Banstead Village

Often wondered what happened to George Ford. A great teacher and remember well a field trip to Shropshire.
At Picquets Way from 1962 to 1967

Hello Geoff - George had a busy and productive life, and died in 2017 at the age of 86. You can read an appreciation of him at picture #537.

Just seen this, how sad, as you say a great teacher.
I owe my love of Geography and a deeper appreciation of the countryside to Mr Ford. I forgive the flicked ears. Also he branded me the intelligent LOOKING one when I acquired spectacles. Cheek. Great guy very sad he has gone

Thanks for your tribute, Geoff... lovely words!

Does anyone recall what he called his “treble chance”?

Bill…..I remember only too well the ‘Treble Chance’ administered by George Ford. Should you cause any disruption in his class he would simply chalk your initials up on the top right-hand corner of the blackboard. The third boys initials instigated an invite by George to join him at the front of the classroom where you were further invited, in turn, to bend over and touch your toes. This position of body agility presented George with a target in which he would take three steady forward paces and give you ‘The Slipper’ the size of footwear being so large it must have been discarded from a giants wardrobe. Once the punishment had been dispensed our names were erased from the blackboard.
Some of our more sinister pupils who could withstand pain would tease a meek and gentle soul bringing such agitation to the attention of George who promptly placed his initials on said position of the blackboard. ‘Sinister pupil’ had no trouble in having his name added to the list and once three initials were inscribed the process of punishment was conducted again with zest. ‘Meek and gentle soul’ spent the rest of the lesson with tears in his eyes and a certain hatred for certain characters in our class.

Peter, I was a "winner" in the Treble Chance a few times but can't say that it caused me much pain; don't think that I'm sinister though! I remember one lad in my class sometimes wore what looked like leather shorts and he got a double dose... Of course, if there were only one or two names on the blackboard when the lesson ended, there was no slipper for them.

The remaining ancient grey cells have lurched into action and I'm sure that it was Gabby Rayson who sported the leather shorts.

Gabby Rayson indeed, Bill. They were a pair of lederhosen, with a flap in the front rather than a zip! In later life, Gabby moved to South Africa, where he died a couple of years ago.

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