This Site Was Last Updated on Saturday, 07 November 2009
Site Owner - Stephen Smith
Barrie in 1974
Barrie in 2005
When did you teach at Priory?
1973-76
Who were your most unforgettable colleagues?
Priory buzzed with interesting colleagues. Pat Bourke was an inspiration - ahead of his time in terms of counselling - what a gentle, perceptive, inspiring man. Then there was Andy Rashleigh - drama - who galvanised Priory productions - Nora Hernould whose passion for theatre led to us touring from Montego Bay to the backwoods of Jamaica with a Victorian Melodrama ('Gaslight')
Patrick Bourke and Norah Hernould
Who were your best friends at Priory?
Jim and Jenny Gervasio, Chris and Pascale Scrimpshire, Colin Lago, and Andy Rashleigh, Ruth Popple (awarded an MBE in the 2005 Queen's Honours list!) We shared a host of memorable experiences.
Colin Skrimshire and Ruth Popple
Who are you in touch with now?
The Gervasios, Chris Skrimshire, Andy Rashleigh, Colin Lago, Ruth and Tony Popple. We are close friends with the Moyers and have been since leaving Jamaica - Spent summer 2005 in US with Judy (mother) Amy, Zoe , and Harold (Priory 73-76)) and their families.
Amy Moyers and Sue Day 2005
Jim and Jenny Gervasio
What's the wildest thing you ever did at Priory?
Got lost in the Cockpit Country on an expedition from south to north - Spent the night in semi jungle under the stars with battalions of mosquitoes!
Cockpit Country
Who was the craziest person during your time at Priory?
Can't think of anyone I'd class as 'crazy' . I just loved the mix of races, people types and the Jamaican culture - what a melting pot it was!
Where do you live and what do you do now?
I live in near Carlisle in the north of England. I've been Head of English in a secondary school since 1985. Taught in Miami in 1984 on a teacher exchange. Still trying to get published as a novelist - but wrote a fairly successful school text book - Mixed Media OUP 2001 - and might do more. Enjoy cycling, photography, learning classical guitar and travelling.
Tell us about any significant others
We became close friends with Katie and Philippe Megevand (ran the Continental Restaurant in Kingston) and their daughters Katerina whom I taught younger sister Regine - played endless games of table tennis with Philippe at their Irish Town house at weekends lubricated with some find French wines!
Barrie and Sue 2005
Tell us about your most unusual meeting with a Priory person
No unusual meetings but our ongoing friendship with the Moyers has been wonderful - they're our transatlantic family whom we see regularly in the US of ~England - they're coming over for my son James' wedding in July.
What do you think of the Priory site?
It's marvellous. Just last week I had an email from former student Charlene Purcell who lives in Alabama. What a delight to rekindle the memories and be remembered fondly too. That's really special.
Charlene Purcell
Click here to e-mail Stephen Smith
© Stephen Smith 2009