AYLESBURIAN MAGAZINE FROM THE ARCHIVES (1927-1985)

Introduction:

The Aylesburian magazine, compiled and published annually, has arguably been the most important and direct written and pictorial record of Aylesbury Grammar School for many decades. As the current custodian of this wonderful publication I often have need to look things up in the many previous issues safely stored away in the school archives. And as I have read through a multitude articles and reports, written by past and present staff and students, some aspects of AGS life have progressed beyond all recognition, but some have, through our commitment to the great traditions of this historic institution, stayed remarkably similar.

This document is an attempt to showcase some of these long-forgotten or misplaced facts and historical events, from the plain interesting all the way to the downright quirky and definitely ‘of their time.’ It is definitely not an exhaustive record of everything by any means, but I have tried to collect together some of the articles and accounts which jumped out to me upon reading and which hopefully you will find interesting and in many cases fun too.

Mr G Dallas The Revival:

The Aylesburian magazine disappeared from the life of the school at some point in the distant past, most likely for financial reasons, but was revived in 1927. Interestingly this was also the year of the first ‘talkie’ (Movie with sound – The Jazz Singer), the first Broadway musical (Showboat) and even the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic by Chris Lindbergh (1902-1974), so clearly there was something creative and magical in the air that year…..and not just Mr Lindbergh!

1927 – I particularly like the idea of ‘lantern lectures’. Never underestimate the power of blackout curtains!

Did You Know?.....

The AGS as we know it, on our Walton Road site, opened at Easter 1907 and as a condition of a generous donation of precisely £3,538 from the County Council to help pay for the construction and commission of the initial new buildings, both boys and girls were admitted to the new incarnation of the school…We remained a co-educational institution until 1959 and the formulation of Aylesbury High School next door…more on that later