Gordon Johnson (left 1932) Remembers JCS and Sir Kenneth Lewis MP. 

When I spoke to Helen Riddoch, who left JCS in 1932, she mentioned Kenneth Lewis who went on to become Sir Kenneth Lewis, MP.  Helen said that Gordon Johnson, who still lived in Hebburn, also went to school with the future Member of Parliament and would be able to tell me a bit more about him, himself and the school.

 He did.

At school Kenny Lewis was nicknamed, 'Goofy'.  'He was a complete nutcase'; said Gordon who was amazed at his classmate's later achievements.  'All he was good at was talking, the gift of the gab, he could talk his way in and out of anything.'  Which I suppose is the one attribute all MP's have in common.  When he left school Lewis worked as a dental mechanic for Crowther, a well known Jarrow dentist who had his theatre of operations on Grange Road.  During this time Lewis became secretary for the local Young Conservatives and, eventually entered The House in 1957 having failed in three previous attempts during which time he ran a travel agency.

When he became MP for Rutland and Stamford (later Stamford and Spalding) he served them for 28 years, receiving a knighthood in 1983 before retiring in 1985; He died, aged 81, in 1997.

Whilst 'Goofy' was travelling the Road to Westminster Gordon Johnson was taking a different journey as part of the Russian Convoys during the Second World War.  Even today, aged 87, he still meets up with other ex crewmen at their monthly meeting in South Shields.

Like so many ex JCS his happiest memories are of the school dances and the summer camps.  Then, as in later years, the dances were held on Friday evenings in the run up to Xmas.  The camps were at Mitford and Redcar.  He remembers Kenneth Lewis trying out for the cricket team.  Despite being possibly the worst bowler ever to pitch leather against willow he managed to talk his way on to the team - no wonder he was a successful MP!

Another of Gordon's classmates was Raymond 'Fatty' Marshall who went on to become skipper of the Ocean Monarch, a famous passenger liner.

            The headmaster in those days was Major Dawson whose daughter ran the 'Tuck Shop' during the school camps.  Several of the teachers' daughters helped out at camp and extremely popular they were with the boys!

            Others have mentioned Mr Giles and Gordon Johnson also remembered him.  He had a very good sense of humour, said Gordon, and a sadistic streak - a trait not uncommon amongst the older breed of teacher.

When teaching Theorems Mr Giles deemed any mark less than 8 out of 10 to be unacceptable.  If a pupil got 7 out of 10 he was caned once, 6 out of 10 he was caned twice and so on.  One unfortunate lad, Jackie Armstrong, who totally failed to grasp the Theorem principles automatically, at the start of each lesson, went to the front of the class and held his hand out for the six of the best he knew would be his due.

 Another teacher was Bill Ramsey who remained at the school almost to the bitter end; he was Deputy Head for a while in the latter years.  He was the same megalo-maniac as a young teacher that he was in later years.  I suspect he didn't achieve his paranoiac behaviour, or have it thrust upon him, so perhaps his parents were to blame.  Teddy Brown was another teacher who had an attractive daughter.  Mr Brown had fought at the Battle of the Somme and was easily diverted from teaching Geography and talking about his war experiences instead.

            Other teachers he recalls were 'Fanny' Mackie, Miss Carr, Mr.Seaton, Billy Neave and Mr Woodcock.

            It was a pleasure talking to him and, like so many of the older generation of pupils, age has not withered nor custom staled the infinite variety of his conversation.

Lance Liddle 16 October 2004