Schooldays

School photos are a record of one's growth, and of one's progress through the education system.

Here is a selection of mine:

This is my last photo from Owairaka School. This was at the worst phase of World War II; class sizes were large as you can see here. You will find me fourth from the left in the front row.

Later in 1942 we shifted to Papatoetoe. Here is my photo from 1945 taken as the war was finishing:




























Again I'm in the front row, in front of my best friend, Ian Bond, who is immediately right of the name-board.

The next year I started secondary school at Auckland Grammar (second from right in second row from front).

Early in my career at Grammar I joined the staff of the library. Above is the team from 1949. My favourite teacher, Owen Lewis, is on the left. Next to him is my closest school friend that year, John Imperatrice. I'm on the right of the front row.

Last comes the shot of my final year, 1950. Form Teacher was "Teddy" Driver.  You'll find me third from the right in the second row from the back. If you know Colin Maiden, you'll find him in the back row. And Ritchie Poole is here, along with members of the Paykel, Airey, Rae and Barfoot families. And Jim Feist, who was my closest friend in this class.