Awesome teachers
The euphoria of my having done well in the eleven plus in the late 1950s very quickly turned to despair after the first term at the very posh girls’ school to which I was ‘privileged’ to win a scholarship. It was a dreadful place.

The one saving grace was the music teacher, who was inspiring, kind and very entertaining. One thing she did was allow us to bring in our pop records (45rpm vinyl singles in those days) to the musical appreciation lessons, so that the likes of the Beatles and Manfred Mann were given as much respect as Mozart and Beethoven. This sort of thing was frowned on by several parents, but she said good music was good music wherever it came from. This has stayed with me to the extent that I can appreciate a lovely tune regardless of the source. We felt she was on our side, especially after she hinted that she didn't like the head mistress - a Thatcher-like hag who was hated by all pupils and parents. She - the music teacher - was also the best choir mistress I've ever known and there are many happy memories of choir concerts (we were well known locally and much in demand). If it hadn’t been for her I’m not sure I’d have survived my teens.

Having assumed all my former teachers were long dead I was flabbergasted to discover she was still alive, so I got in touch and last week we met. Apart from her hair now being white, she’s hardly changed in 46 years. We had a lovely nostalgic chat and a good laugh.

Thank you Miss W for saving my life…..
(grumpy old ratbag, Fri 18 Mar 2011, 10:28, 5 replies)

You're old
She seems like a proper music teacher. Our music teacher told us that there is no such thing as shit music, just personal tastes and prejudices.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Fri 18 Mar 2011, 10:32, closed)

your teacher was wrong
mostly there is personal taste and prejudice, but some music is just plain shit.

I give you Jedward.

and most stuff by U2.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 18 Mar 2011, 10:39, closed)

Aw
Lovely. I'd like to see some of my old teachers and I'm versy much sure they're still alive (I'm in my twenties), but I've never made the effort. Good to know you could get in touch so much later on.
(SnowyTheWereRabbit the Leporid from Hell, Fri 18 Mar 2011, 10:59, closed)

And then you lezzed up, right?

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 18 Mar 2011, 11:03, closed)

Last night a DJ saved my life

(Monkey the Chicken Twitter: death_stairs, Fri 18 Mar 2011, 17:43, closed)