Web Page No 2534

8th December 2018

1^st Picture. Wally Dunstan

2nd Picture. School Programme

3^rd Picture. School Programme

 4^th Picture, School Programme

 5^th Picture, Sir Adrian Bolt conducts

Wallace (Wally) Dunstan

For those of my age and older the name Wally Dunstan will have a familiar ring because as we started Court Lane School Wally was about to retire and a transcript of the words on the final school concert are below. Also, from 1945 to 1947 he was headmaster of Solent Road School, so those who are a little more mature than me might well remember him from there.

As you read the piece below you will note what a remarkable man he was, not least among his achievements was letting out music master. John Stephens, at Court Lane to invite Sir Adrian Bolt to conduct the school choir

The Retirement of Our Headmaster

Wallace Dunstan was born as a late Victorian in the West Riding of Yorkshire though his name was Cornish and much of his upbringing     was in Devon. He was educated at Hales’s School Exeter and Exeter College and University. After a temporary appointment as Headmaster of Richardson School, South Devon, he entered the service of the Portsmouth Education Authority at George Street Boys School in 1913 where he served until 1938. During that time he spent the war years, from 1915, on active service when having entered the Officer training Corp, OTC, he was commissioned in the Devonshire Regiment and during his service visited India, Egypt and Palestine.

In these countries his deep Christian commitment resulted in personal visits to the Holy Land.

As the war clouds of 1938 approached he was appointed to the staff of Solent Road School. His responsibilities increased after the first evacuation on 1st September as Teacher in Charge he had to be the educator and head of the Portsmouth children who formed the highly successful Boarding School in Clarendon Park, Salisbury. As headmaster his influence was one of the happier effects of those war years, for the cooperative living and full development of his pupils physical, mental and spiritual lives received a tribute in the Official Examiners Report.

On return to Portsmouth he was appointed Headmaster at Meon Head School in 1944, he succeeded in the headship of Flying Bull Lane school for Boys in the same year. Two years of typically devoted service to his profession followed before he was appointed Headmaster of Court Lane Boys School in 1947. For seven years he led the school through a period of growth during which he gained the allegiance and respect of pupils, staff and parents.

In 1957 he became the first Headmaster of the newly organised Court Lane Secondary School for Boys and Girls.

All the achievements that he has amassed throughout his long career are too many to fully repeat. Always with concern towards the provision of teaching he has remained long in its associations. He held offices both in Portsmouth and Hampshire including (1932/33) that of President of the Portsmouth Class Teachers Association and (1934/35) President of the Portsmouth Teachers Association National Union of Teachers. He represented Southern England on the National Federation of Class Teachers from 1935 to 1943.

Music has always proved to be one of his main interests and locally he has held the posts of Secretary to the Portsmouth Schools Festival of Music from 1935-1947 when he became Chairman, a position from which he retired from last year. He was a member of the National Association of School’s Music Festivals for a year before he accepted the position of Chairman which he holds to this day. In 1945 this body became established as the Schools Music Association.

It is fitting that this brief account of his career should refer to his work as a Licensed Parochial Lay Reader of the Parish of Farlington from 1922 until 1926- a position which led him on to be appointed a Diocesan Lay Reader.

On retirement from his profession he receives the acknowledgement that we will never forget WALLACE DUNSTAN.

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On this day 8th December 1960-65

On 08/12/1960 the number one single was It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Armchair Theatre (ABC) and the box office smash was still Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 08/12/1961 the number one single was Little Sister/His Latest Flame - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Ipswich Town. The top rated TV show was "Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £not very interesting and 13.25 were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV)".

On 08/12/1962 the number one single was Lovesick Blues - Frank Ifield and the number one album was On Stage with the Black & White Minstrels - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 08/12/1963 the number one single was She Loves You - The Beatles and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of this week was Christine Keeler jailed for perjury.

On 08/12/1964 the number one single was Little Red Rooster - Rolling Stones and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. Martin Luther King preaches at St Paul's Cathedral

On 08/12/1965 the number one single was The Carnival is Over - Seekers and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. The top-rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page No 2532

1^st December 2018

1^st Picture. Typical 1950s picnic

2nd Picture. Picnic Hamper

3^rd Picture. Meths Picnic Boiler

Picnic Time

The food was the domain of my mother and grandmother who would busy themselves over making fairy cakes, a Victoria Sponge, tinned fruit and evaporated milk and paste or ham sandwiches. The menu hardly ever varied. There was always fizzy pop for me and tea for the adults and the making of the tea was an art in itself, but more of that later.

First it was time to pack the car. The first item into the boot was the picnic blanket which would be spread on the grass when we arrived, then a chair for Grandma and three cushions for the rest of us. A box or hamper was next and is contained Bakelite plates, dishes, cups and sauces and knives forks and spoons plus small linen napkins. There were bottles with screw tops sealed with greaseproof paper for milk, little medicine tins or boxes with sugar in them and a screw top jar with the precious loose tea in it. However, the most important item in this box was the teapot with its accompanying tea strainer, loose tea then no tea bags in the 1950s.

Then, in would go the sunshade to protect us from the sun and the umbrella to protect us from the rain and wind breaks to shelter us from strong breezes, sun hats, sun cream, anti-mosquito cream and calamine lotion in case I got sunburnt. Then came the mysterious old biscuit tin with its tightly sealed lid. This was to form a major part of the running of the picnic.

Most families had a tin like this and when the picnic site was reached and everything was laid out it was father who brought this tin from the car and placed it on the rug ready for use. If you have not guessed it already this was the water boiling equipment. Out would come the camping kettle with its folding handle and screw top to the spout and this was slowly filled with some of the water that was brought along in old lemonade bottles so that the tea could be made. Lastly in the tin, which remained in there so as not to be affected by the wind, was the Methylated Spirit stove. Father would pour just enough Meths into the chamber in the bottom of the stove in the tin. Lighting it was always amusing as Dad attacked it with his cigarette lighter which he kept in a little leather pouch with a silver threepenny bit in it to open the bottom of the lighter to top it up. As soon as the stove was burning away with a blue flame the unstoppered kettle was put on the grid over the flames and the wait for tea began. My overriding memory is of the smell of burning meths at every picnic as they boiled the water for the tea.

After the picnic and a short walk in the countryside it was time to repack everything back into the car after having made sure that the Meths stove was completely out. However, this was preceded, believe it or not by more boiling water and the washing up. Mum would bring an enamel bowl with us, plus a dish cloth and tea towels  so everything could be washed up and put away clean before we came home. No Tupperware in those days!

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On this day 1st December 1960-65

On 01/12/1960 the number one single was It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Labour Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 01/12/1961 the number one single was Little Sister/His Latest Flame - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was "Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £not very interesting and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV)".

On 01/12/1962 the number one single was Lovesick Blues - Frank Ifield and the number one album was On Stage with the Black & White Minstrels - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

 On 01/12/1963 the number one single was She Loves You - The Beatles and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 01/12/1964 the number one single was Baby Love - Supremes and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 01/12/1965 the number one single was The Carnival is Over - Seekers and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page No 2530

25^th November 2018

1^st Picture. Arthur Haynes Tramp

2nd Picture. Nicholas Parson

3^rd Picture. Patricia Hayes

4^th Picture. Doctor in Clover

Arthur Haynes (14^th  May 1914 – 19^th  November 1966)

He was an English comedian and star of The Arthur Haynes Show, a comedy sketch series produced by ATV from 1956 until his death from a heart attack in 1966. He also made many radio broadcasts and several films.

Arthur Haynes was born in London, the only child of a Fulham Baker. He started work in a number of odd jobs, doing painting (he was very proud of his painting in later years), plumbing and joinery until the Second World War broke out. He then became an entertainer while serving with the Royal Engineers during the war. A fellow comedian, Charlie Chester, told a story where they were waiting outside Caen and Arthur Haynes pointed to a trench full of mud and a million tiny frogs and said nothing would get him into that. Just then a German aircraft started firing near them and Haynes dived straight into the trench and afterwards emerged covered in mud and frogs.

With Charlie Chester he was part of the British Army's concert party troupe Stars in Battledress and Arthur continued to work with Charlie Chester after the war in the BBC Radio series Stand Easy (1946–49) Charlie Chester had not originally wanted to feature him as he had a full cast but once he heard Arthur Haynes give a high pitched laugh, he knew he could use it and found a place for him. They became a double act in the show where Charlie wrote the scripts. Much later, he returned to BBC radio with The Arthur Haynes Show (1962–65) which ran over four series. He also recorded Arthur Again. Both series were written by Johnny Speight.

On 21^st February 1956, Arthur Haynes appeared in the first edition of ATV variety series Strike a New Note, which was supposed to air talent for the new independent television station. Nicholas Parsons said the show was awful, but he was offered a role after the first few episodes and joined it. A few more shows and there was a clear out and everyone but Arthur Haynes and Nicholas Parsons went. The show was soon renamed Get Happy  and Arthur who had been a stand-up comedian was given his own series later in the year and Nicholas Parsons who had been an all-rounder found himself cast as his straight man.

His ATV series, The Arthur Haynes Show (1956–66), networked on ITV and made him the most popular comedian in Britain. There were 95 thirty-minute shows, 62 thirty-five-minute shows and one fifty-minute show, spread over fifteen series. His most popular character was a working class tramp – created by Johnny Speight who said he got the idea of the tramp from a real tramp who climbed into his Rolls Royce when it was stopped at a traffic light. In 1963 and 1964 Arthur worked with Dermot Kelly who played another tramp (called Irish), who was not very smart. Sometimes Patricia Hayes would join them as a woman tramp. The regular straight man was still Nicholas Parsons. The stars sometimes forgot (or did not bother to learn) their lines, and would ad lib and if someone fluffed a line, that would be used to get more laughs, the player sometimes failing to keep a straight face with occasional bursts of laughter.

The shows would also feature musical guests, such as the Springfields in 1963, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen and the Rolling Stones in 1964, and Joe Brown and the Bruvvers and the Dave Clark Five in 1965. A number of the shows started and ended with Arthur Haynes driving a horse and cart along a narrow country lane, whistling and (unconvincingly) playing a harmonica. Some began with a cartoon workman using a road drill on the show's title.

He received the Variety Club's award as ITV Personality of 1961 and appeared on the Royal Variety Performance in the same year. The shows also made a star of Nicholas Parsons who tended to play supercilious neighbours and authority figures in the comedy sketches. Eventually, as the public began to recognise Nicholas Parsons' skill as a straight man, Arthur decided to dispense with his services. Other stars also made early appearances: in 1962 Michael Caine played a burglar burgling the same house as Arthurs character. He had a good singing voice, which he rarely used on TV, and in 1960 performed a sketch called The Haynes Brothers, where he and Dickie Valentine, wearing a moustache, sang together.

In 1965 Haynes appeared alongside  Rock Hudson / Gina Lollobrigida in Strange Bedfellows. While in Hollywood, Cary Grant turned up with an entourage at a place where he was staying and lavished great praise on him, calling him the greatest comedy star in the world. In 1966, he appeared as a patient in the British film Doctor in Clover.

In 1963 he recorded the novelty songs "Not To Worry" and "Looking Around".

He died of a heart attack in November 1966 in Ealing, at the age of 52, shortly after he returned from America, where he had appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and just before the commencement of shooting for the 16th series of his hit ITV television show. He is buried at Mortlake Cemetery in Kew, London.

Between 2011 and 2013 Network DVD have since released all surviving episodes of The Arthur Haynes Show (from film recordings) on Region 2 DVDs. Volume 1 contains thirteen of the earliest surviving episodes from 1960, while Volume 2 contains twelve episodes dating from 1961. Volumes 3 and 4 contain episodes from 1962, along with episodes  Volumes 5 and 6 both containing episodes based on scripts by Johnny Speight. Volume 7 completes the sequence.

A single collection set titled (The Collected Arthur Haynes Show, consisting all 7 volumes) was later released on 24 April 2017.

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On this day 28^th November 1960-1965.

On 25/11/1960 the number one single was It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Labour Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 25/11/1961 the number one single was Little Sister/His Latest Flame - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Ipswich Town. The top rated TV show was "Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25.The big news story of the day was Sunday Night at the London Palladium

On 25/11/1962 the number one single was Lovesick Blues - Frank Ifield and the number one album was Out of the Shadows - Shadows. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 25/11/1963 the number one single was She Loves You - The Beatles and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Cape Canaveral renamed Cape Kennedy.

On 25/11/1964 the number one single was Baby Love - Supremes and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 25/11/1965 the number one single was The Carnival is Over - Seekers and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Take Your Pick (AR) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page No 2528

18^th November 2018

1^st Picture. Artic Roll

2nd Picture. Ambrosia Rice

3^rd Picture. Chicken in a basket

4^th Picture. Black Forest Gateau

Food Glorious Food!

When you look back over the past few decades it’s amazing how much our tastes have changed when it comes to our favourite foods. Here are a few stand out dish for every year from 1950 to 1970. From jelly and custard to stuffed peppers, this lovely lot are a real walk down memory lane…

1950: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Because sweet treats were in short supply during the years after the war this amazingly colourful bake was welcomed with open arms when it burst onto the foodie scene in 1950. Made with tinned goods, pineapple upside down cake was an easy thing to whip up with your butter and sugar rations and could make its way round a big family if sliced thinly enough.

1951: SPAM

While fresh meat was still being heavily rationed SPAM provided an unlikely source of protein to thousands of British families during the 1950s. Love them or hate them, SPAM fritters were the dish of the year. These crispy morsels were coated in batter, deep-fried and served up for many a supper.

1952: Baked Alaska

To be a true child of 1952 you’ve got to have had a baked Alaska or two in your time. This science-defying pudding wowed the masses when it was introduced in the 1950s with its hot outside and freezing cold inside. Made with a sponge bottom, a thick layer of jam, a mound of ice cream and a baked meringue shell it really was an impressive party centrepiece.

1953: Devilled Eggs

Liberated from egg and sugar rations but still firmly in the grips of cheese and meat rationing British cooks of 1953 were keen to make the most of their new found culinary freedom. The result? Devilled eggs of course! These were a real favourite for serving up as part of a party spread.

1954: Burgers and Milkshakes

1954 saw the end of rationing altogether and the opening of the first Wimpy Bars, selling burgers and milkshakes to Britain’s teenagers – and they loved it.

1955: Black Forest Gateau

With its layers of chocolate sponge, whipped cream and cherry syrup, Black Forest Gateau was the dish of the moment in 1955, after being invented in Germany some years earlier. It appeared in recipe books everywhere following its inclusion on a list of best-known German cakes in 1949.

1956: Coronation Chicken

Coronation chicken was invented for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 and gathered popularity with every year that passed. In 1956 this mix of cooked chicken, mayonnaise and curry powder and truly become one of Britain’s favourite lunchtime sandwich fillers.

1957: Rice Pudding

Ah, Rice pudding, a deliciously creamy dessert that was traditionally made in a pot but somehow found its way into a tin during the first world war. Despite the tinned version coming years earlier it was 1957 that marked a huge step change for the most popular brand, Ambrosia, when it had to open up a whole new factory to cope with the demand from the masses.

1958: Chop Suey

A rise in immigration gave us a real taste for strong flavours from further afield. 1958 was the year Chop Suey was introduced to the menu of Butlins’ holiday camps – making it officially a British favourite!

1959: Arctic Roll

Birds Eye inherited Arctic Roll in 1959, when it bought an Eastbourne ice cream factory and went on to have great success with this freezer staple of the time.

1960: Chicken Tikka Masala

The increase in the number of immigrants certainly had an effect on the food we were eating during 1960. It really was the year that Indian restaurants began to flourish and it’s when we first got our taste for chicken tikka masala.

1961: Lager

Although we might think of lager as a national drink now, it wasn’t actually introduced to us until the 1960s.

1962: Cheese and Onion Crisps

Cheese and onion crisps were introduced in 1962 by Golden Wonder and joined the existing crisp flavours of ready salted and salt and vinegar.

1963: Duck a l’Orange

Famously one of Grace Kelly’s favourite dishes duck a l’orange was thought to be one of the most exotic flavour combinations to date in 1963. Rarely before had meat been paired with fruit and was thought of as very modern.

1964: Prawn Cocktail

We can’t help but hold a fond place in our hearts for all children of 1964 because their birthdays coincide with one of our all time favourite  The prawn cocktail.

1965: Crêpe Suzette

Following on from 1963s duck a l’orange the next recipe to gain popularity using oranges was crêpe Suzette. The recipe was brought over from France and it became one of the stand out dishes of the year.

1966: Chicken Liver Pate

In the 1960s we were a lot more used to offal and using up every part of the animal, which meant chicken liver pate quickly became one of the most loved dishes.

1967: Angel Delight

Question: What is nationally famous dish, enjoyed by millions from its first appearance in 1967, is made of whey powder combined with several emulsifiers and gelling agents and (despite these unlovely ingredients) was originally marketed as a health food? Answer: Angel Delight, this odd y dessert was served up in glasses all over Britain during 1967.

1968: Jelly and custard

What child doesn’t love jelly and custard? This school canteen favourite was made popular in the late 1960s thanks to its cheap packet ingredients and simple flavours.

1969: Fray Bentos Pies

Fray Bentos pies were the latest in a sudden line up of convenient meals in the late 1960’s. All that was required from any cook was to peel back the ring pull tin lid and bake the pie in the oven.

1970: Spaghetti Bolognese

Believe it or not back in 1970 spaghetti bolognese was a pretty fashionable ‘foreign’ dish that would be served up at dinner parties up and down the land. Guests often spent the evening working out how to get the slippery strands into their mouths while trying to avoid tomato sauce going all down their best dress!

I know I have not mentioned at least three classics Instant Whip, Chicken in a Basket and Scampi in a basket. I will leave those for another day.

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On this Day 18th November 1960-1965

On 18/11/1960 the number one single was It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Take Your Pick (AR) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

18/11/1961 the number one single was Little Sister/His Latest Flame - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Another Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 18/11/1962 the number one single was Lovesick Blues - Frank Ifield and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 18/11/1963 the number one single was You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry & the Pacemakers and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Socialists win Dundee West by-election.

On 18/11/1964 the number one single was Baby Love - Supremes and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 18/11/1965 the number one single was Get Off Of My Cloud - Rolling Stones and the number one album was Liverpool. The top rated TV show was "Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music.

A pound of today's money was worth £not very interesting and 11.69 were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Take Your Pick (AR)".