In the same notes space at the back of my 1975 Letts Schoolboys Diary, I recorded the names and nicknames of the boys in my second class, 2AK:
This material is even harder to decipher than the 1S equivalent – my use of bold tempo pens playing havoc with the thin paper of those diaries. So, I set the text out below – apologies for replicated spelling errors, inability to decipher errors and for some of the ghastly nicknames:
Allott
Athaide
Bateman – Batman
Bedford – Bedders
Bradshaw – Brad
Brassell
Dalloway – Dallers
Deacon – Doormouse
Dwelly – Bone
Feeley
Forrest
French – Frog
Geere – Gottle
Goodwin
Gurney – LEFT
Handy
Hanton – Brucy
Harris
Hollingshead – Beachhead?
Jennings – Jumbo, Juggernaut, Jet
Johnson
Kelly
Masson – Chimpy (thanks to David French for the correction).
Pullinger – Tug
Proctor – Superproc
Reeves
Rowswell – Sandy
Spence – Spike
Stevens
Wahla – Gob
I don’t think Gurney was nicknamed “Left”, I think that is a note to say that he left the school.
Now many of the above nicknames are weaker and thinner than a supermodel on a crash diet. I know some of them were genuinely used, but I find it hard to believe that all of them had common currency…
…and surely the rest of us must have had nicknames of some sort at one time or another. My work in early 1975 was only part done and then I got bored – typical kid.
Surely some people out there can help fill in the blanks or put matters right, even after all these years? Comments and suggestions, please. Those from other classes are welcome to add their names and nicknames to the pile.