LSF - 525 Commemorative Programme

Commemorative Programme

A year long celebration of the history, tradition and enduring legacy of a remarkable School.

“It is impossible to believe that so much of excellence in tradition, in continued high education standards and in grace of surroundings, should be regarded lightly by this or any future generation.�

The Quad, late 1800s.

Contents An Introduction from the Headmaster

4

An Introduction from the Head Boy

5

A Year to Celebrate

5

A History of Loughborough Grammar School

6

1495 to 2020

8

Foundation Lecture Series

10

Events Programme

11

Alumni Reflections

15

Alumni Relations

18

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Our 525th anniversary in 2020 is an opportunity to give thanks to those since 1495 who have translated the foresight of our benefactor Thomas Burton into a lasting and present legacy for our Schools and for Loughborough.

In our School Hymn, we sing of the ‘hundred generations’ who ‘have built our heritage’ over the intervening centuries. During the forthcoming year, we seek to celebrate the traditions and heritage of Loughborough Grammar School and to build the next chapter for the Foundation.

‘One family unbroken’ .

We wish to impress on alumni and current pupils equally their place in this continuity of 525 years.

The Grammar School has long stood for a broad and balanced education, and our programme of events is intended to cater for all, including those from our local community. We are proud to have been the town’s school throughout our distinguished history, and it is of great importance to us that we continue to serve the townspeople of Loughborough and its surrounding area, and that boys understand their responsibilities to their community.

This is also a time to look forward. Over the coming years, we seek to build our Bursary Fund to provide school places for ambitious young people who would otherwise be unable to access our first-class education. In doing so, we will ensure that the charitable intent of our founding fathers can be fulfilled, so that, as Canon G W Briggs wrote in our hymn ‘our harvest may be garnered by ages yet unknown’.

Duncan Byrne Headmaster

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Almost seven years ago I began my time at Loughborough Grammar School and as a Year 7 embarking on my first walk through the iconic tower gates, I was nervous.

My nerves came not just from the typical excitement one would expect on a first day, but also from the history and tradition of my new school.

From that first walk through the gates, to their farewell and the Burton Dinner in Year 13, a student comes to realise that life at LGS is rich with the recognition of those that have come before them.

Celebrations such as the 525th Anniversary mark a special point in the School’s history, one which myself and the boys are exceptionally proud to be part of.

Alex Eveson Head Boy, 2019

The tradition of our uniform being unbadged harks back to a master who proclaimed, “Put a boy in a uniform and he behaves like a school boy. Put him in a suit and he behaves like a young gentleman”.

Introduction

A year to celebrate 2020 marks 525 years of Loughborough Grammar School, since our founder Thomas Burton created our school in 1495. Throughout this time the School has seen many changes and so it is important for us all to celebrate this anniversary.

This year will provide many opportunities for pupils to get involved. Whether it is through the Foundation Lecture Series, with experts from all different fields, or even sports and music events, the emphasis is on inspiring boys and providing opportunities.

We will also see an increased connection with alumni to help reunite previous students with the new young men of LGS. It is important to recognise why the pupils should get involved.

A key point in this celebration is to try and broaden boys’ horizons and make them aware of the opportunities they have within the Grammar School and the 525th anniversary.

It is important for pupils to realise their importance in the development of our School and how it has changed over the last 525 years. We will be burying a time capsule enabling boys to leave their mark and educate the future pupils of our Loughborough Grammar School Community.

Charlie Overall 525 Student Organiser

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Five hundred years enduring, From age to following age, A hundred generations Have built our heritage:

Their names are long forgotten, Long spent their hopes and fears: Safe rest they in thy keeping, Who changest not with years.

The Grammar School Hymn George W Briggs, Loughburian (1875-1959)

Loughborough Grammar School Students, 1977

Loughborough Grammar School Staff and Pupils, 1897

Loughborough Grammar School 1st XV, 1949

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Classroom added as a manual training room, known as the Sloyd, 1896

525 Years Enduring Thomas Burton set aside endowments in his will of 12 June 1494 to provide income for masses to be said for his soul by a chantry priest in Loughborough Parish Church. Such priests often conducted schools, and thus the first teaching may well have been in the room over the south porch of the Church.

The School arose from the profits of lands once in Thomas Burton’s ownership and as a consequence he is regarded as the founder and the date of the Foundation is 1495. However the ‘forgotten man’ is Ralph Lemyngton, who was executor of Thomas Burton’s will. The majority of Thomas Burton’s land and property generated a significant income designated for the upkeep of the great arched bridge over the River Soar. When the bridge was not in need of repair he directed that the profits be transferred to the School. This provided it with a large income, to the extent that by 1553 there were 140 pupils, double the size of Eton, now being educated in the Church’s chancel. It was entirely appropriate that the School adopted Ralph Lemyngton’s shield as its own in 1873.

The School had clearly outgrown the Church and it moved in 1593 to a purpose built building in the churchyard which would be its home for nearly 250 years. By 1818 there were three separate schools in that building, all part of the same Foundation - just 20 boys in the Grammar School, 120 boys in the ‘Reading The Parish Church The room over the south porch of the Parish Church where a chantry priest is believed to have provided teaching to children in 1495.

Foundation Stone Laid by Bishop George Davys on 9 August, 1850.

Churchgate As numbers expanded the School moved to new premises on Churchgate in 1825.

Students in classroom L1, Pre-1900.

School’ and 80 boys in the ‘Writing School’. The Tudor building simply could not cope with such numbers and shortly afterwards in 1825 it moved to new premises on Churchgate. In 1840 the new ‘Grammar Schools Act’ led to the merging of the Grammar School and ‘Writing School’ and the proposed creation of a new ‘Grammar and Commercial School for Boys’ on farm land owned by the Burton Charity.

On 9 August 1850 the foundation stone of the new school was laid and two years later 71 boys moved in. Since then, apart from in 1893 when sacked Headmaster John Colgrove set up a rival School, the Grammar School has seen continual expansion.

John Weitzel Archivist, Loughborough Grammar School

John Weitzel at the Loughborough Dinner, 2019

The website of the Loughborough Grammar School Archives is a rich collection of photographs, publications and memorabilia that are directly related to the School. Please view the website at lgs-heritage.org

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Educating from 1495 to the Prese

1495 Using endowments from Thomas Burton’s will, teaching of boys begins in the Parish Church.

1646

1900

Sir Thomas Abney, first governor of the Bank of England starts at the School.

J Taylor & Sons present the School Bell.

1852 Grammar and Commercial School opens on new site with 71 boys.

1931 Extension to L Block opened by William Coates, OL.

1495 New two-storey building erected in the churchyard of the Parish Church.

1593

Tablet commemorating Thomas Burton is put up in the Parish Church.

1793

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Old Loughburians’ Association formed, later renamed The Loughburians.

1885

School Hymn written by Rev Canon George Briggs.

1923

ent Day

1957

2000

2020

CCF Inspection.

Queen’s Block is opened.

Loughborough Grammar School celebrates 525 years.

1975 Grammar School boys compete on television in Top of the Form.

2018 Foundation name changed to Loughborough Schools Foundation.

2020 Sports Day.

Year 6 class formed.

1937

1990 Fairfield formed, ending the junior boys’ provision at LGS.

Quad dedicated as a memorial to the members of the School who died serving their country.

1969

2016

For further information about the history of Loughborough Grammar School, please visit the exhibition in Loughborough Town Library from 7 May to 29 June 2020.

Grant Sutcliffe Astro pitch is opened.

2019

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Foundation Lecture Series Welcome to an exciting year of lectures, given by some amazing guest speakers, across topics including literature, science, sport, politics and community.

The Future of the Motor Car. Professor Rachel Thomson Date: Tuesday 4 February 2020

After the Break: United Kingdom law, EU law and Brexit.

James Flynn, QC (Class of 1974) Date: Thursday 27 February 2020

How to be a writer: the long and winding road to creativity.

Giles Kristian (Class of 1994) Date: Tuesday 24 March 2020

“Why do the Italians eat so well?”

– A History of Italian Cooking.

Professor John Dickie (Class of 1981) Date: Tuesday 5 May 2020

Nelson Mandela on Robben Island – Do political prisoners have human rights?

If so, who should protect them now?

Professor Andrew Thompson (Class of 1986) Date: Tuesday 22 September 2020

What is a Healthy Community in the 21st Century?

Rt Rev Mark Tanner (Class of 1989) Date: Wednesday 4 November 2020

The 2012 Olympics and its Legacy.

Lord Sebastian Coe Date: Monday 14 December 2020

For further details and to book tickets, please visit www.lsf.org/525 10 | www.lsf.org/grammar

Events Programme Celebrating the 525 Anniversary A service will be held to launch the 525th year of Loughborough Grammar School.

The School Hymn will be sung and the service will be followed by a unique photograph of all the boys and staff to mark the start of the 525 celebrations.

Attendees: Grammar School pupils and staff Date: Monday 20 January 2020

525 Listening Project

Listen up!

Throughout 2020 we would like to interview as many former Grammar School pupils as we can to capture their memories for a new audio archive. We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was at the School between 1939 and 1945 so we can build up our wartime records. If you would like to take part, all you need to do is email alumni@lsf.org and let us know. Alternatively, if you’ve got a smartphone or other digital recording device perhaps you could email us an audio recording recalling a significant memory you have from your time at the Grammar School.

Foundation Lecture Series

After the Break: United Kingdom law, EU law and Brexit

James Flynn, QC (Class of 1974) James Flynn, QC, left Loughborough Grammar School in 1974 to study Law at Oxford University. He is a leading competition law barrister, becoming a QC in 2003. He will be speaking on how Brexit will have a fundamental effect on British law for decades to come.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Thursday 27 February 2020 Time: 18:00 Tickets: To book tickets, please visit www.lsf.org/525

Voluntary Service ‘A hundred generations have built our heritage’ The School was built for its support of the community so during the year we will see pupils completing a total of 5250 hours of voluntary service throughout the year.

Attendees: Alumni Date: Launched in January 2020

Foundation Lecture Series

The Future of the Motor Car

Professor Rachel Thomson Professor Rachel Thomson, BA, MA, PhD, FIMMM, FREng, is Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Professor of Materials Engineering at Loughborough University. Her lecture will look at how technology will impact future cars, and will explore the potential and drawbacks of both electric and autonomous vehicles.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Tuesday 4 February 2020 Time: 18:00 Tickets: To book tickets, please visit www.lsf.org/525

Attendees: Grammar School pupils Date: February to December 2020

Les Misérables Senior Musical Production ‘A cloud unseen of witness our elder comrades stand.’

Les Misérables – Schools Edition is one of the key components of the Loughborough Grammar School’s celebration of the 525 year anniversary. As part of the 500 year commemorations the entire school plus Old Boys visited the West End to see a (then) new show called Les Mis. It was the single biggest booking in the West End ever – a record! It was therefore a simple choice for a show for this important year.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Tuesday 3 March to Saturday 7 March 2020 Time and Venue: 19:00, Hodson Hall Tickets: are available from Ticketsource; www.ticketsource.co.uk/lgs

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Foundation Lecture Series

“Why do the Italians eat so well?”

– A History of Italian Cooking

Professor John Dickie (Class of 1981) Professor John Dickie left the Grammar School in 1981 to read Modern Languages at Pembroke College, Oxford. Since 1993 he has taught at University College London, where he is now Professor of Italian Studies. He has published widely in academic journals on various topics in Italian history and has also written extensively for the press at home and abroad. His lecture is based on a series he wrote for Italian television which has subsequently been shown throughout Europe.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Tuesday 5 May 2020 Time: 18:00 Tickets: To book tickets, please visit www.lsf.org/525

Old Boys v LGS Hockey Match This is a keenly contested fixture which the Grammar School hockey players really look forward to. The match will be played on the Grant Sutcliffe astro and will be followed by the Hockey presentation evening.

Sing2020 Concert ‘One heart, one voice uplifting’ Local primary schools will be joining with Loughborough Schools Foundation at De Montfort Hall in a celebration of singing, including music from the fantastic Snape Maltings ‘Friday Afternoon’ project.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Saturday 14 March 2020 Time and Venue: 11:45, De Montfort Hall Tickets: available from De Montfort Hall Box Office, www.demontforthall.co.uk

Foundation Lecture Series

How to be a writer: the long and winding road to creativity

Giles Kristian (Class of 1994) Giles Kristian left LGS in 1994 and had virtually immediate top 20 chart success in the boy-band Upside Down. Having worked in advertising, Giles published his first novel in 2011 and has won great acclaim for his action adventure novels in the historical fiction genre. His novel, God of Vengeance was a Times Book of the Year, and his most recent novel, Lancelot, was published in 2018. His talk will be in an interview format, led by Peter Sergeant, a former Grammar School teacher.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Tuesday 24 March 2020 Time: 18:00 Tickets: To book tickets, please visit www.lsf.org/525

Annual CCF Inspection ‘Before us and beside us’ The Loughborough Grammar School Combined Cadet Force’s Annual Review will showcase the skills and capabilities of our cadets. Beginning with a formal parade and inspection of the whole Contingent, parents and guests will then have a chance to tour a wide range of activities across the campus, including cooking in the field, leadership tasks, and canoeing. On the Quad, the combat demonstration and drill competition will be followed by the highlight of the day, the Field Gun Competition, before final dismiss and farewell to our departing Sixth Formers.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Saturday 2 May 2020 Venue: Loughborough Grammar School

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Attendees: All welcome Date: Thursday 7 May 2020 Venue: Grant Sutcliffe Astro

History display ‘We reap what they have sown’ An exhibition reflecting the School’s history, highlighting 220 key dates along with historical items, will be on display in Loughborough Library. In conjunction with this, a ‘Town Trail’ reflecting the influence of the School’s pupils on the town, will be available to follow.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Thursday 7 May to Monday 29 June 2020 Venue: Loughborough Town Library

School Birthday Fun Day ‘We join with one acclaim’ Come together and celebrate the birthday of the School with what else but a big party with bouncy castles and games. We will be trying to break a Guinness World Record on the day...or maybe two!

Heritage Open Weekend ‘We reap what they have sown’

Attendees: Grammar School pupils and parents Date: Friday 12 June 2020

Old Boys v LGS Cricket Match ‘Before us and beside us’ The Cricket Match takes place on 3 July on the 1st XI pitch at School. The teams will be playing for the Sam Yaxley Trophy in memory of Sam (Class of 2004) who was a strong supporter of this fixture over the years. Last year’s match was won by the Old Boys so the 1st XI will be looking for revenge this year.

An opportunity to visit the 1852 building and climb the tower with its panoramic views of the present School and Loughborough. A facsimile copy of the original contract to build the School will be available to view, along with exhibitions reflecting the School’s history and the life of Old Boy Johnnie Johnson, the top scoring RAF ace of World War II. Attendees: All welcome Date: Saturday 12 to Sunday 13 September 2020

Foundation Lecture Series

Nelson Mandela on Robben Island – Do political prisoners have human rights?

If so, who should protect them now?

Professor Andrew Thompson (Class of 1986) Professor Andrew Thompson (Class of 1986) studied Modern History at Oxford before embarking on research into the British Empire. Having taught at the Universities of Leeds and Exeter, Professor Thompson was until 2019 Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Since September 2019, he has been Professor of Global Imperial History at Oxford University. His lecture will look at the difficult area of human rights in countries which are less democratic than our own, with particular reference to Nelson Mandela.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Friday 3 July 2020 Time and Venue: 11:30, 1st XI Cricket Pitch

Parkrun Loughborough Schools Foundation staff will be having a ‘takeover’ of the Dishley Parkrun by providing all the volunteers and marshals for this event.

Date: Saturday 4 July 2020 Time and Venue: 09:00, Loughborough Rugby Club, Dishley

Attendees: All welcome Date: Tuesday 22 September 2020 Time: 18:00 Tickets: To book tickets, please visit www.lsf.org/525

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Thanksgiving Service ‘A hundred generations have built our heritage’ The Bishop of Leicester will hold a thanksgiving service on the Grammar School Quad for all Foundation pupils, staff, alumni and invited guests. After the service a time capsule will be buried in the Remembrance Garden which will include memorabilia about the Grammar School and letters from pupils about their life in 2020.

Attendees: Loughborough Schools Foundation community and invited guests Date: Thursday 24 September 2020

Foundation Lecture Series

What is a Healthy Community in the 21st Century?

Rt Rev Mark Tanner (Class of 1989) Rt Rev Mark Tanner is the Anglican Bishop of Berwick. Having left LGS in 1989, he read Mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford before studying Theology at Durham prior to ordination. His lecture will consider the meaning of community in our modern age.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Wednesday 4 November 2020 Time: 18:00 Tickets: To book tickets, please visit www.lsf.org/525

525 Gala Dinner A milestone event in our 525 year is the 525 Gala Dinner at Plaisterers’ Hall in London on Saturday 14 November. LGS has a close association with the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers as it was alumnus Harry Humber who, as Master of the Livery Company, was the driving force behind building the Hall.

We would like this to be the largest gathering of alumni since the quincentenary in 1995 so please keep the date free and email development@lsf.org to register your interest.

Attendees: Alumni and Loughborough Schools Foundation community Date and Venue: Saturday 14 November 2020, Plaisterers’ Hall, London

Foundation Lecture Series

The 2012 Olympics and its Legacy

Lord Sebastian Coe Lord Coe is undoubtedly the best known graduate of Loughborough University.

While still an undergraduate, he set three world records in 1979 before winning gold medals at the Moscow and Los Angeles Olympics. After retiring from athletics, Lord Coe was MP for Falmouth before becoming a life peer in 2000. Lord Coe is recognised by a younger audience as Chairman of the organising committee for the 2012 Olympic Games in London and has been, since 2015 President of the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations). Lord Coe was appointed Chancellor of Loughborough University in 2017. His lecture will cover both his own career at the Olympics and reflections on what London 2012 meant for the United Kingdom.

Attendees: All welcome Date: Monday 14 December 2020 Time: 18:00 Tickets: To book tickets, please visit www.lsf.org/525

For further information about all events, please visit www.lsf.org/525

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Alumni Reflections

Bas Hardy (Class of 1955) Prior to entering as an 11+ pupil in September 1948, I knew nothing about, nor had ever set eyes on LGS. Entry was a consequence of parental ambition for betterment rather than any intent on my part.

Initially, fear of Clare C Mulcahy instilled structure and discipline into our young lives. I had always enjoyed sport and outdoor activities but could swot for lessons and homework, so, then and thereafter, matching the ethos “work hard play hard”, I coped.

School Detention, Prefects Detention and their “Minors” (punishment cards), and some, often silly, school rules engendered the development of discipline, awareness and useful avoidance strategies!

By 1952 an influx of both young and ex-servicemen teachers had provoked much change. In otherwise straitened times, suddenly there were school trips including to European destinations – not simply holidays but thoroughly mindbroadening experiences.

And I have remained ever mindful of Alec Young’s frequent outburst: “You can kid anybody else but don’t kid yourself!”

Billy Williams, ex-Welsh rugby international, coached the first ever Under 15 team: experiencing his enthusiasm, team building and one-to-one advice afforded profoundly beneficial and lasting effects.

I enjoyed the team work in the 1st XVs. Rising through the ATC ranks to Flight Sergeant brought responsibilities, but, with LGS team-mates, making our own way to Ireland, Wales and various RAF bases to play international ATC rugby was the high spot.

So what does LGS mean to me?

I am proud if I contributed in any minimal way to the School or its heritage.

At home, my School cap hangs outside of my off ice door. It reminds me not only of the School whose many excellent teachers helped build my character and personality and enabled me to achieve the career desired since childhood, but also of the good times I enjoyed and the life-long friendships which began there.

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Martin Drane (Class of 1977) I came to the Grammar School from a small primary school, following a last minute house move from Birmingham. Having taken numerous exams in the West Midlands, I still had to take another exam in Loughborough, on my own, in Jack Reddon’s office, starting with meritocracy which remained constant throughout my school years. The School was made up of the best local boys and English boarders, and due to its location, was a central part of Loughborough town. We had a bike shed and a very small carpark, as most boys walked, rode or took the bus from local villages.

The School effused a sense of order, discipline, direction, continuity and competitiveness values which were upheld by a long serving, experienced staff. My first French lesson with Colin Tivey started by being instructed to sit in alphabetical order, but we were promptly reordered based on family roots, “Sit here where your father sat” or “I have taught five of your brothers”.

Robert Sayers (Class of 1978) I was at LGS between 1971 and 1979. The sciences and Latin were my favourite subjects.

I wasn’t very sporty so I was surprised to see a recent picture of me playing 3rd team hockey – although I can’t remember this at all. I also liked the CCF and was a member until I left the School.

This gave me access to the Rifle Club and I shot for the School under the guidance of George Beazley and alongside people like Smug Bradley, Jimmy James and Dave Grilli.

The teachers I liked best included Neil Rowbotham (Chemistry), Geoff Witts (Biology) and Ian Gass (Physics). I also respected Dobber Downward (Latin) although many found him

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The competitive aspect left no room to hide – half and full term grades and position in class made your performance and effort abundantly clear. The House system was another competitive zone, and I was in a House that took the title from School House for the first time in over a decade. We were so proud and celebrated with an egg and chips dinner in the canteen.

I came through the School rapidly and had completed my A Levels at the age of 16. I had played my way through the School sport – Rugby, Cricket and Athletics, and represented England Schools U19 in the five nations.

The School prepared me for my future life of sport, travel and competitive international business. I worked all over the world in very different environments for Cadbury Schweppes for 30 years and operated to their philosophy of “Changing Times – Constant Values” – the values which I had been taught through my formative years at LGS.

strict and a disciplinarian. Several years later I met Dave Horwood (Maths) while I was doing some Open University maths courses and came to realise what a superb applied mathematician he was – although when he taught me in the first or second year I did badly. I seem to remember one mark in the 20s.

I did not respond to authority well and it was many years before I revisited the School and attended alumni dinners.

Looking back, I realise the thing LGS did for me was give me the opportunity to pursue higher education and succeed. I suspect there were lessons in life in there as well. I went on to read Medicine at Birmingham University, became a Professor of Vascular Surgery, ex-president of the Vascular Society and a national lead for NHS commissioning. Not too bad for a free place boy from Shelthorpe.

“ Between my finger and my thumb The squat pen rests.

I’ll dig with it.” from Digging, by Seamus Heaney

Bob Evans (Class of 1979) Chief Resident Engineer, Ove Arup & Partners – Hong Kong, Zhuhai Macau Bridge Academic studies were not always to my liking and home work was quite troublesome, however, there were other lessons to be learned at LGS. One that particularly sticks in my mind is that “life is not always fair”.

I was bowling in a cricket match when the batsman dispatched the ball onto the roof of the library. Not once, but twice.

Shattering slates and sending spectators scurrying for cover. The next minute, an irate looking Wilfred Messiah comes whirling out of his sanctum shouting, “my library is under attack!”. But instead of berating the batsman, he turns to me at the top of my run and bellows, “Evans your bowling looks very mediocre. Stop damaging my library!”… “Er, yes Sir!”

I can now draw on this advice when Contractors protest that the Contract is not fair, although we do endeavour to reach a compromise. My academic performance did catch up after three universities and three degrees, which must relate back to the early grounding from my teachers.

I thank you all past and present for persevering with me and I thank my parents for providing my two brothers and me the golden opportunity to study at LGS, as our father had done in the 1930’s.

Giles Kristian (Upton) (Class of 1994) Memories come in montage; Sixth Form Prefects in black gowns, with slicked-back hair, sweeping up the Quad like Ringwraiths from a Hobbit’s nightmare. The Burton Walks barrier, upon which the occasional pair of trousers was hung on a victim’s birthday like an offering to the High School Amazons. Morning assemblies, and Headmaster Mr Ireland delivering his Churchillian speeches, rousing, inspiring… terrifying. Reading the poetry of Seamus Heaney on the Red House lawn beside the Pullinger block on a late summer’s afternoon, feeling like the cast of Dead Poets Society.

Carefully placing stink bomb vials beneath the chair legs of the teachers sitting on the balcony on the last assembly before the summer holiday.

But back to Ed Thorpe’s English lessons and I remember reading Heaney’s ‘Digging’, the poem resonating in me utterly. I wondered if I too could one day make sense of myself and the world through language and stories.

If I might strive to immerse readers in my word-weavings, to make them feel, as Heaney had made me feel.

I had not read for pleasure until I was fifteen.

And yet I knew I would try to set my own course in worlds of the written word. An ambition which was sparked beside the P-Block at LGS.

Michael Napier CBE QC (Hon) LLD (Class of 1964) On an enjoyable visit to LGS earlier this year I was very impressed by the School’s continuing ability to keep up with the times. In 1960 I had narrowly escaped being expelled for having in my possession a copy of DH Lawrence’s newly published novel “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”. It was therefore gratifying to discover that today the book is available in the Library.

Life as a boarder in School House in the late 50s / early 60s was Spartan with corporal punishment as part of the regime. I was once caned for throwing snowballs at the Tower clock!

And yet it is with enormous gratitude that I look back on a fine education including sport and theatre, together with the welcome stability that the School provided.

Much expansion took place under the Headmaster, Norman Walter and the Chairman of the Governors, Malcolm Moss, to whom I was articled at the beginning of my legal career.

On the National scale this period also witnessed emerging political threats to Grammar Schools and independent education particularly in Leicestershire.

Such threats continue today. However, on my recent visit to the magnificent modern campus of Loughborough Schools Foundation I was heartened at the determination of the current leadership to repel attacks on the independent sector.

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Alumni Relations Head Boys line-up Getting our Heads together We have been on the hunt to bring all our living Head Boys back to Loughborough Grammar School during the year. If you were a Head Boy at the School and you have not been contacted by John Weitzel or the Development Office, please get in touch: development@lsf.org

The days of old have dowered us, with gifts beyond all praise…

To commemorate our special anniversary, we have developed a new range of ‘Heritage’ gifts for pupils past and present. Items include collectable pin badges based on the changing face of the School crest, a special 525 tie and the welcome return of the School scarf. Available to buy in early 2020, online at lsf.org/shop or in person in the School Shop.

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SAVE THE DATE 525 Gala Dinner Plaisterers’ Hall, London, Saturday 14 November 2020.

Loughborough Grammar School pupils, 2019

Buckland House, Burton Walks, Loughborough LE11 2DU +44 (0)1509 233233 grammar.office@lsf.org www.lsf.org/grammar