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Bushy Tales Dedicated to all who attended London Central High School in Bushy Park, London England from 1952 to 1962 |
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| Issue #7 |
September 2002 |
Volume #2 |
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Gary Schroeder (55), Editor gschroeder_uscgaux@email.msn.com |
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| 1953 - Jackie (Brown) Kenny
JKYKNY@aol.com 1954 – Betsy (Neff) Cote JPACOTE@aol.com 1955 – Nancie (Anderson) Weber nanciet@inland.net 1956 - Glenda F. Drake gfdrake@swbell.net 1957 – Celeste (Plitouke) Brodigan Mbrodi1939@aol.com 1958 – Pat (Terpening) Owen nemoamasa@worldnet.att.net 1959 - Jerry Sandham Jerry.Sandham@aig.com 1960 - Ren Briggs renpat1671@uneedspeed.net 1961 - Betsy (Schley) Slepetz sbslepetz@erols.com 1962 - Dona (Hale) Ritchie DonaRitchi@aol.com Roster ChangesEditors Note: In the article from Bev Gehrett Wagner (58) on the last page of the August Newsletter I made a mistake in the email address. It should be packrat2@aol.com From Betsy Neff Cote' (54) Nancy Reed Robinson (56) Drop the INDECOU@cs.com. That goes with my DeCou name which I have changed-that is changed not married or gone back to my maiden name. Robinson is the name of my sons. Their father died in 1962. Daret Matthews Rainmann (59) Dick Ackerman (59) George W. Bishop (60) (be sure to put "England" in the subject
line) George W. Bishop (60) Tom Breitbarth found George Bishop in the Atlanta area; George attended LCHS from 1957-59 and he's a 1960 Graduate. His home phone is 770-423-1215. George does not have his own e-mail address; however, you can use his son's e-mail address if you put the word "England" in the subject line Sandra Lee Pitt (60) Karen Russelavage Pelzman (60) Robert S. (Bob) Buning (61) Rae Jean Whipple Reagan (David) (62) New
address Look Who We FoundMarianna (Bramlitt) Glantzberg (Frederic) (55) Bettie Whitehurst Tipton(56) Harold D. Defreece (57) Jacqueline Holder Asher (57) James "Jim" R. Bass (58) Ronald Holmes (58) Stephen G. McElroy (58) Rachael Hockett (59) Emma Jo ("Jo") Barrett (61) She is now Jo Maas, in Anchorage, Alaska. Jo attended LCHS from 1957-59, first as a "Dormie" from RAF Bentwaters and later as a Town student after her Dad transferred to South Ruislip. She's a 1961 Graduate. To quote Jo, "I'm still in a state of shock"! Jo's husband's name is David, her e-mail address is maas1@ptialaska.net Her mailing address is 8931 Winchester St., Anchorage, Alaska 99507, and her HP is (907) 274-1329. She's very interested in future gatherings. Carol Mihalik (62) I attended Bushy Park in 1960-61, and graduated from Lakenheath it's first year. My brother Andrew "Drew" lives in Santa Cruz, CA and is a General Practitioner. I am a retired elementary school teacher. Joseph David ("Dave") Smith (62) He attended LCHS 58-59, and is a 1962 Graduate. His mailing address is 17643 Grey Moss Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70817, and his phone number is (225) 756-5071. He, too, is interested in future gatherings. Raymond Lee Curry (60) Alternate address and phone number: 2422 NW 36 St., Patricia Donahue Daoust (Jim) (60) Margaret Bouterse Clement (Parley) (61) Stanley A. Deuel (61) Andrew "Drew" Mihalek (61) Thomas P. "Tom" Williams, II (61) Basil E. Neal (61) Robert Brain (62) Harvey C. “H.C.” Dorney (62) Joseph "Joe" Garcia (62) Carol Mihalek (62) Valerie Buckingham Long (Spencer) (62) Lawrence M. Burns (62) Frank Hlavacek (62) Kathlee Knopke Bryan (N. William) (62) Classmates
Who Have Transferred Our love and prayers go out to the family and friends of our classmates who have gone on before us. We will miss them, yet we can find comfort in knowing that one-day we will all join them for the greatest of all reunions Robert Deuel (59) - deceased per brother Stanley Look Who Is Looking For WhoFrom Gary Schroeder (55) (Your editor) Gschroeder_uscgaux@msn.com Does anyone know what happened to Bob Parker class of 53 or 54? From Jack Murphy (57) MSarge2383@aol.com I would like to find the following individuals, if
they would only respond. Maybe
you can find someone who knows where they are: John H. Madsen (57). Originally from Manchester, New
Hampshire. From Penny Cris Ohrman Bernstein (61) Premierevent@charleston.net
Another great newsletter. While I was over there for 8th and 9th grade and most of the names I don't know or remember, we are all connected by the overseas experience and the military life of our families. It's great to read the stories. This week - Aug. 3 I head to Minnesota for 5 days to
see a friend from my days here in Charleston just after I graduated from
high school. My friend is a
Weisbaden graduate and we will be traveling to the north of Minnesota for
two days to stay with my music and physical education teachers from my
days in Bitburg who met and married in Bitburg.
We've traveled a lot of miles and a lot of memories in between the
years and we are all connected by that overseas experience. Again, thank
you for the news. Hope
someone out there finds or remembers Edwina Edwards and Sharon
"Tiny" Swim...the two I'd love to find. Good News We Want To ShareFrom Pat Terpening Owen (58) nemoamasa@worldnet.att.net This was received by Pat Terpening Owen on August 1 so was too late to put in the August newsletter, but did put a cover on the 1959-62 classes when the newsletter was sent out. The second message was received later. Bill Percy (61) dbpercy@iquest.net Say your prayers this morning for Bill Percy--- he is having heart surgery at St. Vincent's in Indianapolis. Came up suddenly last week on a routine visit to the family Dr. who didn't like the sound of his heart. He has 5 blockages in 2 separate arteries so they are placing stints in each of the 5 places --- blockages are from 95% to 20% but thank the Lord that he has not had a heart attack. Thanks in advance for the prayers, Donna P. -------- Thanks for the note --- we are "home" now; Bill is resting fine but will have limitations for the next 3 weeks. No driving for a week, no lifting for 2-3 weeks --- but should recover from there without problems other than watching diet, exercise, etc. as we have already been doing. He definitely inherited the tendencies for plaque build up in the arteries but at least it was caught prior to having a bad attack and having bi-passes with open heart surgery. Will keep you updated ---- for now all is well.... Memories
of Bushy
From Ruth (Lund) Bethea (55) RBethea@FDIC.gov When going up to NJ recently I saw the USS United States in the water as I drove on the Pennsylvania side of I-95. She's a sad sight right now. Our family went to England on her in October 1952 and she was lovely. We were traveling in tourist class BUT our dog was with us and she was near the First Class area (talk about a dog's life). I would walk around watching the ladies in their evening clothes or beautiful daytime outfits and stopped at the card table (being an avid bridge, pinochle, poker, and canasta player) to watch the play. That was where I met my canasta partner..... I played canasta the whole 5 days with the first woman in Australian Parliament.....and the reason she continued to play with a "child" of 15 was that WE WON. I don't think we lost a game the whole trip! I wasn't impressed THEN with her status… From Donald Miller (54) donaldm1@comcast.net I've been noticing all the notes people sent in regarding the SS United States. I was wondering how many other ships were used by the Military Sea Transport Service (MSTS) during that era. For example: I sailed on the mighty 18,000 ton, SS La Guardia from Ft. Hamilton NY to South Hampton. It was a chartered ship with a merchant marine crew and a Navy Special Services detachment to assist with taking care of the dependents, most of whom were wives and children going to Bremerhaven to join their husbands. Seven glorious days, more or less, in the stormy North Atlantic in September. Great fun when you're 16 years old, and not seasick. From Gary Schroeder (55) (Your Editor) Gschroeder_uscgaux@msn.com My family traveled to England on the USS George W. Goethels (spelling) and it took us 9 days from New York to South Hampton. Mother, brother and sister did fine but I felt sick the whole time. Ate every meal and did not throw up, but spent almost the entire trip in a deck chair feeling bad. The last night we arrived in South Hampton and it was too fogy to dock so we spent the night anchored in the harbor. All during the trip the girl that sat across from me at meals would laugh and joke about me being seasick, while the ship rocked and rolled. On the last morning before we docked we were served breakfast. The water was flat as a plate and the ship didn’t move a bit. When they brought us our breakfast the girl sitting across from me (the one who joked about me being seasick the whole trip) threw up in her plate. Ladies and gentlemen that was the only time in the whole trip I lost it, and it was all over the table and her. Not a pretty story, but a vivid memory. Just goes to prove that there is justice for all. Nancy Reed Robinson (56) Nrobininin@cs.com
London,
England was our destination in August of 1953 after the news and fanfare
about the coronation. We sailed on the Henry Gibbins, a troop transport.
It was loaded with troops going to Germany and an assortment of military
families with various destinations. We had boarded from Brooklyn Navy Yard
so our adventure included watching the troops being loaded aboard for
hours and finding our ‘state rooms’ with the barest of necessities. I
was placed separately from the rest of my family on a lower deck with
other teenage girls among whom I believe were Nanci Anderson, Betsey
Campbell and Mari Anna Bramlett. I think Jane Allen was there too. When we docked our family went to Kensington to a lovely flat with television, an au pair, and a park in the middle of the square across the street that required a key for admittance. When my dad relieved Commander Galbraith as assistant Naval Attaché billeted at the American Embassy in Grouvner Square. He also inherited his house at 9 Grey Close in Hampstead Garden Suburb, a whippet named Sandy, a gardener, char, and housekeeper and the expectation that our family would be entertaining the British, French and Belgians involved in minesweeping and torpedo operations. This meant lots of company and trips to the countryside to socialize with English families. Regularly we went to the American Embassy which stood in a square with a bombed out building at each corner. The war did not seem over when I would see those silent reminders. In no time I was enrolled in the local British Private school, (meaning it was free), Dame Henrietta Barnett’s School for Girls and I was dressed in my uniform including jumper, beret, blazer, white blouse and knickers. I was the only American though there had been someone named Jackie there a year or two before. The school was old and very interesting though always cold. Paper was rationed so when I took class notes in my little (like an exam blue book) notebook in ink, I was not expected to make an error, however, I did not meet expectations. In literature my teacher was Welsh and we had to have one of the other girls translate for us since I could not understand her or she me. I was asked to read almost daily since she wanted to hear my Southern accent. The book was the Count of Monte Cristo. I had read it the summer before and liked it but the reading it in front of the class had to go. Finally, I refused to read and that was that. (I guess that refusing to do as told was something they figured unruly American kids did.) I enjoyed most of my classes. (They excused me from French because I was already so far behind.) I loved the sports and art, history, and science. I was not good at British geography, math that included business math, algebra, geometry, and tigmometry, or third year Latin. (I also became a terrible speller with all those funny pronunciations and u’s thrown in everywhere!) The other students were preparing for their exams for university the following year. It is amazing even now to realize the pressure that 14-16 year old students must experience as they try to make it into university. The alternative was also surprising. At sixteen the following year many of my classmates were in trade school and working. (The following year I was at Bushy Park as a junior.) At the end of
the year two interesting things happened. The school put on a play, Julius
Caesar and I was asked to play the part of the third citizen.
English humor was in this selection for when I did my line the
whole audience would burst out laughing. The other was the school dance.
It was the first dance ever for most of the girls and they were very
nervous about it. I realized how easy my life had been in comparison. The
next year while at Bushy Park I was invited back and I went and even took
some American friends. Going to a British school was tough but it was a valuable experience that has supported me in the rest of my life. I am a teacher with curriculum services experience. When we started doing exchanges with New Zealand I found it easy to relate to the people and housed a few. Later I was invited to New Zealand because I was not like an American whatever that means. From Donald H. Crews (59) Dhcrews@juno.com Here's another little story. I hope it reminds others of one they can share. Last month I promised a Nancy Reed ('55) story. The Reeds were neighbors of ours, in Hampstead Garden
Suburbs (NW11), and their house was close to Hampstead Heath. The time
must have been spring of '55. Nancy was a Junior, I was in 8th grade, and
Nancy's sister Elizabeth must have been in 7th. Nancy told the older kids (the gang in the back of the bus), that her folks were going out for the evening, soooo, "let's have a SNIPE HUNT". "Everyone's invited!" "Meet at her house at 11:00pm." That night I told my folks I was going to a movie at Golders Green. A "man-of-the-world", I knew what a "snipe hunt" was, so I packed a small bag with a change of rough cloths, and went to my movie. I walked to Nancy's house afterward, arriving about 11:30pm, and knocked on the door. Who answers the door but her Mom. She wants to know why I'm knocking on her door in the middle of the night. I'm so befuddled that I sound like a Porky Pig imitation. It all comes out! I vaguely recall her saying something like, "SO!
THAT'S where the girls are!", and she sent me home. Nancy got yelled
at, but not so much for the "hunt" as for involving "little
kids". I was humiliated, being a "man-of-the-world" and
all. Next time I'll tell a Teddy Boy story. Where Are They?This is the fifth part of the list of who we are
looking for in the Class of ’62.
Mini Reunions
Editors Note:
The next three years (2003 – 2005) will be the 50th
anniversaries for the 1953, 1954 and 1955 classes.
Are any of these classes planning a 50th reunion?
Should we look at having one big one to cover all three years?
Just something for everyone to think about.
Let me know. From Sherry (Burritt) Konjura (57) sherger@juno.com
Sherry Konjura (57) & Steve Warner (58) Mini Bios From Jim Defrees (59) jkiller2945@cox.net My father was transferred stateside in the spring of 56'. He received a medical discharge that fall while stationed at Forbes AFB in Topeka, KS. I then began a "normal" life of not always wondering where home would be next or when I would be moving. Graduated from high school in Topeka and then went to Kansas State where I received my BS in Bus. Admin. From Joseph Van Ryzin (62) Joe-diane@hiawaii.rr.com I go back to London about once a year. Did not get out to Bushy Park – but I did get to my old neighborhood around Kensington South Street and Nottinghill Gate. London - England actually - is really getting expensive, even for those of us used to Hawaiian prices! Other data on me: Wife - Diane - Children (now adults) - Henrik and Karl. We’ve been living in Hawaii for 30 years. Left Bushy Park and went to Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh. After that, went to University of Rhode Island and got a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering. Then on to Hawaii - work for Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. in Waimanalo, Hawaii. From Tom Williams (61) TomW@LogicGen.com
Hi Wanda, I was fooling around on the computer here; plugged in Central High Bushy Park and found my sister, Judith Sandra Williams on the commencement list for 1960, Sandy and I were civilians who attended in 1960 and '61 before returning to the States. (She in 1960, me in 1961 to attend college). I went by the name Bill Williams, though my given name is Thomas P. Williams II. Snooty, huh? I am going to forward "Sandra" the list mentioned above. We were dorm students; lived up by St. Albans. Our parents were there about another 5 years after we left; Dad was employed by General Motors Overseas, and worked at Vauxhall until returning to the States in 1965. Sandy and family live in Lawrence KS. She just celebrated her 60th. birthday, her 40th wedding anniv. (TODAY, in fact!), and her second oldest is marrying on September 19th. She and husband Don have lived life to the fullest since their marriage in 1962, and are very successful in all respects. Both are lawyers; she additionally obtained a nursing degree at Duke, and a Masters degree at Wasburn University. I live in (near) Portland, OR; been here for 30 years now. I work for a CD replication Company, and have really enjoyed it over the past 12 years. We grew from 3 people to 60 full timers in that period. I admit to not being very technical; hope to retire soon when we sell the business. No particular future plans at this time, except to learn how to ride a motorcycle I bought for myself a couple weeks ago. My 25 year old daughter married 1 year, working on a Masters degree in Long Beach, CA) and her mother ( my ex... and very good friend) think it's a real hoot to see me try to reverse the aging process! One BIG reason I thought it would be fun to contact you. In looking through the photos at the website, I saw 2 girls I dated at Bushy way back then… Diane Watson and Leslie Benson. They were both real characters; very fun and cheerful. I will never forget that Diane decided to call me "Bloopie" for some reason. It was always "Hiya, Bloopie", with a big smile/toothy grin on her face! We were a pair…Leslie was fun, but much more serious, as I recall. My home email is home.tw@verizon.net if you care to respond. I recall a couple of my classmates: Steve Barnabe (y) ? and my roommate, Danny Koonz (sp)
This and ThatGail Kelly (Faculty) Some time back I was at a teacher-party and I saw this handsome chap with white-white hair - I asked him who he was because I didn't recognize him - and it was PAUL FRANCIS - his head of dark black hair had turned completely white, but he's lost none of it - he teased me the rest of the party - because OF COURSE I knew him - we were great mates in the Bushy Park days...I believe he bought one of my husband's paintings even - great story - cheers, Gail From Bill English (57) ametalartist@yahoo.com Gary, here is a little something you might put in and see if it jogs anybody’s memory. I joined the Navy in '56 and was stationed at NAS Alameda in '58 in a Fighter Squadron, VF-64. I had a friend named Nelson, a 3rd class Aviation Electricians Mate, who was writing to a girlfriend attending Bushy Park that year. I don't know her name or what grade she was in, but I'm assuming she was probably a junior or senior that year. Nelson sent her pictures of us, she wrote back and said somebody, probably a teacher, who was still there remembered me. There could only be one girl who had a boyfriend named Nelson at NAS Alameda in 1958. Maybe she, or one of her friends will read this and remember it. From Pat Terpening Owen (58) nemoamasa@worldnet.att.net I sent an e-mail to Dona Hale Ritchie (62) Donaritchi@aol.com and she told me that the message had a virus (I run a virus program every day, so knew I didn't have one). I've also received virus e-mails from others from Bushy but just delete them. I received the following back and thought it might be something that would be of interest to others. It's possible someone is maliciously trolling for emails to send viruses to, but more likely someone in the group has a virus, and it's going out to all the others. The viruses use your address book as well as your saved email to capture the addresses and send itself out without any intervention from you. Yes, it's very important we just protect our own systems. Maybe this is a good tidbit for the next Bushy Tales! From Bill English (57) Ametalartist@yahoo.com September 11, 2002 - A Way To Honor Our Nation Together September 11, 2002 is soon approaching. On that day, please wear red, white and blue to work or school to show your support for those who lost their lives on 9~11~01 and to honor the heroes who worked to save them and the families left behind. At noon your time on September 11, 2002, no matter where you are, or what you are doing, stop, put your hand on your heart, and say the Pledge of Allegiance out loud or to yourself, and say a prayer for our nation. If all of us do this together in every time zone around the world, we will have a powerful chain of thoughts surrounding us. Please keep this going to your friends and family. By September 11, 2002 hopefully enough people will have read this, and will join together in unity. God Bless the U.S.A. From Connie (Haave) Saunders (58) Deeny@vvm.com Black
and white
From Anita Johnson (60) anita42phil@msn.com I was just looking at the Bushy
Park.org website looking for a history and photos of Bushy Park -- but
I didn't see it listed anywhere.
Does anyone have a history on-line that I can access and read.
Is it on another site? After all these years, I find I'm a bit ignorant of the school's history. Remember, a lot of us just got bussed there and then bussed back to the base. We usually arrived in the dark and left in the dark. (I'm still in the dark !!) I'd like to visit the site when I go to London in two years and would like an update on the actual location in the London area and any memorial plaques. I'd appreciate all you had and wish you had some info on the Bushy Park website also. Thanks a million, Anita Hardy Johnson (The above was sent to
Wanda (Castor) De Vary. She
sent the note below. Great
idea. Anyone out there that can help?) From: Wanda Castor De Vary (60) mumszie@earthlink.net I have sent her the one address where we do have a
picture but of course it is just a field.
I know several other people have gone back to visit but I cannot
for the life of me remember who. I
suggested she put a message in the guest book.
I am forwarding this on to you guys in case you might have other
information for her. If
someone would like to write a history along with pictures I would be glad
to add it to our site. Gary,
you might bring that up in the next newsletter and perhaps we might get
several people to donate what they know and pictures.
It would be great if someone had a picture of the plaque that is
there. I am going to email
one of the guys that lives in London and perhaps he could get us one. I have emailed all over the place to people that
still live in London and even if they live in England.
I have also emailed the school but of course they are not in
session at the moment so that probably won't get an answer for some time.
I bet the librarian has some sort of history of the school. We have had a couple of really good articles written
by people that have a wonderful and sometimes comedic style of writing.
I have even asked people that live there if it would be possible to
get some photos of how it looks now including the plaque so now we just
have to wait and see what we get. Comments
From You Our Readers From Gail L Welch (54) glwelch2@juno.com Hello to all the Bushy Park grads. (especially 54).
I’ve often wondered about the friends I made while there. I saw
classmates on the computer one night and decided to check it out. Put in
my name, email, etc. The next day I had an email from Pat (Terpening)
Owen. She told me about the Web Site, and the newsletter. Pat you are
responsible for me being able to get in touch with so many of my friends.
THANK YOU.I hope to hear from even more. My brother Henry Lemmon (57) was
killed in an automobile accident. I’m living in S.C. where I grew up. I
am a widow. Harold and I had 5 children who are all grown and married.
Have 9 grandchildren and 5 step-grand children. Imagine the crowd when we
all get together. All of them live here in S.C., except the youngest boy.
He lives in Red Oak, Texas, not to far from Dallas. Well I hope to hear
from some of you soon. From Julene Church Suttles (61) julenems@hotmail.com Pat, Hello! No,
we've never met, but that sure did not keep me from getting that choked-up
feeling and teary-eyed as I read the note you sent yesterday. Thanks so
much! I read the attached newsletter -- it came through
beautifully -- then spent a couple hours pouring over the bushypark.org
website. My goodness... even
reading the updates and messages posted by folks I didn't know seemed like
finding long-lost "family"...
I'm amazed also that I'm finding names of folks who were not at
Bushy at the same time I was, but whom I'd known earlier in junior high in
Puerto Rico, elementary school at Offutt AFB in Nebraska, etc. How unique and precious those years were, and how
lucky we "brats" are now to have friends like you folks to
remind us and help us get back together! I lived in Maidenhead from January 1960 through
graduation in 1961, when my father retired from the Air Force and we
returned to The States. Living
a 1 1/4+ hour bus ride from school, I had many more opportunities to spend
time after school and on weekends with my English friends than with fellow
Bushyites... Blessings, Pat, and thank you again for all your work in preserving memories... I will most assuredly keep in touch... From Nanette Simpson Cousyn (62) Jcousyn@silverlink.net
Certainly have been enjoying Bushy Tales. Brings back such memories!! Thanks for keeping us all in touch!!!! (Editors Note: Please, if you change your e-mail address (or move) let Gary or Pat know so you can continue to get the newsletter. Also, if you let us know, we don't get as many rejected e-mail addresses when we send out the letter. Really appreciate everyone's help on this one. |
Don’t’ forget to check the Guest Book on
the Bushy Park web site at:
http://www.bushypark.org/
