Past Pupils
Roger Vango (1964)
Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be. I don’t do reunions any more. So what am I doing right now?
I had a couple of hours to kill so I Googled `Tottenham Grammar School 1959-1964` and this happened. Like most old codgers my memories are somewhat selective but I seem to remember that I quite enjoyed my time at TGS. I still remember all the words to the school song. I remember one of my former form masters calling me “surly, boisterous and resentful of authority” in my school report. Me? Surely not!
I certainly loved the sport. I played in 3 or 4 Bowles Cups, the annual thrashing we received from Enfield Grammar at cricket; rugby at the various age levels and eventually the 1st 15. I managed to get sent off twice in my last year. A clear case of mistaken identity (twice!). I boxed successfully, until being on the end of a haymaker from Martin Squires in my last ever fight. It was good to read Mike Maloney’s piece. I was in the same team as Mick and Gerry Jackson and scored a few runs if memory serves me right.
God knows if I got any O levels. I remember going off on tour with Edmonton Cricket Club the week before they started. I did absolutely no revision but I suppose I got some as they foolishly let me do one year in the 6th form before suggesting that my future lay elsewhere. I wasn’t actually expelled. I just didn’t turn up any more and no-one seemed to notice.
After leaving I had few dealings with the old school save two highly enjoyable seasons with the school Old Boy’s rugby club where we enjoyed the most successful run in the club’s history. In two seasons the 1st team was only beaten twice. I played in every game bar those two so can boast never playing on a losing side. I’d like to say that this success was down solely to my prowess as a hooker, but I’d be lying.
What a team that was! Dave Bagnall, me, Barry Nichol (what a front row!) Sam Seabrook, Nobby Clarke, Paddy Calderwood, Tony Fogg, Barney Robinson, John Metcalf, John Swain (captain and all round rugby genius, so sad to hear of his death), Colin Mellis, John Townsend (another no longer with us), Bob Brown and simply the best kicker I ever saw, the late Budge Burgess (how many games did he win with his kicks). I’ve missed one or two names from that list. If anyone out there can fill in those gaps in my memory I’d be most grateful. My two most abiding memories of those days are celebrating the inevitable victory in the “black hole of Bruce Grove” but the thing I remember most was Swain buttering up referees before, during and after the game. It was a master class in sporting psychology. The ref would arrive. Swain would welcome him with “Afternoon sir. Always glad when you do our games. I’ll tell the lads we can expect a good open game with you in charge.” During the match Swain verbally agreed with every decision the ref made, even the howlers. “Quite right “ he would say to any of our players correctly or incorrectly found guilty of an offence. ”You won’t get away with that with this ref” as if to say he’s too good a ref to miss that. But then, when the occasion demanded, John would call in the debt. 6-6, two minutes to go, scrum in front of the posts, their put in. “foot up sir” “not straight sir” John would implore. Sharp blast on the whistle, penalty O.G’s, Budge steps up, inevitable 3 points, full time, thank you very much. Ref invited back to Bruce Grove where John would tell him over a pint what a good game he had. Might as well work on him for the next time we get him. Happy days.
Brief history of the Vango boy. Married 1973, 2 boys. Moved to Felpham , near Bognor Regis 1975. Ran sheepskin and leather clothing shop in towntill 1992. Recession and divorce ate up all my money. Turned to the only thing I was ever any good at, gambling, which apart from a couple of fortuitous property dealings has been my sole source of income ever since. For those who understand we play heavily on the tote jackpot and scoop6 as well as something known as arbitrage, which is another name for trading, like on the markets, but, in our case the market is horse racing.
I live in a village between Chichester and Arundel with my partner of 10 years, Maddie , who is quite simply the best thing ever to have happened to me.
My schooldays weren’t the happiest of my life, but they were amongst the happiest. Reading the reminiscences of some of my contemporaries on this site has brought a host of names flooding back. Whatever happened to the likes of Punky Hadley or Dennis Weymouth, Steve Wheeler, Paul Raven, Micky Bates (let’s face it, life can’t have been easy for someone called Master Bates). My best mate at school, Ken Garner and I met up again a couple of years ago, which was nice, and I would welcome an e-mail from anyone who remembers me. I’m on vangoroger@hotmail.com. Come on you Spurs!