One of my everlasting memories is of Mr Nicholson the commander of the good ship TP. My first recollection was the striking white barnet as he stood on the stairway overlooking his latest legion of new recruits. He appeared a mixture of Max Headroom, Peter Cushing and Donald Pleasance (not that I knew them at that point)and along with the Cybermen was one of the scariest characters I had ever seen. The only 2 phrases I could ever recall him saying were 'Boy' and 'Robert McBean' and were probably aimed at the same individual.
Although it probably only happened a couple of times, it seemed a daily occurrence that Robert McBean, Bobby to the rest of us, was summoned by his Nemesis followed by a metronomic sound of leather hitting skin which echoed throughout the corridors of the school.
Whilst Auld Nic was undoubtedly a scary character his discipline didn't do any of us, maybe Bobby was the exception, any harm and maybe the youth of today may have been better served with a slice of Auld Nic.
MR Nicholson was terrifying. Even his car, a tank-like silver and maroon Austin Cambridge, was frightening. Remember the old TP toilets next to the bike shed? Dark and smelly with tiny windows ten feet off the gound, like dungeons? Once in, I think, P2 I left classs to go for a pee. I was standing there quite happily relieving myself when I saw Nicholson striding towards me purposefully. I was quite unconcerned until he came in to the john, grabbed me and delivered a hefty slap. My crime? Taking a slash against the wall, rather than in the urinal. I hadn't realised I was doing anything wrong but I soon got the message. For years afterwards, I was dreading Nic telling the whole school about my stupidity. I'm not sure today's kids would benefit from the massive inferiority complex which our generation were handed by our brutal elders. My memories of TP teachers are almost all negative, from Mrs Macanulla preaching about the SNP and throwing me out of the choir, through to Mrs Dale with her eagerness to find fault and inability to give praise. I do have some happier memories to share - bear with me! DG
ReplyDeletePoor Bobby McBean - he use to take some wrath. What is he doing? Does anyone know?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I remember, Bobby, joined an air force and became Robert. I'd like to know where he is now and how he is doing. He stayed for a long time with an Aunt (Quite a disciplinarian!) and then I think his father moved to Troon and he went and stayed with him and his brother who I seem to remember was John. It's a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteI too remember Mr Nicholson. I was once stopped by him on the staircase as I had been reported as cycling in the playground. I actually only had one foot on the pedal with one leg on the ground, but it was a rule break. I was petrified, but I got off with a stern reprimand!