The Almondburian November 2024

The A LMONDBURIAN T h e M ag a z i n e o f T h e a l M o n d b u r i a n s ’ s o c i e T Y

november 2024

IN THIS ISSUE 3 a word from your chairman 6 from the study 9 almondburians’ society calendar 10 Membership 11 spotted 12 annual dinner/founders’ day 17 captain lisa head: almondbury heroine 21 back to the drawing board 22 new use for KJs cricket field?

24 another successful heritage day 26 arnold frobisher: man of woollens 30 every picture tells a story 31 The challenges of teaching today 34 sudoku 35 crossword 36 a Yorkshireman in america 40 farnley lines 44 rebecca hamlett: head of drama 47 The almondburian Poets 48 discovered in an inglenook fireplace 51 new building honours emily siddon 52 Making the most of every moment 54 sport: gothard cup 2024 57 sport: Tennis/badminton 59 obituary

Walter raleigh ian rimmer andrew haigh

Walter raleigh roger sykes andrew haigh Walter raleigh roger dowling John eastwood hérisson charlie starkey dave bush richard Teale James clayton abbi Terry robin Merchant andrew haigh

Opinions expressed by contributors to The Almondburian do not necessarily reflect the views of the Almondburians’ Society

(Opposite): Published for the first time, this 1924 drawing of the School in winter was by Jack Lindley from Armitage Bridge, a pupil from 1920-24. He left School to became an Art Master and died in 1947.

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The ALMONDBURI AN Editor: Roger Dowling

November 2024

The magazine of the Almondburians’ Society

A word from your Chairman WALT ER R ALEI G H

W

elcoMe to the november issue of the almondburians’ society magazine. i hope you enjoy it as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together. autumn is always the busiest time of year for the society and this year is no different. We began with the heritage Weekend in september (report: page: 20) and we shall have the friday church service to celebrate founders’ day and the annual

dinner on 22nd/23rd november (see pages 12-15). We hope many of you will be able to join us at one or both of these events. our aim to give the society a higher profile amongst present KJs teaching staff has begun. i was invited by the Principal to visit school in the week before the end of term. it was a most helpful and enjoyable experience. i met many former colleagues as well as some new staff who were all keen to 3

learn more about us. This event was posslost touch with their old school. it is as if ible because of the preliminary work done we have a lost generation of potential supby liz atkinson, a member of the present porters of school – and we now need to get staff who now regularly attends our them back on board. monthly meetings. she had put copies of i think we could start this process by the most recent magazine in all staff trays asking school via its regular emailed newstogether with an accompanying letter exletter to parents to find out how many stuplaining what the society is and its aims. dents have parents who also attended KJs. Together with our long standing link abbi The school now has over 1,000 students, Terry, we now have two members of staff so even if only 10% fitted into this category fighting our corner in school. we have potentially a large pool of support one member of staff i was keen to meet – and new members! with was rebecca hamlett, KJs head of at the time of the 400th anniversary celdrama, about whom you can read more on ebrations in 2008 lots of former students page 44; but suffice it to say here that she contacted school because they wanted to is a very dynamic and enthusiastic member get involved. Many were not members of of staff. following our meeting she conthe society but held fond memories of their tacted me regarding my request for stutime in school. This is the type of person dent performers at our autumn events and we need, once again, to get involved. i can now confirm that school students will another benefit of my meeting with staff be participating in all of them. What wonwas to learn of the successes of recentlyderful progress in such a short period of departed students. before i retired in 2010 time! one of her emails was even sent greenhead college and new college would whilst she was on holiday in Poland! send lists each september telling us what rebecca has also set herour former students were We have lost a self some very ambitious tarplanning for the next gets in her drive to improve stages of their careers. generation of and reward student progThis no longer happens as ress and behaviour in her potential supporters KJs is itself kept in the role in school. not surprisdark, supposedly because of School ingly this requires funding ‘data Protection regu– and we need to get of which school is struggling lations’. i feel sure that them back to find and our help was data Protection legissought. Thirty or forty years lation was not introduced ago we would have contacted someone like with this sort of restriction in mind, but it bob Williams and he would have used his is a problem we now have to live with. little black book of former students workin my conversations with staff i was told ing locally to sort the sponsorship out. unto watch the Taekwondo event at the Paris fortunately, we no longer have this list of olympics as a former student was taking contacts of former students in local busipart. (for the benefit of the uninitiated, nesses.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and as such it must be one of our aims, in combat sport involving punching and kickour task of reinvigorating the society, to ing techniques). his name is Caden Cungather a list of local businesses owned or ningham and as british champion was run by former KJs students who may have expected to do well. as requested i sought 4

Successful Almondburians: (l to r) Olympics medallist Caden Cunningham, actor Ellis Kirk, musician Jamie Smith

his event out and was absolutely delighted to watch him achieve a silver Medal in a closely fought final. our congratulations go out to him and all his family who must be so proud of his efforts.

The school has a long tradition of students who have excelled in the performing arts. from the early days of the film industry when sir felix aylmer brought fame to the school with his long list of film and TV credits to more recent memories, for many of us, of gorden Kaye in ‘Allo ’Allo!’ and Janine Mellor in Casualty, students from our school have made successful careers on the stage. We now have another name to add to this distinguished list. i was informed that Ellis Kirk, who left KJs in 2017, has been chosen to play the lead role of Marty Mcfly in the West end production of Back to the Future.

Just as in the days of ’Allo’ Allo! when dave bush organized trips to watch the recording of an episode, staff have made arrangements to take students to see ellis performing. They must be thrilled at the prospect and once again we congratulate ellis on this wonderful success. his family must be incredibly proud of him. and finally on my visit i was told of the success of a student i taught. in fact i believe he was the very last student about

whom i wrote a school report. his name is Jamie Smith and he was a delight to teach.

Jamie was very musical and took part in all the school productions, continuing with this hobby when he left KJs in 2011. he played with the grimethorpe colliery band, amongst many other appointments as a professional musician. This summer he was part of the backing band for Coldplay at glastonbury. Wow! again massive congratulations to Jamie and all his family who, i know, supported him along his chosen career.

The reason i’ve recounted my recent visit to school and told you of the success of former students is two-fold: l it shows how important it is that the society works closely with school so that the wider membership can be informed of and celebrate the success of these modern-day almondburians. l To remind older members that though the school is no longer the grammar school it was until 1974, it continues to produce wonderful students who are a credit to their parents, school and local community.

We now need to encourage more of our former students, whatever their age, to join us in celebrating their time at school and the part it played in their future success.  5

From the study I AN R I MMER (Pri n ci pal ) The 2024 GCSE results show an upward pattern with really positive strides in certain areas, though Attainment figures nationally have dropped because of realignment of grades with pre-Covid figures. But here at KJS things are definitely on the up. if i had a pound every time someone asked me, on august 22nd and in the days that followed, “how have we done?”, i could retire now. Well perhaps not! Maybe if it was £1,000 each time. anyway, it was a lot! over time, my responses to the “how have we done?” question have become increasingly flippant. some might suggest that’s an indication of my wizened experience as a headteacher, for i now commence my 10th year in that role; others may cite the prospect of my retirement appearing over the distant horizon. but in reality, it is neither; it is simply a fact that answering that question with any degree of confidence, for the time being at least, is impossible. some try to get around the dilemma, by offering an addendum of “compared to last year”. sadly, that helps little. a better question would be “how might we have done?” and, if you are in the business of comparisons, complemented with a side offering of “compared to national norms”. oK, so “how might we have done compared to national norms?” Well, alright actually – i think!

The problem is that these days the principal measure of school performance, Progress 8, depends upon knowing how children with similar starting points did nationally. from those figures, the department for education (dfe) helpfully tell you how your children should have done … but that data isn’t released until october. so how do we decide “how we might have done?”. logic would tell you that a reasonable starting point would be the ‘expectations’ that the dfe provided last year and indeed that would be sensible. but then you have the added complication that this year, again, the dfe have lowered pass rates (for each subject) to bring them back in line with performance pre-covid. remember there was a good deal of grade inflation during the era of Teacher-assessed grades (Tags). so last year’s ‘expectations’ are likely to be a bit higher than this year’s, so we would need to add a bit onto our performance – but, i agree, ‘a bit’ is hardly scientific!

You then have the added complication, that not every subject has been adjusted in the same way. for example, some subjects like languages are ‘more difficult’ than others. You have further layers of complexity, as there is inequality even with languages. french and german are more 6

School Performance Measures 2022 - 2024

Progress 8: Overall Progress 8: English Progress 8: Mathematics Progress 8: EBacc Progress 8: Other Attainment: English 4-9 (Standard pass) Attainment: English 5-9 (Strong pass) Attainment: Mathematics 4-9 (Standard pass) Attainment: Mathematics 5-9 (Strong pass) Attainment: English and Maths 4+ (Standard pass) Attainment: English and Maths 5+ (Strong pass) Attainment:EBacc, inc English & Maths at 4 (Standard pass) Attainment: EBacc, inc English & Maths at 5 (Strong pass) Attainment: Ebacc, average point score

2022

2023

2024

+0.01 -0.03 +0.11 +0.38 -0.12 84.1% 66.7% 77.6% 62.7% 74.1% 56.2% 40.3% 33.3% 4.72

-0.12 -0.34 -0.05 +0.14 -0.35 77.1% 58.3% 77.6% 62.5% 70.8% 52.1% 44.3% 34.4% 4.49

+0.02 -0.14 +0.18 +0.26 -0.38 72.2% 59.0% 73.6% 57.6% 64.3% 50.2% 39.0% 28.6% 4.35

JARGON-BUSTER How ‘Progress 8’ is calculated PROGRESS 8 is a ‘value-added’ measure that indicates how much a secondary school has helped pupils improve (or progress) over a five-year period when compared to a government-calculated expected level of improvement. The government estimates are based on the ‘typical’ student’s performance. For each student, one subtracts what the government expect the child to have got from what they actually got, and that gives you the student’s Progress 8 score. Finally, all the individual Progress 8 scores are averaged to provide an overall school PROGRESS 8 score.

How ‘Attainment’ is calculated BUCKET 1a English1

1 Worth double marks if both English literature and English language are taken. The higher grade of the two is used.

BUCKET 1b

+

Mathematics2

+

Worth double marks.

3

1

BUCKET 2 The top three scores from the English EBacc subjects taken3

+

BUCKET 3 The top three scores from remaining EBacc subjects4

4 Sciences, computer science, Or other government history, geography and approved qualifications languages. (e.g., other GCSEs or Level 2 Certificates in some technical subjects).

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=

ATTAINMENT score

‘difficult’ than spanish – but that’s for another time.

Then you have the extra factor that the impact of outliers within the student data is controlled. a student who achieved well in Year 6 saTs, and therefore is generating a high level of gcse ‘expectation’, but who for whatever reason fails to achieve these high expectations, will have their negativity capped. and yes, you guessed it, we will only know who they are and what the level of capping is in october. but surely one can say, “roughly how might we have done compared to national norms?”. oK, for what it is worth, i can offer you the latest projections about how our figures look in the end. The figures for 2022-24, in so far as you can compare for all the reasons stated above, are shown in the table. it is worth noting once again, that from 2022 to 2023, and again to 2024, there has been realignment of grades with pre-covid figures. This means that, nationally, overall attainment figures have dropped. There will be some local variability though, depending on each year’s cohort, some of which ‘naturally’ attain more highly than others.

so, an upward pattern with some really positive strides made in certain areas. some subjects continue to perform more strongly than others but, broadly speaking, things are on the up. but life isn’t just about gcse grades.

We pride ourselves on our holistic provision which supports the whole child, beyond academic performance. The dfe try to measure some of this, through ‘staying-on rates’ post-16. obviously, we have limited control over this, but it does to some extent measure the quality of our careers provision. needless to say, our figures in this area are excellent and well above national norms.

Then there are plenty of other nonmeasurable outcomes that might support the overall picture of “how we have done”. no league table will ever record the number of olympic medals won by former students or the West end performances played by alumni. Yet, i would like to think that in some (small) way the all-round education and support we have given to these students has allowed them to flourish and be the successes that they are. after all, that’s what our motto describes. floreat schola! 

Welcome to the Almondburians’ Society!

A word from your Editor Observant readers may notice a ‘new look’ for this issue of The Almondburian, which marks the recent decision to change our public name to The Almondburians’ Society. For those interested in such matters, our new body text is in Zilla font (which brings the magazine into line with the website), and headlines are mainly in Roboto.

Readers should also note that the Society’s website address is now www.asoc.org.uk, though for the time being anyone using the old address www.oas.org.uk will be automatically re-routed to the new address.

We should also like to encourage readers to make more use of social media for inter-member communications. Our Facebook page is Almondburians’ Society and there is a link to this page on every page of the ASOC website.

Similarly, our X (formerly Twitter) page is asocforyou and again there are links from the ASOC website.

There is also a new WhatsApp group Almondburians’ Society which members are invited to use.

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Almondburians’ Society Calendar FOUNDERS’ DAY SERVICE Friday, 22nd November 2024 (procession 1.30 pm for service at 1.45 pm) Details: page 15

ANNUAL DINNER Saturday, 23rd November 2024 (6.30 pm for 7.30 pm) Details: page 12

DATES OF ALMONDBURIANS’ SOCIETY MEETINGS Our monthly meetings are held at 6.00 pm in the ODH at School, with a Zoom link for those unable to attend in person. Any member of the Society who would like to attend one of these meetings will be made most welcome on the following dates: Monday, 4th November 2024 Monday, 2nd December 2024 Monday, 6th January 2025 (Annual General Meeting: see below) Monday, 3rd February 2025 (this date to be confirmed at the AGM) The Zoom link for all meetings is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4728049696?

Meeting ID: 472 804 9696 Passcode: BsJua1 You can quickly access the Zoom page using the QR code shown on the left and entering the Passcode BsJua1.

Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Almondburians’ Society will be held in the ODH at School on Monday, 6th January, 2025 at 6.00 pm.

Nominations for office on the Executive Committee are required by the Secretary in advance of this date, so that the election of officers can take place at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with Rule 7.

All members are urged to make every effort to attend the Annual General Meeting.

Andrew Haigh, Secretary

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Membership ANDR EW H AI G H

s

members now pay their subscription by standing order, which makes life easy. if you are one of the few who do not pay by standing order and you have already sent your £10.00 subscription for this year, thank you very much for being so efficient! if you do not pay by standing order and you haven’t recently made a payment for this year, then you will receive a letter with this magazine pointing out that your subscription is not up-todate. in this event, please send your payment without delay. as i mentioned above, it does make life much easier if you pay by standing order so, if you can complete the updated standing order mandate that accompanies the letter and return it in the envelope provided, that would be even better! alternatively, you may renew online, using PayPal or a debit or credit card, by visiting www.oas.org.uk/membership.php. finally, if you have friends from school who are not currently members of the society, then why not encourage them to join? Where else these days can you receive a copy of a fantastic magazine three times per year for only £10.00 per annum? 

ince the previous issue of The Almondburian, we have been saddened to learn only recently of the death in april, 2023 of Nigel Anthony Carter (1946-51), of fenay bridge (obituary: page 59). in the same period, we have been delighted to welcome six new members to the society: l Ian Richard Platt (1958-65) now living in stocksmoor. ian joined after attending the Quiz evening at The Woolpack in May; l Suzy Bailey-Hawke, a teacher of mathematics at the school; l Mark Crossley, a teacher of mathematics at the school; l Joanne Hodkin, member of associate staff at the school; l Samantha Kerrod, member of associate staff at the school; l Ryan Batler (2007-12), who now lives in Tower hamlets, london. subscriptions for 2024-25 remain unchanged at £10.00 per annum (£20.00 per annum for overseas members who receive a hard copy of The almondburian by mail, rather than electronically) and fell due on 1st september. The vast majority of our

Wanted: Archivist Are you interested in the long and fascinating history of King James’s? If so, would you like to become our Honorary Archivist to help us to ensure that our historical archives are being properly collected and maintained? We’d love to hear from you: drop us a line at archives@asoc.org.uk.

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.

SPOTTED

by Almondburians

PUTTING YOUR FEE’T UP

ALL VERY INCONVENIENT

GOING NOWHERE

SORRY, ONLY DOGS ALLOWED TO HELP Spotters: James Clayton, Roger Dowling

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Have you spotted anything in print or on social media that has amused you or given you food for thought?

If it’s worth sharing, send it to us: spotters@asoc.org.uk.

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The Almondburians’ Society

Annual Dinner King James’s School Saturday, 23rd November at 6.30 pm for 7.30 pm

T

he Almondburians’ Society is undergoing major change, and this year’s Annual Dinner is the first under its new name. The ASOC objective: to establish ever-closer links with the King James’s School of today whilst continuing to record with pride the historic achievements of the School over four centuries.

King James’s School also continues to undergo change - not only because of ongoing changes of educational policy at national level but also the major enlargement of the School to over 1,100 pupils in recent years to accommodate pupils transferred from Almondbury High School.

This year we have invited ASOC Chairman WAlTer rAleigH and KJS Principal iAN riMMer to share their thoughts on the best way forward for ASOC and KJS to work together in the years ahead.

Musical entertainment will be provided by KJS musicians:

Left to right: Lily Beaumont, Ava Peace, Shalome Jacob

Doran Kane

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W

Welcome WalTer raleigh chair, the almondurians’ society

alTer attended heckmondwike grammar school from 1963-70 and studied Pe and history at loughborough from 1970-73. from 1982-85 he completed a part-time degree in education at bradford university. he initially joined King James's in september 1978 as head of Pe but became head of Year and later head of lower school. in 1990 he moved over full time to teach history and was promoted to the post of assistant head in 2000. he retired in 2010.

Walter and his wife eileen have two boys and four grandchildren.

Walter will propose a toast to The School.

response Tarleen auJla KJs head girl

Joshua TiPladY KJs head boy

i

address ian riMMer Principal, King James’s school

an was born in southport where he attended King george V grammar school. he took a degree in Mathematics and statistics at the university of leeds followed by a Pgce at nottingham where he met his future Katherine initially he taught in nigeria and subsequently Tanzania, experiences he describes as ‘life changing’. returning to england, he taught in the south of england before moving north to take up the position of assistant head/Vice-Principal at KJs to be closer to family. ian and Katherine have two children. ian is now in his tenth year as Principal..

Ian will propose a toast to the Almondburians’ Society.

response WalTer raleigh The school song 13

Get your Dinner tickets NOW! The ticket price this year will remain at £35.00 and an application form for tickets is included with this issue of The Almondburian. alternatively, you can purchase tickets online at w w w. a s o c . o r g.u k / b uyd i n n e r.p h p .

Please be aware that when the annual dinner is held at the school places are

limited, so early applications are recommended. it is always good to see members making a special effort to stage a reunion of their year at the dinner and such occasions are always enjoyable. it’s not too late to get on the phone to arrange a reunion at the dinner!

Who will be at the Dinner?

As we go to press, these are just a few of the many Almondburians we’re expecting this year.

Surname atkinson battye beverley davies dowling fisher griffiths haigh hanson hey hodgson lawson leake lofthouse Makin Milnes

Initials elizabeth andy richard gareth lynn roger dennis Mervyn andrew Mark darren richard granville gary hugh Prof robin e John howard chris graeme

Years staff 1979 1978 1954 1952 1954 1954 1977 1979 1951 1979 1954 1954 1952 1954 1957

1982 1983 1956 1959 1959 1959 1983 1981 1957 1983 1961 1960 1959 1961 1965

Travelling From almondbury almondbury Portsmouth sutton coldfield, Warwickshire lymm, cheshire almondbury shelley almondbury dalton lepton lepton sheffield glasgow sheffield Mirfield cardiff

Morgan

Paul

1957

1963

london

Platt raleigh rimmer royle sharp sheard sheard smith sykes

ian richard Walter ian Prof edward John franklin carol richard george John oswin stuart

1958 1965 ex staff Principal 1955 1962 1951 1958 guest 1954 1962 1957 1965

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To

stocksmoor almondbury holmfirth leamington spa, Warwickshire leighton buzzard, bedfordshire Whitchurch, shropshire Whitchurch, shropshire saffron Walden, essex

The Almondburians’ Society

Founders’ Day Service All Hallows’ Church, Almondbury Friday, 22nd November at 1.45 pm (Procession up St Helen’s Gate will leave the School at 1.30 pm) Service conducted by ASOC Chaplain Rev Graeme Carby.

Address: Linda Smith

g

raeMe attended King James’s grammar school from 1962-70. he graduated from Manchester university and initially took up a teaching career. in 1990 he retrained, taking a Post graduate diploma in Theology in st John’s college, nottingham, after which he was ordained as a deacon (1992) and Priest (1993) in 1996 he became a Team Vicar in cyncoed, cardiff. graeme retired in 2018 and moved back to huddersfield. he became almondburians’ society chaplain in 2022.

b

orn in halifax, linda studied Theology at the university of nottingham and had an extensive career in education in nottinghamshire and leicestershire. Most recently she was Principal of frewen college in east sussex, a long-established co-educational independent day and boarding school for dyslexic and dyspraxic children aged from 7 to 19. linda has been a church Warden at all hallows’ church for the past five years.

Organ: Pauline Roberts (Organist and Director of Music, All Hallows’ Church) Other music: Lily Beaumont, Ava Peace, Shalome Jacob, Doran Kane (King James’s School)

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Tr ib u Te

Captain Lisa Head: Almondbury heroine WALT ER R ALEI G H Following the recent integration of King James’s School and Almondbury High School, we remember a former High School pupil who served fearlessly in the British Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron and lost her life serving in Afghanistan. in July 2017 almondbury high school – or almondbury community school, as it was called at the time – closed. The majority of the students were absorbed into King James’s and as a result were encouraged to buy into the culture and philosophy of our old school. This involved accepting the ethos of a high achieving academic school together with its long history and traditions. amongst the long standing traditions was, of course, the remembrance day service held each year in school where the names of the 41 former students who died in the first World war and the 35 former students who were lost in the second World war are read out to remember their sacrifice. it is hoped all students at King James’s respect, honour and take pride in the ultimate sacrifice these local boys made. as a former teacher at almondbury high i know there were many students who attended almondbury high school who worked hard and when they left became role models not only for their old school but also for the wider local community. it is therefore only right that this new combined school should celebrate

all those who went before them and gave service to their country. one such person was captain lisa head. lisa Jade head was born on 30th november 1981, a first child to her loving parents leila and John head who lived in the village. as she grew she first attended greenside nursery school and later almondbury Junior school down southfield road. she proved to be a bright active girl who did well in all lessons but particularly in any sport she was offered. at the age of 11 she moved to almondbury high where her progress continued. after five years she left almondbury high with a clutch of a and a* gcse certificates and unsurprisingly entered greenhead sixth form college. she now had a vision for her future as she decided to seek a career as a Physiotherapist. however, she didn’t enjoy greenhead as much as she had hoped and even considered dropping out before taking her a levels. fortunately, she was persuaded to complete her a level courses and, as with all things lisa did, she succeeded and finished with some excellent grades. during her time at greenhead she had begun to have a re-think about her future career. Whether it was the subconscious 17

Relaxing with a book: Lisa in Northern Ireland in the 321 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron

influence of her father and uncle who had both been in the military, lisa went on a visit to the army recruitment office in leeds. she was encouraged, with her outstanding academic and sporting ability, to seek entry at officer Training level. To get some experience of life in the army she was invited to join the army cadets and for the next few years she became a very active member and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. lisa was also advised that in order to get a place at sandhurst the army looked more favourably at candidates who had already graduated from university. once lisa had decided she wanted a career in the army she applied to huddersfield university to take a degree in human biology. she was accepted and took up a place the following year. she continued her role in the army cadets whilst working on her degree. after three years she graduated with an honours degree and so in 2003 after her successful application she started her three year course at sandhurst royal Military academy. lisa loved sandhurst and excelled at everything she did. her mother said lisa got on well with others on the course who she found to be very friendly, supportive and who remained good friends for the rest of her far too short life. however, apparently lisa did say sandhurst took a turn for the worse when first Prince William and later Prince harry joined. suddenly, a campus which had allowed the students to be relaxed in the evenings and weekends changed. not sur-

prisingly, security became even more strict, as you would expect, when the future monarch and the spare were around the place. on graduation in august 2005 she was commissioned into the royal logistical corps where she served tours of duty in iraq and afghanistan as an air Transport liaison officer. her parents are unsure what happened next to cause another change of direction but for some unknown reason lisa applied to be transferred to the 321 explosive ordnance disposal squadron. as a very able and popular officer her application was accepted and she began her training. she served in northern ireland, where, whatever we read about peace and the good friday agreement, the bomb disposal service was still in great demand. as she 18

gained more experience she achieved the tary operations were taken. The prognosis ‘high Threat ied* operators’ award which was not good but lisa’s mum and dad toindicated great expertise and skill. she gether with her two sisters, helen and was one of the best of the best.

Jayne, were able to get there in time before lisa was deployed to afghanistan again lisa sadly died next day. on 27th March 2011. on the 18th april, on the 6th May lisa’s funeral took some 22 days after arriving in afghanistan, place in huddersfield Parish church. it her unit was called to nahri saraj in heltook place with full military honours. mand Province where a suspected ied over 1,000 crowded into the church with had been found. it was down an alley many more outside showing their love which was well used and was regularly and respect for the bravery of this extra‘swept’ for ieds. it had been cleared only ordinary almondbury girl. her coffin was a couple of days earlier but after a sandcarried in by members of her unit and storm something suspicious was seen in amongst the dignitaries joining Mr. and the sand.

Mrs. head were politicians and army top lisa went and disabled the ied. howbrass. it was an incredibly sad but proud ever, once an ied had been disabled it occasion for all her family. after the church had to photographed so military experts service her coffin was taken to almondbury could identify who had made the bomb. cemetery where lisa was laid to rest. someone offered to go and do this but at the funeral lisa was quoted as saying lisa insisted she would complete the job. she had ‘the best job in the world’. her as she approached the diffused bomb a commanding officer, lt. col. adam Mcrae ‘daisy chain’ of other ieds exploded causing described lisa as ‘a self-assured, highly catastrophic injuries to lisa. experts effective operator and a well -liked leader later found the defused bomb had been who would be an enormous loss’. linked in a cluster to other nearby ieds The coroner, Paul Marks said, “it is a in an attempt to catch out officers after testament to her own physical stamina what appeared to be a successful mission. lisa lost both legs and one arm in the explosion. she was rushed by helicopter Kabul to the military hospital at l camp bastion in lashkar A F G H A N I S TA N gah. after a quick assessment she was air-lifted to Nahri Saraj the Queen elizabeth hospital l in birmingham where the Helmand most serious cases from mili-

Province

*Improvised Explosive Device 19

Almondbury War Memorial: Lisa’s name (inset) has now been added to those who died serving their country

their lives in the two major wars of the 20th century, at the War Memorial in almondbury. her name also appears at the national Memorial arboretum in staffordshire. i am delighted that ian, our Principal, and the KJs governors have agreed that lisa’s name will be added to those we remember each year in school at the remembrance day service. it will be a visible sign of the integration of our two schools. lisa deserves nothing less. 

and the quality of care she received that lisa survived as long as she did with such catastrophic injuries.” shortly after the funeral Mr and Mrs head received a wonderful arrangement of flowers together with a letter from the Prince of Wales. it included an invitation to tea with the Prince, now King charles, at highgrove, his private residence in gloucestershire. Mr. and Mrs. head went along to meet the Prince and Mrs. head spoke to me about this wonderful experience. like most of us she had viewed the royals as remote from ordinary people but could not speak too highly of our King. she said he showed great kindness and empathy, as of course, he had had two boys of his own in the military and one, harry, who had served in this very dangerous war zone.

Those of you who live or pass through almondbury will know that lisa’s name has now been added to those who lost Lisa’s name is recorded on the memorial dedicated to ‘The Bravest of the Brave’ at the National Memorial Arboretum in Airewas, Staffordshire.

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Back to the drawing board

Roger Sykes (1946-1953) revisits some of his favourite drawings

SeeiNg my drawing of the School pavilion has brought back so many memories.

The pavilion itself was no beauty but hosted many happy occasions. it acted as the focal point of crowded changing rooms with an outside veranda where watchers sat on benches and clapped for a brilliant dismissal or a boundary the ground being small it seemed easy to slog a ball past the long jump sand pit for a 6!

The cricket ground was the centre for sunny days – whereas these days we seem to have more days of rain! The annual Sports Days were enlivened by parents and families coming to watch and House competitions were often raucous affairs!

The pavilion was becoming somewhat aged and worn by 1958 when it was replaced by the magnificent new Memorial Pavilion (right) located a few yards to the left. How lucky the later generations were to enjoy the new pavilion – and perhaps play a better game! l The new pavilion sadly fell into disrepair in recent years and ambitious plans to replace it, championed by the Old Almondburians’ Society and the KJS Foundation, were not implemented as cricket was no longer being played regularly at the School. However, as we go to press a new plan is under discussion that may result in the cricket field being used again (see page 22).

Old cricket pavilion 21

c r ic Ke T

New use for KJS cricket field?

ANDR EW H AI G H A recent enquiry could result in the School cricket field returning to service.

The parcel of land which the King James’s school foundation owns includes the cricket field, which has sadly been out of use for its intended purpose since the demise of the almondburians’ cricket club. The pavilion was used for a period as a changing and post-match refreshment facility by almondbury spartans r.l.f.c., while they rented the top football field from the school to play their matches. in addition, the perimeter of the field does now form

part of the school cross country course and the school have used the pavilion as a quiet space for gcse languages oral examinations. however, its use is now increasing again and may be about to increase further. recently, the 37th huddersfield (almondbury) Methodist scout group has been using the pavilion to meet on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings while they raise funds to renovate the scout hut on longcroft.

This academic year the school will be using the pavilion as a teaching

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space. a small group of pupils will receive additional lessons in literacy, numeracy and social and emotional wellbeing during the day on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. This is part of a programme to reactivate engagement with school for pupils who have low resilience. as part of this, there has been some refurbishment of the pavilion and it now has a telephone line and internet connection. now, we have been approached by almondbury Wesleyan cricket club.

The Wesleyans started Women and girls cricket last season, by entering a team into the West Yorkshire Women and girls softball league. This season they expanded it, with three more teams: u13 softball, u15 hardball and Women’s hardball. having so many additional teams has made it very difficult at times to fit in all the extra fixtures on their ground and so they approached the foundation with a view to using arkenley for some of their fixtures next season. representatives from the Wesleyans attended our last Trustees meeting, which was very positive.

The idea that we explored is that, initially at least, our arkenley field

would be used for the two softball teams. having been out of use for a number of seasons, the square will require a lot of work to get it fit even for softball cricket, but if the cricket club can undertake that, then the foundation would be delighted to see the field at arkenley being used for its intended purpose once again. Watch this space for further developments! l The King James’s School Foundation was established at the time that King James I granted the Royal Charter to the School in 1608, when approximately 2.8 acres of land were conveyed to the trust to be held for the purposes of the School and occupied by it in perpetuity. In addition to allowing King James’s School to use this land and the buildings thereon, the aims of the Foundation include providing items, services and facilities to the School, promoting the education of individual pupils at the School and promoting the education of young people under the age of 25 who are resident in the ancient Parish of Almondbury. Two of the main ways in which the Foundation currently supports the School is by paying for the lease and covering the running costs of the School minibus, as well as sponsoring the rewards scheme in School.

Contributions to The Almondburian We are always delighted to receive articles, letters or photographs for publication in The Almondburian. Photographs should ideally be at 300dpi resolution at the size at which they will appear in the magazine, and in .jpg or .png format. Please submit photographs as separate attachments, not embedded in Word documents.

Editorial email address: almondburian@asoc.org.uk

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Another successful Heritage Day WALT ER R ALEI G H For those still to experience a Heritage Open day at King James’s I suggest you make sure you put it into your diary next year. It showcases all that is good about our old School.

o

n saturday, 14th september the school looked a picture both inside and outside which says much about Tony, our Premises Manager, and his team. on a stroll outside, the head’s garden and surrounding area looked immaculate. inside everything was clean and tidy which is not always possible in a school of over 1,000 students. if the school was the cake then the student guides were the icing. once again, they were magnificent ambassadors for the school They were all in full school uniform and that set the tone. Their enthusiasm and joy at being chosen to act as guides was for all to see. Parents and school can be very proud of them as they continue the long line of previous students in this role as guides. our thanks to abbi Terry, assistant head, for once more recruiting a wonderful group of Year 10 students for this demanding task and looking after them on the day.

My conversations with ian, our Principal, have all been about steadily developing the links between school and the society in an ‘evolutionary’ rather than a ‘revolutionary’ way and this event is a wonderful example of this. We began in 2017 by opening up the ground floor of the old school building, so visitors could look

round the old dining hall, the head’s study and the big (odh) and small as we aimed to attract former students keen to look look round. subsequently the dorms and the social area with its Timeline display were added to the itinerary.

This year, and for the first year, the whole school was opened up and we also had students playing music as visitors walked round. once again the royal charter was on display and this attracted enormous interest.

There were just over 40 visitors, very slightly down on last year, but as the tours now took twice as long it didn’t seem to make the school or guides any less busy. it was a bonus that the visitors included John broadbent, one of our most senior former pupils, and i know he enjoyed his trip down ‘memory lane’. it really was another wonderful saturday spent in the school and i need to thank all who made it possible.

The head of Music, charmian gott, was there with the musicians and we must thank them all for their efforts which were appreciated by all. The society was once again represented by Keith crawshaw and our chaplain, graeme carby who did sterling work encouraging former students to take a copy 24

(Left): Musical entertainment from Doran Kane (Year 10) (Right): Showing visitors around the old parts of KJS

of the July magazine together with an asoc application form! We hope for positive results. finally, at these events it reminds me of how important it is to maintain our database of former students. We have had our difficulties over recent years in updating this database because of the fear of falling foul of data Protection laws. i think we have now resolved these worries because

of reassurance from the organisation which oversees the process. i mention this because two visitors came to see me with names of relatives who had attended our school, one in 1910 and one in 1942. They wanted to know if we knew anything about them. i went home and used the database to be able to give them a little more information about their relatives’ time in school. it really is rewarding when the so-

Former Head Boy Adam appears – on cue I was showing some visitors round and they were looking at the boards displaying the names of former Head Boys. One name was that of Head Boy in 2003/4, Adam Brook. I mentioned that he was a lovely lad as well as being very bright, and added that he had wanted to be a doctor though I didn't know whether he had achieved this.

About five minutes later I was in the Reception Area when some visitors arrived. I could not believe it when one of them was Adam Brook who was over for the weekend and had decided to visit the School with his parents. He was indeed a doctor and worked at Scarborough Hospital as an Obstetrics specialist. I had not seen Adam since he left school some 20 years earlier! Adam Brook: Yorkshire & ScarWhat a shock but delight. Just the same smile and borough Teaching Hospitals ‘Star Awards’ finalist 2023 pleasant nature - it really made my day.

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hall of faMe

Arnold Frobisher: man of woollens ROGER DOWLING The importance to Huddersfield of the woollens industry cannot be exaggerated. We are proud to recognise the major contribution of former Crump pupil Arnold Frobisher. arnold frobisher was born on 16th august 1895, the second son of lockwood grocer/butcher fretchfield frobisher and his wife ada. he was distantly related to the great english navigator and early explorer sir Martin frobisher (1535-1594). arnold entered King James’s grammar school in september 1905, one of 37 new pupils joining the school in that year. his notable contemporaries included leslie Kenworthy, who became a dartmouth Medallist in 1912 and went on to become a top barrister; and John l dawson who became a leading figure in education in huddersfield, latterly as chairman of the education committee.

The school was doing well under new headmaster robert crump, who had taken over from the hapless leonard griffiths in 1901. arnold did well at King James’s and excelled particularly in french and

Mathematics, receiving handsome inscribed books from the headmaster in 1908 and 1910. he left King James’s to take a bsc degree in economics and economic history at university college london. There, he was awarded a crewdson benington research fellowship for post-graduate work in the department of applied statistics under the eminent mathematical statistician Prof Karl Pearson.

Wool was of vital importance for the clothing of soldiers during World War 1 and arnold, was appointed assistant statistical officer in the department of Wool Textile Production, responsible for a fortnightly census of wool consumption for the surveyor general of Wool supplies and for the machinery census of the textile industry. in recognition of this work he was elected fellow of royal statistical society in 1919. arnold then took up a position with an organisation in which he was to remain for 26

Arnold Frobisher received two handsome books, bearing the signature of headmaster Robert Crump, in 1908 and 1910; Edward Spencer Beesley’s Queen Elizabeth (pub. 1906) and C A Wurtz’s The Atomic Theory (pub. 1910). The books have now been added to the school archives.

the rest of his working life: the newly set up ‘british research association for the Woollen and Worsted industries’, subsequently known as the Wool industries research association (Wira). his initial role was as its first secretary, and he became director of research there in 1928. in a paper written in 1920, arnold explained that the main object of the association was ‘to promote co-operation amongst wool-using firms with the view of establishing a national scheme of research into the problems presented by the woollen and worsted industries’.

The association, commonly also known as ‘Torridon’ occupied two converted houses, Torridon and longfield, in headingley lane, leeds. it grew rapidly during arnold’s time as director. Member firms were able to seek advice from the association’s scientific staff, and biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry

and bacteriology laboratories were set up in the grounds of Torridon to study the properties of wool and the effects on the wool of the various manufacturing processes. The association also acquired full sized machinery for woollen and worsted carding and spinning, to investigate these processes in depth. a colour department was also set up to study the action of various dyes on wool when exposed to sunlight, perspiration, and the association built up a library which supplied members with regular abstracts from current literature.

Wira made many important contributions over the years. in 1952, The nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded jointly to Wira scientists archer John Porter Martin and richard laurence Millington synge for their invention of partition chromatography.

Continued on page 27 27

Robert Simpson Crump revisited

r

OberT CruMP, headmaster of King James’s grammar School from 1901-1912, has always seemed to me to be one of the sadder figures in the long history of the School: he arrived with the highest of hopes but left, 11 years later, disillusioned due to circumstances that were largely outside his control. born in rochdale in 1866, Crump was educated at bradford grammar School and gained degrees in Classical Moderation and History at Oxford university. He joined King James’s after ten years’ teaching at bath grammar School.

Crump took over from leonard griffiths in 1901 when the number of pupils had fallen to just 24. He made a good start, appointing several excellent new teachers, and by 1908 the numbers had risen for the first time in the School’s history to just over 100. Crump threw himself into Almondbury life, taking the role of Sir Francis Drake in a village pageant held at Woodsome in 1906. He was also involved in the organisation of an ‘Olde english Faire’ at Woodsome the following year. Then, in 1909 (a year late, we now know), Crump was centre -stage for the major celebrations to mark the School’s 300th anniversary. it was a happy time for Crump and his family, now including his son robert (who had himself become a KJgS pupil in 1903) and his daughter Sylvia. Conditions in the schoolhouse must have been cramped: the 1911 census reveals that the household was supplemented by two teachers, Charles elliott and bertrand beaumont who had arrived in 1908, and four boarders. Fortunately, Mrs Crump was able to draw upon the services of a nurse, two housemaids and a kitchenmaid. but a bombshell lay around the corner. Contrary to the recommendations in the Sadler report that the School should be developed as Huddersfield’s principal municipal secondary school, the honour went to the old Higher grade School in New North road. This opened in January, 1909 and the number of pupils attending King James’s started to plummet. by 1912 the roll had dropped to 56 and the anxious Crump’s health began to suffer.

To general surprise Crump decided to give up teaching and – alone and without the support of his wife and family – emigrated to british Columbia to take up fruit farming.

This proved a disaster, and within months he was back in england; war had just broken out and he took up a teaching position in london until his retirement. He died in eastbourne in 1956.

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Stephen Craven

Continued from page 25 in addition to his responsibilities at Wira, arnold was a member of many committees including the Publications and Yorkshire section committees of the Textile institute and the committee of bradford Textile society. he was also secretary of the Joint education committee which advised the city and guilds institute of london, and secretary to the Joint committee on sheep breeding council (later the Wool breeding council). in 1923, he was appointed honorary assessor for diplomas in commerce at huddersfield Technical college. arnold was also in demand as a lecturer on european economics and economic history. in 1922 arnold became a special correspondent to the industrial Yorkshire section of the Times Trade Supplement, a special edition of which was devoted to the wool textile industry. arnold travelled widely on the continent, visiting research institutions in germany,

‘Torridon’: this plaque is on the gatepost of the Victorian mansion in Headingley Lane, Leeds that was the former home of the Wool Industries Research Association (WIRA). WIRA scientists Arthur Martin and Richard Synge were awarded the Nobel Prize for their invention of partition chromatography. The house is now the site of a business park.

belgium and france. he produced a major report in 1928 with much statistical information on industrial organisations abroad, especially manufacturing plants and conditioning houses. he also became economic advisor to the swedish government for the preparation of wages statistics in all sections of the wool textile industry there. arnold spent his retirement years at his home in guiseley, where he died on 16th september 1972.  lWIRA later became the Wira Technology Group before being merged with the Shirley Institute in 1989 to form the British Textile Technology Group.

We should like to thank Diane Nursten, also distantly related to Arnold Frobisher, for sending us the books presented to him in his schooldays and for general biographical details.

Wool Industries Research Association dinner, early 1920s: chief guest was businessman Lord Gainford who went on to become the first chairman of the BBC from 1922-27.

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Every picture tells a story

H

The importance of Chemistry

uDDerSFielD’S woollens industry depended crucially on chemicals and it is not surprising that for years the name of iCi was for most locals synonymous with the word ‘Dyes’. The growing importance of Chemistry was soon recognised by King James’s grammar School, which was one of the first schools in the country to give Science a recognised place in the curriculum.

On 12th December 1851, a Chemical Society was set up with the aim of ‘cultivating Chemical Science’ and in due course there was an established course under the direction of former pupil John Nowell of Farnley Wood and george Jarmain, the schoolmaster of Almondbury Church School.

The building on the right, known as the ‘Cloisters’ ran along the back of the School, and was built in 1868 to provide a home for the Society. it became the first Chemistry classroom in the district. The Cloisters had various other uses over the years, including a gymnasium, but by 1918 it had been converted into an outside cloakroom.

The larger photograph shows the laboratories that replaced the Cloisters in 1900. The singlestorey building, to the design of architect John Haigh of Abbey and Hanson, cost £811 2s 3d and had a relatively short life, being demolished in 1938 to give way to the present two-storey building on much the same footprint that survives to the present day. n King James’s School became a Specialist Science College in 2004.

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e duc aT ion

The challenges of teaching today JO H N E AS T W OOD (1950- 58) Ofsted - the Office for Standards in Education - was set up in 1992 and has attracted much criticism in recent years. A former teacher and deputy head gives his verdict. ian riMMer’s regular piece From the Study gives insight into some of the complexities of running a state school today. his is one of the first articles to which i turn in The Almondburian, and one from which i learn most about the struggle it is for teaching professionals today to maintain standards, and at the same time keep the personal life/work balance which they and their families deserve. abbi Terry’s descriptions of her work in the classroom provide a sense of reality at the grassroots, while the new series Meet the Staff interviewing ian Williamson, head of humanities, i think could prove an editorial masterstroke bringing society members and school staff to a closer understanding of each other. as almondburians we need to see the school as it is now, not as we remember it, and be proactive in supporting it where we can when help is sought. it does not come easy for me to confess to being out of touch with what is happen-

ing in schools today, particularly having spent my working life in education. but i am. i have never been subjected to an ofsted inspection, and from what i hear, read and see have escaped a process unfair, unfit for purpose, conducted by an organisation which was badly conceived in the first place and has passed through a number of metamorphoses by governments attempting to salvage something sensible from the damaging agency it has become. and it is still being inflicted on schools, with effects devastating to workforce morale. We have all seen and read of the disastrous effect an unfair and unbalanced ofsted report on her school had on headteacher ruth Perry. in the view of the coroner at her inquest it contributed directly to her suicide. a study by leeds university in March 2023 found ten cases of headteacher suicide where coroners gave as a major contribution to the death, the ofsted report on the head’s school. The best that appears to come out of an ofsted

JOHN EASTWOOD graduated from UCL in 1961 with a degree in Geography. He taught Geography in grammar and comprehensive schools until 1990, ending as deputy head of a 13-18 comprehensive school of 1800 students. John worked as a teachers’ union officer from 1991 until he retired in 2008. He lives in Sowerby Bridge,West Yorkshire.

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inspection appears to be satisfaction in the and qualifications of the existing inspecschool that it is finished and the inspectors tors and the inspections they had been have gone. doing and did not re-engage some 40% of ofsted – The office for standards in them into the new service as a result. education – was created by John Major’s from time to time since 2015 ofsted has Education (Schools) Act of 1992. it replaced changed its inspection priorities and inspections previously undertaken by periods of time elapsing between inspechMis (her Majesty’s inspectors of schools) tions. The pre inspection information and those by local education authorities schools must provide is therefore conwhich had been given that responsibility by stantly changing, as is the period of notice the education act of 1902. Major said he bea school has before the inspectors arrive. lieved the old arrangements for inspection This is in itself unnecessarily stressful for did not have sufficient rigour. What he did teachers, akin to awaiting execution, but not say, but was true, was that the governnot knowing how long you’ve got left. ment sought to take closer control of schools don’t know where they are. schools by transferring the important it would not, of course be appropriate for function of school inspection from local schools to go their own way without being authorities to central government. ofsted subject to external inspection. The issues inspections would take place every four are who should be in charge of the inspecyears. This timescale was itself replaced in tion, who should inspect and how, and in 1995 by six or three yearly inspections, dewhat form should the result of an inspecpendent on whether a tion be conveyed to the It would not, of previous inspection had school and the public. judged a school ‘out- course be appropriate few outside ofsted would standing’ or only ‘satisargue that the use of one for schools to go their of four unqualified adjecfactory’. until 2005 inspectors tives – outstanding, own way without were styled registered, good, satisfactory or inteam or lay inspectors. it adequate – is the answer. being subject to was not necessary to The education act of external inspection. 1902 required county have any experience in schools to be an inspector or even a inspeccouncils and boroughs to set up a committion team leader. between 2005 and 2015 tee called the local education authority to inspectors were no longer employed by the replace the old school boards and be regovernment, but by private companies, responsible for state funded elementary and gional inspection service Providers (rsiPs), secondary education in their areas. among contracted to the government to do the inthe duties these leas had was that of spections. in 2015 the government ended school inspection. Thus huddersfield the contract with the rsiPs, deciding to county borough and the West riding have ofsted employ inspectors directly. county council established teams of inofsted had concerns regarding the quality spectors, often later called advisers, for 32

Amanda Spielman was HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills from 2017-23. Sir Martyn Oliver succeeded her on 1st January 2024.

their respective areas. The board of education as it then was worked through the leas. The 1972 local government act replaced huddersfield county borough with an enlarged authority, Kirklees, while the West riding was split between a number of the new local authorities which included Kirklees and calderdale. These new authorities assumed their duties as leas which included that of school inspection. Teams of inspector/advisers were recruited, normally transferring from the old leas to the new, and together with hMis remained the agents of inspection until the creation of ofsted in 1992. local authority advisers had experience of working in primary schools or were subject specialists if they were to work in secondary schools. They were normally based at a teachers’ centre and travelled round their allocated schools in their working day.

They knew the strengths and weaknesses of their schools and teachers because they regularly saw them at work. They were valued by heads as trusted colleagues and could often be relied upon to find funding for small projects. in my experience they were on first name terms with teachers, not regarded as authority figures. gervase finn gives a not totally inaccurate description of their work in his novels based upon his time as adviser and schools inspector in north Yorkshire. hMis were a different breed – highly qualified intelligent professionals – what barry ‘luke’ Kaye (KJgs 1948-56) would have styled ‘big brains’, and with constructive attitudes. You didn’t get

the feeling of their trying to catch you out. all changed after 1992 with ofsted and the views expressed by ian rimmer and ian Williamson on the shortcomings of that body are widely echoed. it is to be hoped that with the departure of amanda spielman, ofsted chief inspector between 2016 and 2023, and the arrival of the very experienced sir Martyn oliver as her replacement, things will improve. spielman was privately educated at a girls' 6th form college and after cambridge spent some 20 years in finance. she had no teaching experience which led a parliamentary select committee to reject her as chief inspector in 2016. Yet she was appointed.  33

The Principal notes the difficulties that schools have in teacher recruitment, while ian Williamson was asked in Meet the Staff if he regretted the school not having a 6th form to teach at King James’s. i suspect the two are not unconnected, although inadequate teacher pay is certainly the major issue. i know that as a young graduate i would not have gone into teaching had i not been aiming to work in a school with a 6th form. There was no comprehensive school with a 6th form in the north of england when i graduated in 1961.

There is an attraction for subject graduates to teach at what is effectively university entrance level bright 17 and 18 year olds. as a geographer i found that my passing an examination on meteorology, pedology or the theory of industrial location did not give me the detailed background knowledge to teach these areas to ‘a’ and ‘s’ level students, particularly when they asked questions. Meeting that challenge was a big part of my job satisfaction, and

SUDOKU Difficulty: tough

each row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain the digits 1 to 9

had i not had the ‘a’ level work in addition to the lower school work which i also enjoyed but in a different way, i think i would have followed a different career. l KJS Principal Ian Rimmer comments: It is encouraging to hear an appreciation and understanding of the challenges schools face these days. Schools are significantly different places nowadays to when I went to school in the late ’70s/early ’80s, with levels of accountability infinitely higher and far broader than they ever were.

For example, my (grammar school) teachers could, and would, simply adopt the attitude that if you weren’t studious and you failed it was your problem. There is no way we could even contemplate such an approach these days. But beyond that, the scope of aspects of children’s lives for which schools are held responsible seems to know no bounds. One shouldn’t be surprised then if, having extended the range and depth of accountability, people decide to leave the profession en masse.

6 4

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6 5 9

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CROSSWORD

by Hérisson

Entries to the Editor (address/email: back cover) by 31st January 2025. Prize: 12 months’ free OAS membership l The winner of Crossword by Hérisson (July 2024) was John Bradley (1950-57)

4. Head of Commonwealth, with memory OK, could be Henry’s fixer. (8) 5. Gesture made by Leo, perhaps, with Aries and Libra initially. (6) 6. Scottish island gets half sort. (7) 7. Stop believer holding sin’s origin. (6) 8. She pays attention to realist energising, not all there. (8) 24. Backing Liverpool, for example, ACROSS 14. Adder, for example, put in one who holds nothing for soldiers. (5) 9. Opener I created for trailblazer. (7) arrives. (8) 26. Deeming naturist unfit for 10. National is artist and priest. (7) 16. Randomly poisoned Olympian. (8) trivialisation. (15) 11. Player in street game with mind18. In favour of greeting little outlaw.

27. Musk embraces Greek character (8) reader. (15) for another one. (7) 12. Quantum agreement holds back 19. Refined Wimbledon feature, lately 28. In the open air, but not in team. (7) evacuated. (7) scope. (5) 13. Explain there’s no point in 20. Way to riches (a non-starter), lengthening Broadcast. (9) creates deception. (7) 14. Headless warder found on ship. (4) DOWN 22. Stud in frenzy, he’s naked. (6) 1. Jump well. (6) 15. Run away with band exercise. (5) 23. Crazy as nine bananas. (6) 2. Tory battle for starter. (8) 17. Beats back box. (4) 25. Constant force obstruction for 21. Shredders could be used by 11. (9) 3. Hide classified drug. (7) Pooh’s friend. (6)

Name Email Tel

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EL SP EC US EC TI IA ON L

A Yorkshireman in America C H AR LI E S TAR KEY (1968- 75) In case you might have missed it on the news, there’s another American presidential election in the offing. Our man over there explains how is all works – or doesn’t work.

The business of us elections can be bewildering to foreigners, not to mention americans themselves. They’re held every four years because the framers of the constitution – who’d had enough of tyrants – thought it wise to limit the tenure, reach, and influence of future leaders. similar to great britain there are two major parties: the republicans (= Tories) and democrats (= labour) and sometimes a few independent outliers (such as, temporarily at least, robert f Kennedy Jr.). but there is no substantial third option equivalent to the greens, liberal democrats, snP, uKiP, or the official Monster raving loony Party. even if they can scrape together enough cash to compete, independents are ultimately foiled by the powerful institutional forces that conspire to maintain the status quo. after about two years’ worth of shouty posturing during state

primaries and caucuses, each party picks a raving loony presidential candidate at their respective national conventions. The choice might not necessarily be the best person for the job, more likely a figurehead considered to have the most ‘voter appeal’, the equivalent to brits voting for the latest winner of strictly. election day is held on a Tuesday in november. back when america was a mostly agrarian society, farm folk often had to travel far to cast their votes and this was more convenient for them after the fall harvest and before winter set in. also, market days were held mid-week and weekends were set aside for churchy stuff so Tuesdays seemed like the best choice. Voters can also mail in their votes prior to election day, should they desire. instead of totting up a nationwide popular vote – because that would be far too logical – balloting falls prey to a confusing system known as the electoral college (too complicated to detail here) in which state-appointed groups of 36

electors get to choose the winner. This means a presidential candidate can earn the largest number of popular votes but still lose the race. The original idea – i think – was a compromise worked out by the founding fathers which allowed states of varying sizes equal representation in government. for example, california, the most populous state, casts 52 electoral votes whereas Wyoming, with the lowest population density, casts 3. out of a total of 538 possible electoral votes the magic winning number is 270. it’s a matter of opinion, but a onevote system somehow seems fairer and more practical. states have been coined either ‘blue' (democrat) or ‘red’ (republican), catchy shorthand terms broadly summarising their ideological makeup. With those outcomes almost a foregone conclusion, presidential campaigning is disproportionately concentrated in the remaining, less partisan ‘swing’ states where as-yet uncommitted votes are up for grabs. When races are close independent candidates risk becoming ‘spoilers’. for example, in 1992 business magnate ross Perot failed in his run for office but he hijacked enough votes from incumbent george bush sr. to let bill clinton stroll to victory. four years later republicans got their revenge. This time the

bush family pet, george ‘dubya’, finagled a win over al gore, clinton’s former Vice President, by a narrow margin in the battleground state of florida – where, coincidentally, gWb’s brother Jeb was governor. gore contested the result. after days of national frustration, confusion and multiple ballot recounts, the supreme court stepped in to name george the victor to end the stalemate ‘for the good of the nation’. even more politically divisive, of course, was the biden-Trump debacle of 2020. fueled by donald Trump’s lies of voter fraud, thousands of malcontents marched on Washington dc, overwhelming capitol security forces and almost succeeding in their attempt to prevent the transition of power. endangering the lives of congressional politicians, members of the self-proclaimed oath Keepers, Proud boys, Three Percenters and other groups displayed their patriotism by smashing windows, breaking doors, and pooping on the floor. historically, opposing politicians would reach across the aisles in congress to help pass legislation but in the last few decades inter-party cooperation happens less and less frequently.

When there’s a shift of power in great britain, her civil servants generally stick around to keep important governmental business running smoothly. (see Yes, Minister for details.) for the most part, in 37

america the worker drones get kicked out in favor of the new president’s appointees. americans no longer believe that their political representatives have their best interests at heart. how can they change that? by voting and bringing about peaceful change? Tens of millions of dollars are spent on an endless tug of war between the same two established parties. around 14 billion – that’s billion – dollars was spent during the 2020 campaign. it was the most expensive so far, a result of the supreme court’s decision that there should be no limits to campaign donations. (Political action committees or ‘super Pacs’ are no longer required to disclose their sources.) how much can an individual’s vote count when so much money is being spent by special interests to influence the outcome? i suppose if the great unwashed aren’t happy they can always stage a violent insurrection or try to assassinate the winner. This is america, after all.

The you-never-had-it-so-good baby boomers are an endangered species facing a mass die-off, while younger voters doubt that Washington’s geriatric time-servers, regardless of their accumulated knowledge and experience, are physically up to the task of adequately representing upcoming generations. gathering dust in america’s halls of power, half of the crusty politicians in congress are between 60 and 90 years of age. (The constitution specifies 30 as the minimum age for a senator, with no upper limit.) republicans have been playing the long game for some time, carefully consolidating their aims by stacking the supreme court in their favor. With the former president threatening to imprison his foes and pardon the incarcerated January 6th capitol rioters if he gets re-elected, democracy and in particular the freedom of the press would be under siege. Women’s reproductive rights are already being rolled back and individual states continue whittling away at the separation of church and state. brushing off arguments that their candidate is a mendacious, narcissistic, twice-impeached felon, the grand old Party will stand by Trump as long he continues to promote their disturbingly ultra-right ‘Project 25’ agenda. no matter which 38

candidate wins in november, the threat of civil unrest remains high. it should have come as no surprise to anyone, except Trump himself, that his years of violent rhetoric would come back to haunt him. on July 14th a deranged registered republican tickled candidate donald’s ear with a rifle bullet at a rally in Pennsylvania. The secret service quickly dispatched the shooter but not before he’d killed one crowd member and wounded several others. (not to worry, the victims were quietly forgotten.) Two months later another would-be assassin unsuccessfully attempted to finish the job. obviously, god is saving Trump for a higher calling. election prospects looked decidedly bleak for democrats earlier in the year with a visibly frail Joe biden at the helm.

Then in august the party became newly invigorated when Joe was strategically nudged aside to be replaced by his second in command Kamala harris, a younger and more vital option. bolstered by an uptick in polling and a celebratory dnc convention in chicago, harris and her Vice President picked Minnesota governor Tim Walz to begin the difficult task of swaying undecided and jaded voters. They were unexpectedly aided by their republican rivals: african american north carolina gubernatorial candidate and transgender porn aficionado Mark robinson

bragged about being a black nazi (“slavery is not bad. some people need to be slaves.”) while misogynistic goP vice presidential hopeful Jd Vance accused females who prefer raising cats to raising children of being selfish and not giving a toss about the future of their country. it would be especially ironic if harris’s endorsement by the world’s most high profile childless cat lady – superstar performer Taylor swift – influenced her legions of fans to follow suit and decided the race. Meeeow. at the time of writing polls indicate a close race and all bets are off. as Monty Python alumnus eric idle said recently in a new Yorker Magazine interview, “it’s a matter of whether we can save ourselves or whether stupidity will win.” Mr idle was addressing a larger issue, viz. The Meaning of life and the future of mankind, but i believe it applies here. as for now, democracy, that noble experiment, continues to creak along. hopefully that still gives moderates cause for optimism.  39

Farnley Lines DAV E BU SH Whoa! The high horse has been saddled and led from the stable. one foot in the stirrup, up and we’re ready to go. so many issues worthy of grumbles and they increase proportionately with advancing years. i know Jack Taylor shares my hero worship of Victor Meldrew of One Foot in the Grave fame.

potential numbers almost gives the impression that anybody can become a teacher. once appointed, it is not easy to rectify an error. Personal experience here.

When i was acting head we had two science vacancies and two applicants. i sensed that they would struggle in the classroom but nevertheless they were appointed; we should have waited until the next batch of graduates came on the market and used supply teachers. Twenty years on, the school was still paying for my error.

Magic money i’ll begin with the government’s election promise of 6,000 more teachers. We’ll leave aside their pledge of recruiting more doctors, nurses, police and similar bodies. Payment will be no problem as the Magic Money Tree is apparently in luxuriant growth. unfortunately, i predict that as a result of early retirement, stress-related breakdown, the attraction of better paid jobs and simple disillusionment, 6,001 teachers will leave the profession. any thought been given to the calibre of this happy band of new teachers?

Teaching is a very demanding profession which demands special talents. Quoting such

Do tables mean anything? next major grouse: league tables. This was brought to the fore by the recent olympics (below). The table of medals won, shown or published every five

Olympics 2024: a total of 204 nations took part in this year’s Games and the US and China were predictably the top medal winners.

But does it make any sense to compare the US (120 medals, 40 gold, GDP $26 trillion) with St Lucia (1 gold, GDP $2.3 billion)?

40

Enjoying Porthcawl sunshine: (l to r) Roger Dowling, Dave Bush and Judy Dowling

conclude only that there are lies, damned lies and league tables. back to your stable, trusty steed, while we both cool down and i move to a much more pleasant subject. minutes, was meaningless. of course, with their enormous resources, the united states and china were at the top. The table would have meaning only if factors such as total population, gdP, geographical location, system of government et alia were taken into consideration. if they were, i believe the tiny caribbean island of st lucia with its single gold would be at the top. an adjunct to this was the endless harping on about how the uK’s performance compared with previous olympics. Meaningless. for a start, russia was not taking part. if it had been, then its resources would have ensured it scooped up bucketsful of medals. additionally, why was the total number of events never mentioned?

There has been an enormous increase in recent years. a fair proportion of these i cannot accept as worthy of inclusion. it can only be a matter of time before tiddlywinks, mixed of course, is included in the programme. one can

Schools tables closer to home, tables can be equally misleading in our own world of education. how unjust to compare exam results from a school with a relatively good catchment area to one from a deprived area, where understandably recruitment of well qualified staff is almost impossible.

The latter may be performing heroically in its own way but a simple comparison of results will not show this.

And still talking of tables… a somewhat artificial connection as i move on from tables to a very special one and this is solid and utterly reliable. but first some background. The publishing of my book No Beating about the Bush was almost entirely thanks to the meticulous work of your esteemed magazine editor, roger dowling. i had intended to show my gratitude by hosting him here in Porthcawl for a few days but covid and health prob41

lems made this impossible. however, in early august we were so happy to see at long last roger, and his wife Judy, in Porthcawl on two separate days. The weather was awful on the first but pleasant on the second. They were impressed by what they saw and roger summed up those impressions by saying he now understood why we are so content living here. on the first evening, we had a fish and chip supper. as we were finishing, i delighted in telling roger that he was sitting at a table which he had once sat on. his look of bewilderment was memorable. i explained that when the school was being expanded in the seventies, the changing room near big Tree Yard moved to the more modern part of the school near the present assembly hall. The changing room had

been completed along with the new science block in september 1939. (an interesting aside is that it most probably coincided with the day i was born). i had at the time a friend who was a master cabinet maker. his eyes lit up when i showed him the benches in the changing room. his elation was occasioned by the fact that these which were being ripped out were made of solid oak. To ensure everything was legal, a contract was drawn up with the builders whereby, for a nominal fee , i bought all the wood in that room. hence eventually, my friend charlie produced a magnificent six foot by three dining table which we have enjoyed for approaching fifty years. so all other almondburians of a certain vintage could make the same ‘on and at’ claim. i should mention that roger added he did not sit on it with any anticipated pleasure as he admitted to being decidedly non-sporting.

What will happen to this special item of furniture? facing reality, one day we shall have to downsize and The Table will need a new home. our family has no interest in inheriting it. brown furniture is out of fashion. it is large. however, it has a fascinating provenance. is there an almondburian out there with a rustic property in the uK or a farmhouse in france who would apOffers invited: this beautiful handcrafted polished oak table will in due course be seeking a new home 42

preciate it? Perhaps there’s a meeting place in school where it could be used? i should dearly like to keep it in the almondburian family. any interest or offers?

realistic and informative. The good ship ‘King Jim’ is fortunate to have him at its helm; ian will almost certainly add that he has a great crew to support him. as for our society, firm grounds for optimism here also. at last, progressive change is in the air, illustrated by this new look for our so-valued magazine. closer ties with the school and plans to recruit more younger members are now priorities. To parody the olympic games motto of ‘citius, altius, fortius’ let ours be ‘stronger, closer, Younger’. herewith, an invitation to any of my past students to translate this into latin!

Floreant Schola et Societas. 

Time for optimism optimism is very much to the fore when i turn my concluding thoughts to the school and society. every time i read ian rimmer’s From the Study i am struck by several things. how does a Principal who clearly has enormous demands on his time manage to find some of that time to write at such length? secondly, and i realise this may sound awfully patronising, what he has to say is beautifully written and is both

Summer concert reunion

A group of Almondburians met up on 6th July at St Margaret’s Church, Ilkley for a superb orchestral concert by the Leeds Symphony Orchestra. Hosting the reunion was long-time LSO double bass player Chris Makin (KJGS 1954-61).

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M ee T T he s Taf f

Rebecca Hamlett: Head of Drama We meet one of the members of the King James’s School Performance Arts team.

The Almondburian Performance arts at King James’s school includes drama, Music and sport, a diverse range of subjects that would be difficult for one teacher to control. how do you split your responsibilities for these subjects?

RH: We have two heads of faculty in Performance arts: Kim clarke, head of sport and charmian gott, head of Music. i am head of drama. There are eight teachers within the three subdivisions.

The Almondburian What path did you take into teaching?

RH: at school in Manchester i loved english, especially reading and creative writing, but i had anxiety issues with drama, these were cured when i faced a subject choice of iT or drama. My degree at liverpool edge hill university was in english and drama and i always intended taking up teaching. i had no desire to become an actor, though i have taken on roles in amateur productions.

The Almondburian how long have you been at King James’s?

RH: i taught english at a school in Manchester for twelve years before coming to King James’s eleven years ago. My first impressions were of a magical resemblance to harry Potter’s hogwarts, though lacking the towers and dungeons. an idea i have for the heritage open days is to produce small historical dramas in the old parts of the school.

The Almondburian how does drama fit into the school timetable?

RH: all pupils in Key stage 3 (years 7,8 and 9) take drama. Thereafter it is taken as an option, as is Music and sport. Pupils following the drama option can take a bTec qualification rather than a gcse in their final year at King James’s. The bTec covers all production and backstage roles as well as performance. Pupils can follow this with an a level course when moving on to a sixth form college. We were very pleased last year that four of our pupils were accepted for prestigious places in Performing arts at caPa (cathedral academy for Performing arts) in Wakefield.

The Almondburian do pupils of mixed abilities and backgrounds pose problems?

RH: one of the advantages of drama is that it is a creative rather than academic subject.

Very few pupils don’t want to perform and we take the opportunity to build up their confidence. We don’t have end of term exams for drama and course work can be less formal with presentations made as video diaries or scrapbooks.

The Almondburian do you do much teaching yourself?

RH:as much as i can! i have a busy teaching timetable and enjoy organising the school musical production at christmas and a school play later in the year (last year it was ‘our day out’ by Willy russell).

The Almondburian do you regret not having a sixth form at King James’s?

RH: i would like the opportunity to teach drama at that level but i think many pupils 44

Photo: Jenny Sanderson

ion. Pupils with behaviour problems can be temporarily taken out of mainstream school (rather than exclusion) and given special tuition in literacy, numeracy and practical subjects.

The Almondburian an ofsted inspection is scheduled for the school this academic year. What are your thoughts on this oftencriticised regime?

RH: We do not have a strict preparation programme; if you are following your syllabus and doing what you should be doing you have nothing to fear.

The Almondburian given a magic wand what changes would you like to see in teaching?

RH: a massive boost to finances! This would help all pupils access all experiences and improve our facilities. There is a government Pupil Premium fund to help disadvantaged children but it is being cut every year. We are grateful to parents and some local businesses for sponsorship.

This year i have been given the additional task of developing pupil ‘experiences’; trips out of school to a range of venues that many may not experience as part of their family life. My particular favourites are obviously theatre-based plays and pantomimes. We are also organising ‘unique experience’ trips for example to ski resorts and Krakow (with a visit to auschwitz). sponsored places are being sought to help those less able to afford to take part.

The Almondburian What are your personal ambitions for the future?

RH: i love teaching too much to move into a more senior role. if i won the lottery, i would buy a bus and take a theatre company around schools. l Rebecca was talking to Richard Teale.

of that age benefit from a change to a more adult environment.

The Almondburian The school now has over 1,100 pupils, is that a barrier to getting to know them as individuals?

RH: The school i attended had 1,500 pupils and where i taught in Manchester had 2,000 pupils so i see King James’s as relatively small. at Key stage 3 we only see each class once a week so it can be difficult to form relationships but the shows, clubs and trips outside of school hours enable pupils to see us giving up our time and that encourages forming of informal contacts.

The Almondburian do you have the opportunity to perform the drama ‘classics’ like shakespeare?

RH: We don’t at present but i would like to. i have no problems with modern costumes and settings but would want to retain the language. shakespeare is studied as part of the english syllabus but performance of his plays is not covered in the bTec drama course.

The Almondburian how do you address pupils and how do they address you?

RH: i always use first names and try to avoid the nicknames they are often given.

Pupils address teachers as Mr, Miss or Ms. My surname of hamlett is, of course, very job appropriate!

The Almondburian What is your approach to discipline and punishment of pupils?

RH: This faculty has a positive approach and i am big on the idea of ‘emotional currency’. if pupils see you are prepared to give them time and support, they appreciate it and will respond in kind. This year the school has introduced a new ‘activate’ programme, running at the cricket Pavil46

The Almondburian Poets ALBERT IN ORBIT

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HERE can be little doubt as to the world event that inspired young second-formerJohn Hoyle to submit this poem to the Editors of The Almondburian, Spring Term 1961.

On 12th April 1961, the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to journey into outer space. The culmination of the space race between Russia and the US, the event took place just 25 days before America launched its own suborbital flight.

Gagarin completed one orbit of Earth in a flight of 108 minutes. It was his only space flight and he later returned to his original occupation as an aircraft pilot; he lost his life when his MiG-15 jet fighter crashed in 1968.

Sadly, the family, friends and patriots of Albert Henry Entwhistle were premature in their belief that their hero had managed to land on the Moon in 1961. The first Moon landing was by American astronaut Neil Armstrong who successfully landed his Apollo lunar module on 20th July 1969. l John Hoyle (1959-66) left King James’s Grammar School to study Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

having seen an advert in the local “Times,” albert henry entwhistle Was taken by surprise. for years he'd had a strong desire (being of scientific mind), To penetrate the universe, and see what lay behind. and now the opportunity was there before his eyes, “Wanted-—a man with courage to penetrate the skies,” and little time was wasted to make a strong appeal, To be the man selected for such a brave ordeal. a quick reply surprised him, With the details of the place To which he would present himself To be shot up into space. and after months of preparation, The time of departure came; and to the list of famous men They added albert’s name. and though his family search the sky and hope to see him soon, his many friends and patriots claim that he’s on the moon!

J Hoyle (Form 2)

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b ooKs

Discovered in an inglenook fireplace JAME S C L AY TON (1947- 51) In a chance conversation with my builder, I learned of his discovery of an old book which is now amongst my most treasured possessions. in the early 1960s i was living in dunstable, having been recruited as a lecturer in the local college of further education, working in the department of Printing. My wife and i had just moved into a small bungalow, not far from the town centre. one day, as we were having a new fireplace fitted, the old bedfordshire builder doing the job came out with a nugget of information which made me take notice. having learned that i was involved in printing. he casually mentioned that he had made a discovery whilst renovating an old cottage in a nearby village. stuffed up inside an inglenook fireplace was an old book, minus cover, folded in two. he brought it round for my inspection and i was well pleased with what i saw. he said he would be happy to part with it if i was interested but neither of us had any idea what it was worth. it was in very poor condition. i was going down to the british Museum shortly afterwards and suggested that i get some idea of value from them. it would seem

that it wasn’t worth very much, especially in view of its condition and also because it was a second edition. on my return, terms were agreed and, for a very modest sum, the builder was happy and the book was mine. it was The History of the Reformation of the Church of England and may have been stuffed up the chimney to avoid religious persecution. it remained in that condition for a few years until i later moved to norwich, also in the department of Printing.

The department was well equipped with sections representing all aspects of the industry – compositors’ work, letterpress and lithographic printing, design, graphic reproduction and bookbinding, it was the latter department which changed things. one of the lecturers, the late Thomas docwra, rose to the challenge of giving my book another lease of life in 1967, and what a fine job he made of it. he didn’t want any cash for his work, having enjoyed working on the book but we settled on providing some shrubs for a new hedge in his beloved garden. bound in fine leather and 48

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Top: Title page of Book II Bottom: In a handwritten comment on the endpapers, a previous owner of the book suggests that ‘the historian sets out the best sides of his party’ and ‘ but lightly touches the failings of his friends’ – thereby departing from ‘the laws of an exact historian.’

blocked in gold, it is good for another few hundred years. it is a hefty tome, weighing in at 4 lbs, with dimensions of 13" by 8" by 2" (imperial measures seem more appropriate). one handwritten paragraph on the end papers was retained to give some link with the original. There are also odd jottings on the title page. There are over three hundred pages (all hand-set type, re-

member) on hand-made paper, with many engravings of historical figures of the time. i created a special page outlining the story of restoration and Thomas included that in the final work.  l The first edition of Gilbert Burnet’s history of the reformation of the church of england was printed for the eminent London

bookseller Richard Chiswell in 1681.

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h u dde rs fi e ld neWs

New building honours Emily Siddon Work has just started on a major new healthcare facility on Huddersfield University’s Southgate site, to be named after the School’s eminent former Governor.

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ONSTRUCTION is now under way on a 6,800 sq m building on the university of huddersfield’s national health innovation campus. due for completion in december 2025, the new facility will be known as the emily siddon building in honour of a healthcare pioneer in the town who had close links with almondbury grammar school and was a governor from 1897 to 1922.

The ground floor of the emily siddon building will host a community diagnostic centre in partnership with calderdale and huddersfield nhs foundation Trust, the first of its kind on a university campus. The cdc will provide access to thousands of additional diagnostic tests , including Mri and cT scans.

other floors of the building, designed by architects ahr, will contain specialist clinical teaching facilities. The building will also be home to a health and Wellbeing innovation centre for local entrepreneurs and start-ups. l Emily Siddon was a governor of Huddersfield Technical College from 1907 until her death in 1923. Late in her life she had become only the second woman in the country to be made a Justice of the Peace and had a particular focus on mental health and learning disabilities. She had a passion for education and on numerous occasions put her own money into the School to keep it open. Siddon House was named after her and for many years the Siddon Bowl was awarded for House Football. 

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b er e aVe Me nT

Making the most of every moment A BBI TERRY ( Staff ) As Senior Mental Health Lead at KJS, my role is to help young students to cope with their problems. My recent bereavement has helped me to understand their needs. i am starting to write this piece a few weeks before World Mental health day. every year i do assemblies and create resources for form tutor time focusing on the issues linked with mental health and it is something that i feel very strongly about. it is particularly pertinent this year because i am dealing with bereavement following the death of my dad.

This is the first time in my teaching career that i have ever had to deal with something so life changing and devastating all at the same time. in the past, i have been in awe of my friends and colleagues who also work in education and who have gone through bereavement following the death of a loved one. i have always wondered how the heck they managed to keep going in what is an emotionally, physically and mentally tough job while trying to deal with their own upset and grief. and now here i am… its difficult to describe how i am coping as a teacher and as a senior leader. on a day to day basis, while in the classroom, it is easy to get caught up with the students, teaching them, celebrating their successes and sup-

porting them when they need it. Working in a school is all encompassing with the endless list of to-do tasks. added to that is that each day is very different and sometimes you cannot plan ahead. dealing with young people, their families and their circumstances can be unpredictable, chaotic, heartbreaking, joyful and confusing all at the same time and for brief moments it can be a distraction from the hole created by the grief. until it comes rushing back.

The death of my dad has taught me many things as a person but also as a teacher:  it has taught me to be gentle with myself and others and not expect perfection as we don’t always know what is going on behind the scenes. it has made me realise that for many of the young people who i deal with, they may also have hardship that they are dealing with in their own lives and in their own way.  it has taught me that it is a good thing to be human and flawed. i have learned to accept it in myself but also in my students. it is a liberating realization.  it has taught me to make the most of life and be grateful for my blessings.

Yes, working in education can be tough 52

but on the whole, i love my job and i am very lucky to be doing something that i feel passionate about.  finally, i am now more conscious of trying to make the most of every moment. This was a key message from a poem that was read at my dad’s funeral: The Dash by linda ellis. These words are especially meaningful to me in my day to day life as a teacher:

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real, and always try to understand the way other people feel. Be less quick to anger and show appreciation more, and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before. If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

THE DASH POEM

by Linda Ellis I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end.

He noted first came the date of the birth and spoke the following date with tears.

But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between the years.

For that dash represents all the time that they spent life on Earth.

And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash.

What matters is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real, and always try to understand the way other people feel.

Be less quick to anger and show appreciation more, and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?

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s PorT

Golf: Gothard Cup 2024 “ T HE H ACK ER ” Robin Merchant won the this year’s Cup competition, putting an end to the winning run of Mark Slater who finished in second place.

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his year’s gothard cup comYear. obviously, they forgot to take the petition was held on sunday, gothard cup into account…

21st July at its traditional home We were joined in the clubhouse by a of Woodsome hall golf club. eight algroup of golfers from davenport golf mondburians enjoyed good weather, club, cheshire who joined in our celebragood company and a course in great tions of two great golfing events! They condition. also helped us finish off the additional The almondburian players were food we had ordered in error due to a few robin sharman, Mark slater, david late cry-offs!

Parry, simon russell, richard brown, Many thanks, as always, must go to roy addyman, Paul grant and robin Woodsome hall for providing an excelMerchant. They were joined by John lent meal and venue for our competition. chacksfield, who due to an injury was Many thanks also to robin sharman, who unable to play but caddied for roy. made all the arrangements with the club.

Mark slater put up a great defence We also collected £30 for a school of his title, but a poor 18th hole really Prize which will be presented to the pupil cost him. on the other hand, robin Mer“achieving the best sporting achievchant came back ement outside WiNNer in gross level par, school”. to score 21 points.

The gothard robin Merchant (39 points) following the cup will be conl 2ND PlACe golf, everyone ad- Mark Slater (37 points) tested again in journed to the mid-June/early l FrONT NiNe clubhouse to July 2025, so if David Parry (20 points) watch the closing you think you l bACK NiNe holes of the open might enjoy good Simon russell (16 points) championship, company, good after countback over played at royal food and wine, Richard Brown Troon. Xander mixed in with l 2’S schauffle won, to some golf we’ll be Simon russell and robin Merchant become cham- both at the 13th delighted to see pion golfer of the you there.  54

55 Photos: Andrew Haigh

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2 1. Robin Sharman plays a fine shot out of a bunker 2. Simon Russell 3. Roy Addyman holes a long putt 4. David Parry 5. Defending Champion Mark Slater tees off 6.Richard Brown tees off, watched by Paul Grant

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Tennis/Badminton ANDR EW H AI G H

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e were once again grateful for the use of the facilities of longley Tennis club, where most of our regular players are now members, on Thursday evenings during the summer and once again we joined forces with a number of other longley members to augment our numbers. The weather was reasonably kind too and we made very little use of the indoor court, although we did have a few near misses with the weather and, on one occasion, enjoyed a spectacular

double rainbow.

The final evening of tennis was Thursday, 29th august and those almondburians who played tennis at some point during the summer are: david Parry, robin Merchant, andrew haigh, sally starbuck, eleanor haigh, charlotte haigh, annabel haigh and alex Murray.

The new badminton season got off to a resounding start on Thursday, 5th september, when david Parry turned up to play. Yes, that was it! ian daffern

A double rainbow and two doubles tennis matches at Longley 57

was refereeing a football match and i had a governors’ meeting. When i eventually got around to the sports hall after my meeting david, to his credit, was still there, all on his own! We briefly debated playing singles, but then decided to retire to the conservative club for refreshments. This turned out to be well worthwhile, since neil gledhill, one

of our former regulars who has now retired from playing badminton and tennis, turned up to join us for refreshments looking fit and well. The following week, we had a much better turnout of six players. however, during the course of conversation over refreshments that evening it turned out that, due holidays and work commitments, numbers were going to be very low again for the next two weeks. We therefore decided to cancel the remainder of september and start properly on Thursday, 3rd october when, hopefully, we will be back to full strength.

We have two courts available in the school sports hall every Thursday during term time from 7.30 pm. – 9.00 pm.

Those who have played badminton so far this season are: david Parry, robin Merchant, ian daffern, andrew haigh, crag Watts and Joe schewtschuck. do come along and join us.  (Top) David Parry and Eleanor Haigh playing mixed doubles (Bottom) Badminton is fun, especially on your birthday. Charlotte Haigh, Ellie Newham and Eleanor Haigh at the end of last season 58

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Obituary Nigel Anthony Carter KJGS 1946-51 Chartered accountant who developed a deep love of travel, garden and sport.

Tony had a lifelong love of travel around the british isles, rarely needing a map to find his way around. When amanda and Julie were young, the family paid regular visits to anne’s parents in st austell, cornwall. later, he particularly enjoyed holidays with his expanded family of eight grandchildren to Wales, dorset and the lake district. a keen sportsman, Tony took annual trips with his brothers and brother-in-law to the Wembley cup final. for many years he played snooker each week at Moldgreen conservative club or almondbury liberal club. but Tony’s biggest love, shared with anne, was gardening and Tony produced large quantities of bedding plants which he readily donated to his children along with copious expert advice on their cultivation.

Tony Carter, born 9th August 1935, died 17th April 2023 aged 87.

Our thanks to Julie Hepworth.

We are sorry to learn of the death in calderdale royal hospital on 17th april last year of Tony Carter of fenay bridge.

Tony was a pupil at the former independent primary school Rosemeade in bank end lane near his home, before passing to attend almondbury grammar school in 1946. from school, he joined Simpson Wood & Co and trained to become a chartered accountant. he did his national service in the army, not surprisingly becoming known as ‘cash carter’. he subsequently joined C Connelly & Co where, in due course, he became a senior Partner.

Tony and his wife anne had two children amanda and Julie, both of whom subsequently attended King James’s school.

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President ian riMMer King James’s school, st helen’s gate, almondbury hd4 6sg Tel: 01484 412990 email: staff.irimmer@kingjames.school chairman WalTer raleigh 15 Thorpe lane, almondbury hd5 8Ta Tel: 01484 308452 email: walter.raleigh@asoc.org.uk secretary andreW haigh 2 arkenley lane, almondbury hd4 6sQ Tel: 01484 432105 email: andrew.haigh@asoc.org.uk Treasurer KeiTh craWshaW 5 benomley drive, almondbury hd5 8lX Tel: 01484 533658 email: keith.crawshaw@asoc.org.uk Media editor roger doWling orchard house, oughtrington lane, lymm, cheshire Wa13 0rd Tel: 01925 756390/07815 601447 email: almondburian@asoc.org.uk assistant Media editor richard Teale The sycamores, 239 huddersfield road, Thongsbridge, holmfirth hd9 3TT Tel: 07810 313315. email: richard.teale@asoc.org.uk KJs representative abbigail TerrY King James’s school, st helen’s gate, almondbury hd4 6sg Tel: 01484 412990 email: staff.aTerry@kingjames.school

Website: www.asoc.org.uk

The Almondburian is distributed to OAS members free of charge.

Price to non-members: £3.00

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