 Here is Fred Hobbs (photo Rob Hinze) draining the flooded games field, probably 3 June 1958 - see also floods. |
Neil Holmes
(1952) writes: George Phelps was School
groundsman and Freddie Hobbs was School
Caretaker, and general odd-jobs man. Freddie was best
known for his extremely slow pace whilst going about his
daily duties, and his reluctance to work at a productive
pace earned him enormous ridicule from the ever spiteful
and aggressive Slug Riley. Freddie was a delightful man,
whose simple irreverence towards the petty dictatorial
attitudes of Armitage, Ford, Riley and others, provided
much needed light relief for my immediate group of
colleagues during our 6th form years (1957-1960). George Phelps provided similar diversions, including providing certain 6th formers with the opportunity of having a relaxing smoke in his very scruffily furnished 'shed'. Riley suspected that this was going on, but in my time at least, he was never able to apprehend anyone. Mr Taylor and his groundsman George Phelps enjoyed a mutual 'love/hate' relationship. Mr Taylor referred to George as being like a favourite pair of old shoes - irreplaceable. George Phelps always bemoaned Mr. Taylor's habit of cadging fags from him (Mr Taylor was forever 'giving up' smoking). George was forever resolving to take a firm stance over the constant drain on his packets of Woodbines. 'Next time I shall say "no Mr. Taylor, buy your own fags Mr Taylor". But he never did. Robert Hinze (1952) writes: Mr Phelps was a real character - at least to us boys. He smoked Weights, Woodbines or roll-ups - enough said. He introduced me to the charms of a Fordson Major (tractor!). |