Thanks to Frank Waller for the photo of the prefects at KGV in 1953.
I left KGV at the end of 1952, with the Cambridge Overseas Leaving Certificate. The others in my year went on to sit for the Matric in 1953. Judith Potter and Corin Crozier were in my class for several years. They were delightful girls, and I am so sorry to see that both have departed.
Judith Potter's father, Arthur Potter, was Headmaster at KGV from 1951 to 1954. Although I got on very well with previous Heads, like Ferguson and Mulchay, Potter seemed to dislike me a great deal. I can't really blame him, as I was an awful brat at that age.
Not long before I was to sit for the Leaving Certificate, Potter called me in to his office and told me that he would not allow me to sit for the exam, because I was too young! Luckily for me, Potter's lovely daughter, Judith, happened to be a few months younger than me! So I told Potter that if I could not sit for the exam, because I was too young, obviously his daughter could not sit for it either. Potter screamed at me to get out of his office... which I promptly did. Yes, I did sit for that exam, and so did Judith.
Many of the boys cruelly called him "Pegleg" Potter. I was told that Potter was a Lieutenant in the trenches in World War One. On the last day of that War, the Armistice had apparently been signed, but the Germans fired a last few shells at the British trenches, and Potter was wounded, losing one of his legs. That would certainly explain why he was such a curmudgeon!
Birth 8 September 1896 Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago (Public Ancestry Tree)
World War I Loss of leg (Public Ancestry Tree)
Passenger List Hong to London 1950
Arthur Potter 54 Civil Servant UK address Whitehall Hotel Montague Street London WC
May Potter 58 [May Cumming Yuille 1892 1978]
Judith Potter 13
Passenger List Hong Kong Avonmouth to Kingston Jamaica November 1954
Arthur Leslie Potter 58 Intended Future Permanent Residence Trinidad
UK Probate Calendar
Arthur Leslie Potter of Moffatts 10 Maidstone Road Pembury Kent died 3 February 1962. Probate to May Cumming Potter widow. Resealed 31 January 1 1963 Trinidad
Children
Ruth Avenel Potter 1 July 1930 Trinidad - 2013 Australia
Anne Potter 1933 Epsom Surrey
Judith May Potter 29 October 1937 Hong Kong - 2008
Comments
Arthur Potter and his daughter, Judith
Thanks to Frank Waller for the photo of the prefects at KGV in 1953.
I left KGV at the end of 1952, with the Cambridge Overseas Leaving Certificate. The others in my year went on to sit for the Matric in 1953. Judith Potter and Corin Crozier were in my class for several years. They were delightful girls, and I am so sorry to see that both have departed.
Judith Potter's father, Arthur Potter, was Headmaster at KGV from 1951 to 1954. Although I got on very well with previous Heads, like Ferguson and Mulchay, Potter seemed to dislike me a great deal. I can't really blame him, as I was an awful brat at that age.
Not long before I was to sit for the Leaving Certificate, Potter called me in to his office and told me that he would not allow me to sit for the exam, because I was too young! Luckily for me, Potter's lovely daughter, Judith, happened to be a few months younger than me! So I told Potter that if I could not sit for the exam, because I was too young, obviously his daughter could not sit for it either. Potter screamed at me to get out of his office... which I promptly did. Yes, I did sit for that exam, and so did Judith.
Many of the boys cruelly called him "Pegleg" Potter. I was told that Potter was a Lieutenant in the trenches in World War One. On the last day of that War, the Armistice had apparently been signed, but the Germans fired a last few shells at the British trenches, and Potter was wounded, losing one of his legs. That would certainly explain why he was such a curmudgeon!
Arthur Leslie Potter 8 September 1896 - 3 February 1962
Birth 8 September 1896 Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago (Public Ancestry Tree)
World War I Loss of leg (Public Ancestry Tree)
Passenger List Hong to London 1950
Arthur Potter 54 Civil Servant UK address Whitehall Hotel Montague Street London WC
May Potter 58 [May Cumming Yuille 1892 1978]
Judith Potter 13
Passenger List Hong Kong Avonmouth to Kingston Jamaica November 1954
Arthur Leslie Potter 58 Intended Future Permanent Residence Trinidad
UK Probate Calendar
Arthur Leslie Potter of Moffatts 10 Maidstone Road Pembury Kent died 3 February 1962. Probate to May Cumming Potter widow. Resealed 31 January 1 1963 Trinidad
Children
Ruth Avenel Potter 1 July 1930 Trinidad - 2013 Australia
Anne Potter 1933 Epsom Surrey
Judith May Potter 29 October 1937 Hong Kong - 2008