|
 John
Stonehouse
takes the stage
John is an author, now
retired in the Limousin region of France, where he writes in the idyllic
surroundings around the house which he and his wife, Tara, bought
bordering the river Tardoire.
See details of his wartime thriller here. |
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By email, August 29th, 2007
Having a spare moment I was trolling again through the website, which
I find superb.
In the
photo of Fossey's form the third boy from the left on the front row
is Bill Lapworth. He and I were friends and both went to sign up for our
National service together in late 1955 and joined in March 1956. We both
decided we wanted to become swimmer canoeists in the Royal marine
commandos. When we arrived, they told us that there was only one place
left and the Chief Petty Officer spun a coin and Bill won. The CPO told
me to sit a test for the RN as he had six lads coming and he knew one
would fail the test. I passed and served two years as a Radio and Radar
Electrical Mechanic.
When we met up after our basic training, Bill told me that he could
be a swimmer canoeist because they needed longer than two years to train
one. Bill went to Cyprus and was also on the landing at Suez.
By mail, July 13th, 2007
I have just found your Central School
site. I will send you, if I can
find it, a copy of a photo Ron Cooke took of one of the school plays. played Squire Serlsby in Friar
Bacon and Friar Bungay; Gratiano in the Merchant of Venice
as well as Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar. I remember that the
cast was taken to see Marlon Brando in the recently made film Julius
Caesar.'The following are some of the things I remember from the
old school days:
That Mr Morris helped with the electrics in the plays.
The horse in the stable getting it's hoof caught in it's bridle
and Bill the Park Keeper successfully releasing it after a frenzied
battle with the horse on it's side, flailing anyone who got near,
with it's other three legs.
My first lesson with Mr Topliss when I explained that one of the
things he had stated was not correct; an absolutely stupid thing to
do! My mother was French and compounded this not very diplomatic
act, by sending me to the next French lesson armed with the relevant
part of Encyclopaedia Larousse to prove my point.
Carrying a large Billy can of hot semolina down to the canteen
and Len Cooke, who was holding the other handle, jumping up and down
and spilling the hot pud all down my right arm an hour before having
to sit an exam.' |
John as Mark Anthony |
Needless to say Toplis and I never had a very close
teacher/schoolboy relationship, although he did give me lift once or
twice in his Riley motor car.
I was also a member of the school scout troop and it prompted me to
publish my second book which will be out on 1st October this year, For
King, Country and...France!
As far as sport was concerned, I remember that on the list of items
to be purchased for school were a full set of whites; cricket for the
playing of!
 |
On the first occasion we went off to the playing fields across the
Derwent and I was the only one wearing the full rig. This would have
been fine if I had excelled in the game...I didn't and was out first
ball and therefore it was extremely embarrassing.
Keith Stocks nicknamed me Emile, a name he still uses today. I think
it came into his mind because of Emile Zatopec a renowned sportsman of
the day.
If I think of anything further, I will send it on to you. |
All the very best,
John (Emile) Stonehouse
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