Mr. Rees (Music)

 

Mr. Rees was the Head of Music at Tulketh. He was also the band leader and played piano in the assemblies. He was quite a formidable man. He originated from South Wales I believe. He was in the later stages of the teaching profession and for the most of the 1950’s and 1960’s had taught at my old primary school Roebuck. He had also taught my Father at Roebuck.   Mr. Rees, had a classroom in the draughty prefab block at the side of the main school building near the Maths block. To say Mr. Reese was demob happy was an understatement. He knew that none his classes would be taking Music at CSE or O-Level in the final two years.  He would always play the piano in  school assemblies and was the conductor of the school band which was very successful. I believe he was involved in the  Tulketh Folk group with another teacher in the Preston Guild year.. . 

In the third year we were taught Music by Mr. Rees after the previous two years we had been taught the subject by Mr. Birkett. It was clear the subject Music, was not taken serious by the hierarchy at the school. We had a double lesson after lunch on a Tuesday afternoon. We would be waiting for Mr. Rees to arrive, he would more often be having a crafty cigarette near the bike sheds which were situated underneath the main building opposite the entrance to the Maths block. After finding out that i was the son of a previous pupil he had taught. even though it was nearly 20 years previously. He would ask me about my dad a couple of times. The usual thing how's he doing?  What job is he doing? 

One afternoon we were encouraged by him to bring in some of our favourite music to play on his new Fidelity stereogram. I brought in Buddy Holly Lives, a compilation of the great man’s music. Other kids brought in various artists like, Abba, Blondie, Chic, Diana Ross, Donna Summer and Roderick Davies even brought in a Barry Manilow album. To be fair to Mr. Reese he played all the music brought in even though I don’t think he rated any of it. He lamented, “has anybody got any proper music like Frank Sinatra or Andy Williams?” which to us 14/15-Year-olds meant nothing.

 A hand went up at the back of the class I think it was Carl Thompson he held up the classic Perry Como 20 Greatest Hits, which with relish Mr. Rees snatched the album removed the vinyl from its sleeve and put it on the turntable and put the needle on the vinyl. Suddenly what we thought would be Mr. Como crooning Magic Moments turned out to be Sex Pistols belting out Holidays in The Sun, jackboots and all from their successful album, Never Mind the Bollocks. Mr. Rees, went pale as a white sheet and dragged the needle across the record and preceded to remove the vinyl from the music centre, stuff it into the album sleeve.

 By now the classroom was in hysterics none of us knew of Carl’s deception. Mr. Rees, didn’t share the joke and preceded to lament Carl Thompson over his choice of music...

Fortunately, the bell rang, and we all made a hasty retreat from the classroom to the safety of the school drive. Carl Thompson, I don’t think ever got the offending vinyl back off Mr. Rees. I believe Mr. Rees, left Tulketh to enjoy his retirement in 1984. Some years later after I left school I was on my lunch and walking past the 55th Club in Church Street and who should be outside having a cigarette in the mid-day sun but Mr. Rees..

Some things never change 

 

Mr. Rees , 1980.