IF ANYBODY told Robin Macey during his schooldays that he was for the high jump, he didn't mind it one bit.
In fact Robin's athletic prowess is there in the record books for all to admire to this day.
"I was in the school athletics team and was noted for being the first boy in the school to jump six feet in the high jump – which was higher than myself!" he recalls.
"My brother Patrick was also good at the high jump and at one time we held the high jump record in every single age group in the school."
Robin was among the first to be able to attempt the then-revolutionary style of Dick Fosbury, the man who invented a unique 'back first' technique never seen before he introduced it at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
These days it is adopted by almost all athletes, but Robin remembers that it relied on one thing in particular.
"We had the advantage of being the first pupils able to make use of the Fosbury Flop technique, which required a decent foam landing pit – which we had!"
"Before it was invented most schools just had a sand pit for landing so you had to land on your feet. Patrick and I were among the first pupils at the High School to be able to use the Fosbury Flop and so between us managed to break the school high jump records at every age group."
The boys started off practising at home in the garden. "As we got older we both joined Notts Athletic Club and used to practice the high jump at Harvey Hadden Stadium – resulting in us both winning medals in the Notts AAA Championships."
Robin, 52, from Prestwood Drive, Aspley, has kindly allowed us to publish his photographs. He was a pupil at Nottingham High School between 1972-1979, and his family links go back even further.
"I have lots of happy memories. My family connection with them dates back to 1965 when the elder of my two brothers, Jimmy, started there, while my second brother, Patrick, began in 1970.
"I also had a sister, Caroline, who was at the Girls' High School from 1976-1983.
"When I started it was compulsory for all boys to wear a school cap but this was scrapped early in 1973 as it was considered old fashioned and there had been several cases of caps stolen by children from other schools.
"My first form teacher in 1H was Mr D. Phillips who taught me maths in the first year.
"I was in Maples House and my tutor in the first year was Dr Norman Jackson (head of geography). He retired in 1973 and my tutor for the next six years was the classics teacher, Mr C. R. B. Elliott.
"There were many memorable teachers, but one who sticks in my mind was my French teacher, Mr John Hayes, who was commonly called 'Daisy' Hayes. He ran the school hockey team, edited the school magazine and was also a driver for the school bus, which even then was a very antiquated vehicle which always gave out vast plumes of smoke.
"Mr Hayes was an excellent teacher and had unique ways of maintaining discipline. Anyone seen to yawn during his lesson was made to do ten press-ups on the spot while he gave a running commentary.
"He was also known for sometimes grabbing boys by the hair or ear if they were not paying attention, and I remember that anyone fidgeting with a purse in his lesson was asked to pay a fine of a halfpenny into a charity tin."
Robin remembers taking part in many different activities at the High School – some of which stand him in good stead to this day.
"Aside of being part of the school athletics team, I learnt to play the violin with Mrs D. L. Watkinson and, after she retired, with Mr Stephen Fairley. I passed grade 5 in the violin and played in school concerts.
"I used to attend the school origami society at lunch times and later took over running it. This is a hobby I am still actively involved in today and it has taken me to conventions in the USA and Japan.
"I also joined the school photographic society and learnt how to process my own black and white films. We later did a small amount of colour printing but this was quite expensive and much more difficult to get consistent results.
"I was a regular contributor to the school magazine and had many photographs of school events published in it. I took photos at the dress rehearsals of several school plays.
"I also took pictures of school sports teams and events. My favourite play was when the staff put on a version of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in 1978/79."
Robin also remembers taking pictures on the day in 1978 that a RAF helicopter landed in the school playground.
"The Lord Mayor together with our headmaster Dr Dennis Witcombe and the Senior Master Mr Sandy Powell then took off for a brief aerial view of the school. I still have the original negatives of all these events."
He left the school in 1979 and studied for a maths degree at Nottingham University.
Robin these days is able to combine his love for photography with his hobby of ballooning and was a member of the Nottingham and Derby Hot Air Balloon Club alongside the late record-breaking balloonist Janet Folkes for more than ten years.
And as he reflects back on his time at Nottingham High School, Robin is certain that it gave him many opportunities which have served him well over the years.
"I now belong to the Old Nottinghamians Society and all the past pupils that I have since met up with seem to have done well career wise.
"As you can see, I have many happy memories of the High School and feel very lucky to have gone to such an excellent institution."
