Added September 2002
The Tech
Albert Woiwod, 1927-32 wrote the following in September 2002
This all started as far as I am concerned by my searching for the words of the school song which led me via Manor Park Library to your page with its excellent history of the school. This cornucopia of information not only gave me the poem but the music for it as well! It has also stirred 75 year-old memories which I am sorting over to see if any might repay registering under 'Those that taught us' or elsewhere on the EHGS site. It did strike me that I may be the only OE registered who was at school both before and after the change from the Technical College to the Grammar School. This happened at the start of my fifth year and I can remember handing in The Pilgrims Progress which was the English set-book for the old exam board and replacing it with The Tempest, which was much more to my liking! I can not remember any prior discussion of the change and I have a feeling the change-over may have been made at very short notice just before the start of the Autumn Term.
Note by Jim Briggs. East Ham Technical College, or the 'Tech', was the original name of the school next to the Town Hall - the name was still over the main entrance in 2002. In 1907 all such schools were renamed 'Secondary Schools'; however, the name 'Tech' continued to be the popular name. 'Secondary Schools' were replaced in 1925 by the term 'Grammar Schools', but the 'Tech' still continued in popular use. In 1932 the new building in Plashet Grove was opened as East Ham Grammar School for Girls. I guess that the 'Tech' changed to East Ham Grammar School prior to this in September1931, with 'for Boys' added when the Girls went to Plashet Grove.