Pikeys Progress - A weekend of great significance for Old Wilsonians

Posted 21st November 2023

There were 13 of us on that fateful Friday the 13th. But, Terry Adams called and left a message on a Monday morning. “You can probably tell from my croaky voice that I am not too well. Jan and I have just tested positive for Covid so I will not be able to make Friday’s get-together.” I returned the call and, hopefully, said the right things. There were 12 of us.

Stan Honnor sent me an email saying that he was catching the 11:15 train from London Bridge to Hayes, and I replied that I would endeavor to get on the same train at Lower Sydenham. It worked perfectly, with the train arriving at Hayes at 11:54, almost perfect timing as we were due to assemble at ‘The New Inn’ at 12 noon – even Stan and I, despite our advancing years, are capable of getting across the road in six minutes.

Alan Wilson was already there, dressed as a commissionaire/lift attendant/bellboy – take your pick, and within half an hour, there were 12 of us, an achievement in itself. A tab had been set up behind the bar and the talk, and beer flowed in equal measures.

Pete Wilkinson, the oldest of our number, proudly announced that he is now a great-grandfather. “Me too,” exclaimed Stan and Rod (Warboys).

The lunch was due to be served at 1:00, and as 1:30 was fast approaching, someone mentioned that fact. I was just about to make inquiries when a member of staff gave me the nod that said lunch was just about to be served, and we all took our places. Everyone had put in their orders a week or so before the event, but I took a list of their requirements just in case – just as well, really, as some had forgotten. Did you really order porridge followed by kippers and custard, Tony?

As you can imagine from the Class of ’56, the year we all joined the school, much of the talk was about our school days, the masters who taught us, the punishments inflicted, failure to get homework finished on time, and the consequences that followed. We remembered ‘absent friends,’ Vic Bennett in particular, and in whose memory this lunch is now dedicated. We will meet again – certainly this time next year and, hopefully, before.

Move the clock forward less than 24 hours, and the venue was the school, albeit not the one the Class of ’56 attended for it moved to Wallington in 1974. The occasion was the opening of the (Kirk) ‘Benjamin room,’ which is part of the school’s ‘Well-being Centre,’ itself part of the Paul Britton Centre, which also includes a gymnasium and a music room. A number of immaculately turned-out school prefects gave us a guided tour. We counted three pianos, and that was even before we entered the music room, while the building also contains a gymnasium to die for.

Matt Holmes was my guide – he is the 1st XI football captain – and OWA President Mark Mace and I impressed upon him the value of joining the Old Wilsonians’ Football Club once his education studies have been completed. The tour completed, we adjourned to ‘The Benjamin room’ itself for the main event, the unveiling of a beautiful mosaic of the school badge made by Arts Network and a citation relating to what they do and their relationship with the OWs, and a splendid photograph of an immaculately dressed Kirk.

Tim Lissinore, the deputy head, Mark Mace, and Sophie Benjamin all then made very moving speeches in which they all highlighted the traumas of mental health and how we should help and support those who are victims of this cruel condition. Sophie’s contribution was particularly moving – Kirk was remembered every day; he would have been 50 next year, and she reminded us that the main cause of death for men under 50 is suicide.

Beverley, Kirk’s aunt, then added a few apposite words before we were told that we had to leave the building by 4:00 p.m; no detention on this occasion, then! Being Old Wilsonians, someone suggested we adjourn to a pub, and ‘The Greyhound’ was the agreed venue where Jim Lloyd confessed that he once set fire to Andy Udale and had to explain his behavior to Fred ‘Eric’ Massey.

This caused your correspondent to recall an incident involving Alan Wilson, one of the Class of ’56, earlier compared to a lift attendant - do keep up - who used to travel to the school by bus with a friend who went to Archbishop Tennyson’s, which overlooks the Oval Cricket Ground. Alan, of course, getting off at Wilson Rd, a few stops before his friend.

One morning his mate exclaimed that he did not fancy going to school that day and suggested that he and Alan get off at the next stop and return to his home where “My mum can supply us with coffee, cake, and fags all day.” Initially, Alan was reluctant but was eventually persuaded to agree to his friend’s idea, and they left the bus.

The following day both of the miscreants had recovered from their ‘illness’ and returned to their respective schools, and, upon arrival, Alan was approached by the deputy headmaster who exclaimed: “Come and see me in the morning break, Wilson.” Somewhat perplexed, Alan dutifully did what he was told, and Eric asked: “Did you enjoy your coffee, cake, and fags yesterday?” An astonished Alan responded, “Yes, but how did you know?” “I was sitting behind you on the bus,” came the stern reply.

Move the clock forward less than 24 hours, and a vast array of talent was assembled to take part in ‘The Kirk Benjamin Memorial Trophy,’ a game of football played between the Old Wilsonians Super Vets and Arts Network, a game in which Kirk used to play on a regular basis and now a twice a season event. The OWs scored after three minutes and were 4-0 up at half-time, and although the visitors pulled one back soon after the restart, the hosts ran out comfortable 9-1 victors, a score that was not representative of the game – it seemed that the home side converted every chance they had, while the visitors created equally positive chances but the ball just would not go in.

But the result is/was irrelevant, the significance, and for both sides, is all that matters. Thanks, as ever, to Phil Gilmore for refereeing and, as ever, for donating his fee towards the £5,000 we need to raise towards ‘The Benjamin Room.’ So many others, too numerous to mention, have also been equally generous to the extent that we are now more than halfway towards our total and, with the use of ‘Gift Aid,’ we will get even closer.

So ended three important days in the life of Old Wilsonians, but what had we learned? The Class of ’56 are still alive and kicking, although we are all aware that kicking a football is no longer possible. The school is thriving, with outstanding facilities and is looking after and supporting those with mental health issues. The Super Vets again got the better of Arts Network on the football field, but the event is far more important than the result. Looking forward, we are determined to promote the OWA to the school – some solid bricks have already been built, and although there is still much work to be done, the future looks good as far as this is concerned - there is already talk of resurrecting the Old Boys Dinner and for it to be held at the school.

Terry and Janet have recovered from their bout of Covid.