Past Pupils

Barry Pearce (1963)

I remember John Fear very well indeed. For reasons which I cannot now recall, I elected to do music on entering the fourth year (in 1962)when pupils were streamed into one of: science, arts, economics and technical. Apparently, so rare was this that I was summoned to the Headmasters study (Dr Reg Witt). It appeared Dr Witt wanted to speak to a boy who actually wanted to do music. Perhaps he thought I needed some counseling. Anyway, I then embarked on a two-year "O" level course with Mr Fear in a class of two. It was quite different to the preceding three years in that he was relatively friendly (if that's the right word) and the lessons were pretty relaxed. It must have been very easy for him to teach just two pupils. And he did often smile. But yes, during my first three years at TGS, music lessons with John Fear were, like many other lessons and masters, something to dread.