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Why not share your memories of the old school?  Just use the COMMENT option under the relevant photo to record your memories.   Click the title of any of the thumbnails (below) to read the comments that others have left relating to that image.

Marc Spiteri and Bruce Williams 2005

Tal Handaq

Marc Spiteri taught English at Liceo Vassalli and was the main contact for ex RNS Tal-Handaq visitors.

This photo was taken in the Language Lab (see next photo) which was Marc's main classroom.   This room was the "music room" in the late 50's.


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Music Room - Language Lab

Tal Handaq

Walking down from the tarmac area at the top of the hill the Language Lab is the small building next to the tree.

For those whose memory might be a little faded; if I turn round I'll be looking up towards the gates with the little tuck shop ahead of me on my left.



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View from Language Lab

Wide angle view from area in front of the Language Lab (on right).  Block-12 is behind the trees in the centre and the single story Block-14 is visible just to the left of the trees.



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Bruce Williams on walk around the school with Marc Spiteri (Liceo M.A. Vassalli) 2005

Tal Handaq

This was my second visit back to the old school.  At this time we had no idea that the school would be demolished within the next few years.

Marc taught English Language and Drama at Liceo Vassalli and was also the main contact for ex RNS Tal Handaq visitors.  Marc's classrooms were the Language Lab (or old Music room) which is just out of picture on my right and the Nissen hut (seen here with Block-11 behind) which was used as the Drama Room.


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View down the hill - Block-12 on right

Tal Handaq

View from the road looking down towards the Admin building.  Block-12 is on the right and on the left we see the boys' toilet block with Block-16 behind it.  Block-10 is in the far distance just beyond the Admin building.


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Block 12 From Block 14

Tal Handaq

A nice shot of Block 12 taken from the path leading up to the single door at the front of Block 14 behind me.

Close-up on Block 12

Tal Handaq

Going in a bit closer on the last photo.  I'm indulging myself a bit here as it was my form room during my final year at Tal Handaq.

Black 12 Outside Stairs

Tal Handaq

Top left was my 3BG form room in 1959/60.  Form 3AG was next door.  I remember when the form gathered in the morning or after lunch break we were not allowed to close the door until the form teacher arrived in class.

Now I can't remember for sure if we had a roll call at Tal Hndaq - I'm sure we must have done. I seem to remember it being called "taking the register" although that could be my next school back in the UK (Farnborough Grammar School).

Anyway if we did "take the register" was it done before or after morning assembly?  Anyone....?

Unlocking a door to the past

Tal Handaq

Block-12 top left classroom.

Knowing this was my old 3BG form room, Liceo Vassalli English teacher Marc Spiteri had (unknown to me) brought with him the key so that I could open the door to my old classroom.   A much appreciated kindness!




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Interior View of Block-12 Classroom

Tal Handaq

Taken in 2005.  I have wonderful memories of  this classroom and although their faces have faded a little from my memory, I have fond memories of many of my third year classmates.

**Note: Photo inset should read "top left classroom".

Block-12 - Window from inside

Tal Handaq

This might seem a bit of an odd subject to take a photo of but it felt "so familiar".  The desks should be made of wood and be facing the other way but the walls, floor, ceiling , door and windows looked just the same they did 45 years before (this pic was taken in 2005).




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Interior of Block-12 - top left classroom

Tal Handaq

My 3BG formroom - photo taken standing by the door, July 2005.



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At my desk in my 3BG formroom - Block-12, top left classroom

Liceo Vassalli was on their summer break and Marc Spiteri had kindly arranged to have the key to this classroom so that I could take a look inside during my visit.  Even after 45 years everything about it was so familiar!

This was more or less where my 3BG formroom desk was.  I am facing the door and doing something I rarely did during my time as a pupil - putting my hand up to answer a question.

Thank you Marc for arranging such overwhelmingly nostalgic experience.






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Block-12 stairs - Looking Down

Tal Handaq

Does this photo bring back memories?



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Ultra Wide Angle View - Sixth Form Room

Tal Handaq

View shows (L to R): Near edge of Block-12, Block-11 (kitchens and dinning area), Nissen Hut (Liceo Vassalli Drama Room), Language Laboratory (was music room in late 50's).


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*Best viewed full screen (Windows - click F11)

The Nissen Hut (2)

Tal Handaq

I don't know very much about this room so if you have any information please share it with us.

Comment from Lizzy D:
Mr Gallagher was our teacher - lovely man. His favourite phrase was "Now people...".

Anon. comments:
1. This was the Junior Common Room in 1965.
2. This was the Detention room 1972-74.


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Marc Spiteri and Bruce Williams in Liceo Vassalli Drama Room

Tal Handaq

This is the Nissen Hut that's attached to Block-ll (see previous photo).

When these photos were taken (top 2005, bottom 2004) it was being used by Marc as the Drama Room and had a real "backstage" feel to it.



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Tal Handaq

The Nissen Hut

Tal Handaq

This photo was taken standing with the single story music classroom (MAV: Language Lab) is on the right. The building behind the Nissen Hut is Block-11 which was the NAAFI canteen when I was at the school.

So what was the nissen hut used for during your time at the school?

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Block-12 Walkway

Tal Handaq

Block 12 on our right. We are looking down the hill towards the Admin building and Block 10.    Block 16 is on the left.

View from Block-12 Landing

Tal Handaq

One of my favorite shots of the school.

The photo was taken from the top of the outside stairway of Block 12 (my 3BG formroom).  Looking across the road (L-R) we can see Block 14, the boys toilet block, Block 15 and the end of Block 16.


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Block 12 - Gardens

Tal Handaq

View of the southern end of Block 12 .  The outside stairway is just visible through the planting.


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Block-12 seen through the trees (March 2006)

Needs to be seen at larger size.

Taken from the concrete steps seen in the previous photo.

This is an unusual view edgeways along the front of Block-12 seen from the top end (you can just make out the stairs).  This photo also shows the shaded open-ring seating area that some of you may remember.



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Block 11 From The Admin Building Roof

Tal Handaq

Another good view of Block 11 (the NAAFI building).  This photo was taken from the roof of the Admin building.

The small single-story extension with three unglazed windows is the Liceo Vassalli Tuck Shop (next image).


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Block 11 - The NAAFI

Tal Handaq

A nice view of Block 11 which was the NAAFI during my time at the school.  I believe MA Vassalli had their computer lab in this block.

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Back of Block-12 from Block-11

Tal Handaq

Unusual view of the back of Block-12.  I was standing between Block-11 (L) and the Admin building (R).  The Liceo Vassalli Tuck Shop is to my immediate left.



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Block-11 - Close-up

Shows Liceo Vassalli Tuck Shop.  This building was as also used by Liceo Vassalli as their  IT classroom(s?).

We used to enter through the double doors to get to the school canteen.


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Liceo Vassalli Tuck Shop - Block-11

Tal Handaq

Anybody have any information about this area. Did it exist during the RNS period or was it only used by Liceo Vassalli?



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Liceo Vassalli Tuck Shop - Counter

Attached to Block-11.

Any information about year it was first opened, what it sold, who served behind the counter, opening times etc?



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The Music Room

Tal-Ħandaq

Showing the view to the left of the next photo.  Left to right we see the end of Block 12, Block 11 (NAAFI) between the trees, the Nisen Hut and of course the Music Room.




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Marc Spiteri and Bruce Williams in the Language Lab

Tal Handaq

This was Marc's main classroom (Language Lab) and it was the Music Room before Block-17 was built.  Marc had many interesting photos and charts up on the classroom walls including quite a few from the RNS Tal-Handaq era.

Marc could not have been more helpful and as you can imagine, for me these photos bring back memories of a very special day!




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RNS Tal Handaq - Photos of School Uniforms

Tal Handaq

These photos were hanging on the wall of the Language Lab.  The photos are being held by Marc Spiteri - see earlier photo.

My guess is that they're from the early seventies however if you know the names and dates do leave a comment and I'll include the details in this description.


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Tal Handaq

Inside the Language Lab (old Music Room)

Tal Handaq

Tal Handaq

 This room was the Music Room up until the purpose built Block-17 came into use around 1961.

It was subsequently used as the Language Lab by RNS Tal-Handaq and Liceo Vassalli.

Tal Handaq

The Music Room (MA Vassalli, Language Lab)

Tal-Ħandaq

Photo also shows the Nissen Hut behind the Music Room.





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Music Room - Language Lab (MAV)

Tal Handaq

Another shot of the Music Room showing it's relationship to the nissen hut (on left).


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The Music Room

Tal Handaq

This room was used as the music room during my time at the school.  Quite a sensible choice really as it's an isolated, single classroom so avoiding nuisance to other classes.

M.A. Vassalli used this room as a Language Laboratory.


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Block 12 From The Road

Tal Handaq

You can see the entrance to Block-11  (the NAAFI Canteen) down the side road. In the late 50's we used to queue down this side road (and most of the way up to the entrance gates) for school dinner (except summer term of course).

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View From Block 11

Tal Handaq

This was taken standing next to the NAAFI block (M.A. Vassalli: Computer Lab I think).

The nearby block on the left is Block-12 and across the road is Block-16 (library is at ground-floor right).

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Behind Block 12 Looking Towards The Admin Building

Tal Handaq

This was always a cooler, darker area of the school.  Block 11 (NAAFI) is on the right of picture and the Nissen Hut is behind me on the right.   The building behind the trees is the Admin Block.


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Alley Between Blocks 11 and 12

Tal Handaq

Two photos taken from slightly different positions a couple of hours apart (note shadows).   Block-11 on the left was the NAAFI canteen (IT Lab for M.A. Vassalli I believe) and Block-12 on the right. For most pupils this is probably an area of the school they rarely walked through.  The steps at bottom right lead into my 2BG History classroom - what must have been the darkest room in the school.

Anyone have any information or stories about this area - please let me know.

*Click photo title to read comment by Steve C. (1965).

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Tal Handaq

Looking Up The Road

Tal Handaq

Looking up the road towards the Science Block with with Block-12 on the left (you can just make out the stairs). The building on the right is the boys toilet block.


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