My dad emailed me a copy of my report from when I was 8 years and 10 months old, by my wonderful primary school teacher, Miss Robson. It seems I was quite sweet and keen before the age of 9 at least. Perhaps that report can give some balance to the slight character assassination of myself in the show.
I was lucky enough to have some wonderful teachers when I was at school. Miss Robson was the first really great one though. I remember commenting at the time that you could tell that she was a brilliant teacher because she was excellent at reading stories. To the 8 year old me that was what counted. I think it's a pretty good way to judge. And reading and writing stories were my favourite things back then. More writing than reading as I remember.
I was a bit in love with Miss Robson, as I have mentioned before, and was very pleased to meet her again a few years ago and even more pleased to get a kiss from her! Primary school teachers do not always get the recognition they deserve, but it's clear from the report that she spotted and nurtured my interest in creative writing and that has proven very important to my life. Doing the Headmaster's Son show has made me realise to what extent I was always going to end up at least comedy and writing and that many decisions I have made were merely to facilitate that career. I had to sacrifice a few things along the way to get where I am, but I wanted to be a comedian more than I wanted to be Gandhi or Keats or a husband or a father. I could still be any of those things, of course, but comedy has predominated so far. And I am actually pleased about that. It's quite healthy to have spotted this trend and to realise that (whilst things in some ways might be going better) I have done pretty well at it. And I feel like I'm only just beginning. The best is yet to come.
There were many, many great teachers after Miss Robson, including both my parents (my mum taught French and English at Middle School and my dad taught me A Level Maths - he didn't give me the answers, but he did a lot to help me especially in the Upper Sixth when he was no longer teaching me).
Mr Smith, was my teacher in the first year of Middle School and he was another person who mentored me and encouraged me with my writing, as well as teaching me a little about modesty and being the first to warn me of the impending environmental crisis the world was to face (he said, back in 1977, that oil would run out by the year 2000 - he wasn't right, but he was in the right kind of ballpark and how cool that he addressed such issues with 9 year old kids). I wonder what he's up to these days. I suppose he might be retired by now. Good on you Mr Smith. Each year he kept one pupils written work for posterity and I believe he kept my early creative writing. I wonder if he still has them.
In Upper School there were so many teachers who I remember well, sadly many of them have died now, which is both galling and slightly unbelievable. But quarter of a century has ticked by, so perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising. Recently one of the most popular KOW teachers Les Skidmore passed on, which was very sad. He was not only a man of great humour and imposing stature, but was a real entertainer, singing in school concerts, appearing in plays and playing in the school brass band. I am sure that I am one of thousands of his pupils who have fond and grateful memories of him. And I don't think you can ask for much more than that.
My favourite ever teacher, though, I think would be Mr Moore, who taught Latin. I can't imagine there's much Latin going on in comprehensive schools these days and even then it was quite a rarity. He was another teacher who taught with patience and humour and stayed calm and in control and was respected and loved by his pupils. He had a terrific sense of humour, which was, of course, the most important thing in the world to me, and he brought that dead language alive in so many ways. I remember having to be a farmer in a little play we did in class and having to shout (from memory - spelling and grammar may be wrong) "Euge, euge, agricolae hodi non laborant" (Hooray! Hooray! The farmers are not working today!"So inspired by Mr Moore was I that I worked through our Latin course books much quicker than we did in the lessons, getting on to A level subjects, even though I was unable to take the subject for O level, due to the way you had to pick subjects from different streams. That was a shame. I'd loved to have been taught by him for a couple more years and in hindsight Latin A Level would have been a lot more use to me than the Maths that I ended up doing.
Mr Moore was grey haired and in his fifties I would suspect (but it's hard to estimate as a youngster) and I don't know what became of him. I suppose there is a good chance that he is no longer with us, but if he is and he happens to come across this then I'd just like to thank him for being so incredible.
Him, Ms Robson, Mr Smith, Mr Skidmore and all the teachers who made my school days such terrific fun. They were all excellent, except
Mr Kemp, who was only quite good.
