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November 2008 No. 54
staying in touch with Old Giggleswickians
THE RICHARD WHITELEY THEATRE AT GIGGLESWICK
OG Day 2008 saw the launch of the Richard Whiteley Theatre Campaign to OGs. Two days later, it was launched to current parents at the School; and then on 11 September, at an informal gathering held appropriately in the Balcony Room at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, it was launched to about 50 guests – mainly OGs and their partners. The new 300-seat theatre will provide a high quality venue for both school productions and touring companies. The theatre will be named in memory of Richard Whiteley OG, who left around £500,000 to the School in his will. Over the next 12 months the School plans to raise the remaining £1.5m needed to convert the former covered playground into a theatre (the outline plans are shown in the centre pages of this issue). As part of the project, the current drama space in Big School will be converted into a sixth form teaching centre, including classrooms and space for one-toone A-level tuition. Your help is needed to turn this vision into a reality. Only through Giggleswickians, current parents and other friends of the School getting behind the project can we build this much-needed addition to the School.
The Countdown has begun…
Visitors are most welcome. Please contact the school for further details on 01729 893000. www.giggleswick.org.uk www.giggonline.com
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www.giggleswick.org.uk
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OG Help with Careers Advice and Work Experience The Old Giggleswickian Club Founded 1897 COMMITTEE MEMBERS
President Michael J W Barr President Elect Robert A Barker Treasurer Edward H M Sissling Secretary J Anthony L Briggs Committee Andrew Fraser (Chairman) Geoffrey P Boult (Headmaster) Robert G Drake David P Fox (OG Liaison Officer) Chris W Harwood Nick W Jefferies Angela M Mills T Ian Roberts Nigel A Shaw Peter H Thornton
COPY DEADLINE for next issue of
Gigg : news 14 March 2009
The Head of Careers, Anne Coward, and the Work Experience Co-ordinator, Rachel Usher, wish to thank all those OGs who have helped to find work experience placements for 6th Form pupils from the School and in particular, the many who gave up their time and expertise to give interview experience to the majority of the Lower 6th during the Careers Week at the end of the summer term. The pupils find such help invaluable in preparing them for life after school. Please can any other OGs offer this sort of help? If so, please contact dpfox@giggleswick.org.uk with details.
Michael J W Barr (M 73-77): OG President 2008-9 Mike Barr is Senior Regional Commercial Manager for HSBC in the North West. Mike joined Midland Bank straight out of school, working initially in the Lake District whilst completing a banking degree by correspondence course. On graduation, Mike moved to Bolton then on to London where he worked for 20 years in various roles in Commercial, Corporate and Retail. He was one of very few people to move from general banking into the Strategic and Network Development team in Head Office, when he was responsible for the initiative of opening retail banks in Morrisons and Waitrose stores. Mike has always been involved with schools, initially helping with educating 6th formers in finance and more recently with Young Enterprise in North Manchester and North London in particular. He sponsored and drove the initiative for HSBC to inject £80k into the Rural Academy of Cumbria in 2004 and in his three years as Area Director Cumbria raised over £250k for educational and environmental charities. Mike is married to Denise with one son, Thomas (17) and lives near Kirkby Lonsdale. A former county rugby player (he also captained the XV at Giggleswick in 1976), his main interest is still rugby, although follows Bradford City (his home town) and rock music.
DATES for YOUR DIARY 24-27 November 7.30 pm Performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream 28 November 7.30 pm Isle of Man Giggleswickian Dinner at the Mount Murray Hotel, Santon 3 December 6.15 pm onwards – HSBC Buildings, Spinningfields, Manchester – informal gathering of OGs and partners – all welcome 12 December 3.30 pm Junior School Carol Service in the Chapel 13 December 11.00 am Senior School Carol Service in the Chapel End of the Michaelmas Term 14 December 2.00 pm: OG Rugby XV v Ermysted’s OB XV at Skipton Rugby Club 6 January 2009 Easter Term begins 26 January 7.00 pm OG Committee Meeting in the Hobson Room 23 February Giggleswick reception in Hong Kong e-mail: abeales@giggleswick.org.uk 21 March End of Easter Term 19 April Summer Term begins 20 April 7.00 pm OG Committee Meeting in the Hobson Room 24 April OG London Dinner in the House of Commons 23 May Speech Day 4 July OG Day at School and Reunion for all former members of Paley House
The Special Reunion on OG Day 2009 – Saturday 4 July – will be for all former members of Paley House. Now is the time to put this date in your diaries – we look forward to seeing you. Have you thought of advertising or sponsoring a page in Gigg:news?
Twice a year Gigg:news is mailed to all contactable OGs, a number which increases each year. They all have a common educational background to you. It also goes to all parents of current Giggleswickians. Might it help your business, your company, to advertise to them?
This will help to defray some of the costs of publishing and distributing Gigg:news. FOR DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT THE EDITOR AT:
dpfox@giggleswick.org.uk or D P Fox at the School address.
Lamberts Print & Design, 2 Station Road, Settle, North Yorkshire BD24 9AA • 01729 822177
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www.giggonline.com
Two Germans in Giggleswick – ten years on by Michael Samánek (P ’97-’98) and Andreas Bergmann (S ’97-’98)
Andreas, with Michael, writes: “Why Giggleswick and where on earth is that?” Probably all Germans had to answer this question before going to and after returning from their adventure in the Yorkshire Dales (as Giggleswick isn’t too well known amongst the Teutons – or would you know where Münchsmünster is in Germany?). Michael and I were just two of quite a few 6th formers from Germany who took their chance to go abroad during their 11th year of school to gain experiences abroad. But still: why Gigg? The answer concerning the whereabouts is rather straightforward: “In the middle of nowhere, close to Scotland.” This is the only way to give a fairly comprehensive description about how to find Giggleswick (in the days before “Google maps”) to someone raised between Hamburg and Munich. Nevertheless this answer seems to put even more emphasis to the first part of the question: why Gigg? When we received the invitation for this year’s OG London Dinner, Michael and I realised that ten years had passed since we had to climb up that muddy hill on a rainy morning for our last service in Chapel as pupils. Now we stood in the House of Commons in London and Geoffrey Boult asked us the same question the other way round: ”What did you take home from Giggleswick?” – Maybe the question about our expectations is easier to tackle by looking at the outcomes. Beside learning English and the special experience of being part of the community of a British boarding school, we learned to see that many things look different if you look at them from another viewpoint. In spite of many similarities, our point of view changed, not only geographically, when we crossed the Channel. To see those differences and to appreciate them requires self-confidence, openness and curiosity. But it is not only these skills and attitudes we took home from Gigg. It might have been one of those evenings when I was alone in the physics lab, trying for hours to accomplish an experiment or watching stars through a telescope, hoping not to confuse their names again, that I realised how rewarding it can be to combine curiosity with stamina. Although it might seem that Michael first of all worked (successfully) on his golf handicap and only put his clubs away in order to grab his tennis racket, he had that same experience. After a while, reasoning what everybody else was doing during prep-time, he found out that studying Keynes, inflation theory or the key factors of the stockmarkets can be fun too. What came to our minds first when thinking about our time at Giggleswick was therefore: We learnt how to learn! Why is this such a surprise for young Germans? Our Grammar schools at home could be demanding too, but the academic atmosphere was totally different at Giggleswick. At home, we were used to discussions in class, and of
course many more subjects. At Giggleswick we had to deliver Prep, and it was marked the next morning! We could concentrate just on a few Alevel subjects, going further into depth. It is a precious opportunity to have such close insights into school systems so different from each other. To detect, accept and understand differences is vital and can be difficult; especially when it comes to a system of strict rules, inexperienced in German day schools. The new experience of academic (or CCF) discipline (including dress-codes!) is as much an example of it as the awareness of how different Europe looks from each side of the Channel. Remembering those few terms at Gigg, was it worth it? Both of us were curious about England, what it’s like to be a boarder and to be far away from our parents. They in turn might have had things like discipline, soft skills and learning in mind. So for all of us, it turned out that we brought home what we had hoped for. This very brief résumé would miss one important point though, if we remembered our school only as something past and completed. Once you are a Giggleswickian you will always be one. And it really is an honour to be part of this community. The school lives on not only in its current pupils but as well in all of its alumni, even if many of them are scattered across the globe. This offers chances to meet other people and create friendships over frontiers and across generations! Owning an OG tie opens doors and gives the feeling of how the school community lives on beyond this special campus high up in the Yorkshire Dales. Jim Caton (S ’43-’50), once told Michael as he was looking for an internship in Buenos Aires, Argentina: “Michael, be smart and wear your OG tie. It can be worth more than a passport” and right he was… Footnote. Andreas is a graduate of St. Gallen University in Switzerland, and of the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Paris. Currently he is working at the Institute for National and Transnational Integration Studies and writing his PhD thesis in international and european law at the University of Hannover. Michael graduated from the Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, did business management studies in Buenos Aires, and is now a Management Consultant at Capgemini in Munich. Editor.
Congratulations to Jeremy Hopkinson (CH/C 73-84) on
raising over £1 million for charity and on being awarded the OBE. We are grateful to Dacre, Son & Hartley for their permission to print the following press release:
HARROGATE ESTATE AGENT RAISES OVER £1 MILLION FOR CHARITY
Jeremy Hopkinson, area director of Yorkshire estate agents Dacre, Son & Hartley, has smashed through the £1m fundraising mark for charities across the region and beyond.
From running marathons to hosting auctions, Jeremy has raised £1,005,000 for numerous national and local charities. Recent balls in aid of the Yorkshire-based charity, The Hope Trust, and Marie Curie Cancer Care all helped crack the million pound barrier. Jeremy, who lives in Hampsthwaite near Harrogate, has run the Paris and New York marathons plus the London marathon twice for Whizz Kidz, the charity helping disabled children throughout the UK. On his 40th birthday, he ran the Great North Run for Cancer Research UK and he has rowed the equivalent of the marathon distance on an indoor rower for Children in Need. He has also completed the Coast to Coast Bike Ride raising money for Hampsthwaite Church Room Appeal and The Children’s Society.
Jeremy said: “I was naturally very honoured to have been nominated for the award and am honoured to accept it on behalf of my late parents who both lost their lives to cancer.
“There are many hundreds of volunteers working to arrange fundraising events up and down the country and I fully respect the time and effort that they all put in to make a difference to those in a less fortunate position. “I’m proud to have raised so much money to help these charities continue to do their invaluable work. I couldn’t have done it without my family, friends and fellow Dacre, Son & Hartley colleagues who have all inspired me and supplied numerous gifts and auction lots.”
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Giggleswickian House of Commons Dinner Friday 25TH April 2008
I have been trying to think of something new and witty
OG Name J M Caton Brigadier R A Weston Mr John A Hartley William McPherson Robert Illingworth Anthony Evans John Wilson D Garforth John Davis J M C Dennis Mr Harry Sissling Michael Slinger Bob Hargreaves David Jopling David Craven Howard Briggs David Raw J A Prince W H Oddie Peter Goldsmith Roger Hargreaves Paul Heseltine Bob Barker Malcolm Piper Mr Anthony Briggs
Years 43-50 44-51 45-51 45-52 45-52 50-55 46-55 46-55 48-55 51-56 49-56 49-57 48-58 49-58 51-59 53-59 50-60 54-60 51-60 56-60 53-60 52-62 58-63 59-64
to write – this now being my fourth (I think) report of the annual London dinner for the past pupils of Giggleswick School and their guests. I have written about Anthony’s panic concerning the lack of numbers just prior to the event; I have explained how he threw in the towel and smashed the time-clock when all speeches went beyond the permitted five minutes in order to let the guest speaker have centre stage; I have recalled those looks of delighted recognition when fellow Giggleswickians meet each other for the first time in years; and I have raved about the ambience of the House of Commons and the excellent quality of food and service we enjoy. I have even admitted to relishing the thought of purchasing a plastic cup of ‘railway’ tea on our downward journey. But I cannot. So it is with a sigh of resignation that I ask you all to take on board what I have just written as it does appertain to what happened this year. It was another memorable evening and the weather was perfect, the security staff helpful and what an entrance we now experience into the House – you have to admit it was thrilling to walk through the Palace of Westminster and to admire OG SECRETARY 55-64 the renovations and roofing timbers of that magnificent John Kirkpatrick 60-65 building. A good start to the evening. Andrew McNaughton 63-66 The food and speeches were entertaining – Derek Michael Key 62-67 Underwood, ex England David Stockdale 63-69 cricketer, spoke well Nick Jefferies 65-70 and we enjoyed I Murphy 66-71 listening to the D Cameron 63-73 account of his playing days – especially those for his country – and his little anecdotes. There is one point that does stick in my mind which, in my opinion, made the evening most memorable. It began with Anthony remarking that whole tables seemed to be disappearing, and reappearing, one by one. Where were they going? What were they doing? Where was Nigel Evans our sponsoring Member of Parliament? Anthony was most mystified (and nosey!). Eventually he discovered the answers. Completely off his ‘own bat’ Nigel Evans had been showing everyone, in turn, the new statue of Margaret Thatcher plus handbag, which is situated in the Lobby of the House of Commons – plus throwing in a little history and explanations of the extraordinary ‘workings’ that are traditional to the everyday life that occurs only in the Houses of Parliament. To me this made the evening rather special. There are a number of people that work hard to make this dinner happen, but a special thank you goes to Angela Mills who works hard, behind the scenes ensuring the number of tickets sold matches the seating plan. The date for next year is Friday 24th April 2009 – and the dining-room has been booked and sponsored. So put it in your diary and send in your application forms – who knows, we might get a special showing of the Prime Ministers Office … but I doubt it! Elizabeth Briggs
CW Harwood & Co
solicitors
Kimberley House 11 Woodhouse Square Leeds LS3 1AD tel: 0113 245 7027
…the providers of commercial property legal services to the business community since 1982. Contact chis.harwood@cwharwood.co.uk
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www.giggonline.com Richard West 69-74 T I Roberts 69-74 Nigel Shaw OG PRESIDENT 70-75 Adrian Rodgers 73-78 Tracy Dilks 78-80 Edward Sissling 74-83 Sally Gardner 82-84 Cameron Day 83-88 Angela Sutcliffe 84-88 James Nisbet 83-88 Mark Bamford 84-91 Martin Briggs 81-91 James Northen 81-91 Simon Inglis 84-91 Fanentor Tseayo 84-91 Ben Wright 84-91 Janet Hoyle 84-91 Lindsay Smith 86-91 James Taylor 87-94 Edwin Stokes 90-94 David Lomas 85-94 Alex Driver 89-94 Tassos Vassiloulis 89-94 Michael Samanek 97-98 Andreas Bergmann 97-98 Greg Boyle 94-98 Oliver Burrows 95-99 Alex Beketsky 96-99 Robyn Higgins 98-00 Laura Monk 98-00 Laura Latter 98-00 Frances Gillibrand 97-02 Charlotte Ingle 99-03 Hon OGs Mr Geoffrey Boult HEADMASTER Martin O’Connell CHAIRMAN OF GOVS Giles Bowring BURSAR David Fox Margaret Fox Ray Jones Catie Jones Sarah Williamson Alistair Scholey Andrew Beales Guests Nigel Evans MP – SPONSOR Derek Underwood OBE CHIEF GUEST
PROPOSED
OG BALL 2009
Frances Gillibrand (C 97-02) & Angela Sutcliffe (C 84-88)
are planning to organise an OG Ball in 2009 and are seeking support from OGs and their friends Please respond a.s.a.p. to the information insert enclosed with this edition, so that they can decide whether to take their plans forward
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Letters An OG asks for your help…
The following letter arrived recently from Revd David Hammond (P 93-96). Is there an OG who might be prepared to offer the help he needs? It’s been a few years since Gigg dropped into my mind and it’s been good recently catching up with old mates on Facebook. I am wondering about floating an idea with all OGs to see whether anyone can help me... I’m now Priest-in-Charge of a church in one of the most deprived 5% of wards in the UK. This is an area with gun and knife crime amongst youth, drug and alcohol addiction and many struggling families and asylum seekers. We have big plans to make a difference here. One of the most effective ways to do this (see www.message.org.uk and www.edennetwork.org) is to move committed young adults/families into an area such as this, to do detatched work in the community alongside their jobs. The church has little money but has control of two dilapidated houses (we are also looking at taking in one worker in our own home); we could do with more accommodation to bring in workers to transform the area. I don’t want to abuse the OG network, but I am looking to begin fundraising and also find philanthropists who would be willing to buy a property on The Meadows and lease it to the church for a ten year period at a peppercorn rent and then eventually reap the benefit of having bought when the market is low. Again I say, I don’t want to abuse the Giggleswick network, but this is one area I feel I must at least explore. Dave Hammond. Pioneer Missioner and Priest-in-Charge Saviour’s in the Meadows, Nottingham dave@saviours.org.uk Arthur Richardson (N 40-43) writes: I trust that this will be a fairly short epistle, to comment on two subjects. Firstly, my congratulations on getting Gigg:eNews up and running, so this is obviously confirmation that I received my copy of the first edition. Secondly, an event is due to occur on June 11th, 2008 as a result of an experience I had while attending Giggleswick from 1940 to 1943 (Nowell). I am sure that most of those who attended around 1942, can recall that, immediately after the famous Dieppe ‘Raid’ on the north of France, the School was visited for a ‘week’s rest’ by the famous Number 4 Commando – the only unit that was able to reach its target and then evacuate as planned. Their Comanding Officer – Captain Style –
was an Old Boy of the School and had arranged the ‘rest’ in advance, with Headmaster E H Partridge. Towards the end of a very busy week – not what could be termed restful – with the soldiers showing their tactics to the School Corps and the Home Guard and continuing with their usual demanding physical activities, plans were made for a Rugger match - the School versus #4 Commando. (The latter had roughly 7 or 8 who had played before!) Never previously considered better than a 2nd team player, I was extremely proud to see my name as Full Back for the 1st XV – presumably for my tackling rather than kicking ability. At one stage during the game, I found myself the only player between our goal line and a rather large Commando charging straight at me!! Undeterred, I made a dive for his legs only to find that he had stopped – from full running mode – and on impact, I merely bounced back. I shall never forget his words of concern ‘You alright son?’ After my nod in response, my ageing memory leads me to assume that he continued his forward progress and scored while I regained an upright and, except for dignity, an unhurt position. It was not until later in the same game that, due to a collision of sorts, the cartilage in my right knee got broken and I was carried off the field to sit out the rest of the game. With help from a Canadian cousin who was studying medicine in Newcastle at the time, I learned how to ‘jerk’ the offending part back into its proper place. So, some 64 years later, I am now destined for an ‘arthroscopy’ (no connection with my first name!) which translates into surgery – in and out the same day – to examine behind the kneecap and remove any surplus ‘bits and pieces,’ I figure that I have been extremely lucky to have lasted all these years without serious problems and discomfort as a result. I must apologize for this missive being somewhat longer than anticipated. However, if you feel that parts or all of it – in fact ANY - are worthy of inclusion in Gigg:news at some time or other, please feel free! Arthur (Richardson). An OG and very close contemporary of Arthur Richardson, who was in Catteral Hall and then Nowell from 1939-49, has written a long account of his time at Giggleswick. He wishes to remain anonymous and the limitation on space available in these pages means that what follows is an edited version; the complete letter can be found on the OG website…………[cont]
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Of War and Peace 1939-49 an OG’s Recollections
In 1939, although only eight years old, I and my contemporaries were well aware that ‘something was up’. Ever since Chamberlain had returned from somewhere called Munich, waving a piece of paper and saying, ‘Peace in our time’, we had heard talk of war. We heard of plans to evacuate children, newspapers had shown pictures of trenches being dug in London parks for use as ‘air raid shelters’, there had been talk of a ‘blackout’ and our parents had become addicted to listening to every news bulletin on the radio… In 1938, or early in 1939, my parents had decided that I should go to Giggleswick and would start at the beginning of the Winter Term (about September 20th). During the summer the School told parents that Catteral Hall (CH) would open at the beginning of September to receive any boys whose parents wished to send them before transport became difficult. Evacuation of schoolchildren from Manchester (we lived on the outskirts) began on September 1st and a day or so later I arrived at CH. Between then and the start of term we did not do any school work, but were allowed to play in the grounds and generally settle in. Like most of my fellows I had never been away from home before, except on holiday, and life was strange. Many memories are still vivid. We were not allowed to listen to the radio and phone calls were possible only with special permission (rarely granted) and had to be made in the presence of staff. Punishments were varied. Anybody unduly ‘faddy’ about food was given one or more meals (while others ate normally) of bread and cold water. Other sins caused one to be sent to bed early, and undue noise, by groups or individuals in playrooms, caused that person or the whole room to be put ‘on silence’ for varying lengths of time, during which one could speak only to staff. Beatings were reserved for serious offences such as disobedience, rudeness to staff or other adults, persistent bad work and the like. We dreaded air raid alarms (whether practice or real) during the night. On going to bed,
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www.giggleswick.org.uk our outside shoes were placed under our bedside chair, and on it our football shirt, trousers, socks, gas mask and, in winter, our gaberdine. When the alarm went (only when we were well asleep!) we had to don our outside clothes over our pyjamas, put on shoes, hang our gas masks round our necks and be ready to move, in silence, within two minutes. Using the nearest staircase and having only the light of staff torches, we went to the air raid shelters. These had been fashioned out of limestone outcrops behind the house. Inside were benches. If the metal doors were blocked during a raid, we could escape by a short vertical ladder to another opening. If we were up for over an hour in any one night, we might be granted a few extra minutes before morning bell, but for shorter periods there were no concessions. Naturally, to begin with, we did not manage to be ready to move within two minutes of waking from a deep sleep, but practice soon paid off!! Sundays were dreaded too. Until the Winter Term in 1940 (I think), prescribed dress was Eton collars worn over Eton-style jackets and pin strip trousers. After breakfast we moved in a silent crocodile up to the small door on the south side of Chapel, past the parents’ pews and up to the gallery opposite the organ. Whenever we passed parents or masters we raised our caps. On return from Chapel we wrote our letters home, in silence and watched over by a member of staff. When finished, we submitted them for approval. If this was not forthcoming because of bad writing, blots, misspelling, or accounts of events in the week bearing scant resemblance to the facts, they had to be rewritten, sometimes more than once. The afternoon was occupied by walks and then it was time for Chapel again. For some time after the outbreak of war there was a cub pack and a scout troop at CH, but these did not continue in the upper school. The Christmas holidays in 1939 seemed strange. Shortages had arisen, although food rationing did not begin until January 1940. Many people one knew had gone to France with the B.E.F. and conscription of all males aged 19 to 41 had begun. Father had served and been decorated during W.W.1, but was too old for the new conscription. Females aged 20 to 30 were required to work in defence jobs, or as auxiliaries in the services. By the end of May 1940 the evacuation of Dunkirk was in full flow. Day by day the news got worse and even The Beano and The Dandy failed to lift our spirits. Sport at CH consisted of soccer in the Winter Term and, in the Spring Term, soccer for the first half and athletics in the second half, then cricket in the summer. During the summer holidays of 1940 came the Battle of Britain and when I returned for the Winter Term, raids on Manchester were a regular thing. It was not
uncommon for a man to go to work in the morning, as usual, and return at night to find a mound of rubble where his house had been. He was soon able to get directions to where his family was: in a refuge, a neighbour’s house, in hospital, or the morgue. Neighbours rallied round, he would soon find somewhere to sleep that night and, particularly if his job were very important, like aircraft manufacture, he would be off to work again in the morning. Counselling as we know it now did not exist. I shall not forget the Christmas holidays at the end of 1940. Our house had cellars and father, with expert advice, had reinforced them with heavy timbers bought from local demolition sites. Bunk beds were installed, as was an emergency exit to the garden. Food and drink were taken down nightly and most nights mother and I slept down there. Raids were occurring almost nightly and I discovered that similar routines applied to school friends who lived in or near the major conurbations. Spring Term 1941 was comparatively peaceful after all that. About then the Eton collars were withdrawn and soon afterwards (I’m not sure exactly when), School introduced an excellent scheme. Outgrown but wearable clothes were traded in to the School Shop and bought by parents who needed these items. I’m not sure how the finances of this worked, but I do know that the scheme was well used. In December came the attack on Pearl Harbour and we were at war with Japan. Strange names came into the news and atlases began to be used outside geography lessons. By 1942, parental visits, formerly allowed every three weeks, at weekends only, became much harder to plan. Nobody had petrol; only rail travel was available. We could see our parents for lunch and tea on Saturdays and Sundays, but had to return for Saturday afternoon sport and were released only after morning Chapel on Sunday. Later, because of food rationing, local hotels could not serve us with both lunch and tea on Saturday and Sunday, so we had to choose which single main meal during the weekend we could eat with our parents. By that time, we in CH had grown used to the sound of military convoys, by night and day, on the Settle-Ingleton road. High Rigg was a peaceful place where curlews flourished and the most regular noise was the squeak of the overhead trolleys carrying limestone from Giggleswick Quarry to a loading facility near Giggleswick Station. In September 1943 I moved into the upper school, to be introduced to study life, swogging, rugby and punishment drill. We were told we were lucky. Fagging had ended, apparently, at about the outbreak of war, but as part replacement we had weekly scrubbing of the study passage floor on hands and knees. Nearly all personnel employed pre-war on domestic duties had by then been called up. Using the
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www.giggonline.com toilets behind the science block, largely open to the air, in the blackout during a freezing winter’s night was no pleasure! Enrolment in the Cadet Corps was compulsory and we had the joy (?) of preparing for Certificate A, Parts I and II. Everyone knew they would be doing these ‘for real’ when they joined up – conscription was compulsory. Deferment was granted (for 12 months at a time) until the end of full-time education and thereafter if you were undergoing full-time apprenticeship or professional training – so long as you passed your exams and continued to satisfy your employers. In one respect, something was introduced because of the blackout, which meant much to some of us but of which those at the School today may only have heard. Exactly when it was introduced I’m unsure, but always on the last night of term there was a Chapel Service, held after the ‘show’ or any other activities had finished. The only lights in the Chapel were a small lamp on the organist’s music rest and a pencil torch, carried by the Headmaster, E H Partridge, who took the service. We had to memorize beforehand all the sung items and all the communal prayers. The lesson was always the same, taken from chapters 11 and 12 of the Book of Ecclesiastes (Authorized Version). V12 of Ch12 struck a chord with many… ‘…of making many books there is no end and much study is a weariness of the flesh…’ The agreement of the silent congregation was palpable! The exhortation of the last verse that ultimately everything we did, good or bad, would be taken into account, sent us off into the night in reflective mood, to bed and thence to home and soon to work, or military service, or simply on holiday until next term. In 1944, on the morning after the news of the D-Day Landings, our first lesson was French. The French master, Mr Bowen, was married to a French lady, extremely slight and delicate, who was often seen walking their St Bernard, while we debated who was walking who! She described to us the area in which the British landings had taken place, which she knew well, and from her we heard of the high hedges, narrow roads and limited views which made life so difficult for the British troops as they fought to dislodge the Germans. From then on the war news got steadily better, but life at home for our parents got harder. At Christmas my trunk (like everyone else’s sent by rail as luggage in advance) disappeared in transit – luggage theft was becoming common. Because it contained all the clothes which fitted me, my mother had to wash and iron most items each night, so that I could dress the next day. Simple replacement was impossible. Eventually, its loss was accepted and we received, only a few days before term began, some emergency clothing coupons, just enough to buy sufficient ‘utility standard’ clothes to equip me for the new term. In April 1945 the blackout was lifted and excited day boys told us that lighted buses were in use after dark in Settle. In May came the German surrender. I recall that there was no form work that day and Nowell celebrated with a house walk which took us, at lunchtime, to a pub in Long Preston, where only soft drinks were served – under supervision of course! V.J. Day came unexpectedly during the summer holidays. With the advent of peace, the first signs of a new dawn had appeared, but it would be long before we felt any warmth from the rising sun. Rationing was severe. Housing was in desperately short supply. England was shabby, everyone was war-weary and the country, financially, was bankrupt. Slowly things began to improve, but although Hitler was beaten, nature had kept a weapon up its sleeve. In January 1947, shortly after the beginning of term, the skies darkened to a degree not often seen. Then came the snow. For about three or four days and nights the blizzard lasted. When finally it stopped the world was silent. Nothing could move. Roads, lanes and footpaths, as well as railways, were all blocked. The school milk normally came in churns from a farm part way up High Rigg. Classes were suspended and a party of about 50 boys, armed with various tools, was sent to clear drifts blocking the milk’s route. Two churns arrived on a tractor-drawn trailer in the early evening. Other parties cleared routes around the school buildings and down to the village. Some day boys got through, but by no means all. Even with dormitory windows closed, bedside glasses of water on lockers froze solid during the nights. In May, after the Summer Term had started, the remains of drifts in the corners of fields were still visible on the hills above Settle. However, the summer of 1947 was compensation. Sporting fixture lists filled up again as travel became easier. Mr Basil Pape, a Bomber Command Squadron Leader came as Housemaster of Nowell to succeed Mr GLM Smith, who had moved to Malvern College. In 1949, after Higher Certificate, my time was up. Ten years served with no remission for good conduct! I had signed articles with a solicitor. Summer Term ended, as did all others, on a Monday. As a special favour, my employer allowed me the rest of that week as a holiday, but I had to report at 9.00 am the following Monday. Others reported for military service days after leaving school. The concept of ‘gap years’ would have been greeted with derision. It had been an eventful decade. We had missed much but had gained much as well. Nowadays the School has been transformed and I wish the present generation of Giggleswickians every possible good fortune in the future.
Visit to John Ryland’s Library, Manchester
Alongside the many treasurers in the John Ryland’s Library sits an internationally significant collection of book bindings donated by Anthony Dowd OG (C 41-45). The Anthony Dowd Collection of British Book Bindings shows the development of this art form over Mr Dowd’s lifetime. Some 100 books from the past 80 years demonstrate a range of techniques and styles, from the very plain to the incredibly ornate. In October a party of Art Scholars and young librarians from Gigg went to visit the collection. Students were given a guided tour of the library by the Keeper of the Manuscripts and Archives, John Hodgson. After the tour pupils were ushered into a private reading room where some of the collection had been laid out. Mr Hodgson explained the significance of each piece and encouraged pupils to touch, read and, in one case, even smell, the books. John also brought in some of the tools used to create similar bindings. “Each book represents many hundreds of hours work” explained Mr Hodgson “One mistake and the whole binding John Hodgson may have to be restarted.” The trip comes in the wake of the School’s outstanding Art results. In 2008 several pupils’ work was adjudged to be amongst the best in the country at GCSE and AS Level. The visit has proved inspirational with current students. “I can see how this will influence my own work,” said sixth former Rebecca Wells. “I can’t wait to try out some of these techniques.” One book commissioned by Mr Dowd, missing from the collection, can be found in the School Chapel. This book contains the names of all those who supported the recent restoration of the building. It is on permanent display and the pages are turned weekly by the Assistant Head, Sarah Williamson. The Ryland’s Library is currently staging an exhibition of its book bindings: For the Love of Binding runs from now until 17 January. On December 17 there is a lunchtime lecture on the Dowd Collection, Beauty by Design – A Collection Close Up. For more information contact the Ryland’s Library event team on 0161 306 0555. Can you help to provide a similar stimulating experience for current pupils? We’d love to hear from you. Please contact Andrew Beales on 01729 893 008 or e-mail abeales@giggleswick.org.uk
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OG DAY 2008
Over 200 people attended OG Day on Saturday 28 June this year. As has become the norm in recent years, many of the OGs present, ranging in age from under 20 to over 80, brought their partners and families with them. Morning coffee in the Memorial Library was well attended and more than usual stayed on for the brief AGM of the OG Club – an encouraging sign. The excellence of the buffet Lunch is always guaranteed and was commented upon by many. Outgoing President, Nigel Shaw, rounded off his own outstanding year in office by inviting the oldest OG present, Frank Ward (C 38-41), to hand on the presidential chain of office to incoming President, Michael JW Barr (M 73-77), who introduced himself to the assembled throng and looked forward to taking the Club forward in whatever ways he could during the coming year. The House Reunion this year was for former members of Shute, so immediately after lunch they were whisked away to have their photograph taken. Sadly, we were to learn very early in the following week that for one of those present – David Angus (front row on the right as you look at it) – this was to be his last visit to Giggleswick; his obituary appears elsewhere in this edition. Should any of those in the photograph wish to purchase a copy, they can be made available at the following prices (including P & P):A4 size £4.00, A5 size £3.00, standard 6x4 £1.00. Cash with order, please – cheques payable to The Old Giggleswickian Club. Contact David Fox on 01729 893123 or dpfox@ giggleswick.org.uk The weather was kind, so various activities took place on and around Top Pitch, including of course a cricket match against the 1stXI, which the School won resoundingly this year. The afternoon ended with a short, but moving, service in the Chapel. However, the day was not yet over. At 18.00 a large number of OGs and friends of the School heard a presentation, given by Chairman of Governors, Martin O’Connell, and Foundation Director, Andrew Beales, to launch the fundraising appeal for the new Richard Whiteley Theatre at Giggleswick, a truly exciting project to transform the very place where everyone was sitting, plus surrounding areas of the building. To help this along, the audience was then richly entertained for about an hour by four OGs: Jonathan Broadbent (P 90-95) – who collected the group together – Nick Bowater (M 92-97), Hannah Curry (née Kenyon – C 89-93), and Sarah Fox (CH/C 85-92). Their choice of material was absolutely appropriate to the occasion, showing off their several talents and sending everyone away in a warm and happy mood. They were joined for the last few items by four current pupils – Lettie Ball and Hannah Wells (St), Tom Figgins (N) and Ben Maltz-Jones (S), just to emphasize the continuity of excellence in performance which has developed at Giggleswick over the past half century and the exciting prospect that lies ahead when the new developments have been completed.
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Famous OG Series We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints in the sands of time. HW Longfellow
GEOFFREY H WOOLER MA MB ChB FRCS MD (Praepostor, Sgt OTC)
Telegraph Group Ltd, London 1999
Born on 24 November, 1911, Geoffrey Wooler was educated at Giggleswick from 1924-1930. He was in Nowell House and was at school when the Memorial Library was opened in 1926; he would also have witnessed the eclipse of the sun at Giggleswick in 1927. There was still a number of Victorian customs at that time, including fagging, the purpose of which was to teach one obedience and cleanliness and he relates the fate that befell any prefect who had treated a fag too harshly. His brother, Loy, (Chairman of Governors at Giggleswick 197075) was an exceptional rugby player and captained the first team for two years, during which time they were very successful. However, Geoffrey did not follow in his brother’s footsteps; he hated the game and was no good at it. Eventually this was realised and he was dropped from the Colts, never to play rugby again. The rest of his school days were very happy and during that time, he befriended a boy whose home was in Northumberland and with whom he would go on long country walks. The friend taught him much about wildlife and wild flowers, a love of which lasted all Geoffrey’s life. The Head at that time was RN Douglas, an outstanding scholar at Cambridge, obtaining a double first in Classics and becoming a triple blue (rugby, cricket and tennis). He advised Geoffrey to try for Selwyn, his own College, and Geoffrey went up in 1930, not knowing initially what he would study. He began to read law, but didn’t enjoy it and changed to medicine at the end of his second term. In 1938 he joined the Territorial Army, but when the war started he had not completed his surgical training. Advised to stay to complete his time with his surgeon tutor, he declined, so he
“There’s no business like show business…”
became second MO to the 1st battalion the Queen’s Westminsters. From 1942-46 he served abroad in the First Army. During this time he had enormous surgical experiences and worked in North Africa, Sicily and extensively in mainland Italy, including work in the casualty clearing stations at the Battle of Cassino, and often carried out operations under the most impossible conditions. Mentioned in despatches in 1945, Geoffrey also was awarded the TD. Back in civilian life, Geoffrey Wooler worked at the London Hospital, but in 1947 he moved to the General Infirmary in Leeds. Leeds was one of two medical centres using a new heart-lung machine. Experimenting initially on dogs, operations on humans, who needed the repair of a mitral valve, were carried out after 1957. Amongst the many papers and tutorials he was asked to give, he delivered a paper in Naples, as co-Chairman of the Italian Surgical Society, sharing the platform with the eminent heart surgeon, Christian Barnard. As there is no perfect substitute for a diseased heart, pigs’, and later, calves’ valves were used and in 1968 a Bradford woman was given three pigs’ valves to replace diseased heart valves. This ground-breaking procedure was, in the main, thanks to Mr Wooler. There is a plaque on the wall at the main entrance to the General Infirmary at Leeds, which reads: Geoffrey H. Wooler Consultant Surgeon to the Thoracic Surgical Dept 1948-1976 After he retired he travelled widely and even ran, unsuccessfully, a restaurant in Leeds for a time. Geoffrey Wooler has written a fascinating account of his colourful life in his autobiography, “Pig in a Suitcase”, a copy of which we have in the Memorial Library Collection of books written by Old Giggleswickians. Apart from the fascinating accounts of operations which he and others performed, there are hair-raising accounts of his leaving his passport behind in a hotel in, what was then Yugoslavia, being in Germany during the so-called ‘Kristallnacht’, being questioned by the Nazi police and so much more. Barbara Gent
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Drama at Giggleswick - a memoir By the time you reach the age for retirement it isn’t just the past that is a foreign country. They do things differently in the present too. However, I do still carry a passport to the years 1970-86, in the form of a journal that I kept throughout this time. A small slice was published in the magazine Conference, recording Michael Day’s Hamlet expedition to real foreign countries in 1985. The rest of it has remained buried and unconconsulted until now. When first I reached it, in search of employment, Giggleswick was a bleak Dickensian snowscape. On the way I’d passed what I took to be a workhouse. Legend has it that Philip Curtis had also arrived there in the dark through a swirling blizzard years before, and had pounded on the door of its gaunt façade in the belief that it was the school. To his polite query “is the headmaster in?” the response had been a gleeful cackle and a retreating cry of “not yet he isn’t!” before the door had slammed shut. That morning, a solitary boy was scraping snow off the flat with a shovel. I wondered if there would be brimstone and treacle for lunch. A pre-prandial walk up to the white wonderland of Chapel Field with John Dean ruined my shoes but clinched the job when I professed some knowledge not only of cricket but also of Chaucer, whom I was then teaching to sixth formers at QEGS, Blackburn. Coincidentally I was inheriting the mantle of its alumnus Russell Harty, who had left to seek fame at the BBC. It was explained to me that in addition to O and A level English, together with further teaching, form-mastering, games and evening duties at Catteral Hall, I would be expected to direct the school play. My diary reads: The theatre is in the main hall, known as Big School. Last term they did The Royal Hunt of the Sun. The Incas not only drank cocoa but covered their bodies in it as well, which explains why there are dried-up puddles of the stuff reeking everywhere backstage. There are no wings to speak of, and there is an organ at the back of the stage in a kind of pit. When after some weeks I expressed anxiety about the idea of a play, Susan Brookes said: “Don’t worry. We’ll ask Alan.” The identity of Alan was not made clear until I found myself face to face, in my Brookside sitting room, with a member of the cast of Beyond the Fringe. It was the first of many meetings, and eventually Warwick Brookes twisted one arm and I twisted the other, and Alan Bennett agreed to be President of the Dramatic Society, on the clear understanding that he did not have to do anything. He did, however, suggest Zigger Zagger, fresh from the repertoire of the National Youth theatre. Zigger Zagger. Housemasters have agreed to the importation of girls for the show. News of this has trebled the audition list. The best actors can’t sing, and the best singers can’t act, but there is
Zigger Zagger
no shortage of volunteers. Normally the school has followed the Shakespearian tradition, and it was at one time obligatory for the rugby XV to climb into drag for a revue, the brainchild of the headmaster. But this is not the right kind of play for boys in frocks. Some think that it’s not the right kind of play for girls in frocks either. It has since occurred to me that his suggestion might just have been a trifle mischievous, but with a few cuts and a lot of commitment from a large and raucous cast that included four local girls, we got away with it, and the new man’s job was safe for another term. All this was long before the era of political correctness, health and safety and risk assessments, but drama was never without its hazards, both physical and mental. I have dug out the following extracts: The Real Inspector Hound: I hire a resuscitation dummy after it becomes clear that no boy can remain motionless on the floor for the entire show. All who attempted it drew attention to themselves in various disconcerting ways, convulsing the cast and ruining rehearsals. But the dummy proves no less reliable and once released from its suitcase takes on a life of its own. Swathed in an overcoat and trilby and pumped up before the curtain on the first night, it slowly deflates itself with an audible hiss until there is little evidence of a body at all save for a pink plastic face that leers provocatively at the audience, though only the front half can see it. When in the course of the denouement the body is revealed, the back half stands up, not having appreciated its existence until that moment. At another point a wheelchair has to come rushing onto the set (“That sounds like the Major coming now!”) In rehearsal the chair, borrowed from Castleberg Hospital and containing William Marshall, hurtles down its improvised ramp and wipes out all actors and props within its path. It takes several hazardous The Caretaker attempts to perfect the descent. Toad of Toad Hall: Irked by Catteral Hall parents’ unresponsiveness, Philip Curtis swivels round and cries out loudly: “God, what a boring audience!” adding, as I shrink down into my seat: “That’ll teach you to come to the theatre with me!” Malcolm Woodruff’s play is endearing: purple little melodies, bright little faces, eyes a-sparkle in the lights, walloping weasels and stoats.
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Smike
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. I nearly kill Ken Wood (stage manager). He is invisibly concealed in the dark among the drapes when I edge silently round during a black-out to fire a pistol on cue, centimetres from his ear. It has not been used in rehearsal and we are both unaware of the other’s presence. When he recovers the power of speech he seizes me by the collar, hauls me close and whispers between heavy wheezes: “Do you know you need a firearms certificate to fire that bloody thing?” In my second year I was confident enough to select my own play, The Government Inspector, for which James Siddall manufactured a magnificent set. Pleased with myself, I sent off to French’s for copies. An agonising fortnight passed. Then a package arrived, The Adventures of Gervase Becket containing sixteen copies of An Inspector Calls. Great indeed was the director’s wrath. Somehow we got through rehearsals on time. Often it was illness that delayed proceedings; a flu epidemic nearly laid low the cast, all three of them, of The Caretaker in
A Sleep of Prisoners
1972, and Smike had to be postponed when Smike himself and two of the adults in the cast fell ill. In Journey’s End (1973) the understudy sergeant-major, panicked by his sudden elevation to stardom, contrived to lock his gaiters together, giving a new meaning to the expression a stand-in. In The Adventures of Gervase Becket (1984) the director himself was obliged to take to the stage as a lastminute deputy for James Atkins, his script concealed in a large hat, thereby shattering the belief that directors always know the lines anyway. Peter Taylor, Mark Massey, Nigel Shaw, William Marshall, Ian Brewis, Brett Alston, Paul Collinson, Andrew Gaynor and Paul N i m m o were just some of the actors with whom I greatly enjoyed working over the years. The AlstonCollinson partnerWaiting for Godot ships in Godot and Rosencrantz were probably the most challenging things we ever did, closely followed by A Sleep of Prisoners in the Chapel. I also hugely enjoyed helping behind the scenes in a very small way with the makeup for that great trilogy of Catteral Hall plays (Finkel, Tolly and Friends) that Michael Day wrote himself and directed with Bess Morris in what was a late seventies heyday of prep school drama. There were some marvellous musicals too, produced by David Fox. And I was always amazed and gratified by the expertise of those who created sets and costumes, or willingly offered technical assistance. Theatre generates a special atmosphere rivalled by few other activities, often revealing unsuspected talents in those who do not necessarily make their mark in the form-room or on the games field. We had modest financial resources for drama in those days, but I like to think that we always gave the audience their money’s worth during my tenure from 1970 to 1986. So I’m glad that I did not abandon my search for the school at the snowy gates of Castleberg Hospital, and that I slithered up the slope to all the years that lay ahead. John Mayall (August 2008).
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News from Giggleswick Junior School
Extracts from the Headmaster’s Speech Day Address, 4 July 2008 It is with a sense of pride and excitement that I welcome you all to Giggleswick Junior School’s first Prize Giving. Today is a welcome opportunity to reflect on the many outstanding achievements of the year. Changing the identity of a school is a very challenging job. Catteral Hall was steeped in history and tradition and I was party to the last term of its existence and keenly felt the glow of pride from all concerned of all that it had achieved since its inception. However I believe that, one year on, we have produced a school and delivered an education to be proud of for all of your children. The lure of starting a new school from scratch was and still is an exciting prospect. Curtis Jobling, creator or Bob the Builder, GJS has been formed Chief Guest at Giggleswick Junior School on sound educational Speech Day foundations – excellent teaching, first rate facilities and resources, high expectations and an insistence of high moral and behavioural standards surrounded in a spiritual framework that is our Christian ethos. The decision to close Mill House and integrate N-Y2 within the Partridge Building has ensured a visible continuity of education for parents and pupils alike. The Early Years Department has grown from strength to strength, and we have been full in most sessions this year. Demand for places is already high for next year and our Reception class for 2008-2009 is approaching capacity, despite building an extension this summer to create a Reception classroom. The work of Lisa Shepherd, Jo Gardner and Kath Hall led by Julie Middleton has been quite visionary. The opportunities given to the children are outstanding and it has been a joy to see these children grow in confidence during the year. It is my aim, supported by the EY team, that the Foundation Unit should be a leader in its field; the tributes already received from outside agencies that
support us are testament to us achieving this sooner than we had dared hope. A good education is based on the breadth and depth on offer, and a happy and calm environment. The curriculum we have is extensive both in and out of the classroom. During the year there have been important educational trips, visits and fun days out supporting the work in the classroom and ensuring that our aim of ‘hands on learning’ is fulfilled to the best of our abilities. Most of these trips are resourced from the generous educational budget that we are allocated and the commitment and support shown from Geoffrey Boult and the Governors to the Junior School in all areas is very much welcomed and appreciated. The Partridge Building is now the heart of our school. GJS is a high achieving academic school. The quality of classrooms and resources in them are excellent and children are challenged by excellent staff that expect and achieve these standards. We believe in high standards from our pupils in relation to their abilities. This year we have introduced our pupil profiling assessments that give diagnostic feedback of your children’s strengths and weaknesses in many areas. These results will be analysed and discussed and this valuable data is an exciting development for the school. Our motivation for learning comes from a stable, happy environment where pastoral care is top of the agenda. We are blessed with teachers who care, and fabulous matrons and a family feel to a boarding house led by Andrew Pickles that adds to the feeling of well-being at Giggleswick. Sport has flourished this year. The U11 girls have had a phenomenal year, winning many of their fixtures and, whilst they are a talented year group, the results would not have been as good without the expert guid-
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www.giggonline.com ance of Pam Bagot and Nicole Slater. James Mundell has ensured that we have had competitive U9 boys fixtures for the first time for many a year. I am concerned that true sporting role models are increasingly few and far between and it is left to schools like ours to defend our principles of sport for all, learning how to live a healthy and active lifestyle, winning – but not at all costs; winning with humility, being gracious in defeat, learning to be part of a team yet accepting individual responsibility. The taking part, however, is important and is a common theme in school. We ask the children to aspire in all areas and the summer concert was quite special. The music was of the highest quality and it was easy to forget that 9, 10 and 11 year olds were playing. The Young Musician of the Year competition was equally impressive, with many outstanding performances, none more so than the eventual winner, Eleanor Pickles. These events, combined with our informal lunch time concerts, Monday assembly performances and rehearsal schedules, have produced another area of real quality within our school. Treasure Island Revisited was a highlight of our year. Andy and Hazel Hiles wrote, directed and produced a play that enabled all our pupils to be involved. The sense of fun and enjoyment was clearly evident. The nativity was the usual tearjerker as Nursery – Year 4 took centre stage before Christmas with their production ‘Rock around the Flock’. Our school is further enriched with subjects such as art, food technology, religious education, the humanities and languages. The growing art work on display in school is proof of the pupils’ enjoyment and talent in this area, and Y6 have really taken to Food Technology. Our culture lessons have also been popular, providing the children with the opportunity to explore the languages and cultures of countries that speak German, Mandarin, Urdu and Spanish. John Bavington, the Chaplain, has been a regular visitor in school, teaching RE and taking a weekly assembly and he helps to solidify our Christian ethos and values within the school.
Looking back through the newsletters for material for today reminded me of the action packed year we have had. I need to thank parents for your help and support during this year of change. I am proud of our achievements of this year, I am proud to have witnessed the remarkable achievements of your children. Most of all, I am proud to be part of the Giggleswick School tradition and philosophy; to provide the very best education for your children
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Fundraising for Charities at Giggleswick
In recent years a lot of effort at Giggleswick has gone into raising money for charities. A Junior Charity Ball, for instance, is held each summer term to raise money; there is a Charity Committee to brainstorm ideas and suggest which charities to support; some of the Houses support one or more chosen charities; Chapel collections usually go to charities; there is an MCC Committee (see below); collections are taken at the end of some major school concerts; and so on. On this page there are just a few of the ways in which the School is trying to raise awareness of the needs of others. If any OG would like to offer support to any of these charitable works, they should contact Rev’d John Bavington, School Chaplain. For the past few years, the Housemaster of Paley, Bill Bartlett, has organized a Three Peaks Walk, Giggleswick to Giggleswick, for charitable fund raising. The walk this year raised funds for two orphanages. Both work to provide safe homes and secure schooling for orphans in Kenya and Uganda. Find out more about them via the links on this page. Information about the 2009 walk (including a registration form for OGs to fill in if they are interested in helping in this way) can be found at: http://gigg2gigg.googlepages.com AMURT Children's Home at the Ananda Marga Academy, Kiembeni, Mombasa, Kenya. Giggleswick students have supported the girls at the orphanage for nearly 5 years now, through the fundraising work of the Mombassa Children’s Charity (MCC). The visit of the Giggleswick Cricket team to the orphanage in 2006 was much appreciated on both sides. The news from them in April this year was that funding from Giggleswick had paid for new guttering on the classrooms to allow collection of precious rainwater. With no mains water available and only a single well (with a bucket lowered on a rope) on the school site, this water is very important to them. Hard to appreciate sometimes from a rain-soaked North Yorkshire. Alice Farmer is working there at the moment. http://gigg2gigg.googlepages.com/amurtchildren’shome
Paley House also helped to sponsor and organize a football tournament in Uganda: MACRO orphanage in Kitale B Village, Mukono, Uganda. This orphanage is seeing practical support from Giggleswick Gap students who have worked with MACRO in Uganda. This year Charlie Bartlett and Shona Bruno spent 3 months with MACRO and previous to their work, Natasha MacBean (Deputy Head of School 2002-3) worked with MACRO from Oxford University. MACRO's soccer tournament in 2008 bought together for the first time 24 teams from villages in the Mukono region of Uganda. Ugandans love following English football teams but relatively few actually play the game. Probably because the cost of a football for a rural village is a huge expense and very few actually have a proper football. Games at village level are few and far between and MACRO was delighted to offer a major tournament to encourage grass roots soccer in the Mukono region of Uganda. Many of the workers at MACRO support Manchester United and Liverpool and eagerly follow their games. The opportunity to take part in the MACRO tournament was very special for everyone and was used to take advantage of the educational opportunities that it provided too! The theme for the tournament was "A HEALTHY YOUTH THROUGH SPORT". During the tournament MACRO workers provided HIV education and introduced the players to the idea of leading a positive life by keeping clean and healthy. The tournament, started on 2nd May, ran for a number of weeks. Students from Giggleswick School, North Yorkshire, England (a school with a long football tradition) provided the initial
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New Sports Hall opened by Graham Thorpe, MBE The new Sports Hall was officially opened on 9 May this year by Graham Thorpe, MBE, former Surrey and England cricketer. Following lunch with invited guests and the opening ceremony, Graham met several young cricketers and conducted a coaching session with them.
OG XV v Wooden Spoon AAs Invitation XV On Sunday 19 October the OG XV hosted the WSAA XV on Lord’s. The drizzle held off until very near the end and a large crowd was treated to an exciting, open match and enjoyed the OG’s hospitality in the School Dining Hall both beforehand and afterwards. A pool of 17 OGs and 3 current staff all managed to play some part in the game, but unfortunately the opposition, bolstered by a number of former international and county players, was far too strong and played with a lot of pace and flair to win 577. The next OG XV fixture will be the traditional match v Ermysted’s Old Boys, provisionally scheduled for Sunday 14 December. Richard Fall would like to hear from all who wish to play. Currently, although there are quite a lot of players in contact with him, they do mostly tend to be either currently at university, or over 30 years old. Where are all the 25-30 year old OGs still playing rugby? If you are one such and are reading this, please contact Richard Fall at ogrugby@btinternet.com or at richard.fall@bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk
Honours for School Sportsmen and Sportswomen Roberta Jenkins (Yr11 C) represented Great Britain in Modern Pentathlon in the Czech Republic during the weekend of 18-19 October 2008. Grace Farmer (L6 St) has been selected for North Yorkshire U17 Hockey. Mark Gemmell (U6 M), Captain of the XV this year, is also playing for Yorkshire U18s and has been selected to tour with the Yorkshire Terriers RUFC U18s to Canada in the summer of 2009. George Elliott (L6 N) is also in the Yorkshire U18 rugby squad. Christopher Gemmell (Yr11 M) is playing for Yorkshire U16s rugby. Alfie Johnson (Yr10 N) is a member of the Cumbria U15 Rugby County Development Squad.
SPORT
Change and Continuity…80 Years of OG Golf
Chester Cathedral has three windows, donated in 1992 by the Duke of Westminster to celebrate 900 years since the original Abbey was built, based on the theme “Change and Continuity”. In the dual roles of Cathedral Guide and OGGS Secretary, it strikes me that this theme could equally be applied to our golf. In 2009 the OGGS reaches its 80th Anniversary, and this thriving Society continues to provide an enormous amount of pleasure to those who like social golf with a friendly competitive edge. This year has been no different. Our early season visit to the School showed how many good young golfers are being produced, which gives great encouragement for the future. They were certainly too good for us! Third place in the inter-schools “Birkdale Bucket” competition at Woodhall Spa was one of our best results in recent years and gave optimism for what has been a very successful season. Wins against the Old Boy teams from Uppingham, Millhill and Sedbergh plus a draw with Oundle were only offset by a loss to Ermysted’s. In the Open competitions, trophies were shared out between Nick Jefferies, Tony Thorpe and Richard Wilman, though the Autumn Open at Ilkey GC was postponed until late October due to the course being partially flooded. We have been especially delighted that the Headmaster has played for us on a couple of occasions, and wish to assure our readers that his ankle injury, after falling off the 16th tee at Ilkley, occurred well before the evening socialising. Nearly 40 OGs have played this season, and it was good to welcome Ian Davis and Jeremy Dobson to the Summer Open at Middlesbrough and to see Mark Dunsmore again. Sadly we do lose one member from the amateur ranks: Gary Wolstenholme, after his brave performance in the US Open, has joined the professionals. He is a great supporter of the OGGS and we wish him every success in his new career. Perhaps we will see his name on the Seniors leader board in the future. Not that we are without mention at higher levels. It is always good to hear Peter Alliss compliment the Gig scoreboard workers at the British Open, a role the School has performed for the past 27 years. Another thematic example is the annual Scottish Tour (see brief report below by Paul Heseltine). This has continued over many years though its format has changed. Now held over five days in mid-September, this year took us back to Montrose and included the delights of Montrose Medal (5th oldest course in the world), Carnoustie Burnside and Edzell. At Carnoustie we even adopted a Canadian for the day to allow us to play three 4-balls, so no doubt fame of OGGS hospitality has now spread to the Canadian mid-West.
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www.giggonline.com The continuing OGGS characteristic of generosity was exemplified by our President Mike Hartley on the first night in Montrose. Regular readers may remember that he achieved a hole in one at Kilspindie on the last day of last year’s tour. As we were all driving home, and thus unable to celebrate fully, he kindly offered to buy the wine for the first dinner, even though injury had kept him at home in Lytham. Funny how the credit crunch seems far away when someone else is buying! Thanks Mike. Unfortunately, the tour had its own Black Friday. No hole in one, and Yorkshire winning the Lancs/Yorks Trophy. Sorry Mike. What of the future? While all is well, we cannot be complacent. We are always delighted to welcome new members and have seen a number of new OGs in recent years. However, the pressures of Uni and carving out a career make it inevitable that they will have limited availability. We wonder if there are also some of, say, the 35+ age group OGs in the North who feel it might be the time to renew old friendships, make new friends and enjoy a game of golf at the same time. Come on… you know you really want to. Whoever you are, do get in touch with the Hon. Secretary, David Crossley on 01829-741133 or E-Mail: dmc@gtbarrow.eclipse.co.uk Here’s to the next 80 years! David Crossley (CH/St 51-60) Hon.Sec. OGGS.
OGGS Scottish Tour 2008
Five days in Montrose: September 15–19, 2008 [This a much shortened version of the very humorous original article, which is available in full on the OG website – Ed] Picture, if you will, two grumpy old men putting the world to rights as they sped northwards to join their fellow OGGs at Alyth for our annual festival of golf, good fellowship, and eating and drinking too much. Deeply engrossed in conversation, it was hardly surprising that the driver, who happened to be me, glanced down at the speedometer and saw that our speed had edged up – well over 85 miles per hour. Use of hand held mobile phones whilst driving is illegal – I think that they should also ban carrying Eric Trickey as passenger, when he is putting the world to rights
Eventually, the touring OGGs arrived at Alyth Golf Club in the splendid clubhouse, watching the rain on the windows and praying it would stop. Assembled for the first game of the tour were Billy Haggas, Stuart Lister, David Crossley, Nick (Mr always plays well) Jefferies, Eric Trickey, Bill Spinks, Gareth Read (on his first OGGS tour), Chris Harwood, Tim Wilman and myself. Our allotted tee time was imminent, the rain had become inconvenient rather than drenching, so we ventured to our cars to prepare ourselves for battle. Then, at the last minute William Stanley Howarth roared into the car park in his vintage VW Golf. We left him munching sandwiches as he donned his golf wet gear, and assembled on the tee. Tim Wilman, ready to tee off, asked who the third member of his group was. Chris Harwood, helpful as ever, replied, “The late William Stanley Howarth”. Wilman looked shocked. “Good gracious!” he said, “He looked fine when I saw him a couple of minutes ago in the car park!” Well, it seemed funny at the time. Henceforth on this tour, of course, William Stanley was known as the late, lost, Howarth. Alyth is a very pleasant parkland course. I was partnered with Chris Harwood against the formidable pair of Nick Jefferies and Bill Spinks. Bearing in mind the vagaries of my golf, this should have guaranteed victory to Jefferies /Spinks, but their putting was uncharacteristically charitable, and we somehow kept on getting up and down, so we won. Amazing! Elsewhere Messrs Read and Trickey were beaten by the Haggas/Crossley partnership, and in the three ball Stuart Lister took the gold, Tim Wilman the silver, and William Stanley Howarth the bronze. After checking in at the Links Hotel in Montrose and freshening ourselves up, a treat awaited us. The wine on our first evening was provided with the compliments of Mike Hartley (see DMC’s article above), but we would have enjoyed it all the more had he been with us. Day Two of the tour was spent at the Montrose Medal links course. I found my optimism of the day before disappearing as old gremlins began to resurface. The matches were again close and thanks almost entirely to Mr Jefferies, the Jefferies/Heseltine team beat Lister and Read. I don’t think I’ve ever won £4 before!! A Tyke remembers these sorts of things! Day Three of the tour, Wednesday, found us getting up at a horribly early hour so we could get to Carnoustie in time to tee off on the Burnside Course at 9.00. When we were assembled in the car park, the ever alert Bill Spinks spotted a large Canadian lurking alone. Displaying extraordinary initiative (for an OGG), he introduced himself and annexed Grant (for that was the Canadian gentleman’s name) as an honorary OGG for the day so that we could play 3 fourballs. I found myself playing with Chris Harwood as my partner against William Stanley Howarth and his new Canadian friend, Grant. Fortunately, Mr Harwood was in fine fettle, so we managed to
17 beat the late lost Howarth and Grant. Elsewhere Wilman/Lister prevailed over Haggas/Crossley, and Trickey/Jefferies beat Spinks and Read. Thursday was the day that we played for the Paley Cup; this was the really serious business of the tour – well, not quite so serious for some of us as the Roses match to be played on Friday. Needless to say, I didn’t win, and needless to say, Nick Jefferies did. At dinner that evening Nick was re-presented with the Paley Cup, and the Fergus Cameron trophy (awarded each year for deeds of exceptional whatever) was awarded to the deserving Tim Wilman, officially for his feat of hitting the pin on the eighteenth at Carnoustie Burnside so many times, but unofficially, I would like to think, for just being there and being his old self after his serious illness earlier in the year. Friday morning was beautiful. We set off for Edzell Golf Club and the Roses Match. Billy Haggas, cunning Lancastrian that he is, had devised yet another scoring system for this year. He has a strategy that if he keeps the Tykes guessing, the Red Rose has a better chance of victory. As there was an imbalance in the numbers, ‘Bill McSpinks’ volunteered to play for Lancashire. We had a most enjoyable round and Bill Spinks ended up adding a marvellous 36 points to the Lancashire hot pot. So, I thought to myself, the Billy Haggas strategy is going to triumph again. Ah, but this year it wasn’t to be! Nick Jefferies zoomed into top gear and came home with a totally obscene 42 points. The net result of all these exertions was the right one – Yorkshire regained the trophy with an average score of 30.5 points per player against Lancashire’s average of 29.6. The final prize was awarded, with Stuart Lister accepting the Roses trophy on behalf of the triumphant Tykes. The five days had flashed by in the wink of an eye, which is a sure sign that we all enjoyed them. So, as I wrote in my report last year, is there any OGG out there who thinks he can take the Paley Cup away from Nick Jefferies? If so, can I encourage him, nay, beg him, to come and join us next year and have some fun up in Freuchie? All he has to do is to reserve Monday 14th to Friday 18th September 2009 in his diary and email Billy Haggas at billyhag @hotmail.com Paul Heseltine (CH/S 52-62) The Senior Hockey and Rugby squads went on a highly successful tour to Western Canada from 15-29 August this year, each playing four matches in Calgary, Banff, Vancouver and Victoria Island. Not all matches were won, which was good from a development point of view. The true success of the visit has been reflected immediately in improved teamwork and some excellent victories this term. However, as with all tours of this nature, it will be the friendships and longterm memories that will remain in years to come.
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News…News…News…
News of Tim Horsfall (N 97-00) and Ben Thornton (N 96-01)
Rouska Mellor (St 93-98) has been working in digital advertising for the past 7 years, the last 4 in Sydney, Australia. She writes, ‘Recently when I returned to London earlier this year, my partner and I set up our own digital agency specialising primarily in Flash development with a focus on leading edge interactive technologies. We have recently won a Creative Showcase award for a project we did for Foster's lager, which allowed users to control a real mini submarine live via the internet. We are always interested in new business opportunities and can be contacted via www.justaddtonic.com.’ Guy Sutcliffe (CH/M 76-82) is now living in Stockport and works as an Army Recruiting Officer in Manchester.
OGs Tim Horsfall and Ben Thornton, both former members of Nowell, have joined forces creating two professional photography businesses. Focus of Attention is their society / wedding photography business – typically a mix of traditional formal photography and more modern reportage style. They are on the books of various wedding venues and are busy with on location portrait assignments, and are always delighted to hear from OGs. Their other business is FOA photography.com through which they do their commercial work – photography for magazine advertisements, product photography for brochures / web etc. One of their better known clients is And So to Bed who use their photography extensively across the full range of top glossy magazines. The two businesses work well together – their commercial work in Yorkshire and London typically being during the week, whilst Focus of Attention is busiest at weekends.
Tony Greenbank (T/P 44-50) is a full-time journalist who says his only claim to fame is that he writes ‘Country Diary’ every other Monday for the Guardian. He lives in Ambleside.
Nick Moody (M 70-75) writes: ‘I am working for Shell as one of their subsea QA/QC engineers, and work offshore on the ROV and diving support vessels in the North Sea. I have been doing this job for just over three years after hanging up my fins. I was a deep sea diver/supervisor for over 20 years until I decided I had had enough of that. Too old and grumpy perhaps. I am offshore at the moment after four weeks back home. The price of oil keeps me very busy, so it is not all bad news for everybody. I did the three peaks walk with Pete Fraser and Tom Booth on my last leave. Great fun, but sore feet and tired legs at the end. That was the first time I had done it, but apparently Tom Booth has done it millions of times. At least he knows the good pubs!’ Caroline Ford (C 85-87) is now a barrister in Leeds.
Victoria Gorst (N 83-85) works in the College Office at Outwood Grange College as a
Clerical Assistant, while studying for a Foundation Degree in Educational Administration at Huddersfield University. She is married to Keith and they have a daughter aged 7. Ulrich Kling (N 97-98) finished his studies in March this year as a Diplom Ingenieur (equivalent of a Master’s degree for those starting in Aachen nowadays). He works for a civil engineering construction company. Chris Riley (CH/N 79-85) is married, with two children and has been living on Long Island, NY, USA for the past 14 years. He is Total Solutions Manager with Broadview Networks – ‘The Total Solutions Company’.
Guy Bielby (CH/M 69-74) is a Director with a firm of auctioneers and estate agents called Halls, based around Shropshire, Worcestershire and mid-Wales. He is married with two sons, coaches youth rugby for Shrewsbury RFC and lives in Ellesmere.
David Nordon (St 73-78) is MD of RDN Logistics Ltd and lives in Belgium. Following his visit for the Bermuda Rugby Tour Reunion on OG Day he writes: ‘I reluctantly carried on with my education, graduated from Plymouth Poly in 1981 and moved to London instead of returning to Kenya. I worked for the Distillers Company for 11 years, eventually concentrating on logistics and supply chain functions. Married Lynne in 1984 and have a daughter aged 8. I moved to the Philippines and worked across Asia (China, Indonesia, HK, Taiwan) from a base in Manila. Returned to the UK as a consultant for three years before moving to Belgium as Group Logistics Director for a Swedish cosmetics company, responsible for logistics functions across 60 countries, but concentrated my efforts in Russia and former Soviet states. Rather than relocate to Moscow, I left the group in December 2007 and have set up my own limited company again… so far so good!’
OGs go for Atlantic Challenge
Luke Grose (M 00-04) and Alex Macdonald (M 99-04) are realising a long-held ambition by entering the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race in December 2009. They were inspired to go for this ultimate challenge by Mark Mortimer, their history teacher, rugby and cricket coach and House Tutor during their time at Giggleswick. Mark and fellow Army Officer Martin Bellamy crossed the Atlantic in 1997 and Mark attempted a single-handed crossing in 2004, while Luke and Alex were Sixth Form pupils at Giggleswick, which fuelled their interest and ambition even more. Having graduated in Management and Chinese at Nottingham University, Luke is now working for the Royal Bank of Scotland and says “I’m highly motivated and continually look to challenge myself. I see rowing the Atlantic as the ultimate test”. Alex is studying for a BSc in Internet Computing at Lincoln University. “I’ve completed numerous long-distance runs, such as the single day double marathon that I did with Luke a couple of years ago,” he says. “I enjoy the mental test that these challenges demand and am interested in seeing how I react to the much greater mental and physical stresses that the Atlantic crossing will provide.” More information about their Atlantic Challenge can be found on their website www.rowatlantic2009.co.uk
This page is sponsored by a friend of Giggleswick School in support of the Martin House Hospice, Wetherby, North Yorkshire.
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www.giggonline.com James Wood (C 81-85) has recently started university, studying Viticulture and Oenology at Brighton… ‘Very exciting yet very scary! After working all over the world and especially after a recent stint in NZ at Montana, I have realized where I am most happy – getting down and dirty, growing grapes and making wine. So hence I need a qualification to go with my knowledge and a rich lady who wants to retire me to the country!’ Dr David Moses (S 84-86) is Assistant Housemaster in St Oswald’s House at Ampleforth; he is also Head of Music Scholars.
Tim Greaves (St 70-72) again took part in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hour Race with his Team Bruichladdich Radical… still working on winning it! In July this year Oliver Denton (N 99-01) was appointed Communications Manager at DeNové Ltd, a business management and development agency. Oliver has recently worked with Nick Clegg on his successful leadership campaign to become Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party; and previously in the House of Commons for the Public Accounts Committee, as well as for the Conservative Research Department and for David Cameron’s Conservative Party leadership campaign in 2005.
Head of Technology for an internet company (www.artfact.com, www.invaluable.com, www.artfactauctions.com, etc).
Alex Bedon (CH/St 79-85) works in export marketing for OR.P.STAMPI in Bergamo, Italy. He met and married an Italian lady in England and is now ‘…the proud father of two girls, who is desperately trying to find a male dog, to try to even things out a bit in the house, before I succumb to further female whims.’ AMT (Mark) Massey (CH/C 64-72) featured recently (13 October) in an extended interview in The Journal of NE Business, published in Newcastle, where Mark is now head of the architecture practice IDPartnership. After Giggleswick and an architecture degree from the University of Manchester, Mark worked for a while in London before going to work for a German architect in Zambia, who worked for
Stuart Lowe (M99-04) is now studying for a PhD in nanotechnology at Imperial College, London, following the award of a 1st Class Honours degree in Physics at Oriel College, Oxford.
Chris (CJ) Parker (C 82-87) and his wife Hannah emigrated to New Zealand in September this year. He is now teaching at Wellesley College, in an independent boys’ prep school in Days Bay, near Wellington. Kathryn Eteson (N 79-81) lives in Cyprus and works for a law firm, handling the secretarial/admin side of things and dealing mainly with English-speaking clients who buy property over there. Bill Peverill (P 74-78) lives in the USA and is
the UN and some aid agencies on projects such as mission hospitals and even a leper colony. His return to the UK took him to Newcastle, where a year in his own business was followed by working as an architect for local authorities in the area and eventually for IDP, where he has been for the past 24 years. In the article Mark’s pet hobby horses appear to be: the need to give youth a voice in order to bring enthusiasm and challenge old ideas; the need for his own profession and local authorities to work handin-glove with local businesses to regenerate areas; and the urgent imperative to invest strongly in sustainable living. After leaving school, Chris Anderson (C 7578) served in the Royal Navy for 25 years, 21 of those as a submariner. He now leads ‘…a more sedate life as a Ministry of Defence Security Officer’ and lives in Helensburgh.
Alastair Sames (CH/N 78-82) has taken up acting during the last year or so, his latest role having been Arnold Hassock in Ayckbourn’s Improbable Fiction. However, more adventurously (perhaps?), he sailed across the North Atlantic during this summer with four friends in a 55’ Fleming named Beluga, revisiting his earlier career in the merchant marine, though without the many advantages of life on board a supertanker. Leaving Fort Lauderdale on 6 June, the voyage took six weeks via Bermuda, The Azores, Madeira and Gibraltar to Mahon. For those interested, Alastair’s full account of the trip can be found on the ‘gigg:online’ website, together with a number of pictures, of which one spectacular sunset appears below. Among his many vivid descriptive images, Alastair describes the flat calm of the ocean in the Bermuda Triangle as ‘…a silence like I’ve never experienced.’
Giggleswick School Foundation helps you get away for less!
Cottages4you is offering Giggleswickians, their friends and families a 5% discount on your next cottage holiday, whilst donating a further 5% to the Giggleswick School Foundation. Cottages4you offers a range of over a thousand holiday properties across the UK, Ireland and Europe. Choose from a castle in Scotland, a cosy cottage in the Lakes, or a fabulous villa with pool in the French Riviera. Stay close to home and discover the countryside on your doorstep, or explore further afield. Choose from 2, 3 or 4 nights, a week or perhaps even longer – the choice is yours! To search online, check availability and book, visit www.cottages-4-you.co.uk/giggleswick or call Sales on 0845 268 1530, quoting code ʻGIGGW5ʼ
This page is sponsored by a friend of Giggleswick School in support of the work of the Annette Fox Leukaemia Research Trust at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
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Picture Conundrums
Responses to Peter Goldsmith’s challenge with Picture Conundrum 9 in the last edition of Gigg:news were swift in coming, such is the power of e-mail these days. Offerings from David Stead, Derek Searle and Mike Beardsell are printed below. Perhaps the few inconsistencies can be put down to memories becoming less sharp than they were?
It is strange that we can put names to faces we sadly have not seen for 50 years, but I have difficulty with ones from last week and I well remember Mr. Dean’s instructions to us all after we had elected (and rejected) some new members, “…that these proceedings should not be repeated outside this room.” Sound advice that some of our politicians could heed. The Debating Society held a meeting that term – the motion “This House deplores the practice of Blood Sports in England” – proposed by Howarth and seconded by Mason. Perhaps surprisingly for a rural area, it was carried by 29 to 14 votes, indicating that Gig was 48 years ahead of its time even in those days. David P Stead (CH/N 53-59).
You have probably got all these names by now, but here goes: Back: David Stead (N), Roger ? Broadbent (C), GB Lengyl (C). Front: Richard Howarth; Peter Goldsmith (who I do not remember); Roger Mason (N), David Crossley, and Tim Hunt (S). Almost certainly a Bulidon Club meeting and at the earliest Sept 1958, as I left in July 1958. Derek Searle (CH/S 50-58).
Picture Conundrum 9
Left to right: Richard Howarth (P); Stead (N); I guess Goldsmith?; Roger Broadbent (C); Roger Mason (N); G. Lengyel (C); Crossley (St) and (guess JA Banks (N); T J Hunt (S) or H J Briggs (C). Front row: J M Dean (Club President) and his wife. The photo was taken at the meeting in Oct or Nov 1958 (no meetings in summer term). I assume that readers are familiar with the Society and hope that it still exists today. It was an intellectual and rather high brow Society of about 10/12 members who were elected by the members. (I never did understand why I was ever invited, but Mrs Dean’s tea and biscuits were a welcome bonus in those rather austere days). Monthly lightweight presentations included: “Roman Provincial Administration under the Republic” by Howarth and “Aknahten – The Heretic King” by Crossley.
Picture Conundrum 10
First of all, congratulations on the May issue – very impressive. I’m also impressed (read gobsmacked) that anyone would want to run Scarrig again. It remains one of my worst memories of Gigg: training for it was bad enough, but the day of the race was wet and cold and I remember vividly falling into a muddy swamp at the foot of Huntsworth and finishing covered in mud, somewhere near the tail of the field. Not what one wanted one’s proud parents to witness. Only the fact that one of the Nowell screws finished after me saved me from a bollocking from the Head of House for letting the side down! Now, the picture. I guess this was taken in term 3 of 1958 as I left in July that year and cannot recall Rev’d Pugh. I don’t recall Doc Smith’s matrimonial ambitions either. So, back row, L to R: Richard Howarth, DP Stead, Peter Goldsmith, Roger Broadbent?, Roger Mason, RD Josephy, DC Searle? Front row: Rev’d Pugh, I suppose, JM ‘Gabber’ Dean (Housemaster of Shute and President of the Bulidon Club), and Mrs Dean. Club meetings were held at the Deans’ house (opposite the dining room). Keep up the good work. Best regards Mike Beardsell (N 54-58).
Picture Conundrum 11
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www.giggonline.com However, on this occasion, we have the definitive answer from the man who actually took the photograph – and to whom also we are grateful for permission to print his photographs taken before and after the London Dinner in April this year (see above on p3) – Howard Briggs (CH/C 51-59). He wrote on 12 May:
I was pleased to receive my copy of Gigg:news today, even more so when I saw another one of my photos in it above. Peter Goldsmith is correct in describing it as being the Bulidon Club. I’m not absolutely certain of the date but he will be near enough. I was Secretary of the Club at the time and probably got the job because I was then studying English under Mr Dean. The Group met in the Deans’ home (Sunday night after Chapel?) and the best feature in my memory was not the erudite studies by the Group but the scrumptious suppers laid on afterwards by Mrs Dean. The boys shown are (L to R) Richard Howarth, David Stead, Peter Goldsmith, Roger Broadbent, Roger Mason, Gabor (known as Joe) Lengyel, David Crossley and Timothy Hunt. Rev’d Pugh, Mr and Mrs Dean on the front row and me behind the camera. Typical trademarks are the shadows above heads and David Crossley ‘wearing’ a clock hat. In my last two or three years at school, I did quite a trade in photos, much to the disdain of the official photographer, Mr Horner from Settle. Although he would not have been called in to record the mere Bulidon Club, he photographed the sports teams (the things that really mattered in those days!) and I used to appear at his shoulder, snap away and offer cut price versions. The amazing thing is that I was never stopped and ironically most of my photographic paper came from his shop, brought in by my good day-boy friend, Pip Bullock. Quite what Mr Horner thought Mrs Bullock was doing with all that paper still intrigues my quieter moments! Richard Howarth (above) was on Look North last week. He lives in Sheriff Hutton and is selling off his castle there, asking price £1.5m. The sale details and a piece on Richard were in the Yorkshire Post so it’s not secret and I think it would make an interesting article for Gigg:news if you are short of copy. We were good friends at School but lost contact after leaving. Regards, Howard. The Picture Conundrums this time are in keeping with the theatrical theme running through this edition of Gigg:news. For Conundrum 10 we need to know not only who the ladies and gentlemen are, but also where they were and when the picture was taken. Number 11 is from a production of SMIKE in 1978 – who are all these young men? Answers, please, to the Editor: dpfox@giggleswick.org.uk
Births
To Stuart Brydson (S 80-85) and his wife Inga, a son, Alexander Robert, born on 18 April 2008.
To Richard Drake (CH/P 90-98) and his wife Gesche, a daughter, Klara Catherine, born on 14 September 2008. To James Wright (CH/N 87-94) and his wife Lizzie, a daughter, Megan Louise, born on 18 September 2008. To Emma Darlaston (née Crossley C 87-92) and her husband Simon, a son, Louis George, born 14 October 2008.
Marriages
Leona Maley (C 91-95) married Capt. Simon Puxley (Intelligence Corps) in Great Brickhill, Bucks., on 1 September 2007. Other OGs attending were: Edward M Maley (Bride’s father – P 60-64), Patrick GW Maley (P 67-71), Andrew J Harfoot (Usher – P 89-94), Michael J Harfoot (P 91-96), Clare E Ashwin (C 93-95) and Nicola J Akkan (née Storey – C 90-95). Clare E Ashwin (C 93-95) married George Charles in Southwell Minster on 29 March 2008.
Karen L Loynd (St 99-01) married Shaun Westerveld in the School Chapel on 5 July 2008. Daniel M Lawson (CH/S 92-03) married Sophie Parkhouse at St James, Clerkenwell, on 12 July 2008.
Rachael A Bradley (St 00-02) married Robin Booth in the School Chapel on 25 July 2008. James T Nisbet (M 83-88) married Alexandra Weeden at St Mary’s, Hertingfordbury, on 9 August 2008.
Other OGs attending were: Dr James Northen (Best Man –N 84-89), Dr Michael Fox (Usher – CH/N 82-90) and Philip Trewhitt, OBE (St 84-89).
Rebekah H Lawson (CH/C 93-00) married Christian Taylor in Wakefield on 21 August 2008.
Michael D Fox (CH/N 82-90) married Natasha Kennedy at St Alkelda’s, Giggleswick, on 6 September 2008. Other OGs attending [L to R on photograph below] were: Sarah C Fox (CH/C 85-92), Elizabeth M Jones (née Fox – C 83-88), Edwin
WL Stokes (P 90-94), Daniel R Winter (N 8792), Andrew J Harfoot (P 89-94), James T Nisbet (Usher – M 83-88), James K Taylor (N 89-94), Dr James Northen (Best Man – N 8489), Deb C Callan (N 84-86), Gareth B Callan (N 83-88), David J Lomas (N 89-94). Peter J Richmond (S 87-92) married Lucy Chadwick in Settle on 29 August 2008.
Deaths
Henry R Musgrave (P 39-41) died in late February 2008, aged 83. Peter W Green (N 62-65) died on 16 February 2008, aged 59.
J Christopher Riddiough (CH/St 45-53) died in April 2008, aged 72.
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22 Dr Sydney (Sam) M Vine (T 28-32) died on 6 April 2008, aged 89. Sam Vine, FRCP MRCS MA MB BChir, trained at Cambridge University and Guy’s Hospital, followed by postgraduate training in West London and Brighton. He then had a distinguished career as a Consultant Physician in Reading Area hospitals from 1957-84. Author of several published articles in medical journals, he was a member of the Medical Council on Alcoholism and a life member of the Cambridge Medical Society. He was also a Past President of the Reading Pathology Society. He regularly attended the former OG Wessex Lunch. Alan G White (St 41-44) died in April 2008, aged 81.
Lionel (Leo) DB Procter (C 32-34) died on 5 June 2008. His widow Molly has sent the following: Leo was born in Warrington on 13 November 1918. He attended Giggleswick from 1932-34, having first been at Blackburn Grammar School. On leaving school he commenced his career with the Alliance Assurance Company in Preston and Manchester. After serving with the TA during WW2, Leo was very soon persuaded to join the wellrespected firm of loss adjusters, William Penney and Co., who had offices in Manchester and Bradford. Working in the Bradford branch, he soon became a partner in the firm and an expert in the woollen industry. What Leo did not know about the processing of wool and its associated fabrics was not worth knowing! In 1970 his firm merged with the Thomas Howell Group, where he became a senior partner and director, remaining in Bradford until near his retirement, when he was asked to take charge of the Plymouth and Exeter offices. Upon retirement he moved to Falmouth with his wife Molly to spend his final 24 years. He was able to pursue his love of gardening and twice won the Amateur Championship for Falmouth Britain in Bloom and several other awards. He enjoyed meeting people and his smile and sense of fun won him new friends. He always remembered his years at Giggleswick and on two occasions took the opportunity to talk to younger OGs, when he met them in Cornwall, about their time at the School. John Michael Kaye (St 44-49) died on 16 June 2008, aged 75.
John’s son, Nicholas J Kaye (CH/St 71-79), writes: Mike was a 4th generation Giggleswickian (following his father, grandfather and great grandfather) who never forgot his school, because they were there for him on the death of his father during the Second World War. At school he was a member of the 1st XI Cricket as wicketkeeper and afterwards he continued to participate actively, playing for Leicestershire and – more important to him – for Yorkshire 2nd XI, where he kept to a young tyro called Fred
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www.giggleswick.org.uk Trueman. He always remarked that he knew when Fred was bowling fast, as his own hands afterwards looked like they had been playing fives for 24 hours! Whilst continuing his cricket, he qualified as one of the youngest ever Chartered Accountants and realized that his mathematical skills could best be employed working for major companies. During his career he was chief accountant for Laing’s, the Burton Group, Macdonald’s and finished at Mary Quant. To say Mike was ‘all work and no play’would be incorrect; he represented Yorkshire at golf and was a member of both the R&A and the MCC. When I followed him to Giggleswick he again became involved in school activities, becoming Captain of the OG Golfing Society and securing the blazers for the Bermuda Rugby Tour mentioned in the last Gigg:news. Michael died after a long and debilitating illness, but even to the end he was so proud of being first a Yorkshireman and second a Giggleswickian. Raymond Wiseman (CH/St 50-57) died on 19 June 2008, aged 69. Charles A Parker (T/C 40-45) died at the end of June 2008, aged 79.
David G Angus (S 41-45) died in the early hours of 2 July 2008, aged 80. David was one of the most respected of all OGs and was President of the OG Club for the first six months of its Centenary Year, 1997, handing over to Warwick Brookes at the end of June. His career in brief was: Lieut Para Regt 1945-48, Nigerian Police 1950-62, Teacher 1962-82, gardener 1982 onwards.
David’s son, Alistair, has sent the following tribute to his father: David Angus was born in Newcastle in 1927 and grew up in the North East of England. His father, Alan, was a General Practitioner in the city whilst his mother, Marjorie, was the daughter of an Alderman of Newcastle. In 1941, following the early death of his mother and with his father overseas on war service, David followed Alan to Giggleswick School in Settle where he entered Shute House. Giggleswick became a surrogate parent to him and it was a place that he loved to return to over the next 67 years. One of the first boys he met was Ken Bury and the two were to remain lifelong friends. He also kept in touch with Tony Wilson from those days. David played rugby for the School and was prominent in the Cadet Force. Leaving Giggleswick in the early summer of 1945, David enlisted and, following the defeat of Germany, was soon on his way, by air, to fight Japan as a paratrooper. He had got as far as India when, with the dropping of the atomic bombs, the war ended. Whilst in India he was commissioned from the ranks, before being sent to Palestine for the last days of the British Mandate. Upon returning to England in 1948 he left the army. By the 1950’s he was in Nigeria and a
member of the Colonial Police Force. It was from this period that many of his array of stories came and friendships were made. Several of the friendships stand out. He met a young lady who had travelled out to look after the young children of her sister and, in due course, Bindy Wasbrough became his bride. And then there were Derek and Anita Mountain. Derek was part of the colonial administration and Anita worked part-time for one of the more flamboyant British Commissioners, Percy Wynn-Harris. The friendship between the new Angus family and the Mountains was to remain a constant over the ensuing years. Following independence in 1960 and the plebiscite in Northern Cameroons in 1961, in 1962 David and Bindy returned to England where their eldest child, Alistair, was born, with Derek Mountain (who shares his birth date) being one of the God Fathers. Alistair was followed in 1965 by Sue and with her the family was complete. David, meanwhile, had trained as a primary school teacher and soon took a position in Yorkshire before, in 1968, joining the staff of the Junior School, St Lawrence College in Ramsgate, Kent under the Headmastership of Keith Roberts. David and Bindy were at the heart of the school social life and their home became known, affectionately, as ‘Government House’by the assortment of bachelors and couples whom they befriended. Times move on and the early 1980’s found David and Bindy in Dorset. Initially they lived in Blandford before settling in Yew Tree Cottage, in Tarrant Gunville, which David largely rebuilt and which became their home for the last 20 years of his life. They loved the village and threw themselves into its activities. David became the editor of the local valley magazine and they were both involved in nearly every aspect of the village and in serving the Parish Church. The 1990’s saw both Alistair and Sue happily married with Sue subsequently having two daughters who brought great delight to their grandparents. David died, very suddenly, in Glasgow whilst he and Bindy were on holiday staying with their daughter, Sue, and her family. In the last week of his life he had been to a reunion of his old Nigeria Police friends and then to Giggleswick for the annual Old Boys day. A great week! A celebration of his life, attended by over 200, was held in Tarrant Gunville. Friends from every period of his life were present. In the midst of sadness, there was the great joy of a life well lived. David liked to keep things in proportion. He carried this to his own life. He rarely spoke of his own considerable achievements. He was always saying he would write his memories down, but wrote little. He was fiercely loyal to those who showed him kindness or helped people he loved. He made time for people and was always ready to help those in need. There were three constants in his life: family, friends and Giggleswick School.
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www.giggonline.com In 2007 David and I were talking about his long life. For someone who hated exaggeration David ended the conversation with the ultimate understatement: ‘Tell them that I was quite a good fellow’. Alistair Angus, September 2008.
David Angus at 80, with Bindy
At David’s funeral, his lifelong friend Derek Mountain gave a moving address, from which the following extracts are taken: He had great moral and physical courage, and honesty few could aspire to. He was the sort of man you wanted in your corner when trouble was brewing, and I am grateful he was in mine on more than one occasion. I will give you an example, and I had better set the scene. In 1960, David and Bindy, recently married, found themselves with us in what was known as the Northern Cameroons. I do not expect many of you have been there. The Cameroons runs down the right hand side of Nigeria from Lake Chad to the 12000 ft Mount Cameroon by the sea. At the Northern end we had 500 miles of rugged mountains to administer, peopled by fierce and independent tribes, who liked nothing better than fighting, drinking a lot of beer, stealing the women of neighbouring tribes and paying as little tax as they could get away with. Rather like the British really. David and 6 of his policemen, accompanied me to a particularly truculent lot whom I hoped I could persuade to part with their tax. They were defiant. On one side was a multitude of tribesmen armed with poisoned arrows, spears and swords. On ours six armed police. I did not want anyone to get hurt so I said I would return when they were in a more amenable mood. “So that’s it?” asked David, somewhat disappointed. This page is sponsored by A.C. Sissling, Specialist Ironmongers
“Not quite,” I said – I had seen that the tribe’s cattle were mustered in the green pastures in the valley below. When we got there we stampeded the cattle and ran them 8 miles down to a village in the plain. There they were impounded and I sent a message back saying the cattle would be returned when tax was paid. The tax arrived the next day. All this may not sound politically correct now, and was probably illegal then. However, no one was hurt and the tax was paid. It is known as good administration, David loved talking about this incident and on one occasion I said I would see that John Wayne played his part when the film was made!… I am going to relate the following in some detail as it illustrates David’s determination when confronted with an injustice. The role for which I think he was most suited was that of ADC to Sir James Robertson, the much admired Governor-General of Nigeria during the period leading up to Independence. David’s interest in people and capacity for friendship could not have been put to better use than in this job. Ironically, this led some 50 years later to what I believe gave David greatest satisfaction. In July 2007, the BBC put out on Radio 4 under the Document series, a disgraceful programme denigrating the Nigerian Administrative Service in general and traducing the Governor-General on the basis of specious and disingenuous information supplied by dodgy sources. David and I spent five months attacking the BBC, me defending the Service in general and David defending the reputation of Sir James. We hoped to get an admission from the BBC that they had made a serious mistake, and hoping also for an apology, at least to the family of the late Governor-General. Some hope. We learnt from this experience that the BBC doesn’t do apologies. However, unknown to us, powerful allies, in the form of retired Colonial Governors and other distinguished gentlemen were gathering. Attracted by the noise we were making they took the case through the BBC’s appeal procedures. The appeal was upheld in all important respects. I am delighted that David lived to know that his tenacity had been rewarded in large measure. Nor did his success end there. Subsequently David discovered that an academic had written a book on the British Empire and made use of one of the more discreditable of the BBC’s sources to damage yet again Sir James’ reputation. David wrote to the academic challenging what had been written in the book. The academic, to his credit, said he would go into it further. He agreed with what David had said and undertook to redress the matter in the next issue of his book, which was about to be published. Furthermore, he agreed to issue a health warning about the unreliable source for the benefit of other researchers and historians.
A.C . SISSLIN G
G Harry Berry (CH/N 43-50) died on 29 July 2008, aged 74. Harry Berry, MB ChB (Birmingham) DObstRCOG FRCR DMRT, was a highly respected Consultant in Radiotherapy and Oncology in Leeds and formerly Hon Senior Lecturer in Radiotherapy at the University of Leeds. William F Harrison (T/St 43-49) died on 7 August 2008, aged 76.
Stephen E Edmondson DFC (T 33-36) died on 6 September 2008, aged 87. At school he played in the back row of the XV with RM Marshall. His ashes were to be scattered from a Spitfire flying at Duxford Air Museum. Tom P Butler BEM (T 40-42) died on 11 October 2008, aged 80. Born and brought up in Settle, Tom enlisted in the Royal East Kent Regiment in 1944, but left the army four years later to join the former West Riding Constabulary, which marked the beginning of a long, distinguished career in the police force. Promotion to sergeant came in 1952, after he had joined the CID at the force’s Wakefield HQ. After a brief secondment to the British policing unit in Cyprus during the emergency there (with the temporary rank of inspector), Tom returned to CID HQ in 1959, where he was to become an expert in criminal techniques in the modus operandi department. In 1966 Tom took on the role for which he will be most remembered, when he became the drill instructor at Bishopgarth Training School, Wakefield, a post he held until his retirement in 1984. Here, he turned thousands of raw police recruits into smart, disciplined marching units, but his true influence on them ran much deeper than this. He became a role model to them and was described also as a father figure to many without a parent or those far from home, ‘a legend in his own lifetime’. During his time at Bishopgarth he also trained police support officers in public disorder control. Tom was awarded the BEM in 1980 for services to policing. Tom is survived by his widow, Teresa, their five children and five grandchildren. A police honour guard, together with many of his colleagues and former trainees attended Tom’s funeral service in Wakefield on 21 October, led by West Yorkshire’s Chief Constable, Sir Norman Bettison.
John Robinson Spencer (S 24-28) died on 16 September 2008, aged 97. John left Sedbergh to come to Giggleswick when his father, Charles Spencer, MD of H.V. Robinsons of Keighley, won the contract for the School Library. He was at the school when the Astronomer Royal set up his telescopes on the cricket field to observe the 1927 solar eclipse. His son Peter John Spencer attended the school from 1951-59 and also his grandson Jeremy Paul Spencer, who was there from 1979-87, both in Style House.
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