Mountview in 1975-1985: Fights, feuds and friends!

Posted: 23 Feb 26

The decade between 1975 and 1985 was full of character, camaraderie and memorable milestones for Mountview.

In 1984, the school formed its very first football team, adding a new competitive spirit to student life. That same year, acclaimed actor Frances de la Tour joined the graduation ceremony as guest celebrity, marking the occasion with her presence.

Looking back on the atmosphere of those earlier years, Phyllis Barber, speaking in the 1970s, remembers:

“From the earliest days of the Club there were fights, feuds and friends – and parties on the slightest provocation. The place was a shambles – who cared?! – but oh, the agony of a solitary loo. There was always a queue just before curtain up. The best stage manager ever took to booking it for cast members on a first-on first-in basis. He even provided a bucket for real emergencies! The trek through the garden from dressing room to stage required a certain fortitude. Temporary shelter, hastily erected one night, blew down, half stunning Fred Weatherstone, who made what one local critic called “a beautifully delayed entrance.”