HISTORY Tweets of the week tten highlander


This week: Labour leader Ed Miliband, speaking at the TUC, labels the pension strikes a “mistake”


“Ed Miliband played pure politics today, trying to shed the red Ed tag by disagreeing with unions on an issue that


has public support.” @fellowsjack


“Miliband being badly heckled about public sector pensions – ‘stand up for us’ cried some of the union


members.” @faisalislam


“Ed Miliband could not promise to reverse (coalition) cuts – such as the upgrading of pensions in line with CPI


not the higher RPI.” @polleetickle


“Ed Miliband gets it so wrong @TUC on pensions action and academies. Trying to sound ‘tough’ but came over like a year 8 in a suit.


Not impressed.” @HazelDanson www.twitter.com/SecEd_Education


Instead, after six days of a voyage whose full horror


he conveys brilliantly in The Forgotten Highlander, it was torpedoed by the Americans, unaware of its human cargo. “I decided again I would not go on a raft with any of


the other men because I felt the only way I was going to survive was on my own. You had to keep yourself awake, otherwise you’d slide off and the sharks would have a heyday.” So out there in the South China Sea he did a


stocktaking of the plumbers merchants where he had worked in Aberdeen. That took all day. Several days and mental challenges later, he was picked up by a Japanese whaler. Then, via 11 days on another hellship, it was off to a coalmine and further slavery. After Nagasaki and liberation by the US, Alistair


was handed a cake of soap, “the best present I’d had in three and a half years. Then we were deloused and de-everything.” He weighed five stone and 12 pounds, down from


nine and a half stone at the start of the war. Finally arriving at Southampton from New York


in late 1945, the men were shocked by the lack of any reception. “There was no-one to welcome us whatsoever.” Britain only officially recognised their sufferings in


2000, when it offered compensation of £10,000 to the remaining survivors. Alistair is still aggrieved that this


and we had a five-day journey, with a few stops for half a cup of rice and half a cup of boiled water. Men were suffering from malaria, dysentery, all sorts of diseases


‘ SecEd • September 22 2011 ’ We were herded


tightly together, the doors were closed


Take of survival: Alistair Urquhart, 91, tells his story to pupils in Perth, Scotland


“paltry sum” came from the British taxpayer, not the culpable Japanese government. “I hope that this book will stand as an indictment of


the criminal regime that ran Japan during the war years and the failure of successive Japanese governments to face up to their crimes,” he added. It even took the intervention of Prince Charles, who


read the book and met Alistair at Balmoral this year, to secure him a medical pension of £92.82 a week, backdated to last October. The boys and girls ask a flurry of questions. “When


the bomb fell and you felt the heat, did you feel the ground move as well?” No, but it almost knocked him off his feet. “At what point do you think you were at your


worst?” The sinking of the ship was when he thought he was most likely to die. “But you never give up.” “Did you ever speak to other people who came


home?” Yes, the Gordon Highlanders met every year. “That was the only time I could talk about it because they could understand your feelings. You couldn’t talk to even your mother or your father or your brothers.” One boy asks: “What was the best part of World War


Two?” It might seem an odd question but Alistair gives an informative answer. “Well, obviously getting home. But the best part


was getting back my sanity really. I mean, during that three and a half years I was virtually on autopilot, in other words I had the mindset of survive, survive.” Alistair went on to marry, with two children and


two grandchildren, and became managing director of a plumbing supplies business. A widower since he was 75, he still pursues his


lifelong passion of ballroom dancing and is an active member of the Far East Prisoner of War Association (FEPOW). He also teaches computer skills to fellow senior


citizens near his Dundee home. “I find that children are the best audience,” he says. “Because they listen so well and they ask good questions.” Ms Brockbank says the talk has been “phenomenal”


and will stimulate interest in history as the pupils move on to secondary. “What he said is real history – it happened to this


man, to thousands of men. It’s not just something you see in a film or read in a book or watch in a DVD. It’s been poignant, it’s been quite humbling.” .


SecEd • Sam Phipps is a freelance education journalist.


Further information The Forgotten Highlander is published by Abacus and is priced £7.99


A fantastic opportunity for an inspirational colleague to take up this position at our progressive, oversubscribed and dynamic Technology College. We need you to be: • Committed to inspiring and motivating our students through the highest expectations • A team player with proven leadership skills and excellent subject knowledge • An excellent communicator wanting the best for each student • Enthusiastic and optimistic in your approach to your subject and the school In 2011 Hampstead School recorded it’s best ever KS4 examination results for the third year in succession, again beating all targets. ALPS places our outstanding sixth form in the top 10% in the country. For details and an application form, please see the school website, or contact us by telephone or


Teacher of Science


Inner London pay scale Retention payment of £1,000 after 1 year’s service September 2009


email.


Closing date for applications: Midday on Wednesday 5th October 2011 Interviews: Thursday 13th October 2011


We are looking for an inspirational Science teacher to join our progressive and dynamic school.


We need you to be:


A fantastic opportunity for an inspirational colleague to take up this position at our progressive, oversubscribed and dynamic Technology College. We need you to be: • Committed to inspiring and motivating our students through the highest expectations • A team player with proven leadership skills and excellent subject knowledge • An excellent communicator wanting the best for each student • Enthusiastic and optimistic in your approach to your subject and the school In 2011 Hampstead School recorded it’s best ever KS4 examination results for the third year in succession, again beating all targets. Science is extremely popular in our outstanding sixth form, that ALPS places in the top 10% in the country. For details and an application form, please see the


• Committed to inspiring and motivating our students


• A team player and strong communicator


school website, or contact us by telephone or email.


“The school has made good progress in the last couple of years and is well placed to continue this improvement...many areas have improved rapidly.”


• Enthusiastic and optimistic in wanting the best for each student


Teacher of Science


A fantastic opportunity for an inspirational colleague to take up this leadership position at our progressive, oversubscribed and dynamic Technology College. We need you to be: • Committed to inspiring and motivating our students though the highest expectations • A team player with excellent subject knowledge, also able to teach English • An excellent communicator wanting the best for each student • Enthusiastic and optimistic in your approach to your subject and the school In 2011 Hampstead School recorded it’s best ever KS4 examination results for the third year in succession, again beating all targets. ALPS places our outstanding sixth form in the top 10% in the country. For details and an application form, please see the school website, or contact us by telephone or


Inner London pay scale Retention payment of £1,000 after 1 year’s service September 2009


Inner London Pay Scale plus TLR 2b £4224pa Required for January 2012


For details and an application form, please see the school website, or contact us by telephone or email specifying which post you are interested in.


email.We need you to be:


Closing date for applications: Midday on Wednesday 5th October 2011 Interviews: Monday 10th October 2011


• Committed to inspiring and motivating our students


The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced CRB check. Checks will be made with previous employers. 11 – 19 Mixed Comprehensive N.O.R: 1280 Westbere Road, London, NW2 3RT Head: Jacques Szemalikowski - Tel: 020 7794 8133 Fax: 020 7435 8260 Email: vacancies@hampsteadschool.org.uk Website: www.hampsteadschool.org.uk.


• A team player and strong communicator


• Enthusiastic and optimistic in wanting the best for each student


Closing date for return of application form: Midday on Friday 30 January 2009


Westbere Road, London NW2 3RT Head: Jacques Szemalikowski


T: 020 7794 8133 Fax: 020 7435 8260 E: vacancies@hampsteadschool.org.uk


www.hampsteadschool.org.uk


We are looking for an inspirational Science teacher to join our progressive and dynamic school.


Closing date for applications: Midday on Wednesday 5th October 2011 Interviews: Wednesday 12th October 2011


Subject Leader for Media Studies


Westbere Road, London NW2 3RT Head: Jacques Szemalikowski


T: 020 7794 8133 Fax: 020 7435 8260 E: vacancies@hampsteadschool.org.uk


www.hampsteadschool.org.uk OFSTED October 2008


Inner London Pay Scale


11–19 Mixed Comprehensive Technology College. N.O.R: 1300 (including 260 in the Sixth Form)


Teacher of Business Studies Maternity Cover Required for January 2012


“The school has made good progress in the last couple of years and is well placed to continue this improvement...many areas have improved rapidly.”


For details and an application form, please see the school website, or contact us by telephone or email specifying which post you are interested in.


Teacher of Science


Closing date for return of application form: Midday on Friday 30 January 2009


OFSTED October 2008


9


Photo: Sam Phipps


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