John GriffithROBERTSJohn (Taffy) Roberts, teacher and colleague extraordinaire. In September 1971 I started teaching at Southfields Comprehensive School, Wandsworth, where the Head of Physical Education was another Welsh man, John Roberts. We both hailed from North Wales: John from Criccieth, west of Snowdonia, and myself from the east, Ruthin. John had recently done a Mountain Leader training course at Tyn y Berth Mountain Centre, so together we decided to take a group of 6th formers to Snowdon by mini bus. We camped for two freezing nights in a field on my cousin's farm on the side of Moel Famau. Safety prevailed and we abandoned our ascent of Snowdon due to snow and ice on the ground. The evening was spent in the pub to the amusement of the locals who were speaking a language that our students did not understand. The locals probably didn't understand our South London students either! John also organised several narrow boat canal trips with staff and pupils. On one such canal journey the group had quickly run out of food so everyone finished up living off crisps and Mars bars! He also organised pony trekking trips with staff and pupils. The less said about health and safety procedures the better. Our mountain adventures continued with a school skiing trip to Scotland, and a family holiday to Foppolo in the Dolomites where the two of us ended up on the wrong side of the mountain. The lifts had closed so it was climb back up and ski down to the hotel in the dark. No mobile phones in those days to let our wives, Jayne and Pauline, (also teachers at Southfields!) know where we were. He also taught Matthew and Thomas to ski and on one such trip John recounted the image of a small child with ski poles tucked under his arms flying down the mountain shouting "Geronimo!" Yes you've guessed it. It was Thomas. John was an exceptionally talented amateur footballer. A prolific goal scorer equally adept with both feet and his head, playing for London Welsh first team for several seasons. He was the only bit of quality in the Southfields School staff team that played matches against other schools. At some point we attended an FA Coaching course which he passed with ease. As Head of Boys' PE, he organised school soccer, cricket and hockey teams which played successfully against other schools. These were extra-curricular activities which few teachers undertake today. In school time, as well as his normal teaching commitments, he organised the annual Sports Days and Swimming Galas. One Friday afternoon his last class of the day was a Year 8 swimming class. However John was preparing to go out on a hot date later that day and was dressed and ready to go. Suddenly a child came up to him and pointed to a prone figure lying on the bottom of the pool. John jumped in fully suited and booted and pulled the boy to the surface and resuscitated him. All his clothes were soaking wet including all his money in his wallet. His hot date cancelled (she didn't believe him!) and he spent the evening drying out his clothes and all his pound notes on the radiator. However his prompt and selfless action saved that little boy's life. During that era Southfields School had a Creative Arts department that had strong links with Group 64, a unique community youth theatre in Putney set up by Maurice Copus OBE, who was also the Head of Creative Arts. John took on many lead acting roles in both modern and classic plays, for example Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Macbeth and Oh What a Lovely War! He was instrumental in putting on the staff Christmas concert each year in which he directed and participated. With two other like-minded colleagues they performed as the Three Degrees and their rendition of Baby Love while their pink silk bloomers slid down their knees to the floor brought the house down! John clearly made a major contribution to the life and reputation of Southfields School. He was so well-liked and respected by staff and students. Reflecting on John's career in the South has reminded me of what a special friend and colleague he was. Cecil Hughes September 2025 London
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