography teacher for failing to do homework (I can’t remember his name,  but the schoolmaster in Pink Floyds ‘The Wall’ was a pretty good likeness).  It drew blood and Kev’s dad was none too pleased; he paid a visit to the school as I remember.  Recollections of my schooldays are getting a bit grey now but here are some of the things that I can recall… in no particular order  

Teachers:  Most of the ones I remember have been mentioned previously but I’m a little surprised no one has mentioned Miss Grace the English teacher, given she was quite an attractive lady amongst hoards of raging hormonal boys, I thought she would be first on the list.  Kev and I got in deep water with her after inscribing some saucy comments about her on the back of our English exercise books, luckily it was done in Bazooka Joe secret code which I don’t think she managed to crack (just as well for us she didn’t eat chewing gum), I think she had a pretty good idea what was written there though.   

I think we had Dave Hasdell after Miss Grace left.  Nice to see Dave has contributed, he may even remember Kev and I, we were a little disruptive in his class. We always sat at the back second row from the left as he would look at us.  Most of the teachers Dave mentioned I remember.  

Classmates:  As well as those mentioned by Kevin Hiscocks I recall Dave? Adams , Dicky Bird, Charlie? Blackmore, Martin Monk (a distant cousin), Brian Legasic, Brian Peacock, Kev Tucker (of course), Charlie Fletcher, Mike Rowe and Graham Couch.  

Other Pupils:  I’m not sure if these were in my class or in either the Rugby or Football teams for my year, I played in both, and the Rugby 7’s.  Vernon Penphrase, Alan Clarke, Kim Marshall (6^th form) and Spike Parsonage (who is in the RAF).  

The only others I remember are Vince Ware and ‘Ev’ Evans who were 2 years above us (I think) and used to shout at me a lot when we played football on the top playground.  

Plus of course Steve Willis the amazing 1 legged high jumper   Events:   Quite often winning the X Country on sports afternoons (probably because I was the only one that didn’t stop off for a quick fag).   Playing in the Devon 7’s rugby (first time I’d been ‘up North’ – errr Totnes I think it was). Getting knocked unconscious while playing rugby against a touring Welsh school (Merthyr Tdifyl or Meda Vale or some 2 barreled name). Sneaking off to Devonport Park each dinner time to go snogging with my girlfriend from Stoke Damerel High School for Girls.  

Getting caught in the ruins opposite the front gate and running into the pitch black the cellar to escape (dead scary).  Ron Dewdneys mince pies from the van at the gate. Discovering the drinks machine would give you 5 different shots of flavour if you turned the knob while the drink was being dispensed.   Being a ‘Server’ in the teachers dinner hut and getting the pick of the food left over (the girlfriend had ditched me and I had to do SOMETHING with my dinner time).  Isn’t it funny what pops into your head when you think about it.  

I’ll see if my dad still has the box of goodies I kept from school in the loft, it includes all my certificates, medals (for rugby and football) and school photos.  If the photos are intact I’ll try to scan a few.   Keep up the good work, it was great reading what my fellow Tamaritans remember, especially as I seem less able to remember those days myself, must be all the scrumpy.  

Regards, Shaun Mallett (Tavy House) 1969-1974 Aka Shamus

Vince Ware 1965 - 1971 

It’s been 30+ years since I saw that colonnade. It stopped me in my tracks. Memories came flooding back with just that picture.  

I would like to know what happened to some of the people that kept me “on the right track” such as Pat Ribbins, Bob Ponsford, & Pop Rendall. If you are in touch with Pat & Bob, let them know I played my last game of basketball on Saturday May 18^th 2002 at Downside Abbey, against a load of American & Chinese students on an astro turf court. I realised, after that game, that at the age of 48 I should pack it in. It took me a week to get over the knocks, and even longer the carpet burns. I still get the occasional call from my old club to turn out, but my wife reminds me, “that I am not at school anymore”  

It’s nearly 00:30 , and I have to catch a plane to Singapore/Australia etc. tomorrow. I don’t know if this “friends united” thing works, but if it does, give my regards to the “guys from ’65 to ’71. I am back in the UK from June 9^th but can be contacted on this email address whenever.  

Regards Vince

Keith Rowland 1969 - 1974

I was at Tamar from 1969-1974 and although I did not know you I'm sure we passed each other in the corridors. The website is great and I remember the teachers very
well. I am still in Plymouth and have worked for the BBC for the last 21 years as a cameraman. I work on the regional news (Spotlight), the political programme on Sundays but mainly on documentaries (Close Up) and yes my name does come up on the end credits. Again, many thanks for contacting me and I will continue to view your website when I can. Best Wishes 

Kevin Hiscocks - attended Tamar from 69-74 (Tavy house)

 I joined the RAF just after leaving school and am still in nearly 27 years later (only 12 more to go), now stationed at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire.  
Married with 2 children; a boy (4yrs) and a girl (2yrs) and living in Peterborough.  

Got into the Tamar Web site via the “friendsreunited” site  and was pleasantly surprised to have so many memories come flooding back from my time at Tamar.   Although I don’t remember you, I’m sure our paths must have crossed before.  I would have been a year behind you and there wasn’t much mixing between the years as I remember, but there was a chap called Price in my class who had a brother in your year.  

Pupils from my year that I remember were: Geof Symms,  Martyn Symmonds, Brian Peacock, Steve Harris, Graham Couch, Tony Davis, Johnathan Blackmore, Ian McCann, John Hewitt, Johnathan Jewitt.

I can’t say I enjoyed school very much and as much as I try, I can’t remember my last day.  But thinking back I do have some fond memories and in a way it’s sad to think that the school is closed now.

I will never forget my first day at Tamar, it was a real culture shock coming from a fairly laid back primary school.  Messrs Warren and Trenary pacing up and down in the assembly hall fixing all the new boys with their stares.  The first time I’d seen real teachers wearing black gowns, scared us to death.
Then Dr Rowe making a silent dramatic entrance that became a bit of a trademark of his.  
 
The first Gym lesson, Mr. Ponsford lining us all up and checking that we had our names marked on the outside leg of our shorts and that we weren't wearing anything under them as previously instructed in the changing rooms.  One boy was made to take his shorts down and remove his undies in front of the whole
class for breaking that rule. I wonder if they’d get away with that today?

Tamar for me wasn't such a natural choice as we lived at Southway and it would have made more sense for me to go to Southway Comp.  However, as a “Borderline” 11+ failure, Tamar was sold to me as a “Selective” secondary school and at the time I must have considered myself a cut above my siblings
and cousins who all went to Southway.  A two bus journey that took almost an hour with the waiting time for the special at Peveril.  The race up the winding school drive to beat the crush to get on the buses outside the school gate at 4 o’clock.  If the buses were late it was chaos, a mass of humanity all trying to squeeze on the bus at the same time as it was reversing back.  One lad went under the bus wheel one day and crushed his leg.

I remember being in the Physics Lab when they wheeled in the school telly for us all to watch the first moon landing.  Another time, we watched the eclipse from the windows and Mr. Keen was saying that “the next time you’ll see this will be1999”.  He might just as well have said 3099 it seemed such a long time away!

A Teacher I remember that I don’t think has appeared in anyone else’s recollections on your site was “Dad” Prior, he had the classroom opposite the woodwork room.  He always wore a tweed suit with the trousers held up by a tie, never a belt.  I don’t remember what subject he taught, but I do remember taking an Airfix model car and building it in his class.

Like others on your site I was sorry to hear that Mr. Trenary died.  Like Pop Rendell he was really strict but commanded great respect. Nobody messed around in their classes! Mr. Trenary was perhaps the most dedicated teacher I ever knew, he helped me and a few others in my year through Math's O level.  
After a disastrous mock result he agonized about withdrawing me from the O level set, but didn’t, in fact he ended up giving me extra tuition to enter me for both CSE and O level.  He gave up a lot of his spare time and I remember spending some Saturday mornings at his house studying for those exams. His wife used to bring tea and cake for us.  His efforts paid off as I got the O level and grade 1 CSE and I’ll always be grateful to him for that.  
Ironically, the only time I got the cane at school was from Mr.Trenary – for forgetting my Math's homework in the 3rd year, but I’ve never held that against him.

I was in the 3rd year when the girls came in.  I’d forgotten about losing half the Gym to female changing rooms until reading Jos’s letter.  I think we lost the upstairs woodwork room as well to a cookery classroom or something else girly!

I’ll sign off for now but promise to try to locate some old school photos, my Mums on the case already.

Great site, thanks for the memories, Kevin

Roger Burston 1966 - 1971 

I attended the school from 1966 to 1971. Some classmates I remember were Ray Brenton, Michael Osgood, Dennis Simmons, Nick Head, Paul Collins, Tony Foster and Tony Willis (who is now a teacher in the South of England - recently featured in the Sunday Times magazine). My brother, David was at the school four years ahead of me.

While there were some good teachers (Mrs Ponsford, Mr. Henderson and Mr.Trenary in particular) two infamous individuals stand out in my memories - Daddy Prior (with the tie for a belt) who we were never sure whether was talking to himself or to the pupils - Mr. Westmore - who went through hell at the school with the constant taunts of the pupils. I remember him chasing pupils around the grounds of the school. We never learnt anything in his lessons. I actually did feel sorry for him at the time but he had no way of controlling the kids.

I left Plymouth many years ago and have spent most of my career in London. This year I moved with my family (Turkish wife and two children) to Manila in the Philippines working for an international financial institution.

Roger A. Burston

Adrian Boyer (1967-1974)

I remember my first day at Tamar. It was cloudy and rainy outside and inside it was equally gloomy. I thought I had been sent to prison!! Well I guess it was a hospital in earlier years. But I quickly made friends and settled in. I used to walk all the way from Devil's Point in Stonehouse as there was no bus and used to approach up the lane at the back of the school. Some kids used to hide in the back lane and smoke cigarettes.

The scene at the school gate was always hectic. Sometimes it was the melee for the bus ride home. Sometimes it was the rush to reach the Ivor Dewdney's van that delivered hot pasties and pies lunchtimes. There was also the fish & chip shop across the street and along the path at the side of the church. There was another fish & chip shop down the hill in Millbridge. 

There was that imposing colonnade where we all used to hide from the prefects on rainy days. I remember running up and down it many times. But we rarely crossed into the High School territory except when we were heading to the playing field. I hated physical exercise in those days and used to nearly die on those cross country runs around the Naval Hospital perimeter!! These days I run, swim, cycle and ski a great deal. Mr. Ponsford would not recognize me!!

I loved Maths & Physics. I also studied Chemistry but found the Nuffield syllabus (especially the A-Level organic chemistry) rather boring. Other subjects I enjoyed were Geography and Metalwork. I remember Mr. Mellor who always told us of the Latin or Greek origin of some English words. And Mr. Rendle who gave me the nickname "Charles" after the famous French Actor of the same name. Some of my teachers never know my real christian name! And then there was Mr. Pearce who took us into his own home during Easter break to give us additional A-Level Math's tutoring. He was a very dedicated man indeed. He has my thanks.

After O-Levels many people left. I became friendly with Mark Symons who was also staying on to do A-Levels. His father had a boat in Millbay Docks and we spent many an afternoon fishing from her. I have to admit that Mark is the only person I remember from Tamar. I can still see the faces of my friends in the Prefect's Hut but I cannot remember the names.

For anybody who remembers me. I left Tamar in 1974 with two A-Level's. I went to Loughborough University and graduated in 1977 with a Honours Degree in Computer Engineering. I worked for 10 years for Ferranti in Bracknell & Portsmouth in Naval systems. I left Ferranti in 1987 for Computing Devices in Ottawa, Canada. Here I discovered the true pleasure of the great Canadian Wilderness. For the past 8 years I have resided in Calgary where I enjoy the recreational possibilities of the Rocky Mountains. I work for Harris Corporation now, still as an engineer but in the RF Communications field. I am married now to a Registered Nurse. It's been a marvelous life and I owe it all to the great education I received at Tamar School.

Lewis Slee  1966 - 1970 (Tavy House)

Recently came across your web site on Tamar and whilst I recognized some of the teachers names, I regret to say none of the ex pupils names rang a bell.  I was at Tamar from Sept 66 to Jul 70 although I have to admit that I did'nt engage in much academic study during this time.  In fact, at the time I
couldn't wait to get away!  If I remember correctly I was in Tavy house and a few of the names of people in my year at the time were, Geoff Roberts, Fred Prout, Tony Willis, Colin Wakefield and Ian McNicholas.

The teachers I remember more clearly, Eric Rendle, Bunny Warren, Terry Keen aka BATMAN, Pat Ribbons, Bob Ponsford, Wally Westmore, Daddy Pryor, Peanuts Mellor, Bert Cox, Daisy Arrow, Ollie Barker and Martin Lobb.  Whilst I was there Eric Rendle taught my class Tech Drawing.  At the start of each lesson [1 double period each week] he would award a pencil to the boy with the smartest haircut.  My father made me get mine cut very regularly and consequently I won the pencil most weeks.  About the only thing I did manage to win at school!  I remember Daddy Pryor taking us for art and at the start of each lesson he would mark a large chalk circle on the floorboards and inform us that it was his magic circle for any boys who misbehaved.  He would then sit at the back of the classroom reading a copy to the times with a couple of eyeholes cut into it so he could see if anybody mis-behaved.  Anyone caught doing wrong stepped into the magic circle and received 2 or 3
strokes of the cane.

I entered and came 3rd in the school high jump one year but never got my certificate as on the day the awards were being handed out I had skived off school and gone into town.  About 4 years ago I attended a social function in Plymouth with my brother-in-law where I was recognized by Terry Keen after all these years.  Anyway, after leaving school at 15 and being told by most of the teachers that I would never amount to much, I joined the army.  I traveled the world and spent 3 years in Australia working on the Defence Staff of the British high commission.  My last tour was for 2 years in Northern Ireland and then I left and became a police officer.  I currently work as a traffic officer on the motorway in Worcestershire.

Best Wishes Lewis Slee

Alan Smith

       Myself and a large lad called Shaun Chaffe were always being read out in assembly as the two who got through the Devon Trials and into the Plymouth Team etc. My last year at the Athletics Day me and a friend - Paul Helliwell finally ran against each other in the 800m (every year before I ran the 1500m, 100m etc. and Paul ran the 400m and 800m) everyone who watched the race thought it was the 400m as we almost did the first 400m in itself in a school record time! we suffered in the second lap :(Other people in my year you may remember - Little Richard Burton, Sammy Lake, Andy Jago - girls - Anne Smart, Lee Johnson, Michelle Champion, Sharon Cocker, Mandy Walch! It's getting hard to think of anyone!

Write back Dave, it would be good to hear from people who went to Tamar, have you ever thought of starting a school re-union? and is it possible to purchase that book you mentioned in your site? It would be interesting to see what careers etc. everyone ended up doing!

Speak soon, Take Care, AL Smith...

Robert Wilson. (1967 - 1972 Walkham).

You may not remember me, but I can remember you. I believe we were in the same year at Tamar (1967 - 1972). I now live in Norfolk with my wife and two (now grown up) children.

One of my best memories of school was winning a Devon AAA's cross country race in 1970 after the leaders took a slight detour about a mile out, and got themselves disqualified.

(What rotten luck !) Would you believe , I never did receive the trophy. I also remember Mr. Westmore and Mr. ( POP ) Rendle as being quite err......high profile ?, and of course Miss (The mini skirt) Grace. Did she ever figure out that we deliberately put the wall clock wrong just to admire her stretching up to reset it ? I wonder.

I was very pleased to stumble on your web site Dave, keep up the good work. If I come across anything from my time at Tamar I will let you know.

Tracy Clarke (nee Matthews) 1973 - 1978

Here are a few of my memories.  I was there from 1973 to 78 and the name then was Tracy Matthews.  I was in Lynher and so I've been told since was a sullen little madam.  Did you go to the Thanksgiving and Reunion in the Guildhall when the school closed?  I always hated school but when I look back now it wasn't so bad and I feel guilty about how we treated some of the teachers.  Poor Mr. Wood that we had for Computer Studies, we never listened to a word he said then found out we were having Mrs Turpitt next year and spent all summer revising as I was scared of her but she was quite nice really.  I was sad to hear of the death of Mr. Trennery (math's) he was so good to me.  Mr. Stevenson (little gnome) was good too, I had him for English.  

Beryl (senior mistress) and Pop Rendle they always seemed to be so old.  Dinner tickets and lining up under the colonnade to be let down by the prefects, chocolate rice krispies and chocolate custard.

Sneaking to the off licence at Christmas and getting Barley Wine and pretending to be drunk. 

I remember Mr. & Mrs Ponsford, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Ruberry, Mr. Rose(deputy head) and of course Mr. Hill.  I have seen many people since but there are loads I would like to see, Christine Head one of my best friends.  Everyone said she'd never get anywhere but rumour has it she became a nurse and went to Australia.  Same with Mark Kinsman but he also did well.  A few have died too which always makes me sad.  I have too many memories some good some bad to share them all now but will keep a look out for the web page.