Tom Mocek .
This post is dedicated to a man who I spent some time with at Midhurst Grammar School and about whom I realized in later life that I knew very little about. He was a year older than myself and I spent a year age 11/12 in the same dormitory as him, my memories of him as a youth are scant. I was a first year and very green to Boarding Houses and how aggressive they can be. Tom was a gentle soul and would not harm a fly he would rarely speak unless spoken to but was a genuine friend to all that knew him.
We did remain friendly throughout our time together at Midhurst and I do have a memory of he and I experimenting with mundane drugs like aspirin to try to get a high. It did not work, other than it made us frustrated at the time. Fortunately, we did not have access to anything more potent. He was a quiet lad and studious, very intelligent but he kept himself to himself and indulged only very few as friends. He was not anti social, just shunned excessive interaction with others. I regret not seeing him as an adult but this is a great reminder to all of us. If there are people that you remember well, make a point of visiting them before it is too late. If you have a family member or a close friend who is no longer a friend for whatever reason and you have regrets look them up and have a conversation. You may regret it, otherwise.
So having siad very little about Tom I can at least thank him for the Website he set up (see attached link above) which includes a number of Reunions and other Midhurst Grammar school memorabilia. RIP Tom.
I have only found out today that Tom has died.
I was looking up old friends.
I am in touch with three other MGS school friends and hope to meet up in June as I haven’t seen 2 of them for 60 years.
Phil
Who would you like to be in contact with I may be able to help. My email address is chris.cjmatthews@gmail.com
Hi Phil. I remember Tom Mocek too. His father was an RAF officer stationed at RAF Thorney Island in the mid-1960s and his sister Helena was a primary school classmate of mine who was also a gentle soul, and who also passed away a few years ago. I spent a couple of terms at “Chi Hi” before becoming a boarder at Midhurst in April 1965 together with my brother Len Marshall who was Fly Half on the senior rugby XV, and is shown on one of your rugby pics. The RAF paid for us to board at Midhurst because my father was posted to Aden and there was no secondary education available there. After spending the Summer term of 1965 in the Babylon dorm, I was moved to the (ice cold) Alex dorm with guys from a year above me, notably Dave Rusbridge (who is a FaceBook friend), Pete Rosser, Ray Chell (deceased) and Slim Barnes (also deceased). I was the boy who lacerated his wrist on the Boys’ TV Common Room glass door on June 10th, 1967 and never returned to Midhurst again as my father returned from his Aden posting and spent the next 8 years at RAF Valley in Anglesey. I got a BSc in Electronics from UMIST and spent my career in hardware and software design, moved to the United States in 1997 to work for AMD, retired in 2017 and am now a US citizen living in Dripping Springs, TX which is about 25 miles West of Austin, TX. My brother Len went into education and ended up as the Headmaster of RAF Akrotiri primary school for his final 12 years, and he is also retired and still lives in Cyprus with his wife.
Hi Chris – please accept my apologies for addressing you as “Phil” in my last comment.
Kind regards,
Les Marshall
Les:
I have been called worse, not a problem. I do remember you and your brother from school, I am afraid we are all getting to that age now, I have to write a eulogy to Delwyn Taulke Johnson, another lovely gentle giving soul who died recently. Ben LeVay passed away a couple of years prior, he was always a **** disturber and not so gentle. I knew that Slim passed away I did not realize Ray Chell passed. I am still in contact with Dave Rusbridge although it is sporadic since I live in Nova Scotia Canada and he lives in Greece or Sussex at different times.
We have a reunion every two years of various old Midhurstians the next one will be end of September 2027 you and Len and partners are more than welcome! I arrange the venues and we have a weekend of reminiscing and it is always fun. If you want me to include you in the invite please let me know.
I do not remember you lacerating your arm but there is a lot I do not remember. Bernie Harrison comes to the reunions, Pauline Thirkettle, Andy McCarthy has been to one. Geoff Saul and Dave King come as well as Tilly and Nancy Schmenkel. So nice to hear from you.