GORDON JOHN PEARSON

Raleigh House, 1970 – 1976

Shoreham Grammar School: 1970 - 1976

Effectively, this is where I ended up between the years of 1970 to 1976. I was a full time boarder, like it or not. My parents where effectively living in Singapore, so I had very little option but to fend for myself at the tender age of 13. It was indeed a very difficult time for the school. The 1960s (The Swinging Sixties) had come to its end, but the youthful rebellion was still in the air. Bullying was normal for the likes of me, but either way, I stood my ground and I did well at the school as I had very other little option. Academically, I was not a bright boy, but I had good character & a warm personality which, by all accounts, was recognised by the new Headmaster - The RVD Cannon Booth MBE. I took my early setbacks and frustrations out in my sporting activities; in football, cricket or athletics, with some success, notably in my cross country running (the runner) and the school mile, which I won in 1973. Much credit is down to Richard Language & Mike Smith who gave me the encouragement that I needed in this respect.

When I Was A School Boy.

Fun days when I look back in my early days in 1970, as I always recall the needless food strikes, along with the break in at the Headmasters study (Joe Wright), ‘O' Level examination papers being stolen before the examination, the fights between the boys at The Kings Manor School, the school Matrons car keys being stolen late at night, three boys being arrested joy riding in Mid West Sussex in the early hours of the morning, later on expelled, the Patel brothers one, two & three, one being the oldest, then it was the inappropriate activities of the boys in the churchyard with the local girls. The lists are endless, such times don't exist in today’s world of political correctness & health & safety, especially when you consider I chose to undertake tree climbing as my activity on the Wednesday afternoon with Mr Curtis, so I will leave this to your imagination….

Richard Language was the Geography master at the school when I was there as a live-in border between the years of 1970 - 1976. Apart from being an excellent teacher in Geography, he took on the roll & the teaching of all forms of cricket at the school, be it coaching or team selection. He did produce some fine cricketers at the school who competed against the very highest schools in West Sussex with great success.

Richard Language was the son of James Language (10th July 1906 - September 1966), one of two brothers known by the name of "The Language Brothers". He was an English cricketer who played for Sussex & England. He played 8 tests for England that spanned either side of World War II. Born in Newick, Sussex, Language was an all - rounder who played first class cricket for over 30 years. He scored over 1,000 runs in an English cricket season, twenty times and finished with over 37,716 runs and 42 Centuries; 52nd in the all-time run getters.

I think James Language was responsible for bringing Tony Greg to play for West Sussex. Tony Greg came over from South Africa in the 1960s & indeed played with Richard Language at Sussex as Richard Language was initially the opening batsman for West Sussex before retiring into teaching at Shoreham Grammar School. Tony Greg was a personal friend of Richard’s who later on, became the England Cricket team captain. He later on moved to live in Australia and became a cricket commentator of Channel 9 before sadly passing away at the age of 62 due to cancer. This will explain to you the reasons why the RVD Cannon Booth was so keen to employ Richard at the school, call it character building that was so very much needed at that time, be it in sport rather than in academic purposes. All part of this school’s history.

The self-same principals applied to the mathematics master by the name of Mike Smith. He was an excellent maths master and also an ex - professional football player for QPR. He was a fully qualified FA coach, who used his football coaching skills at the school on the older boys of about 14 – 16. He produced wonderful football teams and scores, including a 3 - 3 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion FC Juniors, who turned up at the school grounds with their fitness trainers and so on, on. Some of our boys were watched by scouts from professional football clubs, including Chelsea, as our young players were indeed so very good. But I had left too early to discover the outcome……

I loved my time at Shoreham Grammar School. It will always remain very close to my heart as to being a very special place where I finally grew up as a young boy of 13. So much of this is down to my late wonderful Headmaster, The Cannon Booth, who taught me what was right from wrong at that very difficult time in my life. I am so pleased to learn that the large school hall has been named after him  - ‘BOOTH HALL’.  I am sure he would be very proud of that.

Gordon John Pearson

Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire