Gerard Butler recalls his former teacher, Robert Shade for the influence he inspired in his students, and their outlook on life, through English literature. Introducing the works of early 20th century authors like George Orwell (Eric Blair) and John Steinbeck produced a wider view on life, especially from their lesser known novels like "Down and Out in Paris and London", "The Road to Wigan Pier", along with "Cannery Row", and "The Grapes of Wrath."

Elisabeth Briquet, in a personal memoir, wrote of Robert Shade as having a wide military and educational service in the Middle East during the 1950s, before arriving at the International School in 1959 as a teacher of English. While remaining in this teaching post, Shade advanced through other roles as Head of the Junior Secondary Division, Head of Admissions, Assistant Headmaster and Senior Master, and as Head of Guidance.

In the years that followed, assisted by fellow teacher Eugene Wallach, regular visits to universities and colleges were conducted; university representatives were invited to visit Ecolint; conferences and workshops were attended; a newsletter was published and distributed to former students; all with the remarkable result of 95% acceptance of students into colleges and universities.

Gerard invites his fellow alumni to share their remembrances of Robert Shade to be compiled in our Tributes to Ecolint Teachers. Please write to us about your recollections of Mr. Shade, Elsa Hartoch, and all of our remarkable educators.

Attached are 2 photos of R T Shade that I took at Ecolint. The first one was taken in 1969 at a school dance at LGB. The second was taken in 1970 also at a school dance at LGB.

Pio G. Valenzuela, II LGB Class of '71/'72 (GCE)

I was lucky enough to know Bob Shade in both his professional capacity and as a guest in my parents house. Bob was someone who would sit with a drink in his hand and tell stories of his experiences before joining Ecolint. He was a kind man who would take the time to speak with the students about what they wanted to do in life. Bob often volunteered to assist at Sporting events as a judge or timekeeper, he was someone Jack Garstang or my dad knew was serious about his duties. When the time came for me to discuss my potential Universities in the UK. Bob and I went over them and eventually agreed that on my case the USA would be a better fit than the UK, he then talked to Gene Wallach to get me started on the path to the USA.

My fondest memories of Elsa Hartoch are Escalade and when my mother came in and did a concert for the primary school. Escalade was always fun as Mme Hartoch was the Oldest person present while some poor child in Kindergarten was the youngest. Mme Hartoch would reassure this child that she would help them through the ceremony that was to take place, this appeared to be going well up until the moment of the final speech just before the breaking of the Marmite. Mme Hartoch would rip through the speech and arrived at "Ainsi Perrise les ennemies de la Republique" in about 30 seconds before attacking the Marmite. In the meantime the child was left standing next to the Marmite looking bewildered as they watched the Marmite disappear into little pieces.

The other memory is of MMe Hartoch sitting in a chair at the side on the Primary School assembly listening to my mother sing. At the end she would go over to my mother and thank her for coming in to entertain the children and then compliment my mother on her voice, telling her that the music department had lost a diva when they had stopped doing productions with both the teachers and students taking part.

Cheers,

Mark Jennings

Wow…. Thanks for sharing… I do remember both Mr Shade and Mr Garstang very fondly…. They sure had a role in helping us become what we are today!

Gulam Juma

Bob Shade was a perfect gentleman, kind, helpful, dignified, with a hidden sense of humour under his reserve. In the sixties, as a very young teacher, I remember joyous Escalade suppers where bread buns flew through the air, one of which once caught Mme Hartogg. On one of these .unorthodox occasions, a group of us got into the music room which adjoined the main dining hall. Improbably,Bob Shade was of the group and found a trumpet, whereupon he expertly played ?When the Saints Come Marching In?. Someone said else found the drums and we all danced round the chairs.

Elizabeth Knight

I should like to add to the tributes to Mr Shade (I do not think, even now, that I could ever bring myself to call him "Bob"). I never had him as a teacher, but he was immensely kind to me, and I shall forever appreciate it. He was of course the guidance person when I left Ecolint; but I am thinking of a later period after my initial university career had gone wrong, and I contacted him to ask if he could help. Although it was not his job, given that I had left school, he spent time and effort in getting me back on track and into a different university, which proved ultimately a very positive move. It was all done pro bono; and I was, and still am, very grateful to him. His apparently rather severe Highland Light Infantry outward appearance was, I think, an armour concealing his humane interest in those for whom he was responsible.

Later he was much associated with the fledgling Ecolint Alumni operation, and I had dealings with him about that.

I remember Mlle Hartoch, of course, as surely all of us from the 1960s must do; but I did not take Russian, so never had the benefit of her conversation classes. But she was a ubiquitous presence on the LGB campus; and she was, and is, part of Ecolint's history, and its magic.

Robin Dormer LGB 1969

The things we learn – I never knew we had a guidance leader at Ecolint, although RT was my English teacher at one time. We were not a natural fit. The closest I came to a guidance leader was Mme Briquet – I was one of two males in her “A” level English class (the other was Stephen Doherty), and although I had plans of going to Dundee for university, she seemed determined that I would go to Swansea (then a college of the university of Wales), and she prevailed – she even contacted an old friend there on my behalf. For what it is worth, 52 years ago in my university hall of residence Neuadd Gilbertson – the Hall was in Clyne Castle, now sadly sold off and redeveloped into luxury flats - an academic gown was compulsory wear for the evening meal; no gown, no entry to the hall, no dinner. Other halls of residence had long discarded the gown; our JCR had a different view. I recall someone once saying to me that you also wore academic gown at your university – perhaps you mentioned it to me at the Ecolint reunion in London in the mid 1970’s at the Army & Navy Club? Or more likely my memory is at fault.

Best,

Paul Tooker (GCE, 1971)

In response to the latest Ecolint Online Update 308, I would like to add my own appreciation of everything Mr Shade did for us as pupils at Ecolint (which I attended from 1958 to graduation in 1968):

Robert Shade (Mr Shade, as we always called him) was an energetic and invariably helpful teacher, keen for us to share his enthusiasm for the English literature he taught us. We all knew that we had to be focused and alert - hardly a difficult challenge in his lively no-nonsense classes, where he easily held our attention with his clear and dynamic teaching. He was also an impressive hockey player. But in addition, in my final year he was particularly helpful when it came to applying for university admission. Somehow he had gauged my interests perfectly, and advised me to go to the University of St Andrews. As I had no previous experience of Britain, and had had to learn English from scratch at Ecolint, this was imaginative and bold advice - and it opened a door for me to an academic career which I have thoroughly enjoyed, in a country which has been my home ever since. I will never forget his infectious enthusiasm as a teacher, and his shrewd advice when it came to making crucial decisions.

If you are still looking for old photos of Mr Shade, here is one from 1964, in a staff hockey match that was organised for some good cause that I can't remember...

Thomas Munck (formerly Munch) - 1968

I am the same, never called him Bob. Mr. Shade saved me from losing complete interest in school.

When I arrived into Geneva with my parents (father a diplomat) - it was my eighth school, after moving so much and changing languages. I was a happy A student in Japan after struggling for several years learning Japanese, then we went to Manila - there, I was forced to drop a grade because my English was so poor. The International School of Manila did not even accept me - so I was put into a Convent school. During the summer, I studied of my own will and retook the exam and managed to transfer to the International School of Manila, though I could not recoup my year - then after the first semester only, my father announced our transfer to Geneva.

I was totally fed up and unhappy - my parents and I met with Mr. Shade and I was to enter the 9th grade. I wanted to be in the 10th grade. I told Mr. Shade that I should be in 10th grade - he LISTENED to me, while my parents were having a heart attack. He told me that my English was not good and that I would struggle even in 9th grade - to which I responded “I know my English is poor, but that doesn’t make me stupid”. To cut a long story short, he made a deal with me - I join 10th grade and should I fail one subject, I repeat the year. I shook hands with him and regained my motivation to go to school!

What a special teacher Mr. Shade was - he truly listened and helped. I will never forget him - I was happy that years later, I was able to visit him in Geneva with my husband and daughter (a 4 year old at the time) and thank him. He told me that I had nothing to thank him for and was focused on my daughter, who was already mesmerised by him!

With kind regards,

Yukiko Omura