Steve Rehak was born in America, but moved to Corbridge when his father worked temporarily in Newcastle. Steve attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School and is returning for the reunion on July 2nd. He was interviewed via email by Sian Stephens and Alison Ritchie.
What do you expect to find on your return to Northumberland?
My mental picture of QEGS and the Hexham area is skewed towards 1975. I still have visions of my friends prowling the halls wearing school uniform. I expect the school has not changed at all... wooden desks with the names of rock bands and love letters carved into them, hospital like hallways, sterile yet comforting. I remember the gym where I tried to teach my friends the American game of basketball. I hope to find that long-lost childhood of 20 years ago, complete with all the ghosts of my past.
Perhaps a few landmarks are still standing; Robb's, the music store on Battle Hill, the Abbey, Boots, dozens of antique shops (one of which my parents used to be part owners of), the rolling green hills of the Sele and the pathways near the Tyne where I walked with my first girlfriend Carole, the swimming pool which always had too much chlorine in it, chestnut trees, British phore booths, double-decker buses, cloudy skies, red-paved roads, little cars, my old home in Aydon Grange, Corbridge and most of all my school friends.
Could you outline an example of a typical school day?
Starting with the bus ride from Corbridge, I would do last night's homework on the journey. In town l would meet up with my close friends who travelled to school from all over Northumberland. We would walk to the school, usually stopping to get something to eat or drink along the way. My best friend was Chris Reay and his family owned a sandwich shop which we unmercifully exploited.
If we eventually made it to school we began the day with a assembly. Let me make it clear right now... I hated assembly! Assembly went against everything that was sacred to me as an American, primarily the separation of church and state.
After assembly, it was time for classes. This involved securing a good seat with the best people or latest girlfriend by your side in a good location in the classroom.
Because I was a foreigner, I took certain liberties. If I didn't know the answer to a question l could do or say as I liked and claim it was correctly done or answered this way in America. I think the teachers just humoured me and let me get away with it. I also believe that my being in the class educated the other students as to another culture in some ways.
Lunchtime was always a time to get together with friends. When I was not playing tennis or basketball, I could be found wandering the Hydro building, up and down hidden stairways, behind forgotten walls and generally walking aimlessly until classes started again.
After lunch was nothing more than a countdown until the end of school and the ride back home. If it was biology or commerce class, it meant laborious taking of notes. French meant praying that I would not be called upon. English with Mr. Green was my favourite.
After school got out, it was back into town and back on the bus. Another day in Hexham had brought more comments about my tan, accent and silly questions like "Do you know any cowboys?" and "Why do American football players wear crash helmets?" On other days I might have actually learnt something, but mostly I remember the good times.
| By Sian Stephens and Alison Ritchie. | From "Queen's Charter" 25th June 1999 |