Crossing the bar
“Crossing the bar” refers to the death of a Mariner. The phrase has its origin in the fact that most rivers and bays develop a sandbar across their entrances and “crossing the bar” meant leaving the safety of the harbour for the unknown.
2010. John (Joe) Wallace, Howard House, No. 38, passed away on 11th March, 2010, at his home in Irthlingborough, Northants after a long illness.
He leaves two daughters and four grandchildren of whom he was very, very proud.
John joined PSTS in 1954, he was an extremely good athlete being in the Gym team and winning cups for swimming and diving. He was also a good boxer and thanks to "Bandy" Joyce, found he had a musical talent being a drummer and cornet player in the school band and in later years became an accomplished guitar player.
Although a very independent man, he made friends easily and had a ready wit, he was a very generous man a good and loyal friend and a devoted Tottenham Hotspur fan.
It was mainly from his idea and his generosity that this web-site came into being.
John had a hard time before he came to PSTS, so I have included a passage that he wrote for this site, sadly we will not get Part 2.
It was 1954 when I arrived at PSTS and was placed in Howard House and given the number 38. Under the very watchful eyes of smile a minute Bert Busby. It was a unhappy time for me and I'll try to explain how and why I became a Dr Barnardo's boy.
Like the rest of the lads there, we were born in the middle of a bloody war. I came into the world in the April 1942. My father who was a Royal Marine Gunner was serving aboard HMS Cairo on the Malta Convoys. On the 12-8-1942 four months after I was born, the Cairo was torpedoed and my father lost his life in that action. We never saw each other. Towards the end of the war, my mother remarried. As things go, a really bad move. My stepfather was a wicked bully. I was often beaten for trivial things and when mum tried to intervene she in turn was also beaten. Hospital visits were all to often and I can still recall my mum with terrible black and blue
eyes. I'd like to point out. In those days it was not a criminal offence to lay into the wife and kids, to the police, it was just a domestic and took no action. It was after one particular beating which I have no memory of I woke up in hospital, my mum decided enough, and when I was well grabbed a few things and we fled. I was 8yrs. Over the next three years we lived in single rooms, only moving when my stepfather traced us. Mum had to work. Not the benefits like there is today. So it was impossible for mum to keep me with her all the time. So I lived with all sorts. Some were kind, others not. I still remember how I cried when mum had to leave me. The knot in the tummy is true. One of the threats often made in those days was, " Behave, of you'll go into a home " a line I'd heard many times. My 11th birthday. Mum was going to take me to the pictures as a treat. Instead we received a visit from the powers to be about me only attending school three months over the last three years. Mum was in a corner and knew it. But she insisted she selected where I went. Where PSTS came from, I've still no idea. But it was mum's choice. The how and why a streetwise kid from London's East End became a Barnardo's boy.
Because I was placed in PSTS and I had no say in the matter, I supposed I looked upon the staff as prison warders. The one exception was Mr Harrington. The PE instructor. Him I liked. The man I had the utmost respect for was Mr. Joyce, band master. Drums and cornet were my instruments, I enjoyed the band. Also enjoyed being a member of the gym team. The only thing that stopped me doing a runner from there was the sport. Always loved playing football, won most of my swimming races lifted the diving cup every year. Came top in my year boxing, (house comps) and was only beaten twice by the same lad Grahame "Dinger" Bell. Once at school and again in Poole Town. Both fights were split decisions. We became the best of friends and we still are. I contacted him around eight years ago and asked for a rematch. He suggested feather dusters at twelve paces. Twelve paces, he's trying to tire me out before I can reach him, dumb he ain't.
About three years ago, I along with another old PSTS boy Richard Eastwood went to a reunion at the old place. There I applied for my records. I was amazed at the amount of lies in them. My mother who was the most wonderful person ever on this or any other planet was berated, while my hateful stepfather drew Brownie Points. No words were ever spoken between Captain Felton and myself. So how could he write such long detailed reports about me ? There is only one way. He went to the same school as Harry Potter. There's plenty more, but, what the hell, that was yesterday. I left PSTS Easter 1957. Went on home leave and when it was time to return, said " sod it " I'm going to run my own life from now. So as us Cockneys put it. " I was on me bike down the old frog and toad "
From Parkstone to Irthlingborough, Northants. Later !!!!
So, goodbye John, it was great knowing you, I bet you've got the best seat at White Hart Lane, stay lucky.
2009 Ray Sandford 34 Howard House, passed away on 13th June 2009 after a stroke. The service took place at Poole Crematorium at 2pm. On the 26th June 2009 and was conducted by Jacqui Masserella. It was nice to see so many of Ray's mates from the Labour Club in attendance and the Chapel was quite full for the service. Afterwards we filed out to see the floral tributes sent by family members and friends. We then returned to Hamworthy Labour Club for the wake. Where again I got into conversation with several of Ray's mates. It was very touching to notice that the place where Ray always sat to do his crossword puzzles and quizzes was left vacant.
Ray joined PSTS in 1951 aged eleven. Whilst there he was a trombonist in the band, led by Bandy Joyce one of our favourite officers. He was also a good athlete, being joint holder of the Victor Laudoram in 1955.
He left PSTS in November 1955, to attend NSTS Gravesend, training as a steward for the Merchant Navy. However this was not for Ray who joined the Royal Navy at the end of training. Ray left the Royal Navy to join civilian life and settle down with his wife Anne. They lived in Hamworthy, Poole. Just around the corner from Bert Busby and his wife.
Ann has his ashes at home at the moment and when appropriate she will scatter them at sea as was Rays wishes.
2008 Leslie Daniel Sayer The Funeral took place on Friday 14th November 2008 Leslie died peacefully on November 1st at the age of 93. A family funeral service was held at Colchester Crematorium followed by a Thanksgiving Service at St Mary’s Church, Bures which was attended by David Allsop and Derek Cooley as representatives of the Sea Schools Association. Les was born in the village of Jevington in Sussex in 1915 and shortly after his birth was taken in by Barnardo's. He was fostered until he was old enough to be admitted to Watts Naval Training School in North Elmsett, Norfolk. On leaving Watts Les joined the Royal Navy as Signal Boy in 1931 and from 1933-35 he saw service on HMS Exeter (Home Fleet) and HMS Cape Town – two years on China Station. In 1937 he transferred to the Fleet Air Arm as a TAG (Telegraphist Air Gunner). In 1941 he joined 825 Squadron on HMS Victorious flying Swordfish which attacked the Bismark, obtaining a hit for which he was awarded the DSM.
He retired from the Navy in 1945 and joined BEA as a Flight Radio Officer and in 1946 he helped form the Telegraphist Air Gunners Association where he became chairman and later President and was subsequently awarded an MBE. The funeral was well attended the church being full to overflowing and amongst many tributes was one by Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns KCB CBE, Second Sea Lord retired, John Beattie. Les leaves a widow Valerie, brother Vic and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
To view a little more information click here
Basil Cozens passed away 12th November 2007 aged 89. In accordance with his wishes, only his daughters Christine and Alison attended the crematorium.
Basil attended Russell-Cotes Nautical School from 1930-33 and The William Baker Technical School, Goldings from 1933-37. He was an able boy, both in his studies and on the sports field, playing in the soccer and cricket teams as well as being a member of the gymnastics display team. After his initial disappointment at not being able to join the Merchant Navy because of poor eyesight, he became a printer in Guildford. With the support of his local church, he attended theological college in Manchester and became a congregational minister. Marrying Margaret in 1944, they lived much of their working life in Coventry with their three daughters. Leaving the church in 1960, Basil taught English and Business Studies at the Coventry Technical College. He was one of the first students of the Open University in the early 1970s, graduating in 1975 with a BA. He had many interests, chief among which were a love of cryptic crosswords (both completing and compiling) and a quiet thirst to understand the meaning of life which led him to read the work of many religious thinkers, philosophers and ‘big bang’ scientists. In his later years, he described himself as a humanist.
Throughout his life he paid tribute to Barnardo's, valuing highly the skills he learned and the values given him. In retirement he volunteered for his local Barnardo's shop for seventeen years. In replying to a letter of thanks for his service in 2003, he wrote:
‘I have Barnardo's to thank for “giving me back a future” in which I have been able to develop my independence and achieve what I am sure would not have been possible without the Homes. My service in the shop is simply the tail end of a longish life in which I have maintained my interest in Barnardo's while they remained ‘Homes’ and beyond.’
He was a loving and supportive father and husband, and celebrated his diamond wedding anniversary with Margaret and his family in 2004. Margaret survives him; she suffers from Alzheimer's disease and is in care.
2007 Reginald Herbert Knapp “Reg” passed away on 10th September 2007, just two months short of his 101st birthday. He was born on 14th November 1906 in Brighton, the youngest of three children. Sadly, he was orphaned at the aged of four, when both his parents died within a few months of each other. Reg, along with his elder brother were sent to Dr Barnardo’s home Boys Garden City at Woodford Bridge while his elder sister was sent to the Girls Village Home Barkingside. When he was nearly 13 Reg was sent to the Watts Naval Training School where he stayed until he was 17. He then went to Liverpool and joined the Merchant Navy where he was a wireless operator (in 1929 he became the Senior Wireless Operator on SS Phemius).
In 1934 Reg left the Merchant Navy to join civilian life and lived in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. In 1940 Reg married Olive and they had two daughters. They lived all their married life in Newton Longville, near Bletchley, Buckinghamshire.
At the outbreak of war in 1939 Reg volunteered to return to sea as a radio operator. He spent three months in the Home Guard before being offered a position by Marconi to operate their equipment aboard ship. He considered himself very lucky that he went through the war without seeing any trouble. On Christmas Eve 1945 he docked at Newcastle. It was to be the end of life at sea for Reg.
Reg was a family man, loving and caring, young at heart and loved children. When Olive died in 2002, Reg went to live with his youngest daughter in Stockport, Lancashire. He spent the last few years of his life in a nursing home in Stockport. Reginald Herbert Knapp is survived by his two daughters, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
2006 John (Tank) Wilcox 213 died suddenly on 9 May aged 75 years, John was born in a Hampshire workhouse, he left his foster parents aged 13 and was admitted to Watts Sea School in 1945, He was a member of the first Sea Schools Committee, John leaves a widow, son and daughter, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren,
2005. John (Coggy) Grantham. Johnson House No.115. At PSTS from 1954 to 1957.Those of you who were at PSTS in these years will remember John as a happy, clever sportsman and scholar, one of the most popular boys ever to attend the school. After PSTS he joined the Royal Navy at H.M.S. Fisgard as an artificer apprentice 6 days after his 15th birthday, passing out from there as Chief Petty Officer Apprentice, and going on to H.M.S. Conder to specialise as an aircraft artificer. By 1967 he was commissioned as an officer and was a helicopter pilot, he trained as a pilot with Prince Charles in 1964, served in Vietnam, leaving the RN in 1974. He then went to work as a pilot for British Exec. Air Services, flying helicopters on the North sea, then in 1980 spent several years flying for the Sultan of Oman’s Air Force.
In 1987 he joined British Caledonian Helicopters, then flew for Bristows. His last stint of flying was for the Saudi Royal Family but by the end of 2003 illness was catching him up.
John had a second life as an “inventor” of various things from shopping trolleys that you could actually steer, to animated cartoon characters for childrens TV.
He lived on a farm near Aberdeen with his highland cattle, Rolls Royce and his workshop taking pride of place .John died at home with his wife, son and daughter by his side. As one of his great friends said, ”the world is a duller place without him, and I, along with many others will miss him terribly”.
2004. Ivan (Paddy) Carson. Broughton House No.109. At PSTS from 1954 to 1957. Many of you will remember Ivan as a bugler, who used to wake us up with Reveille at some unearthly hour of the morning.
He originally came from N.Ireland and was a gifted musician. Well known and greatly respected in his home town of March, Cambs.
Ivan died while undergoing heart surgery at Papworth Hospital on 28th October. 2004, he left a widow, two children and two step-children.
2004. Gerry Bevan. Died suddenly on the 14th May aged 72 Gerry had only moved to Spain some weeks before. Gerry attended Watts between 1944 - 1947 On leaving he joined the Royal Navy where he rose to the rank of Petty Officer. On leaving the Royal Navy Gerry ran his own successful business before retiring.
Gerry and his wife Kay were long standing members of The Sea Schools Association. He was the standard bearer of the white Ensign at the watts Centenary reunion in 2003
1991. Malcolm Allen. Broughton House No.118. At PSTS from 1956 to 1959. Malcolm joined the Royal Navy at H.M.S. Ganges after leaving Parkstone. He served on many ships including H.M.S. Tartar/Fearless/Tiger/Victory/Glamorgan, and the Falklands for 6 months. He served in the RN for thirty years ending as a Chief Gunnery Instructor. Malcolm died on 9th March 1991, he left a widow and two sons.
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound or foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell;
When I embark;For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.Alfred Lord Tennyson 1889
