[HPforGrownups] In Defense of Snape (Against Snape in JKR's words)

[d]

No: HPFGUIDX 122192


> vmonte wrote:
> >-She also reported that Professor Snape is based on a chemistry
> >teacher who hated her and made her life miserable.

Where did you read that chemistry teacher hated her? 

> The real Snape was a guy named John Nettleship who was head of science at
> the school JKR attended.
> 
> He was "outed" back in 2002.
> 
> Here's the link
>
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0900entertainment/0050artsnews/tm_objectid=12335306&method=full&siteid=50082-name_page.html

Here're some more trivia about Snape and the person who might have inspired this awesome
character :D

What Mr.Nettleship's collegues said about him:

from 'The Times Educational Supplement'  June 27, 2003:
For Mike Thompson, a science teacher at the school for 30 years, the similarities between
Hogwarts and the Wyedean of the 1970s are more explicit. "Professor Snape, the potions 
master, is undoubtedly John Nettleship, the head of chemistry," he said. 
"He had a big nose, and long, dark hair, just like Alan Rickman in the film. He could be
quite strict. He wasn't the most popular guy." 


>From Mr.Nettleship himself (on JKR and her mother):

from "The Scotsman' Jun 16 2003
After 12 years bringing up her daughters, Anne Rowling secured the position of lab
technician at Wyedean Comprehensive under the supervision of John Nettleship, the
schools head of science. Nettleship remembers Joanne, whom he taught, as a bright but
quiet girl and considers himself an early inspiration for Professor Snape. "I think
chemistry maybe made the most impact on her because I did teach her about the
philosophers stone, the alchemists stone. Possibly she knew about it already, but I did
include it in my lessons and explained how it turned things to gold." He then chuckles
before adding: "It seems to have worked for her, hasnt it." Although bright, she was not
the most enthusiastic student, as Nettleship, who is now retired, recalls: "Her attitude
in the science lessons was more like Harrys in the potions class rather than
Hermiones." 

Anne Rowling, meanwhile, was delighted to be around the beakers and chemicals and working
once again after such a long absence. "She was absolutely brilliant, a sparkling
character, totally reliable, very interested in words and stories and things like that.
Although her job was on the technical side, she was also very imaginative," says
Nettleship. 

-D.